This was too much. Peter. His little, younger, baby brother Peter was a super hero.

Peter was putting himself willingly in harm's way, to "protect" others.

He was just twelve. He was starting two years earlier than even America, who was currently considered the youngest hero ever (excluding sidekicks, of course).

"Oh, no, he was no trouble at all!" Tino cheerfully replied to Arthur's question. "We had some unexpected adventures, yes, but nothing too out of the ordinary."

Arthur's mouth felt dry, but he did his best to ignore it, desperately trying to come up with something to say that sounded like casual conversation. He'd prefer to yell at Peter about how being involved in any super community wasn't all it was cracked up to be and that he should stop while he still could, but... Arthur knew this wasn't the place or time to discuss it. Especially not with one of the Dream Team around.

"Ah, well..." Arthur started, but then the Sight flared again, angrier than before. Arthur was forced to hold his forehead in pain. That was too much information in one go. His mind couldn't process it and now a cold headache ebbed from deep within.

"Are you ok...?" Tino asked concerned and after a moment, Arthur shook his head.

"Nothing wrong... Migraine," he explained. "Started having them recently," he lied. With exception of a mild sleeping problem (previously caused by alcohol abuse and now mostly from not having a regular sleeping schedule), he had no health problems at all. Thankfully, those present didn't really know the exact symptoms of migraines and couldn't call him out on his blatant lie.

It didn't stop them from looking at him suspiciously though.

"Anyway, I'm glad you and Peter had a good time. Shall we go now?" Arthur asked.

"Yeah. The sooner we get home, the better," Tino agreed, grabbing his luggage. The other two did so too.

Yes. Good. Walking in a busy airport was a good excuse not to talk much. He'd bought himself some time to think.

The way back to the car was largely filled with small talk. Casual questions that meant nothing and didn't inform Arthur of anything he hadn't learnt from Peter's letters. At some point, Ludwig took over conversation and introduced himself better to the trio, explaining that he was a student at one of New Pond's universities, that yes, it was just him and his brother alone in America and, of course, how he'd met Arthur...

The mood darkened considerably, when Ludwig started prying for information about Arthur, beginning with the seemingly innocent question "So how did you end up in Arthur's care?"

"Oh, you don't need to know that," Arthur spoke up. He'd kept his past so wonderfully secret, and now Peter had once again come along to ruin it.

"You mean you haven't told him?" Peter asked.

"Why would I?" Arthur coldly explained. "It wasn't exactly that big a deal..."

"Not a...? Arthur! How can you say that! Mum died! I was relocated to another country! How's that not a big deal?!" Peter snapped. Arthur flinched, the Sight flaring angrily at the loudness of his voice, emphasising exactly how upset Arthur's thoughtless comment.

"Your mother died...? I'm sorry to hear that. What happened...?" Ludwig prompted.

Peter huffed and looked out the window sadly.

"Mum died, like... Three years ago. In an accident."

Yes. That was what Arthur had been told three years ago too. Much like back then, Peter didn't elaborate.

Unlike back then though, Arthur now knew that their mother had been the Britannia Angel... So had it really been an accident or had she died because she had been a super hero? Had she died saving people or had she been killed by a super villain or... Had she really died in an accident? Well, considering that she'd been a rather powerful super hero...

Which of course begged the question, did Peter know who their mother had been? His father thought that might be the case, but since he'd never asked, nobody knew for sure.

"That must have been difficult for you," Ludwig replied in a sympathetic tone. Peter didn't respond. It seemed he didn't want to continue the conversation. Arthur sighed deeply.

"According to her will, he was meant to go to our father, rather than other blood relatives that Peter actually already knew," he explained. He could never understand why his mother would make such a mad decision. "Since his father was declared unsuitable as a guardian, he automatically went to the next available guardian, which they decided was me."

Ludwig looked appalled by that, although it was mostly influenced by the knowledge that Arthur was the Magician and leaving any child in the care of a villain sounded awful... And then something occurred to the German.

"You came into Arthur's care three years ago?" he asked.

"Yeah. He was a real pain in the butt too. Biggest mother hen ever-"

"Peter!" Arthur snapped, interrupting him.

"What? It's true! And you told me to always be honest!"

"Don't- just- zip it, Peter!"

"But why?" Peter innocently asked, before gasping dramatically. "You mean they don't know you're a total mum friend?"

"What the hel-heck is a mum friend?! Where did you get that term from?!" Arthur snapped. He briefly glanced over to Ludwig, but the had Sight fizzled out for the moment.

