Chapter 1, The Return
William didn't know what he was doing as he grumbled within the office of the site of the monthly world meeting.
Of all the days to be sick, William scoffed at the fact that Arthur just had to get sick on just the one day of the London World Meeting. Irony at its finest he was sure.
William frowned to himself as he arranged the paperwork, fixed the podium, and mentally went through the list of all the proposals that would possibly come up within the world meeting.
If he was remembering Arthur's mini lecture the night before, Alfred was now heavily motivated to deal with proper representation in media. Germany would probably keep that thought intact while addressing other major issues going on. France would- well, Arthur said that France would try to grope him so he should probably move near Germany and Japan. (Or in William's case- attempt to perhaps strangle him depending on the fact that France may or may not remember Robert Fairbrook- the lad who followed Arthur everywhere)
William arranged the seats like so.
Russia and his sisters would stay off to the side while adding their own…opinions. The Baltics would stay off to the side. China would suggest something along the lines of takeover.
William couldn't remember much past that, but given he had just finished a mission for her majesty with Agent Bors, one could not blame him for a little case of sleep deprivation.
He slumped in his chair, rubbing at his eyes tiredly as they burned.
"Bugger," William grumbled as he reached into his coat pocket for his eye drops. On any given day, he wouldn't have bothered with the confounded contacts, but the contacts were expensive and covered the yellow in his eyes.
Checking the time, William sighed and sat up straighter in his chair. Pulling out his laptop to finish the mission report from last night.
Turning in the mission report to Kingsmen's Arthur, William closed the laptop with a soft tap before a door opened in the meeting room. A familiar slicked back hair blond.
"Morning Mr. Germany," He greeted with a lift of his cup. "William Kirkland, filling in for England."
He set the drink down after a sip, "He caught a nasty cold."
With a blink, Germany gave him a brief nod before asking the most anticipated question, "And you are….?"
Smiling, William tilted his head towards the door, "'xuse my frankness Mr. Germany, but I'd rather waste for the rest of the countries before."
After a hesitant nod, Germany sat in his own seat, about a seat away from where William- as the representative of Great Britain, had placed himself. Pulling out his own paperwork for the anticipated meeting ahead.
Feeling a familiar tingle, William stood and bowed his head respectfully to Germany, "If you excuse me- I'm going to relieve myself before the meeting officially starts."
William sighed as he leaned into the loo's sink, feeling a massive headache at the edge of his mind.
"Just take the bloody medicine Arthur," William grumbled to himself, his forehead stretched high as he tried in a vain attempt to control the ache in his head.
William and Arthur had a mental connection that was useful more often than not, but it was during these times where it was just a pure pain in the ass. Sometimes William used it to communicate with Arthur, but during times when one would be in pain, it usually caused an echo to the other.
They didn't talk about the Blitz or the American Independence for those reasons.
As the feeling of pain eased away slightly, William slumped forward more in relief before straightening. Checking his watch and pulling away with a curse.
"Bloody fucking-" William growled as he out the door with a slam. While he was only two minutes past the allotted time, lateness was not something he liked to make a habit out of.
Leather oxfords pattering against the carpeted floor, William sprinted past halls until he skidded to a halt in front of the meeting door.
A feeling of apprehension overcame him before he slipped his eyes closed, willing away the feelings of apprehension and fear.
Arthur shifted in his mind, emitting calm.
Thank you, William mentally spoke. Opening his eyes and smoothing back his hair with a sigh before grasping the knob. Opening the door.
William walked in, conversations coming to a halt as he walked in. Making eye contact with Germany with a nod.
"Yo!" America bolted from his seat as he bounded up to William, causing William to shift his stance slightly in apprehension before reminding himself to get off mission mode. "Iggy when did you dye your hair? It looks totally awesome!"
Pushing away feelings of apprehension and resentment, William pushed an amused expression on his face before stepping out of reach from the young country, "I'm afraid I am not England Mr. America."
"Huh?" Confusion evident on his face, America's expression fell slightly before William moved on. Stepping to the podium and leaning into the artificial wood.
William waited.
"QUIET!" Germany bellowed, every country, including the now confused America that had shuffled back to his seat.
"Mr. Kirkland," Germany nodded.
On cue, all the countries present turned to him, William smiled presently.
"Pleasure to be your acquaintance, as England is currently indisposed for the moment, I will be representing Britain for this meeting. William Kirkland," William allowed himself a small incline of his head. "otherwise known as London. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"U-Uncle Will?" He heard a familiar person whisper.
Expression softening slightly, William felt his lip tilt, "Hello Matthew- why are you being sat on by Cuba?"
William gave a disappointed eyebrow raise at said country, who lifted himself off slightly, showing a thankful Canada as he stepped out with a sigh.
"Woah wait- is no one going to address the fact that England has a capital?!" America said, throwing his hands over to William.
"I admit it's…odd, I never knew capitals could be like us," Austria shifted before turning his head to William with a questioning stare.
"Well that's not why I'm here," William said, "I'm here to start the meeting and put forth the opinion of the cumulative British isles."
William felt a pang of amusement and his lips involuntarily twitched into a smile.
Shut up Arthur. I'm not being passive aggressive.
"Well I'm sure you will do good 'da?" Russia said with an equally pleasant smile. A bit of a purple aura emitting from the tall man, along with a voice of intimidation buried within his words.
"With introductions finished, I believe it's time we move on yes?" William said, unaffected even as the Baltics trembled.
