House of Cards

That morning was supposed to be just another normal beginning of the day. A morning of them waking up in the same bed, sharing a good-morning-kiss and perhaps a few caresses under the blanket, going downstairs to eat breakfast, and making jokes or something like that while preparing it. Then, they would go to the book store, follow everyday’s routine, and nothing bad would happen, no kind of tragedy would put such an abrupt end to the happiness they were already used to. The naive Alfred had thought that in that world (their own little world), things like that were never going to happen… oh, how wrong he had been. Everything had, in fact, started, like just any normal morning: with kisses, caresses, having breakfast, and going to the store. However, the bad feeling that had been plaguing Alfred since the previous evening, hadn't disappeared at all, not even letting him sleep at night nor pay attention to what Arthur was saying during dinner. No matter how many times he had wound up the clock, it just refused to work again, and his chest was constricted by anxiety. They had arrived at the store, and that unpleasant feeling had grown even stronger as they crossed the door and Arthur went off, disappearing among all the bookshelves and mountains of volumes. While staring at his back and watching him leave, Alfred was attacked by a tremendous fear that the other was leaving him, that, despite just heading to the backroom, he would never return again. But the king decided to ignore it, concentrating on his tasks… until several minutes had passed without seeing Arthur leave the small room. A bit worried due to the fact that he didn't hear a single sound from inside, Alfred had gone to check, only to find Arthur lying unconsciously on the floor. “Arthur!” he screamed, running up to him and patting his face, trying to wake him up. But for nought… A horrible thought crossed the king’s mind, making him immediately press his ear against the other’s chest. The air left his lungs, when he didn't detect any heartbeat. What was he supposed to do now? Oh God! He ran outside, screaming for help, begging for someone to do something, until he was approached by a young man, who hurried with him into the store. That man applied first aid to Arthur, while Alfred was watching with desperation how his partner’s face was losing its color with each passing second. His helper ordered him to call an ambulance. Alfred hastily tried to remember how to use the telephone like he had seen Arthur do it a lot of times, and quickly managed to. Ten minutes later, the paramedics had taken the young man’s place and were massaging Arthur’s chest, in order to make him react. Alfred took the still unconscious Arthur by the hand… the latter's fingers were so terribly cold. “Arthur, wake up!” he yelled, squeezing that icy hand, while the paramedics were injecting something into Arthur's other arm. The store owner looked as if he were merely in a deep sleep. “Please, Arthur, don’t leave me!” the king continued to beg, watching the lips he adored kissing so much turn gray. “Arthur! Open your eyes, don’t leave me!” He couldn't take that pain anymore. “Don't do that to me…” One of the assistants asked him to let go of the patient, who was about to be given an electric shock. One… two… three electric discharges were applied to the dying Arthur’s chest. The paramedics exchanged sympathetic gazes and then looked at Arthur, who was lying on the stretcher. One of the men glanced at his watch and was about to say something, but suddenly, the straight line on the little portable screen turned jagged, and a rhythmic sound could be heard. The paramedics breathed out the air they had been holding in, but their faces were still deadly serious, as they listened through the stethoscope to the strained heartbeat that was so weak it could stop any moment. They arrived at the hospital, and, as if it was a race against time, a few doctors appeared, listening to the paramedics, who recited things Alfred couldn't even understand half of, while he was running next to the stretcher, trying to hold Arthur's hand. He felt that he had to do it, since otherwise his partner would leave him forever… abandon him… die. They passed a hallway that seemed endlessly long to him while he was being asked questions he couldn't answer, since the only thing he wanted was to reach Arthur's hand that was resting on the stretcher. But then, his love was brought into a room Alfred was not allowed to enter. So he stayed behind… feeling that Arthur was being taken from him, that this door with the sign “Intensive Care” was nothing but a synonym for death. And as soon as this very door closed, the mighty King of Spades collapsed to the ground. He was crying so much and was so terrified that he couldn't stop shaking. What horror! What a disgusting, horrible panic was taking over his body! His knees felt as if being made of rubber, his hands were trembling, his tears didn't cease, and he had to cover his mouth in order to not scream out in pain and fear. Hours passed that seemed like years, while he felt as if these white walls kept coming closer, wanting to crush him, the anxiety didn't let him breathe, and his clock that still refused to move was like a constant reminder that time was up… Arthur's lifetime! The doctor came out at long last, took off his mask and looked at Alfred, who was waiting for him to speak. Because that healer with his magic and strange devices just had to save Arthur! The surgeon was using so many medical terms that Alfred heard nothing but a constant “blah-blah-blah”. The only things he understood were: “his heart won’t hold on through the night”, “he needs a transplant”, and the most shocking one: “Arthur knew that his heart was done for”... Arthur had known it. Had known it since the time Alfred had accompanied him to the hospital, but decided to lie, saying that he was alright. Arthur had known the whole time that his heart could stop beating any moment. Arthur, the one who had told him how much he wanted to live, that he still wished to read a lot of books, to see things. To love, to kiss, to make love in the backroom of his store! That very Arthur… was dying now. Before leaving, the doctor told Alfred that a machine was keeping the patient alive for now, but if they didn't receive a new heart for him soon… it would be better to prepare for the worst. Prepare? Was this doctor stupid or what?! How could someone prepare for the death of a loved one? Alfred wanted to rip off his skin, muscles, and bones and give Arthur his own heart, to grant him his wish of continuing to live. But he couldn't! He felt useless and helpless, he felt… weak… he, who was always bragging about being the strongest, was not able to save the person he loved. “What is the point of being strong if you cannot protect?” he finally asked out loud, sitting limply in one of the chairs and still crying. “So you finally understood, Majesty,” he suddenly heard a childish voice that he recognized immediately. The king looked up and spotted the joker Peter, who had his hands in his pockets and was looking at him with something similar to pity. “Joker!” Alfred yelled, suddenly throwing himself to the ground and getting on his knees in front of the joker, who backed off automatically. “Joker! I beg you… I implore you! Turn into a Spade in order to change destiny and save Arthur!” The king clung to Peter’s clothes. “I know you can, you jokers said you could change reality as you wished… so please, grant me that humble wish… please!” He was crying his eyes out. Peter couldn't believe it… The