[Fic] Searching For Atlantis [5/6]
Title: Searching For Atlantis
Characters/Pairings: America/Belarus, England/France, Romano, Prussia.
Warnings: Romano's mouth.
Summary: Alfred Jones wants to find his real parents. Arthur Kirkland would like to find some form of employment. Natalia Alfroskaya needs to get away. The solution: a road trip to California. Along the way they meet a mysterious hitchhiker called Romano and his problems, as well as discover what exactly utopia means to each of them.
Prologue Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6
July 5, 20XX
I drove today. Alfred navigated, although the boy’s head seemed to be elsewhere most of the day. I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to him until lunch. I’m pretty sure he hates me now.
Breakfast in Oklahoma City, lunch at a McDonalds on the road, dinner in Albuquerque. Ran into Gilbert again, and I finally remember where I’ve seen him before. Never matter.
-Arthur Kirkland
“Alfred, are you quite alright?” Arthur asked as Alfred played around with his fries, “You seem to be a bit out of it today.”
“Just thinking…”
Arthur coughed, “Yes, well…good for you I suppose.”
The silence continued until Arthur realized he missed having Alfred break it all the time. “I’m probably going to have to break up with Francis when we get back.”
“That’s nice…wait what?” Alfred dropped the fry and gave Arthur his full attention.
“Yes, well…these things happen. People fall in and out of love all the time.”
“But you…and he…you just fit, you know? I really can’t imagine one of you without the other.”
“I’ve hated him ever since I first laid eyes on him,” Arthur shrugged, “This was just the expected result.”
“But you love him,” Alfred protested, “You may hate him, but you love him. And he loves you.”
“I thought that too…”
“Arthur what happened?”
“…I, there was…I called him yesterday, and there was a woman.”
“So? He hangs out with girls all the time.”
“At our flat? In the middle of the night?”
“I’m sure you’re just being paranoid. There’s another perfectly logical explanation that you’re not seeing. He loves you. He wouldn’t cheat on you.”
“The world isn’t that simple Alfred. I’m not going to stick around just for him to…”
“To what, break your heart?” he winced, but Alfred continued, “Francis isn’t the kind of guy to do that.”
“Of course he is. I’ve known Francis Bonnefoy much longer than you have, selfish prat.”
“…Fine.”
Arthur raised an eyebrow, “Fine what?”
“Fine. Break up with him. See if I care. I don’t. But you can’t come live with me when he kicks you out and you have nowhere else to go.”
Arthur clenched his fists and stood up, “Fine, I wouldn’t want to stay with a spoiled brat like you anyway!”
“Good, because I wouldn’t want an old man like you to stay with me!”
“Yes, we’ve heard that part of the conversation,” Romano whined when he appeared from the bathroom, “Can you finish this up so we can go? Natalia’s already waiting in the car.”
They both gave each other one last glare before tossing out their garbage and heading back to the car, not saying another word to each other for the rest of the drive.
***
Alfred and Romano opted to stay in their hotel room once they reached Albuquerque. Arthur, who wanted nothing to do with Alfred at the moment, dragged Natalia out to see the city.
“Yes, this is fine isn’t it?” he chuckled hollowly as he pulled Natalia into the bar with him, “The two of us never spend any time together anyway.”
“I wonder why,” she mumbled under her breath as Arthur order them two drinks, “You know I’m underage?”
“You’re eighteen right? In most countries, that’s old enough, and good enough for me,” he passed her the drink, which she took without another protest.
“Kirkland!” a shout echoed from the other end of the bar, “Just the guy I’ve been hoping to run into. Natalia leaned as far back in her seat and away from Gilbert as she could while Arthur turned to glare at the intrusion.
“What do you want?”
“The other day I finally remember where I’ve heard your name before. You’re Francis’s Arthur aren’t you? Francis Bonnefoy?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea what you are talking about,” Arthur turned back to his drink.
“Nah, you’re definitely the guy. I know Francis’s type and you are so very it Kirkland.”
Now that he had mentioned it, Arthur vaguely recalled Francis’s two friends. He had heard an awful lot about Gilbert.
“Well, what do you want?”
“You remember the Italian I’m looking for?” he nodded, “Well I have this feeling that you just might know where he’s hiding.”
“What makes you so sure he’s even in the city?”
Gilbert smirked, “I never said he was in the city, but thank you for conforming that thought. Anyway I figured you could help me smoke him out and everything, since I have another feeling that you, you know, could.”
“Sod off Beilschmidt. I’m not in the mood to deal with your crap right now.”
“Hey, you can just tell me what little corner of the world he’s hiding in right now and I’ll buy you the rest of the drinks for the night.”
Arthur thought about it. He knew he would be drinking a lot tonight, and he was still very low on funds, as Alfred had paid for most of his share of the trip, and now they were fighting…letting Gilbert pay for drinks wasn’t such a bad idea.
