Author's notes: It's been a loooong time since I've written fanfiction…how time passes by so quickly. I've started a new job and it really made me busy. Anyway, I just happened to watch a lot of Hetalia and the one episode that really struck a chord within me was the one where America attempting to clean his storage room. But the segment that really made my heart ache was The Revolutionary War. How it was portrayed is a matter of debate and personal opinion but the story within the episode really touched me and I wanted to write about it. And then I found the drama USUK CD tracks on Youtube and it somehow progressed in a yaoi story, what a way to submit for my first Hetalia fic. But I hope you guys will enjoy it.
This story was also created when I was listening to 'All I Know' while I was sorting out my playlists for my IPhone. I thought that this song fits perfectly to the relationship dynamic England and America have in brotherly or lovers sense. In my head, it makes sense that their love was born from pain. I thought by far the version by Five For Fighting was the best suited to listen when I was writing this (But the Simon and Garfunkel version is still so lovely to listen to!)
Another heartfelt note, thank you to all who still read my stories. I really appreciate it! It really makes my day when I get an email of one of my stories become favourites or when you choose to track my progress despite my slow end :) Thank you so much!
Story notes: The words in Italics are to indicate song lyrics as well as narrating a flashback and the flashback characters are referred by their country names rather than their human names (which are used in the present timeframe of the story). And I have a feeling that this plot may have been overused in this section especially for this pairing but I've written this to get it off my head otherwise it will haunt me forever! I hope you enjoy tho!
Update on 3/2/2013: I just changed the title and fixed some grammar mistakes here and there. Also changed minor bits but nothing to affect the overall storyline.
Warning!: This story DOES contain YAOI and sappy angst. OOC may be present…I'm writing these characters according to how I see them. If you don't like, please turn back and save yourself from giving a flamer about it. The SMUTTINESS comes in the second part but you will need to be patient…I will post it…eventually…
Disclaimer: Everything that is and about Hetalia by Hidekaz Himaruya and the song 'All I Know' don't belong to me. I only thought of the plot and this is written for my writing satisfaction If Hetalia did belong to me, I would make America count sheep for me so that I can go to sleeeeep…I need a hero!
Memories from the Past
Arthur always loved going in Alfred's back garden whenever he had a chance to visit the former colony's home. It was lush and beautiful, which reminded him of the rolling green hills of the English countryside back home. Right now, it was night time and he could hear muffled chatter going on inside the house. He huffed with a wry grin when he made out Alfred's excited laughter among the riff-raff going on inside. The elder nation didn't really do well with big crowds and he was not keen to watch Francis serenading the guests or he trying to hump him in the crowd. Wanting to give Alfred the chance to mingle around, he had quietly retreated to the garden after informing the superpower of his location. Also today, he was feeling quite ill. His head and body ached. He felt feverish and tired. And he certainly didn't feel in the mood to be his usual cynical and grumpy self. But he wanted to be there for Alfred on this special day. This was his first time that he willingly stayed to help organize the party. He couldn't let his petty pain ruin this special occasion. He sat down on the stone bench, grateful for its sturdiness. The ache in his body dulled…just a little. He was sure that it will pass…soon, he hoped.
"Age has already caught up with me…that git…maybe he was right, I'm really an old man…" Arthur smiled fondly, "I've gone soft…haven't I?"
Arthur gasped with surprise when he saw the first firework shoot up like a comet before exploding in colourful sparks. It must be Alfred's scheduled fireworks display. Realizing that he had a clear view of the display from where he was sitting, he watched the fireworks burst into the air like flaming flowers, lighting the night sky in colourful splendour. He closed his eyes momentarily to let the night air cool his burning skin. It truly was a mesmerizing sight and his smile grew just a bit wider. His young lover really knew how to make his fireworks turn into an artistic masterpiece.
He and Alfred became lovers not very long ago. Although they had officially acknowledged each other's affections and began the mend of the bond they lost, they were still in the early stages of intimacy and still fought and bickered like they always did. The only way the other countries knew that their relationship took up a notch was that they addressed each other by their human names and often visited each other's homes. Alfred still spouted nonsensical ideas of gigantic superheroes and chowed down hamburgers during the world meetings while Arthur still maintained his heated sword fights and choking fests with Francis and made sarcastic comments at every opportunity he got while sipping black tea.