strongest king of all four was begging him on his knees. Lowering his head before a poor wandering joker without any lineage nor power! “Get up!” he ordered, but the king refused to, instead continuing to beg, leaving Peter with no other choice than to grab him by the arms and try to make him stand. To no avail. “I will do anything you want, but please don’t let him die!” In the end, the little one gave up, leaving the king on the floor. “My condition is that you return to your kingdom,” he said, and Alfred nodded without thinking twice. If abandoning Arthur was the price for saving the latter's life, then he would gladly pay it despite the pain. “Are you sure, Majesty? Are you sure you want to leave that person’s life in my hands? The words of a joker aren’t worth anything, I could send you back to your kingdom and still let Arthur die.” “I’m willing to take that risk. I’ll bet everything on that last gamble… for the sake of Arthur's life,” Alfred said. The little joker simply ran his hand over the king's face, raising and carefully examining it, not finding even a trace of arrogance there. “Very well. Arthur will live, Your Majesty, and you won’t have to part with him,” he said, just before a bright, blinding light forced the king to close his eyes. The latter was a bit confused by these words. How could he stay with Arthur if he was going to return home? There was a tunnel of white light, a whirlwind in their heads, and a feeling of dizziness. The kings didn't know what was going on nor where they were heading, but they felt that they would be home soon. Their feet touched the ground, and they fell and landed on the very black-and-white tile floor that made one feel like standing on a chessboard. They looked around, recognizing the palace of the capital, and then at each other. All four of them were there: Ivan, Francis, Alfred, and Ludwig! A young soldier, who was standing guard, had his mouth and eyes so wide open that his jaw almost touched the ground and his eyes looked as if they would jump out any moment. “T-T-The… the kings… THE KINGS ARE BACK!” he screamed. His words resounded everywhere. Then he started to run through the hallways, yelling around that the kings had returned, while the royals themselves were just hoping that their heads wouldn’t burst from the screams while getting to their feet. Lilly was the first one to arrive, holding up the skirt of her dress and running as fast as she could. Her cheeks were bright red, and tears were running down her face. “Francis!” she shouted, and her voice could be heard in the entire hall. “Francis is back!” She was crying and had Vash running behind her. Francis’ eyes started to shine as well, as he saw his queen running towards him, not minding to show her shoes and part of her long underwear. Just before arriving, she tripped and threatened to fall, but Francis managed to catch her just in time, carrying her in his arms like a recently saved princess, spinning around on his heels. “Lilly, my dear! I missed you so much,” he told the girl, who wrapped her arms around his neck without any shyness, hugging him. “Me too. I thought I would never see you again,” she replied, crying so hard it made her really look like a normal girl, not a queen. “Ivan…” Elizabetha managed to say, being out of breath due to having hurried there. She stopped for a moment to admire the king, who was smiling at her as innocently as always. There were tears in her eyes, and she was breathing hard. Roderich, who was standing behind her, however, didn't seem to share her enthusiasm. “Ivan, you are really here,” She raised her skirt as well in order to run towards him, and the king prepared himself to receive his queen in his arms… but instead, she raised her skirt even further and gave him a powerful kick to one of his knees. “Where have you been, you damn idiot?!” she screamed, when he doubled over a bit. “I was so worried I thought your corpse was floating in some river outside the borders! How could you do that to me?” She kicked him a few more times, wailing like crazy, while Roderich was trying to calm her down, saying that a lady shouldn't behave like that. Ivan looked at the angry and crying Elizabetha, who was still shouting at him. How could she still worry about him like that after everything he had done?... Yes, Feliks was certainly wrong with his opinion about “Lizzy”... she could be anything, but never a bitch. <span> </span>“There, there… I’m sorry, Elizabetha,” he said when she stopped trying to hit him, stroked her head and directed his violet eyes at her emerald ones. “I mean it, forgive me for everything I have done.” There, the Queen of Clubs understood that he wasn't only referring to his sudden disappearance… but also to everything that had happened between them. She knew it when she saw the remorse in his eyes and the smile that was honest for the very first time and only for her. “You too, Roderich, forgive me. I see that you have taken good care of Elizabetha during my absence,” the king said to his jack, who felt the same thing as his queen and just inclined his head as an answer. “My dear, I cannot take off your crown, let alone your queen’s mark… but I can at least allow you to be happy.” The King of Clubs gave her a little kiss on the forehead and took her hand, giving it to Roderich, who was baffled. And Elizabetha as well, starting to cry again. Some more silent steps started to resound all of a sudden, and Ludwig turned around to Kiku, who was followed by Feliciano… The king directed his gaze into the jack’s almond-colored ones. Feliciano opened his mouth… but then closed it again, forcing himself to swallow the words he had wanted to say, and just smiled, watching Kiku approach Ludwig. “Oh, Ludwig, you are back. Are you alright? Did something happen to you?” the queen inquired, putting his hands on Ludwig's arms and examining him from head to toe. “No worries, I am fine,” the king replied, trying to calm down his queen and wanting to run up to his jack in order to tell him what he had discovered. But Kiku looked him into the eyes. “Are you sure that nothing happened to you?” he asked again, this time talking about something else than his physical well-being. “Well, there is something that happened, indeed… but I think it was a good thing,” Ludwig said, looking at Feliciano, who quickly lowered his head as soon as their gazes met. “My lord, I am so happy to see you back,” said the servant, twisting his fingers as if reprimanding himself for something. “Me too,” Ludwig replied in such a sweet tone that it made the jack blush violently and crease the folds of his vest, forcing himself to look down again and biting his tongue with all his might, for this was the only way he could hold back the words he really wanted to say. And Alfred, for his part, was watching everyone reunite with their loved ones… the feeling tightening his chest was gone, and now he was only thinking of Arthur… he wanted to know whether the joker had really fulfilled the deal. Arthur… this word was occupying his mind, until Yao ran up to him, going downstairs as if someone was chasing after him. “My lord!” the jack shouted. Alfred dared to smile, as he saw the other skip a few steps of the staircase in order to arrive faster. “Yao!” he exclaimed when the servant decelerated as he could in front of him, and instead of a cordial greeting, wrapped his arms around the latter and lifted him from the ground. “Yao! I’m so happy to see you! I missed you, my friend, and you’ll never believe all the things I did!” The king was basically crushing the jack in his arms, who hugged