This Chapter really marks the beginning of Sadik's growing cycle of frustration... And Herakles's part of the story definitely starts to pick up pace.
"Hey, Kiku, Kiku! Who are you taking to the dance?" Feliciano chimed at lunch the next day, grinning enormously. Kiku blushed a magnificent shade of red at the question.
"H-how inappropriate! You shouldn't ask such questions in public!" He replied.
"Aww… but that's the whole point of it Kiku!" He complained.
"Leave Kiku alone Feliciano, he doesn't have to tell you anything if he doesn't want to," Ludwig sighed, exasperated.
Feliciano huffed, and looked away, seeing Herakles having an argument with… Someone? He wasn't sure, but she seemed to be one of Kiku's sisters…
"Hey, Kiku? Isn't that your sister?" He asked, changing the subject completely.
Kiku looked up and nodded.
"It would appear so… Yao will not be happy."
Sure enough, only seconds later, Herakles was forced to run from an angry Chinese man wielding a wok.
"Ah… Sadik… Too fast… Please just slow down a bit," Gupta complained, gripping Sadik's shoulders to stop him from moving.
"But Guppie… It seems like we haven't done this in forever," Sadik whined. "Forgive me for being eager."
Gupta was about to open his mouth to continue their conversation, before the door opened, and the sound of shoes being removed made it clear that Herakles was home.
"Fuck…" Sadik cursed, pulling out of his lover, and moving to hurriedly try and put his clothes back on. Gupta did the same, but with far more of a sense of calm, heading into the kitchen to speak to the Greek.
"How did it go?" He asked.
"Her brother has forbidden me from dating any of his sisters in future," Herakles grumbled, head held down.
Gupta nodded, sadly.
"Don't worry," he soothed, "I'm sure you'll find someone."
"I'd better do," Herakles mused, sadly. "I'm getting a little lonely, being by myself all the time." He picked up a cat that was lying on the sofa. "Cats are cute… But they can't hold you close at night." He looked towards the door as he thought.
"Maybe… I'll just find someone to sleep with."
Before Gupta could say anything, Herakles had escaped back out the door, barely stopping long enough to put his shoes back on.
As soon as he was certain the Greek was gone, Sadik drifted out of the bedroom, hovering behind Gupta for a few seconds before wrapping his arms around his waist.
"Well… Shall we continue?" He tried, moving to suck on his boyfriend's ear.
"Sorry Sadik." Gupta sighed. "Herakles just completely killed the mood."
"Silly little Baltics," Russia giggled, pressing down on Latvia's crown yet again. "You are not understanding me, so I repeat." His tone and voice darkened. "You will find out who is still not going to the dance with anyone, and you will tell me so Russia doesn't have to go alone," he insisted to the men shivering in front of him.
"Y-y-y-yes sir," they answered in unison.
"B-b-b-by the way, Mr. Russia," Lithuania dared to ask, "where's your sister?"
Russia looked over him, confused.
"What are you meaning by that?" He asked, shivering. "Belarus not being here is good, da?"
"Mr. Russia… I meant Ukraine," he clarified.
The slightest hint of worry crossed Russia's face before he retuned to terrorising his underlings with his plans.
Gupta woke the next morning to find himself stuck in Sadik's tight embrace. He tried to wriggle free, waking the other in the process, who seemed to have forgotten the events of last night, smiling at Gupta lazily.
"Good mornin'."
"Good morning Sadik," Gupta answered, finally managing to leave the bed, but not before his boyfriend stole a kiss from him.
"Love ya." Sadik smirked, beginning to pull on a shirt. Gupta meanwhile, went into Herakles's room, trying to find the Greek. Herakles was found to be sleeping on the bed, alone. His Egyptian friend was a little confused, but decided that it probably just meant that Herakles had failed to find a lay. Shrugging it off, he went to get ready for school.
