things i'm not going to talk about: the time here
as always, i do not own the selection nor hetalia. these belong to kiera cass and himaruya hidekaz respectively.
In a place where things are not quite real, but not quite illusionary at the same time…
A dream, of some sorts.
Your heartbeat is still for a moment, Matthew.
Your violet eyes snap open, your chest heaving as you heave off your bed and get to your feet, not even getting changed as you pass through your door out, past Al's, down past the kitchens until you're in the foyer, your glasses askew on your face.
I run in the snow, my heart hammering as my boots crunch as I step onto it. My jacket is dark against your skin as I hold you, but your expression is terrified as you wrest your grip for me, and I let go of you. Your mouth forms the letters of my name as you shake your head, and you are close as I embrace you again, but the shadows behind you writhe.
You cry out in fear, staggering backwards with your hands outstretched, and I push you behind me in response as the shadows engulf the two of us.
"Gilbert!" you, my birdie, shout, and I turn around to face you but the darkness yanks you away, and I reach out for you desperately but I feel a claw on my back and everything is numbing pain…
Gilbert's heart was slamming inside his ribcage from the first moment he drew in a tortured breath that morning, his shirt drenched with sweat and his mind reeling.
Matthew. Something, something…he hadn't had a nightmare in a long while, but the terror that was etched onto his beloved's face was so real…
"Kat," he heaved, pushing off the bed, just like how Matthew had in his convoluted nightmare. "I need to write to her-"
Hold up, his awareness accosted his train of thought as his gaze honed on the chrome yellow suitcases that were Diamonds fare. You're stopping over Spades for the next three days. Find Matthew then, Beilschmidt.
The last day of meetings in Hearts began, and Gilbert was forced to slouch through meeting after meeting of the Hearts court berating him about his change into the Joker state.
"Why couldn't you have stayed and helped your brother as queen! Then we wouldn't have to fund the Deciding in the first place…" one of them complained, capping his pen lid. "We've gone over budget by eight percent thanks to that."
"Ask the Fates," Gilbert said tiredly, lolling his head to one side.
"You must take this seriously, Joker Gilbert," another shot back, her eyes furrowed in frustration. "A hoard of amplifiers for the damned Joker rebels – the Jack of Spades neutralized only one out of what could be hundreds! Are you sure, with your nature and Joker Katya's…"
"There is nothing we have in common except our genes," Gilbert said, crossing his arms and snorting a little – being serious wasn't in his trickster nature. "And those genes were bestowed upon us by the Fates – they changed our genetic makeup. Joker Katya and I are only doing our job here. We're trying to prevent war, not start it."
"…everyone," Ludwig said, his voice stony. "We are here to discuss the information that the discussion with the rebels, not the Joker, have given us. Please, if you must ask Joker Gilbert a question, you may submit one in paper to me during the break."
Gilbert and Ludwig exchanged tired glances as the members of the court sat down, muttering apologies to the king but not to him, because it was obvious that even from Gilbert's not-so-long reign as queen, he had no more power here than he had as a Joker.
"I do hope though, Your Highness," one of the courtiers said, casting a sharp glance to the newly crowned Queen Kiku. "That you did not share all of our information with the Spades boy. Even if he did…suggest the idea, it would be inappropriate for someone of his stature."
"That, Mr William, would be at the discretion of the King and I," Kiku said, and Gilbert noticed his fingers closed on a sheet of paper he had been taking notes on. "I assure you that there is nothing that cannot be shared between a trusted friend and a trusted ally, which, not to mention, may be Queen of Spades in a matter of days."
He's even better than I was, Gilbert thought to himself as the newly crowned queen straightened his back and folded his lips into a thin line as the courtier clumsily tried to reiterate his point into what he thought was a more dignified sentence (it wasn't for him, personally). Even bothered to learn the court's names. He's not one to be messed with…
"Well, the next topic on the agenda is the issue of the Jack's official duties during his gestation," Ludwig said, glancing at the dimly lit screen of the port. "Right. Anyone have any ideas they want to offer up?"
