Sorry it was so long since I updated. I just finished my RvB story and so I had been working on the ending chapter for that for a while. I also like to have the chapter before the chapter I'm currently working on finished but unpublished that way I can add in some foreshadowing if need be, but the chapter I'm writing now (the one after this) is taking longer than I thought. There would also be no opportunity for foreshadowing anyway so I just decided to kill the suspense and post this one already. Sorry for the delay.
Thank you to YAY for reviewing. I'm glad you're enjoying this. :)
And thank you to Applecherryblossom9201 for faving!
I do not own Hetalia. Hetalia belongs to Himaruya Hidakaz.
When they returned, even Alfred's best antics couldn't lift the mood of his pseudo-brother.
"Hey, bro?" Alfred knocked on the door to Matthew's room. The rest of the miscellaneous servants' quarters were still unoccupied but representing the aspiring hopes of their master -how big he envisioned his estate to grow.
The cowlicked blonde opened the door to find his brother hadn't moved since he last saw him the previous day. He was still curled up in his bed, clutching the bed sheets to himself as if they could sprout a mind of their own and abandon him.
Alfred couldn't stand crying. It was, like, his one weakness. Whenever he found someone crying he just had to see if there was anything he could do to make them happy again. He stopped himself from thinking of the day Arthur found him and he decided to work for him in the manor.
"Mattie? You don't look so good. Do you need some blood?"
He sat down on the bed next to the pale blonde who only tried to curl up tighter into himself.
"You haven't had any at all since yesterday, have you?"
Matthew shook his head, letting his curl slide along the bed covers.
"The hero can go get 'cha some?" he tried his smile, but it had no effect.
Honestly, he couldn't believe Matthew could go that long without blood. Alfred would have wasted away to nothing by now. Because the purple-eyed brother wasn't a Natural like him, he knew that he wasn't in mortal danger yet, but surely he must have been famished.
"Starving yourself isn't gonna accomplish anything. Forget what Francis said! Being a vampire is nothing to be shameful of! It's not like you chose this. Come on. I'll make you some pancakes?"
Matthew's eyes flickered open, if only for a moment. Alfred brightened as his change in tactics worked! He was getting through.
"Yup, yummy pancakes with maple syrup!"
The purple-eyed vampire smiled slightly only to quickly move it back into a stubborn frown.
"Ah, ah, ah! I saw that smile! Come on! I know there's a smile mechanism somewhere." Alfred said as he began to poke his brother's side where he knew he was ticklish.
Matthew tried very hard to keep a frown, but was losing horribly. Alfred's poking sped up and the one-curled teen began to giggle like when he was a three-year-old.
"S-stop it, A-al!" He managed to squeak out before erupting into full out laughter.
The tickle fight soon turned into a wrestling match where it was obvious who had the clear advantage, but Matthew began tickling his brother back. The sides were pretty even now.
A young Arthur found Francis in the kitchen cooking up something delicious –although Arthur would never admit it. He hid behind the partially closed door as he drew in the heavenly scents that wafted from the room.
"Bonjour, mon ami," the blonde teen smiled slyly as Arthur jumped in surprise at being noticed.
"Avez-vous faim?"
Arthur, still half hidden behind the door, narrowed his eyes stubbornly.
"Non? More for me," he said casually and used the spatula to lift off a strawberry crepe onto a plate.
Arthur had to consciously keep his mouth from watering. It smelled so good. Scowl in tact, he shuffled slowly over to the breakfast nook and walked over to the cheery Frenchman who was pouring himself a glass of juice. He poked the older boy on the arm a few times and Francis pretended he only now noticed the kid there.
"What is it, Arthur?"
"…MayIhavesometoo?" he muttered.
"Oh? Will you say the magic words?"
Arthur thought for a devious moment that it would be so hilarious to put a magic spell on the frog but thought better of it. There were only so many bridges he could burn before he'd be stranded.
"Por favor." He smirked. He couldn't help himself from being snarky though.
"In French? I know you know it. I specifically remember teaching you it."
