[Fanfic] And All That Jazz 14/?

[hoshiko2]

Title: And All That Jazz
Pairings: Alfred (US)/ Arthur (UK)
Characters: America and England
Rating: M
Warnings: Sex
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: Arthur goes to college and Alfred stumbles upon a secret.


"Please!" Alfred cried. "Don't leave me!"

"I won't," I repeated, breathlessly.

Alfred's legs were in my arms as he lay on his back. We were nearing our climax, but Alfred had been begging me not to leave him the entire time, making it damn difficult to keep things sexual. He almost looked ready to cry at one point, but I ignored it, thinking that the sex was affecting him instead. I was making love, but it seemed Alfred was keener on desperately clinging to me and asking for things I have already promised.

Frustrated, I grabbed Alfred's wrists and held them above his head. Ah yes, now that's better. Alfred was stretched and his body was taut underneath me. Lovely.

Alfred shook his head violently, just as he always did when I held his arms. But this time, I didn't let go. He grew frantic as he looked at me in panic.

"Don't! Don't hold my hands! Don't hold my hands! Stop! Please!" Alfred really was crying by this point.

At first I thought he was emotional because of me moving away. Yes I knew he was upset at the prospect of having no brother, best friend, or boyfriend accompanying him at school. However, he had other friends to count on. And it wasn't as if we were breaking up. Weekends and evenings were ours. But the panic in his eyes and the tears on his cheeks were from something else.

Something dark. Something I had yet to uncover.

I let go quickly, gripping the side of the bed as he tightened around me. Oh yes. I panted for him to tighten more, pumping his leaking cock, and constantly hitting his prostate. Here it comes.

Alfred screamed, arching his back, and I fell forward with a strangled gasp of his name. Alfred pulled me into his arms, pressing me against his sweaty chest where I could clearly feel the hard beat of his heart. For a time, we just lay together trying to collect our breath. My mind, however, was whirling.

Why was Alfred this desperate? He was acting far more childish than normal. I glanced at the boxes around my room, ready to be moved tomorrow morning to college. He should be excited for me as I was to be moving forward with my future, giving me words of encouragement that I would do well my first semester and that he'd be right here for me whenever I needed him. Not cry as we made passionate love our last time in my bedroom.

"Arthur," Alfred whispered after a moment. His hands had wrapped completely around me, rubbing my slick back. "Arthur, please don't go…"

I ran a hand through my hair, wet from sweat, giving Alfred a frustrated stare. "Alfred, you are being completely ridiculous. You're acting like I'm breaking up with you when that is not the case. I am simply moving off to college and it is only an hour away. We've already agreed to the times we'd meet and the hours to be on the phone."

Alfred buried his face into my neck. "Even if I begged you to stay, you wouldn't... Everyone I love is moving away from me…"

I paused at hearing how truly heartbroken he sounded. However, there was one person that he still loved that hadn't moved away. He had only moved away from Alfred's thoughts.

"You should talk to him," I said simply.

Alfred blinked and then looked away. He held his breath before exhaling. "Yeah, but…"

"But nothing." I grasped his face firmly between my hands, forcing him to look at me. I couldn't stand by and watch them play their ridiculous game anymore, especially since I had wound up in it, although that was probably my fault.

"Alfred, you miss him. You need to drop your pride. Sometimes it's better than just having the ability to say you were right. And what were you right about? That you weren't going to kill a man? I'm certain Kiku knew that and didn't actually think you were going to kill that prat. He was at graduation, your birthday party, and the last performance. He misses you too."

"I know…," Alfred grumbled, sighing. He rubbed his face and looked up at the ceiling, torn. It never is easy for a young adult to give up on their pride. And with one with such a rather large one as Alfred, it must be near impossible. "I just… I don't know how to approach him about it…"

"That is for you to work on, luv." I caressed Alfred's face and smiled. It seemed he was coming around.

Alfred continued to look up at the ceiling, but his eyes changed. They looked sadder and duller. The blue turning grey. His voice had changed too. Not that lustful deep voice that I heard when we were about to make love, but of something faded.

"I've never been as good with people as I seem to be," Alfred whispered. "Before it was always just Matthew and me. Me and him. We kept everyone out. We were scared. Still are. I'm still scared to get too close to people."

