Chapter 15. Human.
They were close to the forest. It hadn't taken a very long time to get there. They had gotten separated after a while and Alfred stuck close to Arthur, who, evidently, wasn't quite in the mood for conversation at the moment. They were both silent the entirety of the way to their "new headquarters." Alfred's thoughts were left to wander every time they weren't around a soldier that could notice and recognize them at any moment. They still hadn't reached the new headquarters, simply walking a few rows of buildings from the forest in silence with Arthur. But he couldn't just let his thoughts wander for too long, it had been far too quiet for far too long.
"So, I have a question for you," Alfred said simply. It had been quiet for some time and there didn't seem to be any chance of them running into a soldier soon.
"I might have an answer," Arthur responded simply. "Depends what you're asking."
"You never existed," Alfred said. "Everyone else in your group, they existed and then just disappeared off the map. The people in my old group…they had all of their data erased by the king, but a little trail is still there. But then there's you. You don't have anything on you. It's like you don't exist."
"That's not quite a question," Arthur smirked, but continued before Alfred could try again. "You're in the same boat, as far as I know. It's not like you even have a last name to go off of."
"Yes, but, as you said, Arthur Kirkland never existed," Alfred pressed.
"Whoever was searching for me, they just looked in the wrong place," Arthur said simply, with a small shrug. His steps became a little more stiff, but other than that, he didn't seem to change that much. It was subtle, but Alfred could tell that their conversation was dangerously close to something he shouldn't go near.
"Then where should we have looked?" Alfred asked. "We looked through a database only the king should have access to. We should have been able to see all of the people that ever existed in the country."
"Ah, then that was where you messed up," Arthur smiled softly. He was quiet for a moment. "If your curiosity truly gets the best of you, just the last name Kirkland should be enough to churn up some interesting results for you. But I doubt you'll ever find me unless you know what to look for."
"And you don't want me to know what to look for?" Alfred asked.
"Not quite yet," Arthur hummed. "I would quite like for you to have some respect for me for a short while before you find everything out."
"What does my respect have anything to do with it?" Alfred asked. This didn't make any sense, it just seemed like Arthur was full of riddles now and he didn't really understand.
"There's no respect to be held for what I was," Arthur muttered, almost darkly, but he still kept a light air about him. "Arthur was…hardly considered anything worthwhile. Arthur Kirkland hardly anything better. You're smart, I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually."
Alfred nodded numbly. Arthur was confusing, to say the least. But it was interesting. What kind of secret was he hiding? He was quite good at it if he wasn't even a part of the king's database of people. Then again, Arthur had said that Elizabeta had just looked in the wrong place…Alfred would have to remember to take some time to look up just the name Kirkland and see what information he could find.
Finally, they walked up to a house that looked similar to all of the rest, but the door was completely open and stuck that way, obviously someone had made it that way. He could hear Gilbert's laughter from the inside and he couldn't stop the small smile that appeared on his face. Why did he smile? Was it because they were starting to return to normal? Why would that make him happy?
"What the hell has he gotten into now?" Arthur muttered, shaking his head. "He's only been back for a day, for crying out loud." Alfred simply followed him as he walked towards the house. A few people were out and about in the town and Alfred figured it was another one filled with revolutionaries, as no one seemed to mind, simply laughing it off as they continued on their way. The house was similar to all others in the capital, with the living room in the middle and two hallways with rooms to the right and left.
Alfred had only just walked into the building when Gilbert ran past him, from the left hallway all the way into the right, slamming a door shut. Ludwig sighed heavily behind him, walking after him, in the process, fixing his obviously mussed up hair. That must have been Gilbert's doing.
"Come on, you're so slow, loser!" Gilbert cackled, opening the door just enough for his head to stick out. Ludwig raised an eyebrow at him, but continued to move slowly.
"Give it back, Gilbert," Ludwig said impatiently and Gilbert just scoffed before disappearing back into the door.
"What did he take from you this time?" Arthur asked offhandedly. Alfred had almost forgotten that Gilbert had been with this group before going to Alfred's group to spy. He had to wonder how long ago that must have been. He would have to ask Gilbert about that later.
"A shoe," Ludwig sighed, continuing on his way. Arthur smirked slightly before he continued himself, setting his bag down on the main couch.
"A shoe?" Alfred asked in confusion.
"OCD," Arthur said simply, as if that was the perfect and only explanation necessary. There was more cackling and running as Ludwig reached the door, but it seemed like Ludwig was prepared this time and caught Gilbert easily.
"Your bag is going to contain the necessary medical supplies we need in case anyone is seriously injured. When you find the kitchen, put it in there. Find a room no one else has occupied yet and you can stay there. I'll tell you if I need you for anything if it comes up."
"At least it's a system I'm familiar with," Alfred shrugged, moving past the living room and into where the kitchen would normally be in a room like this. Sure enough, he was right. Francis was already in there, appearing to see what supplies he had to work with in this new place. He almost reminded Alfred of Matthew in the kitchen. Alfred shook his head at the thought. No point in thinking about that now.
Francis noticed him as Alfred set the bag down, assuming he could place the supplies in one of the lower cabinets by the floor. He relaxed quickly after that, apparently growing used to the light of Alfred's face.
"I see you and Arthur have made it," Francis said, though he was obviously still very on edge around Alfred. He had no doubt that he had managed to get his hands on another computer device. If he had been a noble in the past, he was sure to still have the money, as he had no living relatives. "Anything interesting on the way over?"
