[Fic] Rosa part 3

[deegeeak]

Title: Rosa Part 3
Beta: doomy_slasher
Characters/Pairing:  America/England, implied Can/Fran/Prus
Rating: R
Warning: Part of the Power Exchange AU.  BDSM, fantasies.
Summary:  Alfred gets a clue, and Arthur gets laid much to everyone's relief
Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Epilogue


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Arthur started down the stairs, unsure exactly what he was going to say to Alfred when he got there. The lad was obviously upset over the fight with Yao. Arthur vaguely recalled that he'd come across the American President extracting a promise from Alfred to behave during this session and to please, not shove someone through a wall again.

(Alfred would, and did, tell anyone who would listen that it had just been the once, and damn it that Commie bastard had deserved it. What exactly Ivan had done no one knew and neither superpower was talking.)

As he made his way down the staircases, his path took him by where Matthew was sitting in intense conversation with his two lovers. Francis and Gilbert's heads were next to Matthew's as they whispered back and forth, occasionally motioning towards Alfred. As Arthur drew next to Gilbert, the Albino suddenly leaned back and mouthed, "Good Luck," at him.

Matthew, without even looking, reached over to smack him, but Gilbert grabbed his hand and turned it, kissing his wrist and smirking. Francis smiled at the two's antics and nodded at him. Arthur nodded back, glad. Glad that Matthew had finally come into his own, glad he had two people who loved him and whom he loved back. Glad Francis had finally gotten the Dom he'd deserved - and at the same time gotten back the man he'd once loved. Glad that Gilbert was whole, hale and healthy again, a far cry from the blood thirsty madman of two hundred years, and the broken silent shell they’d found when the Wall fell.


Arthur might wish Matthew had fallen in love with and collared anyone but the Frog and Prussia but the threesome seemed to be not just in love, but in a healthy caring relationship.

He sort of wished he could be in one too.

Matthew had all the luck, Alfred thought, glaring across the room and trying not to pout.. Arthur had never granted him a look such as the one Matthew had just gotten. That barely there smile full of paternal pride and care. Alfred had all but laid Nazi Germany at Arthur's feet like some kind of freaking dog presenting a prize to its master, and alls he'd gotten was a snort and a "About bloody time you showed up, damn Yank."

Seriously, what did he have to do to impress the other nation?

Somehow Arthur had gotten from where he'd been lavishing proud looks over Matthew in his stoic, stiff-upper lip British way to almost where Alfred was standing. Alfred busied himself slamming papers into his new, absolutely Awesome briefcase.

(This briefcase was Awesome because it'd been a birthday gift from all fifty of his states. They'd all done something or supplied something that made up the briefcase. He knew for a fact the buttery soft leather had come from Texas and that the fossilized ivory that made up part of the intricate design of an eagle had come from Alaska. Vermont, with Tony’s help, put the whole thing through hundreds of strength tests to (hopefully) ensure it would stand up to Alfred’s strength. It wasn't like he killed his briefcases; they just sort of...failed. After a week.)

Arthur cleared his throat, clearly trying to drag Alfred's attention away from his children's most Awesome Gift and back to the here-and-now.

"Hey Iggy," Alfred plastered on his best fake Hollywood grin. "Kick ass briefcase, huh?"

Alfred watched in satisfaction as Arthur's blond brows drew together in confusion. Green eyes blinked, then narrowed. Al twitched in anticipation of the coming storm. Sure enough, Arthur launched into Lecture #321 subsection B (Not Picking Fights With Other Nations In Public At Your Age) combined with what seemed to be Lecture #21 (What Would Your Boss Think Of This Display of Childishness, - a.k.a. Didn't I Raise You Right?). He knew all them by heart and, as his states could attest, could recite them back verbatim. Sadly he could only recite them back in a sharp angry British accent, which meant none of his states would ever take the lectures seriously.


