Arthur felt himself whirl around and he was face to face with Francis, who was still holding his wrists. "Francis," Arthur sighed. "I'm not in the mood."
"You should dance with someone," Francis winked. "Why not with me?"
"Because I don't want your hand straying to my arse like last time," Arthur stated, ripping his hands out of Francis' grip.
"You have to dance with someone," Francis smiled, poking Arthur's nose. "You chose or it's going to be with me."
"I can't dance with anyone," Arthur rolled his eyes. That was mostly because he didn't want to, though…
"And why is that?" Francis raised an eyebrow.
"Because he promised to dance with me," a new voice entered the conversation and both of them looked at him.
"Alfred?" Francis asked before Arthur could.
"Yeah," Alfred nodded. He was dressed fairly well, adorned in blue and purple in a waiter's outfit. "He said he'd dance with me next song. Which is starting right now."
Before he had a chance to say anything, Arthur was pulled onto the dance floor by Alfred as a new song started. They quickly shifted into the proper position to do the dance and they started.
"You know, it's bad form for a King to dance with a servant," Arthur said, but still laughed slightly.
"Well, you're the King, you make the rules," Alfred smiled and Arthur noticed that a lot of people were staring at them. Under normal situations, Arthur would be very embarrassed. But, for some reason, he didn't quite care at that moment.
"I have to say, you've surprised me here," Arthur chuckled.
"With what?" Alfred cocked his head to the side.
"I had no idea you knew how to dance," Arthur shook his head.
"Yeah, well, my brother helped me a lot with that," Alfred shrugged.
"You have a brother?" Arthur asked.
"He has a twin," Ella's voice whispered in Arthur's ear, but he swatted her away with his hand.
"Yeah," Alfred nodded. "He works in the stables and the kitchen, usually. He's the one that makes your tea."
"Is that so?" Arthur smiled. "Thank you, by the way. For saving me from Francis."
"Least I could do," Alfred shrugged. "I saved you from the King of Clubs, too," Alfred winked. "I told his sister where he was when she was looking for him. The chick's obsessed with him."
"How do you know this much?" Arthur asked curiously.
"I've been a servant here for a while," Alfred laughed. "I've looked after all the Royals. And I know his sister stalks him wherever he goes and he's terrified of her."
"Useful information," Arthur nodded. "Thanks again, then, for that."
"Not a problem," Alfred smiled. "My current job is to make sure you're happy."
"Who assigns these things?" Arthur asked.
"The Royals, to be honest," Alfred shrugged. "Your uncle was the one that assigned me to you about a year ago."
"I honestly don't know what everyone sees in him," Arthur shook his head.
"Well, he reminds me a lot of you, actually," Alfred laughed. "He's stubborn, sarcastic, has some really huge ass eyebrows, and loves tea."
"So now you're stereotyping me?" Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe," Alfred smiled. Arthur could tell that the song was about to end, due to the sound of the music in the background, but he honestly didn't want this to end. He felt whole with Alfred around, and he really didn't want to leave.
"My eyebrows aren't that big, are they?" Arthur asked.
"They're massive," Alfred stated and Arthur rolled his eyes.
"I was almost sure that you were the only person in the world that hadn't noticed them," Arthur shook his head.
"Hey, it's not like I don't like 'em," Alfred laughed. "I love how they take up half your face."
"Really?" Arthur felt a small blush rise in his face. Why was he blushing?
"Totally," Alfred nodded.
Arthur opened his mouth to say something, but at that exact moment, that little kid of a Joker ran right into the back of Alfred's legs, shoving him over, laughing the whole time. Just as the song ended and everyone was bowing to their partners, Alfred and Arthur crashed onto the ground. Alfred caught himself on his hands and knees luckily, but not so luckily, he had a hand and leg on either side of Arthur, who was flat on his back underneath him.
