New York - APH

by meganshepz

Arthur Kirkland; A former British Army Officer tries to change his stars. He first runs a pub in London, but after finding how painful it is, decides to look across the ocean. Arthur takes over a the Empire Tavern, in the heart of Manhattan. The Brit thought it would be easy, yet how wrong he was. A obnoxious American has become a social media menace, challenging the Brit. UKUS

4. Chapter 4 - My Way Pt 2

Chapter Four - My Way Pt 2:

Dear Readers,

ApplePieSnaps here again (Snapple / Alfred) for my daily blog post,

As you all know, I got myself involved in something I shouldn't have. Eyebrows Brit, also known as Arthur Kirkland, the owner of the Empire Tavern threw himself into my life and changed everything. The bar I usually hung out in got revamped into some classy joint which is actually pretty awesome... My morals have been turned upside down; even my sense of good judgement and character got thrown out of the window. Like, what the fuck Arthur? What have you done to me?

Arthur's open mic night was due to start in a few hours yet all was not going well for my blonde British buddy. The Vargas family had been on Arthur's back about his kitchen staff, they wanted them, and Arthur wasn't going to put them in any danger. I don't understand why he feels the need to protect his fellow man, but it was kinda inspirational. I really do look up to him at times.

Anyway, I think they wanted to go full Scar face on them or something. As awesome as that movie was, in reality it was really scary dudes. I'm not even joking. You see the guys in suits, hands in their jackets like they're about to pull out the heat they've been packing and you just want to run in the other direction. New York is the city of dreams, but it can also be the city of nightmares.

A nightmare is what was waiting for my new friend, Artie.

I had to do something. I couldn't sit there and let him be hurt, so I ran. Not away. But I ran towards the danger. I was just in full hero mode, dudes. I don't know what came over me. I guess Eyebrows really had taught me something good, even after all the bother I gave him.

The heavens freaking opened and it started raining cats and dogs, I couldn't see because my glasses were covered in water, and were steamed up from my breath. I was soaked. I couldn't tell what rain was and what was sweat, but I know that my heart was pounding; I could hear it in my ears. I'd never felt this alive before.

However, when I got there... I realized I was too late.

Alfred rushed through the door, rain dripped off his coat, and he almost fell over from the slippery surface of the bar floor. It made his coat heavy and slap against his leg when he stopped, his hand was gripping the door frame as he caught his breath and removed his glasses so he could actually see past the fog that had formed on the lenses.

"DUDE. ARTHUR... DID YOU GET MY DM'S ON TWITTER?!" He put his glasses back on and looked around, his breath hitched up into his throat, seeing two suited gentlemen holding onto Arthur, who looked like he'd been punched in the face. He had blood down his cheek. Shit that looked painful.

"Si, We got your DM's Apple Pie..." Spoke an Italian voice, which stepped out of the kitchen, with Feliciano under his arm in a head lock. He had a blade in his fingers, pointing towards the young, scared brother. He had frightening crimson eyes, and a beautiful sharp black suit, and crisp, shining shoes. This was Luciano: The group's leader. A man that many feared in Manhattan – A Mafia boss, whose family had been here for quite a long time: Think Carmine Falcone from Batman in a younger sexier body, who liked knifes a bit too much. The two brothers that worked for Arthur were from the 'Sal Maroni' side of New York. Of course, this wasn't Batman, this was real life, in NYC. All I can say is that each did not get on. It was a power struggle with each side. Luciano's grandfather had passed on leaving him in charge, but Lovino and Feliciano's Grandfather still remained up top, but were getting on a bit in age.

Arthur's young chefs were just trying to make it in the world without dirtying their hands. Unfortunately, Arthur being naive to family names and reputations hired the Italians without knowing much about them. Why would he? He is new to the city, and the Italians could cook? Without knowing it, he got himself into a turf war.

Luciano was followed by a blonde male in a white beautiful suit, who had a hold of Lovino. This was Luciano's brother, Flavio, a more fashionable Italian who hated Lovino since the day he first laid his eyes on him.