him back. “What happened? Did you get hurt or sick, have you been eating well, did you have everything you needed? Let me take a look at you, I have to make sure you are alright,” Yao said, running his hands over Alfred’s face and his entire body, checking if his lord really was whole and in good health. “Calm down, I’m… fine…” The memory of Arthur returned to the king. “Don’t lie to me, my lord, aru,” Yao replied, brushing over Alfred’s bangs and looking at him, as if he was deciphering him. “Something bad did happen,” he remarked, noticing Alfred's red, swollen eyes. The king was trying to not seem that obvious. “Yes… but I am confident that everything is going to work out in the end,” the king said, trying to convince himself with these words. “Is it something you cannot tell me, aru?” the jack inquired, seeing a slight smile on the other's lips. “If I do, you’d probably end up hitting me,” Alfred said with a forced giggle, earning himself a reproachful gaze from his servant, who suddenly seemed to remember something. “Ah, yes, you have to come with me, the queen has lost consciousness this morning. We have no clue what happened, since he seems fine and is just sleeping now, but he does not wake up under any circumstances.” Yao grabbed his wrist to lead him to the queen. “No, Yao… wait, it’s that…” Alfred tried to stop him, but was basically dragged forward. That's why he didn't notice the person who appeared at the foot of the stairs. “Your Majesty?” The king heard a voice he knew better than anyone and looked up with slight fear… he could not believe what he saw. Alfred’s jaw dropped as he spotted Arthur with his shining emerald eyes, his pale but slightly reddened skin and who was for some reason wearing the clothes of his kingdom: a navy blue and purple jacket with the typical spades.  “My lord, when did you wake up, aru?” Yao asked, bowing slightly and letting go of Alfred, who couldn't move. “Just recently…” Arthur replied, having woken up after he had heard Alfred’s voice again, begging him to not abandon him. It had been such a heartbreaking cry that it made him open his eyes at once.  Ludwig and Francis were also staring at Arthur, recognizing him immediately, and then looked at Alfred, who was still too flabbergasted to make a sound. Arthur, obviously, noticed this and felt an extreme nervousness attack each part of his body. “Excuse me, Your Majesty, I believe we still haven't introduced ourselves to each other. My name is…” “Arthur,” Alfred completed his sentence and started to smile gradually until the corners of his mouth almost reached his ears. “It’s you, Arthur!” Ignoring Yao and everyone else around him, Alfred ran upstairs. His smile became wider with every step, his heart was beating harder with each meter, and his hands reached out until they touched the other's body, hugging him possessively and pressing him to his own. And as he kissed Arthur's lips, the latter couldn't even scream out, falling on his back due to the king’s weight, who was all over him, kissing him, without caring about the whispers, squeals nor Arthur's tense muscles.  “It's you, Arthur,” the king said, continuing to hug him on the floor and feeling like crying of happiness when he perceived the other’s accelerated heartbeat. It was beating! It was beating with so much power. “W-What… Ma-Majesty…” Arthur stammered, being imprisoned in the latter's strong arms. His face started burning even hotter, when Alfred began to give him little kisses on the mouth, making him hold his breath, because he had no clue what to do in that highly odd situation. “I was so scared of you abandoning me,” the king confessed. Arthur remembered the voice he heard while “sleeping”. “But I’m here,” he replied, since this was the only thing occurring to him. Alfred raised himself slightly and looked at him, running his hand over his face. “Yes, you are…” The king noticed Arthur’s clothes again… what he was wearing was for royalty only… “Why are you dressed like this?” Alfred asked. Arthur didn't seem to understand. Did the king still not know that he was the future queen? Alfred was waiting for an answer Arthur was not daring to give him out of fear of being rejected. He even became a bit anxious, feeling these blue eyes examining him, intimidated… preparing himself for a rejection that wouldn't only be humiliating… but also extremely painful. “The queen…” Alfred finally muttered. Arthur gulped audibly. Without wasting any more time, Alfred stuck his hands under Arthur’s clothes, making him scream out and try to stop the king. But the latter ignored it until he finally managed to unbutton his shirt and lift it. Arthur felt fear eating at him from the inside, but Alfred… Alfred ran his hand over the black spade mark on the skin he loved to touch so much, traced every line and each one of its details with his fingers, and then hugged Arthur again, fighting back a sob. “The joker held his word: he saved you and I didn't have to part with you. He gave you a new life to lead it by my side, he brought you to this world as my queen.” Even despite having the king on top of him, Arthur felt an immense weight fall off his shoulders and placed his trembling hands on His Majesty's back. The feelings he had been hiding for so long and disguising under the name of “admiration”, finally came to light, because he did love him. Yes, he loved the king, was so in love with him that he had no clue when exactly all these damn feelings managed to enter his body. These feelings that had seemed so distant, were now his, that love was his, the king was his. “Kesesesese! Welcome home, Your Majesties! We hope you have enjoyed our humble actuation during the last weeks. And now, we’re here to say our goodbyes,” exclaimed the shrill voice of a certain silver-haired creature, who appeared in the center of the hall, just like when it all began. “Your lessons are learned and you won the match, my lords… I didn't think you would really be able to acquire a bit of humanity,” Peter admitted, standing next to him. “It was a pleasure playing with you,” he finally said, and both jokers, who were playfully undulating their tails and freely showing their horns, were about to leave, but found themselves threatened by two of the jacks. Vash hurriedly pointed his spear at Gilbert's throat, even burying it into the latter's skin, making it turn slightly red. And Yao had grabbed Peter, wrapping his arm around the latter's neck while twisting the joker’s arm. “Do not assume that you will get away with this,” Vash hissed. Gilbert grinned, annoying the Jack of Diamonds even further, who was about to perforate his throat. “You should have known from the start that your audacity will cost you your heads, aru,” Yao added, squeezing Peter even more. “If that's the case, then we’ll die with our heads held high, right, Gilbo?” the boy asked. The albino laughed as a response.  “No!” Feliciano suddenly yelled out. Everyone turned around to him, even King Ludwig cast him a questioning look. “No… do not kill them… Their Majesties are safely back and do not seem to have been harmed at all, ve~” The Jack of Hearts obviously couldn't reveal that he had talked to Gilbert, who had promised him to not harm the kings. Gilbert looked at him and thanked him for his intervention with a slight nod… perhaps wishing for a split second that this was the Feliciano he was in love with. “I agree with the jack. Set these poor devils free,” Francis said. Now, everyone looked truly intrigued, even Lilly. “Yao, let go of him, too, they don’t deserve to be punished, since their actions have opened our eyes and given us another chance,” said Alfred, squeezing Arthur’s hand and looking directly at Peter, who held his gaze. “But…” the jacks tried to protest. “No buts, let them go.” This time it was Ludwig who spoke, and Vash and Yao had to obey, reluctantly freeing the jokers, who shook the dust from their clothes in an exaggerated manner. “We will not retaliate against you, considering what you have done for us, however…” Ludwig continued. “Who said that I have forgiven them?” Ivan interrupted him with that malicious smile of his that made Gilbert and Peter shake in fear. Was the King of Clubs cruel by nature? He approached the creatures with heavy steps, trying to make his smile seem innocent, but without any success. The jokers trembled, thinking that a slow, painful and pathetic death was awaiting them and that the king would surely enjoy their laments and cries of agony while taking out his fury on them in some torture chamber. “You will have to make up for that time I spent locked up in that madhouse,” Ivan said with his childish voice. “No worries, it won’t be anything painful. Just come with me and no attempts to escape, understood?” Leaving the jokers no other choice than to follow him… they really didn’t want to verify whether the rumors about his cruelty were real or not. “Hey Ivan, what are you planning to do with them?” Francis asked with slight worry. Ivan just smiled at him, making everyone in the hall go silent, perhaps imagining the things he could do to them… And while they were immersed in thought and started whispering to each other, asking about what had happened and what the kings had gone through, Ludwig approached his jack. “We have to talk. Let us go somewhere else,” he whispered into the latter’s ear while passing by. Kiku noticed this but pretended he didn’t hear anything, hiding his smile behind his fan. Maybe he would go distract the others, so that these two could leave without being seen. Feliciano walked behind his king through the hallways and towards the chambers, looking at his broad back and twisting his fingers, fighting back the desire to run and hug him like King Alfred had done to Queen Arthur… what envy, how he wished to be able to do the same… a thought that made him twist his fingers even more. No, he couldn’t, he would be content with being His Majesty’s shadow and nothing else, because this was enough for him. Right? They kept walking until entering a room. Still without saying a word, Ludwig headed to the bed and sat down with a long sigh, which took Feliciano by surprise since the king never sighed. There was still silence. Ludwig noticed how Feliciano was nervously moving his hands and playing with his fingers, while staring to the ground. Just how could he have been so stupid to never see that sea of emotions that guy was causing in him? “Feliciano, come here,” he ordered. The servant winced upon hearing his voice and took a step forward, still looking down. “Come,” the king repeated, and the jack obeyed, still playing with his fingers. “One more step.” And with this, Feliciano ended up standing in front of the king, who was sitting on the bed and looking up into the other’s eyes, hidden under the shadow of his bangs. Then, he smiled without his servant noticing it and suddenly wrapped his arms around the jack’s waist, pressing his face against the other’s stomach. Feliciano got startled. “W-What are you doing, my lord?!” he asked fearfully, when he felt Ludwig’s arms around his body and his warm breath on his stomach. “Forgive me, Feliciano,” said the king without showing his face. “Bu-But… what should I forgive you for?” Feliciano was becoming more and more nervous and scared, not daring to move. Ludwig slowly let go of him and took him by the hand, making a shudder run down the jack’s spine. Then, he kissed Feliciano’s bruised fingers. The other let out a stifled scream. “Forgive me for not having noticed it sooner.” The king looked into the servant’s almond-colored eyes and tugged at his hand, making him bend down and face him. Feliciano felt his heart throb in his throat, being unable to breathe… his very soul was about to leave his body and fly away… and his skin started burning. All these sensations were attacking him at once when the King of Hearts’ lips caressed his own. No, no, no, no! Had his dreams really become that realistic? Was his imagination playing cruel pranks to him again? But he could feel the king’s mouth on his and his breath against his nose, he could feel the king holding his hand. He could feel it all and it was almost painful! If everything should turn out to be a dream, a mere hallucination, then he swore he would kill himself out of sadness of having to return to his reality. However, there he was, enjoying the taste of the king’s mouth, perceiving his scent and holding his hands. Now it were the sleepless nights he had passed longing for him that seemed like dreams, the tears he had shed that had been each carrying his lord’s name. All these days he had been seeing the Hearts’ mark on the chest of another person now felt like old reveries, bitter nightmares on restless nights. In that exact instant, that kiss was his reality, and he was able to forgive the king, to forgive him for not having seen that love he had hidden and sealed under a vow of silence. He would forgive him for having been blind and deaf! Everything! Because His Majesty was finally seeing, hearing and feeling it. Everyone had removed their bandages and masks, and the four kings had learned to see and what the true meaning of strength, wealth, happiness… and love was. Together with their queens, loved ones, friends, and lectures, they were determined to start anew, to look at the world with new eyes and to live as if they just had woken up from a long, restorative nap. But what about the ones they had to leave behind?  Time does not forgive, it simply goes on. Hours, days, weeks, and months. Or more precisely, six months had passed, six months of longing and sighing, of looking up at the sky, hoping that the ones who had left to another world were gazing at a similar one, sharing thoughts and calling each other in whispers. Feliciano Vargas listlessly crossed out another day on the calendar that was hanging on his room’s wall. Half a year since Ludwig had gone. He took a slightly nostalgic look at all the days he had already marked. Some of them were special dates, for example, the day Lovino had left the orphanage and started living at Antonio’s, the Spaniard had taken custody of his brother until the latter’s eighteenth birthday. What a wonderful day it had been! He was so happy to be finally able to see his brother and sometimes even stayed the night at Antonio’s house (saying to his tutors that he was sleeping at a friend’s). But other than that, only few good things had happened since Ludwig had left, and neither had he seen the joker Gilbert again… everything was like a strange dream, and he couldn’t tell Lovino anything about what had been between him and the king. It was the first time he was keeping a secret from his brother. He stretched and let out a big yawn, before returning to his little desk full of books. Right now, he was catching up with studying, since next year, he would attend school again and had to pass several make-up exams. His mother even hired a private tutor to help him. Mister Honda was a good teacher, at least… but now that he thought of it, he had never asked him what his first name was. “I’ll do it today,” he decided and, instead of solving equations, started to draw in his notebook… a palace, a crown, and a king. “Feli, Mister Honda could not make it today, so he sent one of his colleagues instead. Come, greet him,” the woman who adopted him said, peeking into Feliciano’s room. He snorted. “Ve~ Could I pass on the lessons today? I’m tired,” he complained, lying over his desk. “Of course not. Now come downstairs, don't be rude.” She tried to sound strict, but then smiled at him lovingly. Feliciano reluctantly got up from his chair, letting out a few “ve~” and headed to the hallway, dragging his feet, and then to the stairs as slowly as a snail. Going downstairs, he expected to see an old teacher with a stern face, and a stern face he did get, but one he already knew.  