"Quite the melodramatic soap we seem to be in." Arthur half-joked to Kiku.

"I don't think now is the time for humor."

"As if you know what made that whole exchange go down."

"Those two seem to have quite a complex relationship."

"Are you jealous?" Arthur chuckled.

"I have no reason to be."

"Fair enough." He returned to composure clumsily. Any semblance of humor gone in an instant. He cleared his throat. "You do seem a tad too interested in what they have going on, though."

"I just want to figure out what all this means."

"Maybe there isn't a greater meaning."

"Maybe it's the waters between the shallow and the deep end." Kiku paid no attention to what Arthur had said.

~

Lovino sat up after about an hour of trying to force sleep. The more he tossed and turned, the worse his insomnia seemed to get. Having bitterly given up, he sat up with a groan. He was by far more stressed about the atmosphere of the house than anything else. Even Feli going missing for a day wasn't as bad. There was something somber about the air. The creaking from the wind akin to that of weeping. It was as if a ghost was haunting the house.

He might've just been going crazy out of exhaustion. Still, this wasn't an unfamiliar type of atmosphere. His own house felt like this at times even with the clutter that most definitely didn't define him as a hoarder.

His throat suddenly felt dry as if his anxiety used up all the moisture in his mouth. Getting a glass of water could probably cure both of the two issues he currently had. In two swift motions, he was up and out of bed. A bit of wandering and he felt the door and eventually the door knob. Another three swift motions and he was out of the room. The slightest bit of wandering and he led himself to the kitchen. It hit him right then that he didn't know where any dishes were so there was no way to get a glass of water. Shit.

He promptly turned around and began his journey back to his room. Suddenly the sound of the screen door for the back slammed loud and clear. He was hesitant at first to act, staying still for a good minute. His curiosity got the best of him and he found himself on the back porch. No one was around. He was about to turn right back around when Alfred suddenly swung in from the roof, landing ever so gracefully on his feet at the bottom of the steps. The man looked as if he had been in a fight; dirtied and disheveled. He took a stance as if ready to fight as well.

This wasn't the first time Lovino had been greeted to this. It'll hardly be the last. Neither said a thing as the minutes passed. Lovino eventually sighed.

"What the hell are you doing?" He asked.

"I have to ask you the same." Alfred's stance loosened.

"I was just thirsty." Lovino yawned. "But then it occurred to me that I don't know where anything is."

"Thirsty, huh?" A grin grew on Alfred's lips. "How about a good round of bad decisions?"

"It's two in the morning, Alfred."

"It's never too late for a good drink."

"As if you and drinking was ever a good mix."

"What do you suggest then?"

"A stroll, going back to bed, maybe even water."

"A stroll it is then."

~

"So where did Toris wander off to?" Lovino curiously asked. The crunch of forest path under his and Alfred's feet filled the air like background music.

"Home."

"Really?"

"Mm hm." Alfred hummed.

"Interesting." Lovino paused for a second to think of a change in topic as Alfred clearly didn't want to talk about any of that which was fair, it was business. "There's a lot of interesting things going on here. It's driving me crazy, especially when Kiku pulls out of his ass that we're all here to learn lesson."

"Kiku's right."

"Really?"

"For our leaders, it's to help us all get along somewhat. I didn't want to do this at all. Toris gave me the idea to use this time to show you guys that I'm different than you think. The more I think about it, the more I realize how unnecessary it was." Alfred sighed. "I think I just need to be myself more often."

"You act like we're all being ourselves."

"I know none of you act like yourselves."

"Then what's your issue?"

"Maybe the fact that you all hate me."

"Do we all hate you or do you hate us?" Alfred didn't answer. Lovino was quick to shake his head. "You really should try getting to know us all better so we can know you better."

"Your age really shows, I didn't think you were so wise."

"You're damn right I'm wise." He smacked Alfred hard in the back of the head. "I've gone through hell and back, you think this shit is new to me?"

"Alright man, calm down." Alfred chuckled, rubbing the sting in the back of his head.

"I will when you tell me where Feli was."

"That's his secret to tell."

"What kind of ominous bullshit is that?"

"The kind that should tell you that Feli's his own person and so are you."

"God, you're obnoxious." Lovino rolled his eyes.

"Takes one to know one."

"I'm too tired and too thirsty to deal with this." He rubbed his eyes to keep them functional.

"And yet you still chose to come on a good walk with me."

"Because it's still fun."

"You've really got some contradictory logic going on. You might want to get that sorted out."

"Like you're any better."

"Fair enough." A long silence filled the air as they made it further into the forest. Different animals chirped along with the occasional owl fading in and out. "You know," Alfred started. "I miss the good old days."

"Join the club."

"I meant that to say that I miss hanging out with you a lot more even if you were being kind of whiney every time."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"Why?"

"It felt pretty great getting to know some insight on you."

"Did you think I was just a bitch beforehand?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"Not surprising."

"Hey, you've definitely mellowed. That's true character development."

"I guess." Lovino yawned. "We should really head back. I might collapse and sleep out here if we don't."

"You're right." They both stopped for a moment. "If you want I can carry you back."

"Please."

Alfred crouched down slightly, "Hop on." Lovino latched himself into Alfred in no time at all. Alfred stood up and began their journey back.

"Am I heavy at all?"

"Nope, you're like a paperweight at most."

"You're so ridiculously strong it's stupid."

"That literally doesn't make any sense."

"I don't care." Lovino's voice grew sloppy and just a tad muffled. "I do what I want."

"Whatever makes you happy." Alfred received no response and he didn't expect one either. He simply continued on with his goal to get Lovino back in bed. It was funny too. The man was far older than him and yet he acted so much more like a child. So much more like a free spirit.