[CHAPTERFIC] You Can't Take the Sky From Me Chapter Four (Axis Powers Hetalia)
Title: You Can't Take the Sky From Me [FF.NET Chapter Four] [ Writing Journal Previous Chapters ]
Pairing: AmericaxEngland, PolandxLithuania, future pairings: GermanyxItaly, GreecexJapan, HungaryxAustria, SwedenxFinland, SpainxRomano, Belarus--->Russia
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance/Humor/Drama/Action+Adventure/Alternate Universe
Word Count: 2,863
Summary: Ace Pilot America is on a mission for the World Military when a chance encounter with a group of Sky-Pirates leads him to team up with their captain, England, against a malevolent group that wants to fill the sky with zeppelins. [USxUK- Steampunk AU]
Chapter Summary: Two deals are made and a promise is discussed. Lithuania and Poland enter the fray. “Shut up. This is from Captain to Captain, all right?” England scowled inwardly, loathing the idea of putting himself on the same level as America.
Author's Note: Thanks again to everyone who has been reading this. This is another character-centric chapter. Actual action sequences will commence NEXT CHAPTER, with the reconnaissance mission with Germany and Italy and something else that happens that would be a spoiler to tell you. ;)
Also, mayura-san did an epic comic from the first chapter of the fic, which you should all go look at it because it rocks. The characters are all so adorable. *_* ♥
Lithuania’s palms were sweaty, and he twisted them together as he walked down the ship’s outside corridor. The Krakus was a small old merchant sky-ship, and it creaked with every breeze that whipped against its flanks and sails. The large steel chute in the center of the ship violently shot out black smoke and steam, causing the ship to clatter and clink with every puff. But it wasn’t the dodgy old ship that Lithuania was perspiring in anxiety about, it was the visit he was about to make to the merchant that owned the ship. Poland was Lithuania’s oldest and dearest friend. Always supportive, always there, ever since childhood. But Lithuania was the one who had been recruited by the Kosmider, forced into his role amongst the zeppelin fleet after being led there by a litany of false promises. He hadn’t seen Poland since. It hadn’t been difficult to convince Russia to dock his zeppelin next to the Krakus for supplies. Lithuania assured him of Poland’s reputation of neutrality and Russia arranged a meeting with the merchant. He would let them purchase supplies without asking questions. And he was out of vodka right now, which Poland had for sale in spades. “An honest tradesman is so hard to find,” Russia had said upon agreeing to Lithuania’s suggestion. He knew that ‘honest tradesman’ meant two completely different things to them. To Russia it was someone who would keep his dirty secrets if they chanced upon them.
Poland wouldn’t actually keep the Kosmider’s secrets, and that was the point. Russia trusted Lithuania more than anyone else, if what they had could be called trust. It was more as if Russia was confident enough that he’d frightened Lithuania into never being anything but dutiful. Lithuania narrowed his eyes and frowned, stiffening his shoulders in resolve. He was wrong. Lithuania turned the doorknob and opened the door, greeting Poland with a smile of pure relief, a smile at seeing a friend so long missed.
Within moments, he found himself in a bone crushing hug. Poland was beaming and chatting animatedly, never even stopping to take a breath. “I totally missed you so much. How have you been Lithuania? I’m like, so sorry for what’s been happening to you. Hey your boss isn’t coming aboard is he? He just sent you right?” A weak nod from Lithuania. “Good. Absolute perfection. We’ll have tons of time to chat then! I already have his order ready, so we can like just pretend we’re using this time to get it together and stuff.”
Lithuania’s smile grew. “Ah Poland, I see you haven’t changed at all.” He patted his companion on the back and pulled away from the hug. Poland still held his forearms. “I’m as well as I can be, I suppose. Mr. Russia is… growing more worrisome by the day.”
Poland surveyed Lithuania’s appearance. He was world-weary, his green eyes weren’t as bright as they used to be and his face had a look of permanent tiredness. His uniform was black from head to toe, the embellishments and buttons done in silver. It didn’t fit his good-natured worrywart of a childhood friend. He frowned. “Did you just come here to pick up stuff and talk?” Lithuania shook his head in the negative. “You can totally always count on me, so spill what you want to say, okay?”
