Warning:Injuries!Yaoi, Slash, boyxboy, mentions of past relationships that are not UsxUk or vise versa, language.
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't ask.
Summary: Alfred Jones, star quarterback of Hetalia Academy. The most popular guy in school and also extremely homophobic, which is why Arthur is his new favourite 'victim'. But Arthur has no intentions of grovelling in the dust for him. Punk!ArthurxJock!Alfred.
Author's notes:The first thing I have to say is that I could have never imagined getting so much reviews! I checked my story stats on Friday and I couldn't believe what I saw, I literally went O0O for like fifteen minutes. Still I have read every single one of your wonderful reviews, thank you so much for writing them and giving your opinion. I really like to hear your ideas for this story, because sometimes they're way better than mine ^^.
And this time they were, for most of you wanted the relationship between Arthur and Alfred to be 50/50 and I am pleased to say that I can and will work with that (more fun possibilities for me to write smexy stuff ^^). Anyway, some people asked if other character are going to be featured in this story and I am proud to say that yes they are, quite a lot. Although I will be introducing them gradually.
In the next few chapters I will be once again building up the tension, a little bit more slowly this time. So there's not a lot of tension in this chapter, but there will be more in the next. I just like working it into the story slowly, getting the characters more and more frustrated over time (because I'm sadistic that way ;p). Anyway sorry once again for talking so much, but I felt like I needed to give you some extra info so that you know where the story's going. Please enjoy this chapter ^^.
Chapter 02:
In which old friends visit unexpectedly.
~O~O~O~
The key creaked as he turned it in the rusty lock. He quickly opened the door, wanting to get out of the cold as fast as he could. Although his apartment was only slightly warmer than the air outside, it was enough for Arthur to stop shaking. Even though it was already March it still was freezing cold outside. Arthur knew that spring would begin later than usual this year.
He sighed as he immediately locked the door behind him. It was a habit he had picked up over the years. If you didn't lock your door properly people could easily come in and steal your stuff. Al though most guys could probably ram down the door if they wanted to, it was pretty old and it's hinges were in bad condition. Arthur made a mental note to replace it before the end of the month.
He hung up his bag as quickly as possible, glad to get the weight of his bruised shoulders. His muscles ached as he shrugged off his jacked. 'All this for a stupid little kiss' Arthur thought as he hung his coat neatly on a nearby hook.
When one lives alone in such a tiny space it was better to immediately put things away in the right place when you stopped using them. Or else the whole apartment would be clustered and Arthur would barely have space to breathe.
He pulled of his scarf as well, folded it and lay it on the plank above his coat and bag. It was his favourite scarf, green and white with a silver snake elegantly stitched on the bottom. His brothers had given it to him on a dark Christmas morning a very long time ago. Of course it hadn't been meant as a thoughtful gesture.
Arthur always had to play the bad guy, while they ran around being hero's. So it was no surprise to him when he opened his package to see that they had chosen to buy him a Slytherin scarf. God how he had hated not being the hero back then, he was so embarrassed when they made him wear that scarf for the first time.
Still, a lot had happened since then. They had all changed, going their separate ways. Now Arthur wore the scarf with pride, showing it of like one would do with a battle scar. He walked out of the hallway into the slightly bigger space of his living room.
It was painted in a broken white colour that had turned beige around the edges of the ceiling because of water damage. 'Still have to fix that leak' Arthur thought as he put it on his mental to do list.
There was a small couch and a television, a table that was just big enough for three people to dine at stood in the corner. The wall on the left was filled with planks that held a great variety of books, both old and new. The wall on the right was almost empty except for a few small windows and a picture frame that was made out of old oak wood.
Arthur walked towards the picture frame and stood before it, observing the blowup of the photo he had taken so many year ago. He always did this when he had gotten into a nasty fight, looking at the picture calmed his nerves and hardened his soul against hurtful words.
It was a picture of a brick wall with graffiti on it. He had taken it one day when he was walking towards Piccadilly circus. It always reminded him of London, of home. He read the simple and somewhat wobbly words of the graffiti. Homophobia is gay it read. It was a simple sentence, but the impact it had on Arthur was tremendous. Even now he still read it in awe.
