SORRY GUYS! This is a reeeaaallllyy boring chapter. I felt I needed to put it in though, it kinda sets settings and stuff... So stick ith it, it may just get better. Maybe. I hope. If I stop failing... ¬¬

Thankyou so much to anyone who faved or reviewed, each time I get an email from , I squeal a bit ¦3

ANYWAY, GO!


Arthur woke to a dull pain radiating through his body. His head felt heavy as he tried to pull himself out of sleep. Inhaling deeply through his nose he sensed a familiar scent. A nostalgic scent. It smelt like the summer's breeze. He smiled to himself recognising it almost immediately. America. Which America? Alfred or the actual United States? Arthur tried to open his eyes and see, but was met with a blinding light and a splitting pain through his head. He groaned.

"Arthur! Are you awake?"

Alfred. He felt somewhat pleased for some reason. Arthur now vaguely remembered what had happened before he had awoken. He had been hurt. Alfred had saved him and put him to sleep. Where was he now? He could not feel the hard brick wall behind him; it had been replaced with soft, welcoming pillows. He opened his eyes to a squint and glimpsed a pair of worried looking eyes staring at him from the side of where he lay. Arthur withdrew a long breath and opened his eyes fully, allowing the mask of sleep to completely fall and the throbbing ache of his body to return.

He looked around the room and realised he was in a hospital, glancing down at his torso, he saw it was only covered by bandages. He glanced up, slightly embarrassed, at Alfred.

"How long have I been out?" He asked, unsure if he should want to hear the answer

"Five days." Alfred murmured, still running over Arthurs injuries with his eyes. Arthur made a mental note of the bags under Alfred's eyes and the tired look in his eyes. Had he stayed all that time?

"Are you feeling okay?" Alfred's question cut off his trail of thought.

Green eyes gazed up to meet concerned sky blue ones. Tiredness now replaced solely with worry. In any normal situation, Arthur would have snapped at the stupid question, he had been shot seven times and beaten to the ground. How would Alfred feel after that? But this was not a normal situation. He could see the worry in Alfred's eyes and so he replied with a simple "Yes."

"Thank fuck." Alfred breathed and launched himself out of his seat, embracing Arthur warmly. It was gentle, but even this slight movement caused Arthur to wince, and with the surprise of the hug, he was unable to prevent a whimper from escaping his mouth.

"Shit! Sorry! Did I hurt you?" Alfred cursed, leaping back.

Arthur chuckled, "No, I was just surprised, I'm fine Alfred" He lied, smiling gently towards the other nation.

Alfred's face softened and he returned the smile before sitting back down by the bed side, watching Arthur intently, as if still monitoring the aftermath of the hug.

"I should tell the nurse you're awake, she can probably give you something for the pain" He said, glancing over Arthurs injuries.

"I said I'm fine Alfred, I'm not in pain." Arthur replied, not wanting to seem like a burden to anyone.

He sat up further in bed, but felt pain shoot up his neck and he grabbed the left side of his neck with a gasp. Alfred's head shot up to see what was causing Arthur pain, when he saw the dark bruise Arthur was clutching, his face reddened and his eyes widened in embarrassment and alarm.

"Ah! I'm sorry, Arthur, but it's just you were in pain and I needed to take you and I couldn't, but the you said "Please Alfred" so I did, but I didn't mean to hurt you and I'm sorry! I'll get the nurse, you are hurt, and it's my fault, but I'm sorry! Please Arthur; understand I didn't mean to hurt you at all..." Alfred rambled in a flustered tone, trailing off at the ends of his sentences, as if distracted by the thought of the event that had taken place.

Arthur could only stare at Alfred's rapidly darkening face and his emerald eyes widened. Then he did something he regretted instantly, he laughed. He regretted this for two reasons, firstly, it hurt like hell, the vibrations of hurt causing his body to shake, and secondly, he saw the worried expression on Alfred's face turn to one of annoyance and increased embarrassment.

"Hey! Don't laugh!" The worry fading away as he saw Arthur acting naturally again "I'm serious Arthur!"

"S-sorry" Arthur managed through fits of giggles; he straightened "Sorry. Okay, serious now" he said, laughter fading to a slight grin.

"Thank you." Alfred grinned, all annoyance fading when he saw Arthur smile "Will you be alright for a second? I'll go fetch you some medication."

"I'll be fine." Arthur replied, stretching his back a bit to test how well his body was working.

"Okay. Be right back" Alfred flipped Arthur a thumbs up before exiting the room.

