Love, huh?
Arthur couldn't help but be sceptical about the American's claims. No matter what Alfred said once there was any kind of conflict between their countries Arthur was sure it would result in deeper distrust between himself and Alfred. The relationship wouldn't last. Not that Arthur was sure he even wanted a relationship with Alfred.
While Alfred had been able to declare he loved Arthur, he had never given it much thought beyond the occasional 'oh he did grow up rather handsome' or 'I wonder how soft those lips would be if I ever dared to kiss him?" so whilst it was true he couldn't say he had never thought about it, Arthur just wasn't sure if these small feelings of attraction could turn into something more.
When Alfred had leaned down to him, Arthur's heart had jumped into high gear and he felt nervous and... excited? He had enjoyed the kiss of course and was a little disappointed when Alfred drew away but all of those feelings could be explained by the physical reaction after not having been kissed or touched by anyone in a long time.
Arthur breathed in the smell of Alfred as he was tucked against him. Soothing hands were rubbing up and down his back and Arthur suddenly felt ridiculous for having to be comforted like a child for over reacting to a love confession. He pulled back and Alfred let his arms drop to his side apparently satisfied that Arthur wasn't going to make a break for it. He was still smiling down at Arthur making him blush and look away.
"Um so, I haven't like eaten yet so do you wanna get breakfast with me? Or an early lunch even?" he asked laughing as he checked the time to find it was almost half eleven.
"I can't, I have to get back. To work that is." Arthur was focusing on smoothing the unnoticeable wrinkles in his suit instead of looking at Alfred.
"Right! Um so goodbye then?" Alfred really had no idea what he was supposed to say. Was he supposed to ask him out when he was free or wait for Arthur to ask him? Could he kiss him goodbye or was that too much too soon? Surely just a peck on the cheek was okay right?
As Alfred stood there unsure Arthur seemed to notice his discomfort. He looked up with a small smile.
"Um, how about tea after my work?" suddenly he looked unsure himself, "Unless you have to go, I mean your boss was looking for you this morning and maybe you want to get back as soon as possible so he doesn't worry. You don't have to stay here or anything."
Alfred just laughed and all the tension disappeared.
"Dude you're babbling. Tea's fine and all but I'd prefer coffee. And doughnuts! Can we get some of those?" his eyes were sparkling and made Arthur's heart pound. When he opened his mouth to remind him about his boss Alfred just waved him off before he could say anything. "Don't worry, I'll call and tell him where I am. I took care of all my work for the next few days anyway so it's cool."
Realising Alfred had thought in advance and had prepared to stay for more than a day in England gave Arthur an odd sensation. To be told so frankly that Alfred had thought of him and had actually cared enough to actually work ahead of deadlines was... Arthur couldn't remember the last time someone had been so thoughtful.
"Hey Artie? It's cool an' all if you say no but I was wondering if instead of the hotel you could put me up? I know I kinda made a mess in the guest room last time but I promise I'll keep it tidy. Please? It'll save me a few bucks." Alfred hoped appealing to the economic side of England would persuade him and hopefully gloss over the fact that he had used the hated nickname 'Artie'.
Arthur scowled. "It's Arthur you blithering idiot." (apparently not) a short pause followed as he debated whether or not he wanted to risk having to clean up caked in chocolate from his sheets again, "If you leave even one crumb in that room, I'm never letting you stay again." he warned.
"Ok, promise. Thanks!" he grinned happily and Arthur looked at his feet quickly before meeting his gaze once more.
"I really do have to get to work, ask the usual neighbour for the spare key and don't you dare mess anything up!" he started out the door but stuck his head back around the door when Alfred called after him.
"Hey dude, where did your socks go?"
Without an answer and with a bright red face, Arthur just stomped down the corridor.
"Absolutely not frog." Arthur growled at his 'most dear enemy' as Jose-Alain Fralon put it.
Francis merely inspected the nails of his left hand with an infuriating look of indifference. One of his legs was crossed over the other as he lounged in his chair as if he practically owned the place. When he finally looked up at Arthur across the table Francis raised one delicate eyebrow in mild irritation.
"And why not?" he asked.
Arthur wished the table could be another ten feet longer to put some more distance between himself and the French nation. As it was he had to grit his teeth and bear it whilst he fought to steer the conversation towards a topic he was comfortable talking about. A fight he was losing.
"Because it's none of your bloody business that's why!" he scowled.
"I'm going to take zis as conformation you know." Francis smirked smugly.
Arthur tried ignoring him but the Frenchman persisted in wiggling his eyebrows and smiling knowingly at him.
"I did not bloody well sleep with him! For gods sake man!" he finally exploded.
"As if I am to believe zat, you left a 'otel room after 'visiting' him. Iz zis not the common practice for anyone 'o wishes an affair to remain a secret?" Francis snorted.
"I was just visiting him" Arthur cried, "He came to see me last night, and stayed in the hotel over night!" he added noticing the perverted glint in Francis' eyes.
Sighing in exasperation, Francis uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. "Zis is getting ridiculous mon ami, when are you going to tell 'im?"
The sudden change in topic caught Arthur off guard and left him blinking in confusion at Francis.
"Tell who what?" he asked in genuine puzzlement.
"Alfred." he stated.
When Arthur continued to stare non-plussed at him, Francis rolled his eyes and added in a slow tone as if speaking to a particularly slow witted child, "Zat you love 'im."
Comically Arthur's eyes widened in surprise.
"What?!" he squawked.
"Oh come on I am not blind! And really I am ze expert am I not?" he smirked again in smug amusement but Arthur was too shocked to even retort, instead he merely repeated his earlier question.