But after a while, Arthur's tender reminiscing of his lover was lost when he felt the dull ache in his body intensify, causing him lose his breath. His head hurt even more. He found he could no longer enjoy the fireworks. They were too bright for his eyes to take. The booms and bangs sounded more like ferocious gunfire and booming cannon-fire. Suddenly his dress suit that he was always accustomed to wearing felt too tight and constricting, threatening to smother him in unbearable heat. He choked when his heart suddenly pounded and ached sharply, causing him to collapse on the damp grass. He felt light headed and broke into an icy sweat. He gasped when he saw stray dewdrops lingering on the mowed grass blades. His mind unconsciously flashed to a muddy battlefield with heavy rain, icy blue eyes filled with determination and a musket pointed in his direction. His head throbbed, making Arthur rock back and forth in pain.
"No…no…no…why…why today of all days…I thought…I thought I got over it…it's over..." Arthur gasped as he struggled to push himself up. But all the strength he had left sapped out of his body as he laid on the grass, "Why….why today…"
He knew what today was. It was the Fourth of July. It was Alfred's birthday, a day to celebrate with cake, presents and friends. Yet to him, it made him recollect on what he lost that day many years ago, which shouldn't matter at this time because he had already forgiven the young nation for what he did. Yet…the pain of the long-forgotten memory still lingered, never to leave completely. That time, he lost his precious Alfred to a growing fire of independence. He no longer wanted to be his little brother. He chose on his own will to leave him alone to suffer in agony and never return to his side.
As the pain continued to stab mercilessly in his head and body, his green eyes grew hazy with tears as the memory he thought had been buried flashed and overtook his senses…
England ran as fast he could to catch up to America who was now backed up by a troop of soldiers. The elder nation cursed under his breath. He was alone. He had no one to back him up.
"I gave you everything I had, America! What more do you want from me?!" England shouted. He froze when America's musket barrel was aimed in his direction.
"England, all I want is my freedom!" America retaliated, his eyes shining with anger, "You won't give it to me and that's why I'm leaving you! I won't live in your shadow anymore!"
The thunder clashed and boomed over their heads, the rain becoming strong and harsh.
"I'm no longer a child! I'm no longer your little brother!" America shouted as he steadied the musket at his former mentor, the great sovereign nation who raised him like his own, "From now on, I AM INDEPENDENT!"
England's blood chilled upon America's bold proclamation and he felt his heart shatter. What happened to the sweet innocent little nation who chose him over France as his big brother? When did he become uncontrollable? To meet face to face in battle, against each other…there were no words to describe this horrendous hurt…
The cruel implication that his brother no longer loved him drove him over the edge. With an animalistic growl, he charged straight at America, who looked stunned at his ferocity. The young nation was caught off guard, causing him to lower the musket.
"I WON'T LET YOU!"
England smashed the bayonet into America's musket and tossed it aside into the mud. He pointed his own musket at the youthful face, aiming in between his eyes. He panted as the adrenaline wore off.
"You never follow things through to the end! You never listen! You idiot!"
England could barely hear the command of the troop captain behind America to take aim at him. Silence reigned over the battlefield save for the continual torrent of the falling rain. Then he made a fatal mistake which destroyed the resolve to win the war right there and there. He looked into America's eyes. His eyes…they were the only feature that remained constant as he grew up. They were beautiful like the bluest sky on a clear day. When he looked into those eyes, he saw the two of them together in happier times when the sun was always shining and the wildflowers were blooming all year round.
England gritted his teeth. His hands shook as he lowered his weapon. America looked on with surprise, wondering why the older nation wouldn't take advantage on this opportunity to stop the rebellion.
"I can't shoot you…there's no way I can…I just can't…" England tossed the musket to the side in frustration.
But the frustration turned to great sorrow. He collapsed onto his knees, cradling his wet face with his left hand and his eyes burning like fire. He tried in vain to stop the tears leaking from his eyes. Instead they seeped through his fingers to mingle with the rainwater. Pain wracked his frame as he submitted defeat to the nation he cared for. His haggard sobs echoed in the vicinity.
"Why….why…dammit! Why!….It's not fair…It's not FAIR!"
