Chapter - 8 - Out of the Attic
'What could Arthur be so worried about?' Alfred thought as he kept hold of Arthur's hand and allowed the short man to weave their way through a throng of people. 'His hand is shaking. Is he scared? Maybe I should do something to make him feel better? But what? I think Mattie told me something about hand squeezing. Would that work, or will it be like I'm making a move? Well, unless I do it gently. Like a brother would. Yeah, I'm good at that. Me and Mattie do it all the time.' Alfred paused his internal conversation and smiled. 'Mattie and I. Damn, this guy can sure get under my skin. Strange enough, I really don't mind. He's kinda like a rejected cat who needs love. Wonder what happened to his family. Maybe this is him opening up to me. Is he nervous? Who am I kidding? We're both scared and nervous. Maybe I should hold his hand tighter. Maybe he'll like it and squeeze mine back.' Holding his breath, Alfred tightened his grip around Arthur's fingers.
Arthur looked back, shock and confusion on his face. When he saw Alfred's worried look, he relaxed and smiled. He squoze* Alfred's hand in response. Alfred's heart soared and he felt Arthur's hand slack into a more comfortable grip.
"Where are we going?"
"Back to my place. I have something to show-" Arthur stopped shortly and Alfred ran into his back, making him fall forward. Alfred gasped and wrapped his arm around Arthur's wasit, saving him from eating concrete.
"What are you doing?"
"Shh!" Arthur took Alfred's arm and yanked him behind the corner of a building. "Two people are outside my library. They were selling meat the other day and asked me strange questions."
'We never thought of a name for his library. Damn. Wait...' Alfred tilted his head. "Why were they asking you questions?"
"I bought some German sausage. It'll make sense once we get inside." Arthur peeked around the building. "They aren't leaving."
Alfred poked his head over Arthur's and looked down the block. A tall man with a long scarf was talking to a short man with a pony tail over his shoulder. At least Alfred thought it was a man. He was wearing a long dress thing and slippers. "Why are you so scared?" Alfred squinted his eyes and looked at the taller man. He seemed familiar.
"I have something I shouldn't have and I'm scared that they'll find out."
Alfred nodded and rested his hand on Arthur's waist. "Hey, do you remember the taller man's hair color?"
Arthur shuddered. "Yes, and his awful eyes. His hair is almost white and his eyes are a disturbing purple hue."
"Holy shit, Arthur. Those guys are bounty hunters."
"For what?" Arthur gripped the building with white fingers.
"Run away Jews." Alfred looked down at Arthur. Did he have a Jew? How did one get all the way to England? "Arthur?"
"Go scare them away!" Arthur shoved Alfred in the direction of the bounty hunters.
"Arthur-"
"Hurry! Please!" Arthur's face looked paler than usual. His eyes were the size of saucers and glossed over with fear.
"Alright." Alfred made his way to the two men(?) and cleared his throat. The shorter one looked up and smiled.
"Hello. Do you know why the library is closed today, aru?" From his voice, Alfred guessed it was a guy, and by the thick Chinese accent, not English. 'I don't remember Ivan the Menace having a Chinese...bodyguard? Maybe he's the brains of the operation.'
"I uhm... I heard that the librarian got sick." Alfred lied. He felt like he had to lie because if Arthur was terrified behind him, there must be something the two men would fine wrong with his library. This was the time to be a hero.
"Is that so?" the larger man said, he looked down at the smaller man who shuffled his feet.
"U-uhm. Show him the photo, Ivan." The Chinese man whimpered.