He sighed and sat down in the cushy chair. It had a pink blanket thrown over one of the arms that Lithuania recognized as being Poland’s security blanket as a child. He smiled in remembrance and picked at the fabric absently. “I can’t ask you to do this… I shouldn’t,” he spoke softly. Poland sat down next to him and gave him a confused look. “So let’s just talk Poland, let’s just enjoy the time we have together?” Lithuania felt Poland’s hand on his. He was holding it down with a substantial amount of pressure. He looked up at the other man and their eyes met. Poland looked intense, far more serious than his usual carefree and bubble headed expression.
“What did you come to ask me, Liet?” he used Lithuania’s childhood nickname.
He looked down at his chest and grimaced. “I wanted to tell someone about the Kosmider. I want someone to help me take them down.” He paused. “You’re a merchant. You have connections and could give information to everyone- military, pirates, other merchants, anyone.” He looked up to Poland, his green eyes gleaming with unshed tears. “I’m willing to risk my life for this, but I don’t want to ask you to do the same!” He shook his head fiercely. “I shouldn’t have set this meeting up. I didn’t think it through.”
Poland pushed himself out of his chair and stood up, standing over the other man. He took his head in his hands and leaned down, planting a kiss on Lithuania’s forehead. Lithuania’s face glowed scarlet, and Poland smiled at him as he pulled away, kneeling down in front of the chair and moving his hands to his shoulders. “The Kosmider is completely dangerous to all of us. If we don’t work against Russia like now, we’ll run out of time. Tell me all of the juicy important stuff. I’ll have it spread around the world like hot gossip in no time, and I promise I’ll do it in a way that no one will suspect you.”
Lithuania bit his lip and nodded, twiddling his fingers in his lap. “Thank you.”
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The crew of the Victoria could not escape England’s continuing foul mood, which bled into the next day, Sunday, as well. The chores continued, and at one point Prussia actually did end up tied to the mast (this lightened everyone’s moods considerably, everyone’s but Prussia’s of course). The only other upside of the day was that Liechtenstein was back to cooking. They were all relieved that England didn’t consider his food a punishment, because then they might still be eating it. In between barking orders and finding amusement in Prussia’s plight, England was sketching out their plans for a raid they were planning above the Dezenvòlt Islands. The skytop mansion was empty this time of year as it was a summer home. Not the most exciting of robberies, but England knew it would be easy, and the crew was running low on supplies. This would give them enough income in gold and valuables for months, and that was crucial. He had been keeping the actual piracy to a minimum since the Kosmider had made their existence known. No pirate wanted to be noticed at current, no one wanted to draw their attention.
He was leaning over his drafting table, quill in hand, when he heard a sound he was hoping he would never have to hear again; a sound that filled him with discomfort and uncertainty. It was the steam engine of an Aeronaut-7300. No fucking way… England stormed up onto the deck, snatching the fob watch along the way.
America was stepping out of his plane when England got up to the deck. His expression was different then when they’d first made eye contact. Now a look of anxiety spread across his countenance, and he didn’t quite strut about in the same obnoxious manner he had before. What’s his problem?
Before America or England could speak, Prussia’s voice piped up from his place tied to the mast. “Oh wow. Oh wow England! How do you explain this one? Return visit? He bringing you flowers?”
“Belt up, Prussia!” England shouted, his cheeks burning red. “Christ almighty. That’s TWO more hours on the mast for you.”
America’s face broke into a smile. “You put your crew in time-out?”
England approached him, hands on his hips in an attempt to look intimidating. “No, just Prussia. Now what the hell are you doing here?!”
He scratched the back of his head. “Ah, you don’t know? I… left something.”
England could have sworn he heard Prussia catcalling in the background. He ignored it, but decided to lower his voice so Prussia couldn’t hear from then on out. “Sod off. I told you, you had to leave. How in your empty head does that mean ‘come back the next day’?” He crossed his arms over his chest and pointedly looked away.
America shrugged. “Doesn’t, and do you think I wanted to come back to this crapfest? Your ship is horrible and rickety and full of pirates. It’s the last place I want to be.”
England stomped over and got in America’s face. “Don’t.insult.my.ship.” His voice was cold steel, hard and frosty, like nothing he’d ever heard from the other man before. This threat was serious. America's blue eyes widened and he simply nodded; a move that surprised England. “What’s wrong with you anyway? You don’t seem quite as obnoxious as you were yesterday.”
“I’m fine!” America snapped. “And even if I weren’t, as if I’d tell you what’s wrong.”