"That damn brat…" Arthur muttered underneath his breath as Alfred quickly scrambled to stand up. He held out a hand for Arthur to take, which he did. At the moment their skin made contact, Arthur was practically transported to a different world. He was very weak, in an immense amount of pain, he supposed. He could barely see, barely breathe. But he could tell someone was carrying him.
When Arthur came back to the ballroom, he was pressed up against Alfred's chest. Arthur stepped back and saw that Alfred was shaking his head, like he was just coming back from zoning out.
"I'll be right back," Arthur shook his head and followed after the little Joker.
"A-Arthur?" Alfred called after him, but Arthur easily ignored him.
He bolted after the little Joker and easily caught up with him outside of the dining room, snatching him in his arms.
"There you are, you little wanker," Arthur snapped.
"Hey! Jerk!" the kid squirmed. "I can't teleport yet, idiot!"
"Too bad," Arthur huffed. "What the hell do you think you're doing? You just embarrassed me in front of everyone!"
"I was helping," the kid huffed.
"Really, Peter?" Gilbert sighed, his voice coming from above them. Arthur glanced up and saw Gilbert floating above their heads.
"What are you helping?" Arthur snapped at the kid, Peter.
"The fairies can work on that," Gilbert rolled his eyes and Arthur let go of Peter.
"What are you talking about?" Arthur asked Gilbert.
"You already know too much," Gilbert righted himself on the ground. "Can't tell you anymore, sorry."
"Maybe you could tell me what these visions I keep seeing when I touch Alfred are," Arthur tried.
"You're getting those?" Gilbert asked.
"Like I'd tell you what they mean, jerk," Peter stuck his tongue out at Arthur.
"I'm not the one going around embarrassing people in their own homes," Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Well, you're gonna have to figure out those visions by yourself," Gilbert patted him on the back. "Don't worry, though, you'll get it pretty soon."
"Right," Arthur shook his head as Gilbert grabbed Peter's hand and they disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Arthur quickly turned around and started back to the party. Soon after he stepped back in, he was confronted yet again by Ivan, who was sending shivers down his spine…yet again.
Ivan looked like he was about to say something, but Arthur was quickly jerked away by a pair of hands on his arm.
"There you are," Alfred said protectively, quickly walking them away from Ivan. "Where did you go?"
"Don't worry about it," Arthur shook his head. "Y-You should get back to work."
"Right," Alfred said begrudgingly and started back towards the food table. Arthur quickly walked over to where Francis was talking to the Royalty of Hearts, where he would be most likely safe from Ivan.
The rest of the dance went without incident. Arthur danced with the Queens, except for Kiku, who didn't seem like he was in the mood. And Arthur was even forced to dance with Francis, only because he feared that leaving his side meant he would have to have another alone chat with Ivan.
Personally, he just wanted to leave the party, but he had to wait until practically everyone left before he could. As Francis started leading him out the door, Arthur could see Alfred out of the corner of his eye, cleaning up the food table, but looking back at Arthur, too.
Thankfully, Francis left Arthur alone after they got to Arthur's room, so Arthur was able to just fall face-first on his bed the second he got inside. He had never had to work that hard at a party before. It was usually just one or two people coming up to him because he was the nephew of the King of Spades. But this was completely different. He was pretty sure he had a conversation with everyone and all eyes were on him. Especially after that fall he had with Alfred…
And then there was the Jokers and Ivan…
"Hey Arthur," Ella's voice said happily and Arthur heard her hiccup. Arthur lifted up his head to look at the fairy, who was standing on his bed right in front of his face. "Awesome party, right?"
"Don't tell me you drank alcohol," Arthur groaned.
"A little," Ella giggled. Her cheeks were rosy and she was stumbling to stand up right, even with her wings. "But I saw this hot fairy, so that totally makes up for it. And those Jokers weren't bad looking either. Well…the albino one was…"
"How much did you drink?" Arthur gaped at her, sitting upright.
