To the newcomers up above on the catwalk the underground club was a disorienting mass of multicolored lights and tangled bodies.
"Ecosse," Francis had to shout in his redheaded friend's ear to be heard, "Why are we here?"
"Heard it was a fun place." Came the bellowed answer as the Scottish man moved forward along the walk pushing past writhing bodies.
Wrinkling his nose at the scent of unwashed bodies Francis followed his brash friend down iron stairs to the main floor skirting scantily clad gyrating men and women on the dance floor.
"Tant de gens..." Francis murmured to himself once they had secured a place at the bar off to the far left side.
"What?" Alistair looked over at the blond curious having barely heard him over the music.
"I said so many people." Cradling his wine Francis narrowly avoided collision with a young woman who was clearly over her limit as he turned to study the floor once more.
"Ah, ye''re just getting old." Alistair slapped Francis on the back and let his eyes wander searching for a human partner to dance with, the meetings were only just starting for the week and a great deal of the nations were out partying to let loose some of the stress that had already built up in the first few days.
"Non, I am merely stating ze facts." Francis tossed his hair out of his eyes precociously.
Alistair went to reply but the music did a sudden heavy bass drop and halted, lights all dimming save one, a spotlight on a single leather clad figure wrapped around a pole on the center platform of the club. Every person stopped whatever they were doing to watch, Alistair would swear later it was so quiet for those few seconds before the music began again he could have heard a pin drop from across the room.
Blond hair like a veil obscured the male's features as he writhed around the pole like a creature of grace, moving to the beat of a slow, sensuous, song his feet never touching the floor after he kicked off. Alistair found himself staring entranced as the man moved, not even noticing Francis quietly taking the shot glass from his hand or snaking an arm around his waist so he could lean in to whisper-shout over the music, "Go get him mon ami, before anyone else does..."
Body moving before he even fully considered it Alistair found himself pushing his way through the crowd, eyes still locked on the small man weaving a spell over him.
When a big man dressed all in black leather crashed into Alistair the redhead swore violently in his native tongue, his vision interrupted long enough that the song ended and the dancer was gone by time Alistair was back on his feet. Cursing to himself Alistair searched the area best he could but the people were back to their gyrating, hip shaking moves, each lost in their own little worlds of music and lust. Nowhere could he see that telltale flash of unruly blond and sensuous grace.
"What 'appened?" Francis looked at his friend worried when Alistair dragged himself back off the dance floor dejectedly.
"Got run into by some ejit..." The redhead grumbled darkly reaching for his drink.
"There iz always tomorrow non?"
Looking sharply at his blond companion Alistair replied slowly, "You want to come back here, tomorrow?"
"But of course mon ami, and perhaps bring a few more of our friends to experience ze London Underground?" Francis winked at Alistair conspiratorially who stared in surprise then smirked as he realized this was Francis' way of saying he liked this club after all.
"I want to keep any eye out for a while longer just in case he reappears." Alistair grabbed his scotch and took a quick swallow ignoring the familiar burn of the drink.
"Why not." Shrugging Francis turned to flirt with the Gothic brunette girl beside him knowing Alistair would be more than capable of searching for his own partner.
Francis had spread word about the Underground, the next night accompanying them to the club's writhing core were the other two members of the bad touch trio. Gilbert wore his sunglasses to protect his sensitive eyes despite the dark corners, too many flashing lights he had said once when Alistair questioned him. His iron cross hung outside his black tank top as his sole jewelry for the evening aside from the leather band on his right arm.
Antonio stood out as the most casually dressed of them all, his ripped jeans and half unbuttoned shirt showed off far more of his tanned skin than most would consider publicly decent. Staring down at the floor below them he seemed the most impressed by the dancers so far, "It seems lively here amigos!" Cheerfully the Spaniard headed for the stairs to join the ball of movement.
"Aaand there he goes, the awesome me is going to go get a drink."
"Me too." Francis linked arms with Gilbert and the two walked in sync, hips swaying to the beat to the bar leaving Alistair alone on the vibrating catwalk.
Scanning the crowd below for what seemed eternity Alistair felt his breath hitch when he noticed the crowd part some time later off to the side to admit a familiar flash of blond to the floor. Straining as the strobes kept interfering with his vision Alistair didn't realize he was leaning precariously over the railing until a man grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him back, "Careful mate, just 'cause it's the Master doesn't mean he's worth falling off the edge."