The Russian showed Alfred a photo that was in color. "Do you know any of these men?" Alfred took the photo and studied it. Four men were on a porch, two younger looking men were sitting on the steps while the older two were leaning on each other behind them. One of the sitting men had shaggy platinum blonde hair and strange brown eyes that almost resembled a faded red. He had his arm around the other man and was grinning broadly. Alfred turned to the other man who also had blonde hair, but his was more golden. His eyes were clear blue and even though he wasn't smiling, Alfred saw something like admiration in his eyes. The two standing men had their arms around each other. The shorter of the two had a bit longer than shoulder length white hair with a braid falling over his shoulder. His arm was crossed over his body and his hand was hooked on the other mans hip. The taller man was a stronger, taller, older Feliciano. Alfred bit his tongue. Feliciano always said that his grandpa was a great and powerful man who's popular with the girls, and that he left a lot on trips to check on the rest of their family that was scattered through out Italy. 'Was this one of his trips? He had a lover and had to leave his grandsons to see him? Well, if Ivan the Menace is asking about them, they must be Jewish.'
Alfred looked up from the upsetting picture and shook his head. "No, none of them look familiar."
Ivan glared down at his small Chinese companion. The short man must have read something in his eyes that made him flinch because he looked at Alfred and said, "Will you ask around for us, aru? We have business to do the rest of our stay here and don't have the time."
"Uh, sure." Accepting the man's request meant keeping the picture and showing it to Feli. "What are your names so I can find you again?"
"You westerners call me Yao Wang, aru. Where I come from it is Wang Yao. You'll be able to find us under my first or last name, aru." Yao smiled and stepped into Ivan's arms, willingly. "When do you think the librarian will be on his feet again?"
"At least a couple of weeks. I hear he has that one bug that's been going around." the lie came easily after years of lying about himself.
Yao looked up at Ivan, who had wrapped his arms around Yao's slim hips and interlocked his fingers so that they rested on the small man's lower stomach. "I see, aru. Well, thank you for your help." Yao smiled and took Ivan's hand. The strange couple walked down the street. Right to Arthur's hiding spot.
Alfred's stomach dropped to his feet. Ivan was not only a run away Jew bounty hunter. He hunted anyone who had a crime and needed to be punished. He killed anyone who got in his way. When he found the person he was looking for, he would torture them for information. Anyone who was around the person at the time was forced to watch. Even if it was a stranger, they watched Ivan torture a man, woman, sometimes even children who run messages and sneak food. It didn't matter their age or gender, Ivan would get them and kill them without mercy. So when Alfred saw him and Yao turn the corner to Arthur's place, Alfred almost fell to the ground. He waited for the scream or a splash of blood on the cobblestones. He waited. Waited. Waited. Nothing. No yelp of shock, no gun or swishing sound of a sword. No splatter of blood or thud of a body on the ground. Everything was quiet on Arthur's street on the outskirts of the busy part of London.
"Alfred?"
Alfred looked around. He saw a flower shop, and a run down toy store. He turned around, scanning the area again. Arthur's library, a housing building, and a closed clothing store. No Arthur.
"Alfred!" two arms encircled Alfred's middle and he looked down in shock. Arthur had come from the opposite side of the street he was hiding on. He must have seen the Russian and his partner and ran around the block. "I thought they might have gotten you! Did you know them?"
"Arthur." Alfred hugged the Englishman hard. "I'm fine. They wanted to talk to you. They gave me this picture. I know of him, Arthur. I'll tell you more inside. But look at this." Alfred left one arm across Arthur's shoulders and showed him the photo.
Arthur's eyes were glossed with fear and he was shaking under Alfred's arm. His skin was sickly pale, but when he looked at the picture, his face turned from scared to worried, then back to scared. "Come on in, Alfred. Hurry now." He took Alfred's hand and led him inside.
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"Why did you give him that picture, Yao? That was the only one we had." Ivan held onto Yao's hand so tightly, Yao was sure it would snap.
"Please trust me, Ivan, aru. I saw a man buy that German meat we had as bait and asked who he was. He is the librarian here and he was quite fine yesterday, aru." Yao stopped walking as soon as he was sure they were out of sight of the American. He went to the end of the building and watched the blonde man look around with fear in his eyes.
"You better be right or I'll punish you again." Ivan came up behind Yao and hooked his fingers around the shorter's hip.
