A/N: First attempt on a USUK story. Hope you guys will like it. :b

Chapter 1.

The New Arthur

"You will be fine without me."

The same words circled in the Englishman's head as he strolled down the cold streets, his scarf tugged securely around his neck, and covering his mouth and nose. Only his scowling green eyes and tangled blonde hair was visible and his hands dragged further into his coat as the chilly wind started to pick up.

Maybe he should have thought twice before leaving his boyfr-... ex-boyfriend's house in anger so far away from his own home on such a cold night, but he had seriously thought that he would come running after him. Although, when he thought about it, it was no wonder he wasn't pursued. Arthur had said some rather nasty words before he left. But still.

It was always the same. And he had really liked this guy too, but he was always dumped for the same reasons. He knew what his problem was, he just didn't know how to fix it.

The reason was, that he didn't like to get to intimate with people and the blonde Brit had never said the words, 'I love you' to anyone - who wasn't blood-related.

A lover was expected to touch the other with affection, it was … an unwritten rule. Arthur just couldn't do it, and he had no freaking idea why. He liked sex. He had liked the guy. He seriously did not know his own bloody problem. But when he tried to do it… it just looked forced and fake.

In the beginning the other guy was always very understanding and 'don't want to force him to anything he isn't comfortable with'- and all that sweet-talk, but sooner or later the person would grow tired of the lack of physical contact in the relationship and move on. Understandable, but such a bloody pain.

The Brit had turned down a desolated alley, only the sound of faint music from a club nearby pierced the air. His eyes flared in annoyance. He would surely die alone if this dreading pattern continued. He clenched his fists. Why was he the one who should change? Just because he was dating such... such...

"BOLLOCKS! WHATEVER! I don't care! Being alone is just fine; I don't need a bloody touchy partner! As if anyone cares anyway!" he roared out, swinging his gloved hands in fits of anger in the quiet alley, making the mist soar out of his mouth. "I don't need anyone!" Still scowling and fuming, he collapsed on a bench and closed his eyes, eyebrows still furrowed in self-loathing.

"Come on, I want to get drunk with you," a male voice said after a few moments, and Arthurs eyes peered open.

"Fine," his partner said and took his hand without hesitation. "But you know, this is a lousy date."

Arthur sat up straight on the bench, letting his hands rest in his lab as he watched the couple. The gay couple. They were walking together, hand-in-hand and never breaking eye contact. And the taller one kept smiling fondly at the shorter one. Perfect example of a proper relationship, right there. Arthur scowled at their perfection.

Then his emerald eyes darted to where they were going. 'The Double M', a gay bar. Arthur sat for a moment and looked at the flickering sign. He had never been to a gay bar before, mostly because he didn't like himself when he was drunk and also found the place too up-beat for his taste.

He sat on the bench for almost 15 minuets and weighted his options. Maybe this could be what he needed, too do something completely un-Arthur-ish. Maybe he was the one who should change and not his partners.

Finally the blonde Brit stood up from his seat. What did he have to lose? This night was already buggered. It could hardly get any worse.

So he entered. Gulped. And wanted to run out again.

The place was ponding with American pop-songs, and in the middle of it all were a few –very drunk- guys dancing on a self-invented dance floor. The walls were lit with some kind of neon light that flickered in various colors, making people's dance-moves look almost robotic.

Arthur stood in the door a little and bit his tongue. This wasn't his style at all. He liked traditional bars with a quiet atmosphere and- oh screw it! He was not chickening out now! It was too late to like women again anyway.

The place was not huge, despise the many people, and Arthur had to elbow his way past a dancing pair to get to the bar. The man in the bar was definitely handsome, with long blonde hair, blue eyes, a hint of a beard and seemed to be the only one who wasn't completely drunk at this place, making him stand out a little.

"What can I get you?" he asked, with a hint of a French accent and smiled at Arthur, as the short Englishman took a seat by the bar.

"A coke please…" Arthur said flatly, but then stopped himself. He couldn't continue like this. No. The 'Old Arthur' would order plain coke, and the Old Arthur would be afraid to touch his own boyfriend, unable to say 'I love you' and get dumped after a week. No! The New Arthur was different. The New Arthur went to gay bars and ordered real alcohol goddammit.

"A coke?" the French bartender questioned, surely confused of the debating glint in the Englishman's eyes.

"With rum! Rum and coke," Arthur hurried to correct, and let his fist rest on the counter, determination shining from his green orbs.

"Sure," the bartender said, a little amused by the tiny blonde's orthodox behavior.

The New Arthur turned in his chair while he waited for his drink and let his eyes trail around the bar. He didn't see any good ones. And it looked like most people were already a couple.

"Here you go, mignon," the bartender said and placed his drink on the counter. Arthur turned in his chair, and glanced up at the French.

"Arthur," he corrected automatically and took a few bills from his wallet, and placed them on the counter. The French scooted them up and winked at Arthur before going to take another guy's order.

The Brit took the drink and slowly took a sip. There was probably more rum than coke in his drink judging by the flavor, and it made it taste quite gross in his opinion, but he managed to get some of it down regardless.

"Excuse me," a voice suddenly sounded and Arthur's eyes flickered to the voice.

"Ah! Yes?" he asked.

"I'm sorry, but could you help me out." Hm, an American accent?

Arthur's eyes swiftly darted over his body. The stranger did not look half bad. He was tall, blonde hair and wore glasses. He had a firm build, not that muscular, but decent. Definitely the best-looking one Arthur had seen all night, but then again, he had been drinking a bit. Regardless, this was the best opportunity he would get all night.

Therefore the New Arthur let his lips upward in a cool smile and chanted stay calm, in his head. "Yeah, what is it?"

