-- 1st person POV--

I wake up and the first thing I'm aware of is a heaviness on my shoulder and a tightness around my middle.
I blink, waiting for my eyes to adjust, then I turn and my face is immediately buried in a mop of brown hair. Brown hair that smells like orange blossom.

Arthur.

His head is still resting on my shoulder, but we've sort of slumped down further onto the couch, so I'm practically lay down and he's lay against me.
The weightiness around my middle is his arm. It's wrapped around my waist tightly, and now my heart is racing.

He's just cuddled up to me in his sleep, it's no big deal, I tell myself.
But that doesn't stop the erratic thrumming of my pulse.
It feels nice, and it's all very innocent, and yet...undeniably intimate.

Enjoying the closeness, I take the opportunity to sink my nose deep into the soft waves of his hair, and inhale.

God he smells so good. I could just eat him up.

Suddenly he stirs, lifting his head and almost bumping my nose.
He turns, eyes still squinting from tiredness, and it seems to take him a few seconds to process where he is and what's happening.

Our faces are just a few inches apart. He's so close I can feel the soft gust of his breath on my cheek. Instinctively I know that if I tilted my head a certain way then our mouths would fit together perfectly.
My face floods with heat at the thought.
I shouldn't torture myself like this. Why am I being such an idiot?

Just as I'm about to say something to break the heavy silence, Arthur beats me to it. And what he says takes me completely by surprise...

"Are you real?" He whispers in that low husky tone that makes goosebumps rise on my arms.

"Am I what?"

He's looking at me closely, eyes darting back and forth across my face. "I mean, are you really here?"

I frown slightly, feeling quite perplexed by his question. "Yes Arthur. I'm really here. Why would you think that I'm not?"

Those stunning eyes lock with my (y/e/c) ones, and I have to remind myself to breath.
"I'm not sure. I thought maybe I was dreaming."

Realising that he's holding onto me he quickly sits up, and readjusts his rumpled shirt. "S-sorry." He stutters.

"For what?"

He stands up, raking his fingers through his tousled hair. "You know...for...falling asleep on you."

I smile at him reassuringly. "You don't need to apologise Arthur. I didn't mind, honestly. I'm just glad you managed to get some rest."

He nods. "Yeah, uh, that's the first time I've slept in days."

"Oh Arthur. That really sucks. You poor thing. Still, at least you've caught up on a little sleep."

He seems restless I notice, dragging on a cigarette as he paces around the room, glancing at the clock.

"I should really go back to the hospital and check on my mom." He says at last. "Are you going to come with me...or?"

He doesn't finish his sentence, and I feel absolutely wretched, even though I shouldn't really feel guilty for having other commitments. But Arthur is my priority and I hate letting him down.

"Oh, I'm due at the hospice this evening. But I can can meet you at the hospital once my shift is over?"

He raises his eyebrows, looking hopeful. "Really? Are you sure you don't mind?"

I shake my head, getting to my feet. "Of course I don't mind. I've already told you, I'm here for you."

His face brightens as he smiles sweetly. "Thank you (y/n). I really appreciate that."

We travel down in the elevator together then part ways once we leave the building.
Arthur heading back to the hospital, and me in the opposite direction to the hospice.

The next few hours pass by quickly like they always do at the hospice.
It's tiring both physically and emotionally, offering help and support to families who have terminally ill relatives, but the work is rewarding. Being able to make a difference in people's lives is reward enough, and that's why I volunteer.

At 8pm I gather up my coat and purse, and Mike offers to give me a ride home.
I politely decline, explaining that I'm going straight on to the hospital.

He still insists on driving me, and I'm grateful as it means I'll get there quicker than if I had to take the bus. But naturally he's curious and enquires about who I'm going to visit.

"Penny Fleck." I tell him, as we make the journey through central Gotham. "She took ill last night. But...please don't mention anything to my mom, Mike."

Mike frowns, glancing at me between keeping his eyes on the road. "Why? Won't your mom want to know? She used to care for Penny didn't she?"