Arthur huffed. He should have known by the amount of the language Francis was using that it was gonna be a day of "Force Arthur to Learn More Useless French." Maybe that's what he was expecting as payment for letting him stay the night in the guest room?
The kid pouted his lip. It wasn't his fault his older brothers were jerks and kicked him out yesterday. Then again, Francis never did have to let him stay either.
Francis sighed heavily at the purposeful hesitation. He scooted out the chair and sat down in front of the still-steaming food.
"I guess you must not want any of these delicious crepes that badly then. I will just eat all of them all by myself~."
He cut into the first one and the strawberries seeped out. Arthur couldn't take it any more.
"S'il vous plait! S'il vous plait! Laissez-moi avoir une crêpe, Francis!"
The French spilled so easily off the boy's tongue that Francis couldn't refuse. All his lessons were paying off! It was just pulling teeth to get the kid to practice.
"That was très bon! Very good, Arthur!" he smiled wide as he went to retrieve the kid his promised reward.
When he placed the plate down before the boy, he dug in ravenously.
The older boy chuckled which made Arthur self conscious.
"What?" he flatly, with a mouthful of food.
"You look like a vampire with all that strawberry juice trailing down your face."
Francis laughed again as Arthur began to eat slower.
"That's gross, Francis."
"Non. It is not gross. It's how they live," he replied matter of factly.
"It's still icky," the boy mumbled.
"You should not be so judgmental, mon ami. What if one of them turned you?"
Arthur tried to ignore him as Francis got up to put his finished plate on the counter.
"If when you were walking 'ome one day, you 'ear a twig snap behind you…?"
Arthur rolled his eyes, but, when he didn't hear him for a while, started to get suspicious. He finished the pastry and stood up slowly from the chair –cautious of making too much sound. He lived with too many older brothers to know that quietness was never good.
He creeped out and peeked slowly around the corner.
No sign.
He drummed his fingers on the doorframe when he felt two, cold points of pressure upon the back of his neck. His spine locked up ramrod straight and he couldn't breathe, couldn't move.
Suddenly, he heard a chuckle of laughter.
Snapping out of his state, he whipped around to see Francis holding two, metal spoons in his hands and laughing like an imp.
Arthur's fear boiled to anger and steamed into fury.
He shoved the older boy away with one hand unconsciously rubbing the back of his neck. His hot tears spilled over as he was both too embarrassed and too angry to form any words.
Francis was shocked. He didn't mean to scare the boy so badly. It was just a prank. He was taking this way too seriously.
"Oh, mon cher. I didn't mean anything…."
Arthur ran to the door and flung it open, not even bothering to take his coat. The only thing he did do was knock over the only thing he deemed breakable in the immediate area, an unfortunate vase, and set it shattering to the floor. Satisfied with the noise, he slammed the door and ran outside.
Francis, delayed momentarily by an effort to avoid the sharp vase shards, ripped open the door and called out to the retreating form.
"Arthur! Attendez! Come back!"
He received no reaction as the small boy disappeared into the forest.
The teen sighed as he turned a saddened gaze to the colorful fragments that littered the entryway.
That vase was his mother's.
He sank down to his knees and picked up one of the bigger pieces to tenderly rub over its smooth, hand-painted surface. He hissed as his finger caught the side and sliced him. A small drop of blood fell amongst the porcelain remains along with a single tear.
A knock on the front door was the only thing that could have pulled Alfred away from his brother-in-need short of Arthur screaming his name. The cowlicked vampire sighed and stood to his feet, straightening out his clothes from the wrestling match. Matthew stiffened as he looked like an absolute wreck and felt worse. There was no way Alfred was gonna let him answer the door.
"I got it, Matt. Don't worry about it. Go get yourself something to drink, and I'll handle this," he smiled wide as he left the room.
He attempted to straighten out his hair as he went down the stairs but never could get that one strand in the cowlick to flatten out. It was too late for him to do some serious dueling with it so he just left it alone.
Allowing himself a second to get his game face on (which basically meant he looked impassive but secretly authoritative), he opened the door.
