Fantasy human AU, cardverse. Eventual USUK, eventual Franada. Poor peasant Alfred, struggling to care for ailing Matthew, attracts the eye of Queen of Spades Arthur. And that's just the beginning of the twins' adventure in the wartorn land.

While the USUK will be the main pairing, of course, and always will, later on the story will become more of an ensemble thing with the other characters... So expect more of Mattie and a couple other major characters as this goes on. :)

Kink meme de-anon. Whew, took over a year to finish! Haha, back when I started this, there weren't many cardverse fics out there. Now they're, like, everywhere... ^^; Rated M for various sex scenes throughout, but like the genres say it's more about romance and adventure. Though just to warn you, the first couple sex scenes border on the dubcon side.

Disclaimer: Hetalia's not mine.

From his spot on the filthy ground, Alfred smiled brightly up at the passing merchants and shoppers. Most of them ignored him, probably not even noticing him as they hurried by. Begging peasants were just an everyday part of the scenery in the busy market.

With no current potential payoffs walking by, Alfred let his grin falter as he glanced down at his bowl. Only a handful of copper coins, stamped with the leaf that was the kingdom of Spades' seal, looked back at him. Still not enough for the medicine he desperately needed to buy soon.

Alfred let out a slow breath. He was a terrible beggar, but an untrained illiterate peasant didn't have many other options. He was sixteen, and so did not have the additional piteousness of a poor child. He was relatively healthy, had all his limbs and eyes, and found it difficult to look sad and pathetic. A terrible beggar indeed.

A stall not far away was selling slabs of ham, cut right off the roasting pigs. Alfred's stomach rumbled again, and he tried scooting a bit further away as he was reminded of how long since he had had a decent meal. A kind soul had given the young beggar some bread that morning, and Alfred had nibbled on a piece, but was saving most of it for his twin brother. Matthew constantly fretted about that, but Alfred always assured him he wasn't starving.

There were other options for a healthy, reasonably attractive young man that didn't require much learning, really. But nothing Alfred relished doing, and definitely nothing Matthew would allow. He could be a soldier, anybody who could hold a weapon could become a soldier. And in their homeland, the peaceful kingdom Hearts, that might have been a possibility. But not Spades. Even if it weren't for their somewhat frightening neighbor Clubs – which everyone feared would attack any day now in their quest for more land and power – Spades was in a constant state of warfare with the hated Diamonds to their other side. Their were constant rumors about what had started the animosity between the two kingdoms, but the real reason was long since forgotten. There were rumors, also, regarding the relatively recent animosity toward everyone of Clubs, and even speculation that it was the beautiful Queen rather than the terrifying King who had the real thirst for blood.

But whatever the reason they were at war with Diamonds, or a likely candidate for invasion by Clubs, Spades was not the best place to become a soldier simply for the pay. It would be suicide, and where would Matthew be then?

The other option for a healthy, attractive young man... well. That was only marginally more appealing than joining the soldiers, and Matthew would kill him instead of the other army.

If he ever grew desperate enough, Alfred could always sell one of the few valuables they had left. They both had spectacles to correct their blurred vision that could fetch a decent price. Alfred held on to their father's pocket watch, and Matthew had their mother's silk scarf.

But they would have to be really desperate to sell any of those.

A highborn young woman in blue paused near Alfred; he gave her his most charming smile, bringing a light blush to her cheeks. She reached into her coin purse and tossed one into his bowl without even looking at it, then hurried off, giggling. Alfred glanced down into the bowl, blinking in surprise at the silver coin that now rested on top of the small pile.

Rich and hormonal adolescents always had been his most charitable prospects.

Alfred quickly counted the money again, grin widening when he realized he had enough. He sent a silent thank you to the giddy noble girl and stood up with his bowl, stretching out the cramps in his legs. Alfred all but ran from the market, toward the apothecary he went to nearly every day. It was a small, dark shop, air thick with smoke and shelves lined with colorful bottles and bags of herbs.

The shop's balding owner smiled pleasantly when he spotted Alfred. "Made enough today, hm?"

"Yeah." Alfred piled the coins onto the counter.

The man's gaze flickered over the pile, mentally calculating, and he nodded. "Good!" He plucked a ready made bundle of herbs from under his counter, dropping it into Alfred's waiting hands. He also handed back one of the copper coins. "More than enough, in fact."

Alfred sent another round of silent thanks and well wishes to the lady and her silver coin. He carefully tucked the medicine and extra money away, thanked the man, and hurried off. He paused only long enough to purchase an apple before rushing home to the small, single-room house he shared with his brother.

Flames were dancing in the house's fire pit, illuminating the room in cheery golden light. Matthew was curled up on his mat, wrapped in a blanket, reading – a skill he had picked up early on, but Alfred never had the time nor patience for. The people of Spades were not as keen on maintaining a library of books as in their homeland of Hearts, and Alfred had become a master of salvaging discarded literature for his brother.

Matthew rarely left the house, there wasn't much else for him to do.

"I'm back." Alfred squatted down beside him.