"A mum friend...? Can't say I ever noticed..." Ludwig slowly answered. The Sight came back, just in time to see that Ludwig had pieced together a puzzle that had been eluding him for years - why had the Magician's behaviour changed so drastically three years ago, shortly before he then also disappeared altogether? The answer was that his new role as guardian had managed to trump even his villainous career...

Arthur frowned. That just wasn't true. If it had been so important, he would have stopped being the Magician entirely. He should have stopped...

"I'm not a mother hen. Or a mum friend," Arthur repeated stubbornly. "I just struggled to adapt to being a guardian. You didn't make it easy for me, considering that I'd never been responsible for anyone but me before," he reluctantly explained.

"Yeah. You were so different when you started looking after Peter. Constantly tired, looking like you were going to break down at any moment... That's how I got involved," Tino piped up. "Arthur was tutoring me at the time and I noticed that he was looking worse and worse by the day. So I offered to help out, if he needed it. At the time, I didn't understand why looking after someone would be so exhausting, until..." Peter got super powers "... we started taking care of Peter ourselves. But unlike Arthur, I can rely on Berwald to help me out. Arthur though..."

Ludwig hummed.

"Seems there's a lot I don't know about Arthur..." Ludwig muttered. "Then again, I've only known him a few months, it's to be expected."

"So factual, as always," Arthur snarked.

"But knowing that you were a guardian explains a little more about you," Ludwig replied in a flat tone. "Explains your... As Peter said, motherly behaviour."

"Oi, you watch it," the Brit retorted, scowling at him. "And didn't you just say you've never seen me like that? Not that I ever am."

Ludwig simply quirked a brow in response and that seemed to get under Arthur's skin more than any retort could. Ludwig then continued the conversation by asking Tino about Arthur's college years. Arthur tried to steer the conversation away from himself, but it kept ending up back with him. Perhaps that made sense though. It was the only thing they had in common with each other (for the moment). Ludwig's influence, of course, helped a lot (who knew he was such a capable and subtle interrogator).

Arthur eventually gave up on any attempts at running interference and only intervened when his pride was threatened (usually by Peter). The conversation eventually did drift away from Arthur and the Brit, finally able to relax just a little, came to a sudden realisation.

Ludwig had had the opportunity to tell the other three about Arthur Kirkland for a while now. In fact, considering the "threat" that the Magician posed to others, he should have said something by now.

He had yet to say a single word about it.

He wasn't even remaining silent to protect his own identity. The thought hadn't even occurred to Ludwig yet. Sure, he wasn't certain what to do about Arthur, but he wasn't going to blow Arthur's cover.

He still had time.


It was just Arthur and Ludwig again. Standing outside of Arthur's flat.

Ludwig had wormed a considerable amount of information out of Tino and Peter (Berwald rarely spoke - that Ludwig got to hear him at all had been a privilege), but most of it just reflected the sort of relationship they had with Arthur, and failed to highlight anything seriously wrong about the Brit's character. Tino had even gone so far as to describe Arthur as a lonely, sensitive guy whose short temper stemmed from a constant attempt at protecting himself (admittedly, those weren't anything like the words he'd actually used, but damn it, he'd been thinking it).

But now they were gone. The ride back to Arthur's home had mostly been silent, except for Arthur bitterly saying "I told you not to interrogate them," to which Ludwig had responded with "I didn't. I only asked a few questions."

After that, there was a lot of glaring, staring and silent huffing. And now they were back where they'd started. Before things could get much more awkward, Arthur finally said "Thank you."

It was quiet and he hated himself for expressing gratitude, but at that moment, there was nothing else for him to say. "For not revealing me in front of them," he finished.

Ludwig sighed tiredly.

"Even though you're... Him. It doesn't change the fact that... You were my friend," he replied bitterly, "As such, I can extend some courtesy to you."

Arthur placed his hands on his hips, becoming annoyed again.

"So what are you going to do now? You and the other two. Tell the others? Throw me in prison? Reveal who I am?"

"What are you going to do? Given the chance, I'm sure you'd run."

Arthur bit his tongue, forcing himself not to retort. If it weren't for Peter, he would run away again. But he couldn't do that to Peter. The kid had already lost far too much.

"You didn't answer my question," Arthur instead insisted.

"What we decide on... You will know at the appropriate time," Ludwig answered sharply. Which actually just meant they still didn't have a clue. The two glared at each other. Ludwig was, in the back of his mind, wondering why he hadn't heard back from Francis or Gilbert yet, who were checking up on Yao. Especially since it was getting late and he couldn't stay stuck with Arthur forever.