"Even those in the band?" I asked curiously.

"Especially those in the band. They could hurt us." Alfred tightened his grip on me and bit his lip. "Even Kiku, when we met, I forced him to be my friend, but I still held him away from me. He scared me. He was the first friend I ever had."

For a moment I felt an overwhelming sense of sadness. He was scared. Scared of me. When I had done nothing wrong. No one had. It was all his father's fault. The man was supposed to protect his sons and show them the world as they grew up, not steal everything secure from them. Now Alfred was scarred and didn't trust anyone.

Not even me.

Alfred broke my train of thought, suddenly, as he looked to me with those eyes. "But then…There was you. You were different. And you… You gave me something."

"Here! You can have this! I don't want it."

"What is it?"

"Are you daft? Don't you know your own history? Heh, maybe you'll know who once ruled you, stupid American."

I blushed just thinking of that day. I was so incredibly rude, like all children tend to be. But there had been a reason. I had just moved. America was so different, so loud, so… landlocked. When we moved we made sure to be away from any large bodies of water. Even lakes. I was terrified of the water. The sound of the rushing water, coming to take your life away in one fell swoop. The screaming from-

"You scared me the most of all," Alfred continued, unaware of my sudden cold sweat. "Because… I wanted to be just like you."

I was caught off guard and laughed nervously. "You what?"

"Yeah, I did." He looked over at the boxes. "I wanted to be calm and collected. Some…shit happened along the way and it didn't turn out so well. By then you were so much better than me. So much cooler. You were out of my league."

"Trust me, Alfred. If anyone was out of anyone's league, it was me out of yours." I poked Alfred on the nose causing him to smile at me. "You're the star football player and I'm the hated Student Body President. What more of a difference could there be?"

Alfred kept smiling at me, making me smile, the git. He kissed me quickly once, twice, thrice, before I gave in and kissed him deeply. Lucky to have him there at all.

"We are different," he whispered. "But that's what makes it interesting."

"Never a dull moment in this relationship," I chuckled. Unfortunately, my mind thought back to the horrific musical number the band had performed a few weeks ago. Alfred and I had agreed to never bring it up again.

"And there's good jazz." Alfred yawned, his eyes dropping.

I smiled, kissing his forehead, and settled in beside him to follow him into sleep. "Yes… There is that."

The boxes had been stuffed into the back of Alfred's truck. Anything that didn't fit would go in the back of my parents Cooper. Oh yes, my parents got a Mini Cooper. Complete with the Union Jack on the top of the car and on the back of the review mirrors. I didn't miss England nearly as much as my parents did and they enjoyed showing off their British pride.

My parents were so grateful to Alfred for letting us use his truck that they bought his gas for the journey. Even though my parents knew Alfred would be staying the weekend, they still handed my boyfriend a blank check. And then promptly pulled him aside to talk to him about me.

I rolled my eyes as I got into the truck, watching them fuss over him. Alfred's face was extremely red and he continued to nod vigorously. I beeped the horn once, causing them all to look me. I merely pointed at my watch before Alfred was released from their clutches.

"They knew," Alfred mumbled, starting the car. "That we've been having sex in the house. They said they let it go because, well, you were moving and there was no need to make a big deal out of it, but from now on we can't have sex in your house anymore. Man, I can't believe they knew all this time! Can you?"

"Yes," I said simply, unfazed. "They probably knew the moment you gave that bland lie about leaving your car here after our first time."

"I thought it was a good lie!" Alfred exclaimed. "How could they see past it?"

"I guess you're not as good a liar as you thought." I smirked at Alfred, but saw he took my statement a little more seriously. He didn't offer me a smile or even a look in the eyes.

Confident he had caught a sliver of my notice of his lies, I settled in for the hour long drive to college. An hour away from home was perfect. There was a bus I could take home if I didn't desire the boring drive through the flat lands or want to worry about the gas prices. It was far enough away I felt independent, but knew if I longed for home it wouldn't take me hours to get back.

For the duration of the ride, Alfred blasted music, most of which he sang along too and danced in his seat. I screamed when he let go of the wheel to do some hand flail to a Gaga song.

