The Reverse Result Chapter 4
I apologize for not updating in a while! I am trying to post as many chapters of all my stories as I can before the week is over! Also, in history, George Washington is a soft spoken man so I made sure to include that detail in this chapter. I am not referring to him as President because in this AU, he is not a President (it breaks my heart since I idolize him (god I'm such an APUSH nerd)). I apologize if anything seems OOC.
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He did not know when he fell asleep, but all he is aware of is waking up in England's tent. He was no longer covered in mud and he was wearing one of England's military uniforms. The rain had stopped and England was nowhere to be found. The boy kicked his legs off the side of the bed and stood up, the ache in his shoulder making its presence known. He could hear some of the soldiers packing up their items and others building homes to stay in his country. While Arthur may not have liked the revolution, he listened to Alfred's concerns. One of which was the 3rd Amendment of his "Silly Constitution" involving the quartering of soldiers into homes. He instructed that all of his soldiers from now on would build their own housing instead of forcing themselves onto the colonists. While Arthur may have listened to some of the other concerns, he had not dealt with them.
Despite losing the war, his people were bustling and full of energy. It's almost like nothing ever even happened. It made him feel happier and fulfilled that his people were not suffering like he was. He saw General Washington talking with Arthur and rushed over. "General Washington!"
The soft spoken man turned his attention from Arthur and to the boy. "Alfred, my boy. Your brother has given me a job in the Royal Army as a general!"
"He- he did?" Alfred was shocked. Arthur really did that?
"He did. We will be seeing a lot more of each other." With that, General Washington turned to the colonists and continued to help them repair the country. Alfred turned towards Arthur. Alfred was still wary of Arthur and did not completely trust the man. He tried to follow George when Arthur grabbed his arm.
"Alfred, when we dock in London, you are grounded." He let go of his arm and turned from the boy. Moving onto the ship, he knew Alfred would follow him to lessen his punishment per usual. This was how he figured he would get the boy onto the ship without a hassle and it was working, to no one's surprise except Alfred when he realizes how gullible he was to fall for the same trick again.
"What do you mean I'm grounded? I thought we were going to talk about this!" Bingo. He followed him onto the ship and to the Captain's quarters where Arthur put on his coat and secretly grabbed his handcuffs.
"Then let's talk, love." He sat on the bed and patted next to him. Alfred huffed and sat next to him, hoping if he followed orders, Arthur would see to reason. Unfortunately, that was mistake number two. Alfred was apparently an open book to Arthur, who was able to predict all of his actions. Arthur had grabbed the boy's hand and cuffed him to the headboard. "There. Now you can't run away. I'll be back when we are getting ready to sail away so you can say your good byes."
Alfred struggled against the cuffs. "Hey! No fair!"
"All is fair in love and war. And as of now, it is just love. Unless you want to engage in your own little play war with me like you always did when you were younger. Then it is love AND war." Arthur exited the room to continue giving his men orders.
Alfred huffed and devised some plans to get back at Arthur for this. Unfortunately, Francis had decided to come into the Captain's quarters during his thought process. "Oh good. He has you tied up."
Alfred glared at the man. How dare he speak to him like that. After everything he did to Alfred? He was lucky Arthur hid his musket somewhere or there would be pieces of the French man all over the room.
"What? Still not talking to me?" Alfred was silent. "Okay, I just came by to apologize for leaving you in the midst of battle and for pointing a gun at your head." He placed his hand on Alfred's cheek only for it to be swat away and for Alfred to turn away. "This will pass. Soon enough, you will talk to me. After all, Arthur is letting me take control of your brother again for that exact reason: to better my relationship with you."
Alfred spat in his face. "Go to hell, you bloody frog."
Francis' face contorted into a stern glare. "No wonder you and England get along so well. You learned all of his faults. That's the reason you bounced back so quickly. That's why you're not destroying the bed and the ship as we speak. Your relationship is strong. You will get over your anger with me eventually. You don't hold grudges for long, I see. Au revoir!" The French man left the boy to his thoughts. His scheming, childish thoughts.
…
The ship had been loaded and the sails were ready to be lowered. Arthur came into his quarters where Alfred was. "I will be going with you. You have ten minutes to say your good byes. You may want to speak with General Washington, Jefferson, and Hamilton. It seems as though they are putting aside their bickering just to see you." He unlocked the hand cuffs and held the boy's hand. "Come, love."
Alfred followed him through the deck where the crew and soldiers glared at the boy. Some of them held their knives close by and others were polishing their guns. Alfred stood closer to Arthur.
The three fathers were waiting at the plank to board the ship when Alfred came down. He rushed over to them and gave them big hugs. Hamilton and Jefferson were emotional messes over the boy who they helped raise, even if it was for a short while. Washington rubbed the boy's head as he watched the two become overprotective mothers. "Alfred, we are going to stay here and run the colonies per orders of your brother. We hope to see you soon." George commented as Alfred held them to him tightly.
"I don't want to go yet." The young nation pleaded with his brother. "I want to stay and run the country with them!" Arthur was forced to take caution with the boy. One wrong line could have him running into the woods only for Arthur to send another man hunt after him.
"Alfred, I already told you that you are to come home with me. We will be back soon for diplomatic reasons." Alfred stood up and stopped hugging them.
"So I'll come back?" Alfred looked hopeful. Arthur did not want to say that the king may not let him leave England in order to see them.
"Maybe." He responded, hoping it was not too wrong of an answer.
"Maybe?" Shit. "What do you mean maybe? There's a chance I may not see them again?"
"Well-" Arthur started until George piped up, even if he was soft spoken, to help Arthur. He sensed the tension and the wary in Arthur's words. As of now, all of them had the same goal: get Alfred on that damn ship.
"There's always a chance you will see us, Alfred. I may come to England with Jefferson and Hamilton in order to meet with the king and your brother." Alfred seemed to calm down. The maelstrom had been diverted thanks to General Washington.
"I think it is time for us to go, Alfred. We will see them soon. If there is anyone you forgot to say goodbye to, I will send for them to come to England." Arthur suggested. Their plan was working perfectly.
He nodded and hugged them all again before he boarded the ship again. Low tide was about to come and they needed to sail away. Arthur tipped his hat to the gentlemen and gave a small thank you before quickly following the boy onto the ship. He ordered the board to be lifted and the sails to be dropped as he and Alfred moved to the wheel and steered towards London. Alfred stood at the edge of the boat near the wheel and watched the land fade. The crew and soldiers did not choose to even look in his general direction. "Why are you adamant about being at my side, Arthur?" He wondered.
"You honestly believe that you are completely safe on this ship? Alfred, the only true safe place is by my side. Nobody would dare hurt you while I am around. However, if you were to be alone, they may try something. I'm sorry. Not everything is going to be the same as it was 9 years ago. Many of my men have lost friends at the hands of you and they are not pleased."
Alfred teared up. Arthur asked a crew member to take over the wheel while he consoled the boy. "If it makes you feel any better, you're still my first mate!" No give. He was still on the verge of crying. He hugged the boy from behind. "Love, it is going to be hard, I know. But I promise things will get better. Come, you have not eaten all day."
The two made their way to the dining hall. They walked past glaring faces and sharpened and clean weapons laying on the tables and benches. Alfred got uncomfortable while Arthur shot looks at the men. If they so much as tried anything, there would be hell to pay.