Okay, I've been noticing all the follows this story has gotten, despite the fact that it's got a big "completed" label on it. And so instead of doing homework I wrote you guys a thing. I tried to make it longer as well, so this is for all the people who reviewed. If you guys want more oneshots in this universe, I'd be happy to write them, but I'm simply out of ideas. If you have any, go ahead and send them to me in reviews, and I'll see what I can do ;)
((also tell me if you catch the itty bitty reference to the Davie update))
Disclaimer: DO NOT OWN DO NOT OWN DO NOT OWN
The palace gardens were beautiful. The kingdom of Spades was well known for possessing lush, green lands, rolling hills, and bright blue skies – when it wasn't raining, of course. The palace was surrounded, therefore, by a stunning garden that reflected the natural beauty of the countryside. Flowers blossomed in all colours, and paths weaved through the tall, healthy hedges. Many parties thrown by the country's rulers took place in the garden, as its beauty outdid any mere ballroom in any surrounding countries. Especially, as Alfred always assured himself, the kingdom of Clubs.
Now, it wasn't that there was anything wrong with Clubs architecture. In fact, it was just as magnificent as any other kingdom's. Alfred simply had a small feud with the king. Ivan Braginsky and Alfred were not quite compatible, and though they needed to be diplomatic for diplomacy's sake, neither was happy about it. Still, they smiled widely and falsely at each other, contenting themselves in discreetly insulting each other's culture.
Still, nobody, not even the king of Clubs, could say that the Spades Royal Gardens were anything short of mystical. Alfred himself tried to spend as much time there as he could, just sitting and enjoying his few moments of leisure. However, the garden also proved to be a wonderful place for thinking things over, which was how Alfred found himself wandering the path in the hedges.
His queen's coronation was in only a few days, but he hadn't seen hide nor hair of him since their first, fateful meeting in the dungeons. Alfred was second-guessing himself, unsure if this was the right course of action to take. He knew that the clock was all-knowing, and that he would most certainly be wrong if he decided to go against its wishes. Still, he had a hard time wrapping his head around just how the selfish, greedy Arthur Kirkland was supposed to rule for the good of the people.
Completely engaged in his internal debate, he wove through the winding paths of the maze, having walked to the middle of the garden so many times that he could probably do it in his sleep. However, with just one green wall between him and the center, Alfred froze, hearing something out of place. A voice, humming an indiscernible tune.
Wary, and fully snapped out of his thoughts, Alfred inched towards the opening in the hedge, wondering who else could have found their way to the centre. A man sat at one of the tables, laughing quietly and mumbling a bit, with his back turned towards Alfred. Decked out in elaborate blue clothing, he could only be a nobleman.
"…Kirkland?" Alfred asked, unsure. Could this be the prisoner he had seen just a few weeks before?
The man jerked, snapped out of his reverie, and whipped around to face Alfred. He looked startled for a moment, but upon recognizing the king, calmed considerably. Narrowing his eyes, annoyed at being disturbed, he snapped, "Shouldn't you be solving the world's problems? I'm sure there are more peasants whose families are dying or some other nonsense. Why don't you go and attend to their issues and leave me be?"
Alfred clenched his teeth, trying to stay calm, if only for poor Yao's sake. The jack would certainly be having a rough time if the king and queen remained to be on such sour terms. "Shouldn't you be preparing for your ascension to the throne? I heard that your coronation was in a few days. Is that correct?" he asked sarcastically. Of course he knew the coronation day, Alfred had set the date himself. Still, he couldn't resist the slightest bit of conflict with this bastard, Yao be damned.
Arthur sneered, turning back around. "Of course it's in a few days. Why else do you think I'm here? Because mean old Captain Kirkland has a secret soft spot for petunias?" he spat back. Arthur did, in fact, have a soft spot for petunias, but that wasn't the point.
"Well, of course. Who doesn't adore petunias?" Alfred said, refusing to take the bait. "While I personally prefer forget-me-nots, I do still appreciate petunias. I suppose that means we have something in common, don't we, Captain?" he asked, giving a thin smile to the back of Kirkland's head.
Arthur's hand tightened, but he otherwise betrayed no sign of his growing frustration. He stared coolly ahead, back straight, and no onlooker would mistake him for anything but a deadly pirate captain. "I suppose we do, your majesty. It's a relief to know that, despite our differences, we at least have a bond forged in a mutual love for petunias. Hopefully, this bond will prove strong enough that don't accidentally rip each other's heads off while trying to rule a country." His voice was conversational, his tone perfectly steady, making the sarcasm untraceable if one didn't take his words into account.
"I'm sure it will. Besides, we have the best jack in the world by our side. Have you met him? I'm sure the two of you will get along just fine. The old man is prone to talking to himself when he thinks he's alone, just like you were earlier." Alfred mimicked Arthur's attitude, striding over to sit at the table with him. He gave a pleasant smile, which was similar to one he might give King Ivan.
Arthur scowled, not bothering to appear diplomatic. He and Yao had gotten to know each other very well, which Alfred was quite aware of, as Yao had been Arthur's main 'teacher' in etiquette and politics. Needless to say, Arthur had made it very hard for him. "Ah yes, once or twice. However, he hardly appears qualified to be referred to as 'old man.' He's hardly older than myself. He only seems old for you because you're practically a child anyway. Hardly fit for the throne," he muttered as a bitter afterthought. He caught Alfred's eye, and the two shared a brief, but intense, moment. Arthur jerked away after a couple of seconds, carefully looking anywhere but at Alfred.
The king narrowed his eyes. "I've been ruling this country while you've been gallivanting the seas. Tell me, how is that fair?" Alfred mentally apologized to Yao.
Arthur scoffed. "It isn't. Life isn't fair, and it's high time that you grew up and realized that." He stood, spinning on his heel and taking a few steps toward the path that led to the castle. How he effortlessly knew his way through the maze, Alfred didn't know.
Alfred stood as well, having already had reason to distrust the pirate. He had come here to contemplate the likelihood of Kirkland going AWOL, and this meeting had done nothing to reassure him. It had only done the opposite. "Wait!" he called, pleased when Kirkland stopped walking to listen to what he had to say. This disappeared when he panicked, blanking on what he could say. Slowly, he declared, "Life isn't fair. I know that. But I also know that life tends to be better when things even out. Which leads me to my next question; what do you plan on doing?"
Arthur paused for a moment, then slowly turned to face Alfred, a cheeky grin on his face, which dismissed all tension at the drop of a pin. "I plan on ruling, of course. What kind of queen would I be if I left?" he answered, his voice light. He then spun back around, leaving Alfred very bemused, and very alone.
Alfred stood, frozen, long after Arthur left, trying to process the mental whiplash he'd just experienced. After a few minutes, he slumped back down in his chair, laughing a bit, then laughing a bit more. He laughed at the absurdity, and, after he had quieted down, rose to follow his queen. With Arthur by his side, Spades could surely reach a new Golden Age. Perhaps Spades truly had found its queen.
