The Fragile Understanding [Arthur]

[Deleted]

our good and evil both are brief

P

erhaps a meeting with a sneaky, rebellious mutant over stolen vodka was not how he had envisioned his next purchase. It was a risk that could have landed him with a ban from the Underground or a punishment from his fellow guards, and Arthur with a fate even worse. He still wasn't sure how he and his company managed to go without getting caught, but the memory continued to delight Ivan. It might have been the warm and fuzzy influence of imbibed alcohol, but he couldn't turn down another opportunity like that. Arthur planted an idea in his head and Ivan hardly hesitated before making the purchase.

Arthur wasn't his first mutant, and he could tell that his contract wasn't the first for him, either - it saved Ivan from having to chip the Englishman and left him warmly thinking that Francis must have been a wonderful owner. That as well as the other mutants Ivan had owned, however, did not matter in that moment. His transaction was irreversible. He had a lot of things to look forward to. He wasn't certain if Arthur could tell, but his heart was drumming to a rhythm of elation and anxiety. It was clearly written on the Russian's expression as he led Arthur out of the Underground and into the brighter outside world, intending to drive him straight home. They had a lot to cover.

When they did arrive at his residence, Ivan kept a firm but harmless grip around the Englishman's lower arm. It was the first hint of his subtle possessiveness. With the approach of summer and gracious temperatures, Ivan hoped that his home wouldn't look unbecoming. He was used to its average quality, but... well, he could assure that it was ultimately better than the cells mutants were used to. It was much like Ivan to prattle about how he could provide his mutants with sufficient shelter and warmth, of which Arthur likely got an earful on their way there.

He let go of Arthur only once they were inside and the front door was shut behind them. His smile hadn't faltered, giddy and helpless in its attempt to hide his underlying nervousness. The tips of his fingers were touching together as he began, sweeping a look of violet eyes around the room in thoughtless indication. "Well, this is it."

Oh, he hoped that didn't sound dull. He had done this once before, of course he could do it again. A clear of his throat accommodated his inner self-scolding, gathering confidence with which he would present himself as an experienced owner and authoritative figure.

He had already decided that rules were the most important to begin with. With a palm resting gently between Arthur's shoulder blades, he brought him a few steps forward. They were currently standing in the center of his living room, the first room to be familiarized by Arthur - the outlying rooms would have to be toured shortly afterward.

"Because we haff already talkt ant sharet a drink together, I do not want thinks between os to be too formal ant strict," he started, dropping that hand away from Arthur. "Bot I do haff to start with my rules." Both of his hands shifted to clasp together behind his back, and he held a steady gaze with the shorter blond man. He was attentive to see whether Arthur would listen - that, of course, would be a good step to tell whether he should have any trouble getting his mutant to follow such a set of rules. As he spoke, he addressed each word with calm volume and a gentle tone. "I will ask that you are respectful to thinks in my house - ant to me, too. This is your home too now, bot I woult like you to clean op after yourself or put thinks back where you fount them if you use anythink. I do not like to hear swearink, either. I am aware that you were taught to behafe arount humans, so most off this is not necessary for me to say."

He paused, violet shifting aside to view the kitchen close by. "The house is not very big, it shoult not take me lonk to show you arount. While I do, I will explain everythink else I haff to say, da?" His head nodded once, as if he were answering that suggestion himself, and stepped forward. "Onless you haff somthink to ask, first." He didn't expect that to be the case, perhaps because he was eager to proceed.

Word Count: 753
Tags: Arthur W. Kirkland
Notes: idk i didn't want to pile everything up at once ff, that would have been a lot of talking in this post

by worldie for jen