#sensitive topic

During a Christmas dinner, Jabber goes out for a smoke and finds Fu there

They end up realising they might have more in common than they previously thought.

Sure! So I have breast cancer

And basically it went like this:

At a music festival there were a lot of side booths with petitions, meditation courses etc and one had silicone body parts for you to touch, they had fake tumours inside and this was for you to learn how to detect them

I didn't know how a breast is supposed to even feel like because all i knew from biology is that it's a bunch of glands stuck together so i thought that the texture is supposed to be uneven

Then one day when I was having a shower I decided to check and went: oh fuck

I instantly went to a family doctor

Then the doctor sent me to an oncologist

I had an ultrasound, the lump i felt were in fact 2 tumours close to each other right under my skin and it turned out that i had 3 more deeper that i wouldn't even notice {5 tumours in total}

Then everything was in a rush, i was given a high priority Oncology Diagnosis and Treatment card which basically gives you a higher priority between doctor visits {weeks where normally it would take months or years in the waitlist}

And this is the current list of all of the appointments etc I've had:

My advice is to look for any lumps and go to a doctor to be checked, it's better to be called paranoid than wait till the tumour grows, looks like a third breast and it's too late

Yes, they're both important, but it feels like they're being treated as interchangeable (and it doesn't help that, again, the story from the comics was direct, and not just a metaphor).

{Please give me your orders.}

🚨This is not my official language🚨

{Chapter 1}

We were there at Lord Finlay's request...

To investigate an illegal casino.

The big gamble to summon the casino owner is over...

Now, we're just waiting for them to contact us.

Meanwhile, in an effort to gather as much information as possible...

Today, I was at the casino with Berrien again.

Berrien:

Hmm...

I've gotten used to the hustle and bustle of the casino.

Boss.

Are you playing poker again today?

I'm tired of that (that's bad for my heart).

Berrien:

Oh, really...?

I did play poker to my heart's content just the other day, didn't I?

Heh heh, but even so...

The boss looked absolutely magnificent during that crucial moment.

He was truly wonderful.

I hope to see you again someday...

I would love to see you like that again.

...Oh?

What's wrong?

In the middle of our conversation...

Berrien's gaze shifted away from me.

Following that gaze...

A short distance away, there was a young man who appeared to be a nobleman.

The young man's face was terribly pale...

He was staggering outside.

He looks visibly exhausted... It's a worrying sight.

Berrien:

Hmm...

He seem very exhausted.

...I'm a little worried.

Boss, may I follow him?

That's fine (I'll go with you).

We weaved our way through the gaps between the casino patrons...

We continue after the young man.

Stepping out of the casino building...

There was a young man sitting along the wall, his head bowed.

Berrien:

...Excuse me.

You look unwell. What's the matter?

When Berrien called out to him...

The young man raised his head, glaring at him.

A young nobleman:

...You can see that just by looking. I lost a lot of money at the casino.

Oh no...

What can I tell my parents about this debt?

Berrien:

Hmm...

It seems there's some kind of story behind it.

Would you mind sharing your story with me?

It might lighten your heart a little.

When Berrien said that...

The young man began to tell us his story little by little.

Apparently, the young man is the heir to a noble family... and was raised strictly by his parents.

He started gambling at casinos to escape the stress...

Before he knew it, his debt had ballooned.

A young nobleman:

If things continue like this, I'll disappoint my parents.

At this point... I have no choice but to hang myself...

Berrien:

Please stay calm... Don't act rashly.

...It must have been so hard to endure that pressure for so long.

I understand why it was difficult to confide in your parents.

But...

You don't have to bear that burden alone.

The first step is to talk to someone.

There are surely people out there who will be on your side.

You can think about solutions later.

...Do you have anyone close to you who you could talk to?

A young nobleman:

...That is...

My sister, though she's married and lives far away now...

Berrien:

Then let's write a letter to that person.

...What do you think?

Does that seem doable?

A young nobleman:

...Uh, yes...

If it's just writing a letter...

But...

What should I write...?

Berrien:

Just write down your feelings honestly.