"Let Felci have a break entirely," Gilbert groaned, pressing his eyes closed with his hand. He could feel the surge of protest throughout the room before holding up his other gloved hand. "OK, OK. I think he can do some things, but nothing more than state visits and endorsements. And for the love of the Fates, keep those amplifiers from Diamonds away from him."
"…Why do you say that, Joker Gilbert?" A woman asked, raising her spectacles in a non-patronizing member. Duchess - someone was showing a morsel of respect here. "I understand your points about the Jack taking a rest, as he is supporting this nation's heir, but…the amplifiers?"
"Upsets the magic in our bodies," Gilbert said. "Makes it very unstable, because these could be both amplifiers or nullifiers because they haven't been fixed to one, and they could have been either before they were neutralized through weakening of their magical properties."
"Do you propose we destroy them entirely?" one asked, flicking his pen on the surface of the wrist. "Some are made out of precious metals, and it could be useful…"
"Honestly, I don't know." Gilbert said. "I guess the Primary Suit here could hold a quick Meeting with the others just to confirm. But – we still don't know what's going to happen to the magic of the kid growing inside. Could either be changed to be very weak…or very strong – and neither are good."
The members around the table conferred quickly with this morsel of new information, and the Primary Suit made a small cluster by themselves while he sat alone, tapping his foot on the floor. Even though the room filled with noise, it felt stiflingly quiet.
"Gilbert…"
Matthew's voice, again. What was-
"There's a spare room on the right wing we could use," someone piped up, their pen tapping on the surface of the desk. "If we could shoehorn the pile into there, and wait until things have stabilized, we could arrange for Katya and the other kings to assist breaking it down. Especially with the Jack's condition…"
Gilbert was hardly listening to their ministrations. Something wasn't right. He never dreamt about people or hallucinated, and this wasn't just born out of pining for Matthew, as he had seen him only a week earlier. Nothing sounded more ominous than that – it wasn't normal, flat out, even for a Joker…
Something had to be happening in Spades.
"Joker Gilbert?" another piped up, eyes fixated onto his own. "Is there an issue? Your paper is becoming…awfully crumpled."
"Huh? Oh, it's nothing, really," he said, unclenching his fist, and keeping his head down. "You – everyone can just keep on going."
Ludwig's gaze darted to his, tinged with worry, but couldn't speak up. There was something…odd about him tonight.
Perhaps it's just hard for him to cope, coming home for the first time in awhile.
"Tell King Francis that we send our best!" Feliciano said cheerfully, zipping Gilbert's dark overcoat over his casual hoodie to shield him from the cold. "But are you sure about this? Too many zippers aren't always healthy…"
"I'm gonna say neither is carrying a baby," Gilbert joked, but bent down and placed his ear lightly on Feliciano's stomach, feeling his niece or nephew kicking around. "But hey, what do I know? Felci –just take care of my kid brother for me, OK?"
"Gilbert," Ludwig said, coming to stand aside his husband. "Can I have a word? Feli, please excuse me. I'll come meet you at six in the foyer, if that's all right?"
"Oh, definitely," Feliciano said, his tone understanding as he bowed, pushed his hat back up and left the scene.
"What's up, Lud?" Gilbert asked, genuinely confused. Had he stepped out of line (again)?
"It was last night's meeting with the council," Ludwig said, serious as ever. "You seemed less focused than usual."
"Gee, thanks," Gilbert joked, but paused. "Look, it was nothing, OK? I just…it feels weird, to be home in such a long time. Doesn't feel right, especially since there's been a new queen elected."
"I'm sorry about that-" Ludwig began, but Gilbert shook his head as if to say don't worry about it. "Um. That is to say, what do you think of the new queen?"
"Queen Kiku's helluva better than I ever was," Gilbert admitted, rocking back on his heels. "Organized, can deal with court life, and the four of you in the Suit seem close. Hearts is pretty much set, as far as I'm concerned."
"So that's not really what the problem is," Ludwig said, and Gilbert huffed, pushing his hands into the pockets of his overcoat. "Brother, I can tell when something else's bothering you. You can trust me. Is Francis all right? What about Vash and Lili?"
