Chapter 28. Long Way Down.
"So, let me get this straight," Gilbert laughed from where he sat at the table in the kitchen. He was sitting beside Alfred, who had been dragged into the conversation, but he wasn't complaining because he had nothing else to do, and Francis and Antonio were sitting across from them. They were sharing stories of what they had missed while they were separated for so long. Alfred could tell that they were close friends and had plenty of stories together already. "So you thought it was three girls, but one of them turned out to be a dude."
"No, two of them were guys," Antonio chuckled. "Francis couldn't have cared less but the girl was long gone after she found out."
"It was such a shame, too," Francis mused. "That would have been so interesting. Not like it wasn't a fun night, anyway."
"You guys get all the fun," Gilbert scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "We had to stay hidden, didn't get any action at all."
"I wouldn't say no action," Francis shrugged, glancing at Antonio, who nodded in agreement. "What of this brother of Alfred we've been hearing so much about?"
"Don't even get me started," Alfred huffed and Gilbert half-heartedly glared at him.
"Hey, just because he paid more attention to the awesome me than you, doesn't mean you have to hate me," Gilbert smirked. "Besides, I didn't even get any action from him. If any of you happened to forget, we were busy all the fucking time."
"So that's where all of this pent up feeling is coming from," Antonio laughed and Gilbert blushed lightly. Alfred couldn't help but laugh, even just slightly. Bringing up his brother did hurt a little bit, but it was good to think about him in a positive light again. Back to when they had been together, as a team. Back when Alfred's only worry was that his brother was getting close to the obnoxious Gilbert. Back when the only thing that mattered in the world was the word of the king. "I thought you came back with more sexual tension than usual."
"I take some offense to that," Gilbert said. "It's not more, I'm pretty sure it's about the same as when I left."
"Oh, yes, but during that battle that we fought him, you were just oozing with these new feelings," Francis teased. "It's painfully obvious that you have feelings for him, Gilbert."
"And do I stand a chance?" Gilbert raised an eyebrow. He didn't want for the conversation to take a darker turn, he really didn't. So he kept the tone light and Alfred looked at the table in front of him. He wasn't even sure if he had a chance with the relationship he once had with his own brother. "Anyway, I'm sure you've got plenty other good stories, don't get distracted by my boring life."
"Please, your life wasn't boring," Antonio rolled his eyes. "How many people did you kill again?"
"I don't keep track of shit like that," Gilbert shrugged. "I stopped keeping track after, like, 60 or something like that."
"What about you, Alfred, do you keep track of your number?" Francis asked haphazardly.
"763," Alfred answered easily. And he still remembered every single name and face of a person he'd killed.
"Are you serious?" Antonio gaped at him and Alfred nodded.
"This guy's crazy when it comes to killing people," Gilbert sighed dramatically. "He's got this thing with memorizing names and faces. Something about no one else is going to remember them."
"Wow," Antonio smiled slightly. "That's impressive. Back when I was a soldier, I would try to keep track. Lost it after about 50, I think."
"I have never been happier that my past is nowhere near as bloody as any of yours," Francis shook his head.
"Yeah, how many do you have, like 10?" Gilbert smirked, slinging his arm over the back of his chair. "That's a little pathetic, I mean, I'm pretty sure Feli had more than you, if I'm not mistaken."
"I don't even keep track," Francis said with a flippant wave of his hand. "After the first one, it didn't matter anymore."
"Why did the first one matter so much?" Alfred asked. He remembered the first person he killed. Target practice with Kiku. The king had told him to do it, so he hadn't reacted badly to it, even if he was only 10 years old. The king said that there was nothing wrong with it. The man deserved to die.
"He was my father," Francis said simply, without a hint of hesitation or regret. "I would think it would be rather obvious what my past was like. I was a noble, now I am a revolutionary with all of his money gone for this cause. I obviously did not get along with him."
"It's a hell of a story," Gilbert shrugged. "My bet's that it's got something to do with Arthur, the secretive little bastard."
"Yeah, I know about pretty much everyone's past," Antonio sighed. "The only question in the air is Arthur, who refuses to say anything."
"Then I guess we'll never know," Francis shrugged simply. Alfred caught his gaze and Francis simply sent him a wink. "I certainly didn't know him until he found me himself, just like the rest of you."
"Whatever," Gilbert rolled his eyes before glancing at Alfred. "What about you, lover boy? He's had to have told you something, right?"
"Lover boy?" Alfred asked.
"Oh, it's painfully obvious something is happening between you two," Antonio snickered. "Considering you've already slept with each other twice. You have to know something."
"What would there be to tell me?" Alfred asked. He was rather good at lying, one of his many skills he learned to pick up because the king needed him to and, to the king, it wasn't wrong. "He's just someone that had his life messed up by the king, just like all of you, right?"
"Sure," Gilbert snorted. "Let's believe that bullshit a little longer."
"If you four are finished," Arthur's voice said clearly in the silence that followed and all four men jumped slightly, looking to the entrance of the kitchen. Alfred had been so caught up on the conversation that he hadn't heard him coming…he was really losing his touch… "we need to move. Now."
"Shit, already?" Gilbert asked, standing up.
"The armies of Merkatus and Prulamuck are already on their way," Arthur nodded. "Eltrack's should come with Yao tomorrow. We are leaving now. Antonio and Francis, go fetch his gun," Arthur ordered easily and the two men left quickly. "I've already told Lovino and Ludwig, their scouting ahead now. Gilbert, do not leave Alfred's side. Alfred, do not enter the main battle unless absolutely necessary."
