Really I promise I was going to update on time then stuff happened, but better late than never? We're officially off the rails when it comes to my outline, so, lets see what happens guys.
"What have you done with the boy?" Arthur asked, he leaned up against the wall, not meeting Abigail's eyes. He never could look at his people when they were looking at him like that. Throughout wars and famine and disasters, all it took was that look of desperation to make him crumble.
"He's fine, and also not the subject that I called to discuss." Robert said, his voice was as calm as if they weren't discussing a seven year old's kidnapping.
"Oh yes, what then?" Arthur said, his lips pursed, he was already searching, going deep into the throng of his people searching for Thomas.
"Exactly how quickly can your people go public?"
"My people? You know as well as I do that getting the rest of the world to agree to do something is practically impossible."
"Oh I'm sure that with all the added pressure that The Revealers are putting on you is quite sufficient."
"The Revealers?" Arthur asked looking briefly at Abigail, She still had a hint of desperation on her face but was now scribbling furiously on a pad of people. Arthur put the phone on speaker. "Is that what you're calling yourselves?"
"Well I didn't pick the name." Robert said "It's a bit too on the nose for my tastes"
"There are others then?"
"Of course Arthur, you really think all this could be the work of one person, it has had decades of planning, as long as you people have been around." England stared at the wall straight ahead of him, he could feel the tension in his body, though he had tried to stay calm throughout this, to separate the man who he had once known from the one now talking to him on the phone. Those three words though, those had hit a nerve.
"It's England. And I think it's time for me to ask a question now." England said.
"Oh?"
"Why? After working with me for all that time why would you betray me like this?" Arthur was trying to keep the upset out of his voice but he could feel his fingernails biting into his palm, fists shaking as they clenched. "Not just me either, the rest of the world, why would you do this to us."
"Because someone needs to hold you responsible." Robert shot back. "In the past how many have died for you? How many have you killed? How many people have had their normal everyday lives disrupted do to your peoples callousness about human lives?"
"We never-"
"Oh don't give me that England, I'm the last person you should be trying to hide your sins from." Robert snapped. "The Nations have never had a true purpose, Advisers? How often does anyone actually listen to you? Have they ever?" Arthur pursed his lip, abigail had stopped writing and was now staring at him, waiting to see what he'd do. "Humanity deserves to know, and decide what to do with you." There was a long tense moment of silence. No one spoke, if abigail didn't know any better she would have thought that Robert had hung up.
"Thomas is at Georges and Baker. For your sake he better be alone. Goodbye Robert." Arthur said before hanging up, tossing Abigail her phone and turning on his heels out of the apartment.
Abigail followed, barely remembering to lock the door behind her. England had already rounded the corner by the time she turned back around.
"Go home I'll be back." He said sliding into the driver's seat. Abigail didn't respond before she had buckled.
"He's my brother, and this is my fault." She said. Abigail glared at him, daring him to argue with her, and in a brief flicker she saw Arthur's age, all the betrayals, the heartache and all the stress from watching everything he built crumble around him.
"It's not your fault, you did the right thing." He said "And I'm going to do everything possible to get Thomas home safe. You don't have to come."
"Yes I do, I'm not arguing with you Arthur. Let's go." Abigail said. England frowned but started the car.
They drove in silence for a while, Arthur wasn't bothering with most of the laws regarding speed and Abigail was silently hoping that they wouldn't get pulled over, between her and Arthur the poor officer might not survive.
"He's wrong you know." Abigail finally said. "Your necessary, all of you." England laughed at her. A kind of laugh that really didn't suggest that he found her funny in the least bit.
"Abigail we haven't been necessary in centuries, a nation hasn't had direct dealing in determining world affairs since The Great War." He said taking a turn hard. "In some ways Roberts right." Abigail almost began to argue with him when he brought the car to a stop. She lept out, not bothering to close the door behind her and ran for the building. The door was locked and Abigail slammed against the door.
"Thomas!" She yelled. People stared and hurried passed her. Arthur came up behind her while she was trying to figure out what angle was the best for ramming down the door with her shoulder.
"One moment." He said Abigail watched as his hand filled with something green and glowing from seemingly nowhere.
"The hell-"
"Magic." Arthur said simply forcefully pushing the mass into the door lock there was a pop and the door swung open. Inside it was dark, light barely filtered into the open space. It looked like the building hadn't been touched in years.
"T-" Abigail began before Arthur put his hand over her mouth, he shook his head.
"Quiet" he mouthed softly before directing her with two fingers to follow him. As the entered deeper into the building Abigail could hear footsteps upstairs. Arthur led her away from them though, to the basement door.
"This is too easy." Abigail said softly, "We should have seen someone by now, why would they leave him unguarded."
"This is either a trap or.." He trailed off and nodded. "No this is definitely a trap."
"So? Can't you... Magic it or something?" Abigail asked.
"Do I look like The boy who lived?"
"No but you just magic'd the door!"
"Magic'd isn't a word!" Arthur snapped.
"Does that really matter right now?"
"I'd say it doesn't" Said another voice. They stopped their arguing and slowly turned to see Robert standing a few feet away, holding a gun with one hand. And Thomas with the other.
"Thomas!" Abigail cried in relief. "Are you alright?" Thomas nodded
"Robert, let the boy go." Arthur said stepping forward. Robert cocked the gun, leveling it at Arthur.
"See the problem we have now that you've decided to come find us is that I can't leave witnesses, honestly though that's more of a problem for your assistant and brat than anything else." Robert turned the gun on Abigail. "Sorry dear, you honestly deserved better than working for this relic."
"Bastard!" Abigail spat back at him, her heart was pounding. She couldn't die now, not here, Arthur wouldn't allow it, Thomas couldn't see this, she would not di-.
Many things happened at once. Men grabbed Arthur from behind, 5 of them just barely managing to restrain him, Thomas rammed into Robert's side. The gun dropped. The gun fired.
Abigail had heard of time slowing to a crawl before but it wasn't until now, when her hearing was dulled, her eyes blurry as they were fixed on Thomas, crumpled on the ground.
She didn't hear Arthur's shout, the bodies of the men restraining him hitting the floor.
She didn't hear the crunch of bone or the scuffle of the gun hitting the ground.
She didn't hear Arthur's shout's of "Thomas, Thomas Stay with me."
She didn't hear ambulance sirens or the police running in. She followed the emt's, getting into the ambulance alone, holding Thomas's hand.
All she could hear was one small voice saying.
"I'm sorry Abby."
Hehehe I really shouldn't do this too you twice in a row but here we are again, Thomas in danger. Like it? Hate it? Want more of something? tell me at .com or in reviews.
