YAY I FIXED THE BUG! ANYWHO~ MATURE CONTENT IS HERE. READER'S DISCRESION IS ADVISED. PLEASE SKIP THE VISIT BETWEEN THE BABS. USUK.

"Where have you been?! Are you aware of the war-"

"Ja Ja, but the past Joker gave me his place. Only two can live at a time, apparently he believes I was 'robbed of my chances to live.'" Gilbert explained. "Though it does take some getting used to..." He rubbed his neck where a thin line scared the skin.

Alfred nodded in understanding and sheathed his sword. There was nothing to fear. Jokers weren't allowed to become jokers if they intended to aid one kingdom over the other.

"So...now that you're a Joker..." Alfred continued.

"Oh Ja! Arthur says hello. I never thought my men to treat their hostages this way..thank goodness I was the only one who oversaw Roderick." Gilbert scratched his jaw.

Alfred began to settle into his clothes. "Any reason why there has been no activity from Hearts? What are they planning?! Is Arthur okay?"

Gilbert shrugged and clicked his tongue. "I'm not permitted to tell you what they are planning if they are planning, but whose to say if there is a plan anyway? All I can say is that Arthur is of a great use to aiding Hearts, as you probably can see, as for Arthur-"

Alfred sneered and grabbed Gilbert by the shirt collar. "Come on Joker, enough with the riddles! How can I get Arthur back?! Is he safe?!"

Gilbert coughed and wheezed once. "Win the war you idiot!"

Alfred growled "I'm serious-" his hand was now gripping nothing as Gilbert seemed to fade out of his hand. He opened his hand and looked spring the room in shock.

"You know, they're expecting you. Mein bruder is misguided, but he isn't stupid. You go in there and a whole battalion will be waiting for you."

Alfred glared up at the corner of the room where Gilbert was sitting on a windowsill close to the ceiling. Right. Those beings were immortal. "Well- then you could prevent me from death."

Gilbert shrugged. "True, but I can't get you out unless it is life threatening to the royalty of Cards."

"So you'd leave me there to rot?!" Alfred glared and went for his bow.

Gilbert's eyes followed him. "More or less, Ja. Though if that is rotting I would like to see how your kingdom deals with Royal prisoners. Arthur is fine~. He's alive and that's all that matters." His eyes narrowed as he thought of his brother. Really how could he miss that vile motive to kill so easily.

Alfred growled and sighed. "What about he bracelets? How do I destroy those?"

Gilbert smirked and put a finger in front of his mouth, now face to face with Alfred. "Tick-tock Tick-tock. Too much information, Spades."

Alfred was going to explode.

"How about this, I'll take you to him, unnoticed, but if you get caught you'll owe me. Keep Ivan busy so I can talk to Eliza. That means Roderick too." Gilbert played.

..."deal."

"Don't you bloody touch me!" Arthur yelled as a guard grabbed his arm.

"Sit still!" Ever since that fight with the King of Hearts, the security has been increased, Arthur was hardly on his knees. "You don't have any magic to defend yourself with anyways." The guard laughed and looked to another.

"Rumor has it that you never consummated hm?"

Arthur glared the the man pulling his arm. "I'll have you know your king will-"

"He won't believe you!" His hair was pulled tighter, Arthur took the opportunity to bite the thumb tracing his lips, sending a guard crying back. The one grabbing his hair tightened his grip on Arthur's wrists which were held behind him.

Arthur was picked up suddenly as the first soldier whom he had bit and shoved against a wall, and the wind knocked out of him.

By nightfall Arthur was laying in bed, trying to get some sleep. Why was he still here? What happened to the war...it's cold here in Hearts...you'd expect it to be warm.

"Alfred probably hates me now..." He mumbled into his pillow.

A weight shifted in the bed he was laying on. Arthur tensed and turned to punch the other in the face, but his wrist was grabbed.

"Arthur."

Arthur stilled and let his eyes focus on the form in front of him. "You're not real...how did you get here?"

Alfred gently pulled the other closer, hugging him tightly. "I'm so sorry... I should have protected you...and a Joker brought me."

Arthur clung to the other tightly. "I thought you ..."

"Hey, I'm alright...just a minor scratch. And glasses, but I'm okay. Shit, Arthur in sorry...you've been on quite the- with Sakura- and now this..."

Arthur shook his head and cupped the other's cheeks. "I don't deserve you..."

Alfred gently held the other's hands and kissed one of his palms. "And you don't deserve this..."

Arthur gently leaned closer and kissed the other gently.

Alfred tensed and then returned it, his hands running down the other's arms and to his hips. It had been so long. He didn't care if he'd die being caught, at least he would be with Arthur. His hands moved in admiration of the other's body. "Red doesn't bring out your eyes..." Then he began to kiss his lover's neck gently.

Arthur nodded and began to remove he heavier parts of his clothing. Alfred gently put his hand on the other's.

"Are you sure? Here?" Alfred looked at Arthur with troubled eyes.

Arthur hesitated before nodding. "Yes...I've come too close to it here...but they've preserved me..."

Alfred sat up a bit and raised an eyebrow. "Preserved you?"

Arthur nodded slowly. "It's something to do with my magic and these bloody bracelets." He rolled his eyes.

Alfred swallowed nervously. "Do you know any more about them?" He asked as he stroked the metal.

"Not much...they use them to control my magic for me..." Arthur scowled.

Alfred frowned and then kissed him. deeply. Arthur let his eyes flutter shut as he relaxed under Alfred's touches and peppered his neck with kisses. The Queen's heavy breathing was all that filled Alfred's ears in that dark room.

Arthur began to slide his bottoms off and kick off his shoes while Alfred undid his belt.

Alfred showered Arthur in affectionate kisses and touches. "I should just ask the Joker to bring us both back."

Arthur chuckled quietly. "Being one to study more than you, I know that's only possible depending on their magic, besides, that's only deadly for the kingdom...I won't leave until I have these braces off..."

Alfred held the other's gaze momentarily before nodding, slowly maneuvering his hand to tease the him while Arthur tangled his finger's into Alfred's hair. They had to be quiet. "At least they gave you a good room.~"

This was especially hard to do when prepping was nearly impossible without any proper lubricants. Nonetheless they managed. Arthur was tense, and grunted rather loudly when they had first started, but the pleasure overtook the pain the more they moved together.

"I-it doesn't hurt does it?" Alfred held Arthur's hand, intertwining their fingers, his voice wavering slightly.

Arthur shifted slightly and hissed a bit. "Y-yeah...but I'll be fine...m-move."

Alfred nodded and started with shallow movements. Little to no conversation was made between the two, and Alfred would use their kisses to muffle a few of Arthur's louder cries as they both felt release pooling in their abdomens.

Arthur could feel his eyes brim with tears, he wiped them away, realizing the other may have to go soon, that and the small sting that accompanied their activities. "I'm so bloody weak..."

"Yeah right, you're the strongest person I know." There was a silence. "Ok maybe not physically-ouch!" Alfred flinched a bit when he was shoved but curled around Arthur nonetheless, intent to spend the night with him, a small smile playing upon his lips.