The sink was still damp, as were the walls. Arthur let a finger trace the trails of the dripping water, catching it with the swift motion of a digit. The Brit stared at the small droplet before it rolled off and slipped into the sinks open drain, his green eyes catching his reflection in the mirror, and Arthur decided to give it all of his undivided attention. His eyes had a darker shade than normal and lacked their usual luster he attained when spending time with a certain freedom seeking hero. No, bags were in their place, his skin was slightly sunken, paler, he looked haggard, sick.
His country must not be doing well, he assumed. There were probably other issues that had occurred in his absence, but Arthur couldn't be bothered with such a thing. Besides, he had been left in the dark since Alfred had taken most of the responsibility for his well being.
The poor American had been slaving away for days on paperwork, public affairs, and attending private meetings while the World Meeting was on hold. If his suspicions were correct, they would most likely resume sometime that week. Arthur wasn't particularly looking forward to attending another quite yet, especially after the show he had put on during the previous one.
Arthur gritted his teeth. If he counted all the mistakes he ever made, he would have to begin to invent a new combination of numbers. He walked away from the disapproving look the man in the mirror gave him, refusing to recognize the stranger that stalked him through every reflective surface, and decided to fix a towel around his person and step out of his sanctuary.
The chilled air breeched his skin and goose bumps erupted across the surface of his damp flesh. Matthew glanced up, a curious gaze fixated in his direction, purple eyes peering up slyly through oval glasses.
"You were in there a while," Matthew stated, clearly wanting to initiate a conversation. One Arthur didn't want to contribute to.
"Yes, well, I needed some time to think."
Matthew was quiet, silently watching Arthur drop the towel shamelessly as he slid into his freshly washed clothing. The Canadian had been kind enough to get them cleaned and folded them himself. Arthur really shouldn't have been surprised, honestly, as Matthew had always been more organized than his brother. That, and he had a longer attention span when it came to such things.
"Do you know where Alfred ran off to?" Arthur questioned, his green eyes piercing his old colony's.
"He said something about meeting up with Ludwig, I think?" Matthew didn't sound thrilled, but who could honestly blame him? Ludwig left his sibling alone with a rapist, cheated on him, and even attempted to make a move on the Canadian himself during a drunken night mistake.
Arthur froze, his blood running cold. "Was.. .it was purely a business meeting, right?"
"He didn't tell me, the only reason I knew was because I ran into Germany on the way into the lobby. He asked me whether he was showing up or not."
"And what did you tell him?"
Matthew shook his head and answered, "I just told him he'd have to wait to find out on his own."
"Damn," Arthur hissed.
"What?"
England angrily buttoned his jeans and tugged the zipper, careful not to catch himself in it. "Nothing, I just... I have somewhere to be."
"Where is somewhere?" Matthew's voice was less than approving.
"A friend's."
"And who exactly is that?"
"Exactly none of your business Matthew," Arthur spat. "I'm under Alfred's supervision, not yours. And it's best if you remember who raised you before you try to order me around like I'm under your control."
A hard tension entered the room as both men glared defiantly at the other, neither giving. "I'm not trying to control you, Arthur, I just want to be able to tell Alfred where you ran off to while he was out."
"Don't treat me like a child," venomous tasting words leaked out and polluted the air between them.
"I'm barely allowed to treat you like a family member at all!" Matthew yelled.
"Oh, don't even start with this, again!"
"No! I've had enough of your disrespect! Where do you get off treating people the way you do? You have no right! None!" Matthew crossed the room and made himself stand tall and proud, proving just how much he had grown to his previous care taker. "Not to Alfred, not to Papa, not to me, and not to the world. Get off your high horse before you really are left all alone."
Arthur stared up at the young male whose eyes were burrowing unrelenting holes into his body. "Don't patronize me, boy. Your loser of a father brought this upon himself, and so did the world. When you're older you'll understand."
"Understand what? " Matthew challenged. "That I need to be a callous old man who cares about no one but himself?! If that's the case, I'd rather die now and be spared the agony of being as miserable and low as you!"
Arthur stood there, no good remark to give, and glared rigidly, not even realizing he was holding his breath until his chest ached for air. When he finally did give in to his need for oxygen, Matthew deflated and backed off, giving one last acidic shot over his shoulder before ducking into the bathroom and slamming the door shut.
APHAPHAPHAPHAPHAPHAPHAPH
Alfred hit the mattress with a bounce, his insides jumping with him as Ludwig pressed his body flush against Alfred's. The German was now shirtless with a tight pair of black jeans hugging his hips and an abnormally clean pair of socks adorning his feet. Alfred could feel the heat pooling onto his own chest through his thin short sleeved shirt, and it made his blood rush quickly through his form, most of it collecting down south.
Germany licked his lips as his arms caged Alfred in, his blue eyes taking in every surface they could catch. He slowly, carefully, removed the glasses in such a sensual manner Alfred forgot that it was even possible to be aroused by such a thing.
His toes curled as he let his fingers run down the chiselled abdomen, feeling them rise and fall with each toned muscle and breath he breathed. Alfred journeyed further and they danced past the German's waist and travel onto the suspense of the others back. Ludwig let in a trembling breath as goose bumps travelled across his body, twitching from Alfred's ministrations.
Not one to be outshone in any physical activity, the German leaned forward and gently rested his forehead against Alfred's, staring into the blue pools that seemed vaguely wet and hollow. As Alfred and he had a silent conversation, he brought a knee in between the American's thighs and rubbed his clothed erection lightly, gently, earning a shuttered wisp of minty air from Alfred's mouth.
