Chapter Two - Come Fly With Me:

Arthur had given up trying to be nice, and went right into battle mode. He'd hired more staff! In the kitchen was Lovino, an Italian from the Neighbourhood, just as foul mouthed as the Brit, but at least he designed a bloody good menu for Arthur. He got his brother Felicano to feature the bar's new menu in the local paper, hoping to get some publicity. Of course this caught the attention of the American that had been causing Arthur Hell for the last few weeks over social media...

He decided to go full critique mode and post photos on Instagram for each meal he tried, being surprised with how good it was. He couldn't write a tweet about that right? Arthur was sneaking a glance over from behind the bar as he ate.

ApplePieSnaps : EmpireTavern Try Hard #EyebrowsBrit has been doing something right for once. I won't starve to death in my local joint anymore. Shame about the swearing from the Kitchen. #SuperLame

Seriously!? He took one bloody bite and went straight to his phone! At least he finished the burger he was eating afterwards. Arthur was going to be smug about that. He had to keep fighting. A few days later, he overheard the American talking about Arthur's lack of bouncers, so he hired one in retaliation. Arthur had employed the tallest Russian he could find. His name was Ivan. He was built like a brick shit house. Arthur's words.

ApplePieSnaps : EmpireTavern ... The new bouncer is creepy. He stares right into your soul, and I get chills each time I walk past him. Talk about Cold war, dudes. #Creepy

Buahahaha. Perfect. Bbe scared of Ivan... Although Arthur would be lying if he said that Ivan didn't scare him just a little bit too. The bloke didn't say very much, but when he did, he said it with a smile - A really chilling smile. Even Lovino had to give him some distance. He seemed to do a bloody good job on weekends though, when the bar got a bit rowdy... No one fucked with the Russian.

However today was a quiet evening, on a Sunday. The obnoxious American, that Arthur only knew by the name as ApplePieSnaps walked into the bar whilst the Brit: whom ApplePie only knew as EyebrowsBrit was mixing and testing new cocktails, and writing things down.

The American came up to the bar after looking around for his friend who was nowhere to be seen. He guessed it was due to the fact that it was snowing again. In fact this place was dead. It had been getting quieter and quieter, even with Arthur's attempts at fighting to survive.

"Yo, Bottle of Bud please." The American sat at the bar today. He never did this. He usually had a booth in the corner but he didn't want to see like a loser sitting on his own over there.

Arthur glanced up, acting like he didn't know this customer.

"You got any ID, lad?" He replied, putting the cocktail shaker down, and wiped his hands on the towel tied to his waist.

"Dude, I come in like every day." He looked at him, raising a brow. Applepie looked a bit hurt. GOOD. Wanker. The American passed over his ID, to which Arthur quickly inspected. Alfred .F. Jones? So that was his name... 21 years of age? That explains a lot. He passed it back to him and Alfred put it back into his wallet, replacing it with cash.

"One can't be too sure these days. Here's your beer." Arthur replied nonchalantly and opened the top and handed the bottle to Alfred, took his cash and gave him his change, before swiftly returning to his work.

Today, Arthur was in a waist coat, nice shirt but had his sleeves rolled up, revealing several tattoos down his arms, with a nice watch resting on his wrist. He picked up the shaker and poured out the contents into a glass, then took a hold of a small straw, placed it into the mixture and placed a finger over the top of the straw to try the cocktail. He shrugged and wrote down a few things.

He had no idea Alfred was staring at his phone, thinking of writing a new tweet about how Arthur hadn't remembered him. Here is how it started...

ApplePieSnaps: #EyebrowsBrit EmpireTavern doesn't recognise me after being in here all the time? ...

But he didn't post it. He'd noticed Arthur's actions and was curiously watching him work. There was nothing else entertaining going on.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Alfred asked, after at least 5 minutes of awkward silence.

Arthur rolled his eyes up to Alfred, who was more tolerable when he wasn't laughing his arse off and posting annoying damaging tweets.

"I am working on a cocktail menu..." He replied bluntly. Why should he have to tell him? He'd only tweet about it- This gave Arthur an idea.

"Want to see?" Arthur added, flashing a charming smile towards the younger male.

"You may try some if you like; I could use a second opinion." This was free publicity. He could get the notorious tweeter talking about his cocktail menu, get him hammered and see if we could use him...Sneaky and a touch manipulative but Arthur was on the edge of doing just about anything to keep this place running. This is the least the American could do after all this shit he's said about him.

