A/N: Sooo…I hope World Wide Story taught me how to write romance, or else this chapter might really suck.

Story/Author Alert-ers: Hey! What happened to, "I developed a habit of updating every weekend?"
Author: Um, "Running tech on a show + five essays of varying lengths + regular schoolwork/studying/extra-curricular on top of that + losing internet for about a week" happened.
But I'm glad to be back!

Axis Powers Hetalia belongs to Hidekaz Himaruya.
Leonce and Lena belongs to Georg Buchner.


"Did you like the show?"

It was a warm and beautiful summer night, so Arthur and HK decided to walk back from the theatre. Arthur shrugged.

"You mean the play itself, or the production?"

"Both."

Arthur stretched his arms back, letting out a small sigh. "I think it's an excellent comedy. The text almost has a Brechtian element to it, such as the bit that went, 'We have all been waiting for a very long time for this'- though it wasn't that Brechtian, since nothing really happened that completely broke away from the plot, which is the basis of epic theatre…"

"Arthur, it's okay. Nobody is going to make you write a paper on this." HK's voice interrupted, tinged with amused sarcasm. "So you can stop being an intellectual now."

Arthur coughed, feeling slightly miffed. "What do you want me to say, then?"

"I asked if you liked it. It's a simple question."

"Oh. Right, er," Arthur cleared his throat, trying to will his blushing cheeks to cool down. "Yeah, it was terrific. I love the character of the King. It's a lot like most people – we overanalyze so much that we miss out on the point and end up only confusing ourselves. Then we spend the rest of our lives sitting about, trying to make sense of it all. Maybe Valerio had a point – don't work yourself too hard, and try to enjoy the small pleasures in life."

"I agree with the overanalyzing."

Arthur shot his theatregoing partner an irritated look. HK continued.

"But that conclusion is kind of flawed, if you ask me. It wouldn't work. Like how at the end, Leonce allows Valerio to be Prime Minister even though his decrees are going to be the end of Popo." HK kicked at a discarded bottle cap. "Economically, at the very least."

"And you're telling me not to be an intellectual?" Arthur grinned. "Hypocrite."

"I'm not being intellectual; I'm making a real-world connection. Isn't that what your precious theatre is supposed to be doing anyway?"

"If that reflects your life, it's quite depressing to see that yours is focused on moneymaking."

"Sorry for being Asian, and therefore probably ending up in the finance or business industry one day."

"You could at least make an effort to break stereotype. Anyway," Arthur went on. "You're right. Not everybody can just do whatever the hell they want…"

"Sometimes you have to make personal sacrifices."

Arthur almost stopped to look at him. Really look at him. This was the exasperating thing about HK. He would always make the occasional comment that caught you off guard, because somehow, inside, you would feel like he meant something else. The vagueness was infuriating.

"What did you think of it, then?"

HK blew a small puff of air upwards at his bangs, causing them to flutter slightly. "The cheesecake bit was disgusting."

"Valerio was being economical."

"Ha. You're so clever," HK eyed him in mock disdain. "But it was funny. I liked it. A little boring to look at, though. I like an interesting set and costume design."

"True."

Moving from the busier streets to a residential area, the noises of cars and pedestrians faded away into the distance. The boys continued walking, the peaceful quiet ending their conversation. HK's hand collided into Arthur's as he let them swing naturally with his own gait.

"Sorry."

"It's fine."

The two boys passed a church, standing tall and silent. They crossed the playground next to it. As he neared a swing set, Arthur gradually slowed down.

"Hey..."

A few paces ahead of him, the Chinese boy paused and turned around. "Yeah?"

"…Come here for a sec?"

HK slowly walked back towards him. Arthur could tell he was slightly confused. The shorter boy stopped about a foot away from him, face to face. "What?"

Arthur opened his mouth, but realized that he hadn't actually planned anything to say. He just stared at HK, whose eyebrows arched a little higher, waiting. Many people said that his face never expressed any emotion, which Arthur understood. HK had mastered the true neutral expression better than anybody he knew. But if you paid close enough attention, those dark brown eyes were always changing. After nearly a year and a half, Arthur realized he was finally starting to crack the code in the eyes – when HK was feeling content, upset, confused, or even playful…

And these eyes widened in surprise as Arthur leaned in closer to press his lips against that unmoving mouth in a gentle, chaste kiss.

HK froze in shock for a few seconds, allowing Arthur to actually savour the moment before breaking away. The boys just looked at each other.

Arthur cleared his throat. "Er…"

As soon as the sound escaped from him, HK suddenly pushed him violently backwards, causing Arthur to grab onto the swing's chain as not to lose balance. HK ran to the other side of the swing set, holding on to the frame. His back was towards Arthur, whose heart sank.

Fuck, it's like Alfred all over again…

"How long?"

HK wrapped one arm around the bar, his forehead pressed against it. Arthur couldn't see his face, for his bangs hung over his cheeks like a sheet of black fringe.

"What?"

"How long…did you start thinking…"

Arthur blushed. "Erm, not that long, really, I have to confess…somewhere in the middle of West Side rehearsals."

"Oh."

Neither moved as a breezy wind skipped through the playground, causing some stray leaves to swirl around them and off into the night. Arthur took the moment to sit down onto the swing.