"Come on Artie! I want your bad romance!" he pleaded.

I smacked him on the back of my seat, ignoring his cry of pain. He had almost driven us off the road. I knew my parents behind us were not amused by the swerving of the truck ahead of them. Still, I was feeling rather cheeky.

"Sorry, don't call my telephone," I said without laughing. I'm not sure how I did it. Just hearing myself I burst into laughter, of which Alfred joined me.

He put an arm around me and kept it there the rest of the ride. I snuggled up close, happy that Alfred's truck was old enough to not have too restraining of seat belts. After a time, I even unbuckled, scooted to the middle seat, and rest my head on his shoulder.

Now cheer up, you git.

The college campus was lush and green with an impressive entrance modeled to look like a European university. The Freshmen were already wandering with wide eyes and hearts full of hope. Some of the clubs were out to welcome the new students and offer any help for those lost. I could see Gilbert and Antonio off near the corner of the main building, but they were busy welcoming Francis to the campus. Good, they'd leave me alone. My temperament couldn't handle their actions, especially when my parents were here. My father was far worse towards Frenchmen than I was.

The main building stood proud and tall with a two wings flanking in that displayed their respective departments on the signs outside. After walking through the building we came to the middle of the campus. The wings continued to stretch around, making a large square to keep everything neatly enclosed in. Of course, this was only the Humanities department where I was focused. The school was much larger, but it took a bus to reach the other side. I would have to take it when going to my music lessons.

In the center were the dorms where I was staying my first year. After that, I would move on to the suites in the near area were the college looked more modern. Third year was when I would be privileged to get my own kitchen and bathroom, if I was still living on campus at the time. My parents had set aside enough money for me to stay on campus all four years if I so desired. If not, I could put it to good use and get an apartment of my own. They preferred I stay with a roommate, but considering I had reserved a single dorm for myself, they knew that was out of the question.

A single, meant for me and Alfred. No outsiders.

Alfred was touched I had told him that I had gotten a single so we could share it alone when he visited. Of course, that was only one on the reasons. A surface reason. The other being of my horrible shyness. Alfred never saw my shy state while in middle school as we were in different classes, only getting bits and pieces now whenever someone new entered the band or I was forced to awkwardly meet one of his friends. While not nearly as bad as Felix, I still had my moments of sheer seclusion.

It wasn't because I disliked people. I'm sure there are many fine chaps out in the world. It's more I didn't trust a single one of the lot.

Alfred was the only exception. And over time, so became the band. Well, except for a troublesome Frenchman and his conniving German.

"Room 144!" Alfred exclaimed proudly as I entered my new room. He looked around eagerly. "This is great!"

I had stopped in the middle, a box in my hand, and smiled at seeing the bare walls and the limitless opportunity. Yes, for my career. For my future.

Smiling as Alfred joined me at my side, I felt a silly little wish sink into my heart. Here this wonderful boy was, able to break through my wall. The one I had built overnight upon leaving England. The one that looked past all those boorish faces at school, skipping through whatever wasn't important to my future, or finding faults in the way someone behaved. Not finding anything that made me happy. And yet, he remained. By my side. I only hoped he would forever remain.

I put the box on the ground and took Alfred's hand. He smiled, leaning to kiss me.

"This room looks wonderful!" my mother exclaimed.

Alfred and I pulled away quickly, our faces red. Only, Alfred was too hasty. He tripped over the box I had put down, stumbling as the contents poured out onto the floor. I rolled my eyes and bent to pick them back.

"Git," I said with no ill intention.

"I'm just so graceful," Alfred joked.

I turned away for a moment, laughing to myself. My mood was at the highest it had been in weeks. The move had left an impending weight on my stomach crippled with the knowledge that I was just no longer going to expect Alfred to ever tell me about his time at home. Why should I? It's not my place, right?

He's not the only one that doesn't trust the world.

"Before it was always just Matthew and me. Me and him. We kept everyone out. We were scared. Still are. I'm still scared to get too close to people."

"Hey, who is this? The kid's cute."

My heart stuttered. I turned, fearing the worst. My eyes landed on an old photograph Alfred held in his hands. It had fallen out from between my book, the ninth page, second volume in the series. I knew it far too well. I had looked at it every night since moving to America, save for the times Alfred was spending the night.

