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It was already dark as the train pulled into it's terminal station. The few remaining passengers got off and exited the station, nodding their thanks to the workers. Albert and Barok likewise left the train, the former carring his large travling case and the latter resting his right hand on the hilt of his sword.
Barok had found himself doing that at every station they came to. Even if his left hand was his more dominant one, it was less conspicuous to rest his right hand on the sword.
Whilst Barok had offered to carry Albert's case, his friend had insisted that he was perfectly capable of doing so, saying something about how he was more used to carrying it and would feel like he had left it behind if Barok was to hold it for him.
He was still slightly taken aback that Albert, with his self-admittedly quite lanky frame, could actually carry such a heavy case. When pressed for some form of explanation he had said that he worked part-time at the station helping load and unload cargo and coal from trains when he was free from teaching duties.
"Harebrayne!" A voice called out to them. Turning, Barok saw that it was a porter.
"Ah, Wivcare, Guten Tag! Oder besser gesagt gute Nacht! Wie gehts?" Albert replied, setting his case down to talk to the man.
Barok reached slightly for his sword, but Albert noticed this movement.
"Barok it's fine, it's just Wivcare." He said softly to him. Making a small gesture to leave his sword. Before turning back to the man.
They continued a conversation in German. Barok, with his limited knowledge of the language, could only partly understand it, but they soon stopped, bidding each other good night and Albert returned to Barok's side. He picked up his suitcase and led Barok out into the lamplit streets.
"Who was that?" Barok asked, after they had gotten out of ear shot of the porter.
"Handel Wivcare, he's works at the station and talks to me a lot, so we're relatively friendly." Albert began walking down a brightly lit street. "He doesn't mind me practicing my lectures when we're working."
"Do you teach in this town?"
"Yes, I'm a University professor. I teach physics and sometimes english, although I also can cover for biology and chemistry."
"I see."
They continued on in silence for a bit. Barok found himself glacing around at side alleys and anyone they passed on the street. Albert slowed down a bit to walk next to him. Perhaps as some way to reassure him.
To try and convince Albert that he was fine, Barok decided to ask him something else.
"Do you like living here? In this town, I mean."
"Hmm? Oh yes, I do! Bea and Otto live more on the outskirts so it's very nice to go and visit them."
"Bea moved here first, right?" Barok asked.
"Yes, I followed her in a sense, but I suppose it's just that being twins, we've never properly been apart. So with her moving to marry Otto, I couldn't exactly be left behind." Albert's face took on a nostalgic expression as he spoke. Combined with the soft yellow light of the street lamps, he looked very dreamlike.
"We're here!" Albert turned into the path of a house. It looked slightly larger than what Barok had expected Albert's house to look like.
"This is where you live?" Barok looked around at front garden.
"Yes! I live on the top floor and my downstairs neighbour is a very kind old lady who doesn't mind the noise I make at odd hours." Albert walked over to the door and rummaged around in his pockets for the keys.
"You only live on one floor?"
"Well it's just like renting in England, isn't it? Except I own it instead of renting." Albert looked slightly confused as he unlocked and opened the door.
"I suppose so." Barok followed Albert in, wiping his boots on the doormat. He waited upstairs outside the door to Albert's part of the house, as he locked the front door.
"Well, come in." Albert smiled as he held the door open.
~{◇}~
As Albert moved about behind him, making tea, Barok looked around his kitchen. The expected vases of flowers, gifts from Beatrice most of the time, where sat on the table and windowsill. They were surprisingly fresh, considering that Albert had been in England since before the exhibition started. But perhaps Beatrice had a spare key and refreshed them when Albert wasn't here.
There was a cork board on one wall, filled with various papers. A few looked like normal timetables for the trains and school lessons. Handwritten notes both in German and English were also pinned up. One written in a much neater script than Albert's scrawl he used for his own memos simply read 'TELL HIM!' in thick, underlined, block capitals. Smaller writing underneath it read 'Tell him what?' And a reply of 'Figure it out yourself Bertie.' Underneath that. With the piece of paper this exchange was written on having a floral border and the use of 'Bertie' , Barok assumed it was from Beatrice, with her being a florist and the affectionate nickname. Clearly whatever Albert needed to tell someone wasn't too serious, otherwise he would have been addressed as just 'Albert'.