The message those few words held felt a bit ironic in the context of what Arthur had been through this afternoon. He laughed a bit as he suddenly realised how true the sentence was, but his chuckle sounded hollow even to his own ears.
Arthur wondered if he would ever have the guts to write something like that. As the last sunbeams hit the glass of the picture frame he suddenly saw his own reflection. His eyes widened as he saw the giant bruise that was forming on the side of his cheek. It was turning an angry purple colour.
Arthur cursed under his breath as he quickly walked towards the bathroom. It was tiny like the rest of his apartment, but it held all the essentials. A toilet, a shower, a sink and a cupboard with various medical supplies. Arthur scrambled through the cupboard to find something to ease the bruising. He finally found a little tube of salve, it would have to do.
He squeezed the tube and spread the ointment on his fingers. He was in the process of applying the yellowish substance evenly on his cheek when there was a knock on the door. Arthur promptly ignored it and continued what he was doing. There was an other knock on the door, a bit harder this time, followed by a concerned voice.
"Arthur mon cher, are you there?"
Arthur growled as he immediately recognized the French accent. 'Oh god, please, not now' he prayed as the knocking continued.
"…Rosbif?" the person on the other side of the door asked hesitatingly.
Arthur sighed as he finally decided to take pity on the Frenchman.
"Don't call me that!" he yelled as he put an other layer of salve on the bruising. He could feel it soothing his pain more and more as he continued to delicately rubbed it in. Damn that Alfred and his blasted right hook.
"Why aren't you opening zhe door mon cher?" the Frenchman replied in a somewhat relieved voice.
"I'm busy" Arthur hissed lowly, trying not to let his temper get to him. This was getting rather annoying. Leave it to the French to visit people in the wrong place at the wrong time. He didn't want to let Frog see him in this condition.
"Busy?" he heard Francis say in surprise "with what?"
Was it just Arthur or was the frog's voice getting…closer?
"I…I'm" Arthur stumbled over his words trying to find a reasonable excuse not to let the source of his annoyance into his apartment "I'm dying my hair!"
"No you're not" came the Frenchman's breathy reply.
Arthur let out a loud scream in shock as he clasped his hand over his ear. Though he would later deny ever having done so, he blushed as he locked eyes with the Frenchman. The damn frog was smirking with delight.
"How the bloody hell did you get in here?" Arthur asked, looking around for some kind of portal or hole in the wall through which the Frenchman might've entered the apartment, but he found nothing. Then the frog smirked some more and held up a small metal object, twirling it around his finger in glee.
"I still 'ave your key cher rosbif" he said laughing out loud as Arthur tried to retrieve his apartment key, without much success. Arthur glared at him, the fire burning in his eyes was intensified by the bruising on his cheek.
"So who did it thiz time?" Francis said nonchalantly as he walked over to the couch to lay down on it, stretching his slender body out for the whole world to see. The brit took a few minutes to figure out what the Frenchman was talking about, but then he grimaced. Damn that French bastard and his cockiness. Arthur leaned on the couch's armrest trying to find a way to save whatever shred of dignity he had left. However in the end he just gave in, he was tired of fighting.
"Alfred Jones…" he admitted, swallowing his pride "He's a junior and he's very…" Arthur trailed off as he remembered the events of this afternoon. What exactly was Alfred? Homophobic? Gay? Bi? In denial? Steaming hot?
'Wait… do I think he's attractive?' Arthur thought to himself. His eyebrows knitted together as he mulled over that question. He flinched as a finger suddenly poked his forehead.
"You shouldn't frown mon cher, we don't want you turning into a grumpy looking old man now do we?" Francis said teasingly. He smiled a bit as he pulled his finger away quickly, because with the way Arthur looked at him the Frenchman feared he might just loose his limps.
"Le célèbre Alfred Jones frappe à nouveau" Francis said sighing careful not to sit to close to Arthur when he was in one of those moods. Arthur growled again, annoyed at the fact that the Frenchman chose to speak a language he could barely understand. However the brit didn't say anything. The way Francis had muttered those words made his heart clench, his voice had held so much sadness.
"Do you know him?" Arthur asked, reluctant to speak the boy's name, maybe in fear of summoning him here. It would not be the first time Arthur had summoned someone like that. He shivered at the thought.