If you keep doing that, I'm sure... your mind will calm down a little.

A young nobleman:

....got it...

I don't know who it was, but...

Thank you for listening to my concerns...

Berrien:

Not at all...

I hope it goes well for you.

Seeing the young man bowing his head to him... Berrien smiled with relief.

Even in the eyes of the young man, who had looked utterly exhausted just moments before... I felt as if a little bit of light had returned.

After that, we escorted the young man back to his room.

Berrien:

Phew...

That should be alright for now.

Even the boss...

Thank you for watching over us until the very end.

Not a bad result (I'm relieved).

Berrien:

Yes...

I really think so.

He has recovered well... I can only hope that everything goes well.

This is your achievement (thanks to Berrien).

Berrien:

No, not at all...

I only helped him a little bit to move forward.

However...

Perhaps it was only because it was me that I was able to find him like that.

While searching for someone suitable to be a demon butler...

I became sensitive to people's despair, and emotions close to it...

The fact that I was able to notice his gloomy expression was...

Perhaps it's because of this quality of mine.

Sometimes I hate myself for only noticing other people's suffering...

Right now...

I'm genuinely happy that I was able to help that person.

Berrien spoke positively, but...

I sensed a hint of sadness in his expression.

Perhaps he...

He might be quite concerned about his sensitivity to despair.

Berrien:

Oh dear...

I ended up telling a rather gloomy story, didn't I?

Well then...

Shall we head back to our rooms now?

You're probably starting to feel tired from being in an unfamiliar environment.

Please relax with a warm cup of tea.

With that, Berrien seemed to change his attitude...

He greeted me with a gentle smile.

Hoping that no sadness was hidden behind that smile...

I decided to return to my room with Berrien.

{Chapter 2}

[Hotel Suite Room]

After that, we...

returned to our rooms without incident.

Outside, we were always playing the role of mafia members...

But once we stepped into the room, we naturally reverted to our normal way of speaking.

Berrien:

Aruji sama.

I will take your coat.

thank you.

Berrien:

No...

It's only natural for a butler to do that.

And earlier...

I apologize for telling you such a somber story.

I know you must be tired from this unusual request... and this wasn't really something I wanted to talk about.

I'll bring you tea and sweets shortly...

Please make yourself at home.

Berrien, his apologetic expression changing,

began preparing the tea.

He always tries to comfort me, no matter what... I was happy about his feelings, but...

The one who needs comfort right now is...

He's the one whose expression was clouded just a moment ago.

With that in mind, I decided to make a proposal to Berrien.

Hey, Berrien.

Berrien:

Yes...

What can I do for you?

Let me make you some tea today.

It's not that I'm being healed by Berrien...

I want to heal Berrien...

If I convey that to him...

Berrien wore a hesitant smile.

Berrien:

Aruji sama... thank you. I am very happy to receive your kind words.

However, I am a butler... I would like to be the one to comfort Aruji sama...

As expected...

Berrien, mindful of his position as a butler, showed a reserved attitude.

However, if you continue to hold back like this... you won't be able to heal him.

So I decided to use a slightly forceful approach.

It's the boss's order (please).

Berrien:

Huh...?

Oh, Aruji sama...?

Um, well...

Berrien seemed confused by my behavior, but...

He slowly sat down in his chair.

And as I busily began preparing the tea,

she looked at me with a somewhat pleased expression.

After that, I brewed tea while feeling Berrien's gaze on me.

I placed a steaming cup in front of him...

And added some sweets.

After that was finished...

I sat down in the chair opposite him so that it would be easier to talk to him.

Drink as you like (please, enjoy).

Berrien:

Yes... thank you.

I'll eat it.

From Berrien's expression, it was already clear...

The look of bewilderment had faded, and a hint of anticipation was beginning to show.

Then, holding the cup by the handle...

She brought the tea to her lips with a graceful movement.

Berrien:

……Heh heh.

What's wrong?

Berrien:

Oops... excuse me.

It was such a delicious and comforting cup of tea...

I couldn't help but smile.

The fact that this tea was brewed just for me...

makes me very happy.