England stepped away from America and gritted his teeth. “You want your blasted watch, don’t you?” He reached into his pocket and took it out, holding it up by the chain in front of him. America made a grab for it, and England pulled back and held it against his chest. “No, I’m not just giving it to you. You leave something on a pirate ship, it becomes ours.”
“I don’t follow your rules!” America retorted, his tone raw. “That watch is MINE.”
“Heh. It really means a lot to you, doesn’t it?” England toyed with the chain. “In that case, let’s make another deal.”
America stiffened and panic flashed across his features. “No. I won’t.” The watch was dear to him, a sign of his own personal honor and the honor of his family. He wasn’t going to get it back with a dirty trade.
England ran his fingers across the cracked glass and sighed. “Fine, I’ll keep it then. Won’t fetch much, but it still works, at the least. Might be able to throw it in a lot.”
“No amount of scummy money you could get for it would be… worth more than…” he interrupted himself, realizing he was just giving England more leverage against him. “I won’t make another deal with a pirate! You’re criminals, I’m above all of that.”
There was a vulnerability to America’s tone. He’d not seen him this upset before. Annoyed sure, but here he was genuinely horrified at the thought of losing his watch, albeit attempting to hide it behind a façade of anger. England ran his fingers over the watch front again. It was a good watch in its time, but it had lost its luster over the years and the cracked glass would make it difficult to sell for even a few shillings. It wasn’t old enough to be considered a valuable antique. Its sentimental value was obviously far greater. “I won’t make you do anything unheroic,” he emphasized the last word in a manner of mocking. “Do you think I’m going to ask you to help us nick something or what? I wouldn’t trust you with the smallest of treasures, you idiot.”
“I won--- “
“Shut up. This is from captain to captain, all right?” England scowled inwardly, loathing the idea of putting himself on the same level as America. “You’re military and I hate that, I hate you.”
“Yeah, I noticed that,” America mumbled.
England stepped closer to America again and began tossing the watch back and forth from hand to hand. “I want to be able to call you, once. I want to know that wherever you are, you’ll drop what you’re doing and come to my ship.”
“Wha---?”
“It’s a test,” England continued. “Are you a hero, America, or are you just someone who does what the military commands of you? Prove me wrong, America. Show me that there’s some value to you after all.”
America inhaled sharply, his eyes growing even wider than they had been a minute before. “I… don’t need to prove a thing to you. I know what I am.” There was a shake to his voice, an obvious betrayal to his confidence.
“Do you?”
America shut his eyes and shook his head, then smacked his palm on top of his plane. “Fuck you England. Where do you get off complaining about what I do, when you’re a pirate for a living?”
England smirked. “Oh. Well I never claimed to be a hero, did I?”
America punched him, his fist slamming straight into his cheek.
England cursed loudly, reeling backwards from the blow and taking a moment to regain his balance. He wiped blood from the corner of his lips, where he’d bitten the side of his mouth, then rubbed his cheek, where a purple bruise would surely be blooming soon. “Blimey! Have you gone completely off your head?”
He looked at America. He was standing stiff straight, his hands to his side and his eyes downcast. His mouth had formed into a hard line. “Wh-what do you want me to do again?”
England blinked in surprise. “Um well, in exchange for your watch, I want you to make a promise, a pledge. You will come one time when I call you on your radio. You will help us in whatever we ask of you, which will not be piracy.”
America nodded; the gesture so small that England could barely make it out. He held out his hand slowly, as if it were painful and waited. England stepped forward and shook it, sealing the vow between them. Once they’d pulled away, England dropped the watch into America’s palms. He nodded a goodbye and walked away. No more words were exchanged between them, and America looped the watch onto his belt, silently stepped into his plane, and flew away.
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Japan walked into Canada’s workshop and greeted the mechanic with a small wave. “Any news from America yet?” asked Canada, looking up from a sketch he was doing. He had goggles atop his head, his face was smudged in grease, and his clothing was moist from steam. Canada loved to create things. He had piles of notebooks dedicated to sketches and diagrams of steam powered inventions he’d likely never get around to actually constructing. Right now he was working on a sketch of what Japan assumed to be an alarm clock.
“I’m sure the captain is fine,” Japan replied. “He goes on missions like this all of the time. There’s no reason to be concerned.”
