WOOWWWWWWW! I've been gone for WAY too long… I missed you guys! Fo shizzle, I did. Ok, well here's the long awaited update that is WAY too short, but it's all I have to give for now. You would not believe how busy I've been. School + work +having a broken limb in a cast for six weeks around the holidays = SUCKS MONKEY BUTTS! Anyway, I'll continue to be busy for awhile. It sucks… But I'll be trying to update as much as possible. The updates just might be more spread out than I hoped. Anyway, I think that this story will be wrapped up in about 10 to 15 chapters. Exciting, right? But also kinda sad that it's coming to an end… Anyway, I have so many things planned! More multi-chaps for when this and 'Definition' are through, and one-shots! So many one-shots! All UKUS/USUK!
Anyway, my New Years' resolution was to reply to reviews again, staring with this chapter. (As well as swearing less… not an easy task.) Because I really do love talking to you guys! I just get SO FRIGGEN' BUSY!
Also, I recently read the most amazing USUK one-shot called 'I Only Have Eyes For You' by ananion. It's sooo good. And I am appalled it only had 2 reviews. One being mine. She's a new author and I know you guys would love her story and any future works. So please, give her fic some love! Tell her I sent her if you want, or don't. I don't know. Just please read and review her story, it really deserves much more recognition. Ananion is very talented, and if you love USUK/UKUS, then you'll love the 'I Only Have Eyes For You.'
Ok, my little advertisement is done.
And THANK YOU soooo much for the messages you all sent about my broken wrist! It was so nice! Thanks so much! It's all better now, by the way!
Now then, onto the chapter!
Chapter Eighteen: Please pick up, Alfred
The violent buzzing vibrations of his cell phone against his night stand slowly woke Arthur up. Lazily, he lifted his head from his pillow, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and the headache from his cranium. He groaned, why did someone have to call or text so early? If it was Francis, he'd kill him. He liked having the apartment to himself while the Frog visited Matthew in Canada.
Reaching over, he could hear the cracking of his stiff limbs. He grimaced slightly and picked up his cellular device and unplugged it from its charger.
"'Ello?" He greeted groggily, not even bothering to check the caller ID to see who it was, or even to see if it was indeed an incoming call or just a text.
Luckily for Arthur though, it was a call.
"Hey Arthur; I'm sorry for waking you."
A call from Matthew no less. Well that was certainly odd.
Arthur and Matthew rarely conversed without Francis or Alfred around, and even though they had exchanged numbers, they hadn't so much as texted one another. So getting a call from the boy was certainly… odd.
"Matthew?" It was all Arthur could really get out at the moment as he fought a yawn that was threatening to escape his lips.
"Yeah… Uhm… uh is this a… a bad time?" Arthur immediately recognized the worried tone in Matthew's voice and wondered what had happened.
"N-no. No its not. What is it? Did something happen?" Arthur asked, fully sitting up in his bed. He looked over to check the time on his alarm clock. It wasn't even eight am yet. Looking away worriedly, Arthur began to think that maybe something could've happened to Francis. Why else would Matthew call HIM?
"Yea… eh no… well… that's just it. We don't know…." Matthew trailed off, his voice going very soft and quiet, causing Arthur having to strain his ears to hear the boy.
"What are you talking about, Matthew?" Arthur pressed, really starting to feel the concern bubble and stab in his chest.
Matthew let out a sigh and there was a pause at his end before he began to speak again.
"Ha-… Have you seen or heard from Alfred recently?" Matthew's voice, if even possible, had become even more soft and quiet than Arthur had ever heard it before.
"I haven't heard from Alfred since…" Arthur paused as he tried to remember exactly when he last had been in contact with the aspiring actor.
"Since the twenty seventh I think… he called me while he was at the airport." Arthur once again looked over to his nightstand, this time to check his mini calendar for today's date. It was the 30th.
Before Matthew replied, Arthur could hear a faint curse coming from the Canadian American's mouth.
"The last I've heard from him was the twenty eighth... And no one else has heard from or seen him since he left for Japan… Alfred won't answer any calls or respond to any texts or emails or messages."
