Once again, I'm late to post anything. Sorry, guys, it's been a hectic day, so I had a hard time getting myself off of my ass to publish this. Also, it looks like the plans for my California trip have changed a bit, thanks to my indecisive uncle *rolls eyes*. I won't be able to post anything at all for the next two weeks, due to the fact that I will be driving on the weekends with no internet and because I just want to spend some time with my cousins. I only get to see them 1 every 2-3 years or so, sadly, so I'm going to spend as much time as I possibly can with them (without being too creepy). I hope you guys enjoy this second installment to Assignment (the Assassin AU), though and I'll "see" you guys again later :)

Assignment (Part 2)

France x England

Arthur watched, his glare sharper than the dagger hidden in his boot.

The assassins were arguing among themselves, all exposed in front of the King. Despite that, the blonde idiot didn't seem all that perturbed. So, he had known that they were assassins. Arthur grinned darkly. Interesting.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Zwingli hissed at the other four, Swiss accent biting through the tense silence.

"I courd say the same to you, Zwingli-san." Honda replied, tone sharp and eyes sharper. Of course. Arthur could vaguely remember that the two were rival snipers, each with some dirt on the other. He smirked, watching the way Honda's hand twitched. "The king is my target."

Elizabeta scoffed, brushing her chestnut hair across her shoulder. "Not likely. I've been on his ass for months."

King Francis raised an eyebrow. "Really? I'm so sorry I didn't notice you, dear. You should've said 'ello; I would've had tea with you and everyzing."

Arthur snickered.

"Shut it, tranny." Morgens said, pointing a dagger at Francis, the tip touching the most vulnerable spot on the neck.

Arthur reacted first, growling lowly. "My Target." He whipped out his pocket knife, throwing it at Abel. The bright silver metal embedded itself in Abel's arm, knocking the Dutch man backwards by at least three feet. Gasps echoed through the garden and the assassins took their stances, momentarily forgetting what they had been arguing.

Arthur watched on apathetically as Abel withered on the ground, bright red liquid spurting out of his arm. No, he wouldn't kill him. Not this time. For his sister, at the very least.

"Who's there?!" Yekaterina all but shrieked.

The blonde winced. He smirked. They couldn't see him, yet. Well, he supposed, a little fun wouldn't hurt. "Leave the king alone and I just might let you live." As Arthur suspected, that only served to rile up the assassins.

"Like hell we will!" Elizabeta said, glaring off in his direction. "Do you know 'ow high te price is on his head? I'm not letting anyone else –" the Hungarian was cut off with a strangled cry. A thin, silver needle pierced her shoulder. Despite its size, Elizabeta was knocked back. She stumbled, trying to gain her balance.

Arthur watched as blood spurted from her shoulder. "I warned you." He sighed, looking at his pocket watch. "I'm afraid we'll have to get this done earlier than expected. Pity." The blonde leaped from the marble balcony. Just for a tad bit more show, Arthur did a spin in the air. He landed softly on the patio, boots clicking on the stone.

"Now, then." Arthur let out a breath, bright green eye gleaming through the darkness. "This is where you all attack me."

Unsurprisingly, Zwingli was the first one to advance.

Bullets rang through the air, splitting the atmosphere. BANG! BANG! BANG! Screaming from within the palace vaguely echoed in his ears. Arthur snorted, dogging the three easily. "Do you even try?" He taunted. Vash was quick to pull out another gun. Arthur was quicker; he whipped around Zwingli - like a snake curling around its prey - and struck. Arthur's hand clutched Vash's wrist. He smirked with dark satisfaction.

...Crack!

Zwingli's pained scream filled the air. Yekaterina tried for a sneak attack. "Ah, ah, ah." Arthur tutted. He wouldn't kill her, but it was mostly because he didn't want to have to deal with her annoying siblings. "Good night, love. And next time, stay away from my targets." His hand struck out at her neck. Yekaterina fell to the ground, unconscious.

"Who's next?" Arthur grinned, assessing them quietly. Zwingli was too weak to do anything. One down. Yekaterina was out. Two down. Now, that only left Morgens, Honda, and Elizabeta.

