Chapter 29
Arthur didn't want to go to the Hero Club meeting. He wanted to drag Alfred back to their room and make-out all night, but Alfred was excited about it and it was now mandatory that Arthur attend. Since he'd kept his distance from Alfred for nearly a month, he felt a little out of the loop. As he inspected Alfred's chest for bruising, he struck up a conversation about the club.
"So what changes have you made?" he asked. Alfred beamed in excitement, his grin only faltering when Arthur probed at a suspicious yellowing spot on his ribcage.
"Well, Ms. Armstrong took over sponsoring the club—guess she told you that bit—and she's lined us up activities for the rest of the year already. This afternoon we're helping out the photography club."
"Oh?" Arthur asked, a little surprised. He'd half-expected to be shoveling snow off the drive, or serving soup in a homeless shelter.
"Yeah. I don't really know all the details, but they're putting a calendar together to sell as a fundraiser for a charity. I'm not sure why, but they were having trouble finding people willing to pose for the pictures," Alfred said. Arthur's impressive brows forked downwards in suspicion.
"So we'll be the ones being photographed?" he asked, instantly disliking the idea. Alfred nodded carelessly.
"Well, probably not me. Can't imagine them selling many copies of my picture, but I'd definitely buy the calendar if it had your picture in it," Alfred said, rather sweetly. Arthur grinned, kissing Alfred fondly. It helped that the other boy was already shirtless, as it was one less garment in between them. Arthur looped his arms around Alfred's shoulders, kissing him with sweet adoration. After a few moments of this, Alfred pulled back, though he still kept his arms wrapped firmly around Arthur's hips.
"So…are you my boyfriend now?" Alfred asked, as if just making sure. Arthur's cheeks turned a little pink, but he nodded.
"I rather assumed…"
"Yeah," Alfred replied, grinning a bit. "Awesome," Alfred decided. Arthur grinned against his lips.
"Mmm…awesome," he replied. After a moment, though, the British boy bit his lip hesitantly.
"What's on your mind?" Alfred asked. Arthur released his boyfriend, and shrugged his shoulders.
"I was just thinking, though, maybe we should keep it quiet at first. It's only been a few weeks since the videos leaked, and my parents might not appreciate me being all over the news again so soon," Arthur said. Alfred nodded.
"Yeah, even if I'm kind of pissed at my parents right now, I don't want them to find out like that. So, just for now, we'll keep it a secret?" Alfred said. Arthur nodded, grateful that Alfred was also a child that had been raised in the harsh eye of the media and understood the need for some discretion. It wasn't fair, but it would be for the best in the end if they had time to tell their families in a more personal way.
"Agreed. It would look suspicious if you moved back in here," Arthur said reluctantly. Alfred looked a little dismayed.
"But I can move back eventually, right? Once we've told our parents?" Alfred said. Arthur nodded, entwining his hand with Alfred's larger one.
"Of course. You can always sneak over here once Ivan has gone to bed, too," Arthur suggested with a saucy grin. Alfred returned it, tempted to pull Arthur into his lap and resume kissing him senseless.
But, alas, duty called.
"We really gotta go now. We're probably gonna be late," Alfred said.
"You go on. We shouldn't arrive at the same time," Arthur reminded. With a nod, Alfred headed towards the door, pulling on an old T-shirt he'd left in Arthur's room as he did so. Arthur had kept his ripped one with the intention of mending it for him.
"Okay, see you in a bit. Do I get a goodbye kiss?" Alfred asked teasingly. Arthur shook his head, but crossed the few feet between them and stretched onto his toes to kiss the taller boy.
"Satisfied now?" he asked. Alfred grinned roguishly and kissed him again, deeper this time, his tongue slipping against Arthur's wetly.
"Not nearly. I'll definitely be back tonight," Alfred said. Arthur swallowed thickly, feeling rather warm in response to such a husky declaration. He all but pushed Alfred out the door.
"Go already!" he said. Glancing back at him until the last possible second, Alfred finally left him alone. That was when it finally sank in.
He had a boyfriend. Alfred Jones was his boyfriend. They had kissed, multiple times, and talked about telling their parents, and made plans for Alfred to move back in. Arthur flopped onto his bed, a dreamy smile on his face. He rolled into his pillow, grinning like a fool.
