Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia.
Thank you to all those that have been reading and reviewing and who enjoy this story. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
A few days later, Arthur woke up early that morning, he looked and he could see land in view. His eyes narrowed and he squeezed the railing as he stared at it, cursing it but feeling somewhat relieved. His heart hurt so bad, in his chest every heart beat let waves a pain wash over his body. He was near tears, as he stared at the spit of land in the distance.
He heard footsteps behind him and turned his head slowly, his eyes widened as he look to see Alfred leaning on the railings on the other side of the boat looking off into the blue sea. Arthur turned around keeping one hand secure around the railings. He stared at the back of the man that for some odd reason despite all the trails, he still loved. The man's back was defined by the thin shirt and his hair was rustling around teasingly. Arthur stared and pinned but he stood on the other side holding on to the railing.
Alfred, straightened up and he turned around and locked eyes with Arthur, his eyes were calm but they weren't cold like usual. Maybe he could sense it, his freedom. Alfred took a step forward and Arthur did the same never breaking eye contact. They met half way but kept a few feet apart. Arthur stared deeply into ocean like eyes Alfred had and was searching for something. He peered in deeply, calm? Content? Ready? Why did those show through so much to Arthur, he was confused and it was really frustrating him.
"Captain." Alfred said softly, but made Arthur jump a bit in surprise as he was snapped out of his daze.
"Would you like some tea?" Alfred asked softly almost letting a soft smile grace his lips, the first Arthur's seen in a long time since.
"Alfred...I...yes, that would be great." Arthur said gritting his teeth as Alfred turned around and went down to the kitchen leaving Arthur alone on the deck.
The ship sailed through and Arthur could see the many caves and coves that scaled the whole beach. He knew there was a dock a little more south around a cove. Arthur was up at the wheel and he soon noticed some lively chanting from the deck below. He gave the wheel to Toris and walked over to look down and see that Alfred and Ivan were yet again battling it out but there was something different something much more animalistic something much more intense. Those punches, were aimed to break.
Despite those two always seeming on edge with each other they always held back a little, never going full out till now. Blood was starting splatter against the deck and the rest of the crew only grew more heated. Arthur had to stop them before one of them killed each other he turned and loaded his gun but the sound of wood snapping stopped him cold.
"Man overboard!" A man from below shouted.
Arthur ran back and to his horror found that Ivan who straightened himself up was looking out at the now broken railing, and no Alfred. Arthur's eyes widened and he ran down the stairs to the deck and straight to the railing, he looked over and only saw slopping blue waves, he looked frantically scanning where Alfred should have landed. He was shaking violently and near tears he feared for the worst.
He may have been hurt and everything may have become so painful that he wanted Alfred to be gone but he would never want him died.
"Jump." A voice rang making him gasp in surprise.
"I can't swim." His voice of reason countered.
"Jump, die with him." It said softly like a seductive whisper in his ear.
"It would be pointless, it's not like we're lovers." The voice of reason explained.
"Do you want to live with him dead?" It whispered.
"No."
"Then jump."
Arthur stood at the edge of the broken railing looking down at the water, he eyed it blankly. He heard someone say captain but he didn't bother to turn to see who it was. He heard running footsteps but they didn't register in his mind.
"He's over there aru!" Someone shouted. Arthur jerked back and looked to see Yao pointing on the other side of the ship.
Arthur ran over to the side and followed the path of Yao's finger to see a man's figure in the water swimming briskly in the water, it was amazing how fast the man was in the water. A smile softly grew on his lips as he watched, yes Alfred was now free.
"Captain what should we do?" Toris asked worriedly and saw how the captain's smile was growing. "Captain?"
"Ahah! Ahahaha! Ahahahahaha! ah ah! Ah! Ahaha!" Arthur was laughing his mouth wide open as he gasped for air between the laughter. His eyes were wide open as he could not take his eyes off Alfred's now distant form in the water.
"Captain!" Toris grabbed his arm and started pulling him away, at some point the laughing turned to sobs and tears were streaming down his face as he was brought to his room, to his bed.
"Captain, please calm down."
"He's gone now, he's free. He's free from me, from all the evil I forced into his life." He said growing silent but his face twisting in regret.
"Captain..." Toris said softly.
"Please leave, steer the ship and make port...I should be good by then." Arthur muttered and laid down in his bed. He took in a deep breathe once Toris left and he choked back a sob when he realized it smelled like Alfred.