"Um… a lot…" Ella stumbled onto her back. "But, dude, that vision thing you had with Alfred, so romantic! I approve!"
"Wait, you know what those are?" Arthur asked.
"That'll look so cute when that happens," Ella giggled. "It's a shame it has to happen that way, though…"
"Wait, what are they?" Arthur asked.
"You and Alfie, duh!" Ella laughed.
"Arthur?" Arthur heard a knock at the door and looked up from Ella, dangling his feet over the edge of the bed.
"Yeah?" Arthur called back and the voice took that as their cue to come in. Alfred stepped in.
"You seemed a little stressed back at the party," Alfred mumbled, messing with something behind his back. He started walking towards the desk.
"Yes, well, it wasn't my idea of fun," Arthur rolled his eyes. He could barely see Ella's horrible flying as she went up to investigate what was behind Alfred's back. When she got there, she burst out laughing.
"Just figured I could cheer you up," Alfred shrugged, smiling widely.
"You should start that sentence with an I," Arthur blurted out and mentally rolled his eyes.
"Here, I stole it out of the kitchen," Alfred said and placed a bottle filled with amber liquid on the table.
"You really brought me rum?" Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?" Alfred smiled sweetly. "I heard it's supposed to help you forget about your problems."
"And I also have to go to a meeting tomorrow about my coronation," Arthur sighed, standing up. "I can't go to that hung over."
"Sorry, it was a bad idea," Alfred rubbed the back of his head.
"Thank you for the effort, though, lad," Arthur nodded towards him. "I do think sleep will be my best option, though."
"Worth a shot, right?" Alfred laughed and left the room.
"Sweet, he left the rum," Ella leaned against the bottle on the desk.
"You're not drinking anymore," Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Then you drink, stuffy," Ella stuck her tongue out at him.
"I already told Alfred, I have a meeting tomorrow," Arthur rolled his eyes.
"You don't have to be drunk for that!" Ella laughed. "You'll feel fine in the morning if you just have a few sips." She shoved the drink towards Arthur. In the process, though, it fell off the table. Arthur swiftly caught it so it didn't shatter on the ground.
"You should be more careful," Arthur sighed. "And you should get to sleep."
"I'll sleep," Ella said. "After you take a sip."
"I'm not going to drink," Arthur snapped.
"Life's funner if ya take a shot," Ella slurred.
"I already have to correct Alfred, do I have to correct you, too?" Arthur sighed.
"I ain't gonna stop 'til ya take a shot and drink yer heart out," Ella teased.
"Good Lord, you're hopeless," Arthur glanced down at the bottle. "One sip, and it's off to bed with you."
"Cross my heart," Ella did a crossing motion over her heart, on the wrong side, Arthur might add.
"Fine," Arthur pulled off the cork in the rum and brought the bottle to his lips. It had been a while since he had had the stuff, he forgot what it tasted like. His family and even the servants kept the stuff away from him, but Arthur had no clue why. Then again, he could never remember what happened when he had some alcohol…
When Arthur felt the liquid make its way into his mouth, though, he felt something tip the other end of the bottle more so that a lot more of the rum made it in than he expected. He swallowed it all, burning his throat slightly.
"What the hell?" Arthur slurred, pulling the bottle away.
"I'm just helping you unwind," Ella laughed, landing precariously on Arthur's shoulder.
"You're an idiot," Arthur shook his head, but he looked at the bottle longingly. "I'll admit, though, I do miss this stuff…"
He brought the bottle to his lips again, taking a long swig.
Oh, Ella...I love writing her for some reason... And Alfred's gotta be the one to come up with the idea of releaving stress wit rum. This may be Arthur's chance to relax. He needs it after Francis, Ivan, Gilbert, Peter, and all of his work, right? But we'll just have to see what happens while he's "under the influence."
Please review! A lot more of you have been doing it as I continue this story and it's making me pretty happy! Every review is like a warm, fluffy hug!
I don't and never will own Hetalia.