Chapter one: Tea with Arthur Kirkland

"You must choose another! What part of 'noble' do you not understand, dear sir?" Yao asked. Queen Arthur turned to stare at the jack with an annoyed stare. "I choose him because he seems most…interesting from all I've seen. I've seen him plenty of times. He is not of noble birth, I understand that, but I am the queen, am I not?" Arthur asked Yao. Yao hesitated and bit his lip. "You feel he can do this, and if he succeeds, he shall stay in the palace…" "And continue learning the history of Spades Royalty." Arthur finished for the angered jack. "I don't trust him, Arthur. You haven't talked to him and yet you claim you have strong feelings for him. Get to know him, Arthur!" Yao prompted. "I've talk to him…once!" Arthur prompted. "Yeah, back when you were thirteen!" Yao snapped. Arthur raised an impatient hand at Yao and looked away. "I've made up my mind. I'm choosing this man and you can't do anything to change my mind." Arthur then promptly turned on his heel before Yao could come up with anything else to argue about. Yao then let out a defeated sigh as Arthur escaped to his chamber. "What was his name again? Allen Joseph?" Yao shook his head. That wasn't his name! "No, no, his name is Alfred F. Jones…yes that is it." Yao then let out a loud annoyed sigh. "I really hope you know what you are doing, Arthur."

Alfred's daily routine was simple. Get up, survive, and go back to bed. He would make breakfast, go out for entertainment, work, and finally go to the tea shop. It was called Spades' Royal since Queen Arthur loved the tea there best. Alfred has seen the queen plenty of times. He would nod at Alfred and take a sip of tea. It then became part of his routine to see the queen. It was just small nods of acknowledgment which the queen rarely gave to anyone. Today was normal. He made breakfast, went out for entertainment, work, and then headed over to the tea shop. But the normal became abnormal quickly. The queen walked in as normal. Everyone stood to bow and then they sat back down. Alfred was just sipping tea and watching the day go by through the window and he didn't notice the chair across from him was occupied. It took the clearing of a throat to have Alfred snap back into reality. He gently set the tea cup down and looked up into curious emerald eyes. "Your majesty! I'm honored to sip tea with you!" Alfred didn't mean to sound flustered or even nervous. A hero never gets nervous! He always helps out those in need and doesn't show any signs of fatigue.

The queen put on a friendly smile. "Good afternoon, sir." Arthur told Mr. I'm-Always-the-Hero. "And call me Arthur. No need to be formal." Arthur said. "So what is your name?" He asked. "Alfred F. Jones, sir." Alfred responded quickly. "So, I heard that you are going to be 25 soon…so uh…" Alfred noticed the queen blush. Alfred's mind went to work. Was…was he spying on him? No, rephrase, was he stalking him? "That would be correct, your majesty." Alfred said with a hint of suspicion. Arthur's eyes showed how nervous he really was. Alfred was told by his twin brother, Matthew, that eyes were windows to the soul. Alfred, with no particular expression, said that isn't true.

Alfred noticed something was different about his eyes when he turned eleven. He remembered when he was completely excited to get his first pairs of glasses with Matthew. He remember Matthew's smiling face, how even his eyes smiled and twinkled with glee. It wasn't until Alfred turned fourteen he finally looked at, and reviewed, his own reflection in a mirror to see no emotions in his eyes at all.

"Maybe it is a phase of your life, Al. Maybe you're so blind; your eyes can't even show emotion without glasses!" Matthew said trying to cheer up his twin. Alfred frowned but his eyes didn't return the frown. They were as blank as a dead man's. "I don't think so, Mattie. Ever since I got these, I still don't even see a spark of light.. I looked into the mirror to see only myself with blank expressionless eyes! It's like I show emotion in my words, but my eyes can't tell the real story behind my smile." Alfred told Matthew with sorrow trained into his words. "Come on, Al, don't think like that! Your words always tell the truth…most of the time." Matthew playfully narrowed his eyes. Alfred gave such a laugh that he was sure his eyes smiled back at Matthew. "Are they smiling?" Alfred asked. Matthew gave a forced smile but his eyes cried on the inside.

The memory made Alfred space out…he then found himself staring off into space, but not out the window, but at Arthur's now offended face. "Um, sir, you know it is not very gentlemen like to stare at another person." Arthur deadpanned. His eyes, however, were full of daggers that mocked Alfred. "My apologizes, sir. I…I blanked out. I remembered a painful memory." Alfred said. Sorrow, he put sorrow into the words. His eyes were still as blank as No Man's Land.

