America x Reader: If only you knew

“Just this way.” Your friend Alfred said as he continued on deeper into the woods. You carefully followed behind him. “What exactly was it that you wanted to show me?” You asked as you crouched to the ground as many low branches sprouted from a tree. “It’s a surprise! But you can’t change your mind now, okay?” He said facing you with a soft determined expression gracing his features.  Him speaking those words really made you think twice, but Alfred was your best friend. And you trusted him with all your heart.

You raised an eyebrow in slight questioning before speaking, “Okay…”

It had been about five minutes since you had agreed to keep going when you heard the sound of water. You stopped in your tracks causing Alfred to turn to you. “Hm? What’s wrong?” He asked. “Is that water?” You asked referring to the trickling sound of water. “Yeah, come on!” Alfred took your hand in his and you both pushed your way through the rest of the branches and bushes.

As you both reached the end you looked up and saw a stream that was quickly flowing down to the edge of the land you saw, which wasn’t so far. As you and Alfred walked closer you saw that the edge of the stream had led to a waterfall. It wasn’t nearly as large as the one Mathew had showed you (Niagra Falls), but it was the right size for someone to drown if they were to fall. Not to mention the pointy rocks at the bottom.

“Um… Alfred why are we here?” You ask looking at him strangely. His lips form a soft smile and you saw how intently he was looking at the bottom of the waterfall. You weren’t so close to the edge but Alfred was pretty close. He had crouched so he could get a better look at the water. You did like swimming, but you were pretty frightened at the thought of falling in and tumbling to your death at those large rocks at the bottom.

“Alfred, come back. If you get too close you could fall…” You warned him taking a few steps closer to where he was. You heard him chuckle warmly. “You worry too much, (name).” He said as he stood up and faced you.

“Why not come and look with me?” He asked holding his hand out to you.  You really did trust him as you took his hand and sat down next to him as you both gazed at the beautiful sight of the waterfall. You saw the dark clouds above roam ahead, covering up most of the sun’s light. Although it was about 1 pm the darkness that the clouds sent to the land made it feel like night time already.

You felt a couple of drops contact your soft skin. You gazed up at the sky once more just to see how intense the dark clouds looked. “Alfred, it’s raining. I think we should-“ You stopped as you looked to him and you saw him clutching his knees close to his chest as he tried hiding his face with his arms. His back trembled as he cried. By then the rain was pelting against both of your bodies and the harsh rumbles of thunder could be heard.

“A-Alfred! What’s wrong?” You asked urgently as you put your arm around his back and your other hand gently grasped his cheek and you lifted his head so you could look him in his beautiful blue eyes. His eyes were puffy from crying and he had the saddest frown ever seen. It felt unnatural for such a handsome and caring person like him to hold such a mortifyingly pained expression. “Alfred! Answer me, why are you crying?!” You asked him as the rain pelted against your bodies.

Alfred stood up, his head bowed. You weren’t sure if the drops falling from his face were tears, or water from the rain that dripped from his dirty blonde hair.

You stood as well, your (color) eyes were wide and your eyebrows were furrowed as you urgently needed to know what was troubling your friend. “Alfred please… Tell me why you’re acting this way?” You asked softly, your hand gently caressing his cheek. He brought his hand up to your hand on his cheek. He looked at you. Just seeing him like this was something so strenuous; it brought tears to your eyes and caused your heart to ache vigorously.

You stayed silent letting your own tears flow. “Is this about Mathew…?” You asked. As the name of Alfred’s brother escaped your lips, he just broke down into more tears and slung his arms around you. Alfred cried into your shoulder and you held him tight showing him how you were also affected by his brother.

Mathew, Alfred’s younger brother, had been shot and killed. The worst part was that it was his own brother’s fault.

*Flashback*

“Hey Mattie! Check this out!” Alfred said excitedly. “Hm? What is i- Alfred! P-put that down!” Mathew exclaimed falling back in shock.

The two brothers were just walking back home from church at 9:00 at night. The street lights in town were all on and the sun was completely out of sight. As the two were walking, Alfred had spotted something in a dark alley between two large buildings. As Alfred would say ‘The town sort of looks like Gotham City at night’. (Gotham city, from Batman. We all know how America loves super heroes!)

