[Hetalia] "Bath"
Title: "Bath"
Author: shuriken7
Claim: America
Character(s): America/Japan
Table/Prompt: Time/20. Journey @ hetachallenge, 13. Question @ 20_est_relships
Word Count: 2056
Rating: PG
Summary: America remembers the first time that they took a bath together.
America glanced down at Japan's sleeping face. He smiled remembering the night they had had. When they hadn't seen each other in a while, Japan would always withdraw just a little bit with him and he would have to find a way to get him to once again come out of his shell. He would have to wear down his walls. It would take a few more smiles and a few more words, but he would get there. He would get under all of those layers to Japan's unguarded smiles and his affection. It was there, it was just hidden under his tranquility, just as America's own seriousness could be masked by his teasing behavior. He loved it when Japan would smile at him or get competitive over the newest video game. America was always excited to try and learn just one little knew thing about Japan. He had been trying to find a way under the layers the entire time he had known him, and it was always such a treat.
As he brushed the hair off Japan's forehead, he let himself feel a little reminiscent about when he had first met him and how much he had learned since then...
~*~
America was excited about this, it was a brand new adventure out on the ocean, going farther away than he had ever been. It was going to be a nice change, sometime he felt so constrained at home. People were getting grumpy and fighting with one another and it made him all tangled up inside. He hated that feeling. He considered it a little like the time he had lost so many people as they became England's or Canada's when they hadn't agreed with the Revolution. Somedays he felt like that again, but he wasn't quite sure where they were going. He shook his head and smiled out at the expanse of blue. The Pacific was a beautiful ocean and he was looking forward to meeting the person on the other side. He had glanced over the documents that his boss had provided him with and Japan sounded very mysterious. He also sounded like he would be really interesting. America was sure that he would be able to get him to talk, everyone talked to him, even if it sounded more like yelling sometimes. Besides, he needed Japan to talk with him so he would be able to find a whale to be friends with. Or was it become friends with Japan to get whaling rights? Maybe it was both. Both sounded like an even better plan.
He could see Japan's lands on the horizon now, and his heartbeat began to race. He was going to meet someone entirely new. He had gotten to meet a few other nations in the years since his independence, but he had mostly stayed home and worked along side his people to expand. He had been growing a lot and it made him really excited to continue to meet new people. He leaned over the side of the Mississippi as they got closer and closer, waving at some of the people in the fishing boats. They looked so different and he was really curious to see them up close. They wore funny clothes that he had never seen before and it was obvious they were curious about him as well by the way they stared back. Some of them even looked a little frightened and America was sure it mostly had to do with the big boat. He didn't know much about Commodore Perry's mission, but he was looking to make friends, with whales or Japan, he still really wasn't clear on.
A great deal of what happened afterward came by in a whir. He had been scolded about what the true mission, apparently it was about making Japan open up to him and only had a little bit to do with whales, and he only marginally paid attention to the papers that were put in front of him. However, what he was really interested in was learning more about Japan. America hadn't been able to get the other nation off of his mind. He had not been able to help his staring when he had first seen him. During their talks, he was beginning to wonder if Japan made any other facial expressions and how he would be able to get them out of him. There were a lot of things he was curious about, and he never seemed able to get a minute. After a discussion, Japan often just disappeared, unless he was being told to stay by his boss. If he was being required to stay he often was quiet, that was okay of course, since America didn't mind talking about himself.
He had been so close to getting Japan to open up to him too, but then he'd been given a letter to read aloud, and Japan had looked upset. He didn't see what was so upsetting about the letter, but maybe it was a cultural thing, like when England would get so uptight about not having his tea at a certain time. Maybe Japan didn't like negotiating or something. He was determined to find out, he had so many questions for him!
He found his opportunity one night when the person who always seemed to be outside his room had a little bit too much to drink and nodded off. He slipped out the room and quietly made his way outside, figuring he could just walk around the outside of the house until he was able to find where Japan's room was. There were not very many people around, but he supposed that he was getting a privilege staying there as a nation as opposed to his men who were staying somewhere else. Maybe other than that one man that was supposed to be keeping watch on his room there was no one else.