"What?" Alistair blinked and the man laughed, lighting up as a strobe passed them giving Alister the impression he was blue eyed and black haired with more piercings than sense.
"The Master, the man you were staring at so intently." The man moved a little closer, almost pinning Alistair to the rail, "He's King of the Underground, his body is temple and playground to all the children of the night who come to him that want him. All you have to do is catch him."
Staring intently at the man Alistair tried to decipher his meaning, "So you're saying... I have to catch this... Master fellow? What if all I wanted was to talk to him?"
"Then that's all you'd do, he doesn't care, if you catch him he's yours to do whatever with for the time he determines. Course that'd be a waste, the Master is...mmh..."
"Does he always dance at the same time?"
"Nope." Flicking his fringe out of his eyes the man moved aside to let a few girls skirt past him on their way out, "He's random, sometimes he doesn't show up until the wee hours of the morning, sometimes he shows up first thing and some nights he never shows at all."
"Damn..." Alistair leaned back on the rail frustrated, "I don't even know why I want him..."
Laughing softly the man pressed up against Alistair to avoid a rush of people coming in and whispered into his ear lightly making Alistair shiver, "Most people don't ever figure that out, he's just got that aura of a god that draws you in until you can't think of anything else, it's like a drug..." Pulling back the man winked at Alistair licking his lips once more, "Good luck stranger." With that he left, joining a group headed out and leaving a highly frustrated Alistair behind.
Several minutes later he found himself at the bar downing shots of scotch and glaring at the rack of bottles behind the bartender who was edging away nervously after an order to just leave the bottle.
"Eccose! There you are!" Francis slung an arm around Alistair's shoulders ignoring the ominous aura around his friend, "I was beginning to worry something had happened to you."
"Like anything would happen." Alistair snorted into his drink.
"Well amigo when we saw that man leaning over you up there we got concerned." Antonio appeared on Alistair's other side casually slinging his arm around the Scotsman's waist.
"He stopped me from leaning out too far that's all."
"O hon hon..." Francis chuckled, "Iz that all he did? It looked far more intimate from down here."
"Nothing happened." Alistair growled at the two men hugging him and broke free of their hold.
"Uh huh..." Antonio moved away from the grumpy man laughing to himself and swaying to the beat of the music when he collided with Gilbert who laughed and spun the Spaniard in a circle.
Alistair watched them for a moment before returning to his drink amused by their antics.
"You should dance mon ami." Francis grinned and downed the remainder of his wine before tugging on Alistair's hand.
"Why?"
"It is fun non?" Pulling the reluctant man onto the floor they danced for a while before Antonio reminded them it was getting late and they had meetings starting early the next morning.
"The Awesome me doesn't care!" Gilbert yelled over the sudden bass drop that made Alistair and Francis freeze, both of them searching the room for the blond dancer as a the lights all went down briefly to come back spotlighting a different platform than the night before.
Antonio and Gilbert stared in awe, neither had quite understood when Francis had explained the dancer to them, how his every tiny move was sensual and spell binding. Now they could see for themselves how the leather clad figure could capture the eyes and lust of every being that walked into the club.
Alistair stood riveted as the man moved in time with the music, deciding there was no way could he make it all the way across the crowded room.
"Aren't you going to go?" Francis whispered into Alistair's ear making him jump.
"Never make it in time, too many people." Eyes locked onto the writhing man none of the bad touch trio said another word, too busy wondering if they could get a hold of him for themselves.
At the end of the song the lights went down for just a moment and when they came back up the music restarted and the dancer was gone as though he had never been there. Turning to look at each other the trio Antonio was the first to speak, "That was...interesting."
"Ja..." Gilbert pushed his shades up his nose from where they had slipped, "He vas...entrancing..."
"They call him the Master apparently." Alistair grabbed another drink from the bar and downed it ignoring the looks the others gave him.
"So what are you going to do mi amigo?" Antonio sidled closer to Alistair again eying the Scotsman.
"Drink one more scotch and head back to the hotel, I have an opening presentation in the morning." Alistair sighed, "I'd like to hang around and see if I could find him but it's unlikely since he's already picked someone for the evening."
"What?" Francis tilted his head confused.
"That guy that stopped me earlier? He told me a little bit about the Master, how he dances and picks a partner for the evening, he never appears at the exact same time or in the same area twice in a row."
