nonbeta
Antique Love
Chapter 1
By HamburgerWithTea
YOU CAN SKIP THIS AN IF YOU ANT TO, BUT IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO READ?
I kind of promised a new chapter for HwRT to one of the readers who got me back to digital life XD but uuhm well… You must know I've been DYING to write this fanfic since chapter 5 of ICL, and I kept myself from writing it until I finished that fanfic, so now it's finally done I couldn't really keep myself from starting this…
Steampunk is really something I've loved for almost all my life :P I think it started when seeing Treasure Planet in cinema at the age of… 7? Something like that :P and it grew worse and worse, and I've been thinking about a plot for it for over half a year now, and finally got one!
I'm really motivated for writing this, all there's left is time; school decided I'd have to spend a lot of free hours at school, not being able to go home, but not being able to write either. So I don't know how regular the updates will be, nor how fast I reply all reviews and comments, but please stick with me~
Some small info for the readers who are not that familiar with steampunk;
Basically steampunk is historic setting, I tend to switch from a lot of centuries, but with modern technology. So it's possible to have a car drive around in medieval times, but they will probably be working on steam and with small gears and stuff with wood and copper. Aside from these few basic things it's really up to your own fantasy, which gives you plenty of room to think up whatever you like the best! I really love it since it combines two things that interest me; History and Technology. If you've got any questions about it, feel free to ask! :D
In this story I will keep the world and the names of the lands the same, since I'm a fail when it's about making up names.
Long AN was long, but it was needed to give some kind of introduction. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I enjoyed making the plot! (And yay this time not only Artie will have a dark side of his life, but Alfy too! I won't spoil any more~)
Voices were heard around me as I hid behind a few wooden boxes. I finally managed to escape and had even gotten as far as the harbour, but they caught up on me and I'd have to get out of here soon to make sure I'd not be caught, not be brought back to… that hell.
I felt cold, wearing not much more then my sleepwear, which consisted out of a shapeless, white piece of cloth without sleeves, reaching up to my knees. I has always felt uncomfortable wearing it, it made me look like some madman, but it were the rules everyone had to wear it; it was all we had.
They had taken away all my possessions as I came in, telling me 'it was for my own safety and wellbeing not to stay attached to things and memories from the past'.
If I'd know about that place that I knew now, I'd have ran away right there, leaving everybody in my family behind. After all, they were the ones who put me in that hellto begin with.
A mint coloured bunny was flying around my head, also panicked, showing just how I felt, but I didn't pay mind to it. I needed to concentrate on where the voices came from and where they were going.
I could hear a total of five voices, but I knew there would soon be more; they were really doing everything possible to get me back to the building I fled. They really believed I was crazy and could go nuts any minute, maybe even kill someone.
I'd never even got near to killing someone, well except for glaring daggers, so they must be the crazy ones here.
"He must be somewhere around here! Search, you fools, it's a bloody lunatic, it's not like he can go far!"
"True, he's got to be somewhere near the supplies that are stored to be shipped away. Make sure he doesn't leave with them!"
I could feel a shiver over my back as I noticed my hideout wasn't the best I could've thought of. But now it was already too late.
I tried to form myself into a small ball, wishing I was invisible or that there would be some kind of miraclethat would come to save me. I'd even fall in love with a fool for the rest of my life in exchange of being able to get out of this situation.
"Hey, wait, I think I saw someone move over there!" a voice yelled from close by. For a moment I expected they had found me, even though I didn't move, and that they were going to grab my hair and drag me away from my hideout, taking me all the way back to…
But I was wrong. The footsteps actually ran to the opposite side, all five of them if I heard correctly, and after waiting a little while longer I dared to peek over the boxes to see if the coast was clear.
I saw the last man run towards the wooden boxes stored on the other side of the small storage deck, following whatever they had seen moving.
For a small second I doubted if I should take my chances and run to the first way out I came across, but I figured this might as well be my last chance.
I kept my head down, but moved my legs as quick as they possibly could, and my loyal friends following me. The mint coloured bunny and small fairies would always accompany me, they were my very best friends. Sadly no one else seemed to see them.
I ran towards a bigger amount of boxes stored nearer to the dock where the ships were floating in the water, waiting patiently until it was time for them to depart and go either to the rough sea or the free air. They were magnificent pieces of technology, never failing to fascinating me.
I've always wanted to travel; whether on land by steam-powered locomotives and automobiles, or by airships and normal boats. Travelling to the highest mountains, to where the snow and cold would freeze the joints of the mechanical wings if not taken care of properly, or to where the sun would be so warm one could only travel at night.
I've read about these adventures in books that I've been reading as a kid, but that were long gone now the doctors in charge of that place had taken them away from me, and probably sold or burnt them.
I ran further towards the boxes as they piled up higher above me and I stretched my back from my restrained position earlier. I looked around me, standing still to listen if there were any voices nearby, before I realised I was in the middle of a maze of boxes that all looked the same in the dim light, and nothing to decide what way I was going, as the night's sky was filled with clouds and no stars nor moon could be seen.
For a moment I could feel a rush of panic take over again, but I was able to calm myself down.