The other things that took Barok's eye where some drawings clearly done by a child's or multiple children's hand or hands. The largest one was of them and their family, everyone having a little label beneath them to show who they were. 'Onkel Bertie' was written beneath who was probably Albert, and he seemed to be holding the hand of a child labeled 'Mich'. Albert always spoke fondly of his niece and nephew in his letters to Barok, and seeing how the other child was labeled 'Klara', the one next to Albert was Karly. Another drawing of a couple of sleeping mice had 'Klara' written in the corner so it seemed that both of them had a liking for art. It was nice to know that Albert still kept pet mice even after all these years.
"They're so talented aren't they?"
Barok snapped his head to his side to see that Albert was standing next to him, with a teapot in hand.
"It's a shame that Klint died before he had any children."
"What?" Barok snapped, harsher than he meant to, taken aback at this sudden non-sequitur.
"Oh, sorry! It's just that I feel almost selfish in a way when I ramble on about how Klara and Karly are doing in letters, so I sometimes wish that you had children or nieces and nephews to likewise ramble about." He paused, turning away from Barok and setting the teapot down on the table. "I sometimes think that your habit of waiting until you have enough to talk about to send a very long letter, is partly because I don't talk about much, or that my current life doesn't present much for conversation."
"Don't say that, Albert." Barok placed a hand on his shoulder. "Your letters are the highlights of my life. Pray forgive my own letter writing habits, they mean nothing about how interesting or uninteresting I find your life. I do enjoy hearing about your life, so don't feel get yourself down because of me."
"Yes. Yes, you're right Barok." Albert brightened up a little. "The tea's ready so prepare yourself a cup, how ever you prefer it."
As they sat down at the table, Barok hesitated at the sight of a jar of jam that had been set out. It was just a small gesture, but the way Barok's heart reacted to it, he would have thought that Albert had just declared some undying devotion to him.
"You remembered." He said under his breath.
"Hmm? What?" Albert looked up with his cup halfway to his mouth.
"You remembered that I put jam in my tea." Barok said, adding a spoonful to his cup and stirring. Not wanting to elaborate on why he thought to mention it.
"Oh, yes, that." Albert smiled awkwardly. "I wasn't likely to forget that. I'm sorry that I only have apple jam, though. It's my favourite, but the twins prefer strawberry so that's usually gone quicker than the apple is."
"No, it's quite alright."
They sat drinking their tea for a while, not saying much to each other, bar Barok complimenting the decorations. They seemed to have exhausted most conversation topics on the journey here, but even just being in the same room as Albert was comfort enough.
There were often times in university when they didn't do much except share each other's company. Albert would teaching his mice something and Barok would be reading one of the books Klint gave him. Neither of these activities required them to be in the same room, but, even if they didn't say anything, the other's company was welcome.
Once Albert had finished his cup he spoke again.
"Would you like me to lend you some clothes to sleep in? I'm not sure if any will properly fit you, but I thought I would be polite to ask."
"Clothes to sleep in?" Barok repeated.
"Yes, it's late and the trains won't start again until nine o'clock tomorrow and the first train that can take you directly to Calais won't arrive until ten thirty." He opened his mouth to say something but closed it, shaking his head slightly before trying again. "I first thought that you would accompany me as far as the border of France and Germany and then turn around so you could get home quicker."
Barok had completed forgotten about returning back to England. "I must confess that was my original intention, but it seems that I got carried away and followed you home completely." He paused to consider his options for night clothes. "I will be fine if I sleep in my shirt and undergarments. I am not in the habit of moving much in my sleep, and with my other layers I should not think anyone would notice if my shirt was slightly crumpled."
"Are you sure?" Albert asked. "It's not exactly the warmest time of year."
