Different Hearts, Same Love | By : FlayraDowitcher Category: +G to L > Hetalia: Axis Powers Views: 1534 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I am making no money off of this fic. |
***Thanks to my beta JoyHeart for betaing this story! (I have found a beta for each story. ^_^) Thanks for reading!
***Warnings: Language
***Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I am making no money off of this fic.
Chapter 3
Francis was unsure whether or not he should leave the camp unattended, but he was curious about where Arthur was wandering. Arthur strolled lazily along the bank of the lake and must not have noticed Francis making so much noise behind him. Francis was being anything but quiet, yet the other never looked back. Was Arthur in some kind of trance? Francis called his name one more time, but it fell on deaf ears. They continued on a few more feet until Arthur suddenly stopped. Francis 'eeped' and ducked behind a pile of rocks near the bank. Cautiously, he peeked around the side of the pile to gaze at Arthur.
The man sat on the bank of the lake, looking towards the woods behind. Francis' eyes caught sight of the white horse from before, its shining form emerging from the weave of trees. Blue eyes focused upon the horse, feeling that there was something different about this animal. The horse snorted softly and lowered its head as it walked towards Arthur. Francis feared that the horse could hurt Arthur, but the other man held up his arms to the large beast. The horse nuzzled its large head into Arthur's hold, slowly lying down beside him. Arthur wrapped his arm around the horse's head while the other hand stroked its cheek. The white tail swished lazily back and forth. The scene made Francis smile, for he had never seen anyone so close to an animal before, except for parlor pets. This was a wild animal, and yet somehow Arthur had it tamed.
'Just what kind of person are you, Arthur?' Francis thought to himself while keeping his eyes glued to his companion. Between the mushrooms, the snakes, and now the horse, Francis was starting to believe that Arthur was above the average person. Magic was out of the question, but could this type of scene be a result of Arthur's living environment? Could living in the woods long enough grant him these sorts of talents? He waited there for a longer period of time, hoping something would happen that would give him a clue. Only when he turned his head in the direction of the pond did he see a marvelous sight. There, in the water's faint reflection with Arthur, was not just a horse but a unicorn! Francis could barely make out the horn in the moonlit water, but there was no mistaking it. 'I'll be damned…'
Arthur was completely content and at peace next to the unicorn. The ancient creature was a friend of his, showing up every so often at his cabin. Arthur knew why the unicorn was following him; it was to study his new traveling companion. Francis was a materialistic man with few decent morals. His unicorn friend would be glad to get Francis out of its forest. But their tender moment was broken with the snapping of some bramble nearby. The unicorn lifted its head from Arthur's arms and leapt up from the ground. With a neighing rear, the unicorn turned to retreat back to the sanctity of the woods. Arthur stood up and released his dagger, holding it out in front. When he saw who was approaching, he lowered the dagger with a frustrated sigh.
"Francis! What the hell are you doing out here?"
Francis kept his eyes on the retreat of the unicorn. "Forgive me for sneaking up on you, but I had to see where you were going. You would not answer me when I called your name. I grew worried…yet here you are, speaking to a unicorn."
Arthur gasped softly. "W-what makes you say that it's a unicorn?" Blue eyes turned to his.
"I saw its reflection in the water." Francis smiled. "I never knew they were real…much less actually seen one with my own eyes. Wow, I really want it. Now that I know they exist, I want one!"
"No!" Arthur sneered at the other, storming up to him. "A unicorn is an ancient, mystical being that is beyond your understanding! It is not something that could be owned by anyone! It belongs to the forest, to the WORLD!" He poked a finger at Francis' chest. "There are some things money can't buy, and a unicorn is one of them!"
"Hmm…" Francis rubbed his stubble and then smiled. "If they are attracted to virgins, then all I must do is tie you up and lure it out. Then I will own a beautiful unicorn. What a magnificent creature!"
"You're disgusting!" Arthur hollered. "How can you have such little respect for something as majestic as that beast? Must you own everything you set your eyes on? What a greedy lot your people are!" Arthur grabbed the other by the shirtfront. "I am not a virgin, but I can still see unicorns. Besides, there is no way you could ever tie me up. EVER."
Francis looked back to the woods, not phased by Arthur's ranting. "Then how do you do it? You speak to snakes and now see unicorns." He looked at Arthur. "What are you?"
"I'm just Arthur…no one special." He turned from Francis. "Let's go back to camp. We have been away from it for too long." Arthur began walking back, with or without Francis. He heard the man's footsteps coming up from behind.