"I'm sorry if I offended you, I won't do it aga-"

"I'm not offended."

"Oh. Good?"

"Wait, never mind. I am offended." HK jerked away from the bar and began walking briskly back towards him.

"….Oh."

The Asian boy reached him, and Arthur could tell through the dim light that he was frowning. HK leaned down and grasped the front of Arthur's shirt.

"You're so slow, and stupid."

"I'm sorry…?" Arthur didn't understand where this was going, but didn't know what else to say.

"You're going to be such a mess in university..."

"Erm…"

HK's fingers tightened around the handful of cloth. "You're so…I thought…" Arthur looked up into those brown eyes again and saw a deep struggle as HK tried to put his next thought into words. Before he could interject, suddenly he felt something soft and warm being pushed against his mouth.

He was being kissed back.

When HK finally pulled away, breathing heavily, Arthur stood up from the swing, making sure that he wasn't going to push the smaller boy over. Going with instinct, he wrapped one arm around the slim waist, the hand on his other one stealing upwards to run his fingers through the shiny dark hair.

Now it was his turn to do the questioning. "So…how long did you…like…me…too?"

HK buried his face into Arthur's shoulder. "Maybe…a month…in freshman year…when you were assigned to me."

Arthur couldn't help smiling and tracing one finger down through the shaggy locks to his shoulders. "That's a long time."

HK wriggled out of the embrace. "I couldn't just...say it…"

Arthur pulled him back. "I know."

They stood there for a few more seconds, quiet and thoughtful, arms around each other.

Then, on a wordless cue, they broke apart and began walking towards the opposite street side by side. After crossing it, HK reached out and grabbed Arthur's hand. The rest of the journey was in sweet silence until they came across a red and white house. It was small, but light was pouring out the windows and it exuded the air of comfort and contentment. Arthur could hear the chatter of Chinese mixed in with a dog barking leaking from the open windows.

He turned to the boy next to him, whose face was now lit up from the house's glow. "So, when's the next time you're free?"

HK slowly disentangled his fingers. "Anytime, really…I mean, it's summer."

"Yeah…tomorrow?"

"If you like." HK glanced back up at him, and a rare smile spread across his face. Arthur grinned too.

"What's so funny?"

HK lifted his arm, evidently trying to hide the little grin forming there. "I don't know. You."

"Me? Because I'm slow and stupid?"

This time, HK laughed. It was something like the third time ever in his life that Arthur had heard it. The sound was breathy and quickly lost on the breeze. "Yes. Exactly."

Arthur felt himself instinctively reaching out for him again, but the door was flung open. A tiny Pomeranian bounded out, barking excitedly, surprising both as it dashed towards them.

"Ahh! Bo Zai, ni hui lai!"

The light flooding the boys was briefly obscured as Tian Wei ran after the dog. Arthur was trying to pet it, but Bo Zai kept on frolicking around his feet, sniffling at his legs with great enthusiasm. HK didn't even bother masking his mirth now, one arm holding onto the fence as he cracked up. Arthur thought it was wonderful to see him in his own home, at such ease.

Finally, Tian Wei was able to scoop up the squirming mass of fur. "Aiya, ge ge. Yao is mad because he caught him chewing on his new Graduation Hello Kitty…"

HK took the puppy from her arms. "Che…Mo man tai. I'll get him another one if he's really all that upset over it. Sorry about this, Arthur."

The blond shrugged as he scratched Bo Zai behind the ears. "It's fine…you still on for tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sure. I'll text you." HK began walking with his sister back into the house. Just before he stepped over the threshold, he looked over his shoulder to smile again. Tian Wei waved before closing the door, not realizing what had happened between the two of them.

Later, when Arthur was on the bus and finally on his way back to his own house, a thought struck him. He was leaving for England in a little over two months…which wasn't very long. His heart sank.

Rubbing his forehead, he looked out the window glumly. Of course. He knew it. The world loved to screw with his life. Throwing things at him enticingly, then reeling it back in just when he caught up to it…

The memory of a prince and princess running away from arranged marriage just to fall in love on their own suddenly surfaced.

And that was enough, for him.

Arthur slammed a palm onto the seat railing in front of him, startling a few other late-night bus riders.

"Damn it all, I'm going to be happy."


A/N: Yes! Three cheers for not wallowing in angst and self-pity for once! Arthur has a habit of springing random smooches on people, it seems. And, who knew Leonce and Lena can be such good flirt material? xD

Translations for the pinyin:

Bo Zai (Cantonese) = Little Ball (literally: 'ball boy'). It's my cousin's dog's name, and I think it's really cute. For the record, poms are really common in HK…they're really loud and yappy. I guess they emulate the people.
Ni hui lai (Mandarin, thank you ThePsychicAnimelovingBookworm for correcting me!) = You get back here!
Aiya, ge ge (Mandarin) = Oh no, older brother
Mo man tai (Cantonese) = No problem. I recall that at some point in the anime, China exclaims, "Mei you wen ti!" which is the Mandarin equivalent. I giggled a lot at that.
Che (Cantonese) = It's
somewhat equivalent to "that's not a big deal" or "that's not worth it." It's really difficult to explain unless you hear it out loud a few times.

R&R to make me happy too, please :3 (I kind of need it at this point in the schoolyear…)