Francis seemed to notice Arthur was not only shocked by the fact that Francis had spoken of this so matter of factly but that Francis thought this at all. Frowning the older nation cocked his head at his friend and considered him. Realisation dawned.
"You did not know?" he asked. Arthur shook his head speechless. "Merde! 'Ow could you not? It is so blindingly obvious! You- merde Arthur I thought you were just dragging you feet!" he ran his hands through his blonde hair and just stared in wonder at Arthur.
"I-I don't, I mean well he told me he does and, but I don't think that... I to him!"
Francis just shook his head baffled.
"We 'ave seen you togezer and everyone thought it was official but when Matthieu asked Alfred..." he trailed off.
"Canada knows?!"
"Mon Dieu, everyone knows! I said it was obvious did I not?"
After this exclamation silence fell between them. Arthur was thinking inwardly whilst Francis was wishing he had not come to do work and had inadvertently gotten himself involved in the most ridiculous love affair between the two thickest nations he had ever met when it came to such things. Arthur eventually broke the silence.
"How do you know that you... feel that way about someone?" he asked.
Taking pity on the Englishman Francis tried his best to explain the convoluted feelings of happiness and friendship and jealousy and possesiveness and joy and frustration that seemed to take control when one fell in love. He watched as Arthur thought it all through. After a while a serene look crossed his face and he smiled gently down at the table. Francis felt his own heart clench slightly. The last time he had seen that look on Arthur had been one sunny day in June 1917 when the first American troops had arrived in France. Alfred had been among them. Throughout the first conversation the two had shared -that did not involve politics- since the revolution, Arthur had maintained a heavy scowl and unveiled disdain whilst Alfred had opted for a cheerful façade to insert as many jibes against England as possible but when Alfred had turned and left Arthur standing with Francis that same small smile had emerged as he watched the younger man walk away.
"Frog, what time is it?" Arthur asked pulling Francis back to the present.
"Almost seven why?"
Arthur grinned, "I'm going home."
"Ah," Francis nodded, "Hey wait! We still 'ave not concluded our business!" he yelled at Arthur's rapidly retreating back.
Arthur waved a hand over his shoulder before dropping all but the middle finger in a final salute to France.
Alfred heard the front door slam from the sitting room. He jumped up from the sofa just as Arthur ran breathlessly into the room. Alfred gave a warm smile and opened his mouth to welcome him home when he was suddenly grabbed by the front of his shirt and yanked down into a desperate kiss.
Taken completely off-guard, Alfred gasped allowing Arthur to slip his tongue into his warm mouth. For a split second he stood frozen before the invading tongue brushed against his own eliciting a soft moan and sending spark racing through his mind and body. He wrapped his arms around Arthur and tugged him flush against his body as his tongue tangled with Arthur's. They lost themselves in the kiss and when they both pulled away to breathe they were panting heavily both with flushed faces.
"Wow." Alfred murmured between breaths.
"You taste like chocolate." Arthur replied.
Alfred blushed and wondered whether this was good or bad. "Um, Hershey's bar."
"I love it." Arthur smiled and brought Alfred back down for another deep kiss.
Arthur pushed against Alfred forcing him to back into the sofa and fall down onto it still with Arthur in his arms. They tumbled together onto the seat landing rather roughly with Arthur on top.
"What about the tea?" Alfred asked.
"Fuck the tea, I'd rather have you." Arthur trailed kisses down Alfred's chin and his neck. Alfred gasped under him and tilted his head back to give Arthur more access.
"Okay, now I know I'm dreaming." he gasped.
Arthur smiled against his neck and felt Alfred's pulse jump against his lips. Alfred tilted his head back down and looked into Arthur's eyes. The fierce attack stopped abruptly and the next kiss they shared was slow and sweet.
"I love you Arthur." he said honestly.
"I love you too, Alfred." Arthur felt a little strange as he realised how natural that sounded and grinned happily down at Alfred.
He could finally say it. The smile that lit Alfred's face was indescribable. It was filled with pure joy as he let those words sink in.
And then they gave in and kissed again, teeth clashing a bit clumsily. Alfred opened his eyes when he felt Arthur's weight disappear to see him standing above him with his hand outstretched to Alfred. The small smile on his face as he looked down on Alfred sent a shiver down his spine and he took the hand without hesitation.
Arthur pulled him to his feet and half dragged Alfred to the stairs.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
Without turning back to him Arthur replied, "To bed." as they started up the staircase.
This elicited another shiver that caused a strange sensation down there.
"Oh god. I hope you aren't just teasing me." at this Arthur did look back but Alfred had no idea what that particular smile meant.
The room was dark but Arthur didn't stop to turn on the light. As soon as they were both in the room Arthur pulled him into another slow kiss.
"Really? Are you sure?" Alfred suddenly felt so nervous.
In the small amount of light available he could just make out Arthur's eyes before his own adjusted and he could make out the rest of his face smiling seductively as he nodded.
"Totally."
They lay together panting. Alfred had his eyes closed as he lay spread eagle over the mattress.
"Oi, you're hogging the space." Arthur protested poking him weakly in the side.
Alfred just grinned before he shifted onto his side and opened his arms out to Arthur. Too tired to even want to pretend to be annoyed, Arthur dragged himself over to Alfred and into his arms.
"I love you Al." he whispered after a while.
Alfred rested his head on top of Arthur's so his happy blush couldn't be seen and held Arthur tight against his bare chest.
"Love you Artie."
For once the nickname went uncorrected as they fell asleep in each other's arms.
Ok, well that was fun :)
Same apologies as before for the French accent, no ofence meant. And the Jose-Alain Fralon Arthur mentions is a French writer who described the French-Anglo relationship as 'our most dear enemies' which I love and sums them up perfectly! :D