"You know why…..what happened to you…I remember…you were once so great…"
England didn't know how long America stood before him. As if in slow motion, he watched America ordered his troops to withdraw and began to turn his back on him to follow his soldiers.
"DON'T LEAVE ME! We promised that we'll always be together and to take care of one another! Didn't I matter to you?!" England cried out hoarsely, causing America to pause in his tracks. His pride was shattered beyond repair. His reputation had gone down the drain. He sobbed as he tried in vain to get up only to collapse into the mud, "Please…come back…Alfred…"
England watched as America' shoulders tensed at his given name before looking back at him. The beautiful blue eyes were filled with tears and his expression was filled with such anguish that it made England's shattered heart ache.
"I'm sorry…England…I can't be the brother you want me to be…" America's soft whisper was louder than a siren, "But…thank you for all you've done for me…"
And with that, America walked away. England prayed that America would change his mind and turn around to face him. But the other nation never turned around. Staring at the navy clad retreating form, England kept on yelling "Come back! Come back!" over and over again, which could be heard from miles around before dying into painful cries among the thunder and the rain…
"Come back…come back…come back…" he murmured over and over again as the tears spilled from his eyes and onto the grass.
Arthur was lost in pain to realise the fireworks display had finished and peace once again settled over the garden. The elder nation felt sicker than ever. He cursed himself as more tears trickled down his dirty cheeks. Since that fateful day, he forced himself to conquer the heart wrenching sleepless nights filled with taunting dreams and fiercely discipline himself to not dwell on these memories. Yet for all the torturous hard work to keep the memories of the Revolutionary War suppressed, he would feel unbearably sick on that day as a cruel reminder of that incident, which continued to the present though at a lesser degree. Most of the time, he would hide the pain behind his gruff exterior and snarky remarks. But today…he didn't have the strength to, his sickness hit him hard. He hated himself for it; for being so weak…not like Alfred…
"Alfred…Alfred…" Arthur tried to reach for the bench. He managed to push himself up to his knees, panting as his heavy body protested with the movement, "No…Alfred can't see me like this…"
No one knew how deep-seeded his depression went, not even Alfred. It was his most guarded secret. Sure the young nation knew how much this day had affected them both. But Alfred never knew of the elder's yearly reoccurring sickness that plagued him. He couldn't know…he mustn't. Arthur's heart took another opportunity to torment him as it pounded painfully again, causing him to lose balance and collapse back onto the grass. This time, he fell unconscious, succumbing to the darkness to escape the pain.
It was at that moment that backdoor creaked open and Alfred stepped outside to look for his lover. The guests have already left and the house was quiet. He knew Arthur would be out here somewhere…where could he be?
"Hey, Arthur! Are you out here?! Dude, you missed the-" Alfred paused in horror to find Arthur sprawled on the grass. He jumped over the railing and ran to his side, propping him against his chest. Arthur whimpered but didn't open his eyes, "What happened to you…get a hold of yourself!"
He felt the older nation's forehead. The skin was strangely warm yet clammy to the touch and he was shivering. Whimpers tore from his throat. The sight scared Alfred to the core. He looked so frail…had his lover been sick all this while? He was fine at the beginning of the party…wasn't he?
Just then, thunder boomed and lightning clapped in an ominous flash before dark clouds covered the clear night sky. The rain started with a light drizzle before a heavy downpour washed over both of them.
"Damn! Well good thing the fireworks ended early…" a soft groan alerted his attention. Alfred turned to Arthur who finally opened his eyes, having felt the rainwater on his face, "Arthur? Thank God you're awake. You okay?"
"Alfred…no…" Alfred gasped at how unfocused his lover's green eyes were and he panicked when tears formed at the edge before they mixed with the rain, "Don't leave me…don't leave me…come back…come back…"
Alfred swallowed. He heard those words before…in a certain painful memory he wished he could forget despite being forgiven since they became lovers.
"O-Of course, I won't leave you, Arthur. You shouldn't be out in the night air…shit!" Alfred supported the smaller nation in his arms, carrying him bridal style back into the house. While Arthur kept on murmuring "Come back, come back", the young nation's heart raced, trying to calm his agitated delusional lover, "Arthur, I'm right here with you…I'm not going anywhere!"