He came around the corner of the house and paused. Japan was sitting there in the moonlight, looking out at his garden. America felt that the gardens were really pretty and he glanced out at it too. A few insects chirped in the night and the sound of running water flowed through. America decided he would have to ask Japan how to make one or maybe even have him come visit and help. It would be nice to have a place like this...
"What do you want?" Japan asked him, breaking the silence. America looked over at him, tearing his eyes away from the tranquil garden scene to the stillness of Japan's dark eyes. His brow was furrowed slightly in suspicion. America smiled at him, trying to break the tension.
"I said I wanted to make friends with you. I still want to. Like I told you earlier, there's lots of cool things I could show you."
"You didn't seem that interested in being friends with your list of demands." he replied cooly.
"Uh, is that what that was?"
Japan sighed, "You can not truly be this way."
"What way?"
"So innocent and yet not." he said quietly. Japan tilted his head, almost as a mirror to America's own curious tilt.
"Maybe it's kind of like you, you say you're an old man but you really don't know much about the rest of us?" he said, coming closer and sitting down beside him on the walkway. He mirrored the curious tilt of the other's head, wondering about the answer to his own question. He may have imagined it as the moonlight dimmed a bit by a passing cloud, but he thought he saw the corner of Japan's mouth move, as though he were considering a smile.
"Perhaps, I will admit I do find you interesting young America."
"I think you're interesting too, old man Japan. And I grew up fast, so I think I'm beyond my years." Japan seemed to cough into his hand, and America wondered if he was actually laughing but trying to hide it for whatever reason. "You know, I know lots of things. You can see some really cool things if you visit me and we become friends."
Japan considered the offer again. America knew he was interested, and he tried to keep from fidgeting too much and give Japan a moment to decide. "Perhaps... would you care to join me in the bath America? It is a beautiful night and I think it would be a nice end to a taxing day."
"Huh?" he was confused, did Japan just say he wanted to bathe with him.
"A bath."
"Maybe bath means something different here?" he asked aloud, his face turning a bit red with embarrassment, it was highly uncommon for people to be undressed around each other, even if they were both men.
"I do not know?" Japan queried back, "You could accompany me and find out. You said you wanted to learn more about me did you not?"
America nodded and stood up when Japan did, following him through the house to the outdoor bath. "So uh... what do you do?" He turned bright red and looked away, as Japan began to undress when they got close. "Wh-what are you doing?"
Japan seemed confused by all of his flustering, but America got over and decided that since he was in a foreign country perhaps it will be alright. After all, it was just them. If this was something that Japan liked to do, he wanted to learn about it.
"So what do I have to do?"
"You will need to wash first before getting in." Japan directed him over and America tried to copy what he was doing without paying too much attention to the fact that he had needed to undress around another person. He had never taken a bath this elaborate. In fact, he was used to not really taking baths at all.
However, he decided he kind of liked it when he sank into the warm water of the outdoor spring. It was really a relaxing kind of atmosphere.
They talked about many things that night, and even though trouble would brew a few times between their diplomats, they were able to get just a tiny bit more comfortable with each other. America considered it a great starting off point, in order to become even better friends. That night he promised himself that he would bring Japan new and fun things to try out, maybe even teach him a few games. He was sure that this was the beginning of something absolutely great.
~*~
America chuckled a little bit about the memory and he leaned over and kissed Japan on the forehead. The older nation stirred slightly and blinked up at him. America grinned at him.
"What are you finding so amusing?" Japan asked, leaning in closer to America's warmth. America draped one of his arms around his shoulder. Japan splayed one of his hands against America's stomach and America wriggled a little bit, just to watch the small reactions of Japan's body.
"I was just thinking of the first time we took a bath together."
"You didn't look at me the entire time. And you were quite red, I was concerned that you would pass out."
"I still got to know you though didn't I?"
"I still wonder if it was against my better judgement." America made a sound of indignation, until he saw the almost imperceptible smile playing about Japan's lips.
"You know you love me." he teased.
"I suppose I do."
