Disclaimer: Hetalia's not mine.


"In the name of the four gods, shut up!" The guard flung Alfred into the dungeon, glaring at him with exasperation. The other guards followed after him, looking just as annoyed.

"No!" Alfred surged forward, only to be grabbed again. "You can't lock me up, dammit! You can't!" Panic was started to well up inside him as he looked around the dungeon with wide eyes. At the barred cells... "My brother-"

"I said shut up! You've been hollering since we grabbed you!"

"If you don't want to be locked up, lad," one of the others said, sounding more jovial than the first, "you probably shouldn't pick pockets."

"I didn't have a choice! My br-"

The first guard backhanded Alfred. "Listen, you-"

"What's going on down there?"

That voice came from above. Everyone, Alfred and guards alike, looked up at the spiral stairs.

"Damn," one of the guards muttered. "It's the Jack."

Alfred grimaced. The Jack was essentially the head servant – in charge of all servants, guards, and... well, everyone who wasn't a member of the royal family. He pretty much ran the palace.

Footsteps descended the stairs, until the voice's owner came into view. His features were exotic, not of the four kingdoms. His black hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and he wore a long blue coat over a flowing white... well, Alfred couldn't come up with any word but skirt, though he was sure there was an appropriately manly term for it.

"What's with all the noise?" the Jack said, eyeing the group. His accent was as exotic as his features. "I could hear you all the way from the guardhouse, are you torturing someone?"

"No, of course not, Yao," one of the guards said quickly. "Just an uncooperative prisoner is all."

"Oh. Well, if that's all-"

"You can't let them lock me up!" Alfred jerked his arm out of the guard's grip, stepping closer to the Jack. "My brother will die, I have to get back."

Yao regarded him curiously. "Why do you say that?"

That was a better response than the guards, at least. "He's sick. He's a survivor of the illness five years ago, he needs medicine. It's already been a couple days!"

"He's a thief," the guard who seemed to have acquired a personal vendetta for Alfred said. "Took a coin purse from an innocent man."

"An innocent rich man," Alfred muttered. "I didn't have enough money to get Mattie's medicine. I won't steal again, but please let me go, he won't be doing well tonight!"

Yao crossed his arms, frowning, head tilted as he watched Alfred. "Can you prove it?"

That was definitely promising. Sagging in relief, Alfred nodded. "I can take you to him. He's at home." The very thought of being locked up, of Matthew just being left home alone, confused and worried, until he died... Alfred's eyes stung.

"All right. I will accompany you to your house. You had better not try anything."

Alfred could have kissed Yao. "I won't!" He resisted the urge to stick his tongue out at the guard who disliked him, settling for a smirk as he stepped away from them. He hurried out the door they had dragged him in through that led outside, eager to put as much distance between himself and the dungeon as possible.

"Don't move too fast!" Yao said, striding after him. "Stay close."

"Sorry." Alfred walked slower, and the Jack fell into step beside him. A lamp lighter was just finishing up his nightly task, and a juggler entertained passers-by. Alfred might have stopped to watch any other night, but he barely paid attention to anything but his destination. "Oh. Thanks, by the way," he said after several silent moments. "Why did you listen to me when they wouldn't?"

He saw Yao smile slightly out of the corner of his eye. "Not everybody who works in the palace is a power-hungry hooligan who doesn't understand what it's like to be in a difficult situation."

Alfred smiled as well. He liked Yao. Even if the fellow was rather... pretty, for somebody who was supposed to be in charge of all the kingdom's soldiers. And was that a tiny plush bear clipped to his jacket? "I almost never steal," he said, wanting to defend himself further. "I usually earn enough for the medicine begging. I was getting desperate today."

"I understand." Yao nodded to a few people who greeted him. "So you have stolen before."

Alfred stared at the ground, at his own striding feet. "A long time ago."

"How old are you?"

"Sixteen."

Yao made a thoughtful 'hmm' sound. "So you have been caring for your brother all by yourself since you were eleven?"

"Yeah."

"I see."

They fell silent. Alfred wondered if it would be rude to ask where Yao was from. But he was terrible with geography, so anywhere outside the four kingdoms would be meaningless anyway, so what was the point?

They walked the rest of the way in silence. As soon as they reached the door to Alfred's small house, he burst in in a mild panic he had worked himself into as they had neared. "Mattie?"

The fire had gone out, a small lamp the only source of light in the room. Matthew was laying in his usual spot, shivering. He was paler than usual, body covered in a light sheen of sweat despite his shivers.

"Mattie, I'm here." Alfred knelt beside Matthew, swallowing around the lump that had risen in his throat. "I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"

Matthew slowly lifted his head to peer at Alfred. "You're back," he mumbled. "I was worried." His violet eyes widened as they focused on the man standing behind Alfred. "Who...?"

Alfred glanced over his shoulder in time to see Yao bow slightly. "I am Yao, the Jack of Spades."

"Jack...?" Matthew's gaze returned to his brother. "Al, are you in trouble?"

"Um. Well, you see-"

"Forgive us." Yao bowed again, deeper. "That was inconsiderate of us to stop here first. We are on our way to the apothecary."

