I Made It - Kevin Rudolph

Alfred grinned, slipping and weaving through the thick crowd on the street. Looking on, he took in the grandeur of the city, smiling, pleased.

He had been told it could never be done. And yet he had done it. He was a country. One of the most powerful, and Arthur had been wrong. Alfred had said he would do it, and he had.

His smile dropped at the thought of his former occupier. The man had never believed in him. And Alfred had proven him wrong. He had made something of himself, he was living his dream. He was free.

So why did this taste so bittersweet? Why wasn't he happy?

Hero of War - Rise Against

"Alfred? Alfred, are you with us lad?" Arthur questioned, his massive eyebrows furrowed. Alfred looked up from the white cloth he had been gripping. He smiled at the older man.

"Yeah, Artie?" he asked, grinning from ear to ear. Arthur didn't bother to correct him any longer, simply sighed before answering.

"Matthew, the Frog and I are going to dinner. Will you be joining us?"

"Yeah. Just gimme a sec', 'kay?"

"Alright, but make it snappy." He left, the door clicking shut behind him. Alfred let loose a long winded sigh, worrying the material in his hands. He stood up, shrugging out of his uniform jacket and slipping into his boots. He threw the battered white scrap of fabric onto the bed.

He was halfway out the door before turning back to look where he had left the cloth. He swallowed around the lump in his throat and offered his final goodbyes to the dizzyingly ditzy Italian man who had been it's last possessor. The blood stained flag danced in the back of his mind the rest of the night.

'Renegade' - Danny Gokey & Kris Allen

He jumped over the closed car door, landing loudly and ungracefully in the seat. He threw the bag down by his feet and pulled his gun. "Gun it, Matt!" The car lurched forward with a screeching of wheels. Alfred fired shots into the herd of black and whites on their tail. He laughed. The car swerved sharply down a side road, careening on two wheels. It was exhilarating.

The phone rang.

Matt stopped driving. He answered.

Alfred tapped his foot against the floor impatiently.

"C'moooon, Matt." He whined, tossing his controller idly between his hands, "We gotta outrun these cops and make it back to base."

"Sorry, Al, but I have to get home. It's already dark and my mom's wondering where I am. We can finish playing tomorrow though."

Alfred groaned, flopping dramatically ack against the couch. "We'll be in jail by tomorrow!"

Matthew stepped over him, apologizing again before grabbing his things and stepping out the door, "Sorry, Al."