[Hetalia] "Backwards"
Day 5 - Protect
Title: "Backwards"
Author shuriken7
Characters: England & Canada
Challenge: Holiday Winter Challenge @ hetachallenge
Rating: PG
Summary: 1920. Canada is looking for some quiet from his family and he discovers something about two people he cares about...
Christmas 1920
Canada needed a break from his family. It was one of the few holidays where they were all together and things usually got rowdy. He managed to escape the playful headlock Australia had put him in, but only because Australia's koala had gotten mixed up with New Zealand's sheep and Hong Kong had decided to stir both animals up. A few more of the younger colonies got involved and soon England was shouting at them to knock it off while his brothers started making bets about how long it would be until they got to eat.
Canada wandered down the hallways trying to find the quietist place, Kumajiro on his heels. He finally dropped into a chair in the study, staring up at the photographs and portraits that clung to the wall in the spaces between the bookshelves. He saw pictures of all of them, some pictures a little larger than others. On top of the desk were a few more recent photographs. He recognized some of them from the days following the Great War.
He looked back up at the wall when something caught his eye. He didn't notice at first glance, but a few of the frames were hung backwards, whatever contained within facing the wall. He stood up from the arm chair and almost tripped over his bear that he had forgotten about. He reached for a tiny round one, turning it gently around.
The frame was old, the wood having lost most of its gilding, only a few flecks remained. In the center was an expertly painted picture of a small boy with bright blue eyes and a shining smile. He immediately recognized his brother. He set it down delicately and reached for another.
It was of a slightly older America, a young teenage boy holding a violin. England must have had this portrait commissioned from memory long ago, when the sea kept him separated from them for months if not years. As he turned the others there were more of America, all the way up to what he looked like right before he left. That portrait was marred with water damage. Could they have been tears?
"Canada!"
He nearly dropped the frame. He steeled himself to face England, but before he turned England had snatched the portrait from his hand.
"Uh... Mr. England... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." he apologized quietly. England had his back to him, silently hanging the portraits back on the wall, the backs of the frames facing outward. Canada stood watching, not sure what to say, not sure if he had permission to leave. England took a shaky breath and stared up at the images of his colonies.
"What are you thinking Canada? That I'm a fool?"
"Do you really want my thoughts?" England nodded. Canada took a deep breath before continuing, "I suppose I'm confused why you leave them up at all... and I am wondering if America knows that they're here..." Canada thought about how his brother had been in this room many times meeting with England, had he never noticed?
England walked over to his desk, settling into the chair and reaching for a frame that was laying face down. He picked t up and Canada saw that it was a picture of England America from the day the war was over. America had pulled England into a hug. The photographer had captured England's surprised, but completely blissful look. He sighed, "He knows..."
"Then... why?"
"I have to protect myself... you remember." Canada did remember, the nights where England would burn the candlesticks down and trying to think of just the thing to say that would keep America by his side. He remembered the tears that England didn't know he heard.
"I remember." he replied. Suddenly, a thought entered his head. The question came out of his mouth before he could stop it, "Do you love him?"
England stared at him, his face turning red. Canada couldn't tell if it was anger or embarrassment. "Go back to the party, Canada." England ordere. Canada left, taking one last glance in the study before he went and rejoined the others. England fingers were on the glass of the photo, a sad and longing look in his eyes.
Canada had seen that look on America's face too.
I have to protect myself Canada... America had said.
They're both fools... Canada decided. Both waiting for the other, but not sure how to start.
Title: "Backwards"
Author shuriken7
Characters: England & Canada
Challenge: Holiday Winter Challenge @ hetachallenge
Rating: PG
Summary: 1920. Canada is looking for some quiet from his family and he discovers something about two people he cares about...
Christmas 1920
Canada needed a break from his family. It was one of the few holidays where they were all together and things usually got rowdy. He managed to escape the playful headlock Australia had put him in, but only because Australia's koala had gotten mixed up with New Zealand's sheep and Hong Kong had decided to stir both animals up. A few more of the younger colonies got involved and soon England was shouting at them to knock it off while his brothers started making bets about how long it would be until they got to eat.
Canada wandered down the hallways trying to find the quietist place, Kumajiro on his heels. He finally dropped into a chair in the study, staring up at the photographs and portraits that clung to the wall in the spaces between the bookshelves. He saw pictures of all of them, some pictures a little larger than others. On top of the desk were a few more recent photographs. He recognized some of them from the days following the Great War.
He looked back up at the wall when something caught his eye. He didn't notice at first glance, but a few of the frames were hung backwards, whatever contained within facing the wall. He stood up from the arm chair and almost tripped over his bear that he had forgotten about. He reached for a tiny round one, turning it gently around.
The frame was old, the wood having lost most of its gilding, only a few flecks remained. In the center was an expertly painted picture of a small boy with bright blue eyes and a shining smile. He immediately recognized his brother. He set it down delicately and reached for another.
It was of a slightly older America, a young teenage boy holding a violin. England must have had this portrait commissioned from memory long ago, when the sea kept him separated from them for months if not years. As he turned the others there were more of America, all the way up to what he looked like right before he left. That portrait was marred with water damage. Could they have been tears?
"Canada!"
He nearly dropped the frame. He steeled himself to face England, but before he turned England had snatched the portrait from his hand.
"Uh... Mr. England... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." he apologized quietly. England had his back to him, silently hanging the portraits back on the wall, the backs of the frames facing outward. Canada stood watching, not sure what to say, not sure if he had permission to leave. England took a shaky breath and stared up at the images of his colonies.
"What are you thinking Canada? That I'm a fool?"
"Do you really want my thoughts?" England nodded. Canada took a deep breath before continuing, "I suppose I'm confused why you leave them up at all... and I am wondering if America knows that they're here..." Canada thought about how his brother had been in this room many times meeting with England, had he never noticed?
England walked over to his desk, settling into the chair and reaching for a frame that was laying face down. He picked t up and Canada saw that it was a picture of England America from the day the war was over. America had pulled England into a hug. The photographer had captured England's surprised, but completely blissful look. He sighed, "He knows..."
"Then... why?"
"I have to protect myself... you remember." Canada did remember, the nights where England would burn the candlesticks down and trying to think of just the thing to say that would keep America by his side. He remembered the tears that England didn't know he heard.
"I remember." he replied. Suddenly, a thought entered his head. The question came out of his mouth before he could stop it, "Do you love him?"
England stared at him, his face turning red. Canada couldn't tell if it was anger or embarrassment. "Go back to the party, Canada." England ordere. Canada left, taking one last glance in the study before he went and rejoined the others. England fingers were on the glass of the photo, a sad and longing look in his eyes.
Canada had seen that look on America's face too.
I have to protect myself Canada... America had said.
They're both fools... Canada decided. Both waiting for the other, but not sure how to start.