The reputation that had always trailed him was 'innocent.' Things like shallow, airheaded, childish. The other countries always seemed to ignore how dangerously cruel he could really be. They had a few tastes of his inner malevolence, whether it be the bombings in WWII, or the Cold War, the prison camps he sent Japanese families into that were only slightly better than nazi camps... Yet nobody understood. Nobody could see far enough past his facade to realise Alfred Jones truly was an evil mastermind. But that wasn't what he planned; he just wanted to be the hero.


Blue eyes were locked on the second hand. It jumped, every movement taking him closer. The inauguration ceremony would be in seven minutes. Seven minutes. The small ticking a of the clock were louder than any of his thoughts, face grim as if he was facing a death sentence.

There was a vibration from his pocket, but he ignored it as he had the four times before. Arthur should not be calling him before this event. He needed his bearings straight, he needed everything utterly correct and he knew hearing that British voice he so longed for would set his emotions out of balance.

Tick. Five minutes.

'Get up,' he commanded himself, 'go make sure everything is ready. You're about to be sworn into office. You can't screw this up.'

Still, he had five minutes. So against his own wishes, Alfred's mind began to wander.

Why was he doing this? To take the world into his capable hands and create a total utopia, of course. That would require him taking every country under American control and destroying any that refused to submit.

His mind wandered into forbidden territory, things he hated even imagining.

What if the UK, or more specifically England, wouldn't join him willingly? He would rule by his side for a while, but eventually Alfred would want that land too. Could he bring himself to destroy Arthur? Look into those lifeless eyes and know it was his doing? He would have to, but... Would destroying the only person that could bear to love you be worth the world?

He imagined how it would go down. The US army going in insidiously. Dropping several bombs across the island nation, burning everything they could, executing the people until nothing was left.

And at the very same time, there would be Arthur. Coughing up blood. Every inch of muscle would ache and tears would pour down his face as he slowly faded from existence, the only thing left of him a charred landmass covered with corpses.

The clock struck and men came in to retrieve Alfred. Yet the only thoughts that could fill his mind were of Arthur. What would it be to lose your love?


Arthur had stopped calling once he got on the plane. He had to get to America as soon as possible. Speaking to your boss and becoming your boss were far from the same. And him conveniently offing himself? That was severe. He wouldn't tell the media, but he had to confront Alfred on this. Murder is no game.

He felt the plane jolt around him as they took flight. Great. Maybe he could stop this 'American Empire' nonsense once and for all.
And who better than a former pirate to do the silencing?


Thanks for all the reviews, and to the new followers, HI! As implied there will be smut in the next chapter, so the rating is going to change. And sorry this took so long, it's just that school has been draining the life out of me...
I'll try to post faster next time. Also, can anyone guess what the absence of dialogue in this chapter symbolises?~
Thanks for reading!
~S&S