Arthur gave a small sigh and took mental notes. Alfred had a small frown and not as much as a twinkle in his eyes. His expression wasn't dark and devious, the fact nothing twinkled in his eyes was enough to give Arthur the creeps. What does that mean? He couldn't really think at the moment.

"So, your majesty, why have you come? Is there something that needs to be discussed?" Alfred suddenly asked Arthur. Arthur looked up. "I've got something to say to you, tomorrow" Arthur added emphasis on the word "tomorrow." "What do you mean, tomorrow? Why not right now?" Alfred asked. "You're seriously challenging my word, Mr. Jones? Only a bloody git would dare challenge my word. I can tear you pieces before you can scream 'I'm the hero!' So I suggest you shut up, meet me here tomorrow, and not ask questions, but to listen and not be an ignorant prick!" He growled. Alfred arranged his face so he would look like he wasn't fazed by his threat at all. "Arthur, it is stupid to not say anything now! I'm right here and I don't have other things to do." Arthur banged on the table. "I've had it, wanker! I told you to wait, and you shall!" His bushy brows furrowed almost together. His emerald eyes showed he wouldn't back down. The silence between the two tensed. It felt like a hundred years to Alfred and he let out a defeated grunt since he knew his eyes weren't showing his defeat. "Fine, have it your way your majesty." He realized how much bitterness he threw into his words. "As it should be, Mr. Jones. If you wish to keep your sorry ass here, I suggest you come back and don't ask questions."

With that sour note still in the air, Arthur stood and walked out of tea shop and a frustrated sigh escaped his lips. "He's clever, but as stupid as a Frog. He'll be perfect…and what the hell is up with his eyes?" Arthur asked himself. Never has he seen anything such an expressionless pair of eyes in such an emotion-full man. He could easily hide fears just like that since his eyes never tell a different story behind his facial expressions! Arthur smiled at his brilliance. He knew this would work, he knew it had to work.

Inside the tea shop, Alfred blinked a few times while staring at the spot where Arthur sat. What was with that guy? This guy was his queen? He couldn't believe how defensive and how emotionally unstable he was. Alfred picked up the tea cup and took a sip. He then left the tea cup rest on his lower lip. "The only flaw in this fine country is the man that runs it." Alfred whispered into the small cup.

A/N:

This is my first fanfic, so I'm not the best and I learn as I go. I love reviews so please don't hesitate to leave one and suggest changes! Now the prologues and first few official chapters will be slow, but don't worry, it'll come up into something better! Now onto the long explanation for all of these changes:

Phew, I don't know how many times I've had to redo my plans on Heart Clock but the major ones are the chapter names changes and summary changes. Yes, so far, Arthur seems fine and just his normal annoying self. These first three are basically one giant prologue and needed to be told in different parts. Now the Hearts snip bits are gonna stay the same and they aren't gonna change as much as the A/Ns and future chapters. Also, Arthur's dark side will slowly become more and more visible as Alfred gets used to life in the castle. Another story, I'm planning to have it called Inside the Minds of Those around Me, are gonna be explanation chapters told in the POV of the characters in Heart Clock. Also, Alfred's POV will rarely be seen in it but instead of just having super long annoying A/N explaining the madness at the end of long confusing chapters, I've come up with a way to explain using either Matthew, Yao, and/or Arthur to explain. As already mentioned, rarely Alfred. They will be told in like a journal format and be in first person. Now a full summary:

Alfred F. Jones has never liked the royals. He's just used to giving the Queen, Arthur Kirkland, nods or quick glances of acknowledgement. But when the Queen starts to talk to Alfred, his world turns upside down. It first starts with a business meeting with Arthur he doesn't feel like going to and then a joker tries to kill him during the same meeting that he didn't want to go to in the first place. The queen then learns that Alfred is immortal with a powerful Suite Clock known as a Heart Clock, another heart to keep your real heart beating if it shall stop. As Alfred slowly recovers from injuries, he slowly gets used to Royal living and the Queen's company. But as Alfred watches Arthur closely, he learns that Arthur isn't as innocent as he may appear. Alfred then finds himself plotting against the Queen with the Jack of Spades, Yao, his beloved brother, Matthew, and the new joker, Peter to try and snap Arthur out of the dark world where revenge is needed for every dark action done to him. But as the world is plunged into a Full Suite War…life for Alfred just seems like a complete living hell as him and his plotting comrades start their plan to save Arthur, Spades, the other kingdoms, and himself.