,,,hello
this fic will be put on a little break. i have mocks in three days and so will be very strenously preparing. i have been laying off studies for a bit to update tonight - and it was twenty minutes for a little tweaking AND to write the last scene. please understand!
as always, i do not own the selection nor hetalia. these belong to kiera cass and himaruya hidekaz respectively.
Matthew ran over, his face streaked with panic as he approached the confused Jack.
"Matthew…is this true?" Yao said, turning his alarmed gaze to him. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I can sense their magic in the air," Matthew said tersely. "I thought that they could have started using a nullifier. It must have ran out of energy, so that suggests a large pack. I've notified Alfred already, he's up there with the advisors-"
"Not anymore," Alfred said, quickly sweeping into his brother's side. "What do we do?"
"Protect the Elite, for starters." Matthew said, holding onto Emma's shoulder. "Yao, can you secure Sir Alfonso? I'm sure Alfred will make sure Sir Arthur will be safe."
"Yes, I'll go fetch him this instant." Yao said, Alfred following suit.
"Alfred, what's…what's happened?" Arthur blurted, facing his expression of terror. "Did something happen?"
Obviously, there had been something horrible that had just happened, due to the racket of the advisors, the assembling of the soldiers, and the way Alfonso had followed Jack Yao so urgently.
"Rebels," Alfred said. "I need to get you somewhere safe."
"But what about you? If I go mad again-"
"Then you can't leave my side," he said, pulling him close but almost shouting through the racket. "If they try to get to you, they're going to have to go through me first."
"But Alfred, you're being irrational!" Arthur exclaimed indignantly. "You're the prince!"
"Prince or no prince, I don't care," Alfred said rashly, tugging him to the side and facing him. "I won't let them hurt you."
Arthur fell silent as the two of them ran down a hallway that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"Alfred, where are we going? I thought we didn't know what was in the venue?"
"The advisors did a final choice. I don't know, but...I can detect some sort of magical energy. I need to get you to a safe room, so I'm not really thinking now." Alfred panted, before Arthur pulled on his arm tighter.
"Alfred! Don't you think this is all odd? You said it was going to be a completely unknown location, but the advisors said that-
"Arthur," Alfred sighed, running a hand through his hair before urging him forward, "I couldn't care less if they fell into the hands of the rebels now. What I need is you to be safe. We'll talk later tonight, I'll come pick you up when all of this is done, yeah?" he said, placing him next to a door. He hesitated for a moment before raising his hand, almost as if he were to generate a lever.
"Alfred! I'm not leaving you alone. I'll fight the rebels-"
"Please, don't." The voice was eerily close.
All the blood from Arthur's face rushed to his stomach.
"Get behind me. Now!" Alfred shouted, instinctively pushing Arthur behind him to use his body as a shield between him and the voice. "Generate a lever and get yourself in there-"
"There is no need, Your Highness."
And then, suddenly, a person appeared in front of their sight, wearing nothing except black and a deep red scarf fastened tightly around her neck, drowning out her luxurious, dark brown curls.
A Joker rebel.
"What do you want with us!" Alfred said, his expression melding into anger.
"Simply put it, Prince Alfred, we do not want any trouble," she said, her gaze sliding over to the mess of pins on Alfred's lapel.
"I am the leader of the Joker rebels, and I would like to ask you to come up to the ground to speak with us." Her voice was lilting with a dry, crackling edge, reminding Arthur of someone whom he used to know…
"Then why have you staged an attack on us? We were perfectly calm with you. Why attack innocent civilians?"
"Your Highness, if we were attacking you, they certainly wouldn't have sent the leader to the mercy of probably one of the most powerful people in all of Cards, let alone an Elite," the rebel said, acknowledging Arthur. "Now please, let us talk. Three hundred of our men don't have much time."
"What do you mean-" Alfred began to splutter, but she was already leading the way.
