Title: Not All Treasure Is Silver And Gold
Rating: T
Beta: AnimeAiedail
Warnings: Again, there will be yaoi. Probably more OOC Canada…
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Hetalia characters or anything from Pirates of the Caribbean.
Summary: Taught to despise pirates all his life, how will Alfred cope when he is captured by one Arthur Kirkland, the pirate captain with a curse that only Alfred has the key to breaking?
oxo…oxo
Everything was silent as they rowed the longboats through the misty water towards the caves of the Isla de Muerta. Arthur was sat next to his 'prisoner', overseeing the rowing and trying his best not to look at the usually cheer filled blonde beside him.
When they reached the cavern they got out of the boats, walking through the caves and into the large cavern that held the treasure they had accumulated over the past years that they had been unable to use.
Arthur paused in the entrance to the large cavern, not realising Alfred was watching him. He sighed, allowing his stoic expression to fall as he watched his crew race around the treasure. They had waited so long for this…
He jumped as a hand slipped into his, gently squeezing it in reassurance. Looking round, his eyes widened as they met the dazzling blue of Alfred's. The blonde was looking at him with a small smile, such emotion in his eyes he thought he might burst.
"It's alright," he muttered reassuringly, squeezing the pirate's hand. "I understand."
Arthur just stared at him for a moment, his heart beating wildly and a strange feeling buzzing in his stomach, before his eyes narrowed and he swiped his hand away, a deep blush staining his cheeks.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he told the man before walking further into the cavern. It was a couple of seconds before he heard Alfred's footsteps following him.
He gulped. He didn't want to do this. Not if it would cost Alfred his life…
No! Why was he thinking like that? He was a pirate wasn't he? He should be relishing in spilling this man's blood. But then…why was it that, as he continued to climb the mound of gold and silver to get to the chest that rested on top, the faces of his crew saddened? Why was it that fear gripped him? Why?
He didn't know.
Eyes catching Francis, he frowned slightly. Maybe…what the man had said had been true?
"You need not spill all his blood. One drop will do mon ami, and none of the crew would blame you for it,"
He hated Francis for acting so superior…but what he said was true. There was nothing that said it needed to be a huge amount of blood. In all technicalities one drop would do…and there was no harm in trying. If it didn't work they could just spill it all.
Mind made up, he smirked; striding up to the chest with renewed vigour.
Alfred smiled wistfully as he noticed the change in attitude. It seemed the captain really didn't care if he died. But he would be alright. He would give his life to end this man's unhappiness, to get rid of the sadness and pain that plagued those green orbs. He didn't know why he felt the way that he did, why he would willingly give his life blood for this man he had only known for about a week.
But he would.
xxx…xxx
"What Code is Gilbert to keep to if the worst should happen?"
Antonio looked up at a disgruntled yet curious looking Lovino as he rowed the longboat through the catacombs of the island caves.
"Pirate's Code." He replied with one of his rare sighs. "Any man that falls behind is left behind."
Lovino scoffed slightly, but his face held a tinge of worry. "No heroes amongst thieves, hu?"
Antonio raised an eyebrow, a small smile coming to his face. "You know, for having such a bleak outlook on pirates you're well on your way to becoming one. Sprung a man from jail, commandeered a ship of the Fleet, sailed with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga…and you're completely obsessed with treasure."
Lovino looked at him with a slack jaw. "That's not true. I am not fucking obsessed with treasure!"
"Not all treasure is silver and gold, mi querido." Antonio replied, shooting Lovino a look that, if the Italian had to describe it, he would call wistful, though that wasn't exactly what it was. Swiftly getting out of the boat as it hit the shore with a small scraping noise, Antonio avoided his eyes. Lovino glared at him, not entirely sure what he meant by either his words or that look, before getting out after the pirate captain; following him up a ridge of rock to see a gathering of people, pirates, standing among a sea of gold and jewels.
On top of the largest pile of jewels and rocks stood two blonde men, one slightly taller than the other. At first Lovino didn't know who they were but after a couple of seconds his eyes widened slightly as he recognised the taller.
It was Alfred.
He pursed his lips, glancing at Antonio and frowning. The bastard still had his happy go lucky smile on his face as he watched the pair in the middle. Lovino glared at him before turning back to the group of pirates before them.
The shorter blond turned, sweeping his arms out wide before addressing the men.
"Gentlemen, the time has come! Our salvation is nigh! Our torment is near at end. For ten years we've been tested and tried, and each of you here has proved his mettle a hundred times over and a hundred times again!" Arthur began, voice echoing through the cavern and met with roars of approval. "Punished, we were. The lot of us - disproportionate to our crimes! Here it is," he paused to kick the lid from the chest, revealing hundreds of golden coins exactly like the one that now hung gently round Alfred's neck. "The cursed treasure of Cortez himself. Every last piece that went astray, we have returned, save for this one."
Lovino growled as Arthur pointed at Alfred's neck, moving to make towards them before being held back by a serious looking Antonio.