He strode three stairs at a time to his bedroom where he and Arthur shared. After laying the semi-conscious man down on the bed and hastily wrapped a blanket around him, he rushed to the bathroom, poured some clean water in a basin and dumped a clean washcloth in it. Bringing it back to the bedside, he sat beside the older nation. He took off his jacket, loosened his tie and opened the first few buttons of his dress shirt. He squeezed the washcloth and patted Arthur's forehead and face, wiping away the grime from his cheeks. Worry lines creased Alfred's forehead, anxiously waiting for Arthur to fully wake. The young nation gripped his lover's hand, feeling a tiny squeeze in return.
"Alfred…what happened?" Arthur murmured softly, focus slowly coming back into his eyes, "The garden…"
"I found you collapsed on the grass. You scared me!" Alfred lunged forward and grabbed onto his lover, burying his cheek against his shirt, "Why didn't you tell me you were sick? You could've rested and I would've looked after you…"
"And missed out on your birthday party that you and I worked so hard on…I don't think so…Love…given to your limited medical knowledge, I felt it wasn't necessary…really…I'm fine…" Arthur winced when he felt his headache acting up again, "You were having such a wonderful time and I simply couldn't-"
"I'm a hero, I'm supposed to know all these things!" Alfred said sharply without meaning to. He was mad at himself for not noticing the signs he noted earlier that day. Arthur did look paler than usual and his comeback remarks didn't carry the snarkiness and sarcasm he was accustomed to. He nuzzled against Arthur's chest, "Especially on my birthday…especially when it concerns with who I love…"
Arthur brushed a free hand over the damp sandy brown locks and kissed his head.
"There's no need to worry…it happens only today-"
Arthur's immediately stopped at mid-sentence, realising what he just said. Alfred's head shot up and his spectacled eyes were wide with shock. Then his blue eyes narrowed behind Texas.
"What do you mean…only today…on my birthday…you mean this isn't the first?" Alfred's tone lost its worry and turned an octave lower. Arthur cringed. His lover must be really angry now, "You mean to say that it's all because of…"
Arthur's silence confirmed as the dreaded answer. With a sob, the elder nation turned his face away, unable to look at the blue eyes staring intently at him. The rain outside continued to fall…adding the tension inside the bedroom.
Meanwhile Alfred was in a conundrum of his own. Anger, anguish, guilt, sorrow and other horrible feelings boiled in his heart, creating a painful jumbled whirlwind threatening to overwhelm him. He thought back to his previous birthdays before they became lovers. Most of the time, Arthur avoided his house like the plague and mailed his present without fail. He wouldn't even reply to his party invitations just to avoid seeing him on the day. Alfred had been so ecstatic that Arthur actually agreed to help arrange the party and even stayed for a few minutes before retreating to the garden.
Alfred's memories of the Revolutionary War started to stir up and he flashed back to the moment that changed his life and crushed the nation he loved the most in the entire world to achieve his goal of independence…
"I'm no longer a child!"
America placed his index finger on the trigger of his musket, using his bayonet to calibrate his aim at the European nation before him.
"I'm no longer your little brother!"
The young nation felt a rush of anger he hadn't felt before. He had no choice! This was the only way to be free from his mentor's control! To show that he had become a man!
But this…coming to this…to betray his brother for the sake of freedom and independence…he never thought it would come to this…but he had to press on…for his people who believed in him…even if it meant hurting the one person he admired and loved the most…
"From now on, I AM INDEPENDENT!"
A tense silence followed. America thought he was hallucinating because he saw a flash of extreme hurt and pain glinting in the green eyes of his former caretaker. He desperately hoped that his proclamation would make England to finally accept that he was his own country now and back away...
"I WON'T LET YOU!"
America was caught off guard by England's outburst and his willingness to charge straight at him, causing him to lower his weapon. He barely had time to defend himself as the older nation struck the wooden handle with the bayonet. He stumbled as his musket was knocked out his hands and landed on the muddy ground with a thump.
He watched with a transfixed gaze as England took aim at his head, the glint of the bayonet shining coldly in the rain. America fought back a bitter chuckle. Why couldn't he just aim at his heart? Maybe the bullet could numb the pain he felt within.
"You never follow things through to the end! You never listen! You idiot!"
