"I've searched everywhere, smart-ass!" Arthur snarled, though not entirely threatening with tears in his eyes. "Don't you think I did?"

Antonio sighed, standing up. "I'm just trying to make sure, mi amigo. I don't mean to cause you grief. We just need to find Alfred. If we lose him, we lose this war. It's getting worse everyday, and Alfred was the technology and intelligence to win this."

Arthur slammed his fists into the desk. "What the hell!? You say that like he's a machine! He's human, too! He's got feelings and a personality again! He loves me again!" Tears began to track down Arthur's pale cheeks as he drew his hands to his chest. "Antonio, we have to get him back! Not because he's our best weapon, but because he's our friend! He's dear to us!"

The Spaniard frowned. "But he's not truly Alfred, still." Arthur gulped, staring up at Antonio. "Alfred died and left a weapon. A weapon with a personality and a mind of its own. He 'loves' you because you still love him." Antonio glares down at Arthur. "You are only distracting that weapon from its missions and goals. Once we get it back, you are no longer permitted to see or be near the weapon any longer."

"What!?" Arthur gasped, reeling back. "B-but- you can't! Gilbert said-"

"I overrule Gilbert. It doesn't matter what he said. You listen to what I am saying now, mi amigo; don't go near the weapon unless given strict orders to do so. You will not go on this mission, nor will you be permitted any information about this mission to retrieve the weapon."

Arthur trembled, then he slapped the Spanish man. "You fucking asshole, I hate you! I fucking hate you! What the hell is your problem!? Stay the hell away from me!" Arthur yanks the door open, then slams it shut behind him.

Elizabeta stands, concern filling her forest green eyes as she rocked Alaric. "Arthur, what happened in there?"

The Brit growled. "Leave me alone," he grumbled, then ran off down the hall. He didn't bother wipe away his tears, even as Francis stopped him. Arthur glared. "What do you want!?" He snapped, trying to shove the French agent off himself.

Francis pulled Arthur out of the way, then sighed. "Arthur, what is it? What's the matter? You're angry, and not just because Alfred is gone. What is it?"

"Fucking Antonio!" Arthur shrieked, shoving Francis off himself. "He's a damn bastard! I hate him! I hate him so much! The heartless bastard keeps saying that Alfred is just a weapon and he said that Alfred doesn't really love me and that I was distracting Alfred from his goals and-"

Sternly, Francis cut off Arthur. "Antonio's wrong." Arthur blinked, suddenly overcome with shock. Francis never willingly admitted that one of his dearest friends was wrong. "Antonio is taking out his stress on everyone, please don't take this personally. I'm sure once he's calmed down he'll take back everything he's said."  Arthur stared, a little confused. Francis sighed and began to explain;

"You know how the Italian brothers 'vanished'?" Arthur nodded. "They're not really missing. They completed their mission, but they were both critically injured, Lovino the worse of the two. Feliciano will be able to work for us again within a year or once he makes full recovery, but Lovino will never be able to work with us again."

Arthur gasped. "What? But, Antonio could just visit Lovino, right? I mean, they are boyfriends!"

Francis shook his head. Lovino is on bed rest for the next few months in Rome, Italy with his Grandfather and Feliciano, and Antonio, with his high ranking position in this war, will not have anytime to just stop by and say 'hi'. Antonio may never see Lovino again. They had to break it off. What'd be the point of staying together if they'll never see each other again?"

The Brit gulped and looked down. "That's awful... That must be why he was suddenly angry when I told him Alfred loves me."

"You said that?" Francis laughed, bending over slightly. "Mon ami, you are bold! Well, I'll talk to Antonio, but just try and do as he says for now. Please don't anger him any further. He won't hurt you on purpose, but please try not to upset Toni." Arthur nodded, settled down. He calmly made his way back to his dorm, eyes on the floor.

~

Arthur sighed, rolling over on his bed that no longer smelt like Alfred. He tried not to cry for the past month, and he avoided Antonio. He didn't feel as bad as he should since Antonio avoided him as well.

Sluggishly, Arthur rolled back out of the bed. He tucked his pistol in his boot, then shrugged on Alfred's jacket before exiting his dorm. He raised the collar of the bomber jacket and breathed in deeply. That was the only thing that smelled like Alfred anymore. The Brit stepped the the hall, passing agents trying to wake from the slumber and their families encouraging them. Arthur rolled his eyes and jogged the rest of the way to the tech lab.

Gilbert grinned, setting down the welding nozzle as Arthur rushed in. "Arthur, what's up!?" The Prussian turned around and raised the hood to look at Arthur.

"How you know who it is before you see them is beyond me," Arthur grumbled, plopping down in Gilbert's favorite chair. Gilbert shrugged and watched Gilbird nestle into Arthur's hair. "Any news on Alfred?"

Sighing, Gilbert tossed his gloves and frowned. "No. We don't have a clue about Alfred's location since they shattered his tracking device. He could be anywhere in the world."

Arthur nodded, looking down. "Yeah."

Gilbert sat on the counter beside Arthur, going through his phone. He then held the screen in front of the Brit. Arthur blinked, then smiled at the picture of Alaric. "He laughed for the first time last night. It was the cutest thing. It kinda sounded like Lizzy's laugh. I can't describe how happy Liza and I were when we heard it. We didn't even mean to make him laugh." Gilbert swung his legs. "I did something stupid, so Liz started yelling at me. She smacked me, and then he laughed."

Arthur chuckled. "He must also like your pain."

The albino blushed and sputtered, getting ready to retort back when a part of the building suddenly exploded. The force caused Gilbert to fall off the counter and Arthur tumble with the chair. They both helped each other up and ran out of the room to see agents scattered about the hallway and their enemy pouring in through the crumbling hole in the wall. Arthur and Gilbert stood, grazed in fear. The leader smirked as he watched his foes struggle beneath his men.

"Bow at me feet," he bellowed, raising his arms.

Arthur's gaze darted from face-to-face, then a shudder racked his body.

Emotionless blue eyes stared right into his own fear-filled green eyes.

"Alfred..."