【Mi Ying】that side

Chapter 8 8.

"Before the procedures are completed, you two guys should reflect in the detention room first."

Waxiu lowered the shutters of the detention room indifferently, and the two perpetrators of the fight were separated from the people outside the door.

"Sorry to bother everyone in the police station again."

Honda paid the bail at the reception, and while waiting for Elizabeth to print the documents for him, he bowed apologetically to the police officers present: "I'm also sorry for delaying everyone's off-duty time."

"You're welcome, this is our duty." The German police officer, who had been silent all this time, rarely spoke.

"You're unlucky too, what good is it to rent an apartment to those two bastards?" The Turkish policeman looked down at the Japanese with a sneering face, and the latter straightened up with no expression on his face.

Honda said "again" and Sadiq said "jerk".Arthur listened carefully.

Then there was an awkward silence.

Elizabeth sealed the document and handed it to Honda.Matthew stood up, opened the partition window of the detention room, opened the door and said to the people inside, "Come out, both of you."

Everything seems to be done with ease.

Arthur looked at the two young men who had been released on bail through the tempered glass of the detention room.The Russian stood up first, and he strode out of the cell, completely ignoring the still-moving Americans next door.

Ivan looked down at Arthur, the bruises on his face did not affect his smile: "Look... some things will never change anywhere."

"I, I don't understand..." Arthur couldn't understand the meaning in the other's eyes, but Ivan didn't answer anymore, he just picked up the corner of the scarf, wiped away the dust and blood from the corner of his mouth, and went straight around Arthur and Honda , The pace of leaving almost brought a gust of wind.

Honda still stood there without looking sideways.It wasn't until Alfred walked out of the detention room that he whispered, "This time it's too much." The Japanese, who has always been restrained, rarely expressed condemnation in his tone.

The American had no apology on his face, and he had put his glasses back on—it seemed Matthew had helped him find them.He raised his arm and rotated it twice, then moved his neck, and the bone made a "click" sound.Then he turned his gaze to Arthur and asked, "Are you all right?"

This should be what I want to ask, right? !The American's lack of focus repelled Arthur's original depression, and he could hardly laugh or cry.However, when his eyes touched the scars on the other party's neck and mouth, his heart still felt a pang of pain.

"My work is over. Come to my apartment tonight and I'll help you re-dress."

Arthur almost sighed when he said this.In order not to cause misunderstandings by others, he quickly added: "The first aid kit in the police station is too small."

"Naturally compatible."

"what?"

"The reason why I got into a fight with Ivan Braginsky."

"...I didn't ask again."

"But you want to ask."

Arthur was taken aback, but there was no rebuttal: "... What kind of reason is this to fight."

His tone was tinged with anger, and he was still cautious in manipulating the sterilized cotton on his hands: "It's mainly superficial abrasions, but fortunately no bones were injured. You can still stand up in that situation, and it's quite tolerable."

"At least I trained in the army before."

The American who had already taken off his coat, who was sitting in Arthur's living room, shrugged, and the British immediately held him down with the other hand: "Don't move around." In exchange for Alfred's snorting smile Voice.

I don't know if it's an illusion, but the scars on the American's body seem to be lighter than when they were in the police station.Maybe it was the reason for wiping the dust off, Arthur thought with raised eyebrows.

"That Braginski guy is quite ruthless." Alfred turned his head, his eyes followed Arthur's hands that were disinfected for him.

"I'm sorry." Recalling the scene at that time, Arthur felt guilty again, "If I didn't distract you..."

"I chose to be distracted," Alfred interrupted, raising his face so that his eyes met the Englishman's gaze directly.

"Don't apologize," he said emphatically, snorting almost in Arthur's face.

The British realized that they seemed to be too close at the moment, and the burning heat seemed to be contagious to him.

In a panic, he opened the distance between the two by half a step, then threw the cotton swab into the trash can, took out the anti-inflammatory ointment from the medicine box, and threw it directly on the other party: "You can handle the rest yourself."

"Oh!" The latter readily took it and started to do it himself.

Arthur opened the stool on the other side of the dining table and sat down. He had a lot of things he wanted to ask, and he vaguely felt that the Americans didn't want to go into details.

He tried hard to find an entry point for the topic: "I didn't expect that Captain Waxiu would grant bail. I thought this kind of behavior that disrupted social order should be locked up for at least a few days. And Ivan also has a plot of injuring people with sharp weapons."

Arthur knew that his words were partial and even violated professional ethics.Regardless of whether Alfred was injured or whether the opponent had a weapon, it was wrong to participate in a fight.But since it was already non-working hours, and out of the standpoint of...a friend, the British police officer shifted the focus of blame.

"That Swiss police officer knows that detention doesn't work," the American finally laughed, "and this time I did it first, so it's not too bad."

"...Is it customary for Honda to be in charge of bail?"

"Yes." Without remorse.

The expression on the American's face was too righteous, which stunned Arthur.After a while, he managed to say: "You habitual offenders..."

He blamed himself secretly.

Since working in a small town, he has been almost paralyzed by the easy pace of work and friendly people, and has somewhat forgotten the rigorous training he received in the police academy and the attitude a policeman should have when facing emergencies.

His reflexes were neither calm nor quick.He even felt flustered and blushed when he saw Alfred fell to the ground, and rushed up to grab Ivan—if it wasn't for the look in his eyes at that time, he might have raised his fist and punched him directly... Such a self, Probably even more embarrassing than the two who were suppressed to the ground later.