Natalia was standing behind the bar, not really sure what to do, she kept her hands on the baseball bat that Sam had left under the counter for just this occasion.

Arthur had customers cowering under the thick wooden tables, not saying a word out of fear. They'd all been threatened by the other men that followed the Vargas brothers in – The gentlemen from before that burst out of their suits: The muscle of the operation.

Ivan seemed to have vanished as soon as they arrived...

"Arthur-" Alfred shouted, about to run over to him, when the sound of fire arms being lifted and pointed towards his direction rung through the air from Luciano's men.

"Don't even think about it. " Luciano spat. "You know, I should be thanking you Apple pie, without you I would never have found these two brothers."

"...What do you mean?" Alfred had his hands up, staring at him fearfully.

"Urgh... Your tweets Alfred... The ones you deleted..." Arthur spoke through a groan, trying to wiggle himself free.

"...M-My tweets?" Alfred stuttered. Shit. He really had been abusing the power of social media.

"Si... You spoke about a loud chef that had a foul mouth." Flavio smirked a bit, poking Lovino in the face with his gun. "Sounded like someone we knew."

"Bastardo..." Lovino muttered to Flavio through gritted teeth.

"Then his boss here-" Luciano strolled over to Arthur, dragging Feliciano over with him under his arm. The Mafia boss ran the back of his blade over Arthur's bruised cheek.

"-Got his menu featured in the local newspaper. With an address, we tracked you down. All of you. But when Mr Kirkland wouldn't give you up, and didn't seem to respond to our threats, well... I decided it would be time to pay him a visit myself."

Arthur winced at the blade touching his skin, but didn't look at him. Instead he stared right at Alfred who was still helplessly backed into the door.

Luciano nodded to the door, and one of his men locked it behind Alfred. "Let's all have a little chat. Sit down Alfred. Join us." The Italian grinned, but his eyes were fixated on him. They meant business. "Place your phone where I can see it."

Alfred gulped a little, then shuffled over to the bar stool nervously. In his haste, he tripped over the rug by the door clumsily, causing Arthur to flinch as he watched him tumble. Alfred quickly pulled himself up and clambered onto the chair and placed his phone on the surface of the bar itself, then put his hands back up again. "Aha... There."

Natalia gripped the baseball bat tightly, slowly lowering it to her side out of sight. Where the Hell was Ivan when you needed him?

Arthur was internally face palming. How could he get out of this? He needed something to distract them, but what could he do whilst being held by these two? He observed his surroundings. Come on Arthur you've been in tighter situations in the middle of a bloody battlefield! Think, even when you've been hit in the head. You've been shot before, you can handle being punched. Clear those fuzzy thoughts!

Around him was Luciano holding Feliciano by his side, who was basically crying at this point, Luciano's knife was resting back against his neck. Beside them, were Flavio and Lovino, in a similar state as their brothers. Behind them, and off to the side, in front of a booth where customers were hiding under tables was Arthur being held by two men. He needed an opportunity to overpower them and use his surroundings.. Something. Anything. He needed a bloody miracle.

Buzzzzt Buzzzt! 'WHOOP WHOOP ITS DA SOUND OF DA POLICE~' started blasting out from a phone in the room.

"...Whose phone is that?" Luciano scowled angrily.

Alfred was biting his lips, hard, as he glanced down at his phone on the bar that was spinning around from the vibrations from the incoming call and playing its new ring tone.

"I said whose phone?!" Luciano barked, reaching behind himself to the gentlemen holding Arthur and pulled a gun out of their grasp. He took off the safety and held it up.

"...Mine." Alfred mumbled.

"...Seriously?" Arthur muttered in disbelief. That ring tone of all times?! Wait. This is good.

Alfred quickly looked at Arthur, who nodded to him.

"Y-Yeah that's my phone! Hahaha. I can turn it off! Man why did I change it from Bird is the word? Oh yeah, Arthur got pissed off with it. Hahahaha..." He laughed loudly, obnoxiously like usual.

