Kitty: Alright, chapter three. It was pointed out that I was rather… lazy… on details in the last chapter. I will do much better this time, I promise! I might be able to upload this a lot faster than planned because I broke up this chapter into this one and the last one. We'll see.
I want to thank all my reviewers for being AMAZING. I feel so special. =3= I'm addicted to y'all. You make my day! Also, I want to thank all those silent readers. Thank you for reading. Thank you for the faves and the alerts.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia. Sadly. Unfortunately. Though, if I did, the art wouldn't be very good… and I don't know half so much about history…
The Greatest Treasure, You Idiot
Chapter Three
Curse
Arthur Kirkland was sitting in a wooden chair on a thick, heavily-embroidered cushion. A large wooden chest with brass ribs and lock was sitting at the foot of the bed, unto which Arthur had laid his bright coat. The bed itself was huge, with a mattress almost as big as Antonio's cabin on the Buscador and covered with a thick, feather-filled mantle of dark forest green. Pillows were stuffed into cream-colored silk pillowcases edged with fine, white lace. Next to Arthur was a marble-topped table. A green bottle full of red wine lay by his elbow and a single, full-bellied glass was half-empty in his hand.
Lovino glared out the window, ignoring Arthur's equally silent examination. The siren had his arms crossed protectively over his chest, his eyes narrowed to seething, gold slits. Below the window of this British pirate's ridiculously posh inn-room was a wide, cobbled avenue. Expensive, emblem-embossed carriages rattled down the streets and the few walkers were dressed in silks and satins, with high-heeled boots and bright colors and gaudy, flimsy parasols and starched gloves. Antonio, though just as wealthy, was much more modest. Lovino hated pirates like Arthur; always flaunting their ill-gotten gold and strutting around as if they owned the world. Antonio wasn't like that. Antonio was so different from all those greedy bastards. But even Antonio wouldn't put himself right into his enemy's hands just to attempt to save Lovino. Lovino had seen the common room downstairs. It was teeming with the Brit's lackeys and sailors. A rescue attempt would be nigh on suicide.
Lovino's shoulders slumped as the door creaked open.
"Cap'n, I brought the dinner," piped up a cheerful, young boy's voice. Lovino glanced to him. A young, barely teenage boy was striding into the room, grinning broadly. He ignored the twinge in his heart. That boy was nothing like Antonio, no matter what kind of smile he had. This boy was blond-haired and blue-eyed. He wore simple, homespun linen shirt and vest, and canvas breeches that were rather loose on his lanky, sun-browned limbs. The stub-heeled shoes clacked over the floorboards. In his arms, he easily carried a solid silver tray heavily laden with food and another bottle of wine. He set the tray down, his muscles not even quivering at the weight. Lovino was impressed, but he kept it to himself.
On the tray was freshly made pasta, linguine, Lovino remembered. The smell of sun-dried tomatoes, sharp olives, and zesty lemon assaulted the siren's nose, making the tip twitch. He quickly turned his gaze back to the street below. A half loaf of crusty white bread, still steaming from the oven, and a bottle of oil and pungent herbs in a small saucer for dipping accompanied the large plate of pasta.
"Where's the meat? The tea?" Arthur demanded irritably, finally breaking the silence. The boy shrugged.
"Dunno, gov'nor. They said it be the bes' dish o'the house t'night," the boy replied, snagging the loaf. He tore off a chunk and bit into the soft, warm insides. "'Tis righ' tasty, gov'nor."
"Don't eat like a heathen! And stop talking like that," Arthur scolded. He sat up and firmly placed the boy in the chair. He snatched the bread away and cut it into neat slices with his dagger. He poured oil over the herbs and then shoved one thick slice of bread into the boy's hand. "Dip it in the oil and then eat it neatly, Alfred."
"A'right," Alfred shrugged yet again, grinning. He shoveled down bread and a large portion of the pasta under Arthur's watchful eye before the pirate let the boy get back up again.
"You must have eaten something earlier. You didn't finish," Arthur noted dryly as Alfred jumped back up, stretching.
"Yessuh- Uh, Yes, sir, Cap'n. The cook let me eat with 'er and the kitchen girls. They have yummy biscuits 'ere," Alfred told him, blue eyes sparkling.
