Secret Santa 2009 - Christmas Date [1/4]
Title: Christmas Date
Author: faeriesnook
Recipient: smrtypantz
Characters/Pairings: America, England, USUK, mentions of others
Rating: PG
Summary: Prompt: “Alfred wants to take Arthur out on a special date, so he decides to show him the beauty of NYC, perhaps during the winter holiday season”.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Hetalia in anyway shape or form. But I do love its creator for making history so much more interesting!
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It had all started with a simple, snow white rose seated on the table top, right in front of Arthur’s chair during one of their many world conferences on November 24th. At first, he had been convinced that it was from Francis. One of the frog’s ever annoying flirtatious moves, and he had been fully prepared to chuck the white rose at the Frenchman. Ignoring that the other Nation seemed just as surprised by the flower as Arthur was. It wasn’t until he spied the simple tag hanging from the stem, with such familiar, sloppy hand writing that he blushed.
Christmas Date on December 24th? - Alfred
He reread the tag, trying to fight down his blush (as well as ignore Francis’s snickering). Looking around the other Nations milling about, waiting for the meeting to start, he spotted a familiar blond Nation. Alfred was off to the side, his back to Arthur, speaking with Kiku. The Japanese man was nodding, before peeking past the American at Arthur. And had he not known the darker haired Nation for so long, he would have sworn he saw the man roll dark eyes at how Alfred was acting. He said something, no doubt relaying Arthur’s reaction to the now fidgeting American. Arthur could not stop the small smile that tugged at the corners of his scowl, idly brushing his fingers.
It wasn’t as if Alfred could not be romantic. In fact, there were times where the annoying git could be incredibly romantic. But, hardly ever when it came to asking Arthur out. Generally, the American would just come bouncing over, whining about being hungry, or wanting to do something, and in the end, dragging Arthur out; or at least something similar to that. It was only on their anniversary that Alfred would particularly go out of his way (like leaving a flower on Arthur’s desk) to ask the Brit out romantically.
Was an anniversary coming up? No, Arthur would remember that for sure. He always did. And it wasn’t his birthday, or anything else special. So why was the American asking him? And asking a month early no doubt!
Had Alfred done something that would anger Arthur? And this was just the pre-emptive apology? That wouldn’t be too unlikely. But for some reason, Arthur doubted it.
Shaking his head, he walked over to the fidgeting super power, giving him one of his small, barely noticeable smiles. Alfred returned it with one of his normal grins, though Arthur could see the bit of apprehension behind it. Kiku smiled at them both, excusing himself as he went to speak with Feliciano and Ludwig (though Arthur did not miss the small, supportive, pat on the arm the Japanese man gave Alfred before he left). For a moment they stood quietly, before Arthur allowed his smile to be a bit more noticeable, nodding his head and agreeing to the date (tucking away the question of why it had to be a month in advance). The look on Alfred’s face made his chest warm. The American’s entire face had lit up, the younger Nation sweeping him up into a bone crushing hug, ignoring Arthur’s squawks of protests knowing very well that they were just for show.
And after a minute, Arthur returned the boisterous blonds hug.
And so, a month had passed. Albeit, a bit too slowly for his liking. Alfred had done a remarkably good job at keeping the entire date a secret, Arthur only managing to find out that they would be going to New York City, on Christmas Eve. That was a disaster waiting to happen if Arthur ever heard one…
But then he would see the excited look on his partners face, and any complaints would die away. Sure, Alfred often looked like an excited puppy. But this look… It was different. Arthur didn’t know how but it was different. Very different. And Arthur just could not place how it was.
And so the unbearably slow month passed. Arthur occasionally ease dropping on Alfred’s hushed conversations with Francis or Antonio, though somehow they would always know he was present, and the conversation would be dropped. And he couldn’t help but feel a bit concerned over these conversations. After all, Francis’s advice was just… And Antonio just hated Arthur after the whole Armada business (though, in retrospect, that had been the Spaniard’s own bloody fault). Seeing that sight always made him dread what Alfred was planning. Though he did feel a bit relieved when Feliciano bounced over to him one day (when he had been glaring particularly harshly at the three) and told him that Alfred had been going to all of the Nations known for their knowledge of love for advice. Meaning more than just Francis and Antonio. He had even asked Feliciano and Lovino respectively. That had eased his concerns, a bit. And then the Italian went on, talking about how he had told Alfred to take Arthur to a nice Italian restaurant to eat some pasta; which, naturally, went into a tangent that the Briton tuned out after the first minute.
And Arthur couldn’t help but actually be amazed that Alfred was able to keep the date a complete secret. Generally, the American could never keep a secret, especially from Arthur. He had actually expected Alfred to cave, to tell him the next day, or week. And yet, Arthur was still completely in the dark, Alfred just smiling impishly at him each time the Island Nation casually tried to find out what they would do.
He was left wondering, right up to the morning of the 24th, anxiously smoothing out his green sweater vest as he waited for Alfred to come out into the living room area. He had been staying with the American in his small apartment in the City this year, as it was only fair. Last year they had spent the holiday in Arthur’s London flat. And the Briton had to endure listening to Alfred commenting about missing all the cities lights, decorations and most notably, his precious tree at Rockefeller Center. Arthur was sure that would most likely be one of their stops today. And if it wasn’t, well, Arthur would just have to insist on going to it for Alfred’s sake.
Glancing back at the hall, he grumbled, wondering what was taking the American so long to get ready. He wanted to get going. He wanted to finally know what they would be doing. He swore, Alfred was taking his precious time on purpose, to drive Arthur up the wall. Turning pointedly away from the hallway, he moved to fix his tie. And it was right when he began to do so, that arms snaked around his waist, a small kiss brushing against his neck. A small shiver ran down the sandy blonds’ spine, Arthur turning his head to catch Alfred’s lips with a small chaste kiss. When they broke away, he was met with his boyfriend’s blinding smile, Alfred hugging him close for another moment. “Ready to go?”
“I’ve been ready for hours.” He commented, giving a small scowl. “You are the one who has been taking his bloody time. What were you doing? Fixing your make up?”
“Yup, can’t’cha tell?” Came the teasing retort, Alfred grinning from ear to ear as he broke away, walking to the closet and opening the door to retrieve their coats and scarves. Arthur took his offered dark gray pea coat, shrugging it on before wrapping an emerald green tartan scarf around his neck. He glanced to the American to his left, Alfred already in his bloody bomber jacket, a blue checkered scarf around his neck. There was a look of unease on the others face, his hands tucked into his black slacks. However, when Alfred seemed to notice Arthur staring, the look of unease faded into a bright grin, hands leaving his pockets and offering one to Arthur. “Let’s get a move on! Places to go!”
PART TWO >>>