Four Hours
Chapter Twenty One
"What?" Alfred interrupted, "What are you talking about, 'mother of my kid'?"
Matthew paled and gawped. Did I just say that? Shit… "Erm…"
"Well?" Alfred pressed, staring Arthur down intently as he stood with his hands on the table. A viscous look crept across his face as he turned his head to Matthew. "Jesus, Mattie! Arthur fucking cheated with that French bastard, and now you're saying Artie's preggo? Stop making shit up!"
"He isn't."
It was Arthur's voice now; he was clutching his stinging cheek, "He isn't lying, Al."
"Oh for chrissake! Will someone please tell me what is going on? It's not April Fool's Day yet!"
"I think that dear Arthur is trying to say is that he is… How you say, "up the duff", da?" Ivan suddenly piped up. He smiled childishly, yet at the same time glared at the American. "I would never hit anyone who was with child!"
Arthur sighed. This wasn't… exactly how he wanted to tell Alfred. He had wanted to get him all excited and then break the news to him, hoping he would take it well. Hell, Arthur didn't at first. At least now he was fond of the idea. He just hoped that Alfred was, too.
Alfred gritted his teeth and turned to the Brit, "Well, Arthur?"
The whole room was silent. Nations were stood dumbfounded, a lot of them completely in awe at the scenario that had just occurred moments ago. Countries made eye-contact with each other, some looking desperate while others looked like deers caught in headlights. America never rose his voice like this; America never hurt anybody without valid reason; America never sounded so angry. America was supposed to be the land of the free and the home of the brave! America was supposed to be the hero. "Alfred, I think you should sit down." Ludwig said plainly. "If it's true, then Arthur doesn't need this stress."
Alfred frowned. "And if it's not?"
"If it's not, then it doesn't matter, does it? I think we would all rather be safe than sorry." Hungary piped up. "Please, Arthur. Do sit down."
Arthur nodded at the Hungarian woman's order; he could think of a hundred other things that were more appealing than her wrath...
Just as he sat back down, Alfred growled, "Arthur, get up." Arthur complied.
"No, Arthur. Sit down!"
"Stand up, Arthur."
"Arthur, for crying out loud! Sit. Down!"
"No! Stand up!"
Arthur bit his lip, "Shut up."
The two nations ignored him, however, and continued to stare and shout orders of "Sit down!" and "Stand up!". Arthur could feel the anger pulsating deep within him. "I said shut up."
Hungary frowned at Alfred, smacking him upside the head before turning back to the British nation, "Arthur, please. Sit down. Listen to Liz, okay? Please."
"No! Arthur, stand up!" America shouted, rubbing his sore head.
Arthur couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't listen to these two imbeciles fight; it was driving him insane. "Alfred, shut the fuck up!" Alfred did.
"What?"
"Shut the fuck up, you fucking nutburger! Can't you listen to others for once?! You're so selfish! Urgh!" Arthur exclaimed, panting slightly. "Look, we could have worked this out! We could have! But then you went and made a big show, you made a dick out of yourself. I can't even look at you right now." he added, turning his whole body. As Britain glanced up, he noticed that everyone's eyes were not on him, but on Alfred. He ignored the stares and walked off out of the cafe, shrugging off whoever's arm was on his shoulder.
The door closed behind him with a small thud. A slow clapping started, the unknown person's hands slapping together every second and a half. "Bravo, l'Amérique. Bravo."
xoxo
Arthur grumbled as he speed walked down the health isle of Fairway Market. "Bloody hell..." he said deflated, emerald eyes locking onto three whole shelves dedicated to condoms, lubricants and pregnancy tests.
"May I help you, Sir?" A male voice asked, and Arthur had to stop himself from squeaking out of surprise. "Sir?"
"Oh- Uh- I-" Arthur started.
The male chuckled, "I see." he flashed a toothy white grin and reached onto the shelf, grabbing a couple of different packets of condoms. "These are pretty good, I guess. I mean, I haven't got a girl pregnant yet."
Arthur shook his head vigorously. "No-"
"Oh, alrighty then! Not your type, huh? Erm... What about Strawberry Sunday?" he boy inquired, "Or Crazy Cola? Vanilla? Blueberry Muffin? Blow-Me Bubblegum? Minty Mouthful?"
"I-"
"We also have Bangin' Banana, Amazing Apple, Coconut Cock, Mmm Mango, Tropical Thunder, Hot Chocolate, Oh! Orange and a box of mixed."
"No, no thank you. That isn't what I was looking for."
"Well... I tell you what, dude. I'll let you have one hundred forty-four jimmies for one hundred and eight dollars and thirty-nine cents!" The worker stood proudly, a stupid grin plastered to his tanned face.
"Sixty-nine pound ninety-nine?! For one hundred and forty-four condoms?!" Arthur asked, shocked.
"I know, man! Good, right?"
"It guess it is... That's about, what? Forty-eight pence each?"
The employee frowned, "I don't know, man. Whats that in dollars?"
"About seventy-five cents."
"Shit. That's cheap."
"M'hm. I'll have some, I guess." Arthur shrugged. Come on, when else do you get the chance to get one hundred and forty-four condoms for that price?
"Awesome!" The young lad ran out to the back of the store to get a bag. He never mentioned which ones he was getting. While the boy was gone, Arthur sighed happily and began grabbing four or five different pregnancy tests. The boy soon came back holding a big bag of 'Blow-Me Bubblegum' condoms. He winked at the Brit and handed him the bag, smirking and chuckling at the pregnancy tests. "Lemme guess, you got your chick knocked up and you're planning on having some amazingly hot, mind-blowing sex? Am I right or am I right?"