"Make sure you eat a proper breakfast in the morning, Alfred. Do not just eat biscuits and sweetmeats, do you understand?"
"Yeah, yeah. Who's the mark?" Alfred asked, jerking his head towards Lovino. Lovino snarled at him.
"None of your concern. Inform the help to come and collect my dishes in precisely an hour and go to your room," Arthur ordered, tousling the teenager's already mussed up hair.
"Hey, stop it! I'm goin'!" the boy laughed. The door slammed behind him, making Arthur wince.
"That boy doesn't know his own strength," Arthur sighed in resignation. He sat down at the table and smirked up at Lovino.
"You are fond of the child," Lovino stated, eyebrows rising.
"That is neither here nor there. You are here to give me a wish, siren," Arthur retorted.
"How did you know who I am? No one alive knows my appearance but Antonio and his crew. None of them would have spoken to you."
"I know much more than that, siren. Appearances are nothing. It's the story that's important. A story about a siren that made a deal with his own Power for love. A story about a curse that will never be broken."
Lovino stared at him, visibly shaken. "If you wanted me, you could have come and gotten me at any time! Why now?"
"I didn't want to go looking for you if I could help it. Why waste the effort? But that Spaniard on the other hand, how do you think he knew how to find you? I planted that oafish bard in Tortuga months ago and waited for that idiot to hear just the right song and do my dirty work for me. Brilliant, if I do say so myself." Arthur toasted the trembling siren with a playful rise of his glass.
"If you know the curse, then-"
"Oh, no, that Spaniard doesn't. I didn't include that bit of the story. Who wants a real hero? No, I knew he'd do it for the gold. He's so bloody predictable, really," Arthur chuckled as he spoke.
"But if you know, then why are you interfering? Antonio is most likely the only one to-" Lovino broke off, almost choking on his words. Arthur chuckled.
"Do you really think I care? I don't give a damn about your pathetic curse. I have a wish and I want it granted. Saving your soul won't get me what I want. How rich! You honestly think a mortal could care? We're selfish, bloodthirsty, greedy creatures, we mortals. No one more so than a pirate. It's our life, our only purpose, to be such as that. Your absurd hope in that imbecilic Spaniard is ludicrous. He will let you down… in the end," Arthur counseled him nonchalantly. He twirled a forkful of pasta and held it up, smirking. "Hungry?"
"I wouldn't eat anything you gave me," Lovino snapped, hands curled into fists and his features drawn tight with disgust.
"Well, you will be hungry, won't you? You and I will be going on a little trip soon. You will have to rely on me for food in the weeks to come," Arthur pointed out as he began to eat.
"Like hell we are! I am already in a contract, you bastard!"
"I know for a fact that the contract means nothing if a new contract is made. I took you from him. You are mine now, siren," Arthur retorted.
"You have to make a contract first. I refuse to make a contract with you!"
Arthur tutted, dipping bread into oil and taking a bite. "You don't have a choice. I will have that contract. Hmm, what was the leverage before? The death of that Spaniard? Well, I don't see why it still won't work now." Lovino's eyes narrowed, his mouth thinning, as bright green eyes cut at him. "I already hate that wanker and his frog cook and loudmouthed first mate. I would rather kill the prat myself, but an assassin is good enough if it means your cooperation. I refuse to dillydally in Italy. I want my treasure, siren."
"There's a price for everything," Lovino replied shortly. Arthur nodded.
"Of course. I am prepared to pay. I want to be a powerful magician, siren, unlike any other. My wish is to be the ultimate magician." Green eyes sparked and Lovino sweated lightly.
"That is…" Lovino looked away, hiding the sudden pallor of his skin. "That wish has a high price, pirate."
"Tell me."
"Memories." Lovino's voice was flat, hard.
"Memories of what?" Arthur asked, getting to his feet. Golden eyes in a pale face turned to him. "Tell me!"
"That boy's memories. The wish requires that boy's love for you."
Arthur froze, eyes wide. "Al-Alfred's… memories? His love? What the bloody hell are you on about?"
"Every moment you've spent together, every shared smile, every shared tear. Every word, every deed, every morning, noon, and night. He will remember nothing. You will stand before him and he will not see you. You could touch his hands, kiss his hair, even hold him to your heart and he would feel nothing, hear nothing. He will no longer love you, Arthur Kirkland, dread pirate captain of the Last Revenge. That is the price of magic," Lovino intoned, eyes burning.