"If I get cold I can always use my cloak as an extra blanket." Barok placed a hand on his cloak that was draped on the chair next to him.
"Oh no Barok please don't! I think my dressing gown could fit you, it's quite lose around the arms and we're roughly similar in height!" Albert had leaned forward with his hands on the table and Barok worried that he would spill the contents of the vase.
"Where will I be sleeping for tonight?" He asked, wishing to change the subject to something that wouldn't end with spilled flowers and a broken vase.
"Right, you'll be in the guest room. Sorry if it's a little untidy, the twins are usually the only people who stay there. But it's got a double bed, so it would probably more similar to your own bed than mine." Albert had settled back into his chair and poured himself another cup of tea. He offered the pot to Barok, who took it and poured himself another cup.
"It's a double bed? Do they share it?" Barok asked.
"Yes, they're only seven, so I don't really think they mind, but when they get older they'll either be trusted enough to be left home alone or I'll give one of them my bed and I'll sleep on the sofa." Albert stood up after waiting for Barok to finish his cup. "Would you like to go to bed now? Or is there anything else you would like to talk about?"
Perhaps it was the note on the cork board that made Barok hesitate in his decision. There were a great many things he still wished to talk about with Albert, not least of which being his realisation about his feelings towards him. But that wasn't exactly something he could bring up in good conscience. Albert was a very kind man by nature, but, suppose he quite reasonably became disgusted with Barok upon hearing that his friend loved him and kicked him out? Where else could he go in this town? An inn or hotel might still be open at this hour but could he properly book a room for the night?
"Barok?"
Albert's voice brought him back to the present.
"Are you alright? You looked distracted."
"Don't worry Albert, I'm perfectly alright, just tired."
"Sleep it is then!" Albert picked up the empty cups and tea things. "I'll wash these in the morning." He put them by the sink, rinsing out the cups to stop them from staining and then showed Barok to where he would sleep tonight.
~{◇}~
Barok sat at the desk in his room. A mirror had been set up on the desk and he had found a hairbrush in the wardrobe. He was contemplating whether to properly wash the small amount of pomade he had in his hair out, or just to brush it out and hope for the best.
There was a small knock at the door and a "can I come in?" From Albert.
Barok glanced over at his clothes, that were currently on the desk next to him, and then down at what he was wearing. His shirt and breeches weren't the worst thing Albert could ever see him in. And considering they lived together for most of their university lives, this level of undress would not exactly be scandalous.
"Yes, I'm decent." Barok replied, not getting up from the chair but turning to face the door.
Albert opened it and Barok saw that he was in a pair of light pink pajamas, with a dressing gown in a shade of navy blue over his arm.
"Again, I don't know if this will fit you, but it's good to have options." He draped the dressing gown over the foot of the bed, before turning to leave. "Goodnight Barok." He said with a small wave.
"Goodnight Albert." Barok replied, waving back slightly.
Once the door had closed, Barok went to try on the gown.
It was a short in the arms and wouldn't go as far over Barok's chest as it he would have liked, but for an additional layer it was welcome.
He returned to the desk, deciding to brush the pomade out of his hair before sleeping, as to not look dishevelled in the morning as well as, to get accustomed to wearing something that smelled like Albert. It was an odd feeling to be acutely aware of someone's smell and therefore presence, only for them to not be there when you looked around.
Laying in this dark, unfamiliar room, Barok allowed himself to properly consider what he had done today. Whilst ensuring Albert's safety was his original intention, he couldn't exactly claim that following Albert all the way back to his home was the best thing for his safety.
Barok couldn't very easily disappear into a crowd, and if one of the Reaper's pawns was tailing them, Barok had essentially handed them Albert's address. If Albert was killed during the night, Barok would no doubt be immediately arrested as the most suspicious party in this affair.
The possibility of something happening and him not noticing due to the short distance between Albert's room and his own, had gripped him.
And before he quite knew what he was doing he stood in front of Albert's door.
