I don't own Hetalia. Hidekaz Himaruya does.

Alfred was running; once again he had failed miserably. He had tried to stay optimistic, but that last moment there, it was like reality had just sunk a little bit lower on his shoulders. He had definitely failed as a leader; that was clear when he couldn't even answer the call from Ludwig. When he couldn't do a thing as the others panicked and chaos ensued. When he ran away in the face of danger and left his teammates. He failed to restrain himself too. That man looked so tempting, so succulent and –

No.

No. No. No. Not that. Alfred's mind screamed at him as he slowed his running. He was near the van now, his hand outstretched as he gently touched the back of it, the cool metal somehow soothing right now.

"Damn… Why am I so bad at this? Why can't I control anything? Do right in anything…" Alfred muttered, sighing.

His normal confident self was dampened by his insatiable hunger, by the weight of these new responsibilities, by the suddenness of the attack and the lack of proper grounding of well, anything. Things were piling on him too fast. It was overwhelming; too much for him right now. He wanted to curl up and block things out; not come out until he was ready. Only he didn't know when that would be, if ever.

"Problems?" Allred's voice came to Alfred's mind, loud and clear. He could almost picture the red-heads triumphant smirk.

Go away! Alfred thought, wishing it was possible to scream within your head. "Go away, go away, go away!" he shouted, hitting his head with his hand as though trying to knock out Allred from his mind. If only he could shake him out, or get some tweezers and just pluck him out.

"I can help you know. Just let me-"

"Shut up! I don't need you! I don't need your help, I don't- I can-" Alfred cried out, holding his head. This was too much, the thirst and the pressure from Allred . When he ran, he had caught a glimpse of Feliciano and Yao, they were being lifted up towards the ceiling by some force. He assumed the ghouls, but he didn't know as he hadn't stopped long enough to find out. Just from that, he knew there were still people stuck in the warehouse, maybe all of them. He didn't know.

"You can what?"

Alfred felt a few tears falling down his face as he leaned against the back of the van, sinking down until his bottom hit solid ground.

"I don't know…"

"No one knows how much stress you're under. You need help. You need someone who can take charge, if only temporarily and that someone s me." Allred said. His voice, though deep, was softer now, almost coaxing. It left Alfred feeling a little light headed. Yes, he wanted such relief, and yes, he would love it that someone would just take over for him. Just for now, while he tried to get things together. It wasn't like he couldn't do this, right?

"That's right. Just let go for a moment, the others will be fine." Allred said as Alfred felt the familiar nudging.

For a split second, Alfred could feel his resolve waiver, his mental wall coming down.

"No!" A light voice snapped.

"Damn it Alfie. Get out of here!"

"No! No! Alfred, fight back! Fight back!"

Upon hearing the light voice; Alfred resurfaced from his haze, not enough though. Not enough. It was like resurfacing in a sea. He was still in the water with nowhere to go, but his head was, at least for the moment, above the water level. He tried to push against Allred, but for some reason, his mental wall he had; it was weak. He couldn't seem to build it high enough. He didn't understand why he couldn't push back as strongly. How on Earth had he become so mentally weak?

"Alfred!"

The familiar voice cut through Allred's words, causing Alfred's head to snap up and meet emerald green eyes that seemed to pierce the thick fog in his mind and stare through him, momentarily bringing Alfred back. He shrunk back from the angry gaze as Arthur ran the last few steps before kneeling down to Alfred's level, a disapproving frown on his face.

"You! You bloody git! You completely foolish boy! Why did you leave like that!" Arthur yelled, his angry gaze shooting daggers at the vampire. "I can't believe you did that. All the while, everyone was getting attacked! You just abandoned us and it was the first assignment!" Arthur said, angry words spewing from his mouth before he could stop them.

Alfred's face was shadowed by his bangs and he gave no sign of having heard Arthur. Instead he continued to sit there, leaning against the van as Arthur placed a none-to-gentle hand on Alfred's shoulder, trying to get the boy to look him in the eye. Lectures never work unless there's eye contact, and Arthur was angry. He wasn't going to let this slide.

"Oi! Are you listening? Goodness, it's no wonder you can't l-"

Suddenly Arthur stopped mid-sentence, he saw, or rather, felt, something land on his hand that caused an abrupt halt in whatever plans he had for the boy. Gently brushing away the boys bangs, Arthur looked at Alfred's tear streaked face. The boys light blue eyes had lost any glow of happiness, to be replaced with fear and confusion as unshed tears clung to the corner of his eyes.

"Arthur. I-I'm sorry… I can't… I don't…" Alfred squeaked pitifully, trying to form a coherent sentence.

