A/N: GUYS, I LIVE! I'm sorry for taking idk-how-many-months off from writing, BUT THE CONTINUATION IS FINALLY HERE. I'm so excited! Yes, there is a time skip, and I'm writing in a 2015 setting lol. Please ignore the year all you want. ENJOY!
London, 2015 Spring
A knock broke through Arthur's sleep and he sluggishly opened his eyes, only to close them back again when the brightness blinded him. Much slower this time, he opened them again and blinked repeatedly to get his eyes to adjust faster.
The knock came again, and Arthur sat up straight on his seat, realizing that he had fallen asleep at the back porch, his embroidery limp on his lap. He picked it up and placed it on the table in front of him where his tea had already gone cold.
As the knock came a third time, Arthur finally stood up and walked back into the house, through the dining room and straight towards the front door. He unlocked it and opened it up, blinking in surprise at the sight of his unexpected guest. "Ivan!"
Ivan was smiling at him his unchanging innocent and friendly smile, only looking to be a little apologetic this time. "I apologize for the unannounced visit, Arthur. Were you occupied?"
"No. No, I wasn't." Arthur replied, stepping aside and gesturing for the much larger man to enter. "You just surprised me, is all. I had actually dozed off in the back."
"Ah, but the weather is so beautiful, it's not a surprise." Ivan remarked, entering and removing his shoes. The weather had become much warmer but Ivan still wore a scarf around his neck that he didn't seem to be planning to remove even indoors. "It's been awhile since I last came here. Twenty years or so, da?"
Arthur nodded, replying, "Yes, it really has been awhile." He led Ivan into the house but stopped by the hallway. "Would you rather stay indoors or should we go to the back?"
Ivan brightened up at the idea. "I'd love to see your garden, Arthur. You have the most beautiful flowers, especially now that it's spring!"
Arthur smiled at the compliment and they headed for the back porch. "Thank you, Ivan. Would you like some tea?" He asked as they got out and approached the circular table surrounded by four single couches. He picked up his teapot and teacup, and put it on the tray to bring back to the kitchen.
"No, thank you. I'd like some vodka with blood on the side, though." Ivan replied, sitting down on one of the couches and looking at Arthur's well-tended garden with newly bloomed flowers.
Arthur just nodded, wondering if he had vodka. "I'll be right back." He headed back inside the house with the tray, and began searching his kitchen cupboards for vodka.
Minutes later, Arthur sat down on a couch opposite Ivan with a newly brewed tea in front of him, and glasses of vodka and blood in front of Ivan. Thankfully, he had restocked on his supply of liquor and found a bottle of vodka collecting dusts at the corner of one of his cupboards. He also served some biscuits that Francis had made him.
"So," Arthur started after a moment of just watching the flowers in peaceful silence, and drinking their drinks. "What brought you here, Ivan?"
Ivan tore his gaze away from the flowers to look at Arthur, his smile still in place. "I just wanted to visit you. I've been wanting to since I heard that you've returned three years ago. But I have been rather busy and only found the time now. It's such a good opportunity right now as well since I also have some good news to share." He brightened up some more at the mention of good news.
Arthur looked at him with just the right amount of interest and curiosity. "What is it?"
Ivan's smile broadened but it was warm. A little bit of pink had even climbed to his cheeks. "We're getting married this winter."
Arthur didn't even bother to hide his surprise, his eyes wide. "Natalia gave her blessing?"
A sigh escaped Ivan as he briefly closed his eyes. "Why is that the first question that people ask?"
"Well." Arthur smiled sheepishly. "Natalia's the very reason you haven't married sooner. You would probably already have centuries ago, if not for her. Especially because, of the council, you're the most eligible to marriage."
Ivan shrugged. "I guess you have a point." Then his smile returned and he fidgeted with his glass of vodka. "But I'm glad I didn't rush into marriage. Then I probably wouldn't be marrying him."
Arthur stared at the rare genuine smile across Ivan's lips, and couldn't help but also smile. His suspicions slightly dissipated, relieved that the marriage seemed sincere. "Congratulations, Ivan. I'm happy for the both of you."
"As I am, Arthur." Ivan replied, his expression soft and giddy. He looked almost childlike. "I couldn't wait until the summer assembly to make the announcement. I've decided to give everyone a visit instead. Is Francis in the area?"
Arthur nodded. "He arrived just a few days ago from Paris."
"Wonderful!" Ivan exclaimed. "And after visiting him, I'll go see Deiderich. We plan to have our engagement party right after the assembly. Invitations shall be delivered soon. We can't quiet decide where to hold it."
