A Bought Boyfriend (USUK)

Chapter 10: Silence

Matthew's heart bubbled as he looked out of the glass in between each dusty, wooden pane. Funny, how times had changed, and wood was almost a rarity, high in price, and yet he was gazing upon an entire home made of one. What had happened? The rooms upstairs were abandoned, left in a haste as if something was going down fast. He remembered the breaths he pulled in when he entered the last room, two cribs aligned across from each other against the wearing green paint that chipped at his fingertips.

The bigger crib was designed with a beautiful red wood that Matthew hadn't ever seen before. Oak and maple were the only ones that were common, and able to use. Inside, there were a few clues to key Matthew in that it once belonged to a little girl who was most likely two or three. A blanket, soft and barely used was there, a design that confused Matthew to no end. Why were there horses with glowing narwhal horns on their foreheads? Why were there lizards with fire breath and bat wings, with bodies maxed approximately one hundred times bigger?

"They're unicorns, if you're wondering," A voice rips through the room that causes him to turn, fast and confused. Iru stood there, accent pulling him in like a drug. "They were a mass favorite of the young ones, back then."

"Back then?" Matthew questions, without thinking completely, thoroughly. She could tell him anything and he'd drink it in. "What do you mean... back then?" He couldn't imagine where these creatures had come from. How someone could create it with their mind. The ones that were so limited now.

"Back then... As in before the war, Matthew." Irunya leaned in, touching his sore shoulder that he flinched away from. "The Great War wasn't as long ago as we rumor it to be. Although we teach the kids and teens that it was fifty years ago, it was thirty. I had come right after the war, and here I am..."

"How do you know about this? I thought your mother died." He replied, not meaning to be harsh. Matthew could almost hear her flinch at him, and he went to apologize when she cut him off.

"It's okay, I get you're angry." Irunya sighed a little bit. "I shouldn't have let this happen. I shouldn't have let Natalia into power with her knowing so much about the war and hating Amins. Her racism... She had Amin people arrested and thrown in jail not long ago. She kidnapped you, and... I couldn't let her do it anymore."

"How are you going to stop her? We don't have a clue what to do." The blond looked over, seeing tears in her eyes and he felt guilt sweep over him.

"A revolt. I think if there's a chance we can get spies to create an uproar...." Irunya thought out loud. "Will you help me?..."

Without a moments hesitation. "Yes."

***

"Mr. Alfred! Mr. Alfred!" A man came stumbling up to the Amin and his "boyfriend", panting heavily.

"Woah dude, slow your role, what's going on?" He said, the man standing up again. His dark brown eyes met Alfred's, still slightly panting.

"It is nice to meet you, Prince Alfred." He bowed. "My name is Prince Kiku and I have horrible news. I needed to tell you immediately so I rushed here. I apologize for interrupting your vacation."

"It's not a problem. We don't mind." Alfred looked to Peter, nodding at him to go play on the beach while they met with this Prince.

"What's the matter?" Arthur tilted his head, guiding the other Prince to a table of a nearby cafe in Tapait.

"My brother, Wang, did something awful... He met with Queen Natalia." His eyes met with a waiter, who's pupils blew wide and ran to the front to close the doors and swap the sign.

"She's been crowned Queen?" Alfred growled lightly. "Do you know what your brother and her met about?" He asked Kiku.

Shamefully, Kiku looked down. "Yes, I do. My brother... His lab inventors created a biological weapon. In order to save our country from anarchy, he needs to hire more soldiers... And he sold it to her. I think she plans on unleashing it on Amin."

"What?" Arthur's eyes widened. "Oh my god, what the hell do we do?" He looked to his "boyfriend", squeezing his hand unintentionally.

"We have to fight her." Alfred stood up, going to the security guard he hired to follow them, assure their safety. "Get us an immediate flight home, I need you to schedule a meeting with my father and the council. Kiku, will you be joining us?" He looked over, a sense of urgency in his voice.

"Yes, of course."

Arthur was scrambling to find Peter, heart slamming in his chest. How had he been dragged into this? Was the country so in danger? When had his home become so complicated and wrapped up in the possibility that everyone was going to be hurt? Was he dating the leader of the country?

No, not to focus on that complicated ball of feelings and his country. He stopped again, feet skidding in the sand. "Peter! Peter!" He called out, not getting a response. People looked at him like he was insane but he was, in this moment.

"Peter!" He spotted his little brother playing with other children his age and yanking him up, bringing him into his arms. "We're going home right now, I can't explain it here." He lifted his sibling up, sprinting to the cafe and they were taken into a car.

"Wait wait! Arthur! Put me down, I'm not a kid anymore-!" The younger replied, then interrupted himself to feel how badly Arthur was shaking, how scared he was. Alfred slipped into the car behind Arthur, hugging him and Peter close.

Another man got into the backseat, and all of them sat in silence and breathed deeply, relishing in the closeness, and keeping each other safe.

Because they had to