"No, they're all fine and dandy," Gilbert said dismissively. "It's plenty warm in Diamonds. But - OK, fine, don't laugh at me, but I had a nightmare."
"I don't ever laugh," Ludwig dead panned, but pressed his lips together in a thin line. "Coming from someone of your status, that's never good. Who was it about?"
"Hey, don't put it that way! But uhh, I'm not sure exactly," Gilbert said, rubbing the small of his back – doing his best to not give away his lie. "But they looked like they were blond to me."
"That…narrows it down by forty percent of everyone royal in Cards," Ludwig sighed. "Well, that's something. What happened, exactly? In the dream."
"Saw someone," Gilbert said, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "They were scared, I went out to help them, they – look, brother, it's not an omen or anything like that. It's just too bizarre."
"-well, if you put it that way, I shouldn't worry." Ludwig said, but his expression was still thoughtful. "It does not seem like something out of the ordinary…"
"Yeah, that's the spirit!" Gilbert grinned nervously, ruffling his brother's once-perfectly slicked back hair. "Hey, Lud. Your big brother's got it all under control, aight? You can depend on me."
"All right, all right." Ludwig said, bending down to awkwardly pat Gilbert's suitcase. "Still, you must be careful out there, brother. It's been relatively peaceful recently, but that can change in a heartbeat. Look after yourself…and whoever else you see fit."
D – Does he know about my relationship with Matthew? Gilbert thought internally, tensing a little. Is there anything more that he knows but I don't?
"Make sure I get a good niece or nephew, in that case," he said, continuing to smile in a cocky fashion. "Look after Felci, Lovi and the new queen, yah? Don't yell at them too much. Also, I love you, Ludi."
"Your Highness?" a butler said, bowing to the two of them and scooping up Gilbert's suitcases. "It's time to go back to the Spades kingdom, your train is awaiting you, Joker Gilbert."
"Thank you, Gilbert," Ludwig said, brushing away his cape to give his brother a hug, a bittersweet feeling resonating in his body at his brother's leaving after such a brief visit at the New Years – meant to be spent with family. "I'll see you soon, I promise."
Arthur's morning started with two large heaps of warmth on his bed as soon as he came to.
"Oh man, good morning, you!" Alfonso said, his expression energized as Arthur rubbed his eyes and surveyed the twin piles that were Emma and Alfonso. "See you finally got back from Hearts!"
"It's nice to see you again," Emma beamed. "How was it? Did you not want to leave?"
"Oh Fates, you two, I was only gone for a week," Arthur said, but he was smiling as he got up, rubbing his eyes. "Still – I did miss the two of you."
"Aww, Art," Alfonso said, ruffling his hair. "You're gonna make my manliness go away."
"Not like you had any in the first place," Arthur teased back, to the laughs of the three of them.
"Okay, okay, the two of you can do your grr manly fighting later," Emma said, waving her hands lightly. "But I dunno. Alfred said that the Deciding's finishing this week, so…I just want to spend time with the two of you. Seeing that we might not all be here afterwards."
"But I thought the rest of the Elite were going to be an adviser or a person in waiting?" Alfonso asked, tipping his head to one side. "At least, if I could stay here with court life I would."
"Alfred said it's ending…this week?" Arthur asked, trying his best to act perplexed.
I can't tell them, he thought to himself. I've come to rely on their friendship for so long, sabotaging it now would be ruinous.
"Spades has already been prepping for the ending of the process ever since our last Broadcast, yep," Emma confirmed. "They've decorated the Broadcast room, started getting out decorations, all that stuff. The whole palace is on standby for the announcement."
"Hey, spending time with Alfred's been swell this week, and I'm really sorry if you want to have him along, but Emma and I were thinking about a group outing, just the three of us." Alfonso began hesitantly. "We just thought – it might be the last time in a while, like she said…we don't know who's staying and who's leaving for sure."
"No, I'd absolutely love to!" Arthur said, an enthusiastic expression on his face. "I just came back, and because what you're saying is true, we've got to spend as much time together as we can – Alfred can wait. Do you have any ideas?"
