A/N: *pokes head in* ...Hallo again. C:
Why yes, Charlotte has written more~ I wrote this a month or so ago, just for kicks, and to get used to writing about Hetalia characters (you know, make sure they're not too OOC, ect.) I liked this a lot so I wrote some more on this story, and I may or may not upload any other chappie I've written for this story. I'm definitely writing more involving Artileen (IrelandxEngland)- I've got a couple great ones coming up ;D
But I don't know if I'll go much farther than a one shot with this, seeing as I have a couple more stories I want to finish and stuff.
Do tell if you want to hear more of this little fling, though! (I don't know why that is underlined. =w=)
For reference, Arthur is England, Aileen is Ireland, Claire is Northern Ireland, and Ellis is Wales.
Enjoy, friends~
PS Sorry for the title. Couldn't think of anything. XD;; (Means "I think I love you" in Gaelic C; )
Arthur sighed softly and walked through his front door, ready for a rest and a fresh cup of tea. As the door creaked closed, giddy voices wafted down the stairs. Arthur groaned audibly: it was Saturday, the day his previous charge (or, as Francis so kindly put it, "girlfriend") came to visit until the next morning.
"For the last time, you French bastard, she was not nor will she ever be my girlfriend! She was just a part of my country!"
"Oh, mon cher, you can only wish… why else would you have brought mademoiselle Irlande up as a topic of conversation, Angelterre?" Francis finished his sentence with a flourished sip from his glass.
"Because," and here Arthur also took a drink, "you bloody wanker, I was going to ask you if I could stay at your place tomorrow, because I don't want to see her!"
"Oui, afraid of releasing sexual tensions, are we? Ohonhonhon~" he chortled.
At that, Arthur stood up, infuriated. Francis always did refer to his and Alfred's arguments as "sexual tension releases" or whatever, but with Aileen he just crossed the line. "No, you fruking tosser!" And as an afterthough, "…and I'll not be staying at your house tomorrow, that is for sure!"
Francis also stood and clapped him on the back. "Angelterre," and he seemed at a loss for words, for once, but slowly continued, "…good luck, mon ami, you'll need it."
"Knob jockey." Arthur sighed, and he left the pub.
"Craaaap…" Arthur slid onto a winged armchair, completely unprepared for her onslaught of glares and cutting remarks that were soon to come. Normally, he stayed at Alfred's until Sunday afternoon- the Englishman preferred to stay as far away as possibly from the fiery maiden. Unfortunately, Alfred was having his annual Mega Scary Movie Marathon with Kiku this week, and Arthur really wanted nothing to do with that. He mentally facepalmed at his reasoning for not staying at someone else's, but Ireland seemed the lesser of the two evils at the time.
Memories of years past flew through his mind, as they always did at the thought of Aileen. England found her during his late teenaged years, and she was but a few years behind him. This came as a shock to Arthur, who had found most all his other colonies as children. Her reluctance to become a part of his kingdom also troubled Arthur, and their clashing personalities did nothing to help the matter. Though ultimately she agreed to become a part of their United Kingdom, Aileen was always apprehensive and awaited the day when she could once again be her own country.
In retrospect, thought Arthur, it probably would have been best not to pressure her so much to live with me. Really did nothing to help either one of us, I suppose. Two troubled teenagers, both attracted to the other, living in the same house as other countries (some content, some rebelling from Arthur's rule). That probably was not my best conquest.
His thoughts drifted from Aileen and onto himself, thinking back to the 18th century, a time of prosperity, where the sun never set on Arthur.
After ten minutes of apprehensive reminiscing, he heard the pitter-pat of feet down the wooden stairs, accompanied by laughter.
Shit, shit, shit… Panicked thoughts began to plague Arthur, and he sat up and wildly looked about, as though searching desperately for a place to hide. Oh, God, please don't let them know I'm her-
"Arthur!" a delighted tween ran to her brother-of-sorts, while the elder girl stopped short in the doorway of the parlour. Two pairs of intense green eyes locked over the thirteen-year-old.
"Oh, hallo, Arthur! How was your day?" the smiley Claire asked him.
