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Arthur Havisham drunkenly stubbled into his small studio apartment room where he stayed above the pub brandished with the name ‘The Three Cripples.’
He had called this apartment his home for the week following his departure from his previous far wealthier dwellings. He had left his home in a flurry of rage after his father’s will was read, which revealed without explanation of the reason his father had left all of his fortunes, his stocks, and his entire brewing company to Arthur’s sister, Amelia. Excluding a measly ten percent share that was left to Arthur as a monthly allowance. He was enraged, it was meant to be his. All of it by birthright was his and yet here he was barely a penny to his name. He was filled with blind rage and had made a vow to himself that he would make his sister pay. After all, it was his birthright. The only male heir to the family, it was his right to inherit the family fortune, not his sister. Amelia was sweet and always favored by their father, and when she refused to recant her ownership of the inheritance that was when Arthur left the estate claiming he no longer had a home. He knew that soon enough he would find a way to get all that was originally meant to be his. All he needed was a plan, and with the help of an old friend, Meriwether Compeyson, he did in fact come up with a plan. They would have Meriwether woo her, have her fall for him wholly and entirely, then he would convince her to release her ownership of the company to Arthur. It had started well enough, all was going according to plan, that was until last night. That night Amelia held a business party for the company's board of advisors and investors and Arthur since he technically still had a share in the company was in attendance. He had clearly ordered Meriwether to keep his distance, but lo and behold he appeared and made quite the spectacle of the whole ordeal. He took a brash risk and insulted Amelia. He was meant to be wooing her and Arthur thought that negging her was doing quite the opposite for his sister has intelligence and is of high standing, she wouldn’t fall for something so stupid and obvious as that.
Arthur looked toward his bed as he felt himself about to collapse but laying there now with a smug look on his face was his friend, Meriwether Compeyson. Seeing the tall brunette, whom he had called his friend smugly sitting on his bed filled him with a sense of frustration beyond belief. He had betrayed his trust, he had gone back on his word, he had promised that he wouldn’t attend the festivities according to Arthur’s wishes.
When Arthur spoke his voice was rough and he sounded exhausted, “I said you were not to go, I said clearly-”
Meriwether chuckled disbelievingly as he interrupted Arthur, “I know what you said.” He sighed, “Oh~ she loves you Havisham.” He pushed himself up from the bed walking toward Arthur, who was trying to steady his gaze on the other man. “She believed you when you said your argument was over. Her step was lighter when she walked away.” He clapped Arthur on either of his shoulders, “She adores you, truly.”
The hour was late, and Arthur was exhausted, the day had been far too long and Arthur had indeed far too much to drink, he no longer wished to hear about his sister’s love for him, even if it was true, “I want to go to sleep, I don’t feel well.”
He attempted to walk towards the bed but Compeyson held him firmly in place, his voice growing stern and serious, “Are you wavering? Losing your nerve?”
Arthur shoved him away, he replied just as firmly, “No.” But a slight twitch of his eye and weaver to his voice betrayed his true feelings. He was exhausted and didn’t care about the money anymore. Well, he did, but at the moment all he truly cared about was drinking himself into ignorant bliss. Arthur turned from Compeyson’s side and walked to a set of drawers placed against one wall. A lit candle was set atop it and a mirror hung on the wall above it. He braced himself against the dark stained wood, his legs feeling weak.
Compeyson turned towards him, asking thoughtfully, his brow furrowed, “Why did your father not leave it all to you?”
Images flashed in Arthur’s mind, “I don’t know.” His voice wavered further as he fought down the memories of that dreadful night.
Compeyson stepped towards Arthur looking at his back as he drew closer to him, “Did you quarl with him?”
A slight shake of Arthur’s head, his voice growing thick as he fought to hold back the tears that brimmed his dark eyes, replying again, “No.”
“At the party…why were you crying?”
Arthur looked up and met Compeyson’s gaze through the mirror, his jaw clenched, making it sound as though it was difficult for him to speak, “I wasn’t.”