He could hear more guns click behind him at the captain's command and they were all aimed at England. The rain continued to fall and thunder rumbled in the sky.
After what it seemed to be an eternity, England lowered the musket, making America gasp in surprise.
"I can't shoot you…there's no way I can…I just can't…"
England tossed the weapon to the side. America's heart broke as his mentor, the strong nation he looked up to, fell to his knees. He could see the tears gathering at the edges of the green eyes that reminded him of freshly mown grass. England's shoulders shook and he tried in vain to keep the remaining tears at bay as his left hand covered his face.
"Why….why…dammit! Why!….It's not fair…It's not FAIR!" England sobbed pitifully.
"You know why….." America said sombrely. England had finally fallen. Everything he craved for was within his sights…but at what price? Seeing him crumpled like a rag doll tore his insides with burning guilt and sadness, "What happened to you…I remember…you were once so great…"
Unable to bear the tense atmosphere, America ordered his troops to move out. Just as he was about to follow in their direction-
"DON'T LEAVE ME! We promised that we'll always be together and to take care of one another! Didn't I matter to you?!"
America paused. He could hear shuffling behind him before a thump followed. The young nation winced, imagining that his former mentor was trying to follow him…but failed...
He momentarily looked back to the all the wonderful times they both spent together as brothers. They promised that they would never leave each other and care for one another…now he had broken those promises to gain independence.
"Please…come back…Alfred…"
At the mention of his human name, tears came unbidden to his eyes and the pain in his heart grew tenfold. England chose that name for him...a name that belonged to a great king back in his homeland. The young nation finally gave in the urge to look back to see England pathetically sprawled on the mud, one arm trying to reach out to him. America shook his head, allowing the tears to mingle with the rainwater.
"I'm sorry…England…I can't be the brother you want me to be..." America whispered his apology, "But…thank you for all you've done for me..."
And America walked on without turning back, trying hard to ignore England calling him to come back. His heartwrenching cries would haunt him for the years to come…
And they haunted Alfred still whenever he felt stressed…and even on his birthday…
The portable radio in the room began to pick up static as the thunderstorm intensified outside. A gentle piano solo followed by a sad baritone voice filled the room...
"I bruise you
You bruise me
We both bruise so easily
Too easily
To let it show
I love you
And that's all I know..."
Alfred looked back at Arthur who was gazing at the rain dribbling down the nearest window.
"I thought we were over this, Arthur...are you still hurting because of me?"
The elder's face bore the saddest expression he had ever seen. Arthur sighed shakily as the tears he held back fell down his cheeks.
"I never meant to hurt you…" Alfred softly said as he shifted closer to the older nation.
"But you did, Alfred…don't you know how painful it was…to come home to an empty house….to an empty bed…having to listen to voices saying that it was meant to happen…that I am meant to be alone…" Arther closed his eyes tiredly. His head started hurting again and the tears didn't help, "All the precious memories of our time together had been morphed into nightmares that tormented every hour that I slept…mocking me for what I lost…I forced myself to eventually think that it was all an illusion…I wanted to make the pain stop…"
Alfred fought to suppress the lump in his throat, "I'm really sorry…"
"I didn't tell you all this so it's alright…you didn't know…now all of this has come back to bite me…manifested in the form of this recurring illness on your birthday…then again…I should've known that I couldn't cage your spirit and your free will…I couldn't force you to be moulded to my vision…" Arthur turned back to Alfred with a self-deprecating smile, "I deserve this punishment for pushing you to become independent…"
Alfred felt the familiar burn in his eyes and tried to ignore it as he started to speak, "Hey…come on, we both know that I was the one at fault, Arthur. I was the one who broke our promises to stay together and take care of one another and instigated the Revolutionary War…but…I don't regret what I did…I meant it when I said that I no longer wanted to be your little brother and not to continue living in your shadow."
Arthur flinched at the statement and his heart throbbed with even more hurt he ever felt. He was about to move further away but Alfred was quick to pin him to the mattress. Arthur stubbornly turned away, hoping to avoid looking at Alfred in the eye.
