Alfred had just finished carefully donning his pants, his socks already on, and was beginning to button up his shirt as he sat on the sofa. His uniform jacket and his bomber jacket were lying next to him, his shoes on the floor, when he heard the front door to the apartment open.
"Alfred?" the woman's voice called as she opened the door slowly.
Something about the tone in her voice made him pause momentarily, before quickly resuming his buttoning. "What's up?" he called from the sofa, not bothering to look up.
Arthur, Matthew, Francis, and Ivan stood there in the doorway, staring at their brother and friend that they had assumed the worst for. Matthew felt tears prick at his eyes, but carefully set down Kumajirou before shouting and scaring everyone. "AL!" he screamed out as he sprinted towards the blonde on the sofa.
Alfred looked up immediately, his eyes widening as he saw the Nation of Canada barreling down on top of him. Matthew bowled him over landing him flat on his back on the leather sofa, hugging him tightly, before he sat on top of him and started pounding on his chest. "You insensitive jerk! Damn you! You…you stupid, idiotic, moronic, son of a…piece of…!" but he couldn't finish. He continued to pound his fists on top of Alfred, crying in relief, until he heard the other man trying to speak through his rant.
"Mattie. Matt. Matthew, I can't breathe," he managed to wheeze out with a pained expression.
"Oh! S-sorry Alfred," he said to his brother, jumping off of him and helping sit up. He sat down next to him, sniffing.
However, the first most passionate person in the room suddenly took over for the second most passionate person. "Alfred! You are alright!" Francis cried, kneeling in front of his brother. "How are you feeling? You look alright…are you in much pain?"
"Y-yeah, I'm alright now Francis," Alfred told him with a small smile.
"America is tough, da?" Ivan said, standing behind Francis. "But there be one tougher than Alfred, da?" he said, turning around. "Arthur?"
Alfred looked up to see his green eyed guardian staring at the floor, his shoulders shaking silently. "Arthur?" Alfred whispered.
Ivan sighed, the walked around the Englishman and pushed him forward with a surprised yelp before dumping him on the sofa next to Alfred. "Now, better, da?" he said in a cheery voice.
Alfred turned from Matthew and Francis, his gaze falling upon his (for once) silent brother. "Arthur?" he started again, quietly. "Hey, Arthur…" he said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Arthur started momentarily, but sucked in a large breath of air as he suddenly threw his arms around the oldest twin. "You stupid bloody git," he choked out, "do you know how worried we've all been?"
Alfred leaned into his brother's shoulder. "I'm sorry," he told them all in a soft voice. "I didn't mean –"
"No one ever means for these things to happen. What you should be apologizing for is for not telling anyone sooner," Arthur reprimanded him. "Do you know how worried Matthew has been, ever since he let you leave on Wednesday? He didn't want to stop you, and probably couldn't have, but you should have at least given someone more specific directions on where you were going."
Matthew leaned in and hugged Alfred from around his back, squishing him comfortably between himself and England. "I'm just glad you're safe," he whispered to him, smiling.
"Me too," Francis added. "Group hug!" he cried, jumping on the three of them.
"No, you bloody pervert!" Arthur shouted, but too late as the Frenchman pounced.
"I love group hugs!" Ivan added with a grin, and managed to sweep up all four of them in one of his famous yet enormous bear hugs. "Ah, we all feel better now, I believe." Gently he placed all of them back on their feet without hitting any of the furniture.
"Now," Arthur said, wiping his eyes and his tone becoming serious, "what happened? Where are you injured?"
"…my stomach," he told them. "But it's all wrapped up with bandages and medicine, so it's healing really well!" he added with a grin.
"You did that?" Arthur snorted. "I find that hard to believe."
"No, she…oh, yeah…"
Suddenly the five men in the room turned around simultaneously to see the young woman still standing in the small foyer, her coat still on and trying to look inconspicuous.
Smiling Alfred brushed aside his brothers and walked towards the woman. "She found me last night and brought me back here, cleaned me up, and even washed all my clothes for me!" he said proudly, walking around to stand behind her and then pushed her forward gently. "These are my three brothers, and a friend of mine," he explained to her.