“Why did your father stop loving you, Arthur?”
When he didn’t respond Meriwether roughly grabbed him, turning Arthur to face him. He shoved him back against the chest of drawers, restating firmly, “Why.”
Shocked by Compeyson’s sudden outburst, it was a moment before Arthur registered what was happening. Arthur’s brown tear-glazed eyes sparkled like galaxies in the dim candlelight. He looked deeply into Compeyson’s crystal blue ones for only a moment, tension rising in the room. They faltered for a moment as he leaned forward sighing softly, his dark eyes stealing a glance at Compeyson’s lips.
Compeyson’s eyes widened slightly as he stepped back in shock. His mind was racing as to what this meant. Without a word, Compeyson now knew all he needed to know about his dear friend Arthur. He didn’t even have to ask, to be sure of the truth, Arthur had given it away in his inebriated state. Arthur watched as the realization of what he truly was played across Compeyson’s face without an ounce of reservation. A small huff of laughter came from Compeyson as he nodded to himself, stealing a glance at Arthur who had averted his gaze and turned from his friend.
Arthur braced himself against the chest of drawers, he sighed, speaking just loud enough to be heard, “Oh~ God.” His figure was hunched over the drawers. He didn’t dare to look in the mirror. It was worse than meeting his friend's glance again; he didn’t want to see the reflection of himself in the glass. He was ashamed of who he was and now someone knew his secret.
Compeyson turned slightly from Arthur with another small chuckle, “This is good, this is very good.” A devilish smile found its way across his features as he turned from Arthur and walked towards the bed.
“What is?” Arthur asked as he quickly whipped any tears that had escaped his eyes and ran down his face. He turned towards Compeyson, leaning back against the drawers again, “Our plan is ruined, you would have turned her against you with the way you treated her today. She may be a woman but she’s not stupid.”
“You may not be able to see how this plan will work, but it shall, you just have to trust me. All you have to do is exactly as I tell you to.”
Arthur stepped towards him, anger rising in him again, “You’re giving me orders. You do not dictate to me.”
Compeyson scoffed as he turned towards Arthur, before looking down at himself tilting his head to the side smugly as a sort of shrug. He pulled his white dress shirt from his body, revealing a fit physique, he crumpled up the piece of fabric as he threw it to a random spot on the floor of the small room, “Why did your father stop loving you, Arthur? Hm, ~?” He stepped towards Arthur, who looked back at him, a look of horror in his eye. His gaze shot downward at the other man’s athletic build and Compeyson continued in a devilish tone, “Did he find out something about you?” Arthur couldn’t bring himself to answer the man’s inquiry. Compeyson smirked down at him, brushing a small strand of his hair that had fallen in front of his forehead out of his face, “I want a bath, see to it, won't you?” He nodded towards a pitcher of water.
Arthur followed his gaze and slowly moved to collect what would be needed for the man to bathe. His pride was already crushed enough, the inheritance that was rightfully his given to his sister instead, now the threat that Compeyson might reveal the truth about him to the public was all very real. His family name would be dragged through the mud and it would ruin everything their family had worked so hard for. The shame would bring to their name, he’d sooner die than let that happen, for his name was all he had left.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arthur’s cousin Matthew had come from America. He had heard the news of his uncle’s passing and wanted to come to pay his respects to him and offer any help he could in regards to the family company. Arthur had gotten in far too deep with Compeyson and he was losing control at every turn. More often than not he felt as though Compeyson was simply helping himself, using Arthur, using Amelia, using everyone. Originally, Arthur believed that Matthew could have been a hurdle in their plans but since that night when Compeyson, Matthew, and Arthur had gotten drunk and dared each other to jump from one rooftop to the next, only for Compeyson to sabotage one of the roof tiles, which almost led to Matthew’s death, Arthur was reminded of his own mortality. Although Matthew was unaware of Compeyson’s intention, he saw the man as his savior as he was pulled up from the edge of the building, saved from falling. Arthur now knew that Compeyson was very much willing to murder for the chance of seeing their plans come to fruition. Arthur would get his inheritance one way or another, and yet Arthur never believed it was worth murder to do so.
