[Fanfic] And All That Jazz 7/?

[hoshiko2]

Title: And All That Jazz
Pairings: Alfred (US)/ Arthur (UK)
Characters: America and England with special appearance of Taiwan
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Delicious UST and a crying America
Summary: Alfred is approached by the Student Body President, Arthur, for help on his math exam. They hate each other, but maybe opposites can attract with the help of something unexpected.
This chapter: Sometimes, the things you want to hear the most, turn out to be the worst.


Things at school were never predictable, but I could always count on my officers in the Student Body to be so. However, when I came into the office Tuesday morning and found Kiku wasn't there, I was caught off guard. No one knew where he was, but figured he was sick. I remembered seeing him briefly yesterday after the fight had broken up, but he didn't look ill. Then again, I was only at school for less than two hours before I went home. And then to the hospital.

My parents threatened to "sue the pants off of those bloody Yanks", but I calmed them down. With my graduation in a few weeks, I'd prefer the matter drop entirely. Again, I was told how lucky I was that nothing terrible had happened to me. Nothing terrible, huh? Aside from the fact I was the laughing stock of the school, American jocks were taking swipes at my face and my boyfriend could become violently enraged, yeah, nothing too terrible.

The doctor checked my chest first and found many bruises, but nothing broken. My face, though, fared far worse. I had a disgusting black eye and my cheek had gotten a nasty cut from Smith's nails. Judging from the terrible ringing in my ears I'd say the bastard got a few punches in that area too. The doctor slapped a gauze over the cut on my face and sent me home.

Alfred called that night, but couldn't talk for long. He said his parents now knew about our relationship as well, but could care less. I was relieved that they hadn't taken it the wrong way, but that didn't save him for his punishment. With him home for a week that meant he'd be home with his father for a week.

So it didn't surprise me in the least that he threw rocks at my window Monday night, begging to come up and be with me, if only for a few hours. I laughed, calling him clingy because he couldn't bear to be away from me for a day, but I knew the real reason. I could see it in the limp Alfred now sported.

"I fell," he lied.

I looked away. I wasn't sure how much longer these lies could continue, but I really couldn't push him. He had just saved me so I owed him. I'd give him kisses and a distraction from his home life instead.

I always thought that Alfred just hid his fights with his father, nothing else. He was always so open and bold with his intentions with me, especially when he pushed me onto my bed and claimed my mouth. I had to remind him that not only did that hurt from my bruised ribs, but my parents were home. He changed course and talked about nothing while I listened.

But in our entire time together last night, he never once mentioned that something else had happened after the fight ended. Another one had just begun.

"Um, are you Arthur Kirkland?"

I turned to the voice asking for me. I was just tidying up my desk as class had gotten out. A tiny Asian girl with long black hair stood before me. Her one curly strand gave her away as to who she was.

"Meiling, right?" I stared. "If I remember correctly you're Kiku's girlfriend."

She nodded. "Yes… I'm her."

"If you're looking for Kiku, I haven't seen him."

This time, she shook her head. "No, I know he's at home. And he's not sick. He's upset."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why? Did something happen?"

"He's so upset because of Alfred." She started to play with her hair as she looked at her feet. She glanced up at me. "You…do know about this, right?"

I must have looked as confused as I felt. Meiling looked at me in shock. "You mean, Alfred didn't tell you?"

Slowly, I shook my head as realization hit me. While it wasn't a flat out lie, Alfred had still hid the truth from me. I wasn't sure what hurt more; a lie or a hidden truth.

"Alfred and Kiku got into a huge fight after those football guys beat you up," Meiling continued. "Kiku went to get the Principal to stop the fight, only… I think Kiku told the Principal that Alfred started it, though. Alfred took this as a betrayal and fought back. Now they won't even speak to each other."

"Oh bloody hell!" I exclaimed. I ran a hand through my hair. "This is ridiculous! Kiku knows Alfred wouldn't start a fight with his own mates."