Matthew fell silent again, and Arthur could feel his throat close up.
"I'm worried, Arthur…"
Alfred was missing.
In an attempt to stay calm, Arthur began to slow his breathing, and took long deep breaths.
"Aww, I'm sorry, Arthur! Your boyfriend's missing!"
Arthur shook his head, ignoring the voice. Not now. Now was definitely not the time.
"What about his boyfriend. Ki-… Kiku. Surely he's with Alfred, yes?" Arthur asked this, not even attempting to hide the hopeful tone in his voice.
"No… I called Kiku. Alfred isn't with him… apparently Alfred never showed up in Japan."
When the Brit didn't reply, Matthew spoke up again.
"My dad is tracking Alfred's card, but he hasn't made any transactions. Apparently Alfred emptied out all the cash in his account… and… the airport has no record of him boarding any flights…" Matthew trailed off as other voices came into the background. Arthur recognized one as Francis'.
"Hold on…" Matthew mumbled, and turned away from the phone, but Arthur could still hear, clearly, what they were saying. Anxiously, Arthur pressed the phone to his hear, and tried to calm his breathing.
"Have you guys found anything?"
"Non, mon ami. I'm sorry."
Arthur could hear Matthew sigh, before turning back to the Brit on the phone.
"Well, if you hear or see him around the city…"
"I'll notify you immediately."
"Thank you…"
There was a long pause and a soft mumbled goodbye, before the dial tone was all Arthur could hear. He pressed his hand to his forehead and clutched his phone to his chest and groaned. This was not how he expected his day to start out.
Exhaling a heavy breath, he looked done at his phone and dialed a number he was embarrassed to d
"Come on, Alfred… pick up." Arthur begged as he heard the digital ring. Holding his breath, hoping the blue eyed boy would pick up.
"Hey, this isn't Alfred, but an intelligent machine designed to sound like him, record your message, and give it to him so he may call you back. So leave a message at the…" *BEEP*
Arthur rolled his eyes at the idiotic message.
"Git, where are you? Everyone's worried… please, just… just pick up the phone, Alfred…" Arthur paused for a long moment, silently praying for Alfred's voice to come from the other end of the call.
"Pick up, Alfred… pick up… please… pick up your phone…"
Three Days Ago
"Passport?"
"Check."
"I.D.?"
"Check…"
"Credit card?"
"Ugh… Check…"
"Ok… Fresh underwear?"
"YES! Check! Come on, Dad, we went through the check list last night, and this morning before we left. I'm all set, ok?" Alfred plastered on a convincing smile, hiding any nervousness or anxiety he was feeling and hoping to convince his father. Rodney smiled and nodded, pulling Alfred into a hug.
"Be safe and have fun. I'm gonna miss you kid…" Giving one last squeeze, the two separated.
"I'll miss you too, Dad."
"Right, well… I'm gonna pull the car around and leave you and Matt to say your goodbyes." Rodney gave Alfred's shoulder a squeeze before walking off to the exit in the airport. Matthew watched their father walk away before turning to Alfred with a reassuring smile. Alfred, however, did not feel reassured, and once he was sure his father was out of sight, dropped his happy façade.
"I can't do this Mattie! Kiku's gonna hate me…" Alfred said, wring his hands together. Matthew shook his head, and firmly placed his hands on his brother's shoulders. With determination, he looked Alfred right in the eyes.
"You can do this, Al. You have to; it's the right thing to do. If Kiku really loves you, he'll understand." Matthew said his voice firm and sure. Alfred took comfort in his brother's strength, knowing he'd have his brother's support no matter what happened. But it didn't make him any more confidant in what he would have to tell his boyfriend when he got to Japan.
"Yeah… yeah, you're right." Alfred said, not very convincingly. Matthew sighed; his brother was never good with conflict. He knew if Alfred wasn't prompted to do so, he would've kept quiet about his "fling" with Antonio.
"It will be FINE. Trust me. When have I ever steered you wrong? Now then, you should get through security now so you have some time to find your flight." Alfred smiled at this.
"You're just like Dad…" Matthew rolled his eyes, but kept his smile nonetheless.
