Chapter 9
Alfred watched the sea while Mexico stood beside him eating tamales and Antonio stood behind them. Alfred had barely eaten in the last few days as he watched the ships in the distance tail Antonio's armada. The ships belonged to the british navy, his uncles to be exact, and even though there where many ships the armada still vastly outnumbered them.
Spain, or better known as Antonio, was in a slightly grouchy mood because every time he tried to get closer to the ships so that they were in firing range they would scuttle further back to keep out of firing range. It was driving the Spanish man crazy, as it was like trying to swat mosquito's that kept just out of arms length. Of course this meant that the armada was also out of the navies firing range and after days of this behaviour all three of them had come to the conclusion that they were waiting for something but had no idea what. No that wasn't true, deep down in his heart Alfred knew. They were waiting for his father. However this made matters worse. Now he could rewatch his father's death, but this time it would include his whole family.
"Do you want one?" Mexico asked offering the bowl of tamales to Alfred
"No. I didn't think that you liked me anyway." Alfred replied in a lost voice
"I don't, but you're about to lose everything so I think that just this once I'll be nice to you. " Mexico answered with a hint of pity.
"Right, thanks" said Alfred lifelessly
Mexico looked at Alfred with concern. Alfred however stared at the ships in the distance. Even if his father was coming with his whole fleet they would still be out numbered. He felt that everything was utterly hopeless and that it was going to be a losing battle. He was trying hard not to cry. He couldn't because if he did it would show weakness and his father had taught him not to do so. It didn't truly matter though because a couple of tears escaped. Those tears that escaped showed how little he cared about anything other than his family.
Mexico looked startled. He had actually expected Alfred to come up with a snappy remark but Alfred was crying. He was so distraught that he probably didn't know what was going on with himself. Mexico winced as he wrapped an arm awkwardly around Alfred in an attempt to comfort him. He didn't hate Alfred but he did find him a little troublesome. Maybe it was being at sea with no other children around but the American boy that caused Mexico to consider Alfred as a sort of friend. Still he wouldn't forgive him quite yet for taking Texas.
Alfred seemed to notice Mexico staring at him and trying to comfort him and he touched his face to feel the wet tear marks. His look of grief turned to surprise and then embarrassment. He turned his back on the Spanish speaking countries and headed off towards his favourite hangout area, which was of course the rigging that led to the crows nest. Spain pretended he hadn't seen anything but Mexico followed.
As Alfred walked quickly in an effort to hide his tears he felt something hit his hip. He gently reached down and pulled out his revolver. Alfred and Mexico froze. Mexico looked terrified, but not as much as Alfred. He looked at Mexico and then towards his uncles and then back at the revolver. If there was a fight, and there would be because that's what his family is infamous for, then who did he shoot at? If he shot at his captors he would hurt the only friend he had at the moment, the annoying little Mexican, but he couldn't shoot at his family.
"Why can't they get along? It's not a hard thing to do right?" Alfred asked quietly to no one inparticular.
"You know why." Mexico answered frowning slightly
Both of them recalled a time when Spain and England had very briefly been united. Supposedly England had fallen for Spain hard. So hard in fact, that it drove him almost insane when Spain frequently went back to his own home. Something that Spain always did for large periods of time. He even claimed that England was comely, and so England soon suffered a broken heart. Right when England's boss died, Spain and his boss swaggered in and attempted to take over Englands house. England, who was furious at being humiliated and rejected, had sneered and claimed that due to the fact that Spain had abandoned him so much that he had given up his rights to anything in the divorce.
"Ok, enough said"
Alfred looked miserable especially as he had been reminded as to why his father and Spain were at each other's throats. There was defiantly no way a fight could be avoided. Mexico saw his crestfallen face and patted him on the arm.
"My father told me that sometimes we have to ignore everyone else and listen to our hearts." Mexico advised
The sun glinted off of Alfred's revolver and he looked at it. Was Mexico suggesting that he took advantage of the situation? Could this be it? Could this be the moment where Alfred could make his bid for freedom? Deep in thought he stretched out his arm with the revolver and pointed it at the horizon. He pretended to fire it.
"Bang" Alfred muttered to himself
Authors note:
England and Spain's past is based on Queen Mary (AKA bloody Mary) and Phillip of Spain's marriage.