USUK
Elizabeta watched the boys filter into the gym, her critical eye surveying them one by one. A rather expensive looking digital camera hung around her neck. A few other photographers from the club were in attendance, including Antonio (who looked a little reluctant to be there) as well as a girl with a dark blonde bob and a friendly smile. She was a junior named Laura, and she came from Belgium. This year, she was the president of the photography club, and close friends with Antonio. Elizabeta was the only freshman that had been asked to come today, and she was nervous about doing a good job. She didn't know what sort of project they'd be doing, but for whatever reason, she knew it had been hard for Laura to find volunteer models.
The Hero Club, Elizabeta was happily surprised to note, had certainly grown from its original six members. She quickly said hello to Francis and Matthew, and to Yao as well when he finally arrived with Ivan. She was a little surprised to see Roderich's friend, a tall, good looking German boy, in attendance, too. He was standing in a small group with his friends, Feliciano and a Japanese boy named Kiku, as well as a hot-tempered boy Elizabeta recognized as Feliciano's older brother—a trouble maker named Lovino. He didn't seem to be happy about attending the meeting, and Elizabeta wondered why he had even come with such a bad attitude.
Speaking of bad attitudes, Gilbert was in attendance as well. Elizabeta barely refrained from scowling at him. It had been very hard for her to find her place at World Academy, struggling with her own identity issues and with culture shock, and Gilbert had certainly not made it easy on her. He was always teasing her—pointing out the fact that she had tiny breasts and that she was homely. After the Hero Club had helped her change her style, Gilbert hadn't bothered her nearly as much. In fact, he seemed to get a bit tongue tied around her now. He was sulking on the bleachers by himself, clearly wishing he was somewhere else.
Patricia, or Fatty-Patty as she was more commonly known, had come too. She was keeping company with a girl named Meghan, who Elizabeta knew only very casually. She had heard Meghan was obsessed with Prince Arthur, and had even tried to start a legitimate school club with no purpose other than to drool over him. Elizabeta wasn't exactly sure why. He wasn't a very likeable boy, and lately he'd been downright rude. She'd thought the video that had leaked to the internet was rather amusing, and it served the prickly boy right for making such poor choices.
But all of her observations were neither here nor there. She approached Antonio and Laura, fiddling with her camera in her hands.
"So, we've got a nice assortment of countries represented, though there are some doubles. The stoner kid and that tall blond boy are both from Germany, and the brothers are obviously both from Italy."
"Arthur is coming, too—it's mandatory—so you'll have him. Because of what happened earlier, I doubt Celio and Gabriel will show up, though."
"No matter. We're going to have plenty," Laura replied. Elizabeta cleared her throat delicately.
"Just what exactly are we doing today?" she asked.
"Well, once this Alfred kid shows up, I was going to fill everyone in at the same time," Laura said. With perfect timing, the gym doors opened and the president of the club finally arrived.
"Hey everybody! Sorry I'm late!" he said energetically. He got only a luke warm response, but he didn't seem phased by it. The school counselor arrived right on his heels and surveyed the group.
"Where's Arthur?" she asked. Alfred coughed nervously.
"He's coming. I mean, not that I know or anything, but he knows he has to be here," Alfred said. Beside Elizabeta, Antonio snorted in dry amusement.
"Whatever," Antonio whispered to Laura, "They totally hooked up," he said. Laura grinned.
"Well, if what you told me is true, more power to them. Celio is an ass. Quite a few of my friends are on that guitar case of his. I'm sorry Prince Arthur didn't manage to chunk it off the roof. Plus, it'll make their shoot even better," she said. Antonio just shrugged, as if he didn't care either way. He began rummaging around in his camera bag. Laura, however, seemed to be carefully studying Alfred. She was smiling in a strange way.
"I've heard Jones was a loser, but he doesn't look half-bad to me. With some make-up, and some photo-shop work, I think he'll do quite nicely for what I've got planned," she said.
"Even if they are together, Arthur is probably going to pitch a fit when you tell him about the shoot," Antonio warned. Laura flashed a grin at both Antonio and Elizabeta.
