[APH] Raindrops
Fanfiction
Axis Powers Hetalia
England (Arthur Kirkland), America (Alfred F. Jones)
Word Count: 722
Finished: 29 August, 2009
"England?"
The sound of that person's voice woke Arthur from his stupor. He quickly whipped his head around and faced Alfred. For some reason seeing the young man's face today made him feel dizzy.
Arthur hesitated for a minute, trying to see if his head would clear, and then answered, "Yes...?"
"Are you," Alfred paused for a moment, "feeling okay today, England?" The clueless look on his face any other day might have made Arthur laugh. But at the present, the American's worried countenance just gave him an awful feeling in the pit of his stomach.
When Arthur hadn't replied after a while, Alfred stated quietly, "You've been staring out of that window for really long time."
Arthur numbly turned back to the aforementioned window and watched large, full drops of rainwater relentlessly pound on the glass. Still looking outside, Arthur muttered, "I don't like it when it rains."
"But it rains all the time at your place, and you seem fine."
"No," Arthur replied quickly. "I mean at your house."
"What's so different about it here?" Alfred asked.
Arthur didn't answer him. He found himself getting caught in the same trance he had been trapped in a little while ago. He was trying to keep track of all the raindrops that hit the window, but his head was clouding and he couldn't process much of what was happening around him.
"England?"
His thoughts blurring, Alfred's voice echoed deafeningly in Arthur's mind, and he thought he could hear two voices. One of them was Alfred's, with its steady, confident ring. The other was that of a child's.
As Alfred gently called Arthur's name again, the Briton found himself unable to differentiate the present from the past.
-0000-
"America?"
The young boy blinked and turned towards Arthur. He smiled somewhat halfheartedly and said, "Hi, England."
Arthur approached Alfred and stood with him in front of the window. It was raining steadily, and the drops plopped heavily on the glass. "Why are you looking outside?"
Alfred blinked and turned his head slowly back towards the window. The child remained silent for a few moments and then muttered quietly, "I don't like it when it rains." He reached up grasped Arthur's hand with his own small one and moved in closer to him.
Arthur looked down at the boy. "It's nothing to worry about. It rains all the time at my place."
"But," Alfred started, biting his lip, "when I'm alone here, it makes me... scared." He tightened his grip on the Briton's hand. "It gets so cold and gloomy. I don't like it. I get lonely."
Arthur stared down at the boy, somewhat surprised. "I'm here right now, America. You don't have to be scared."
"But you aren't always here." With that, the small American boy began crying. Arthur squeezed the small hand in sympathy and knelt down to his level. Alfred threw his arms around the older man and buried his face in his jacket. Arthur lifted him up off the ground and held him in his arms, slowly rocking him back and forth.
-0000-
"England."
Alfred's voice was not enough to break Arthur away from his memories, but when the young man placed a hand on his shoulder he jumped slightly. The Briton turned stiffly to look at the American. Their eyes met and Arthur suddenly felt a lump in his throat.
Arthur remained perfectly still for a moment but then slowly began turning into Alfred. He wrapped his arms around the taller man's neck and pulled himself into him until his face was buried in his chest. Alfred waited a second before placing his hands on the back of Arthur's head and pulling him in even closer.
"England," Alfred said quietly. "What are you thinking about?"
Arthur didn't answer him, and to his frustration he began crying.
"England?"
Arthur looked up momentarily at Alfred. The American look concerned, but also understanding. Arthur could only imagine how pitiful his tear stained face must look to him right then.
Blushing in embarrassment, he buried his face in Alfred's jacket again. "I-It's nothing," Arthur stammered, his voice muffled. "Just... please hold me for a little longer."
Alfred said nothing, but he tightened his grip on Arthur and buried his face in his hair.
Arthur could only weep as he felt Alfred gently sway back and forth.