"And the wedding?" Arthur inquired. "When will it be?"
"Right after the New Year. We also haven't decided yet where it should be." Ivan's smile darkened a little, his amethyst eyes glinting. "The next year will be a very good year, Arthur. A new year indeed."
Arthur was holding his teacup halfway to his mouth for a drink, but he lowered it back to the saucer on his other hand, and narrowed his green eyes at Ivan. But he didn't say anything.
"It'll be a new year." Ivan continued. "You wouldn't be the strongest anymore. You haven't been for awhile now and the people will finally see that. Adam is dead," Arthur's grip on his teacup tightened and his jaws clenched. "And so is your glory. The throne and the crown will be mine."
Arthur glared at the Russian venomously. "Ivan, if you're just using―"
"I am not." Ivan quickly interrupted, his voice serious. "I am not using him, Arthur. We truly care for each other. I've just been lucky enough to have found company in a fellow council member."
But Arthur continued to glare at him. He should've known better than to think that Ivan only really wanted to share the good news of his marriage. Of course he had other agendas. "What are you planning to do?"
Ivan glanced at the flowers of Arthur's garden, watching them dance with the wind, before he turned back to his host, his earlier sincere and warm smile now turned into a malicious, evil grin. "Destruction."
London, 2015 Summer
The puddles on the sidewalk splashed as Alfred stepped on them childishly, getting his already wet shoes and jeans even wetter. The streets were wet, the air damp from the rain that had just let up, and he was drenched from head to toe, having no umbrella or raincoat when the rain had started. He wasn't expecting it anyway since it was supposed to be summer.
After a few more minutes of walking and hopping, he arrived at the house and half-ran to it. He pulled out his keys and opened the front door, entered, then stopped dead with a dilemma.
"Uh, anybody home?" He called out loudly as he stayed rooted on the foyer, making a small puddle underneath him as droplets of water dripped from him.
Footsteps came pounding from the stairs and Gilbert showed up, stopping once he got a look at Alfred. He smirked before he headed to a hallway and Alfred heard him opening a door. Hopefully the closet door. After a few seconds, Gilbert reappeared and tossed a towel at him.
"Thanks, Gil." Alfred said when he caught the towel. He draped it over his head and began stripping. "Where's everybody?"
"Out on business." Gilbert replied with a shrug. "Hurry up and go change. We're going out." Before Alfred could ask to where, he already walked away and into the kitchen.
Alfred just continued wiping himself and made sure that he wouldn't be dripping as he made his way to the laundry room to dump his wet clothes. After that, he went up to his room and changed.
When he went back down, he found Gilbert chugging down a mug of beer. He went to get a glass of water for himself and drank it down. "Where are we going?" He asked after they've emptied their glasses and put it on the sink.
"Visiting a friend of mine." Gilbert answered and they went to the garage. They pulled out their respective motorcycles: a black Ducati for Gilbert, and a black Harley for Alfred.
"You have a friend here?" Alfred asked with surprise as they put on their helmets.
Gilbert snorted and they mounted their motorcycles. "Of course I have friends here. The awesome me has friends everywhere." They put their keys in the ignition and let their engines roar.
"Are your friends hunters too?"
"You'll see."
They drove out of the driveway and Alfred followed after Gilbert. They got out into the busy streets until they reached an area where Alfred wasn't familiar anymore and farther into the more secluded parts of the city. After a very long drive, they entered a quiet neighborhood with houses far apart from one another. They drove past a couple big houses until they reached an average-sized one, and stopped in front of its driveway.
The two parked their motorcycles and walked up to the house's front door. Gilbert knocked loudly and they waited, Alfred anticipating to meet a friend of Gilbert's. He wondered what sort of person or people they were because Gilbert had never introduced a friend to the family before.
Seconds later, they heard footsteps against tiled floors from the inside then the sound of the door being unlocked. It swung open and revealed Gilbert's friend, making Alfred's eyes turn wide and his mouth hang open in shock.
"Franny!" Gilbert exclaimed cheerfully, his red eyes gleaming.
Francis looked at Gilbert with wide eyes and an open mouth, then he took in a breath, his hand flying to his chest, "Mon Dieu, is that you, Gilbert?"
"The one and only." Gilbert grinned, spreading his arms out.
Delight and happiness bloomed on Francis' features and he flung himself to Gilbert, squeezing him in a tight hug. "Oh Gilbert, I've missed you!" He exclaimed and pulled back, taking Gilbert's face in between his hands and showering him with kisses on the cheeks and forehead and eyes and nose.
