Chapter XV – B for Ball
Had his nonno been around, Feliciano would have been punished severely. Causing trouble, humiliating himself, making a scene and now having this scene look more and more like a scandal … had his nonno been around, the Italian would probably had gotten his life shortened by 10 years. But the reason his nonno was not around … the reason he did not get punished … the reason none of the growling Alfas around them got a chance to get in between him and Arthur … the reason Alistair turned from exasperated to sheer frustrated irritation … was probably due to the suddenly really really loud drunken shouts resonating in the ballroom by the buffet bar. That sounded a lot like Merwin and his nonno. That can't be good.
"OI! YOU FUCKING ROMAN BASTARD! WHO THE FUCK INVITED YOU?!"
"I DIDN'T KNOW SAVAGES ALSO GOT INVITED TO CIVILISED BALLS!"
"WHO'RE YOU CALLING A SAVAGE?"
"PLEASE! YOU'RE ALL JUST VIOLENT ALFA BRUTES IN YOUR PATHETIC CLAN! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'VE STILL NOT GOTTEN OFF YOUR THRONE, OLD MAN!"
"SAYS THE GRANDPA!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
"YOU DEAF AS WELL? ALL THIS COFFEE YOU DRINK MUST HAVE MADE YOUR BRAIN GO MUSH!"
"AT LEAST I DIDN'T GROW GAGA BECAUSE OF THAT FILTHY TEA!"
Have you ever seen two grown men argue like children in a school yard? What do you think happens then to make them stop?
"… Oh~ Daaaad~ …" Smooth and drop-dead scary chanting low voice resonated oppressively in the quiet room, effectively making the two arguing drunk males silence suddenly as they glanced towards the ginger haired woman.
"Bridget, sweetie, it's not what you think … uh … have you tried the Champagne?"
Bridget Kirkland, head of all the Kirkland businesses and second to her father in order of importance or status in their Clan, slowly advanced towards the two scared retreating men. If there is one thing scarier than a male Head Alfa … it's a female Head Alfa (even though it's not official, Bridget should be the Head Alfa if her father had given up on his responsibility but the old man is too stubborn for that).
"We came here to meet Mr and Mrs Wang and to get this whole ordeal over for our little Artie … and you went and got drunk?" Mrs Kirkland's smile stretched dangerously on her lips, making everyone shudder in fear.
How to stop two arguing children? Just bring over the teacher.
"I knew this would happen." Alistair groaned in irritation and he face-palmed. He glanced back at his brother only to notice how Arthur was suddenly surrounded by Alfas trying to chat him up … the Briton felt a nerve in him snap.
"Oh~ Arthuuur~"
Arthur shuddered at the oddly familiar sound his mother would use when she's angry. Sadly it wasn't his mother but his older brother. Oh god … Alistair was even worse than his mum at times. Though you can't blame him … Arthur would be angry too if random Alfas suddenly came on his little brother. Though that would surely not happen with Peter since the lad is an Alfa too.
Alfred and Ivan were hissing threats to each other while trying to grasp Arthur's attention. Gilbert was being held back by his brother Ludwig because otherwise he would have already charged at the group to get his hands on Arthur and beat up his friends. Antonio was the one to openly make moves on the blonde, under the yelling of Lovino and Yao, while Feliciano could only watch from the side-lines. No wonder Alistair is angry.
"Still popular as ever, eh Artie?" The laughing familiar voice of a familiar Dane resonated and Alistair felt a hand land on his shoulder holding back the red-hair from charging at his brother's suitors. Alistair glared acid green eyes at his friend and Matthias winked maliciously at him. Moving through the crowd around Arthur, the Dane offered his hand to the blonde, under the hateful eyes of the Spaniard who still had his own arm over Arthur's shoulders. Arthur blinked in surprise before smiling wickedly at the oldest of the Kohlers.
"May I borrow you for this dance?" Matthias purred, making obvious the familiarity and closeness between him and Arthur.
Alistair huffed in the back, forcing himself to calm down. He didn't have a choice. He couldn't exactly lash at all these bastards just because they tried to seduce his brother. It was not a valid reason to kill them all and it would bring trouble to his family. As heir of Head Alfa position of his Clan, he had responsibilities and Alistair could not freely act as he wished to protect his brother from suitors like them. That is why the Kohlers are there. Since forever, the Kohlers have been the shield of the Kirklands, acting like a support and partner for the purpose of the Kirkland Clan's survival. The reason that linked those families together dates back so long that neither can remember but they still kept this unmovable trust between their two Clans.