Arthur feared for his life while in the company of the man he once called his friend, he packed his chest with all that it could carry and was ready to leave his apartment. He would be long gone before Compeyson called on him. All of that was interrupted though when Matthew came to him, in his apartment. He wanted to thank Compeyson for saving him again but seeing Arthur’s panicked state he was concerned. Arthur wanted more than anything to confess to him. He wanted his help, he begged for it, nearly brought to tears at the vision of his salvation that came in the shape of his dear cousin Matthew. He held onto Matthew’s coat sleeve tightly as he pulled him inside the small room, he started by trying to explain what a horrible mistake he had made and that he needed help.
Matthew had always been the truest and kindest of men he had ever known and was always willing to help a friend in need. Just as he was to inquire about what Arthur meant Compeyson came into the room. Arthur’s eyes shot to him, his chest tightening, the words caught in his throat as he looked up at Matthew wordlessly begging him for help. Matthew turned to Compeyson and said, “Arthur tells me that he is in trouble with a rather unsavory creature, we must help him.”
Compeyson looked between the two men, Arthur knew he was trying to tamper down his anger but his voice didn’t give anything away, “Arthur? Is this true? Of course, we must help, anything you need at all.”
Arthur couldn’t say anything more and simply dismissed it and soon after Matthew excused himself for urgent business. The door closed behind Matthew and Arthur could only watch as his only chance at freedom from this devil left out the door without Arthur in toe. Leaving him to the mercy of Compeyson. Arthur shot to his feet from where he sat down on the bed as Compeyson closed the door, locking it behind Matthew. He turned to Arthur and spoke with a tone of suppressed rage, “How quickly you forget how low you were when your father’s will was read. Don’t forget, I can make you lower still.” Arthur stepped back from him, drawing closer to the small window, the distance between the two men growing. He looked Compeyson’s figure up and down slightly as he advanced quickly towards him, “The day will come when you can’t thank me enough, and I will revel in it.”
Arthur held his gaze, looking deeply into his icy blue eyes, his voice wavered slightly, “You stand to profit too.”
“I’m not the one who’s desperate to claw back his dignity though.” He had backed Arthur back against the wall positioned next to the small window, trapping him in place, “Am I?” Compeyson’s eyes shot down to Arthur’s lips for a split second and spoke with a serious and endearing tone while looking deeply into Arthur’s eyes, his brows furrowed as he brought his hand up to cup the left side of Arthur’s face as he restated, “Am I?”
Arthur breathed in sharply as Compeyson’s thumb gently caressed his cheek, his chest felt tight again, he averted his gaze from the other man, looking past Compeyson and into the dingy dirty studio apartment. With his eyes brimming with tears again he brought them to look at Meriwether’s face as he breathed out shakily. Compeyson’s fingers drew circles on the side of his neck in a comforting manner as he cupped the side of his face, but his words were a dagger to his heart, “Just remember, I know your secret and if you don’t do exactly as I say, soon the whole of London will know the proud Arthur Havisham is a sodomist. It’ll bring shame to your late father and dear sister’s name and we wouldn’t want that now would we, my dear Arthur.” He patted the side of his face gently with a small smile before turning and walking to the chest that Arthur had packed with his clothes. It sat by the doorway and Compeyson lifted it, throwing it to the bed. He ripped open the case and grabbed the clothes within and began strewing them all about the room, “Remember your place Arthur… beneath me.” He turned and left without another word.
Arthur stumbled forward slightly, his knees buckling. He brought his hand to his mouth trying to muffle the sob that wrecked through his chest. His hands shook violently as he pulled himself to the bedside table, grabbed a half-empty bottle of whiskey, and downed another third of it.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arthur woke quickly down the busy city streets, he called out to Meriwether, “I need to speak with you.”
