CHPT 10

Francis watched in confusion as the boys left with Tristain in the carriage. Arthur had not told him that the boys would be going with his brother for the rest of the day and night, and judging from everyone's reactions he had been the only one kept out of the loop. It wasn't the fact that he hadn't been informed that confused him, in fact he would have been more surprised if Arthur had told him or asked him, but the fact that he and Arthur had until tomorrow morning to themselves.

He stood and watched the carriage rumble away wondering at its meaning. He turned to the house, where Arthur was holding the door open for him. Right now Arthur was looking carefully at Francis as if he was a specimen that was under study. Francis blushed under his gaze and walked into the house shutting the door behind them.

"What ez et? Per'aps we are going to bed early?" Francis joked weakly

"Sit down Francis." Commanded Arthur without looking at him and leading them both into the sitting room

Francis sat down in an arm chair and Arthur sat in the one opposite. Arthur smiled at him and Francis began to feel uneasy.

"Francis there may be a little bit of danger tonight. We are going to wrap up this case." Arthur said and with that he felt his duty to Tristain was done and went to make himself a cup of tea

Francis blinked at the sudden announcement. He had half expected Arthur to leap up and grab his coat, but he seemed like he was in no rush to leave the house.

"Are we leaving soon?" Asked Francis

"No. I thought we could stay in for awhile. Unless you didn't want to utilize this time we have alone?" Arthur answered suggestively

"Non! That ez not what I mean't!" exclaimed Francis without thinking

Arthur laughed as Francis stood up and walked towards him. Both of them silenced and stared at each other in the eye. Francis was a little shell shocked right now. Did Arthur have feelings for him? Was he imagining all of this? Francis felt his head spin in confusion. He had feelings for Arthur, otherwise why would he allow him to treat him like he had? But Arthur... who knew how that person felt.

Arthur seemed to be realizing Francis's inner battle. That or he just took pity on him. Arthur pulled Francis into a hug and after a few minutes of the embrace the two parted and Arthur closed the gap between them into a kiss. Francis responded eagerly and both battled for dominance. Francis was going to be damned if he was going to let Arthur be the dominant one in their daily life and the bedroom.

He pushed Arthur upon the sofa and began to take off his shirt. To his surprise Arthur pushed him away. Arthur was blushing and breathing hard. Francis sighed of course this wasn't what he thought it was.

"Francis, maybe we should take this to the bedroom?" Arthur suggested

"Mine or yours?" Asked Francis huskily

"I was thinking mine, then once that becomes soiled we can stay in your bed for the night" Arthur said

"Trust you to ruin ze mood with your practicality." Sulked Francis as he stood up and crossed his arms

Arthur sat up and frowned as if trying to figure out what he had done wrong. It looked like he truly had no idea what he had done wrong. Francis's expression softened and he smiled and helped Arthur up off the sofa. He took him by the hand into Arthurs bedroom.

"Sometimes I can't 'elp but wonder why et ez that you can understand the latest scientific formula and theories but not the basic emotions of ze people around you." Sighed Francis

Arthur smiled. He would never let on how much he did understand of love. It was a simple chemical formula. He had seen Francis's pupils dilate enough times to know how he felt. But he also understood the non scientific part of love, which were people's reactions. The main motives of crime where love and money after all; just not in this case.

...

Francis lay next to Arthur his arms wrapped around his waist. He had no idea that Arthur could be so erotic, the way he had moved, groaned and the adorable faces he pulled. In fact just thinking about it gave him butterflies in his stomach. He leant forward a little and kissed the top of Arthurs head as he slept, worn from their endeavours.

It was at that moment that the door creaked open. By now it was dark and the person was dressed all in black. Francis gasped and sat up a little to see who could be. The person paused when he took in the scene. A splash of white could be seen around the person's neck.

"Disgusting and sinful. And you, a doctor, someone that countless people trust. How many men have you eyed with those lustful intentions of yours? I suggest that you pray for forgiveness. Maybe then you can be saved." The stranger said in a male voice holding out a rosary

"So that's how you did it." Replied Arthurs cool voice as the bedside lamp flicked on

Francis didn't know over what he should be more alarmed at. The fact that vicar from his very own church was standing in Arthur's bedroom, or the fact that Arthur had just pulled out a loaded gun from under the pillows that the two had been laying on previously.