Alfred smiled at me, holding it up. "He even looks like you."

I snatched the photo quickly. My parents were coming back with more of my things and they couldn't see it. Couldn't know. Alfred's eyes widened, watching me. He was watching me again. My parents would look too. They'd know something was wrong.

Sweat was present on my brow and my eyes were bulging. I think I was hyperventilating. Alfred put a hand on my shoulder, but I snapped. I resorted to the same thing I always did when that face was seen.

"It's none of your business!" I stuffed the photo back in its rightful place, hiding it underneath other objects in an unmarked box. "Don't go breakin' my things!"

Alfred looked hurt. Rightfully so. I had stepped out of line.

I sighed, calming myself, as I turned away from him. My mind repeated over and over again I wasn't near the ocean. That boy wasn't here. I was safe. Alfred was near me. He wasn't the one screaming.

"Arthur!"

"Arthur?"

I flinched, turning on my heel quickly. Alfred was there, a hand on my shoulder again. His eyebrows had creased in worry as he stared at me. But I couldn't look at him. I looked at his hand, grabbing it, and holding it. It was warm. Not cold or wet.

"I'm sorry, that was wrong of me. I believe I'm just a bit peckish…"

"Peck…ish?" Alfred raised an eyebrow.

"It means to be hungry," my father said from the doorway. "I do believe it is almost noon. Shall we tour the grounds and find a common area?"

"Oh yeah." Alfred looked back to me, squeezing my clammy hand. "Come on, Arthur."

I nodded, following with a numb head. Food would be a distraction to keep quiet. I would merely listen to Alfred and his lovely American voice. Reminding myself I was away from home. Yes, I was. I was in America at the college that would lead me into my future.

Alfred gave me a kiss on the cheek, remembering my key as he pocketed it, and gave me a brave smile. He was a brilliant liar (when it didn't come to sneaking about) compared to me. He knew something was wrong. But he was smart and didn't press. If he had, I feared the consequence.

Alfred turned from his spot by the window upon the door closing. His smile was bright and clear. I returned it, trying to match his exuberance. He looked to his left and grabbed a bag I hadn't noticed was there a moment earlier.

"I got you something," Alfred said, handing me the bag.

I took it with a nervous laugh. No one just got me a gift. Not sure how to reply, I sat down on the bed, looking at the present and not at my boyfriend.

"You didn't have to do that."

Alfred sat beside me, his hands fiddling in his lap. "I wanted to. It's a home warming gift and a good luck charm that your first semester of college will be awesome."

Glancing at Alfred with a skeptical grin, I pulled the tissue paper from the bag. I heard a crinkle of a plastic wrap and, feeling excited, quickly pulled the gift out. I saw a flash of red, white, and blue. But not in the American style.

My breath caught. "Alfred...!"

Alfred rubbed the back of his head nervously, the usual hesitant smile accompanying it. "I know how much you miss home, so..."

"You got me the flag of the UK?" I asked in sheer bewilderment.

"Yeah," Alfred replied with a slight chuckle. "You can put it anywhere in the room."

Before I even thought of where to put it, I hugged my impossibly unbearable boyfriend. He laughed in relief, his arms wrapping around me.

"Thank you," I whispered. I gave a quick kiss to his temple before unwrapping the flag.

Once free of the plastic, I gave it a good shake. The familiar red cross outlined by the white and surrounded by the blue made my heart alight in pride. It was far more touching than Alfred knew. The boy and I considered ourselves patrons of our lands, easily slipping into political, cultural, and historical debates about the two. Neither one wanting to back down. It lead to some interesting conversations, heated tempers, and amusing reactions. Especially when I would point out things about Alfred's own history that he didn't know. Of course I was always surprised he knew more than just one of the monarchs from the past that didn't include King Henry VII or Queen Elizabeth I.

I guess this meant I'd have to buy Alfred an American flag now.

"Come on then. You're to help me."

Alfred laughed and shook his finger. "Nuh uh. I bought it. Hanging it might be treason."