Matthew was the first to step forward. "This is my twin brother Matthew."
"Nice to meet you," the quiet Canadian told her, putting his hand out and smiling at her gratefully. "Thank you for helping Alfred out."
"N-no problem," she stuttered, shaking the handsome blonde's hand.
"And these are my two older brothers, Arthur and Francis."
"Again, thank you," Arthur said, putting up both his hands to shake hers heartily.
"Ah, it is now not ze damsel in distress, but ze damsel coming to the rescue!" Francis intoned as he bowed down on one knee, grabbing her hands from Arthur and placing a gentle kiss on the knuckles of each.
Arthur sputtered at this act while the woman could only blush, her cheeks turning a bright red. "I-it was n-no problem," she managed to say in a slightly even voice.
"Come, come. Do not be so modest!" Ivan added, clapping her on the shoulder. "It must have taken great strength to get Alfred all the way from that alley to your home here."
"Not really," she admitted. "He wasn't all that heavy."
At this comment Francis stood up and gave a strange look to Arthur, who was frowning slightly. She supported a Nation all on her own? he thought to himself.
"Ivan, be nice!" Alfred complained to the large Russian. "She put herself out just to make sure that I was okay." He turned and gave her a soft smile. "Thanks again, by the way," he said, enveloping her into a gentle hug.
The woman visibly calmed as Alfred hugged her. "No problem at all. I guess I just happened to be in the right place at the right time."
She and Alfred laughed, and Matthew began asking her lots of questions as they separated. This left time for the three much older Nations to give each other subtle but pointed looks as they took several steps backwards away from the chattering trio.
"Arthur," France said in a low undertone.
"I know," he sighed quietly.
"Perhaps a hit and run is in order?" Ivan murmured. "We could lock her –"
"No!" both of them hissed.
"Aw, he's so soft!" a female voice cooed from the opposite side of the room. The three swiftly turned, noting guiltily but thankfully that the younger three hadn't heard their conversation. Kumajirou was currently nestled happily in the woman's arms as she stroked the top of his head, admiring his bright white fur. Matthew and Alfred stood on either side of her, talking animatedly about random things young Nations tend to do: hockey and video games.
"No," Arthur said, a bit more calmly. "No, I believe just a short talking to is in order. She seems like a reasonable girl."
"We will be breaking her heart," Francis assented with a sigh.
"It is never easy," Ivan also agreed, "but we will be saving Alfred the misery we have all experienced, da?"
England looked to France on his left, Russia on his right. "Ivan, take Alfred and Matthew downstairs. The taxis should be pulling up any moment now as it is. Francis and I will…handle this." He reached discreetly down into his jacket pocket and pressed the autodial button.
Suddenly Korobeiniki began to play out loudly within the room, startling only three of its inhabitants. Russia pretended to look mildly surprised, and dug within his deep coat pocket to pull out a simple black cell phone. Flipping it open, he barely looked at the number as he answered it. "Hallo?" he answered in his thick accent. "Oh, Ludwig! Ve have vonderful news! Yes, yes, ve've found him – thanks to Russian taxi driver." He paused. "Almost here? That is fine, da. We will meet you downstairs. Da…da…goodbye comrade." Ivan clicked his phone shut. "Vonderful news! Ludwig and the others are almost here – they will be pulling up with the others in just a moment."
"Really?" Alfred said, surprised.
"We all came to look for you," Matthew told him smiling. "Ludwig, Feliciano, Kiku, Wang Yao, and at least a dozen more."
Alfred felt his face grow hot with shame. Here he had been sitting in the lap of luxury – albeit injured, but still able to dial a phone – while his fellow Nations had been out searching on foot for him this entire time. "I…I didn't realize," he said softly.
"You're friends must all really care about you," the woman told him, cradling Kumajirou with one arm as she placed the other on Alfred's shoulder.