"What do you know about Arthur's past?" Alfred decided to risk it and see if he could get any information out of someone else, other than Arthur. His curiosity was getting the best of him. Alfred, at least, had reason for not existing. There was no reason for him to exist. He had just been a baby when Ivan had found him. No parents, no limbs, just a brother. But Arthur? What happened?
"So he's refusing to tell you as well," Francis smirked, a little more relaxed now that he seemed to have the upper hand in this conversation, at the very least. "He only told me after knowing me for a few years. It's not my story to tell, though he does like to give riddles about it. It must be some way for him to deal with it."
"Deal with what?" Alfred asked.
"I will just say that it is something his pride now would never allow him to sit down and take," Francis smirked slightly. He glanced at the bag Alfred had set down. "Feel free to put those under the sink. They're the medical supplies, right?"
"Yeah," Alfred nodded. He was tired of all of these riddles and roundabout answers, but it didn't seem like he was going to get anything anytime soon… He quickly did as he was told, assembling them in order of what he viewed as important. If anyone were to be injured, he could guess what would happen and what they would need. He was quite used to that sort of thing, at the very least.
"So, did anything…interesting happen on the way here?" Francis asked simply.
"Nothing out of the usual," Alfred said. He didn't know what Francis was insinuating, but Alfred could guess that he was intending to mean something.
"Oi! Francis!" Arthur snapped from the living room. Francis chuckled simply from where he stood as Alfred returned to a standing position. He figured he would just take the bag to where he would be sleeping. "Don't start with him, too!"
"Why, I don't know what you mean," Francis chuckled innocently, walking towards the living room.
"I hope you don't plan on doing anything in that kitchen tonight," Arthur simple said, the smirk evident in his voice. "I have something for you, Alfred, Antonio, and Gilbert to do later tonight."
"What?" Gilbert snapped. "Why me? I literally just got back! Gimme some rest, ya jackass!"
"Why us three?" Antonio wondered from another part of the house. "I thought you didn't like us working together."
"I have my reasons," Arthur hummed. "You'll need to move in a few hours. Evidently, a small inexperienced revolutionary group is planning some kind of demonstration. If we know about it, I'm sure the king does as well."
That meant Matthew would be there. Definitely.
"What kind of demonstration?" Alfred asked. He had seen many demonstrations in the past. Generally, they involved killing some kind of political figure, but sometimes, it was just places to give speeches. Alfred had killed people from all kinds of demonstrations.
"You'll have to see that for yourself," Arthur smirked. "Francis, get your arse over here so I can tell you where you're going to have to be."
"Right," Francis sighed heavily, giving the stove a longing glance before going off. Alfred left the kitchen as well as he saw Francis look over Arthur's shoulder at his personal computer, pointing out the location of their mission. Alfred's first mission as a part of this team. Could he be considered a part of this team? What would this mission involve?
"Alfred," Arthur said suddenly as Alfred was about to search for a possible room. "You're not allowed to kill anyone on this mission. If it's necessary, allow one of the other three to do it."
"Why?" Alfred asked. "If I need to-"
"Trust me," Arthur said simply. "I have my reasons."
Alfred nodded, but he was unsure. He would still have a gun, just in case. That pistol Antonio gave him, but he was sure he wouldn't need it in the first place. If Matthew was going to be there, he would kill them himself. And if anyone else killed one of the demonstrators, he would be suspicious and search them out. They couldn't have that. Who knew what kind of state Matthew was in right now?
"If you don't mind me asking, why are we here so early?" Kiku asked from their position in an abandoned building. "The demonstration doesn't start for a few hours."
"Just wanted to stretch my legs," Matthew muttered, subconsciously checking through his guns again just to keep his hands busy. He had two knives hidden on him as well just in case. Their job was to put a stop to this demonstration if it was against the king. It most likely was, by the look of the painfully obvious pamphlets. Matthew had to wonder if that other team, the one Gilbert and Alfred were a part of, would be there. It was unlikely, what reason would they have?
"What will you do if you see them?" Kiku asked simply.
"They are enemies of the king now," Matthew said coldly and honestly. "I'll kill them. The king only gave me permission to do so. I need to be ready."
"Do you really want to kill them?" Kiku pressed and Matthew nearly glared at him. "I simply mean to say that they obviously mean a lot to you if they are causing such a reaction."
"They mean nothing to me now," Matthew muttered. "That's why I don't care if I kill them. They'll just enter the blur of faces I don't remember. Right with their friend that I killed."
"I am sorry you feel that way," Kiku sighed, glancing at the streets below them. Most people were working this time of day, though a few people moved about. A demonstration would be held at sundown, that was what the pamphlet said. Revolutionaries had something to say, apparently. But Matthew knew for sure that they had nothing to do with the group that had started this whole mess he was in.
"There is nothing to be sorry for," Matthew stated.
"Indifference is a dangerous feeling," Kiku said simply. "It makes it impossible for you to feel. You are human, after all?"
"Never considered myself one," Matthew shook his head.
That human thing will be important later, I swear it. And now Arthur has some sort of plan forming in his head, for whatever reason you don't know, but I do! Yay! How fun! Anyway, I was really tempted for Kiku to pull some Doctor Who up in there and talk about how if you hate someone, you're never truly finished with them, which is very true in this case. But I liked where I had him go better, if Imma be honest.
Anywho, enough of me talking. You got a few more clues for Arthur's backstory, how fun. So, please review! It's awesome!