As he walked towards his class, Gupta caught sight of Herakles with a woman. Raising an eyebrow, he turned around to watch the couple, identifying the woman as Ukraine. He filed the information away, figuring they probably wouldn't last knowing Herakles's luck with women, before heading off for another wonderful day of learning with his colleagues. And his mother. Great.
Ancient Egypt went by many names, called different things by all the empires who had conquered her. Her own language had slowly died under the influences of others, but she could still, at least, speak her true name: Kemet. She was, indeed, very annoyed with both Ancient Greece and Rome for coining the name Aegyptus, which, of course, eventually lead to her son having a completely different designation. Nether the less, her cat-like, almost yellow eyes and dark brown hair betrayed a fierce woman, who even after the ravages of time had taken their toll, still looked barely beyond 30. Even though she had crossed her on several occasions, she had forgiven her friend Helene, and the two were almost always to be found trading stories about their beloved sons. Today was no exception; Helene was sharing tales of her son's conquests in the field of love, while Cleo listened and nodded. As far as she knew, her son had had little such experience; apart from a failed arranged marriage 30 years ago that no-one talked about. The ringing of the bell was a surprise to both women, who jumped up and headed towards their own classrooms, Cleo making it just in time to have to break up yet another fight-her class fought a lot. Surprisingly though, this time the culprit was not in her own class.
"When the hell're you gonna give me the weapons I asked for Libya?" Saudi Arabia asked, his tone threatening. "I can't deal with Syria without them, you know?"
Cleo rolled her eyes internally. Since her 'death', her son and Saudi had become rivals for power and influence in the area they had grown up in. The years of the Ottoman Empire had cooled the feuding, but now, the two were back to being regional powers once more. Saudi was always demanding things from the other nations, and Cleo knew it. She also knew her son was probably the only other power who could stand up to him. He never did though.
"Okay, that's enough. Saudi, get to the Asia class already," she commanded, stepping in to break up the tension forming between the North Africans and the Middle Eastern powerhouse. Saudi nodded and headed off without a word, leaving Cleo to unlock the door to her class.
The walls of the room were high, and the room itself long. The Africa class was the largest in terms of numbers, only losing to Asia in terms of size of the land they possessed. The teacher's desk was in the middle, most teaching taking place through means of projectors placing images on multiple screens, at all angles for the convenience of the roughly 50 nations who sat in on the talks. Africa was a divided place, and it was hard to keep everyone's interest. Somehow though, Cleo managed.
"Okay, everyone settle down," she insisted. "Today's topic is desertification."
A large groan rose up from the class.
Sadik caught up with Gupta at lunch time, and Herakles joined the two, much to the surprise of both.
"I've got a date for tonight," he admitted, smiling.
"I saw." Gupta nodded. "How did you meet her?" He would much rather Herakles be the talk of gossip than himself, for one very good reason…
"It was when I left last night. I ended up in a coffee shop of all places… And she was sitting there, nursing some tea and reflecting on her siblings sadly," Herakles told. "We got to talking, and she seemed nice, so we agreed to meet up this evening."
"Well, good fer ya, fetta breath." Sadik smirked. "But we've got a date too, I mean, it's not that hard..." He wrapped an arm around Gupta's waist as he said so, and the Egyptian tried to break away.
"Since when?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Since I decided this morning," Sadik smiled.
"You're impossible…" Gupta started, already knowing it was futile. Sadik always got his way.
The cinema was buzzing with couples; milling around in the lobby, queuing for popcorn at the concessions counter, using the dark, secluded screens as a place to cuddle and more without their parents' consent. Well, for Gupta, Herakles and the Italian and German brothers it was a case of parental-or grandparental-consent. For most of the others, it was a case of avoiding an assortment of overprotective siblings, lurking teachers, and France, who never failed to make a situation entirely awkward with his perverted sayings and doings. Into this dating minefield walked a bubbly Feliciano, Ludwig tailing behind him awkwardly.