Everyone was looking at him now. Luciano pointed the gun at the phone. "No need, I'll turn it off for you, Stronzo." He gritted his teeth and took aim at the phone, chanting its beautiful distracting anthem, and fired!

The customers let out screams and Alfred's mouth just gaped as his phone went to pieces. Arthur used this sudden distraction to jam his elbow into the male still holding a gun, and then nutted him with his knee, pulling the gun out of his grasp quickly, before jamming the other into the table behind them, causing them to fall over it and smack their head. He turned back and smacked the hilt of the pistol into its original owners head.

Chaos.

Arthur was now armed.

"DUDE." Alfred stared at him wide eyed, allowing Natalia to vault over the bar with the baseball bat, and smacked it right into Flavio's head, causing Lovino to drop down, and scuttle off to the side.

"OH HOME RUN!" Alfred jumped in excitement on the bar stool. What the hell just happened!? Natalia grabbed Lovino and pulled him up. He smiled a little and thanked her. "Grazie Bellezza~"

"LUCIANO." Arthur growled, pointing the gun at their boss. "Put the Italian down..."

Arthur side stepped, causing Luciano to glare back at him, and aimed at the Brit, the pair circled in a standoff.

"You swear you don't get guns in Britain! What the fuck was that?" Alfred gulped and quickly rose to his feet. He didn't believe he'd ever fired one before, or that he wouldn't.

"You don't Alfred. Not without a good reason. Let me reintroduce myself once more. Captain Arthur Kirkland, British Military...Now pull out your own fire arm and help me."

"What makes you think I have one?!" Alfred quickly defended himself.

"You're American. Of course you have one." Arthur knotted his brows, not taking his eyes off them.

"Stereotyping. I'm hurt." Alfred fake sulked.

"Alfred, shut up. Do you have one or not? - Because otherwise you've been really excited to see me on a few occasions."

"... I have one. Fuck dude." He pulled it out, pouting as he took off his own safety and aimed it at the Italian. "So now what Captain Kirkland?"

"I believe they are trespassing with murderous intent on my property. Does that mean I can place them under house arrest?"

"Or blow their brains out." Natalia finally spoke up, causing Lovino to glance at her.

"You do realize I have more of my men outside. You really think I'd come unprepared, you bastardo." Luciano glared, placing his knife up against Feliciano's throat, his own gun aimed at Arthur. "I will cut his throat."

"Noooooo." Feliciano whined. "I surrender; please just let me go home. I don't want to cause trouble; I just want to continue making a 'pasta and writing stories with Luddy..." He wept in Luciano's arms, staring at the knife.

Arthur needed to get the front door open, and get his customers out of there. They could call for help. He shivered a little; it was that jabbing feeling in his back again. Seriously what the hell was it? It was cold.

All of a sudden, the Juke box started playing again... It was instrumental msuic. What was that? Everyone paused and looked around.

"Who put that on..?" Arthur asked, really confused.

"Dude I told you this happened last time..." Alfred frowned.

"Quit fucking around. " Luciano grumbled as his men staggered back to their feet, allowing Natalia to dart at them with the baseball bat, so they backed off. Lovino picked up a broken chair leg and started wielding it.

"Aaahh it's the ghost of the Empire. " Feli' squirmed a little, making Luciano glare down at him for a moment.

"There is no such thing you stronzo." Luciano snapped.

BWBBRHGHHHHHH!

With almighty crash, the door got smashed in, causing everyone in the room to jump out of their skin.

"Whoopsie. My bad, door broke down. Privet, everyone." Ivan walked in smiling, looming over everyone. He glanced around. "Oh are we having a party? Let me join." He grabbed a hold of the pipe work on the wall and yanked it off in one blow, wielding it.

"...Bloody Hell Ivan. That was expensive, and what time do you call this?" Arthur barked. Alfred just stared at him. What was this crazy super human strength? He's like the freakin' hulk.