Alfred let out a heartfull laugh as he helped his brother up. “Alfred, put that gun back where you found it before someone sees you!” Mathew begged his brother to put the gun back before himself or Alfred get hurt. “Oh come on, it’s probably a fake. Besides, I know everything about guns!” Alfred said examining the gun. “A-Alfred could you please watch where you’re pointing that thing please?” Mathew said. Alfred chuckled as he continuously turned the gun to examine all different angles of it. “No need to be so-“


Bang

Alfred dropped the gun as he saw his brother fall to the ground. Scarlet drops of blood slipped from a wound that the gunshot had caused.

The bullet had pierced Mathew’s neck, and it was slight to the left. But there was no doubt, it was a critical hit.

As Mathew’s body fell to the ground, it was as if everything was slowed down. Everything was in slow motion for Alfred at the moment. He dropped the gun to the ground and his eyes were wide staring blankly in front of him as Mathew’s body finally came in contact with the ground. Alfred’s eyebrows were furrowed as his mind failed to contemplate what had just occurred. He was in total shock.

His eyes clouded with tears and he fell to his knees next to his dying brother. He leaned over his brother, “MATHEW!” He cried as his wide eyes gazed upon Mathew’s face and neck. There was no doubt that the bullet had hit some important vessel, but Alfred wasn’t exactly sure what it was.

Mathew tried desperately to speak, but instead he let out a wheezing sound as blood began to spill from his mouth when he coughed. His innocent violet eyes were wide and he couldn’t hear Alfred’s voice when he yelled into his cell phone for the police.

There was just a ringing sound, as his eyes rolled back and his body had stopped twitching.

“Please!!! I-I’m in an alley b-by seven eleven!!! P-PLEASE…!!” Tears continued to spill from his eyes “Please…” Alfred dropped his phone onto the cold ground and he held his head in his arms sobbing and shaking vigorously.

*End Flashback*

Alfred continued to cry into your shoulder. The loud thunder and pouring rain almost silenced his sobs, but you were still able to feel his trembling back.

He slowly pulled back from your embrace.

You looked up to him with eyes full with passion and sorrow, yet he tore his gaze from yours. Instead he focused on…

The waterfall.


The way he was looking at the water was actually scaring you a little. And the fact that it was raining hard only increased both of your chances of slipping on the rocks and falling. “Alfred… Let’s go before one of us gets hurt.” You said gently tugging on the sleeve of the bomber jacket his father had given him before heading into war.

Alfred shrugged off your hand. “No… Leave me here for a while… I need to relax.” He said taking a small step closer to the edge. This caused your eyes to widen as you stepped closer to him. “Alfred!! Let’s GO, it’s not safe here!” You protested.

“Why did I even bring her here…?” He said silently to himself, but you were able to hear.


‘Probably so I could spend my last hour here with her ’

“Alfred, you’re scaring me…” You said trying to look him in the eye. But he wouldn’t let that happen, his gaze was still on the intense rushing water.

He took a step closer to the edge of the rocky surface.

Another step closer. One more step, and he just might tumble to his death.

“Alfred please don’t do this!” You cried with more tears clouding your eyes.

“Alfred! I need you…!”

He took the last step.

“STOP! I love you!!!”

But it was too late. He already began to fall. His mind had been blank, but as soon as your last words began to unravel itself into his mind, he had regretted stepping over the edge.

His foggy blue eyes widened and his heart began racing.

If only he knew you had those kinds of feelings towards him earlier.
He would have never jumped.

You reached out and tried to grab his jacket, but it was too late and you watched him fall.

You could only see his back as he fell to his death. He had fallen down to the bottom of the waterfall when he hit the cold hard rocks at the bottom.

As soon as he felt his head come in contact with the hard stone he felt a horrifying surge of pain before he blacked out.


You had watched everything and were sobbing terribly and your arm that had failed to catch him was hanging over the edge, your fist was clenched where you were supposed to have caught his jacket. Instead he had fallen to his death.



“I loved you so much…” You sobbed. Your soft voice now a whisper.



If only he had known sooner.