People always say "this will be the last one, we've solved it all, the final war", but anyone with a lick of sense will tell you that they're absolutely wrong. It's always the last one, but there will always be something to fight for; freedom, greed, religion, power, and it will never be over. This time, almost an entire century into the future, mankind is fighting to protect their people, from those who dwell in the sky, humans who had gone out and they had thought they'd never returned, but no, they had simply formed a new society, a new land with new rules and a grudge against the ones who had stranded them in the middle of a vast universe. They had grown into mass forces, biding their time, and when they had done so they attacked. Earth's forces had managed to push them back to the skies, but it had gone on for over a decade now, and still they fought. New soldiers were trained every year, more and more young boys recruited or volunteering, wanting to save the world only to be sent back in a metal casket, and that was if there was even enough to send back. Young men and women from every corner of the globe, being trained to kill and fly spacecraft, taught that it was a glorious thing, to die for your country.

Alfred Franklin Jones, Jr., certainly thought so. He volunteered for the army the moment he turned eighteen, and flew up the ranks, his skills as a navigator impressive, and he was assigned to a Base up right near where most of the fighting took place, and he was thrilled. Finally, he could be a real hero, just like his father, and everyone would be proud of him! He'd win this war, that he was certain of, full of optimism that was deemed ridiculous by most and a big heart, wanting to protect the world he held dear. He hopped off the transport craft, dressed in full uniform, boots shining and hair combed back under his cap, which was worn at a jaunty angle despite regulations. He looked around the base, Alpha, their main station, all bright metal and stern looking men who barked orders, telling them they would be assigned a partner, someone who they would fight with side by side. Alfred, as a Navigator, would be paired with a Fighter, who would man the ship's guns while he flew it, his job was to give his partner openings in which to shoot and to get them back alive. He waited in line, bouncing on his heels, blissfully unaware at the people glaring his way at the bright expression on his face, full of hopeful dreams. He smiled when the Commander gave him the paper, which had his assigned room and the name of his partner, raising his eyebrows.

"Arthur Kirkland?"

The Commander just nodded, waving his hand.

"Head on off, soldier."

Alfred nodded, the paper wrinkling in his hand as he ran off out of the ship's bay, trying to figure out exactly where he needed to go, his pack on his shoulder as he moved down the halls, having to stop after a bit, puffing out his cheeks in frustration-how on earth had he ended up lost, he thought he knew where he was going. There were too many hallways in this ship-then he spotted someone coming down the hall from the other direction and he sighed in relief, waving his paper a bit to get the other blond's attention.

"Ah, excuse me! Can you tell me where the C block is, I'm kinda lost." He said, smiling a bit sheepishly, the other boy looking at him as if surprised he'd been spoken to, his features so delicate they were almost effeminate, and yet he could see a strength in him too, although his voice when he spoke was quiet and a bit meek.

"Oh, you're one of the new ones?" At Alfred's nod he smiled, shaking his head a bit, holding out his hand. "Here, let me see your papers, I can tell you where to go."

"Thanks-"Matthew"?" Alfred queried, looking at the name stitched onto the other boy's jumpsuit, and he nodded.

"Yes, and you're-ah, Alfred?" Matthew said, glancing up, and at Alfred's nod he looked back down at the sheet, violet-tinted eyes widening when he saw the other name on the paper, grimacing. "Arthur's your partner, hm?"

"Yeah, that's what it says-why, is that a bad thing?" Alfred asked, and Matthew shrugged, handing back the paper.

"He's just not the most…pleasant person to be around. A word of advice, it's not a bad thing to ask to switch partners with someone, okay? In this case…it might be the best from you, you don't seem like a good match for him."

"Don't they have some sort of system to match up partners, though, that tries to find someone compatible? Why would they stick me with someone I wouldn't be good with?" Alfred asked, cocking his head a bit curiously, and Matthew just shrugged, gesturing down the hall back the way Alfred had come.

"Who knows, maybe they just couldn't find anyone else for him. Let's get you to your room, I guess it's easier to just see for yourself."

"Is he an unpleasant person? I mean, he can't be all that bad." Alfred said-he was the type of guy who believed the best of everyone, but he didn't stand for bullies either, and judging by the look Matthew gave him he figured Arthur was definitely that type.

"He's…well, he's not a kind person, and he doesn't like anyone who makes mistakes."

"But everyone makes mistakes." Alfred said as they began walking, and Matthew snorted.

"Tell that to Arthur. You seem like a good guy, Alfred, and I'd hate it if he did anything to you."

"Hey now, I might be young but I wouldn't let anyone push me around like that." Alfred puffed out his cheeks a bit indignantly at the slight blow to his pride-he could fight off bullies, that wasn't hard, he was decently strong. But Matthew just gave him a look that was almost pitying, and he just shook his head as he continued walking, eventually coming to a stop, gesturing down a little hallway that split off from the main one.

"Your room should be down there, I'd rather not go down and chance running into Arthur so I'll leave you here. If you manage to get lost from here then, well, you're a hopeless case." He smiled. "It was nice to meet you, Alfred."

"Ah, yeah! You too!" Alfred said, smiling brightly, undeterred by Matthew's words, waving as the boy walked back the way they'd come, Alfred turning to head down the short hall, looking down at his piece of paper. It was the right hall, thankfully, and he glanced down at his paper, counting the doors off as he passed them.

"101…103…ah, here, 105! Should be right." He hefted his bag on his shoulder, taking a deep breath-no need to be nervous, Alfred, he told himself, he could handle anything, even a surly partner. He knocked on the door, waiting for the gruff, "Yeah, come in," before he opened the door, smiling warmly at the figure laying on the bed on the far side of the room.

