Main Pairing: USUK

Rated T. Cardverse and Omegaverse.

I own nothing. No copyright infringement intended.

Alfred took a long bath before going down to get lunch. He felt much more refreshed and just better. Arthur had told him about Yao a few hours back. Alfred was worried. He didn't want Yao to get worse.

But as he settled down to eat, a page entered the hall with news.

"A man has appeared at the gates," he announced. "He wishes to speak with the King of Spades."

Alfred froze with a hamburger halfway to his mouth. "Me?" he said.

"Him?" Arthur echoed. He looked awfully pale, and he stuttered a bit when he spoke. "Are you sure that this man is not an assassin?"

"He claimed to know his Majesty," the page said, nodding to Alfred.

Alfred didn't know anyone in Cards.

"I suppose I could take a look," Alfred said. "Where is he?"

"Should I bring him in?" the page requested.

"Sure," Alfred said.

"Alfred, consider this," Arthur pleaded. "That man could be trying to hurt you. You do not know how to defend yourself!"

"I could learn," Alfred said, slightly defensively. "In fact, I probably should learn, if war is coming."

Arthur shook his head. "I do not think you should see him."

Something was off with him...

"Arthur, do you know who this man is?"

"What?" Arthur spluttered, his face going, if possible, even paler. "How could I? I have no idea who is coming."

Arthur definitely knew who was coming.

"You're lying to me," Alfred decided.

"Alfred," Arthur begged. "I -"

The door opened wide again, and the page entered. "Your guest," he announced. The man walked into the large room, tentatively, hunching his shoulders as though he wanted to melt into a little puddle.

"Matthew!" Alfred screamed. He jumped to his feet lightning fast and was over to his brother in a heartbeat. He grabbed Matthew's face in his hands, light blonde hair cascading over his fingers. "Matthew - Matthew!"

"Alfred," Matthew whispered, and then he was a sobbing mess, hugging Alfred tightly. "God, at last I've found you. Alfie -"

"Mattie, Mattie, how did you get here?" Alfred stroked his Matthew's hair, taking in every single inch of the brother he'd missed so much.

"I followed you," he cried, his voice still as soft as Alfred remembered. But now there was something different about him - his presence came with a velvety soft scent that made Alfred think of warm sweaters in winter and warm, sticky syrup. And it fit so perfectly with his brother that the dam finally broke and a tear slipped down Alfred's face.

"What do you mean?" Alfred said, sniffing.

"I followed you," he said. "I flew over to see you, to surprise you, and I found you in the church. I was going to jump out and scare you, but you went through that door and when I followed you through, I blacked out. And when I woke up I was in a dungeon and Ivan was so terrifying and everyone was so overwhelming and I barely got out."

"You were Ivan's prisoner?" Alfred asked, a dangerous tone entering his voice.

"Yes," Matthew said. "But one of my guards helped me escape and I stayed in Diamonds and then Francis got me here."

Arthur, forgotten until now, gasped. "You were the package!" he cried. "That's why it was in Alfred's best interest to take it - I mean, you..."

Matthew nodded.

"So..." Arthur said. "You two..."

Alfred caught Arthur's look. "Mattie is my brother," he said. "We're twins."

"Oh," Arthur said, looking mildly relieved. "Yes, I can see how you look alike. You look nearly exactly alike. I just wasn't sure..."

Matthew caught on to what Arthur had been thinking and flushed red. His eyes closed as he waved his hands back and forth, a habit for when he was embarrassed. He rambled on softly about the mistake but Alfred tuned him out. He grabbed Arthur's hand and pulled him over to Matthew.

"Matthew, this is Arthur, the Queen of Spades," Alfred introduced. "Arthur, Mattie."

"Hello," Matthew said, smiling nervously. "It's nice to meet you."

Arthur nodded. "And... you as well."

Alfred could sense the tension. Matthew was nervous and scared, Arthur was uncomfortable. He needed to do something.

"Guess what Mattie?" Alfred asked, slinging an arm around his brother's shoulders and nearly knocking his glasses off. "Oops - sorry. But guess what? I managed to bring hamburgers into fashion here,"

"Oh, Alfie," Matthew sighed. "I suppose you didn't recreate maple syrup, either."

"Oh, sorry, bro. I'll do that next."

"I guess you're a hero now," Matthew said. "You're changing the world just like you always wanted to. Even if it's not our world."

Alfred laughed. "I missed you," he said. "I was worried that you'd be worried about me. Are you okay?"

Matthew shrugged. "I could be better."

Alfred smiled sadly. "Don't worry. We'll go home when the war is over."

Matthew nodded, and Alfred didn't notice Arthur slip through the door.

That night, Alfred heard a cry coming from Yao's study. Knowing Yao, he had probably gotten up on his own and gone to his study, and then hurt himself or worse. So Alfred crashed into Arthur on the way to the room, both of them losing their balance for a moment but continuing on.