Ludwig didn't approve of how Arthur had this child wrapped around his finger like he did, but there wasn't much he could do. He would have to start from scratch, rebuild and strengthen the feelings they had developed in the past. It was his only hope at maintaining sanity and having anything to resemble the happiness he had in the past when he had both of the men he wanted.
Alfred's hand had drifted down to Ludwig's firm ass, feeling the familiar shape of a phone shoved in his pocket. Ludwig realized his mistake and reached back to pull it out before setting it on the bedside table.
"Why now?"
"What?"
"Why now," Alfred asked quietly, it wasn't a whisper, but the volume of it was lost somewhere in the swirling emotions cascading through his body. "Of all of the times you could have tried to get me back... after all these years, now, suddenly when I'm so close to living my dream..."
"We talked about this Alfred," Ludwig replied gently, silencing the other with a kiss. Alfred was treading into dangerous territory. If he didn't persuade him now, he would lose the male now and maybe forever. "Arthur is just a dream. Live in the reality."
"Reality sucks ass."
Ludwig couldn't help but chuckle and nuzzle their noses together. "Ja, I agree. But I'm here to make it worthwhile, aren't I?"
"How do I know you're not a dream to?"
"Would a dream be able to do this?" Without warning, Alfred's pants were yanked off, catching on his ankle as Ludwig attempted to discard them. His boxers were soon pulled down as well and a hot mouth took their place, tracing everywhere but where it mattered most.
Alfred's breath hitched and his hips twitched, fingers curled tightly into the fabric of the sheets as pleasure overrode his system. "Hhhhnn," he whined, trying to respond to Ludwig's previous question, but it was probably a moot point; the German already knew his answer.
"Tell me you won't go back to him," Ludwig whispered, his hot breath rushing over America's heated arousal. "Tell me you'll stop chasing fairytales and ghosts."
"I-I can-can't." Alfred groaned, tossing his head back. "I'm so close to saving him."
"Is that what this is about? Being a hero?" Ludwig traced the large vein in Alfred's cock as he talked. "I thought this was about love."
"I-It is, but..."
"He doesn't love you," Ludwig drilled in. "Not like me. Never like me. Could he do this to you? Does he even know you like I do?" The German traced secret spots, kissed meaningful places, did everything he learned in those thirteen years to drive Alfred wild. "I bet he doesn't even know about your secrets, not the ones that you told me. I highly doubt he would even care of you never showed up again."
Alfred shook his head frantically. "That's not...hah, that's not true. H-he said-"
"He said what," Ludwig challenged, voice growing cold.
"He wants to be together, he said it. " Alfred began to grow more frantic in his responses as his concentration broke. "He did, I swear!"
"When?" Ludwig could feel the darkness slide in, the black of his temper meld in with his psyche.
"This morning-this morning, ffff-god!"
"And what did you say?" Alfred didn't answer right away and Ludwig could feel the panic seep in. "What did you say?!" His ministrations came to a complete halt and he stared wide eyed at the American who was still trying to gain his breath. After a moment, he propped himself up on his elbows and looked him square in the eye.
"I didn't say anything. But he's going to assume we're together."
"Am I supposed to assume the same thing?" Ludwig's voice came out sharp, quick, and Alfred winced.
"... I'm not sure."
"Well, figure it out!" Germany spat, clearly upset at how things were quickly spiralling out of control.
"That's what I'm here for!" Alfred retorted.
"Nein, you're here because you want a contingency plan. I will not be the B team." Ludwig's hands clutched the covers in a balled fist as he grit out his words.
Alfred let out a shaky breath. This was a bad idea, he concluded. He never should have came here today, it just made him even more confused. He should've just gone straight back home to Arthur; instead here he was, giving in to temptations and ruining any chances he had with either of them.
"What am I going to do? Why is this even happening?!"
"Just choose me, Alfred," Ludwig replied, voice solemn and trusting. Loving and there. That wasn't a fantasy, the adoration was physical, but so was that moment in the shower. The German leaned back up and over the American, his body towering over him in a reassuring way. "I won't hurt you like England will- is. I'm here and real, and I'm prepared to do whatever it takes, Alfred. Trust me."
The American opened his mouth to talk, but no noise came out, and he felt like even his voice had failed him in his time of need. He managed to clear his throat before he looked at him with set eyes. "Prove it to me."
"What?"
"Prove it to me. Being good in bed and trash talking Arthur isn't enough to change my mind, Ludwig. If you hadn't done what you did before, this may not have even've been an issue, we may never've broken up... you owe me this much at least."
Ludwig stared for a moment. He would have to prove it? How? Its not like there was a book for such a thing, he had already looked. Humans just couldn't relate to nation problems, nor write an instructive novel about such things like relationship issues.
"Ja," he agreed. He wouldn't lose to that Brit, no matter what. "I'm sorry to have caused you so much trouble." He stood up, no longer aroused, and by the looks of Alfred's situation, he wasn't either. So with a quick shimmy, the American was fully tucked away again and ready to say his goodbyes.
But just before he could open the door, Ludwig pulled him in for one last passionate kiss. "Ich liebe dich, Alfred."
"Yeah, I know you do," he said smoothly, giving one last peck to the wet lips before adding, "Now you just have to prove it."
The door clicked open and shut moments before his phone rang. Germany calmly picked it up and answered on the third ring. "Hallo?" His eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean there are three thousand dead?!"
((End of this chapter. Sorry its so short and boring, but school and life and ugh, excuses are worthless because I had plenty of time to throw this piece of crap out here. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed it and I'm always accepting new ideas and comments on the story, they really do help me write faster, makes me motivated. Thank you~ Also, a shout out to my amazing beta, Sori! I love ya!))