"Yes. But...I'd rather tell her myself than her hear it from someone else."

To my relief he agrees to keep quiet.
If mom knew I was spending so much time with Arthur she'd overreact and probably try to forbid me to see him.

If she thinks he's a creepy older man and I'm somehow in danger from him then she's got it totally wrong.
He's never taken an interest in me like that. I'm the one who's crushing on him.

As we pull up out front for a split second I think I spot Arthur, smoking by the hospital doors. But then Mike leans over to hug me goodbye, and by the time I pull away and look again the figure has gone.

Figuring he must've gone back inside, I thank Mike again for the ride then make my way inside.

When I get up to the ward there's no sign of Arthur, which is odd, and the nurse tells me he's been there all afternoon and left just a few minutes ago.

Puzzled, I get myself a coffee and sit at Penny's bedside for a while, chatting to her in the hopes that she can hear me, even though she's in an induced coma.

"You have to get well again, Penny." I tell her, gently stroking her hand, which is soft and fragile. Her skin feels like tissue paper. "Arthur needs you. He's lost without you." I smile wistfully to myself, thinking about how loving and kind Arthur is. "And I'd be lost without him. I'm in love with your son, Penny. You're the only person I've told. I wish I could tell him but...I don't want to lose him. It could ruin our friendship, him not feeling the same."

I stay at the hospital for an hour, and before I leave I use the pay phone to call Arthur at home.

"Yeah?" He answers the phone after a series of rings.

"Hi Arthur, I'm at the hospital. I must have just missed you."

"Hm. Okay."

He sounds very disinterested, and if I'm not mistaken, even just a little pissed off.

"Uh, so I can head over to your place now if you want me to?"

There's a pause. I hear him sigh. Then he says, "No it's fine. You don't have to do that."

My heart sinks. He doesn't want me there. We were so close this afternoon and now suddenly he's acting all distant and cold towards me. I don't understand.
Unless...maybe that's it. Perhaps we were too close this afternoon and it's made him uncomfortable.

"O-oh, are you sure? I didn't think you wanted to be alone?"

"I'll be okay (y/n). Really."

Internally I'm screaming. I want to yell into the phone that I'm coming over whether he likes it or not because I know he's hurting and I want to be there for him.
But he's not letting me.

With a heavy heart I have to head home, feeling like I've swallowed a lead weight.
Arthur's rejection stings. I know it's ridiculous because it's not as if we're dating, but after him opening up to me about not wanting to be alone, all I want is to make sure he's never alone again.

But he doesn't want me. That is, he doesn't want my help or support and I've no choice other than to respect his wishes.

***

The following day I get up early and shower before I head out to work.

The shift is gruelling. The coffee shop is packed and we're run off our feet. I hardly slept last night and I've got a monstrous headache, so I'm in no mood to be dealing with rude and awkward customers.

A couple hours before my shift is due to end my boss calls me into the back saying there's a phone call for me.

Oh god. I hope it isn't my mom. If Mike has said something to her about me visiting Penny I'll kill him. I can't deal with that kinda drama right now.

Dread gathers in the pit of my stomach and makes itself comfy there as I pick up the receiver, anticipating my furious mother on the other end of the line.

"Hello?" I say anxiously.

"Hey (y/n)."

My stomach turns somersaults.
It's Arthur.

"Oh, hi Arthur. Is everything alright? Is Penny okay?"

"Yeah she's great actually. She woke up."

My heart instantly lifts. The relief I feel is overwhelming.

"Oh my god! That's wonderful news Arthur. I'm so happy. And is she doing okay?"

"Well the doctor says she'll have to stay in a while, just to be sure. But yeah she's recovering well."

I smile as I play with the phone wire, idly coiling it between my fingers. "And you rang me at work to tell me. That's so thoughtful. Thank you."

"Uh, yeah. But that wasn't the main reason I was calling." He says.

"Oh?"

Arthur clears his throat. "I wanted to ask you if you'd...well, if you'd come by later."

