Ch. 26:

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The Joker stopped at a port and Arthur released Alfred to explore. He was jumping around like a puppy, they being so close to Paris. While Arthur planned to load up on weapons (he doubted those traffickers would just give the boy back, or any information if the boy had been sold), Alfred was looking for a present for his friend.

"Matthew can stay with us, right?" Alfred had asked before they landed. "When we find him, and if he wants to, he can join the Joker, right?"

"Of course," Arthur had smiled. I'd do anything to make you happy. And did that cabin boy's face lit up at those words.

While Alfred entertained himself Arthur and Lukas went to hunt down supplies. With the help of his clever first mate they managed to get most of the inessentials at good bargains.

As they headed back to the Joker with the day's harvest Arthur spoke, "Sure you don't want to buy something for your brother? I gave Alfred an allowance and he'll probably spend it all on gifts for his friend."
But Lukas shook his head, "I'm not like Alfred, I don't know what my brother likes."

I'm not like Alfred, I don't believe we'll find my brother.

Before Arthur could find anything to say Lukas came to a complete stop, his eyes zeroing in on someone across the crowd. Arthur followed his gaze and to his shock saw Antonio's cabin boy. He looked lost, a bag slung over his shoulder and his head turning this way and that as if looking for a purpose.

Antonio was no where in sight, Antonio who had a Timeless, Antonio who obviously adored his bratty cabin boy…who'd do anything for the scrawny lad…

Arthur's brain clicked.

.

Lovino clutched the bars between white knuckles, his teeth bared in a mix of a scowl and mocking smile. "You're wasting your time, you know," he spat. "I'm his ex-cabin boy. He's not gonna trade me for the Timeless." His final words had a lace of bitterness to them.

Alfred stood beside the cell, looking at the boy with concern before turning that expression to his captain, "Arthur…this is a bad idea."

But Arthur ignored Alfred's words, which stung, instead he focused on the strange radio hanging on the other wall. Lovino sneered and cast his mocking expression to Alfred, "Your captain isn't the brightest, is he?"
Alfred didn't answer, the radio released an awful static noise and Arthur crooned in triumph, flipping knobs and switches, the receiver held by his ear. When suddenly a deep accented voice came from radio, "Si?"

Alfred noticed the way Lovino tensed, and he recognized that starving look in his eyes and he wondered what on earth Arthur thought he was doing.

One could hear Arthur's canary eating grin, "Hello, Carriedo."
Immediately a nasty tension filled the air, "…Kirkland…"

This is a bad idea, those words ran through Alfred's head and he felt like panicking, This is a bad idea.

"You'd better have a reason for infecting my radio with your voice, Brit," Antonio hissed.

Arthur was still smug, "Oh, I do. I've got a deal to offer."
Antonio's reply was quick, "Sorry, not sorry, to say I'm not interested."
"Oh, deary," Arthur's tone sent icy water down Alfred's spine. "I think you'll find it's a deal you can't refuse."

Both Alfred and Lovino paled when Arthur pulled out a pistol form his jacket and smoothly turned to aim it at the Italian, a warning look in his eyes.

Alfred stared at him like he had never seen the man before, "Arthur…" his voice wasn't loud enough for any of them to hear.

Lovino's fear, however, had quickly been replaced by anger, and he screamed: "I already told you, Brit! Your stupid plan won't work so don't waste bullets! Listen to your cabin boy this is a bad idea!"

But Alfred's fear was nothing compared to the absolutely horrified voice that blasted from the radio, "QUE!? Lovino!?" But like his cabin boy Antonio quickly changed from fear to fury, "You…" his voice was like venom, "What do you want, Kirkland?"

Arthur's lips were stilled pulled up into an almost plastic-like smile, "If you ever dream to see your cabin boy again…hand over the Timeless. Savy?"

"He's not going to do it dumbass!" Lovino spat, "This is a waste of time!"

"Just hand it over," Arthur ignored Lovino. "And I won't touch a single hair. You have my word."

Antonio spoke: "Deal."
Arthur lowered his pistol arm but Alfred was too busy looking to Lovino, the boy looked in utter shock, his entire entity in disbelief. "ARE YOU SERIOUS, ANTIONIO!?" his sudden yell made Alfred jump. "NO! Don't give him your Timeless! He's not gonna do anything to me!"