"Watch, Ivan." the Chinese said quickly. He still ached from the punishment he got last night for talking to strangers without Ivan at his side. It wasn't like he hated Ivan, he was just the kind of guy who looked scary. When Yao was alone with Ivan in private, Ivan was just like a kid who was too rough with his toys, and Yao happened to be one of his toys. His favorite actually. The 'punishment' was just that Ivan forced himself into Yao, instead of preparing him like he usually did, and that Yao was strapped down, gagged and crying for Ivan to stop and that he was sorry. Yao came into Ivan's life when he still lived in China. Yao had been living on his own and stole whatever he needed. One day he stole from Ivan, and in exchange for his life, Yao was bound to Ivan for as long as he lived. Over some time, Yao developed feelings for Ivan. Ivan seemed to love Yao, but to the Chinese man, he just seemed to think of Yao as a toy he had when he was younger. But, when ever Yao wasn't feeling well or injured, a sweet side to Ivan came out and he nursed the small man back to health. Now that they were in London, looking for Ludwig Beilschmidt, there were many more people here than in cold, dreary Russia, Yao was surprised that he didn't have a leash around his neck. Yao clutched the brick wall, hoping he was right. He really didn't want a leash or another punishment from the endearing, frightening, rough Russian.
"I don't see anything, Yao." Ivan whispered against Yao's ear.
"A bit more, aru. I promise." Yao placed his hand over Ivan's.
"Alfred!" Yao let out a relieved sigh as the blonde man from yesterday came running out from behind the building around the block and hugged the tall American. "I thought they might have gotten you! Did you know them?" the librarian asked as he clung to the larger man, who wrapped his arms around the other's small frame.
"Arthur." Yao leaned closer to hear them more clearly, but Ivan pulled him back.
"Can you get to the roofs?" the Russian asked, holding Yao closely to his chest.
"Yes, aru. It will be easy. Why?"
"I want you to see what is in that man's house. He is hiding something." Ivan ran his fingers down Yao's arm, making him shiver even through the long sleeve of his traditional Chinese robe.
Yao closed his eyes as Ivan's hand traveled farther down his arm. "I will make sure to get what we need." Yao allowed a smile onto his face. "I will do my very best for Ivan, aru."
Ivan smiled softly at Yao's words and slipped his hand very low around Yao's slim waist. "If you succeed-"
"When I succeed, Ivan." Yao opened his fierce golden eyes. "Do not degrade me, aru."
"Alright, when you succeed, I will have an award for you." Ivan kissed Yao softly on his mouth then disappeared into the shadows close to the buildings.
Yao touched his lips and smiled. Ivan hardly gave out kisses. It made Yao's stomach bubble and he felt weightless. He guessed that the feeling Ivan gave him helped him scale the building and plant himself across the librarian's window. Close enough to hear, and if the curtains were parted just slightly, he could tilt around on his perch and see everything going on in the room. He watched Arthur lead Alfred into the room. Yao smiled and watched Ivan's prey. He was eager for this to end quickly.
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Arthur locked the door behind him and Alfred and yanked the American up the spiral staircase. "Do you want to see why those men were here or do you want to know what happened to me in the past?"
Alfred held onto Arthur's hand tightly. "The first one. I want that out of the way so I'm not worrying the whole time."
"Okay." Arthur went into his room and looked around. "Miss Rosa?"
The ghost came through the bookshelf. "Oh, Arthur! Poor Ludwig saw them coming from your window and hid. He has been so scared. He says he knows that man. He kept mumbling something about his brother and lots of blood. He also tried to run outside, but I had Peter go near him. The water effect Peter carries seems to have helped him quite a bit. What is he doing here? You are not showing him are you? Arthur!"
"Alfred knows who that man is, he can help better than just me. Alfred, poppet, will you check the window?" Arthur went to the bookshelf.
"For what?" Alfred stood in the middle of his room, unsure how to hold himself.
"Make sure it is closed and the the curtains are drawn. Where is James?"
Alfred strode to the window and saw that the glass pane was open. He closed it tightly and shut the curtains.