"Oh, uh…nothing grand really. Em was talking about the courtyards…" Alfonso said, exchanging a glance with her. "It snowed really hard last night, so we were thinking of going with that."
"Did you play in the snow in your holding facility, Arthur?" Emma asked, propping her elbows on his duvet and resting her head on her hands, her short, curly locks brushing her fingers. "As a kid, I played a few times but I never was allowed for too long. I was a chronic snow eater…"
"Wait, that's the reason they won't let you in?" Alfonso gasped, genuinely shocked. "Snow is…cold water but more frozen! I remember scooping handfuls into my mouth as a kid!"
"Come on, haven't you heard about yellow snow before?" Emma retorted playfully.
"What's yellow snow?" Arthur asked – a little disappointed he couldn't share in his non existent experiences (as reading books indoors and drinking first the provided, then Kiku's hot chocolate. It sounded a tad boring…)
"Snow which someone's peed on," Emma replied, to which at the same time Alfonso said: "Snow with lemon flavouring on top."
"Neither sound very appetizing," Arthur blanched. "I'm already no good in the kitchen, so I don't think you can rely on me for sweet treats…"
"Come on, Alfonso! We don't always have to eat," Emma chided, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Well, come on then, lazy bones! We'll get a warm breakfast and then head out at eleven. Meet you two in the foyer?"
The two of them agreed, and Emma left the room, a spring in her step as Alfonso and Arthur watched her.
"She's holding up pretty well," Alfonso said, brushing over his newly cut hair behind his shoulder. "I'm proud of her."
"I'm honestly relieved, but – I'm thankful for you as well, Alfonso," Arthur said, letting a smile pass his mouth as he cuffed his friend's shaggy hair with his fingertips. "You've cut it."
"Yeah, well, I thought maybe the fancy ribbons and things started to outgrow me," Alfonso said, pausing before letting out a little sigh. "I don't know. I started to not…feel myself, anymore, wearing them all the time."
"I'm…I'm sorry," Arthur said, hesitantly letting his hand fall down from his hair and onto his hand. "I should have done something, Alfonso."
"Hey, don't stress over something you can't control and something that's not your fault either," Alfonso said, shaking his head sheepishly. "If anything, I'm proud of you, heh."
"Pfft," Arthur said, blinking in amusement. "What did I do now?"
"Not only," Alfonso said lightly, leaping off his bed. "Did you manage to charm the prince to absolutely adore you, but your friend's now a queen and you can handle it all. That's something formidable."
"If I were half as graceful as Queen Kiku, maybe the people would approve of me?" Arthur said, but Alfonso shook his head, a rueful expression on his face.
"Unless the scenes we watched on television was fake, I doubt it," Alfonso said, rocking on his heels. "Hey. I'm OK, but keep on being gentle to her, yeah? She's been through a lot."
"I will – and I'm sorry," Arthur said, feeling a little guilty. "I didn't want to hurt both of you like this."
"It has to happen to everyone except one, and going into this competition everyone knows that," Alfonso said, tugging on Arthur's hand to pull him up. "So. Let's make the most of what we have now."
After breakfast, they did indeed spend the afternoon enjoying the snow, Anna meticulously dressing Arthur so he felt that he was to be a snowman himself – but loosened up when he realized both of his friends were dressed similarly.
For an hour or two they built makeshift forts and had battle royales, then went two against one. Arthur needed some time to grasp the basics of hurling snowballs and making sure they did not disintegrate halfway on their journey in the sky, but he felt with Emma's determination and Alfonso's unbreakable spirit, he could do anything.
When the sun started to die down around six, and the three of them patted down their last snowmen, a servant brought out a small tray of food colourings and bowls, and Arthur and Emma got to try a snow cone for the first time. Alfonso had already doused his portion, and ended up forgoing the flavours entirely and stuffing handfuls into his mouth as he said he had done in his youth, and the three of them ended up laughing as they made their way back into the castle, all soaked.
"I'm sorry for the wait!" Alfred called as he jogged after Arthur, who had already turned around the corner right after dinner had concluded. "I thought you'd be cold after the three of you were playing in the courtyard."
