Kali the personification of Kaliista, along with Lucia the personification of Andalusia and three members of Antonio's crew, slipped silently along the poorly lit streets of Santeria, they stuck close together, as the night was filled with the sounds of the taverns and brothels; laughter, shouting, singing. It all the merry-making seemed out of place somehow after what had happened.
They were after getting even with that English bastard for burning their friend's ship. He would pay a very high price and it would teach him to leave other people's belongings alone. At least that was the plan. But getting revenge on someone like Arthur was easier said than done.
They heard Kirkland's raucous drunken laughter from inside one of the rundown tavern's and froze.
"It's him." Kali said, looking to the rest of her gang. Some were crew members of Toni's ship, others were her friend's from the mainland. There were about five of them in total.
"Let's crush his pretty little blonde head." Diego said, cracking his knuckles. He was a fierce old pirate, who'd been on the sea for longer than he could remember. People let his missing eye and wooden leg fool them into thinking he was harmless. That was usually the last mistake they'd ever make.
"Si! let's do it for Sara, and for Toni!" Pedro, a young pirate said, Adriana peeked through the steamed-up tavern window.
"T-There are a lot of them in there.. he's got a big crew. And he's strong. He can fight with Toni" Aida said, sounding fearful.
"Ya scared!?" Diego accused.
"NO! just.. being realistic." Aida mumbled, meekly.
"Let's just go in- get him while he's drunk." Kali said, striding in, when she suddenly she tripped over something- or someone.
"H-hey!"
She looked found young lad, with sky-blue eyes and golden hair sitting on the edge of the cobbled road, sobbing his heart out.
Kali felt all her hatred slip away from her heart at the sight of him and smiled a gentle smile she spoke in soft southern Spanish accent. "why are you here alone, where are your parents?"
The boy let out a sob, and said. "B-big brother left m-me here while he went to the tavern. Probably to boast about burning the Belle Marie." He said, wiping his eyes on the back of his sleeve. He had a toy solider clutched tight in his hand. "A- And the cabin boy he told to watch over me l-left."
The gang tensed at the mentioning of the burning of the Belle Marie.
"He's England's brat." Diego said, gruffly, his voice low so America couldn't hear. "We should take him, do somethin' nasty."
"No." Kali said, firmly, "That'd just be sinking to England's level. "
She knelt down next to the little boy. "Your America, right? and England's your big brother? Well sounds like England's all over dumping his little brother while he is getting drunk. Well we will look after you until big Hermano is sober."
Alfred looked up at them, fear and hope mingling in his tear-filled eyes.
"But what about getting our own back at that British brat?" Diego said, not even bothering to keep his voice low so Alfred couldn't hear.
"Forget it." Kali said. "Aida's right, we would of been slaughtered."
Diego huffed and turned away, while Alfred continued to cower in fear.
Pedro gave him a reassuring smile. "ah~ hermano told you we were nasty lowlifes who hurt little boys, si?"
Alfred nodded mutely.
"Well, we are not, I promise." Kali said, she held out her hand. After a moment's hesitation, America took it.
The three of them lead Alfred to the Sarission and gave him bowl of warm soup with freshly made rye and a tall glass of milk. He ate it hungrily, as if he hadn't had food in weeks (He'd actually had a big meal a few hours later, what Kali didn't know was Alfred had the appetite of a black hole.)
"Is there any more?" He asked eagerly after he was finished. All traces of tears were gone, and he was smiling brightly.
"No, I think now is time for bed." Kali said. The child pouted, but he looked beyond sleepy
Kali and her companions who stayed tucked him up in a nice warm bed with shutters closed. Young Alfred snuggled down into the soft covers and fell asleep full, warm and content. Despite what Kirkland said they would never hurt the boy. It just wasn't in their nature.
It was at the early hours in the morning that England left the tavern, his head clouded, and his footsteps heavy. He was swaying under the influence of rum and gin.
"Alfred?" He called out into the still-dark street, his words were slurred and thick in his mouth. The boy was nowhere to be seen- the cabin boy must of taken him back, he figured.
Suddenly, two figured jumped him. The first pushed him harshly to the floor, the second grabbed him and pulled him up, pinning him against the wall. He felt hands gripping his wrists in a vice-like hold, and he recognized the icy cool feeling of a dagger pointed against his neck. It was directly over the scar that Antonio had left from doing the same thing. He looked over to see who his captors were. it was Prussia pinning him to the wall, and France standing a few paces behind him, his dagger held to England's neck.
"So, ma petite, you thought it would be a good idea to burn down our friend' prize possession?" France said, his tone cold and mocking. England glared at him.
"This is over that stupid ship? Yes, I raided it, took all the riches, burned it down. I'm a pirate, Your a pirate. It's what we do." Arthur said. Prussian growled, pushing the Brit further up against the wall, stepping closer to him.
"You know that this isn't about the boat." He said, "You almost killed Sara... she's a child!"
"The girl lived, didn't she. Maybe if Antonio protected his brats better then it wouldn't of happened. Careless Spanish bastard." England said, glaring at the floor. Gilbert let go of one of his wrists, and grabbed a fist-full of blonde hair, pulling Arthur's head up, forcing him to face them.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you." He hissed, as Arthur winced in pain. "If you value your life, don't insult Toni in front of us. He's twice the bruder you are!"
"Now that's nonsense! I have more younger siblings than he does and I'd never- "
"Really, then were's Alfred?"
"Back at the ship, of course."
"Are you sure?" Gilbert said, his voice had a cruel mocking edge. Arthur felt his heart plummet, he was suddenly sobering up very quickly- no they couldn't have got America, could they? He struggled against them, violently as he could, and earned himself a punch from Prussia.
"What have you done with him? Let me go! Where is he! I swear, if you've hurt him!"
The struggle suddenly stopped, when Alfred suddenly appeared at the top of the street.
"Get of my Brother!" He cried, running over to England and punching Prussia in the stomach, knocking him the the ground. He may look like a ten year old, but Alfred was strong. Before England could react more people walked over; It was Kali, and she was accompanied by non other than the personification of Denmark, Sweden and Finland. The usually smiling nation had a dark look on his face- he'd heard about the Belle Maria incident, and he wasn't happy. Arthur had made a powerful enemy, The Nordics were five nations you never wanted to upset.
"This is Kali." Alfred said, tugging Arthur over to her. "She wasn't mean at all! She gave me food and a warm bed!"
England didn't respond. He just took Alfred's hand. "America, we're leaving." He said, trying to regain as much dignity as he could, while coming face to face with Denmark . He still remembered him from his viking days, how he'd raid England's shores. But he wasn't a defenseless little child anymore. He was an empire. He choked down his fear.
"If anything like this happens again, you wont live." Sweden said, his voice cold and deadly. Even France and Prussia looked scared, they backed away slightly from the confrontation.
"You want a fight? Viking bastards?" England asked, although he was already walking back slightly with Alfred.
"Hell Yeah! we could beat you any da- " Denmark started. Sweden cut him of with a pointed glare.
"No. we do not wish for any unnecessary violence." Sweden said. "This is just a warning. You can go."
"You don't scare me anyway, brainless vikings! You're the scum of the world!" Arthur shot back, although he was basically running away by now, Alfred's hand tight in his.
"At least," The elder nation said, speaking softly. "We can look after children."
