Numbers of his Life
Story by: VeNgEaNcEoFrAiN
Disclaimer: Hidekaz Himaruya owns every personified country as well as this Cardverse AU ideas, I merely exploit his ideas for my own personal uses muahahah! Everything else is purely fictional, any resemblance to other stories is purely coincidental – I don't really know if there's a similar story around but this idea just popped up in my head so I decided to write it (all I can say is great minds think alike). Some fundamental ideas like how the pocket watch chooses the royalty in Spades is kept in this story. I would like to credit the person coming up with the idea but I think it'd probably be hard to track who started it. If you think I violated copyright laws, erm, I can take it down if you send me a mail or review.
Author's Note: Special thanks to CrimsonRegret478 for the review! And my beloved guest (a friend of mine lol). Sorry I took such a long time. I'm really getting owned irl. Just had gazillion test/exams. Please make do with this chapter before I have the time to really develop anything at all. Oh god, I hate myself and my life. Enjoy!
Chapter 5: Allies of Five
Part I: On our mark.
"Wake up Arthur!"
Arthur groaned as he flipped over to the other side of the bed, grabbing the entire blanket along with him. "N-not now, five more minutes…" He curled up into a ball, clutching the covers tightly.
"No, come on now, listen to your husband. Wake UP!" With one strong pull, Arthur felt a wave of coldness rush to hug him. He groaned again as he gave his eyes a few rubs. Boy, he was grouchy alright. Who wouldn't, when you don't have enough sleep? The tossing and turning for hours before he finally found sleep has taken its toll. "For Christ's sake what is it?" He shouted with none of his eyes fully opened. "Arthur," Alfred emphasized. "My dear, are you forgetting something?" Green eyes stared up at blue ones before squinting at them. "I don't think so…?" He replied before asking himself. "What'd I forget?"
"Good. Now give me a morning kiss."
Arthur's eyes widened a little in surprise though he maintained a poker face before proceeding to peck his King on the cheeks. What made him jump a little in his spot was the other's sudden movement to meet him on his lips. Arthur did feel those soft lips from his sleepy daze. But something else accompanied it. Alfred grabbed his arm and pushed him against the bed stand. Green eyes dilated when he registered what his partner was doing. "Mm-mmph! Al-mmph!" Just as he tried to speak, the other made use of that and slipped his tongue in. He struggled quite violently from the sudden intrusion. He couldn't just back down the fight, especially when he's being violated – or so he thought. Despite his efforts, Alfred's dead weight held him down firmly. The numerous heated kisses by his King made his head go fuzzy. He could feel his resolve faltering and his stupidly honest body enjoying the moment. When they finally came apart, Alfred smiled at his dazed Queen. A line of saliva leftover from the kisses stained the side of the latter's mouth.
"There's something else I need to do. I apologise if it hurts."
With that, Arthur's mind went wild. Exactly what is Alfred going to do?! Why would it hurt? It was too early in the morning to do THAT! "N-NO, WAIT Your Majesty, Alfred! NOOOO-..!" The neckcloth he kept on before heading to bed was loose from last night's tossing and it came off quite easily. It left his neck unguarded. "Wai- ahh-! Alf-ahh noo! Stop!" While keeping his Queen occupied with the protesting of his assault on his neck, the young King struggled to unbutton his partner's shirt. "Haa.. Don't! Ah-!" When all that flailing was over, both of them were panting heavily. Most of Arthur's chest was revealed under the light. "It's beautiful…" Alfred whispered as his fingers gently caressed the right side of Arthur's chest. Tints of pink spread over Arthur's face from the compliment but when he noticed what the other was talking about, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed. There was a faint but distinct mark on his chest, similar to that of a tattoo. He could only register a rough spade shape from the complicated design. His gaze soon found its way on the wheat-head. His expressions were a mix of awe and satisfaction.