Arthur hung his head in frustration, his brows somewhat hidden by his front hair.

Alfred's fingers tapped lightly on the table.

"But in the future...it shouldn't be like this again."

The dejected British police officer looked up at the American in amazement. The other party still had a calm expression on his face. He met Arthur's eyes without hesitation, and his blue eyes seemed to be full of tenderness.

"I promise," he said.

The overly sincere words actually made Arthur nervous, and his eyes were so hot that they seemed to be able to penetrate him.His heart beat violently.He knew he was blushing, so he could only look away awkwardly.

Alfred scratched his head: "Well... I'm so hungry, do you have anything to eat here?"

The American held the green apple that Arthur had washed in his hand, and looked at the residence of the British with great interest.

This was the first time Arthur let Alfred into his residence.To be precise, this was the first time he invited outsiders into his private realm after coming to the town.

Alfred made no secret of his curiosity. He stood up and wandered around in the small living room: "It feels so fresh! Although the area is the same as the place where I live, but the layout is different, it feels like entering a different world. .” He turned his head, “Do you mind if I visit your room?”

Arthur considers himself a person with a strong sense of boundaries, as Alfred said before, "always on guard against something."He is friendly to strangers, but always keeps his distance.However, seeing Alfred injured today, his first thought was how to remedy and appease the other party's emotions.

At first, he just thought that this American was bright and enthusiastic, with a wide range of interests, and his personality was completely different from his own, which also made him interested.And after that, my reaction and emotional ups and downs have obviously surpassed curiosity and friendliness.

"It's up to you." The Englishman gave permission in a low voice.

It's not like me.It shouldn't be like this.he thought silently.

Alfred studied Arthur's room with a happy face: the neat and simple plain furniture, night lights and desks, and the small potted plants arranged on the window sills and table corners all showed the owner's preference for simplicity and elegance.The most conspicuous thing is the small bookcase next to the bed, which is different from other cold and clean configurations. The books on the bookcase are not only heavy, but also retro.

He leaned forward and looked carefully: "It's the first time I've seen such a thick book in someone's home. So you like this kind of literature. Do all British people like Shakespeare?"

"...It's okay."

Arthur's voice was muffled.He wasn't sure if Alfred's words were judgmental and sarcastic.

"I also read his play in high school. It was rehearsed in class, and I had an important role."

"...what character?" If it was Romeo, then it would be an opportunity to tease him, Arthur thought.

"Uh, the heroine's cousin who was killed?"

Arthur imagined that scene and couldn't help laughing out loud.

The American raised his eyebrows, as if he was still trying to remember the plot: "It can be regarded as an important role that promotes the protagonist's relationship. In my impression, the famous line of the protagonist seems to be the phrase 'Juliet, why are you Juliet?'"

"It's 'Romeo'. That sentence pattern is what the heroine said when expressing her feelings for the hero." Arthur quickly corrected, "Besides, this is not a famous line."

"Really." Alfred smiled nonchalantly, "Then would you mind reading me a famous line that you recognize?"

It seems that American youths have a positive attitude towards his hobby, and their tone is very sincere.

This made Arthur find it difficult to refuse.He thought for a moment, then lowered his head and muttered: "Then you must first promise...not to laugh."

"Of course!" The American's eyes lit up.

The British took out the bedtime book from the bookshelf, held it firmly in his hands, and opened the page between the flower bookmarks.

"My favorite passage is here." He rubbed the yellowed paper with his hands, and slowly recited:

"Just as the lightning/before it was time to speak/was gone

dear / good night

This bud of love / Blown by the summer breeze

When we meet next time / will become a beautiful flower

Good night!

May peace and tranquility / be in your heart / be in mine. "

The poetry brewed in words and words made Arthur relax, and his voice was softer than usual.After stopping to read aloud, he couldn't help sighing softly, and when he raised his eyes, he found that Alfred was staring at him intently.

Arthur's face turned red, and he raised his hands awkwardly to push his temples behind his ears, trying to hide his shyness a little.

"Wow..." The American also sighed, "When you read it like this, I always feel that it is different from the Romeo and Juliet I knew before. It is very beautiful." He praised sincerely.

"...Thank you." Arthur cleared his throat.

In the past, he always felt that many of his hobbies were not popular, so he rarely communicated with others.It is indeed quite a wonderful experience to be accepted or even praised by others for the things you appreciate.

Plus... the one who praised him was Alfred.

When Alfred was sent away, it was already dark outside the door, and the cool night wind blew by.

Under the dim night light in the corridor, Alfred's thick blond hair was blown by the wind, and occasionally brushed against the conspicuous scars on his face.

Arthur's face was still slightly hot, he tried to calm himself down, looked at the young American and said, "Good night, Alfred."

The other party had put his coat back on, and his blue eyes looked back at him: "Good night, Arthur."

"Anyway, stop causing trouble."

"I promise." The tall young man laughed.

"Okay, then really... good night."

"OK, good night."

Arthur didn't close the door until the figure disappeared at the fire escape.His thin back was pressed against the door panel, and he looked up at the empty ceiling above the living room.

Alfred's voice was so easygoing.A wave of warmth and nostalgia, which seemed to be mixed with sadness, resurfaced again, drowning Arthur in an instant.

Good night.

Maybe say goodnight a thousand times, and still be reluctant to part.