"Not yet," he told the boy before trailing his gaze back to the pirates. "We need to wait for the opportune moment."
Lovino stared at him in disbelief, taking in the determined expression on the pirate captain's face. "Opportune moment?" he hissed in annoyance, causing Antonio to look back at him with a small smile.
"Si mi querido, when the time comes, stay here. I will rescue your friend." He replied with a look on his face that Lovino had never seen there before. It was almost jealousy mixed with a little bit of sadness and regret…but why would he feel that?
"Eight hundred and eighty one we found but despaired of ever finding the last…" Arthur continued, oblivious to the pair watching him from the shadows.
"When the hell is that? When it's of greatest profit to you?" Lovino asked, voice like venom as he thought back to the conversation in Tortuga. They had spoken about using him as a bargaining chip. Maybe that's really all he was to the pirate.
Antonio looked at him in surprise. "What makes you think that?" he asked, causing Lovino to look away, a small blush staining his cheeks. He remained silent, but there was a hurt frown on his face. Antonio sighed. "Have I ever given you reason not to trust me? Please, stay here and let me handle this. It's not going to be easy to get that boy out of there,"
Lovino looked at him sharply, eyes widening in realisation as he looked into the pirates green eyes, filled with concern and a silent plea for the Italian to do as asked. Then his eyes narrowed.
He understood.
…
"And who among us has paid the blood sacrifice owed to the heathen gods?" Arthur cried, voice reverberating through Alfred's skull. He knew what was coming, and he was scared. But he wasn't going to show it. He was going to stand there like a man and let them take his blood to lift the curse. He wanted Arthur to be free.
"Us!" the crew replied, grinning madly as a whole.
"And whose blood must yet be paid?" Arthur continued, a small smirk coming to his face at the words. The smirk sent a jolt of pain through his chest. Did he really mean that little to the man?
"His!" the crew replied once again, this time a little bit more hesitant than the first; causing the blonde to smile sadly.
Taking a knife out of his belt, he raised it up before grabbing Alfred's wrist, causing the man to yelp slightly. Tugging the medallion from his neck, he placed it in Alfred's palm, causing him to look at the pirate in confusion.
"Begun by blood, by blood undone."
Then he slashed the man's palm, causing him to gasp slightly. "That's it?" he asked, causing Arthur to smile at him. A genuine smile only he could see.
"Waste not, want not." He replied with a small chuckle, causing Alfred to laugh softly as he let go of the medallion and let it fall. It landed in the chest with a clink, causing the cavern to fall eerily silent.
…
"No way bastard," Lovino hissed, causing Antonio to look at him in surprise. So intent on figuring out what the Italian meant though, he didn't notice when Lovino's arm swung round to smack him harshly on the back of his head with a small rock.
He blinked hazily before swaying, his eyes closing as he landed on the floor. Lovino looked down at the pirate captain with a small frown before sighing.
"Stay here," he instructed to the now unconscious man below him. "I'm not letting you get yourself hurt for me when you don't have to." He muttered before walking round the rocky wall of the cave.
He had realised the man's intentions. Antonio thought it was a suicide mission…or at least that it was highly dangerous. So he was going to do it himself, to protect Lovino. That wouldn't do.
He certainly wasn't the bravest of people but for some reason he just couldn't stand the thought of Antonio getting hurt. Seriously anyway. And so, this time, he would be brave. He would take care of his own problems.
He would be the 'hero'.
…
"Did it work?" Tino asked, looking up at the Arthur and Alfred in confusion.
"I, like, totally don't feel any different."
"How do we tell?" Francis asked with furrowed eyebrows, eyes widening as a loud bang went off, his body jerking from the impact of taking a bullet from the pistol Arthur had aimed at his chest. He looked down slightly before sighing. "It didn't work mon ami. You are still no closer to getting me off your ship,"
Arthur cursed.
Then comprehension dawned.
"You're not dead."
"It didn't work."
"The curse it still upon us!"
"Alfred! Your brother, what was his name? Was your brother Feliciano Vargas?" Arthur asked, eyes boring into the man standing in front of him. The blonde's mouth opened and closed like a fish, his eyes wide a he took a step backwards from the fierce green eyes of the pirate captain.
"N-no." he stuttered, causing anger and hurt to spring into the pirate's eyes.
"Where are they? Those two boys in whose veins flows the blood of the Vargas family?" he bent to grasp the medallion back from the chest, "where is the one who gave you this? Where?" he asked sharply, a cold tone in his voice that caused Alfred to look at him, mouth agape. He said nothing, too shocked to reply, causing Arthur to growl. "You lied to me you wanker," he ground out, hurt flashing in his eyes.
"I didn't realise-" Alfred tried, walking towards Arthur with his hands outstretched, but he was cut off by the pirate's sharp cry.
"You lied to me! You said you understood but you never wanted to help me at all did you? Never! You just wanted to laugh at me like all the others, well, there you go; laugh!" he hissed, punching the man harshly across the face and causing him to fall down the hill of jewels to land in a heap on the floor.