"Come on Luddy," Feliciano smiled, pulling the taller boy along with him. "We don't want to be late for the movie, right?"
"What are we even going to see, Feliciano?" Ludwig asked, still unsure about the situation.
"Eh? Ah, just some action film Poland and Elizaveta were talking about earlier," he answered, smiling innocently, and Ludwig fought the urge to groan. Knowing the wimpy Italian as well as he did, he was sure that at some point during the movie he was going to end up with a lap full of screaming, whimpering sissy. Or was that Feliciano's plan from the beginning? Sometimes, not even Ludwig could tell.
Meanwhile, behind Feliciano and Ludwig, bounded in Alfred, practically carrying a protesting Arthur through the door in his excitement.
"Woohoo! This is gonna be the best movie ever! I even picked one with all that magical stuff of yours in it, so you're bound to enjoy it Artie!" He enthused, heading off to buy tickets before Arthur could respond.
"Bloody git…" He muttered as the American took off.
At the other end of the cinema, next to the screens, Ukraine was getting increasingly worried. She didn't expect Greece to be the type to stand her up, but what would she even do if he did? There was no action she knew of to take. The woman sighed, only wishing for a friend she could talk to. Perhaps that was really all she saw in Greece in the first place. Before she had time to regret her decision though, the figure of her date for the evening cane into view. All doubts flying from her mind, she leapt from her seat and into the arms of her love interest, almost toppling him over just from the sheer weight of her endowments. Smiling lazily, and managing to stop the excited lady from falling to the ground (and taking him down with her), Herakles opened his mouth, and let words come to him.
"It is… Good to see you. You look very nice," he complemented, setting her back on her feet. She returned his smile from earlier, and set about laying out compliments of her own.
"As do you Greece!" She insisted, "It looks like you put more time into your appearance than me," she admitted, looking down at her clothes, which seemed far too small for her quite sizable curves.
"Call me Herakles," he asked of her, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close to him, "and I don't believe that… A woman as pretty as yourself… Must have put some time into her appearance," he finished, smiling like a cat. Ukraine could only blush bright red as she was led into one of the screens.
At the back of the screen currently showing the horror film Feliciano and Ludwig were now watching, the Italian eating popcorn through the opening credits, Sadik and Gupta sat close together, the former trying to pull the latter into his lap, kissing down his neck and winding his arms around him.
"Sadik… We're in public," Gupta whispered disapprovingly.
"We'll be fine… little Feli won't look this way," Sadik assured, carrying on with his kissing.
"Ve~ I'm scared!" Feliciano jumped as soon as the movie started, gripping to Ludwig for dear life. Ludwig rolled his eyes, but still grabbed onto Feliciano, rubbing soothing circles into his arms and back.
"Really Sadik?" Gupta queried, seeing the gore and blood splashing across the screen only seconds in.
"It's perfect. Everyone'll be too wimpy to come in here," Sadik explained, moving to lay Gupta across his lap, feet hooking over the arm of the seat and dropping into the seat next to him. "Now," he grinned wolfishly. "There's no-one here, eh?" He smirked, ignoring the Italian and German present completely.
"Sadik… Not here," Gupta insisted, and he seemed to be winning, as seconds later the door opened again, and another figure joined the small group.
"Get down," Gupta hissed, rolling off of the seats and onto the floor and pulling Sadik to the ground with him. Unbeknownst to him though, the figure had heard his words, and had already spotted the two. Trying not to let them know she had seen them, she carried on to the front of the cinema, where she sat just behind Feliciano, who leapt up again upon seeing her.
"Ahh! Ms Egypt!" He whimpered. "What are you doing here?"
"Watching a film…" Cleo replied calmly, seemingly not caring about the horrors on screen.
"Shit…" Sadik swore. "How tha hell do we get past yer mother?"
"We wait." Gupta replied simply.
After all, nobody got past Ancient Egypt.
