Past-Part Fills Post 1 -- CLOSED
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Arthur was content munching on a few fries, or chips, as he called them, while driving. Everything was peaceful. Then, he remembered Alfred was only quiet while he was eating.
“Where are ya going?” The American asked around a mouth full of burger. He figured that if Arthur hadn’t heard him the first fifteen times, he should try to ask fifteen times more until it got through.
Before the Brit exploded from aggravation, half an hour later, they arrived at a beautiful clay house covered in flowers, vines, and vibrant paint. There was a garden that took up a good bit of the backyard and it was gathering so many monarch butterflies as well as other fascinating insects.
In the front yard, there was a man wearing a very wide-brimmed hat. He was watering the roses that lined his walkway with a very long hose that must have been quite useful in the gigantic backyard garden.
When the two men got out of the American’s car, Alfred noticed that the hat on the man’s head was actually a sombrero. There were only two people he knew that wore a sombrero while company was over:
Spain (when he has a little to much to drink that day) and Mexico.
Ramón Jimenez had caused Alfred some trouble, sneaking into his backyard without permission from time to time, but nothing too serious. Alfred had been a big jackass in return to the man. They were still best friends and neighbors, though. People get over stupid shit.
“Ah. ¡Inglaterra y América! ¿Cómo son usted dos? I‘ve been expecting you.” The tan man lifted the brim of his sombrero, revealing warm brown eyes. He shut off the hose and wrapped a strong tan arm around the American’s shoulders, not noticing the slight cringe Alfred gave when he was touched.
“I’m glad you’re alright. I heard what happened last night and I am glad. Hearing what was happening to someone who is like a brother to me and not being able to do anything about it is muy terrible. It’s good to see that you’re back to your old self, Alfred.” He chuckled and ruffled the American’s hair a bit. “Come on in, then.”
-
When they walked into the Mexican man’s house, Ramón smiled at Alfred and brought him to the main room. The three men had a few laughs for awhile, until it was time for business.
“I have to talk to Arthur for a few moments, but, you may watch television to pass the time. We’ll only be a few minutes.” With that, the two men disappeared into what seemed to be the Hispanic man’s study. When the door was shut and locked, Alfred picked up the remote that was sitting on his friend’s coffee table and flopped onto the couch, flipping though the channels on the television.
-
When they walked into the study, the tan man shut and locked the door with a sad smile on his face.
“No matter what, Alfred and I have been very good friends. I will do what I can to help him get through this.” He turned his back to the Brit and walked towards one of his bureaus. Sitting atop it was a small, hand carved chest.
Opening the box, he pulled out what looked like a plain white handkerchief. Turning around, he shut the chest and handed the cloth to Arthur, gently placing it into his hands.
Once he was holding the handkerchief, the blonde knew exactly what was wrapped inside it, tucked safely away in the clean folds. He smiled and looked up to show the other man how grateful he was.
“When the crisis hits, I’ll be hit too. I’ll have possible support from Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. If they get over themselves and everything. But, that has a very small change of happening. If I wind up alone in this, there won’t be much else I can do to help, anyway. So, right now, this is the best I can do for him. I hope it is enough.” The Mexican sighed and let a frown show.
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The younger nation shook his head and let his usual lazy smile appear again. “No. You have Al to take care of. He really needs you right now and I’d be a fool to ask for more than what I am now.” Ramón put his hands on the Brit’s shoulders.
“I wish I could do more for him. I really do. But you, mi amigo, are keeping him happy all on your own. I don’t know how you’re doing it. I don’t care. I just want you to make sure that this whole economy business doesn’t change him. ¿Entiende usted?”
The older nation let a big grin grow on his face as he stared at the locked door. Just behind it was the little boy he raised. The teenager he fought with and learned with. The man that was now sitting on the couch, watching the tele, and possibly smiling. The person that needed him.
“I’ll do that and more, Ramón. I promise.” Arthur let a laugh pass his lips and gave the man in front of him a hug as a sign of his thanks.
The Hispanic man chuckled as his grin widened. He let his arms wrap around the Brit and gave him a slight squeeze in gratitude. “Gracias.”
“No,” The sandy blond broke away from the embrace and turned toward the door. In one swift motion, he unlocked it at flung it open. “Thank you.”
-
When the two men walked into the main room, Alfred was rolling around the couch in hysterics. His laughter bounced off the walls and made them smile.