"I think Kiku was scared," Meiling mumbled in a half-hearted attempt to defend her boyfriend.

So I defended mine right back. "Spare me. Even if Alfred was really as angry as people are making it out to be, that gives Kiku no right to point fingers at Alfred. If Kiku had fully understood the situation, he'd know that."

"He did understand it, though." Meiling looked at me in a challenging way. Such a sweet looking girl; it startled me to see her begin to look even remotely threatening. But, as I learned yesterday, you just couldn't tell with people. "But people get scared. You weren't scared of Alfred?"

I hesitated. If I were to be honest, yes, yes I was quite scared. But, I was also touched. No one had ever fought to protect me before. And it wasn't like anyone watching nearby even tried to stop the brawl. They just stood back and watched, waiting to see if it would go too far.

"No," I replied. I stood up quickly, startling Meiling as my chair hit the desk behind me. "Excuse me."

I marched out of the room, no longer wanting to be a part of this conversation. It would go down roads I'd rather not explore, although, my mind had already wandered down a violently angry pathway. I could handle Alfred hiding troubles at home. I convinced myself he only did that because he didn't want to be sad while around me and wanted me to be a source of comfort. But hiding a fight with his best friend from me? That, I couldn't stomach.

During lunch, I slipped into the boy's bathroom to call Alfred on my mobile. Three tries later and I gave up hope. I only hoped it was just his reception was too terrible for him to be reached. He certainly wasn't ignoring my calls or was in danger from his father.

For the remainder of the day I continued to lie to myself that everything was fine. "Just fine", as Alfred would tell me.

As soon as I got home, a note was there to greet me. My parents had a dinner meeting and would be home late so I was to fend for myself. With a sigh, I tried calling Alfred again and trudged into the kitchen. This day had not gone well. All day long, people gave me stares, sarcastically asking if I were all right, or not making eye contact with me. I threw my book bag down in resentment, as if it were the cause of all my problems.

Feeling particularly parched, I put on a tea kettle, waiting for it to boil, when there was a knock at my door. I let out a growl-like sigh. I wasn't in the mood to deal with people.

"Hello!" Alfred chirped when I opened the door.

My mouth fell open in surprise. "Al-Alfred! Why didn't you answer your mobile? I called four times today."

"Four?" He pulled his phone from the back pocket of his jeans. "Oh, so you did. Sorry, I never check this thing."

With a roll of my eyes, I pulled Alfred inside. "Then why do you even have the bloody thing?"

"Emergency reasons. Say, you got any food?" Without waiting for me to correct his grammar, he was off and into my kitchen. How could he move so fast with a limp?

I followed in fear for what little food there was still in the refrigerator, and there he was with his head in there. Alfred let out a satisfied noise as he retracted his head, holding a can of Coke in his hands. He smiled at me brightly.

"Do you put these in here for me now?" he asked. I nodded, watching as he cracked open the can. "Thanks Artie!"

He dipped his head back and chugged it as if his life depended on it. I watched his Adam's apple bob up and down, waiting for him to come back up for air. He finished with a loud, contented sigh, wiped his mouth on the back of his hand, and put the can on the counter.

"So why did you call me today?" he finally asked.

My arms instantly hugged themselves, as if I were cold. But I wasn't. My face was red and I had to look away. "When were you going to tell me about you and Kiku?"

There came that awkward silence that split us in two whenever Alfred was about to lie. He took a quick sip of nothing in the empty can. "What do you mean?"

"You two had an argument?" I offered. "It's all over school and everyone, but me, knew."

Alfred gave a nervous smile, but turned away from me. "Ah, it's stupid. I didn't want to bother you about it."

"Bo-bother me?" I stuttered. "How could it bother me? I was worried about you all day."

Alfred turned around, waving the soda can. "See! I worried you!"

"Alfred, that's what your boyfriend does," I started. "Care about you. I wouldn't say I love you if I didn't worry and care for you when you were upset or bothered."

