Ireland returns! And so do the voices! Molly belongs to Simply a writer!
It was a while later before Al woke up. He gets up heading to the bathroom. Matt stayed asleep. Arthur heard him from the library though. "Someone's up..." Francis glanced over to the door. Al slips into the bathroom to pee.
"Probably one of the twins...Best they don't see Iain yet..."
Al finished and walks out. The library was near the bathroom... And with the door cracked open... Al walks past then backtracks catching a glimpse of them.
Arthur cussed under his breath then got up quickly, acting like nothing was wrong. "Ah, hello m'boy! How're you feeling?"
Al shrugs. 'Ok I guess.'
"That's good," He smiled warmly. "Would you like a cup of tea? We were just about to head down and make a pot."
'Yeah.'
He looped an arm around his shoulders and started steering him to the stairs. Al stumbles along. Francis comes out, carefully shutting the door. They make their way down carefully, neither of them 100% just yet. Francis follows behind.
It takes a while, but they make it. Al sits at the table and Francis starts the tea.
"I assume Matthew is sleeping?"
Al nods.
"That's good... He needs rest too."
A stab of guilt hit him but he brushed it away. Arthur sat, twiddling his thumbs as he glanced outside. Al caught it though. Why did he seem nervous?
He was still at odds with Ireland over her rebellion... But she was the only one that could help...
Al glanced over to Arthur as Francis sets out the cups. Arthur put on a smile for him. Al could still sense something off though. Tension was thickening the air. They sit silently with the tea. Arthur drank silently, glancing out periodically. Al was just feeling more and more off.
Just when it seemed too much, Matt came down. "Ah! Arthur! Do you know how to look after pixies?"
Al glanced up to him. Francis does as well.
Matt had Ro, the fae looking green. "I think we fed her something off..."
Al frowns slightly.
Arthur got up and examined her. "This isn't food..." Al looks at Matt. Matt frowned but Arthur carried on. "Has she touched your bracelets?" Al blinks checking his. It looked fine... So did Matt's... "It's iron poisoning," Arthur frowned. "She must have rubbed against one..."
Al frowns. He was tempted to take it off now.. Iain had warned that fae couldn't take metal, but he never said it hurt them... Ro looked like she was in agony... The guilt came back..
Arthur took her, laying her on a tea cozy. Al watched worriedly as he took Matt's hand. Without magic, there was little Arthur could do again... Al on the other hand was feeling down again.
No one had time to wallow though as the front door swung open. Al jumps not expecting it. So did most the room. Soon, Ireland came in, wild shock of orange hair like a lion's mane around her pale face.
Al blinks, now he was really starting to worry..
"Where is he?" She looked to Francis.
Francis stands leading her upstairs. Al blinks moving to follow. What was going on?
Arthur stopped him, shaking his head. "Let them be..."
Al frowns a bit. *Matt?*
*I don't know either...*
Al sits unsure what to do. Matt turned to Arthur, asking what was going on. Al glanced between them.
"Just let them be."
Al frowns again. Matt did too... "I'm gonna ask Ireland if she can help Ro..."
Al gets up too, he wasn't gonna give up just yet.
"Wait until she comes down!" Arthur scolded firmly.
Al frowns again. *What the hell?*
*Screw it.* Matt brushed passed him. "I'm going."
Al glanced back before following. Arthur tried to stop them, but his ribs must have hurt cuz he stopped, groaning. Matt carried on. Al right behind him. They trudge up, getting to the top just in time to hear a yelp. *That was Molly!*
Al follows the sound to the library. They rushed in, finding Molly slumped against the wall, a glimmer of red on her chin. Francis was next to her checking her over.
Matt rushed in. "What happened?!"
Al walks in after. Francis turns seeing them and sighs. Iain sat in his chair, no different to earlier. Molly was stirring, trying to get up but her arms were burnt, mouth bleeding.
Al took it all in paling. Matt froze, trying to take it in. He turned to Al, lost. *What is all this...?*
*I..I don't know..* Deep in the back of his mind he knew it had something to do with him though..
+It's always your fault. You've even dragged Molly into this. She loved you... She loved you and look what you've done! She can't even sit up!+
He frowns taking a step back.
Matt frowned. *Al...?* Molly collapsed to the carpet again, staining it red as she coughed up blood. He turns heading out of the room. Francis watched sadly but stays to help Molly. Matt followed, leaving the older nations to it.
Al slips out the window clawing his way onto the roof. +You can't run. She'll hate you for this! They'll all hate you!+ *Al!*
Al huddles up near the chimney the wind breezing around him.