He was met by a tall, bulking gentleman who had judging blue eyes and greased back, blonde hair. Behind him was his brunette, vampire attendant who carried a briefcase in each hand and smiled absentmindedly with both eyes squinted shut. Alfred was distracted by the vampire's funny curl that swung off the left side of his head but quickly brought himself back to reality.
"Hello. This is the manor and estate of Master Arthur Kirkland. May I be of any assistance?" he repeated automatically.
"Ja. I am Master Ludwig of the Beilshmidt Manor. I wish to discuss a business venture with your master."
Alfred gave him a quick lookover. He didn't appear to be carrying any weapons, and he only brought one assistant with him. By first glance, he wasn't dangerous. He decided to give him the go ahead.
"Sure, please follow me to the parlor to wait while I retrieve my master."
Ludwig nodded and motioned for the vampire behind him to follow.
"May I take your bags?" Alfred asked, gesturing to the briefcases held in the brunette's hands.
"Nein. Those bags do not leave my sight."
"Very well," Alfred said. "Pardon me for a moment. My master will be with you shortly."
The blue-eyed vampire left quickly and jogged up the stairs to his master's study. Knocking twice, the door opened to reveal a shadowed silhouette of Arthur. There was no light on at all in the room.
"What?" he said, rather annoyed at being interrupted.
"Sorry, Master, but you have a guest."
"Hm? I do not remember inviting anyone."
"Y-yes, but he asked for you to discuss something to do with business. He seemed fine so I invited him in. He's in the parlor now. I-if you want, I can tell him you're not interested or…"
"No! I will not have him sent away. I will be down in a moment. Make some tea for him or something."
With that, the door was shut to leave Alfred staring at the wood once more. Shrugging it off, he returned to the parlor. Ludwig was sitting as stone still as he had been before, but his funny-haired assistant was bobbing up and down to some unheard, happy tune.
"Forgive the delay. My master was not expecting guests so he shall be down momentarily. Would you care for some tea?"
"Nein. I only wish to discuss the transaction. Your formalities, though appreciated, are not necessary."
"Um…uh. Does he want any?" Alfred asked, pointing to the assistant with the bags.
He was ordered to make tea so he would hope there would be someone who wanted to drink it. Being so nervous, all his forced manners and fancy vocabulary went out the window.
"Si, Ludy! I would love some tea~!"
His master shot him a look that went right over the assistant's head.
"Please don't trouble yourself just for Feliciano."
"Oh, no, sir. It is my master's policy that he offer his guests tea. He would feel like a terrible host if otherwise."
"If he insists, then I will not deny him policy. Thank you, boy."
"It's no trouble at all."
Glad to be out of there, he hid in the kitchen to stir up some tea. When the drink was finally prepared, he brought it into the room on a decorative tray and poured it out fresh for the parlor members. Arthur was there already in what looked like knee-deep discussion. Tea was the only thing that brought his attention elsewhere.
"Thank you, Alfred," he said cordially before taking a long sip. Then he continued, "I'm sorry, Ludwig, but I fail to see the profit in it for me."
Ludwig chuckled, but it was impossible to know what that really meant.
"Of course. You already have obvious wealth as seen by your estate and your hired help. He is a Natural, is he not?" Ludwig gestured to Alfred.
"Indeed."
"May I?"
"Of course. Alfred, come here."
Alfred hated this part the most. He hated when people looked him over like some sort of livestock, but he couldn't risk upsetting one of Arthur's guests.
Ludwig stood and firmly grabbed the blonde's jaw, pinching it so it opened and he could see inside his mouth.
"Excellent fangs. Very healthy. Very well fed. Rare for a Natural in servitude. Wunderbare investment. Where did you buy him?"
"I didn't buy him."
"Oh! You captured and tamed him? That is an amazing feat."
"I did not capture him either. I found him when he was young and brought him into my service on his own accord."
"Ah," a light of recognition brought a smirk to Ludwig's face, "You raised him."
Arthur eyed him suspiciously, wondering where this was going.
"…That would be the most appropriate analogy, yes," he replied slowly.
"Naturals have always fascinated me. Have you ever thought about selling him?" he said as he released the boy and returned to sit on the sofa. Alfred rubbed his jaw and backed away to behind the couch.