"Prosti, Boss. I was speaking to an Italian down the street. Oh there are more of them. Hello!" He smiled at them.

"What the fuck?" Luciano questioned the behemoth.

"Da, I think his name was uh...Romulus?" Ivan looked a tad confused, not sure if he pronounced it correctly.

"Grandpa!?" Feliciano chirped out, squirming again in Luciano's now loosened grip. He was distracted.

"...Merda." Luciano growled. "JOHNNY. " He shouted, causing more men in Italian suits to burst through the door which was now in pieces under Ivan's feet.

"It is a party! We even have the musics. Isn't it supposed to be microphone night? Boss?" Ivan looked over to Arthur, ignoring the presence of the others surrounding him. The Russian just smacked the pipe in his palm, still grinning.

"Yes... It was." It gave him an idea. Luciano was looking between his men and Ivan, before looking back at Arthur. The Brit managed to tilt his head to the booth behind him, where customers were hiding. His staff and Alfred all managed to notice and understood he wanted to get them out the back door when he tilted his head again to the kitchen.

Arthur had finally realised the song that was looping. If this place was haunted, it was defiantly telling him that the show must go on. At least that was his take on it. Either that or he'd go down with his empire. The captain should always go down with his ship after all.

Arthur lowered his gun when Luciano wasn't looking and stepped back, carefully making his way to the stage he had set up earlier in the evening.

"That's right. This was a night of entertainment. Not bloodshed. Have you no respect for showmen ship?" Arthur asked sarcastically to the Italians invading his home and business.

"...Arthur what are you doing?" Alfred looked at him, stepping closer to Luciano with his gun up, holding it with both hands, shaking with nerves and adrenaline. The Brit was insane, it's official. He had to be.

Once Arthur and Alfred moved, the whole room reshuffled. Lovino and Natalia were now behind Luciano and Feli, by the booth of customers. They'd kicked down a table to use as a shield from bullets if necessary.

Arthur picked up the microphone off the stand and patted it to check it was working.

PAT PAT

"I used to be in a band at school, it was a punk band but I can alternate. I'm pretty flexible like that." He winked over to Alfred as he spoke into the microphone. Was he now showing off?

"Someone shoot him before he starts singing." Luciano commanded. One of his men took aim, and fired off a shot, to which Arthur darted to the side and picked up a table to shield himself.

"Fuck it!" Arthur announced, clearing his throat.

This was going to be one hell of a distraction, even if it was his last. This was his Empire. If this was how he was going to die, he was going to do it in style: His brand, his own personal touch. It was unique and it was his way...

The instrumental music started playing. If Arthur was going to die tonight, he was going to do it embarrassing Alfred.

"And now, the end is near... And so I face the final curtain~"

"Arthur..." It was Sinatra again. Alfred watched him, keeping his gun raised up towards Luciano.

"My Friend, I'll say it clear. I'll State my face, of which I'm certain..."

"Boss?" Feliciano blinked, looking up at him. Natalia and Lovino got to work on moving customers out from the table as quickly and as quietly as possible whilst everyone was watching the Brit strut around on stage.

"I've lived a life that's full... I've travelled each and every highway... "

Alfred was chewing on his lip, trying not to smile a little bit at his courage. Ivan grabbed his shoulder and pushed him away towards Arthur. "Guard him, little Apple pie." Little? Alfred staggered over to him quickly, re-aiming towards Luciano from in front of Arthur.

"And more, much more than this, I did it my way..."

"This is some cheesy shit but you're pretty good... Keep it up Artie. " Alfred whispered back to him.

"Regrets... I've had a few." He glanced down at Alfred, then the Italian's he hired. He gripped his microphone, darting back behind his little table shield as another shot got fired at him. Alfred ducked down too, and ended up firing back at them.

"But then again, too few to mention... I did what I had to do... I Saw it through without exemption."

Ivan now glared down at Luciano, threateningly, with his metal pipe.

