Alfred gently took his brother's hand and led him to the quiet living room. It had been a week. A week.

Their father worked most of the time which gave the boys some time to actually feel safe and roam around the house without having to peer over their shoulders. Alfred stayed silent as he helped his unresponsive brother up on the couch, but when he tried to lift him up Matthew winced and whimpered. Alfred instantly stopped and quickly apologized to him.

So instead he sat on the ground and leaned against the couch, Matthew did the same clutching tightly onto his stuffed bear as he bit his lip. "Mattie.." Alfred held his brother's hand and ran his thumb across his knuckles, he was trembling. Alfred's heart broke. "I'm sorry Mattie." He apologized with a cracking voice.

Matthew shook his head. "It's not your fault Alfred." He stated and leaned his head against his shoulder. "It's not your fault at all." He yawned and rubbed his eyes. Both Alfred and Matthew had trouble sleeping, they couldn't sleep alone. Matthew was afraid and Alfred was restless without having the presence of his brother beside him.

Alfred closed his eyes and took a breath, the living room was the only place that didn't smell of cigars and alcohol. It was comfortable enough for his brother to breathe well without coughing every five minutes. "Well you can at least sleep now Mattie, I'll be here with you so you don't have to worry okay?" he said in a calming tone. "B-but I know that when I wake up he will be back." Matthew stammered fearfully.

Alfred struggled to stay calm because he knew his brother was right since they were both exhausted it was certain that they would both be asleep for a long time. And Alfred knew what time their father arrived from work, they would get in trouble for breaking a rule, and for not doing their house chores. Alfred frowned, Matthew could barely keep his eyes open. "Sorry Mattie, we have to clean up." He sighed and stood from the ground helping him up.

Alfred would never forget the night his brother was hurt, beat. His other parents never hit them, and never rose their voice. It was terrifying remembering how much his brother cried, and how loud.

In the end, Alfred found his weakness just like how all heroes have, and it was the only thing that made him lose his strength, the only thing that made him want to break down and scream wanting to let out all his agony...His brother's pain.

He winced as a stinging pain formed on the bruise under the bandage on his cheek just beneath his eye, a bruise of his own reminding him of his rage. The day after that night after their father let him out he immediately shoved the tall man and lashed out on him, he yelled and hit him as his brother stayed in the room, most likely because he couldn't move.

And when his father got annoyed, he was given the bruise. It was so unexpected he fell back, and then he was locked in his room again.

Matthew grabbed Alfred's hand as soon as he noticed the faraway look in his dull eyes, Alfred jumped and looked over his shoulders. "It's just me Alfie." Matthew smiled despite the state they were in, despite where they were, and what had happened. He still managed to smile.

They both stayed close as they roamed around the small house and cleaned whatever they thought was dirty, sometimes they cleaned the same spot twice afraid to miss anything that would upset their father. Alfred learned to obey the horrid man, if he wanted to keep Matthew unharmed he just had to 'play along' with his father's plan.

As long as their father was getting paid, and was not caught doing what he did, he could easily get away with harming the boys. Alfred gritted his teeth when he remembered a time when he was soothing Matthew to sleep during the day time in the living room, their father sat on the couch and chuckled, he took an obnoxious swig from the can in his hand and then he said. "You know, I can get even more money if I lose a child of my own too." And he gave a glance to his sleeping brother.

And Alfred so badly wanted to hurt him, to scare him off, to cause him pain. He was filled with hot boiling rage, but he bit his lip and pulled his brother closer to him in a protective embrace.

-------------------------------------------------------

Francis carefully lead Arthur to the kitchen keeping a watchful eye on him. "The doctor said to not stress out amour." He stated with an anxious frown.

Arthur nodded and sat on the empty table, he looked at his trembling hands and took a deep breath. "Okay..." He murmured. "I'm okay." He exhaled and returned his gaze to the man in front of him.

He flinched, Francis looked so...

So horrible. Not in a mean way though.

His skin was so pale he could easily be mistaken as a corpse or a ghost even, but the thought made Arthur shudder.

And his eyes were so dull with heavy dark purple bags under them, they looked like bruises. Arthur cautiously stroked Francis's hair back earning him a small tired smile from Francis who leaned against the comforting touch. "Thank you, love." He sighed and kissed the palm of Arthur's hand.

Arthur returned the small smile and leaned forward to place a kiss on his hollow cheek. "Bloody hell you git, have you been taking care of yourself?" he asked. Francis froze and looked away ashamed. "Ah well.." He stammered and gave up midway. "I need to take care of you first, you matter to me so much so I won't rest easy until I know for sure that you're well." He explained in a matter-of-fact tone.

