Chapter 5: Don't Challenge the Australian

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia.

A/N: It's been a long ass time, but here I am lmao. Also, Overwhelming is Jack's song to Al, I swear to God. Like, IDFC is their general relationship song but Overwhelming is totally how Jack feels about Alfred.

Yeah, I think I got one
Her soul is presidential like Barack, son
Yeah, she call me Goose, I call her Maverick cause of Top Gun
They say we annoying, they just jealous cause we got love
Yeah, I got a hot one
She don't want no problem if there's not one
But people come around and try some stupid shit and start one
She give you the people's fuckin' elbow like The Rock, son

~Overwhelming, Jon Bellion

Alfred hummed, watching Jack pass the wine list to his mom. Smiling a little as he looked at his boyfriend, really looked at him, Alfred felt warmth run down his spine and felt goosebumps rise on his arms. Lightly tanned skin, just a dusting of gold compared to the deeper tan he had two years ago leftover from Australia when he and Alfred had first met. Emerald green eyes, a band-aid on his nose covering and the old scar that he was still embarrassed about despite the fact that he's had it since he was eight. Brown hair, messy and slightly swooped back though it still managed to fall on his face. Jack turned at that exact moment, catching Alfred in the middle of his admiring, and his lips curled up into that little smile he got whenever his and Alfred's eyes met. Lips curling as well, Alfred unabashedly smiled at Jack like he was the sun to Alfred's earth. Needless to say, Jack's parents saw this and smiled as well.

"So, how is college going for you, Alfred?"

"Good." Alfred finally broke eye contact with his boyfriend and looked at the woman sat in front of him who looked quite a lot like Jack, "I'm getting super close to graduating, then I'm looking to get into a space engineering program."

"Something like NASA?" The woman raised her eyebrows, impressed, "That's very ambitious."

"Heh, well, they're always looking for good engineers. I'm not half bad, I'm in the top two of my class so I'm doing pretty good. My only real competition is Yao, but I'm pretty sure he's transferring back to China after he graduates so there's no way he'd wanna get on at NASA."

"Well, I wish you the best of luck." Cynthia laughed, holding her husband's hand, "Jack, you better call us and tell us when Alfred's graduation is. We can fly over and visit again."

"That'd be awesome, mom!" Jack's face became giddy before falling for a second, "Al...? It is your graduation."

Alfred laughed and rolled his eyes, "Hey, your parents are my parents, right?"

Snorting, Jack shook his head, "You're gonna regret saying that, love."

Escorting Jack's parents to their rental car, they waved goodbye to the Australian couple before walking the opposite direction to where they'd been forced to park their car a couple blocks down. Glancing down at Jack's hand hanging by his side, and looking very lonely at that, Alfred decided to grab the other man's hand and tugged him forward as Alfred turned and walked backward so he could look at the green-eyed man as he walked.

"Be careful or you'll fall!" Jack laughed, placing his other hand on Alfred's shoulder to steady the American.

"You'll catch me, though." The blonde smiled widely, wider than he had in a while, and for a moment it seemed like Jack forgot to breathe.

"Yeah." The Australian sighed, "Yeah, I will. I always will, babe."

Alfred flushed slightly before turning himself back around but still keeping a hold of Jack's hand. It was a pretty chilly night, not many people roaming around the street. Mrs. Gerrick who ran one of the minimarts around town was walking her dog, and there was a girl with platinum blonde hair and chilly indigo eyes who was walking directly towards them. Jack moved over slightly, rolling his eyes and murmuring about how rude people in the city war. No one else on the sidewalk, yet she walked right down the middle of it with a purpose that was a bit too cocky for Alfred's tastes. Careful not to bump into her, Alfred was ready to get into their warm car because they were almost to the lot they parked in when he felt a slim hand encase his upper bicep and suddenly, taken off guard, he was pulled away from Jack violently.

"What?" Jack whipped his head around as Alfred tore his hand from him, only to drop his car keys when he saw the woman holding Alfred tightly by the arm.

"Who the hell are you?" Alfred spat, trying to get her tight grip off, "Listen, I don't wanna hit a girl but-!"

"I am Natalya Braginsky, you know my brother, da?"