"I planned each charted course, each careful step along the highway. And more, much more than this, I did it my way."

Luciano glared up at Ivan a little fearfully, but didn't back down. He did however drop Feliciano, and aimed his gun up at Ivan. "Madre Stronzo."

Natalia just got back from pushing the customers out the back door, around the fighting, and looked over in worry at her brother. "Ivan!"

"Oh don't worry sis', if he shoots me, I crush his tiny skull into dust, Da?" Ivan chuckled, a shadow forming over his face.

"Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew. When I bit off more than I could chew..." Arthur grinned a little guiltily down at Alfred, who glanced back at him, before glaring out at Luciano.

"And through it all, when there was doubt, I Ate it up, and spit it out. I faced it all, and I stood tall, And did it my way~" Alfred had backed himself onto the stage with Arthur. Arthur handed him his gun allowing Alfred to keep aim, having used his ammo exchanging blows with the Mafia men.

"...not fired a gun before today... Haha... I can tie people up though... Boy scout..." He muttered beside Arthur, letting him carry on.

"...I've loved; I've laughed and cried... "He almost felt tears rise to his lids, ducking out the way of another shot. "I've had my fill, my share of losing, and now as tears subside, I find it all so amusing..." He sang with a slight smirk.

Alfred kept biting his lips. "Quit fucking firing at him you jerks. Let Eyebrows sing his fucking heart out." He managed to hit one of the men in the shoulder in annoyance, making them drop a gun. Alfred squealed a bit, having actually hit someone. "Shit, sorry dude." Why did he apologise to the person he shot. Arthur smirked a bit more.

"To think, I did all that, and may I say, not in a shy why... Oh no, oh no, not me, I did it my why~"

The Russian was closing in on Luciano, and grabbed his wrist, crushing his hand in his grasp.

"For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught~" Arthur was in full on ballade mode right now, belting out from the top of his lungs. He may as well end on a high, seeing another male aiming at him.

"To say, the things he truly feels, and not the words of one who kneels!" He flipped them off, taunting them.

"THE RECORD SHOWS, I TOOK THE BLOWS AND DID IT MY WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY~" Arthur just dropped the microphone, and fell down to his knees. "Ha... Alfred. Help me back up. Is anyone hurt?" He was holding his shoulder under his jacket.

"Arthur?" He quickly looked back, before diving down to his side, pulling a table out in front of them as a shield. "I don't think so; did you get hit and not say anything?" He plucked Arthur's hand away from his shoulder.

"It could have been worse... I could have been killed. Thanks for guarding me." Arthur smiled faintly at Alfred, whilst the American fussed over his wound, trying not to puke from the sight of blood.

Ivan had picked Luciano up; he was in so much pain as the Russian crushed the gun and his hand in his grasp. "Argh STOP! " Luciano shouted.

Ivan raised the cold pipe to his face, pressing it into his skin, tilting his head.

"You hit the boss, Da? Your turn~" He then struck him hard in the head with the pipe and dropped him down, stepping over him after discarding the unconscious Italian.

Ivan went to deal with the other men, but they were gone. Instead, in their place was a new Italian: An older, still handsome silver fox, in a long black coat and expensive looking suit.

"GRANDPA!" Feliciano crawled over to him, out the way of everything.

"...Shiiit." Lovino frowned.

"Si, Feliciano, Si Lovino I've come to clean up your mess." Romulus glanced around. "Although it seems your boss and your colleagues managed it for you?" He raised a brow. "Come hai fatto questo?" He muttered.

"Yo' dude, Speak American!" Alfred shouted.

"...English. It's English." Arthur laughed quietly, sitting on his arse, on the stage now.

"Mi Dispiace. I was wondering how you all did this." Romulus smirked, stepping over to Luciano and gave him a good kick. "Remus raised a little monster." He then looked over to Flavio. "Two little monsters." He pulled his boys into his arms, "Where did I go wrong?" He joked, hugging Lovino and Feliciano.