One look from Natalia though and Aflred’s words came rushing back. Whatever this crazy trip of theirs was, the four of them were in it together.
“I said sod off Beilschmidt. I don’t need your charity,” he turned away from him, effectively ending the conversation.
“Have it your way Kirkland. I can find him on my own if I want to. Nice seeing you again Natalia,” she shot him a glare that he laughed off as he made his exit.
“Stupid tosser,” Arthur downed his drink in one gulp and immediately ordered another one.
***
Alfred spent most of the night in the room playing the video games he ordered from the hotel while Romano sat in a nearby chair with a sketchbook open.
“Do you…want to talk about it?” he had asked at one point.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” Alfred answered bluntly, and Romano sighed in relief.
At around midnight the room phone rang, and Alfred answered it on instinct.
“Yello?”
“Alfred, it’s Natalia,” she needlessly told him, “Arthur’s drunk and I need you to come take him home.”
“You were able to drag me back alright,” Alfred picked up his controller and started playing again, “You shouldn’t have a problem with him.”
“You were a nice drunk,” was all she had to say for him to understand.
“Ah, right. Where are you?” He paused the game and jotted down the address before thanking her and hanging up. “Looks like I’m going out for a bit.”
“Bring me back something to eat!” Romano shouted as Alfred shut the door behind him.
***
It took twenty minutes for Alfred to find the bar they were at. When he did finally show it, it was to Arthur passed out on the sidewalk while Natalia was being harassed by a group of bigger, much older men. Alfred wasn’t pleased, and he was about to show them how not pleased he was, but Natalia beat him to it.
She looked up from the mass destruction she had caused to see Alfred staring at her in befuddlement.
“I, uh, was just about to do that…” he blushed and looked away.
“Thanks for the sentiment,” she went about taking care of Arthur until Alfred came over and simply tossed him on his back. They silently made their way back to the hotel until, surprisingly, Natalia broke it this time.
“I’m not sure why you two where fighting, but he really does care about you. He spent most of the night complaining about you and Francis.”
“…I know he just sometimes has a funny way of showing it,” Alfred sighed and looked at her, “Are you okay?”
“Yes Alfred,” the response was automatic by this point, “I’m fine.”
“I mean, seriously,” they stopped and turned to face each other, “Are you…going to be okay? I know this trip probably isn’t what you had planned when I first mentioned it…”
“I wasn’t expecting anything when you first mentioned it. I only agreed to go on it because I needed to get away, but, yes, Alfred, I think I’m going to be just fine.”
Characters/Pairings: America/Belarus, England/France, Romano, Prussia.
Warnings: Romano's mouth.
Summary: Alfred Jones wants to find his real parents. Arthur Kirkland would like to find some form of employment. Natalia Alfroskaya needs to get away. The solution: a road trip to California. Along the way they meet a mysterious hitchhiker called Romano and his problems, as well as discover what exactly utopia means to each of them.
Prologue Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6
July 5, 20XX
I drove today. Alfred navigated, although the boy’s head seemed to be elsewhere most of the day. I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to him until lunch. I’m pretty sure he hates me now.
Breakfast in Oklahoma City, lunch at a McDonalds on the road, dinner in Albuquerque. Ran into Gilbert again, and I finally remember where I’ve seen him before. Never matter.
-Arthur Kirkland
“Alfred, are you quite alright?” Arthur asked as Alfred played around with his fries, “You seem to be a bit out of it today.”
“Just thinking…”
Arthur coughed, “Yes, well…good for you I suppose.”
The silence continued until Arthur realized he missed having Alfred break it all the time. “I’m probably going to have to break up with Francis when we get back.”
“That’s nice…wait what?” Alfred dropped the fry and gave Arthur his full attention.
“Yes, well…these things happen. People fall in and out of love all the time.”
“But you…and he…you just fit, you know? I really can’t imagine one of you without the other.”
“I’ve hated him ever since I first laid eyes on him,” Arthur shrugged, “This was just the expected result.”
“But you love him,” Alfred protested, “You may hate him, but you love him. And he loves you.”
“I thought that too…”
“Arthur what happened?”
“…I, there was…I called him yesterday, and there was a woman.”
“So? He hangs out with girls all the time.”
“At our flat? In the middle of the night?”
“I’m sure you’re just being paranoid. There’s another perfectly logical explanation that you’re not seeing. He loves you. He wouldn’t cheat on you.”
“The world isn’t that simple Alfred. I’m not going to stick around just for him to…”
“To what, break your heart?” he winced, but Alfred continued, “Francis isn’t the kind of guy to do that.”
“Of course he is. I’ve known Francis Bonnefoy much longer than you have, selfish prat.”
“…Fine.”
Arthur raised an eyebrow, “Fine what?”
“Fine. Break up with him. See if I care. I don’t. But you can’t come live with me when he kicks you out and you have nowhere else to go.”
