Chapter Text
Chapter Seventeen: Being Alive (aka 'Finale')
"The further you get away from yourself, the more challenging it is. Not to be in your comfort zone is great fun." –Benedict Cumberbatch
Every show has a finale and every stage of life does as well. The boys were rapidly coming up on the finale of their senior year of high school. Graduation was in less than a month. They were swamped with last minute homework, graduation parties and final farewells. Although, they saw no farewell in their future due to the fact that they were planning on spending just about every day of summer break together.
Arthur was busy preparing for his audition for the school of drama at World University and was a complete mess about the whole thing. He had been a wreck for over a week. His only solace was calming kisses from Alfred at the opportune moment.
"Calm down, babe," Alfred urged as they stood outside the imposing theatrical building of the college. "You're gonna do great! I just know it. No way can they turn you down."
"You don't understand Alfred," Arthur rolled his eyes. He was irritable and quite grumpy from so much stress. "It doesn't matter that I've practically starred in all the shows at the academy. If I go in there and mess up then that's that. There are no do overs."
Alfred fidgeted with his shirt, "I know you," he said confidently. "I know you, and you're going to be amazing."
"God, I hope so," Arthur let out a shaky breath. "I've been working my whole life for this moment and I better not fuck it up."
"You'll be fine," Alfred slid his arms around the smaller teen's waist and leaned down for a kiss. Their lips met in a small press of love. It was simple and wholesome and perfect. Arthur melted into the touch, his worries slowly slipping away. "Now," Alfred pulled away. "Go in there and kick some theatrical ass."
"You're absolutely ridiculous love," Arthur chuckled.
He turned and picked up his bag, beginning to make his way into the theatre. Alfred would wait for him outside with the other hopeful's families. "Wish me luck, love," Arthur called over his shoulder.
"Break a leg babe!" Alfred grinned.
In the weeks that followed Arthur's audition, he was moody and irritable, convinced that he had completely ruined his performance. Nothing would sway him from his negative thoughts. It was as though the grumpy English boy was in a permanent dark place. Even Alfred's infectious joy could rarely cause the smaller teen to smile.
"Artie," Alfred cajoled. "Smile for me."
"Don't be daft, I have no reason to smile right now," came the snippy reply.
"Yes you do," Alfred poked at Arthur's cheek. "I'm here and I'm ready to ravish you."
A smile slipped past the Englishman's defenses as he allowed Alfred to move closer. "Ravish me?" Arthur asked, raising an eyebrow deftly.
"Mmhmm," Alfred nodded cutely. He moved closer to Arthur, causing the comforter of the English boy's bed to become wrinkled. "Come on Artie, you know you want me."
"I always want you dearest," Arthur replied, leaning in for a kiss.
They met in heat and passion, both moving against one another's lips clumsily. Falling back on the bed, Alfred moved himself above Arthur and placed his hand on the smaller teen's hip. Pulling back slightly, the American panted, "What time are your parents getting home?"
"Not for another hour or two," Arthur replied, gasping. He needed more friction. Alfred obliged.
Rubbing their bodies together, Alfred deepened his kisses, placing soft licks on Arthur's pale throat. The English boy moaned deliciously.
"I can't wait until we can do this whenever we want," Alfred huffed. "Without worrying about your parents or your brothers walking in on us."
"Scot will not hurt you, I promise," Arthur reached up to caress Alfred's cheek.
"I know," Alfred said. "But it doesn't hurt to be…cautious."
Arthur laughed heartily. "Scot adores you now, love."
"Yeah now," Alfred huffed. "I had to let him kick my ass at golf for him to love me."
"Really darling you weren't that much of a challenge for him."
"Way to break a guy's heart Artie."
"Just telling it like it is," Arthur laughed. Suddenly turning serious, the English boy tilted his head and looked deeply into Alfred's eyes. "Although, it seems we have a problem love."
Unconsciously thrusting his hips downward, Alfred's eye narrowed. "What do you mean, a problem?"
"This," Arthur reached down and cupped Alfred through his pants. "No one is home and for some reason, you aren't fucking me."
"That is a problem," Alfred agreed.
Pants and shirts were quickly shed and naked, sweat slicked bodies met in a frenzied passion as the boys moved together as one. Arthur felt his arousal sharpen and focus as he reached his climax, relishing in the feeling of his boyfriend completely surrounding him. He had never felt complete or whole in his entire life until this brash, infuriating, wonderful American had pushed his way in and past his defenses. Life with Alfred F. Jones was a whirlwind and Arthur was glad to hang on for the ride.