"Arthur was it?" He said, looking over to the bar's owner on stage, having heard his performance from outside. He did appreciate the choice of song. His own men began rushing in, cleaning up the mess, and dragging the injured people out. "I'd like to thank you for looking out for my grandsons, and not giving them up. Sam would have been proud of you."

"You think?" Arthur took a bullet for this damned tavern. The Brit was injured yet still salty and sarcastic. Nothing has changed.

"I think so too." Alfred grinned at him, before scooping the bushy browed Brit up into his arms.

"What the Bloody hell are you doing Alfred?!" Arthur swatted his hand at his chest. Alfred ignored it.

"Carrying an injured solider?" The American gave him a cheesy smirk.

"...I'm not a solider anymore. Just put me down. I'm the owner of Empire. That is all."

"Arthur, you never stop being a soldier. You always have something or someone to fight for." Romulus strolled over, letting his grandson's go. "Think about that. As thanks, we will be here to watch your back." He nodded and tilted his hat down to Arthur, before twirling on his heel, and strolled out, snapping his fingers.

His men dragged Luciano and Flavio out of the bar, along with all his men. Lovino and Feliciano lingered behind, Natalia stood with Ivan, each holding their blunt instruments of doom.

"...Boss. I'd quite like to go back to my normal home with Feliciano if that's okay... Thank you for everything. I'll be in early tomorrow, I promise."

"Si... I won't be back in, but thanks Mr Kirkland sir!" Feliciano gave him an awkward salute and skipped out, cheerfully grinning.

"...It's okay lads. Bright and early Lovino. No smart ass comments please?" Arthur asked, hopefully.

"I'm only one man Arthur." He smirked, and walked out "Arrivederci~"

Arthur grumbled and looked at Alfred again, who was just looking over at the camera he set up earlier in the day for the nights event. It was blinking.

"What?" Arthur frowned, crossing his arms in Alfred's grasp.

"Did you turn that on?" Alfred pointed to his DSLR on the Tripod in front of the stage, almost dropping Arthur, causing him to suddenly grab his jacket.

"Gyuah!" He looked over to it. "...No? Does the blinking light mean it's on?"

"...I knew you were old, but come on dude, of course that means it's on..." Alfred responded

"...Its recording? IT RECORDED ALL OF THAT BOLLOCKS?" Arthur started panicking.

"I think I found how we're going to get you viral..." Alfred said with a smirk.

So anyway dudes and dudettes that is the story of how 'GHOST STARTS RECORDING NYC MAFIA SHOW DOWN AT EMPIRE WITH SINGING EYEBROWS BRIT' got famous, and how I gained a million new followers. I took Arthur to the hospital to fix up his shoulder. It ended up being a small wound, thankfully. It just caused an old injury to start playing up again – turns out Arthur got shot there before too. Freaking crazy shit right there. What are the odds? I wish he told me sooner he used to be a soldier. That's so cool!

We gained some new friends in the neighbourhood, and the cops ended up thanking us for helping to capture the Vargas boys.

What else? OH ARTHUR GOT ME A NEW PHONE! He wanted to thank me for coming to help him out, but he ended up making my new ring tone Bad Boys by inner circle... You know the one that goes "BAD BOYS BAD BOYS WHATCHA GONNA DO WHEN THEY COME FOR YOU..." Very funny. It's okay. I set Arthur's ring tone for when he calls me to the Imperial march. Hahaha. It's fitting. He gets irritated so damn easily. He insisted it be Staying Alive by the Bee Gee's but it makes him sound even older.

Empire Tavern has been doing really well since the video went viral, we even had a feature on TV man. I got to go on TV and it wasn't for something lame! I'm like a hero now. It's freaking awesome.

A lot of you have been messaging me about this blog. No, Arthur had no idea about it – until one of you guys sent him a link over twitter. Talk about an awkward conversation, seriously?!

"Alfred." Arthur stared at his phone quizzically.

"Yo?" He looked up from his own phone – his new one which he'd already covered in a superman phone case.

