I do not own Hetalia or these characters, Himaruya has that honor.
Please enjoy.
Six of Spades
Kingdom of Spades: Haven
~Two in the Same~
'I don't want this. I don't want any of this; I just want all of him.'
Alfred thought to himself.
Little did Alfred know that Arthur was thinking the exact same thought.
Their distance was maddening, though they were truly right next to each other.
Arthur laid against Alfred's chest, listening to his heart beat over the loud rush of the river.
This moment brought fond memories of a time when they were both young and unaware of what would take place.
It wasn't long until Yao realized that keeping the boys from each other would be impossible, so he had decided on taking them on breaks during the summer months when everything was just too taxing on them. They were still students and Alfred had really taken a liking to Arthur, so much so that the stubborn Prince refused to do his studies unless he was promised to see Arthur.
He insisted that the boys were friends, even though Yao had not wanted them to meet in the first place.
However, it would be better if Yao could observe them rather than continue to let them meet in secret, so he allowed their friendship.
"One day, I'm going to be something amazing!" The young prince said, raising his wooden sword.
"I'm sure you will." Arthur replied, not tearing away from his magic book.
"Aww, come on Artie! You shouldn't be studying, we're on vacation!"
Alfred whined, slumping his shoulders as he sat in the grass.
"You should be playing with me."
"Just because we're on vacation does not mean I should let my studies slip. I, unlike you, am not royalty.
I need to keep my place here. You can afford to laze about and enjoy your youth, but I cannot."
This was received with a pout and a roll of the eyes.
"You're talking like a grown up again." The young prince said.
"You're only thirteen, not that much older than me, you know."
He reminded the other boy, who was still indignant enough to not keep from his pages.
"Alfred, life isn't all fun and games, we all have our own duties."
Arthur replied, sounding reminiscent of his caretaker Yao.
"I'm sick of duties. I'm sick of rules, I'm sick of everything." Alfred barked back, slicing a blade of grass with his wooden blade.
"I am too." Arthur said softly, marking the page of his text, clasping his book shut as he then drew his attention to Alfred.
"Then why don't we just make a promise to each other today then?"
Alfred suggested, bright eyes meeting Arthur's unsure emeralds.
"A promise? Like what?"
Arthur asked with curiosity in his sparkling eyes that shimmered in the sun like sea glass.
He set the book aside, scrunching his freckled nose.
"A promise that when we're here at this place that there won't be any duties.
We'll just be Alfred and Arthur, the best friends anyone could ever know. Which means…-"
In a fell sweep quick as lightning, Alfred snatched Arthur's book and tossed it into a nearby tree.
"My book! Alfred-!" Arthur yelped, rising to get to it, but the look in Alfred's eyes told him not to worry. Besides, Arthur was a terrible climber and he would have been relying on Alfred's help to retrieve it, there was no point in worrying.
"Deal?"
Alfred looked at him with a fierce determination in his eyes, extending his hand out proudly and true.
Arthur regretfully shook the other's hand, sighing.
"I promise."
"Alfred?" Arthur said softly, catching Alfred's attention as well as his azure eyes.
"You know, I've never forgotten our promise to each other."
"We were both boys then. Really silly boys as a matter of fact." Alfred stated.
"Perhaps you were. I however was focused on scholarly pursuits and had no time for games if I could recall."
"You were such a stick in the mud. Still are actually." Alfred teased, planting a kiss atop of Arthur's head.
"Well not all of us could be carefree Princes frolicking in the meadow." Arthur retorted.
Their friendly banter was welcomed and retrieved a laugh from them both as well.
"I want to make a new promise today."
Alfred brazenly stated, cutting the moment of fond silence between them short.
"A new promise? How so?"
Arthur asked, surprised by the proclamation. Alfred always had such a way with speaking with authority that made shivers go up his spine. Even Alfred's whispered proclamations such as this were enough to coax respect and careful listening.
"A promise built on honesty." Alfred stated.
"Honesty?"
Arthur swallowed the lump in his throat, knowing the statement was directed at him.
"Complete honesty Arthur." Alfred replied, a bit more bite to his words that Arthur caught onto easily. Yes, this statement was directed to Arthur, using reverse psychology or riddles to say what he meant when he was trying to be delicate with situations.
"Alright." Arthur complied with slight uncertainty, waiting to hear what Alfred had yet to propose.
"I'm going to be away for a few days, but when I return we'll go away again.