Feliciano froze when his gaze met the blue eyes of a tall, blond and muscular man, who was wearing a boring brown suit and a briefcase. “Good afternoon, you must be Feliciano,” the latter said a bit nervously when he saw the perplexed teenager. “I am Mister Beilschmidt and will be filling in for Mister Honda today,” he introduced himself with his deep voice and cleared his throat when he obtained no answer. “Is something the matter?” he finally asked after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, snapping Feliciano out of his thoughts. “Yes… indeed.” The Italian ran downstairs to the supposed teacher and eyed him from head to toe and from one side to the other, looking for any differences to the King of Hearts. But no, they were absolutely identical. “Answer me a question, please,” he then asked as if he was desperate, intimidating the man a bit. “Are you in an arranged marriage?” The other raised his eyebrow. “If you mean to ask whether I am married or not, no, I am not.” “Then have you maybe a childhood friend, who’s been in love with you his entire life, but you just recently found out about it?” “Excuse me?” “Just answer me!... Are you in love with someone?” Feliciano insisted, breathing heavily. Mister Beilschmidt’s cheeks turned bright pink. He averted his gaze, embarrassed. “Why are you asking me these questions? I don't believe my private life is something that should concern you.” The teacher was now really nervous and feeling uncomfortable. “Of course it should! It’s important for me to know, so answer!” Feliciano didn't give up. He grabbed the other by the flaps of his jacket and pulled him closer, making him blush even more. “Are you in love with someone?” The Italian’s face showed that he was desperate for an answer. The red-faced man shook his head awkwardly. Feliciano loosened his grip and started smiling. He was so relieved that he let out a few giggles and leaned his forehead against the teacher’s chest, who tensed up completely. Feliciano felt inebriated by the smell of his cologne. At long last… the person for him alone had finally arrived. And while some were finding their second half, others were holding memories and cherishing moments without any hint of bitterness or deception. No, quite the opposite: they were treasuring them like delicate and wonderful fragments of their memory. Matthew was slowly getting used to his new home. The Williams had turned out to be kind, caring people, and loved him more than the boy had ever imagined. They had given him his own room, he had a toy box only for himself, was attending a normal primary school, his mother always cooked him delicious food, and his father played with him after work and sometimes read books together with him. Matt was now definitely leading a life he had never dreamed of in the orphanage… well… perhaps only while being together with Francis. Matthew was thinking about him every day. When no one was looking, he sometimes drew a diamond on his arm, just like the one the king possessed, and then stretched out his arm, admiring his false mark and imagining that the joker Gilbert would appear dressed as a wizard and take him to Francis’ kingdom… but that didn’t happen. Instead, his mother or father came to take him out of that dream world and show him that they were his new family now.   That Sunday was no exception, either. Matthew was hiding a diamond drawn on his arm under his sleeve and sitting in the dining room with his father, who was shuffling something that looked like a deck of cards. “Pay attention, Matty, I’ll show you how to play poker,” the man said, mixing the cards under Matthew’s amazed gaze. “Poker? You should teach him to play hockey or baseball rather than gambling,” his mother scolded him, looking disapprovingly at the cards and stroking Matt’s head. “Oh, come on, this is a game for men, even more than hockey or baseball,” the father said, winking at the little one. His wife shook her head, let out a sigh, gave each one of her men a kiss on the forehead, and went to the kitchen to prepare a snack. “First, you have to know the cards,” the man said, placing them on the table. “The deck consists of diamonds, clubs, spades, and hearts, and there are kings, queens, jacks, aces, and jokers.” Matthew looked as if he was listening to a fairy tale rather than to an explanation of the cards. “Look, these are the kings.” His father pointed at four cards, two with red symbols, and two with black ones. “This is the king of hearts, this the king of spades, this one the king of clubs, and last but not least, the king of diamonds.” Matt’s mind immediately wandered to Francis. He picked up the last card with curiosity and saw the mirror image of a king from the side, which made him giggle, since it seemed like a caricature of Francis himself, with its long hair, a funny mustache, and a beard that had a curl on its end… The king of diamonds… with a red rhomb beside him and an axe… was the most similar thing to a photo of the king he knew for real. “Matty, are you alright?” his father asked, noticing that the child remained engrossed in that card. The boy did a little jump and let out a barely audible “yes”, then directed his attention back to the card. “Dad, can I keep this one?” he interrupted the adult’s explanation. “Uhm… sure, but you can’t play poker with one single card,” said the latter with a little smile. Matthew smiled back. “I don’t want it for that,” he replied, got up and ran upstairs to his room, leaving his dad behind with the rest of the cards. The excited boy took the picture frame from his bedside table that had a recent photo of him with his new family in it; Mr and Mrs Williams, who were both holding him by the hand. He smiled, removed the glass from the frame and put the card into one of its corners, being careful to not cover up anyone in the photo. Having placed the glass back on the frame and the frame on the table, he admired the new picture. Now, he could see his entire family: him, his mother, his father, and the King of Diamonds. At the same time, there were other people playing with a deck of cards, shuffling it and pulling out random ones, as if hoping to find one they considered special. Arthur Kirkland was leaning against the counter of his book store and playing solitaire, taking out cards and sorting them one by one. He was letting out sighs and from time to time, his hand wandered to his chest or more precisely to the scar from his recent heart transplantation that would rest there until his final day. While feeling its texture through his shirt, he couldn't help getting a bit sad, since it brought back memories… memories of the last time he had seen Alfred. The morning he had been surprised by a cardiac arrest, after which his heart had refused to resume beating, was his last day together with the self-proclaimed king. He still remembered how they woke up and caressed each other a bit in bed, how they kissed while preparing breakfast… and