5/1/2016

I'm kind of nervous to submit this, seeing as its been so long since I've updated for this story. Just to let you guys know, I am writing the next chapter for The Wild Card. It is in the works. It is not done yet but I'm getting there. Its an intense chapter though so it needs to be written right. I wrote this short thing in the meantime because I wanted happy fluff between my two favorite boys.

ANYWAY. This is from Chapter 17; its right after Alfred comes back from the Pentagon but its before him and Arthur go stargazing. So, that being said, THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS SPOILERS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. The chapter title is taken from the song Whispers by David Baxter because I was listening to it nonstop while writing this. This is also unedited because I am lazy. Please enjoy reading it regardless~

I do not own Hetalia.

-o0o-

"Your hair has gotten longer."

Alfred glanced up to see Arthur inspecting him through the mirror. "Has it?"

Arthur nodded. Alfred turned his gaze back onto himself, squinting at the locks falling into his eyes. "Huh. I didn't even realize."

"They kept you too busy at the Pentagon to realize, I suppose."

Alfred made a small hum of acknowledgement. Thinking back on the past month, everything was a blur. He barely had time to sleep.

Arthur moved out of Alfred's mirror and said as he lowered himself onto a nearby armchair, "Yao told me you were of great help to him with training the spies and, of course, saving his life."

Alfred felt his stomach twist at the memory. He had seen the bullet cut through the air, heading straight for the Jack's head, and had acted without thinking. He had lurched himself at Yao with enough force to push them both to the ground. By the time Alfred had regained his senses the other Spades and Diamonds spies were rushing away to find the intruder.

"I'm just glad he's okay," Alfred murmured.

"I as well. I don't know what I would have done if I had lost him."

"You care about him a lot, right?"

"Yes. He is more than my advisor, he is my most trusted friend. I would have no one to turn to without him."

"You don't trust your Royal Deck?" Alfred asked as he continued to unpack his luggage.

"Don't be silly," Arthur chastised. "Of course I trust them. Yao is different though. Together we bare the responsibilities of the King since Spades has none. He is the only other person who has as deep of an understanding of the Kingdom as I do."

Alfred felt his heartbeat pick up at the mention of the King. He tried his best to play cool, though, and gave Arthur a tight smile instead. "Lucky you have Yao then."

"Extremely."

There was a comfortable break in the conversation. Alfred finished putting away his clothes in the spare dresser while Arthur sat in pensive silence. He looked like he was thinking hard about something, and Alfred didn't feel the need to break the quietness with his babbling.

He liked the idea that he and Arthur were able to be like this around each other now. Not having to talk to keep the conversation going meant they were at ease in each other's presence. That said a lot considering where they had been not too long ago.

"What was it like, having both a King and Queen?" Arthur questioned when Alfred returned from putting his bag in the closet.

Alfred shrugged and moved to sit on the edge of his bed. "It's nothing special. I mean, not that it's not important to have both of them- its, just." He sighed, at loss of words. "I don't know. It always seemed natural to me. I never knew anything else."

Arthur's eyes glazed over, like he was seeing something Alfred wasn't. What was he thinking?

"Do you miss not having a King?" he asked hesitantly. He was going down a dangerous path, he knew, but he couldn't help himself.

Arthur's electric green gaze flickered to Alfred's face. "Sometimes. I felt it most keenly when I first became Queen. And every now and then I think about what it would be like, to have someone there to support you and confide in. Just having someone who is always on your side is a powerful thing. I wish I had a King during the harder times, like now for instance."

Alfred let himself absorb what Arthur had said before speaking again. "Hm. I guess a King could do that. But isn't that what friends are for in general?"

Arthur blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Friends are supposed to be there for you through thick and thin," Alfred explained. "If they're true friends, they'll stand by you no matter what and stop you from doing stupid stuff. They give you advice and follow you into battle. Friends are the family you make. Or at least, that's what I believe. Yao's like that for you, right? The only difference is that you guys have an additional aspect of your relationship, to work together for the good of Spades."