"Yeah, but we have both the son of the American president and a British prince. I wouldn't be a very good photographer if I didn't take advantage of that," she said.
Meanwhile, the prince in question had finally arrived, looking a little out of breath. The counselor shot him a reproachful look, but nodded in a satisfied way that everyone who was required to be there had showed up.
"Alright. I'll hand this over to Alfred and Laura now, but for those of you who are here on special request—you know who you are—any attempts made to ditch out early will be reported to me. You kids have fun, and take good pictures! This is for a great cause," she said, before waving goodbye and surrendering the floor to Alfred and Laura. The two club presidents shook hands, and briefly introduced themselves.
"So, I'm really getting curious! What's all this about?" Alfred asked. Laura shot a grin at her photographers, and the Hero Club members, who all looked equally intrigued.
"The theme of the calendar is historical alliances. You'll each be representing countries—likely your own—and the calendar will include information about how different countries are connected. We're selling the calendars to raise money for a global charity that does peacekeeping missions and provides humanitarian aid in times of crisis. They're a great organization, and I thought this theme would tie in with their mission statement and make for some sexy pictures, too. That being said, the reason I've had trouble recruiting models is that some of the costumes are…well…a bit risqué, to say the least. While I won't ask for anything too scandalous, I want these babies to sell. Everybody understand?" she asked. There was a long silence, and then Elizabeta broke it by giggling.
No wonder none of the teenage boys at World Academy hadn't wanted to volunteer—if she understood Laura correctly, the older girl was imagining a calendar filled with boys posing provocatively with other boys, in very little clothing.
"What the FUCK?" Lovino growled loudly, already crossing his arms. "I knew this club was fucking queer, but I'm not doing this!" Lovino growled. Antonio didn't seem overly thrilled about the premise of the calendar either, but Lovino's reaction seemed to amuse him.
Surprisingly, the reaction from the other boys wasn't all that bad. Laura smiled, happy that she and the counselor had finally found such a perfect solution to the small-minded opposition there had been from the primarily straight student populace against her creative vision.
She clapped her hands, and Alfred smiled out over the club members, both old and new.
"Alright, the Hero Club is down for anything, right guys? We'll definitely help you guys out for such a good cause!" Alfred said.
"Good to hear. I've got the sets already assembled in the school's theater. I got some help from the theater club. Do you think you two," she pointed to Meghan and Patty, "could help with costuming and make-up?" The two girls shared giggles and nodded. Laura continued to efficiently mobilize everyone by calling out people by country of origin.
"Okay, first up, I need two people to represent the re-unification of Germany. We've got two Germans, here, right?" she said. Looking startled when Feliciano pushed him forward, Ludwig bashfully approached to accept his packet. Gilbert eyed up his photo partner with disdain, and snatched at his own information packet moodily.
"Fantastic. Next, I need China and Russia for the Sino-Russians relations shoot. Here you go," she said, passing out the packets to the two boys who stepped forward. Laura admired the contrast in their coloring, and thought they'd make a rather spectacular photo together. Elizabeta just couldn't stop giggling into her hand. Roderich was going to regret not tagging along to see this…or maybe not, as he might have been sucked into the fun as well.
"What about me?" Alfred asked energetically, blue eyes shining. Laura flashed him an affectionate smile.
"Oh, just you wait. I've got big plans for you. Next up, I need someone Japanese…I'm guessing that's you," Laura said, smiling fondly at Kiku, who blushed as he came forward to grab the packet. He peered curiously at the pairing.
"Japan…and Greece?" he asked. Laura winked. I was able to find a few volunteers in the theater club, including a super cute boy named Heracles. They're busy setting up lights right now, though." Kiku shot a somewhat disappointed look in Alfred's direction, but he masked it well and returned to his friends.
"Antonio, you'll be posing with one of the Italian boys," she informed. Her friend gaped at her.
"I'm a photographer! I'm not modeling!"
"Antonio, it's for a good cause," she pleaded. Antonio glared, but his eyes shifted tellingly towards Lovino. Grinning sweetly, Laura shoved his info packet into Antonio's hands and then marched across the gym to give on to the dark-haired Italian sophomore.