"Ok! We'll do more kisses to strengthen the mark." Blue eyes stared straight into green ones determinedly. Honestly, Arthur found himself attracted to that confidence momentarily. He did manage to stop Alfred in time before another round started. "Wa-ait! At least tell me why we're doing this!" He covered Alfred's mouth with one hand while pushing against his shoulder with the other, keeping a healthy distance between the two. "Hm?" Alfred grabbed his wrist and removed it from his mouth. "You don't remember what Yao said last night? We were supposed to do something but I know we both can't bring ourselves to do it. So we'll settle for the next best thing! Don't you like kisses? Am I bad?"
The Brit was temporarily stumped. He didn't know what to say. "N-no… B-but." His eyes shifted from Alfred's eyes to his lips as the latter inched closer. "But?" Alfred prompted. "But.. I-…" His mind was in quite a confused state, with his attention now on the hand cupping his face. "Don't push me away, ok Arthur?" Lips touched sensually this time when both parties are willing. Arthur slipped his eyes closed instinctively. Tongues caressed each other gently and slowly. A low groan echoed in Arthur's throat as Alfred's hand slid down sensitive skin along his neck. They broke apart, eyes not leaving the other.
"Now I know what the neckcloth is for." The King grinned playfully.
"W-wh.. S-Shut up.." The Queen's lips drew into a thin line, embarrassed.
The moment was broken when a loud knock on the doors. An audience was asked. "Your Majesties, the Royal Authenticator and the Grand Chronicler requests an audience." The Queen of the kingdom panicked to re-button his shirt and dress appropriately for the audience but he was halted by his King. "Take off your clothes and pretend you're still asleep. We need to let them think we had a long night. You know what to do right?" The Englishman nodded. "Oh and take off your pants too. I won't peep." With that the pseudo-American stood up and turned around. "Let me know when you're done." After he undressed, Arthur laid down on his side. His face molding into the soft pillow and his eyes closed. "Done." He heard some shuffling of clothes. He reckoned Alfred removed his top and scattered their clothes all around the bed to create an after-sex surrounding but he could care less. Right now, they have to pass this test first. "Let them in."
"Good morning to you, Your Majesties. I'm sure you know why we're here this morning. Ahh, but it seems, His Grace has yet to wake."
"I let him sleep in, since he did his best last night." Alfred collected the clothes scattered on the floor. "I'll wake him up for the affirmation." Arthur felt one side of the bed sink a little from Alfred's weight. Fingers brushed a few strands of hair out of his face. "Arthur, honey, it's morning already." As if it was real, Arthur's eyes fluttered open with a small crease in his bushy brows. "Ngh-hmm? It's earl-ack!" Pain shot through his back. Why did his aching back have to return right now? His hand immediately shot up, holding onto his lower back. His teeth gritted showing expressions of pain. Alfred looked genuinely puzzled and worried. "A-are you ok, darling?"
"Ah-, it's all your fault. You were so rough last night."
That came out extremely wrong. Both heads of the palace tried to hide their blushes desperately. Alfred caught the chronicler scribbling notes onto his records book while Arthur wanted the ground to swallow him up immediately. But the show has to go on. "I'll be alright, help me up, love." Alfred held on to Arthur's arm while supporting his waist. The silken blanket hung dangerously from his waist, threatening to expose his lower half. He quickly pulled the blanket up to conceal himself.
The authenticator coughed to get their attention. "As Your Majesties know, we're here to affirm your royal marks. The Grand Chronicler here will note down its features for future reference. Please bear with us." The Spade marks were different on all three royals of the kingdom. Their designs and sizes depended on the person. Every set of marks were unique from reign to reign. But no matter how different they were, they never swayed away from the clock design in the middle.
Arthur's mark was on his right chest just under his collar bone. Two angel wings curled into Spade's shape with the clock in the middle. The short and long hands were multiple branches twined from thick to thin, pointing at 3 and 12 respectively. The whole shape was entwined with some vines around the top and the stalk of the shape. The shape, resembling a tree, was sitting in a pool of water. Alfred's was on the top left of his back, on top of where his shoulder blade should be. Instead of angel wings, his was decorated with devil wings which seem tattered and torn, embracing the clock in the middle. The hands were flaming swords pointing at 6 and 9 respectively. The shape and its stalk were entwined with flames while sitting in a pool of water.