He began to pace around the room. I glanced at his leg, anxious about it. "No, it's just stupid. Kiku was a fucking idiot."

"Alfred!"

"No! He was! How could he just run off to the Principal like that and say I was going to kill someone?" He looked to me, seeing how shocked I was. Well, no one had said that. "I bet they didn't tell you that, did they? Everyone made Kiku out to be the good guy, but really he stabbed me in the back! So I fought back! He treated me like some monster when I was just protecting my boyfriend and SHIT!"

He slammed his hand holding the soda onto the counter and then flung the smashed can across the air so it hit the wall. I jumped back, my eyes wide. Alfred continued to pace, his hands in his hair, until he went to get another soda. I waited, saying nothing, hoping he'd calm down in some way that didn't involve me mucking up the situation any more than I already had. The tea kettle had started to hiss from the seam so I moved to turn off the stove.

Just like that, he was back to normal. He turned to me, the soda can to his lips, and smiled. It was a rather devious smile.

"What?" he asked. "Why're you looking at me that way?"

I blinked at him. "That way? Which way are you speaking of?"

Alfred slunk up towards me, causing me to take a few steps back. I was still slightly surprised by his outburst and unsure of his temper for the time being. He looked stable, but if I said one thing wrong he could explode in anger. I'd prefer to not be like that poor can, mercilessly flung to the wall after being smashed. The lad didn't know his own strength.

Suddenly I found myself against the counter. I stopped, but Alfred kept coming. He put his hands on both sides of me, his sly little smirk widening. My hands went up to stop him, resting on his chest. Surprisingly, his heart was beating fast, though I highly doubted it was because of our close proximity, but rather, from his tantrum a moment earlier.

He moved his leg between mine causing me to gasp. His arms wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me to his lips. Then, I started to think that Alfred was possibly bi-polar. First he was smashing soda cans and cursing out his best friend, the next he was pushing his leg between my crotch and kissing my neck. Oh God, he was kissing my neck.

I sighed, my fingers crawling up his jacket sleeve by the nails, and, cursing inwardly, arched my head back so he could have more access to my skin. Yes, take it all. Anything to make you calm down and not hit-

"Arthur," he whispered. I could feel his lips close around a spot near my artery and suck, teeth pulling at my skin in a lustfully playful manner. And damn if my legs didn't spread open for him.

His arms slid down around my waist, picking me up the moment my arms were around his neck. A noise of surprise escaped me. Alfred started to stumble out of the room, holding me, and my legs dangled. While normally, I'd blush at the reminder that I was a little shorter than the younger boy, I found myself blushing at something completely different. And that, I didn't mind, for once.

"Are your…parents…home…?" he whispered breathlessly.

I shook my head. "No…but… I don't expect you…to carry me up the stairs this way."

I must have been bi-polar as well. One moment I was in fear of Alfred, the next I was encouraging him to carry me up the stairs and ravage me on my bed. My father had said no sex in the house, but I thought it better that he meant as long as they were home. I knew Alfred had too as he flipped me up and into his arms far too easily for my taste. Yes, he certainly didn't know his own strength.

I yelped out in surprise. While it was probably a lot more comfortable to be carried wedding-style up the stairs, it certainly lacked in masculinity status for me. I beat at his chest in feeble attempts to put me down, but he merely kicked my door open and moved inside. For a moment, I wondered if he'd toss me onto the bed, rip my clothes off, and literally jump me. That'd be semi-romantic; Alfred was a larger boy compared to me and I think my body would protest to having him jump on me. But the tossing and ripping of my clothes would be rather breath taking.

Sadly, there was no tossing or ripping. He set me down on my feet and kissed me deeply, his hands on my face. I cupped the back of his neck, my fingers in his hair. We stumbled back towards my bed until the back of my legs connected with the mattress. He lightly pushed me back, pulling first his glasses off, then his jacket and finally his shirt.

