Memories from the Other World

Just a Step Behind

Alright, let's get this out of the way: I don't own hetalia nor it's respective characters.
....

Arthur had insisted that he didn't need a ride to the restaurant. After all, it had been a while since he rode the subway and for some unseen reason, missed the jostle of elbows and crowds on the subway cars. He didn't need Alfred dotting on him like a child all the time. He could handle himself just fine.

Speaking of Alfred, the two had planned a dinner out at a new restaurant at the other end of town, and Alfred said it was perfect for the news he wanted to tell him.
Arthur's stomach churned.

When Alfred was excited to share news, it was either bad for Arthur's case or absolutely great. There were no inbetween.

At last the subway doors opened once more, and Arthur stepped out onto the platform, until a hand tugged harshly on his fore arm. A blade pressed against his back to accompany the foreign hand.

There was a demand for money, but Arthur could not understand the exact words. His mind was racing, but processed nothing. All he could focus on was the fact that the blade had moved to point more directly at him.

Call it reflex or pure stupidity, Arthur yanked the hand away from him and attempted to shove the mugger away from him.

The other man stumbled back, stared at Arthur's torso of all things, and panicked, not startled like Arthur was going for, then he turned and ran, leaving Arthur standing awe struck.

Other people began to stare at Arthur. He smiled and attempted to say he was fine, only a little roughed up. Adrenaline was coursing through his veins and his gut felt like it was on fire, almost painfully.

The bystanders did not seem comforted by Arthur's attempt to prove his health, they seemed more frightened, actually.

A child in the crowd, also staring with the audience pointed at Arthur's torso hesitantly before Her eyes were harshly covered by her mother's hands.

Arthur looked down and almost felt his heart stop. He suddenly felt very cold, now feeling the adrenaline lose its effect. The burning feeling in his gut had only increased,however, nearly sending Arthur to the ground in pain.

The Robber had left his blade behind.

....

The trip to the hospital had been excruciatingly slow.

If only he had gotten there in time.

A mild traffic jam was the cause of all of this. Alfred found himself cursing every stop light, every car not driving just fast enough, and every brake light for the entire month after the incident .

Alfred had been planning that night for months now. To finally tell Arthur that he loved him and spend an awrkward month with him until he got used to the idea and went back to being best friends.

Until... Well, he really didn't want to think about it. But it constantly racked Alfred's head.

The fact that Arthur died on the cold ambulance bed, waiting to be saved.

They could have saved him had they had enough time.

That's what got Alfred back to tears everytime. The fact that they could have saved him, but everything seemingly went wrong that night to prevent the ambulance to make it to the hospital.

Now Alfred would have to live, knowing he never told his childhood friend how he felt about him.

Alfred felt as if god were punishing him for even considering dating some one of the same sex. It would make sense really; the way things played out.