Now don't be such a fool, Arthur! Think, think of what the books taught you about navigation. Use you senses, listen carefully…
I closed my eyes and let the sound getting captured by my ears and sending the sounds to my brain.
I could hear the voices of the men, I couldn't identify how many of them it were, behind me, but not too close. They seemed to be still searching, I figured when picking up a few words.
Now I knew the men weren't dangerously close I decided to focus on other sounds, such as the water.
At my right I could hear small waves bumping to the quay and breaking apart, sending the water to the sides to make room for another wave. I knew that was where I had to go, and I quickly made my way towards my goal.
The boxes made it hard to keep track of where I was going, seeing as they really wereset up as if they were meant to make a maze. But even though sometimes I had to stand still for a moment, I managed to make my way to the boarder of the 'box-maze'.
I looked around, somewhat hidden again since the boxes weren't piled so high anymore, making sure there wasn't anyone looking for me. Luckily it seemed the fools had thought I went the other way, not expecting me to be able to get out.
I looked to my right and realised it would probably be stupid to walk that way, considering there were only two boats lined up and the men were searching somewhere that way.
I looked to my left and saw a row of boats. A longrow of boats. There were lots of them, all proudly poking the sky with their masts, trying to show off whichever was the biggest.
It might be night, but the grey clouds and the small reflection of light form the lit up dock still made it possible for me to see that there were a lot of masts, and thus a lot of ships.
I looked around me once again, checking for the last time if it was safe to make a move, and ran to the other side, towards the boats, as soon as I realised it was.
I started to dash forward, along the row of boats all lined up to depart any time soon, and I only stopped as I felt how hard it was becoming to breath. The long time in that place hadn't done much good to my health or endurance. Not like I ever was one to have a lot of endurance to begin with…
My lungs kept begging me for oxygen and it was hard to stay focussed. I could hear my own heart beat in my ears and for a moment I thought of just finding a place around some boxes and sit down, but I knew that if I'd were to do so, I'd probably end up back at the place where I escaped, with even more security then ever. Then I'd have waste my one and only chance.
I suddenly heard how new, loud voices started to form from the boxes I'd left behind.
"The others didn't find him there, maybe he ran this way. Make sure to catch him, guys. We don't know how dangerous he can be, considering he doesn't even know the difference between real life and his own fantasies,"
The voice belonged to one of the officers that'd often pay a visit to the doctors that were taking care of me and the others, checking up on the latest progress of their experiments. The arseholes!
I didn't stand there any longer though; I knew I'd had to make my way out of here, jump on a ship and hope the ship would depart soon. And even if it wouldn't it'd be okay, considering any place was safer then just standing here like a food, waiting for them to catch me.
Turning around I faced the way I was going again, grabbing myself together before I made a quick dash to one of the gangplanks, the closest I could find, that were used to load a ship.
I made my way up, wishing fiercely that nobody would encounter or see me, and jumping off it as soon as I reached the top. I was now standing on the deck of one of the ships, but that probably wasn't save either.
I knew there soon had to be someone walking around here soon, since the gangplank was only used if someone were to leave or enter the ship.
I looked around me, hearing the voices get closer, as I ran towards one of the shutters in the deck, the one that was open, and I dropped myself in there, quickly walking towards where most boxes were stored and sitting down behind them.
For now I would be safe. I motioned to the fairies and bunny that they should stay quiet as I started to calm down.
I had to make my breath get its regular speed again and I should keep my ears open in case there was someone coming down here.
For a moment I sat there, waiting for any sound or any movement, until I could hear people's voices on the deck.
"Hey, captain, glad you're back. That's the last box, right?" a somewhat cocky voice said.
"Yeah, Gilbert, this should be the last one. We're gonna depart soon after I put this in the storage room, makin' sure we wont miss any markets. It'd be uncool to lose profit,"
I gritted my teeth at the weird made-up word but soon became silent again. It'd be utterly stupid to give my hideout away just because this gitdidn't seem to know about proper spelling.
Not soon after the man had announced he'd drop the box –well that's what he said, right?- in the storage, I could hear the feet of the man walking on the wood above me and making his way towards the shutter. He climbed down and then called out for the other guy again.
"Hey, Gilbo, help me out here for a bit. Hand me the box," the voice sounded happy and a bit goofy. It almost sounded too young for a captain; in all the books I'd read captains were old man with a wooden leg and a parrot. This guy didn't seem to have either of them, though I could hear some small peeping as if there was some small bird around.
"Yo, here," I could hear how something heavy was lifted and then, with a small 'uhff' dropped down in the hands of the other man, "Say, captain," the man spoke up again as the so called 'captain' made his way to store the box.
"Yeah what's it, Gilbert," the footsteps got closer and I could see a shadow form on the wall I was facing, formed by the captain standing in front of one of the oil lamps. I held my breath, not sure what to do if I were to be caught right now, but I could hear how the box got dropped and a small, content sigh was expressed.
"Why did it take so long anyways? Normally you're done pretty awesomely fast,"
It seemed this fool also didn't know how to spell properly. I silently wished not every one of their crewmembers would be the same.
