Chapter 19. Bleeding Out.

Matthew ran as fast as he could. He had to find Elizabeta. That was the revolutionaries' plan. But he had faith in Elizabeta. She wasn't weak like Alfred. She wasn't a traitor like Gilbert. But that left the question. What would happen if this group didn't get what they wanted? What would they do? There were only three of them now. Three people to search and find their taken comrade against the seven people that took her.

Matthew took out his gun once again as he entered a building that seemed abandoned. He didn't even care about the homeless people around him as he ran right past them, over them, pushing them to the side. They didn't matter. Once he reached the top of the building without finding them, Matthew didn't even hesitate before jumping to the next building, racing down the stairs of that one. Still nothing. Matthew groaned as he continued to run, going right past the buildings that were obviously occupied. He couldn't find anything, no matter where he went.

He stopped cold, however, when he heard the gunshots. They all went off at nearly the same time, four shots. Matthew ran straight for the building he'd heard it from, finding Kiku standing just in front of the door, looking up. They hadn't been shot down…or at least shot near. Their sniper was busy. Either that, or he wasn't expecting them.

"What are you two doing?" Roderich snapped, rounding a corner to face them. "We have to go up there and see if she's okay!"

"Four shots," Matthew said, looking straight up, refusing to look at Roderich. "That wasn't her, and all at once? I'm sorry, Roderich, it doesn't look good."

"Then we go up there and kill all of them," Roderich said darkly.

"You want to get yourself killed, go right ahead," Matthew said harshly, glaring at Roderich beside him. Roderich seemed in a state of panic, he wasn't thinking clearly. He was…just like Matthew when Gilbert and Alfred left. "What do you think will happen when three of us go against seven of them, especially when two of them have fought with us countless times? We have to be smarter than that."

Matthew remembered Ivan's orders from earlier that day. If they encountered the revolutionary group, engage, but don't do it seriously. Ivan had some sort of plan, but Matthew wasn't sure what. He trusted Ivan and his plan whole-heartedly, but he had not expected it to result in the loss of another member.

"You're just giving up?" Roderich snapped and Matthew could clearly see the tears in his eyes. He looked at the ground instead. "That's it? She's dead and we don't stand a chance so we're not going to do anything about it?"

"King's orders," Matthew snapped. "Do not engage seriously. I will not disobey another order from him, neither will you. So help me, I will kill you myself if you engage now, Roderich! Take that chance to see if you can get your vengeance or get actual vengeance later, when we have the orders to. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," Roderich grumbled, turning sharply towards where Matthew knew their house was, waiting with yet another empty bedroom. He disappeared into the night within seconds. Matthew sighed heavily.

"You are being too harsh on him," Kiku said.

"He nearly got himself killed," Matthew muttered, leaning against the wall. It was dangerous to stay there, but it didn't seem like the group was about to move anytime soon, no doubt expecting them to search them out. They were being careful.

"You felt the same way not too long ago," Kiku reminded him.

"You think I don't know that?" Matthew snapped at him. "That's why I treated him like that! To stop that kind of behavior."

"You can't cure everything with coldness," Kiku said simply. "Sometimes you need kindness."

"I've never needed it," Matthew said. "We've never needed it."

"And look where that's gotten us," Kiku pressed.

"If you want to join them, go right ahead," Matthew scoffed, walking past Kiku and towards their house.

"I would never dream of betraying the king," Kiku admitted.

"Alfred said the same thing," Matthew gritted his teeth. "Gilbert said the same thing. What makes your promise anymore worthwhile?"

"It isn't," Kiku said. "You prove how worthwhile it is with your trust."

Matthew shook his head and took off running. He didn't care anymore. He didn't need philosophical bullshit anymore. Another member had been taken from his team and he wasn't going to stand for it. He would report to the king and request for the ability to use any force necessary. And if the king didn't give him the permission?

He didn't know what he would do then.