"I didn't know you wrote blog posts every day." Arthur said, smirking broadly and quickly stepped back after seeing Alfred's eyes widen, and his body vault across the bar to grab Arthur's phone out of his hands. Arthur managed to avoid the grasp, only for Alfred to be stuck half way across the bar, holding his tie. "DON'T READ THEM. I'M BEGGING YOU."

"Honestly, it's like you don't know me at all. Now I just want to read them more." Arthur held his phone up higher, getting a few looks from customers and Natalia who was just trying to make a cocktail with these two being childish.

"Arthur, no! I uh... Write about my day and stuff... It's embarrassing please don't. "

Arthur side stepped and held his tie also, dragging Alfred along the bar so he could get out. "Alright, I won't read them... One condition." He started leading him to the stairs, with one finger raised.

"...What are you doing? Where are you taking me?!" Alfred was still holding the tie none the less.

"You read them to me." Arthur had such an evil grin on his face; The Smug little British bastard. He was walking backwards up the stairs.

"Hell no!" Alfred objected.

"Alright... Dear Readers, Today a new owner of Empire moved in-"He began reading.

"OKAY! Shit." He snatched his phone and almost got away with running off; But Arthur grabbed the back of his hood and pulled him back.

"Oh no you don't, you little shit. If you've written about me since then, then I want to hear about it."

Arthur dragged him upstairs to keep him from getting TOO embarrassed in front of everyone. He then proceeded to make him read each and every blog post about Empire. The Brit had no idea he'd written this about him, and the heart and soul the American put into his posts. Some even had a few snaps of the bar, and even Arthur working or making a cocktail. It usually had a funny little caption underneath it.

Alfred was bright red and mumbling through some parts yet he continued in his head strong way. His stories showed how Alfred began to appreciate Arthur, and how he no longer felt that Empire and its Patrons were haunted by their past. They were accepting of Arthur, and the changes he had made. He wrote about the Eyebrow Brit that came to New York as an ambitious yet small, frightened and confused little lamb that made it big in the City that never sleeps. He became a wolf.

Arthur sat quietly, and didn't say a word as he listened to Alfred read. He was resting his chin on both his hands, smirking at parts. Honestly, the Brit had no idea Alfred had paid him that much mind and attention.

"Alfred. You can stop now."

"Thank god." Alfred breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alfred... "Arthur glanced down. "I had no idea you cared that much. I mean, I did find myself reading all your tweets and posts on Facebook and Instagram.. But to go and write all that..." He smiled a little. "It really warms my heart."

The still scarlet American tilted his head up to Arthur, sitting in front of him at the coffee table In Arthur's living room.

"You read all my posts?" His bright blue eyes lit up.

Arthur nods in response. "Look. You used to be the bane of my existence and nothing would have pleased me more if you never came back into the bar." He gave him a dull stare for a moment.

"...Oh."

"But, selfish little Artie here, found that you made me a lot of money being a regular. I decided to deal with it. I was trying to prove to you that I'd make it past a month, because your posts dug deep."

Alfred was now the one who was listening quietly; he nodded, letting him continue.

"This may sound weird, but as time went on I found myself sort of getting used to your face and that laugh of yours. When we started to talk I realised I looked forward to when you came into the bar. It really made surviving in New York bearable, especially with all the shit that was going on. Now I've proved myself to you, I feel pretty liberated. Empire is a success and you're doing well off the side too. Win win really."

Alfred's face just dropped, as he stared at him.

"Arthur. What are you saying?" Alfred was oblivious to an extent, but was getting there.

"... Seriously?" Arthur couldn't help but laugh a little. "I'm saying that when I sang on stage that night, and thought I was honestly going to die, I was happy that the last person I would have seen was you, idiot."

Alfred blinked, before his eyes widened. "... Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"I don't know, are you thinking what I'm saying?" Arthur narrowed his eyes at Alfred, mildly irritated that he didn't understand the just of what he was saying.