"You are not a normal person, Arthur! Something is very different with you." Francis walked faster to catch up with him. "Why won't you tell me?"
Arthur kept his gaze straight and firm, not meeting Francis' eyes. "You would never understand, even if I told you. It is none of your business who or what I am." They arrived back at their camp and Arthur went straight for his bedroll, sitting upon it. Francis stood beside him with his hands on his hips and Arthur glanced up. "Move away from me."
"I won't." Arthur pushed at the man's knees, but Francis remained. "I'm not moving away until you tell me more about whatever you are! Are you some sort of magic person? Do you have foresight? Do you see ghosts? Or do you just talk to animals?"
"WHAT DOES IT MATTER?" Arthur hollered up at him. "As if you would even care." His voice lowered to a normal tone.
Francis went over to and sat on his own bedroll, folding his legs up to his chest. "What makes you say that? Arthur, you barely know me. Simply because I come from a more privileged lifestyle does not mean I couldn't understand another human being. Is this why you live in the woods? Do you feel different from everyone else?"
Arthur glared at him, but did not respond. With a frown, he lifted the top sheet of the bedroll and settled down inside it. Francis had mumbled something under his breath about Arthur being stubborn, but was heard getting into his own bedroll. Arthur pulled the blanket up over his shoulder, trying to burrow inside the soft confinements. He did not want to tell Francis anything about himself because the other would just laugh. If there were one type of person he did not want judging him, it was a nobleman like Francis. Anyone else, he would brush it off; but Francis' opinion would enrage him. The blonde noble was still needed for a sacrifice, so Arthur would have to work twice as hard to keep his knife from stabbing the other.
Sleep was not coming easily to Francis, and he began to grow annoyed. His body ached with extreme exercise and his mind was filled with images of the unicorn. Francis wanted to know more about the unicorn and Arthur, how they had come to know each other. Was there just one unicorn or more? Was Arthur a unicorn in disguise? Why could Arthur see the unicorn even after saying he was not a virgin? That was one question he had an answer to, but it was still not enough. He wanted to know more. "Arthur?" No answer. "Arthur, are you awake?"
"…what? Shut up and go to sleep. Your voice is nerve-wracking."
"No, I won't be quiet until you tell me a little more about yourself."
"Why?" Arthur did not look up from his bedroll. "What are you so curious about? You want to know how to own a unicorn? Well, you can't. So shut it."
Francis rubbed his temples. This man was so stubborn and rude. "As I've said before, we are going to be together for a long while. I would like to know more about you. I will even tell you more about myself."
"I don't care to know more about you. It's plain enough to me who you are."
"Your prejudice against me is just mind blowing. I don't understand how you can pass these harsh assumptions so easily! I'll have you know that we PAY the servants in my house. Many other houses such as mine have slaves, not servants. I give work to people who need it."
Arthur sat up then from his bed roll to glare at Francis. "They only come knocking on your door because they are tired and hungry! The common folk are suffering and have to lower themselves to the rich like you in order to live!"
Francis held his palms up. "I speak only for my family, Arthur. What goes on in other houses is not my business. My servants have come asking for work. No one forced them. They are trying to make money for their families, what is wrong with that? Rich or not, everyone works for someone."
"I'm talking about the way it is done. Your kind take but do not give back! People suffer, starve, and die every day while you eat candied tarts! This kind of ignorance of the poor is what leads to crime! Blaming someone for stealing food because they are hungry is not a crime, it should be rendered!"
Francis was growing annoyed at the turn of the conversation, but he was not going to back down. "Think about the person on the other end, Arthur! Have you ever thought of that? What about that honest person who makes the food? The person who buys the wheat, who works to bake the bread, and strives to sell it to earn a living? How does that person feel when their hard work is stolen from them? They have rights too."
Francis had an acceptable point, but Arthur would not give him the benefit of the doubt. "No one should have to steal or sacrifice to live. Living should be…enjoyable, for everyone."
Francis smiled softly. "Spoken like a dreamer. Arthur, you're not the only person in the world who has thought this way. If something was going to change, it would have happened by now. Everyone should just do the best they can and take what life deals them. Everything happens for a reason, it's what you make of it. A poor person can be equally as happy as a rich person."
"Hmph." Arthur crossed his arms and looked out to the lake. "Maybe you're not as stupid as you seem."
"That is the best compliment I can expect from you. Now, let's change subjects."
"Let's go to sleep."
"No, answer my question." He planted his face in his hands and gazed at Arthur with a smile. "Do you have a lover?"
