this kind of includes the last thing i have to tie up. major plotpoint coming up next week :)
edit, 6th june: finished up a loose end (oops, it was the bit about ivan that didn't paste correctly.) also added replies!
finally: i was a butt and kinda changed the name - it was supposed to be for a future chapter. fixed that!
as always, i do not own the selection nor hetalia. these belong to kiera cass and himaruya hidekaz respectively.
The day before New Year's Eve.
Alfred and Matthew had their last bout of talks with Francis, but without Gilbert for some reason. Francis had said he'd been going to investigate a mining site in the north as they had reported some sort of new spike in rubies thought to be triggered by some magic, then before long he had said that he was on a train en route to Spades, much to the chagrin of the two.
The palace itself was in a flurry of preparation (again, Matthew thought), where they had been setting up for the celebrations tonight. He had gone down to the square yesterday, doing a spot of supervising work as they laid barriers and started setting up the square, and Matthew had chatted up a few people running the stores. He had left with a cheerful expression and a new flower placed there by a flower seller.
Alfred had come out as well with the rest of the Elite for around two hours or so, and were met with raucous cheers as Matthew was checking around the stands, which signaled their arrival. He stood with a young lady running a stall selling some foods, and watched fondly as Alfred bent down to talk to a little girl, and stifling a laugh as she called out to Arthur and wrapped her arms around his legs.
Lady Emma and Sir Alfonso seemed at ease with the people as well, Lady Emma giving people advice on what to wear with an animated expression and even more animated gestures – Matthew (well, the cameras included) even caught Alfonso help a baker lift some heavy loaves of bread. Alfred and Arthur were naturally entertaining a small crowd of children that the girl and no doubtedly their parents had called over.
Before long, though, Arthur had beckoned him over and took him to one side, and they exchanged a few words about Gilbert's arrival in Spades before they slipped back into their roles – but one thing that struck Matthew was how natural he seemed. He didn't think of it as a menial task, but rather an expression of elation was on his face as he held a little boy with fiery hair in a hug, not even minding as the boy put his hands in his hair and tugged playfully. Matthew caught Alfred's tender expression as he coaxed the child away from Arthur's hair, and didn't miss the softened glance Arthur gave him as Alfred kissed his hand gently and asked if any sort of damage had been caused – but as he knew his brother knew, there hadn't been and he just needed an excuse to flirt.
But he supposed that Gilbert would have done the same if it were the two of them, and noticing that it was nearly six, quickly finished his final checks, said a few sentences for the cameras and the upcoming Broadcast for tonight, said goodbye to his brother and the Elite, and began to prepare to welcome Gilbert into Spades. Yao didn't have him prepare a speech as his stay wasn't exactly supposed to be public other than a message on the Broadcast as thanks from Diamonds later that evening, so he took the time to try to calm his racing heart and perfect his appearance before rushing out the door in haste.
And that's why Matthew was awkwardly standing on a platform with a single servant in the cold, waiting for some yellow steam train to appear in the still – empty station. He knew Alfred had something coming up that he refused to name, and so he had volunteered to do it. Well, one thing was trying to reduce both Alfred and Yao's stress, but he also wanted to be the first one to greet Gilbert after so long.
"Are you cold, Your Highness?" the servant asked, tilting a little on her pressed shoes.
"No, miss, I'm all right," he said, trying his best to keep his tone from being dismissive. "If you want, you may sit inside the waiting booth…"
She definitely looked relieved at that, scurrying in and closing the door of the booth with a small noise. Then Matthew was by himself, waiting tersely and staring at the large, rimmed blue clock ticking down to eight o'clock. Alfred was going to do the unnamed thing at tomorrow, but he surely needed his help, and it was already seven fifty three…
However, with a loud roar like a sharp burst of noise, he could see a small yellow dot as if it was a drop of paint in a dull canvas, appear and get bigger and bigger, until it was on the platform and drowned out his lonely thoughts.
As it arrived, Matthew could faintly hear the door of the waiting booth open and his maid scurrying to her place behind him, but from the moment he heard that snicker, it drowned out everything else in his peripheral vision.
He tried to keep himself still as Gilbert, swathed in black and red furs, exited the car of the train. The snow hadn't treated him as well as the summer had – gone was his sweatshirt and flicking tail, to be replaced by a long, black coat lined with red fur with the tip of his tail peeking out of it. He held some sort of cane, with a crow's face carved as a head – and was wearing his ring. The matching amethyst gleamed in the winter sun.