The taller of the two men looked back at Arthur as he continued walking, his cane in hand, “Not now, I’m busy.”
“Busy with what?!” Arthur asked in a tone that reflected what-could-be-more-important-than-what-I-wish-to-tell-you-at-this-very-minute.
“I’m busy planning a wedding, my dear friend.”
Arthur paused in his tracks, his heartbreaking, “You can't be serious, you’re going to marry her. You’re going to marry Amelia?”
“God willing, and it seems to be so.” Compeyson offered him a small I-told-you-so smile.
“But you can’t.”
“And why would that be?” He raised a questioning brow at Arthur.
“I won’t allow it,” Arthur said firmly. It was one thing to court his sister for a time, a simple trick. But marriage. That was too far. He couldn’t allow this serpent to ruin his sister more than he already had.
“You can’t stop me, Arthur. I’ve made up my mind. As has she. We’ll be married by the end of the month.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I’m afraid I am.”
“I’ll tell her, everything, the plan, you and I, I’ll tell her everything.”
“You will?” He asked his brows raised questioningly in surprise.
Arthur nodded assuredly, “Yes.”
Compeyson titled his head for a moment, trying to restrain his anger in the public space. He grabbed Arthur’s forearm closer to his elbow roughly and dragged him to the side of the street, knowing he wouldn’t be able to conceal his anger for long. He shoved him into a narrow path between two larger brick buildings, speaking roughly through clenched teeth, “Like hell you will.”
“You’ve gone too far. I want my money but she doesn’t deserve this.”
“Compeyson looked down at Arthur’s lips for a moment and moved forward as if to kiss him, and Arthur stepped back his back hitting the wall. “You’ll even tell her about you?” Arthur looked at him his brows knit together as he slowly took in the other man’s features as he continued speaking, “If you tell her about me, the truth about yourself will be brought to the light as well... Will you be able to do it? Is that what you want Arthur?”
“She’s my sister. She loves me, regardless of all I’ve done. She’ll still love me and welcome me with open arms.”
“And yet you love me, don't you, my dear friend.”
Arthur didn't answer at first, clearly caught off guard by the question, stuttering slightly he asked, “What?”
Compeyson asked, “Am I wrong? Am I?” He cupped the side of Arthur’s face rubbing his thumb gently against Arthur's bottom lip.
Arthur breathed in sharply, unable to draw back any farther as he was trapped against the wall yet again, “Stop this, someone will see, it’s still light.”
“Then it’s best you stay quiet.”
Compeyson held Arthur’s writ tightly as he leaned forward catching the other man’s lips in his own. He kissed him deeply stealing the air from his lungs. Arthur struggled to push him away unable to achieve any leverage over the other man in front of him. Meriwether pulled back from him slightly, “If you even think about telling her again, I’ll kill you. Do you understand me? I will marry her and get control of her affairs and then the company. If I'm feeling charitable enough I’ll even let you keep your measly ten percent allowance. Or perhaps I’ll pay you a visit from time to time and that will keep you content enough. Hm? Although you’re not a woman Arthur, you sure know how to keep life interesting. If you wish to reconcile your relationship with Amelia, so be it, but any relationship you nourish with her, I will be involved as well. Best get used to the idea, my dear friend.” Compeyson placed one last drawn-out kiss on Arthur’s lips before stepping back from him. He began straightening his clothes, “But I suppose I shall soon call you brother as well.” A devilish smile clawed at his lips. His piercing blue eyes bore holes into Arthur’s very soul, “Come to the wedding if you so choose. Amelia asked that I invite you if I was to come across your path. If you chose not to come then I shall see you sometime after. I suppose I'll find you in a drunken stupor…like usual.” He put his tophat on and straightened it, “Good day.” He took his cane into his hand and straightened as he stepped out into the busy street yet again.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Compeyson, cheers!” Arthur lifted his glass as he stumbled forward. In the candlelit study of his family home.