Arthur's face flushed an angry red and the man felt his blood begin to boil. "That is none of your business! I refuse to answer! You're just a sex crazed beast! Loose morals, that is what you have!" Arthur picked up a pebble and threw it in Francis' direction, but the man dodged. "I hate free love!"
"Whoa! Calm down!" Francis gave him a baffled look. "You must be a woman. You're getting hysterical like one!"
"I AM NOT A WOMAN!"
"Stop getting so upset. This type of reaction is showing me that I'm speaking of a sensitive area. I'm sorry." He held his palms up again. "I was just making conversation."
"Well, it was a stupid one!" Arthur flopped back into his bedroll. "Go to sleep."
"The ground is hard and cold…I can't." Francis whined softly.
Arthur knew he was going to regret his next words and with any luck, Francis would say no. For reasons he did not want to reveal to himself, he invited Francis over. "If you can deal with my 'stench', then join your bedroll with mine. The double material will cushion the ground for us. But I know you hate the smell and feel of me so- huh?" Arthur was quickly shoved by Francis' hands moving him off the bedroll. "What are you doing?"
"What you invited me to do!" Francis laid his own bedroll on top of Arthur's. "I just need some sleep! First the rain storm and now the cold ground! I need some beauty sleep!"
"You'd need to sleep for a year to accomplish that."
Francis ignored the jab and settled himself beside Arthur under the blanket. "Try to control yourself while sleeping next to me."
"Control myself from what? From killing you?"
"I forgot to laugh at that joke of yours." Francis said with a huff and flopped onto the bedroll, his back to Arthur. "Good night!" He said firmly.
"GOOD NIGHT!" Arthur did the same, now both back to back. "Self-centered, single-minded numbskull." He muttered.
"Ugly stubborn jackass." Came a mumbled reply.
By sunrise, Francis had awoken to the laughing call of the loons over the lake. Sleep had been much easier with Arthur's idea, so they would be doing this every night from now on while they travelled. Francis was even beginning to get used to Arthur's dirty earthen smells. He stretched his back and gave his neck a crack before heaving a heavy sigh. Smacking his lips, he scratched his belly and looked down at Arthur's still sleeping form. Francis tilted his head a bit, gazing upon the dirty cheeks. Those heavy blonde bangs covered equally heavy eyebrows, which were set in a frown even when asleep. Francis gently reached his hand out and brushed the bangs to the side to see the whole of Arthur's face. He smiled at the serene features of the man.
"You're much cuter when asleep, like a wild child." A green eye flashed open in response and Francis frowned. "Oh dear…"
"I know you're not touching me…" Arthur said with a tired warning tone laced with sarcasm.
"Ah, there was a mosquito on your forehead. I was simply removing it for you."
"Yeah, sure." Arthur sat up as well and stretched. "Sunrise. Let's get moving." He looked at the other man's frown and narrowed his glare. "What?"
"Breakfast?"
"No, we don't have time. It grows colder by the day; don't you want to be in your city?" Arthur rolled his eyes at Francis' happy whooping call. "I thought so. Now help me pack up the camp."
/
"Water…food…rest…cold…soap…" Francis chanted his wishes with heavy pants as they climbed up a steep hill. "Why the hills? Why?"
"We want to stay away from the disease as much as possible." Arthur assured him.
"I don't see…how that can help."
"Hey, who knows more about this stuff? You or me?" Francis rolled his eyes but did not answer. "I thought so. Are you ready for those extra furs yet?"
"Never! I will not smell like an animal!" His teeth chattered.
"Suit yourself. I just LOVE being all toasty warm in the cold with my furs." Arthur smirked at Francis' whining cry behind him.
"Devil…creation…monster! I bet your unicorn would let me ride it if it were here!"
"That unicorn would sooner impale you on its horn than let you ride. Stop talking or you'll bite your tongue."
Francis grumbled and cursed the cruel man under his breath as he continued to step over various raised tree roots. He grew tired of seeing the same types of trees over and over again. Grass and old leaves were beneath his feet every place he walked. He was weaving in and out of trees as they appear one after the other. The cold breeze nipped at his nose and cheeks. He wanted there to be a change in the environment, or to arrive at the city. Anything was better than roughing it. "Stop…I need to catch my breath." Francis rested his hand and full weight on a tree, only to fall into it. The trunk had been rotten and his hand went straight through. "AH!" Francis pulled his hand back. "Disgusting!"
"It's just a bit of tree rot." Arthur said carelessly. "Dust it off on your pants and let's move on."