Running a hand through his hair Alistair looked at the bottom of his shot glass intently.
"Oh schiesse..." Gilbert downed the remainder of his beer and signaled the bartender for another.
"Well that makes the chase all the more intriguing non?" Francis grinned at his friends, "Perhaps we should regroup tomorrow after the meetings and return?"
"Si!" Antonio smiled brightly, "I'll bring Lovino, he'll like this place I think."
"Ja, maybe birdie would like to come." Gilbert tipped his beer up and chugged the last half of it.
"Why bring more people?" Alistair frowned, this was not what he wanted at all.
"Why not? This place is fun, and zere is so much to go around." Francis gave Alistair his best puppy dog eyes which worked every time on the man.
"Fine..." Giving in Alistair set his glass on the bar top and stretched, "But if anyone invites my killjoy little brother I will castrate them. The last time Arthur went drinking with me in a pub he did nothing but sit in the corner and brood."
"Right, no one would invite him anyways amigo, he's always too stuffy." Antonio shrugged, "It's always formal and tea this, tea that."
Snorting Gilbert nodded in agreement with Antonio and started to dance again, "Hey Tonio, let's dance some more!" With that he grabbed the Spaniard by the wrist and dragged him off to join the crowd leaving the two men at the bar.
"I'd best be going." Alistair snorted at the sight of the two dancers, one wild and untamed, the other fluid and trying to keep a rhythm.
"Right, I'll stay and try to make sure Gilbert has a cut off." Francis leaned on the bar watching his friends fondly as he waved Alistair off.
Without a backwards glance the redhead left the throbbing club, head swimming in images of an impossibly beautiful blond dancer.
"Sup dudes!" Alfred bounded into the meeting room interrupting a hushed debate between Matthew and Gilbert as to whether or not going to the club was a good idea.
"Eh..."
"Alfred!" Gilbert slung an arm around Alfred's shoulder, "Mattie and I were just talking about zis awesome club we're going to tonight, vant to join? There's a bunch of us going."
"Who all?" Alfred grinned widely at the prospect of a fun night out.
"I know Francis, Alister, Antonio, Lovino, Birdie, myself, and you hopefully."
"Hmm..." Looking mischievous Alfred grinned, "I may invite a person or two."
"More the merrier." Gilbert laughed and leaned in to kiss Matthew on the cheek before sauntering off to see if his brother wanted to join them.
That night quite the gathering of nations appeared at the underground club in their various casual outfits.
"Hola amigos!" Antonio arrived dragging Romano who was still halfway dressed up for the meeting, his suit jacket gone leaving his red tie and grey collared shirt with slacks. Francis turned and grinned, his arm slung around Alfred's shoulders the superpower ready for a night of fun.
"Hey dude!" Alfred grinned and waved. Matthew and Gilbert looked up from the wall where Gil had Matthew pinned with one arm. Little by little nations arrived, Jack and Vash arrived, Ivan showed up behind them and soon after the doors opened, the bouncers letting them in surprisingly easy. The nation's blended into the crowd in the club mingling along the bar and dancing out on the floor.
Alistair looked around, so many of his fellow countries had shown up, even the Baltics had come out for the night although they stayed in a corner. Alistair sat at the bar nursing another whiskey watching for the King of the Underground to show up.
"Watching for your mystery man amigo?" Antonio came up behind Alistair and leaned on him slightly.
"Aye." Alistair's gaze roamed the crowd searching for the blond.
"What if he doesn't show?"
"Then I'm going to give up." Alistair shrugged but his eyes betrayed his emotions.
"Non!" Francis overheard him and dramatically flung himself in front of the redhead, "You cannot give up mon ami! Not when he has captivated you so much."
"But he doesn't even know I exist Francis."
"So?" Francis waved a hand in front of Alistair's face, "That is part of the chase."
"And besides amigo, I doubt he'll be able to resist you with that accent and those muscles showing off in that outfit." Antonio let his eyes roam over the Scotsman, the dark red buttoned shirt hugged him in all the right places and his jeans sat snug in just the right way to accent the man's features.
"Stop eyeing me up Antonio." Alistair chuckled and put his drink down glancing over in time to see Ivan engage Alfred in a drinking contest making him wince.
"But you have a good figure." Antonio ran a hand over Alistair's shoulders suggestively.
