Given the fact that the long haired Frenchman looked exactly like the little ten year old Francis beyond the bounds of suspicion and coincidence, it took quite a while for it to be explained that the long haired Frenchman was in fact known as "the older Francis". Neither him nor Arthur explained the complicated situation to Alfred, they were far to busy squabbling. At least Arthur was squabbling, Francis simply laughed. Alfred couldn't count the times Arthur had threatened to turn "the frog" into a frog. So many times in fact that Alfred had forced himself to ask Roderich why he didn't. Roderich had then impatiently explained that the older Francis was a Cupid and one night a few centuries before Francis had managed to get hilariously Arthur drunk. So drunk that he had some how managed to get Arthur to sign a treaty between them saying that he could never use magic on a Cupid leaving him almost human to the Frenchman. Alfred had almost laughed at this, but then it had occurred to him that Francis had gone drinking with Arthur and he hadn't and then he got insanely jealous.
He had spent the rest of the afternoon with both of them and Kiku. For a little while he had tried to referee the fighting, but soon Kiku had told him not to bother. At some point the older Francis had come and sat next to Alfred while Arthur had fumed like a child in the corner with the two Italian boys on his shoulders. He had introduced himself as Francis Bonnefoy and the jealous, grumpy American had forced himself to look over the Frenchman. As uncomfortable as it made Alfred he had to admit the man was beautiful. Long silky blond hair, blue eyes that he thought put his own to shame and his features, his features were that of a god. Everything about the man was sculpted and beautiful, and yet he couldn't even vaguely appreciate it, because unlike Arthur this man's beauty was for sale. He saw this beauty in every magazine. He could see that it was a beauty for show, but he was unsure that Arthur could see that. He was well aware that the other blond was blind to quite a few many things.
In the time if an afternoon he had learnt quite a bit about the man. He had known Arthur since he was very young. Apparently he had practically raised him, but mysteriously wasn't as old. He had been born an adult while Arthur had still been a child. He even had a sketch if the younger Arthur in his wallet. Needless to say he ha been the cutest kid in the whole history of children. Alfred had practically drooled. He had pounced on to Arthur immediately so that he could tell him how cute he had been. Arthur had not appreciated this and had accidentally set fire to a curtain, which lead to being lectured by Elizaveta about the hazards of fire safety and just how many children there were in the house and just how precious they were.
He also learnt that Arthur hated the blue eyed Frenchman like nothing else, but… even so there was a tenderness in that hatred. A hatred like a running joke. Unreal, but ever present.
It hurt him. It hurt him like a spear to the chest. He knew he must of been a blink of an eye to the smaller man. He knew that compared to the whole of Arthur's life span he was simply an insignificant dot. How had he thought the he even had a chance with a dragon? How had he thought that Arthur might want him when he could have someone like Francis? How could he have been so stupid?
...
Weeks pasted and Alfred slowly grew more and more miserable. Arthur noticed and had tried to confront him on many occasions, but the younger man would always just brush it off. The more miserable Alfred grew the more worried Arthur became. He let it slide for the most part, but he still kept one eye open. Every night at around the same time, Alfred would drag himself up to Arthur's perch. It was what he lived for. Being the only thing in Arthur's attention, not having to worry about Francis and Ivan and their scandalous attempts. Not having to think about his jealousy and his anxiety, just being in Arthur's warm winged embrace.
Person by person people and creatures left, the children often changing hands. They left on assignments ranging for combat to research. Yet, Arthur never budged. He just wandered around the castle, occasionally going out and musing about his home. After a while Alfred inquired about the lack of movement and he had said that he was really just for show. Like having an atomic bomb you never intend to use, but still threaten to.
Eventually the only people left in the castle were Elizaveta, two of the vampires, Ivan's older sister, Arthur, Alfred, Yao and most of the children. The rest had been sent out all over Europe. To Iceland, to Germany, to Switzerland, to Spain. Every morning they would gather and chat. It was more like they were house mates rather than a military operation run by a crazy lady wielding a frypan. It seemed that Yao was much the same as Arthur, another atomic bomb. His whole family were the highest ranking Archangels the world had to offer. Yao's power still didn't come anywhere near Arthur's, but they seemed to be quite good friends. Alfred also quite liked the two vampires that stayed back. There was the oldest in appearance, the tall stoic one with the glasses and the scary face and the second smallest one, who was bouncy and happy and kept falling over things. The older one was named Berwald and the smaller one Tino. They were a riot in Alfred's opinion. Ivan's sister was by far the least scary in her family. She was happy and calming and had mothering instincts like a bird. She often helped Arthur when he looked after the children, which was always.
...
A child crawled over Arthur's stomach, another was playing with his hair. Three were sitting on his legs and two others were sleeping peacefully under his arms. He was convinced the children only saw him as a large play toy that occasionally dispensed food and played with them. Surprisingly it didn't bother him that much. He was quite happy playing with the children.