"But we've just arrived!" Francis moaned dramatically. "And I have not even seen zis beautiful lady's entire accueil. I must say, zough, you have exquisite taste in paintings," he added as he stood before the Georgia O'Keefe that was centered above her sofa.
Kumajirou was finally starting to wriggle uncomfortably, missing the strong familiarity of his owner's arms. "Come here boy," Matthew said, holding out his arms as the woman allowed the small furry creature to crawl away from her and happily into his master's waiting arms. "Happy now?" he laughed as the polar bear growled happily as he snuggled into Matthew's arms.
The woman walked over to where Francis was standing. "You have a good eye. It's one of my favorites – I was just happy to find such a large print of it on sale a few months ago."
"It seems to be one of her later works, those with skulls. Am I correct?" he added, taking a sidelong glance at her.
"Yes! She uses such vibrant colors and –" the woman continued. Arthur had to give it to Francis; his flirtatious nature often came in handy in times such as this.
Turning around, he gave a nod to Ivan. "Well, perhaps some of us should go down and meet the taxis. To be sure that they aren't going to the wrong building," he added quickly.
Luckily, Matthew seemed keen on the plan without ever having known about it. "Alfred! You should come down to greet everyone! They'll be so happy to see you!"
As if he needed any prodding. "You're right. Let me grab my jackets," he said as he finished buttoning the last two holes on his white shirt and quickly tucked it into his pants. Quickly walking over towards the sofa, he reached down next to where the woman was standing as she and Francis discussed the contrast between the stark white skull and the vibrant magnolia in the background. Alfred paused their conversation as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "You will come out and meet everyone, right?" he asked her, eyes hopeful. "I want everyone to meet the wonderful person who saved me."
The woman looked down, smiling and blushing at the same time. "Only if you're sure. I mean, I'm a complete stranger, and –"
"What was it you said? 'Anyone would have done it'?" he said as he raised an eyebrow.
Dead on. "Y-yeah…so?"
"Well, you aren't just anyone anymore. You're my friend, and all my friends know each other. So you're coming down with us," he said, grinning at her as he poked her arm repeatedly.
"Okay," she said, smiling up at him. "I will."
"Yes, yes, we are all friends now!" Francis pouted as he grabbed her arm. "But I want to know more about this underwater painting you have over here," he said, pulling her away from Alfred. "It doesn't really match the O'Keefe, don't you think?" Too close!
"Of course it does!" the woman said, mouth agape. "The shadows within and around the skull, as well as the use of the green in the stem of the magnolia and the blue highlights around the petals completely match the blue-green of sea life!"
Alfred laughed as he grabbed his brown uniform jacket, shrugging it on over his shoulders and buttoning up the brass. As he finished he quickly grabbed his bomber jacket, threw it on, and slipped his feet into his boots, finally beginning to feel a little bit more normal again. "Let's go greet everyone, okay Matthew?" he said to his twin with a smile.
"I will go with you as well. Nice to meet you," he told the woman, giving a small bow in her direction. Francis was keeping her well occupied with a discussion between the two prints, so she barely noticed.
"I'll drag the flirt down with me when he's done," Arthur sighed, shaking his head. "Hopefully we won't be long."
"Alright," Alfred said to him as the three of them walked out of the door. Ivan was the last to leave, but before he did he paused, staring at Arthur before frowning and giving a curt nod. He closed the door slowly and softly behind him with nary a click to be heard.
Turning around, he spoke in a low tone. "Francis."
The Frenchman suddenly stopped speaking to the woman about paintings. "What do you want from him?" he asked her in a low voice, with an underlying ferocity.
The woman jumped, surprised at his sudden change in tone. "Excuse me?" she asked in surprise, turning to face him.
He took one step closer to her, staring down as he forced her to retreat towards the back wall. "What do you want from Alfred? No one does anything like this and doesn't want anything in return," he said in a menacing tone.
The woman visibly blanched. "I don't know what you're talking about! I was just walking home when I –"
"Taire!" he shouted at her, slamming his fist against the wall. The woman shut her eyes and shrieked in fear.