He seemed quite young; a beginner maybe, was Arthur's impression. He walked over to sit next to Arthur. "Oh, good." He said in a relieved voice. Arthur wondered if he should order him a drink to break the nervousness, but suddenly the American did something very… unexpected.

He pulled out a map. "Okay, look," the boy said and pointed his finger at the map. "I need to go here, and I have no idea where I am. I think I started by the station-"

Arthur felt his pride break in half and shatter on the floor. He stared at the boy, not even glancing at the map.

"-So, do you know how to get there?" the other asked and looked up from the map. He seemed totally unaware of Arthur's stunned dead-glare and just smiled back kindly.

Arthur let out an audible sigh and let his head drop onto his arms on the counter. Well, if he had thought this day couldn't get any worse, he had underestimated himself. This guy was obviously straight, and had somehow wandered to a place he shouldn't have. Arthur felt like smashing something. He was obviously straight. Had he honestly been checking out a straight guy like that? Bollocks.

"Hey, are you feeling alright?" the American asked and put a comforting hand on his back. He winced and mumbled a few curses under his breath, before straightening up. His usual frown placed back on his face, and the Old Arthur stepping out to save his pride.

"I'm fine, git. Let me ask you something," he said, and the American looked at him with a nod. "Do you know where you are?"

He thought about it. "A bar?"

"Yeah, what kind?" Arthur urged him on with a flat glance.

The American shrugged. "Is it a special bar? I just moved here recently to study, so I don't know this area very well." He sent the Brit a slight smile, but Arthur didn't return it. Was this guy an idiot?

"Look around you," he said and made a small gesture with his head.

The American obeyed and turned his head around. At first he seemed oblivious to what he was looking for, but soon his gaze settled on a pair of guys making out rather obviously in a couch and his eyes twisted in realization. A small "oh", escaped his lips.

Arthur sighed again and took another sip of his nasty drink. "There. You see, it is a bar for that kind of folk." He hoped he had scared him off, but for some reason the American stayed put.

"I see," he just said, and Arthur was getting pretty pissed with him already.

"Yes, well, if you do not want some guy forcing himself on you, you should leave, and not come here anymore. Ask someone else for directions and go home," he said and waved him toward the door, rather dismissingly. He didn't go home though.

He glanced at Arthur with an unreadable expression. "Does that mean, you're that way?"

"What? Gay?" Arthur asked and frowned in anger. "You got a problem with it?" This day could not get any worse. Normally Arthur would be quite good at manners and proper language, but this whole day was pissing him off. This bar was pissing him off. The nasty drink was pissing him off. And this strange American was pissing. Him. Off!

But the American hurried to shake his head and hold up a reassuring hand. "No no. I don't. Not at all, dude."

"It's Arthur!" he found himself sneering, immediately regretting the action as the blonde smiled at him.

"Cool. I'm Alfred."

Great, now he knew his name. Now Arthur was not just an angry drunk guy that Alfred had met at a gay bar, he was a person. He was Arthur, the pissed English-man. And Alfred was no longer 'The nosy American'. He was now a sweet straight guy named Alfred, who made Arthur feel like shit about himself and his own attitude.

It had been a mistake to come here. He was done.

"I need to leave," Arthur said and with swaying movements got out of his chair. He did not know if it was the alcohol or embarrassment that made him sway, maybe a combination of both.

"You're goin' home?" Alfred asked and to Arthur's horror he stood up from his seat and followed him out.

"Yes," he scowled.

"I don't know a lot of people here, so it's nice meeting ya," he told and paced along Arthur. "Where do you live?"

"Close by," he mumbled and tugged his scarf around his neck again, strolling out of the bar, with the taller blonde right behind him. He remembered not to hold the door on his way out, but Alfred seemed uncaring and caught the door easily.

"Good, then you know how to get to-"

"I don't know how to get to anywhere!" Arthur snapped as Alfred pulled out his stupid map again. "Just leave me alone!" he said and swung his arms around, and clumsily stumbled onto the street.

"Wah!"

A loud honk made him gasp in shock, and immediately a large hand grabbed around his collar and yanked him away from the road. The map in Alfred's hand had been caught by the wind as he reached for Arthur and has whooshed out on the street and was instantly smashed under a tire, lying utterly still and ruined on the dark road. Arthur clung to his savior in shock, while the vehicle drove by with loud blares. "Watch out punks!" a man yelled at them.

Arthur's hand was clinging tightly to Alfred's jacket, but when the American spoke he instantaneously snapped out of it. "I think we should call a cab for you." Alfred said kindly, but Arthur just huffed and broke free of their awkward embrace.

"I told you I live close by."

"Then I'll walk you there."

"But-"

"I'm not letting your drunk self get killed on my watch," he told him and Arthur let out a demonstrative groan, but decided that if this weird guy would follow him home, so be it, but he wouldn't be happy about it.

"Fine!" Arthur scoffed and dug his hands deeply into his pockets.

"Cool," Alfred said and paced up beside Arthur again with a smile, as if there had never just been a near-dead-exsperince. The Brit almost felt bad, this guy had saved his life after all. Maybe he should thank him.

"Hey Arthur?"

He looked up, his scarf dropping a little. "Yes?"

"I lost my map."

"Oh…"

"Can I sleep at your place?"

"No."

A/N: That ends chapter one. I haven't written in a while, so might be out of practice, but please tell me what you think. Reviews make my day.

The next chapter will not be so plain and stuff will actually happen. This one was mostly to get you into Arthur's situation with relationships, and how he met our favorite bubbly American. :) Arthur do have some more issues that he's struggling with, which you will find out in the next chapter.

Hope you like and please review. :D