Main Pairing: USUK

Rated M for later stuff. Cardverse and Omegaverse.

I own nothing. No copyright infringement intended.

Velonica999: Thank you for the review, first of all! I do intend to go back and rewrite the beginning. When I started this fanfiction, I wasn't sure exactly how to get Alfred to Spades so I took influences from another fic just to get me started off, but now I believe I know what I'm going to do with it. So when I finish this fic I'll fix that. Thank you for the kind words! And the hamburger scene was really fun to write. I hope you continue reading! There will be more coming. I'm not finished yet!

Biff3r: Ahhhh I'm glad you like it! I was afraid that people would get to that part and be like wtf this is so stupid I'm out but I guess you like it! Thank you!

When Arthur told Alfred that he had to leave, he was crushed.

He wasn't even sure if he wanted to leave anymore... and what would happen to Arthur? But two days later, word came from Clubs. Roderich had found the door. And they were willing to let Alfred and Matthew go through, as long as they came unarmed and unaccompanied. Alfred would have to say goodbye to Arthur in Spades.

When he did say goodbye, it was hard. Alfred didn't want to say goodbye. Arthur wouldn't look at him until the end. Alfred wanted to kiss him so bad, but he refrained from doing so. Arthur would hate him forever.

It hurt to think about it. As Alfred looked out over the waves, back to Spades' shore, he imagined that Arthur was there, watching him leave. He blinked tears out of his eyes that blew away with the wind and sea-spray.

Matthew and him walked silently together up the long hills to Clubs' castle. They reached the mountain pass as the stars came out, and stopped there for the night. They worked together to set up a fire and a safe shelter. Alfred pretended not to notice as Matthew softly cried himself to sleep.

Alfred didn't sleep so easily as his brother.

He stayed up for a while, examining the stars up above him. They were different from Earth's. The galaxies were clear. There was no pollution to block out the beauty. The light was a beautiful blue falling down onto them. Alfred couldn't help but think about how Arthur had probably memorized the names of every constellation and all of the important stars and the stories behind them. He probably even knew that the cousin of the guy that had named one of them was a drunkard that once created a very inappropriate poem and ran around at three in the morning screaming it at the top of his lungs.

Alfred laughed, but it was without heart. It was almost more of a cough than a laugh.

The next morning, Matthew had to shake Alfred awake. They packed up somewhat groggily and started into the mountain pass. The cliffs were high around them, shading them from the sun. The ground was hard rock with some sparse grasses here and there. Once, a strange birdlike animal crossed their path, scrounging for some food.

After a while, Alfred noticed a change in their surroundings. The ground beneath their feet was becoming more wet, the plants became greener and more varied. Soon, a little stream was running beside their feet. The sound of water trickling between what became river rocks soothed Alfred.

The valley opened up and the stream extended into a river, then a lake. Small waterfalls trickled down from the cliffs, probably runoff from the mountains.

The castle was in the middle of a wet marsh, with raised rows of dryer ground wiring all over. Flowers were everywhere. The most common one surprised Alfred. He hadn't expected to see sunflowers in Cards.

Clubs was gorgeous.

The outside of the castle walls were all made of some type of reflective material. Comparing the blurred mix of bright colors on the castle walls to Spades' stony fortress, Clubs' castle was positively cheerful.

A man with dark brown hair and glasses greeted them. He led them through the castle, past inquisitive servants, and up to a secluded chamber. Alfred then saw the same doors that had sent him to Cards in the first place. As he examined them, Matthew hugged the unfamiliar Jack. He must've been really emotional.

This is it, he thought.

Alfred took Matthew's hand. "We'll go through together, so we don't get separated." Matthew simply nodded, avoiding his brother's eyes.

"Good luck," the man said. Alfred nodded at him, sending a quick smile in his direction.

"Send my best to Arthur," he said.

"And mine to Francis," Matthew said immediately.

Alfred reached out, his fingers sliding over the grooves in the wood. He pushed the door open and the two slipped through.

That was when everything went black.

When Alfred woke up, he was groggy and dazed. He couldn't process very well. His mind was stuck in a loop, going through the same sentence over and over again, unable to get past it.

I have to remember the maple syrup.

Maple syrup. Maple syrup. Alfred didn't know why it was important. But when the face descended over him, speaking in slow tones, vibrating in his ear, all Alfred could say was, "Maple syrup."