"You," Arthur started as he walked up to them, "would have us believe that you just happened to find him, bandage him up, and become the best of friends in less than one day without wanting anything in return? As Francis stated, we find that quite hard to believe." He stood on Francis' side looking at her from over his arm. "Everyone has ulterior motives."
"But I don't," she whispered pathetically, cringing away from the two men, tears forming in her eyes.
"Ha. Even if we were to believe that –"
"Which we don't," Francis interrupted.
"– do you really think that Alfred is that interested in you?"
The woman looked up at them, tears beginning to leak from her eyes. "W-well, he's sweet and nice; he even bandaged up my hand and knee before…"
"That was him feeling sorry for you, my dear, not affection. Who would waste their time on an ugly thing such as yourself? Unkempt hair, outdated clothes, and a poor sense of style to top it all," Francis told her with a pitying sigh.
A hand shakily grabbed several dark curls while choking back sobs. "I'm not ugly," she whispered, more to herself than to them.
"Whatever you think, Alfred has no romantic interest in you whatsoever. So stop chasing such foolish fantasies and get a real life," Arthur told her, kneeling down. He deftly grabbed her chin, yanking her face forward until they were almost nose-to-nose. Her cheeks were stained with tears, her usually bright emerald green eyes dulled by their words. "So if you know what's good for you, you will stay…away…from…Alfred. Got it?" he finished pointedly and in his dangerous voice – one he had not used since his pirate days.
The woman nodded, swallowing loudly. She felt so small, under the scrutiny of such profound gazes.
"Good." Arthur dropped his hand, the woman dropping listlessly to the floor. He stood and brushed off his coat, as if ridding himself of her very presence, before turning and walking towards the door. Francis immediately followed after him. Upon reaching the door Arthur opened it and walked out without ever once looking back. Francis, on the other hand, could not help but see the woman still sitting on the floor where they had left her as he closed the door quietly behind them.
She did not give them the satisfaction of making any more noise. Sniffing, she shakily got to her feet, having to hold onto the wall for support. Still limping a bit she walked over and collapsed onto her sofa, falling onto the still warm cushions, staring out into her apartment as the tears ran as flooded rivers down her face.
~:~:~
Matthew and Alfred had no idea as they stood on the sidewalk outside of the small apartment building of what had just transpired eight floors above them. At that moment they could see a line of several taxis heading down the street towards them. Since it was a one-way road, they were having to park on the opposite side of the street and walk down to the end of the block where the traffic lights were in order to cross. Even so, most Nations broke America's laws and jaywalked – no, jayran – across the busy street when they saw the blonde safe and waving at them.
"Alfred-san!" Japan called quickly walking up to him.
However, one Nation had been faster than him. "Alfred-aru!" China shouted, jumping the much younger Nation. "Where have you been? Are you all right? Are you injured?" he interrupted himself, noting the wince of pain as he gripped his friend.
"Just a little yet," he admitted, sighing in relief when the Asian Nation released him.
The Nations of the world gathered around Alfred on the sidewalk, causing several passersby on foot and in cars to stare at the vast ethnic and cultural diversity present in less than one hundred square feet. Italy couldn't contain his excitement, jumping between America and Germany, although most of the other Nations kept a decent amount of composure as they tried getting the entire story out of Alfred. He laughed, trying to give them the shortened version of his trip without forgetting any details.
"And that's about what happened," he finished a few minutes later.
"She seems to be a very nice person," Japan said to his friend, patting him on the shoulder. "Will we be able to meet her?"
"Actually," Alfred said, looking around, "I thought she was coming down – speaking of which…" he said, seeing Arthur and Francis exiting from the building, the doors whooshing open and then closed again behind them. "Where is she?" he asked them, confused.
"Oh, your friend? She said she had to grab some things, but would be out soon," Arthur told him with a smile.
"Oh," Alfred said, his smile faltering slightly.
"Oh, it is freezing out here!" Francis said in his over dramatic tone, shivering. "Can we not wait in the taxis instead?"