Matt climbed out awkwardly, not as nimble. *Alfie?*
Al just sits head in his knees. Matt clambered up, touching his shoulder gently. Al shivers slightly.
*Alfie... What's wrong...?*
*'s my fault..*
*W...what is?*
*They're hurt cause of me..*
*Who, Molly and Iain?*
Al nods.
*Bro, that's dumb, even for you...*
Al curls up again.
*Look,* He softened, hugging gently. *Whatever is happening in there, it isn't your fault. You know we could never make the Celts do what they didn't want to...*
Al leans on him.
He hugged him tight. *No one blames you...*
But they ended up like this protecting him.. He almost didn't feel worth the effort..
But he was. He was a world superpower for one... And loved by too many nations for them to ignore the world's hero.
Al sits leaning on him. Matt held him close, whispering little reassurances. Al clings, trying to listen. He projected them to his mind too, soft and warm, pulling up memories of when they announced it to the world summit that America was missing.
Al watched curiously.
The general response was outrage and shock. A few nations burst into tears and others threw accusations and threats. Memory Matt stood, colder than his icecaps as he called everyone to order, surprisingly dominating for someone normally overlooked.
Al was surprised really, most of the time they made passing insults whenever they talked to him. That was solely to make sure he didn't grow arrogant. Most of them needed him.
Al grips his twin, hugging. Matt held him tight, feeding the memories. Al continues to watch. It was much of same really, planning to find him, save him... Al nuzzles close.
Then when they tracked him down, how to get him out. Germany planned a lot of it, but every nation involved volunteered. Al grips Matt close. Soon, he'd run through realizing he was gone right up to bringing him home.
Al sits for a minute taking it in. A lot had happened in that time... Without even being there, Al was the reason the world was closer than ever. He shifts hugging Matt and nuzzling into his neck. Matt hugged tight, stroking his hair. They sit like that for a while.
*It looks like rain soon...*
Al glanced up. Dark clouds hovered on the horizon. Al sighs hugging again before letting go.
*We can get an umbrella and sit in the yard, but I don't want to risk the roof...*
*Ok..*
They worked their way down from the roof. Al slips back in through the window and sits on the bed.
*You wanna stay here?*
Al hesitated. *..maybe we should check on Dad..*
*If you want to.*
Al grips his hand for a moment before standing. They head back downstairs, looking for Arthur. Al looks into the kitchen sheepishly. Arthur wasn't there... He frowns.
*Maybe he went to bed...?*
*Maybe...*
They went up to see. Al stayed a bit behind Matt.
"He's not here either... Arthur?!"
*...library..?*
Matt frowned and headed back there. Al follows behind. They stepped through the door just in time to see Molly slump into Iain's lap, arms still burnt and body shivering.
Al frowns. Matt hovered by the door, just looking. Arthur and Francis were there too, the Brit tending his brother. Al stands behind Matt still feeling slightly guilty. Francis was looking over Molly's arms.
She squirmed, wincing. "Francis..."
"We need to treat it.." He stands going to get the first aid kit but paused at seeing the twins.
Matt stood slightly forward. "I can get it...? Al wanted to talk to Dad..."
Al shrunk up slightly. Francis nods. Matt nudged Al to Arthur before slipping off. Arthur sighed. "Francis, he still won't wake..."
Al walks over slowly, Francis rubs Arthur's back. Arthur sighed and looked up. "Alfred..."
Al gave a weak wave. Arthur just shook his head and opened his arms to him. Al sunk into them. He just hugged him close, a silent reassurance. Al hugs back trying to do the same.
It was hard for him to relax with Iain sat there though. The Scot was still staring white eyed and stiff. Francis comes over hugging them both.
They leaned in for a group hug until Matt came back with the medical kit. Francis looks up and smiles softly at him. Matt smiled back, handing him the kit before taking his place in the hug. Al glanced over at Molly. She sat against the wall, looking beat. Her arms were red and black, bleeding on her shirt.
He frowns wiggling out and walking over. They watched curiously. He sits next to her and carefully hugs her as well. She hissed softly as he caught her arm but let him stay, even making an effort to hug back. Al sits there. Francis smiles softly.
After a while though, she had to pull away, arms hurting too much.
Al lets her be, but still couldn't help the pang of guilt on hurting her. Francis picks up the kit and walks over to tend to the burns. That was a slow and painful process, but they got through it. Al sits back with the others watching.
Soon, Molly was bandaged, Matt was hugging Arthur and Iain's eyes were starting to regain colour, however faint. Al sits fidgeting with his sleeve. Matt reached out to him again. He leans in.