Yao was standing over his desk and didn't look severely injured in any way, shape, or form. But he turned to the two as they entered, holding a folded piece of parchment, eyes wide with a mix of terror and hope. It was an odd combination.

"Arthur, I have just found this letter..." he said. "You need to read it."

He handed the letter to Arthur and Alfred stood on his toes, looking over his shoulder:

Do not worry. I will rescue you once I have enough strength, da?

- Ivan

"What does this mean?" Arthur said.

"I do not know," Yao replied. "But it might have something to do with this war."

Alfred spent more time with Matthew in the following days, but that didn't mean he was unaware of everything that was happening around him. Diamonds was drawing into itself just as Clubs had, and trouble was growing within it. Word of villages and towns being taken over by the Clubs' military force quickly spread throughout Cards. Diamonds was becoming a huge prison camp.

Alfred and Matthew trained hard every day with Benjamin, and Jett, two men that led Spades' armies. They discovered right away that Alfred had brute force but was lousy with a sword. He was a fair shot with a bow and had all of the power and strength needed for a good one. Matthew, on the other hand, worked better with a number of daggers concealed on his body, favoring strategy and avoidance tactics over direct strength. He also was decent with a bow, but instead of a normal one, he seemed to like working with the longbow more. Matthew's biggest problem was that he was affected terribly by the alpha pheromones and became weak and overpowered quickly. He often needed to train individually with Benjamin, who was an omega. Alfred was spontaneous, and not much could throw him off, but he always forgot to protect his left side.

Sometimes Arthur came down to watch Alfred train, but he always ended up leaving fairly quickly. After a while, he stopped coming. Alfred couldn't help but feel like they were growing apart.

One afternoon, when Alfred and Matthew were resting together after a long batch of training, Matthew said something that surprised Alfred.

"Even with you here I feel so lonely," Matthew said. "I don't understand why. It's like a part of me aches for something, but I don't know what..."

Alfred didn't know what to say.

Matthew turned to him. "Have you ever felt like that?"

Alfred thought.

He shook his head.

Matthew turned back to look over the town below them. The hill curved down somewhat steeply.

"I think Arthur feels it too," Matthew said. "I've noticed the same look in his eyes that I've seen in my own. The mirrors here aren't very common are they?"

Alfred shook his head. "Maybe you should ask Arthur what it is."

"I - I don't think he like me very much," Matthew whispered.

"Why not?" Alfred asked, scooting closer. Matthew scooted away.

"Sorry," he said. "It's kind of overwhelming, even when you're my brother. But... I think he's jealous. You two were kinda close, right?"

Alfred nodded.

"I think he doesn't like me," Matthew said. "Because I took you from him. And we're going to leave. And he doesn't want you to leave."

"You're smart, Mattie," Alfred said, a little surprised. "How do you know all that? You've barely met him."

Matthew shrugged. "I just know. Intuition, I guess."

"The sixth sense," Alfred teased. "Did I mention that I met ghosts here?"

"Did you scream?"

"What? No! They weren't even ghosts, anyways..."

Alfred was pretty sure that Matthew was right. So he went to Arthur one afternoon after training instead of hanging out with his brother. When he found his Queen, he was at his desk. Reading. Coughing.

"Hey," Alfred said. Arthur jumped and looked up, startled.

"Hello," he said. His voice was nearly as cool as it had been when Alfred had first met him. But his eyes were different - his eyes were desperate. And his cheeks were flushed.

"I'm sorry that I haven't really seen much of you lately -"

Arthur stood, cutting him off. "Shut up. Just shut up," he muttered. Alfred shut up. The silence was choking him.

Arthur took a deep breath. And coughed again. "I..." there was a noticeable shake in his voice. "Bollocks, I..."

"You don't have to say anything," Alfred said.

"You have no idea," Arthur continued anyways. "How bloody terrible it feels... I was so buggin' lonely..."

Suddenly, it all clicked. Loneliness. The cough Arthur had. The couple of soft, half coughs Matthew had let out in the past few days, as if he wanted to cough but couldn't quite do it.

"I've been neglecting you," Alfred realized. "I'm so sorry."

"It is not horrible," Arthur said. "It could be worse."

"Come here," Alfred said. He drew Arthur into a hug, caressing the back of his head. And it felt so perfect.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"It is okay."

"It's not okay."

"It is okay."

After a moment, Alfred decided to ask Arthur about Matthew. "I think Matthew's bonded with someone. He doesn't know anything about bonding. But he's getting a cough like you. And just yesterday he was asking me if I'd ever felt lonely."

"It is obviously not someone from Spades," Arthur said, pulling back. "It would have to be someone he's close with, and he would see them everyday if they were in Spades."