It was such a gentle and wonderful taste that I could almost picture the face of the person who brewed the tea for me.

As Berrien spoke, his smile was very gentle,

and he seemed completely relaxed.

I was truly happy to have seen that expression on her face.

That's good then (I'm happy too).

Berrien:

Aruji sama....

Heh heh...

No, I should have called you "Boss" here.

After all, we are...

The Devil's Family.

When I told him that...

Berrien stared intently into the cup.

Berrien:

As you know, boss...

I've lived a considerable number of years and have been doing this job for a long time.

There are many difficult things about work...

Just like my encounter with that young man earlier...

Sometimes, you witness someone's sorrow firsthand.

Even after helping someone, there may be times when your heart doesn't feel at ease,

or times when you feel like your spirit is about to break.

However, as long as I serve you,

I will never forget how to laugh.

After all, our boss is...

The kind of person who can make someone so happy with just a cup of tea.

Berrien..

When I unintentionally called out his name...

Berrien turned to me and smiled.

Berrien:

...Thank you, boss.

I am happy to be able to serve you.

And, if it were possible...

Would you please give me one command?

An order? (What does that mean?).

Berrien:

Yes, I would really like to hear it from the boss's own lips...

I want him to say, "Serve me forever."

As Berrien said this...

He had a wonderfully happy smile on his face.

Seeing him like that...

I voiced my order to him.

Keep smiling by my side from now on.

Berrien:

.....!

Berrien's eyes, wide open... quickly narrowed with a look of delight.

Berrien:

...Understood.

I will gladly obey your orders.

Please allow me to continue serving the person who gives me such wonderful commands.

I hope to continue serving them forever.

Heh heh...

Thank you so much.

I am so happy to be able to serve someone more wonderful and kind than anyone else...

I am truly fortunate...

Saying that, Berrien smiled with a gentle expression, completely devoid of any trace of mafia-like qualities.

Faced with that smile, I...

"I will always be his master," I thought, without being ordered to do so by anyone. That's what I think...

(Knock knock)

Berrien:

Oh...

It looks like Lucas has returned.

Just relax (I'll take care of it).

Berrien:

Huh...?

But...

I stop Berrien from standing up with my hand.

...It wouldn't matter if the other butlers saw us.

In fact, they could even join us for tea.

Surely, I deserve a day to show my appreciation to the butler.

Thinking this, I opened the door to the room...

The person standing there wasn't Lucas...it was the young man from before.

A young nobleman:

Huh?

You are...?

........(Why are you here!?).

A young nobleman:

Um...

I came to thank you again for what happened earlier.

When I asked the front desk, they said it was probably this room...

"He's the boss of the Devil's Family, so be extremely careful,"

I was also told...

A mafia boss making tea for his subordinates?

He's surprisingly kind, isn't he?

Watching Berrien frozen in the back of the room, still holding the cup...

The young man clearly had a bewildered expression on his face.

To such a visitor...

There was only one thing I could say.

...Keep this a secret (don't tell anyone).

A young nobleman:

Uh, yes...

Of course.

Anyway...

Thank you so much...

As I watched the young man quickly leave,

I exchanged glances with Berrien again.

Berrien:

Heh heh...

How should I put this...

You saw something really inappropriate, boss?

...Keep this a secret (I'll keep quiet...).

Berrien:

Yes...

It's a secret just between the two of us, isn't it?

l tried to act as if nothing had happened and returned to Berrien's side, but..

The sudden shift from a moment of peace to a wave of anxiety... I could feel my cheeks burning.

I could just be looking in the wrong places, but I feel like there are not nearly enough fanfics addressing the fact that Arthur Morgan literally gets r*ped in the swamps…

I do understand it’s a sensitive topic to write about though, so I get why there is clear hesitancy to write about it in the fandom

But I need a fix-it fanfic or at least a hurt/comfort one where maybe he gets closure or overcomes his trauma with it. I think that would heal my soul because that shit came so out of left field, and Arthur only gets teased about it in game by Bill (yes, I do understand it’s realistic for the time period, that doesn’t make it any less distressing.)

.