SURPRISE!! Another USUK! : Veins and Wires

Life

"Arthur, press the grey button."

"What?"

"Press the grey button. I'm connecting you to Alfred to see if he'll answer to you. He won't talk to me."

Arthur pursed his lips and pressed the button. "Okay. Is he connected?"

"Yes. Try talking to him. I've got a heartbeat; it's slow, but still strong." Gilbert clicked around on his keyboard.

"Alright..." Arthur breathed in deeply, touching the wall. "Alfred? Alfred, can you hear me?"

Lovino sighed, grabbing his twin brother so he wouldn't wander off. "We have to hurry. Get Alfred to respond. I don't see any openings or the potato bastard."

Gilbert groaned. "That's offensive, Lovino."

The Italian snorted. "I don't give a damn, stronzo."

Arthur waved his hand at Lovino. "Lovino, quiet! Alfred?" A low groan was heard on the other line. "Gilbert, what the hell?"

"That wasn't me," Gilbert shouted, tossing himself back in his seat.

"Alfred!?" Arthur gasped, pressing himself to the wall. "Alfred, can you hear me!?"

"Ar... Arthur?" Alfred groaned, moving around. "Where... Are you?"

Arthur sighed in relief. "On the other side of the wall... Why are you whispering? Why do you- Alfred, are you hurt!?"

Alfred inhaled sharply, cursing under his breath. "Do you- do you have Ludwig?"

Antonio stepped up beside Arthur. "No, we're still looking."

"He-he's in th-the eighth s-sector of the l-lab..." Alfred murmured, groaning and panting softly. "Sh-shit... I'll catch-up with y-you guys on the w-way out..."

"We're in the fifth. He's practically right around the corner," Lovino grumbled. "Antonio and I will grab him; Feli, stay here with Arthur."

"But, fratello! I want to see Ludwig!" Feliciano whined, grabbing his brother's shirt.

"No!" Alfred hissed under his breath. "Go, all of you! Coming in here is a trap, and-!"

"Hey? Who the hell are you talking to?"

Arthur gasped, hearing the voice over the device and from the other side if the wall. "Alfred!? Alfred, who is that!?"

"I said, 'who the hell are you talking to!?'" The man snapped. Antonio grabbed Arthur and pulled him away as the Brit started to panic. "Answer me, cyborg!"

"Alfred!"

"I'm not telling you anything, asshole."

"You little fucker!"

Arthur gasped as he heard a loud gunshot; followed by a thump. "A-Alfred? Alfie?" He didn't receive a response. "Al!? Alfred!" The Brit began to struggle in Antonio's grip, trying to reach Alfred. "NO! Please! Please, let me go! Gilbert! He's alive, please! Help me! Gilbert!"

Gilbert stayed silent on the other line as Arthur was dragged through the laboratory, kicking and screaming. "He's there! Right behind that wall! Let me see him! Please, just let me see him! ALFRED!"

~

Arthur panted heavily as he ran through the crowd, leaving behind Antonio and the Italian twins with Ludwig. He pushed through the injured agents, studying each face and body.

"Please, please, please..." Arthur sobbed softly, squeezing between several taller agents.

"Arthur, mon ami!" Francis cried, embracing the panicked Brit. "I never thought I'd see you again!"

Arthur whined and shoved his previous partner off. "Go away! I'm looking for Alfred! He-he can't be in the building. It-it all j-just went up in-in-in flames and-and bombs and-and h-he's just not in there! He's not dead! He's out-out here! Some... Somewhere..."

Francis looked down at his friend in sympathy, watching his sad green eyes somberly look over the crowd. "I'll help find him, mon ami," he whispered, placing a hand on Arthur's shoulder and kissing his forehead before turning and searching.

Arthur wept, hugging himself as he trudged through, dodging arms and ignoring the happy conversations. He paused and looked up, hearing a familiar soft voice. Arthur swallowed thickly, approaching the agent. "M-Matthew?"

Said man turned around and looked down at Arthur with a smile. "Arthur! It's so good to see- ah? Arthur?" The Brit threw his arms around the young agent and sobbed into his shoulder. "What..? What's the matter?"

"I-I..." Arthur sniffled, gripping Matthew's dirty sweater. "I can't find him... Not-not anywhere... A-and the building! It-it just-!"

"Arthur, settle down," Matthew murmured, embracing Arthur. "Are you talking about Alfred?" Arthur nodded. "I'm sure he's fine. He probably making sure-"

"No!" Arthur jerked back, eyes wide. "No, he's not! He-he was hurt when I contacted him, and th-then there-! Then there..." Arthur trembled, slowly falling to his knees and curling into himself. "Shots... No, one shot... One gunshot... He didn't... Didn't say anything. He wasn't moving... Gilbert said he wasn't moving... Gilbert won't talk to me... He won't help me... I'm so scared, Matthew."

The Canadian sighed and crouched down in front of Arthur. Before he could speak, a shadow covered the two.

"Who said the awesome me wouldn't help you?"

Arthur gasped and scrambled I his feet to face the tech. "Gilbert!" Arthur embrace the albino, then pulled back and slapped him. "You fucking wanker! What the hell!? Why in the bloody fuck did you stop talking the one damn time I want you to talk, asshole!?"

Gilbert laughed and stepped back, raising his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry! I lost the signal at a bad time; I know! But I made it just in time!"

The Brit and Canadian tilted their heads. Gilbert chuckled and took Arthur's arm. "In time for what?" Arthur asked as Gilbert lead him through the thin part of the crowd.

"Just before the entire building exploded, of course!" Gilbert grinned. "Am I awesome, or am I awesome?"

"I don't get it," Arthur murmured, but still allowing himself to be tugged through. "What's going on, Gilbert? Please, I just-"

"Hold on, we'll be there in a sec," Gilbert grinned, picking up his pace. "Close your eyes!"

"Wha-!? Close my eyes!? Why on earth-"

"Just do it! Trust me!" Gilbert snickered, winking over his shoulder. Arthur hesitated for a moment before doing as asked. He trusted Gilbert to lead him through the crowd and on. "Alright..." Gilbert stopped Arthur and held his shoulders. "Now you can open your eyes."

Arthur sighed softly and opened his eyes. He gasped, clutching his chest before tearing up once again. "Oh my... Alfred!"

Said man looked up, then grinned and laughed. "Arthur!" He stood slowly, opening his arms as the smaller man ran at him. Alfred chuckled and winced as Arthur collided with him. "Hey, babe."

The Brit sobbed, tucking his head in Alfred's chest, barely reaching his shoulder. "I-I thought you died, again," Arthur whimpered, Alfred's large hand rubbing his back.

"I wouldn't let that happen, Arthur... I died for you once, and now I'm gonna live for you," Alfred whispered, kissing Arthur's head and gently squeezing him. "What do you think about going home, having some hot chocolate- or tea- and snuggling on the couch, watching Star Trek."

"You mean 'Star Wars'."

"No, Star Trek."