Barok paused, his hand halfway to the handle. He sighed at this action. Nothing had happened yet, there was no need to burst into his room. Barok knocked instead.
"Albert?" He half hoped that Albert was already asleep, but the faint noise of shifting bed covers confirmed otherwise. "Would you mind if I talk to you?"
"Is everything alright Barok?" He was greeted by a concerned expression that made him want to say that everything was fine and go back to try and sleep.
"Pray forgive me Albert, but I've been struck with the fear of something terrible happening to you whilst I sleep." He stopped, wishing to think about how to properly phrase this. "As such, I would like to request that we sleep in the same room."
"Yes! Alright, do you want to get your bedding, while I set up mine on the floor?" Albert said with surprising ease.
"Ah, no. I was thinking more along the lines that I would sleep on the floor, this is your house Albert, it would be rude to make you sleep on the floor." Barok insisted.
"Well I'm not going to allow you to sleep on the floor either." Albert fixed him with a stare, not offering any alternatives, and Barok couldn't think of anything to say in response to that.
After standing there for what felt like an hour. Albert was the first to speak again. "I suppose we could both sleep in the bed in your room. It should be big enough for both of us."
"Ah. Yes. You're probably right." Barok turned around to head back. He couldn't exactly refuse this proposition as it was what satisfied both of them. The alternative arrangement was to have them both sleep on the floor, but considering that Albert had slept in a prison cell recently, Barok didn't wish to deprive him of a proper bed.
"If you were worried about being followed by someone I should think that we'd be fine. No one else should have followed us off of the train. But you don't get paranoid without reason, so..." Albert trailed off, seeming to speak more to himself.
~{◇}~
Back in the darkness of his room, Barok allowed himself to relax a little bit. The rhythmic sound of Albert's breath next to him and the slight warmth that emanated from him, comforted Barok. Even if it that comfort was derived from his desire to remain as close to Albert for as long as possible.
"I'm sorry for bringing Klint up earlier. I know that's a subject you don't want to think about." Albert murmured.
Barok turned slightly to look at Albert. Who was laying on his side, back to Barok. "No, it's alright, ...how is your family?"
"My family?" Albert shifted to look at him. "Oh, you mean my parents and other siblings! As far as I'm aware they're fine."
"As far as you're aware?" Barok repeated.
"Yes, Bea and I were disowned, I think it must be almost eleven years ago now." He spoke so casually, as if discussing the weather.
"That's partly the reason why I needed to take out loans for, well, that whole tragedy. And I'm very grateful that you offered to pay my debts, but please don't force yourself to do anything else like that! Anyway I could have asked for some money or machinery parts, you know, seeing that Father's company sells engines and other mechanical parts. Well I suppose it's Daniel's company now, but it seems like he's stuck under Father's thumb until one of them dies."
"You got disowned?" Barok asked when Albert stopped for a moment, sitting up. "And didn't think to tell me? We were still at university if it happened nearly eleven years ago."
"I-I didn't fully believe it until I had already left." With what Barok could see in the darkness, as his eyes became accustomed to it, Albert looked sincere enough. "It was Bea's wedding when it fully dawned on me what exactly Father thought of us. It seemed he forbade everyone from attending. Cathrine managed to make it, but that was only because she was holidaying in France at the time. Her letters are the only reason Bea and I know anything about how the rest of our siblings are doing."
"If you don't mind, why were you two disowned?" Barok asked, the hazy memories of Albert and sister turning up unannounced at his and Albert's shared flat late one night, returning to the forefront of his mind.
"Well Bea expected something like this to happen, Father never liked Edelstien. I don't know why, he never gave a set reason for why he disliked Otto. Perhaps it was that he's German, or that he's a jeweller, or that he works in the costuming department of a theatre. We never actually knew." Albert wrung a corner of the duvet as he spoke.
"Were you then disowned in turn for supporting Beatrice in her decision?" Barok prompted.
"Oh no, I was disowned because Father thought I was in love with you."