"Who the fuck are you?!" Elizabeta screeched. Arthur saw Morgens stand, wobbling slightly.

Arthur smirked. They didn't know who he was. Oh, well. It wasn't that much of a surprise. He always took great care that no one ever knew what he looked like. "I'll tell you…but only on the condition that you beat me first." It took a millisecond for the hot-blooded Hungarian to lunge. What Arthur hadn't expected, however, was that Morgens and Honda would also attack at the same time.

Dear, oh, dear. What was he to do?

Slash. Slash. Twist. Turn. Around. Back again. Block. Parry. Block. Block. Block. Shoot. Twist. Slash. Turn. Back. Back. Flip. Around again. Parry. Offense. Offense. Offense. Defense. Shoot. Shoot. Stab. Stab.

Arthur whipped around again, effectively knocking the others back. Adrenaline pushed through his veins, coursing strong and powerful.

"Tch." Elizabeta cursed. She glowered at Arthur. "I will be back, you bastard."

He snorted. "I'm sure." A silvery pin needle pierced through the air, striking right in Elizabeta's airways. Arthur watched her fall down to the ground, blood spurting from the injury.

Another one bites the dust.

Vash and Kiku weren't fazed, jumping at the chance to try and ambush them. Arthur ducked, his face wrinkling in disgust as the two promptly blew the brains out of one another.

He sighed, standing up. "How disappointing." Arthur glared down at the blood covered corpses, trying to fight down the powerful wave of nausea. Cold green eyes turned to Morgens. "Run." Before I change my mind, was left unspoken, but the words rang clear in the air. Arthur watched the Danish man scramble away.

"Now, your Majesty –!" And then there was a sword pressed up against Arthur's neck, ready to behead him at one twitch. Green eyes met indigo. Despite the situation, Arthur smirked. "I knew there was more to you."

The French king smiled. It was almost eerie. "I'm flattered, darling."

"Not even an idiot would walk around unprotected while he remained the most wanted man in the Underground."

"Oh?" Francis raised an eyebrow. "Zough, I am surprised. None of ze ozers guessed it."

Arthur snorted. "I'm not like the others."

"Enlighten me."

The Assassin raised an eyebrow, but the king couldn't see it behind Arthur's mask. "Well, if you would be so kind as to remove your sword so that I may –"

"No." Francis stated firmly. "How do I know you won't kill me the second I move my sword a sliver."

Arthur chuckled darkly. "You don't."

The king looked confused. "You're not like the other assassins."

"I did tell you, you know."

"You're not trying to convince me to spare you, nor are you denying ze fact zat you are after my life." Francis continued, not mentioning Arthur's earlier comment.

"I'm an assassin. I've been hired to kill you." Arthur continued, "And I've just killed three people in front of you. I'm not about to pretend that I'm not going to kill you the second I get the chance. Nothing personal; money's money."

The silence was deafening.

"You're good at what you do." Francis vaguely gestured to the bloody heap of bodies with his head. "And you're honest. How much is your employer paying you?"

"Plenty." Arthur said, just to mess with the king.

Francis' long pale hand reached out. His touch was gentle and that made Arthur flinch more than a harsh touch would have. The king undid Arthur's mask and he let him. The mask fell to the ground, landing in a small pool of blood. Honda's blood, if he remembered correctly. The king's thumb ran across Arthur's cheek. The blonde assassin felt his skin tingle and heart thunder.

What. The. Actual. Fuck.

Finally, Francis gave a soft chuckle. "You have the worst eyebrows I have ever seen." And then he kissed him. The bastard fucking kissed him! "Whatever your employer pays, I'll pay double. I'll even give you food and rooming for free."

"…In return for what, exactly?"

The king gave another chuckle. "In exchange, you become my bodyguard." He paused. "And if you say no," another giggle, though much darker. "zen off wiz your head."

"Bloody French and their beheading." Arthur sighed. He raised an eyebrow at Francis. "Get ready to pay a fortune, Frog."

Francis moved the sword and pressed his lips against Arthur's temple. "Oh, and you 'ave to share my bedroom wiz me. To protect me, of course."

Despite himself, Arthur smirked. Surprisingly, he saw no down side to that arrangement. "Of course."