"You're still hiding something," he finally said.

"So? Everyone's got something to hide," Arthur coolly replied. Then he rubbed his forehead. "There are things I don't know about you too. In all fairness."

"Like what? I can count on one hand how many people know that I can't generate my own electricity. And yet somehow, you know. You've exploited it. You also know that Gilbert can't store electricity; that he's essentially a walking electric bomb. And you've exploited that too. Despite no one knowing except us two."

Arthur found he couldn't answer immediately. Ludwig had a point. If Arthur was a normal person, how had he gained access to information that no one else had? Of course, there were ways. The Whisperer knew about Gilbert, Eduard von Bock (computer hacker and Ivan's personal information broker) knew about Ludwig...

"Yes, well, you know my weaknesses too," Arthur quietly argued.

"Like what?"

"Well, like- like that, um..." Arthur stuttered. Right. They didn't know anything about the Magician. "That I'm... not... a Super...?" he finished lamely. Although it was only admitted to today, everyone had already been suspecting. Not exactly a great reveal. Although, of course, Arthur was a Super. Of sorts. Ludwig decided not to dignify Arthur with a response. At least, not at first.

"You're... Different."

"How so?" Arthur tiredly asked.

"Earlier, it was so obvious that you're the Magician. Now you're... not even eloquent."

Arthur huffed.

"Well sorry, eloquence is part of the act. I can't do it all the time," he snapped.

"Earlier was an act?"

"No," Arthur said a little too quickly. "I... I, uh..." He began massaging his forehead again. "Are you going to be here all night? Is this really necessary?"

Ludwig didn't answer. He was struggling to come up with a plan of action, something rather unusual for him.

Well, it was an unusual situation.

"Yes. It's necessary. We're at a stalemate," he finally said. Arthur slowly nodded.

"I came to that conclusion a while ago," he agreed.

"Only, from what I know, you're the only one that can end it," Ludwig added.

"What makes you think that?"

"As said. You're hiding something," he explained. "While at the same time, you know everything about us. "

"That's not true." No, actually, it was completely true. "That aside, knowing everything about you hasn't proven to be advantageous," Arthur argued. When Ludwig gave him a questioning look, Arthur couldn't help but breathe out deeply, as he tried to figure out a way to formulate the events without making himself look... Well, pathetic.

"As the Magician, I said I'd reveal Red Blitz's identity if Elizaveta didn't drop a certain article she was writing," he explained, motioning for Ludwig to stay quiet when he tried to interrupt. "And she didn't do as I asked. Yet, I haven't spilt anyone's secrets. I can't. Mildly problematic for the Magician, since I'm not supposed to let people get away with this sort of thing, but... Well. She called my bluff. Because that was all the threat was. A bluff."

Ludwig hummed thoughtfully. Arthur unlocked his front door and they stepped in.

"You knew ahead of time that she had told Red Blitz...?"

"I was keeping tabs on her," he answered. "So yes. I found out a little earlier today." He clenched his fists. "It was a gamble. I never meant for anyone to find out that I knew who you are. Because then something like this happens. You try to find out who the villain is and have them removed... One way or the other."

"We wouldn't kill someone, just because they know who we are," Ludwig immediately retorted.

"Mmh..." Arthur hummed, disbelievingly.


"We're going to die," Arthur summed up, wilting at the notion.

"It's what we get for being bad guys."

"I'm not a bad guy!" Arthur immediately retorted, eyes narrowing as he scowled.

Red eyes stared back at him, unaffected.

"'Course we are. But if I can help it..."


Arthur hissed in pain, holding his head. Memory. That had been a memory resurfacing... Why had it done that... He didn't remember...

"Arthur?" Ludwig asked, sounding concerned. Arthur held up a hand, preventing him from coming closer.

"Fine, fine. Migraine. Happening a lot lately..."

Ludwig frowned.

"You should have a doctor check that out..."

"If I'm around long enough for a doc," Arthur bitterly muttered under his breath. "Thanks for your concern, but it isn't needed. Tell me what you plan to do now, Germanium. Since we're still at a stalemate."

Perhaps Arthur should stop trying to provoke Ludwig...

"Your mask," Ludwig suddenly said.

"What?" Arthur asked, frowning.

"Give me your mask, for now," he ordered. "You're right. About what heroes do when villains know their identities. The villain cannot go on. The Magician has to cease. Preferably tonight. So. The mask."