Matthew sucked in a breath as their eyes met, pale red to violet, and the Joker couldn't help but send him a smirk before scooping up Gilbird's cage and nodding to his attendants, who held a yellow suitcase each, probably courtesy of Diamonds.
"Your Highness, the Ace Matthew," he greeted, leaning low and taking Matthew's gloved hand in his own. "It is a pleasure to be in Spades again." he slid off his glove, pressing a kiss to it, sending a rolling nimbus of warmth stemming from there.
"Th…the pleasure is all ours, Joker Gilbert," Matthew said, cursing his stutter. "Please, we must go to our carriage. It is getting cold."
"I hope you haven't been freezing out here," Gilbert muttered as their servants went forward to assist with helping out with the carriage and his luggage. "…Birdie."
Matthew turned a little red, but desperately resisted the urge to kiss his lover. "That nickname again?! Nevertheless, waiting for you was worth it."
"Let's get you warm and toasty later," he grinned underneath his breath. "I happen to know a few ways in how to do that."
"Cut off your flirting, Joker," Matthew snorted. "I'm not tumbling into bed with you so quickly. You're here for your brother and not for me."
"Who says, Matthew?" Gilbert continued, giving his hand a quick squeeze. "Why do I have to commit to just my brother? My lover is important to me as well."
"Francis has rubbed off of you too much, dearest," Matthew said softly, looking straight ahead as they approached the carriage. His mentor had always been the flirtatious type, and it showed no signs of stopping…"With the ways you have kissed me without explicitly doing so, and flirting with wild abandon. I wonder what else you'll try to do in these few days?"
"Try me," Gilbert said, and Matthew realized that it might have been a mistake as Gilbert ran in front of him like a child, jumped onto the carriage and offered him his hand, which Matthew, like the lovesick fool he was, took it.
With the servants being outside of the carriage, manning it, Gilbert grasped his face eagerly and Matthew pulled at his clothes. For the rest of the journey, which he had expected would be tame hand holding underneath all the fabric at the best, Gilbert kissed him with a hint of desperation and Matthew reciprocated all the fiercer, relearning the shapes and sensations of the boy that he so adored.
Until, of course, the windows of the carriage steamed up so badly that they resorted to drawing shapes, polar bears, and horribly cheesy messages that made Matthew laugh so hard that he doubled over.
"It's been a while, Gilb – uh, Joker Gilbert," Alfred said, trying his best to keep up appearances at the dinner table (failing miserably, obviously). "What's up in Diamonds?"
"Sorry I can't say too much on how we're working, Alfie boy," Gilbert grinned, but ruffled his hair from the seat he was in. "But we're doing better with the winter than last year. Since the trade deal we secured with Hearts over the grain, we're able to avoid a famine this year."
"I'm glad to hear that," Yao said warmly. As Gilbert's senior, he had an air of authority as always, but there was more friendliness in his tone as he knew how close the youngest Joker was to the brother and Katya. "King Francis does know we are more than happy to provide food if needed like last year, yes? You are unfortunate to catch most of the cold from Clubs in recent years."
"Hm, Jack Vash has shared his concerns about that, but we'll definitely talk if we have to. We haven't forgotten the debt we owe since last year." Gilbert's tone had taken a formal tone, and the Elite could only shift around awkwardly in their seats, not sure how to join in.
"Well, Joker Gilbert," Matthew said, placing down his fork. "New Year is going to be upon us soon, I wonder if you saw the decorations we put up around the city as we passed by?" No, I know you didn't as I was smothering you with affection on our way back to the palace.
"Yeah, definitely!" Gilbert said, with a knowing grin that betrayed what he knew to only Matthew. "Are you planning fireworks this year? I mean, with the Elite around, you should have something special, Al. Are you three interested?"
Arthur, Emma and Alfonso quickly sat up straight, Arthur wiping off the remnants of apple juice from the corner of his mouth.
"Um, yes, of course, Joker Gilbert," Arthur said, feeling a bit self conscious. "That is, if the prince graciously allows us to."
"I know he'll make a good party nonetheless!" Alfonso said cheerfully, nodding in Alfred's direction. Emma smiled prettily, and did the same, adding how excited she was for the event.
"Aw, don't overestimate me. But I'll definitely do my best, because Gil said so. Nah, I'm pulling your strings," he joked, and Matthew found the corners of his mouth twitch into a smile. "But yeah. This year is really important for all of us, I think."