He had to prove to Alfred that he would last longer than a month. He was a notorious fighter on the field and off. His school days involved him being a top of the class, whilst being somewhat of a delinquent that enjoyed a good fight, and would hide porn just about anywhere. Sure he'd cleaned up his image in the army but old habits die hard.

"A cocktail menu?" Alfred replied. "I don't drink girly cocktails..."

"Girly?!" Arthur snapped. "I'll have you know some of the most gentlemanly males enjoy a good cocktail. Think of James Bond, or the Kingsmen. Martini's Alfred. Bloody Hell. Cocktails contain so much booze. You think its lady like to get plastered off your arse on these? Think again." Wow he went off on a rant. Arthur didn't even mean too, it sort of just slipped out.

Alfred just stared at him as he went off on one, before perking up. "You know of the Kingsmen?" He raised a brow in surprise. EyebrowsBrit read comics and watched movies? Alfred wasn't expecting that. "Aren't you too old? Wait how do you know my name?"

After Alfred's comment shot him through the chest yet again, he slammed the glass down in front of Alfred.

"Of course not! Now try this. I won't charge you." Seriously, does this American not have a filter? How bloody rude. "Your name is on your ID, you twit." Whoops. Perhaps Arthur lacked a filter when he was pissed off as well.

Alfred glanced at the drink before him. It was a murky coppery orange colour. "...What is it?" He frowned at the brightly coloured liquid before him.

"Back in England, we call this the Terminator." Arthur took a breath to compose himself.

"Oh shit, that's cool. Why is it called the Terminator?" Alfred chirped, tilting his head at the drink he'd been given for free, in interest.

Arthur scoffed a bit.

"You drink a few of these bad boys and you're done for. It's strong. Beer, Cider, Gin, Vodka, White rum topped off with Orange juice. This is the drink of Students and sailors in Plymouth, England." He smirked.

"Are you trying to kill me?" Alfred laughed a bit nervously and took a sip.

"Of course not." Arthur replied. Not now he was potentially useful.

"...That doesn't taste like alcohol at all." Alfred proclaimed, blinking at the glass.

"Exactly." Arthur looked smug. "That is why it's named the Terminator. Finish it if you want, otherwise I was going to pour it away. Although, I would advise drinking it on a full stomach, otherwise you won't make it. Have you eaten?" He subtly slipped a menu in front of him, raising a brow.

"..." What a Sneaky Brit. Supply and Demand at its finest right there. The sight of it just made Alfred's stomach growl loudly. "I guess I haven't." He peered down at the menu, before ordering his usual bacon double cheese burger with curly fries on the side. The burger was medium rare, and had a toasted bun too. Lovino really did do a good job.

Arthur took his order and went into the Kitchen, leaving Alfred alone at the bar, with Ivan lingering outside at the door.

"Lovino, Got some work for you. Get off your arse." Arthur said, spotting his chef sitting down basically napping on a chair.

The Italian peeked an eye open with a scowl. "Si, Kirkland." He grumbled and stood up. "What does the lard ass bastardo want this time?" Lovino had no idea who was ordering, he just assumed.

Arthur just slipped him the order, to which Lovino sighed and grabbed his coffee pot, to pour himself a new cup.

"...Any time like the present, Lovino, Jesus fucking Christ." Arthur just shook his head and walked out.

"Alright tea bastard, I'll do it. Fuck." He muttered out of ears reach to his boss and got to work after a big gulp of coffee.

PING! One new notification from Twitter.

ApplePieSnaps: I swear EmpireTavern is haunted dudes. The Lights flickered, Juke box started playing and I saw some weird shit... #SendGhostBusters Ghostbusters

Arthur just paused as he walked out of the kitchen, reading it. He looked up and couldn't see Alfred anywhere.

"Oi, Alfred. Where'd you go?" He called out. Ivan peeked in the door and shrugged. He hadn't gone outside.

"...Uhm. " A timid voice spoke up, and the trail of Terminator – or what Arthur HOPED was terminator leading him to a table. Arthur walked over and glanced under it, stuffing his phone into his pocket.

"Are you okay?"" The Brit asked, not being sure if Alfred was for real or not. Is his head screwed on.

"Totally fine dude." Alfred responded quickly.