"What should we do?" he whispered back to Arthur, who had reluctantly (not that he'd tell him or anything) untangled himself from his hold. "I mean…"
"She does have a point," Arthur said slowly. "I say we follow her, but keep your amplifier ready in case."
"Stay with me anyway," Alfred said in a deep tone, trying to keep his voice discreet. "Don't leave my sight in case we need to make a quick escape."
Arthur took Alfred's hand once again, and they went up the path that they had torn up only a few minutes before.
"We've found them, Your Highness," the woman spoke, stepping aside to reveal Alfred and Arthur, still attached. They jumped apart almost immediately, their cheeks tinting with scarlet. "Do you need more proof now that we mean no harm?"
"Very well," Yao said, his voice stoic, but still tinted with a hint of relief as he watched Alfred deliver Arthur to the rest of the Elite and then stand next to Matthew as soon as he checked on all three of them. "What is your motive for passing through like this?"
"Simply because it's the fastest way to Hearts," she said, her brown eyes still calm. A small group of strong looking, well equipped soldiers stood behind her, but Arthur could glimpse a much larger mass of men. They looked tired, and some of them were slumped over each other in exhaustion, wounds all over them.
"What are you intending to do in Hearts?" Yao continued, his voice still laced with hostility. "They, are in fact, our close allies, so if you even think about launching an attack-"
"No, no, Jack Yao, we are simply returning some soldiers home from the Easterns," she persisted, sounding a little frustrated. "Which is what I meant by an urgency."
"Sorry?" he said, confusion now lacing his tone. "From the…Easterns?"
"I would elaborate more, but that would place my fellows at risk. But if I were to share sensitive information to gain my trust, it is because I have a son at stake."
Arthur's eyes widened from where he was behind a group of soldiers, but for some odd reason he felt her gaze directed at him.
But it can't be, Arthur argued to himself, as soon as the thought had sprung up in his mind. There isn't any way Heracles is still alive, he's gone to the Easterns and everyone knows that it's certain death. And that was months ago, if he was still writing Kiku would have told me!
But it all makes sense, the little voice came chiming back. He even looks like her, sounds like her. Kiku and you never met his mother, if she was a rebel then it would be difficult to associate with her. Perhaps she's telling the truth.
"Your son? Is that why you are trespassing on our territory?"
"Him, and three hundred others who will die if they don't receive appropriate treatment in a country that will take them in. A good hundred have already perished to the cold alone. A general took the other half, and he was from Hearts. He had no idea we were of the Jokers."
"Is that all you desire?" Yao asked, taking one step further towards the leader.
"Your Highness, you could not possibly-" An advisor said, rushing forward to stop him, but he dismissed her with a brush of his hand.
"We'll send a scouting party to accompany them across the Hearts border, and no further. We'll escort the rest of the Elite and the princes back to the castle. I'll personally accompany the scouting party to make sure that they don't start anything as soon as they're on the Hearts territory." Yao said, barking out orders.
"You, in the meantime," he said, facing the harried advisor. "You will notify that a rebel group, bringing in injured troops, will be approaching the Hearts border from the left. Matthew, please assign your main advisor to supervise."
"Noted, Jack Yao," Matthew said, bowing once and then running up the observation deck, probably to fetch Carlos.
"Finally, I will be requiring that nullifier," Yao said, his hand already outstretched.
"But-" the leader protested, seeming to hesitate for the first time that day, but the Jack held firm.
"Either I allow Hearts to continue to believe that you are a threat by not telling that you are simply returning injured soldiers back to their kingdom."
"Your Highness, this will surely mean more than half of their deaths if they are not equipped with adequate care," she argued, but she had already reached into her scarf and was pulling out a small necklace adorned with a songbird like shape hanging from the end.
"I do not know your intention after you have sent those soldiers home." Yao said firmly. "If I allow you to travel undercover and then consequently do something dangerous, that burden will fall upon the rest of Cards. You are still noted as a hostile organization, if I allow you to operate as you are, consequences will fall upon Spades, not your group as it stands."