A sudden movement and Lovino was sent crashing to the ground. He gasped aloud, confusion whirring in his mind. He slowly pushed himself up. His hand rose, shaking, to touch the throbbing ache on his cheek. Before the Brit's blow fully registered, a boot thudded into Lovino's shoulder. With a loud cry, he was flung to his back. He curled inward, trying to deflect more blows, but the boot returned, pressing down on Lovino's chest, pinning him to the floor like a bug. Furious green eyes glared down at him.
"Change it!"
"N-No," Lovino gasped. He groaned, grasping the slick leather in his hands, trying to lift it, trying anything to alleviate the weight on his chest. He'd assumed lungs when he made the contract with Antonio, and now they were slowly being crushed by his ribs. He choked, spittle falling to his chin.
"You will change the contract! You could not have possibly known about Alfred until today! You made that price! You will change it, siren!" Arthur shouted as Lovino writhed and gasped.
"I-I c-can't-Argh!"
"You will change it!"
"FINE!" Lovino bellowed. The boot lifted at last. He gasped, sucking in gulp of air after gulp of air, coughing painfully. He curled around his chest, clutching at his rapidly beating heart.
"That's better," Arthur said, smirking as he sat down again. "Surely there is something else that would work."
Golden eyes flared, hatred bright and hot in their depths. Arthur merely chuckled and sipped at the red wine. Lovino winced, slowly sitting up.
"Your humanity," he ground out hoarsely, his voice breathy and thin.
"You really must elaborate," Arthur replied, his green eyes flat and dark, though his tone was light.
"Kindness, compassion, trust, more of the like, all of it will be given to me. You must pay with your humanity. That is the price," Lovino snarled. Arthur frowned, swirling the blood-red contents of his glass as he considered. "Emptiness for magic. There cannot be both inside you."
"Kindness, compassion, trust… I really don't have much of any of those. I'm sure there is more to it, but what truly makes one humane? Is it my soul you're taking?"
"It is similar, but no. You will still have a soul. It will be crippled, but it will remain with you," Lovino answered. His eyes narrowed as Arthur set down the glass. The pirate had made the decision and Lovino could feel the power well between them. A feral, toothy grin grew over his face.
"I will-"
The door crashed open, causing Arthur jump to his feet and Lovino jerked his head around. His neck muscles screamed, and he flinched, but his wide eyes never left the tall figure in the doorway.
Antonio stood there, green eyes dark and livid, locked on Arthur's face. He seemed taller, darker, different. His lips, normally curved into his blithe smile, were twisted into a fierce snarl under low, dark brows. One hand was raised, the blunderbuss he always carried in his unwavering hand, pointed at Arthur's chest. For long, silent, breathless moments, Lovino didn't even see the second, smaller figure trapped in Antonio's embrace. The thin, blond boy, Alfred, was caught in the crook of Antonio's elbow, a long dagger placed against the thick vein under his jaw. The dagger was pressing into the skin, a deep crease in the boy's tanned flesh, but as of yet, no blood fell.
"Lovino, come here," Antonio ordered harshly. Lovino got to his feet quickly, before catching himself and dusting off the seat of his pants.
"Took you long enough, idiot," Lovino said, tossing back his head unconcernedly. The light of Arthur's oil lamp flared over the ugly bruise already darkening on his cheek and Antonio's mouth tightened into a thin line. Dark, furious eyes darted to Arthur.
"You shouldn't have taken him, Arthur."
"So angry. I'm impressed. I've never seen you quite like this," Arthur said coolly. Too coolly. His bright green eyes were pointedly not falling to Alfred's wide-eyed, panicked face.
"You hurt him, puta. You're lucky I don't shoot you right now," Antonio hissed as Lovino stepped up beside him.
"How'd you know to take the boy, Antonio?" Lovino asked, curiously. Antonio cut his eyes towards the siren, but quickly looked back at the Brit.
"The boy was sleeping outside the door on a pallet. He looked well-fed and wore clean, nice clothes. Arthur doesn't give a damn about anyone on his crew, but this boy looks loved. It was completely by chance I found him, though. I was just going to barge in and start shooting and hoped you were as fast as you looked, Lovi," Antonio told him, grinning crookedly, though his eyes still flashed.