Gilbert laughed merrily and gently pushed Francis away to stop the rain of kisses. "Franny, Franny, it's good to see you too. Can we come in first?"
"Oh, we must commemorate this day! In the bedroom!"
Gilbert groaned. "Ugh, Fran, you haven't changed at all."
Francis grinned at him and then his eyes flickered to Alfred. His expression morphed into surprise once more. "Alfred!"
Alfred smiled awkwardly, feeling confused because, apparently, Gilbert knew Francis. "Uh, hey Francis. Long time no see..?"
Francis ran his eyes all over Alfred's form then back and again. "Mon Dieu, you've grown! And what of that hindrance over your eyes?"
"Yeah, well, I'm twenty now." Alfred reflexively brought up a hand to touch his glasses, and smiled. "My eyesight kinda deteriorated."
The Frenchman looked at him and Gilbert before stepping aside. "Come on in. We can catch up while we have some wine and snacks."
They all went inside and Francis led them to the living room. Gilbert and Alfred sat down while Francis stayed standing. "Beer for you, Gilbert?" He asked. Gilbert nodded and they grinned at one another. "But I don't have any, so I'll give you wine." Gilbert's smile fell and he grumbled.
Francis turned to Alfred and offered, "Lemonade?"
Still feeling rather awkward and the shock still lingering, Alfred could only smile and nod.
As soon as Francis left for the kitchen, Alfred turned to Gilbert and demanded, "How do you know Francis?"
Gilbert casually leaned back against the couch and waved a hand dismissively. "We're childhood friends, as with Arthur and your father, Adam."
"So you knew Arthur all this time?" Alfred asked, shocked. Gilbert had never really told of his relations with the vampires and the society itself, but Alfred assumed he'd have some bad experiences from what Elizaveta had told him. Not that she knew a lot.
"Yup." Gilbert answered.
"And you knew that they're here?"
"I assumed that they would be. Where else would they go? Besides, something's come up so I was sure they'd be here."
Alfred glared at Gilbert. "And yet you never told us?"
Gilbert shot him a look that asked, "Are you stupid?" before replying, "Why would I tell, Al? Arthur's my childhood friend; I wouldn't let him get killed. And I trust him more than I trust your lying grandparents. They don't actually know the whole story and that's one reason why we're here."
Alfred didn't get the chance to ask Gilbert further about the subject because Francis came back with a tray of drinks and food. He put them down the table and placed a plate of something Alfred couldn't tell what in front of him and Gilbert. Alfred eyed it eagerly, his mouth slightly watering just at the sight of it. He missed eating Francis' food among other things, and he was excited to get his tongue reacquainted with the taste of heaven. He's convinced no one else could make food as delicious as Francis could.
Francis passed Gilbert a glass of wine probably mixed with blood, and Alfred his lemonade. He had his own glass of wine and blood as he sat down on a single couch and looked at his guests. Alfred quickly reached out a hand and took a piece of the food. He bit into it and nearly moaned at the taste. Francis' food really was the best.
Seeing Alfred eat, Francis smirked at him but didn't comment. "Explain this to me." He said simply to Gilbert, gesturing at Alfred.
Gilbert took a sip of his wine and his face scrunched up with disgust. He put the glass down on the table and just grabbed a piece of the food, eating it. "Wow, this is good." He remarked, eyeing the food appreciatively.
"Merci, mon ami." Francis replied, smiling. "However, I am waiting."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Gilbert said and swallowed. "I met Alfred because I've been staying with his grandparents and Matthew. Old Fritz knew his grandparents and they asked him for help in search for Arthur. I didn't tell them of my relationship to you guys, of course. But old Fritz died and I had nowhere else to go. Besides, they needed help raising Matthew."
Francis closed his eyes and rubbed at his temple. "So you've been with the hunters keen on killing Arthur this whole time."
Gilbert shrugged. "Basically."
Francis let out a sigh and turned to Alfred. He raked his eyes over Alfred's person again then smirked. "You grew up well, mon cher. But you look rather surprised. I've told you about Gilbert before, haven't I? A half-blood childhood friend of Arthur, Adam, and myself."
Alfred tried to recall of a time Francis had told him about that, and scratched at his cheek sheepishly. "I forgot about that."
"So then, what are you lot doing here in London?" Francis asked, looking back at Gilbert.
"Oh, the usual. Searching for Arthur." Gilbert replied nonchalantly, getting another piece of food and stuffing his mouth with it. He must've noticed Alfred had already taken his second piece and didn't want to eat less than him.