"Goodness, I hope we didn't look too foolish," Arthur laughed, hugging Alfred's bomber jacket closer to his chest. "I must have made a right fool of myself."
"Huh? Hey, no, it was super sweet," Alfred said, winding his fingers in Arthur's scarf. "It made me really happy, you know. To see the three of you still be really close during the Deciding. It tears at people, and I was kinda scared of it happening. But I haven't taken you out in the snow, not really – at least, for tonight."
"Do you have something planned?" Arthur asked, letting a touch of flirtation make his way into his voice.
"I made sure the lights in the gardens are lit for tonight," Alfred murmured, reaching into his pockets for a pair of gloves. "One for you, one for me?"
Arthur's expression softened, and he slipped a blue glove onto his right hand while Alfred put his on his left hand. Arthur paused for a moment, hesitating while his fingertips skirted around Alfred's hand before he took it. Almost as if Alfred could tell what he was thinking about, he slipped their joint hands into his coat's pocket, giving Arthur's hand a little squeeze as they walked out into the gardens.
"Um, Alfred, I've been wanting to ask you this for a while, darling," Arthur began.
"Hm? Yeah, go ahead, sugar. Anything at all," Alfred replied, tilting his glasses a little higher on his nose.
"If…if they were here," Arthur said slowly. "Do you think your parents would approve of me? Our relationship?"
Alfred paused in his footsteps, stumbling around to face him, an expression of surprise on his face.
"Uh, wow…I didn't expect this, did this come from somewhere specifically?" Alfred asked.
"Nothing in particular, really," Arthur said. "It's just that you've asked my family for my hand twice, and you've met them, but in contrast I've only met Ace Matthew and Jack Yao…"
"I mean, there's not that much family left to meet, being born into a royal line," Alfred said, trying to instill humour in his suddenly deflating voice. "Matthew and I lost Mom and Dad when we were sixteen, and Matthew was forced into the Primary Suit because we only had a Jack at the time, so I can't really imagine the stuff he went through."
"Cards law says that a kingdom need at least two members of the Suit to fully function," Arthur said, thinking back to the hasty appointment of Joker Gilbert to the throne when the Hearts Jack had died.
When he was chosen by the Fates to be a Joker, he had quickly been usurped as Feliciano had become Jack after winning Ludwig's Deciding, his brother Lovino following to be appointed Ace afterwards.
"Yeah, so there was that as well. But as royals, we usually live long, so Mom and Dad's death was weird. My grandmothers, for example – the one as King died during the Deciding War when she was defending Spades, and her Queen died of sickness thirty years later, when my dad took over from her. I just don't know why they were the ones to die early," Alfred said, his voice muted.
"My parents died young as well, remember?" Arthur said, realizing he had brought up a sensitive topic that would be difficult to backtrack from. "My mother died in childbirth, giving birth to my sister Beth. She was ultimately stillborn, and the doctors said it was due to stress and malnourishment, something I still can't get out of my head."
"…" Alfred's sound of shock caught into his throat. How poor had Arthur been before he went to the holding facility and started providing for his family?
"But for my father," Arthur sighed, rubbing his forearm as he dredged up old, tattered memories that he was happy to keep tattered. "My father – the doctors said he contracted a lung infection, but in the end we couldn't get enough money for medication and to feed a family of seven with two young children. He gave up his life so we could eat that winter, so by the time the spring came along Allistor could start working straight away, along with Erin as they came of age to start in the workforce. I've never known a man as noble as him."
"Arthur, I'm…I'm really sorry," Alfred said quietly, taking a few steps forward and holding his hand again. "Your family – I trust they're better now?"
"Yes, thank the Fates," Arthur said, his shoulders relaxing for a touch. "They had a Christmas tree for the first time – and it's thanks to you."
"No, you've helped them as well," Alfred replied, kissing Arthur's nose. "You told me you went into a holding facility as soon as you could?"
"Fates knows how I got in, but that's true." Arthur confirmed, flushing a little at the contact. "Now, I'm being surrounded with good food, wonderful friends and a comfortable life to last me and my family. It's all you, Alfred. There may be things I wouldn't' change about my life for the world now."
