SURPRISE!! Another USUK! : Veins and Wires

Hand

Arthur sighed, walking through the halls of the Austrian Head Quarters with his partner right beside him. "Do you like it here, Alfred?"

The cyborg hummed, nodding. "I do. It's beautiful to listen to and to see." Alfred smiled softly, his hands in his pockets rather than by his side.

Arthur couldn't help the joy and pride swell in his chest as he noticed the little changes. Alfred was slowly, but surely, gathering his personality back. He didn't speak as formally, or as emotionlessly, and he was a little more relaxed. He smiled again, but Arthur still wished to see his old grin.

"I like Austria as well." Arthur moved closer, his hand bumping Alfred's leg. "Sorry." Arthur looked away, missing the spread of Alfred's lips.

Alfred slipped his hand out of his pocket and gently ran his fingers through Arthur's before locking their hands together. Arthur blinked in surprise and looked down at their hands. "Alfred?"

However, the cyborg had his gaze forward, faking obliviousness. Arthur bit his lip and smiled. He squeezed Alfred's familiar hand and walked along beside him.

As they walked, they passed conversing agents or lone agents, and even couples and families. Arthur stopped, staring out the window. He saw an agent with his newly wed wife wandering in the garden. They stopped, stared into each other's eyes, then their lips connected, breaking Arthur's heart all over again. He forgot for just a moment that his Alfred had died and was replaced by a man who was mostly metal and needed an electric charge to live. His hand loosened in Alfred's hold.

"Arthur?" Alfred creased his brow in concern. "What's the matter?"

The Brit shook his head, taking his hand from Alfred's. "I just... I need to go..." Arthur felt his eyes tear up, and before a single drop could fall, he darted down the hallway, away from Alfred. No... Not Alfred. A cyborg in the place of Alfred. With Alfred's voice, touch, eyes, smell.... Alfred's everything but personality and memories and mindset and appetite and grin. Everything that truly made Alfred, Alfred. My Alfred is gone.

~

Arthur curled up in his bed, soaking the pillow with tears as he stared blankly at the door.

"Arthur? Please unlock the door." Alfred knocked carefully on the door and spoke gently. Arthur had locked the door and knew that Alfred wouldn't break it down unless ordered to. "Please, Arthur."

"Kirkland," Arthur croaked out. "Stop calling me Arthur. I don't want you to anymore."

Alfred hesitated on the other side of the door. "Agent Kirkland, please allow me in." He immediately went to being formal. Arthur chocked back a sob. "Had I done something to upset you?"

Gulping, Arthur sat up. "Just leave me, Jones. I don't want to speak."

Another moment passed before Arthur heard Alfred turn on his heals and walked away from the bedroom door. Arthur felt his chest clench and stomach twist as he listened to the retreating footsteps. He bit his lip, collapsing back on the bed, holding his hand close to his chest. His hand was still warm, the one that Alfred had held. Arthur sighed softly. I'll just go alone tomorrow.

~

Arthur lay in the grass, glaring at the building. He'd have to go in alone today since he commanded Alfred to stay at Head Quarters unless ordered otherwise by Roderich.

He raised the walkie talkie he had and pressed down on a button. "I'm going in now. I'll tell you when I reach the destination. Over."

The static crackled for a moment before a man spoke back. "Roger that, Agent Kirkland. I will wait for your response. Over."

The Brit deeply breathed in before darting through the only blind spot that had taken an entire week to find. He leapt up into an open window and dove quickly to hide behind a desk to catch his breath. Both him and Alfred had done this the day before. Arthur shook his head, trying to shake Alfred from his thoughts. That thing isn't Alfred.

Arthur stood and silently scurried out into the empty hallway which should be empty for another half-hour, giving him plenty of time to sneak through, finish what he came for, then escape without a single trace of his existence within the building.

Noiselessly, Arthur hurried into a file room and shut the door behind him, checking for cameras. None. Arthur sighed in relief and relaxed. He raised the walkie talkie again.

"I'm in the File Room. Remind me of which files I'm to move. Over."

Again, the static crackled for a moment before the same man from earlier responded. "Good. You need to take and send picture of files 76/3, 77/8, 90/2, and 95/6. Then burn them so they cannot keep the information. Over."

Arthur nodded, although he knew he couldn't be seen. "Roger that," was all he responded with and got no reply in return. Arthur hurriedly searched for each file, finding the Manila folders with ease. He spread them out and took pictures of each paper, front and back and sent them back to headquarters.

Once he finished sending, he tossed the papers and folders together in one pile and he pulled out a lighter. He flicked down his thumb and a small blaze easily burst. "Burning the files now. Over," he spoke into the walkie. Just as he was about to release the button and light the papers ablaze, the door swung open behind him and a large hand grabbed his arm.

Arthur gasped, being spun aroud, dropping the lighter on the tiled floor rather than the documents. He gulped, green eyes wide. His grip loosened on the talkie so static could spark back to life.

"Agent Kirkland? Kirkland, can you hear me? Over... Kirkland, respond now or I will send backup."

There was fumbling on the other end until another voice spoke up. "Agent Kirkland, this is Agent Jones! Respond now! I repeat, respond now!" Arthur could hardly note the shaking urgency in his partner's voice as he trembled beneath the glare of the man holding him. "Arthur, respond now!"

The man gripping Arthur's arm tightly grinned nastily and took the talkie. He pressed the button so the static would stop. "I have Kirkland. Your little rat nearly burned something of ours that we'd like to keep. He won't be returning to your base anytime soon." The man released the talkie so it dropped on the ground.

"Bastard," Alfred spat. "Arthur, I'll be there as soon as I-" the man raised his foot and stomped on the talkie, shattering the plastic and the chips inside the plastic.

Arthur shook heavily. He's never been caught before. The man smirked, leaning closer. He smelled vile. "I think I just found my new pet."

His hand squeezed tighter around Arthur's arm, bringing tears to the small man's eyes. Oh no...