Arthur glared back at him, fists clenched. "Release the boy, Carriedo."
Antonio visibly winced, making Alfred cry out sharply as the dagger cut shallowly into his skin. Arthur made a stiff, jerky motion, but kept himself in place.
"I hate it when you try to say my name, gringo. It's horroroso," Antonio stated with a shudder.
"Arthur…" Alfred whispered.
"Do not move, Alfred. None of your stupid stunts. I do not care how strong you are, he has a pistol," Arthur ordered. Alfred began to nod, but quickly stopped.
"Yes, gov'nor," Alfred mumbled, grimacing when the dagger cut deeper.
"Lovino, walk down the steps and wait for me at the bottom. Now, Lovino," Antonio growled when Lovino began to protest. A shiver of fear raced down the siren's spine and he quickly turned to the doorway.
He paused, setting his hand on the doorjamb.
"Hey, Brit," he began, ignoring Antonio's low curse. "You should thank this Spaniard for saving what you hold most dear."
Silence reigned.
"What the bloody hell are you talking about?" Arthur snapped, eyes on Alfred's bemused blue gaze.
"Our contract was almost sealed. If I had taken the price, you still would have lost what you were so terrified to lose, before and now. That boy loves you for what remains of your heart," Lovino explained, his voice soft and low, but carrying through the room. Alfred's eyes widened in shock even while Arthur's shoulders went rigid. "You were about to sell that for a few paltry magic tricks." Golden eyes met wide, horrified green. "You bastard, you almost sold away the only fucking thing that made you human and had no concept of the repercussions. Let your shitty dreams of magic die. The only true magic lives in that innocent boy." He turned and left.
Arthur tumbled to the ground, eyes wide. "What did I almost do?" he murmured, his face blanched bone-white.
"Arthur! Lemme go, ya Spaniard! Lemme go!" Alfred hollered, wriggling and ignoring the sharp pain in his neck. Antonio quickly dropped him, unwilling to slice the boy's throat on accident. Antonio watched, gaping, as the boy rushed over and wrapped his arms around Arthur's shoulders. "It's okay, Artie. I still love you, Cap'n. No magic can stop that. I promise," Alfred was whispering fervently.
Antonio shook his head and quickly retreated, sheathing his weapons as he did so. Whatever Lovino was talking about had rattled the Brit too much for him to sic his men on Antonio and Lovino now. He made it to the stairs where Lovino waited without a word being said from the room. He drew up short, relief flooding him in surging waves. Lovino looked up, his head tilted back, his slender neck arched. He really was the most beautiful creation Antonio had ever seen.
Golden eyes were glistening with tears, his mouth trembling.
"I was scared to fucking death, you idiot! Why the hell did you take so long? Huh? Where were you?" Lovino demanded, rubbing at his face to stop the tears he'd held back. He hissed when he put too hard a pressure on his cheek.
Antonio reached out and cupped his face gently, his thumb gliding over Lovino's smooth skin, over the shadow that darkened his cheek. His face was damp on Antonio's palm and fingers. Watching Lovino shake and cry was too painful to endure. The knowledge of why, of how close he came to losing Lovino forever to that sick British bastard, made his heart squeeze. He roughly pulled Lovino in his embrace, making the siren gasp, forgetting they were in the midst of his enemies; that just behind him his worst nemesis was sitting with a child and more than one sword ready to run through Antonio's back. All that mattered was Lovino was there, safe within the circle of his arms.
"You don't have to remind me, Lovi. As soon as I realized what happened I… I thought I'd go crazy. I did. I've never been so frightened and angry before in my life," Antonio muttered, breathing in the sweet scent of Lovino's hair. He smiled at the petulant sniffle that answered him.
"Let's go. I want to bathe and eat, damn it!" Lovino mumbled into Antonio's coat.
"Si, mi corazon, ven conmigo," Antonio replied, smiling as he pulled away. He pressed his lips lightly to Lovino's bruised cheek and then led him down the stairs.
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Yeah, totally lied. I'm uploading now. ^^; I'm just so excited for this story that every time I end a scene I want everyone to read it right then! Besides, it's not like this is one my Fairy Tales. It can be shorter chapters if I WANNA! SO HA! Enjoy~ Chapter count has now gone up~ Who knows how long it'll be.