Suddenly it all made sense. Arthur had wanted to hold his hand in that church and bring the boys so that they could lure the killer to them. He had then asked to be with Francis in his room so he could retrieve the gun from under his pillow when this time came around. The whole thing had been a trap from the beginning. And like the vicar he too had fallen into it. He turned his head so that neither could see the hurt in his eyes.

At that moment the vicar grabbed Francis and pulled him in front of him as a shield. He pulled his knife out and put it to Francis's throat. Arthur could have done nothing about it, as he had been half under Francis and hadn't been able to take a clean shot. He cursed himself for his slow actions and terrible positioning. All he could do now was play for timing so that an opening would present itself.

"So that's how you strangle them? You appeal to their guilt, have them place the rosemary around their neck and pray for forgiveness then strangle them with the rosemary? " Arthur asked but really it was more like he was just giving the vicar a chance to brag

" They knew that their actions where sinful and wicked. It was easy to strangle them while they thought they could be saved. But in a way I guess I did save them, so that they couldn't sin again." Sneered the vicar

"You and the vicar at St Augustines work together do you? Not only for the parish exchange, but in your "cleansing" of the world?" Asked Arthur

"Hmph that man is a fool. I bet you thought it was him who was killing these men? Well even though he hates these sinners he doesn't have the guts to do anything about it! All he does is gossip to me and pray for their souls! Still his information is useful and Ms Adler often reports between me and him." Shrugged the vicar

"Ms Adler, so she works for you, or is she just another gossip?" Asked Arthur

"Ms Adler? She has nothing to do with me. She works for HIM. He's the one who encouraged me on my mission. He even funds my attempts. I don't know what he gets out of this, maybe he just wants a cleaner world to live in like I do." Shrugged the vicar

"And who's HIM?" Asked Arthur

For the first time that night Arthur had heard something unexpected and was taken off guard. He couldn't help but feel a little excited that this case was leading into a far more interesting and challenging one.

"He is a genius. He has a special interest in you. He can really do anything, in fact he told me that he was gods chosen. I don't know his real name, nobody does, but he uses the pen name is Eire." Was the reply

Arthur felt as if his organs where made out of ice. It couldn't be him. Why would he be placing the world into complete utter chaos? For entertainment? To watch himself and Tristain scramble around and lose their dignity? All of those could indeed be correct. Arthur was trembling slightly from shock and a little bit of fear.

" Eire." Arthur mumbled

However he didn't have to much time to dwell on these facts. He had accidently lowered his gun slightly. The vicar took this opportunity to move the knife and cut into Francis. The vicar let out a vicious laugh at Francis's cry of pain.

"This room is a sick joke. We all have bleak futures, two of us have none and you will be going to prison, as I caught you in his(Francis cried out again as the knife drew more blood) bed ." Snarled the vicar

"You have no intention of getting away from the police?" Arthur asked gritting his teeth in frustration

"Oh no, I could escape them. However I accidentally let his name slip and broke our contract. He will kill me. " Sighed the vicar

The vicar stabbed Francis in the back. Arthur gasped and dropped his gun. The vicar sneered as Arthur ran to Francis's side. He trembled as he held the wounded Francis in his arms. He did a quick analysis of his wounds, oblivious to the fact that both the vicar and Francis fancied the doctor as a dying man. Neither of him knew that his trembling was due to anger, a blazing anger that left no room for reality and anything else. Neither of them expected the sweep kick that Arthur did that caused the Vicar to fall back and out of the second floor window.

...

"So how many times did this man fall from the window?" Asked Iain to his suit wearing brother

Arthur had checked on Francis's wounds, placed in the stitches, bandaged them, and placed Francis in his bed. He had then bathed and clothed himself and threw his bed sheets into the steaming water in the tub where Mrs Hudson would usually do their washing. All of this before sending a message to the police and for an ambulance.

"Three, four times? Really it was all such a blur I lost count." Arthur answered innocently

"uh huh, and those glass shards just happened to fall directly into his chest even though he fell backwards out of the window?" Asked Iain

"Odd isn't it how gravity works." Arthur replied with wide innocent eyes

"Right. I'm going to the morgue and then the station to write out the rest of my report." Iain sighed

Tristain sat on the edge of Francis's bed watching the whole thing with Francis. All three sat in silence as Iain left. Francis felt that the pain in his physical wounds would never measure up to the emotional ones. He couldn't hold back the questions much longer, and turned to Arthur.