He's free now, he's free from being hurt by him so why does it still hurt? Why does it feel that they are connected? Why does he feel as if he's lost something very important and he wants to get it back when he knows he can't. Arthur rolled in his bed and stared out at the wooden wall behind him. After a moment he sat up, clutching his blankets as he tried to push down all his feelings. Just bury them deep deep down.
He wasn't sure how long he's been sitting there spacing out, but he soon heard a tapping on his door. Toris slowly entered.
"Umm...Captain, we're docked and ready to go." Toris said softly.
"I'll be there in a moment, I trust you know what to do?" Arthur said in a raspy voice.
"Of course." Toris said and left.
Arthur stood up, put on his most lavish red coat and hat that was beaded with jewels and laced with gold. He wore his best boots and his pistol secure at his side. He stood up and didn't bother to look at the mirror, he took a breath and threw his door open as he walked out greeted by a bright light. He looked to see the deck empty of people but their were probably some down below. He walked down the ramp of his ship to the dock and stood looking at the rest of the harbor. It was an uneasy quiet.
"Go!" Arthur heard someone yell, he grabbed his pistol and turned around quickly but a rope lassoed around his wrist forcing the gun to hit the ground. The pistol was kicked against the dock and his body crushed by the weight of other men on top of him tying his hands up. He was grabbed and pulled up to stand, he looked around and his eyes widened in surprise. There stood Matthew looking at the man with concerned feelings and Francis standing proudly with a sword in hand, his face though was very serious.
A man started shouting orders for the rest of the men to raid the ship and take any men prisoner. Francis walked over and picked up Arthur's hat that had fallen to the ground from the tackle. He picked it up eyeing the man before him softly and placed it on his head.
"Hey, Arthur." He said, finally smirking a bit.
"Frog." Arthur replied coldly.
"You had a good run..." Francis said and Arthur could see the look of pity on the man's bearded face.
"...I suppose I did." Arthur said harshly.
Francis looked at the man surprised and looked the man up and down for a moment. Arthur looked weaker, lost, alone more so then ever before. "I'm sorry." He whispered.
Arthur said nothing but knew what he meant, he wasn't sorry he was captured, he was sorry that his spirit has finally been broken. He was sorry that he no longer felt the need to fight anymore.
Matthew looked on at Arthur concerned and biting his lip, Francis walked back to him and put his arm around his shoulder leading him away. Arthur was lead away by the other sailors. He sighed and lifted his head up high and straightened his back, he still had his pride. Even when he walked into the jail house, he didn't lose his stride, he faltered though when he saw Toris bound and chain in the cell next to his. He was pushed harshly into his cell and walked over to Toris's side.
"You okay there first mate?" Arthur asked kneeling down, Toris lifted his head his arms hung above his head chained to the wall behind him.
"Well could be better captain, kind of hungry." Toris said trying to smile.
"Hah, yeah." Arthur said and leaned his head against the wall, letting a small smirk grace his lips from Toris's comment.
It was sunset and Alfred made it to the cove he wandered around inside then when the sun finally went down he jumped back into the water till he hit the beach. He looked around and ran up towards the city, he saw Arthur's ship in the port and knew what had happened. He ran down the city streets filled with navy men, civilians and children. He ran as fast as he could scanning the people's faces as he went by. He saw a pair of two wavy blonde hair'd men walking out a ways in front about to turn the corner. He kicked up his speed as he saw the all too familiar hair curl of his brothers.
He ran up and the two didn't have enough time to turn around before he grabbed them both by the collar and pulled them into a small, dark alley way.
A-Alfred?" Matthew gasped and hugged his brother.
"Geez, what a way to greet someone." Francis hummed.
"You guys, did you capture those pirates?" Alfred said pulling away from his brother sharply.
"Oui! We even caught Arthur, didn't think you had it in you." Francis said, he wasn't laughing though.
"Yeah, Alfred we got them all." Matthew said.
"Good." Alfred said letting out a sigh.
"What? Didn't you have someone important on that ship? They're going to be hanged publicly in two days!" Matthew snapped.
"Two days? That's tricky...I think we can still do it though." Alfred mumbled with a smile.
"Do what?" Matthew asked.
"Francis, do you regret giving up on your pirate days?" Alfred asked Francis, with a smirk.
Francis smiled back. "Almost everyday."
"Good, I need to talk to you." Alfred said with a wink leaving Matthew very confused.
A Short chapter, sorry. Please review!