Arthur frowned. That was the condition, huh? Not an unreasonable one. Arthur Kirkland was their friend, the Magician was their enemy. At the very least, with the act put to rest, they might be able to move on. And it wasn't like the Magician was his only alter ego... But he'd spent so much time lovingly crafting the persona. To just bin all of it, just like that...

Really, the biggest problem they faced with them knowing who the Magician was... Who he was beneath the mask... If Arthur insisted on staying the Magician, he was their enemy. If he gave it up, they might be able to move on. But really... Give up...?

He once again found himself biting his tongue.

He didn't need a bloody mask to be the Magician anyway.

"Fine. Follow me," he said, heading upstairs. Ludwig followed.

Arthur opened his bedroom door and sighed deeply as he looked inside. It was clear that Gilbert had rummaged through his room a little, trying to find more evidence no doubt. It was a little more messy, with the bed and desk shoved out of position and examined clothes scattered across the floor. Gilbert had even discovered the hidden room at the back of his wardrobe.

"I see you've been busy," Arthur muttered, disapprovingly.

"Gilbert was drunk," Ludwig replied. "It already looked like this when we got here."

Arthur didn't reply, instead picking up his mask from the bed.

"Here," he said, handing it to Ludwig. The German stared at it, turning it over in his hands. He was wondering if getting the Magician to cease really could be that easy. Looking back up at Arthur, he decided that no, even if the Magician stopped with his charade, he'd still be a troublesome complication in their lives...

"The way I see it..." Arthur spoke up. "... The Magician died some time ago. When the Dream Team wouldn't stop bothering his alter ego," he explained. "It was a matter of time."

"What makes you say that?" Ludwig asked.

"You can't befriend heroes without them influencing you, is my point. I'm not who I was when we first met," Arthur explained.

"That is yet to be seen..."

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing," Ludwig replied, sitting down on the bed, pocketing the mask. "What's behind that door?" he asked.

Arthur fidgeted, not wanting to answer.

"Arthur."

"... Well, I have to hide my gear somewhere," he finally admitted. Ludwig frowned, but instead of asking another question, he seemed to notice something by his feet. He leaned over and picked up. It was Arthur's journal. Arthur paled.

"What's this? It clearly means something to you, since you've turned white," Ludwig casually asked.

"Look, please don't read it. I wrote it. It's mine."

"It's a journal?"

"Yes. From when I was a kid. Look, here's something you didn't know about the Magician: I used to be an information broker. I exchanged information for information. And here's a deal! Why don't you not read that and I'll answer some of your questions."

"Like... What's behind that door?"

Arthur hesitated again.

"Yes."

"What's in here?" Ludwig asked, holding up the journal.

"Just embarrassing teenage rants," Arthur half-lied. He'd had it since he was thirteen, so of course the first half consisted entirely of humiliating drivel. That wasn't the part Arthur desperately didn't want him to read though...

"Embarrassing? I thought you would happily sacrifice your pride if it meant protecting your secrets."

Arthur couldn't counter that.

"What's in here? Really?" Ludwig asked.

"Exactly what I said."

Despite still being unconvinced, Ludwig handed the journal back to Arthur, who hastily took it and held it out of view. It shouldn't have been outside the hidden compartment in the first place.

"Well?" Ludwig asked expectantly. Arthur reluctantly opened up the door at the back of his wardrobe, revealing a smaller room with all the Magician's belongings visible. A bit of rummaging would also find things from Arthur's past life in New York, which were hidden away... Arthur looked at his journal. Well, he usually kept them hidden away. How on Earth had it ended up by his bed...?

"Everyone's got to store their things somewhere. I've hid mine in this room," he explained. Ludwig hummed, but didn't go in. He stayed outside.

"What about all those things you've stolen?"

"Hidden elsewhere, if not returned," Arthur answered. "The thing is, money from banks is traceable, so I can't actually use any of it, without anyone knowing it was me." He shrugged. "If you really want to make money off crime, you don't rob a bank. With the way everything works, you'll be caught in no time."

"I didn't need to know that."

Arthur again shrugged.

"I never was in it for the money. Just the fun."

"Making other people miserable is fun? Almost getting yourself killed by the Great Dragon is fun?"

Arthur chose not to say anything.

"So. How do you know so much? Care to explain?"

Arthur shifted from one foot to another, knowing he'd have to answer. He'd promised.

"I lied," he finally said.

"About what?" Ludwig flatly asked. "There are a lot of things you lied about."

"About not being a Super."

Ludwig frowned.

"You mean you are a Super...? But you could even prove..."

"That's all I can tell you," Arthur suddenly said. Ludwig looked confused.