Canada bit his lip and nodded. He was concerned. Being privy to America’s secrets had kept him anxious all day. “Ah you’re right Japan. But you know… his plane did break down the other day.”
“Well you’re the best mechanic there is, right? I bet it’s working perfectly. He should be arriving in Medved soon, and he’ll radio us. He always does.”
Canada flushed at Japan’s flattery and rubbed the back of his head, a common gesture that he and America actually did have in common. His cousin did it a lot as well.
“I hope the Captain finds his watch. I know it means a lot to him,” Japan mentioned casually.
The mechanic’s blue eyes widened in panic. “H-h-how did you know he’d lost his watch?” he squeaked out.
Japan looked bewildered. “He hasn’t been wearing it. He never takes it off, so I assumed he must have lost it.”
Canada breathed a sigh of relief. “Yeah, okay… yeah. Well he’s looking for it.” He smacked himself inwardly. He knew he wasn’t a very good liar, and he’d freaked out upon it just being mentioned by Japan, whom he trusted.
Japan creased his brows. “Something wrong with him? He seemed off yesterday." He paused. “I imagine he was just upset about losing the watch though.”
Canada laughed nervously. “Yeah, that’s all it was.” Not his run-in with the pirates, or the fact my near unflappable cousin was obviously shaken by what had occurred.
Sitting down at a chair in the workshop, Japan crossed his hands in his lap and looked down thoughtfully. “I’m glad he got the promotion. He is a good soldier, albeit none like any other I’ve met before. I hope the pressure doesn’t get to him.”
“No, no… he’s doing great.” Canada sat down next to him and took his goggles off, placing them on top of the nearest table. “It’s what he’s always wanted, after all.”
Japan nodded. “I heard him mumble something about pirates the other day. I thought he may have had a run in with them, but I’m pleased to know it wasn’t something so bad as that.”
Canada looked away, hiding his anxious expression. “Pirates, really?” he feigned ignorance.
Japan nodded. “I don’t know what he was talking about. Anyway, I’m sure he’ll find his watch.”
Canada leaned on his elbow and glanced out the window, at the bright blue sky outside and the puffy cumulus clouds that filled it. “I hope he does too.” He didn’t stop worrying about his cousin until he returned from Medved the next day. No one questioned America’s slight delay, and Canada could not have been more relieved.
Pairing: AmericaxEngland, PolandxLithuania, future pairings: GermanyxItaly, GreecexJapan, HungaryxAustria, SwedenxFinland, SpainxRomano, Belarus--->Russia
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance/Humor/Drama/Action+Adventure/Alternate Universe
Word Count: 2,863
Summary: Ace Pilot America is on a mission for the World Military when a chance encounter with a group of Sky-Pirates leads him to team up with their captain, England, against a malevolent group that wants to fill the sky with zeppelins. [USxUK- Steampunk AU]
Chapter Summary: Two deals are made and a promise is discussed. Lithuania and Poland enter the fray. “Shut up. This is from Captain to Captain, all right?” England scowled inwardly, loathing the idea of putting himself on the same level as America.
Author's Note: Thanks again to everyone who has been reading this. This is another character-centric chapter. Actual action sequences will commence NEXT CHAPTER, with the reconnaissance mission with Germany and Italy and something else that happens that would be a spoiler to tell you. ;)
Also, mayura-san did an epic comic from the first chapter of the fic, which you should all go look at it because it rocks. The characters are all so adorable. *_* ♥
Lithuania’s palms were sweaty, and he twisted them together as he walked down the ship’s outside corridor. The Krakus was a small old merchant sky-ship, and it creaked with every breeze that whipped against its flanks and sails. The large steel chute in the center of the ship violently shot out black smoke and steam, causing the ship to clatter and clink with every puff. But it wasn’t the dodgy old ship that Lithuania was perspiring in anxiety about, it was the visit he was about to make to the merchant that owned the ship. Poland was Lithuania’s oldest and dearest friend. Always supportive, always there, ever since childhood. But Lithuania was the one who had been recruited by the Kosmider, forced into his role amongst the zeppelin fleet after being led there by a litany of false promises. He hadn’t seen Poland since. It hadn’t been difficult to convince Russia to dock his zeppelin next to the Krakus for supplies. Lithuania assured him of Poland’s reputation of neutrality and Russia arranged a meeting with the merchant. He would let them purchase supplies without asking questions. And he was out of vodka right now, which Poland had for sale in spades. “An honest tradesman is so hard to find,” Russia had said upon agreeing to Lithuania’s suggestion. He knew that ‘honest tradesman’ meant two completely different things to them. To Russia it was someone who would keep his dirty secrets if they chanced upon them.