"Since he's doing the shoot with Antonio, we'll have you do the other shoot with Ludwig. You seem to be close anyway, which is good. It's a summer shoot," she said, as if that explained why their closeness was a good thing. Ludwig looked nervous, but Feliciano happily took the papers and began reading about the historical alliances between their two countries. He smiled happily up at Ludwig.
"Who would have thought? Our countries like each other! That's so nice!" Feliciano remarked happily. Ludwig sighed, massaging his temples.
"Kiku, you owe us for this one," he said sternly. His Japanese friend blushed, too embarrassed to reply. He'd dragged his friends along with them to Alfred's club, after all, too embarrassed to show up alone.
More names were called, more alliances distributed, and soon they were all making their way to the theater. Alfred fell in step beside Arthur, grinning at him mischievously.
"You're being obvious," Arthur whispered, but his own cheeks were a little red.
"But Artie…according to this, we have a special relationship," Alfred said.
"Oh, belt up. You're also posing with Matthew. You'd do well to watch yourself," Arthur warned, his voice low. Alfred grinned.
"Mkay…but I can touch you however I please, right?" he asked. They had fallen behind the rest of the group, and none of the others seemed to be paying them any mind. Arthur hastily stole a kiss.
"Always," Arthur replied huskily before quickening his step to catch up to Francis. Alfred appreciated the opportunity to watch Arthur's arse as he sauntered away, and then glanced once more (a silly grin on his face) at the information about the alliance he and Arthur would be representing.
USUK
Elizabeta blushed hotly as the two boys emerged from the back. Their setting had been assembled by a sleepy looking Grecian boy—a backdrop that was half Russian palace, half Chinese opulence. Fake snow glittered over many of the props, which explained why Ivan was dressed in dark, tight-fitting black, woolen trousers, tucked into sturdy military boots. He wore a white linen shirt that buttoned up the side of his chest, but these buttons were left undone, revealing the sturdy musculature underneath. A fur hat was cocked jauntily off the side of his head, revealing most of his snowy, platinum blonde hair underneath. Yao was cross-dressing in a bright red, Chinese dress slit up to his slender hip. Perhaps disturbingly, Yao didn't seem uncomfortable in his costume at all.
Needless to say, it was obvious the two were already in an "alliance" of sorts, because the sight of Yao in the dress made Ivan flush with color and provoked a greedy, possessive look in his pale eyes. There were numerous places for the boys to pose, but Ivan went straight for the throne-like chair in the middle, propping one large boot up on a nearby footstool and grinning wickedly at Yao. He patted his lap.
Elizabeta let out a little meep of surprise and began to rapidly click. She caught everything from the way Yao hovered on the edge of the scene, his spectacular dress draping dramatically off his frame, his eyes locked intimately with Ivan's. The frames advanced as Yao took Ivan's outstretched hand, almost reluctantly but hungrily at the same time, tucking his long hair behind the curve of his ear. Twenty pictures later and Yao straddled Ivan's lap, glancing back questioningly at the camera, Ivan's lips pressed to his throat and his pale eyes screaming possession.
'I love Roderich…don't get me wrong…but damn! Can I buy this calendar yet?' Elizabeta thought to herself, the blush on her cheeks darkening. At first, she hadn't understood why Laura seemed so confident that her concept would work, but now…well, suffice it to say Elizabeta was pretty damn glad she'd chosen to join the photography club since it had given her the opportunity, and she thought she just might drag Roderich to the next Hero Club meeting, too. Was that weird? Wanting to ogle gay boys? She clicked a few more pictures as her models obligingly changed poses, without any prompting from her. Now Yao sat in the chair, legs crossed elegantly, his chin resting on one hand. His look was proud and confident, as if he knew he looked damn good in his dress. Ivan draped over the back of the throne, tangling his hand in Yao's silky hair and smiling rather sinisterly at the camera. Elizabeta snapped away, wondering if the bigger boy knew how creepy he looked when he did that, or if that was just his natural smile.
Either way, she was both relieved and remorseful to see Ivan grab Yao rather abruptly around the wrist and drag him off the stage, seemingly uncaring if she'd gotten her picture or not. Nearby, Heracles (the boy who did all the lights and rigging for the theater club) yawned sleepily.