I've been thinking we need to make time for each other, just us."
Alfred said, taking Arthur's hands into his own, as if to ease the pain.
"Alright?"
'Nothing new here, what more could he mean?'
"Now where does this promise come into play?" Arthur asked, since this was all normal to him thus far.
Alfred shuddered a sigh, taking a moment to phrase his statement properly,
"I don't want you seeing anybody during that time while I'm gone.
All meetings can wait until I'm there. Is that understood?" He asked.
'I see, what you're trying to tell me: not to meet with Francis in your absence.
You won't accept what I'm doing to you as factual, however, you won't have me running off with him.'
"I'll leave Yao to tend with matters of state and diplomacy in my leave, so I'll free up your time."
Alfred added, which only brought a smile to Arthur who knew well what the King meant.
"I understand Alfred."
Arthur replied, smiling to himself since he had planned on ending things to start,
however something about the authority in Alfred's voice rubbed Arthur the wrong way.
He was speaking as a King yet again, not the lover he wished him to always be.
Alfred's eyes widened, shocked at hearing Arthur agreeing to this.
"You mean it? You actually mean this?" The Spade seemed very surprised by Arthur's answer.
"Why yes. If the King of Spades wishes it, I won't meet with anyone during your absence.
I'll just wait for you, just as a good Queen would."
"Oh Arthur, thank you!"
Alfred replied, bringing Arthur into a tight hug one that almost left the smaller man breathless, but his bought of happiness were something Arthur was very much used to. The Spade King wasn't anywhere near tears, but he was very relieved and it was evident in the way he held onto Arthur tightly.
Arthur patted Alfred's back, feeling the other loosen his grip on him.
"There now… it's alright…"
Alfred sighed in relief, nuzzling Arthur's neck affectionately seeking Arthur's warmth.
It was nice to not have to fight for a change in order to get what he wanted.
There wasn't any hearts broken, nor were there any feelings hurt as a result.
Yao was wrong for once and Alfred was set to prove that Arthur could be trusted and that the royal couple deserved each other.
That evening Arthur finished penning a letter, Alfred's kisses on his neck distracting him from it.
"Alfred… just a moment, I'm almost done." Arthur laughed at Alfred's eagerness that was long missed.
"You're really going to make me wait a bit longer?"
Alfred asked through his grin, pressing his warmth against Arthur's back that sent a shudder down his Queen's spine.
"I'm surprised you didn't take advantage of me earlier at the door."
Arthur said in a slightly slower and deeper voice with little shame.
"Trust me; I've been waiting for you for a while. I just hadn't the energy."
Alfred replied with a slight whine at the end.
"Sounds like you're becoming an old man." Arthur teased, taking the opportunity to put the feathered plume aside and cover the ink well up.
The statement caught Alfred off guard, enough so to fluster him.
"No way! Me? Never!"
"Then perhaps you should feel free to remind me of your youthful vigor?"
Arthur turned towards the golden boy and raising an eyebrow in suggestion, eyes half-lidded with desire.
Alfred didn't have to be told twice and was gracious to prove his stamina taking action immediately.
He began trailing kisses down Arthur's neck, pulling at his cerulean robes to reveal more of Arthur's skin with each kiss. Arthur moaned in response, quickly forgetting about the letter as he fell for Alfred's gentle touches that grew more possessive the more blood flowed south.
The evening air was filled with gasps and moans, declarations of love hardly in whisper.
There was no need for their love to be silent, not while they were in a haven of their own, not subject to protocol.
Though it was the last evening of their escape, the past few days did marvels for their relationship.
They were rejuvenated and their bond was much closer, both finally uniting in mind, body and spirit.
Arthur was happier and Alfred felt more confident in their relationship,
enough to let his guard down and continue trusting in him further.
Arthur had also taken this opportunity as a self-reflection, realizing that their relationship would be better off without the adultery and that Alfred truly was the only one he loved and wanted to himself; so much so that he was willing to amend things as quickly as possible.
Under the shroud of night, Arthur eased out of the bed, careful not to let the movement wake Alfred.
Fortunately Alfred was spent from their rigorous activity, one that had Arthur hissing in slight discomfort as he lightly stepped to the desk. He took the folded letter from his journal and inked a few more enchanted scripts. Arthur blew onto the letter, allowing it to take flight and whispering an incantation as if it were a prayer:
"Please, reach him for I wish not to lose what I have. I made a promise to my love after all, one I intend to keep."