"...Why are you hiding under my table?" Arthur rose a brow, crouching down to look at him.

"Hiding? I'm not hiding. I just like it here. Shit dude, you never sit under tables? So uncool." What a liar.

"... Alfred. Shut up. Are you hiding because of the Taverns ghost?" Oh this would be fun. It was Arthur's turn to torment Alfred.

"You saw it too?!" Alfred peeked up at Arthur.

"Oh yes, of course. Sam haunts this place, with his grandfather, and great grandfather. They like to deal with troublesome customers..." Arthur was biting the inside of his lip, trying not to smirk.

"Troublesome customers..? Are you for real..? How do they choose who is troublesome?" He asked, nervously. Was he sweating? Oh this was too perfect.

Arthur stood back up, straightend his back, and adjusted his collar.

"Oh you know, customers whom torment the staff, Say bad things about the Brand they spent generations building up...That sort of thing." Arthur was making this entire thing up. The American was like putty in his hands right now. If he worded it right, he could get him to stop all together!

"Fuck... " Alfred put the empty glass down to his side on the floor and started to crawl out from under the table.

"Sometimes at night, I hear them talking down here, moving things around. " Arthur turned away and pulled out his phone, peering at Alfred's latest tweet as the American was trying to compose himself behind him.

"That's really scary dude. How do you manage? I had no idea this place was haunted..." He had chills down his spine; his hair was standing on end.

"Oh I have my ways." Arthur responded, smirking broadly.

EmpireTavern : ApplePieSnaps Who you gunna call? #GhostBusters #Boo

Arthur smirked and slipped his phone away, after hearing Alfred's phone ping..

Alfred was taking deep breaths to calm down, and instinctively went to read the message.

"FUUUCK NO DUDE. " He tossed his phone onto the table and jumped away from it. Arthur was trying so hard not to laugh, but ended up snorting and slapped his own mouth. "What?"

"THEY JUST- SAM JUST.. "Alfred was catching his breath.

"Did they find you at last?" Arthur asked, crossing his arms.

"..." Alfred turned to Arthur. He was a troublesome person? At last, it finally clicked with the American. It was Arthur. He grabbed his phone off the table and glared at the Brit.

"That's not fucking funny dude!"

Arthur scoffed again. "Not funny at all. You defiantly didn't deserve that." The Sarcasm was dripping off his words. His brow rose once more, with a hint of a smirk still lingering on his lips.

"Seriously! What the fuck? Who even does that? I almost pissed my pants man." Alfred snatched his camera bag off the bar stool.

"I'd prefer it if you didn't soil yourself on my premises. Not that there is anyone here to see you do so..." Arthur bitterly glared back.

"What is that supposed to mean?!" Alfred glared.

Idiot. "It means I've been losing customers!"

"It's because you-" Alfred was interrupted.

"Don't you dare blame that on me! You've been tweeting bollocks about me since day one!" Arthur was getting worked up again.

"You've been watching it for that long? Why the fuck didn't you respond?"

"I don't need to prove myself to you!" - Even though he's been trying to ever since that first day. Arthur had squared up to Alfred, head on. "I took over this bar from Sam, and its mine now. DEAL WITH IT."

"You're not Sam, you never will be. You don't belong in New York. I don't even know your damn name EYEBROWS!" Alfred was loud, especially when trying to make a point. He knew Sam, this place was like a second home to Alfred after a hard day's work. It wasn't the same anymore, and it hurt.

"IT'S ARTHUR. YOU DIDN'T EVEN ASK MY NAME." The Brit snapped back, venom in his emerald eyes as the glared.

"WELL FUCK ARTHUR. WHY DON'T YOU JUST LEA-" Alfred was rudely interrupted by a third shouting voice.

"-OI BASTARDO'S. SIT THE FUCK DOWN AND SHUT THE FUCK UP. TAKE YOUR FUCKING BURGER AND STOP FUCKING SWEARING! SHIT!" Lovino stormed out of the kitchen, and slammed the plate on the bar.

Arthur was going to say something, but Lovino glared and rose a finger. "BOSS. I MADE YOU ONE TOO. YOU GET HANGRY. SHUT UP AND EAT." He was practically steaming in annoyance. Arthur did interrupt a work time nap? Lovino just went back into the kitchen and slammed the door behind him, muttering in Italian.