"They mistook me for some kinda lunatic or sometin'. I was just walking around and finding the box I needed and they mistook my shadow for some mad guy's," the captain explained, "Seems the guy escaped some madhouse tonight, runnin' towards the harbour,"
"Wow, did they find him yet?" the cocky voice asked after a small pause at which he grabbed the small shutter-door to close it as soon as his captain left it.
"Nah, seems not. They said he was blond, skinny, probably wearin' some white dress-like cloths and huge eyebrows. You seen him around? Seems like they're gonna give two thousand Gold* to the finder,"
"No man, didn't see anything. I've not been watching the deck too much though, had to watch down stairs as well," the voice belong to 'Gilbert' admitted, "You gonna look for this crazy guy? Two thousand Gold is pretty much,"
The small shutter got closed and the voices got darker and less loud.
"Yeah, true, two thousand is some awesome amount. We'd just turn him in when we find him, though I don't think we will; we're gonna depart now, remember?"
"Yeah, sure," I could hear 'Gilbert' say and all sounds except for the footsteps above me went quiet.
I could soon feel how the ship started to move, but I couldn't care less. I was exhausted and I didn't want to do anything else but sleep right now.
Without a lot of effort I got myself to fall asleep, my friends lying next to me or watching out for me, as I decided they had to be talking about me. But there was one thing they were wrong at;
I wasn't crazy.
The last three days hadn't been too comfortable. Sleeping on the wooden floor wasn't the best one could do, and considering this was an airship, we flew pretty high it seemed as I noticed how cold it could get at nights.
I noticed how I got a small cold, but there was nothing to do about it; I'd just leave the ship as soon as possible once we'd get to the next harbour. And that seemed to be in about seven days, or at least that's what the voices on the deck would say.
The past days I'd survived by stealing some pieces of food and water stored down here. Sometimes the crewmembers would get down here to get new supplies, but most of the time it was pretty save.
Right now it was day. I could see because there were small rays of light shining through the shutter's lock and planks.
I was standing next to an opened box at the moment, ready to grab a fresh loaf of bread, before I realised the shutter got opened.
I gasped silently for air and dropped the bread without realising.
I have to make my way back to the bigger pile of boxes before I'll be noticed!
With a quick dash, as silently as possible, I made my way towards the hideout where I'd been sleeping all these times. It seemed these boxes stayed untouched as they only contained expensive cloth and other supplies meant for trade.
But I wasn't silent enough though as I stumbled into a few boxes while getting back. And of course the bread had made a small sound as it had dropped.
I sat behind the big pile, silently trying to breath as quietly as possible as my heart pounded in my ears and blood rushed through my body. I had to keep calm!
"Anybody here?" a familiar voice asked. It was the captains voice, I could easily recognise by how young and proud –he'd called it 'heroic' as few times with his crew- it sounded.
"…Anybody?" he walked towards the still opened box with the bread lying next to it. I wished he'd just leave and think it was one of the crewmembers as he picked it up and muttered a word, "…Strange,"
I stopped breathing, eyes fixed on the wall, trying to make my ears locate where the man was standing right now and where he was moving to as soon as I hear his footsteps again.
I closed my eyes, clenched them together, wishing, almost praying that he'd just leave.
The footsteps silently and slowly moved away, and slowly I got to think I was god damnlucky. I could hardly believe life finally went the way I wanted it to.
But I realised I shouldn't have cheered too soon.
In a quick movement I could feel how my hair was grabbed, sending pain though my head and making me make a small yelp.
"I knew it!" the voice exclaimed, almost sounding as a proud little kid who found some buddy with hide-and-seek. But this time, it wasn't just hide-and-seek.
And I wasn't a buddy.
1 Gold = about what we'd call 1 euro/dollar/whatever
1 Silver = about what we'd call 0.50 euro/dollar/whatever (50 cents)
1 Bronze = about what we'd call 0.10 euro/dollar/whatever (10 cents)
This will be the currency they pay with. I decided it'll be international, so they can pay with it wherever they are. Oh, how original I am XD
/Author's Note/
Lol I actually wrote on without realising, so I've already got a small part of the next chapter XD but hbgdfjgfdjb I'm TIRED OKAY, SO THIS WILL BE THE CLIFFY FOR NOW.
I know there's not happened much yet, and I know I should be updating other fanfics, and I know I'm super busy with school, and I know all that stuff but, I'M SO HAPPY I FINALLY GOT TO WRITE IT.
I've had this in mind for SO LONG it's just sick. It feels good to have finally started it.
Just know I wont update regularly, no matter how motivated I am or how much you guys beg, since school DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT FANFICTION IS IMPORTANT.
Thanks for reading, please leave reviews and look forward to the next chapter, even though this was crappy! I'VE GOT SO MUCH MORE IN STORE! ;A;
~Bye
(oh gawd I should be replying comments and reviews now, not writing .)
And a big thanks for DA's Hells-Lounge who agreed on beta-ing it!
I do not own Hetalia or the characters, those belong to their rightful (awesome) creator, Hidekaz Himaruya
(08/20/11)