Poland wouldn’t actually keep the Kosmider’s secrets, and that was the point. Russia trusted Lithuania more than anyone else, if what they had could be called trust. It was more as if Russia was confident enough that he’d frightened Lithuania into never being anything but dutiful. Lithuania narrowed his eyes and frowned, stiffening his shoulders in resolve. He was wrong. Lithuania turned the doorknob and opened the door, greeting Poland with a smile of pure relief, a smile at seeing a friend so long missed.
Within moments, he found himself in a bone crushing hug. Poland was beaming and chatting animatedly, never even stopping to take a breath. “I totally missed you so much. How have you been Lithuania? I’m like, so sorry for what’s been happening to you. Hey your boss isn’t coming aboard is he? He just sent you right?” A weak nod from Lithuania. “Good. Absolute perfection. We’ll have tons of time to chat then! I already have his order ready, so we can like just pretend we’re using this time to get it together and stuff.”
Lithuania’s smile grew. “Ah Poland, I see you haven’t changed at all.” He patted his companion on the back and pulled away from the hug. Poland still held his forearms. “I’m as well as I can be, I suppose. Mr. Russia is… growing more worrisome by the day.”
Poland surveyed Lithuania’s appearance. He was world-weary, his green eyes weren’t as bright as they used to be and his face had a look of permanent tiredness. His uniform was black from head to toe, the embellishments and buttons done in silver. It didn’t fit his good-natured worrywart of a childhood friend. He frowned. “Did you just come here to pick up stuff and talk?” Lithuania shook his head in the negative. “You can totally always count on me, so spill what you want to say, okay?”
He sighed and sat down in the cushy chair. It had a pink blanket thrown over one of the arms that Lithuania recognized as being Poland’s security blanket as a child. He smiled in remembrance and picked at the fabric absently. “I can’t ask you to do this… I shouldn’t,” he spoke softly. Poland sat down next to him and gave him a confused look. “So let’s just talk Poland, let’s just enjoy the time we have together?” Lithuania felt Poland’s hand on his. He was holding it down with a substantial amount of pressure. He looked up at the other man and their eyes met. Poland looked intense, far more serious than his usual carefree and bubble headed expression.
“What did you come to ask me, Liet?” he used Lithuania’s childhood nickname.
He looked down at his chest and grimaced. “I wanted to tell someone about the Kosmider. I want someone to help me take them down.” He paused. “You’re a merchant. You have connections and could give information to everyone- military, pirates, other merchants, anyone.” He looked up to Poland, his green eyes gleaming with unshed tears. “I’m willing to risk my life for this, but I don’t want to ask you to do the same!” He shook his head fiercely. “I shouldn’t have set this meeting up. I didn’t think it through.”
Poland pushed himself out of his chair and stood up, standing over the other man. He took his head in his hands and leaned down, planting a kiss on Lithuania’s forehead. Lithuania’s face glowed scarlet, and Poland smiled at him as he pulled away, kneeling down in front of the chair and moving his hands to his shoulders. “The Kosmider is completely dangerous to all of us. If we don’t work against Russia like now, we’ll run out of time. Tell me all of the juicy important stuff. I’ll have it spread around the world like hot gossip in no time, and I promise I’ll do it in a way that no one will suspect you.”
Lithuania bit his lip and nodded, twiddling his fingers in his lap. “Thank you.”
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The crew of the Victoria could not escape England’s continuing foul mood, which bled into the next day, Sunday, as well. The chores continued, and at one point Prussia actually did end up tied to the mast (this lightened everyone’s moods considerably, everyone’s but Prussia’s of course). The only other upside of the day was that Liechtenstein was back to cooking. They were all relieved that England didn’t consider his food a punishment, because then they might still be eating it. In between barking orders and finding amusement in Prussia’s plight, England was sketching out their plans for a raid they were planning above the Dezenvòlt Islands. The skytop mansion was empty this time of year as it was a summer home. Not the most exciting of robberies, but England knew it would be easy, and the crew was running low on supplies. This would give them enough income in gold and valuables for months, and that was crucial. He had been keeping the actual piracy to a minimum since the Kosmider had made their existence known. No pirate wanted to be noticed at current, no one wanted to draw their attention.