"You have no sympathy at all! You're just a cranky old- OW! Something bit me!" Francis waved his arm around and hissed in pain. "It hurts! Ow…it's on fire! My arm!" An orange spider crawled from his arm onto his hand and Francis brushed it away.
"What's wrong?" Arthur hurried down the slope to him. "What happened?"
"I think some orange spider bit me…I feel faint."
Arthur's eyes widened. "Okay, don't move! Just…just sit down here!" He pushed Francis to the ground and rested his back against a tree. "You've been poisoned…by a spider."
"W-what?! Poisoned? Am I going to die?!"
"No…not unless I leave you here alone, but I won't do that." Arthur put down his pack and ruffled through it. From it, he pulled a vial and a stuffed wrapped cloth. "Show me your arm." Francis held out his arm and Arthur could see the tiny bite already beginning to turn black. He did not want Francis to panic even though it was a dangerous bite. "This is really going to hurt, but it's needed." Arthur opened the vial cork and dripped some onto the bite.
"AHHHHHHHH!" Francis screamed loudly. "WHAT DID YOU DO!?"
"Shut up! I'm cleaning it!"
Francis hissed in pain through his teeth. "You're…enjoying this…aren't you?"
Arthur ignored him and picked up the small sack filled with an herbal mixture to help treat the wound. He placed the rounded sack onto the bite, and Francis let out another cry of pain. Arthur knew it was very painful but felt little remorse for Francis' suffering. Keeping the sack on the bite with one hand, Arthur used his free hand to feel Francis' forehead. Just as he thought, a fever. He would have to move quickly. "Francis, I know it hurts, but I need you to hold this on the bite."
"Why? Where are you going? Don't leave me!" Blue eyes begged pitifully.
"I'm not leaving…but I do need to find us a shelter. I promise I will return."
Arthur ignored Francis' cries for him to come back and continued his work. He came upon an old, large tree with thick sturdy roots. To the right of the tree, the roots had grown down and outward through some earth. Arthur stood next to the tree and slid down the leafy hill along the roots. Peeking through, he knew this would hold them long enough for Francis to get better. First, he would have to bring the man here and shield him before building their shelter around the roots. Climbing up with ease, he dashed back to where he had left Francis. Of course the man would still be there, but Arthur could see that he was suffering from the pain. Already Francis' face was pale and his breathing short.
"Come on; let's get you on my back." Arthur had to put the back sack on Francis before lifting the man onto his back. He had to rest Francis against his own back sack, but they could not leave their supplies. "Boy, you're heavy!" Arthur had to huff and pant while carrying the sick man on his back to the tree, which seemed much further than before.
"Arthur…" Francis whispered. "I want to go home…"
"Well, you're going to have to wait, you big sissy." Arthur couldn't blame the man for feeling the way he did, but he would not let Francis know it. He carried him carefully down the slope and sat him back against a large root. Rolling out the bedroll first, Arthur readied his medical bag before helping the man lay on the fabric. He covered him up and used the other roll as a pillow, carefully laying Francis' head upon it. "Are you comfortable at all?"
"Kill me…"
"I'll take that as a no." Arthur was prepared for this sort of reaction and set to work mixing some herbs. When he spit a few times into the mixture and stirred, he heard Francis groan.
"Really?" Francis whispered out. "That's…disgusting."
Arthur raised an annoyed brow. "You sleep with anyone you like; you kiss, give oral, do only who knows what, and you're disgusting by some spit? I should just let you die!" Arthur took out Francis' bitten arm and slapped the yellow paste onto the bite. He watched Francis' features soften in relief. "Does my spit make everything feel better?"
"Gods…yes!" Francis gave a weak smile. "But…I'm hot…and cold…at the same time."
"You have a fever." Arthur took out some more herbal vials to mix. "I'm going to help you get it down. Now, you can't move your body at ALL, got it? If you do, the poison will spread quickly and kill you within minutes." He saw the look of fear written on the blonde's face. "This mixture I am giving you will help you to sleep. Drink it without complaint." He tilted the bowl to Francis' lips, lifting the head for support. Francis drank it all. "Now rest. I have some work to do on our shelter."
Francis felt the nasty liquid coating his throat and pooling in his empty stomach. It took all the strength he had left to hold the medicine down. Already his bite was beginning to feel better with the salve, but his body was hot with fever. All of his limbs were limp; he was barely able to lift a single finger. He let his head tilt to the side to gaze through the thick roots and watch Arthur. The mountain man, as he had come to call him only recently, was lining the wall of roots with smaller branches. Francis watched curiously while the branches grew tighter together and blocked out the sunlight. Arthur was out of sight as well and Francis couldn't help but begin to feel a little anxious. "Arthur?" He tried to keep his eyes awake, but the eyelids became heavy and slid closed. It took only a few minutes before Francis had fallen completely asleep.
