USUK/UKUS One Shots

Enemy Territory- Part 2 (Angst, Revolutionary War)

A/N: I decided to split up the smut and angst because I want to. Fight me.

Warnings: Strong language, depressing content

Arthur is distraught when Alfred leaves to go back to the American camp, but Alfred realizes that he can't let Arthur be alone.

Word count: 883

Estimated read time: 4 minutes 30 seconds

For those of you that didn't read the smut, here's a quick recap: Alfred went to Arthur's camp during the war and they hooked up. That's basically it. 

When he could, Arthur, sat up on his elbows, chest still heaving and covered in red marks. "I should let you top more often."

Alfred chuckled lightly, grabbing a bath towel that had been conveniently thrown over the back of the desk chair to wipe himself down. "More often?"

"Yes. I have to admit, that was good."

He began putting his clothes back on, tossing Arthur his own and the towel. "You know this changes nothing, right?"

Arthur blinked in confusion, pausing with his pants only half up. "Oh. Right."

"Call it foreshadowing," Alfred said, pulling his jacket on and buttoning it up. "I'm going to win this war."

There was that dread again, flooding Arthur while he buckled his belt and started getting his shirt back on. "If you're still so mad at me, why did you come here?"

He paused, examining Arthur's expression. "Wait, you didn't think this was some kind of makeup sex, did you?"

"No," Arthur lied.

"Oh god, you did, didn't you? It was just sex, England. It didn't mean anything. I've just been frustrated lately."

Arthur, now clothed, crossed his arms. "Bullshit. If all you needed was someone to fuck, you could have gone to France or some random soldier. But you came all the way here, risking your life, I might add, to see me."

He shrugged nonchalantly, finishing the last button of his coat and adjusting his cuffs. "What can I say? I particularly wanted to fuck you." He flattened out his hair and started to leave, but Arthur caught his arm before he could go.

"Wait!"

Alfred stopped. "What?"

"Tell me this isn't it. Tell me that there's a chance for us to be together again."

The silence in the tent was deafening until Alfred summoned the words. "I can't."

And with that, he was wrenching his arm out of Arthur's grip and leaving. Before he knew what was happening, Arthur was alone again, staring after him and feeling torn between raising the alarm to have Alfred captured before he could get back to his own side, punching someone, and crying.

He settled on the last one, sinking onto his bed and putting his head in his hands as the tears began to fall. How could he do that? How could Alfred just come into his camp, kiss him, fuck him silly, and leave again?

"I forgot my-" Alfred started when he stepped back into the tent. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Arthur. "Oh. You know what, that's okay, I don't really need it."

His hand was on the tent's door when he stopped, realizing he couldn't leave. As much as he hated Arthur, he still loved him and he couldn't walk away from him when he was in this state. So he turned back around, watching Arthur wipe his tears away aggressively.

"What? What did you forget?" Arthur demanded, voice wavering but still conveying his anger.

Alfred sighed, going back to kneel in front of Arthur, taking his hands and looking into his eyes since they were at eye level. "It doesn't matter. But you do."

Arthur laughed bitterly. "Yeah, right."

"I still love you. I think you know that. If I didn't, this wouldn't all be so hard. So I can't go when you're like this."

"Stop," Arthur said, starting to cry again. "Don't do this. Don't mess with my emotions like that. I can't take anymore, America. I just can't."

"I'm not trying to. It's true. I've never loved anyone like I've loved you," Alfred murmured, brushing some hair back behind Arthur's ear and looking at him with such a pained expression that Arthur knew it was true.

"Then why are you doing this?"

He sighed. "You know why. But that's not what's important now."

"How can you say that? It's always important, it's always ruining us! So how can you..." He trailed off, crying harder, unable to stop himself.

"We can fight about it later. Right now, what's important is you. I'm sorry that I came here. I shouldn't have. I guess I wasn't thinking. But I do love you."

Arthur squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn't spend one more second staring into Alfred's because, somehow, the worst part was that when he said he loved him, he was sincere. "I miss you."

"I know. I miss you, too. Every night when I lay down to sleep I'm stuck seeing us when we were happy. I want that back, too, Iggy. Fuck, if you think I don't wish none of this ever happened... Well, you're wrong."

Shaking, Arthur leaned in and kissed him gently, a complete contrast to their kisses ten minutes ago. This one was soft and salty from their tears, but it was everything Arthur had been wishing he had since that July day.

They pulled apart and touched foreheads, each taking uneasy breaths.

"Will you stay with me? Just for tonight? I don't think I can take it if you go again right now. I... please don't leave me alone."

Alfred nodded, getting up on the bed and pulling him in tightly, hugging him until Arthur could breathe properly. Then, he kicked off his shoes, shed his jacket, and lay down with Arthur held securely in his arms as night fell over Virginia.