( Cara knew, Matthew knew, hell the whole world probably knew at this point just how much Alfred liked provoking Arthur. One or two good rants would fuel Alfred's wet dreams and fantasies for the next few months.
"God Al, you can be so childish ," Matthew moaned into his beer. "It's like watching a bunch of five year olds on the playground. Help me out here Cara! ." Cara hadn't been much help to either Matthew or Alfred, as she was too busy laughing herself sick, drinking some sort of concoction that had made Alfred's nose burn when he'd gotten a whiff of it.)

Arthur was hot when he got wound up like this. Blond brows drawn together over snapping green eyes, a faint flush on his cheeks…mmm tasty. Alfred wondered if he’d look like this in bed.. Most likely not. Imperial Roses were known for their reserve, and self-poise in bed. Arthur being THE Imperial Rose meant he was not likely to lose that British cool in bed any time soon.

Huh, he'd prolly go all icy and stare at him with enough disdain to send the planet into another ice age.


"Are you even listening to me you git?!'

"Nope!" Alfred sang out honestly at the sputtering man and snatched his hand. "I'm starving, Let's go get some burgers Iggy."

The nerve of the lad. Arthur stubbornly kept up his lecture throughout being dragged back up the stairs, past a smirking Francis, barely kept from slamming into the doorframe, and down the plush hallway. Alfred dragged him through the ornate hallways, past the framed paintings and silk-draped windows, before finally stopping at the elevator doors.

He finally went quiet. Alfred was fidgeting and glancing back at him with an unreadable look on his face. He looked like he was about to ask something, but was interrupted by the lift doors opening.

What the bloody hell was wrong with Yao today? Both Arthur and Alfred froze and stared at the quarreling nations inside. First he picks a fight with Alfred and now Ivan? Had Yao lost his bloody mind?

Picking a fight with Alfred was one thing, but picking a fight with Ivan?

"You tie yourself to that child," Yao snapped. "Your space programs, your military, even your economy, comrade." The tall Russian was oddly silent as the smaller Chinese man launched his verbal attacks. "And what of all your grand plans? All ruined by that childish brat who you keep so close to yourself!"

Arthur was pretty sure he wanted to be anywhere but stuck watching these two nations quarrel.

Alfred could only gape at the scene in front of him. Sure Ivan was the Commie bastard, but wow, W T F man. Even the commie bastard didn't deserve this - and if he did, then it'd be Alfred dealing it out cause dealing with the commie bastard was his thing.

Nothing said that a hero couldn't rescue a villain every now and again, right? Surely he wouldn't lose his hero badge for it? It had to count, it was still rescuing after all.

"Hey! Hey, that's enough," he yelled heroically, interrupting Yao. He ignored the hissed "Moron!" from Arthur. "Lay off him, he's had a bad few years."

Yao sneered at Ivan one last time. "And now he fights for you? Third rising of Rome indeed!" Ivan stiffened and closed his eyes, as if hurt by that last barb.

They all stood still as the small Chinese man pushed past, storming off. Alfred shifted back and forth as they slowly got on the lift, muttering apologies. Great, what now? No one had ever told him what to do with commie bastards who he'd just rescued from said commie bastard’s best friend.

His stomach growled. Arthur glared at him, mouthing "Behave!"

Fuck it. Food made everything better.

"Oi. Commie bastard."

Ivan slowly turned his head towards Alfred and lifted a pale eyebrow. Alfred felt more then saw it, when Arthur briefly tensed beside him. "We're going for some food. You should come. It'll be fun.," He said, finishing in a rush. See? He was finishing what he started. The rescue of Commie Bastard was done.

"I don't think," Arthur sputtered.

"I would not wish to intrude," intoned Ivan.

"Cool, it's settled.," said Alfred.

There had been many moments in the history of Arthur’s long life when he was sure he was in hell. The first time he'd realized he wasn't a Dom - and his brothers' wondering what took him so long. The day he'd wound up tied to Prussia's bed frame. That one time he’d run out of tea.

But this, this took the cake.

The three of them, silent Ivan, silent Alfred and babbling him, were seated in the warm, comforting (to him at least) local pub. Arthur did his best to fill the silence between the two brooding super powers.