I chuckled and searched for a prime spot. I wasn't one to decorate my walls, finding it a bit too gaudy. Still, I knew my desk would be over run with photos of Alfred and me. Maybe a few of my family. The rest would belong to the band and any other musical artist I enjoyed. My eyes hovered on the ceiling a moment before I pulled a chair over beside my bed.

"I have the perfect spot in mind."

"Oh yeah? Where?" I nodded up as I stood to hang my new Union Jack. Alfred looked up. "Whoa, serious? Dude, I'm pretty patriotic, but even my Old Glory ain't hanging over my bed."

I kicked Alfred in the side, not hard, but enough. "Grammar, Alfred. Please."

Once finished, I jumped down and resumed sitting beside Alfred. I sighed proudly, feeling rather accomplished.

"So why up there?" Alfred asked.

"Well, I do miss me 'ol country."

Alfred waited a moment as I let my words sink in. He looked at me anxiously. "Will you ever go back?"

I took a deep breath. My eyes instantly flashed to the photo Alfred had stumbled upon earlier. But I looked away just as quickly. "Maybe one day. Visiting is good enough now."

Alfred seemed soothed by my words and smiled. He looked up at the flag, saying no more. Yes, I had no reason to go back to England. Everything important to me was sitting in this room.

Smiling, I moved to close the distance between me and Alfred. "There is another reason it's above my bed."

Alfred looked at me. Oblivious to my intentions, he remained where he was. "Oh? Why's that?"

I leaned closer. My hand trailed up Alfred's chest, a lustfully feral look coming into my eyes. The boy caught on suddenly. He moved back a bit, but I simply moved to lay him on his back.

"So that you see it when you are on your back and think of England," I whispered.

Alfred gasped as my teeth grazed his neck. He audibly gulped and I felt his body stiffen. "Don't you mean... When you're on your back?"

I licked up his neck. No need to think because my decision had been made back on his birthday. "No, I prefer it to be this way."

I undid the buttons on his shirt, helping myself to the buffet of his perfectly tan skin. All for me and free of charge. Such a wonderful dessert. It's hard to say what's better; the taste of Alfred or feeling his body react to my touch or my tongue or my teeth. It was a win win for me anyways, so I just went with all the options.

"Wait until Francis sees this," I mumbled as I settled my body fully on top of Alfred's. "He'll want his own bloody flag as well."

Alfred gasped when I bit just below his nipple. My hands traced his navel. "Who... Who else will be here at school with you?" Alfred breathed. He clenched at the back of my shirt.

"Gilbert and Antonio," I replied.

Alfred's hand on my neck forced me up. He looked me square in the eye for a moment before his teeth were on my neck. I moaned in pleasurable surprise. He sucked with a firm hand on the back of my head to keep me still. Slowly, he sat up to get a better angle as he left what was possibly the most wonderful hickey I have even gotten from the boy.

Without warning, he unglued his mouth from my skin with an unattractive smacking noise. "There. I've marked you as mine."

I looked at him in with both shock and affection evident in my eyes. Was he still jealous?

"And now when this goes away, I'll be back to give you another one."

I watched his eyes following his fingers, lightly tracing along the new mark. Something deep and intense overcame me. I slammed Alfred back onto the pillow, claiming a spot of my own on the same side of his neck. Perhaps, like Alfred, I too possess a monster inside me. One that lusted after the American that had touched my heart so easily.

He arched up into me and fisted the back of my shirt. His light moans and light bucks up into my hips only intensified my actions. I ground back, growling into his neck. I was practically groaning Mine as I worked to leave an equally perfect hickey. One he would proudly show off his first day of school.

"And now I will bestow upon you a new one once you return," I said thickly. My tongue darted out to lick the raw red spot. So delicious.

Alfred's head fell back and I continued my conquest of his body. "Oh damn. Now all I see is England."

I sat up with sin behind my eyes. "Alfred?"

"Yeah?" he gulped. I tore his pants from his belt loop, riding him slightly.

"Do shut it." I licked my lips and moved for the kill.

I held Arthur close. His heartbeat against my ribs was a constant reminded that this wasn't a dream. Of course, if it was it was the most fantastic sex dream I've ever had. But Arthur was nothing short of a fairy tale. A pure and patient man with wisdom and sharp teeth all rolled into a neat little English package.

Now living an hour away from me.