Soft laughter entered his ears, his brain starting to catch up with his surroundings. He groaned. Maple syrup. Alfred would never hear the end of that from Matthew...

Matthew. Where was Matthew? Alfred opened his eyes once again, unaware that they had fallen shut. Matthew was there, soft yellow waves falling into his face. Yellow... Yellow made him think of sunflowers...

Alfred shot up with a scream. Immediately everyone in the room was all over him, trying to get him back down, trying to make him relax. Alfred refused to. He fought back, punching arms and kicking legs. He connected with someone's face and they recoiled. Suddenly, a stinging pain entered one of his arms. Alfred stopped moving, looked down. There was a needle in his arms. Alfred hated needles...

The second time he woke, it was quicker. And quieter. He was the only one in the room. There was a scrap of paper lying on his arm.

Alfie - I went out to change and grab a soda. I'll be back soon, please don't worry. I promise I'll explain what happened as soon as I come back. Please, you can trust the doctors and the nurses. They won't hurt you. I love you.

Mattie

Alfred blinked. He wanted Matthew right now. His heart hurt and his head hurt too and he wanted his brother.

He took all of the disgusting needles out of his body and tried to get up, but he ended up flopping over and rolling off of the bed. He landed on his knees and got up again, leaning heavily on the bed next to him. When he got to the hallway, it was empty. White. Grey. Lonely. Alfred continued his search for his brother. Was the hallway supposed to be spinning around?

He fell to his knees, legs unsteady. He had to find Matthew - where was he? Where was he?

The third time he woke, he wasn't out of it anymore.

Matthew was with him this time. Just Matthew.

"Alfie," he said immediately, getting to his feet. "How are you?"

Alfred shook his head. "I'm alright, I guess."

"I'm so sorry that I wasn't there for you last time," he said. "I left you a note..."

"I read it," Alfred assured him. "I wasn't thinking straight."

"You never think straight," Matthew joked. "You think gay. So gay."

"So true," Alfred said. "'Cept not. So bi."

"Sorry," Matthew said.

"Yeah."

"Are you okay?"

"What happened to me?"

Matthew hesitated before answering. "Well, um, when we... when we went through the door, we kind of fell. The room was spinning and I felt a little dizzy. When I looked back up, you were on the ground. I had thought that you fell because you were dizzy too, but your eyes were closed - then I thought you hit your head. But you kept not waking up. I ran out and your Professor and everyone were still there. Alfred, I don't think that barely any time passed while we were gone. I had left you outside that staircase, you know? But anyways we came back to get you and then we brought you to the hospital."

"Oh," Alfred said. He looked around. No windows. That sucked. "So how long have I been out of it?"

Matthew looked down, twisting the hem of his sweatshirt. "Um. Well. A few weeks," he said, quieter than before.

"A few weeks?" Alfred cried. "What? How -"

"I have a theory," he continued softly. "When I first arrived in... in Spades, I blacked out too. For a couple of weeks. Were you dizzy when you first got there?"

"Yeah."

"Then that's probably it. This time we just switched. And you probably were out of it for longer because of all of the drugs they were giving you."

"Where are we?"

"In a hospital. In London."

"How are we supposed to get home?"

"Your Professor agreed to pay for the trip back. All I have to do is call her."

"Wow," Alfred said. "My professor is the greatest."

"She's nice." Matthew said. Then he coughed.

He coughed.

"Mattie!" Alfred cried. "You're not -"

Matthew looked up, startled. "What?"

"You're coughing," Alfred said lamely.

"Oh," he said. "Don't worry. I just swallowed wrong." Alfred took a deep breath, relieved.

The only smell that filled his nose was stale hospital air.

"I can't remember what he smelled like," Alfred said. Matthew met his eyes.

"Me either."

Alfred wasn't used to being on a plane. He had only traveled on a ship three times in Cards, but it was enough. Flying took less time. And there was less swaying.

Matthew had taken a different flight - back to his home with their mother in Canada. They had said goodbye in the airport. Matthew cried. Alfred didn't. He felt parched dry of tears. He promised Mattie that they'd see each other again soon. For certain this time.

His small apartment. Too small. It felt so lonely...

Alfred went back to his first class since getting back. Professor Violet asked him a question, one to remind the rest of the class of his once hilarious answer. It was like an inside joke. They all waited, expecting his cheeky grin and sarcastic response. Alfred took a deep breath, searched his head for the answer. All that came to mind was the name of Spades' fifth king.

