Chapter 3: Passing Notes

Summary: Alfred is bored. No, he's beyond bored, he's reached the point of desperation. So what's a hero to do when bored in class?

Warnings: Bored Alfred and Predatory Ms. Herdervary.

Alfred yawned, his jaw creaking slightly with the force put into the massive motion.

"... And so, on July 4, 1776, America officially declared independence from Great Britain..."

Alfred perked up slightly at the mention of his birthday, pride swelling in his chest as he was reminded how completely awesome his country was.

Hell yeah! Freedom!

And then he slumped back down as his history teacher began to drone on about the reasons behind the event, his mind shutting down as soon as she began to yammer on about representation in parliament and taxes. Boring! Instead he allowed his blue eyes to drift around the room, searching for something, anything, to rid himself of the boredom gnawing at his brain. Or for food, because he was hungry, dammit, and lunch wasn't for another hour. At least they were having burgers today... And the lunch ladies knew by now that they should make an extra ten (at least) for him.

Grrr-gurgle...

Alfred's hands flew to his stomach in a futile attempt to muffle the hungry grumbles. Okay, maybe class wasn't the best place to think about food... He quickly glanced around through his glasses to see if anyone noticed the growling, only to flush and release a sheepish grin as he realized that everyone within a five-seat radius was watching him as though he was about to go cannibal and eat them. That Latvian kid, what's his name-Raivis?, seemed particularly nervous, jumping and whirling to face Alfred with wide, nervous eyes.

As soon as their attention went back to the teacher-how they managed to focus was still a mystery to him-Alfred slumped back down, plopping his head heavily onto his desk.

Boredom.

That was the word that kept running through his mind, and Alfred began to pout at the concept. How could he, a super amazing citizen of the coolest country ever, be bored in class? He had to remedy the issue, but how?

His baby-blues first shot to the boy sitting diagonally in front of his desk, Kiku. Alfred considered the Japanese boy's hunched, studiously writing form for a moment, before quickly dismissing the idea. Last time he'd distracted Kiku in class, the boy had gotten a 99 on the next quiz. While he'd never directly blamed it on Alfred, the polite declines to all suggested video gaming/anime watching sessions for the next month spoke for themselves. The lack of violent graphics had nearly sent Alfred into withdrawals.

So Alfred continued to scout around, his eyes next resting on his white-haired classmate a few rows in front of him. Gilbert was always a great distraction in class, and Ms. Herdervary seemed to have some sort of soft spot for him, allowing them to get away with their obnoxious ventures in her class with only mild punishments quite often. Yet when he honed in on the boy, Alfred began to pout once more as he realized that the German (or Prussian, as Gilbert would adamantly state) was already giggling over some perverted magazine with Francis while Antonio smiled confusedly at the two. Once the trio banded together, Gilbert was lost to Alfred.

Finally, in an act of ultimate desperation, Alfred looked at the fair-haired Russian to his left. Ivan was completely free of all activity, his purple eyes gazing hollowly at the board while his normal, albeit chilling smile wound across his face. However, if the soft kohl's emanating from his form were any indication of his mood, now was not the time to disturb Ivan with his usual insults and general lack of respect towards the boy. While Alfred was always up for a fight with the bigger man (no Commie would ever get the best of the American Hero!), a brawl in Ms. Herdervary's class would probably end up with both of them cowering from her legendary frying pan, which was currently resting innocuously on her desk.

So Alfred slumped down further in his seat, all his hopes of being diverted from his education crashing down right before his bespectacled eyes.

And then, like a sickly call from heaven, his class partner sneezed from beside him.

Alfred immediately grinned and turned to face the bushy-browed boy beside him, bouncing in his leather jacket. Arthur, as though he could sense Alfred's grin (which almost always meant something stupid was about to occur), slowly turned to face him, one bushy brow ticking slightly.

Before Alfred could do anything, Arthur glared at him with fierce green eyes, daring him to disrupt class, before turning back to face the teacher.

But oh, if it was that easy to deter Alfred, then the world would be a much simpler place. No, that was officially, at least in Alfred's mind, a challenge. Besides, what better way to pass the time than to annoy his British neighbor?

Alfred quickly turned back to his notes page, which was curiously devoid of wording past a title, before flipping to the nearest blank page. He quickly scribbled something down before folding the paper gently and tossing it towards Arthur.