finally, how the stabbing pain in his chest and left arm clouded his vision and made him collapse. He also remembered the fear he was feeling while being in a dark limbo and hearing Alfred's desperate screams, calling his name. But he wasn't able to respond. He tried to force his body to open his eyes, however, his eyelids were far too heavy for that… ah… that was his end, he knew it… his heart was getting back at him for his crazy youth. He had no time left, could never read, travel… nor love ever again. That was it for him, he had to give up, but somehow didn't want to, and kept fighting against that darkness. Until he woke up within the white walls of a hospital he hated so much. His chest still hurt, his eyes were sleepy due to the anesthesia and he barely managed to notice that his entire family was by his side. Even Scott, who suddenly wiped his face and put on a serious expression, pretending to be unfazed. Arthur's gaze wandered along all the pairs of green eyes, all the red hair… but didn't find any blue ones nor a wheat blond head. He spent several weeks under observation, being constantly visited by his overprotective family, but never by Alfred. Neither the nurses seemed to know anything about the king. There were times Arthur feared that the heart beating inside him now was Alfred's. No! He couldn't have done something so extreme, couldn't have killed himself to give him his heart… but maybe… just maybe he had abandoned him, not wanting to deal with a weak and sick man like him. Arthur didn't know which possibility hurt more. On his last day in the hospital, he got a visit from a child he had seen only once; the boy with blue eyes and black clothes told him that Alfred had returned to his kingdom and left… Arthur didn't ask any questions, but for some strange reason just believed him, not even thinking of it as a ridiculous excuse. He just knew it was the truth, that Alfred was truly a king, who had gone home. Why did that explanation seem so logical and coherent to him now, if he had never believed anything Alfred himself had told him? And there he was now, playing solitaire and feeling sadder than ever. His will to live was gone… he felt a bit bad for the person who had died and donated him their heart, but right now, he was not in the mood to enjoy life at all… He took out a new card, letting out another sigh, and placed it on the little pile where it belonged. Then he automatically repeated the action and looked nostalgically at the card with the king of spades. Just in that moment, the doorbell rang, announcing the arrival of a new customer. Arthur put the card on the counter and looked up at the person who had entered. The first things he noticed were a pair of blue eyes and wheat blond hair. “Ah, hi… uhm, sorry, I think I’ve gotten lost.” The young man with glasses and a pair of headsets hanging from his neck laughed loudly, looking right into Arthur's eyes. “I’ve just moved here from Washington and was looking for the local university, but…” Arthur listened to his voice and eyed his slightly messy clothes, typical for a nineteen-year-old guy… who was smiling like a movie hero and had a dreamy gaze that made Arthur stop feeling the ground under his feet and brought him into a strange state of delight. The guy fell silent out of a sudden, and tilted his head a bit, still looking at Arthur. “Sorry for asking, but… do we know each other?” He slightly narrowed his gorgeous blue eyes, trying to recognize Arthur, who let out a laugh, moved the cards aside and leaned against the counter. “Yes… I knew you in your other life,” he replied mysteriously, knowing the reason why his new heart was pounding now. Coincidence had brought King Alfred in front of his store, life had taken him away, and now destiny was bringing him back. But there were also others who shared the same fate in both worlds, because when someone was fated to be with another person, then life would arrange everything for them to end up together. Lovino was having breakfast in Antonio's discreet kitchen, even though it couldn't really be called breakfast, since it was already noon. But then again, the two of them had spent almost the entire night watching The Godfather and Scarface. In other words, they had made it a “mafia night”. The Italian, who was living his third month with the Spaniard right now, was eating cereals and reading the morning paper, wondering if it was really alright to meet with Feliciano that afternoon, since he knew that his brother was working hard to make up for the lost school year, and didn't want to distract him too much. Antonio had been holding his word, letting him see Feliciano whenever he wanted and inviting the latter to eat, allowing the twins to have sleepovers at his house. Additional to that, he was also holding his promise to respect Lovino, which he was doing to such a point that, after the forced kiss in the orphanage, he had never tried or even insinuated anything like that again… which did frustrate Lovino a little bit, to tell the truth, since he wasn't able to take matters into his own hands and confess his feelings to Antonio. And if things stayed that way, the two of them would never get anywhere. So he was now sitting in that kitchen, eating cereals and berating himself mentally for being such a coward while pretending to be interested in the stock market. Suddenly, he heard the Spaniard’s door open and the latter let out a loud yawn. Tousling his hair, Antonio was walking through his house, shirtless and with his pajama pants hanging slightly under his hips, since he preferred to sleep like that and always wandered around looking that way until he finally decided to get dressed. This was real torture for Lovino, but he would obviously never say it out loud. “Good morning,” Antonio greeted, yawning again. Lovino grumbled as an answer, avoiding to look at the other, who, as if on purpose, approached the small table to take the cereal box… and while doing that, his face got very close to Lovino's. “Oh, sorry,” he apologized as he noticed that the younger one was feeling uncomfortable. Lovino didn't say anything. However, he suddenly felt a rush of bravery and perhaps also stupidity, grabbed Antonio’s wrist, tugged at it with considerable strength and roughness, and quickly pressed his lips against the Spaniard's mouth. It was nothing but a discreet and awkward contact, not romantic at all. “Good morning…” Lovino muttered after that, lowering his head and wishing to disappear that instant, not daring to look at Antonio. The latter had to blink a few times in order to understand what had happened. Had Lovino really just kissed him right now? Judging by the Italian’s blush, he, indeed, had… “Do it again!” Antonio yelled out of the blue, startling Lovino, who looked at him, both surprised and frightened. “What?” “Do it again!” the Spaniard begged him happily. “F-Forget it, you idiot,” Lovino refused and wanted to resume eating, but before he could even manage to lift the spoon, his lips were trapped by Antonio’s, who was a bit more gentle than him… They just stayed like that, their lips pressed against each other, like elementary school kids pretending to kiss. Lovino was petrified, and Antonio slowly let go, gave him one of his dreamy smiles, and took the cereal box to pour himself a bowl as well. They didn't say another word, just taking it like a good-morning-kiss… and hoping that it wouldn't be the last one and that many more would come after that… On the other hand, there were also people struggling to maintain bonds that had been created completely unexpectedly, people who