"No- I- uh. Whatever; yes."
"Sweeeet."
xoxo
Arthur sat alone in the bathroom, his back against the bathtub and legs splayed out on the white tiled floor. He rested his blonde mop against the edge of the bath and sighed, unrolling a Jaffa Cake Bar and biting into it. He licked the chocolaty remains off of his thumb and smiled softly, checking his watch just as the front door slammed shut. The noise made the smaller man jump and let out an unmanly squeak which the unknown visitor walked down the hallway. "Artie? Arthur?" Alfred. Arthur mumbled and threw the wrapper in the small bin, fist pumping when it landed in perfectly. "Arthur, you in here?" Alfred asked lightly, a quiet rapping on the door following his question. When Arthur grunted in reply, the American entered, eyes red and nose snotty. "Oh, here you are."
"M'hm. Looks like it." Alfred sighed.
He sat himself down, hugging his knees up to his chin and turned to his fiance as he used the sleeve of his blue Superman sweatshirt to wipe his eyes and nose. "A-Arthur..."
Arthur turned to face the American, one eyebrow raised with a quizzical look. "What is it?"
"I'm so sorry."
Arthur smirked and rolled his eyes, clicking his tongue and turning his head away, "I bet you are."
"I am; I swear! I- Arthur, look at me." Alfred struggled with Arthur. Why was he choosing now of all times to be a grumpy get?
"Alfred, just... Please. I don't want to hear it."
"No, just- just listen, okay? Please. Pinky promise you will?" Alfred asked sweetly, pouting and batting his eyelids. He noticed the Brit's lip curve upwards and linked his pinky with the other's. "Look, Arthur, I- I'm real sorry. I really am, I promise. I love you so, so much! I was just overwhelmed with emotions; y'know, seeing you with Francis..."
"But-" Arthur went to interrupt.
"No, I know. It wasn't you. It was Antonio."
"Antonio?"
"Yeah. He was in the meeting room; his hair was dyed blonde and I thought... I thought it was you. So I got angry - real angry - and punched France. Man, you should'a seen it! Ha. I sure teached him a lesson."
"Taught."
"Yeah, whatever. So anyway; I kinda beat up France- I mean, he was asking for it! Seriously! But I knew that deep down, you wouldn't do anything like that. My Artie would never do anythin' like that! I knew you loved me, so I left. I went to see you, but you were grinning and laughing and somewhere within me a voice was screaming for me to stop, to not go any further. That it was all just a big misunderstanding... But I didn't. I didn't stop. I carried on walking, and I walked up to you and I did one of the most disgusting things I've ever done. I hit you. I fucking hit you. Oh, God. I hate myself. I'm so, so, so sorry, baby!
Your face- Oh, man. I don't know why I did it... It was just instinct. I saw you and I just did it. The look on your face, it made me want to curl up on myself and just die. You were so shocked... You looked so frightened! My hand was pulsating, glowing; just like your beautiful face. Oh, sweetie. Look, I've left a bruise! I'm so sorry!"
Alfred continued on his ramblings, forgetting all about the Englishman he was leaning into. "I just- I thought that you'd cheated on me! I was so hurt... You've never looked at me that way before... I felt- I feel like a complete monster. Oh, man." He chuckled, nervousness evident in his usually confident voice. "Come here, beautiful." Alfred - as gently as he could - took Arthur's face in his hand. Gently, he lifted up the other male's chin, turning it slightly to inspect the bruise further. It wasn't too bad, just slightly bluish and purple. It still made Alfred feel like the worst human being ever, though. Leaning in slowly, America placed a gentle, soft kiss on the bruise, careful not to hurt the Briton further. He pulled back slightly and smiled genuinely, looking into Arthur's grassy green eyes as he passionately kissed him. You could tell the American had chapped lips, but the moistness of Arthur's cancelled that factor out; making it barely noticeable. "I love you," he murmured against soft lips, "I love you."
Arthur mashed his lips against Alfred's, a smile gracing his as the American soothed him with his words. 'I love you.' was always a line that whenever Alfred said it, Arthur would fall in love with him again instantly.
It was a funny thing, love. Love could make you do weird shit. Love could make you happy; could give you the best of days and brighten up your world. It could make anything seem possible, make anything seem within reach! Love could make you a hero. Or, love could make you sad; could give you the worst of days and darken your world. It could make anything seem impossible, make anything seem so far out of reach; so near yet so far. Just a breath away. Love could also make you a villain. "I love you, Alfred." And love could make you do the stupidest things.
Alfred smiled, "Now you can applaud my best mistake."
"Ha. You're a silly sod. Just remember, Alfred. The more we fall, the harder we must climb."
I am SO sorry for the late update! I can't believe it's been a month since the last one! But don't worry - I have the next chapter planned so I swear it will be updated ASAP! :D
If any of you can tell what song a couple of the last lines were from then you get a cupcake! Om nom nom.
As always, please let me know what you think! I love hearing your opinions!
Thank you so much to everyone who has read, reviewed, favourited and followed this story! Every time I see the amount of views, favourites and follows, my heart stops and it gives me a bigger push to carry on. So, thank you all so much. You mean a lot to me.
Stay awesome. Stay safe.
- BritishTraveller