He looked away, face burning.

Alfred used to be the life of the class. History was interesting, easy. Now he couldn't keep it in his head. It slipped away like water. The only things that stuck were from Cards.

Professor Violet kept him after class on the fourth day.

"Alfred, did something happen in England? If this keeps up you could fail my class."

"I'm sorry," he said. He couldn't say anything else.

"Do you want to talk about what's wrong?"

Alfred shook his head. "I don't think I should take this class anymore."

"But Alfred, you've always done so well -"

"That was before," he said. He felt bad for interrupting her, but he didn't apologize. "Now I don't think I should take it anymore."

Professor Violet was quiet for a while.

"Why don't you stick with it," she said. "Just until the end of the year. Then we can talk about if you want to register again in the fall or not."

Alfred didn't answer. He didn't know if he could even handle that.

"Thank you for the plane tickets," he said, standing. "And the hospital bills. You didn't have to do that."

"Take care of yourself, Alfred," she said as he left.

His apartment was too clean. It was almost like he didn't even live there anymore. Too many times, Alfred found himself staring at the walls. Pacing around, unsure of what he was just going to do. He didn't get much sleep anymore.

A month after his return home, he got a voice mail. From his mother.

His mother never called.

"Hello, Alfred." It said. "It's Laura. I know we haven't spoken much for the past few years..."

At all, Alfred thought.

"But... I'm sorry. There's a reason I'm calling. I thought you might want to know. Matthew's in the hospital. He..." Laura took in a deep, shaky breath. "He's really sick..."

Alfred was online before he even knew it, ordering the soonest ticket possible to Matthew. He grabbed a backpack, stuffed in his phone, clothes, food.

And for the second time, he was on a plane.

Matthew was sleeping when Alfred got there. His eyes were red rimmed. One of his wrists was wrapped in a white bandage.

"Oh, Mattie..." Alfred said. Apparently Matthew wasn't as asleep as he'd seemed. He opened his eyes. The words tumbled out of his mouth.

"Alfie I don't know what's wrong with me but my wrist was itching like crazy and i just felt so itchy everywhere and I just... -"

"Matthew, stop." Alfred commanded. "It's okay. As long as you don't do it again, it's okay."

"I'm sick, Alfie," he whispered. "They don't know what's wrong with me. But my cough came back. And now I'm cold and I was burning up before and it's bad."

"Oh..." Alfred said. "Oh, Mattie..."

It looked like the process was speeding up back on Earth. What had taken weeks for Arthur to develop back in Spades had passed Matthew by in a few days.

Neither of them spoke. They just looked into each others' eyes, a fresh bout of tears slipping down Matthew's cheeks.

"Where is Laura?" Alfred asked.

"She thought you probably wouldn't want to see her. She's not here."

Alfred looked down. "Who cares if I didn't want to see her. She shouldn't have left you alone."

"Alfred -"

"She just keeps making the wrong choices. It's not helping me like her."

Matthew looked down, scratching absentmindedly at his wrist. "You have to remember that she can't make the choices you would want her to without ever seeing you. She doesn't know what you like."

Alfred shrugged. "Are you doing well?"

Matthew nodded. "Better. They're letting me go in a couple of hours. And they're moderating my use of sharp objects. They want me to live with supervision for a while. Besides Mom. She isn't always home. I was thinking, maybe..."

Matthew trailed off, looking hopefully up at his brother. Alfred smiled.

"You want to come live with me?" he asked. Matthew nodded.

"If it isn't too much of a problem -"

"It's no problem at all," Alfred said. "I'd like for my bro to come hang out for a while. We can watch scary movies."

"You'll have nightmares," Matthew reminded him.

"I will not," Alfred said airily. Matthew chuckled.

Matthew wasn't chuckling when he walked into Alfred's apartment.

"It's so clean," he said, looking around. "I've never seen it this clean in all the time you've had it. Even when it was empty it didn't look this clean."

"Oh," Alfred said. "Yeah. Um..."

Matthew set himself up in a corner of the living room. He, as usual, made himself a nest. Alfred sat on his bed with the door closed and the blinds shut. He sat for a long time.

When he came out it was past midnight. Matthew was curled up in his little nest of blankets and pillows. Alfred took the quilt from the couch and settled himself next to his brother. Just like they used to do when they were kids. Alfred slept easier that night.