Once the letter was out of sight, Arthur gave a content smile and returned to bed, neglecting to shut the window. He curled up next to Alfred, seeking his warmth, receiving a low moan from his laying lover who threw a hand around Arthur by instinct.
As Arthur tried to get to sleep, anxiety refused to allow it to come as he wondered,
'What if it wouldn't get to Francis on time? What if Francis was opposed to the letter?
What if things weren't to change after sending it? What if Alfred would leave him anyways?'
All these thoughts came quickly, only stifled by a calm reassurance that at least he changed things for the better with a single letter.
Kingdom of Diamonds: The Royal Courtyard
Evening was comparably comfortable to the mild day the citizen of the Diamond Kingdom had faced; summer breeze carrying the thick aroma of wild jasmine in the air. It was a beautiful night for stargazing, which the King of the Diamonds appreciated. He loved all things lovely and the stars were bright against the ink colored sky. Francis sipped his red wine slowly, savoring the robust earthy flavor distinctly from his land.
He sat on the terrace that overlooked what seemed as golden streets in the evening glow of lampposts, but something soon caught his attention as it approached him against the flow of wind.
The gilded letter floated to the table, it very obvious that this was the work of a certain Spade magician, even without noticing the seal written upon it.
"What brings about this…?" Francis wondered, unfolding the letter using a basic spell to unlock with a sweep of the hand. The letter fell open, familiar words jumping off the page into the Diamond King's line of sight.
'Francis, we can't go on this way anymore. I don't wish to do this to Alfred any longer!'
Francis raised his eyebrow surprised initially by the urgency of the letter, but then an expression of amusement fell upon on his face.
'Ah, he must have spent holiday with his King.' Francis mused.
At first he almost cast the letter aside, since it sounded so redundant of letters of the past,
however he decided against it as he continued to read on.
'We need to end this for both our sakes.
Though we've known each other for very long, both sharing part of this forbidden relationship,
I believe that we should just dissolve this and lead on separate lives. (Yes)
I need you to know that I won't cast the blame for our relationship solely on you, for we both made our beds in this mess. I just think its best we keep as they should be faithful to our respective partners, rather than another.
As it was with this bond between us that was formed in secrecy,
I'm sure it goes without saying that we will continue to keep it that way.
No one needs to know of what we have done and I intend to keep our conduct as professional as it must be. This is all in the best interest of both parties, please do understand that.
Francis, I've never imagined that things would so escalate, I never imagined that it would bring us to this.
This is my final goodbye to my old ways as they die, as stated in this letter so proud and true.
Thank you for understanding and comprehending, for that's all I needed you to know.
I'll be trying my best, so support me if you can, with this simple request: Never more.
Sincerely, Arthur Kirkland.'
The letter would be threatened to be crumpled and tossed aside, but it simply slipped out of his firm grasp, still within reach as he read it again from afar.
"He says it's finished, but he's said it far too many times before. I must admit the letter does have more of a bite to it than in the past, which I should take into consideration, however… I know him.
I know him well. I know that very soon, he'll submit to his loneliness and when that time comes,
I'll be there waiting for his call, just as always."
Francis emptied these words into the wind, pocketing the letter as he headed to his chambers, leaving the glass behind.
He pushed the doors shut behind him, drawing the curtains so that light would not grace his Queen's sleeping face. She was beautiful; flaxen hair catching the slightest bit of light that entered the darkness, the light shimmering against her pale porcelain skin. The slight flush on her cheeks a sign of her youthful beauty and good health as the Queen of Diamond was known for.
Francis had saved the most beautiful sight for last that was also at his discretion. Before he slipped into his bed with his Queen, he took the moment to brush her hair back, all in favor to adore her angelic face as his mind slipped into soliloquy.
'So tender, so meek and mine to protect… even from myself.
What if Arthur is actually serious about this?
What will become of the relationship between Lily and I?
I'm not sure if I could ever defile her in such a way, even if she insists.'
A/N:
I can't help but sing these the speaking parts or letters out loud!
I blame it on Les Misérables and Wicked on the brain…
I decided to introduce Lily a bit earlier than planned; you'll be seeing more of her as the story progresses.
Also I'm making update weekly instead of simply on the weekend due to classes and life interfering, especially since I'll be working rather soon.
(My poor editor isn't having an easy time with school at the moment either...)
Thank you for your support and please continue to hang in there as the story unfolds, we have a very long way to go.