"He was trying to make the big one feel like he was being crushed. It didn't seem to faze him, but the girly one looked sick." Miss Rosa explained to Arthur.
Arthur shoved his bookcase away from the stairs. "This way, Alfred, and bring the picture.
"Okay." Alfred followed up the stairs, quietly enjoying the view behind Arthur even though he really shouldn't in the current situation.
"Ludwig. It's me." Arthur walked into the hidden room and looked around. "He's gone now. I brought you something."
Ludwig emerged from the room he had turned into his bedroom. His hand was hanging down at his side and Peter was holding it, sending calming waves of water over the man. "You are okay?"
"I am fine, Ludwig." Arthur rushed to Ludwig and helped him onto the couch. "Thank you, Peter. You did a good job."
Peter smiled. "You brought him."
"Yes, why don't you say hi?" Arthur turned to Alfred. "Stay calm. Peter wants to say hi. You'll feel water on your skin or your hair. Do not freak out or you'll feel like you're drowning."
"Who is this?" Ludwig stared at Alfred.
"I'm Alfred F. Jones. I'm a fighter pilot." Alfred looked around suddenly. "Artie! I feel it!" his blue eyes danced in wonder.
Arthur smiled gently. "Peter, fog up a mirror or something and talk to Alfred while I talk with Ludwig, okay?"
"Okay." Peter closed his eyes and made water drops appear on the floor, leading to a dusty mirror in the corner of the attic. Alfred followed while glancing back at Arthur.
"You brought him up here?" Ludwig whispered. He tried to look angry, but the death grip he had on Arthur's hand proved that he was still frightened.
"He knows who that man was. Do you know him?" Arthur asked.
Ludwig nodded. "While Gilbert and I were on the boat to get here, Ivan came aboard and searched the decks. Gilbert heard him coming and shoved me into a crate. He hid the crate the best he could. I watched him through a crack in the wood. Imagine, a twenty-three year old being shoved into a crate by his older brother of three years. I watched him scramble for a hiding spot far away from me. We heard thuds and shouts and screams from above us. I, a fully grown man, was hiding in a crate and almost crying out of fear. Gilbert somehow caught my eye and he grinned at me. Like he did when I was little and fell. He would grin and say, man up. But this time, he just pressed a finger to his lips and disappeared. All went silent, then he came downstairs. He had blood on his face and in his hair. On his clothes. The short man behind him just looked like a doll. He was detached from what Ivan was doing to other humans." Ludwig glared at his and Arthur's hands. "He started kicking stuff over and yelling in a different language. He got close to my crate," Arthur had never heard Ludwig speak of how he got to London, and Arthur was intrigued and frightened of what was going to be said, especially with Peter in the room, but he looked preoccupied with Alfred (they were taking turns drawing on the mirror and trying to guess what it was, Peter wrote down his guess so Alfred could play). "I pulled my eye from the hole and shrunk in on myself. I held my breath, waiting to be discovered and killed, but Gilbert threw himself out into the open. Ivan turned and smiled. He smiled. He picked up my brother by his hair and asked where any others were. Gilbert, the smart ass he is, said that they were at a camp. Then Ivan's friend said something about Gilbert being one of the Beilschmidt Boys."
Arthur stopped Ludwig. "I do not understand what a Beilschmidt boy is."
"Our grandpa tried to revolt against the government. They caught him and tortured him. His a..." Ludwig glanced at Alfred. "lover, came and saved him before they could do too much damage. Grandpa could never walk right again. After a while, Gilbert and I tried to sabotage the Nazi soldiers. We became known as he Beilschmit Boys and the two most wanted Jews."
Alfred had excused himself from Peter and sat beside Arthur's feet, he squeezed Arthur's knee gently. "Then what happened?"