"They've gone," Antonio said, leaning back into the building. He'd been leaning out through a window to watch the three that had stood in front of the building not long ago. Arthur could still feel himself shaking, whether that be from anger or…something else from the memories that flooded after he slapped Alfred…it didn't matter. But he couldn't show weakness. Rather, he leaned against a wall and acted natural. Francis could tell something was wrong, but he was wise enough not to say anything about it. With a deep breath, Arthur stepped forward. Even Alfred and returned upstairs, only to sit down and slump against the nearest wall.

"Let's head back," Arthur said. "You're sure they're far enough away to not see us?"

"I don't think they'd follow even if they did," Antonio shook his head. "They clearly knew we were here, but they didn't bother to enter."

"Then they're smart," Arthur nodded. It was bad odds in their favor. Ludwig had long since moved the body of the woman, Elizabeta, to a lower floor, far away from all of them, especially Alfred. Gilbert was quiet for the majority of the time as well, despite Francis trying to talk to him. Lovino was the most talkative of all of them.

"Let's fucking move, then, I'd rather not get caught in the sunlight," Lovino said simply, walking down the stairs without waiting for anyone. Arthur knew exactly what he was thinking. He had gotten some revenge for his brother, despite hitting the wrong person. He was hitting the team that had done it…and it felt good to him.

Surprisingly, Alfred was second. Evidently, he didn't want to be at the back of the group once again for a chat with Arthur. He wasn't surprised. Gilbert and Ludwig left together, Antonio trailing behind them. Francis waited patiently for Arthur, who let out a shaky breath, running a hand through his hair.

"Are you alright?" Francis asked carefully.

"I'm bloody fine," Arthur rolled his eyes and walked towards the stairs, Francis following him closely behind.

"It must not have been very bad," Francis noted. "You're only shaking and you can still give orders. That is a very good sign."

"That doesn't mean it's good," Arthur scoffed, rolling his eyes. They walked right through the floor with the corpse and down to the bottom floor, entering the streets. They were deathly quiet.

"Judging by the red mark on his face, you hit him rather hard. And where it counted," Francis said. "That's easily one of the weakest points in his body since he can't feel his arms or legs."

"He deserved it," Arthur seethed. "Why should I have held back?"

"Do you think there's a chance he knows?" Francis asked.

"I doubt he even knows it exists," Arthur rolled his eyes. "Something like that? Surely, his great and powerful king would never allow it to happen."

"I see, then," Francis muttered. "But you will forgive him."

"What makes you so sure?" Arthur bristled. "I might, I might not. What he said was…foolish, stupid."

"But he didn't know what he was saying," Francis reminded him. The night was eerily calm, no sign of any members of their little team as they went their separate ways back home. Arthur was sure they were the only two walking back. "He doesn't know."

"No one should know," Arthur reminded him. "He tosses away his humanity as if it's nothing, like it doesn't matter to him. He just doesn't…understand."

"Give him a chance to, then," Francis said. "Allow him in and perhaps he'll allow you in. You can hardly consider yourself human if you don't open up your emotions to other people."

"I know," Arthur said simply. "I'm just…a little new at this sort of thing," he chuckled humorlessly.

"New at feeling?" Francis asked. "New at wanting to help others understand you? No, I don't think you're new to that at all. I believe you've been at that longer than most of us."

"Sod off," Arthur rolled his eyes, elbowing the man. But, still, a small smile played on his lips. Francis knew of his past, he knew everything. But, at the same time, he didn't make a spectacle of it. He never brought it up unless Arthur did first, he always danced around the subject in a way that Arthur could respect. He was a friend.

"Alfred isn't all bad," Francis smiled. "Don't let a small mess up ruin what you already have with him."

"And what do you think I have with him?" Arthur asked.

"Something you don't quite understand yet," Francis chuckled. "But I am sure you will in due time."

"Don't give me anymore of your romantic bullshit," Arthur scoffed, shaking his head. "There is nothing like that between us."