"It was fine," he answered sharply, still staring at Aileen in the doorway. Then softening, "Can you get us some tea?"
"Of course!" Claire flew off to a few rooms over, leaving the pair in the sitting room.
"Arthur," Aileen curtly acknowledged him, taking a seat across the Briton. Arthur nodded in response; awkward silence ensued.
After glaring at him for a few moments, Aileen turned her head towards the kitchen, giving Arthur an opportune moment to have a look at her. She had grown a bit taller since she had left Arthur's manor home; her hair had gotten redder, her face more freckled. She seemed to have grown up just a bit from her "teenage rebellion" phase. Her face had become world-wearied a little, and matured. Arthur shook his head softly. Yes, he thought to himself, it has only been a year and a half… this house has been much more quiet without her… and then, laughing to himself, it does seem that every person living here goes through a "delinquent" phase…
His mind traveled backwards once more, to when he would give Aileen lessons on being a proper young lady, mannerly and gracious.
"Oi, Arthur!" Aileen lamented as he led her to the sitting room. "Why do I have to do this again? We had manners lessons yesterday!"
"It's important that we make courteousness a habit of yours, not just something that occurs every once in a while." Holding the door open for the young lady, she stiffly took her seat as Arthur followed suit.
"Now," Arthur prompted, and Aileen began to pour the two of them tea, gently placing the cups back on the saucers and adding just the right amount of cream and sugar.
Arthur gratefully lifted the teacup to his lips, murmuring his thanks. Aileen sat for a moment, fidgeting with her dress, trying to make her corset and skirt comfortable. Clearing his throat, Arthur had Aileen pause from her unladylike actions and motioned to the tea.
The young redhead glared at the Englishman, then coldly picked up her tea and turned away, stonily sipping. She glanced back at Arthur, and gave him the faintest of smiles, for the both of them knew however annoyed she may be; the two could never stay mad at the other for long.
Arthur returned the smile, and then beckoned for Aileen to sit up straight, and for heaven's sake would she uncross her legs, because for the last time it is not ladylike.
Arthur scoffed at the old memory, the faraway look once again leaving his eyes.
Aileen noticed him smiling, and he stopped, giving her his usual belittling look. After a bit, Arthur finally cut in:
"What, no barrage of cynical remarks today?"
"And none from you?" she countered.
"Touché…" he softly answered.
Aileen sat for a moment, and then seemed to work up the courage to ask: "How are you? I haven't…seen you. In a while. You're gone…when I'm here…" Arthur's eyes widened at the friendliness he was not accustomed to.
"Normally," he slowly replied, "I go out, for dinner or for a drink 1, then stay at Alfred's or Francis's. As if that is ever a good idea," he scoffed at himself. "Never stay at Francis's alone. Ever."
"…thanks for the tip."
Arthur debated with himself whether to speak again, as quiet filled the room as chocolate to milk. Suddenly the quiet was suffocating: "And how are you?" he asked Aileen.
She was taken aback at his outburst, but expertly hid it (That's what years of lying and hiding and Derek do to you…) and responded, "Good…it's been lonely, though, I mean…"
She paused, and Arthur's heartbeat quickened, and an eager glint came into his eye. Is she- he suddenly thought, going to say that she missed… me? His face lightly flushed, though he wasn't sure why he really cared that much.
"I missed Claire. Very much," she decided.
"Ah," poorly concealed disappointment crept into the Brit's voice. Bollocks. Not that it matters. At all. It just would have been a nice thing to say.
She continued, "And Ellis and Derek, of course. But it's been nice…being on my own." Aileen smiled into the distance, thinking inspiring thoughts of liberty.
Pangs echoed in his empty stomach as Arthur was distinctly reminded of a certain young man, who had looked almost exactly the same, dreaming of his own independent future.
He cleared his throat and began, "I-"
Suddenly, a young Welsh man poked his head in the door and said, "Gilbert is on the phone, Arthur. He says Ludwig wants to know if you'll be going tonight?"
"Ah-" Arthur snuck a look at the nineteen-year-old. "…sure. I'll be there in 15 minutes." Reluctant to allow another trying moment, he rushed out of the room to finish the call.
A/N: Read, review, the whole lot. ^^