“You’re drunk.”
“Yes I am,” He said triumphantly. Nowadays Arthur was sober far more rarely than he was in a drunken stupor. He raised his glass up as a pantomime to clinking glasses, “I came into some money you see, just like you told me to-” Arthur was frustrated and exhausted. He was angry at everyone, his sister, Compeyson, but most importantly, himself. He felt like an idiot, letting himself trust Compeyson for so long, putting up with his mistreatment. He was going to confess everything, put things right, he would bring the plan to light, and he’d do it directly to his dear sister, Amelia’s face. He would reveal the truth to Compeyson’s identity as a conman. A conman that for these past weeks had worked tirelessly to gain Amelia's trust and fortune for Arthur. But Arthur could see the error in his ways and felt that this was as good a time as any to relieve the truth. He would sob at Amelia’s feet and beg her forgiveness and she would give it. His speech was slurred as he spoke, “Sold my possessions to a very unsavory character, even more unsavory than you.” he pointed to Meriwether before drinking the last of his drink and throwing the crystal glass onto the ground, shattering it entirely. Arthur dug his hands in his pockets and unceremoniously threw bank notes and coins onto the settee and plush carpeted floor, “Ten pounds less, I had a drink you see, but it’s all there, you can count it.”
Amelia looked between the two men, bewildered, “I don’t understand. What is he talking about?”
“I don't think he knows himself,” Compeyson stated as though he was bored and slightly annoyed.
“That’s right, sorry, secrets, shh~” Arthur chuckled as he brought his finger to his lips in a hushing motion.
When Amelia spoke, her voice wavered as though she was being brought to tears, “Arthur, I thought we were on good terms again, what is this?”
“Well, I must be such an embarrassment to you, dear sister.” His brows furrowed to emphasize what he was saying, “My being the son of a cook and all.”
“No,” Amelia said earnestly.
Arthur chuckled to himself as he drank from the glass in his hand again, “Cooks son and a trollop, quite the pair aren’t we.”
“That’s enough,” Compeyson demanded.
“He’s drunk, he doesn't know what he’s saying.” Amelia defended.
“Come, Arthur, let me take you home.” Meriwether grabbed his arm roughly, lifting him to his feet.
Arthur twisted out of his hold, “I live here, and it’ll all be mine again won’t it, Compeyson.” He said his name with the most disdain he could muster, “All mine again, we're a match for the trollop aren't we Compeyson, you and I.”
“I’m sorry Amelia, I can't let him talk to you like this.” Compeyson advanced toward him.
“Oh that’s right old chap, you tell her,” He smiled devilishly at the other man as Compeyson reached him and grabbed onto his jacket collar, and dragged him from the house.
Amelia gasped at the sudden action, “Please, don't hurt him.”
Arthur could only laugh as he was dragged outside into the freezing night air, “Wait, did you get the money, I left it inside.’ He giggled uncontrollably.
Once they reached the gate at the edge of the property, Compeyson slammed him back against the stone wall, I’ll talk to you later.” He then shoved him outside of the gate and had it locked behind him. Locking Arthur out of his own home. Arthur sniffled as he stumbled away, hoping to make it back to his room at the pub.
It was much later in the night before Compeyson returned to the apartment Arthur was staying at. He burst into the room, he was fuming with rage. As the door slammed shut behind him Arthur tried to sit up and see who had entered. He was currently laying on his stomach on his bed, facing away from the door. The room reeked of booze and Arthur's speech was still rather slurred, “Oh Compeyson, there you are.” He laid back down and giggled to himself for no reason, the drink making his head light and dizzy. Arthur mumbled to himself rattling on a string of nonsequiturs, giggling from time to time as Compeyson placed down his cane to the floor and pulled his dustjacket off throwing it over the back of a chair. He looked down at Arthur at the bed and then looked at his chest set at the foot of his bed. He stepped up to it and pulled out a thick leather strap from the buckle.