Alfred looked once again at his captain, "Would you, Arthur?" He was afraid of the answer.

Arthur's arm shot up to re-aim at the boy, "Do not test me, Vargas. And you," he turned to Alfred and the cabin boy felt sick. "All this time, have I truly taught you to doubt me?"

That was a perfect word to describe how Alfred was feeling: doubt. Who was this man that had taken his Arthur away. But he couldn't reply, not that he wanted to, Antonio had panicked when he heard the gun click: "PUT THE GUN DOWN YOU BASTARD! I'll-I'll give it to you. Do not hurt my cabin boy."

Lovino's eyes were glassy as they stared at the radio, "Antonio…"

Arthur pocketed his weapon, "I thought you'd agree. There's a port not too far off from here, you should be able to find it. Be there at noon tomorrow or the deal's off and the boy's mine to do with as I please."

"You'll have the Timeless, snake."
"No, no, no, no! Antonio you can't do that!" Lovino's pain was palpable and it sliced at Alfred's heart. "Don't listen to the Brit. You know he's full of it. I'm fine. Just go, go away, I can save myself."

"…Lovino…" the word was soft, spoken like a prayer, and Alfred was one hundred percent positive what Arthur was doing was wrong.

"Please don't save me," the Italian sounded on the verge of tears. "You'll die without the Timeless."

"I know," Antonio sounded as if stood with a rope around his neck and had accepted his fate. "But…I think I prefer dying with you than living without you."

Arthur's cold voice interrupted, "This pish posh can be finished in person tomorrow." He turned the radio off before Antonio could say another word.

As Lovino slowly sunk down to his knees Alfred whirled on Arthur, "How could you do that!?"
Arthur gave him a droll stare, "Pirate, love." He headed out of the brig, "Now come. We've things to do."

Alfred turned to Lovino, "I'm sorry."

"Not your fault," the boy mumbled eyes on the floor. He started whispering to himself over and over, the words sounding like: "Antonio loves me." When Alfred saw the tears rising his hands balled into fists.

"I'm going to get you out of here." He stomped out without seeing if Lovino would reply.

He found Arthur in his room, calmly looking over the map as if he hadn't just showed Alfred how heartless he could be.

"You're really going to do this?" Alfred asked, he wanted to give Arthur one more chance. He didn't want to have to take matters into his own hands.

"Of course, deary." Arthur didn't even looked at him. He was suddenly so unattached and it made Alfred's throat cave.

"Why?"

"He has something I want, and I'm hurting no one."

That was it. "Did you not see what happened down there? That look on that boy's face!? The pain in Carriedo's voice?! How could you do that!?"
Finally Arthur straightened up and met Alfred's glare, "Alfred, I am doing the Spanish swine a favor! His pride would never have let him let go of that trinket but as you see, his love for that boy is greater than his love for immortality. He just needed help to see it. Without this deal he'd have watched his love die and lived on. Watched his love grow old and not be able to grow old with him. I'm helping him."
"You don't care about that at all," Alfred accused. "You just want that stupid necklace, I have no idea why but it's really all you care about."

Arthur's brow furrowed, "I have my reasons for wanting that object."
"Are they worth breaking people's hearts?" Cause right now Alfred's felt like cracked glass ready to shatter.

Arthur's expression was unreadable as he looked Alfred over before speaking, "It's worth more than anything."

A crashing rung in Alfred's ears and it took him a moment to realize that it was his heart shattering. He took several steps away from the pirate, the pirate he had pined after, the pirate who had drank too much, the pirate whose smile sent butterflies fluttering, the pirate who had held him so dearly after the throes of passion, the pirate he had fallen in love with…he had all been a lie.

Arthur seemed to finally notice how upset Alfred look. He stepped forward and reached his hand out, "It's going to be-"

Alfred slapped his hand away, his face twisted into a scowl, "Don't touch me. Stay away from me. You're no better than the men who kidnapped me and Matthew." He turned away and headed out the room.

"Alfred-"

"I said stay away from me!"

.

Antonio opened his door to nearly be smacked by Gilbert who looked to be on cloud nine. "Antonio! Antonio! You won't believe what just happened!"

"Tell me later," the captain cut him off. "We have a rescue to get underway."