"I'm not a photographer, but that looked like it went well. I probably won't do as good," he said, though his tone was apathetic. Elizabeta shook her head, trying to get rid of the provocative images.
"It's going to be really hard for anyone to top that," she said.
"Well, guess I'll start putting up the next set. It's for that loud-mouthed Italian kid and your photographer friend," he commented. Elizabeta winced. How'd she get stuck with those two? Antonio was Laura's friend—why didn't Laura want to photograph him?
Regardless, she tried to focus. Clearly, the Hero Club boys were a little headstrong. She was going to have to get over her embarrassment and be more forceful with the ones that wouldn't be such naturals.
USUK
On the smaller stage that the school used for practices and music club concerts, Laura waited with her camera on the ready.
"Come on now, boys, no need to be shy now!"
"I beg to differ! Now is a rather excellent time to be shy!" A moody voice with a British accent shot back from the depths of the curtains.
"Are you sure this is my whole costume?" Alfred asked, also still hidden in the wings. Laura smirked.
"Come on, already! We've got a lot of photographs to get today! I need my February couple!"
"We aren't a couple!" Arthur retorted, though Laura (having heard about the day's earlier events from Antonio) slightly doubted it.
"Whatever you say. Either come out now, or I'll have to drag you out," she replied cheerily. Finally, the shy boys came onto the stage. Their setting was simple—just two flags (one British and one American) on either side of a red velvet chaise lounge. The flags draped over the ends of the piece of furniture. English roses were strewn about, and a few big, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates completed the setting.
Arthur was "dressed" in a pair of tiny briefs that mirrored the colors of his nation's flag. Alfred's costume was identical, with the exception of an American flag flying proudly over his toned butt. He cupped his hands embarrassedly over his junk.
The two boys caught sight of each other and almost instantly cracked up laughing.
"Ha ha ha! They plucked your eyebrows! You look like a call boy!" Alfred guffawed. Arthur snorted in mirth at the way Alfred was trying in vain to cover himself.
"At least I just look like a twink—not some burly stripper," Arthur retorted.
"You call me a stripper and I'm gonna dance—you've seen me dance, Arthur," Alfred warned. Quite forgetting that they had an audience, Alfred began to do some horrible cross between the chicken dance and the Y.M.C.A. He was moving steadily towards Arthur, who tried to avoid him by ducking behind the chaise.
"Oh, for God's sake, stop!" Arthur pleaded, laughing, but his best friend had switched into one of his crazy, silly hyperactive moods and was now providing his own music, doing a terrible impression of a stripper. Arthur protested when Alfred grabbed his wrist, pulling at his hand desperately, still laughing, but Alfred dragged him around the chaise and sat him down.
"I don't have any cash for you, you man-whore. In these tiny little things where in the bloody hell would I keep it?" Arthur joked. Alfred laughed, wiggling his tush on Arthur's lap. He was singing an M.C. Hammer song now.
"Your terrible dancing is only surpassed by your awful taste in music," Arthur insulted, though he was still laughing with his arms full of the taller, broader boy.
"I'm dancing for a good cause, Arthur. The masses want to see my sexy dance!"
"They most certainly do not! Get off me already! You're bloody heavy, you porker! You've gained at least two stone by the feel of it," Arthur complained. Now pouting, Alfred shifted off Arthur onto the lounge, one leg still draped over the other boy's lap.
"I'm not fat!" Alfred replied, glancing down at his washboard stomach. Arthur grinned at him, leaning over to pinch at the skin on his tummy. Still smiling contentedly, he kissed the tip of Alfred's nose.
"You're right, love. You're quite sexy…just never dance ever again. Please. I'd have to blind myself," Arthur joked. "And you owe me for the cost of my future therapy," he added.
Alfred leaned forward, capturing his new boyfriend's lips in a searing kiss.
"You look hot in your British panties," Alfred said, when they parted for air. Arthur blushed, and lightly smacked Alfred's arm.
"We're supposed to be keeping a low profile. We're going to have to tell our families soon, because you're horrid at it," Arthur reprimanded lightly.
"Oops! I kinda forgot we were taking pictures!" he glanced shyly out towards Laura, who stood silently in the shadows, simply snapping shots as they interacted.