Arthur’s chuckle was abruptly cut off as Compeyson came up from behind him and grabbed the back of his neck pinning his head down against the bed. He drew back the leather strap and brought it down hard against Arthur’s back. Leaving him to lash out wildly, twisting almost inhumanly as he attempted to reach back and stop Compeyson. He brought down the strap again. Arthur struggled but in his drunken state, he was easily subdued.
As Compeyson bought down the strap again, a cry was drawn from Arthur, his eyes watered and his skin burned. The strap was brought down again and Arthur was reminded of how his father, no more than seven months before his death, had found him in bed with a young man. His father had beaten him with a cane, he had made sure not to his face so that his injuries wouldn’t draw attention. However, the pain that Arthur’s injuries caused him was still fresh in his mind. How fear and anger ravaged his body each time he saw his father after the incident, he prayed for the old man’s demise and it came much faster than Arthur ever thought it would. Arthur could only remember him as a cruel old man, people mourned him but Arthur rejoiced in his demise.
Compeyson whipped Arthur for a final time before he threw the strap angrily against the wall. He stepped back, pulled his waistcoat off, and sat down in a chair placed by the fire. He watched as Arthur’s body curled into itself on the bed. His hand came to his mouth, muffling the sound of his weeping as he whimpered. A searing pain clawed its way over his back.
Compeyson smiled at the sight before him, then turned to look into the flames in the hearth.
The next morning came quickly, awoken and much sobered, Arthur sat upright in bed as he was attempting to pull his white billowy shirt over his head. His body was stiff and the smallest movement brought searing pain to his back and shoulders, the smallest graze sending excruciating pain throughout his body. Five red welts raised on his back, the wounds had bled and smeared over his back which was now dry.
“You’re awake.” Compeyson’s voice startled Arthur, he turned sharply regretting it instantly when pain shot up his back. Compeyson sat in a chair as he read from the morning’s paper. He spoke plainly, with all seriousness, “Last night you were in no fit state to take this in, so I will say this now, and I will say it just the once. If you ever do something like that again in front of Amelia, I will kill you. Do you understand?” His voice was steady and unwavering, he was serious, without a single hint to his tone that he might be joking.
When Arthur didn’t respond fast enough, Compeyson stood from his seat, speaking firmly, emphasizing his words, “Do you understand!”
“Yes.” That was all Arthur managed to say. His eyes darted about the room and only made eye contact with Compeyson for a moment.
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The day was coming to a close and although Arthur wanted to find a pint to get lost in he was in too much pain to go downstairs to the pub. That was one of the reasons, but another reason he was hesitant to leave was the fact that Compeyson was sitting in a chair by the fire reading from a book. Compeyson looked up from his book, looking to Arthur as he bent forward, washing his face in a basin placed on the bedside table. He looked at his friend's back, the red marks on his back were slightly visible through the thin cotton fabric. Although he didn’t feel an ounce of regret for his actions towards Arthur, his voice sounded earnest in his worry for him, “How’s your back?”
Arthur clenched his jaw tilting his head for a moment as he turned from the basin, “Why should you care?” He threw the wash rag he had used to dry his face onto the bed.
Compeyson's eyebrows raised slightly, “You must see what you did was unforgivable.”
Arthur’s voice trembled, “You beat me.”
“And for that, I apologize… but you know my temper better than most Arthur and you gave me good reason to lose it.” He motioned with his hand to emphasize what he was saying.
Arthur ignored what he was saying, “This morning you threatened my life.”
“Yes.” Compeyson nodded, mostly to himself, “and I have given it much thought since. I am here to offer my hand to put it all behind us.” He extended his hand to the other man but Arthur didn’t take it.
“The truth is, I don't know what you’re up to anymore.”
Compeyson shrugged defensively, “I am trying to undo the wrong you have suffered as you have asked me to.”