"I wanted you to see me as your equal. I thought if I broke away from you, you would see me a man you could be proud of…I could show you what I'm capable of…I could practice what you taught me…I honestly thought that it wouldn't develop to that awful path we took…" Alfred's throat felt dry and his heart pounded so heart that he could feel it in his eardrums. He couldn't risk Arthur bolting away…not when they just got reacquainted and their bond just starting to mend, "Those feelings back then only grew stronger and less brotherly in nature…I knew right there and then I couldn't be the brother you wanted me to be…I wanted to be…I wanted to be someone you could love with your whole heart!"
"..." Arthur's bangs shielded his eyes, which was slowly filling up with tears...
"I severed those ties...so that I can be with you...like this...as lovers..."
Arthur sucked in a sharp breath at his lover's confession. He looked back to the day they got together and measured the happy and rejuvenated feelings he felt against the several hundred years he spent in painful loneliness since the Revolutionary War. Now...those wonderful feelings just felt insignificant and outmatched...in his mind, he felt as if he had been cheated and toyed with. The tears broke through and fell faster. The older nation clapped his left hand over his face, swiping furiously across his eyes.
"I knew that I should've told you all of this sooner, especially since we just got together...but-"
"Idiot…you bugger…you wanker…" Arthur's insults came out as weak whispers, lacking the bite they once had. Arthur could feel fresh anger and frustration erupting from the depths of his soul. These strong emotions overwhelmed his better sense of judgement and rationale he was so well known for. It also didn't help that he was still feeling feverish. He broke into a loud tirade, shouting at Alfred, "Why didn't you tell me this sooner instead of now?! What then?! We've wasted so much time! Why now…why me?! You should've left me to die! You should've let your soldiers finish what they started! Then I wouldn't have lived such a wretched existence!"
"Never ever say such a thing! I could never live with myself if it happened! My heart and whole existence would've died along with you!" Alfred shouted back, his bespectacled eyes flashing passionately. The tears he held back finally broke through the barrier of his eyelids, streaking his flushed cheeks. He grabbed Arthur's hand and pressed it firmly over the left side of his chest. Arthur felt the strong heartbeat drumming against his fingers, "Feel my heart! Only you could touch my heart! You make it whole and you break it too! No matter how much it hurts, it hurts even more when you're not here with me! That's why…that's why…that's why I need you beside me always!"
Arthur gripped onto Alfred's wet shirt before launching himself forward to vent his frustration on him. The blanket flew off and crumpled on the floor. Alfred didn't retaliate when he felt weak punches thumping his chest. Instead he tightly wrapped his arms around his lover, threading his fingers through Arthur's golden blonde hair, which sprinkled stray beads of rainwater with each punch.
"I love you, Arthur!"
The punches on his chest eventually stopped. The small body within his arms quivered and all he could hear were Arthur's haggard sobs and garbled apologies for hurting his chest.
"I love you…" Alfred whispered as he pulled back to tilt Arthur's chin to eye level.
"For how long?" Arthur whispered weakly, "How long will this last…"
"For eternity."
Arthur gave a bitter chuckle, "For eternity? You seriously believe it so? You're a bigger idiot than I thought."
Alfred's heart twisted at the response. Then the bitter chuckle turned into another harsh sob.
Arthur rested his sore head against his lover's shoulder, "Feelings change and disappear over time…what we felt then…what we feel now…and in the future…it'll be gone…then I'll be all alone...just like before..."
"And all my plans keep falling through
All my plans they depend on you
Depend on you
To help them grow
I love you
And that's all I know..."
"No...I won't let that happen...'cause I won't make the same mistake again...I'm going to take my chances to prove you wrong, Arthur…" Alfred nuzzled his nose against Arthur's temple and kissed it before trailing his lips to one of his thick eyebrows. He felt a twitch in the fine skin among the dark hairs, "What we did months ago when we confessed our feelings for each other…having you in my arms right now…this was and is all real…from now on, I will use every moment to make you believe in me…and in us…"
By instinct, Arthur would've made another counter argument why it wasn't so. But now, he felt exhausted and couldn't find the fire in him to bicker with his lover. Instead he sighed and sagged against the larger frame of the younger nation.
"Alfred…" Arthur's fingers gripped his lover's shirt tightly, clenching the material between his fingers, "Don't let me go…don't leave me alone again..."
