Chapter 2 - Reunited Jacks
There was nothing keeping the Austrian's attention long enough for the rest of the night, everything he tried to do, from dancing to having a conversation with one of the members of his Kingdom, he would soon find himself distracted and thinking about his dance partner. After the blonde had run off, Roderich had spent the best part of an hour looking for him, only to give up after his third lap around the castle. When the night was finally over and the ballroom was empty, save for himself and the King and Queen, Roderich couldn't have been more relieved. He bid Ivan and Elizaveta good night when they parted at the top of the stairs, the three making their ways back to their own rooms. When Roderich was finally alone he pulled of his cravat and sighed gently, brushing his spare hand through his hair as he looked out the window. He was beginning to get a headache thinking about the mysterious man who had crashed their ball.
He sat on the edge of his bed and looked down and tried to think, the name Vash sounded familiar to him, but he couldn't place where he had heard it before. He was far too tired to think on it tonight, so with little enthusiasm he changed out of his formal clothes into more comfortable clothes to sleep in.
Roderich's dreams that night were plagued with piercing green eyes and a lithe body pressed against his own. More than once he awoke thinking he would find the blonde beside him, only to be upset to see he was alone as always.
The next morning came far too soon for the Austrian when he was pulled from his teasing dreams by the sounds of someone moving around in his room. He opened his eyes to find Elizaveta pulling his curtains open, letting in the bright morning sun. The brunette Queen turned her head and smiled softly when she saw that Roderich was awake. "Good morning Roderich. I was beginning to get worried; you're usually awake even before the servants. It's almost midday."
Blinking his eyes a couple of times Roderich glanced around for his clock. He saw the time and sat up slowly. "Sorry, I didn't have the most pleasant of nights sleep." He said, grabbing his glasses so that he could see properly. "Did anything happen while I was asleep? I know I promised Ivan I would go with him into town."
Elizaveta just laughed, "Ivan went with one of the servants. He said to allow you to enjoy your dreams longer." She said, setting a tray of food down on the table beside Roderich's bed. "He was sure he knew who they would be about. It was pretty obvious last night that the stranger caught your attention."
Roderich pulled the tray closer and frowned, "You don't know who he was either?" He asked, a frown spreading across his lips. He picked up his cup and sipped at the warm tea, grateful that the woman beside him knew how he liked it. "I was sure someone would know who he was."
"So that you can find him again?" Elizaveta asked, crossing her legs and smiling innocently. "I don't know who he was unfortunately, and Ivan asked some people from the party last night while he was out. None of them seemed to know either; they hadn't noticed him until he dragged you onto the dance floor." She grabbed a piece of apple off Roderich's tray, eating it slowly in thought. "He did look familiar though didn't he? Like someone we have meet a long time ago."
"He should look more familiar than that. I don't think he was part of our Kingdom. He looked far to intrigued with everything around him, and he was unsettled when I first spoke to him. As if he didn't know who I was." Roderich explained once he set his cup down. "I don't think we're going to find him asking around this Kingdom. And if he is from another Kingdom then I wish to question him as to why he was there, and how he got in. I was certain out security was better than that last night."
"How about we organise a get together with the other Kingdom's. We can tell them what happened; maybe they don't know someone from one of their towns snuck into our castle last night. And if they do know, they'll be able to enlighten us as to why, preferably without starting a war." The Queen looked happy with the plan and stood up, "I'll go and make arrangements with Ivan now. You finishing eating and get ready, then come and find us in the library."
Roderich had no chance to stop her before she was gone. He rubbed his eyes and looked down at the tray. He sipped at his tea in thought, it wasn't a bad idea, but it was likely to start a war whether any of the others knew or not. Being accused of spying wasn't something any of the Kingdom's were fond of.
He finished his late breakfast and got changed slowly, trying to put off the inevitable. When he couldn't delay any further, his cravat was as perfect as it could be and his waist coat was just the right fit, he finally left his room. He greeted the servants as he passed on his way to the library. His thoughts were still plagued by the blonde from last night, and the thought of being able to know who that was was beginning to make Roderich a little nervous.
He opened the doors to the large library and stepped in, spotting Ivan and Elizaveta sitting by the window on the other side. He walked over and joined them, taking a seat in the empty chair. They looked up at him and smiled, making his nerves worse. "Roderich, Elizaveta came to me with a wonderful idea on how we can find your missing blonde from last night. I agree that I do not think he is from our kingdom." Ivan stated, leaning forward to see Roderich's reaction. "We will have visitors shortly. The King, Queen and Jack of the other three Kingdoms will be here by the afternoon."
Roderich's face went pale; he really had hoped that Ivan would disagree with the idea. But the Russian seemed just as keen as Elizaveta did in finding out who the mysterious man had been. He sighed gently and then gave a nod, "Of course. We do have to sort this out before another Kingdom finds out information that we don't want them to know." He said, trying to sound like it was simply safety for the Kingdom and that he didn't want to know who the blonde was for any other reason. "Should I prepare the staff for their arrival? We wouldn't want all those royals startling the staff obviously."