"Yes" Francis answered, no more, no less. However that one word said it all. Francis knew Alfred and he knew him well, maybe even better than Arthur knew him. How was this possible? Francis had graduated from Hetalia Academy almost two years ago. He was now in college studying to be a chef, among other things.
He wanted to know, but the uncharacteristic look the Frenchman's gave him was so sad and bitter, the brit didn't dare to press the matter even further. So he changed the subject, to get rid of the odd tension in the room.
"S-so why are you here you damn frog? I was busy you know" Arthur said, flushing brightly because of the stutter. The question seemed to break whatever had it's hold on Francis as the blond sprung up. Imaginary rose petals twirled around him as he flicked his golden locks out of his eyes in a dramatic gesture.
"Oh~ la~ la~ 'ow could I forget? Arthur mon cher…" He said as he began moving towards the brit. The frog's steps where confident with a little bit of glee in it, this could only mean one thing: Rape.
Arthur did his best to get away, but the Frenchman had already pressed him up into the wall. Arthur watched as Francis' face got closer and closer to his. He closed his eyes, waiting for the inevitable to happen and…
"Arthur…" the Frenchman's breath was like a ghost's touch on his lips. Arthur shivered, cursing the fact that even after everything that had happened the Frenchman still had this effect on him.
"I want you to meet mon nouvel amant."
Wait… amant? Where had Arthur heard that word before… The brit opened his eyes in shock as he stared into the Frenchman's eyes searching for answers.
"A… lover?" Arthur asked, a bit unsure if he had translated the word correctly "you have… a new lover? And… y-you want me to meet them?"
"Oui" The Frenchman said in delight as he grinned lovingly at Arthur. This caught Arthur of guard. Sure the Frenchman had plenty of lovers before, but none of them had ever been introduced to Arthur. 'He must be really serious this time' Arthur though as he suddenly saw the frog in a whole new light.
Still, he felt a bit awkward about meeting the frog's new lover. After all he and Francis… It had been a year, but Arthur could still remember…
He hung his head as unwanted emotions began to break down his mental barriers and flood his heart. Could he do this? Was he willing to cooperate in this, to cope with this?
"I don't think that would be a very wise decision" Arthur said softly as he turned away from Francis. The wall was suddenly so much more interesting. Arthur poked the flaking white paint that was crumbling of the plaster. 'I have to repaint it' Arthur thought as he also wrote that down on his mental to do list. He could feel the Frenchman's eyes burning into his back. How those eyes had tortured him, so many times.
"I think it is…" He heard Francis reply, he relaxed a bit as he felt the Frenchman's hands rub the painful muscles of his shoulders "Arthur… I think it's time for you to stop torturing yourself like this…"
Arthur let out a shaky breath as he slowly began to pull himself back together once again. He turned around to look into Francis' pleading blue eyes before nodding.
"Alright" the brit said, smiling awkwardly as grabbed his coat and scarf, he walked toward the door and pulled it open "Allons-y!"
Arthur waited for the Frenchman to walk out of the door and lead the way to wherever the hell they were going, but the frog just stood there smiling brightly at him.
"What?" Arthur asked in irritation. Why was the frog staring at him like that?
"Oh nothing" The Frenchman said as he proceeded to put on his own coat "It's just funny that zhe only français you know comes from watching way to much Doctor Who."
"Oh belt up!" the brit growled once again as he pulled the Frenchman out of his apartment and into the hallway. However he secretly smiled as he locked the door, his evening had just gotten a whole lot better.
~O~O~O~
Author's notes:Ok so that was a pretty long chapter, I don't know if every chapter will be this long, it depends on how much I want to say in a chapter. Anyway I like referring to British television shows and books while writing about Arthur. Still I'm not British so you guys will have to help me a bit when I've said something wrong. Also, I know a bit of French, but I don't know if I translated these sentences correctly. Please tell me if I made a mistake.
There is a lot of history between Francis and Arthur and it's one of the reasons Arthur will be very frustrated in later chapters. However don't you worry, this story will end with UsxUk (and vise versa ^^).
Translation of the French words/sentences:
Mon cher = My darling.
Le célèbre Alfred Jones frappe à nouveau = The famous Alfred Jones struck again.
Mon nouvel amant = My new lover.
Allons-y! = Let's go!
Français = French.