Haha, didn't think I'd finish the chapter so soon XD I sewed with a friend all day yesterday watching Harry Potter because it was the 1st September and Doctor Who and I actually didn't have any time today. Actually.
Thanks so much again to everyone who dropped a review. I didn't really expect a lot of response. By the way, if there's anything off with the grammar, the characterisation or the pace of the story, feel free to tell me. It's my first actual attempt at a fanfic and English is not my first language.
Disclaimer: Hetalia Axis Powers and its characters do not belong to me. They belong to Hidekaz Himaruya and Gentosha Comics.
Chapter Two – An Old Friend
The next morning Matthew made sure to take Alfred to The Pancake Factory, a lovely little café at the street corner he owned, for breakfast. Since yesterday's incident he'd been watching his twin like a hawk. He had turned off his phone along with the alarm wondering exactly how long his last good night's rest already dated back.
"You know, you don't need to watch my every move," stated Alfred when they took a seat at the window noticing his brother's lingering gaze. "I can take care of myself."
At that, the older blonde raised an eyebrow doubtfully. "You sure? Don't blame me for feeling obligated to watch over you after nearly passing out. What were you thinking?"
"Just got a little overworked. We've been through this, Matthew." The other knew exactly he never used his full name unless he was serious. The Alpha sometimes just couldn't take the fuss his brother was making even if he knew the other only did it because he cared about him. He could take care of himself. The legacy of their father just wasn't an easy one to bear at times. When their father had died his brother had offered to share the burden of the stricken corporation but Alfred had rejected his help. At his working place he needed to be able to assert his authority and in Matthew's company he was very reluctant to do so.
"I understand, sorry." The Omega gave him a sad, somewhat pitying look while the blue-eyed American flipped through the menu. He himself dropped his gaze to skim today's newspaper. After a few minutes of awkward silence they both flinched a little when a third voice suddenly disrupted their thoughts.
"Good morning, gentlemen," said the waiter politely, a slight British accent tinting his voice. "Is there anything I can bring you?"
Matthew smiled brightly at him. "No need to be so formal, Arthur. I'll just have a pancake with maple syrup and a mug of coffee. And you Alfred?" But as he glanced at his brother he saw him gawking unabashedly at the newcomer, apparently unable to speak. The next moment he caught himself, however.
"A mocha and a blueberry pancake for me, please," he replied stiffly. Still in shock he looked up at the waiter who scribbled down on his notepad, seemingly unimpressed by Alfred's rude stare, before taking a few swift strides towards the kitchen.
"Are you all right?"
Alfred sat there in silence, still staring in the direction the waiter had left. The man was none other than Arthur Kirkland who had helped put him into the miserable situation he had struggled with the past couple of months. He was an Omega? Kirkland was an Omega? He must have confused him with someone else.
No, never would he forget those piercing green eyes and those massive eyebrows. And Mattie called him Arthur. The probability that this was a mere coincidence most likely equalled zero.
" –fred...Alfred?" The concerned voice of his brother brought him back to reality.
"Sorry," he uttered, shaking his head. "Spacing out." His attention, however, had already returned to the lawyer who had successfully brought his company to court. Costing Alfred millions.
"Mattie, who was that?" he asked bluntly motioning to the closed kitchen door with his head.
"The waiter? His name is Arthur. But why are you asking?" He simply didn't comprehend what the man could have possibly done to upset Alfred like that. His brother's scent was a mixture of utter disbelief, shock and confusion, laced with a barely traceable amount of rage. He couldn't be an old friend or romance. Matthew had practically spent all his life beside his twin. Maybe someone who had rejected him?
Now his curiosity was sparked. Alfred had never showed serious interest in anyone. Aside from some meaningless flirt there had been nothing his brother had told him of. "Al, something's bothering you."
"Just thought I knew him. Probably confused him with someone," he replied distractedly. Matthew wasn't convinced but said nothing. If there had been anything between those two he would find out sooner or later.
Careful not to slam the kitchen door behind him Arthur slumped against the wall, all tenseness falling from him. That Alfred had been his opponent once. He never forgot a face. He cursed his own bad luck – and plain stupidity – that he just encountered one of those people he had hoped to never see again in his entire life. It was to happen eventually, he figured. Matthew and Alfred looked awfully alike, after all. The soft spoken blonde was treating him kindly and understandingly, though, and the pay was humane. So he had happily taken the job when it had been offered to him.
He remembered Alfred Jones clearly. As the head of Jones Consulting Services Inc. he'd been one of the representatives present at the trial. They had put up a good albeit futile fight. All evidence had spoken against them. And back then he'd been unaffected by every attempt of intimidation the blonde Alpha had started against him.
His pride didn't allow him to admit being afraid of facing Alfred again. Or any other person he had interacted with during his life as a Beta. Being confronted with his old life made him feel humiliated and vulnerable. He still couldn't quite acknowledge the depth of his own fall so he went for ignoring his old life as much as possible.
Realising how weird he must look like he composed himself and handed the order to the cook while he returned outside to the counter to prepare the drinks. When he served the two brothers their coffee and later their meals he strictly avoided eye contact with a certain Alpha. However, the entire time he could feel his icy blue stare upon him causing goosebumps to form underneath his clothes.
Meanwhile a plan was forming in Alfred's head. While he couldn't get any more information about Arthur out of his brother he'd been thinking about what to do with the green-eyed Omega. From his brief research on his phone – for which Matthew shot him a disapproving look – he had found out that Arthur Kirkland who had once been reckoned as one of the best lawyers in the whole city had been forced to resign from his work after his health had worsened drastically from the suppressants he'd been taking. His disguise being uncovered had meant the end of his career. That was self-explanatory. How he could have missed the story as it went through the news, though, he had no idea.
Still, he was inclined to know more about this man. Right now he couldn't quite place a finger on his feelings. He wasn't sure whether or not to feel smug about this outcome. While Alfred's company had struggled through financial troubles and its image was still damaged Kirkland had lost his job and his reputation. Serves him right, Alfred thought bitterly, his childish pout only half-hearted, however. On the other side he was very much aware of the flaws of their society. Education and work shouldn't be denied to anyone intelligent or hard-working enough. In college he had encountered numerous idiots who were allowed to take the classes due to their genes and their genes alone. Matthew for example had been a brilliant student during high school, even more so than Alfred himself, and he had never been able to pursue higher education. Arthur had, as far as knew, even risked his own well-being for its sake.
And then, there was still his pride. He had honestly been defeated by an Omega. Despite being a silent critique of the current system his instincts just couldn't stand for it. He was angry, even if he wasn't certain at whom or what. Probably himself.
But all that was trivial at the moment. A perfect idea had struck his mind and he had to pull himself together with all his might to stop himself from bouncing giddily in his seat. It was a solution to all his problems at once. He would make Arthur Kirkland an offer he simply couldn't reject!
I was actually hoping to make it longer, but it was a good place to make a cut. And the chapters should get longer as the plot deepens. Right now we're still at the very beginning!
Sooooo, the two already met each other on different terms. As already mentioned when Alfred's father still led the company it was involved in some corrupt dealings and Alfred was left to struggle with the legacy. The company was sued after the take-over, though, so poor Alfie had to deal with that as well. Arthur took the case against Jones Consulting Services Inc. and won. And now all of sudden Alfred meets the lawyer causing him so much trouble and he's an Omega.
This will probably be the last update until this weekend. I'm having two tests this week and I still have homework to do D:
Tell me what you think~
