As Arthur made his way back home, his steps heavy from the long day, something caught his attention.
The mouthwatering smell of burgers and fries wafted through the air, hitting him like a warm reminder of simpler times.
His stomach growled audibly, the sound almost painful as it reminded him just how long it had been since he and Charlotte had eaten something decent.
"Glurgh---" his stomach protested louder, almost as if it was urging him to do something about it.
Arthur slowed his pace, his eyes locking onto a small burger stand across the street. The grill sizzled, the scent of freshly grilled meat mixing with the aroma of fries.
The burgers looked good—no, too good.
His instincts told him to walk away, to save the money for something more important, but as he stood there, watching the cook flip the patties, he made a quick decision.
"Charlotte hasn't had a decent meal in months. We deserve this," he thought.
Approaching the man behind the counter, Arthur cleared his throat.
"How much for two burger meal deals?"
The burger man didn't even glance at Arthur's ragged appearance, simply focused on the sizzling patties.
"That'll be $6 for the burger, fries, and a drink of your choice. Two will run you $12," he said, flipping the meat effortlessly.
Arthur nodded, pulling out his wallet. "Alright. Make two for me, and add all the salads on top."
The man grinned, clearly one of those people who didn't care what a customer looked like.
"Coming right up!" he said enthusiastically, piling lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles onto the burgers as they finished cooking.
Arthur stood there, waiting in silence, letting the warmth of the food preparation process fill him.
Unlike others, this man wasn't judging him by his worn-out clothes or tired expression. Here, money was all that mattered.
"Young man, here you go," the vendor said cheerfully as he handed over the two neatly packed meals.
"That'll be $12, cash or card?"
"Cash."
Arthur pulled out the cash, handing over $12.
"Thanks! Come by whenever you can!" the burger man said, his voice friendly, his work already moving to the next order.
Arthur didn't respond, just gave him a nod before turning and leaving with the warm bag of food in his hands.
The scent of the burgers filled the air as he walked, almost making him hungrier than he already was.
His thoughts drifted to Charlotte, imagining the smile she would have when she saw the food.
They hadn't eaten something like this in what felt like a lifetime.
Soon, Arthur reached the alleyway that led to their small, hidden basement. He unlocked the door quietly and stepped inside.
The space was dimly lit, as usual, but it was warm, at least. Charlotte was awake, lying in bed, her fragile frame propped up slightly on the worn-out pillow. Her eyes lit up when she saw him walk in with bags in his hands.
"Arthur... where did you get so many things?" she asked, her voice full of curiosity, her eyes sparkling as she tried to take in all the items he was holding.
But then, something else caught her attention.
The familiar, but distant, scent of burgers hit her, and her eyes widened with excitement.
"Did you bring... burgers?" she asked, her voice filled with a rare gleam of joy that Arthur hadn't seen in a long time.
Arthur nodded, a small smile creeping onto his usually expressionless face. "Fries and a drink too."
Charlotte's excitement grew, the sight of real food—food they hadn't had in months—making her forget, just for a moment, her illness.
"You've been getting more money recently, haven't you?" she asked, coughing softly but still smiling.
He nodded again, keeping his voice casual. "Yeah, I got promoted. So I'm making more now." It wasn't exactly a lie.
The missions through the system were his new job, in a way, and they were paying more.
Charlotte didn't question him further. She knew Arthur wouldn't waste money on anything frivolous, and she trusted him completely.
He had been taking care of her for so long, sacrificing everything for her, that she knew if he was bringing home something like this, he had thought it through.
Before Arthur could even hand her the bags, Charlotte looked at him with slightly shy eyes.
She fidgeted, her hands clutching the edge of the blanket.
"I— I need to go to the toilet," she whispered, her voice barely audible as she avoided his gaze.
"Can you help me?"
Arthur's expression softened. He nodded without a word, walking over to her bedside. He crouched in front of her, offering his arms.
Slowly, gently, he lifted her from the bed, cradling her like a princess as her frail arms wrapped around his neck for support.
Charlotte's head rested against his chest, and for a moment, they both just breathed.
As they moved, Charlotte couldn't help but notice the familiar, comforting scent that always lingered on Arthur.
"He smells so nice..." she thought, her nose brushing against his shirt. It was strange—no matter how hard he worked, how long he stayed outside in the cold or rain, Arthur's scent never bothered her.
In fact, she found it calming, a scent that made her feel safe. And it wasn't just her. Arthur had noticed it too.
"She smells so nice..."
Even with the illness draining her day by day, Charlotte's natural scent was light, warm, and pleasant.
It always struck him, how her presence, despite everything, made the air feel a little lighter.
Reaching the small bathroom tucked away in the corner of their basement, Arthur carefully placed her on the toilet seat.
Charlotte's hands remained steady on his shoulders as she sat down. He turned away, closing his eyes as he faced the wall, giving her privacy while he looked up at the ceiling.
The small bathroom was barely big enough for the two of them, but they had long since grown used to this routine.
The sound of her garments rustling filled the room as she undressed.
Arthur stood, patient, waiting. Charlotte knew she could lean on him, not just physically, but for everything else too.
He was her strength, in every way.