Arthur clenched his fists and stood up, “Fine, I wouldn’t want to stay with a spoiled brat like you anyway!”
“Good, because I wouldn’t want an old man like you to stay with me!”
“Yes, we’ve heard that part of the conversation,” Romano whined when he appeared from the bathroom, “Can you finish this up so we can go? Natalia’s already waiting in the car.”
They both gave each other one last glare before tossing out their garbage and heading back to the car, not saying another word to each other for the rest of the drive.
***
Alfred and Romano opted to stay in their hotel room once they reached Albuquerque. Arthur, who wanted nothing to do with Alfred at the moment, dragged Natalia out to see the city.
“Yes, this is fine isn’t it?” he chuckled hollowly as he pulled Natalia into the bar with him, “The two of us never spend any time together anyway.”
“I wonder why,” she mumbled under her breath as Arthur order them two drinks, “You know I’m underage?”
“You’re eighteen right? In most countries, that’s old enough, and good enough for me,” he passed her the drink, which she took without another protest.
“Kirkland!” a shout echoed from the other end of the bar, “Just the guy I’ve been hoping to run into. Natalia leaned as far back in her seat and away from Gilbert as she could while Arthur turned to glare at the intrusion.
“What do you want?”
“The other day I finally remember where I’ve heard your name before. You’re Francis’s Arthur aren’t you? Francis Bonnefoy?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea what you are talking about,” Arthur turned back to his drink.
“Nah, you’re definitely the guy. I know Francis’s type and you are so very it Kirkland.”
Now that he had mentioned it, Arthur vaguely recalled Francis’s two friends. He had heard an awful lot about Gilbert.
“Well, what do you want?”
“You remember the Italian I’m looking for?” he nodded, “Well I have this feeling that you just might know where he’s hiding.”
“What makes you so sure he’s even in the city?”
Gilbert smirked, “I never said he was in the city, but thank you for conforming that thought. Anyway I figured you could help me smoke him out and everything, since I have another feeling that you, you know, could.”
“Sod off Beilschmidt. I’m not in the mood to deal with your crap right now.”
“Hey, you can just tell me what little corner of the world he’s hiding in right now and I’ll buy you the rest of the drinks for the night.”
Arthur thought about it. He knew he would be drinking a lot tonight, and he was still very low on funds, as Alfred had paid for most of his share of the trip, and now they were fighting…letting Gilbert pay for drinks wasn’t such a bad idea.
One look from Natalia though and Aflred’s words came rushing back. Whatever this crazy trip of theirs was, the four of them were in it together.
“I said sod off Beilschmidt. I don’t need your charity,” he turned away from him, effectively ending the conversation.
“Have it your way Kirkland. I can find him on my own if I want to. Nice seeing you again Natalia,” she shot him a glare that he laughed off as he made his exit.
“Stupid tosser,” Arthur downed his drink in one gulp and immediately ordered another one.
***
Alfred spent most of the night in the room playing the video games he ordered from the hotel while Romano sat in a nearby chair with a sketchbook open.
“Do you…want to talk about it?” he had asked at one point.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” Alfred answered bluntly, and Romano sighed in relief.
At around midnight the room phone rang, and Alfred answered it on instinct.
“Yello?”
“Alfred, it’s Natalia,” she needlessly told him, “Arthur’s drunk and I need you to come take him home.”
“You were able to drag me back alright,” Alfred picked up his controller and started playing again, “You shouldn’t have a problem with him.”
“You were a nice drunk,” was all she had to say for him to understand.
“Ah, right. Where are you?” He paused the game and jotted down the address before thanking her and hanging up. “Looks like I’m going out for a bit.”
“Bring me back something to eat!” Romano shouted as Alfred shut the door behind him.
***
It took twenty minutes for Alfred to find the bar they were at. When he did finally show it, it was to Arthur passed out on the sidewalk while Natalia was being harassed by a group of bigger, much older men. Alfred wasn’t pleased, and he was about to show them how not pleased he was, but Natalia beat him to it.
She looked up from the mass destruction she had caused to see Alfred staring at her in befuddlement.
“I, uh, was just about to do that…” he blushed and looked away.
“Thanks for the sentiment,” she went about taking care of Arthur until Alfred came over and simply tossed him on his back. They silently made their way back to the hotel until, surprisingly, Natalia broke it this time.
“I’m not sure why you two where fighting, but he really does care about you. He spent most of the night complaining about you and Francis.”
“…I know he just sometimes has a funny way of showing it,” Alfred sighed and looked at her, “Are you okay?”
“Yes Alfred,” the response was automatic by this point, “I’m fine.”
“I mean, seriously,” they stopped and turned to face each other, “Are you…going to be okay? I know this trip probably isn’t what you had planned when I first mentioned it…”
“I wasn’t expecting anything when you first mentioned it. I only agreed to go on it because I needed to get away, but, yes, Alfred, I think I’m going to be just fine.”