"What...?"

"That's all I can tell you," he repeated.

"What do you mean?"

"I can't say," Arthur bit out. He sighed. "If you have questions..." He closed his eyes. "Talk to Mr. Scary."

"The super hero? How's he connected to any of this? To you? You two have never met...!"

"Ludwig?" Arthur interrupted.

"What?"

"We know each other privately."

"Oh," Ludwig muttered. Then he frowned. "Does he know who you are then?"

"Uh..."

Thankfully, Arthur didn't have to answer that question, as Ludwig's phone buzzed. He frowned.

"This isn't over," he said, as he pulled out his phone. Arthur crossed his arms, as Ludwig read the message, then phoned Gilbert.

"What do you mean you trust him?" Ludwig demanded. There was some chatter, clearly Gilbert's voice, but Arthur couldn't discern what was being said. Then the voice changed, to someone else, someone equally familiar... Ludwig glanced at Arthur, then hurriedly looked away again. Yao. He was now talking to Yao. So Francis and Gilbert did want to find out about Yao...

"But you..." Ludwig started, but Yao's voice got louder.

"But he's..." Ludwig tried to say, but this time Yao yelled loud enough for even Arthur to hear.

"I've already explained this way too many times - Look, Arthur's an ass, but he's not a bad ass! I can name children more dangerous than him!"

Arthur scowled, while Ludwig covered his mouth to cover his smirk. The German knew full well that Arthur had heard Yao too.

Yao then continued in a calmer tone, so that Arthur could no longer hear him speaking clearly. However, from looking at Ludwig, the general gist of the conversation was that Arthur didn't pose a threat to the Dream Team. Yes, Arthur could be heartless and ruthless, but he had so many soft spots, he was essentially a neurotic marshmallow.

Arthur couldn't say that he was happy to hear that, but if it got him out of trouble...

"This is a mess..." Ludwig muttered and Yao agreed with him, then continued talking. Ludwig sighed deeply. "Ok. But did you know he's a tel-"

Arthur yanked the phone out of Ludwig's hands and hung up, before then turning it off.

"... Do you want to explain yourself?" Ludwig flatly asked, one he'd recovered from his surprise. Arthur looked at him with an unreadable expression.

"I'm going to be honest, for a moment. You and the Dream Team aren't the only people that know that I'm the Magician. There are a few others. However, you're the only person on Earth that knows I'm a telepath," he explained. "I'm asking you to not tell anyone else."

Ludwig frowned.

"Why not?"

Arthur opened his mouth to explain, but couldn't. He sighed.

"At least... Don't tell anyone until you've talked to Mr. Scary."

Ludwig didn't look convinced. "He's not in New Pond though. He's not even in the US right now. He's been in Europe for the past year."

Arthur smiled knowingly.

"Oh, Mr. Scary has a way of being exactly where he needs to be, when he's needed. I'm sure you'll see him in a few days."

"That's a little ominous... Does being where he's needed have something to do with his super power?" Ludwig asked.

"I'm not that close to him. Even I don't know..." Arthur trailed off. Right. Telepaths couldn't read each other... Ergo, he had an idea of what Berwald could be... But he couldn't know for sure.

And speaking of Berwald, that reminded him of Peter. He needed to look into Peter's powers. Had he indeed somehow become the Britannia Angel? That aside, he also still needed to warn Peter of the perils of being a Super... Something he hadn't been able to do, since he hadn't had the chance to talk to him privately yet.

"So what did you discuss with Yao?"

"Gilbert and Yao have both convinced me to trust you... For now," he stated, his gaze wandering over to the hidden room at the back of Arthur's wardrobe. "But... The Magician can't continue," he said firmly.

"You have my mask, don't you?" Arthur asked.

"I'm not stupid. The mask deters you. It doesn't stop you," Ludwig snapped. He leaned in, a little closer. Arthur was once again reminded that Ludwig was taller than him.

"We won't become villains like you, we won't tolerate villains like you," he declared in a calm tone. "So the question is, what you'll do now. As I've said, you're the only one that can break stalemate. There's no meeting half way either."

Arthur looked away, his arms crossed. He said nothing.

"As your friend," Ludwig said after a pause. "I strongly advise you choose wisely."

Arthur held his tongue.

Depends on what you consider wisdom, right?

He glanced at the red coat, just visible in a corner of the hidden room.

How to choose wisely...


RIP me, this chapter was such a pain to write. You may have noticed, due to the delayed update. Thanks for all the people over the blog that helped me with writer's block. TT_TT

Seriously, thanks...