"I would believe you," Francis chimed, "if you didn't react like you do around him. If he didn't matter to you, how could he elicit so many reactions out of you? Not many people can make you slap them, nor do many people get the honor of talking with you as much as you do him. You, at the very least, care for him."

"Perhaps," Arthur straightened his back. "But that means nothing."

"Yet," Francis smirked.

"Shut up," Arthur groaned. He didn't mind having these calming moments of being able to just…talk with someone. Talk about something that didn't involve killing someone or starting some new mission. Arthur had quite a lot on his plate, but it was nice to be able to forget about it every now and then… He only wished Alfred had that luxury.

"I am very sorry, Your Majesty," Matthew said, kneeling before the king. He was surprised to find that, upon his return, the king was still awake, though he wasn't waiting for them, that much was certain. Other matters were weighing no his mind, Matthew could tell just by seeing him. For now, he had to do what he was told, for now he had to report and obey orders. He had already told the man what had happened to Elizabeta, though he hadn't been told to look up yet and so remained staring at the floor.

"I see," Ivan muttered after a short silence. "I am sorry we will not be able to perform a proper ceremony for your fallen comrade." Matthew knew that much. Even Roderich was sane enough in his mind to understand that. They were assassins, none of them existed anymore. Even Arthur's group of assassins knew that well enough. The body Matthew had recovered had been disposed of quickly once they were able to identify him and make sure the information Alfred had given them originally was correct. "I did not intend for so many to die for my sake."

"Your Majesty, I would gladly die for your sake," Matthew pledged, nearly looking up at the man.

"That is what I am worried about," Ivan muttered. It was obvious he did not intend Matthew to hear him, so the assassin said nothing about it. "How is the team dealing with her loss?"

"Kiku is normal," Matthew reported. "Roderich, however, has become emotionally compromised. I fear he will prove to be rather useless in future missions until he is able to control his emotions again. It appears as though we will have to rely on myself and Kiku alone for future missions."

"I am more than willing to provide soldiers for your support," Ivan said simply. He let out a small sigh and shifted, most likely leaning back in his throne. "Matthew, I have a question for you."

"I will answer anything you ask, Your Majesty," Matthew said.

"What do you think of me?" Ivan asked simply. "Not as a king, not as someone you have known all of your life. But as a person. What do you think of me?"

"Your Majesty, I-"

"Not as your king," Ivan said clearly. "Look at me," Matthew obeyed the order, looking at the king's eyes. He was…distressed. It was quite obvious he had not gotten much sleep recently and he looked…vulnerable. This was a question he wanted answered as honestly as possible. "Give me your answer."

"You are a strong man," Matthew said. "Based on the stories and history I have read and learned, you fought bravely for years for the sake of this country, you showed kindness to injured infants that had no connection to you, and you have the ability to lead this country through a time as rough as this, caring only for the people." He noticed the way Ivan's eyes seemed to show…hurt as he spoke. It was almost as if he knew that the words Matthew was speaking weren't true. "And, even as the people close to you betrayed your trust and are dying for your sake, you are able to remain the same. You have not fallen to anger or sorrow and, though you obviously lack the sleep you need, you are far from weak. I envy your ability."

"I don't even know if it is strength holding me together," Ivan sighed. "Or simply a lack of the emotions that make one weak."

"It is not weakness," Matthew said. That was at least one thing he had learned from Kiku and this experience. "Nor do I believe you lack the ability."

"Thank you, Matthew," Ivan said, not looking in his direction. "You should sleep. I have no mission for you in the near future."

"Of course, Your Majesty," Matthew nodded and stood, turning to leave the room. He heard a heavy sigh from the man behind him that sounded like it should belong to a broken man, but Matthew ignored it. It wasn't for him to hear.

He refused to admit that his king was a weak man.

Another depressing aftermath chapter. Well, I never promised that this was going to be a happy fic, now did I? Action will probably be picking up after this, but I don't promise anything. We can't know Matthew's next moves for certain, but I can assure you that Arthur is going to be moving quickly starting now, so you can all look forward to that!

Anyway, please review! It's totally awesome!