JANUARY 11th, 2017, SOUTH FLORIDA

ARTHUR'S POV

I awoke to the wailing of an air raid siren, my skin shining with a layer of cold sweat. My first reaction was to look up at Alfred, who had his arm wrapped around me, and I recalled what had happened the night before when I saw a body out of the corner of my eyes. Alfred was looking out of the window with an expression of horror, eyes wide and mouth agape. I frantically sat up, panic washing over me.

"Alfred, what's wrong?"

He blinked before getting quickly to his feet, picking up both of our bags in a hurry and rushing wordlessly towards the back door of the shop, charging into the door and tearing it from its hinges.

"Alfred!"

He was ignoring me for the most part, but he gave me one look before guiding me outside that spoke for itself. I followed him out to be met by deafening explosions and the drone of planes and the cry of the air raid siren. Alfred sprinted over to a manhole, which he pried open. He absently wiped his hands on his jeans as he peered down into the ground and grimaced.

"Okay, we gotta go underground."

I gasped as a bomb landed somewhere near the front of the shop, but I was unable to demand why we had to go underground when Alfred pushed me roughly to the floor towards the ladder, shouting at me to go. So I did. I descended the ladder with both caution and a face of utter disgust. I heard Alfred above me, and then the distinct noise of the cover being pulled over. The light shining down suddenly vanished and I scowled as I was blinded for a few seconds, until could feel a platform beneath my feet and I was able to take a torch from my backpack.

With the sound of explosions above us, the smell of the sewers and the feeling of sheer dread, I wanted nothing more than to be elsewhere.

When Alfred reached the platform and sidled up closer to me, I instantly felt safer and more comfortable, knowing he was right there.

I mentally chastised myself.

"There's a subway somewhere above ground a couple blocks down. We should be able to go there from here and wait for the sirens to stop." Alfred's voice was different. More hoarse and thin.

"Are you okay?"

When I shined my flashlight towards him, I saw him give a nervous smile. "Air raid sirens have never gone off before, even when there were bombings. It's gotta be really bad this time."

I regarded him for a moment before he cleared his throat and made his way gingerly across the platforms, attempting not to touch anything. I followed. We walked for ages, each explosion sounding above making me stop and start skittishly. At some point, Alfred offered me his jacket, which I refused. I wasn't that weak yet. As we made our way through the sewers, Alfred began to talk, and I knew it was to take my mind off the bombs going off.

"I'm sorry you woke up like that." he said, genuinely sounded apologetic.

"It's not your fault." I replied after a second or two.

Alfred scoffed. "Yeah, well you shouldn't had to have woken up that way. Did you sleep well?"

"Fitfully."

"Mm, you kept tossin' and turnin' a little."

"How would you know?"

"You fell asleep in my arms, my princess."

I could practically hear the grin in his voice. I contemplated hitting him over the head with my flashlight before it flickered and I banged it against my thigh.

"Y'alright back there?"

"Why are you speaking in a Texan accent?"

"Oh, I am? Sorry, it just kinda happens when I'm jittery or... I don't know."

I rolled my eyes and got my flashlight working again. "Are we almost there?"

"Just a little further. Jeez, you're impatient."

"Sorry, I was just fearing for my life when a bomb makes its way through the ground and kills us. You- oh for-" I growled as the flashlight flickered out and wouldn't come back on when I slammed it against the wall. "Bloody thing."

"Artie, I can't see!" Alfred whined.

"Thank you for your input. My torch stopped working. Get yours out."

A moment of silence passed before Alfred laughed nervously. "I haven't got mine."

"You what?"

"I-I think I must have dropped it..."

"It's pitch black down here! Haven't you got any matches?"

"No, I got nothin'." he muttered.

I jumped when I felt a hand skimming over my arm. "What are y-"

Alfred closed his hand around mine and pulled. "Come on, we can't lose each other. If I step carefully, we can get to the subway without the light."