Over in one of the other screens, an American was hiding behind the seat, too afraid to look any further. The Englishman who was meant to be sitting next to him looked less than impressed.
"This was supposed to be a date you git, not me watching you hide away like a coward!" He complained, but America didn't seem to care.
"B-b-b-but, didn't you see it? It was seriously creepy…" He whined.
"Alfred, there was nothing there." England sighed, slowly getting an idea to try to get his boyfriend back on form.
"Besides, this isn't very hero-like behaviour, is it? Come on love, let's just go home," he suggested.
"Are you crazy? A hero must last to the end, no matter how scary something is!" He insisted, not moving from his spot behind the seats.
"Bloody hell…"
"Her name is Yeketarina… And she's beautiful," Herakles mused, stuck in a happy daze as he lay backwards over the sofa.
"Isn't she Russia's sister?" Gupta questioned from his vantage point in the kitchen.
"And didn't we fight a war over her in tha 1700's or somethin'?" Sadik continued from an armchair adjacent to Herakles.
"Yeah…" Herakles smiled, before picking up properly on Sadik's question "Wait, what do you mean we, jerk?" He demanded, sitting up properly.
"I mean, the great Ottoman Empire vs. those damn Ruskies." Sadik smirked cockily.
"He's right Herakles," Gupta interjected. "There was definitely a war. I can even remember it."
"Ohh…" Herakles reflected. "I can't. I must have been too young to."
Sadik nodded at Herakles's words, before a smirk made its way across his face. "Still, I see what ya mean. She is hot."
These proved to be dangerous words, because seconds later Sadik was out cold, struck down by a well-aimed frying pan.
"You must have learned that one from Eliza," Sadik assumed later, leaning against the doorway of Gupta's room. The Egyptian did not even look up to acknowledge his presence: he'd dragged the Turk into his own bed earlier, and had hoped that would be the end of it.
"Come on Guppie, speak ta me," said Turk whined, stepping closer to the bed.
"This isn't the first time," Gupta stated flatly.
"What, that ya've hit me with a frying pan? It is too," Sadik asked confusingly.
"I meant, the first time you have said something… Without thinking about how it affects others," Gupta clarified, and Sadik's face fell.
"Aww, come on Guppie, ya know I didn't mean it…" He argued, trying to get himself back out of the dog house.
"It does not matter whether you meant it," Gupta continued. "You still shouldn't be saying it. It is not appropriate in a committed relationship-I am not a harem girl." He took a pregnant pause, looking up at Sadik with piercing eyes. "Am I?"
"What?" Sadik asked, not really getting where he was going with this.
"Perhaps this doesn't mean as much to you as I thought? Perhaps that is why you agree so wholeheartedly to my request for our relationship to be kept a secret." He seemed to look straight through Sadik, into the recesses of his soul. "Perhaps that is also why you seem so frustrated when we don't have sex… Is this all a game to you, Sadik?" he ranted, starting to lose control.
"No…" Sadik started, too late to stop the Egyptian's anger from making itself known.
"Just get out Sadik."
"Why…?"
"OUT."
Gupta through a pillow at him to make his statement perfectly clear (not that it wasn't already), forcing Sadik to retreat to the living room. He sighed as he sat on the sofa. Even Egypt's jackal was glaring at him, the dog laying with his head on his paws on the kitchen floor and looking up at him with contempt. What a day.
They had talked about being in a proper, steady relationship. But Gupta was always so worried about what would happen if what they had was made public, and so Sadik hadn't pushed anything. He knew in his heart he should have made it clear that he was only trying to not make Gupta uncomfortable, rather than showing a lack of interest in being with him. Truly, he wanted to take the lead. He wanted to show his experience and commitment to his love, take his hand and show the world that he loved him and always would. But he knew that Gupta would hate the attention, the gossip, the disapproving eyes of his peers-and his mother. So for now at least, Sadik would have to settle for the secrecy and privacy of their contact. And learn to keep his mouth shut.