What the other's said after that, Alfred wasn't sure. His mind had gone numb as he lay there. He had wanted to help Arthur, but he had failed. Not once had he realised that it had to be a specific person. He had just assumed they chose him because he actually had blood, not because of the fake name he had given them.
He supposed he should have been suspicious when they had found such interest in his 'name'. After all, it was only after that they had really shown an interest in him, rather than what he had possessed.
He sighed, closing his eyes and laying his head back on the rocks beneath him. His head hurt again…and sleep seemed so relaxing and comfortable right now…
…
Lovino flinched as he watched Alfred land on the rock, hitting the ground harshly. He watched the boy gasp in pain, his eyes narrowing, before he made his way quickly towards his friend.
Using the confusion now making an uproar in the cavern, he made his way quietly to Alfred's side; covering the man's mouth in order to stop him from saying anything. Alfred jumped, before looking up at him with dazed eyes. They were uncomprehending pools of glazed blue, so unlike his usual sky-like orbs.
He pursed his lips before helping the man to his feet. After getting a disorientated Alfred upright and leaning on his shoulder's he turned to leave, pausing as something caught the corner of his eye.
It was the medallion. Swiftly, he picked it up, rubbing it between his fingers for a moment before pocketing it and dragging Alfred towards the boat. Placing his friend in the longboat he turned to look for Antonio.
He wasn't where Lovino had left him.
Panic flared inside him as he frantically searched the surrounding area. He was about to extend his search when a shout made him freeze, chilling him to the bone.
"He's taken the medallion! Get after him, you feckless pack of ingrates!"
He sucked in breath. There was no time. He needed to go; now.
Giving the cavern one last search and finding nothing, he cursed the pirate captain to the far reaches of hell before collecting all the pirates' oars and hurrying back over to his longboat.
He didn't want to leave the Spaniard…but he didn't have a choice. Alfred needed to leave or they would get caught.
So he left, the guilt in him growing with every stroke of his oars.
…
"Where are all the oars?" Toris asked as they scurried around the shore. There were none.
"The oars have gone missing. Find them!" came an order from somewhere to his left and he sighed slightly. He supposed he really should at least make it look like he was looking for them…though honestly he kind of just wanted Alfred to escape. He was a nice boy, and didn't deserve what was happening to him. Toris truly believed the boy had wanted to help.
Rounding a corner, his eyes widened as he came face to face with someone he never thought he would see again. "You!" he gasped, causing the other man to blink, taking in who was standing in front of him and smiling.
"Toris,"
"You're, like, supposed to be dead!" Feliks cried from behind him, coming quickly over and attracting most of the other pirate's attentions. Toris wasn't usually one for violence, but right then he could have hit the blonde he called his best friend.
Antonio frowned. "Am I not?" he asked in confusion before looking down at himself and raising his eyebrows. "Oh."
Beginning to move backwards slightly as he began to get his bearings back, he gulped as he bumped into what felt threatingly like a trio of pistols.
"Uh...Palulay? palu-li-la-la-lulu, parlili? parsnip, pasley, par - partner, partner?" he rambled, looking for the right words. Toris' eyes lit up as he realised what his former captain was trying to say.
"Parley?" he asked, trying to make it look like he was just trying to correct the man.
Antonio grinned widely. "Parley! That's the one. Parley!"
Arthur looked at the man in shock as he came through the crowd, arriving just in time to hear the Spaniard's last word. He growled.
"Parley? Down to the depths whatever man that thought up parley!" he ground out, lifting his own pistol to the man's head. Antonio's grin widened as he took in the blonde captain before him; eyes flickering to the first mate standing to the side as he replied.
"That would be the French."
oxo…oxo
Dear reader,
I had to keep that line in XD
Well, I hope you liked this! I think it turned out alright. It was a bit of a bugger to write, but I actually have a proper plan now of what happened before, you know? All the back-story. Anyway, I hope you like it and continue to read and review!
Animeloveramy
Si, the back story is fairly impressive actually, as is the way the countries have grown to become there pirate colleagues, seems to be working well
AnimeAiedail
Who's who
America – Alfred Jones – Elizabeth Swann
Canada – Matthew Jones (for this story. Usually its Williams) – Commodore James Norrington
South Italy (Romano) – Lovino Vargas – William Turner
Spain – Antonio Fernandez Carriedo – Captain Jack Sparrow
Estonia – Eduard Von Bock – the chubbier of the two navy officers. Mallory
Latvia – Raivis Galante – the other navy dude. Murtogg
Austria – Roderich Edelstein – Gillette (The lieutenant)
Poland – Feliks Łukasiewicz – Pintel and/or Ragetti
Lithuania – Toris Laurinaitis – Pintel and/or Ragetti
Finland - Tino Väinämöinen – Twigg
Sweden - Berwald Oxenstierna – Koehler
England – Arthur Kirkland – Captain Barbossa
France – Francis Bonnefoy – Arthur's first mate
Hungary - Elizaveta Héderváry – Anamaria