Arrogance & Ignorance Chapter 6: Pasts and Pains, a hetalia - axis powers fanfic

|[ EDIT, PLEASE READ: Sorry for no update, the summer has been hectic the past few weeks and it's looking to not be clear for a while. To put off anyone's expectations and to keep everyone updated, I am putting this story on HIATUS until schools starts and I can get on a normal schedule. I DO NOT WANT TO ABANDON THIS STORY AND WILL TRY MY BEST TO CONTINUE IT. I should start it up again in September 2016. Thanks for understanding. Until next time! ]|

After Arthur fell asleep and Alfred found himself alone. He stared blankly until a fly buzzed around his face drawing his attention and that's when he finally took notice to the stench. The bodies were beginning to rot. He pulled himself up and took the rest of the day attempting to moves the bodies away from their area, stacking them in piles a little ways off and collecting supplies off them while he was at it. The stench was murderous and the flies made him want to puke but since Arthur was too sick to be moved these bodies had to be.

It was growing dark by the time Arthur stirred.

Alfred was cooking something he caught from one of the traps he set when he heard a moan and looked over to see Arthur moving. He abandoned his fire and went over to feel Arthur's forehead. He let out a breath of relief. It was cooler now. If he was waking up this was a good sign. Arthur groaned and opened his eyes shuffling to half sit up in a haze.

"Here." Alfred said pulling over a canteen and putting it to Arthur's lips. "Water."

Arthur coughed but began drinking, pulling the canteen closer and taking it on his own. He finished pulling it away, seeming much clearer headed.

"Well," he said in a raspy voice as he sat up completely. "That herb must have done something right."

"I got more, you'll have to keep taking it until you're better."

Arthur chucked weakly.

"What?" Alfred said.

"It just that it's strange seeing you so eager to help. You seemed so hellbent on killing me not so long ago."

"Well," Alfred said, "Now I have a need for you. But that doesn't mean I think any more highly of you. You're still a redcoat." I'm still planning on killing you, his mind supplied but was quickly followed by a pang of guilt. He brushed it off quickly.

"Ah yes a redcoat, nasty evil redcoats. Not that it would even matter much if you still wanted to kill me. If you wanted to, you could do it."

Alfred ignored that. "You have no idea what you redcoats do." Alfred hissed, bitterness growing again.

"How would you know what I do? How would you know what I've done? You don't know me."

"I don't need to. You're on their side."

"You know I had a life back before all this!"

"Yeah. Well. I'm sorry if my freedom inconvenienced you." He said with contempt. "We all have problems."

Alfred walked back over to where the meat was cooking, possibly a raccoon or a 'possum. He cut off a piece and gave it to Arthur. Arthur took it graciously but only picked at it slowly. His appetite must not have come back. He'd still need a day or two. Alfred on the other hand gobbled it down hungrily. The sun set and the growing twilight set in. The light from the fire illuminated their faces.

After a long silence of Arthur halfhearted picking at his food he finally gave up. "Do you have a family then?" He asked.

"Why do you care?" Alfred hissed.

"Sorry I thought of having a polite conversation." Arthur said matter of factly but his eyes conveyed something different, something more calculative. "So do you? Have a family?"

Alfred clenched his jaw. "Yes." he said but he dropped it there.

"I heard you mention you have a brother?"

Alfred's fist clenched, knuckles turning white. Arthur didn't seem to notice.

"Is he in the military too-?"

"Yes!" Alfred slammed his fist on the ground. "Yes he is! But he's on the wrong side." Alfred shouted through clenched teeth. "He's on your side. He's in your army. I told him not to go but he did. And now he's fighting against us! He's my brother! He should be here with me!" Alfred finished, panting.

Arthur's eyes were hard for a minute but they softened. "I'm sorry." was all he could think to say.

"Yeah. Yeah you say that when your only family betrays you." Alfred said bitterly.

"I'm sure he didn't mean-"

"You don't know anything!"

Arthur was quiet again. "You're right. I was never close with my family."

"Will you just shut up?" Alfred snapped, turning away and fussing with the supplies. He brought out a can and filled it with water and put it over the fire to prepare the medicine from the herb he collected.

Arthur watched him, it was dark now. A slight breeze blew and he caught a wiff of the stench of rotting corpses. His nose wrinkled. Dear god, how long was he to stay in this? He looked out over the hills again, he couldn't see far in the darkness now but he knew the bodies were out there, bloating, being infested by maggots, scavenged by wild beasts by now, rotting and turning to jelly. He looked back to Alfred who was amongst all these thoughts. He was staring resolutely at his brew, ignoring the other the best he could.

"Why are you here?" Arthur asked.

Alfred looked up irritatedly. "I'm here because I got bashed in the head and left for dead, why do you think!"

"No," Arthur shook his head. "I mean why are you here."

Alfred's eyes burrowed in agitation. "I'm here because I want to fight for my liberty. I'm tired of being pushed under your thumb, of being stolen from, of being suppressed. My family was dirt poor, all we could afford to grow were cash crops and you can't eat those. You think we could afford another tax? I'm tired of you like everyone else. Why the fuck are you here?" Alfred said accusingly.

Arthur sighed but kept his gaze. "I'm here because I'm a soldier. I was drafted. I should be in England. I should be apprenticing to be a doctor. But now I'm here. And if this is what I'm to do than I might as well do it. It's my job. That's why I'm here."

Alfred's anger faded into thought but he redirected his attention onto the medicine before he could go deeper. He brought it off the fire and waited for it to cool before handing it to Arthur. Arthur was fading back into another sleep but woke himself up to drink. They stayed in silence but after Arthur was done he almost immediately fell back to sleep. Alfred noticed the half-eaten meat forgotten by his side. He shrugged and picked it up bringing it back to his spot by the campfire and sat back, munching on it thoughtfully.

The soldier had been right earlier, Alfred had every means to kill him, if he wanted to, he could do it easily. But it wasn't about wanting Alfred reminded himself. He needed Arthur no matter how much he didn't like it. But still, he could threaten him like he said he would, and then he wouldn't need him anymore. He could kill him because he wanted to. Didn't he? One less man is one step closer to his freedom, he reminded himself. But… then again, he was only one man. What was one man in the grand scheme of war?

What was he thinking? He wanted to kill him. Right?

Right?

The thought struck him like a punch, hard and honest. I don't think I can, he thought in what was almost disbelief.

This one was a little late. Excuses, excuses, but I had some house problems going on and that vacation really got my schedule all out of whack.

This story is in no way historically accurate for a few major reasons, just thought I'd put that out there. I could have tried to keep it historically accurate but that was pretty much thrown out the window even on the first chapter, besides, I think the story flows better when I don't have to worry about little details.

Anyways! Hope you enjoyed it. See you next time!