had been fighting against themselves and, without even noticing, had become the strength for someone else. Feliks was sitting on the terrace of an elegant café, wearing his hair tied up in a ponytail. Long lashes (artificial ones) were framing his bright green eyes and his lips that had strawberry lip gloss on them, were curved into a smile while he was writing a letter. From time to time, he brought his pink pen to his mouth, trying to think of something interesting to write down, and looked up to the sky, which was giving him the inspiration to tell about his recent adventures and misadventures. Just a month ago, he had been released from the mental hospital, and could now freely roam the streets, visit cafés to drink a frappé coffee, go shopping, wear make-up and dress so femininely that he was sometimes taken for a woman. In the end, he put the last full stop on the letter and kissed the paper, leaving a trace of his lips on it. Then he folded it and gave it to the one sitting next to him. “Do me the super favor to tell Ivan to answer me quickly, last time I had to wait a millennium,” he said to the joker Peter, who rolled his eyes and put the letter into his pocket. “Sure, whatever you say,” he replied between clenched teeth. “Hey, like, don't be rude, or I’ll tell Ivan-baby,” Feliks joked. Peter frowned. “I’m the king’s personal messenger, not yours, so I can behave however I want to,” he said, getting up from his chair. The punishment Peter and Gilbert had received for having sent Ivan to another world was becoming his personal messengers, who would deliver his letters to Feliks and vice versa. This was the only way for Ivan to hold his world and keep in contact with Feliks and his condition to spare the jokers’ lives. “Send Ivan a big kiss from my part and tell him I look super fabulous today,” Feliks asked the boy, who was about to leave. “Didn't you write that in your letter?” “Yes, but I want someone to corroborate it, and that would be you.” He winked at the joker and said goodbye with a hand movement. "Feliks!" he suddenly heard someone call him and turned around to Emma, who had arrived at their gathering this time wearing a simple dress and a red ribbon in her hair. "Emma, my gorgeous... Hi..." Feliks said as he discovered the one she had arrived with: a red-eyed albino, who was holding her hand. "And he is..." Feliks grinned mischievously at Emma, making her blush a bit. "I'm the awesome Gilbert, and you must be the crazy guy Em's talking about so much," the albino said. She pinched his arm. "Don't worry Emma, he's right, I am crazy. Crazy in love!" Feliks replied in an exaggerated tone, placing his hands on his chest. "Separated from my prince, condemned to wait for him and finally... having found a king instead, who saved me." His voice was sweet, and he let out a dramatic sigh. The other two looked at each other, not understanding what the hell he was talking about. "You're a drama queen," Emma said, laughing. "Like, of course, I'm a queen... at least, in this world." The last part was said quietly, so that nobody could hear him. "But you, my dear friend, owe me an explanation." He directed a few not exactly discreet gazes at Gilbert. "There is nothing to explain, this guy is just taking advantage of my sister," a new, deep voice intervened. "Stop that!" Emma snapped, when her older brother approached them. Feliks was overwhelmed... green eyes, blond hair, and an ice-cold gaze, accentuated by the cigarette between the guy’s lips. Emma's story was completely forgotten, he didn't care to hear that Gilbert, Antonio and her had gone drinking one day and ended up drunk and singing on the streets like three idiots, that her and Gilbert had been hugging and holding each other's hand all the time, how they had woken up with a hangover at Antonio's house, laughed nervously as they remembered that night, and decided to go out again, but this time just the two of them... He didn't care because he had to do everything in his power not to drool over Emma's brother, whom he had never thought about before and was seeing now for the first time. Please let him be gay! "Let's go, Gilbert," Peter said, having reached the older joker, who was watching everything from the café's roof. Especially the recently formed little couple. Emma, the nurse he had never noticed before, was the reason why his world wasn't revolving around Feliciano anymore. "Gilbo, the letter, we have to deliver it to the king~" Peter reminded Gilbert in a singsong voice, snapping him out of his thoughts. The albino put on his usual malicious and playful grin. "Peter, why have I never paid any attention to that girl?" the joker asked, observing the way his other "version" was holding on to her and looking at her with something very similar to affection. Did he himself use to look at Feliciano like that? "Perhaps because you're an idiot. And now come, we have to deliver this," the younger one scolded him and started to walk, noticing how the other Gilbert was now offering a chair to Emma like a real gentleman. She smiled at him with gratitude. Seriously... How could he never have noticed her before?... But he had to leave these doubts for later, for the king was waiting for that letter, so he followed Peter through that odd tunnel of light they were already used to, until their feet touched the fine marble of the palace in the capital where Ivan was working on some of his duties. His jack was standing by his side and helping him prepare a few things for the audience he would have that day with the other kings. "You have mail!" the two jokers yelled, startling Roderich, who arranged his glasses. "Could you do us a favor and announce yourself properly?" he reprimanded them. "Oh, calm down, young master, we're just doing our job, kesesesese!" Gilbert replied, patting his back. The jack frowned upon hearing that nickname that shameless albino had recently given him. “I told you to not call me that. More respect, you devil,” Roderich spat at Gilbert, who just continued mocking him. “Enough arguing. Where is my letter?” the excited Ivan intervened and walked towards Peter, stretching out his hands like a child expecting his Christmas gifts. The blond joker rummaged in his pockets, making the king a bit impatient, and then finally placed the paper on His Majesty’s hands. The latter giggled. “Take care of everything, Roderich, I’ll be back soon,” he said, leaving the room. “No, my lord, wait,” the jack protested, following him, but the king ignored him, passing Elizabetha on his way. “Another letter for Ivan?” she asked, watching him leave, and greeted the jokers as if they were old friends. Then, she approached Roderich and took him by the hand, not caring that the two creatures were still there. The servant immediately entwined his fingers with hers. Roderich let out a loud sigh and arranged his glasses again. What could be more important than work? “Dear Ivan, I can’t, like, say I’m very thrilled about the long time you always need to reply to my letters. Yes, I know you're a totally busy king, but I need attention as well. But I’ll forgive you for this time, because I have amazing news: I finally got out of that hospital! Great, isn’t it? I was so well-behaved you wouldn't even recognize me! Now, I’m living with my father, who doesn't take his eyes off me, like, that man’s so obsessive, but at least, we talk more than we used to. On the other hand, it’s also, like, really sad to depend on pills all the time and to have to go to therapy three times a week, not being able to go too far away from my house, but… a bit of freedom is still