*How does Molly seem to you...?*
*Kind of bad..*
*Ro is still bad too...*
Al sighs. *It's all a mess..*
*I know... But it happens.. *
Al sits fidgeting again. Molly stopped in her little argument with France over the tightness of her wrappings suddenly. "Alfie... or Mata? Something around you feels off..."
Al blinks, Matt was just as stunned. "What...?"
Al tugs his sleeve down nervously.
That just made her frown and shuffle over. "What'cha hiding?"
Al shrugs looking away.
She raised a brow dubiously. "Show me."
He didn't respond. She didn't need to see how damaged he was..
She wasn't giving up. "Show me, or I'll find out for myself."
Al just gazed at the floor. At least his hand was partially healed.
She reached over, gently moving up his sleeve. He tugs back weakly. Even injured, she overpowered him - Something she usually had no hope of doing. "How'd that happen?"
The bandages only continued up his arm. Al fidgets looking away. She was about to press when her gaze turned up to Matt's pocket, where Ro was hidden. Al hurriedly pulls his sleeve back down.
She moved over "Whats in there?"
Arthur leaned to Francis. "Should we stop her?"
"She'll find out either way.."
Matt let her take the fae and she softened instantly. "Aw, poor thing..."
Francis sighs hugging Arthur and casting a glance to Al. Al sits watching Molly and Ro. Arthur watched as she tended to her. Molly cupped Ro in her hands, whispering softly.
Al glanced between them, reconsidering wearing that bracelet. A tiny gasp came from between slender fingers and Ro came back to life, looking around disorientedly. Al gave a small smile. Molly smiled and handed her back to Matt who beamed. He looked like he'd been handed the world.
*She ok now?*
Matt relayed the question to Molly who assured them Ro was fine. Al smiles at that.
The imp was starting to come alive again, sitting on Matt's shoulder. Al shifts standing up. All eyes turn to him, curious. He blinks at that walking over next to Matt.
Matt followed him with his eyes. *You okay?*
*Yeah..*
*Wanna see Ro?*
*I don't wanna hurt her though..*
*You're gentle enough. You know it as well as I do.*
He fidgets slipping the bracelet off and into his pocket. Matt offered the tiny creature, the poor thing still looked a bit weak... Al smiles holding her gently.
She sat in his hands, looking up at him almost sleepily. "Hello giantman..."
He waves at her.
"You still don't talk..." She pouted.
He smiles sadly shrugging.
She turned to Matt. "Can't you at least dump me on someone who can use their tongue..."
"Ro... Be nice..."
Francis frowns at that, he could see Al's eyes darken a bit.
"Be nice else I'll remove your tongue, little mite." Molly glared, silencing the fae at once.
Al hands her back to Matt signing. 'It's fine.'
"It's not fine, that was extremely rude," Matt frowned, setting Ro on the floor. "You can sit down there for a while."
Al smiles a bit at that, it was kind of amusing how parental Matt can be sometimes.
Ro sulked and Matt sighed. *Ignore her... She's inherently rude...*
Al silently chuckles a bit.
Arthur sighed. "We really should move him..."
Al glanced up. He was looking at Iain again, a mere statue of a man. Francis comes over hugging him, then goes to scoop Iain up.
That got a few looks. Yes, they were roughly the same size, but people tended to forget France was strong... Or was Iain just really light... He wasn't nearly as strong as the twins, but he could do this at least. He carries Iain off to his room.
Arthur sighed softly, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Al stands giving Arthur another hug. He hugged back, needing a bit of support. Al rubs his back.
He turned his head to his sister. "You sure you want to charge the shield?"
"I'm fine, just shut it."
Al glanced to her. So that's what happened? It seemed to be quite a tale and odds were no one would want to tell Al... He felt another pang of guilt, if only he could protect himself again they wouldn't need too..
It was just a precaution... If anyone tried to break in, they'd be broken...
Al sighs mentally trying to push the thoughts away. He turns to Arthur changing the subject. 'Do you have some thread I can use?'
He frowned curiously but nodded. "Downstairs, why...?"
'Project I'm doing.'
"Alright... Come on, let's go find you some thread."
Al follows behind him as they go downstairs. They go to the lounge and Arthur pulled out his sewing kit. Al picks out some plain white thread and sits putting the rest of his supplies on the coffee table. A hoop, his feathers, some swede lace Matt happened to have. He was just missing beads.
Molly had had some braided into her hair when she came in... Maybe... He'd ask in a bit. For now he didn't need them right away. Matt sat beside him, offering company. Arthur picked up his needlework, keeping himself busy.