Basics: So this was fun to write too. A little bit of fluffiness for Kai and Alfred! And, for those of you who are rating/reviewing, I would totally love it if you would give me some help. I might want to add another pairing in here sometime-- maybe some FrUk. What're your thoughts? Any pairings you might want to see in here? Also, I wanted to thank Adaelie for her reviews. Thank you! :3
Pairings: Cowboy!Alfred and Indian!Kai. Potentially more.
Summary: While on the Oregon Trail, Alfred encounters an exotic Indian woman-- countless times. Who is she? And why does she infuriate him so much? AlfredxOC
Chapter Three: Midnight Escapade
Night fell. Once more, Alfred found himself looking at the stars.
It was interesting, the way the stars speckled across an endless landscape of midnight blue. Beautiful, even. He thought he liked the way the stars were interwoven together, and how when he looked at a different spot, and then returned to the spot he'd been looking at before, there seemed to be a different star in that place.
Stars were restless.
He glanced over at where their Indian guides were staying. Akando, Chua, and Gudahi were all sitting around a campfire, their sleeping rolls set out, chatting conversationally. He watched, curiously, looking at their companionship, at how lightly they chatted, even with the miles ahead.
That's when he realized one of them was missing.
He sat up, smoothing down his hair, having set his hat to the side. Where was Pride? Had she left again, just as quickly as she'd come in? But he hadn't even gotten the chance to show her who was boss yet!
There was nothing... Violently dominant about his attitude toward Pride. He just hated being undermined. He hated losing. And right now, he was losing. The fact that he'd failed to elicit any sort of acceptable reaction from the Indian girl not only wounded his confidence, but made him all the more determined to get her to react. It was only a matter of time, of course, but soon was soon enough.
He stood, brushing his pants off, excusing himself from the group. They didn't pay much attention, anyway. Making his way over to the Indians, he held up a hand in greeting and crouched down between Akando and Chua. Glancing between them, he spent about three minutes trying to decide how to word his question so that it made sense. After all, he didn't even know her name-- and referring to her as "Pride" would either confuse the Indians or anger them, both of which were slightly unpleasant prospects.
"She is with horses," Chua said after a moment, eyes narrowing keenly in his direction. "You are looking for her, yeah?"
"Yeah," Alfred said, relieved that Chua seemed to be able to read his mind. Akando didn't seem all that pleased at the youth's answering his unsaid question, but didn't say anything about it. Gudahi remained silent and mutely smoked.
Standing, Alfred made his way from the campgrounds out a little ways. They'd decided to keep the horses near the river, to let them relax in the cool and rejuvinate their tired limbs. It was a brief, but calming trip from the camp site to the temporary pasture, but he enjoyed it nonetheless. The night always seemed sweeter than the day, especially under the endless blanket of the sky.
As he made his way over the crest of the hill, he stopped, unsure of what he was seeing.
So far, Pride had been, well... Proud. Disdainful. Superior. He hadn't seen any sort of weakness or softness from her, at all, and he hadn't expected to. But, of course, he'd forgotten that old saying-- expect the unexpected.
Pride was down with the horses, just as Chua had said. As Alfred looked on, tilting his head slightly, he heard soft, quiet singing. It was gentle, soothing. Not beautiful, not astoundingly harmonious, not a chorus of angels-- but sweet, pretty, like the tinkling of glass. The words he couldn't understand, and he didn't know if he ever would be able to. But the tune was like a lullaby and made his heart flutter gently in his chest.
I'm not here to fall in love, he told himself. I'm not in love, anyway. Not with Miss Pride or anyone. I'm here for Manifest Destiny!
Pride's features were not completely visible; he could only see the silhouette of her of her body, shadowed and illuminated by the moon all at once as she made her way among the horses. That eerie, but delicate, melody hung in the air between them, like a string about to be pulled taut. From what he could tell, she was making the horses more relaxed then they'd been this whole trip.
The night air was cool against his slightly heated skin from the day's travels. The soft swishing of the water lapping at the shoreline, twisting through the reeds, the contented noises of horses; all bled together into the smooth symphony that was the Oregon Trail-- that was Manifest Destiny. It was undeniable, this urge within him. He felt his heart quicken at the reminder that he was competing for this country, with Arthur, no less. He had to get it-- had to!
He sat down on the bluff, stretching out in the grass. Hmmm, it was nice here. Pride's lullaby was, well, lulling him to sleep. Maybe just a quick nap. A quick nap would be nice...
He was only vaguely aware of how the singing had stopped. After that, he was stuck between that magical world that was after awake and just before sleep.
So nice out tonight...
"WHAT are you doing?"
Uh oh.
HEH. Al's in trouble.
What will happen next? Only time will tell!
And my tired fingers!
Sorry this chapter's shorter... But it'll get better. I hope?
Don't own Hetalia. Boo. D:
R&R, please!