She stood still, long curls tumbling over her face, suddenly looking years younger. She pulled off her scarlet scarf with a forceful tug, tying it around her waist as she clasped her fist around the nullifier, thrusting it out to the Jack.
"For my son," she said, her voice stony. "And the lives of his other men."
Yao enclosed it coolly, his hand instantly winding up with magic, blue as dark as the night, melting the little piece before it was nothing but cold, molten gold.
"I would ask where you got this from, but it's very obvious where you did," he said, treading over it forcefully as he stepped back, satisfied. "So. Be warned, rebel. Digging through Diamonds' trash pile of rejected amplifiers won't get you anywhere."
"I am a Joker," she hissed, eyes narrowing to slits. "And it would be foolish of you to think otherwise."
"Last time I thought otherwise," Yao said coldly, "I felt a full lashing against my back for my insolence. Go swiftly. Now."
"Lady Emma, there's no need to worry. We've already seen enough of you to confirm the results, there's just the matter of safety."
"All right," Emma said shakily, her spoon falling onto her bowl with a loud splash that made her wince. "I…I want to talk to Prince Alfred."
"Is there a reason why?" Yao asked, his voice terse and quiet. Alfonso and Arthur were paying attention now, all thoughts of dinner and the attack (attack?) going out of their heads.
"Yes, but I'd prefer to not say," she said, squirming. "It's private."
Yao raised an elegant eyebrow, but didn't push the matter. "Very well. Just finish your dinner, and then I'll notify the prince. Sir Alfonso and Sir Arthur, however, I must ask you to retire to your rooms for tonight. With the security breach and whatnot, I'll be contacting your families if needed."
"Yes, Jack Yao," they both said.
They quietly finished their meals and walked back to their rooms together, stopping by Alfonso's room first.
"…Arthur." he said quietly, before the other boy turned to go.
"Yes?"
"…whatever happens tomorrow with Emma, we stay friends. No dirty tactics or such. If she does want to stay, can you keep an eye out for her? I'll do it, too."
"O…of course." Arthur said, dipping his head a little. "Stay safe, Alfonso. I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow, Arthur. Have a good sleep!"
Arthur let out an exhale, drumming his fingers on the top of his desk. Of course, the first thing on his mind as soon as they had been rushed back to the palace was about Kiku and the leader's son possibly being Heracles, but it wasn't after his shower that he was able to even sit down.
"Sir Arthur, are you sure you don't need me to stay here?"
"Anna, it's fine, completely," Arthur said, nodding. "Please, go sleep earlier tonight."
"But the protocol said-" she protested, straightening her cap.
"I'd rather you be a healthier and happier maid than anything. I know that it's protocol, but it doesn't say anything about staying in my room."
"At least let me stay out here until you're asleep. You're not changing my mind about this," she said firmly. "And I'll give you a knock when the prince comes back."
"It's an if – and only if you're comfortable with it," Arthur said, letting a hint of a smile make a way on his face.
She gave him a wink, squeezing on his shoulders as Christian would have done back when he was a child. "Hey. It's going to be a when, and I'm more than comfortable with looking after you. Don't know what would happen to you if you couldn't do the laundry – and also, when are we going to get that dress fitted with you?"
"Sorry?" Arthur asked, completely confused. In all his haste, he had completely forgotten.
"Come on, Sir Arthur, you mustn't have forgotten," she said, laughing in such a way that he felt more reassured than ever. "I'm snagging you a dress to impress the prince when he comes to visit the next time, aight?"
"I thought you were joking!" Arthur blurted, completely embarrassed, but she had ruffled his hair and was walking out of the room.
"Of course, anything for my liege. I'll yell when he's here!"
And so that was how he had found himself alone in his room, staring at the piece of blank paper that he was supposed to turn into a good letter to Kiku before bedtime, and if Alfred truly was going to turn up, he'd better do it soon!