Barok was ashamed at how his heart reacted to Albert's words. He spoke so casually, as if he was perfectly content with the accusation his Father had given him, maybe because the claim wasn't false.
"Could... you explain why he thought that?" Barok somehow managed to get out in a somewhat neutral tone.
"You remember the year I invited you to my family's Christmas party, because you invited me to yours last year?" Albert started.
Barok nodded in response. "Yes, but I fail to see how that could lead to such a conclusion on your father's part."
"Bea and I act similarly, according to him. Which isn't untrue, but- well." He paused for a moment. "Apparently, according to my Father, I act the same way around you as Bea does around her then fiancé."
Albert's use of the present tense was not lost on Barok.
"And do you?" He asked, maybe a little too quickly. "Love me, I mean."
"... I, I'm not sure." Albert said, but he quickly continued. "I mean, I do care deeply for you Barok! It's just that I've never had many friends, so I don't know if what I feel about you is any form of romantic attraction or just platonic affection." He sat up, drawing his knees up to his chest. "With the current data I have it's clear that I trust you with my life, I mean-" He gestured around. "I'm the one who suggested this set up and I don't think I'd let anyone else into my house like this. Or be so open about these things with them."
His last sentence was hardly more than a whisper, but Barok heard it. Not yet fully knowing how to respond, Barok gently took one of Albert's hands in his own.
"I've been so concerned about your safety because I feel like you're one of the last good things in my life." He said plainly. "The realisation that I was doing everything that I was for you because I loved you, came upon me as I finished the paperwork for your prosecution. I couldn't bare the thought of someone genuinely trying to pin you as a murderer. I know that it would have been dangerous for me to allow you to remain in England any longer than necessary, but part of me wanted you to stay. To be close to you again. So that's why I followed you this far, knowing that I couldn't properly stay. A selfish desire to be close to you."
Upon finishing what he wanted to say, he found Albert looking up at him, expression unreadable.
Of course he shouldn't have so boldly declared his love for Albert like that. What on earth was he thinking? Perhaps he should find a hotel somewhere and stay there for the night.
"Forgive me, Albert. I'll leave-" He moved to get out of the bed, letting go of Albert's hand.
"Wait! Barok don't!" Albert half lunged forward and wrapped his arms around Barok's torso. "Please stay." He said, forehead resting on his back. "Please." He repeated, adjusting himself so that his forehead was on Barok's shoulder, and his arms tighter around his waist. "I, I love you too."
"Yes. Yes of course." Barok half sighed, half laughed.
"What's so funny?" Albert asked, as Barok turned himself around to face him.
"Nothing, Albert, I'm just relieved."
Albert only chuckled slightly in response.
"Now what's so funny to you?" Barok asked, once again taking Albert's hand in his own.
"Nothing's funny, you're just smiling." Albert gazed affectionately at him. "I haven't seen you do that in over a decade."
"Ah, well-" he automatically turned away hiding his mouth with his free hand.
"Don't act like that," Albert laughed, gently pulling Barok's hand away from his mouth. "I like seeing you smile." And he brought Barok's knuckles up to his lips, kissing them, before letting their hands sit between them.
"Albert."
"Yes?"
"Would you mind if I kissed you?" Barok asked.
"Of course!" Albert replied. "Although I'm not really well versed in this-" but he was cut off after Barok had tilted his chin upwards, and brought their lips together.
It was short kiss, nothing Barok hadn't done before in his admittedly few relationships. But this time Albert was the one to hide his mouth.
"That was- that was nice." Albert said quietly into his fingers, as they broke apart.
"Nice?" Barok prompted.
"Barok I've hardly ever done this before, don't make fun of me!" Albert pushed him slightly.
"Would you like another one?"
Albert's already flushed face seemed to get even redder. "Yes please." He said.
And Barok obliged him.
"Was that also nice?" Barok asked after they separated again.
"Barok. Like I said, I've hardly done this before, you don't need to tease me." Albert only looked slightly annoyed.
"You've never kissed anyone?"