"Your unlimited access to the gardens and strawberry tarts?" Alfred teased, but his blue eyes were tender.
"Well, I suppose," Arthur said, humouring him as he took his other hand into his own, glove against glove. "But meeting you above all else."
"Aww," Alfred grinned, flushing a little. "But it does scare me, heh – if Matt hadn't pointed you out for me at the start, we might not have ever met. And I don't wanna imagine something like that happenin' now."
"As you said, there was no way I could have imagined meeting someone I'd allow myself to care for as much as I do now for you," Arthur confided, his expression shy as the two of them made their way down near the patio. "And as I recall, I did care for my family and even saw joining a Deciding my duty, but my motivations shifted e-embarrassingly fast to staying with you."
Alfred's face fell, but only for a moment. UH, MAYBE…maybe it's his hot and cold personality…but…
"Was it so embarrassing to fall for me so quickly, or…?" he asked.
"Pardon? Goodness, no – oh, Alfred, I'm sorry," Arthur amended quickly. "I didn't – don't regret it, and I won't. But I was ashamed of myself. You know how long it took for me to admit that I had more than platonic feelings for you."
"…I mean, now I see it, you're right." Alfred said sheepishly. "I thought I was – I used to think constantly that I was unbearable, and I didn't get why all these people seemed to like me a lot. I'm tryna change to be a better person throughout this process, and I've gotta say, you've helped me a lot."
"You've changed me…you've changed me for the better as well, love," Arthur said, to which Alfred unclasped their hands and wrapped his arms around Arthur's waist as if to say 'are you sure about that?!'
Arthur had confidence issues, Alfred had them as well – he was just better at concealing them compared to him. Yes, Alfred…I'm doubly sure.
"Yes, definitely – how many times do I have to tell you, idiot! But, um, we're getting off topic." Arthur remarked, staring into what seemed like the endless twin pools that were his eyes. By the Fates, I can't believe I just thought that was a good figure of speech to use…
"With everything these few months, do you think your parents would let you…would let you be with me as the new King and Queen of Spades?" Arthur continued. "Would their decision really matter if they didn't like who you chose?"
"Actually, not really. At least from hat I've heard from the briefing Yao gave me before I started the process." Alfred said, tightening his warm grip on Arthur's waist. Arthur rested his hands on his arms – something he still couldn't stop thinking about – and tipped his head up. The height difference was absolutely perfect.
"Technically, the Deciding's all about choice the prince or princess makes. At least, that was the hope when Spades adopted the system from Hearts way back," Alfred said, continuing. "It was a few years after the Virus came and left Spades, leaving it with only two thirds of their original population. Hearts had use the process after their queen eventually succumbed to the illness that mainly targeted females, and their people were both angry and afraid. To keep their country's morale up, the idea of an everyday citizen becoming a royal and accepted by the Fates was a more than fancy idea. But again – back to your original question. I'm sorry I'm boring ya with this history lesson."
"No, I did the same thing in the beginning!" Arthur laughed, and rested his head against Alfred's firm chest for a moment. I can feel his heart beating faster…what is he so excited for?
"Hey, so. My parents always wanted the best for me. Since I was a kid, I knew I had to go through a Deciding eventually. At first I complained and tried to push Matt to do it instead of me, but they said they'd have to have me give up the prince title and the crown, and as selfish as it sounds – I didn't want to." Alfred said, his eyes fixated on the boy in his arms.
"No, it doesn't necessarily – you're just ambitious." Arthur said. "Power, if used with good intentions, is wonderful in the right hands."
"Mmm," Alfred said, and he lifted Arthur's ungloved hand from on top of his arm, brushing it to his lips in a tender show of affection as they stopped near the grove of fir trees. "I know that Spades is gonna do well with you ruling – just by hearing that, I trust you. And I know that's what my mom and dad would have wanted."
"Their sons to be happy?" Arthur said, curling his fingers against Alfred's hand teasingly. "And a stable kingdom?"
