OKAY! I'm sorry it's been so long, and this is really short, but I promise another chapter really soon, with the introduction of more characters coming up soon. SORRY FOR BEING SO RUBBISH T^T

Arthur screamed as the hammer once again connected with his left hand, smashing the joints that lay there. He could not tell how long this had been going on for; his mind had long ago deteriorated into a numbing state, unable to hold the concept of time.

All he knew was that Alfred had gone. Left for the first time in a week, and they had come for him. Why did he believe him when he had said he would protect him?

Fresh tears sprung to Arthur's eyes as the thought of betrayal momentarily clouded his mind, before his concentration was brought whirring back to the hammer, now splitting the bone in his arm.

Arthur looked up at his assailant from his place kneeling on the floor, but he could not see him, his face seemed obscured, his eyes unable to focus on the shadowy figure above him.

The man reached into his pocket as Arthurs eyes flew to the gloved hands, lingering on the small silver object withdrawn from the pocket, the glint of light catching Arthur's eye.

His face paled and eyes widened as the blade descended onto him, digging into his right shoulder, blood spilling on contact. He gasped in pain, chocking on the air as the wielder began to drag the blade through the flesh, Arthur's vision began to blur, fading in and out of the darkness, eye lids fluttering slightly.

The blade stopped its sickening journey and the man withdrew it, seeing Arthur becoming semi-conscious and not wanting to spare the Brit any pain.

He struck the injured nation, the hit sending Arthur crashing to the floor where he lay trembling and whimpering at the impact.

The man knelt beside him and put his hand on Arthurs injured shoulder, fingers crawling into the chasm left there. He suddenly sat Arthur up and spun him around; their faces now inches apart, hazy jade eyes searching for identity in the shadowy figure.

Just as Arthur was regaining his sight from the blur of darkness, he was shaken violently. He could tell he was being yelled at, but the words weren't forming in his mind. He could hear two voices. One was shouting at him, was it telling him to get up? He couldn't quite hear it above the other sound. Screaming, wailing, begging. He realised the source of the second sounds cursed himself for allowing the foul noises for escaping his mouth. He tried to stop screaming but the piercing wails continued to spill from his throat, echoing in his head.

As the yells and screams continued, spiking each time his broken fingers brushed the wall, or the probing fingers ventured to far into his wound, the shaking became more frantic and the words being bellowed became louder.

"-KE UP! ARTHUR!"

He knew that voice.

"-EAM! C'MON ARTHUR, IT'S ME!"

Me. He knew that "me." Alfred hadn't left him to be hurt; he had stayed to hurt him.

Arthur's eyes flew open as he fell back onto the bed sheets, screaming and writhing against Alfred's hands on his shoulders which still shook him. A fresh sob escaped his lips and tears sprung from his glistening eyes. The shaking stopped.

"Arthur? Are you-" Alfred was interrupted by an incomprehensible sound from Arthur. "What?"

"P-please st-s-stop, Alfred, I-I'm sorry. I'm s-so sorry."

"Arthur, it's me, you're safe now, it was-"

"S-stop, I-I c-can't..."

"Arthur? Arthur, it's me, Alfred. You were dreaming, you're awake now, and whatever was happening, isn't anymore. Artie? Look at me."

Arthur cast his watery eyes upwards, his face searching for an answer to the confusion he was suffering.

"D-dream?"

Alfred smiled warmly.

"Yeah, a dream. Not real, you're here now, with me, and you're safe."

Arthur stared down at his hands. They were normal, no deformity or bruising. He brought his pale, slender fingers up to his right shoulder and traced the line where the knife had pierced him. Nothing.

It took a second for it to all sink in, but eventually, green eyes found watching blue ones, the look lingering for a second before Arthur collapsed into a grateful heap on Alfred's lap.

"Deep breaths, baby"

Arthur, slowly coming to his senses, noted the "baby" and head butted Alfred's gut. Alfred only smirked and rubbed Arthurs shoulder soothingly. They lay in silence for a while, Arthur finding it easy to relax in Alfred's warm presence as he curled up in his arms and felt drowsiness begin to take hold.

"Thank you for not leaving." He murmured

"Leaving?"

"In my dre- my nightmare, you had gone, and I thought you migh-."

"I DID WHAT?"

Arthur looked up, startled and slightly surprised. Alfred looked angry. Really angry. His brows were furrowed and his cheeks had turned red, his eyes had taken a dangerous dark tint. Arthur, still not completely calm, began to back away, onto the headboard of the bed.

At the sight of Arthur retreating, eyes wide and face pale, Alfred calmed.

"Sorry Artie, it's just... I ran away?"

"No, Alfred, you weren't there to begin with, you went out at the start and then..."

"But I didn't even come to save you?"

Ah. Arthur saw his slip-up. Heroes didn't run.

"Well... I suppose not technically..."

"Eh? What? If I didn't save you, I didn't save you Artie, no technicality about it..."

"Well, I think you saved me. You woke me up, didn't you?" Arthur smiled warmly "Thank you, Alfred."

The redness that Alfred had just lost after his sudden anger outburst now returned tenfold in a face consuming blush.

"S'okay." He mumbled.

Arthur smiled and opened his mouth to say something, but he could only suffice with a soft yawn.

"You still tired? I can go..."

As Alfred began to rise off the bed, Arthurs head gave a sudden throb and images of the hammer and knife flashed back to his head. He didn't want to dream right now. He reached out and grabbed Alfred's arm.

"No, I'm awake now and it's nearly morning anyway. Not much point in going back to sleep, is there?"

Arthur rose off the bed and walked to the draws in the corner of his room, hiding his face from Alfred, in case he could see the lie written across there. Alfred looked over at Arthur, concerned, his movements still seemed off and his steps too cautious.

"...Artie, if you're too scared to sleep alone, I'll stay here until you fall back asleep again."

Well, shit, if Alfred wasn't the little observant one this week. Arthur looked over and smiled weakly.

"Doubt it would help, but thank you. I just need something to take my mind off it... Tea?"

SORRY That was pretty bad, eh? I'VE GOT THE BLOCK!

Eh, well I'll carry on trying...