It wasn't as if Russia was the most intimidating person William had ever faced anyway. An angry England armed with his cutlass was far more intimidating. Or a drunk Ireland, save for the fact that Ireland was easier to avoid.
The meeting went on, with William willfully ignoring the stares aimed at him from all directions.
As the meeting was disbanded for a demanded break, courtesy of Germany having grown frustrated with America's proposal, William turned to see Japan bow his head in courtesy.
"It is very nice to meet you Rondon-san."
William returned the gesture to Kiku respectively, "Nice to meet you as well Japan-san, but you may call me William if you like."
William proceeded to take the time to think back on his statement, "Or Harrison if you like. My full name is William Harrison James Kirkland."
"I think William, William-san" William ignored the slight difficulty with the "R" Kiku was having, "Is fine."
William smiled and nodded his approval, before turing back to review the papers.
"Veee~ Mr. London is so scary Germany," he vaguely heard Italy whimper.
Germany gave Italy a sigh, "Mr. London will not hurt you Italy- and get back to your seat unless you're going to get food."
"But Mr. London would be next to me."
I don't bite, William said to himself, much.
Arthur's laughter echoed in his mind.
"And he won't bite Italy- now go back to your seat."
Pleasantly, Italy sat beside William with whimper. Causing said capital to chuckle as he put away the paperwork he was reading, casting a side glance to Italy.
"I really won't Mr. Italy, you can trust me on that."
Then there was a slam on the table.
"You."
William turned his head up to see Spain in his view, blocking off the ceiling.
"Me," He returned dryly.
"Kesesesesesese."
William shoved Purssia off his lap without breaking eye contact with olive-green eyes, giving Spain a smirk before looking down into the albino's red eyes.
"Hello Gilbert."
"Fuck- was that necessary Vill?" Gilbert complained, rubbing his stomach in an attempt to ease out the pain.
"Yes Gil, it was," William allowed himself a genuine smile at the albino before tapping his head fondly. "For old time's sake."
"Frany's still mad at you yunno," Gil said, crawling out of the desk and onto William's lap. "Faking your death and all. Still. Capital. Who'd a thought?"
"I'm just full of surprises," William said dryly. Smacking the palm of his hand into Spain's face. "And would you let the whole privateer thing go already? We weren't even the ones responsible for that."
"Fine fine- but you still owe me for that mi amigo, anyway, what brings you out after all these years?" Spain asked with a curious tilt of his head. "Faking your death aside."
Indeed, as William had known the "Bad Touch Trio" for many years through his time as the British Empire's spy. The first James Bond one might say. Passing off his looking alike to Arthur as a coincidence in place of a proper explanation. Not as if the three ever questioned it.
William was aware all three of them were quite enamored with his brother. As well as all the other bloody countries interested in Arthur. Sometimes the mental connection revealed more than William bargained for.
It wasn't as if William wanted to barge in on his brother's day whenever he wanted- but there were times when the connection got finicky. Especially when the bond thought his country counterpart was in danger.
He supposed being lusted after counted as danger, but William was still in confliction whether he needed to be worried about it. It wasn't as if Arthur wasn't capable of making his own damn decisions. Still, William was content with the fact that no one was pulling any moves, and hopefully it would stay that way. But until then, William will do whatever it takes to make sure he wasn't the catalyst for what could possibly be a World War 3. Just without any militia and/or politics and more because everyone was clamoring for Arthur's attention.
And William thought the era of going to war for a maiden's hand was finished, hah. He remembered grumbling to himself the night he found out. Almost got shot in the process- but that was another time in another year.
"Arthur's sick, I'm filling in," William said finally with a shrug before yawning. "Just finished with an assignment to- but Arthur will probably be ready to come back when the next meeting comes around."
William glared at the two of them, "and no. I'm still not going to tell you where he lives."
"Oh come on Vill- you've been keeping lil' Artie's home a secret for years- decades now," Gilbert complained. "One address- nein- a digit of his address. That's it. A solemn promise from the awesome me!"
"The answer is still no Gilbert- and don't make that face at me Spain. Even if I were to tell you," William tilted his head and the very badly covering up their expressions of the other countries. Who were listening in.
Honestly, Hungary was doing a better job concealing her interest.
"It'd be the equivalent of telling everyone," William finished casting a look towards the man. "And unless Arthur is on the verge of dying and needs your help for whatever the bleeding hell reason the answer is still going to be- no."
"But-"
"No," William growled irritably. "Now either sod off or get a pen up your arse."
William turned to everyone else, "And the rest of ya can sod off too. Arthur will do what he wishes with his own address- and I'm not givin' it to you."
Honestly.
"So back off," William said with a sigh. He just wanted to be done with this meeting and go home. A home he shared with Arthur but it wasn't like was going to share that fact with anyone. "And let's get this bloody meeting over with."
For some reason, William thought it was going to be a very long week
A/n: Guess who's back in the Hetalia fandom~ Anyway, It's been quite a bit. Things have changed. And for those of you who don't know, despite the fact that I haven't been writing Hetalia fanfiction in particular- I have been doing other things. However, they've been more along the lines of different fandoms on my AO3 account. Which I will be changing the name of this account to as well. This fic is, hopefully, going to be short and sweet. Ch. 2 is already in development, so wait next week for that~
-Aki
Preview: William groaned when he got to Arthur's home and everything glass was shattered with a layer of pink dust on everything.
"Arthur what did you do?"