A Place That Only We Know

Chapter Four

 

"Good morning." Alan spoke in a small voice as he stretched. Eric smiled, biting his lip.

 

"Mornin'. 'Ow'd ye sleep? Ye seemed a li'l squirmy las' nigh'." Alan shrugged, laying his head on his arms as he stared up at Eric.

 

"It was just the usual nightmares. No big deal." Eric's eyes widened slightly. Nightmares? He didn't know that Alan had nightmares. "But otherwise I slept just fine!" 

 

"Well good." Eric smiled. "… Were tha nightmares bad?" He asked quietly.

 

"No. They weren't enough to wake me up so they weren't all that bad." Alan said nonchalantly. The two paused for a moment, silence greeting them before Alan broke the silence. "Anyways, enough about me. How did you sleep?" Eric shrugged. He didn't sleep at all.

 

"Well." He said before he nodded his head. Alan smiled, blinking innocently at him through his glasses. Eric bit his lip for a moment before he carefully leaned over and placed a small kiss on top of Alan's head. "I'm.. I'm glad ye slept well." 

 

"I can say the same for you, Eric." alan cooed in responses, a smile painted across his lips and a small blush across his cheeks. Eric chuckled before he slowly leaned back in his bed, ruffling Alan's hair slightly. Alina looked up again, smiling when she saw her brother awake.

 

"Good morning, Alan!" She chirped as she rushed over to him and wrapped him into a hug. "How'd you sleep?

 

 

"Fine." Alan answered a she loosely wrapped his arms around Alina. Eric glared at Alina as he slowly inhaled. He had the terrible urge to rip her off of Alan and scold her for touching him, but he didn't. He just glared at her.

 

"Good, good! I really hated to leave you here alone last night, Alan, but they wouldn't let me still what with another patient being in here and all. I'm sure it would be different if Eric weren't here and you had your own room!"

 

"Actually, Eric kept me company last night." Alan said as he took his comb from the bedside table and began combing it out gently. "We talked and talked and talked. I don't even remember falling asleep but I obviously did. It was quite nice." There it was again. That terrible feeling inside of Alina. It's not jealousy… She thought to herself. You're just getting protective of Alan.. You're just getting protective.

 

"Good." She said through gritted teeth. "I'm glad you weren't lonely." Eric smirked. Alina was jealous. Alina was definitely jealous. "Well, I'm going to go get the tea. The cooks here were gracious enough to let it boil in the kitchen so I should go get it." She said simply before darting out of the room.

 

"She's a bitch…" Eric muttered. Alan looked over at Eric with large, green, innocent eyes. Panic surged through Eric once he saw Alan look at him. He heard him. Shit, he had blown it with Alan. Fuck.

 

"Oh, I know." Alan said simply. "I've had to live with her all of my life. She's a jealous, clingy bitch." Eric stared at Alan for a moment before he chuckled.

 

"Glad ye agree." He chuckled. Alan let out a small giggle, covering his mouth with his delicate hand as he did. Eric smiled. Precious. The two sat in a  sweet silence for a moment before Alan leaned over and pressed his lips to Eric's cheek in a small kiss. Eric's eyes widened as he felt his heart skip a beat. "W-Wha' was tha' fer?" Alan shrugged.

 

"I just thought you might want a kiss too."

 

"Wha'?"

 

"You kissed my head earlier so I thought that you might want a kiss in return," Alan said with a smile. "So I kissed your cheek." Eric's heart melted. That was just too precious. 

 

"Well thank ye, Alan." He said warmly. "Tha's very sweet o' ye." Alan stared up at Eric, his heart beating at full speed. Alan was never really one to believe in first sight but Eric really did something for him. Maybe it was because he was genuinely kind and sweet, maybe it was because he was so cuddly. Alan wasn't sure.

 

"I'm back~!" Alina called out in a sing-song voice as she rushed through the door with a teapot and began pouring tea into the small cups. "Morning tea is ready!" Alan rolled his eyes, looking to Eric and blowing him a small kiss before he slowly slipped out of bed and shuffled over to the small table. 

 

"It smells nice." Alan said softly as he sat down. Alina smiled, looking at Alan as she sat down as well.

 

"I would hope so. Mum used to make it for you all the time when you were little." Alan force up slightly, cup clenched in his hand at the mention of his lover. Alina bit her lip quickly. Alan never really liked talking about his parents since he didn't really remember them. "Alan I-I—"

 

"It's fine.." He said softly as he slowly took a sip of his tea before he set his cup down on the saucer. "It's fine." Alan, Alina, and (of course) Eric all sat in a silence after that. Eric and Alina didn't want to upset Alan any more than Alina already had and Alan just didn't feel like taking anymore. They all continued to sit in silence as Alan and Alina drank their tea, the tense atmosphere almost suffocating.

 

"Eric~!" Suddenly the door flew open, causing Alina to jump in fright and drop her cup, as a redhead woman and dual haired teen ran into the room and crowded around Eric.

 

"Eric Senpai!" The dual haired teen mused. "How are ya?! Seems like forever since we've seen ya!"

 

"It's only been two days, Ronald." Eric chuckled as he poked the teen's stomach lightly. Alan slowly put down his cup as he cocked his head and watched them, a smile slowly spreading across his face. He recognized the redhead as Grell Sutcliff from work but he had no idea who the other one was. Ronald? He hadn't heard the name before. 

 

"Oh but we've missed you so~!" Grell squeaked, throwing her arms around Eric as she nuzzled his cheek with hers. Eric laughed and pushed the both of them away with one small push.

 

"What're ye all doin' 'ere?" Eric asked as he looked up at them from his hospital bed.

 

"You don't know?" Ronald asked, putting his hands on his hips.

 

"You get to go home today!" Grell chirped. Alan's eyes widened and he felt his heart sink to his stomach as he made eye contact with Eric. He couldn't leave just yet. He couldn't.