Alfred decided to walk this time. He figured it would give him some time to think and clear his head a little. He stared at the ground, off in his own little world as he walked, suddenly being brought back to reality as he bumped into someone "Oh, sor-"

He looked up to see Francis, who had a small smirk on his face. For some reason he didn't understand, he froze.

"Alfred, where are you heading to?" Alfred tried to act casual, as if nothing was going on. The last thing they needed was for Francis to get involved.

"I'm going to see Matthew."

"Oh? Is something wrong?" the smirk remained on Francis's face, and Alfred didn't like it one bit. It never meant anything good when Francis was smirking like that. He thought about what to say next and tried to be careful with his words. Besides, why would something be wrong? Is it unusual to go and see his own brother?

Alfred realized he had been silent for a while. "Answer him!" He mentally pushed himself. He looked back up at Francis, "No, I'm just going to see him for a while and then go back to Arthur's!" he cursed himself knowing he was speaking a little too fast and forced a small smile. Even an idiot could see that Alfred was hiding something, but Francis didn't react at all, not even an odd look.

Did he know something? Alfred nervously fiddled with his sleeve.
"So, I guess that hotel never did get sorted out did it?" Francis grinned.
Alfred glared at him slightly. His nerves calmed, but he really didn't need anything else bothering him today.

"You know what's going on, Francis." It wasn't a question. Francis smirked at him, yet again. Now it was just getting annoying. What was so god damn funny?

"After outing everyone else, how could I forget? I don't think you will be going back to Arthur's though." he sneered.

Alfred raised an inquisitive eyebrow at him "And why is that?" He asked, knowing that Francis would probably now try to give him a false reason not to and try to convince him it was for the best.

But Francis's answer was simple. "Because, I don't want you to."
His response made Alfred laugh slightly. "And why would I care what you want? I'd like to see you try and stop me." He continued walking, bumping into Francis's shoulder as he passed.

"I think stopping you won't be a problem... Because I, have these..." Francis called after him. Alfred turned back around to see him holding out a load of pictures from the party.

Alfred's eyes widened "But how did you...?"

"I'm sure everyone would love to see these,". Francis waved the pictures tauntingly, as if Alfred was cat, and the pictures his tease toy. And just like a cat, Alfred lunged forward and tried to snatch them out of his hand. Francis pulled away, making Alfred almost fall flat on his face.

"Uh-uh-uhh, you're not getting these until you do as I say."

Alfred gained his balance and glared at him. What was he trying to achieve? Was he really just jealous? "Fine show them to everyone, see if I give a fuck." he turned his back again.

"But would Arthur?" Francis purred.

Alfred froze and turned to him. "You fucking asshole, if you think-!"
"I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate you ruining his reputation, Alfred. I'm sure you've hurt him enough in the past as it is... Do it again, and he'll never forgive you..." Francis continued to grin at him with a look in his eyes that was just daring Alfred to deck him.

Alfred glared at him, trying not to show any emotion towards what Francis said. He was close to his face, but what now? Sure he could easily knock Francis to the ground, but there was no doubt that he had copies. Alfred sighed, swallowing his pride and looked away from him. "Fine... What do you want?" He didn't care what he had to do. Just as long as Arthur was happy. He didn't want to hurt him, no matter what he had done...

Francis grinned. Manipulating Alfred was just too easy. "Stay away from Arthur. That's all for now."

Alfred's eyes widened "But-"

"You do as I say, or the pictures will be sent to every country and every one of their bosses! Including your's and Arthur's~" he added, dragging on Arthur's name.

Alfred growled at him, clenching his fists and continued walking.
"Oh and Alfred, one more thing..."

Alfred paused, but this time didn't look back at him.

"Tell no one about this...".

Alfred couldn't believe what just happened. What was Francis's problem? Just why couldn't he stand anyone else being happy? And Arthur... He was going to think he was avoiding him because of what happened with Matthew. Alfred sighed as he opened the door to Matthew's hotel. Who knows what else Francis was planning.