Matthew set the book aside, lifting his violet eyes with a smile. Alfred's were blue; it was the one physical difference that separated them, aside from their tendency to style their hair differently. As children, they had grown used to others, including their parents, peering into their eyes before addressing them. "Sooner than usual," he said in his quiet voice. "You didn't do anything unpleasant this time, did you?"

"Of course not! It's just the luck of who walks by, and today it just happened to be a lady who must have found me charming."

"I can't imagine why."

"Quiet, you." Alfred fetched the pot of water and hung it over the fire. "How are you feeling today?"

"Same as usual."

At least same as usual wasn't worse. "What're you reading about?"

"Romance. A handsome knight woos a queen who's trapped in a loveless marriage..."

"Oh, what's the queen?"

Matthew chuckled. "A woman. It's from outkingdom."

"Oh, right..." Sometimes Alfred forgot that lands outside the four kingdoms kept their royalty gender-specific, and men were kings and women queens. It seemed like such an odd concept. In their kingdoms, the heir to the throne became King, regardless of gender, and their spouse became Queen.

Spades was currently ruled by only the Queen. He was a distant cousin to the heir, betrothed to him at a young age. He was only around fourteen when they were married, five years ago. That was right before the horrific, mysterious illness had swept through Spades. It disappeared as quickly as it started, but left many bodies in its wake. The King and Queen, as well as their son, were all victims of the plague, leaving the new Queen on his own, and to this day he still had not remarried nor had an heir of his own. Same-sex pairs used specially bred servants to have children, but it was frowned upon with the unmarried.

Alfred's parents had also died of that illness. The vast majority of those who caught the disease died, while the very few who had it and survived – like Matthew – were left permanently ill and weak without proper medical treatment. The medicine Alfred struggled to buy kept the worst symptoms at bay, and Alfred tried not to think about the fact that Matthew would be almost normal if they could afford proper care.

While the water heated, Alfred tugged out the food he had acquired that day. He set the chunk of bread and apple down on his own blanket. "Looks good, huh?"

Matthew nodded. "Did you eat?"

"I had some bread!"

"Yeah right. Cut those in half."

"But-"

"Exactly in half."

Alfred huffed a sigh. "All right, all right..." He fetched a small knife and sliced the bread in half, and the apple into quarters. He handed half of everything to his brother. "You need it more..."

"Hardly." Matthew nibbled on a piece of bread. "You need more energy than I do. I'll die a lot quicker if you starve to death..." His gaze went distant as he stared into the fire, and Alfred winced. Matthew hated reminders of his weak, dependent state.

Alfred carefully filled a mug with the boiling water, and dumped the pouch of herbs into it. He let the water absorb the oils for a few minutes, then removed the pouch and handed the mug to his brother.

"Thank you," Matthew murmured before taking a sip. The apothecary added some mint to improve the flavor a bit, but Matthew still grimaced. Drinking the same thing almost daily for five years would make anything taste bad though, even if it were tasty to begin with.

After finishing the medicine, Matthew set the mug aside and lay back on his mat, pulling the blanket tightly around him. Alfred ran a hand through his brother's wavy hair, then scooted over to settle down on his own bedding. He removed his glasses and set them aside, then settled down and let his eyes close. He was lulled to sleep by the crackle of the dying fire.

The next day was considerably less lucky. Dark clouds had rolled in during the night, and a heavy rain pounded the kingdom. Alfred was huddled in his begging spot, soaked and freezing and muddy, his bowl almost empty. The weather kept everyone at home, denying those in the market customers or benefactors. The other beggars gave up and left, so at least Alfred was the only one for the customers that did show up.

And at the end of the day, the vendors were more generous with their leftover goods. Matthew did not get any medicine that day, but he could manage one day without, and they ate well that night.

The day after, Alfred almost cried when he saw that the situation had not much improved. There were more shoppers that day – people had to buy goods some time – but they did not pay much attention to beggars. Two days, and Alfred still did not have enough money for medicine. It would be a rough night, and Matthew would be lucky to be conscious in the morning.

That was why, as the cloudy sky started to darken as the hidden sun set, Alfred found himself staring at the coin purse of a nobleman. The man was standing at a jewelry vendor's booth. Maybe he had forgotten a ladyfriend's birthday, or some other disaster that had sent him out to purchase decorative trinkets in the less than stellar weather. But he looked like the type who wouldn't even miss a few coins.

He was taking his time in browsing the rings and bracelets. He himself had some expensive looking decorations adorning him.

No, he wouldn't miss a few coins. He would certainly never have to sit in the rain and mud all day in the hopes of keeping his brother alive.

Making up his mind, Alfred inched closer to the fop. He carefully reached toward the dangling pouch that practically called out to him. He very rarely stole, and hated having to do it, but...

Alfred gripped the pouch and gently pulled it free. Heart hammering so loudly he was afraid it would give him away, Alfred tucked the pouch into his pocket, grabbed his bowl, and got to his feet. The man was still examining a silver ring.

Alfred walked away, quickly but calmly. His heart refused to settle down, but it was accompanied by giddy relief.

He had only reached the marketplace's entrance when he was brought to an abrupt halt by a hand on his arm. Gulping, Alfred turned around, and found himself facing a group of blue-clad guards.

The one holding his arm smiled grimly. "Come along, thief."