"You'll call us when you land, right?"
"Of course. I'll miss you."
"Miss you too… Dad's probably waiting, so I'll let you go." The twins hugged before separating, smiling at each other one last time, a silent goodbye in their eyes before both finally turned and made their way to the designations. Alfred to the security check, and Matthew to their dad's truck.
Airports were too busy and too overpriced in Alfred's opinion. It was bullshit. They wouldn't let you bring any food or liquids past the security check so you were forced to purchase their insanely priced waters, sodas, and food.
'It's criminal.' Alfred thinks as he bites into $4 cookie and sips his $2.50 bottle of water. The cookie wasn't even that big.
Sighing, he scarfed the rest of the cookie and slumped in his seat. He was too nervous. His flight left in a little over an hour, and he was dreading the moment he'd step on that plane. Once he was on, that was it. No going back.
Shuddering, he took out his phone and scrolled through his contacts, pressing Arthur's number, he held the phone against his ear.
"Hello?" Alfred smiled, relieved to hear the British accent.
"Arthur, hey! Just wanted to call before I left the continent…" Alfred was sure to keep his words steady and even so Arthur wouldn't get suspicious.
"Oh, well, is your flight leaving soon, then?"
"Yeah, I'm at the airport now, my flight boards in like… half an hour. So uh… what's up with you? Any plans to ring in the New Year?"
"Well I got that promotion I told you about. Found out earlier today. As for New Years, I'll be 'ringing' it up in New Jersey, visiting my mum. Exciting, I know…" Arthur chuckled as he said this, and Alfred could hear the smile in the Brits' voice. It made him relax and calm down.
"That's great, Arthur! Congrats! Have fun in New Jersey." Alfred said, his voice picking up a teasing tone as he said the last part, making the 'New Jersey' part sound distasteful. Arthur scoffed.
"There's absolutely nothing wrong with New Jersey, you prick."
Alfred laughed.
"I know, I'm just joshing you. You're too easy, Arthur…" Alfred could hear Arthur mumble a 'git' before continuing.
"Anyway, I should get going… Thanks for talking to me. I'll see you when I get back, right?"
"It was no problem; you can talk to me anytime, Alfred. And yes, I'll see you when you get back. Bye."
"Bye." Alfred hung up the phone and sighed.
Now what?
He'd just get on the plane, go to Japan, tell Kiku the horrible secret he's kept from him since the beginning of their relationship, betray his trust, lose his respect, and his love?
No… No, that wouldn't happen. Matthew was right, Kiku loved him enough to understand and get through this with him.
But… What if he wasn't right about Kiku? Matthew wasn't ALWAYS eight. He did say that "this whole vampire thing will never catch on. Trust me, this will be 'Twilight's' first and ONLY movie. Trust me." And look how that turned out.
'I…'
Alfred stood and grabbed his carry on. He swiftly turned in the opposite direction of his flight and bolted down the terminal.
'I can't do this.'
He halted his steps when he spotted an ATM. Quickly he took out his card and emptied out the money in his account. Good. This would be enough for whatever or wherever he needed to go or do.
'I'm sorry, Kiku.'
Present day
"Please, Alfred… just pick up, you git…" Arthur sighed, finally hanging up after leaving a two minute long message of him pleading the other to pick up his phone.
Where could that idiot have gone? Why would he go?
"What if he was taken?" Arthur murmured to himself. His eyes widened. What if Alfred was kidnapped and thrown into a world of drugs and sexual abuse and someone was selling him as a sex slave?
Arthur shook the thoughts from his head. No, that was stupid. That was the plot to the movie 'Taken.'
'Where ever he is, he better be ok…'
Arthur looked out the window in his room and for the first time since he woke up, noticed that it was raining. Arthur scoffed.
'How fitting.'
Sorry if the grammar and spelling was bad. I suck at editing my own stuff… Bleh. So yeah. Hoped you all liked it and I hope it wasn't too disappointing.
Remember to check out ananion's USUK/UKUS one-shot 'I Only Have Eyes For You' you will not regret it, I swear!
Where do you think Alfred is? Hmmm?