Yay time for a new fic! This is going to the darker side, call me mean but I felt that Alfie got off light in Captured and Caged (I like to use C words apparently..) and I didn't get nearly as much protective Mattie as I wanted. I see Matt as older because of Vinland and the fact that Quebec was an official colony before there was one in America. Though I think Mama did have them at the same time like normal twins, Matt was still older therefore he was discovered first and chose to date his birthday before Al's. P.s. I also support the theory that Al has aspergers.
The hidden base was going about its daily business. Men milling around with their chores or just slacking off. The watchman at the main door looked around bored. He heard a curious crackling and looked around for the source. There was ice growing over the door. He leaned in curious.
Suddenly there was a bang and it burst inwards. Two looming figures standing in the door, a third behind them. The taller ones in front had icy winds whipping about them. One cloaked in a dark aura the other looked borderline feral. Both armed with a pipe and hockey stick respectively. The third came in behind them green eyes shining with a cold bloodlust from ages past.
Matt strode in like a man on a mission, barely flinching as a guard lunged at him. He swung his hockey stick into his face, the wood connecting with a sickening crack as he carried on towards what they were here for.
Men rushed in guns at the ready. Ivan sweeps his pipe knocking three out at once.
America had been missing for almost five months now. Even Matthew had had a hard time pinpointing where he was. They had been scouring the country for weeks. Turns out he was captured by a group of terrorists who had stumbled upon the secret of America.
Nothing was stopping the furious blonde as he carved his path through the armed men trying to stop him. A steel door stood in their way, but only for a second. Arthur glared at the metal, literally burning a hole in it. Metal melted like wax, sizzling dangerous in a molten stream.
Icy winds quickly cooled it back down as the Russian steps through. They continue through the halls finally reaching an underground cell.
Matt was reaching out, trying to sense his presence in the steel dungeons. It took a while, but they finally melted the right door, finding America.
His light was very dull, a side effect of the powerful drugs used to tame his monstrous strength. Also the reason Matt couldn't track him. Al sits huddled in the corner, poor tattered wings wrapped around his shoulders. A large number of feathers simply ripped out and strewn across the floor the skin still bleeding lightly. His body malnourished and abused in thread bare remains of clothes. Shackles griped his ankles. His gold eyes, one of them bruised, carried that distant gaze he got when his autism kicked up and he shuts down blocking out the world.
Matt's eyes saddened for a moment when he saw him, softening back to their normal gentle gaze as he walked over to him. He crouched, reaching out and helping him morph back to human - it was easier to get him out like that. "Alfred... Alfie... Can you hear me?"
Al curls into himself. Ivan growls at his condition leaving. It was safe to say only the few high ranked prisoners taken for questioning left the place alive..
Matt spoke to him softly, the fiercely protective burn making his eyes smolder dangerously again as he scooped him up and started carrying him to the door. Ivain comes back to the entrance. An unconscious man over his shoulder and two more tied up dragging behind him. Arthur had made a small pile on the other side of guards, magically bound. He was tempted to burn them alive...
Al hadn't reacted yet other than trembling softly. Barrier between him and the outside. The world can't hurt you if you don't acknowledge it..
The world could still hurt, even if you played pretend it didn't... The trio hit open air and ran, heading for the trees and the transportation circle Arthur had lain earlier.
They stepped into it and disappeared.
They reappeared thousands of miles away, in Arthur's country house in the hills of Cornwall in the south of England. They stepped out of the cellar, Arthur growing woozy from such a jump now that his rage was ebbing.
Ivan takes the prisoners upstairs to a waiting Germany, a few other nations had agreed to help. After all if they had managed to contain America of all people, who knew who the next target would be?
Scotland and Norway tended to Arthur in the basement - Magical fatuige needed different care - While Matt took Al to their room, far away from everyone. He had to walk passed them but scowled so fiercely that no one dare stop him.
Francis watched Arthur worriedly before gathering things for Matt to treat Al. He doubts the Canadian would let anyone else even look at him.
Matt had literally inverted into 'momma bear' mode. He would likely try to kill anyone dumb enough to touch his brother right now. He tenderly treated the physical wounds, but it was the ones inside that worried him... *Alfie... Can you hear me?*
A hand twitched and the light stirred slightly.
He was in pretty bad shape though. It looked like they had repeatedly poured some burning substance down his throat to stifle his voice, new damage coated on top of barely healed tissue. Various carvings and burns. Broken bones with some partially healed. As long as his country still stood unharmed, hopefully the damaged body would heal without much of a trace leaving only minimal scars. But in the weakened state he was in it would take a great amount of time.
The sight was enough to move him to merciless fury in the base, but now they were home again, it just brought Matt to tears. He gently stroked his cheek, letting a couple drops fall. "I should have been there..."
The hand twitched again and Al blinks.
He saw it and dared to hope. Scrubbing his eyes quickly, he spoke to him again. "Alfie, look at me... Can you look at me?"
His eyes took a minute to focus as he turns to the voice.
Matt smiled softly, tears threatening again. "It's alright now..." He brushed his fringe back gently. "We got you back safe again..."
He blinked a few times before leaning in trembling, he cries softly.
Matt held him securely, strong arms encasing his damaged frame. "Shh... It's okay... It's okay..."
A voice whispered in Matt's head. Repeating his name over and over.
"It's okay, I'm here." He whispered back, just holding him, stroking his hair and letting him cry. "You've been so strong, but it's over now... You're safe and I won't let anyone hurt you... I promise..."
He sits clinging to him crying it out. After a while there was a light knock on the door.
Matt was still hugging him into his chest, cooing softly all the while to make up for the lack of gentleness he'd had after being captured. He glared at the door, trying not to scare Al as he said, "Who is it?"
It swung open revealing Francis. He had a tray with water and soup, a small bit of bread as well.
Matt eyed it doubiously, giving him a sad look and gesturing to his throat before turning gently for Al again. "Alfie... Francis is here... He brought you some food, do you want to try it?"
He looks up. He was hungry for sure, but how much could he manage?
"It's okay, we can try little bits until your stomach stretches again... There's no rush, just do it your speed..."
Francis brings the tray over smiling softly. Al eyes it hungrily.
Matt lay a gentle hand over his. "Slowly, or you'll end up being sick..."
Al eats slowly. It hurt but his stomach hurt more. Francis talks quietly to Matt. "Arthur is resting. Ludwig took off with the others. Ivan wanted to stay but Ludwig convinced him to help him."
"So long as they're careful," Matt nodded. "We can't afford to let anyone else be caught like this... It's bad enough trying to get one out, I think Arthur would struggle moving many more this far..."
"Knowing Ivan we'll be lucky they stay whole... But he knows better than to damage anything vital."
"Honestly, I could care less about those bastards!" He hissed, venom lacing his voice again. Half the reason no one protested him staying was simply how dangerous Matt could be if you pissed him off. These men had well and truly pissed him off...
Al glanced up at him, slightly startled.
Matt caught the look and reigned it back in. "Not you... You're okay... But whoever did this to you is going to pay..."
Al fidgets looking back at his plate.
"It's okay if you're full." he rubbed his back gently.
Al leans on him clinging. Francis smiles petting his hair gently before taking the tray and leaving.
Matt curled back around him, going back to him quietly muttering fairytales. He needed to fill the silence... Al snuggles close, not wanting him to leave. He didn't intend to really.
After a while Al fell asleep, more restful than he'd had in weeks.
He lay back, letting him rest. He just hugged him, stroking his hair soothingly as he slept. Was it more for Al's comfort or his own though?