After sex, we usually spouted nothing and everything. Arthur was really open and affectionate now. I loved it. Fuck, we should always have sex. It was the only way I knew how much Arthur missed England. As patriotic as he was, he rarely mentioned his life before moving to America and the life he once had. But it could be he just didn't remember. He was really young when it happened. Around the same time my father began to hate me.

A thought occurred to me as Arthur mused about our new hickeys.

"Arthur?" I said, surging past my fear. I had to do it. He had to know.

"Yes, luv?" Arthur sounded so damn sexy when he went really British. He only did it when horny or just after sex. Another reason we should fuck more often.

But I'd think about how sexy he was when he hovered over me with those dark green eyes later. I was on a mission. A mission several months overdue. Arthur had waited all this time.

I sat up, my eyes looking at the hands in my lap. "I have something to tell you... About me."

Arthur sat up, his hand sliding across my bare shoulder. "Yes?"

He sounded eager. Did he know something? No. Arthur was honest. Always so honest to me.

I turned with terrified eyes and my heart in my ears. I was about to say it. Say why I had bruises. Why I sometimes wasn't at school. Why I had to lie to him so often. It hurt to do it and I never got pleasure from it. That's when I knew Arthur was different. Because it actually hurt to smile and say everything was fine, when inside I cried to him that it wasn't. Inside, though, there was always this other me. The scared me and the fake me. The fake was what Arthur fell for, not the real me.

The real me with a fake ego. One that had been bruised, leaving behind no trace other than my ridiculous self-esteem and plastic smiles. But Arthur knew. Knew it some way. He didn't know why or how long or even who did it. After meeting my father, he probably had an inkling of an idea that it was him.

But if he knew, why did he never ask me? Did he not want to know? Not want to really love me?

In some cruel twist of fate, just as I was to open my heart to the only person I've ever loved, a cell phone had to interrupt us.

Arthur turned, sighing in frustration as he picked up the phone. "It's my parents they might be lost. Just a tick. 'Ello?"

I waited, wishing that he would put that phone down. Look at me. I'm going to show you who I am. You won't like it.

Oh, shit, there goes all my resolve.

Arthur craned his neck around. "Yes I see it. I'll have it down in a moment. 'Bye."

He hung up and turned with expectation, but it was too late. I had put my guard back up. But, he hadn't. He was waiting.

"Sorry, what were you going to say?"

I paused. My eyes hovered on the hickey I gave him. I could still hear him panting my name, holding me close as we danced on my birthday, see him fluster when I gave him our first kiss. It should've been enough.

But I'm weak.

"I'll tell you later," I sighed.

Arthur knew. Knew he had missed a chance at the truth. But, as always, he didn't press me. He smiled, kissed my cheek, and moved to get out of bed.

"Mum forgot her purse," he explained as he put on his pants and shirt. He retrieved the purse from his dresser, stopping at the door to look at me. "Stay here and don't get dressed."

The prospect of another round lifted my spirits. I gave a salute and he left. I fell back against the pillow with a frustrated sigh.

How pathetic. Here I was, lying on Arthur's bed in his new dorm room that smelled heavily of sex and yet I didn't trust him. Didn't tell him again. Still, I tried. Matthew would tell me that was a start. That was all that mattered. But did it?

I moved my hand along the hickey. If he knew just what I was, really was, would he still have given me this? Would he still play music with me, force me to eat his food, or make love to me?

"Would you stop loving me like dad did?" I asked the ever silent nothing.

And nothing replied.

Hoshiko2s cents: Arthur's room number is actually England's calling code number. 1+44. I wanted it to be 76 (for 1776), but decided that was too mean. Heh heh.

No one guess on Arthur's back story. It isn't what you think, I can tell you that right now. But this begins a steady downhill of the series, I will admit. So be prepared for a lot of sadness as true colors begin to show.

For the contest: There are two historical parallels I gave in this chapter.

Finally, I have to do a huge shout-out to MataHari-Chan for writing me a sweet one-shot. In all my years of being a fanfic writer I have never had someone do something so nice to me. Really, it means a lot to me. If any of you are curious to see this adorable story, head on over to her fanfic dot net account and look for Dependence. LOVE!