"Oh, don't mind me. Alfred, your mother is Helen Sheriddan, isn't she?"
"Not anymore. She's Helen Jones now," Alfred replied.
"But that's the name she went by when she was a model. I can tell you're her son. You move your body well in front of a camera."
Alfred blushed at the praise, and Arthur smiled at his expression.
"Now you've done it. He's going to walk around in his skivvies all the time now, thinking he's good looking or something," Arthur joked. Alfred grinned at his teasing and stole another quick kiss, surprising Arthur and sending him toppling backwards on the lounge. Alfred winked at Laura.
"I'll give you some great shots, okay?" he said, a new, confident tone to his voice that Arthur had never heard before. Maybe Laura was right—Alfred seemed to drop all his insecurities and inhibitions in front of the camera lens. Or maybe it was just the way Alfred's body had changed over the course of the year that brought out the other boy's confidence in this one, perfect moment.
Arthur blushed hotly as the taller boy pressed a wet, open-mouthed kiss against his throat. He let his head roll back slightly, still blushing, a little surprised at his own lack of restraint. At the same time, however, Arthur had never been quite so enamored of Alfred Jones as he was just then, on the day of their new anniversary, the first in what would hopefully be a long string of them. He wanted a picture to prove that, at that moment in time, they were young and happy and invincibly in love. He hooked his leg around Alfred's hips, drawing the other boy in closer, arching up into his kiss and tangling his fingers in Alfred's shaggy blond hair.
Let the whole world see the photos. It would let everyone know that he belonged to Alfred Jones, and that Alfred Jones belonged to him, and what they had together truly was something incredibly special.
USUK
Despite being a creative and talented photographer, Antonio was a pretty crappy model. He was dressed as a bull fighter; Lovino was dressed like a bull. It was cheesy, and a little ridiculous looking, but it made Elizabeta smile and she figured the people who purchased the calendar would probably get a kick out of it, too. After all, the expressions the boys wore were pretty priceless. Antonio looked nervous and amused at the same time—Lovino looked like he was seconds away from actually goring the other boy to death.
"The notes say that while Spain ruled Southern Italy for nearly three centuries, Southern Italy is a powerful force on its own, with a unique culture and a strong presence in both spirit and body, traits symbolized by the bull. Plus, the tradition of bull fighting in Spain is largely misunderstood, as bull fighters show great respect for the bulls they try to subdue—"
"I'm dressed like a fucking animal, damn it! This is completely degrading—I don't care what the fucking notes say!" Lovino shouted, stomping his foot in agitation. Grinning, Antonio gave his red cape a few twirls around Lovino's face. Lovino nearly ripped the cape out of Antonio's hands. "Get your cape out of my fucking face before I strangle you in it!"
Antonio just laughed, clearly finding how easily Lovino could be riled highly amusing. Elizabeta hastily snapped a few shots, of Antonio chuckling and Lovino scowling, but she didn't think it was exactly what Laura had in mind.
"These photos aren't any good. Can't you two…I dunno…kiss or something?" she prompted. Lovino whirled back around to face her, his attention instantly focused on her as if she were the one waving the cape now.
"No! I won't fucking—"
Lovino's words were cut off by Antonio, who had leaned over the shorter boy, grabbed him by one of his horns, and (smiling) kissed his cheek. Lovino wore an adorable expression of wide-eyed surprise, his mouth forming a perfect little 'o'. Elizabeta nearly melted in relief that she had gotten the shot, because just a half-second later, Lovino had wrestled Antonio to the ground and was punching him rather ineffectually, considering the padded bull "hooves" he still wore on his fists. It rather looked like he was stomping the laughing boy, while teaching Antonio the lesson that it was neither prudent nor wise to grab a bull by the horns.
"Oh good grief," Elizabeta muttered, as Lovino stomped off the stage, his little tail swinging behind him, and Antonio (still chuckling) dragged himself up into a sitting position.
"Man, it's so much fun to rile that kid up!" he commented. "I suppose you didn't get any good pictures, though," he added, at least understanding her plight.