"When he first got here, he mentioned a guard that got him out of Clubs," Alfred remembered. "Could that be the one?"

"That would be bad," Arthur said, wincing. "We are no longer friendly with Clubs. There would be no way for them to see each other."

Alfred grimaced. "That would be bad."

"Speaking of Clubs," Arthur said. "About the note that Yao found..."

"Did you figure out what it means yet?" Alfred asked instantly. Even that information could be huge.

"I have a thought." Arthur said. "I was thinking... Ivan knows that Spades has power. It's our signature. What if he attacked Diamonds to get more manpower so that he could safely take us on? I don't think we'd be able to win against two countries."

"That," Alfred said. "Is a terrible thought. Thank you, Mister Sunshine."

"Do you think it is possible?" Arthur asked.

"Are you really asking me?" Alfred replied.

"Yes."

Alfred thought about it. "It's possible."

Arthur exhaled. "If that is what's really going on, we are in big trouble."

"Yeah," Alfred said. "Pretty much."

The two were silent for a moment. Alfred slipped his hands into Arthur's slowly, carefully. Arthur pretended not to notice. Alfred accepted it. He knew it was the only way he would be able to do this.

And then the news came. They heard it shouted, heard it whispered by unbelieving lips. Diamonds had launched a fleet of battleships, along with a couple of Clubs', and they were heading straight toward Hearts.

"I was certain they would attack us first," Arthur whispered. "Why Hearts? Poor Feliciano... I hope Ludwig has a plan..."

As it turned out, Ludwig did have a plan. He sent dozens of ships stuffed with Hearts citizens, Feliciano and Kiku included, to take refuge in Spades. Ludwig alone stayed behind to fight. He was the admiral of his own army. When Kiku and Feli arrived, Feliciano was crying.

Alfred, Arthur, Matthew, Kiku, and Feliciano spent a lot of time together over the following weeks as Diamonds and Hearts waged war. Occasionally, Yao joined them as well. Feliciano needed lots of support in the absence of Ludwig. The two had bonded incredibly strongly, though Ludwig had refrained from getting too close to him. Feliciano was terrified that Ludwig would be killed. Alfred was afraid that Ivan would turn both Hearts and Diamonds on Spades. Everyone was tense.

Word came from Ludwig. He told them that things were going well but that Diamonds were acting suspiciously. They were pulling back.

Alfred was worried that Diamonds was falling back because they were going to attack Spades.

He was right.

Clubs arrived first. They cut off Spades' port. When Diamonds arrived, Arthur started preparing for a counterattack. But the navy didn't attack. They simply stayed there. Waiting.

On the fifth day, Alfred began to suspect an ulterior motive. On the sixth, he told Arthur about his suspicions. Arthur agreed. "It is strange that all they do is sit and block our passage."

"Are they trying to stem our supply of food?" Alfred asked.

Arthur frowned. "They'll run out of food faster than we will. And they'll have to come ashore eventually."

On the seventh day, the little group of friends met up again, and Alfred smelled it immediately. Kiku's scent had changed drastically. Even more than Arthur's had when they had bonded. There was a particular part of his aroma that was completely new. He knew that the others had noticed it too. But before anyone could ask, Kiku told them himself.

"There is no point in hiding it," he said, smiling softly. "I have found a mate."

"Who?" Feliciano asked immediately. Kiku started telling them about a servant he had met in Spades one named Heracles (who coincidentally was a servant at his own castle that he'd never met before coming to Spades). Alfred looked over to his brother. He recognized the look on his face instantly. Matthew was jealous.

He still hadn't talked to Matthew about bonds. He doubted that Matthew even knew who he had bonded with. But the effect was obvious. Matthew had started out with a rattling cough, and eventually that had faded away to the period he was currently in: large temperature swings. He could freezing one moment and burning up the next. He was quieter than usual (which was saying quite a lot) and a bit slower with his reflexes. His strategies in battle training weren't working as well without his speed. Alfred was worried. Judging by how long Yao had lasted so far, Matthew still had plenty of time, but Alfred was scared. He didn't want his brother to die.

If they got back to Earth, would the sickness go away?

If they got back to Earth, Arthur could die.

What if they brought Arthur with?

Then Spades would be crippled.

There was no good solution.

If Matthew went back and Alfred stayed, they might never see each other again.

Alfred didn't know what to do.

At least Yao didn't seem to be getting too much worse. He was just constantly tired.

The eighth day. Alfred was woken in the middle of the night to shouts coming from down the hall. He hurried out in his nightshirt to find a small group of people gathered outside of Kiku's room, trying to get in.

"Look out," Alfred called. "I have a master key." he had grabbed it from his locked drawer in case of emergency. He quickly opened Kiku's door, his hand fumbling with urgency. Inside, Kiku was standing over a body. He looked up, covered in blood.