"Oi! Tomato bastardo!" Lovino stomped over, "Are you going to sit and yak all night?"
"Course not!" Antonio flung his arms around Lovino pulling him into a tight embrace making the Italian sputter.
"Chigi!"
Alistair hid a laugh and then froze when he looked past his friends and spotted a flash of blond across the room. Pushing away from the bar Alistair started to move only to freeze again as the music dropped down to a low level and almost all movement halted except for the blond dancer who stepped through the crowd like they weren't even there.
Slowly humans moved out of the man's way, the nations that had come to the club all had migrated to the bar to watch as the leather decked blond came forward. His face was covered with a leather mask, only his kohl rimmed eyes peered out at the nations. A fishnet shirt showed off a lean body with tattoos decorating the man's torso , tight leather pants accented with a thick spiked belt showed his lean curves and his black combat boots gave him a dangerous edge.
Alistair stepped forward hyper aware that all eyes were on him, including the blond's, and he asked, "Aren't ye going to dance tonight?"
Moving deliberately the blond stalked forward and stopped just foot from Alistair before raising his left hand to snap his fingers. A loud pulsing song rocked the club and all eyes watched as the King of the Underground used Alistair as his dance partner for the song.
Moving in sync to the music the blond twisted in catlike movements around the Scot, running his hands over the planes of the others body, slowly winding around him as if he was examining him as he danced. Running his fingers under Alistair's chin the blond stepped away and smirked as the Scot's eyes dilated in response.
Taking him by the hand the blond led Alistair out of the main area towards a door marked no entry, the club life around them resuming to normal levels. Following in a daze Alistair missed the dropped jaw looks the other nations were giving the daring blond man as they left the main section behind.
Once the door swung shut behind them Alistair found himself walking down a short hallway to another door marked private, the music behind them a muffled heartbeat now. Opening the door for Alistair the blond motioned for him to enter the room first.
Stepping in warily Alistair looked around, a couch on the left wall with a coffee table, a mini fridge in the corner, a large bed in the center of the back wall with bedside tables, the lamps on them the only light source for the room, and a wardrobe against the right wall greeted him. All the furnishings matched in color, dark browns that almost looked black against deep red walls.
"Nice room." Alistair looked at the blond who shut the door and sauntered to the fridge to pull out a bottle of water with a nod. Alistair watched him move for a moment, "So why the mask?"
Pausing the blond kept his back to Alistair for a long moment before pulling the mask off and turning slowly around to face him with a smirk as he drank from the bottle.
Eyes widening Alistair just about hit the floor as he realized who the blond was, "Arthur!?"
"That's my name, don't wear it out." The English personification almost laughed at the dumbfounded expression on Alistair's face, his brother was well and truly shocked.
"But...you...piercings...tattoos, dancing like that..." Alistair ran a hand through his hair trying to come up with how he hadn't realized it was his brother.
"Mmmh..." Arthur licked his lips and tossed the mask onto the table then sat the water down, "Welcome to my underworld."
Alistair stared, "You are so-"
"So...? What? So attractive? Surprising? Unexpectedly a good dancer?" Arthur teased lightly as he stalked closer to his brother, rolling his hips as he moved.
"-not who I thought you were." Alistair let his eyes roam over Arthur again a new sort of respect in them.
"And who did you think I was?" Arthur tilted his head sideways letting his spiked hair fall into his eyes slightly.
"A stick in the mud little brother who wouldn't know a good time if it came up and slapped him on the arse." Alistair bluntly replied, "But you aren't, you've been hiding your personality haven't you?"
Chuckling Arthur nodded, "For a very long time."
"Why?"
"I didn't want others to judge me." Arthur looked up at Alistair, close enough to touch now.
"So?"
"I had to build a reputation as a gentleman and a strong nation to run."
"I think your reputation would do fine." Alistair stepped forward staring into Arthur's eyes.
"So what now? You've been chasing me for days, do you still want me?" Arthur put a cautious hand on Alistair's hip.
"How did you know?" Alistair frowned in thought but didn't pull away from the touch.
"My people here listen and watch for those interested in me, and those who are interested enough I go after myself sometimes." Arthur moved his hand around Alistair's hip to settle in the small of his back.
"Ah..." Alistair stiffened, "But you're...if we do this what then...?"