She had a thick Russian accent, and Alfred's blood ran cold. His mind shut down, going into panic mode and all he knew was he needed to shut her up, she needed to stop talking, he had to shut her up. Trying harder than before, he shook his arm loose from her clawed grip but stopped when he felt cold metal against his back. In her petite hands was none other than a small knife, and Alfred weighed his options. He could stop and let her keep talking and save himself a lot of pain, or he could suck it up and save his relationship but get stabbed in the process. He was about to rear around and shove her away, taking a stab to the arm or chest as he knew it wouldn't be too bad with such a small blade, he prepared to act when suddenly the metal was gone and so was the girl.

Turning, Alfred saw the woman on the ground, scowling, her dress fanned out around her and her knife laying several feet away from her. There was a spot on her jaw, a red splotch, and when he saw Jack standing behind him he knew what had happened. Jack grabbed him quickly before anything else could happen and the next thing Alfred knew, he was sitting dazed in a car as they sped down the highway.

"Damn, you okay Al?" Jack sent him a concerned look, green eyes shimmering with worry, "Muggers sure are getting desperate, that wasn't much of a knife, huh?"

Sighing in relief, Alfred wanted to laugh that he'd managed to get out of there without Jack hearing anything to the woman had said about being Ivan's sister. Instead, he just looked at Jack, ever perfect Jack, and smiled dumbly, "Your eyes are pretty."

Looking at him, clearly confused, Jack let out a huffy little laugh, "I think you're a bit dazed, hun, we might wanna hurry and get you home."

But he wasn't dazed, and he wasn't lying; Jack's eyes were the most gorgeous he'd ever seen. Later that night, when Jack insisted on helping him to the bedroom, Alfred settled nicely beside his boyfriend and enjoyed the heavy weight of Jack's arm across his waist. This was the man he'd take a knife for, just to save him heartbreak. The American frowned slightly, making his decision as he slipped out of the bed and padded quietly over to the bathroom. Jack would never know about Ivan, would never hear the Russian man's name even breathed towards him. He would never know Ivan was Alfred's soulmate, or that Ivan was alive. Pursing his lips as he stared in the mirror before looking down at his wrist, he removed the bracelet one last time to look at the mark sadly.

What if Ivan had been the one to find him at a coffee shop two years back? Would he be having dinner with the Russian's parents and his weird-ass sister, would he not be so bitter or resentful, or would he be even more because frankly, Alfred wasn't certain Ivan would stand a chance at cracking the shell around his heart the way Jack did. Not allowing himself to dwell over what if's any longer, Alfred tied his bracelet tighter across his wrist and was content to never remove it again.

"You okay?"

Startling, Alfred turned to look at Jack, who'd woken up when Alfred's warm heat had disappeared from their bed. Frowning, the Australian moved forward and wrapped an arm around his boyfriend, sending a slight glance down at the blonde's wrist, "Is it about...?"

Alfred swallowed and, despite everything, couldn't find the will to lie, "I guess."

The American had never even told his boyfriend the name of his soulmate. Jack had never asked, he wanted Alfred to open up to him on his own and not feel forced or rushed. Swallowing, Jack placed an arm around Alfred's shoulder and pulled him in close for a one armed hug, "I'm here if you need me."

"I know."

Jack sighed, "Al, you know you can tell me anything. What's bugging you?"

Those green eyes stared him down intensely, making Alfred squirm as he pulled away from the hug, "What do you do when you're expected to love someone but you don't even want them in your life?"

His boyfriend stilled immediately, once more sending a confused glance down at Alfred's wrist, "I-I don't know, Al. Never really had that problem."

The blonde shuddered slightly, looking up with sad blue eyes, "You love me, right?"

"You already know." Jack rolled his eyes

"You wouldn't leave me if...if...I don't know. Hell, things are so messed up and I don't know what to do anymore."

Sighing, Jack smiled down at his lover, "I wouldn't leave you for the word, babe. Not even if your soulmate crawled out of their grave and demanded it. I'll always be here."

Calming significantly at those words, Jack figured Alfred was just having a self-conscious moment. It wasn't uncommon for non-soulmate relationships to fall apart because of the scrutiny and shame society placed upon them. However, the Australian was in for the long haul, he had decided that two years ago when he dived headfirst into Alfred's ocean blue eyes, and he was quite determined. Alfred hugged him tightly, and Jack leaned down to place a kiss on his neck, causing the American to squirm in his arms them tug him towards their bed. As Jack fell on top of Alfred, lips pressed together and teeth clashing to their smiles, the green eyes man knew there was no place he'd rather be.

A/N: Fuck I love these two.

Question of the Chapter: Did you listen to IDFC by Blackbear? Does it not fit them, especially later on? Also, what do you think of Jack?