better than none at all. I told you, Ivan-baby, didn't I? That I’m a phoenix, and I already started to fly. And what about you? Please tell me that you’ve finally found a partner, because it’d be horribly sad if you still continue to just use your hand.” Ivan smiled nervously and a bit awkwardly due to Feliks’ blunt way to talk about these things, so he decided to just continue reading, without noticing the other person walking through the same hallway, who was looking around, searching for someone. The king was so concentrated on his lecture, and that other person so distracted that they couldn't help bumping into each other. Ivan reflexively let go of the letter in order to catch the other one, whose waist he grabbed before they could fall to the ground. Their gazes met, like two magnets attracting each other… and this was the first time Ivan noticed what mesmerizing eyes the Jack of Spades had. “Your Majesty! Forgive me, aru!” Yao said, immediately separating himself from Ivan, who forgot how to speak for several seconds. “N-No worries…” the king finally managed to mutter, looking again at these brown eyes to which he had never paid any attention during all the years of knowing Yao as Alfred's jack… just now did he realize how beautiful they were. “I beg your pardon once again, I was distracted because I was looking for my lords,” Yao said, lowering his head. The king waited for him to look up again. “Have you maybe seen them? Just a moment ago, they were next to me, but before I knew it, they were gone… my lord Alfred is inconsiderate of me, aru,” the jack complained, still being a victim of Alfred’s antics. “Uhm… no, but… I could help you look for them,” Ivan suggested, picking up the letter and ignoring Yao’s refusal, since the letter couldn't accept a king’s help. Finally, they did end up searching together. In order to do something against their boredom (and to leave the Queen and Jack of Clubs alone), the jokers decided to take a walk through the palace, showing off their typical cynicism. They went to every corner of the main hall, undulating their tails and presenting their horns, enjoying the attention they received from some of the soldiers, who couldn't help turning their heads into their direction. On their way, the creatures greeted the King and Queen of Diamonds with one of their exaggerated bows. Lilly and Francis were walking together, her holding his arm, and talking excitedly about a project in their kingdom: a big orphanage they planned to have built. From time to time, Lilly held the king's arm tighter, and Francis approached her, giving her a few small kisses on the cheek. Gilbert and Peter felt that there was something more happening between them than just creating plans for their kingdom, so they opted to continue their walk and sneak into hallways, until they reached the library, where the Spades (except Yao) were busy examining all the books they saw there. Arthur was holding Alfred's hand and running along the bookshelves like an excited little boy, letting the gaze of his green eyes wander and trying to decide which book to choose. He explained that he loved reading, but, as a former peasant, hadn’t had a lot of access to books nor time to read in the past. Alfred, for his part, while not letting go of Arthur, as if they were glued to each other, took out a few volumes and gave them to the other together with kisses on the lips that were happily accepted. The jokers looked at each other and grimaced due to that highly sappy scene, preferring to continue their little tour and watch the results of their game that had been created on a whim. <span>As if walking through some kind of labyrinth, they turned into hallways, wandering around until they saw the shadows of two people from a distance. One of them had a strange curl.</span> The King and Jack of Hearts were unsuccessfully hiding in order to share kisses in peace. From time to time, there was a “ve~”, mischievous giggling and muttering, until everything became strangely silent once again. Gilbert didn't even want to take a look, so Peter just shrugged and followed the albino, who, not wanting to walk all the way back, just opted for jumping out of the window. Outside, they found the Queen of Hearts, who was trying to distract the Jack of Diamonds, so he wouldn't interrupt the beautiful atmosphere between his king and queen. The two creatures passed them and calmly resumed their walk through the large garden. “Hey, Peter… I was thinking,” the red-eyed one began. “Wow, Gilbo, you haven’t done that for a long time,” the other mocked him. “That’s not funny, you brat,” Gilbert said between clenched teeth. “Alright. So what were you thinking about?” “That we should go look for the people for us.” As soon as he heard that, the boy abruptly stopped and gave Gilbert a mistrustful look. The other walked a few steps and then stopped as well, turning around to Peter. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m just saying that if there’s a… how were their names again?.. Tino and a Berwald in the other world, then they must exist in this one as well, perhaps wishing for a child. It’d be interesting to try our luck and have something to do when King Ivan doesn’t need us,” he explained simply, as if planning a picnic. “And you would really do that for me?” Peter inquired quietly, not entirely believing his ears. “Of course, the Awesome Me also does good things for his friends,” Gilbert said with a giggle, while Peter ran up to him. “We’re going to travel through all the kingdoms and only return when we have to deliver a letter! Oh, and maybe we’ll also find your ‘nurse’,” the boy said in a suggestive tone. And thus, their voyage to find the people for them alone began. Finally, they wouldn’t just be wandering around, but had a path to follow… a goal. A place they wanted to reach and people they wanted to meet. But the jokers weren’t the only ones initiating journeys. There were also people wishing to meet their special someone again, people fighting against time and oblivion, in order to keep their feelings alive. “Turn left at the crossroad and continue straight. Then, you’ll soon reach the main square and, there, you’ll find the way to the palace without any problem.” Lovino was indicating the way to the Palace of Hearts to a young traveler from the east. The guy with olive-colored eyes and brown hair slowly tilted his head to the side and thanked him in a monotone, sleepy voice, resuming his path. Herakles, who had abandoned his village two days ago (and his friend Sadik, who was horribly angry at him), was on his way to his kingdom’s palace in order to become a servant to the royal couple. That rang was much lower than the jack’s, but he would be near the queen, his love Kiku… after all these years. “Hey!” Lovino yelled after him. Herakles stopped his slow walking and turned around to him. “If you see the jack and have the opportunity to speak to him, tell him that his brother sends his regards.” The traveler nodded calmly and went on. Lovino looked at him and then at the towers of the palace that could be seen from his humble home… making use of the bond connecting him to his twin brother. He smiled, knowing that Feliciano was finally happy. “Lovi! What are you doing here? Come, let’s eat,” Antonio called him, coming closer and shamelessly hugging him from behind. To his surprise, Lovino didn’t put up any resistance, just accepting his affection.  It was one of these days where everything was alright, where at least for 24 hours, everything was perfect, just how it should be. And nothing could destroy that.   The End.