"Define necessary," Gilbert said as they both stood from their seats.
"If the lives of the rulers of Merkatus or Prulamuck are in direct threat," Arthur said simply, turning towards the living room. "Our lives are of no matter, understood?"
"I think I'd beg to differ on that one," Gilbert joked with a smirk before looking down at Alfred as Arthur left. "You ready, hot shot?"
"As I'll ever be," Alfred muttered. If this turned out as they expected, the king was going to die today. What troubled Alfred the most, however, was the fact that these militaries were obviously mobilizing, and fast, around this country and the king had changed absolutely nothing. Either he had a plan to stop them, or he had a plan to let them come. Either was equally dangerous. Alfred followed Gilbert out of the house.
Matthew was the first to react to the sound of gunshots, turning his head to the door of the small meeting room they were in. Kiku and Ivan followed a fraction of a second later, the noble complaining about taxes for the upper class slowly morphed into silence. There were plenty more gunshots afterwards and Matthew tensed.
"Your Majesty," Matthew said simply. "We have to move you now."
"Of course," Ivan stood slowly, offering his goodbyes and apologies to the noble. His own bodyguards were finally on edge. Ivan led the way, walking far more calmly than he should. This wasn't even a façade, he was calm.
"We will make sure we get you to the safe room as soon as possible, Your Majesty," Kiku said simply and began walking in the direction of a sort of bunker that would be perfect to defend from. Even with just two of them. Matthew was sure this could blow over with nothing happening to the king.
"That will not be necessary," Ivan smiled at him. A true smile. It sent shivers down Matthew's spine. What was Ivan thinking? These people were there to kill him, and he was walking at a pace befitting a stroll. "Kiku, would you please assist the soldiers at the front of the building. I believe that will give me enough time."
"Your Majesty," Matthew muttered as Kiku bowed and ran off to do as he was ordered. The king simply continued to walk, in the opposite direction of the safe room. "Ivan!" The king looked back at him. "Your safety is the most important thing to me. What are you planning if it will compromise your safety to this point?"
"Follow me, Matthew," Ivan offered a small smile as he continued to walk. Matthew pulled out a gun as he followed him closely behind. The gunshots were nowhere near close enough to be a danger of coming into the capital building, but he had to be on guard just in case. Arthur's team was still out there, with most of their members still remaining. "I have a special assignment for you. I have been waiting quite some time for this day."
"For what day?" Matthew asked.
"For the day I finally receive the punishment I deserve," Ivan sighed happily. He continued to walk through the halls, ignoring the soldiers that rushed to get to the main entrance and the nobles that rushed to the safest room they knew. Matthew followed him wordlessly until they reached the familiar doors of the throne room. They walked inside and the door closed loudly, closing out the sounds of the gunshots clearly. Ivan only walked halfway to his throne before he stopped, turning to face Matthew suddenly. "I need you to trust me."
"I have never doubted you, "Matthew said honestly.
"You should have," Ivan smiled sadly before placing one hand on his shoulder. "I have a plan in mind and I would like for you to retrieve Alfred for me, alive. You are not to kill him."
"What is this plan?" Matthew asked. Of course, the king had his reasons for everything, but this was one case where he desperately wanted to know what was going on. Why did he need Alfred for this?"
"Please," Ivan said. "Also, if you would not mind retrieving something for me as well, I would appreciate that."
"What do you need?" Matthew asked.
Ivan settled into his throne, watching Matthew's retreating form as he closed the door. Ivan closed his eyes and let out a small sigh. He should have been dreading this day and he knew it. But the mere idea of what he knew was to come brought a smile onto his face. He could see them again, or at least there was a chance he could. This was his own decision, as well. Surely, the nobles would protest, but they had no room to talk now.
Ivan had tried to rebel in the past, but this was the one day he could really do it. The one day he had the courage because he knew there was no way for them to get back at him now. The was the one day that the nobles would not get what they wanted and that made Ivan happy for the first time in years.
He had driven himself to exhaustion and he still was far beyond what he knew his body could handle. It had only grown dangerous when Matthew and Kiku tell from up close just how exhausted he was. Thankfully, his word was law. That would help him later, as well. It didn't matter how far he drove himself, it was all to one purpose. And soon he would be able to see Alfred as well, a thought that made Ivan even happier.
He could not wait to see him again, see what had become of him without the king over him like Matthew. Someone who was independent and perhaps even happy. Perhaps he had found a purpose in his life. Surely, if they both survived this day, they would find a purpose, or perhaps have it forced upon them like Ivan's purpose had been forced onto him. He just hoped that they had better luck than Ivan had.
Short chapter is short, but it's leading up to probably what will be a very long chapter. I've got a lot planned and I'm not sure if I want to cut it into pieces. We'll find out, I guess, but until then, this is a thing. Ivan's planning something and you guys have no idea how excited I am for his backstory. It's still the only one I've fully written out and it's probably gonna be the last one you guys see. Anyway, enough of me rambling. Not a lot of important things happened, except for some characterization, which is always important.
Also, I don't guarantee a lot of updates in the near future. Lots of hectic stuff going on including Graduation, family coming into town, Comic Con, concerts, etc. I hope to finish this fic entirely (including the backstories) before I go to Europe in June so no one has to worry about that hiatus, but please bear with me this next week, I'll update when I can, so that may be sometime in the middle of the week, I dunno. Thanks.
Please review, as always, and I'll see you around next time!