Francis rolled his eyes. "Merde, why won't you just leave Arthur alone? Those hunters should just get over it already!"
Alfred stilled from his eating and glared at Francis. "We can't just get over it! Arthur killed my mother!"
Francis just gave him a pointed look but didn't say anything.
"But that's not why I've finally decided to return to this pureblood-infested place, Franny." Gilbert said, as he finished his second piece and made a grab for a third. Alfred beat him to it. "I have no intention of helping the hunters kill our precious Arthur. Not at all. Then it'd just be you and me and that'd just be depressing."
This time, Alfred directed his glare at Gilbert. "You traitor!"
"I've been with Arthur longer than I have with your family, Alfie, get over it." Gilbert retorted. "Your family is lying about the whole story anyway. I'd much prefer to hear everything from Arthur." He smirked. "Or rather, see."
Francis suddenly frowned and regarded Gilbert suspiciously. "Gilbert, cher, you didn't…"
Gilbert grinned at him and shrugged innocently. "I didn't see everything, Fran."
Alfred looked between the two of them with a confused frown. "What are you two talking about? Gilbert, what do you mean my family is lying?"
"And this is the other reason I showed up to you, Fran." Gilbert continued, ignoring Alfred's inquiry. "I want Alfred's ability activated. And Mattie's too."
"Ability? What ability?" Alfred asked, even more confused now. He had never heard that vampires had abilities. He thought that they only had super strength and sharper senses. That's what Arthur told him.
The two continued to ignore him though. "So he may what? Use them against Arthur and kill him?" Francis snorted.
Gilbert's expression suddenly turned serious, and he replied grimly. "No. You know why."
Alfred was completely lost to their conversation now and he just threw his arms up in exasperation, deciding to ignore them too. He turned his focus on his food and lemonade, frowning at his drink with frustration because the two had gone into their own world.
"Arthur would become the least of their worries when that time comes, Franny." Gilbert continued. "And you know you and Arthur wouldn't be able to do anything much if that happens. We need all the strength we have."
Francis seemed to think about it for a second before he replied, "I'm not exactly opposed to―"
"That's a lie." Gilbert interrupted. "That's a lie and we all know that we can't let it happen."
Francis gave him a glare but then he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Fine. But I won't do the activation. I believe that's Arthur's responsibility."
"First things first," Alfred interjected, still annoyed and frustrated that he didn't understand a thing that the two were talking about. "What ability are we fucking talking about?"
Finally, Francis and Gilbert remembered that he was present in the room, and looked at him. "An ability, garçon, is exactly that. An ability." Francis so helpfully explained.
"I can't believe Arthur didn't tell you about it." Gilbert snickered. "It's like the awesomest and coolest thing about being a vampire. Useful, too."
"Ah, Arthur wanted him to be as less involved in our society as possible. He's a half-blood, after all."
"Fucking old-fashioned, narrow-minded, ancient bastards."
Alfred loudly sighed with impatience. "You guys keep on getting sidetracked! Just tell me about this fucking ability thing already!"
"Such distasteful language…"
"Francis!"
"Oui, oui." Francis smirked at him, and so did Gilbert. The bastards. "An ability, cher, is something we purebloods posses." Francis started to explain. "Our parents activate the ability during our coming-of-age ceremony by giving us their blood to drink. I already told you this before, and this is the first time we drink a pureblood's… well, blood."
"Ability varies from family to family." Gilbert continued. "And because we half-bloods still have a pureblood's blood in us, we still get the ability. My ability is, of course, the same as my father's since he's the vampire."
Alfred's eyes were wide with excitement and curiosity now, knowing that he had an ability much like a superhero or something. "I have an ability?" He asked in confirmation, and received a nod. He pushed away the urge to squeal and jump on the couch, and distracted himself with the question, "What is it?"
"Well, you'll know when it's activated, won't you?" Francis said.
"Wait until it's activated, Alfie." Gilbert added. "It won't be as exciting if we tell you."
Alfred groaned and pouted at the two. He hated how much they seemed to like teasing him. "Fine. What are your abilities?"
Gilbert and Francis looked at one another then grinned. Alfred suddenly felt like he didn't want to know after all. "Here, we'll show you."
Alfred watched Gilbert cautiously as the Prussian edged closer to him, and raised a hand to put on top of his head. He waited anxiously for something to happen, but when nothing did, he looked at Gilbert with confusion.
Gilbert grinned at him. "Watch this."
It felt like Alfred's consciousness was sucked right out of him and he was suddenly watching what seemed to be like a movie. Except, he knew the actors personally in this one.
