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Disclaimer: Hetalia Axis Powers and its characters do not belong to me. They belong to Hidekaz Himaruya and Gentosha Comics and I'm not making any money with this.
Chapter One - Carry on
He shivered slightly as he hurried down the dark cold streets of the suburb he was living in now. While the streets downtown were brightly illuminated and festively decorated his surroundings got less inviting with every step Arthur took closer to his new home. The biting cold made him bury his face deeper in the scarf he was wearing and he was instinctively hugging his coat closer to his form. When he had exited the bar he worked at it had started to snow. The white flakes melted immediately on the sidewalk but the air was moist and the temperature had dropped considerably.
Especially around these dark and cold days he tried to avoid thinking about the life he had led merely one year ago. When he had dined in expensive restaurants wearing designer suits chattering and joking with his fellow businessmen. Knowing how superior he was when it came his profession he had been a self-confident and influential man with only 25 years and enjoyed a high reputation among his colleagues and acquaintances. It all added up to the scandal when his secret had been revealed. He sighed when he thought about the stares of disbelief and scorn he had received from the same people who had formerly respected him when he'd been forced to clear his office. All simply because he was an Omega.
And Omegas weren't supposed to hold such prestigious positions.
He soon had moved from his penthouse to a small apartment in the outskirts of the city. Without his income he would have used up all of his savings if he'd continued his fancy lifestyle, and he couldn't show his face among his "friends" now whatsoever. The news of his true Nature had spread like wildfire and although suppressants were not illegal, they were looked upon with disdain. Individuals not staying true to their identity were seen as the black sheep revolting against a well-established society where everyone had a place. No one was excluded except they chose to do so themselves.
`Yes everyone is assigned a place by birth, even you´, he thought bitterly, a sad smile forming on his lips. When he reached his apartment in a complex at the end of the road he fumbled a little with the keys before working the door open. A cold and desolate place greeted him. It was well-furnished, bits and pieces he had brought from his penthouse but the place held no warmth, no fond memories of success and triumphs or merry gatherings with colleagues. The exclusive furniture was a faint glow of a life long lost, a reminder of a world he could never return to.
And his longing for someone to hold him when he spent his evening alone in front of the TV didn't make it easier. His needs as an Omega still confused him. After all, he had never really learned to understand his instincts as they had been suppressed before they couldn't even fully develop. The more he carried on with his life the more he wished he wouldn't come back to a cold and vacant place every night after finishing the last of his several jobs he went after day by day.
He didn't eat a lot either. He was hungry but more often than not he just had no clue what to eat as an Omega's needs varied during the course of their cycle. Ever since he'd had to stop taking suppressants he was feeling helpless, he had lost control over his life.
But somehow he managed to carry on.
With a frustrated groan Alfred heavily plopped himself down on the black leather chair sitting behind a large, polished mahagony desk. His co-workers could be unbearable at times and with the workload he was expected to do every day he wondered whether or not he'd been lucky with his father leaving him to run Jones Consulting Services Inc. at such a young age. He practically never had time to fully relax, business partners would sometimes call at god forsaken hours disturbing his well deserved and desperately needed sleep. But at last his company was recovering from a scandal that had occurred almost one year ago.
"Maybe I could get a personal secretary or assistant to deal with some of this shit", he muttered gloomily to himself, his mood worsening when eyeing the stack of files he still had to see through. And he hadn't even checked his e-mails yet. Behind the thick clouds outside the sun had already set. When a soft knock on his door caught his attention he didn't even bother to put on his usual, easy-going smile when he snapped: "What is it?"
"Hey Al, what's bitten you, again?", his timid, soft-spoken twin brother replied, stepping into the office and closing the door behind him.
"Sorry, bro. Didn't mean to snap at ya. Thought you were just another one of those pigheads called co-workers." He closed his eyes and tiredly pinched the bridge of his nose.
"It's fine. I know how work has been stressing you out recently." He sent his brother a pitying smile.
"Why are you here?"
Seeing the stack of paper in front of his twin he knew better than getting up his hopes. The boy really outdid himself and was spending far too many hours at work every day since their father had passed away. It couldn't be healthy. "Oh, I had actually hoped to get you out of your office for once. Maybe grab some dinner."
"Sorry, Matt. I would love to. But I can't." His shoulders slumped. "See that pile in front of me? And there's still a ton of unread e-mails waiting for me."
Stepping closer to his brother Matthew observed his weary features more closely. His skin was pale contrasting the dark circles under his eyes even more. Even his hair seemed dull, a dirty, greyish blonde lacking its usual shine. "Have you been sleeping and eating properly?", he asked suspiciously.
"Of course." But the reply was too quick and cut off by a yawn. With a scolding expression Matthew watched his brother for a few moments before asking again: "When was the last time you ate?"
Alfred seemed to have to think about that questions for a few seconds which was a bad sign already. "Uhh, well, some coffee this morning and -"
"Ate, Jones. Ate! Hell, did you eat anything at all?"
"And a hamburger around lunch", Alfred spat, furious about being interrupted.
Used to his twin's childish behaviour Matthew remained calm. "Well, do you know what time it is? It's already nine in the evening! I'm not leaving without you. You can still do this tomorrow", he said gesturing at the stack of paper.
"Wha-? I'm not taking any commands from you. Use your motherly instincts on someone who gives a damn. Besides I have to get this done. So leave me alone." Alfred puffed his cheeks, pointedly looking away from those violet eyes firmly staring at him. His brother was probably the only Omega – or one of the only persons at all for that matter – who wasn't intimidated by the sense of authority he was radiating. Oftentimes, Alfred even lost the arguments between them.
Finally he glanced at the older blonde, just in time to see him round the table, eyes glinting with determination, and grab for his arm. He tried to dodge him but he could feel himself being pulled up by his brother. "Dammit, don't make yourself heavier than you already are!"
"Well, I said leave me alone." But frankly, he wasn't putting up much of a fight. He was tired and hungry and didn't know how long he could sit here before passing out from exhaustion. The financial crisis and the corrupt dealings the company had been involved in before his take-over had given him too many problems to solve and a far too sullied image to clean at the same time. But if anyone could do it he knew it was himself. He was the hero, after all!
He didn't protest, though, as Matthew helped him into his thick coat, led him to his car and shoved him in the passenger's seat. Even heroes could get tired at times. He was only semi-conscious when they finally arrived at their mansion and he was only half-aware of his brother stripping him to his boxers. By the time his head hit the pillow he was already fast asleep.
Kinda short chapter, but I hoped you enjoyed it anyway.
Since school is keeping me quite busy I'll probably mostly update on weekends.
Tell me what you think. :)
~jagaimo