General consensus echoed around the table, and for a few moments the party continued on eating in silence. However, before long, a butler came up to Jack Yao's side, saying a few things in his ear that no one else could really catch. It had to be important, though, as he was turning around and feverishly directing his gaze to the clock.
"All right, everyone, I've been reminded that the Broadcast takes place in around half an hour. If I can have everyone's approval, may I request dinner be wrapped up in ten minutes? It wouldn't be good to be tardy for an appearance. Joker Gilbert, if you wouldn't mind as a guest…"
"No problemo," he said lightly, stuffing his cut of bread into his mouth and swallowing loudly as he spoke. "'M going to get my official stuff right after this soup…"
Matthew couldn't help but laugh out loud at that, although the others quickly joined in. Fates, why was he such a dork?
"Hey, Matt," Alfred said right after the maids took their plates. The two brothers were the only ones left in the dining room after the Elite had left to get ready after Gilbert. Yao had taken off shortly, precisely twenty minutes before the Broadcast like he'd said he would, and came back down after five to warn them before dashing off again, probably to get his papers.
"Al?"
"Gil looks pretty good, yeah?" his brother said, placing his fork and spoon together neatly on the soup bowl – thank Fates he had some semblance of manners, Matthew thought internally – before pushing back on his chair – never mind, Matthew groaned. "I mean, Diamonds winter's been ruined by Clubs ever since the war they had. Probably Ivan's doing, heh."
"Alfred, stop putting your feud with King Ivan in every single conversation we have involving Clubs," Matthew sighed, but nodded. "He's doing rather well, and I'm relieved."
"Look, I'm sorry about that," Alfred hurriedly amended. "But gah, Ivan just strikes me the wrong way, yeah? Those purple eyes, the way he tries to act all innocent and friendly…Matt, you just can't trust him. Once you turn your back he's gonna go insane."
"He's just a little frightening sometimes, but we all know that he doesn't mean to," Matthew tried, but the fierce expression on his twin's expression told him that the relationship between the King of Clubs and the Prince - well, soon to be King, hopefully - of Spades was completely unsalvageable. What had happened between them?
"Anyway, Alfred. I'm going to have to bring him down to see Katya soon. She worries."
"I can help you with that," Alfred offered, but Matthew quickly brushed him off with a pat to the shoulder.
"Hey, you have the thing to plan for tomorrow. I guess you have lots on your plate – unless, you tell me what you're thinking of doing, eh?"
"Uh," Alfred said awkwardly, turning a little red. "I was thinking, of, uh, you know."
"No, I don't know," Matthew said exasperatedly. "Spit it out, brother."
"Okay, okay – I was, thinking of uh, maybe asking Arthur tomorrow night, you know, New Years? I was gonna, uh, ask him to m-"
"Boys!" Yao had reappeared, now with a stack of papers in his arms, his ponytail swinging as he appeared through the door. "Thank Duchess you've finished your meal. Now go and get dressed in your formal wear, we're live in ten minutes!"
Matthew and Alfred exchanged a glance, and a little seed of disappointment rested in his head as Alfred never got to tell him what he wanted to do. But from what he did say, it seemed like he was set on ending the Deciding soon.
The first thought that sprung into his head was offering his aid to his brother, but quickly remembered that Gilbert would be leaving as soon as the New Years and Hearts would be calling for him as soon as the harshest snows had stopped. He had to do as much as he could with their snatched time together…
And of course, if he were truly ending it, then he would be planning a wedding proposal as of now. To that, Matthew had no sort of counsel or assistance that he could give. Yes, Gilbert secretly gave him a ring months before, but that didn't necessarily mean anything. It certainly didn't mean a formal engagement or a wedding to come right after like Alfred and his queen's would be.
Finally, wasn't it quite a private matter? Matthew suspected that Yao was also told that he had something to do in the next day, on New Years Eve, but he trusted his brother enough to know there were not many secrets between the two of them. A wedding proposal should surely be the most intimate of affairs. Sticking his nose in, as Alfred loved to do all the time, would be bad for both of them.
Scraping back his chair like his brother had, Matthew folded his napkin and made his way up to the room. Broadcast night, and he wanted to go over his speeches before he could go anywhere near that set. At least Alfred was doing his Deciding segment again…
"Joker Gilbert will be helping on giving us insight into the issue of the Joker rebels. Even though their activity around our borders has significantly slowed down, in this time of winter we are still worried about the very real possibility of a strike. Thus, we advise everyone to please be aware and notify the palace immediately if you suspect anything or see anything. Thank you for your time," Matthew finished, to clapping from the audience that they had managed to gather and admit. Usually there would be a lot more, but since the preparations for the New Year had started, there would be a lot less people ready to sit through a whole Broadcast, even less if there wasn't a Deciding going on.