I frowned at the sight. The same scar I had seen Saturday was there, a perfect slice across his midriff. But there were plenty of healthy new bruises littering his sides and ribs. Suddenly, I felt awful for having ever mentioned my own injuries.

He came for me, all lustful eyes and aching hands, grabbing me and holding me close to his bare chest. I gasped in surprise, but welcomed it. I could hear the back of my mind scolding me for my easy actions, but there was something wrong. I could see it in Alfred's eyes. He was deeply troubled by Kiku's actions and by my attack the day before. And he wanted comfort from me.

It was nice to be wanted.

But suddenly, it got worse. Alfred clung to me, almost painfully. I hissed out, uncomfortable at his nails digging into me and the tight hold he had on my bruised torso. His lips were on my neck, biting me.

" 'on't…'ave me…," he mumbled. I strained to hear what he was saying. "Don't… leave me… Don't leave me… Don't go away…"

My eyebrows scrunched up in confusion. "Alfred? What're you talking about? I'm not leaving you."

"Don't." There. His voice cracked. I pushed him up off me and saw he was crying.

"Alfred!" I exclaimed in surprise. I moved for a tissue, but he held me.

It was as if I was a security blanket or a child's favorite plush. He cried into my shoulder, muttering the same phrase, while I sat there, rubbing his back and trying my best to soothe him. I had never seen Alfred more emotional, save for yesterday. But here he was. So even heroes like him cried.

My mind celebrated the fact he was actually trusting me enough with this type of behavior and I silently wished he was about to reveal to me what was wrong with home. But that was a horrible thought, wasn't it? "Just let it out," I whispered, ignoring that thought.

"Matt…He's…," Alfred chocked.

"What's wrong with Matthew?" My alarm was present on my face as I moved to look Alfred in the eyes. I wiped away his tears with my thumbs.

Alfred's lower lip trembled as he looked at me. Because his glasses were off, his blue eyes were much brighter. I could see everything in them. His fear, his weakness, his vulnerability. He was completely open to me. I could ask now. Ask and I'd receive, right? But at what cost? If Alfred finally felt he was able to trust me, I couldn't make the mistake and hurt him, making him scared to never open up to me again.

There was thin string connecting us that, most days, I felt as if I were the only one keeping a tight hold of. If I did anything that could jeopardize that string, where would we be?

No, I just took him in my arms and listened. Our thin thread just couldn't take a hit. It might not survive.

"My parents are divorcing," Alfred mumbled into my shoulder. I silently gasped, but said nothing. "They…they just can't take it anymore… But…they…They're splitting us up…"

I felt Alfred's nails dig into my shirt as he shuddered a cry into me. He and Matthew would be parting for the first time in their life. They had grown up together as twins and now.

"Are they moving far apart?" I asked, fearing that Alfred would move away.

My heart plummeted when Alfred nodded. "And…I won't…see Matt anymore… Only holidays and maybe a few weekends or something."

I began to think of my life without Alfred. It terrified me. He was always such a presence, even before we dated. Somehow, he would find ways to torture me, be it with a childish comment that sent my temper flaring or from his tongue in my mouth that sent my vital regions flaring. As if on instinct, I clung to Alfred in a vain attempt to keep him from leaving my arms.

He couldn't move.

"Mom's moving to at least two hours away," Alfred continued and I returned from my thoughts. "She wanted me, but…"

"But?" I hung to that word of hope.

"I…I told them I'd stay with dad."

Something in my heart snapped. I was torn between feeling relief Alfred wasn't moving away and pain that he had chosen to stay with the man that physically hurt him. Why would he put himself in that kind of danger? Then I remembered the previous day; Alfred had come charging in like some hero and protected me. He had probably been protecting Matthew his entire life. This wouldn't be any different.

"I did it…because I couldn't…be away from you." Alfred moved as my heart stammered in my chest so hard I think I went a little dizzy. He brushed back my bangs to stare at me.

"M-me?" I whispered.