"Sure." Arthur was more than eager to escape and accepted Matthias' offer as he got guided to the dance floor where other couples were already dancing. In a corner he thought he spotted Kiku with a girl … taking pictures? He must have mistaken.
"You've improved in your dancing." Matthias smiled brightly, making Arthur blush. The Dane's bright personality and their closeness since they were young made his comment so much more meaningful for Arthur. He never noticed the sad eyes of his Italian friend watching him with a defeated expression.
"Thanks. Though I never really get a chance to use those skills anymore."
"Yeah, I heard. You don't like those kinds of parties, right?"
Arthur snorted at the older man's statement.
"Getting hit on by all those stupid Alfas … what is there to enjoy about that? The worst part is: I'll have to deal with them at school too!"
Matthias frowned at this. He had heard from Lukas about the Stalker incident. Upon demand of a Kirkland, a Kohler has the obligation to act as a shield to them. The problem is … Kirklands don't ask for shields, so really, Kohlers tend to act whenever they feel needed, even if it might irritate the Kirklands. Just like Matthias had prevented Alistair from intervening. If his friend had spilled blood, no doubt it would have harmed the Kirkland Clan and its credibility. And since the Kohler family is dependent on the Kirkland Clan, it would have also harmed the Kohlers indirectly. That is their relation. Matthias was a shield and a brake to his partners. He could act as the protective brother Alistair couldn't always be for Arthur.
But he didn't want to be a brother anymore.
"I heard about your stalker issue from Lukas."
"Oh that …" Arthur waved a dismissive hand. "I didn't need any help but Berwald decided to deal with it anyway."
"… Sorry."
"Eh?" Arthur was suddenly spun around and didn't get to see the cold angry expression on Matthias' face before the Dane could force his Alfa instinct to calm down.
"Sorry for what?" The Omega questioned as the two returned to a regular dancing pace.
"If I had still been at school I could have protected you …"
"Don't be silly! If you had been there, anyone approaching me would have died already!" Arthur laughed and Matthias felt his heart flutter at the sound of the Omega's laughter.
As the music ended, he brought Arthur closer in and discreetly whispered in the smaller blonde's ear.
"Nevertheless … I would kill for you any time. I would paint my hands in blood if it can keep that smile on your face."
Arthur frowned. He was so used to the cheery joking Matthias that hearing him speak so seriously was disturbing and worrying him. He didn't want his friend to sully his hands and kill others in his name. He just wanted to have a calm and peaceful life! Was that too much to ask?
Arthur sighed heavily as he sat alone at the buffet bar, sipping his drink and ignoring anyone that approached him. His mother was in a conversation with the Wangs and the Beildschmidts, and Arthur knew that it was necessary for their Clan and business to entertain good relations with other big families. But he really wanted to go home. Matthias had dragged Alistair elsewhere to cool him down and Arthur had managed to escape his suitors. He had tried finding Feliciano but the Italian was nowhere to be found.
Thinking of his friend, Arthur felt a sense of longing invade him. He felt lonely and really wanted to hear Feliciano's cheery voice call his name …
"Arturo!"
Looking up suddenly, Arthur smiled upon reflex at the name he heard only to see his smile drop into a frown as he was not faced by Feliciano but by Antonio. The Spaniard was smiling at him that insufferable fake smile again. Arthur glared before looking away, ignoring the tanned teen that took seat next to him.
"What do you want?"
"I'm just curious, Arturo." Antonio kept up his happy-go-lucky act as he ordered a drink.
"Curious?" Arthur hissed, trying to be as disinterested and nonchalant as he could. Hopefully Antonio will get bored and leave him. But the Spaniard only watched the younger teen with an eager grin on his face.
"Si. I'm just curious as to why you seem to hate Alfas so much."
Arthur blinked suddenly and shot a surprised look at the other before remembering to frown and pretend to be angry. Antonio chuckled of amusement at the cute display of the Omega.
"Because you treat Omegas like dirt." Arthur spat the words out, making Antonio's laughter die down and the Spaniard could only stare with a serious expression.
"… I don't …"
"Don't even try to claim otherwise! I can see through your little act! You may not openly badly treat Omegas but I can see it in the way you smile at them and how you talk your way out of them. You play around with their feelings and once you're done fooling around with them, you just dump them, isn't that right? I hate your kind the most!"