"He is an assassin," Kiku said. "He snuck in and tried to kill me. He is from Clubs."

"What?" Alfred said. A moment later, Arthur entered the room, a grim look on his face.

"It looks like you were right, Alfred," he said. "They never moved from the port, but somehow this one managed to get on shore. Maybe even more enemies are here. We should get the body."

Kiku moved to block them. "He is not dead," he said. "I did not wound him in fatal places. I left him alive for questioning."

"Smart," Arthur said. "Once Ivan figured out that you and Feliciano came here, he probably left Hearts to find you. Maybe he wants to take out what he feels to be the strongest quarter of the Royal Court."

"Arthur!" Alfred cried. "If Ivan wants to take out the Royal Court - I know Feliciano's new, but if Ivan knew that he and Ludwig had bonded -"

Arthur paled. "Oh, bollocks," he whispered.

"Let me through," Kiku said. He ran off to Feliciano's room, Alfred close behind. He could hear Arthur's breaths behind him.

"Feliciano!" Kiku called. "Feli, are you there?"

There was no response.

"Here," Alfred said, frantically trying to fit the key in the lock. After a moment, Arthur's steady hands enveloped his and took the key, inserting it into the lock. They burst through the door.

Feliciano was lying on the bed. The sheets were all tangled around him. Kiku approached him quickly.

"Feliciano?" he asked. "He does not look hurt, but he could be poisoned," Kiku called back.

"Is he breathing?"

"Ve?" Feliciano made a small noise, stirring. He opened his eyes.

"Feliciano. Are you alright?"

He looked up, confused. "Yes, of course, I - Kiku! You're covered in blood! What's happened? What -"

"Someone attempted to take my life," Kiku cut in. "So as soon as we realized that you might be in danger, we ran here. You may not be safe."

"Feliciano should stay with Kiku tonight," Arthur said. "So that you can protect him, and yourself. I will post a guard outside of your chambers. Other important members of Hearts should also gather together and be protected."

Alfred shuddered. "This is so nerve-wracking."

"Your Highness," Kiku said. "Should you not also have a guard?"

"Alfred will protect me," he said, nodding at Alfred. Alfred was surprised and filled with a sudden warmth. It felt so right to hear Arthur say that. He was right. Alfred would protect Arthur from everything.

"Arthur, I -"

"Shh. Don't, Alfred. Everyone, let's go. Keep an eye out for murderous lurkers in the hallway."

Alfred followed Arthur back to his rooms. "Are you sure that we don't need a guard?"

Arthur looked at Alfred. "Are you saying that you will not protect me?"

"No," Alfred growled immediately. "I will always - I just don't know if I'm strong enough to beat an assassin on my own."

"Alfred," Arthur said, coming closer. Alfred didn't back up, not even when Arthur's clear green eyes were close enough that he could see the depth of them. "You have been training hard. I know. I trust you. Please do not mock or undermine that. I don't give trust easily."

Alfred looked down. "I know. I'm not trying to mock you. I want to make sure you're safe. Even if that means admitting I need help."

"You will be fine," Arthur said. "Besides, I doubt that we will be attacked."

"Why?"

Arthur shrugged. "They are probably going after Hearts."

"Is Yao safe?"

Arthur shook his head. "I'm sure he's fine with Li Xiao."

Alfred didn't know what to say after that. He stood, somewhat awkwardly, looking around, as Arthur climbed back under his covers. He looked back to see Alfred still standing there.

"Are you going to stand there all night or are you going to sleep?" he said.

Alfred shrugged. "I don't know where your extra blankets are," he said lamely.

Arthur scoffed. "Oh, please."

"What?" Alfred asked, trying to avoid saying the actual words. "I don't."

"Just bloody come here," Arthur said grumpily, looking away. Alfred smiled. "I made you say it," he teased.

"Do not make me change my mind," Arthur said, still not looking at him. Alfred giggled.

"You know," he said as he climbed into the bed. "If I could, right now I would be kissing your cheek and your neck and everywhere until I made you smile again. And then I'd keep going until you were laughing and trying to push me away. But I wouldn't let you, I'd just grab you and hug you and eventually you'd give up trying to be grumpy."

Arthur's face softened a bit. "Well I suppose it is a good thing that you cannot, then."

Alfred smiled and lay back on the bed. It was the best sleep he'd had in a week, no longer restless and shallow.

He woke up with his arms and legs tangled in Arthur's. And Arthur's sleepy eyes opened, and he didn't pull away. They slept lightly for another hour, dozing off, falling in and out of consciousness. At one point, Arthur cuddled up against Arthur's chest, thinking Alfred was asleep, perhaps. Alfred was content beyond words.

Until they had to get up and go down to lunch.