Arthur had fallen asleep by the time Alfred was back. He administrated the medicine through injection and returned to his seat by the bedside, watching over Arthur as he slept peacefully.


After the medication had removed the distraction of pain, Arthur awoke again and realised he was half-naked, alone, in a room with Alfred and suddenly blushed. Alfred noticed this and immediately offered worried questions, trying to help in any way possible.

"Does it hurt again? Do you need something? I'm sure you can even have more painkillers, I'll go ask,"

"No, no, I'm not hurt you git." Arthur spluttered, realising he now needed a reason for blushing, "I'm, er, just a bit hot..."

"Oh! Well why didn't you just say?" Alfred beamed, getting up to open the window on the far side or the room.

Once he had opened it, Alfred lingered at the window, fingers tracing patterns on the panes,

"Arthur?" He called quietly,

"Hm?" Arthur replied, curious as to what had caused the sudden mood change in the younger nation.

"Who did it?" He asked, still facing away, in a monotone voice.

"I-I don't know..." Arthur was surprised by the question and realised how little he remembered, "I can't remember anything... my head..." He trailed off, reliving the painful moments which ended the one sided fight.

He was too distracted to watch Alfred walk over and sit on the side of his bed, looking intently at Arthur. It was only when a breeze from the window ruffled his hair that he came to his senses, jumping slightly at the sight of Alfred, perched on the edge of the bed.

"I promise I'll get them for you." He said, ocean eyes glinting with anger and determination,

"But... I..." Arthur began before being cut off with a yawn from Alfred.

"Man, Iggy, I'm tired, move over, will ya?"

The laid back attitude and use of his undesired nickname caused Arthur to snap back to reality

"Sod off, you lazy git, this is my bed! I'm injured for Christ's sake! You want a bed? Shoot yourself in the bloody foot, you wanker!"

Alfred grinned, Arthur was swearing again. Good sign. He curled up on the end of the bed, much to Arthurs protest, and began to sleep. At first Arthur tried to kick him off, but that proved to be too much work in his condition and he allowed the American to have some well earned rest before his own eyes felt too heavy to watch over him any longer as he joined him in slumber.


Alfred woke first. He felt Arthur's gentle breathing blowing on the top of his head, sending small chills through his spine. He shifted, opening his bright sky coloured eyes. He was no longer at the foot of the bed. He had somehow moved in his sleep to lie next to Arthur, head resting in the crook of his neck. He inhaled deeply, feeling content and comfortable.

Maybe I can dose off again he thought.

Before he could drift into blissful unconsciousness, he was alerted to the rasping noise coming from above him. He darted up, hopping off the bed to look at Arthur. His face had gone pale and his soft blond hair had begun to stick to the sweating, clammy skin. Arthur's steady breaths had been replaced with a rasping shallow panting, causing his face to contort in the pain of his sleep, his brows knitting low and lips twitching. Was he dreaming?

Alfred was unsure whether to wake him or not. He could only stare as Arthur twitched and writhed in his nightmare, frightened mumbles spilling from his unconscious lips. Alfred let the first tears fall onto the bedside. Why should Arthur suffer? He never hurt anybody, contrary to what Arthur would like his tough facade to show; Alfred knew Arthur would not intentionally harm anyone.

He glanced back at Arthur, the noises had stopped and his breathing was normal, but he was now shaking violently. Seeing this made his body heat up, his nerves twitching as he saw his dear friend shivering pathetically in a hospital bed. He ran to the window and punched the wall beside it, shattering the weak plaster on the surface. It crumbled onto the floor and he ignored the dull throb in his hand.

Whoever fucked him up this bad deserves everything they get when I find them He thought, tears still falling from his eyes and trailing down his now hot, angry cheeks. He wiped his eyes. He needed to stop Arthurs trembling, it may be hurting him. Perhaps heating him up would help.

He looked around. Only one thin blanket sat on the table. Wouldn't help much.

Body heat! Body heat was the most effective way or warming someone up.

He's gonna kill me for this... He smirked to himself and he lowered himself gently onto the bed, bringing his arms around the trembling Brit and pulling him close, breathing into his hair. Inhaling his calm scent and wiping his tears softly onto the pillow, he leaned affectionately into the Brit. I'm just keeping him warm he told himself, but enjoyed the giddy feeling in his stomach anyway and allowed his breathing to steady as he prepared to rest his troubled mind again, shutting his eyes from the glare of the street lights outside.

See you in the morning...


Wow, just realised how much they fall asleep here... ¬¬ MEH.