He was leaning over his drafting table, quill in hand, when he heard a sound he was hoping he would never have to hear again; a sound that filled him with discomfort and uncertainty. It was the steam engine of an Aeronaut-7300. No fucking way… England stormed up onto the deck, snatching the fob watch along the way.
America was stepping out of his plane when England got up to the deck. His expression was different then when they’d first made eye contact. Now a look of anxiety spread across his countenance, and he didn’t quite strut about in the same obnoxious manner he had before. What’s his problem?
Before America or England could speak, Prussia’s voice piped up from his place tied to the mast. “Oh wow. Oh wow England! How do you explain this one? Return visit? He bringing you flowers?”
“Belt up, Prussia!” England shouted, his cheeks burning red. “Christ almighty. That’s TWO more hours on the mast for you.”
America’s face broke into a smile. “You put your crew in time-out?”
England approached him, hands on his hips in an attempt to look intimidating. “No, just Prussia. Now what the hell are you doing here?!”
He scratched the back of his head. “Ah, you don’t know? I… left something.”
England could have sworn he heard Prussia catcalling in the background. He ignored it, but decided to lower his voice so Prussia couldn’t hear from then on out. “Sod off. I told you, you had to leave. How in your empty head does that mean ‘come back the next day’?” He crossed his arms over his chest and pointedly looked away.
America shrugged. “Doesn’t, and do you think I wanted to come back to this crapfest? Your ship is horrible and rickety and full of pirates. It’s the last place I want to be.”
England stomped over and got in America’s face. “Don’t.insult.my.ship.” His voice was cold steel, hard and frosty, like nothing he’d ever heard from the other man before. This threat was serious. America's blue eyes widened and he simply nodded; a move that surprised England. “What’s wrong with you anyway? You don’t seem quite as obnoxious as you were yesterday.”
“I’m fine!” America snapped. “And even if I weren’t, as if I’d tell you what’s wrong.”
England stepped away from America and gritted his teeth. “You want your blasted watch, don’t you?” He reached into his pocket and took it out, holding it up by the chain in front of him. America made a grab for it, and England pulled back and held it against his chest. “No, I’m not just giving it to you. You leave something on a pirate ship, it becomes ours.”
“I don’t follow your rules!” America retorted, his tone raw. “That watch is MINE.”
“Heh. It really means a lot to you, doesn’t it?” England toyed with the chain. “In that case, let’s make another deal.”
America stiffened and panic flashed across his features. “No. I won’t.” The watch was dear to him, a sign of his own personal honor and the honor of his family. He wasn’t going to get it back with a dirty trade.
England ran his fingers across the cracked glass and sighed. “Fine, I’ll keep it then. Won’t fetch much, but it still works, at the least. Might be able to throw it in a lot.”
“No amount of scummy money you could get for it would be… worth more than…” he interrupted himself, realizing he was just giving England more leverage against him. “I won’t make another deal with a pirate! You’re criminals, I’m above all of that.”
There was a vulnerability to America’s tone. He’d not seen him this upset before. Annoyed sure, but here he was genuinely horrified at the thought of losing his watch, albeit attempting to hide it behind a façade of anger. England ran his fingers over the watch front again. It was a good watch in its time, but it had lost its luster over the years and the cracked glass would make it difficult to sell for even a few shillings. It wasn’t old enough to be considered a valuable antique. Its sentimental value was obviously far greater. “I won’t make you do anything unheroic,” he emphasized the last word in a manner of mocking. “Do you think I’m going to ask you to help us nick something or what? I wouldn’t trust you with the smallest of treasures, you idiot.”
“I won--- “
“Shut up. This is from captain to captain, all right?” England scowled inwardly, loathing the idea of putting himself on the same level as America. “You’re military and I hate that, I hate you.”
“Yeah, I noticed that,” America mumbled.
England stepped closer to America again and began tossing the watch back and forth from hand to hand. “I want to be able to call you, once. I want to know that wherever you are, you’ll drop what you’re doing and come to my ship.”
“Wha---?”
“It’s a test,” England continued. “Are you a hero, America, or are you just someone who does what the military commands of you? Prove me wrong, America. Show me that there’s some value to you after all.”