"We should probably get back and contact your boss right away as well," Arthur said in a quiet tone to Alfred. "He was worried about you when I called him."
"But we got to fly in Air Force One!" Italy said, suddenly zooming around and imagining himself like the enormous plane.
"Really?" Alfred said, incredulous. "I didn't think anyone besides him or I got to use it."
"He gave us special privilege in order that we could leave right away," Matthew told him softly.
"Aw, I knew the B. man was a softie," he said, laughing. "Alright. You guys go ahead; I'll wait here for her."
The other Nations complied and began to walk back down the street to where the traffic light waited; all save for England, who decided to wait with him. "You know, you shouldn't be waiting out here in the cold like this with a fresh wound like that," he said after a few moments in a concerned voice.
"Oh Iggy, don't be like that," Alfred whined good-naturedly.
"Don't call me that!" he hissed. He hated that nickname. "Still, you we should get you out of the cold. She said she would be out soon," he reminded him.
Alfred frowned slightly. "Yeah, but –"
"Come on. Are you going to waste all that time spent healing just to get sick again?" Arthur gently grabbed the upper part of his arm and began pulling him towards the traffic light. Alfred allowed himself to be led, if nothing else but to get Arthur off of his back.
~:~:~
The woman lay weeping on her sofa, wondering why she was being punished for only helping someone. Sure, he happened to be sweet and handsome as all get out, but that was only a bonus…right? Anyone would have done it… the words echoed in her mind.
Closing her eyes, her head ached from the painful throbbing of her heart. She liked Alfred. What was so wrong about that? Even if they were overprotective over him, who were they to decide who or what Alfred likes or dislikes?
Opening her eyes, her gaze landed upon two black lumps sitting on her coffee table. Sitting up slowly she realized they were gloves. Alfred's gloves. Picking them up she held them up to her nose and inhaled deeply; it smelt of leather, burgers, and freedom. She didn't know how, she just knew. It was decision time: would she allow them to intimidate her and push her away, or would she take matters into her own hands? Would she go and tell Alfred how she really felt about him?
The door barely had a chance to click shut behind her.
~:~:~
Arthur and Alfred walked down the sidewalk towards the traffic light, watching as the rest of the Nations were finally filing across the street ahead of them. Occasionally Alfred would turn around and look for his friend, but she had not come out of the building yet. "I wonder what's taking her?"
"Oh, you know women, always having to make themselves look pretty and such," Arthur sighed. "She is probably putting on some makeup and changing her clothes or something at the moment."
"Huh. She didn't seem to place that much emphasis on how she looked," Alfred noted, which caused Arthur to give him a sidelong glance.
"Really," he said, not sounding as if he believed him.
America shook his head. "She also doesn't seem like a girly-girl either. You saw the way her apartment was." They had reached the corner of the traffic light. Arthur pressed the button and began waiting patiently for the crosswalk sign to tell them when to cross. Alfred turned around suddenly. "I'm going to go get her."
What? "Alfred, don't be silly. She told you she was coming, wasn't she? Let's just go and wait for her in those nice warm taxis."
The light from the opposite direction turned green, and the all clear was given for them to cross the street. Arthur gently pulled on his arm. "Come on, let's hurry while we still have a chance."
Alfred allowed himself to be pulled along for a moment before he practically pulled Arthur's arm off as he tossed off the man's grip. "What did you do?" he said in a low voice, angry.
"What do you mean, what did I do?" Arthur sighed.
"I know her. She would have come down with you and Francis, but she didn't. Why not?"
Arthur's eyes hardened. "It's for your own good Alfred," he told him coldly. "Just trust us."
"Trust you?! I trusted you to keep the best interests of my people in mind, and we had to declare independence! Arthur, you may be my brother, but I make my own decisions now! Stop treating me like a child!" he shouted.
"Now you listen here!" Arthur roared at him, neither of them noticing the countdown until the lights changing back only twenty seconds away. "You are going to come with us and that is final! Alfred, think of who you are…you have greater responsibilities to tend to than flirting with that woman." He stepped forward and grabbed his arm, tighter than before, and proceeded to drag him along with him across the intersection.