Arthur felt his anger dissipate faster than a drop of water on a hot skillet. The tone Alfred used, forget that he actually said his name and not that ridiculous nickname, it was the tone that got to Arthur the most. It was full of overwhelming confusion and panic; a need. Need for what, Arthur didn't understand, but there was something clearly wrong, something that was bothering Alfred enough that he was in tears.

Steeling his resolve, Arthur looked at Alfred, keeping eye contact. He wasn't backing down this time, he would find out.

"Alfred, what is wrong?" Arthur asked; his voice strong and commanding. He would not let the boy avoid this question. A question that had been asked before, only yesterday actually, but even when Matthew asked, Alfred would not disclose the answer. Why wouldn't he? He couldn't fathom, but no matter what the reason, seeing Alfred like this… He had to know.

"I-I" Alfred stared at Arthur, wincing before looking down. "I-I can't hold him back. I could, but all of a sudden it's too hard." He muttered softly, still fighting a mental battle with Allred. He placed his hands on his head, his eyes squeezing shut. He looked like his head was about to explode.

Arthur's expression changed from fierce to confused as he absorbed Alfred's words. What did that mean? "What? Alfred, what do you mean?"

Alfred tilted his head up, his eyes snapping open to meet Arthur's, causing the angel to stumble boys eyes were no longer the bright blue, now they were blood red once again, boring into Arthur's bright green orbs.

For a moment, a strange emotion crossed Alfred's face, sending chills down Arthur's spine. Alfred looked at him… Hungrily.

Suddenly something clicked in Arthur's brain, though he still didn't know who "Him" was, he at least knew why Alfred's mental stability seemed… Compromised. "You idiot! Newly changed vampires need blood each day for at least a solid month!" Arthur said exasperatedly, taking an extra step back from the hungry vampire. How could the American be so stupid! Didn't the boy know this? Wasn't he informed?! "When was the last time you had blood?! Did you even have some yesterday?!"

Alfred just shook his head, too far into his mental battle to give Arthur any solid signs of acknowledgement.

Arthur gritted his teeth. Vampires, especially newly born ones, needed blood each day. The cells in the body are still under subtle change, which takes energy, and energy for vampires comes from blood. If they didn't have any, then eventually their mental abilities diminish until they fall prey to their primitive vampire instincts. Already Alfred's mental abilities seemed… Less than normal. What, with him spouting confusing claims of a "Him" trying to overtake his mind, he seemed to have a mental buffer.

At least, that was what Arthur hoped, only with this conclusion however, came a new set of problems.

I need to get him blood. Arthur thought, looking around the area as Alfred shuddered again. But how? Where? All there is-

Arthur stopped the thought before he could voice it. No way, absolutely not. That is out of the question.

"B-Besides. It's not even human blood." Arthur muttered, trying to reason with himself. "It wouldn't be good. Who knows what would happen if he-"

Alfred groaned, cutting Arthur off. The angel turned and took one look at the vampire, frowning and kneeling to the ground in front of Alfred, who had shut his eyes once again. There went his resolve.

The American stared at Arthur with confusion on his face as the angel rolled up the sleeve on his dark shirt, turning his head to look away.

"A-Arth-"

"Take some blood. You're not going to last like this, we need everyone on the team." Arthur muttered, not making eye contact. At least, this was how he convinced himself to give Alfred his arm. The team was important and it was their duty to each other to help one another in such a situation. Besides, from the loud shouts some meters down near the warehouse, the others weren't going to decide on a leader anytime soon.

Alfred seemed at recoil at Arthur's words, shuffling backwards and pressing his back against the van. For a moment his eyes changed back to blue, but looking at the arm; they were once again red as he continued his inner struggle.

"Look, you won't kill me. I'll stop you before that will ever happen, plus I heal quickly so it won't be that taxing. Just-"

Shaking his head, Alfred tried to push the arm away, only for Arthur to move it back. "N-No! I can't do it! It- It's wrong! To take blood from someone and-"

"Damn it Alfred! Just take it already! I can't wait all day! You think you'll be okay until you reach the school and see ? Look at you, Alfred! You're leaning against a van shaking like a leaf! You abandoned your bloody team because you were going to attack that man; which by the way was a ghoul!" Arthur said angrily, his green eyes piercing Alfred's as he continued.

"Do you know what happens to a vampire who doesn't drink blood? The loose their sanity and go on a giant killing spree, drinking blood until they feel like bursting and leaving no survivors!" Arthur cried, trying to get this through to Alfred. He had always thought, since the past few days, that the boy had been living, or trying to live, with a foot in both worlds. No one was able to tell him reality, not even Matthew. Why everyone was so hesitant, he may never know, but now Alfred needed his head in the game. He needed to get a dose of reality and Arthur decided he had to do the job. At least if it meant Alfred saw some kind of reason.

