A Bought Boyfriend (USUK)

Chapter 11: My fault

"He's dead." Loving said, heart in the pit of his stomach. That day that Antonio came to tell him it failed, his world came crashing down. "He's dead because I couldn't get to him and now..."

Antonio leaned over to his husband, winding their hands together. "It's not your fault, my love..." He kissed his head lightly, almost crying himself.

They would find who did this.

They would find the person that killed Prince Gilbert.

***

"What's going on?..." Peter whispered a little bit as his older brother clung to him tightly in the car, the three of them in their own little bubble.

"We... We think our country is going to outbreak. Outbreak into a disease and we don't know what to do about it." Alfred said, holding Arthur's hand tightly.

"It's my fault." Arthur said quietly. "If I hadn't... If we hadn't..." He looked to Alfred, directing his sentences to the Prince because he knew exactly what he was talking about. "It's my fault."

"No no, Artie, you're not the problem. Just because Natalia and I didn't get married, doesn't mean that this would've been prevented." The Prince soothed his now crying boyfriend. No, not his boyfriend. His bought boyfriend. "She still would have killed me, taken control of the country and you would've been worse off. We have insight now, someone who has an idea of what's going on, it'll be better than if I had."

And yet, salty tears still slid down Arthur's cheeks and he tried to relax, holding his baby brother close. The car slowed to a stop and the four of them got out, getting onto the kradole and settling into the seats. Arthur didn't let go of Peter, too concentrated on keeping him safe than to worry about himself.

Alfred could feel the stress radiating off of Arthur. In his heart, he wanted to pick him up and hold him close, kiss away the tears. Instead, Alfred stripped his t-shirt and brought it over to his supposed boyfriend and slipped him into it. "Like I said babe..."

Alfred kissed his head softly, running his hands through his hair. "You look sexy in my shirt."

Peter proceeded to laugh and then fake gag, Arthur tickling him in the side before laughing a little bit too. "I suppose I do look sexy in your stuff."

"Ew. Doesn't that mean Alfred just told you he wants to have sex with you?" Peter laughed and Arthur jabbed at his side lightly, playful and face beet red.

"Peter! What did I tell you about a filter?" Arthur quirked an eyebrow at his brother. He sighed a little bit and then rolled his eyes. "Although, if we're going by the actual definition, I think that was Alfred telling me he wanted to have sex with me." He laughed too, seeing his flustered boyfriend fumble over his words.

"A-Artie, ya know I love ya and all, a-and-" Alfred blushed and couldn't find the right words.

"I see you are like an actual family." Kiku spoke up, sitting traditionally like you would, visiting a new friend's house. "I wish that playfulness would return to my country. Everything went south before the war..."

The three Amin looked to each other in unison, before Arthur turned to face the Kapina man before them. "Prince Kiku, what do you mean by that? What happened in your country?"

"W-we... We're in a civil war right now." The black haired Kapina Prince said. "I don't know where my brother lost them, but half remained loyal and half split off and wanted independence. The half that are declaring this independence are fighting in the areas we do not know, and are putting citizens that were exposed to radiation in danger, as to fight for them. Yao won't tell me or my brothers and sisters as to why he can't make peace or what they're fighting for..." He looked down and away at the plush carpeting of the jet. "Maybe he knows he is in the wrong. Maybe being King has lost its meaning to him and he's just struggling to hold onto power because he knows if we lose, we'll all be executed."

"I-I didn't know it was so bad over there." Alfred confessed. "My dad said there was stuff going on and you needed help. I knew I was supposed to fly there in a few weeks, but I guess you came to me first." The other Prince said, sincerely apologizing for the other royal's hardships in this time. "Does Natalia... Do you know if she has any plans on using this weapon? What does it do? Why was it made?"

"As far as I can tell from where I am... I do not know if Queen Natalia has any intention to use it as an actual biological weapon." Kiku stated at first, moving on to the next question. "I guess Yao wanted to make the rebels pay so he created this... Thing, to get rid of all of them." He then toed the ground with his shoe. "I have no idea what it does. All I know is that it was made to 'get rid of' all the rebels. Maybe a weapon to target specific people? Races, maybe?"

"Maybe." Alfred sighed. "There's no point in guessing. A lot of maybe's for urgent questions that need definite answers." The Amin rubbed Arthur's shoulder slightly, breathing in the occasional gasp as an idea came to mind but was then lost. "The best we can do is visit my dad and we can talk to him. Find where Matthew is, get him back, and figure out what my mom would do. Even though I don't like the idea of a war, I don't think we have a choice at this point and she is key."

"I agree. This should be discussed with more people, and with people who have ruled the country for much longer." Kiku nodded.

"Love?" Arthur chirped from under his boyfriend's head. "I think we should confront her with propaganda. Force her off with the media?" He asked.

"No no, that would only fuel her fire." Alfred groaned. "But a good idea. You're smart, babe."

"I know." Arthur winked.

But there was still that voice in his head that screamed.

"It's not real."