America inhaled sharply, his eyes growing even wider than they had been a minute before. “I… don’t need to prove a thing to you. I know what I am.” There was a shake to his voice, an obvious betrayal to his confidence.
“Do you?”
America shut his eyes and shook his head, then smacked his palm on top of his plane. “Fuck you England. Where do you get off complaining about what I do, when you’re a pirate for a living?”
England smirked. “Oh. Well I never claimed to be a hero, did I?”
America punched him, his fist slamming straight into his cheek.
England cursed loudly, reeling backwards from the blow and taking a moment to regain his balance. He wiped blood from the corner of his lips, where he’d bitten the side of his mouth, then rubbed his cheek, where a purple bruise would surely be blooming soon. “Blimey! Have you gone completely off your head?”
He looked at America. He was standing stiff straight, his hands to his side and his eyes downcast. His mouth had formed into a hard line. “Wh-what do you want me to do again?”
England blinked in surprise. “Um well, in exchange for your watch, I want you to make a promise, a pledge. You will come one time when I call you on your radio. You will help us in whatever we ask of you, which will not be piracy.”
America nodded; the gesture so small that England could barely make it out. He held out his hand slowly, as if it were painful and waited. England stepped forward and shook it, sealing the vow between them. Once they’d pulled away, England dropped the watch into America’s palms. He nodded a goodbye and walked away. No more words were exchanged between them, and America looped the watch onto his belt, silently stepped into his plane, and flew away.
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Japan walked into Canada’s workshop and greeted the mechanic with a small wave. “Any news from America yet?” asked Canada, looking up from a sketch he was doing. He had goggles atop his head, his face was smudged in grease, and his clothing was moist from steam. Canada loved to create things. He had piles of notebooks dedicated to sketches and diagrams of steam powered inventions he’d likely never get around to actually constructing. Right now he was working on a sketch of what Japan assumed to be an alarm clock.
“I’m sure the captain is fine,” Japan replied. “He goes on missions like this all of the time. There’s no reason to be concerned.”
Canada bit his lip and nodded. He was concerned. Being privy to America’s secrets had kept him anxious all day. “Ah you’re right Japan. But you know… his plane did break down the other day.”
“Well you’re the best mechanic there is, right? I bet it’s working perfectly. He should be arriving in Medved soon, and he’ll radio us. He always does.”
Canada flushed at Japan’s flattery and rubbed the back of his head, a common gesture that he and America actually did have in common. His cousin did it a lot as well.
“I hope the Captain finds his watch. I know it means a lot to him,” Japan mentioned casually.
The mechanic’s blue eyes widened in panic. “H-h-how did you know he’d lost his watch?” he squeaked out.
Japan looked bewildered. “He hasn’t been wearing it. He never takes it off, so I assumed he must have lost it.”
Canada breathed a sigh of relief. “Yeah, okay… yeah. Well he’s looking for it.” He smacked himself inwardly. He knew he wasn’t a very good liar, and he’d freaked out upon it just being mentioned by Japan, whom he trusted.
Japan creased his brows. “Something wrong with him? He seemed off yesterday." He paused. “I imagine he was just upset about losing the watch though.”
Canada laughed nervously. “Yeah, that’s all it was.” Not his run-in with the pirates, or the fact my near unflappable cousin was obviously shaken by what had occurred.
Sitting down at a chair in the workshop, Japan crossed his hands in his lap and looked down thoughtfully. “I’m glad he got the promotion. He is a good soldier, albeit none like any other I’ve met before. I hope the pressure doesn’t get to him.”
“No, no… he’s doing great.” Canada sat down next to him and took his goggles off, placing them on top of the nearest table. “It’s what he’s always wanted, after all.”
Japan nodded. “I heard him mumble something about pirates the other day. I thought he may have had a run in with them, but I’m pleased to know it wasn’t something so bad as that.”
Canada looked away, hiding his anxious expression. “Pirates, really?” he feigned ignorance.
Japan nodded. “I don’t know what he was talking about. Anyway, I’m sure he’ll find his watch.”
Canada leaned on his elbow and glanced out the window, at the bright blue sky outside and the puffy cumulus clouds that filled it. “I hope he does too.” He didn’t stop worrying about his cousin until he returned from Medved the next day. No one questioned America’s slight delay, and Canada could not have been more relieved.