"No! I can't! Arthur, if I do I-"

"You'll what, lose your humanity? Lose your dignity?! Alfred, you're a bloody vampire! You've got no humanity left! The life you knew before this is gone; it's not coming back!" Arthur could hear his voice rising, he was nearly screaming at Alfred. He saw his hands on the boy's shoulders as he shook Alfred none too gently. He didn't know when his hands appeared on Alfred's shoulders, only that memories were starting to open up, like books in a library. Reality checks, he had to give too many of these in his lifetime…

"Y-You're wrong. I can go-"

"Has it occurred to you Alfred, that there is no place to go? Have you considered that, you can't go back to your home, you can't hide in society! What about when you need blood? You'll go mad if you don't get it and you'll kill Alfred. You'll kill. You can't undo these things. You're going against your nature, get used to it and face reality!" Arthur could hear himself now, yelling at the boy who sat and took it all. He said nothing to this, but Arthur could see that he was upsetting Alfred. He could see the reality hitting Alfred hard and though he felt terrible, he knew Alfred didn't deserve this now, but still he couldn't stop. He didn't know what possessed him to say these things, especially now of all times, only that he couldn't shut his mouth; halt his words. Not yet.

"Damn it, if you don't accept the reality of this Alfred! Go against all the facts that stare you in the face. Brush off everything that people have been trying to tell you; hinting at you. You'll end up- End up like him." Arthur trailed off, rubbing his eyes as though it was preventing memories from coming back, not just rubbing away stray tears. A certain memory had come up; one that felt like a physical punch in the gut. Only now was most definitely not the time to be nostalgic.

Arthur pried his hands off Alfred's shoulders, once again holding his arm out for Alfred. "Look, just take the blood. Take it and help the team. Matthew said you had a hero complex, so act like a hero and be brave." He said, sounding exhausted.

Alfred kept his mouth shut, staring at Arthur. Quietly, with no words spoken, he took Arthur's arm; feeling exhausted all of a sudden. He could see the precious liquid flowing through the veins in Arthur's arm, feel it pulse as his mouth involuntarily watered. Things seemed far away now, like looking through a fishbowl underwater as he looked up and met the Brit's gaze momentarily. He opened his mouth and gave in to the hunger, his teeth easily piercing Arthurs pale skin. He felt the deep red liquid flowed down his throat as his mind went blank.

Meanwhile, Arthur winced as he felt the teeth touch and then break through his skin. There was no pain, luckily, but it was still a strange sensation. He felt his mind grow hazy, like the world had just blacked out and all that was left was Alfred in front of him, and himself. He felt his knees touch the ground as his legs gave; thank goodness he was crouching before or he would fall right on top of Alfred.

"A-Alfred… I think that's… goo-"

Then suddenly, he wasn't kneeling on the ground anymore.

Instead, Arthur found himself kneeling in a blank space, a red-tinged fog in every direction with only the solid feeling of something under him. It was the only way he could tell he was sitting right-way-up.

Arthur jumped to his feet, instantly alert as he looked around the space. His gaze didn't reach very far, as the moment he turned around, he nearly smacked into Alfred.

At least, he thought it was Alfred. Only this Alfred had dark red-brown hair, his mouth set in a line as he looked at Arthur. His eyes though, it made Arthur shudder.

Red. Not a blood red like before when Alfred was in need of blood, this was a darker red somehow, though it was fairly similar to the red eyes from yesterday. They were full of malicious intent and yet somehow… Amusement? Like they had just found new prey.

"Oh… Bollocks."

The Alfred in front of him smiled.

Author's Note: (o7o)/ Look! Exactly a week! *Wiggles in glee* ~(030~) I'm not late!

-but I'm back in school. *sighs* I suppose I'm kinda glad though, I've had one of the most laziest holidays I can remember. I don't think staying inside your room for days is a good thing.

So… This chapter kind of wrote itself. I think I stretched things a bit though; the whole topic. Plus I tried really hard to save some special information for later and for the second part of Arthur's character story. I think I tried too hard and probably lost some quality in the process. (vnv")

Well anyways! I hope this chapter wasn't that repetitive and boring. I'll try harder! (QAQ)

Updates may be a little slow but I promise to make an effort to stay on time! I've written a few more chapters and have to proofread it, but I'm nearly done this arc! Oh and, if you haven't read the character stories *there is only Feliciano and Lovino's story and Arthur's half complete story so far*, they're on my stories list! *Shameless advertising* I'll be working a bit on Arthur's part two now. I want to get it done before this arc ends. ("OuO)

Thank you to all you new reviewers and the faves and alerts! Give yourselves a pat on the back; here's a soufflé! *any flavor you want!* and cookies if you prefer the latter. (^7^)-o

Reviews are welcome~ Flames are going to be used to heat the home. It's a bit chilly here.

~SERF

(SoulEaterRomanceFan)