I felt Alfred pulling at my hand again and I followed him. We continued at a sluggish pace. I could hear Alfred tapping his boot against the ground every so often as a way of mapping out our surroundings. I counted the seconds in my head to take my mind off the explosions as Alfred had fallen silent in concentration. I stopped counting as I bumped into his back about seven minutes later. He let go of my hand and I heard the sound of hit boot hitting bricks, until it hit something metal.

"Found the ladder. This should open up in between the tracks in one of the tunnels. You wanna go first?"

"Offering to have me flattened by a train first is always a compliment to me, thank you." I said.

Alfred chuckled as I sought out the rungs and pulled myself up. When I reached the top, I gave the cover of the manhole a push and heaved myself over the edge to stumble over the thick metal tracks. Alfred emerged soon after me and kicked the cover back into place and steadied me as I started from an explosion that sounded muffled behind the brickwork. He crouched in front of me, forcing me to look back at him.

His normally bright blue eyes seemed darker. It certainly wasn't the light. They were definitely a shade or two darker. Before I grew captivated by the endless shades of blue he seemed to have in his eyes, he waved a hand in front of my face.

"You okay? You're lookin' a little pale there."

"I'm fine." I scowled and batted his hand away. "Stop trying to look out for me all the time."

"If I didn't, you'd probably kill yourself." he said seriously, giving me an equally serious look.

I returned his look before straightening and making my way around him, carefully avoiding the tracks. I heard Alfred sigh behind me as he followed. Soon enough, it became brighter and we could see the platforms. I jumped up first, checking around briefly as Alfred quickly climbed up after. I barely realised the explosions had stopped until I felt unnerved by the silence.

"What now?" I asked.

Alfred walked past me towards a set of stairs that led outside, not replying and not checking if I went after him. Within a few moments, we were out of the subway and in the streets. I looked up to the sky to see thick clouds of smoke billowing about in the weak breeze. The smell of the explosions was starting to cause me a headache. Alfred glanced around before turning to me.

"Give me your flashlight."

"What? Why?"

"It's broken, ain't it?" he said, cocking an eyebrow. He looked expectant and stubborn. The look didn't suit him.

Nevertheless I passed him my broken flashlight. "What do you need it for?"

He took it without replying and promptly hauled it into the air. It soared past a building out of sight, following by a small noise of it hitting the ground. I looked at Alfred for an answer, but he only stood there, looking as if he was focusing on something. After a moment, his shoulders visibly sunk as if a weight had been taken off them.

"Why did you do that?"

"See if there's any raiders around." he said flatly, shrugging his backpack onto one shoulder and making his way down the street.

"Where are we going?"

He didn't answer me, nor acknowledge me in any way. He kept walking, looking around every now and then. I grit my teeth and glared at him.

"Alfred, answer me."

Still no reply. Before I fully lost my temper, I hooked my finger into a strap on his bag and pulled him backwards so he was somewhat behind me.

"What the bloody hell is wrong with you, Jones?"

Alfred's dull eyes seemed to glower at the ground, before his expression softened slightly and he looked up at me. "If I wasn't here, you'd really get yourself into some trouble, y'know?"

I gave him an incredulous look. "Your point is?"

"I could lose you. And I really don't want that to happen." he admitted quietly, sounding a little unsure.

My irritated expression eased. I didn't know he cared for me that much. I didn't quite know why, either. What was I to him?

"Stiff upper lip," I murmured, letting go of his bag. "Lead the way, sunshine."

Alfred looked up, a smile tugging at his lips. "Sunshine?"

I froze. "Slip of the tongue." I explained quickly.

"Sure. Nice nickname, since I really like the way you sang that song."

"Ah yes, when you barged into the room and begged for an apology?"

"I did not beg, I offered you one!"

"I beg to differ, lad."

"Jeez, I try to compliment your way of nicknaming me, and you throw it in my face."

"I'll throw a lot more in your face if you don't get a move on."


A/N: aw special boyfrans hehe =u=

sooo there's a hint at how Alfred is slowly coming to terms with the fact that he loves Arthur's face and probably his butt too. /shot

some nice fluff there for you guys before it all goes wrong. whoops, spoiler~ you'll find out next chappie ;D

Much love 3