Ludwig closed his eyes. Arthur hadn't seen him look so pale and frightened since he found Ludwig hiding in his library six months ago. "Once Ivan knew who my brother was, he shot Gilbert in the leg and slit his throat. It wasn't deep. It was meant to frighten me out of hiding. I should have gone out, but I knew Gilbert wouldn't want that. He would want me to escape and find him as soon as I could. It took all my will power to stay still. Little did I know, Gilbert brought his pet bird along. He had hidden it along the rafters, but it got out of his cage and attacked Ivan. He shot the yellow bird down and I saw Gilbert's eyes fill with tears. When we left home and Grandpa with his lover, he sniffled a couple times at the thought of leaving. We knew that the two old men would be safe. When his pet was shot, his eyes filled with tears. It made me imagine what he would do if I got hurt. That thought kept me hiding. Kept me safe even as Ivan dragged Gilbert away with his friend following closely. The last I saw of my brother was him swearing at Ivan in German and looking back at me through the crate." Ludwig leaned forward and put his face in his hands. "I just can't believe Ivan found me so soon."
Arthur stood. "I'll make some tea. That'll help. York! Come here!" The cat emerged from atop a shelf with the familiar sight of Boston behind him. Arthur patted the couch and the cats made themselves comfortable beside Ludwig. Arthur went downstairs with a promise of tea and scones.
Alfred looked at Ludwig and gasped. "Oh! Hey!" he pulled the photo Ivan gave him earlier out of his pocket and held it up. "This is you!"
Ludwig raised his head and took the picture. A smile ghosted over his lips. "This was taken right before we left. The guy next to me is Gilbert. The man with white hair and the one next to him is-"
"Roma right?" Alfred asked, remembering Feliciano's stories.
"How do you know?" Ludwig asked and looked at Alfred.
"I'm friends with his grandson, Feliciano." Alfred grinned. "That reminds me..."
"Feliciano..." Ludwig tilted his head. "Does he happen to be the one that wishes Arthur hid blonde men in his attic?"
Alfred laughed. "That sure is Feli! He acts like a child at times!"
"You have no room to talk, Alfred." Arthur set down a tray of three tea cups and a plate full of what looked like black discs.
Alfred rolled his eyes. "So, this is why Ivan the Menace was on your front porch?" he gestured to Ludwig.
"I couldn't turn him away, Alfred. Like how you kept your overweight cat."
"He ain't over weight! It's... holiday weight!" Alfred scooped up Boston, much to York's disapproval.
Arthur smiled and sat. "Okay, Alfred." he sipped his tea, and Arthur felt Alfred's eyes on him.
"Can I keep this, Alfred?" Ludwig asked.
"Can I show it to Feli first? He misses his grandpa." Alfred asked.
Ludwig hesitated, thought about it, then gave the photo to Alfred. "So, what are we going to do?"
"We need to move ya." Alfred picked up a disc and threw it sideways. Boston bolted off Alfred's lap to retrieve the black object.
"That is food, Alfred!" Arthur scolded.
"No it ain't. It's a cat toy."
"To where will you be moving me?" Ludwig interjected.
"I dunno." Alfred scratched Boston's ears, then grinned. "Or we can pretend to." Alfred grinned then told the two older men his plan. It wasn't elaborate or anything extreme. It could get them, and some other people killed, but if they did it right, they should be fine.
As Arthur helped Ludwig into his room for a much deserved nap, asking Miss Rosa and Peter to use their ghost effects to calm the Jewish man, Arthur mentally prepared to reveal himself to someone alive.
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*past tense of squeeze. It's a real word!
*Beta says: Some people say it is a word, some people say it isn't. I can't really tell because I only looked it up and got several contradicting responses, which means I have no idea. I'm leaving it in because I love you.
Author's note: I'm sorry I took forever! Please stay with me! I wanted USUK in here but then got the RoChu idea so minimal USUK next chapter, more RoChu, FranAda hopefully and maybe GerIta if things go slowly. So, I had an idea to do a little chapter from Boston's and York's point of view. Tell me what you think in the reviews. I won't have it do with the plot, it'll be more like a comedy relief after Ludwig's sad story and how Arthur remembered his life. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! I love reading them! Don't forget to tell me what you think about a kitty chapter! I won't do it if you don't tell me! :3