The Autumn leaves flew every which way at the force of the wind caused by the speeding truck on the winding road. He had a window cracked open, a hand with a lit cigarette sticking out so the truck didn't fill with smoke. Personally, he didn't mind hot boxing the car. Toris next to him did, however. He could at least respect that. The smell he would have to deal with though. Damn the tobacco companies though. Fuckers really had to make cigarettes smell like shit. Even an avid smoker like Alfred could admit that. 

He adjusted his grip on the steering wheel, hand getting tired of the long drive. Toris was explaining something about a new ocean animal being discovered. The words were coming through but not really being processed. The only thing on Alfred's mind was how much he really didn't want to be doing any of this right now. He was already a mockery to the world. The hell did it matter to help change his image? It'll just be a prolonged version of same shit different day. Of course, knowing the consequences that could come from refusing, he was basically forced to say yes. 

An unconscious shutter rippled through his body at the very thought of what could have happened if he was to say know. 

"Are you cold?" He heard Toris ask. He blinked and glanced at the nation next to him. His head was cocked with curiosity. The hair he had tied up slowly fell to his cheek at the action as it wasn't really long enough to put up properly. It's a funny question coming from a guy who was covered basically head to toe with warm clothing. Turtle neck, jacket, thick jeans, and even boots. As if it was going to snow. It was amicable how he matched the scenery outside. Alfred glanced back to the road. 

"No, I'm fine."

"Are you sure? The wind might be giving you chills."

"Nope, I'm all good."

"If you say so." He could practically feel Toris rolling his eyes. 

"Who's you or sarcasm teacher? I have a few pointers I could use from them before we get to the house." Alfred brought the cigarette to his mouth, feeling the dry smoke filling his system.

"Oh please, Alfred, you could start a war that way." Toris half-chuckled. "You know most of them can barely detect emotions much less sarcasm." 

"Oh, c'mon, it'd be the perfect social experiment." Alfred said as he released the cigarette from his lips, blowing the smoke out with every word. "How little time until I start world war three. Basically, no one can say they could pull something like that off." 

"No thank you."

"Fine, but only this once. Next time it'll be funny."

"You really are being dramatic, you know."

"Me? Dramatic? Since when?" He could practically cringe at such a bad joke. Too late now. 

"Just you wait, it's going to be a good learning experience for everyone."

"I appreciate you optimism and all." Alfred, once again, glanced at Toris. "It's a good trait, keep it. But knowing them, I can very much back by disagreement with a shit load of evidence." 

"I can back my argument too." 

"Yeah, but, you're fighting an uphill battle." His sights went back to the road. 

"Don't worry, I'm used to it." 

The fairly large white and yellow plantation style house was coming into distance above the tall pines. It looked like a painting with the backdrop of the sun behind it. Memories of a lost past flooded his mind. Toris was here with him back then. He would call them the good old days if they weren't absolute hell. Still, Toris brought comfort to some extent. That's why he was here. To knock him back to reality just like back then. He needed familiarity at an unfamiliar time like this. What was to happen was beyond his comprehension and it made him anxious. That house holds some of the darkest points in its creaky halls. 

Actually, the anxiety might be from the fact that he needed his pills in his system. 

"Fair enough." Was all he could say.   

~

There were two figures sitting on the wooden chairs at the front porch when the two pulled into the drive way. They were easy to identify as Kiku and Ludwig. Wasn't much of a surprise. Those two are often very punctual. Their bags sat at their feet while they chatted about who knows what. It was almost funny in how different the two were dressed. Kiku went very plain, boring office wear while Ludwig went more aesthetically pleasing to the environment but somewhat industrial at the same time. Camo-pants are still hilarious but damn did he like them. Either way the attire suited them well.  

The car door slammed shut behind Alfred as he got out. Toris had yet to get out as he was reaching for his own luggage in the back seat. Alfred stepped up to the porch and greeted the two that had arrived early. 

"You know, it's okay to be late." He half-joked as they stood up to meet him at the front door. The creak of the aging floorboards ever so loud. 

"Sorry," Kiku responded, "I simply cannot do that, unfortunately." Alfred's mind quickly flashed to an instance where he caught Kiku getting the consequences of being late. Getting whipped endlessly. He never questioned Kiku's punctuality since then. After all, it's not a pretty thought to have floating in your mind. 

"It's fine, don't sweat it." Alfred gave a half-hearted smile. "Makes you look better anyway." He saw Ludwig's lip twitch up in amusement. "Now," Alfred reached into his pocket and pulled out a large ring of god-knows-how-many keys. He quickly identified the front door key much to the amazement of the other two. It was a rather large one. Older looking too. He inserted the key in the lock, a loud click, and the door opened. "Let's go in before the weather decides to turn against us." The two nodded and made their way in. 

Alfred turned back to see Toris jogging to the porch with his luggage in hand. He didn't know quite why but something about a such a scene made him smile. Maybe it was the deja-vu. Like an old picture-now a relic of a lost time. 

He stopped Toris at the door. 

"Start a fire, will you?" He suggested. Toris nodded and headed in. Alfred closed the door and made his way to the nearest chair. Bored, he pulled another cigarette from the box in his pocket along with a lighter. 

This was going to be a long wait.