"Only suppose?" America watched as another layer fell away from Japan's face as he blushed. Japan seemed to be trying words for a moment, before he decided that professing his feelings was entirely too undignified and chose to just kiss America instead. America certainly didn't mind this change of events. It had taken a really long time for them to get back to this place after they lost so much between them. He had been grateful that they had both persevered to work through all the questions they had about each other at times, for it was really a great thing that they had.
And he had been right all those years ago. Getting to know Japan had been great fun, and he had even made friends with a whale along the way.
Author: shuriken7
Claim: America
Character(s): America/Japan
Table/Prompt: Time/20. Journey @ hetachallenge, 13. Question @ 20_est_relships
Word Count: 2056
Rating: PG
Summary: America remembers the first time that they took a bath together.
America glanced down at Japan's sleeping face. He smiled remembering the night they had had. When they hadn't seen each other in a while, Japan would always withdraw just a little bit with him and he would have to find a way to get him to once again come out of his shell. He would have to wear down his walls. It would take a few more smiles and a few more words, but he would get there. He would get under all of those layers to Japan's unguarded smiles and his affection. It was there, it was just hidden under his tranquility, just as America's own seriousness could be masked by his teasing behavior. He loved it when Japan would smile at him or get competitive over the newest video game. America was always excited to try and learn just one little knew thing about Japan. He had been trying to find a way under the layers the entire time he had known him, and it was always such a treat.
As he brushed the hair off Japan's forehead, he let himself feel a little reminiscent about when he had first met him and how much he had learned since then...
~*~
America was excited about this, it was a brand new adventure out on the ocean, going farther away than he had ever been. It was going to be a nice change, sometime he felt so constrained at home. People were getting grumpy and fighting with one another and it made him all tangled up inside. He hated that feeling. He considered it a little like the time he had lost so many people as they became England's or Canada's when they hadn't agreed with the Revolution. Somedays he felt like that again, but he wasn't quite sure where they were going. He shook his head and smiled out at the expanse of blue. The Pacific was a beautiful ocean and he was looking forward to meeting the person on the other side. He had glanced over the documents that his boss had provided him with and Japan sounded very mysterious. He also sounded like he would be really interesting. America was sure that he would be able to get him to talk, everyone talked to him, even if it sounded more like yelling sometimes. Besides, he needed Japan to talk with him so he would be able to find a whale to be friends with. Or was it become friends with Japan to get whaling rights? Maybe it was both. Both sounded like an even better plan.
He could see Japan's lands on the horizon now, and his heartbeat began to race. He was going to meet someone entirely new. He had gotten to meet a few other nations in the years since his independence, but he had mostly stayed home and worked along side his people to expand. He had been growing a lot and it made him really excited to continue to meet new people. He leaned over the side of the Mississippi as they got closer and closer, waving at some of the people in the fishing boats. They looked so different and he was really curious to see them up close. They wore funny clothes that he had never seen before and it was obvious they were curious about him as well by the way they stared back. Some of them even looked a little frightened and America was sure it mostly had to do with the big boat. He didn't know much about Commodore Perry's mission, but he was looking to make friends, with whales or Japan, he still really wasn't clear on.
A great deal of what happened afterward came by in a whir. He had been scolded about what the true mission, apparently it was about making Japan open up to him and only had a little bit to do with whales, and he only marginally paid attention to the papers that were put in front of him. However, what he was really interested in was learning more about Japan. America hadn't been able to get the other nation off of his mind. He had not been able to help his staring when he had first seen him. During their talks, he was beginning to wonder if Japan made any other facial expressions and how he would be able to get them out of him. There were a lot of things he was curious about, and he never seemed able to get a minute. After a discussion, Japan often just disappeared, unless he was being told to stay by his boss. If he was being required to stay he often was quiet, that was okay of course, since America didn't mind talking about himself.
He had been so close to getting Japan to open up to him too, but then he'd been given a letter to read aloud, and Japan had looked upset. He didn't see what was so upsetting about the letter, but maybe it was a cultural thing, like when England would get so uptight about not having his tea at a certain time. Maybe Japan didn't like negotiating or something. He was determined to find out, he had so many questions for him!