"What do you mean, you're quitting your history class?" Matthew said. "You love history! You've always loved history!"

Alfred rubbed the back of his neck, breathing a cloud of vapor into the cold air. "It's just not working anymore."

"What's not working?" Matthew asked. He was using his 'you're bullcrapping me' voice.

"I can't keep it straight anymore! It won't stay put in my head anymore." Alfred said, refusing to look at his brother. A light layer of snow crunched under his boots as he walked. Matthew, somehow, was walking more quietly than him.

"History has always been the easiest for you," Matthew said suspiciously.

"Fine. I'll say it. I can't remember any of our histories. I know the basic stuff. But if someone asked me which president first owned the presidential desk, all that would come up in my brain would be how the tenth queen of Spades once broke a writing desk while arm wrestling her king."

Matthew didn't say anything but a soft, "Oh." Then, "Ohhh."

Alfred held his head in his hands, plopping down onto the couch that sagged underneath him. "After all of that cramming for Spades it's all that I can remember," he said. "I don't know why."

Matthew nodded. "When I was in Clubs, I was having trouble believing and remembering everything Roderich told me. Maybe we're supposed to act as opposites with all of this."

One. Roderich. The Jack of Clubs? Since when was Matthew chummy with him? And was that why he had hugged him before they left Clubs?

Two. Opposites.

Was that really true? It made sense, certainly. Did that mean Alfred would be tortured with his extensive knowledge of Spades for the rest of his life?

That brought back the thought that Matthew wouldn't live as long as he.

Alfred had thought the omega/alpha crap would go away when they got back. And apparently some of it did, but not all of it. The bonds' effect remained. And Matthew was getting sicker, and no doctors could figure out why.

What if Alfred could send Matthew back to Cards?

He'd have a tough time telling people where his brother had gone, but if he could get Matthew back, he wouldn't die. And better yet, he knew that the door would end up in Diamonds, with Francis. It had already been in the other three countries: Hearts, then Spades, then Clubs.

It was becoming clear that no matter what, Alfred and Matthew would have to be separated.

Alfred left his history class discouraged. His grades were slipping. His classmates were noticing that something was off. To cheer himself up, he visited a local little bakery in campus.

He bought himself a donut and sat down to eat it with his notes. He had never had to take notes in history before, but now he had to decipher his frantic scribbling strewn across the page.

"What are you doing here?" A deep voice asked. Alfred looked up into the face of one of the most interesting men he had ever met. The one who was talking to him had straight blonde hair - and it was long. Alfred tired not to react, but he was startled and confused and long hair on a non-hippie like person was not helping.

"Um... Eating a donut?" Alfred said. The man didn't seem satisfied.

"Come with me," he said. He pulled Alfred away from his donut. Alfred cried out.

The man dragged Alfred out to the side of the bakery and pushed him up against the wall. Alfred kicked and struggled, trying to get away, shouting. "Please don't rape me I'm not worth it please!"

"Calm down, kid!" he hissed, covering Alfred's mouth with a firm hand. "I am not going to hurt you."

Alfred slowed down. "Oh... you're not?"

"No," the man said. "Now tell me. Why are you here?"

"I don't understand, sir, I don't know who you are or anything -"

"Why are you here, boy, here! Why did you leave your kingdom?"

Alfred gaped at the man in front of him. He knew about Cards? But how... Was he the one that had gone there sixty years ago? Arthur had mentioned something about that. Alfred examined the man. He didn't look that old...

It still hurt thinking about Arthur.

"Well?" the man pressed.

Alfred heaved a sigh. "I wasn't supposed to be the king there. It was always a temporary thing. Matthew and I just wanted to come back home."

The man looked at him with disapproving eyes. "You abandoned your country because you wanted to come back here? Tell me boy, are you happy? Did you find what you wanted here? Do not lie."

Alfred avoided his eyes. He refused to speak. The man seemed to take that as a response on it's own.

"You are not happy. How long have you been here?" he asked.

"Two months-ish," he responded quietly, mumbling the words. He pushed his glasses up as they slipped down his nose.

"You need to go back. You belong there. I don't know who this Matthew is, but I know that if the spade clocks chose you, you are from that world. It is impossible for one to become a member of the Royal Court without being born in Cards."