“Cartoons, Alfred? Do you enjoy watching Bob Esponja?” Ramón chuckled and leaned back against the wall behind him. They had discussed in the study that the Englishman would be the one to talk to the American.
After a few failed tries at communication, Arthur switched off the tv and sat his brother back down onto the couch. He let a small smile show, even though he should be angry at Alfred’s short attention span letting him watch children shows.
“Ramón got something for you. Alright, Alfred? So you will thank him as soon as you see what it is he got for you. Understood?” The Brit started pulling the handkerchief out of his pocket.
When Alfred saw what the thing in his friend’s hand was, the mock reply of ‘Sir, yes, sir.’ died on his lips. He held his hands out, palms up.
The cloth was placed in his hands and sat there for a few seconds, being admired. When the Hispanic man against the wall cleared his throat, it brought the American back to the real world. Shaking hands and twitching fingers started unfolding the snow-white handkerchief and revealed what was inside.
What Alfred saw made a whimper and tears started clinging to the man’s eyelashes, sparkling and threatening to send warm salty water down to stain his cheeks.
He pulled out a completely undamaged, looks-brand-new, pristine Texas from the white folds and placed them on the bride of his nose immediately. Blinking and freeing a few droplets of tears, Alfred realized that he could see everything again. His second largest state was back on the map and better than ever.
When he looked up, he saw Ramón’s arms stretched out and ready to embrace him. Alfred ran to them, wrapping his own shaking arms around the man’s torso. His laughter could be heard through the hiccups and the streams of tears.
“Thank you so much.” The blonde nation said, almost giggling out of happiness. “How did you…”
The Mexican smiled and gave his fried a tight squeeze around the waist. “You should thank Arthur. He called the day wee saw you without them. Told me to be on the lookout for clogging in the pipes. I’m glad he did. If it weren’t for that phone call, you wouldn’t have your Texas and my shower pipes would have exploded.”
“Some things had to be replaced. I had to clean them pretty well, too. But, I got them to look better than new. So now, I think we’re even…with the whole sneaking into your house thing, right?” the tan man smirked and ran his hand up and down the crying nation’s back, trying to calm him down.
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“Thank you so much. Both of you.” Alfred sniffed and, between the tears and hiccups, you could see the hint of a genuine All-American smile.
-
Ramón had walked the two men to the door and stood on his patio, watching them get settled and into the car. Arthur started the car, letting it warm up a few seconds before really getting it going, and both the men waved goodbye to their helpful friend. This time, they were really heading for Ludwig’s house.
As soon as they got on the road, Arthur noticed that the younger nation was very quiet. He was smiling, a few leftover tears making more tracks of stains on his flushed cheeks. But, the thing that made the Brit’s heart speed up was that smile. It was still there.
Covered by the loud roar of the engine, the sandy blonde whispered, “You should smile like that more often, Alfred. You look beautiful.” Content, he gave a warm smile of his own and focused on the road again.
“What was that? Did you say something?” Alfred asked over the radio and the car. From the faraway look he had in his eyes a few minutes ago, there as no way in heaven or hell that he could have heard that.
“Nothing.” Arthur laughed, changing the radio station again. “Just can’t stand listening to that Lady GaGa of yours. Her songs remind me too much of that frog, France.” They both laughed and settled on listening to Bob Dylan instead.
The American rested his right arm on the edge of the rolled down window and watched the array of colors -houses, cars, trees, people, animals- rush by. While on the highway, he whispered out to the darkening sky, “You should look in the mirror more. You’re beautiful when you smile, too.” He chuckled.
“What was that?” Arthur asked the younger nation, hoping nothing was wrong. His eyes were still on the road..
Alfred only laughed some more, “Don’t worry. It was just something passing in the wind.”
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¡Inglaterra y América! ¿Cómo son usted dos? - England and America! How are you two?
muy terrible - very terrible
mi amigo - my friend
¿Entiende usted? - Do you understand?
Bob Esponja - Bob Sponge (SpongeBob SquarePants in Mexico) (It was probably the Texas episode, too…)
The second largest state in America is Texas. The first is Alaska.
Yay, I wrote out this chapter again. :3
Well, this story is going to wind up being longer than I had imagined. I'm sorry for the slow update, but I've been having some ex troubles and they've really been weighing this anon down.
I hope this is getting better instead of worse. And yes, this long chappie is to make up for the last horrible short one.
If there's something I'm doing wrong or something you don't like, tell me, I'll fix it up for you.
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Oh, Alfred, I'm so glad he got that hug. I wanted to give him one, too.
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