"Nyet, you're going to spend the afternoon relaxing and getting ready for our guests. I'm hoping that if one of the others knows who the blonde is you will be able to question them tonight as to why they were here." Ivan said with a casual grin, leaning back against the chair he was in. Roderich's cheeks heated up at that and he looked away. "Of course. If that's what you want." Roderich said softly and then stood up, "Then I will take my leave and relax. I'll see you both this afternoon when the others come."
Elizaveta giggled and stood up to follow the Austrian, "I'm coming to with you." She said, a grin spreading across her lips as she ushered Roderich out of the room. Roderich gave her a strange look, the two were keeping something from him he was sure of it. He didn't fight it though when Elizaveta lead him from the library and back towards his room.
"What's going on Elizaveta?" Roderich asked when he was pushed into a chair in his room. He frowned when he got no answers; instead his glasses were pulled off his face and set on the table beside him. "Elizaveta answer me." He demanded, crossing his arms and moving away each time she came near him.
A gentle sigh was heard before Elizaveta spoke, "Ivan and I think we know who the blonde from last night was. We're sure we have seen him around on our visits to the other Kingdoms. The thing is we don't remember which of the other Kingdoms he is from." She explained and looked down at Roderich, who was looking up at her in confusion with eyes slightly unfocused without his glasses. "We think he is another Jack actually." She admitted, frowning slightly.
"And yet you allow him to come back? You're trying to help me impress him when you think he is Jack of another Kingdom?" The Austrian was trying to piece it together as he felt a sharp tug on the curl of hair that would never sit flat. He gasped softly, pulling his head away and glaring up at the brunette. "You did that on purpose Eliza." He accused of his friend. The woman simply smiled innocently and went back to working on Roderich's hair.
Clearly not getting an answer Roderich resigned himself to the fact and relaxed into Elizaveta's ministrations. He would never admit it, but he enjoyed it when Elizaveta brushed his hair. He didn't know what it was, most likely the fact that she was always so careful about it, and it was a soothing feeling to have someone simply brush his hair.
When she was content that it was as tame as it possibly could be she smiled and held out her hand, "You have to wear your formal clothing, or I would suggest something a little more revealing." She laughed at Roderich's look of annoyance and just lead him across the room. She kept his glasses in her hand, searching through his draw. When she found the simply, rimless pair of glasses she had been looking for she pressed them into his hand. He put them back on and then smiled softly; it really was a nice change with his hair tamed a little more than he usually did, and simply swapping glasses. He liked his normal look, but this was casual while still be formal.
Looking behind him in the mirror he gave his friend a small smile. "You two really don't mind that he is another Jack?" He asked, a little afraid that they were just playing with him. He didn't think they would, but you don't always know a person. Elizaveta just shook her head, looking exasperated. "We don't mind. If he makes you happy, and from what we could see last night he did, then we're fine. It's the other Kingdom that we may have to worry about. They might not be quite as happy."
There was a knock at the door, before one of the servants poked his head in. "Your guests have arrived. Mister Ivan is showing them into the dining room. They are staying for an early dinner." The small blonde said, stuttering a little before he turned and left.
Roderich held his arm out, grabbing his cane with his free hand. Elizaveta smiled and rested her arm on his, lacing their fingers together. The two walked together down to the dining room, the blonde from earlier holding open the door so they could enter. Chatter stopped as soon as the two made their appearance, and Roderich's eyes instantly scanned the gathered group for familiar blonde from the night before.
Roderich walked over to Ivan who was sitting at the head of the large table. Roderich sat in the chair on his left, and Elizaveta took her seat on his left. The others all took their seats as well, looking nervous and a little angry. Ivan stood up, a smile spreading across his lips that could only be described as childish.
"Last night our Kingdom held a ball. It was exclusive to the people within our Kingdom, but I am upset to say that we had someone get in without an invitation." Ivan said, looking around at the gathered royals. They were all looking at each other, frowns creeping onto their faces. All but one Jack, who was trying to go unnoticed by the others, but it was in vain, because he had already been spotted by Roderich, and the Austrian wasn't sure whether he was happy or angry that the other actually was a Jack.
"So you called us here? Do you have an evidence to support the claim that the person snuck in? How do you not know they were simply a member of you Kingdom who had gone unnoticed by you?" Arthur asked, leaning back in his seat and crossing his legs. Ivan glanced at the Queen of Spades, a glare in his eyes. "We know what he looked like. And Roderich got his name." Arthur looked a little surprised and looked at Alfred who simply shook his head.
Everyone looked at Roderich and he sighed softly, "His name was Vash, I never got a last name but I could give a good description to our guards and they can look into it, charge the person with trespassing in our Kingdom and spying." His eyes didn't leave the blonde down the table. "But I'm sure that won't be necessary if the person responsible were to step forward."
Roderich smiled a little, he didn't think the King of Diamonds would allow for his Jack to be arrested. He waited in silence, the others looking around in surprise, waiting for someone to stand up and admit to it.
When the Jack of Diamonds stood up he couldn't help but smile, glad that the other had turned himself in, it would have been a bad end he was sure if he had called the guards on the other.
"It was me. But I had no intention of spying, I was simply curious." The blonde Jack stated and looked away.