Alfred blinked. They were?

"Your brother is going to be working at the palace now," Yao continued.

"He is?" Matthew's eyes never left Alfred's face. Alfred wondered if he was lucid enough to notice how shocked Alfred was.

"He is. In the stables, he's starting tomorrow. Come now, Alfred, let's get going."

"Uh..." Alfred finally turned, gaping at Yao. "Uh, r-right. The apothecary!" Unable to really comprehend what had just happened, Alfred tucked the blanket tighter around Matthew. "Will you be okay here for a bit longer?" He wanted to rekindle the fire, but didn't want to take the time... He'd have to anyway to boil the water, but Yao was waiting.

Matthew nodded. "Go."

"Okay." He smoothed down Matthew's damp hair, then rejoined Yao and they left the house.

"What..." Alfred ran the Jack's statement through his head. "What just happened?"

Yao glanced over at him, smiling. "You are working at the palace now. In the stables. You don't mind, do you? One of our stable boys is eager to become a soldier instead, we could use a replacement."

"But..." Alfred swallowed. A job? He was being offered a job? "I..."

"You don't need previous experience. Someone will show you what you need to do tomorrow."

"But..."

"How much does the medicine cost?" Yao was pulling a pouch out of his coat.

"Oh." Alfred told him.

"Hmm. I can see how that could be difficult for a beggar." Yao pulled coins out of his bag. "I'll pay for it today, you can owe me."

Alfred numbly held a hand out to accept the coins. "Oh, right. I'll pay you back."

"Well, I was joking, but whatever you prefer. You'll be paid twice that amount daily, how does that sound?"

Alfred finally stopped, gaping at the smaller man in shock. "What?" Twice that amount... every day? He'd be able to buy medicine every single day, with plenty leftover?

It was hard to even wrap his brain around.

"We should hurry," Yao said.

Alfred nodded dumbly, then grabbed Yao and pulled him into a hug.

"Ahh..." Yao chuckled, patting Alfred on the back. "You're welcome." He pulled away.

Alfred sniffed and wiped his eyes. "Y-yeah. We should hurry." He all but ran the rest of the way to the apothecary.

They purchased the medicine and wasted no time, heading immediately back. On the way, Yao gave Alfred instructions about where and when to show up, then bid him good night and they parted ways, the Jack returning to the palace.

Matthew was still conscious when Alfred returned, at least, staring at the small flame of the lamp. "Al...?" He looked up, still wide-eyed and stunned.

"Yeah, it's me. Yao left." Alfred set about getting another fire going.

"You're really... working?"

"Can you believe it?" Alfred still couldn't.

"How...?"

"We ran into each other today. We talked, and he told me that they need a new stable boy, and... yeah. I ended up with a job." The tinder caught fire, and Alfred sat back to watch it spread. "It pays twice what the medicine costs daily."

Matthew just stared at Alfred, as if such a concept was beyond him.

"I know," Alfred murmured. "We'll always have enough. I'm not sure what to think about that, either." Thank the gods for having a sob story, he supposed. For all he knew, Yao had lost someone to the plague as well, making him even more sympathetic. "Assuming I don't screw it up."

Matthew watched his brother fetch the teapot, starting to weakly smile. "You won't."


He didn't actually get to go in the palace, but simply entered the field that housed the stables through a gate. Alfred wrinkled his nose at the smell as he walked into the building, hoping that was something he would get used to. Many stalls lined the interior, with plenty of them holding equine occupants.

Alfred wandered over to a small dapple horse and reached out to pet her nose. "Hi there. Um, I guess I'll be caring for you guys from now on." He peered into the stall and groaned. "What did you do in your bed? Oh, I'm going to be spending all day cleaning up..." The horse just nuzzled him, snorting on his shirt.

A couple stable hands eventually showed up, and gave Alfred a brief explanation of his duties. As he had expected, cleaning played a big part of his job. But also providing food and water, grooming the horses, and exercising them.

Not that it would matter if shoveling manure was all he did, he would do it for the money they had promised him.

One of the boys stuck close to Alfred for the rest of the day, following him around to make sure he was doing everything correctly. At one point he handed Alfred a brush, pointing to the end of the stable they usually started at and worked their way back. Alfred headed over there, grinning at the sight of the brilliant white horse that graced the first stall.

The horse, however, was not particularly impressed by him. She gave Alfred a flat stare as he approached, her nostrils flaring.

"Don't take it personally," the stable boy – Peter – said when Alfred dodged a kick. "She doesn't like anybody but her owner." However, Alfred couldn't help but notice that she tolerated Peter. "Take her out for a run, she's probably feeling restless."

As Alfred led the horse outside, he was surprised to discover just how much time had passed, the setting sun painting the sky gold. He would have to collect his pay soon – his pay! – and return home. But not before picking up medicine and something to eat.

They would have plenty of money for food. And clothes, and new books, and... It was still hard to imagine.

Lost in thought as he watched the white mare race around the fenced in field, Alfred didn't notice green eyes watching him.