Kai's Blog

"Alfred!"

"It's ok, Arthur. I think it's cute," Afonso said, smiling. "Children never stop craving their father's attention. After 200 years, he still wants to seat in your lap. Enjoy it."

Alfred took a big gulp of his soda. "There's nothing childish about me."

"So claiming your papa's attention is a power move?"

"I know what you're doing and it's not gonna work," Alfred said, wrapping his arms around Arthur.

"Aww, he's getting fussy," Afonso said.

"Fuck you!"

"Will you two stop?" Arthur cried out. "Alfred move! Valued things are getting squished!"

Afonso never thought about getting married before. He thought he could be like his padrinho and stay single and devoted to God, but when he was told that he was getting married to Arthur, he felt giddy with anticipation.

He knew Arthur, he liked him. After beating Antonio and Francis they could finally be more than allies and friends. The only thing that disappointed him was the fact that the marriage ceremony wouldn't even happen with them on the same country. Their officials would sign the documents for them, no wedding or even a party until his new English princess arrived.

When Arthur arrived with the princess on a impressive ship, Afonso smiled at him. They were already married after all.

Arthur stared at him and looked away. Afonso felt worried. Maybe Arthur didn't want to marry. Maybe he didn't like Afonso like that.

Maybe he wanted to marry someone else.

After the feast at his King's castle, Afonso finally got a chance to talk to Arthur.

"Hey," Afonso said, smiling a little.

Arthur glanced at him and looked away, blushing. "Hi."

Afonso's smile died in his lips. "Are you... upset about this?"

"They just decided to marry us off without even asking! It's not fair! I mean..." Arthur tried to stare at Afonso but looked away again.

"Oh... I'm sorry, Arthur. Don't worry, I won't... things don't need to change. It's just a piece of paper. It doesn't need to mean anything."

Afonso got up and started to leave when Arthur grabbed his tunic.

"I didn't say it was a bad thing," Arthur muttered and his hand reached for Afonso's.

Afonso had been feeling neglected lately. It wasn't unnusual that he spend weeks, sometimes even months without a phone call or a visit, but watching all the happy couples on the internet made everything worse.

He felt the urge to delete his social media those days.

Arthur had been blissfully happy with Francis, then with Alfred. Luciano had a very passionate couple of months with Manuel and Sebastian. Antonio had been sickly sweet with Lovino next door... No one could blame Afonso for feeling left out and lonely.

So when a handsome stranger started to flirt with him in the bar, he leaned in, happy to be noticed.

"Darling! There you are!" Arthur said, pratically slamming his hand between Afonso the the beautiful stranger.

"What are you drinking? I want some!" two arms embranced him from behind and Luciano pressed his chin against Afonso's shoulder.

The man looked at them and quickly made an excuse to leave.

Ah! I think Arthur saw Luciano's attraction way before Afonso did. They used to get along pretty well until Luci reached puberty and then began to act as more of a rival.

Luci didn't want them to make out, so he'd sabotage their meetings on purpose. Arthur was the first to confront him about it 😏

They met when they were children, and both wanted to stop Antonio's territory from going too big, specially when he allied with Francis.

They made a pact to stay friends forever, a support each other no matter what. So Arthur helped Afonso fight Antonio and Francis, and Afonso helped Arthur with his many battles (sometimes by allowing his goods through his territory and even espionage).

They have an open relationship, but are secretly married since they turned 18. Very few people know 😉

Afonso found Arthur sitting by the docks, watching the blue sea in front of him, frowning.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked. Arthur stared at him surprised but nodded. "It's been a bad week, hasn't it?"

"A bad week preceeded by a lousy month and a shitty year," Arthur muttered, rubbing his tired green eyes.

"Yes. It has," Afonso sat next to Arthur and they stayed quiet for several minutes, watching the blue sea and the waves hitting the stone and wood of the docks.

Afonso didn't say anything when he felt Arthur's hand on his thigh. He stared at his husband whose cheeks flushed as he stared right ahead, refusing to look him in the eyes. When he slowly started rubbing his thigh, Afonso smiled.

"The sea... it's always the same," Arthur said, still not looking at him. "Everything changes, but sea always looks and sounds the same."

'You're so cute, amor' he thought, leaning against his blushing husband and pressing a kiss onto his blond hair.

"And it always will be," Afonso whispered.

Afonso was an idiot.

When Arthur called him in a rare moment of vulnerability, feeling lonely and alienated from the rest of Europe, his brothers and his children, Afonso's heart ached and he offered to come visit him.

He postponed meetings, cancelled plans, and bought a plane ticket to London, hoping to cheer Arthur up.

And for a few blissful moments, he thought he did.

Arthur made reservations at his favourite restaurant and told him he'd meet him there that night at 8 pm, right after he finished a meeting his bosses could not postpone. And so, Afonso went to restaurant and waited.

After 20 minutes, he called Arthur but his call went straight to voicemail. Afonso knew, he'd been in that position many times before, but he decided to wait like the fool that he was. Maybe Arthur's phone died, or maybe he was stuck in traffic with no signal.

It was after one hour and several missed calls that Afonso saw the news of French's prime minister presence in London.

He felt so stupid.

Quickly, Afonso left the restaurant, called an Uber and bought a plane ticket home. He had to grab his stuff at Arthur's place first or else he would go straight home.

As he packed his things, Arthur barged into the apartment, his hair a mess, shirt buttoned incorrectly, and missing both his tie and coat.

"Afonso! I'm sorry!"

Afonso didn't answer, he continued to pack.

"Love, please... I know I let you down terribly," Arthur said, slowly moving closer but not daring to come too close. "Please, let me explain..."

"There's nothing to explain, Arthur. Francis showed up and you were with him."

Arthur opened his mouth but said nothing. He lowered his eyes, his cheeks red.

"You know what's sad? I'm not even surprised anymore," Afonso went on, closing his suitcase. "Why would you choose boring, old me when the person you've always wanted became available?"

"No! Afonso, no! That's not... I didn't... I..."

Afonso could feel his eyes burning. He wasn't going cry in front of Arthur. Not again. Not anymore.

"I'm sick of this, Arthur. Honestly... I'm sick of you."

He grabbed his suitcase and walked out of the bedroom.

"Don't go! Please don't leave. Not like this," Arthur grabbed his arm and pulled him back inside.

"Give me one damn reason to not walk out of this door!" Afonso yelled, as he stared at Arthur with a mix of heartache and humiliation.

Arthur shook his head, but his grip on Afonso's arm got stronger.

"I have no right to demand anything from you, Afonso. What I did was vile... I hurt you. God, I am vile. I ruin everything... I always ruin everything and hurt everyone who ever comes near me. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, love. Just please don't leave... please... I beg of you..."

Arthur pulled Afonso down to the floor with him, his grip on his arm strong as if he feared that if he let Afonso go this time there was no coming back.

"Please, Afonso. I love you. I do. I love you so much," Arthur whimpered, as he cried against Afonso's shoulder. "Please don't leave me."

And with his husband crying on top of him, Afonso lost the remaining control he had. He cried, his body shaking with sobs as he finally let go of his suitcase.

When your ship has official porcelain 💖