Francis quickly walked into the house and went straight into the living room. He found Arthur there, sitting on the couch, his face buried in his hands and his body wracking with sobs. He had never seen Arthur cry this hard before, even when the Englishman had informed him of Adam and Martha's death. It pained him to see his friend so weak and fragile like this, and he decided that he hated it.
He walked to Arthur and held unto the Englishman's wrists, trying to pull his hands away from his face.
Arthur removed his hands then looked up at Francis, and he tried to pull himself together, but the tears wouldn't stop and the sobs kept on coming. He was such a pitiful sight, and Francis hated it. "Francis." Arthur choked out in between sobs. "Francis, he… Alfred…"
"I know, cher." Francis soothed, wishing he could leave Arthur be to cry. "I know. And that's why we must leave. The hunters will know and they'll be here."
"I've never…" Arthur tried saying, but a sob stopped him. He didn't seem to be listening to Francis. "I didn't… Martha… but, Adam…" He couldn't even form any coherent sentences because he was crying too hard.
Francis realized that this must've been all the accumulated pain that Arthur had been trying to lock away. He never did shed tears when Adam and Martha died, and he must've held himself back all these years. So now, that pain, the guilt, the loss, everything were suddenly coming out now.
Unable to stop himself, Francis pulled Arthur into a hug and let him cry into his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Arthur. I'm so sorry. You have been holding back for so long. Let it all out."
Just as suddenly, Alfred felt himself being pulled away from the scene, and after a confusing spiral of darkness, his eyes snapped open. He looked around him and found himself in an unfamiliar house, with Gilbert sitting right beside him, and Francis adjacent to them. He blinked several times blankly. "Wha- what…"
"That's my ability." Gilbert stated and Alfred looked at him confusedly.
He thought back to what he saw, and although everything was suddenly so blurry in his mind, he clearly remembered the feelings. The painful ache in his chest, the sadness, the grief, the pity. There was also the disbelief of seeing Arthur crying. What the hell was that?
"What did he show you?" Francis asked, and Alfred snapped out of his daze. He must've had a stupid face on because Francis repeated his question, "What did he show you?"
"Uh…" Alfred blinked a few times again to get his head clearer. "Um… Arthur was crying. Like, a lot. He was sobbing so hard he couldn't even speak properly."
Francis shot Gilbert a venomous glare that Alfred didn't know the Frenchman was even capable of.
Gilbert winced. "Sorry, Fran. I thought he had to know."
"What was that?" Alfred asked, feeling so utterly confused from what just happened.
"That, mon cher," Francis turned back to Alfred, his expression still quiet dark. "Was my memory. Gilbert has the ability to look into someone's memories, and then pass the memories to someone else. Just by his touch."
"Wait." Alfred's eyes widened, and he stared at Francis with shock. "So that really happened? Arthur really cried that hard?"
Francis looked like this was the last thing he wanted to talk about, but he still responded. "Yes, in fact, that happened right after you left him." Alfred could clearly hear the bitterness in Francis' voice, and a pang of guilt hit him. Francis cleared his throat. "So, that's how abilities work, Alfred. Mine is much different but I'm afraid I can't give you a demonstration."
Gilbert rolled his eyes at Francis but didn't comment. He just turned to Alfred. "And because Franny is being a bitch, we have to go to Arthur and beg his majesty to do it."
Alfred's brows shot up in surprise, his heart skipping a beat. "You know where Arthur is?" He asked a little breathlessly. He had not seen Arthur in almost three years.
"Duh. How many times should I tell you that we're childhood friends?"
But then Alfred's expression turned into a frown and he glared at Gilbert. "Yet all this time you pretended you didn't know anything?"
"Again, we're childhood friends." Gilbert answered simply. "And because I don't believe your grandparents' crap, and because I couldn't get everything from Franny's memories, we will just have to go and see Arthur."
"You're bringing Alfred over to his den?" Francis asked, all calm and composed now without a hint of his anger just a few minutes ago.
Gilbert grinned at him. "Don't worry, Fran, I won't let Alfred here kill Arthur. We can't really have him dead now, nope. He's the best bet we have to stop that at the moment."
Francis smirked. "Oh, oui, you'd better make sure Arthur doesn't end up dead. Or I won't even try to stop anything from happening at all."
Alfred sighed exasperatedly at them. "There you guys go again."
A/N: Gilbert IS Prussian since he's born at the time when Prussia still existed. And yes, him and Ludwig aren't brothers in this. They may or may not be related though...
