Taxation without Representation

One Shot 1

It had all started out as a simple visit. Arthur had become quite the common visitor in the time after Jackson's reveal and would often appear just to challenge the teen to a game of chess, as he had been accustomed to having a partner from their time of cohabitation. During those visits the two would chat idly and consume the tea and various other refreshments Jackson had prepared for his guest, while they proceeded with the game. Though this always took place in Alfred's home, he was actually hardly ever there for it. He was a busy man, uncommon to popular belief, and these visits were namely for Jackson anyway even if the Brit focused on Alfred once he got home. Besides, being the proud older brother he was, he would never want to interfere with his little brother making friends. These events had gotten so commonplace that both of the usually guarded individuals often let some things slip they usually did not. It would never be mentioned again outside their chess game and they knew it, which was why it was Jackson's turn to be bold one game. One would think it would be hard to judge who was winning in chess, but Jackson was most definitely winning and one more move would put Arthur in an even harder place. As he made said moved, he began to speak.

"I have always wanted to ask, but why did you just not let him have a representative in parliament?"

Now Arthur was in a bind in the game and in real life. It made him glad his tea was gone so he would not be able to embarrass himself by spewing the drink.

"W-what are you talking about, lad?" he stuttered, hoping that maybe the teen would lose his nerve.

No such luck.

"Why did you not just let him have representation in parliament? You could have very well avoided the whole war that way—and do not just say that your king did not allow it. They valued your opinion, too."

In total honesty, he had been asked this same question before. Twice, actually. Once by Francis, who he punched mercilessly on the spot and ignored him for a week, and the other by Matthew, who he just circumvented the subject entirely with. Both had asked during nearly modern times, so the event had been centuries ago, but he still had not answered. He honestly had always expected Alfred to be the one to ask him one day, but he supposed the boy either did not care or had his own thoughts as to why. Well, Jackson was a part of him, so he supposed it was close enough. He could not really treat him like the two other inquirers at least. Plus, the thought occurred to Arthur that Jackson may very well know the reasons Alfred had never asked. That was something he had always wanted to ask.

"Well, he was just a child. He had no idea what he was doing."

Jackson quirked an eyebrow at the rather relaxed dismissal.

"Then humor him. One representative could have been completely shut out by the rest of parliament, but because he was there they would have no basis to rebel. Because that person would be there they could not question parliament's, the king's, or your legitimacy. They could not have called you a tyrant."

Arthur sighed, continuing to find the chessboard much more interesting than the teen's scrutinizing gaze.

"But he still would have whined, like the child he was. You can never satisfy everybody."

Jackson went silent for a while, and Arthur became so curious as to why that he finally removed his gaze from the game pieces to see a very stoic Jackson. It admittedly unnerved Arthur a little, to see the boy so statue like.

"So, you just stopped trying?" the boy practically whispered.

Now Arthur paused, though rather tactfully, before he nodded.

"We were all very frustrated with each other." he tried to explain, "After all that had happened, my king did not want to hear any more from the colonies. All they cared about were the taxes when we were paying higher ones back home. I suppose only later did we find out how far they would go, or how much they had actually wanted all along, maybe I should say."

"You know, I think you might be right about my brother still being a child at the time—but so were you." Jackson stated, rather as-a-matter-of-factly.

Arthur could only blink in response. What was this kid thinking? He had centuries on both of them.

"I beg your pardon?"

"You were still a child yourself." he repeated, "After all, it is a part of an adult's job to sometimes humor a stubborn child. The stubborn child selfishly only cares for itself, and can do that, but the adult must also consider things such as peace and their relationship. Basically, the more mature thing you could have done other than to ignore him would have been to humor him. You still would have gotten your way in the end, but this would technically be a compromise, so he got his way as well, and that would not have mattered one bit otherwise if you had the maturity to not let things such as pride blind you."

Arthur knew by this point that Jackson was just stating his opinion, his truth, but the words hurt. He knew he had issues with pride, but so did Alfred. Though he supposed that only an adult was truly accountable for those shortcomings, as Jackson had said, so either Alfred had been an adult and his first claim was invalid or he was the issue at hand. Choices, choices.

A wry smile spread across the teen's lips, "There is a reason I believe this, so rather than debating on the unchangeable past, would you like to hear it?"

Arthur nodded softly.

"Because neither you nor Alfred are children anymore."

A pause followed his words, and Arthur was just about to say something when he finally met Jackson's gaze once more and saw the distant look in his stormy, gray eyes.

"I always had believed that he was no more an adult than I was when I was young. Sure, I had faith in him and adored him, but he was so—relaxed. I thought he could never take anything seriously, and he did the stupidest of things sometimes, but I suppose that somewhat had to do with all that I did not remember in my infancy. As I grew, I never once questioned that he was any more mature than I was. Even when I started to realize his intelligence and the existence of his serious side, I not once considered it. I was far too preoccupied being the stubborn child myself. Only during the war did I realize that he was more mature than me, and had been all those years. Being positive and having fun is not childishness, nor is being relaxed, being able to do that in spite of everything is maturity. He had a greater maturity and wisdom than me the entire time, which was only natural. Still, it was only after the war, when he did those things to make me a part of him again, to make me his brother again, did I realize he was an adult. He, however, had not until I pointed it out, to which he replied that the war must have done it. For a long time I never understood that, but by now I think I have a general grasp. I cannot know for certain, but I think the day that you sat there and sobbed in the mud, you became an adult, if for no other reason, because pride and selfishness were not as valuable as they once were to you."

Arthur was not really sure what to say to all of that. However, he knew he was glad that he had this conversation with Jackson, to understand the boy, and himself for that matter, better, despite all the emotions it pulled up.

"On to the game, shall we?" Jackson coaxed softly, to which Arthur nodded before carefully moving a piece.

Jackson did so as well, smiling a bit of a sad smile as he did. Neither Arthur's head nor heart were in the game anymore.

"Checkmate, it seems." Arthur mumbled, "Good game, lad."

At this, Jackson shook his head, his smile still in place, "That is not the winning move"—Arthur blinks—"this is: if you want to know what my brother thinks on all of these matters, play a game with him. He is better than me, you know, so be prepared to win if want to get anything out of him. Same with money, as you well know."

Jackson had already disappeared before Arthur could get a word out in protest. It seemed that teen's lips were sealed—and his footsteps, silent. That really had been a brilliant move.

"Hey Jackie, I'm home! Is Artie still here?"

Arthur better perfect it rather quickly for his next opponent. Rumor has it that he was pretty brilliant himself.