"What?" Alfred gasped. His head reeled. "But... I was born here, in a Mayo Hospital. I know, my dad told me -" Alfred broke off. He really didn't want to think about his dad.

"You have no memories of that time," the man countered strongly. "You do not know if he lied to you."

"Why would he -" Alfred protested. Then he paused. "You still haven't told me who you are."

"I am known by many names," the man said. "But you can call me Alaric Beilschmidt."

Alfred froze, barely breathing. "Beilschmidt."

There was a small twinkle in Alaric's eye. "I see you have met my grandson."

"Both of them... Ludwig and Gilbert are your grandsons?"

Alaric nodded. "Yes. Does that surprise you?"

Alfred blurted out without thinking. "You don't look that old."

Alaric let out a wry smile. "Yes, well. That is part of being an ace. We age slowly."

Alfred's eyes widened. "An ace? Arthur never told me anything about that."

Alaric nodded. "There are two aces. I was visiting the other one, who lives in Hearts with... well his grandsons used to live with him. However, I was visiting him when I heard of Spades' new King. I went up to the castle and I saw you, but you did not see me. I returned to Earth after a long time away. And then I saw you."

Alfred blinked.

"You must return to Spades. Trust me. If you do not, bad things may happen. I do not know how much time has passed there, but I can tell you -"

"Wait, what do you mean," Alfred interrupted. "How much time? It's been two months, hasn't it?"

Alaric glared at Alfred. "Time flows differently in different worlds, boy. That's why you need to hurry."

Alfred shook his head. "Look, sir, I'm not sure that I want to go back."

"You know what I think? I think you'd be happier here than there. Let me give you a suggestion. Give yourself a week or two to tie up loose ends, clear up regrets and such. If you do that you can leave here in peace. Bring anything you need with. It'll make it easier. But don't wait too long."

Then Alaric turned and walked away. When Alfred blinked, he was gone.

Alfred took Alaric's advice.

He didn't mean to, really - he found himself saying little goodbyes to classmates, leaving notes to professors, calls to friends he never texted back. He even sent a letter to Laura. He didn't intend to go back. Not really.

But he flew over with Matthew, and he brought a few more things than he had intended - research he had done on airplanes, and stoves, and electric lights and irrigation systems and such. More.

Matthew didn't know that Alfred wasn't going through the doors. At least, he didn't know for sure. Matthew had a strong intuition. It was very possible that he'd already figured it out. Matthew only started protesting when they reached the church. He didn't even stop walking.

"I can't leave you alone." He said.

"I can't keep you here and watch you suffer," Alfred returned harshly. He wanted to take it back the moment he said it. Matthew didn't respond. He hung his head, watching his feet as they walked.

"I'm sorry," Alfred said. Matthew stayed silent. The guilt grew in Alfred's gut.

There was no one around. They got to the doors easily. Matthew walked forward, reaching a hand out.

"Wait!" Alfred called. "I'll miss you, bro. Maybe I'll come and see you."

Matthew paused for a moment. Then, suddenly, he turned into a flurry of flying limbs and tackled Alfred. Alfred planted his foot back, trying not to fall backwards. Matthew buried his face in Alfred's neck for a moment. Just a moment. Then just as abruptly, he pulled away and pushed open the door, gripping the strap of his side bag tightly. He disappeared behind the wood.

Alfred stood alone for a moment in the stone room. The silence buzzed in his ears.

As he turned to leave, something caught his eye. The door had been left slightly ajar. On the other side, someone stood.

"Arthur?" Alfred gasped. He could barely see a sliver of Arthur through the gap. Suddenly he was so close, so entirely close - and Arthur looked so devastated, and Alfred couldn't stand the thought -

He broke into a run, pushing through the door and actually tripped on his own feet, spilling to the ground. He whipped his head up immediately, not even caring that he had embarrassed himself -

There was nobody there.

Alfred was alone.

There were windows in this room. Alfred got up, noticing that he hadn't had that spell of dizziness from before. He went to look out the window. He was high up, just like before.

But he wasn't in Spades.

He wasn't in Hearts, either.

And he knew that this wasn't the valley that Clubs was situated in.

No, this wasn't right - Matthew should be in Diamonds, not Alfred. They had planned this, it was supposed to have worked out perfectly - so why hadn't it? Why wasn't Matthew in Diamonds?

And where in Cards was he?