While the United Kingdom stood easily next to the United States and Russia as a world powers, Arthur did not sit so comfortably next to Alfred and Ivan. For one, both were currently pinging his senses as upset, frustrated, and powerful Doms. In his experience that combination was never a good thing in humans, let alone in two of the world's greatest powers.

Still he did the best he could, considering the aura the two were putting off had most of the pub trying to get as far away from them as possible.

"Angus is talking about that state of yours - the one who's got the town powered solely on renewable energy,*" he said while eying the silent (for once) American. "Said it'll be the first one to do so. Rather remarkable achievement wouldn't you say?"

Alfred grunted into his burger.

"And Ivan, I imagine you'll be wanting to take a look at the Royal Garden's latest attempts at a cold-weather Sunflower. They've a new strain that's supposed to be quite promising."

Ivan smiled vaguely at him across the soup he'd ordered. "Da, I do. Perhaps it will be available for viewing later?"

And so it went for the longest and most hellish twenty minutes of Arthur's long life. He'd say something, inviting one or both of the other nations to respond and. he'd get a grunt or short sentence in return before that nation went back to terrifying the locals.

Arthur was unamused by this, especially given their waitress (one of Wales's lot he thought), was nervously avoiding their table and had looked as if she thought she needed to call the police to protect him from the two. He shook his head at her and offered an encouraging glance as she retreated to a much safer distance.

Alfred had just about enough of this awkwardness. Sure, he was in a dark mood, but he didn't think he was that scary. He'd had the best of intentions this week, coming to the meetings prepared, trying not to dream about Arthur too much, and doing his best to be diplomatic. But at every turn, every time he tried to talk, Yao was jumping down his throat. At least with Arthur and Ivan here, he might actually find out why the Asian nation was so combative with him lately.

He sighed and leaned back. "So what exactly am I doing wrong now?"

Arthur jerked, "I'm not quite sure what you mean."

Ivan leaned forward on his elbows. "I believe Alfred means with Yao, yes? Why Yao was intent on fighting with him about everything this past meeting."

"Yeah." Yeah, that was it exactly. He was used to getting yelled at and heckled, but this level of viciousness was something even he was unprepared for. Especially since it was coming from Yao of all people. Still, it seemed as if he'd get an answer and maybe some place to start on fixing whatever it was he'd screwed up this time.

(Alfred was well aware he screwed things up. He screwed up being a hero, getting into and out of wars, his economy, his politics. He'd even screwed up his personal life. He'd screwed himself out of ever getting training, and it was pretty much given that he'd screwed himself out of ever getting to see Arthur scream for him. He wasn't sure what he regretted the most.)

Arthur coughed into his fist and guiltily looked away. "You see Alfred," he began," Yao is a very old nation, the oldest among us and he, ah."

"He does not yet have the measure of you and that irritates him," Ivan interrupted bluntly. "It is like a, how do you say, a fly in the ear?"

Measure of? Alfred almost asked before it clicked.

Oh.

THAT.

Shit. How did he fix that?

"I, um." Well this had been the last thing he'd expected. Yao didn't know what he was and that was why the Chinese man had been lashing out at him. "You mean?"

Arthur was too busy turning odd shades of red and white to be much help, so Ivan leaned forward again. "You are very much an unknown, da?" Alfred hadn't seen that particular gently, earnestly, violent look on the Russian's face since the Space Race. "Many of us are uncomfortable with such an unknown about. Not knowing how you react to our advances makes for nervous negotiating."

...Was it just him or were the Europeans a bunch of pervs? Using sex as negotiation and treaties, really?

"You mean he wants," Alfred trailed off, unhappily twisting his hand in the air in a vague gesture meant to show a multitude of sins.

"Da. He would like very much to use you."

Alfred squirmed at the thought that Yao might think of him as he thought of Arthur. Sure he had dreams, everyone had dreams. He was so young compared to the rest of the world, and sometimes that youth scared him. How could he hope to win anyone, especially Arthur, when he was so young and stupid? God he felt like such a hick.