"Arthur!" His eyes jolted open with a start as did many of the children's. Feli crawled out from under one of his arms and Ravis sat up a little after being nestled into the man's chest. Peter's hand pause in his hair. He moved his head in the boy's lap so he could see the door to the drawing room. HRE crouched over his hip and glared at the door. Each of the children watched the slab of wood as they heard pounding footsteps banging down the corridor, each of them with an irritated expression. To them Arthur's nap time was scared and not to be disturbed.
The door swung open and all eyes settled on the figure in the doorway. Alfred's cheeks were rosy and his breathing rapid and something in his stature was dazed, swaying even. One look at Alfred and Arthur's green eyes narrowed. Something was wrong and he could tell. He slowly stood, the children toppling off him like sand, all quietly moving out of the way for him.
"Alfie" Arthur's voice was low and warning. He didn't like the idea that Alfred was swaying, it made him nervous. Alfred didn't respond to the sound of Arthur's name for him. Though he did manage to focus on Arthur, blue eyes glued to emerald. Arthur held his palm up to the taller man's forehead and felt the fever in his system. Sighing, he drew back. Almost as soon as his hand left the man's forehead Alfred stubbled forward and promptly collapsed. In a panic Arthur stepped forward and tried in vain to keep him up. The two of them sank to the floor, Alfred's nose buried in the smaller man's chest. Arthur held him tightly, suppressing panic. He could feel his breath on his skin, he probably just had a cold and a bad constitution. At least that's what Arthur decided to tell himself. There were several coos from the children in concern and confusion. The dragon rolled his head back.
"Children, can you please go play with Aunty Kat? I have to take care of Alfred" there were a few out of tune 'yes, Uncle Arthur's and a single 'yes, Mr Kirkland' from Ravis. "Peter, please go find Yao and tell him to met me at Alfred's room" all the children ran out of the rooms and down the hall, leaving the two men still crumpled on the floor. Arthur sighed deeply. "What an idiot, collapsing like this" he said to himself. He had acted like he had even the faintest idea what he was doing in front of the children, but truth be told, nothing even briefly came to him. He didn't even know how to get up. Quietly he buried his nose into Alfred's soft hair to comfort himself, figuring if he was passed out it wouldn't matter.
Then Alfred began to chuckle. Arthur's nose shot out of the soft threads of Alfred's hair and his cheeks grew a sharp shade of scarlet.
"You brat, you tricked me" Arthur could keep the growl from his voice and he didn't care to.
But how had he been tricked?
You can't fake a fever like the one Alfred still laid claim to. Arthur could feel heat radiating off the American, and not in the usual way. Without his content Arthur was suddenly thrown over Alfred's shoulder, shaky hands gripping him. He squealed with fright. Oh, not this again, he thought as he began to beat his fists against the larger man's back.
"Put me down this instant, you brute!" He yelled, unafraid of someone hearing him. Actually he would of been grateful if they did, but he knew that no one was in this part of the house. Unfortunately for him Alfred bedroom was right next to the drawing room and that seemed to be the feverish man's destination. A thought crossed Arthur's mind and he started to bash his fists even harder. "Don't you dare! You put me down right now or so help me I will tie you to a chair in the basement and burn you to a crisp!" Arthur's voice was a threatening hiss, but Alfred only laughed. The dragon felt Alfred bend down slightly and he was throw onto a bed with a zombie climbing on top of him. Emerald once again met sapphire and Arthur's heart beat rapidly in his chest as he saw the intense lust in his friend's eyes. His cheeks burning and his abilities to think fading, Alfred lowered his head, his lips so close to the man he loved. He wanted to kiss, he wanted to kiss until his jaw hurt and the world spun, but something in his love's eyes told him that if he kissed, he would be the only one. His eyes weren't filled with the love Alfred felt, they only imprisoned wariness and fear and possibly some embarrassment. He felt warm breath on his face and a pounding headache. Everything else seemed to disappear with Arthur's smell, spiced tea and books. He pulled back a little so he could look at the person he so adored.
"Listen" his voice was barely even a whisper. "I know… I know I'm not who you want. I-I know I'll never be that person" he nuzzled against the side of Arthur's soft, soft hair knowing the smaller was listening. "I know I'm not Francis… but… please, let me kiss you" he felt the smaller man tense beneath him and then a characteristic scoff. Something fell onto his head, and he passed out, collapsing into the most lovely smell he had ever had the pleasure to smell. He just heard someone saying "thank you, Yao" before the world disappeared into a mysterious darkness.
Author's notes:
And thus we have another chapter. Thank's everyone who helped with reviews.
Special thanks to furrfurr2001 and I've-Got-All-The-Homo,seriously great ideas, helped me so much. Expect that the next chapter will have some serious fluff and I'm considering a stolen kiss, blame it on these two, seriously thank you so, so much.
With much love,
Clementine
Ps: I'm starting an new story with Romania and Bulgaria called "the laws of green are written in red" and its going to fantasy and romance, so if you see it around, please check it out.
