Ch. 3:

"That is Big Ben. It's-"

Arthur was cut off by Alfred's whoop as the American started taking what appeared to be a hundred pictures per second. "Look at the size of that thing! It's so freaking cool! Hey, hey, can we go up there?"

"No," Arthur hissed, mortified at the passerby's stares cast them. How did he end up babysitting this overgrown infant?

Alfred shrugged, "Oh well, this is still pretty cool." He sounded so enthralled that Arthur furrowed his brows in confusion.

"Don't you have anything impressive in America?"

Alfred looked at him with an indignant expression that was oddly funny on his face, "Of course we do! It's America!"

He said that like it solved all questions of the universe and started to count off on his fingers,

"We have Lady Liberty, the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, really awesome fast food restaurants."

"Fast food restaurants don't count," Arthur spoke up.

Alfred glared at him, "Who said? I was looking through London tourist pamphlets on the way here and you guys mention your restaurants. I bet they don't even have hamburgers."

Arthur rolled his eyes, "The point I was trying to make is: Why are you so enchanted by our famous sights? As you said, you have your own back home."

Alfred looked at him, and then smiled, but it wasn't a silly or mocking smile, it was just a simple smile. "Because what's the point of going on an adventure if you don't get enchanted?"

Arthur blinked. Out of all the things he imagined this crazy American saying that had not been one of them. And had the boy's eyes always been that blue? Had they always sparkled like that?

Arthur jumped, stopping his thoughts. Why would he think things like that? Who cared what color this git's eyes were?

"So," Alfred spoke up, putting his camera up, "What else have you got for me?"

Arthur groaned. He did not want to go anywhere else, it was late and he was tired -a raindrop hit his nose- and it was beginning to rain.

He pointed up at the gray sky, "Can't go anywhere now but home."

Alfred looked up at the sky, but instead of looking put out or resigned instead he looked happy, "What? It's just a little rain? Are you scared of melting?"

Arthur stared at him, "You don't-" But then the rain really started to pour and Arthur was glad his papers were safe in his briefcase.

Alfred threw his arms out and laughed, running circles around Arthur who watched him with a confused/shocked expression.

"Come on," Alfred cheered, sticking his tongue out to the sky, "Rain can be pretty fun too!"

"Yes, I hear pneumonia is a delight," Arthur replied flatly, holding the briefcase over his head as he watched Alfred dance around. His smile white and bright, his blue eyes glittering like jewels….Arthur quickly shook his head, he was doing it again!

Alfred suddenly grabbed Arthur's wrist and started to spin the surprised Brit around with him, rain dancing around them. Arthur opened his mouth to tell Alfred to stop but the words evaporated on his tongue, the strange American just looked so thrilled, like rain was the most amazing thing he had ever seen. Droplets decorated his hair and glasses, his mouth open to catch the falling water, his eyes practically glowing, and his palm warm and soft against Arthur's flesh. For a moment, Arthur suddenly didn't see this entire situation as a nuisance. He started to enjoy the feel of the water against his skin, the crispness of the air. For a moment it was….fun.

But then Alfred tripped and they both tumbled to the ground, the front of Arthur's shirt getting splattered with muddy water. He hissed, his temper returning, and he glared over at Alfred who was sitting there, laughing.

"How is it that when I'm with you my face keeps saying 'good day' to the ground?"

Alfred grinned, "I don't know, it's weird huh?" He jumped to his feet and offered Arthur his hand, "But it looked like you were having fun for a moment there."

Arthur swatted the boy's hand away and stood up, "Well then you need to get your glasses checked, because I was not having any fun at all."

The rain had become an absolute downpour by now; Arthur shivered and surveyed his surroundings, spotting an old ice cream shop.

"Perfect," he breathed before turning to Alfred. "If we can get out of this weather I'll buy you a cone."

Just as expected, Alfred's eyes lit up with excitement. He really was an overgrown toddler.

"You got yourself a deal! Let's go!" He grabbed Arthur's hand before the Brit could react and dragged him to the shop.

Being an ice cream shop it wasn't much warmer inside the small building, but at least it was dry, and not that many people were there, thankfully. Ignoring the stares Arthur ordered two cones and made his way back over to Alfred who sat at a small round table near the window, watching the rain pour outside.

"Thanks," Alfred smiled, taking the ice cream and starting to devour the chocolate cone.

Arthur watched with distaste, only taking tiny licks of his own vanilla.

"This has been fun," Alfred looked up at Arthur, ice cream speckled his lips, "Thanks for hanging out with me."

"I hardly had any choice," Arthur grumbled. "You wouldn't leave me alone." He scooted the ice cream cone away, suddenly losing his appetite.

Alfred looked down at it, "Aren't you hungry?"

"Not for ice cream," Arthur replied, wrapping his arms around himself and shivering, "I'm freezing." What he'd give for a nice cup of steaming tea right now.

"Oh, okay," Alfred suddenly shrugged off his jacket.

"No point in you being cold too-" Arthur began but stopped short when Alfred stood up and, walking over to Arthur, threw his thick jacket over the chilly Brit.

Arthur tensed up as the warmth enveloped him. He wasn't entirely sure what to do, he couldn't remember the last time someone had shown him such a kind gesture.

"It stinks," he finally decided, "It smells like greasy fast food."