"Alfred there is no shame in being young," Arthur said softly. Gently and painfully earnest, he continued, "Many nations are young, just as you are. You will grow into yourself."

Shit, had he been talking out loud?

Another silence fell over the group and this time Arthur did not break it..

"Alfred, comrade," Ivan started and then stopped with a frown. "Forgive me for this, but are you, how do your children put it?"

"Inexperienced," Arthur supplied. "His children call it being inexperienced."

Alfred was sure his face was on fire as something prodded him into being honest with these two. His dearest enemy and his greatest love - he nodded.

Ivan was very good at finding and exploiting information. He had built his empire on it. And here, practically thrown in his lap, was a golden opportunity to discover what this North American nation's measure truly was.

He raised his cup and murmured over the near boiling liquid inside of it, "Perhaps Alfred might let us take care of that?"

He was unsurprised to see Arthur stiffen, then glare at him. For all a Dominant might be possessive of their Sub, a Sub was equally possessive of their Dom. Alfred's eyes went cold, the look of an irritated Dom banked within them. So funny these two, so frustrating. Anyone could read their body language as they both unconscionably shifted. Arthur behind Alfred, who leaned forward slightly - one seeking protection, the other giving it. Such unconscious communication normally took decades of physical intimacy to develop. And here these two simply had it without realizing what they were doing!


Fah. Ivan was suddenly sick of this. These two, they had no idea of what they had, and what they could have so easily. Something that Ivan had once had, but had no more and never would have again. He pushed again, wanting to see these two do something, anything. "Or does the thought of Arthur beneath you not please you comrade? Or would Alfred prefer it the other way around?"

Dumbstruck silence greeted his question. "I could bind you both, play with you till you begged to become one with Russia? Arthur would enjoy that again, I think."

Alfred's icy glare went stormy with barely contained fury. The other nation looked as if he'd finally gotten through his head what he wanted. Now to make sure something actually happened.

"Alfred could watch, yes, watch, as I spread you and test you," he spoke to Arthur. "Can you take all that you could years ago, I wonder? I would like very much to hear you beg again."

If it had been any other time, Arthur might have taken him on the offer. He would’ve wound up in Ivan's bed trying to forget Alfred’s warmth and cheer. He'd try to forget his passion and love for the boy under Ivan's hands and teeth. He'd scream and plead and beg and Ivan would be glad that he was the one this Rose came to, if only as a substitute. He'd use Arthur, take everything that was offered until the other lay exhausted in his bed.

But it wasn't any other moment.

It was this one.

And Ivan finally had the satisfaction of watching Alfred become something more then just an annoying Superpower.

In one perfect, flawless movement, Alfred had punched him, snatched Arthur and was out the door of the pub. Arthur, Ivan noted, was not protesting as he was forcibly removed from the pub.

Perhaps he decided, as he touched his broken nose, perhaps he should go visit his far shores and try to remember what could have been had he not been so blind.**

*There is a small town in Alaska who is planning on being 100% powered by renewable, green energy in the next 5 years. Wind and Water power baby!

*Ivan, why are you so bipolar (ahaha Polar). So headcannon for this bit. Ivan is the way Ivan is (scary) because he HAD someone/nation and lost them due to his own fault. They ceased to be when absorbed into the Russian nation, when their people and their land ceased to be theirs and became Russian. Ivan didn't do this maliciously, he did it because he loved them so much, he wanted to keep them safe forever and ever. He just didn't realize this would happen.
He wants Alfred because Alfred reminds him of his lost Sub's warmth and cheer. Arthur's lack of boundaries when it comes to sex equally reminds him of his lost love. He won't get seriously involved with anyone for fear he might destroy them too; he already knows he's capable of killing the one person who means the most to him - his collared sub. It's like he's got a hole inside of him that can't ever be fixed and all the other nations know this. It creeps them out that he could do that and still be the slightest bit sane, so they avoid him.