Arthur smiled knowingly. This was the real "business venture", wasn't it?
"No. He is not for sale."
"I will make it worth your while. He will be well cared for."
It irritated Arthur that Ludwig was talking like he already agreed and it was a done deal.
"I'm sorry, but I am not selling him."
Ludwig frowned.
"I think you fail to see the true potential of your investment here. The business of selling, trading, and even breeding Naturals is-"
"Not something I need concern myself with because I am not selling him. That's final."
Ludwig motioned for Feliciano to bring over the two briefcases. He only opened one though and turned it around so Arthur could see what was inside: stacks of money.
Both Arthur and Alfred's eyes bulged at the amount.
"I'm offering you cash –not wealth stored in a mansion or in antique trinkets passed down from generation to generation that would need to be appraised then sold to the right people after long negotiations or be broken and lose its value. This is cold, hard cash, sir."
Arthur regained enough composure to put his poker face back on. He sat back and pretended to be disinterested and unimpressed.
"Master Arthur, the world of estates is diminishing. Living off inherited wealth is quickly going to bankrupt you. You need to find some business of your own in which to add new money to your income instead of leeching off your family fortune. Our generation is the unlucky generation. All the wealth of our families is running dry. The smart way to keep yourself in house and home is to make new money yourself. You won't have to sacrifice your lavish lifestyle if you do it the right way. With my help, I can guarantee it. Think about it, Arthur."
"My answer remains. I still see no profit in letting you buy off my servants and my security."
Ludwig then motioned for Feliciano to slide him the other case.
"I see what you are saying. You keep this Natural here for security purposes then, yes? That is why he answers the door for you?"
"Yes." Arthur didn't feel like getting into the technicalities of Alfred's job description. Security was probably no longer his main job now that the feud with Francis was officially over. He functioned as a regular servant when not dealing with protecting the Kirkland Manor often times.
"What if I told you with what is in this case, you won't have to worry about hiring for security ever again? No more spending money on providing for a Natural's appetite. All you would have to do is use this."
Alfred was uneasy. He didn't like that this man was so persistent on buying him and so insistent that he was unnecessary. Where would he go if he didn't have the Kirkland Manor? He wouldn't last a day without blood. He would be in mortal danger. What would Ludwig do with him if Arthur did sell him? Also, what was in the case that supposedly made him obsolete?
Ludwig clicked the case open and lifted the top to reveal what was the equivalent of a stroke in a box. Garlic.
Alfred, before he even knew what was happening, leaped back and slammed himself into the wall in the process.
Arthur jumped to his feet and slammed the case shut, eyes wide in horror.
Ludwig was taken aback. He did not expect this reaction at all.
"How dare you bring garlic into this place! You knew that I had vampires living here! How dare you!" Arthur fumed, absolutely outraged.
"If you would let me explain. None of them were in any danger. What this particular breed of garlic does is it-"
"I don't care! The vampires that live here are members of my estate! And if anyone of my estate is threatened, I see that as a threat to me! Now leave before I throw you out myself!"
"You question my honor, but I ensure you that I had no intention-"
"Leave!"
Ludwig's jaw hardened. He stood up to his menacing height and left the room. Feliciano only dawdled long enough to gather the two cases, and, soon, they both were gone.
I added on to the timeline I have written out for the story. That means longer story for you! I don't have an ending planned yet so there is much more to come. And, if the FACE characters are your favorites (like mine) then don't fear. We will be returning to them later on in the story. How much later? I don' t know yet.
I'm going to transition to the other characters such as the Axis briefly and then the Nordics next. I finally think that I know the Nordics' personalities enough to write for them now. I really didn't like them at first, but now I can say that they might be my second or third favorite brothers group. (The toss-up is between the Italy bros and them. NA bros is definitely my favorite.)
I just had to get in some last NA bros fluff and little!England and bigbro!France fluff/angst. I love writing for those four so much! (Have I said that before?) I also love writing for Italy. He's just so happy and fun! There will be more Italy in the next chapter for a bit so hold on!
Anyhow, review if you so desire.
Looking forward to it.