"An angel and a devil, it is by far the most interesting of designs." The Chronicler noted.
"Devil?" The King questioned. "Yes Your Majesty, it is indeed bat-like wings like that of devil. But I'm sure it has nothing to do with your character." The authenticator hurriedly assured the King that all was fine. "Though I'd think the marks are a little faint, perhaps because it's only beginning to form. There should be nothing wrong. Please excuse us for this intrusion, Your Majesties." The two court officials respectfully excused themselves from their bed chambers.
"Haa…" Arthur let out a loud sigh of relief. He very nearly threw the blanket off himself before he realized he was fully naked. "That was close." He thought before attempting to wrap himself with the blanket while struggling to stand. "Here." He was handed his clothes. Both of them hurriedly dressed for the occasion.
"Devil…" Green eyes swept past the room and fell on the king-ly figure. He rested his hand just above his own mark. "Angel…" Unknowingly, Alfred was having the same thoughts as his Queen. A slight frown surfaced on his face while being deep in men buttoned their waistcoat mindlessly before they both realized some buttons were wrong. Eyes locked temporarily as they checked on each other. Embarrassment pulled them apart before they turned, back facing each other.
"It wasn't what I saw…" Arthur thought.
"It seems the full power of Spades has finally assembled." Ludwig stared into the flames of the burning firewood as two Spade signs flashed across the dancing flames. A dragon flexed its wings on one and a Pegasus reared up on its hind legs on the other. It was akin to an announcement to the other Kingdoms in gaining full power. The stoic King brushed against the Hearts mark on the back of his right hand. "The game is about to start."
"I apologise for my doubt again but wouldn't it be a bad time to attack them, my King?" His Queen asked politely after witnessing the magic. "We've been through this many times. There is no war when your opponent is weak. Are you not confident in yourself?" The German picked up his Queen's hand and placed a chaste kiss. A confident smirk developed on both their faces. "The new Queen has quite a good impression of you, Kiku."
"Indeed." A silent exchange was interspersed between the spoken sentences.
"Veh~ Kiku and Ludwig are so capable! I can just relax all I want!~" The amber-haired individual plopped onto both his Queen and King's shoulders. "Feli, you can do anything. You just need to put your heart into it." Ludwig sighed while Kiku chuckled. "I'm sure he can. There are things only he could do." Kiku continued, "You're about to do it soon, right?"
With a couple of blinks, Feliciano burst into a brilliant smile. "Of course!"
"Oh what joy! Both King Alfred and Queen Arthur's power recognition is finally announced! I wonder how their night was!" The green Queen squealed in delight. "It must have been wonderful!" Her husband just sighed. "Your fantasies never fails to amaze me, Elizaveta." He sipped on his tea nonchalantly. "Dragons are easy to slay and Pegasus likewise. They'll fall to us in no time, my lady." The elegant lady smiled in response.
"…" The tallest amongst the three stared emotionlessly at the plant messenger. "I wonder…"
"And so it begins…" Blue eyes narrowed at the ball of mist. The two Spade royalty were marked by beings of flight, perhaps it wasn't such a bad idea to continue the alliance with Spades. "Francis," A light voice sounded from his side. "A penny for your thoughts?"
"Nothing you should worry about, dear Lily. Let us handle this." He replied with a gentle smile. "Vash, it's time we greet our alliance's power."
"You can count on me."
Footnote: I wana say thank you to all those loyal follower whom I know can't stand my draggy-ness but still stuck with me haha. And welcome to the new peeps! Story's going at quite a slow pace atm cause of my failure. Hopefully I get some character development going on and get the story to move on quicker when I have the time. Anyway I did draw/design the spade marks on deviantart with the same penname. If you wana have a look, just head over! It's just a graphical concept and hand-drawn. I'll see you guys again soon hopefully...