He nodded. "And the band… We're just getting popular… I… want this to grow… You're the best thing to happen to me. I don't want to give it up after everything we've been through…"

I couldn't help the girlie smile that spread across my lips. Again, I kicked myself that I was so easily enraptured by this boy, but could you blame me? The way he stared, the powerful words he so easily expressed, and the mystery behind him was enough to make anyone stay in his arms.

And so I stayed.

It was a short while later that Alfred had managed to calm down. I got some water from downstairs and had ordered us some pizza. After such an emotional drain, neither of us were up to any sort of meal that required utensils. Alfred had redressed and was sitting on my bed, looking out the window that was opposite my bed. I caught myself staring as the light from the sunset had fallen across his face, masking all of his features in a heavenly gold.

His eyes were intently looking at the tree just out my window. I noticed two birds resting in a nest. Somehow, I knew Alfred was staring at them.

"We'll have to get a new member that can play a string instrument," Alfred said suddenly. He turned to smile at me with a knowingly smile. That damn fool knew I had been watching him.

Instead of making a scene, I came fully into the room. Trying to ignore the heat on my face, I handed Alfred the glass of water. "Well, there is always Roderich. He's awfully talented and very clever in music."

"Yeah!" Alfred's eyes lit up. He hadn't put back on his glasses so, again, those eyes. So intense. "And maybe we can ask him to write some of our songs! Like, we have the words down and all, but putting them together. None of us are really that well educated on it, ya know?"

I nodded, seeing, but not really looking at, something in my room. "That's why I'm going to take classes for writing music at college."

"You are?" While I couldn't see it, I knew there was a bright smile on Alfred's face. I knew because it had spread to mine. "Artie, that's so great!"

And there went the smile. "What did I tell you about calling me that?"

"That you love it." Alfred pulled me into his lap. I didn't fuss about the action, but I did about his idea of me giving any indication of ever once "loving" that nickname. I turned away so my back was to Alfred. He didn't mind as it gave him the perfect chance to hold me as if I really were some toy.

"My name is rather regal, thank you very much. I'd prefer it if you didn't change it into some colloquial word, especially that of some pet name." I took pride in the moments I could be insufferably British.

Alfred only laughed. "Yes, King Arthur. But I'm not making it…whatever you said. I'm just making it intimate. I'm the only one who can call you Artie, which makes it special. Isn't that better than 'regal'?"

I said nothing as I watched the sunset. While he had a point, I still didn't like the nickname. Then I'd have to give him one and I really hated pet names. But Alfred said no more, choosing to hold me close and rub my arms rather than speak.

It was there that I felt at peace. I may not know everything about Alfred, but it felt like we had taken a step forward with each other. My only hope was that Alfred could now see that I was someone whom he could trust.

Hoshiko2's cents: SO HIDE YOUR PEPSI, HIDE YOUR COKE, AND HIDE YOUR MT. DEW! /shot

Arthur can't even capture all of Alfred's eyes on his camera. SO INTENSE! /shot again

Before anyone goes off saying, "Alfred was so quick and Arthur was too easy!" I want you guys to remember something. Alfred was extremely emotionally upset. People can either be very closed off or very affectionate when they get this way (at least, that's what I've learned in my experience). Alfred is the type that becomes affectionate. And Arthur is trying to do whatever Alfred wants to keep the status quo. If he won't press Alfred for details of home, then he won't about a fight with him and Kiku. He'd rather just open his legs for him instead. :P

I hope someone out there has started to notice a parallel I've done with history and this AU. 3

One last bit, I'm starting an FST for this fic. COME ON IT'S JAZZ AND HETALIA! I TOTALLY HAD TO DO THIS! Now, this is my first FST ever, so I'm totally clueless on what songs to include. A few songs you guys recommended to me when I asked for 'em earlier are already under consideration, so no need to send the same ones. However, if you know any really good jazz songs that you want to see go in, please don't hesitate to send them my way. But no La Vie en Rose. That's already in. ;3