I want to say thank you all so much for the amazing response to this and I'm really glad I posted it :D

I don't think this will be a very long fanfic, but I plan to have connected stories later so actually it'll be longer than I originally planned overall.

With that done, on with the chapter...


Groggily, Alfred awoke to a train passing by the window. The whole room shook as the horn blared across the street below. Over the course of the year he had grown used to this loud alarm clock, but the vibrations caused him to feel nauseous as the tranquiliser wore off. The tranquiliser. Alfred groaned and pulled the thin sheet over his head. Last night had been a failure, a laughable one at that if any other hitmen heard about it. What was he thinking? Of course they would hear about it.

The famous Hero Jones brought down to the level of an amateur by a surprisingly suave English assassin.

Alfred couldn't help feeling a knot form in his chest. It had been a surprise when Arthur had swiftly guided him to the dance floor, to kiss him, to say all those things as if they were lovers-

Alfred delve further beneath the sheet. Arthur was his next Hit and yet he was talking about him like a love-struck teenager. He was much older than him for a start, and he was too egotistical and those thick eyebrows were just plain weird and he was the enemy for Christ's sake! He needed that money the Frenchman had offered, badly. He lifted his head enough to read the bedside clock, cursed and stumbled about the apartment in search of the bathroom. He always visited Matthew on Saturdays without a doubt. Wait, it had been Thursday last night...he'd been passed out a whole day? He would have to worry about that another day.

The shower was pleasantly hot against his skin and also stopped him from falling asleep. He stood underneath it for some time, allowing the hot water droplets to run down his body as he thought over his predicament. He knew deep down Arthur was a problem to kill; his skill was unlike any of Alfred's other Hits. It wasn't just weaponry skill either, his whole aura could persuade anyone. Maybe he was trying to chew too much taking on this Hit, but the price on Arthur's head could sustain Matthew's medical bills for over two years. Just enough...just enough time for him to get better. Alfred shuddered when a single cold droplet fell on his chest.

He waved off the landlady with his usual charm and sprinted towards the hospital. He always made a quick detour to the local Italian pizzeria, although why it was called a pizzeria was beyond him as they served any Italian food. Alfred strolled inside and waved down the owner, a young Italian that jumped about when he saw Alfred. Feliciano Vargas almost dropped the plate of pasta on his customers as he excitedly rushed over to Alfred.

"Alfred you came!" Feliciano shouted happily, not even noticing he was balancing many plates on his arms.

"No need to sound so surprised, I'm always here on a Saturday."

"Yes but I always think this Saturday will be the day you don't and I won't be able to make you my special pasta." Feliciano said without a space for breath. Sometimes Alfred wondered where he got all his air from, although he guessed it was the same place as his endless energy. Feliciano quickly went off to deliver the plates to his customers and then disappeared for a short time. Alfred walked over to his table in the corner where he was away from any other customers and silently waited for his pasta. It was by far the best he had ever tasted, and just the thought of it made him increasingly hungry. Suddenly loud shouting in Italian erupted from the kitchen, followed by the sound of a saucepan being thrown. Many customers just carried on chatting amongst themselves, but the newer ones stared worriedly at the kitchen door. Alfred couldn't blame them, but it was natural to become used to the shouting when you became a regular.

A plate was slammed in front of him. "Here. Eat up and leave."

"What happened to serving the customers with a smile?"

"I said eat up and leave, American." Lovino Vargas was the exact opposite of his brother, but his threats Alfred had learnt not to take seriously. Well, until cutlery was involved that is. Looking up at the angry Italian he forgot how much that glare used to make him quiver at the knees, but that had been a long time ago when he wasn't exactly conscious with the world. He guessed Lovino never forgot, hence the cruel treatment whenever he entered the pizzeria. He was tempted to say something about that night but felt like he wanted to keep his manhood attached to his body.

Instead he tried to be diplomatic. "I'm not going to be any trouble, I promise."

"Like hell I'd let you cause trouble anyway. Feli doesn't need your kind around here."

"As you keep telling me."

"Then start fucking listening, stay away from here." Lovino spat, and then sulked off back into the kitchen. Alfred closed his eyes. If only he known that night would cause so many issues now. When he opened them again Feliciano was sat opposite him with his head in his hands, staring with this expectant expression. Confused, Alfred decided to just start eating the pasta and heeding Lovino's command. Still Feliciano looked at him with those big honey eyes that could melt butter. He really reminded Alfred of Matthew sometimes.