Alfred laughed as he returned to his seat, "You know, most people would say thank you, or how nice of you."

Arthur looked away with a huff, feeling slightly guilty for his rudeness, "I'm not most people."

"Nope," Alfred agreed, "You're not like anyone I've ever met before."

The words almost sounded like a compliment and Arthur risked a glance at Alfred, he had that smile on his face again, that simple smile that might've been charming if it wasn't still covered with ice cream.

Arthur sighed and grabbed a napkin, leaning over to Alfred who nearly jumped with surprise, "What are you doing?"

"You have ice cream on your face, you git," Arthur snapped, before pressing the napkin to Alfred's lips.

The American didn't seem to be breathing and his eyes were squeezed shut, as if he couldn't bear to look at Arthur. Arthur smirked, he should be embarrassed, eating like a child, but then he realized that a very thin cloth was keeping his fingers from touching Alfred's lips…

Arthur pulled back quickly, nearly falling back out of his chair.

Alfred blinked his eyes open, looking at Arthur with confusion, "You okay?"

"F-Fine," he stammered, "I got it all." He suddenly felt uncomfortably warm in Alfred's jacket.

"Thanks," Alfred smiled again and seemed to forget anything had happened, "So, tell me about yourself, Arthur. At least a few things."

Arthur glared at him, "I already said it isn't your concern."

"Come on," Alfred begged, his eyes puppy-dog like, "Please."

Arthur sighed, "Bloody hell, if you must know, my last name is Kirkland."

"Kirkland," Alfred repeated, almost seeming to taste the word, "That's cool. Arthur Kirkland. It sounds so dignified~"

A small bud of pride warmed Arthur's chest, "Well if a gentleman's name should be anything it should be dignified."

Alfred rolled his eyes, "Oh yes, you are a very impressive gentleman the way you've been acting today."

Arthur winced. Okay, so maybe he had been a little rude but it hadn't exactly been his day.

"What else?" Alfred changed the topic, "How old are you?"

Arthur huffed, "You don't go around asking people you just met how old they are."

"You sound like a chick." Alfred laughed, then scrutinized Arthur with interest, "What? Are you a dinosaur? Are you so old that hanging out with me would make you a cradle robber?"

Arthur felt his cheeks burned with embarrassment. "Don't be absurd, you git! I'm only twenty-five."

Alfred gave a low-whistle, "WOW! You are ancient," he laughed, "Just kidding, just kidding! For what it's worth, I think you look younger."

"Humph," Arthur scoffed, "How old are you? Sixteen?"

Alfred puffed up his chest, "Nineteen, actually."

"Hmm," Arthur replied, "I wouldn't be too proud. You can't even drink yet."

Alfred deflated, "True, and I would like to drink in a foreign country…I got it! I'll just stay here until I'm old enough!"

Arthur's eyes bulged in terror and Alfred burst out laughing at his expression, falling out of his chair and getting disapproving looks from the other customers.

"YOUR-FACE-I-CAN'T-EVEN-"

Arthur was about to say what Alfred could do with his "can't even" when the rude boy stopped laughing to speak, "By the way what's with that brief case full of super special papers you wouldn't let me touch?"

Arthur looked down at said brief case, "That super special paper is my school work. And of course I wouldn't let you touch it after you nearly ruined all my hard work."

Alfred sat back in his seat and looked Arthur over, "School work? I thought you were twenty five."

"By school work I mean college work, you wanker," Arthur explained with impatience, and then straightened his collar, "I'm going to be a politician."

"But politicians are so boring," Alfred groaned.

Arthur snorted, this foreigner was just like his brothers, "Boring or not it's my responsibility."

Alfred cocked an eyebrow, "Responsibility?"

"I'm the only decent son that has come from my father and therefore it falls to me to follow his footsteps."

"But is that really what you want to do?" Alfred asked.

Arthur glared at him, his annoyance increased, "Frankly it's none of your business what I do with my life."

Alfred held his hands up in surrender, "Sorry, sorry, I obviously hit a pressure point there."

"You've been hitting pressure points all day," Arthur informed him.

Before Alfred could respond, a phone suddenly rang. The ringtone sounding like a corny theme song for a TV show. Alfred checked the screen and mouthed "my brother" before answering it.

"Hello? Oh hey, Mattie. You sound oddly cheerful. Okay, okay, don't get all defensive forget I said anything. Why'd you call…? Yeah, I know it's raining…But I was having fun!" Alfred heaved a heavy sigh, "Fine, I'll be there in a few minutes, bye."

Alfred put his phone away and smiled ruefully at Arthur, "Parting is such sweet sorrow."

"You're leaving?" Arthur tried not to smile.

Alfred stood up, "Yeah, but maybe I'll see you later. You can show me the rest of the sights."

Arthur swallowed, "Oh…"

"Anyway, it's been fun hanging out. Catch ya later, Arty!" Alfred turned and raced back outside, despite the pouring rain.

"Its Arthur," Arthur mumbled but was too relieved that Alfred hadn't asked for his number. He no doubt would've made a scene if Arthur had rejected him. Which he would have, of course. The last thing he needed was the crazy American knowing more about him than he already did.

Arthur rubbed his arms to ward off the last of the chills when he realized with a start that he was still wearing Alfred's jacket.