Arthur rubbed handfuls of wet earth onto the layer of branches to help hold the wall together. When in the sun, the wet dirt would harden and keep the branches sturdy. It would be just enough for the few days they would be remaining here until Francis was well. Once he was finished with the shelter, Arthur would have to go and hunt for their meal. Francis would be asleep long enough to never have noticed that Arthur was gone. So once he had the branches firmly in place, he readied his bow and left the camp.
The hunt was quick, having picked up the trail of a young boar. Expert hunting and tracking skills ensured a quick kill. Pinpointing the snorting boar in a mushroom grove, Arthur aimed his arrow and let it fly. The arrow hit its target and the boar squealed before falling to the ground. Going over to the fallen beast, Arthur removed the arrow and slung the boar over his shoulders. Bringing it back to the camp, he first checked on Francis to make sure the man was still alive and breathing; and he was. Arthur set to skinning and chopping boar into pieces, tying some to the inside of the shelters' root ceiling to start drying. The other bits he set atop some twigs he had gathered in preparation for a fire.
After he had fully cooked the meat, he placed it on some large dark leaves to bring into the shelter. Francis was still asleep and made no reaction to the aroma of food. Arthur did not wait for him to wake up to begin eating, but did save some pieces. The chill in the air was growing strong and Francis' body gave a heavy shudder of cold. Arthur looked upon the shaking man and frowned deeply. His angry look immediately changed to a solemn one. He knew what needed to be done and if Francis was to be sacrificed, he had to remain alive. Arthur did not want to do it. Just the very idea of it made his stomach churn.
Carefully and quickly, Arthur removed Francis' cold clothes to leave him naked under the bedroll. To his disdain, Arthur had to lay next to him naked in order to help regulate the others' body temperature. Arthur needed him alive, so he would have to make a few sacrifices himself. With each piece of heavy clothing he removed from his body, Arthur began to fear the worst of lying naked next to this man. It had ended badly with the first one he had nursed back to health.
As he settled himself next to Francis' shivering body, skin on skin, Arthur felt himself blushing slightly. It had been a few years since he had last felt the warmth of another human being. He found it strange how easily he could forget all the anger towards this man simply by laying next to him. Francis' body was well toned, but a little too overly hairy. Aside from his eyebrows, Arthur was practically hairless. He never even grew a beard. But Francis' skin beneath his hand as it rests upon the hairy chest presented Arthur with a sense of serenity. It brought back the memory of happier times, five years ago in the spring. Arthur was only seventeen.
Arthur had stumbled upon the man while out searching for winter berries. The man appeared younger than him when green eyes had focused on the shivering form. The other lay on the ground, having been bitten by a snake while traveling the forest road. Arthur had brought him back to the cabin and nursed the young man back to health. The man was just a traveler, no one big or special. Arthur had easily attended to the snake bite, but because of the bite type, the man was out cold for a few days. Once the man woke up, he remained at the cabin until he was fully healed. Then, he chose to stay through the autumn, winter, and spring, but left just days before the summer season began.
Arthur had been heartbroken the day the man left and walked out of his life. HE suddenly chose to end it with Arthur, saying he wanted to be free to do his own thing and live his own life. Sleeping together every night, making love, sharing in food, drink, and hunt did not mean the same type of commitment for the young man. Arthur wanted more, HE wanted less. The first night alone in that big bed was torture for Arthur. He lay awake all night, tossing and turning in the dark, just waiting for that door to open. He wanted his lover to walk back in with those high boots and proud stance, telling Arthur that it was all just a joke and he was here to stay. However, the door never opened and all the sound that greeted Arthur's ears was the gentle pit-pat of rain against the cabin wood.
'Just for this moment…and this moment only.' Arthur whispered to himself. 'I will never lie in this man's arms again. He is not worthy of me.' His body snuggled closer to Francis. 'He is a sacrifice, nothing more. I may as well get what I want out of him before he is gone.' Arthur slipped his head under Francis' chin and laid a hand above the other's heart. The heartbeat was slow, but steady with signs of life.
Sleeping beside Francis was proving difficult. But once he replaced the body next to him with the memory of his former lover, sleep came within seconds.
End Chapter 3 TBC
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