"You're in love with someone."

Alfred coughed as he almost choked on the pasta. He swallowed the mouthful painfully before he spoke. "W-what?"

"Something's different about you. You're thinking about someone or you're struggling to masturbate, whichever it looks like you want sex." Feliciano spoke innocently, but Alfred just stared with a face of utter shock. He didn't think he would be confronted with that subject today. Feliciano giggled. "Sorry Alfred but those days are behind me, even for a friend."

"I wasn't asking for you to-" Alfred paused. "You think I'm your friend?"

Feliciano laughed. "Well yes, you've come in here every Saturday for the past ten months. And you always stop long enough for a chat when you really don't need to. So yes you're my friend." He scooted his chair around a bit and stared at Alfred expectantly again. Alfred was really against spilling out his secrets in that department, but something told him Feliciano wouldn't quit.

"Well I did kinda meet someone last Thursday night but-"

"Oh I knew it! I knew there was someone otherwise it'd be really awkward if it was masturbation because I'm pretty rusty now even though Ludwig is always asking if we can do it like I used to back then. He should be finishing soon if he doesn't take on anymore overtime." Feliciano babbled, which Alfred was thankful for as it took the conversation away from Arthur. It had been some years since gay marriage was legalised all over the world, although it felt like this city was behind the times a bit when it came to human rights however, even so it looked like Feliciano was happy here all the same. "Hey Alfred, who was it you met last night then?"

Damn it. "Just some random guy at a party." He answered nonchalantly.

"Was he cute? Did he have abs? Eye colour? Hair colour? Did he seem like an S and M sort of guy?"

"He was just...intelligent."

If Feliciano was disappointed with the answer he didn't show it as he grinned brightly. "Oh Alfred I'm so happy for you! Do you think you'll meet him again?"

He wanted to lie but seeing the happiness over Feliciano's face, even after everything the Italian had been through, he just couldn't do it. Alfred smiled. "I'm positive." The Italian squealed madly. Alfred finished his pasta and reached into his pocket. Damn it, he must have left his wallet at home. He looked apologetically at Feliciano.

"It's on the house Alfred, after all there is no price on love." He said, winking as he went to serve more customers. Alfred shook his head.

He really didn't understand Italians.


Arthur leaned on the balcony and stared up at the dreary sky. Today's clouds looked solemn and dark, it was bound to rain at some point. He pulled out a wallet and gently pressed it against his lips, he couldn't help but smile as it even smelled like him. Maybe it was wrong of him to steal the wallet when the brat was passed out on his own bed, but it was too delicious to just ignore. He was surprised by the dismal location, but then again the brat was using all his money to help his brother.

Arthur closed his eyes and felt the wind pass over his face. He could still hear his brother's angry voice now, calling him such awful names, that he wished their father had kept him instead of dumping him on his doorstep. Arthur opened his eyes. He had been in contact with this family some years ago, but again he was shunned when his career as an assassin came to light. He couldn't blame them, but part of him longed for that feeling of home. That feeling the brat had given me when he pulled me back onto that dance floor. The brat had been exciting, Arthur could admit that. He was fond of making his targets chase after him for the fun of it, but this had been different. Alfred had taken the lead and perhaps it was wrong for Arthur to find that so appealing but he couldn't ignore the pleasure he got kissing those soft lips. He kissed the wallet lightly and then slipped it into his pocket. The brat wanted to kill him, what hope was there for a healthy relationship? Luckily, there was still fun to be had.

Arms curled around his waist and a naked body pressed against his back. "Come back to bed."

"I have important work, love."

"Can't you do it later?" She whined, her dark curls falling over her face. It was rather cute. Arthur imagined Alfred's mangled bed hair, of his arms around his waist and whispering seductively for him to come back to bed. Somehow, he could see himself falling for the brat's request. "It seems like you're still ready for another round." Arthur cursed at the bulge in his crotch. Now was not the time. He would send the girl away with some money when he returned, but right now he needed to get down to the hospital.

After all, a man needs his wallet.


"Still no change, I'm sorry Mr Jones." The nurse said quietly.

"I expected as much. You don't need to apologise for doing your job."

The nurse seemed appreciative of his words. "Even so, every time you come in to visit I want to give you good news."

