Title: Project Pandora's Box (14/30)
Series: Hetalia
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
Warnings: Language, violence, AU, boy love, POV shifts
Pairings: US x UK (primary), France x Canada, Germany x Italy (implied, for the most part), JapanxChina (also implied), mentions of past RussiAmerica
Summary: Alfred has been sleeping for a week and Ivan has returned to Russia. When the young American's father forces Alfred and his agents to visit, the agents learn a little more about the American's past. None of them are expecting it, except for Matthew.

A/N: Damn, I feel so bad for Native Americans. ._. Also, because it got so freaking angsty, I've decided that you guys get a nice surprise. Just for being so patient with me and 'cause I love you all! :)

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Episode 14: Meet the Father (Part 2)

~*~*~*

Alfred: Previously in the last five seconds of Project Pandora's Box…

"Of course I trust you, Arthur!" the blond American replied instantly. Alfred sighed sadly and started to unbutton his shirt.

Alfred threw his shirt to the side and turned around, his back facing Arthur. The blond Briton sucked in his breath sharply. He padded over to the young American and gently hovered his fingers over Alfred's back. It was littered with old, old scars. One of them was thing and long, reaching from his left shoulder down to his right hip.

"What happened to you?" Arthur whispered, entranced as he lightly traced the longer scar. The blond American shuddered a little, either from the touch or from the memories, Arthur couldn't tell. Alfred moved away and put on his nightshirt.

"Dad was the reason mom divorced him, and why she took Matty to Canada. She couldn't take me, since the court wouldn't let her. I had been protecting him from dad anyway, so I was okay with her taking Matty far away," the young man replied, his voice low, "I'd…rather not talk about the rest, since I think you can draw your own conclusions on what happened after."

Arthur couldn't have helped what he had done next. The blond Briton made his way over to his roommate and embraced him. He felt Alfred tense up, but it was out of surprise (how he knew, Arthur couldn't tell you). Something wet and cold dropped onto the Briton's hand. His emerald eyes softened.

"It's in the past and you're here now. You haven't made the same mistakes as your father," the Briton murmured, hopefully in comfort, "You're stronger than that."

It was then that Arthur realized what his mind had been denying for so long.

He was in love with Alfred.

***

In all honesty, Alfred had not wanted Arthur to find out about his past like that. Yet, he felt that it might have been better that way. Still, the young American had not wanted to reveal what had happened within the vicinity of his father. His past was the reason he was so cheerful, just to rub it in his father's face. To tell him silently that Alfred was not going to let him control his life.

He was surprised when Arthur had embraced him. Alfred couldn't help the tears that had leaked. He had never been comforted like that, except by Ivan, and he couldn't help the wry smile on his face. Although the Russian was a known sadist, Ivan had refrained from pulling such acts during their relationship (Alfred also had to restrain the Russian from going out to murder his father). Still, this was…different. But why?

Because it's Arthur.

And it's because you're in love with Arthur.

He blushed at the revelation, glad that the blond Briton couldn't see his face.

It was also at that moment that Alfred wished he had empathy, just to see if Arthur felt the same way toward him.

***

The two had most certainly slept in the same bed, but nothing happened. Not really. No, Alfred hadn't been holding Arthur close to his body. No, it was most certainly not comfortable. No, they were NOT lying, damn it!

Anyway, breakfast had gone on without a hitch, which was a relief for Alfred. He had been afraid that Arthur might have throttled Akando. The blond Briton hadn't, however. Actually, he had remained civil with Alfred and Matthew's father.

It was after lunch that they had gotten a phone call from Kiku. Alfred excused himself from the room and went outside to take the call.

"Hey, Kiku~!"

"Alfred-san, we have a big problem here," the Japanese man said grimly. Alfred heard something fall and shatter to the ground, which was accompanied by curses in Chinese.

"I…don't really want to know what Yao just said," Alfred commented with a nervous chuckle. Kiku rolled his eyes and shook his head, knowing perfectly well that the young American wouldn't be able to see that.

"I don't either. The problem, Alfred-san, is that somebody had somehow managed to steal the Wand of Silence," the blond's eyes widened. The Wand of Silence was a weapon supposedly created by the gods. Legend had it that it was able to take away sound from any place or person, but it was also able to give sound back. The wand was also supposedly able to control the element of wind.

