UK (original) (raw)

Title: Remember
Author: pillowsofwind
Character(s) or Pairing(s): US/Canada
Rating: G
Warnings: Human names.
Summary: Alfred and Matt hang out on Veterans/Remembrance Day, and Alfred's cover is blown.
Notes: I'm actually rather pleased with this one. Pretty sure everything's accurate. If not, yell. XD;; Happy Veterans (or Remembrance) Day! ♥

Before the Vietnam War Memorial in the National Mall of the District of Columbia stand two men, side by side, heads bowed and fingers entwined between them. Ever since the advent of Veterans Day in America and Remembrance Day in Canada, Alfred and Matthew have shared this particular day, and many other holidays. A year ago, they had spent the day in Confederation Square, in Ottawa.

Today, they meander the paths of Washington DC, paying their respects at each of the war memorials. So it has been for nearly a century, alternating between each of their two capitals so that neither has to spend the day alone; and so it shall be, long into the foreseeable future (but not forever, as Nations know better than anyone that "forever" simply does not exist).

Alfred reaches out to run his hand over the engraved names, fingertips ghosting over the cold stone in a featherlight touch. He recognizes some of them, as he does every time he stands before this memorial, from when he had served among his men. Matthew looks up, meeting his brother's eyes, and smiles. He understands, of course. Perhaps not this particular war, but in the many others in his past, he had served similarly among his soldiers.

A gentle squeeze of Matthew's hand signifies that Alfred is ready to move on. The pair leaves two single poppies on the ground, their stems crossed to make an "X," at the foot of the memorial before they continue down the path. Humans of all walks are present today--the usual tourists and families mingle among veterans from wars past and present. The city is packed, but as the brothers stride toward their next destination, the sea of bodies seems to part before them; for them.

It isn't long before they arrive at the last stop on their usual circuit: the World War II Memorial. Alfred's gaze sweeps over the pillars, one each for his states, territories, and capital. How many times has he stood within this great semicircle of stone since its creation mere years ago? He doesn't know, but it never ceases to awe him.

Matthew leads them toward a section of bas-relief depicting new recruits being suited up for war. Silence reigns over them, broken only by the delicate sound of the fountain at their backs and the quiet murmuring of the throngs of tourists.

"Excuse me?" a voice beside them interrupts softly. The old man startles slightly when twin faces turn to regard him as one. "Oh..."

Alfred recognizes the man's well-kept uniform and rank immediately as being that of an Army First Sergeant from the World War II era. "Can I help you?" he asks, smiling kindly. Matthew's smile echoes his own as he also regards the elderly veteran.

"I-I..." the man stutters over his words for a moment, suddenly unsure. He stares into Alfred's curious gaze for a few moments, and then he smiles, causing the skin around his mouth and eyes to wrinkle considerably, but not unattractively so. "Is your name Jones, by chance?" he asks, looking between the two of them.

Now it is Alfred's turn to look surprised. "Yes, it is. My name's Alfred Jones. This is my brother, Matt." Not wishing to explain the reasons why twins would have different surnames, he simply leaves it at that.

The man brightens, and his face seems to lose at least a decade. "Did you have a... grandfather, or great-grandfather in the war?"

Alfred's gaze strays to the name patch on his uniform. 'Freed,' reads the embroidered letters, and before he can stop himself, Alfred murmurs softly, "Junior."

Sergeant Freed's eyes widen slightly. "Th-that's my name. How did you know?"

Not knowing how to reply, Alfred glances briefly at Matthew, who is still smiling his Matthew-smile. So Alfred just shrugs and grins his own usual grin. "It's probably best that you don't ask," he says quietly, extending his hand.

Still slightly dumbfounded, the sergeant shakes it firmly, and as he takes in that grin--that grin--it clicks, and something passes between them. He recalls the soldier who had instilled such unbelievable morale into his peers in the midst of the most horrible experience of all their lives. The face in his memory sharpens. Not this boy's ancestor, no. The soldier. This man now standing before him.

"You served your country with honor, Sergeant Freed. I am forever in your debt."

♥♥♥♥♥

Title: Falling
Author: pillowsofwind
Character(s) or Pairing(s): USUK
Rating: PG
Warnings: Human names, angst. Alfred could be arguably OOC, but I don't really think so, under the particular circumstances.
Summary: Alfred wakes up from a nightmare that chases him into reality. (September 11th)
Notes: IDEK.

~~I blame my RP character.~~

Alfred sits up suddenly in bed, shaking, with eyes the size of saucers. Who is that, screaming? He isn't sure, but it might be him. There's a throbbing, blinding pain behind his eyes... he swears it'll drive him mad if it doesn't stop now.

"Alfred? Alfred! What's the matter?" Arthur sits up beside him, woken by screams. "Alfred!" He catches the American's chin and pulls him around so that he can look into his face. Rarely has he ever seen Alfred so wild-eyed and frantic. This must have been some bloody nightmare. "Alfred, please, what----

"Mother of God," he whispers.

When his eyes stray past his panicked lover, Arthur sees it. Sees them. The viewpoint from Alfred's penthouse apartment practically affords them a front-row seat. "Oh, Alfred..." Arthur breathes, grabbing the other's hands in his own.

There is smoke and dust and the pressing atmosphere of death in the air, and Alfred gasps. "No, no, no..." His hands clench, capturing Arthur's in something akin to a death-grip. Alfred shudders violently as the second plane hits, and he collapses into Arthur's arms.