He ripped the ruffle from his throat.

This isn't who I am.

He stared down the reflection, that proper little boy looking defiantly back at him. This is who you are. This is what you'll be forever. His. A perfect pawn, You'll be a good boy, you will mindlessly obey. You'll never fly. This skin is yours, these clothes that restrict your movement, this voice that slurs and fluctuates those words with an accent scorned by the rest of the world. You'll be the perfect little clone.

"This... This isn't me."

This is you.

"No... NO! THIS ISN'T ME!"

He ripped at the skin. Blood. Blood dripping from his nails.

"Alfred?!"

"THIS ISN'T ME!"

"ALFRED!" Those strong arms around him. That stench, that rich, perfect scent. English gentleman, bullshit! He wasn't perfect. He was not one's doll. He was flawed, dirty, and tainted. His shoulders burned. An Eagle. He was going to fly, and no one was going to clip his wings. He was going to fly.

"Let me go..."

"What's the matta with you, boy!?"

"I'M NOT YOU!"

Arthur leapt back, staring down incredulous at the trembling child. "Excuse me?"

"I-I'm not you... I'M NOT YOU! This.. This skin isn't me... All of this.. This isn't me!"

"Alfred, That's enough out of you!" Those vicelike fingers snatched his wrist, staring back into the teen's eyes. "You're too young, you belong to Britain and that's all there is to it! You'll belong to England for the rest of your life, child!"

Blood. Blood dripping from the gentleman's mouth. He was on the floor, the defiant child towering above him with that rebel glow in his eyes.

"This isn't me. This isn't my skin. I'm going to fly!"

"Don't be ridiculous, Alfred! You'll be ripped apart! Nations like Russia would not think twice of taking you over! You belong to me, MY territory, and that's all there is to it!"

"I'm not yours... I'm not your little boy anymore!"

Those words hung stagnant in the air, permeating the deepest reaches of Arthur's soul.

"Fine... FINE! YOU UNGRATEFUL BASTARD, AFTER ALL I'VE DONE FOR YOU THIS IS HOW YOU'LL TREAT ME!? IF YOU LEAVE THIS HOUSE TONIGHT, CONSIDER YOURSELF AN ENEMY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM!"

Smirking, the young American ripped off his tie, pulling open the button-down shirt to feel the cool night air against his skin. "Then so be it..."

"ALFRED!" Arthur tailed the fleeing boy to the door, screaming after him as he disappeared into the night. "WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD, BOY!"

"I WELCOME IT!"

And with those words, the eaglet faded away into the night.