Wine Woods

14. Bought and Sold.

He was still crying. It had been a while since he learned about this, but he was still crying. When was it his government's place to do something like this? 

It was April 29th, 1803. This was the evening he was flying out.

He felt sick to his stomach.

Ivan watched him behind, his eyes were soft yet emotionless. He didn't say anything, but he did poke him on the back, hugging him when he turned around before leaving. Tino came in next, with a basket full of supplies. He placed them on the ground without saying anything before leaving the room.

"Mama!" Ohio called, running into the room. He still looked like a lizard when he ran, being a knock-kneed kid, and it made Alfred laugh, if just a little bit.

"Yes, sweetheart?" he asked the little five-year-old, petting his hair, "What's wrong?"

He felt like he said that a lot. Like he wasn't there to comfort his kids, just to solve their problems and then go back to being distant. He wanted to be a good parent. That's all he wanted.

"Papa said you were leaving and I wanted to say buh-bye," Ohio said, waving his arms in front of him and pouting, looking at the ground. Alfred shook his head.

"Goodbye, little gemstone."

"Kentucky and Tennessee wanted to say bye too, but they were too scared," the little kid shrugged, making grabby arms when he stood up. Alfred smiled, picking up the kid before walking him to his room, tucking him into bed before going to Kentucky and Tennessee's room, petting the kitten that was sleeping in there.

Both were asleep on the same bed, practically on top of each other. He moved Kentucky back to her bed and tucked her in, before doing the same with Tennessee. When he walked out, Delaware was standing there.

"I know what's going on," the nine-year-old stated, frowning with his eyebrows furrowed, "you're meeting with a nation! Why can't we!"

"We had this discussion when you were younger, I can't speak about this right now, sweetheart."

"Why do we have to be secret!"

"Because you are in danger by existing," Alfred replied, his eyes starting to glow, "one day, they will know about you. But that is not today. And it is not anytime soon."

"Onzin! (Nonsense/Bullshit!)" he yelled, Alfred, putting his finger on his lips.

"Your siblings are sleeping. Your father is here to take care of them." Alfred said, "Please listen to grandma and dad."

"You don't care about us. You think we're shameful." he hissed, his green eyes starting to glow.

"You are precious to me, I don't want you to get hurt."

Delaware started crying, falling to his knees with his fingers knotting into his hair, "Please, just... go away."

Alfred sighed, shaking his head, picking up the boy and carrying him to his room, not caring one bit when he felt the hits to his back and shoulders. They were nothing in comparison to how he felt right now.

He placed Delaware down on his bed, kissing him on the forehead, "I will always be here. If not physically, then mentally, then emotionally. I can't opt-out of this. I wish I could."

"Why is there a basket of stuff in your room."

Alfred closed his eyes, gulping to try and stop from crying himself, "Because, I have, and will do anything for my nation. For you states," he booped him on the nose, "and I always will."

Delaware continued staring at the floor, "I'm sorry."

Alfred pats him on the head, walking to the door, "Goodbye, and good night, Delaware."

"Good night mom," he said softly.

Alfred closed the door behind him walking to his room, getting his things together. As soon as his bag was packed he slung it over his shoulder, trying to find a way to breathe normally. It was odd. Perfectly silent. Ivan was downstairs, most of everyone else was asleep, and he was alone.

He grabbed the basket full of liquid and went downstairs. Berwald, Tino, and Ivan were there, and nobody else.

"Your dragon is ready," were the first words Tino said. Ivan cringed in his seat, and Berwald closed his eyes and started counting under his breath.

"Thank you, Isa," he said, Ivan standing up and walking over to him, throwing his arms around his neck, pressing his face into his chest as he leaned down into his hair. 

"I love you, always," he muttered against his scalp.

"I love you too," Alfred whispered.

Ivan let go of him and went up the stairs, Tino and Berwald looking at each other for a second before following behind him. Alfred watched them go before leaving the house. Goldie was waiting.

He hated this.

He hated this so much.

But that was the price, wasn't it? That's how it was.

He landed on the outskirts of the Capital past midnight, walking to a single, empty stable and tying Goldie up there. He walked into the house beside it. He went into the upstairs bedroom and started putting away the things he brought, before putting on a chemise, rolling his eyes at himself before laying down on the bed. 

It wasn't as comfortable as his own and smelled weird, but he was still tired, and he still fell asleep.

When he woke up, his company was petting his hair.

"The bill was just signed, I could have my way with you," France purred, "but I'm kind, so I'll wait until you're coherent."

"Good afternoon France," he said, opening his eyes.

"Have you heard the news, my people have... followed you," France smiled. One of his teeth were missing, he was blind in one eye, and his lip and nose were busted. When his eyes trailed down to his neck, there was still blood dripping from it.

"And now you need money."

"And you need land," France replied, "your people are feeling a little cramped, hmm? You need breathing room."

(Yes, that is a Nazi reference. In my opinion, the Manifest Destiny could easily be compared to Germany in WW2. A little too easily I'm afraid.)

Alfred just stared at him.

"I understand I look ghastly at the moment," he shrugged, "civil war is never clean."

Alfred nodded, pushing himself to his elbows before leaning off the bed, grabbing a jar of the liquid, and drinking about half of it.

"You really think you would get pregnant?" France said with a raised eyebrow, "Dear, you're related to England."

"You know I'm not."

"What? Yes, you are..." France stalled for a moment before he blanked, seeming to forget he just spoke before saying: "I made you breakfast, cher. Come along."

Alfred looked at him oddly before following him. This would be a long week.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After seven days, he felt ill. He smelled like him. He was inside of him, even after all his precautions. He had to follow his every order for a week, so it would be expected, but...

France didn't know who he was related too. How the hell did he forget all of that? It scarred him for life and France had the audacity to not remember it?

No, you don't forget something like that.

Was it the Revolution?

No. That's impossible. It was before that. It was removed.