Dear Kiku, he began, but then quickly stopped.
"How exactly do I break it to you that I think Heracles is still alive?" he muttered to himself, pausing to look at the night sky.
Sunset was quickly falling amongst the Spades kingdom, and as always Arthur trooped out to the balcony to watch the sky, pausing to fetch Alfred's jacket. Surely, even though Hearts was so far from Spades, Kiku was thinking about him, too?
"I bet your Deciding's over, Your Highness," he said wistfully to himself, hugging Alfred's jacket closer. It still smelled of him, however faded, and it just made his heart beat that little bit faster.
Who knows what would happen? Perhaps it would be over before Christmas, or it would be well over the New Years before Alfred sent him home? Secretly, he had been wishing to celebrate both holidays with him and Alfonso and Emma, but with Emma in such a precarious state after her brother and then detecting the rebels, he decided it was out of the question.
Dear Kiku - or is it Queen Kiku now?
How have you been, my friend? I'm sorry that I haven't been able to send you any post recently, I still have your letter from before but I might reply to that later.
You might have seen the Trials – I wonder if you have had time to watch them, but something very peculiar happened afterwards that was cut off. I know that hopefully several sources have notified you that the Joker rebels have skirted around the Diamonds border for a good month or two, but today we saw them.
They were in a tiny pack of people, but what really struck me is the leader. She had brown hair – it was curled in little ringlets at the bottom, but it wasn't just any shade. I thought that she seemed familiar, but it wasn't until I saw her eyes and heard her voice that I knew something was up.
I think she's related to Heracles. If not his mother.
I know, it sounds insane. But those eyes are as green as his, and she even sounds a lot like him – not as lilting, no, but there is the same dry edge we used to hear.
I mean, that alone would have been terrifying, but then she started talking about something. Her son, rescued from the Easterns.
That is when I managed to get notice of all the people behind her – there were a small group of able looking people, but a larger group of weaker people. Some were slumped over each other, and one of them was bandaged so badly that he was more gauze than man. Some weren't even moving without the help of another.
And I felt in that moment, that you should know about it…
I apologize if this opens up some old wounds. I do not know of Heracles' fate, ultimately, since I did not get a chance to see or go within. Nor did I get the chance to ask.
I wish only happiness for you, my friend.
Please write back soon with news.
Yours truly,
Arthur
"Hey, nice view out here," Alfred murmured, his arm encircling Arthur's waist as the other held onto the balcony and stared out onto the kingdom.
"Indeed." Arthur said wistfully, one hand reaching backwards to bring his head forward to rest on his shoulder, running his hand against the soft golden strands. "Would have been better if you didn't decide to jump me."
"Someone was too invested in his letter to take notice of me," Alfred said, tilting his head a little and brushing his lips against Arthur's ear softly, eliciting a shiver. "An' that's jus' not good, darlin'."
"When will you stuff it with that accent?!" Arthur huffed, but didn't seem to mind it too much as Alfred's hands snaked into his bomber jacket to pull him closer. "You with all your cuddling nonsense."
"Hm. Still like it when you wear my stuff, though," Alfred said, sounding like a grumpy puppy. "Actually, I was gonna ask where it was."
"It still smells of you," Arthur admitted, "…idiot."
Alfred grinned, resting his head on his shoulder to look at the indigo night sky that was Spades.
"I miss riding with your horse." Arthur said after a while. "And little Hero romping around your feet."
"First time we've had alone and my pets upstage me!?" Alfred blurted as Arthur laughed, turning around in his grip so that his hands rested on his chest rather than his balcony.
"I miss your puppy, although you're a big one yourself. And it's probably too cold for Butterscotch to go out, yes? Maybe if we can find a day, we could go down and look after the stables." Arthur said.