The days slipped away quicker than either boy was prepared for. Suddenly it was the week before graduation and they could scarcely believe that they had made it this far. Early in the morning they met in the parking lot and shared a few sweet kisses before the late bell rang and they had to rush off to class. Arthur agreed to meet Matthew and Gilbert and Alfred at the brother's house that afternoon to try on their cap and gowns which had finally arrived earlier that week. Matthew insisted that he needed practice walking in his so that he seemed to float; but Gilbert and Alfred just seemed to want an excuse to hang out. Arthur couldn't say that he minded very much.
When the boys arrived at Alfred's house that afternoon after school, they went straight for the kitchen because Alfred insisted that he was starving. After making some simple sandwiches, they went to eat them in the basement rec room. Gilbert and Matthew had yet to arrive so the boys figured they could eat their sandwiches and indulge in a little making out before Alfred's brother and his boyfriend graced them with their presence.
On the way down the stairs, Alfred grabbed the mail and leafed through it, pulling out two letters addressed to him. One was an advertisement for a new video game that he had been waiting for and the other was a thick white envelope that seemed official. Turning the letter over in his hands, Alfred went white when he saw the postmark. World University.
"What is it love?" Arthur asked, noticing that his boyfriend, while starving, was not eating his sandwich.
"It's from World U," Alfred said in a breathless tone as he joined Arthur on the couch.
"Well," Arthur took a big bite of his turkey and Swiss, "Open it up." All of his hard work and preparation had paid off. Arthur had received his acceptance letter to the World University Drama Department only yesterday and he was feeling rather confidant, his mood buoyed by the positive tone of the note. He was already planning his own acceptance and future college career at World U.
Alfred's hands were shaking as he toyed with the envelope. "I can't." He stated simply.
"What?"
"I can't." Alfred took a deep breath. "What if they said no?"
Sighing, Arthur took his boyfriend's trembling hand. "Look how thick that packet is," he admonished. "There's absolutely no way that they turned you down." He looked into Alfred's piercing blue eyes. "Besides, you're president of the Drama Club on top of all your sports activities. They have to say yes. Just open it."
Alfred allowed himself to get lost in Arthur's intense gaze. There was something incredibly comforting about the green-eyed boy's stare. "Go on Jones," Arthur taunted. "What are you afraid of?"
"I'm not afraid of anything!" Alfred cried with determination. Swiftly, he ripped open the paper of the envelope and pulled out its contents. Skimming over the cover letter, Alfred mumbled the words written before him.
"It is our sincere joy to welcome you to World University," Alfred read aloud, his voice dropping in amazement. There was complete silence in the rec room as Arthur listened to Alfred's quiet voice and a huge grin spread across the English boy's face.
"I did it Artie!" Alfred cried joyfully. "I got in!"
"It seems as though all your hard work has paid off, love," Arthur replied.
"They're even talking about offering me a basketball scholarship," Alfred blushed. "I couldn't have done it without you."
"Nonsense," Arthur insisted. "I believe I was holding you back for some of the time. Regardless, I am proud of you."
"Thanks Artie," Alfred grinned. He reached over an enveloped Arthur in a big bear hug. "You're the best, even if you did try to sabotage me there for a while."
"Well thankfully it didn't work," Arthur mumbled into Alfred's chest. "The show would have been rubbish without you and I have to admit that my life wasn't much without you in it either."
"Awe, Artie, you're the sweetest," Alfred teased.
"I am not!"
"Are too!"
"I'm not playing this childish game with you Alfred," Arthur pulled away from their hug.
"But you love me," Alfred said in a childish sing-song tone.
Huffing under his breath, Arthur relinquished and said, "I do love you, you dolt."
Grabbing the smaller teen in a rough embrace, Alfred squeezed his boyfriend hard and let out a very manly giggle. "This is gonna be great!" Alfred began. "We can go to school together again! But this time it will be better cause there won't be any competition. Plus, no parents! We can have sex all the time!"
"I'm going to be rather busy love," Arthur returned the hug, chuckling slightly. "You know full well that the theatre is a demanding pastime."
"You'll still make time for me," Alfred spoke confidently.
"Yes," Arthur agreed. "Yes I will."
Pushing the shorter teen onto his back, Alfred maneuvered his boyfriend underneath him and ground his hips down as he pressed a soft kiss to Arthur's lips. They met in a clash of lips and teeth as their emotions began to ride higher than either boy was prepared for. Nuzzling Arthur's cheek affectionately, Alfred showered the shorter teen with kisses and caresses, his hands roaming over the Brit's body. Arthur moaned into his mouth and met him with everything he had.
They were so intent on displaying the love they felt for each other, the rest of the world seemed to slip away. Soft lips met and joined in a sweet embrace. Hips rolled and ground together as both boys began to feel that twinge of excitement below the belt.
Leaning in to capture Arthur's mouth with his own, Alfred took his time lavishing affection on his grumpy boyfriend. It was a few minutes before they broke away, each boy in need of air and feeling lightheaded.
"We're gonna have so much fun at college," Alfred said, his grin blinding.