What was and what is

Part 11

Year 2009.

Alfred sank down onto the bench as if his body had went boneless - and it might just had. His legs were hurting in ways he didn’t knew were possible, and he let go of a complaining groan as he leaned back, eyes resting on the starbright evening sky.

For the last few hours he had been running around checking up on every room in the huge mansion, asking questions such as: ‘Is everything as it should be?’, and: ‘Have you noticed anything weird?’, and: ‘Where the hell is Matthew?’ The Matthew-question still bothered him, he had to admit, but then again; that boy disappeared at every possible occasion.

Alfred scratched the back of the neck and drew in a heavy gulp of air. The evening breeze was a cold, but welcomed, kiss against his heated face.

Everything surely hadn’t turned out as he had planned. He’d hoped that Chibitalia turning up was going to be the weirdest thing today, but he was proved wrong as he entered the Scandinavian part of the mansion. Denmark had been sitting in the middle of his room in a huge, golden chair, surrounded by Berwald and Tino who’d seemed rather defeated. But Norway, on the other hand, was still the same, wandering around like he was going mad, asking why every nation had suddenly turned to be the slaves of Denmark once again. Alfred had had to explain everything to him, but instead of taking things calmly, the Norwegian had reacted with a temper that didn’t fit his normally quiet self. ‘I am to let this pass?’ he’d yelled, ‘I am to let him act like he’s the master of us all?’ And Alfred had explained: ‘Until we know exactly what’s going on, you have to.’

But of course he hadn’t listened, but had gathered Berwald and Tino and started conspiring against Denmark. This couldn’t end well.

“And what about Arthur?” Alfred blinked with he eyes, surprised that he had said that out aloud. He took a quick glance around - no damage done. He was all alone in the garden ( - he’d stopped counting the robot-girl for a person, since she never stopped working, laughing mechanically sometimes when she found a dead bird among the flowers, but beside that she stayed quiet).

Alfred pulled the cell phone out from the pocket, looking at it with saddened eyes. He’d tried to call, but either Arthur didn’t answer, or the connection didn’t allow him to call the other. He couldn’t figure out whether not knowing about the other’s situation was good or bad. For though he had his to deal with, he was kind of worried.

Alfred let go of a sigh and hid the phone between the palms of his hands. “If I hadn’t slapped you back then, then would it all still be okay?” he wondered out loud.

~Let me be your hero.

A shock went through the American as his phone suddenly started to ring. ‘Arthur!’ was his first thought, but as he looked at the name on the display, it was his own. “What the-?” He hesitated. The phone kept ringing. The caller apparently really wanted him to answer, and after a few seconds of doubt, he decided to take the call.

“Uhm, hello, it’s Alfred.”

“Why, hello Alfred.” Why did that voice sound so familiar?

“Who’s calling?”

“You haven’t already guessed? (Low chuckle) Oh, was I really like that back then?”

“Back then? Who the hell are you? …Hello? Hello?” Alfred shook the phone. No. It wasn’t dead, the other had just decided to hang up on him. “Who was that?” He had hardly spoken that sentence to an end, before a hot breath against his ear made him stiffen, and a low whisper was heard:

“I am right behind you, honey.” Alfred forced himself to the feet in such a hasty move that he almost tripped and fell. Almost. He turned around, facing the man who’d showed up behind him, just to find -

“M-me?”

From the shadows of the garden stepped out a man who resembled Alfred in every way; his blonde, wavy hair, the height, the blue eyes, the shape of the face and the light-hearted smile on his lips. But slowly, those lips crept up into an evil grin that made Alfred’s heart beat faster.

“No.. not me.. I don’t.. smile like that.” The man laughed and took a step forward, making Alfred take two step backwards. The man lifted the brows a little, took yet another step forward, and saw how Alfred moved to backwards. They played the little game until Alfred’s back was pressed against the wall of the house, and the man made a little bow:

“Now, don’t be afraid of me,” he smiled, clearly trying to sound friendly, but his eyes showed everything but the lust to make a new friendship.

“Who are you?”

“I am indeed you,” he said, “but two Alfred’s would be confusing. You may call me Jones. I am from the future.” Alfred shook the head.

“Bullshit. You’re more likely to be some kind of cosplayer.” His eyes fell upon the jacket the other was wearing. He let go of a short laughter. “And not a very good one! Look, you made the jacket wrong!” He pointed to the flag of the USA on the chest. Jones looked down. “There’s never been a globe in that flag!”

“Oh, yes, you don’t know,” Jones slowly said, smiling slightly. “In the future there will be a globe. You see, in there future, the whole world is America.”

“The whole world?” Jones slipped a hand through the hair with a satisfied smile.

“The whole world, and we’re doing a hell lot better than the Soviet Union did. Now - time to invite me in for a talk, yes?” he smirked.