Author's Note: Okay, So I'm back from the Orientation activity and I have had too much social activity for one day.. Ugh. SO! I don't want to do any more outside activities but we have a toga party and my roommates are probably going to make me do that. :( I just want to stay in.
Oh well. So I have to look over at the last chapter to see what I wrote for the last Author's note before I write down a nice one here. I hope you enjoy this chapter meanwhile.
Disclaimer: No.
Warnings: I think maybe kissing but should that really even be a warning?
It only takes one loud boom for a storm to be born and the same for a fear or storms to be born.
Arthur was sitting in front of the blazing fire, shoulders covered by a blue star-spangled blanket, sipping a warm cup of tea. Alfred's head lay in his lap playing his Nintendo DS.
Arthur looked down endearingly as Alfred bit his tongue in concentration making his little Mario cart drift away from a certain crash with Peach's cart. The credits began to roll as Alfred started swearing up a storm. He turned off the game as soon as the little screen saying do not turn off game went away.
"I take it you didn't do so well?"
"No, I got second place… I lost to a girl…"
"A computer operated girl who actually always runs that same course."
"Not making it any better Arthur,"
"Sorry love,"
Suddenly a clap of thunder outside made Arthur jump and Alfred scream.
"Alfred what the hell?!"
"Oh, it's uh, nothing, just that it uh, caught me off guard."
"Alright," Arthur said shaking a little.
"Are you alright Artie?" Alfred asked.
"I-I-I'll be fine," Arthur said as he tried taking a calming sip from his tea.
"You hate storms, they remind you of, you know,"
"The blitz? Yes, I know," Arthur said closing his eyes as the rumbling came closer.
"I could, hold you for a bit if you want?"
"I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Alfred, I'll be okay," Arthur said opening his emerald green eyes and glancing for the first time at Alfred. The boisterous nation had an odd look on his face and he seemed to be trembling.
"You're shaking,"
"It's j-just the cold,"
"You're pale,"
"It's just the l-lighting from the fireplace,"
"You're stammering,"
"I'm fine Iggy," Alfred said slowly trying to control it.
"What is it Alfred?"
"I've never told you before Arthur but I'm-"
He was cut off by a loud clap of thunder much closer than the last, and while Arthur had been waiting for it and tensed before it arrived, Alfred had been caught off guard again and he jumped before emmiting a high-pitched 'eep' sounding alarmingly similar to his twin. It was the Canadian in him…
"Are you afraid of the thunder as well Alfred?"
"Yes," Alfred said shaking as he wrapped his own lion-clad blanket around him.
"But every time there's been a storm, you're the one who comforts me,"
"Yeah but, usually that's only in America, where I know the storm is coming and can prepare myself. We're in England now, I didn't know the storm was coming and I didn't prepare."
"You prepare for storms?"
"I take a lot of sleeping pills and sleep through them, or go somewhere sunny, or drink… a lot…"
"I've only ever gotten drunk and run off to wherever you were. Is that why you're always sleeping whenever there's a storm at your house and I run over?"
"Maybe," Alfred said sheepishly
"Well, come here," Arthur said stretching his arms towards America.
America immediately jumped into those arms and mumbled something into Arthur's shirt.
"What was that love?"
"Promise not to tell anyone?"
"Cross my heart,"
"Protect me from the thunder?"
"You've always protected me, it's time for me to return the favor," Arthur said as he tensed when another clap of thunder passed.
"I'll keep you safe too if you're scared,"
"Deal," Arthur said burying his face into the crook of Alfred's neck.
There was a bright explosion of light followed by a loud clap of thunder. It was followed by quieter but more frantic booms on the door downstairs. Alfred woke up and looked around groggily. He glanced at his bedside clock before remembering Texas and putting it on his nose.
"2:32 a.m." he said aloud. Alfred groaned. He was pretty sure there was a meeting tomorrow and he needed his rest. Who the hell could be knocking at his door?
Suddenly another flash of light and boom alerted him to the situation outside. The knocking (pounding?) outside stopped for a heart-clenching second before continuing even more frantic than before.
Alfred quickly got up and headed down the stairs knowing exactly what was going on now.
He unlocked the door and a smaller soaking man threw himself on Alfred.
"Oof," Alfred said but quickly wrapped his arms around the shaking sobbing figure.
It was only Arthur. The smaller man wrapped his arms tightly around Alfred and sobbed. Alfred blushed and realized he should have put on a shirt but nonetheless shushed Arthur gently and stroked his messy hair back tenderly.
This had happened often enough before. Any time there had been a meeting recently in America, the heavens had decide to let it rain hard and heavy at night, scaring the Englishman and making him run instinctively to someone. At first it had only been a fifty-fifty chance of it being America, then one day he had visited Matthew but soon found out that Francis was also 'visiting' the Canadian.
No way was he going back to Matthew's house at night anytime soon.
So now, Arthur was stuck going to America's house.
Arthur settled down enough for Alfred to be able to pull away.
"Are you okay now Arthur?"
"I-I think so, I'm terribly sorry Alfred. It's much too early to be entertaining visitors," Arthur tried joking.
"It's alright Iggy," Alfred assured. He knew these were the nights that reminded Arthur of the blitz, that Arthur could hardly sleep through a storm like this and that when he did it was a fitful tiring sleep that made him break out in a cold seat and have nightmares all night long.
Arthur smiled and Alfred frowned slightly. Arthur must be bad if he wasn't even saying anything about the nickname.
"Come on. Let's get you out of these clothes, you're soaking." Alfred said tugging on Arthur's hand and pulling him up the stairs. Alfred lent him an over-sized white t-shirt, and a pair of blue flannel pants to sleep in.
"Thank you," Arthur said kicking off his shoes and peeling off his socks. Alfred hesitated before going out the door to give Arthur some privacy.
As Arthur was folding up his clothes another flash of light passed and Arthur shut his eyes and covered his ears. Why did everything have to boom so loudly in America? Why did it echo that way? Why did it do that? He remembered a time where he used to enjoy storms, especially the ones that seemed to so thoroughly cleanse the earth here in America, but now…
He heard a soft knocking at the door.
"Come in," Arthur said continuing to fold his shirt in his lap. Arthur stilled as he felt a new weight on the bed move to within inches of him. Arthur was about to turn when he felt arms wrap around his neck. He froze mid-turn and could just barely make out Alfred's blue eyes in the dark room. Alfred moved his hands towards the back of Arthur's neck and seemed to be fumbling with something there. He felt a subtle weight on his chest and would have believed it was just his imagination if Alfred had not made his way around from behind Arthur to sit next to him on the bed and pat the new weight.
"Now when you have to get in here during the middle of the night you won't have to wait around and get soaked while I make my way downstairs,"
Arthur looked up at Alfred questioningly before looking down to where Alfred's hand had been. A key hung on a silver chain around his neck.
"Thank you," Arthur smiled and the pair lay down to sleep.
And if in the morning the two slowly awoke to find that their limbs were hopelessly entangled neither complained but instead went back to sleep slowly untangling themselves so they could each wake up with at least a little dignity.
Author's Note: So yeah, hope you enjoyed it! If you would like to leave a review or if you have the time to leave one I would really appreciate it but don't feel like you have to since these were mostly just to get rid of the plot bunnies. Thank you for reading!