Antonio was at lost for words in that moment and he finally understood why Arthur always seemed to glare hatefully at him when he smiles. Everything Arthur had said was true but Antonio never believed that someone would ever see through his smiles. So far, all the people he had met had been tricked and swooned over him. He could make any Omega beg for him. He could be as cruel as the Devil and they wouldn't see a thing, deceived by his beautiful smiles and sweet talk. But Arthur was not like those other Omegas. Arthur could see through him like an open book. Arthur would challenge him and make him feel like dirt. Arthur could look him down and Antonio felt his blood rush each time he met those hating emeralds. It excited him to see someone able to resist him. It was fun to argue with the blonde Omega. It was thrilling to not have to pretend and in fact to be forced into showing his true self.
It made him grow obsessed with the blonde.
Arthur suddenly felt his wrist being gripped tightly as he was forcefully dragged to the dance floor and Antonio immobilised him into a dance. On stage, the music prodigy Roderich Edelstein (cousin of the Beildschmidt) was performing on his piano. Antonio looked down to meet Arthur's eyes and for once, Arthur was faced with the true face of the Spaniard. The passionate green gaze of the Mediterranean made Arthur's face blush red but the blonde could not avert his eyes away. Antonio was not smiling anymore and his expression was one of a predator locking eyes on his prey.
They glided over the dance floor, many eyes on them, and people whispered excitedly. Arthur frowned at the words he heard. People were already suggesting that Antonio would be his soon-to-be-mate. Just because he was forced into a dance by the bastard, doesn't mean he's interested in him! If anything, Arthur would much rather be dancing with someone else than this guy! And he would never mate with him!
"Amor … you look adorable with that flushed embarrassed look." Antonio smirked teasingly, making Arthur's blush grow and the blonde nearly pulled away to yell at him … but he didn't. He couldn't do anything unsightly that would cause trouble to his brother or his family. Reputation didn't matter but he could not publicly insult people here, no matter how much he wished it. Let alone beat them up. Though … he had a feeling that Antonio would not go down that easily in a fight.
"Shut up or I'll rip your eyeballs out." He hissed threateningly instead but only caused Antonio to laugh.
"Si! I'd love to see you try! I'd probably have time to kiss you before you even got a chance to do that!"
"In your dreams!" Arthur hissed more insistently. This was getting really frustrating. Can't the stupid music stop already? Antonio smirked and leaned in closer towards the blonde's face, his hands moving possessively down the Arthur's waist and hips, caging him in the tanned teen's embrace.
"Do you really want me to show you my dreams of you, caro? There is a lot more than just kissing!" Antonio's lips moved closer and were now resting on Arthur's jugular.
The Briton felt his blood boil and his mind blank out. Ok, that does it! He doesn't care what the consequence will be, he is beating the crap out of this fucking bastard!
Apparently, someone else got the same idea as himself.
"That's a brave move you're making there, kid. Especially under my nose."
Feeling the cold steel of a blade against his neck, Antonio glanced back darkly at the cold murderous aura and the angry man it belonged to. Matthias' ocean blue eyes had turned as cold as ice as he pointed his axe towards the Spaniard. The only reason he hadn't chopped the younger teen's head off was because he might accidentally harm Arthur who was standing too close to the Spaniard for comfort.
Antonio smirked maliciously as he pulled Arthur behind him, protecting him but also keeping him close to himself and away from the Nordic. In a corner of the room, Lovino was walking his drunk grandfather back to their car through the crowd followed by his brother. They spotted the scene and Feliciano froze in place, eyes captured by the sight before him. He felt his heart shatter into more pieces and wished only to jump and hug his friend, keeping Arthur to himself only. But … if Arthur wanted to be with that Danish guy … who was he stop it?
"Matthias …" Arthur felt a finger silence his lips as Antonio shot him a seductive smirk, right under the furious gaze of the blonde Dane.
"You're right, Arturo. I do look down on Omegas. But I don't look down on you. Do you know why?"
Arthur frowned as he shook his head.
"Because I would never look down on my mate." Antonio answered so simply and honestly that it shocked Arthur and for the first time, the Spaniard offered him a true, real smile. Antonio did look good with a smile.
Pushing the Omega aside and out of harm's way, Antonio quickly grabbed hold of his own axe (how come people bring along their weapons to such parties? Nevermind the fact that the carry of a weapon is legal in most countries) and faced Matthias in a challenge stance. The two axmen gauged one another before they both walked out of the room to continue this fight outside. Arthur blinked for a long while before he dashed after them, unknowingly followed by Feliciano.