"What?" Alfred just got confused again. Why was everything a mystery with this Brit. Just be straight forward!

"Urgh! I am saying that I think I really like you Alfred, more than a friend..."

"Why didn't you just say that in the first place - wait you like dudes too?"

Arthur just blinked. "I thought I implied that by saying that I liked you, yes."

"Shit no way." Alfred gave him a hearty whack in the chest with the back of his hand. "Me too. I didn't think you'd ever like me back!"

"Wait what?" Arthur's cheeks grew pink. "Like you back?"

"Yeah!" Arthur was still wondering how he can just blurt it out like that. "I like you more than a friend too. Christ dude, why do you think I came to find you after hearing about the mafia coming to your place. I wanted to protect you!"

"I still got shot."

"It's the thought that counts."

"..."

"Right?" Alfred laughed.

"Right." Arthur cracked into a small laugh. "Thank you..."

"Now that I think about it, my followers did keep asking if we were an item..."

"What? Really?"

"Yeah. They kept saying we clearly liked each other after seeing the video." Alfred pouted a bit.

"... We can be pretty flamboyant and flirty with each other..."

"When?" Alfred pouted a little more.

"All the time? Just yesterday you were trying to throw ice into my shirt as I worked... "

"Ha! That was flirty?"

"You don't call giving some one ice cold nipples flirty? Alright."

"..." Alfred just snorted and burst out laughing, causing Arthur to laugh too.

He made a good point. This was the start of something beautiful.

ApplePieSnaps: ArthurKirkland dude, why do we need to go suit shopping?

ArthurKirkland: ApplePieSnaps You know why. #Classy #YouLookHot #Iwould #DeliciousApplePie ;)

ApplePieSnaps: ArthurKirkland Stop. #Bonerstorm #JK ;P

LovinoRomanos: ApplePieSnaps ArthurKirkland Get a room #TMI

EmpireTavern: All lodging for tonight is occupied. Sorry for the inconvenience.

ApplePieSnaps: EmpireTavern you don't even lodge out rooms. #Confused

ApplePieSnaps: ... Oh. ArthurKirkland EmpireTavern #JustGotIt

EmpireTavern: Apologies if that caused confusion. We do not normally rent out rooms. But you may book out our bar for special occasions!

LovinoRomanos : EmpireTavern ArthurKirkland Nice save. Please just DM though. You two make me want to hurl. #PlzStop #VomStorm #NotGoodForKitchenWork

ArthurKirkland: LovinoRomanos that's a point. Aren't you supposed to be working right now?

ApplePieSnaps: LovinoRomanos ArthurKirkland RUN WHILST YOU CAN. THERE IS STILL TIME TO ESCAPE #THEBRITISHARECOMING

ArthurKirkland: ApplePieSnaps You didn't need to tell him my plans. ;)

ApplePieSnaps: ArthurKirkland ... I was talking about you leaving the bar to go to the kitchen to confront Lovi... ARTHUR! e-e ! /

IvanBraginsky : ArthurKirkland Stop texting and do the thing to the big American virgin already. #BoredWaiting #Chicken #DirtyDance #TwoWayTango #HurryUpAndFuck #DoAmericaAFavour #Fuck

ApplePieSnaps: IvanBraginsky ArthurKirkland WHAT THE FUCK DUDE?

LovinoRomanos : IvanBraginsky ArthurKirkland ApplePieSnaps LOL #StillGunaPuke

EmpireTavern: If I see any more employees on their phones whilst at work, there will be trouble. ;) ApplePieSnaps is okay though. He does marketing. 3

See? Embarrassing. But yes. That is how the Brit and I finally started dating ladies and gentleman. I mocked him, I joked about how shit he was but honestly I fell for him, hard. I regret it each and every day.

DM From ArthurKirkland to ApplePieSnaps:

Alfred. Don't listen to Ivan. I'd never rush you into it. Just know I love you, okay? Dork.

Why do I love this guy? Come on people. You told him about my blog #SecretlyGrateful #NoRegrets