SURPRISE!! Another USUK! : Veins and Wires

Kiss

Arthur curled up on the bed, tangled in the sheets and with Alfred. His fingers tightly grasped Alfred's jacket as he nuzzled his face in Alfred's chest.

The Brit's cheeks were red and tear-stained, but he had calmed down from the earlier events.

Alfred held the older male close, gently rubbing his back and staring at the door on the other side of the room. "Do you want me to get anything?" Arthur shook his head. "Are you not hungry?" Again, Arthur shook his head. Silence consumed them once again, Alfred thinking over what ha happened. Finally, he released a question he's been holding back for what felt like too long. "What were we?"

Arthur blinked at the random question, surprised and upset further. "We... I don't... Want to talk about it... Please, Alfred... Not now. It'll make everything worse..." Alfred only nodded, unaffected by the tight squeeze around his torso.

"I'm sorry. I won't ask again." Alfred then listened to the only noise in the silence; the yellow bird chirping and flapping around in a cage Alfred had gotten for it shortly after they arrived. Arthur nodded, closing his eyes and breathing in Alfred's earthy smell.

Memories began to fill Arthur's head, circling through his mind and bringing tears to his eyes, although he thought he'd already cried them all out. He remembered Alfred's grin and carefree voice. He remembered Alfred's kindness and arrogance and joy. He remembered that each time Alfred figured out that he was upset, the American would instantly do everything he knew would help to cheer the Brit up or comfort him. Arthur smiled softly at another memory from when they had only been a couple for just barely a month. It was April Fool's and Ivan told Alfred that his older boyfriend was upset. Alfred flipped, not knowing what to do. He ran out, bought Arthur's favorite Chinese take-out, favorite flowers, and a stuffed, green rabbit with wings. Arthur remembered the shock of finding his partner flustered in the living area in their dorm, holding up the gifts while trying to come up with comforting phrases. Arthur remembered laughing harder than he ever had in his whole life. He also remembered the black-eye the Russian agent had the next day.

"Arthur? What is it now?" Arthur hadn't even realized that he was crying again. "Arthur?" Alfred shifted, then shuffled down to look into Arthur's eyes and to cup his cheek. "What is it? What the matter?"

Staring into Alfred's eyes brought a sob tumbling from Arthur's lips. "I-I can't... Alfred... I can't."

The cyborg's brows furrowed in concern as he gently ran his thumb under Arthur's eye. "Arthur, please don't cry." His voice was heavy with worry. "I hate this. I hate seeing you and listening to you cry. It's awful."

Shaking his head, Arthur pushed Alfred's hand away. "You're only saying that. You can't feel emotions. You can't hardly show emotion."

Alfred seemed taken aback, but sighed. "Arthur... I think I'm angry. And I think I'm sad as well." Arthur furrowed his brow. "When I saw him hurting you, I felt a burning in my stomach, and when he was about to rape you it... It burned more and my heart, my real heart, ached. I don't know why, but it hurt. It still hurts 'cause I can't stop thinking about it. Arthur, I hate this feeling. Why is this one of the first things I feel?"

Arthur's mouth was agape as if he was getting ready to say something, but no words came out. He's finally feeling? He can feel emotions? Arthur wasn't sure what he felt, but whatever it was, it stopped his tears.

Silence wrapped around them once again as Alfred pulled Arthur back to nuzzle in his chest. Arthur fisted Alfred's white shirt. Alfred stared at the door once again, almost glaring as if he was daring someone to step through.

"Why did you get upset yesterday?" Alfred buried his nose in Arthur's hair. "I thought you were happy? We were holding hands and it felt nice, and then you suddenly were so ready to cry. It worried me, especially when you wouldn't let me in and told me to call you agent. Had I done something wrong?"

Arthur bit his lip and tugged Alfred's shirt. "You died. That's what you did wrong, and I remembered it yesterday. I somehow forgot, and then I remembered that you're not really you."

"Really?" Alfred pulled back to look into Arthur's eyes again. "But you were staring at Mr. and Mrs. Jameson kissing..." Alfred's voice lowered as he spoke, then trailed. His eyes narrowed and his brows furrowed in deep thought. Arthur shakily sucked in a breath, body tensing. "I haven't seen you with anyone... Do you miss getting kissed? I saw the longing look in your eyes as you watched them." Arthur averted his gaze. He didn't have to answer, Alfred knew the answer to his own question already. Alfred cupped Arthur's chin and tilted his head up. "Arthur..."

"Alfred," Arthur whimpered, gently tugging on Alfred's jacket. Alfred slowly shuffled down to be level with Arthur. "Alfred, please, I don't-"

"Hush, Arthur," Alfred whispered, curling his arm around Arthur's waist. "You want to kiss. You miss the feeling of it. Please allow me to kiss you." As he spoke, Alfred leaned closer.

Arthur sobbed softly, then nodded. "Okay," he murmured, then warm, familiar, slightly chapped lips pressed to his own softer lips. Alfred's lips were always like this, but Arthur felt like he was being kissed for the first time. He shivered and pressed closer to Alfred, moving his lips along with the other man's. Arthur whined as Alfred parted their lips, then shuddered in relief as their mouths connected once again. Arthur tightly wrapped his arms around Alfred's neck, curling his fingers into the fabric of the jacket on Alfred's shoulders.

Both their hears pounded rapidly, their bodies hot as Arthur rubbed them together. Alfred rolled to lay on top of Arthur, careful not to hurt the smaller male, and refusing to let their lips part. Arthur wanted Alfred as close as possible, although he didn't move to remove a single article of clothing; the only barrier between the both of them. Alfred's hands firmly held Arthur's waist, then pulled back so he could breathe, but his lips still barely brushed over Arthur's. "What... What is this feeling?"