"Then I'd like to have you as a lover." Arthur stated bluntly.
Green eyes widening Alistair stared at Arthur for a moment before nodding his agreement. Slowly he moved his hands to grasp Arthur by the hips, his fingers running across the smooth leather as he decided to give in to his desire.
"Alright then." Arthur put his free hand into Alistair's hair and pulled him into a long kiss. Pulling the blond closer Alistair tightened his grip on the other before sliding a hand up Arthur's back across the fishnet shirt to press him against his chest.
Breaking apart to breath the two stared at each other with dark eyes, "Did you happen to learn what happens when I select a partner and bring them here?" Arthur scraped a nail down Alistair's neck.
"N-not entirely..." Alistair fought a shiver as Arthur toyed with him.
"Well... See that bed?" Arthur moved back out of Alistair's grasp and pushed him toward the bed, "Why don't you go sit on it for a moment and I'll get ready to show you."
Alistair reluctantly left Arthur's side, sitting on the very edge of the bed with his eyes trained on Arthur as the blond stalked over to a small panel by the door. Opening it he turned a dial, the lighting dimming with it, then he flipped a switch and music from the club flooded the room as background sound. Slowly Arthur leaned down and pulled on his boot laces, then with a clearly practiced motion he stepped out of the boots.
Turning on his heel Arthur started dancing in time to the music, hips gyrating and hands up. Alistair watched the private show entranced as Arthur spun and dipped down in front of him, Alister's hands gripping the bed to keep himself grounded.
"Do you like watching me dance?" Arthur swayed just in front of Alistair eyes locked onto the redhead.
"Yes." Alistair clenched his hands visibly restraining himself.
"Do you want to dance with me Alistair?" Arthur stepped closer and leaned into the Scot's space his eyes level with his brother's.
"Yes."
"Then come here love." Arthur put a hand under Alistair's chin and guided him to his feet again.
Moving Alistair away from the bed Arthur fell back into the rhythm of the song, hips swaying as he practically undressed Alistair with his eyes. Running curious fingers over the others body the blond explored as they danced together even though Alistair's rhythm was a little off at first.
Alistair touched one of Arthur's earrings lightly causing the blond to shiver and lean in, "Sensitive there?"
Nodding Arthur leaned up and kissed Alistair soundly still moving his hips against the others creating a burning friction between them. Kissing back Alistair wrapped an arm around Arthur stopping him from moving away.
Barely moving his lips away from Alistair's the blond ran his tongue across the red head's lips teasing him. Trying to catch Arthur's mouth with his own Alistair growled at the blond who leaned back almost bending over Alistair's arm with a low chuckle.
"Where do ye think ye're going?" Alistair held on grinning.
"Nowhere, and everywhere." Arthur ran a hand over Alistair's neck before grabbing a handful of hair and twisting his fingers through it.
"As long as I'm with ye." Alistair bent and kissed Arthur's exposed neck gently making the blond shiver and cling to him tighter. Sliding a hand down under Arthur's waist Alistair picked up the slightly built man and turned to lay him down in the center of the bed.
Looking up at Alistair the green eyed Brit smiled, "Going gentle on me?"
"No, just changing positions so it's easier to worship your body." Alistair moved to remove Arthur's shoes then his own before tossing them off the bed and kneeling over the blond. Wiggling his feet Arthur closed his eyes for a second only to feel a hand touch his side.
Alistair leaned down to press a kiss to Arthur's jaw then slowly moved his hand to run over the others belt feeling the spikes with a grin.
"Are you going to take that off me?" Arthur wriggled his hips suggestively.
"I was thinking about it."
"Less thinking, more doing." Arthur wrapped a hand around Alistair's neck and pulled him in for a harsh kiss.
Kissing back Alistair fumbled with the buckle for a moment before undoing it and sliding it out of the way. Once the belt was free and clear Alistair tossed it aside and started sliding down Arthur's body to sit on his lower thighs gently.
The blond grinned up at him and stretched like a cat, flexing himself in front of Alistair unabashedly. The Scot ran a hand down Arthur's side, feeling the muscles under the shirt. Leaning down Alistair kissed Arthur's collarbone as his hands slid the fishnet shirt upwards.
At the touch of Alistair's large hands under his shirt Arthur shivered and closed his eyes. The two of them losing themselves in a sea of sensation to the pulse of the club.