Arthur growled at his husband's stubbornness. "Idiot don't do that to yourself!" he demanded. "How am I supposed to get well if you're here looking like you'll pass out any minute?" he gritted his teeth, his green eyes filled with fury and pain.

Francis was left speechless and wide-eyed looking like a deer confronted with a set of ascending headlights. Francis took one look into Arthur's eyes and instantly felt guilty, he couldn't take his pain away.

Arthur was so attached to his children, it was like taking away ducklings from a mother duck. Or taking away any babies from any animal, it was still painful either way. He eased Arthur into a tight embrace and stroked his hair whispering sweet words to him that were sure to be ineffective.

Arthur merely hugged Francis, his mind trying to think of anything but the boys, but all his happy memories were made with his children. How could he block out all his happiness? He was already ripped away from the source, now he couldn't even keep the memories because it would just bring him more pain for both him and Francis.

He took another breath and squeezed his eyes shut, he was not coping well with the change. It was so unsettling to wake up without the sound of giggling or pattering throughout the hall. And he would always pass by the empty room at the end of the dark hall, each time he laid eyes on the door he swore he could hear quiet talking coming from the other side.

But Francis keeps reminding him that it's all in his mind, it keeps him from going crazy. He was happy to have Francis by his side, at least he had someone to lean and depended on while he tried to cope with the change that he hoped would not be permanent.

Francis already told him his thoughts, that the man was possibly a bad person, and that soon enough their children would be in their arms again safe and unharmed. And Arthur wanted all of it to be true, he just couldn't bear the thought of his children getting harmed by the intimidating man.

It scared him to even think about it, the man was so tall and somewhat muscular, surely a hit from him would leave a long-lasting bruise. He shuddered once more and pressed himself closer against Francis' chest. "Oh god...Francis I don't want that man to hurt the boys..." He whispered.

Francis swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded solemnly. "I don't want the boys to be harmed either. I'm very scared amour, I saw something dangerous in that man's eyes." He stated.

Arthur whimpered. "I just hope that they don't get hurt."

Francis rubbed his back. "I do too amour, I do too."

And they just held each other not uttering a single word both fearing that if the silence was broken then their little piece of hope would be broken too.

But they would be okay, barely, but still living. Because they had each other.

They were together both facing the same conflict, and together they would get through it.

---------------------------------------------------------

Both boys trudged back to the living room and went toward the window, Alfred slowly opened the curtain to make sure his father was not there and opened the curtain fully. Both he and Matthew squinted their eyes as soon as the morning sun hit their face. "It's not as pretty as ours.." Matthew mumbled.

Alfred nodded and searched through the shrubs and bushes looking for something, anything that had at least a bit of color.

He found nothing but dead weeds and dried grass, it was horrid. He looked down and sighed, at least the shrubs were green. Otherwise, the whole place would've looked like an abandoned building.

Alfred's mind wandered he pushed aside his worries and fears for now and thought about how he would get him and his brother out of the terrible place they were in.

The problem was finding a way without getting caught, if they were caught they would be terribly punished.

Or worse, Matthew would be punished only and would have to take the punishment for Alfred.

Alfred shivered and bit his lip trying to think of anything else that didn't involve his brother getting hurt, but suddenly as he thought he remembered something.

Dirty blonde hair...

Sky blue eyes...

Flowers...

Matthew sighed and gently shook Alfred's shoulder. "Alfie, you're dozing off again." He whined, Alfred jumped and shakily laughed. "Sorry, Mattie." He apologized and pulled himself together remembering where he was. "Ah...is there anything that we missed?" he asked curiously. "No we're done," Matthew reassured. "Okay, are you hungry?" Alfred asked.

It had been a long time since they've actually eaten a decent meal, the food they had was not very appetizing they could barely swallow it.

Though it was still manageable to eat if you were starving of course.

Matthew turned green at the mention of food and shook his head. "No," he mumbled. "Are you sure?" concern laced Alfred's voice. "Yes, I don't like the food here. It tastes weird." Matthew scrunched his nose. "Do you feel okay?" he asked anxiously. "Yes I'm okay," Matthew reassured his worried brother.

Alfred was still not convinced but let it pass. "Alright, but if anything feels wrong you have to tell me right away." He demanded, Matthew suddenly frowned and lowered his gaze setting his eyes on his feet, Alfred grew anxious and gently took his hand. "Mattie? What's wrong?" he whispered to him.

Matthew hugged his bear to his chest, the only thing he owned from his loving parents, and he whimpered. "Alfred..." He started.

"Everything feels wrong."