Arthur looked at him out of the corner of his eye, unable to meet his gaze fully, “I asked you to gain my sister's confidence, to convince her to renounce father’s will or at the very least to better my terms.”
Compeyson stepped towards him, speaking endearingly, “Which is what I am doing.”
“Then why does it feel as though you are becoming master of Satis house, not I.”
Compeyson brought his hands up to Arthur’s arms and comfortingly rubbed them up and down, “Everything I do, I do it for you-” Arthur rolled his eyes trying to avoid looking at Meriwether, although he was trying to catch Arthur’s gaze, “and for our friendship. You made me angry, because, in a single act of drunken madness, you very nearly ruined everything we have been working so hard towards.” Arthur brought his eyes to meet Compeyson’s beautiful blue eyes. They seemed to speak the truth. When Compeyson spoke, Arthur no longer could tell when the man was being honest or not. “To put you back in your rightful place of Satis house and the Havisham estate.” Compeyson smiled as he stepped back from Arthur holding out his hand to the other man, “We started this journey together Arthur, let us finish it together.”
Arthur hesitated, he eyed the other man’s hand for a moment, unsure of what to do, but he shook his head slightly as he sighed. He took Compeyson’s hand and shook it firmly. Meriwether smiled down at the other man, their eyes meeting, Arthur was unable to read him, and that scared him.
Compeyson pulled his hand from Arthur’s and turned from him to a set of drawers, pulling a small metal tin from it, “Now, take off your shirt.”
Arthur looked at him, his eyes slightly widened, “Why?”
Compeyson approached him with the tin in hand, he took the rag from the bed, “So I may dress your wounds, I wish to put right what I have done to you.”
“No need.”
Arthur turned from Compeyson, but he was stopped almost instantly by his hand, “I insist.”
Arthur looked at him for a moment before he brought his hands to the edge of his shirt. He tried lifting it over his head but the slightest movement was agony. Compeyson saw how Arthur clenched his jaw, muffling a groan, and he let out a strained breath. Compeysno placed down the items onto the bed and turned back to Arthur, “Here, let me.” Compeyson helped Arthur remove his shirt, balling up the fabric he threw it to the floor. He looked down at Arthur’s bare chest and waist. The man was of average build, he didn’t have an athletic build and was on the slightly more slender side. Compeyson motioned toward the bed, “Sit down.”
Arthur did as he was told, turning his back to the other man who sat on the bed behind him. Compeyson wet the rag in the basin’s water and cleaned away the dried blood on Arthur’s back. He gently rubbed at his skin trying not to apply too much pressure. Whenever he got closer to the marks Arthur would clench his firsts or his jaw trying not to make any noise, “I am sorry, Arthur. You do know that do you not?”
Arthur swallowed dryly, “Yes, of course.”
Compeyson opened the metal tin, it was filled with a cream-colored ointment. He scooped out a small amount with his finger and gently rubbed the ointment over the reddened shallow cuts on Arthur’s back. When he first touched him, Arthur drew in a sharp breath through his teeth, which brought a devilish grin to Compeyson’s face. He wondered if when Arthur’s wounds healed if they would become scars. He hoped they would, although Arthur wouldn’t be able to see them unless he looked in a mirror, Compeyson would know they would be there. Arthur would be marked, for the rest of his life, he would carry around this mark. No one else would know, as they would go about their normal daily routine. Compeyson however, would know, and that was enough for him. He bit his lip slightly at the thought of it all. The candlelight played against Arthur’s pale skin as Compeyson continued to clean his wounds. The dim light made the marks appear darker than they truly were. Compeyson looked at the back of Arthur’s head as he heard a small sniffle come from him. He looked his figure up and down for a moment before slowly moving forward, seemingly unbothered as he brought his hand to Arthur’s shoulder. He leaned forward slightly and kissed Arthur’s left shoulder blade.
As Compeyson softly placed kisses on Arthur’s shoulder, Arthur could feel the man’s brunette hair tickle his skin. As the man kissed up his shoulder, it finally registered in Arthur’s mind what he was doing. Arthur shuddered, trying to pull away from him, “What are you doing?”