Arthur bowed his head, wringing his hands in his lap. "I never thought of it that way."

"Yao's a good friend, Arthur," Alfred said seriously. "He was always talking about how worried he was for you when we spoke."

"R-really?"

"Mhmm. He cares a lot about you."

"And I, him."

A beat of silence. Then-

"I care about you, as well."

The sudden statement caused blood to rush to Alfred's face. He stared at Arthur who was avoiding his gaze, cheeks dusted pink.

He cleared his throat. "I just thought you should know that before you- well. Depart."

"I- um. Yeah." Alfred didn't know what to say.

"I was relieved that you were unharmed from the attack. Or I should say, mostly unharmed." Arthur eyed Alfred's bandage darkly.

Alfred rubbed the back of his neck. "This is nothing, really. Thanks for the medicinal stuff you sent me, though; it really helped. It's almost healed already."

"I'm glad."

A thought occurred to him. He wanted to voice it out loud, but would that be okay?

Hesitantly, Alfred said, "You know, Arthur, I'm not a Spade. And I know there's no way I could all the things Yao does to help you as your Jack."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "And?"

"I just wanted to say, even though I can't be there for you like that, I can still listen to what you have to say. You can still tell me anything you want to get off your chest and I'll do whatever I can to help you solve your problems. So- I guess what I'm trying to say is that I might not be a King, but I can be your friend. I can still be there for you when you need me. If- if you want, that is."

Arthur's eyes widened and the color in his cheeks darkened.

Alfred squirmed uncomfortably. Had he said too much? He'd just wanted to reassure Arthur, that was it-

"If I want?" Arthur muttered with a chuckle and shake of his head. "I already consider us friends, Alfred."

Alfred felt his shoulders sag in relief. "Oh. Good. Me too."

The pair smiled at each other, kind of awkward but nice anyways. Alfred beamed, glad that he now knew where he stood with Arthur. In the deepest corners of his heart, he dared to hope they could stay friends after everything was exposed. He knew he would miss Arthur more then he wanted to admit if they had to part ways.

There was a low chirping sound, jolting them out of the moment.

"What the heck is that?" Alfred asked.

Arthur sighed heavily, reaching inside his jacket. "It's my alarm to remind me to go to my next scheduled appointment." The beeping stopped and the Queen stood up to leave.

Alfred tried not to show his disappointment- he had just gotten back and now Arthur was leaving?- but a burst of laughter escaped from Arthur when he looked back up at the teen.

"You have to get dinner and go over the mission," he reminded Alfred gently as he moved closer.

Alfred groaned. "Yeah, I know. We're still meeting up after that though, right?"

"Of course. I'll come and find you."

Alfred nodded. "Okay."

Arthur hesitated for a moment and Alfred watched him curiously. What was he-?

Arthur grabbed Alfred's arm and tugged him up to a standing position before giving him a strong hug.

"It's so good to see you," Arthur's words were muffled against Alfred's shirt but he still heard him.

Warmth blossomed in his chest and Alfred embraced Arthur back enthusiastically. "I'm happy to see you, too!" he exclaimed as Arthur gasped for air.

"Alfred!" he wheezed and Alfred released him immediately.

"Sorry!" he said while Arthur took in deep breaths.

Arthur waved his hand to show he was alright. "I shall see you tonight," he ordered in a half-wheeze. "If I recover from your hug by that time, that is."

Alfred laughed lightly and Arthur shot him a murderous glare. "You nearly suffocating me is not funny, Alfred!"

Alfred grinned and opened his mouth to retort but Arthur shook his head, "No, you do not get to tease me right now! I have a very important meeting to get to and-"

"Yeah, yeah, you're a busy man, Arthur. We get it," he said with a roll of his eyes. "Go already, or else you'll be late."

Arthur scowled at him. Then he turned on his heel and stalked out of Alfred's room, muttering darkly all the while.

Alfred shook his head as he watched Arthur leave. What a weird guy. He was looking forward to tonight though. He wondered what Arthur had in store for him.