Thunk.

Alfred immediately seized up in barely-kept-silent peals of laughter as the paper got stuck in Arthur's eyebrow, the other boy stiffening so quickly that his back cracked once. Arthur, whose brows were both now twitching, quickly snatched the paper from its perch and unfolded it to read.

Yo. Arthur, I'm bored.

Arthur, jaw clenching, ripped the paper cleanly in half before turning back to the front.

Alfred frowned at the lack of response, quickly writing another note, this time careful to place it neatly on Arthur's desk.

Arthur, after a moment of pretending he didn't see the innocent little paper, finally grabbed it and read.

Dude, y did u rip my note?!

Arthur sent Alfred a dark scowl before quickly responding back.

Because, you moronic Yankee, you're disrupting class!

Uhh no lol. I'm just disrupting u.

Arthur slowly took in a long breath through his nose while Alfred smirked, his blue eyes glistening with amusement.

Well, you git, I'm attempting to pay attention right now, much like you should if your report card indicates anything...

Hey, I'm passing this class! It's trig that isn't going so cool... Besides I no all I need to about America. Freedom. The end.

I can assure you Alfred, there's much you don't know about America. Such as its meddling, its rising obesity rates, its hero-complex...

Hey! We all know that the coolest superheroes came from America! Batman, Superman, Captain America. U don't see a Captain UK around!

You idiot, none of those "heroes" are real.

Take that back!

No.

I knew I shoulda bugged Ivan...

Well my grades certainly would've appreciated it had you chosen to bother him.

Alfred snorted, like Arthur needed any better grades. He paused for a moment, stealing a quick glance at the fuming Brit, before scribbling something down quickly and tossing it back over to Arthur.

Just as Arthur was pulling the paper open, a smooth, creamy hand landed on his desk.

"Mr. Kirkland, is there something that you'd like to share with the class?" Ms. Herdervary looked down at him with mildly amused green eyes, beckoning him to stand up.

Arthur did so, a mixture of a blush and a death stare (directly at his bloody American neighbor, of course) blooming on his face. quickly stood him in front of the class, gesturing for him to read the note.

"Dude," The class snickered, knowing very clearly from that one word who Arthur was passing notes with, "why did you rip my note? Because, you moronic Yankee," more laughter erupted, "you're disrupting class. No, l-o-l, I'm only disrupting you. Well, you git, I'm attempting to pay attention..." Arthur continued to read the note, his face flushing a bit brighter at every snicker.

Just as he was about to reach the end, the final sentence Alfred had scribbled, the note was snatched from his hand.

"Wait! I want to read the end!" Arthur exasperatedly glanced to Ms. Herdervary.

She cocked a brow in curiosity, motioning for him to continue.

Alfred blushed slightly through his tan cheeks before looking directly into Arthur's green gaze.

"Arthur, will you go to prom with me?"

There was a beat of silence throughout the room, in which Arthur's face slowly transformed from the color of cream to that of a ripe tomato, before whispers began to cascade throughout the class. Ms. Herdervary suddenly honed in on the two boys with an almost predatory gaze, a slow grin crawling onto her face. Throughout the growing commotion, all Alfred focused on was Arthur's gaze, his baby blue eyes more serious than they had ever been, even more than when he was debating about which superhero was the best.

"Woo! Get some!" Arthur was snapped back into the present by Gilbert's cackle and waggling brows.

Arthur slowly began to sputter, his face instantly morphing into anger.

"You-you wanker! Of course I'm going to prom with you idiot! If only because no one else would take such an obnoxious git!" Arthur was shouting, his fists clenched at his sides and his eyes squeezed shut.

Yet all Alfred could do was smile, a radiant, triumphant grin.

"I knew the hero would get the date!" Alfred threw a fist in the air, swiftly turning to simultaneously rub the news in Ivan's face, brag to Gilbert, and gush to Kiku.

As Arthur began to tear into the sunny blonde some more, something about "privacy" and "respecting boundaries" and "in the middle of history class, really?!", a pair of green eyes glimmered in delight.

Oh yes, Ms. Herdervary could ship it.

A/N: So yeah. It's been awhile since I've updated anything at all. But I'm trying to get back into the swing here, so here's my first update! Remember, taking requests for this oneshot series! Bye lovelies! Please review! (:

Word Count: 1,600 (noooo, this wasn't intentional at all...)