"What?!"

"We're looking into it right now," Yao answered with a sigh. Alfred shook his head. That made two artifacts stolen. The first was the chalice, and now it was the Wand of Silence.

"Tell me, what was the cup we tried to retrieve called?" he heard the sound of furious typing on the other end. There was silence for a long moment before somebody answered his question.

"It is called the Muse's Chalice," Kiku replied, "Legend says that it has the ability to grant not just the drinker immortality, but it is able to heighten a person's creative strengths. For example, if you drank it, Alfred-san, your singing voice would increase dramatically. Not only that, but your ability to write songs would also increase."

"Awesome, but why would anybody want to steal it and the Wand of Silence?" Alfred asked with a frown. The two men on the other line sighed simultaneously.

"That's what we'd like to know," Yao said.

"Stay on guard. We don't know what they will take next," Kiku added. The young American nodded, although there was one thing bothering him.

"Hey…quick question. Are these thefts related to the pentagram and pentacle thefts?" the Eastern men were silent for a long while, and it made Alfred a little nervous at their answer.

"It's possible…" the Japanese man replied hesitantly.

"If they are, then…what's the connection?" Yao asked.

"I don't know, but we'll definitely be on guard, now," Alfred replied, "Thanks for telling me this, guys. Keep up the good work."

They hung up and the young American leaned against the doorframe, feeling exhausted. Just what the hell was going on?

***

BONUS SHORT (Ever wondered what was going on in France and Matthew's room during this? Well…I can't write it, because I don't wanna bump up the rating. ._. So…BLOOPER TIEM)

He was distracted from his thoughts when he heard a knock at the door. Alfred yelled a cheerful "Come in!" and got back to signing a paper (it was something about a new lab assisstant from China). After he signed it, a case file was thrown down on the desk. Alfred blinked and looked up at Veneziano.

"It's a brand new case~! The guys upstairs were just telling me that you should get on this ASAP," the Italian reported with a smile. Alfred looked at him blankly. Then he chuckled nervously.

"What was my line again?" Alfred asked, looking off to where the director was. She sighed heavily and leafed through the script (they only heard it, since everyone was in shadow).

"Look through the case file and say, 'Huh. Sounds like a case for a telepath.'" From the top!" the director shouted. They sighed and went back to their places. "Home Security Failure scene 1, take 3. ACTION!"

"It's a brand new case~! The guys upstairs were just telling me that you should get on this ASAP," Veneziano reported with a smile. Alfred looked through the case file.

"You did take your meds, right?"

"ALFRED!" the director shouted. Alfred gave her an innocent look.

"What?"

*

"Alfred-san, your brother is getting married to Ivan," Kiku said in a monotone voice. Alfred stayed asleep for some odd reason. They glanced at each other.

"…He didn't…" Arthur trailed off when the director came onstage and dumped a bucket of water on the American. He coughed and scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

"You were asleep for this scene…AGAIN. Take this seriously, damn it!" the director said in frustration as she walked off stage. Everyone else just sighed and got back into their places (if they moved). "Let's try this again. Home Security Failure scene 2, take 115. ACTION!"

"Alfred-san, your brother is getting married to Ivan," Kiku said in a monotone voice. Alfred didn't even raise his head.

"Better him than me!" was the American's response.

"ALFRED!" the director shouted…again. Alfred raised his head and gave her an innocent look…again.

"What?"

"STICK TO THE SCRIPT!"

*

"So, it's possible that her boyfriend is behind the murder. Why are we bothering with him?" the man asked, tilting his head slightly. Alfred was silent for a while.

"Uh…I forget. Why are we bothering with him?" Alfred asked the director. She face palmed, although the other two couldn't see that.

"If you have to, improvise your damn lines!" she hissed at him. The blond American gave her the thumbs up, although something told her that he was going to pull something. "Home Security Failure scene 3, take 20. ACTION!"

"So, it's possible that her boyfriend is behind the murder. Why are we bothering with him?" Arthur asked, tilting his head slightly. The young American was staring blankly at him before he stood up and walked toward the Briton. That was when Alfred kissed Arthur full on.

"Why am I even bothering any more?" the director asked herself as the two actors started a long make-out session. She sighed.

Being a director and author at the same time sucked.