"This is kind of embarrassing, but…my parents wanted Matt and I to marry for love above all else," Alfred confided. "I want to honour their wishes. Someone who I know I can trust deep down, someone that I'll love more than myself – and someone who feels that way."
"Let me be that someone," Arthur whispered, pressing himself as close as he could to Alfred as possible. "Despite all, I've found myself to adore you more than I thought ever possible. You can have me for a lifetime and beyond – as long as you do the same for me."
Alfred's expression dissolved into pure happiness, and he nodded, raising his hand to kiss Arthur's hand once more before reaching for the ring box, pausing when he felt Arthur's fingers on his chin.
"Alfred," he said with baited breath. "I want it to be a surprise. I'll pledge myself to you even without a stunning ring. I don't need trinkets, I…I, Fates, Alfred, I just want all of you."
"You'll get all of me whenever you want now," Alfred murmured, kneeling to brush away some snow that had fallen on Arthur's hair, his fingers trembling as he did so. "Will you marry me, Arthur?"
"Y-Yes, I will," Arthur sobbed, wrapping his arms around Alfred's neck. "I will, you idiot…!"
"I'm too nervous for the announcement tomorrow," Alfred said, rubbing his eyes. "And I'm too tired! Arthur, can I stay over for tonight?"
"Stay over for – stay over?!" Arthur blurted, his face flushing red. "What do you mean by-"
"I meant like, uh, sleeping together!" Alfred grinned. "Look, I'll sleep on the lil' couch loveseat thing if you want-"
He let out a high pitched scream as Arthur tossed one of the pillows at his face, his cheeks scarlet as he started yelling profanities at him. "SLEEPING – TOGETHER?! HOW-HOW IMPROPER-"
"I MEANT," Alfred howled, dodging the melee pillow, "NO FUNNY STUFF! JUST CUDDLING AN' ALL-"
"WH-oh, that's what you meant," Arthur said, releasing his pillowcase and pausing for a moment. "Goodness, you should have told me…"
Alfred gave a little, exasperated sigh, but watched expectantly as Arthur got into the bed, and followed suit as soon as Arthur patted the space next to him, a hint of tension simmering in the air as it always did with young lovers.
"If you try anything…" Arthur mumbled into Alfred's chest, his warmth comforting in the dim room. "I'm going to wish you never set foot in this world."
"Aww, princess, that wouldn't be fun at all," Alfred sang.
"Just go back to sleep," Arthur said, muffled as he pulled the covers over the two of them. "Duchess, your onesie is absolutely ridiculous…no taste…"
"Hey, I have good taste in sweethearts!" Alfred countered, and he could feel the rouge dusting Arthur's cheeks.
"G…goodnight, Alfred...lovely," Arthur said, kissing his cheek and feeling the hint of stubble near his chin. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight, Arthur, my princess," Alfred breathed, holding Arthur closer, taking in his familiar scent of roses. "I'll see ya tomorrow."
It wasn't until Arthur's fists curled onto his chest and his breaths became deeper that Alfred could find sleep, holding the one he loved.
No harm in not waking up…
or is there, alfred? ;D
also, gilbert, i keep on making you suffer i'm sorry buddy
replies
pineappledannish - aww thank you lovely x
CFAA - muahaha, i haven't been paying them much attention as well as the nordics as they were kind of thrown in, i wanted to give them some screen time as well .3.
IMSCREAMING - may i prescribe a throat lozenge
pastaaddict - maybe you know me too well...
vivadragnire - maybe, maybe not lmao. thank you!
russia says hello - ohh yep, i've always liked the idea of a perspective change so it was sweet to go to another popular Hetalia group to see what they're up to while our main pairing frolicks around in fluff land. also what does 'something happen' smell like?
WinchesterStilinskiKitsune - thank you v much aaaa! that's actually a very good idea, i'll definitely look into it. perhaps as a standalone set of drabbles?
livandra - ack that means a lot. i hope you'll be swept away by this one as well!
hearthorse11 - it's OK man, i've always got you with a crate of tissues whenever needed!
guest - oh hell you bet i'm happy lmao. thanks a bunch!
reviews, favourites and follows are what will keep me writing, so please go ahead and leave them!