"Well, not sexy ones, per say, but one is kind of cute, and the ones of him stomping you are at least a little funny…" she trailed off uncertainly, flipping through the pictures. While Heracles changed the set once more, Antonio came to check them out. At first he laughed at how awkward he looked on stage, and he laughed all over again upon seeing the pictures of Lovino attack him.
"Send me copies of those, would you?" Antonio requested. He gave her shoulder a friendly pat, "And those are pretty good, considering your models. Nice work, Liz," he said. She smiled a little proudly and thanked him…all the while wondering why the other boy wanted copies of the pictures.
USUK
Antonio reported to his own set after his first shoot of the day, a little curious to see how Arthur would treat him. He'd be photographing the British boy and Kiku, the kid from Japan. He glanced over the notes, about how the two nations had formed an alliance back when Japan wasn't exactly friendly with foreigners. The two boys fit these roles nicely. Arthur emerged on stage under the fake cherry blossom trees in a rather dignified looking suit. Kiku appeared in a subdued, yet very formal yukata.
Arthur gave his fellow student council member a friendly smile. Having just come from his shoot with Alfred, he was in euphorically good mood. Kiku watched him reservedly, some unidentifiable emotion in his eyes. There was nothing sexy about the scene at all, as both models stood nearly on opposite ends of the set. While Arthur looked friendly and hopeful, Kiku's expression was reserved, bordering on mistrust. Antonio thought it made for a rather poignant shot, considering the historical perspective they were aiming for. Rather helpfully, a theater stage hand let some fake blossoms drift down over the scene. Arthur crossed the stage, extending his hand to Kiku invitingly.
Still, Kiku hesitated.
"It might make a good shot, considering this is supposed to be an alliance," Arthur said. Kiku took small steps forward, eyeing the flowers drifting down on them. He stiffly extended his hand. Finally picking up on the vibe, Arthur winced a bit.
"Err…Kiku…I hadn't done anything to offend you, have I?" he asked, his hand still pressed against Kiku's. The other boy frowned lightly.
"I was just wondering…wondering why Alfred thinks so highly of you," Kiku said. Arthur released his hand, perhaps a little surprised by the mention of Alfred, and frowned slightly.
"Well, we were best friends before…"
"I see. It is an admiration that comes from friendship, then."
"I suppose so," Arthur replied, a bit confusedly. He glanced out towards Antonio, clearly needing some direction on the shoot. He noticed out of the corner of his eye that a blossom had landed on Kiku's shoulder. Gently, he lifted it off. Kiku grabbed his hand, guiding it to the space between them, cupping Arthur's hand and the blossom between his own.
"The sakura blossom has very significant meaning in my culture. It represents the transience of things. Though a flower, or a relationship, might be very beautiful—special even—all things end in time. You should keep this one and remember that. Nothing lasts forever."
"Err…Kiku, I'm not entirely sure what you—"
"Alright, I got the shot. You can get changed back into your normal clothes," Antonio called out. Moving quickly considering the elaborateness of his costume, Kiku was gone in a second, leaving Arthur to stand amongst the fallen flowers with the lone bloom cradled in his hand.
A/N: I'm sorry if you wanted to see Francis and Matthew's shoot, but I couldn't include them all and so a couple pairings that I really wanted to represent got cut. You'll just have to use your imaginations! It was either Spamano or Greece and Japan to get cut, and since Kiku's not really into Greece right now, not much would have happened in their shoot. But they have met now, so that's something, right? Just in case you missed the reference, Laura is Belgium. I gave her a name of the list of possible ones that the creator of Hetalia was considering for her. I think more people call her Emma, but Emma was too close to Emily, so I went with Laura.
Oh, and you can expect more updates this weekend. My travel plans were cancelled because of icy roads. It's snowing in Texas. Everything typically shuts down when that happens and we all go outside to frolic in the two inches of snow wearing our flip flops and grinning like morons…myself included. -_-;
Lastly, I'm sooo glad most of you seemed happy with the first kiss. It was such an important moment that I wanted to do it justice. I hope this chapter is equally pleasing! You guys deserve some fluff after all the angst I've put you through! By the way, it's writing scenes like this that make me wish I didn't suck at drawing. I want this calendar So. Freaking. Bad.