"Sounds good. Maybe," Alfred said, his hands coming up to rest at Arthur's forearms, pulling him even closer. "Maybe. There's a lotta maybes hanging in the air right now. Christmas. The Deciding, the rebels, Emma…"
I'll pretend I didn't hear that, for her sake, Arthur decided as he met the other's eyes. "Well. I hope that there isn't as much of a maybe with me. I hope you know that."
Alfred's eyes met his for a moment, his eyes brimming with emotion before his hands slid up his forearms and buried themselves in his shaggy hair, tilting his mouth slightly open. Arthur flushed immediately – was he really going in for a kiss? – but he let his eyes flutter shut before holding onto the lower part of his wrists and letting Alfred touch him yet again, ignoring the press of his glasses against his face as he kissed him with all the fervour he could muster.
It felt like Alfred was hungry for him, his hands seguing up into his hair like Arthur had done so many times, pushing him against the railing of the balcony as Arthur parted his mouth and let Alfred explore him restlessly, the sensation invading every single sense that he possessed. Alfred's heartbeat against his back, stitched unevenly with lashes that were taken for them, for him, the way that he kissed so fervently that he had to pull back for breath, panting as he rested his forehead against his.
"Arthur," he breathed, his glasses fogging up as he let their mouths timidly brush before Arthur's arms went around his waist again. "I…I just…so hopeful…"
"I know," Arthur said, his fingers delving deeper under his suit as he continued to kiss him ever so sweetly. "I know, dearest."
I love you, he said internally. I want to say it so badly. I really do. But you have to let me first.
"I'm sorry she got so close," Alfred said, scrunching his nose in such a way that Arthur found very cute.
"No, you should be sorry for throwing yourself in front of her," Arthur said firmly, cupping Alfred's cheeks. "Don't you ever do that ever again, especially for me."
Alfred blushed, looking away, and Arthur gave a little tch of distaste, pressing his forehead to his. (He tried his best to forget how cold Alfred's glasses were.)
"I mean it." Arthur grumbled, kissing his nose. "Don't ever put yourself away from me – and look at me, not away!"
"I don't want to think of a future where you're hurt," Alfred said.
"Idiot, what do you mean? It's not like-"
"Don't wanna think about it," he mumbled into Arthur's chest. "I would hate myself for the rest of my life."
"Alfred, you know I'm not worth it-"
"Telling you that 'cha are. I mean, take this sky for example – of course Spades is really smokin' hot, but-"
"Way to ruin the atmosphere, you…"
"Aw, come on, give some space to a flustered, lovestruck teen!" Alfred moaned, his eyes giving Arthur that dopey look that he couldn't resist - and lovestruck?! What was that idiot saying, not like he felt the same lovesickness or anything of the sort, but – "I'm just saying, even simple things like looking into the stars and not smelling your hair every other morning wouldn't be fun at all."
"…yes." Arthur said, turning his face aside for a moment to exhale, leaving a little cloud in its wake. "I suppose I can't be around a horse or read heroic stories without thinking of you."
"Arthur, I…" he blurted, biting his lip.
And it was there, in the cold December night, that Arthur thought – is he going to tell me that he loves me?
Because, I do, too.
"Alfred," he said slowly, "I l-"
;)
replies
pastaaddict - perhaps there should be a cheer squad for him? anna would lead, of course!
mi-chan - haha thank you! the description was really the hardest part of last chapter, so i'm glad it turned out so well.
russia says hello - i would be tempted to offer you a job after that lol. thank your fairy for me - ask them to grant me luck for the exams as well!
- i felt that it would be fun to mix up the order to trip you up - and there's a reason why i put her last but shh. and yep, pretty compatible if you ask me. omg nice - it was kind of a last minute addition to tie that in, so i'm glad.
hearthorse11 - hey that's OK!i understand, please don't ever feel like you have to rushwith these things. and i think a certain friend of mine has really influenced you...
reviews, favourites and follows are what will keep me writing, so please go ahead and leave them!