Alfred once again made his journey down the hall to the room marked with Matthew's number, pausing at the door and taking a deep breath to calm himself before knocking on the door. He stood waiting for a moment before it opened.

"Come in." Matthew said with a smile. Alfred could see Matthew was happy he came back. He probably wanted find out what was going on, but unfortunately that was the very question Alfred had been asking himself all day, and he didn't have an answer.

Meanwhile, Arthur had calmed down. He was laid on his bed thinking; he just didn't know what it was that made him lose control like that. It couldn't be normal, and it couldn't be anything recent or he'd remember it... Maybe...

Arthur got up and walked down the long hallway to one of his storage rooms and started digging. He had an idea that if he couldn't remember what caused it, there had some kind of clue in one of these rooms. If he did find something, anything, then he could prove to Alfred that none of this was his fault. Or, at least, he hoped it wasn't.

Alfred and Matthew had sat talking, and it didn't take much time for Matthew to realise there was something other than earlier events that was bothering him, especially when it came up that Alfred had decided to get a room in the hotel too.

"But why? Is there something wrong between you and Arthur?"

"No, I just think its for the best if-"

"Al, seriously, don't let what happened today ruin-"

"Calm down! Trust me, everything's fine! I just figured it'd be easier if I'm not in the way 'cause... " Alfred paused for a moment, trying to think of a believable excuse. Matthew stared at him with worried eyes, waiting patiently for him to finish his sentence.

"...Arthur has been sorting through a lot of his stuff lately." Alfred figured that was the best thing to say. If Matthew mentioned it to Arthur he wouldn't deny it.

"Oh, okay," Matthew knew that wasn't the real reason, but he didn't think it was a good idea to push Alfred too much. If it was like anything else that had happened in the past, he would probably find out later anyway.

"So," Matthew tried to think of something to say that would change the subject. "how's Tony?"

Alfred looked up at him him and chuckled.

"What?" Matthew asked surprised by Alfred's sudden change in attitude.
"You're trying to think of something to talk about, and the best thing you can come up with is, 'How's Tony?'"

Matthew playfully hit his laughing brothers arm. "Shut up"

Alfred was just about to say something when the door opened. Him and Matthew turned to see Francis.

He stepped into the room, placing a bag down as he closed the door "Alfred? You're still here?" He slyly grinned at him.
Matthew looked at Alfred, who was inspecting his watch. "How did he know you were-"

"Oh, is that the time already?" Alfred jolted up and walked towards the door. "Matthew, it's getting late I think I should get going."
Matthew shot Francis a confused look, still wanting to know how he know Alfred was with him. Francis smiled back at him and swung his arm around Alfred's neck pulling him in to an awkward hug.

"Me and Alfred bumped into each other when he was on the way to the hotel, and we had a nice little chat, didn't we Alfred?" He tugged tight around around Alfred's neck.

"…Yes." Alfred said as he tried to pry Francis's arm away from his neck. He finally let go and Alfred shot Francis a quick glare as he passed. Matthew could tell something was going on. He glared knowingly at Francis who just shrugged at him as if he didn't know why Alfred was in such a mood.

Arthur had been digging for hours now, but he still hadn't found anything. He sat on the floor sighing heavily as he laid back on the boxes behind him. He was just about ready to call it a night, when he saw the books stacked on the top shelf. Arthur pushed himself up and climbed the shelves, grabbing the top book and blowing it to clear the thick layer of dust that coated its hard wooden cover. He squinted, reading the cover in the dimly lit room. "Hello, what do we have here?"

Yay I managed to get chapter 13 up before 2am!

hope you're all enjoying the story please leave a review and chapter 14 will be done soon!

byezz!

UPDATE: Again sorry for not uploading the next chapter yet, I had a bit of and accident with my laptop and concrete stares T.T anyway, my laptop is fixed and I'm continuing it now.

Also when I have completed this story I'm starting on a new one so you can follow it here so you know when its published - s/9274957/1/A-Jocks-Secret