Of Heroes and Villains- Ch13

Arthur didn't want to admit it. There was no way on this earth would he admit it. Nothing could make him say it. Not a chance.

And yet, here he was brooding in his cabin with doubt playing at the back of his mind.

Alfred kissed him. Alfred kissed him and he liked it. His face turned red at the memory of Alfred's lips against his own. It wasn't as though he'd never kissed anyone before! He'd had his fair share of... experiences, and he knew how to kiss. It was just... he'd never kissed someone that he actually liked before.

Yes, he liked Alfred back. He was just too stubborn to admit it.

They had seen the way he looked at the American. They'd seen the way Arthur softened up around him. They knew he acted differently around him and there was no denying that he liked him. They were determined to tear down his defences and let Alfred in, no matter what.

Arthur looked at the pink fairy from his desk and he sighed lightly. The fairy placed her small hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him. Arthur looked away; the fairy meant business.

"I mean it, Arthur. Get out there and tell him the truth!"

"No, I won't say it."

"Arthur..." the fairy said in a warning tone, but the pirate captain did not react to it. Arthur was and always had been a tough nut to crack, but she wasn't giving up yet.

"Why won't you say it? You're scared, aren't you?"

"I'm not scared!"

"You are! You're scared of being hurt again."

"I'm not. I just... I just don't want to say it so just leave me alone!"

"No!" the pink fairy fluttered in front of him and glared. She was joined by a blue fairy and a yellow fairy and they both glared at the pirate too.

Under the glare of three fairies, Arthur was starting to crack. The fairies were always his favourite (apart from Flying Mint Bunny, of course) and they always seemed to have a way with him. They could get him to admit things he didn't want to admit, and he could hardly keep any secrets from them.

He fidgeted in his chair and looked out the window again. The fairies glares hardened and the Englishman shook his head.

"I won't say it."

"You will."

"I won't."

"You will," the blue fairy nodded, "You will and when you do you'll feel so much better for it."

"How many times do we have to tell you this?" the yellow fairy sighed.

"Just admit it," the pink fairy said lightly, "there is nothing to be afraid of."

"No."

They sighed. Sometimes this man was just too much.

"Listen, Arthur... we can't tell him ourselves. If we could, we would, but we can't. The only person who can tell him is you. And you will tell him," the blue fairy declared.

"Why can't you just get off my case?" Arthur demanded. He stood up and walked to the door, "I'm going for a walk... don't follow me."

He opened the door and left the room. He closed it loudly behind him and walked through the deck and off the ship. He looked over his shoulder to make sure the fairies had not followed him and he sighed heavily.

The town was peaceful. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the sun. He looked around and the lazy atmosphere contagious. He walked past Feliks' tavern and was very tempted to drown his sorrows in some rum, but he decided against it. He didn't want his crew to carry him back to the ship drunk, like they have had to do in the past.

Instead he walked down to the beach. There was no one around and he decided to find a nice place on the sand to think about everything that had happened. A part of him wished he hadn't brought Alfred on to his ship, and that part was thinking of just telling him to go. Another part of him had gotten so used to the idiot's presence, and f he left he thought there would be a void that no one else could fill. He sighed, feeling completely at loss of what he could do to make it better.

He was a pirate! Things like this shouldn't concern him! He should be out on the sea, destroying ships and taking their treasure, not feeling like a love-sick teenager. He buried his face in his hands and let out a low groan on frustration.

"Hey... uh, you look like you need some company..."

Arthur looked up quickly to see Alfred sit beside him. His blue eyes were fixed on the crystal clear water in front of them, and he smiled, "The ocean's real pretty huh?"

Arthur  nodded, "Yes, it is."

They sat in silence for a while, and Arthur kept stealing sneaky glances over at Alfred. He was angry that he'd followed him out here, but he decided he needed to face this problem instead of running away from it.

"Arthur..." Alfred said finally. Arthur looked over at him immediately and Alfred drew patterns in the sand with his index finger as he thought of what to say next.

"Listen..." he said, "I'm sorry about earlier. I know what I said sounded real wrong, and I wish I could have worded it differently, but... I suck at that."

Arthur found himself wanting to smile.

Alfred continued, "I meant what I said... about me liking you, 'cause I really do. I really, really do. And you need to believe me because I don't want you to be mad at me anymore."

Arthur said nothing. He kept his gaze focused ahead and he was determined not to look at him.

If he did, he may just crack.

Alfred watched him, and decided to take a risk. He cautiously shifted closer to Arthur until they were almost touching. When Arthur didn't slap him, he smiled a little.

His smile widened when he saw Arthur's cheeks turn slightly pink.

Alfred moved his hand a little then hesitated for a moment before placing it on top of Arthur's. He felt the pirate's hand move a little under his own, but his smile widened when he didn't move it away.

This action told him everything he needed to know.

Arthur kept his gaze ahead but he let a small smile creep on to his lips.

At least I don't have to admit it out loud...

--

Francis knew this was wrong. But he didn't have a choice.

He followed Antonio into a small tavern on the other side of town and immediately he was filled with dread.

"This person you mentioned, Antonio... he will help me, oui?"

Antonio nodded, "Si... he will," he replied with a small smirk.

Lovino stood beside the Spaniard and had a feeling that something bad was about to happen.