"Azzur, was everything just to trap him? You offered us and ze boys up as bait?" asked Francis

Tristain stiffened and pretended that the pattern on Francis's bed sheets was something worth examining. He had been expecting this confrontation, just not it being in front of him.

"Of course. Didn't everyone tell you that there was no way that I could understand love and emotions? Even you yourself said that." Arthur said turning away from Francis and leaving the room.

Francis began sobbing. Tristain shifted awkwardly as he really didn't count comforting people as one his fortes. He awkwardly shifted towards Francis and patted him on the back in a "there, there" gesture. He had seen some of his servants do that when one had been given news of a sick relative. He guessed that this could be one of those moments as well.

"Oh do stop that noise you silly little frog. It is true that he set this up as a trap. However he didn't have to go so far as to kiss you, or sleep with you. He could have just as easily laid in wait for him with his gun in the sitting room in the dark. Also do you think that he would have responded to him hurting you like he did if you meant nothing to him? For god sakes man! He threw the man out of the window countless times and stabbed him in the chest with glass shards! He made sure that the man died so that you would not go to prison. I mean we both know that he wouldn't be going to prison as there isn't a prison in the world that could hold Arthur Kirkland. " Tristain scolded

Francis looked up at Tristain who was turning red at his outburst. He looked quite uncomfortable about sharing his observations. He stood up and was about to leave.

"Then why did ee say ee didn't love me?" Asked Francis

"He was offering you an escape. Now please work the rest out for yourself!" snapped Tristain turning an inhuman shade of red

"An escape? Ah you mean from all ze danger ee thinks ee forces me into. I suppose this 'as to do with 'im. 'Ave you ever 'eard of an man with ze name Eire?" asked Francis

Francis watched with interest as Tristain turned from beetroot red to snow white in mere seconds. The name had made him stiffen. But he didn't turn to Francis when he replied.

"No doctor, I have never heard of Eire before. As for Arthur, I do wish you two would talk about your feelings to each other. Now I must be leaving, I have left the boys with my butler, something Arthur isn't too happy about. Why it angered him I haven't the foggiest. It's not like I left them by themselves." Tristain said snappishly

With that Tristain walked shakily from the room. He closed the door but accidentally left it ajar. Francis could hear muffled voices of Tristain and Arthur. He heard them mention Eire once, but other than that he couldn't make out the rest.

Francis jumped as the door opened and Arthur walked in. He looked up guiltily and Arthur being Arthur, figured out why and sighed.

"Francis, I think I should move out. That way you can find someone else, maybe a nice woman and have that family you often talk about." Arthur began

"Non, I 'ave a family with you and our boys. Azzur does this Eire 'ave you that frightened?" Francis said gently

"How many times do I have to tell you that this was all a part of the game? Tomorrow you have a date with a Miss Joan that I met the other night. " Arthur said coldly

Francis watched Arthur stand up. He looked tired and slightly defeated. Francis sighed, he would just have to try and play a game against Arthur himself. He couldn't let Arthur face Eire as defeated and dejected as he was looking right now. As it was to do with emotions, luck was on Francis's side.

"Alright Azzur, if zat ez what you want mon cher (Arthur flinched at the way he addressed him). I will go out with 'er, but I shall 'elp you with your next case even if you do succeed in pushing me off to 'er." Francis told him defiantly

Arthur gave him a helpless look and smiled sadly. He left the room with composure but as soon as he entered the living room he allowed himself to slump into his chair and the tears to fall freely.

"Eire, why do you like to hurt me so much?" Arthur asked the air

Authors notes

Hetalia character/ Sherlock characters

Arthur/ Sherlock

Francis/ Watson

Iain (Scotland)/ Lestrade

Tristain (Wales)/ Mycroft

Alfred and Matthew/ The baker street Irregulars (homeless network)

Connor/Eire (Ireland)/Moriarty

Now I have nothing against the Irish. It's just after watching bbc's Sherlock I couldn't help but feel that it was a battle of two bored individuals (Sherlock and Moriarty). A giant game. Something that perhaps two very bored and amazing brothers would do? Also I will be using more hetalia original character if I continue.

I think you can tell that I am a Sherlock fan as I used the window lines from the show. The gravity and shard ones where my own though.