"To the hospital? Sure--"

"No not the hospital. The apartment. I was...I was being stupid last night. I didn't want to be alone, I just.." He pauses, as if searching for the right words. "Would you come over tonight?"

I'm beaming by now and no doubt it's audible in my voice as I answer. "Of course I will."

"And will you....stay?"

My mouth goes dry. He's asking me to stay over.

"Uh, oh...."

Sensing my hesitation, Arthur begins gabbling his apologies. "It..it's okay if you don't want to. I get it. Sorry. I shouldn't have asked--"

"Yes Arthur." I interrupt him without thinking. "I'll stay with you."

I hear his soft exhale of breath. "Thank you (y/n). That's great. I really don't like being in the apartment by myself. I...I'm not used to it."

"I understand. Listen I finish shortly so I'll go home and grab some things, then I'll stop by the hospital to say hi to your mom--"

"Oh, the doctor said she can't have any more visitors today. I'll be leaving shortly because she needs to rest." He explains apologetically.

"Okay, that's fine. Maybe she'll be fit enough tomorrow."

"Yeah. She'd like to see you. And your mom. She says she'll visit her too once she's feeling stronger."

Wait. What did he just say?

"Arthur?" I say cautiously, my stomach clenching in knots. "Have you spoken to my mom?"

"Yeah." He says innocently. "I called your house to speak to you and she told me you was working. She gave me the number so I could call you. I didn't know which coffee place you worked at."

Oh no. Oh no, no no!
Shit. Arthur why? He's no idea the amount of trouble I've got coming my way.

Feigning nonchalance, I end the phone call and get back to work.

But I can't concentrate at all now. I get orders wrong, give the wrong change, and essentially end up worrying my boss so much that she sends me home early.
I tell her it's my headache. When really it's the dread of the impending earache I'm bound to get off my mother for this.

I'm just gathering up the things I need to take to Arthur's when my mom arrives home from grocery shopping. And the conversation I've been dreading is finally happening.

"So when were you going to tell me about Penny Fleck being hospitalised?" She demands, as I help her put the groceries away.

"I was going to tell you, but I knew you'd freak out."

"Freak out? I was more freaked out by her son calling up asking for you."

"I'm sorry mom. I should have told you."

She sighs. "You know I don't like you spending too much time with Arthur. I don't know why you take such an eager interest in him."

To my annoyance my cheeks start to blaze, like a testament to my guilt. "He's a nice guy, mom. And I'm an adult now. What's the problem?"

"The problem is he's much older than you."

"So?"

"You need to date someone your own age."

"Mom, I'm not dating Arthur. And even if I was, age shouldn't be important."

Sighing again she stops what she's doing and turns to me, a serious expression on her face. "He might be a nice guy but he's...fragile."

I close the kitchen cupboard and roll my eyes. "Fragile? I know about his laughing condition--"

"Not just that (y/n). He's on seven different medications for numerous things. Anxiety, depression, and others to help with his delusional psychosis."

I stare at her. "Delusional psychosis?"

She nods sadly. "Yes he takes after his mother. Penny was diagnosed with the same condition. If he stops taking his meds he loses touch with reality. Suffers with hallucinations and that sort of thing."

I clutch onto the kitchen counter for support, feeling winded by this new information. "Why didn't you mention it before?"

Crossing the kitchen she takes my face in her hands tenderly. "Because you have such a caring nature I knew you'd feel sympathetic towards him and it'd only make you more determined to provide support for him."

Tears begin to pool at the back of my eyes. "What's so bad about that? It's part of my charity work to support people who are ill and vulnerable."

"Yes but this goes beyond simply wanting to be supportive, doesn't it? You have feelings for him. I've always been able to tell."

Feeling brave, I don't deny her claims. Instead I shrug my shoulders. "I can't help it mom. I didn't choose who I fell for. My heart pretty much chose for me."

She takes a moment to process what I've said, letting the gravity of my admittance fully sink in. Then eventually she smiles, and pulls me into a hug.