Compeyson spoke unbothered as he continued to litter Arthur’s skin with gentle kisses, holding him tightly in place, “What does it look like I am doing, Arthur?” Compeyson moved slightly closer to the bed, holding Arthur close to him, he kissed Arthur’s neck. He bit at his skin, bruising it easily. He pushed at the other man’s head trying to push him away from his neck. Compeyson spoke in a hushed voice, “Do you forgive me yet?”
“Yes, I already told you. Stop this now.
“I don’t believe you.” Compeyson held Arthur back against his chest. Arthur turned his face from him, which only allowed Compeyson to kiss his neck further including the side of his face. He brought his hand around Arthur’s body and groped his chest with his large hand.
Arthur shifted uncomfortably, “Stop this Compeyson, your joke is not amusing.”
Compeyson brought his hand up to Arthur’s face, forcing the other man to look at him, “I am not joking. I am simply showing you how sorry I truly am.” He went forward and caught Arthur’s lips with his own. He kissed him deeply, holding the back of his neck tightly not letting Arthur back away from him. Compeyson forced his tongue into the other man’s mouth. Arthur brought his hand to the other man’s chest pushing him away, causing a strangled noise to come from his mouth as the kiss broke. He looked at Compeyson horrified, it played clearly over his face, “What in the world has gotten into you?”
“I’m giving you what you want, aren’t I” He moved forward catching the other man’s lips again, he cupped the side of his face with his hand. “Kiss me, Arthur, you know you want to, you’ve wanted to since the moment we met, I can see it in your eyes, no one knows you better than I. Not even your own sister”
Compeyson brought his hand to the buttons on Arthur’s trousers and began unbuttoning them. Arthur’s gaze shot down to Compeyson’s hand, “What are you doing?”
“Use your head, honestly Arthur, think for a moment, you’ll be able to put it together, I’m sure of it.”
Arthur threw himself forward stumbling to his feet out of Compeyson’s reach. Glaring in horror and anger at him as he quickly buttoned his trousers, “Just because I may find the male figure preferable to a woman does not mean that I find pleasure in every man in this country.” Arthur grabbed his balled-up shirt and pulled it over his head ignoring the searing pain in his back.
Compeyson’s eyes widened slightly not expecting his outburst from Arthur, he may have pushed him too far, “I see. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to”
Arthur grabbed his jacket roughly and stopped turning back to Meriwether for a moment,
“Do you love me?”
Compeyson paused for a moment, when he spoke his tone was sincere as he stood in front of Arthur, “Of course. Arthur, you are my dearest friend. Of course, I love you.”
Arthur rolled his eyes as he smirked, he didn’t believe him, “But you are not in love with me.”
“Arthur.” Compeyson grabbed onto his bicep.
Arthur shrugged his hand off, “Are you in love with Amelia? There’s no need to pretend, everyone loves her. She's intelligent, and has enough beauty to spare, not to mention… she’s terribly wealthy.”
“Perhaps I am.” Meriwether was getting impatient with him, “I haven't given it much thought truthfully... And you Arthur?”
“What about me?” Arthur sneered.
“You should be married soon, find yourself, someone, to love…a wife perhaps.”
Arthur sighed in a standoffish manner as he pulled his coat on haphazardly, “I thought by now it would be painfully clear to you of all people why I can never marry.”
“You must, even if you do not wish to. You must have children if you wish to carry on the Havisham name.”
“And who said I wished to carry on my father’s name? Let it die with him.”
Compeyson stepped closer to Arthur and straightened his collar and tie in place, “But the family name wouldn’t die with your father. It would die with you. Wouldn’t it, my dear friend.” He looked down at Arthur with a small wicked grin.
Arthur swallowed drily as he stepped back away from the other man and pulled the door to the room open, mumbling under his breath as he went, “So be it.”