When Lily's Cry: Puppet Strings

Chapter VI. Proof of Truth, Like Warm Rain in Broad Day

They continued walking, though there was now less space between them, both physically and emotionally. They would occasionally adjust their grip on one another, but they never dared let go for long. It was as if they were each others life support, and to Alfred, that might've just been the case.

"What happened to us?"

Alfred's head shot up, since he had been previously staring absentmindedly at his feet while rubbing Matthews hand with his thumb.

"What?"

Matthew sealed his lips tightly, realizing what he had said was out loud.

"I mean... what happened to us? How did we become like this? What happened?"

Alfred peered at his brother for a few seconds before nodding, as if everything was understood now.

"Hmmm.... we split. I think we were already drifting apart when you decided to leave for Canada to play hockey and go to college. I guess that last fight just finally cut the thread tying us together."

The younger of the two shrugged, staring at a cat walking on the other side of the street.

"A thread?"

Alfred nodded again, directing his gaze up to his brothers face.

"Yeah. We were inseparable as kids, but I think the rope was slowly breaking, and it eventually turned into 'a thread', y'know? Like, ever since you went to high school, I felt like we were separating, you didn't seem to care though, or maybe you just didn't notice...."

Alfred yawned, and began to scrutinize the surroundings, his eyes landing on a park about a block from their house.

"..... I didn't know.... I'm really sor-"

"Remember that park?"

Matthew eyeballed his brother before following the younger's gaze.

"Oh... yeah, we played here as kids. I thought they would've torn it down by now."

Matthews eyes landed on two little boys playing together, they looked like twins actually.

"Reminds me of us, when we were.... never mind."

The violet eyed man observed his brother, while humming in agreement.

"Alfred, I'm really sorry. I know you can't f-forgive me, but I just.... God I'm such an asshole."

Matthew grimaced, while running his hand down his face.

Alfred smirked, "You got that right. You're the worst brother a guy could have..... but thanks. For apologizing I mean, and you're right again, it's not enough to just apologize, since I know you still don't believe me.... but I never expected you to anyway."

Alfred's smirk dropped into a doleful frown.

"..... I-........ what proof did you have? It's not like you actually showed me. Maybe if you had, I would've believed you, but instead all I had to go by was your words. I figured you were just lying to get attention. And unless I see proof, I might still believe my first assumption."

Matthew glowered at his brother, before gasping softly.

(>•0•)>   |____|

Wet. His face was wet. Alfred's eyes grew to the size of saucers as he came to the sudden realization. He was crying.

Shit, Alfred thought as he quickly tried to wipe away his tears. But they kept coming, each sob shaking his frail figure violently.

Alfred sputtered out forcibly, "Y-You have no id-dea what I went th-throu-though! You're ju-just like hi-im! Y-You want pro-of?! Here, proof!!"

Alfred yanked up the sleeve of his shirt to reveal bruises and scars of all kinds, littering his porcelain skin. There were scars that made odd zigzags on his arm, and others that were the shape of a small circle. A large purplish bruise was on his elbow, while another one, shaped like a hand, was on his shoulder. It was like an excruciating painting drawn onto skin.
Salty tears kept falling down the teens face, as he observed the putrid area of flesh. Matthew didn't think of it that way though, no, he felt completely different.
Though he did feel nauseous, it was not from the tampered skin of Alfred's arm, rather, it was from the sudden comprehension of the fact that all that Alfred had told him, was true.

"Oh my god.... oh my god..... I-....... H-He did this to you?"

Alfred's sky blue eyes fell to the ground in shame of his own body, as he nodded silently.

The teen awaited the accusations, the yelling, the fighting, everything he hated. Instead though, he felt gentle arms wrap around his small frame, and wet droplets fall onto his face, like warm rain.

Tears streamed endlessly down Matthews face. From guilt, empathy, and betrayal. He had looked up to his father for so long, but he had done such an unforgivable thing, both to his mother, and his baby brother. Alfred took quivering breathes, trying to stop the flood coming from his sapphire eyes.

The two continued to cry into each others arms in broad daylight, with Matthew running his hand through Alfred's hair, and Alfred holding onto his big brother for dear life, sobbing into the elders chest.

"Oh God Alfred..... I'm so so-sorry..... I'm so sorry..."

Alfred didn't respond with words, instead he held tighter to the fabric of Matthews coat.

Matthew hiccuped, choking on his own words.

"Alfred.... I-....... I love you, o-okay? You know I do.... Alfred....."

Alfred tensed at the words that left his brothers mouth. No one had ever told him they loved him, not even his own mother. But for some reason, he felt that he could believe his brother, and he was so, so thankful for that.

"...... I love you too, Mattie..... I love you too...."

Matthew sucked in a deep breathe, before whispering out a promise that he would keep, no matter what.

"I will protect you...."

 

"...... my dearest, my brother."