"Arthur…I won't..." Alfred whispered heavily as he continued to embrace his lover, burying his nose in the messy mop of golden blonde hair, "I gave you my word as a hero."
"I love you…I love you too…" Arthur breathed. He gasped when he felt Alfred trailing his cool fingers underneath his shirt to stroke his feverish skin. He sighed shakily as a new heat invaded his body, "Alfred…"
The young nation pushed Arthur back against the bed, initiating a soft gentle kiss. Arthur stiffened momentarily at the contact but soon gave in and allowed Alfred to lead. Their lips massaged against each other while their tongues shyly explored each other's mouths, tasting rainwater and tears. When they finished, a string of mixed saliva connected their lips.
Alfred looked down at Arthur. The elder nation was breathing heavily, his lips shiny and plump. His skin was flushed in a lovely red hue. His green eyes had darkened to an emerald green and his damp disheveled hair created a golden halo around his head.
"Beautiful…" Alfred murmured in awe, causing Arthur to blush even more furiously, "You're so beautiful..."
"Y-You don't mean that, you git…" the older nation murmured. He squirmed underneath Alfred. "I'm not…I'm not attractive…not even to a woman..."
"Well that doesn't matter anymore 'cause you have me. So when I say you're beautiful, you really are…I'm the hero so everything I say will turn out okay."
Arthur's cheeks turned redder, "I gave you all I had when you were young...I don't have anything else to give you now..."
"Will you let me into your heart this time?" Alfred asked gently as he placed his large hand over Arthur's chest, feeling his heartbeat, "You'll never be alone again...I'll make sure of that..."
Arthur clenched the hand still resting on his chest, "What did you possibly see in me?"
"Everything...just I told you before...back in the rose garden..." Alfred murmured, "You're everything to me when I was little...you're still everything to me now..."
Alfred kissed his lover's forehead and cheeks sweetly. His glasses turned foggy with each heated breath. He could fear a tightening sensation between his legs and around his stomach. Alfred bit back a groan as he took off Texas from his nose. He placed the glasses on the bedside dresser. His vision was a bit blurry but he could manage, he still could see Arthur beneath him…
"We haven't done anything what lovers normally do so far…" Alfred quietly noted as he continued to stroke the soft skin under his lover's shirt.
Arthur let out a breath as he cupped the handsome face above him, wiping away the tears still clinging to Alfred's eyelashes. His blue eyes were so beautiful and he felt awful for making them tear up, "True…"
"But you're still a bit feverish, though…" Alfred observed as he placed his cheek on Arthur's forehead. It was still warm to the touch and he could feel the minute twitches his body was giving off, "Are you sure you're okay? Your body still aching?"
"I'm not some fragile porcelain doll, Alfred!" Arthur said sternly before his eyes softened, "I can take what you dish out."
Alfred leaned down to kiss Arthur's collarbone, nipping and nibbling up and down his neck. The small embers of lust ignited into an inferno within him, "God…I need you…are you scared?"
Arthur gasped when he felt the gentle nibbling on his neck and felt the new heat pool all over his tired and aching body. He shook his head, knowing in his heart, he wanted this to happen. No...he NEEDED this to happen...
"No…no, Alfred…I'm not scared…" Arthur felt Alfred settle on top of him, causing tingles to brush his body like the fluttering of delicate butterfly wings. The weight was comforting and warm.
"I won't be able to hold back once we get going..." Alfred's voice was filled with tense lust...a final warning before the fall...
"I'm not asking you to..." Arthur whimpered when Alfred ground his hips against him, "Alfred…I think…we need something new…to remember by…"
"I agree…"
Alfred propped himself with one strong arm as his other unoccupied hand trailed to his tie. Arthur shivered as Alfred slid the tie away, which he immediately threw to the ground. He cupped the older nation's face.
"Let's make some new memories…"
To be continued…
Author's notes: Hah…that was satisfactory. Well, the first part's done…now the second part…now how the heck am I supposed to do this…it'll come to me :)
Anyway, I hope that this is enough to keep you guys interested in this story. I promise I will get the second part up asap…zettai ni!
Until then, I accept constructive feedback but no flamers whatsoever. All flamers will be used to bake marshmallows and make smores…hmmmm….now I'm hungry...gotta eat! Kudos to you all!