"..." Hungry and Angry? Arthur looked at the second plate, then back at Alfred. Ivan just giggled quietly at the door. Neither of them was going to question his amusement in the argument.

The pair shut up and looked at each other, calling a momentary truce as they both sat down and picked up their food. Arthur and Alfred ate, saying nothing to each other. It gave them a chance to calm down.

10 minutes later, Arthur took a breath.

"...I shouldn't let a kid like you rile me up like that."

"...I guess I shouldn't have posted mean things about you, old man. I didn't realise how damaging it was to Sam's brand."

"It's my brand now... and I'm not even that much older than you. I'm 25..." Arthur responded, rubbing his head in irritation.

"Right... Your brand, Arthur..." Alfred glanced up at the Brit. He felt a little bad for what he'd done.

"Not for much longer, Lad. Not if I can't rebuild Empire's reputation. You shattered it already. You've got a decent following, who all think I'm terrible." The Brit was almost admitting defeat.

"...It was childish of me to lay into you online. I can try making amends. If you let me, that is..?" Alfred titled his head to look past Arthur's hand, to which the Brit looked back at him.

"How exactly can I crawl out of this pit you've thrown me in? Arthur asked.

"The cocktails. I can write about them... I can do some positive reviews. Delete my old tweets so people can't see them when they search for this place..?"

"You'd do that?" Arthur sounded a tiny bit hopeful.

Alfred nods. "I feel bad... Can we start over? I'm Alfred Jones, I'm a photographer. "He held out his hand for Arthur to take.

"...Arthur Kirkland. I run the Empire." He smiled faintly and took his hand to shake. "Looks like this calls for a lock in."

"A lock in?" Alfred glanced at Arthur, and then down to his hand. What was this Brit going to do to him?!

"Indeed. I close the bar to the public and only a select few remain..." Arthur let go of his hand and looked over to Ivan. "Ivan. You can go home for the night. I am closing early."

"... Da. Do I still get all my nights pay?" The tall Russian asked.

"...Sure. " God he didn't want to disagree. He stood up, went to the till and got out his wages, before handing them to him.

"Spasibo, Arthur." The Russian took his money, and went home.

Lovino came back out at last, after hearing the exchange. "What about me?" He asked.

"You can go home or stay for the lock in, your choice." Arthur responded.

"Si, I am going home. " Lovi went to the till and took his wages too, before leaving. Arthur locked up behind them. Alfred was just watching it all take place.

Finally, Arthur returned to the bar.

"I make the cocktails, can you take photos and write about them? After trying them with me of course..." Arthur smirked a bit.

Alfred nods, and pulls out his DSLR. "Awesome. I can do that." He smiled brightly, feeling better about this situation already.

It had only occurred to Alfred what was now playing on the Juke box after they began testing cocktails together. It was possibly why he was in such a good mood. Come Fly With me. Alfred deleted his past tweets about the bar, and the pair began following each other.

ApplePieSnaps : #EyebrowsBrit's name is Arthur. EmpireTavern ArthurKirkland I found out why Brit's are drunk all the time. #LockIn #ComeFlyWithMe #Sinatra #NYC

ApplePieSnaps : Check out this bartender at work, ladies. #EyeBrowsBrit ArthurKirkland #Cocktails EmpireTavern #NYC *Image of Arthur at work attached*

ApplePieSnaps: Instagram Check out these brand new cocktails at EmpireTavern designed by #EyebrowsBrit ArthurKirkland #Cocktails #NYC *Image of several cocktails posted on instagram and Twitter*

ApplePieSnaps : I'm EyebrowsBrit's biggest fan EmpireTavern Arthurkirkland #IShouldInviteAllMyFriends #LOLDRUNK #LOLBESTNIGHTEVER #NYC

ApplePieSnaps: ArthurKirkland EmpireTavern wow dude, when did you use my phone? #LOLDRUNK #True ... #Bruh

ArthurKirkland: ApplePieSnaps EmpireTavern When you were dancing on the table with your Kyptonite cocktail that I made you. #SoStrongItShouldBeIllegal #LongHashtags

ApplePieSnaps: One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, FLOOR ArthurKirkland EmpireTavern #cantfeelmyface #Britsareevil #thebritisharecoming *Image attached of empty tequila glasses*

It was safe to assume, that the night was a blur for both of them. Yet Arthur never questioned what Alfred actually saw earlier that night...