"Maybe next week it will be." He said and then smiled as he carried on down the corridor. The nurse had taken on Matthew's care when he had first been admissioned and even Alfred could see the wrinkles beginning to form on her face and how the brightness in her eyes had dulled. A year and this once cheerful nurse was no better than a recent widower. Still she smiled often enough when Alfred came for a visit and for that he was grateful. She was a kind person, just like Matthew. He had stopped by the local tourist shop and bought a little polar bear figurine; polar bears had always been Matthew's favourite animal. When he entered the room he placed the figurine on the beside table and leaned over his younger brother. He was so still and pale, it was as if he had been frozen to the bone. "Hey Matt, the hero's here." He whispered, brushing a few strands of hair away so he could kiss Matthew's forehead.

He wanted Matthew to react, to push him away and tell him to stop being such an idiot and then say something in French that Alfred didn't understand. Instead he was silent, motionless.

Alfred felt tears well in his eyes. "Hey Matt, imagine all those Hits and assassins seeing me crying like a baby."

He never stopped to think what Matthew would say when he woke up to find Alfred a famous hitman. It never really bothered him personally, although his first Hit had been terrifying something about it felt...right. He had always been bad in lessons and his grades never succeeded past Ds, but in sport he was the best of them all. Maybe some people were just meant to take the dirty jobs and it wasn't as if he ever killed innocent people, all his Hits had done something bad. Matt wouldn't see it like that. He's always seen the good in everyone, even that Cuban guy he used to hang around with that smelt like weed. Alfred wished Matthew's eyes would just open; he couldn't even remember the colour anymore. A year without Matthew following him around and stopping him from doing something stupid, a year without his brother's mother-like kindness. A year without his brother was hell. "Please wake up Matt. I'll do anything to make it right again."

Matthew's eyes didn't open.

A gentle knock on the door made Alfred wipe his face clean quickly before he turned around to the nurse. She was blushing madly. "It looks like Matthew is more popular today."

Alfred was very confused but then a shadow stepped inside the room. His heart stopped. No, not you.

Arthur smiled at the nurse. "Thank you love for escorting me here, I was bound to get lost in this massive building." Her blush worsened and so she scuttled away down the corridor. Arthur turned to Alfred to speak but he was suddenly slammed against the wall with hands clenching his coat. Arthur chuckled. "Giving me a taste of my own medicine, hm? How's your head? I do hope the tranquiliser didn't affect you too much."

Alfred glared. Why was he here, why now? "Get out of here!"

"My, my what a temper. And you were being so polite that night."

"Look, I won't try and kill you and I'll drop the Hit but please leave my brother out of this." Alfred babbled. He didn't know if he was making much sense, all he knew was that he was angry and upset and he was really happy to see Arthur again. Emerald eyes glittered for a moment, but then a tilt of his head and a little smirk reminded Alfred of whom he was dealing with.

"Say please again and I'll think about it." Arthur replied with a tone of innocence.

Alfred inwardly cursed. "Please, leave Matt out of this."

There was a silence as their eyes refused to blink, although Alfred's eyes were more pleading than he had intended. Arthur broke the eye contact and nodded his head. "I had no intention of hurting your brother. I told you, I kill for a reason." Alfred sighed in relief and let Arthur go, he was too...too something anyway to keep his game going. He sat down carefully beside Matthew's arm.

"Why are you here then?" He asked quietly.

He listened to Arthur's dainty footsteps walk towards him and a flash of an object in the corner of his eye. "To return your wallet."

He took it and checked that everything was still inside. "You stole it just so you could give it back to me?"

"Well, how else was I supposed to see you again when it wasn't you trying to kill me?"

Alfred felt a smile tug at his lips. Why was he so happy that Arthur wanted to see him again? "Sounds suspiciously stalker-esque of you."

"Maybe, but it worked did it not?" Arthur wore a boyish grin. Alfred found himself laughing, he hadn't laughed like it in a long time.

"What happened to the sophisticated Englishman?" He challenged.

Arthur took a pause to walk over to a chair opposite and sat down stiffly with a leg hooked over the other. "You cannot expect me to be so sophisticated all the time. After all, even the English dabbled in pirating when it was all the rage during the seventeenth century. Even someone such as me has their limits...and their desires." Alfred shuddered at the way Arthur's voice lowered, or maybe it was just his imagination. It wasn't as if they were enemies now, he already promised he wouldn't kill him and he never went back on his word. But what about what you promised the French guy? That you would do it quickly and professionally? His own mind taunted him, that was a new low. "I must admit I expected more of a psychopath when I first heard about this new hitman. Your antics, the games, it all showed how young you were but now I understand why. You are trying to make this a game, a game you can finish and move on and forget about. I'm afraid it doesn't work that way." Arthur looked genuinely solemn as he glanced between Matthew and Alfred. "So much devotion, enough to kill someone else to keep him alive. I admire that. But sooner or later Matt-"

"It's Matthew. I'm the only one that calls him Matt."

