The Little Chapter Nine: Learning To Love

Chapter Nine
Learning To Love

"At least out loud,
I won't say I'm in love"
Lyrics from Hercules' 'I Won't Say (I'm In Love)'

Alfred tried to make sense of the words in front of him. As much as he loved a good story, words were sometimes really hard to read. He felt, as Arthur had said, confounded. Which meant confused. Maybe.
He felt something warm scootch next to him on his left and when he looked there was Arthur, blushing, as expected.
"Aa~aaw, hi Artie!" Alfred cooed. He messed with Arthur's hair and Arthur scootched closer. Alfred giggled.
"Shut up gi- I mean-" Arthur grumbled and continued to mumble things into Alfred's arm. Alfred was kinda annoyed so he moved his arm so it was around Arthur. Arthur just sunk in.
The boys from yesterday sat a few feet away, chuckling. Arthur looked upset but did nothing. Alfred scrunched his face and promptly ignored them. One of the boys whispered something and the other laughed. Alfred opened his mouth to protest but nothing came out. He closed his eyes and lowered his eyebrows, staring at the boys. For the moment he felt a little evil, stroking the hair of his peasant and staring at his lower subjects while he plotted. Only he wasn't evil. He was a hero. So nobody was a peasant and his plan was 100% good...well it would be, if he had a plan.
He heard Arthur mumble something and Alfred continued to stroke Arthur's head protectively. Arthur's mumbling got louder and he finally swapped Alfred's hand away.
"Stop that!" he grumbled. Alfred felt a lump in his throat.
"S-Sorry." he whispered. Arthur stopped mumbling and lay still, hopefully content with being with Alfred. The bell rang and he got up, moving to his cubbie without a word to Alfred. Alfred squished his face in his palms a bit before getting up. He was just so frustrated today. Arthur started to make his way out of the classroom and Alfred grabbed his books and shoved them into his backpack in a hurry, slinging his backpack over his shoulder and running after Arthur. For a boy on crutches he was awfully fast.
….
Oh yeah, Artie wasn't on crutches. That explained how he was able to sit with Alfred, and move away so quickly.
"Artie wait!" Alfred cried. Arthur slowed down, allowing Alfred to catch up. Alfred slung his arm around Arthur's shoulder.
"Dude, I just remembered you got off your crutches!" Alfred gasped out. Arthur rolled his eyes.
"I've been off them all day, git." he pointed out.
"...Oh." Alfred replied with a fake laugh. A few moments of silence.
"So, you wanna, uh, hang out this weekend?" Alfred asked hopefully. It'd been a while since he'd asked that and been told no. Arthur sighed.
"Just say 'play date'." he grumbled. Alfred waited for him to continue. He didn't.
"Yeah, okaa~ay...but, uh, do you wanna-" Alfred started.
"O-Of course I do!" Arthur interrupted. He kissed Alfred's cheek. Alfred's smile was a little too goofy.
"Yeah~." Alfred mumbled. He couldn't think of anything else to say.
"I-I'm home now, so-" Arthur started. He was interrupted with a kiss on the cheek from Alfred.
"Bye bye!" Alfred cooed and waved and Arthur made his way into his house. Alfred smiled and skipped along to his own home.
He wondered why those other boys thought they were weird or something. They must just be jealous of their 'cuteness', as Alfred's daddies put it. That was okay. Just so long as Alfred could keep walking Arthur home.