"Well, as long as you're certain of your feelings. Because I was also considering Arthur's too. It's delicate, the situation. If you hurt him unintentionally it's bound to affect him deeply, and he has enough to cope with as it is."

I hang onto my mom and sob quietly into her hair.

"Thanks mom. But I promise I know what I'm doing. And I'd never do anything to hurt Arthur."

***

By the time I reach Arthur's apartment it's almost 7pm. It's already dark. It's the dreariest evening imaginable, the persistent rainfall refuses to let up and whilst my hood keeps my head dry it doesn't stop my hair from frizzing to oblivion.
My jeans are wet and I'm shivering with the cold.

It's always warm in Arthur's apartment though. The thought makes me smile as I envisage the small but cozy living room, Arthur sat on the couch watching TV.

Yes. A night in front of the TV with Arthur sounds like pure bliss. Maybe we could even cuddle up again, if he wanted to.

I stand outside his door, dripping puddles on the hallway floor as I wait for him to answer.

The sound of the lock and chain being unfastened greets my ears, then the door opens and...

And he grabs me by the waist and hauls me inside before I have chance to greet him, and before the door even closes his hands are cupping my face tenderly, his mouth is on mine, ensnaring my lips in a deep, sensual kiss.

I can't breath, I can't move, and I don't want to, as he pushes me back against the wall. My hands clutch at him desperately, one fisting into his shirt, the other sliding through his hair.

His lips are soft and warm, but his kisses are firm and powerful. The perfect combination of fierce yet tender.
And as I move my mouth on his, sliding my tongue against his own, he groans softly which is enough to make my knees go weak.

"A-Arthur!" I gasp, when we're forced to break for air.

I don't know what else to say. But as it happens I don't have to say anything. The words start tumbling out of his mouth as if he's powerless to stop them.

"(y/n)! This is real isn't it? Please tell me it is. My mom told me everything. She told me after I spoke to you today. Is it true (y/n)? Is it true that you love me?"

Ah.
So Penny could hear me. She was listening to my confession and she told Arthur everything.
Ordinarily I would be mortified. But judging by Arthur's reaction I've got nothing to fear. Could it be possible that he actually reciprocates my feelings?

"Y-yes Arthur." I blurt, getting lost in those beautiful eyes of his. "I love you. I've loved you for the longest time but I was too afraid to tell you."

"Shit, (y/n). I wish I'd known. All that wasted time, when I could've been doing this..."

He kisses me again, this time just one, lingering kiss that's soul-deep and it makes my heart feel like it's about to burst right out of my chest.

"Oh Arthur." I breath shakily, as I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him even closer. "I never thought that you'd want this."

"Are you kidding?" His face splits into a wide grin. "I've loved you from the first minute I saw you. That's why it drove me crazy when I didn't see you anymore."

"You should have told me." I giggle, as he places gentle kisses along my throat, which makes all my nerve endings stand to attention.

"I couldn't risk you knocking me back." He admits, nuzzling his face into my neck. "I never dreamed a beautiful young woman like you would want me. That's why I was jealous of Mike."

Placing my hands on his shoulders I gently push him back so I can look at him. "You were jealous of Mike?"

His complexion colours and he reluctantly meets my eyes. "Yeah. That's why when I saw you with him last night, in his arms, it broke my fucking heart 'cause I thought you wanted him, and I had to leave."

"He was just hugging me goodbye, silly. I'll never break your heart, Arthur." I reassure him as I thread my arms beneath his. "And there's nothing to be jealous of. You're the only man in my heart....and in my head."

"(y/n)." He says my name whisper soft, and kisses the top of my head. "I love you. I love you so fucking much."

We hold each other tightly for the longest time as we stand in the dingy hall. Arms encircling each other, my body pressed against his much taller one, and our hearts beating frantically in perfect sync.

I knew that spending the night with Arthur would be blissful. But I never in my wildest dreams expected it to be as heavenly as this.

End