"No!" Alfred roared back at him, and with the strength of the entire United States of America behind him pulled free of England's grasp.
"Fine! Have it your way, you spoiled brat," he hissed at him, turning and stomping off towards the other corner. He sidestepped a large patch of thin ice. "Come back when you've come to your senses."
~:~:~
She ran out of the automated glass doors as fast as possible, clutching the gloves tightly to her chest. She looked around quickly; she saw the taxis on the opposite side of the street, a large group of people milling around them. Obvious, since it's a one way – that means they used the… Looking down the street she saw Alfred being led by Arthur as they just stepped out into the crosswalk.
I can still make it! she thought happily to herself. She would have to hurry if she was going to make the light though. Sprinting and trying to ignore the pain in her knee, she flew down the street as her dark brown coat flapped like a cape around her.
~:~:~
Matthew was waiting with Ivan next to the taxis when he saw Francis walk up. "Where are Arthur and Alfred?"
"Vaiting for his voman friend," he said with a tight smile.
Matthew frowned, turning towards the building. He saw Alfred and Arthur finally leaving the front of the building and walking down the street towards the traffic lights, where they all had crossed only a minute or two before. But where's that nice woman? he thought to himself. She must still be coming. However, as he watched and waited the woman did not appear for another minute or so – and even then he thought it odd that she started racing down the street.
"What's she doing?" he asked out loud.
Ivan and Francis looked to where Matthew was gazing. They looked at each other. Uh-oh.
~:~:~
Just as she was only fifty feet away or so, she heard Alfred and Arthur shouting at each other.
"No!" Alfred had shouted at him.
"Fine! Have it your way, spoiled brat. Come back when you've come to your senses." Arthur turned and walked towards the other side of the street.
What neither of them noticed, however, was the shiny black car speeding towards the intersection.
She did.
She also noticed, unlike the driver of the black car, the enormous patch of ice that surrounded the intersection due to the water main bursting the week before.
Her eyes widened in absolute terror. He's going to hit Alfred. She didn't know how; like with the smell of Alfred's gloves…she just knew.
Forgoing the burning sensation in her knee, she focused on just running…running fast, running hard, running to save him.
Thirty…
~:~:~
He…couldn't believe his eyes. Matthew stood there, motionless, as he could only watch in horror. Arthur had left Alfred standing in the middle of the sidewalk, but neither of them had noticed the car coming straight at him. He had noticed that there was a thin layer of ice all around the street when they had crossed just a few minutes ago…and he knew that car was going to be unable to stop.
A secondary horror was caught in his peripheral vision as he saw the woman flying down the street towards Alfred. She knew. She knew about the ice, saw the car, and was going to try and save Alfred. All Matthew knew was that either his brother or their new friend was going to be seriously hurt.
So he did the only thing he could at the moment to get everyone's attention.
"ALFRED!" he screamed, as he dropped Kumajirou and started racing back the way he had come. Kumajirou lumbered quickly after him, not as fast of course but just as determined.
~:~:~
Twenty…
~:~:~
Arthur heard Matthew scream Alfred's name just as he started to hear the squealing of tires behind him. Rapidly flipping himself around, he saw the terrified look in Alfred's eyes as at the same time he saw the car come flying at him through the intersection, its wheels unable to grip the slick surface.
"Alfred!" he cried, reaching out towards his little brother.
~:~:~
Ten…
~:~:~
He had turned in order to go back to her apartment building, but his vision had instead caught that of the black monster squealing its tires as it tried to stop in the intersection. Obviously unable to, due to the layer of ice over the concrete, the tires spun out and the car slid through the red light.
Alfred watched helplessly as the car came ever closer to hitting him. Although his face looked terrified his mind was strangely calm. It will hurt, but I'll survive. Nations can't die from mortal wounds.
~:~:~
"LOOK OUT!"
Screech – crash!
...
...Thud.
~:~:~
"HOPE!"
Hope had sacrificed herself to save the United States of America.