"No, I have! I'm not that hopeless." Albert grabbed Barok's shirt.
"And how long ago was that?" Barok said, removing Albert's hands from his shirt and holding on to them.
"Ich brauche Ihnen nichts zu sagen, Herr Staatsanwalt." Albert mumbled.
"What?"
"I don't have to tell you anything."
"So you haven't kissed anyone for a while, then." Barok answered for him. "I'm beginning to doubt you ever had sex."
"You think I've ever had sex?" Albert laughed. "I'm honoured you think so highly of me. But I've never had an interest for sex. Am I missing out on anything?"
"In my opinion, no." Barok said. "I've never much cared for it either."
"But you've had it?" Albert prompted.
"Yes."
"What's it like?"
"Albert if you had any sort of writing impliment, would you be taking notes?"
"No." Albert replied too quickly.
Barok raised his eyebrows.
"I wouldn't!" Albert also said too quickly.
"It's fine, I suppose. Most of my previous relationships ended due to my adversion to sex." Barok briefly let his mind wander back to his previous relationships. "But, if you share my, disinterest, let's say, for sex then I think we'll be fine."
"Yes, we'll be perfectly fine." Albert said, settling down and resting his head on Barok's shoulder.
"Actually, Albert could I request something?"
"Hmm?" Albert looked back up at Barok.
"Could you," he adjusted himself so that his head rested on Albert's chest. "Hold me like this? I've wanted to know what it was like."
"Oh, yes, of course." Albert brought his arms around Barok. "Would you like to sleep like this?"
"Yes please."
~{◇}~
It was strangely quiet when Barok woke up. Even if there were only four servants currently in his employ Barok would expect to hear some distant noise of conversation or humming as the maids went about their morning tasks.
As he reached for his pocket watch that sat on the bedside table, it occurred to him that he was not in his bedroom at home, but rather in Albert's guest room.
Looking down, he found Albert asleep on the pillow next to his, it seemed that they had drifted apart slightly in the night. There was some early morning light that streamed through a gap in the curtains, making Albert's hair look like it was glowing slightly. Barok brushed a loose curl out of Albert's face, but quickly retracted his hand at the small twitch Albert made. Thankfully he didn't wake up.
Barok returned his attention to his watch, it read about half five, but he had been told last night that they were roughly an hour ahead in Germany, so the actual time was about half six.
He slipped out of bed and got dressed. His shirt didn't seem too crumpled and his hair hadn't seemed to suffer any ill effects. He was brushing his hair, when Albert stirred behind him.
"Barok?" He said, the sound of bed covers shifting.
"Good morning, did you sleep well?" Barok turned in the chair to look at Albert.
"Yes, very. Sorry if I kicked you at all, I've been told I'm a restless sleeper."
"No I appear to be fine."
"Oh good." Albert sat for a moment with his eyes closed. Dispite his usual boundless energy, it seemed Albert took a while to shrug off sleep. "What time is it?"
Barok looked down at his watch again. "Roughly twenty five to seven."
"Right." Albert rubbed his face. "What time did I say the first train that goes to Calais arrived at?"
"Ten thirty, I believe."
"Alright." Albert got up, stretching his arms, before putting on his glasses. "Are you hungry? I'll make us some breakfast, just let me get dressed first."
~{◇}~
They were at the station five minutes before the train to Calais was due to arrive. With the hustle and bustle of the station, no one took any notice of Barok's arm hooked around Albert's. Nor did anyone see the quick peck on the cheek Albert gave him before Barok got onto the train.
Barok searched for Albert on the busy platform from the seat in his compartment, finally picking him out and waving as the train pulled out of the station. Albert waved back, walking, then running, alongside the train until he reached the edge of the platform and waved until he eventually slipped out of Barok's sight.
It was a silly, romantic thing to do, but Barok couldn't deny that it was charming in the way only Albert could be. It pained Barok to part with him, but he had promised to come and visit for the Christmas holidays. So their parting wasn't as permanent as it had first seemed.