"Apologies, Matthew will be hurt my someone. Either you stop being a hitman or you leave Matthew here, alone."

Arthur's words sunk on Alfred like shards of glass. It was obvious what he was saying, but Alfred had chosen not to believe them. "I am not leaving him alone."

"Well then you know the solution."

Alfred felt angry tears run down his face. What right did he have to say any of this? He wasn't his friend or someone he even trusted. Hell, his Hit would've be the last one he would ever need to do and yet here he was giving him advice. "Okay I admit I tried to make it enjoyable for myself but I had to, if I didn't I would've hated it but its the only way I could keep his life support going. Everyday doctors give me letters or tell me I should consider turning them off but I can't just give up on him he never gave up on me! And you can't come into my life and tell me how to look after him, alright? I know him better than anyone. I know he likes to dump maple syrup on all his food no matter if he shouldn't. He has this thing about polar bears and he wanted to go live in Canada where he could try out for the local hockey team. He knows just about any language you could think of. And he smoked weed one time and pretended to be a statue and was locked up for a day for pissing in the park fountain. He's my brother and I am not going anywhere until he sits up and calls me an idiot." Alfred shouted through the waterfall on his face.

He breathed heavily and felt the weight removed from his chest. Still he was guilt-ridden since the day Matthew had fallen into the lake, nothing could change that. He just needed Matthew to wake up, that's all he wanted. He felt a hand pull his arm until he was standing and then warmth engulfed him. He sank into it. He didn't care if it was another man or a trained assassin or a narcissistic Englishman or all at once. It was warm and safe and loving. For one blissful moment the years of torment washed away.

"Alfred. I'll help pay the medical bills. I'll help with anything you need." Arthur sounded sincere.

Alfred trusted his words but he needed to know. "Why?"

Arthur laughed shortly. "Does there need to be a reason? You're someone who can challenge me and I want to explore that."

Alfred wanted to ask what he meant by that but was smothered as Arthur held him closer. It wasn't supposed to feel right and yet it did and Alfred found himself drowsy even though he had slept through a whole day. That year of Hit after Hit, collecting the money, visiting Matthew...all of it had drained him and only now did he see that. He didn't want to do it all alone. "If you're lying. If some day this all turns out to be lies and it hurts Matthew...I swear on our mother's grave I'll kill you."

Silence drifted between them and Alfred felt Arthur tense. But then he sighed into Alfred's hair. "I think that's a fair compromise." He thought for a moment and added: "If this is to be a permanent arrangement you should probably move in with me to lessen the rent cost."

Alfred pushed away a little to glare down at Arthur, only now realising he was slightly taller than him. "Who said anything about moving in with you? We're not a...whatever you call it." He looked away to avoid the embarrassment of the burning crimson across his face. What did happen to his charm? What on earth was in that tranquiliser? Slender fingers yanked his chin back and lips fell against his own. This was softer, considerate, and yet it caused him to want more. Arthur pulled away immediately as he felt Alfred becoming submissive, he wasn't going to let it happen that easily.

"I believe they call it a gay couple, its quite natural you know. Of course, Americans are much farther behind the times than other countries so it doesn't surprise me you'd be in denial about it." Arthur replied with a smirk. Alfred had guessed the empathetic mask wouldn't last long but still he smiled. He remembered a joke Feliciano had told him once.

"Isn't denial a place in Egypt?"

Arthur's eyelid twitched. "Please tell me you're not the sort to make regular puns like that? I was with a Spaniard once who made similar jokes. I never heard the end of them." His expression told the horror of that past adventure. Alfred wished he could know more about this Spaniard, to know more about Arthur in general. He really knew nothing about him, not even the information the French guy had given him. He hoped Arthur never asked about who hired him, but he was bound to eventually, at least he had the excuse of his no name policy. Right now he could enjoy the security that his brother was safe.

"Why can't we move into mine?"

"Because your flat is worse than any cheap hotel room, that's why."

As they argued over housing Matthew's monitor beeped faster than usual. Just for a second and then it levelled out again. Peaceful.