"Hey there, you must be Arthur?" He said, dropping his bag on the ground and walking over, extending his hand cheerfully, not discouraged by the way the boy's eyebrows raised and then furrowed, a smirk on his face.

"And you must be the new gun bait." He said, taking his hand, gripping it tightly as he shook it, Alfred yelping as he tugged him forward, laughing and nipping at his earlobe before the boy could pull away again. Alfred brought his hand up to cover his ear, cheeks red and he was flustered.

"What'd you do that for?"

"Just being friendly, kiddo. You look too young to be here, are you sure you're even eighteen?"

"And a half, thank you." Alfred said, puffing out his cheeks-childish, he knew that, and it didn't help prove his point. Arthur snorted derisively, laying back and looking up at him with another lazy smirk.

"Probably a virgin, too, you seem like the goody-two-shoes type."

Alfred's face flushed bright red all the way to the tips of his ears, a little squeak escaping his lips as he pouted at Arthur, shaking his head.

"Hey, that's not tr-what does that matter anyway, you're disgusting!"

"Oh, well, it's just I'm not all too fond of virgins. No experience, you know? They don't know what they're doing, and they tend to cry a lot and they're just not as good. I can make do, of course, if I have to, you're pretty cute so I might make an exception."

"Who says I want you anyway? Or anything like that, for that matter." Alfred huffed, crossing his arms, his cheeks still scarlet, and Arthur chuckled amusedly.

"Everyone does, kid-trapped in a ship like this, it'll get too much after a while. It's not uncommon, you know, even the upper ranks do it. Doesn't have to be true love or any of that bollocks, just a quick fuck in the shower after a fight-that's a favorite-or in the middle of the night when you wake up-"

"Would you stop that!" Alfred said, his voice squeaking a bit and he blushed deeper, turning and walking over to the other bed, picking up his bag and starting to unpack it to give his hands something to do. He heard the bed behind him creak as Arthur stood up, another soft chuckle coming from him.

"So, the thought embarrasses you, hm?"

"Can we just stop talking about it, please?" Alfred groaned, sticking his few outfits and pajamas and such in the little chest at the end of his new bed, but he knew his face made it hard to lie, it was quite warm still. "If you have to now, yeah, I've done stuff before back at the training camp, but I was just curious! And I'm not going to go throwing myself at you so you can forget that, okay?"

"Sure, kid, whatever you say." Arthur said, shrugging, and Alfred just turned back to his task, folding his clothes a bit sloppily and putting them away, thankful that Arthur was quiet at least for a few minutes. The fear hadn't quite set in yet, the reality that he was here, this was it, he was going to be fighting in a war and be shot at, and all those things his mother had always worried about. Still, it was his chance to be a hero, to save the people he loved dearly back at home, and he wasn't going to let any little fears get to him.

"So, you any good?"

"Sorry?" Alfred said, startled from his thoughts, looking back over at Arthur, surprised to see him gazing back at him a bit intensely.

"Are you any good as a pilot? I mean, if they paired you with me I can hope you're at least decent, but you seem too much of an air-head to be much good."

"Hey! I'm the top of my group, actually." Alfred said, turning around and crossing his arms again, understanding what Matthew had meant about Arthur's personality, he was just the kind of jerk that Alfred had never liked. "I'm one of the best Navigator's they've sent here, according to the guys down there."

"With the ego to match too, wow." Arthur laughed, and Alfred just huffed.

"Yeah, coming from you? You seem to think you're pretty hot shit too."

"Language, Mr. Jones." Arthur mocked, and he just turned back around, making his bed and stripping off his jumpsuit before he laid down on the bed, back pointedly turned toward Arthur. OF course he'd gotten paired with what seemed like the biggest prick on the entire base. Arthur tried goading him a few more times but Alfred ignored him, pulling out a book that his mother had sent with him (a relic these days, but his mother loved them). He heard Arthur huff and get up eventually, relieved to hear the shower turn on, at least he'd have peace and quiet for a little while. He got wrapped up in his book to the point that he didn't notice the shower turning off, nor Arthur looking over at him and walking over, starting when he felt his weight sink down onto the bed and arms wrapping around him.

"How's the book?"

"Wha-get off me!" Alfred yelped, turning around, setting his book down and looking at him, blushing when he saw Arthur was still wearing a towel, squirming. "Off my bed, right now! And get some clothes on, Christ, you're so gross!"

"What's the matter? Does this make you uncomfortable?" Arthur said, smiling innocently, and Alfred just shoved on his chest, refusing to look at him.

"Just get off! Jeez, I already told you I don't want any of that!"

"Who said I was trying anything? We're both men here, right? So what's so bad about this?"

"Because you're mostly naked, and that's gross, and this is my bed and I'd like you to get off it." Alfred told him, puffing out his cheeks, and Arthur just chuckled, poking one of them, sitting up much to Alfred's relief.

"You're such a child, honestly. I doubt you'll last very long, which is too bad because you're actually rather adorable. If you decide to switch partners, I won't blame you, but just know what I'm also one of the best fighter's on this base and you'd be missing out."

"I'm not going to switch." Okay, well the thought had admittedly crossed his mind, Arthur was the exact kind of jerk that Alfred had hated through school and training, but he was also stubborn and wasn't going to let Arthur have the satisfaction of him leaving. Arthur raised a thick eyebrow, surprised by his answer, shaking his head as he stood up, crossing back to his own bed, grabbing a set of clothes, much to Alfred's relief.

"Sure you won't, kid."

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A/N: Hello! This is a new story of mine, since I made a new account to start fresh from my old fandoms. Also can be found under tumblr at the same name!