But since there was, the room was still partly packed – there were mostly more younger people compared to older people, but still, Matthew couldn't see the back of the room in the harsh light.
He sat down into the seat between Yao and Gilbert; since he was a special guest and had dressed up for the occasion anyway they made a place for him. Matthew knew it was far too public a place to engage in any sort of romantic interaction, but they did share an occasional comment together. They did have a friendship in public like Alfred and Gilbert did, so there shouldn't be any suspicion born from there…
Still, now there was cheering and whispers among the crowd as Alfred got up from his chair, spoke a few words with the Elite, pausing to share a word and a hug with Yao before making his way to the stage with a small brown notebook clutched in his hands. He seemed a little more relaxed today than other days, and his stance was confident as he started to speak.
"Good evening, all citizens of Spades. As we have previously talked about in different segments of the Broadcast, the Deciding has been going on for quite a few months now, and we in Spades have also received the news of the Hearts Deciding ending."
Murmurs in the audience broke out, and Matthew silently willed his twin to continue speaking. He had a bad habit of trying to pick up what people were saying about them…
"That is to say, I now know that there will be a definite coronation and a wedding in the New Year." Mutterings now sprung up, and Alfred struggled a little to project his voice. "We will keep you all updated in the meantime…"
And that was it. With stark surprise written all over his face, Matthew managed to catch his brother's gaze before he walked back to his seat, but it was only for a moment and the flicker of emotion that did pass through his face confused him. It was almost as if…he was waiting. Anticipating it. The expression on his face was bored…
Before he could think much more on it, though, he was ushered out of the Broadcast room and watched as people wrapped up the transmission. He turned to where Gilbert used to be behind him, but the albino boy was gone.
A sense of foreboding caused goosebumps to run up his skin, but the moment he turned around Gilbert was there, running his slender fingers across his shoulder for a heartbeat, giving him a longing gaze before he turned back to Jack Yao. Of course his mentor was showing him his lodgings.
They wouldn't be spending any time with each other tonight.
All other thoughts flying out of his head, Matthew morosely made his way up to his room. There was surely the issue of Alfred and what he was going to do flipping shit with his life, but the loss of Gilbert smarted. And that was the thought that resonated with him as he took off his glasses and buried his face in his pillows.
pastaaddict - me, cackling beneath my notes: denial is the way to go
vivadragnire - i appreciate your wait! i have lots of work since summer break's at the end of the month, so my teachers find it prudent to pile lots of essays on me. also - thank you very much!
hearthorse11 - oh my goD you know me so well lol. no but seriously, i'm trying my best ;D and we'll have a centric chapter on both her and alfonso in the next...um idk but it's definitely on the plot line
shookethfan - of the idk year i've known you i have never been unconcerned for your health lmao
russia says hello - can i borrow your crystal ball because dANG.
spade sama - ! buddy that's incredible. it's almost 230k words. thank you for sticking around, and i hope to see you around ;v;
n kukurichan - first off, this review is a bloomin ~900 words. my god. but yes - tbh i would kill for alfred in my life lmao. so the feeling's definitely mutual! and i do think that kiku would have told him now, but due to customs he's not allowed in order to protect hearts' security - and neither are lud nor feli. and all the way back, arthur didn't mention his name, so yes!
ooh, i feel that anna definitely knows more than she lets on to arthur…he would mortified if he knows how much she's seen (he + alfred are sometimes so distracted they kind of forge there are other people around them). and yes, i feel like that would be primarily part of her duties as a maid, but she does take it further. also - HAHA. as an author, that's my primary job. but it isn't just all bait, i promise.
oh, of course! anna can't really keep her tongue when it comes to the two of them, and i'm sure everyone would like the gossip! jordan probably meant it but didn't mean to blurt it out...
and arthur is hitting those levels after being exposed to a big teddy bear/dork/aph america/etc. his family seems to feel the same - and idk it's so satisfying that you got to remember the past events (i sound like my english teacher blast). and i don't know, i feel that his family is there to kind of keep him anchored. even though it's been a bit of a whirlwind, arthur's still rather levelheaded.
reviews, favourites and follows are what will keep me writing, so please go ahead and leave them!