He found his opportunity one night when the person who always seemed to be outside his room had a little bit too much to drink and nodded off. He slipped out the room and quietly made his way outside, figuring he could just walk around the outside of the house until he was able to find where Japan's room was. There were not very many people around, but he supposed that he was getting a privilege staying there as a nation as opposed to his men who were staying somewhere else. Maybe other than that one man that was supposed to be keeping watch on his room there was no one else.
He came around the corner of the house and paused. Japan was sitting there in the moonlight, looking out at his garden. America felt that the gardens were really pretty and he glanced out at it too. A few insects chirped in the night and the sound of running water flowed through. America decided he would have to ask Japan how to make one or maybe even have him come visit and help. It would be nice to have a place like this...
"What do you want?" Japan asked him, breaking the silence. America looked over at him, tearing his eyes away from the tranquil garden scene to the stillness of Japan's dark eyes. His brow was furrowed slightly in suspicion. America smiled at him, trying to break the tension.
"I said I wanted to make friends with you. I still want to. Like I told you earlier, there's lots of cool things I could show you."
"You didn't seem that interested in being friends with your list of demands." he replied cooly.
"Uh, is that what that was?"
Japan sighed, "You can not truly be this way."
"What way?"
"So innocent and yet not." he said quietly. Japan tilted his head, almost as a mirror to America's own curious tilt.
"Maybe it's kind of like you, you say you're an old man but you really don't know much about the rest of us?" he said, coming closer and sitting down beside him on the walkway. He mirrored the curious tilt of the other's head, wondering about the answer to his own question. He may have imagined it as the moonlight dimmed a bit by a passing cloud, but he thought he saw the corner of Japan's mouth move, as though he were considering a smile.
"Perhaps, I will admit I do find you interesting young America."
"I think you're interesting too, old man Japan. And I grew up fast, so I think I'm beyond my years." Japan seemed to cough into his hand, and America wondered if he was actually laughing but trying to hide it for whatever reason. "You know, I know lots of things. You can see some really cool things if you visit me and we become friends."
Japan considered the offer again. America knew he was interested, and he tried to keep from fidgeting too much and give Japan a moment to decide. "Perhaps... would you care to join me in the bath America? It is a beautiful night and I think it would be a nice end to a taxing day."
"Huh?" he was confused, did Japan just say he wanted to bathe with him.
"A bath."
"Maybe bath means something different here?" he asked aloud, his face turning a bit red with embarrassment, it was highly uncommon for people to be undressed around each other, even if they were both men.
"I do not know?" Japan queried back, "You could accompany me and find out. You said you wanted to learn more about me did you not?"
America nodded and stood up when Japan did, following him through the house to the outdoor bath. "So uh... what do you do?" He turned bright red and looked away, as Japan began to undress when they got close. "Wh-what are you doing?"
Japan seemed confused by all of his flustering, but America got over and decided that since he was in a foreign country perhaps it will be alright. After all, it was just them. If this was something that Japan liked to do, he wanted to learn about it.
"So what do I have to do?"
"You will need to wash first before getting in." Japan directed him over and America tried to copy what he was doing without paying too much attention to the fact that he had needed to undress around another person. He had never taken a bath this elaborate. In fact, he was used to not really taking baths at all.
However, he decided he kind of liked it when he sank into the warm water of the outdoor spring. It was really a relaxing kind of atmosphere.
They talked about many things that night, and even though trouble would brew a few times between their diplomats, they were able to get just a tiny bit more comfortable with each other. America considered it a great starting off point, in order to become even better friends. That night he promised himself that he would bring Japan new and fun things to try out, maybe even teach him a few games. He was sure that this was the beginning of something absolutely great.
~*~
America chuckled a little bit about the memory and he leaned over and kissed Japan on the forehead. The older nation stirred slightly and blinked up at him. America grinned at him.
"What are you finding so amusing?" Japan asked, leaning in closer to America's warmth. America draped one of his arms around his shoulder. Japan splayed one of his hands against America's stomach and America wriggled a little bit, just to watch the small reactions of Japan's body.
"I was just thinking of the first time we took a bath together."
"You didn't look at me the entire time. And you were quite red, I was concerned that you would pass out."
"I still got to know you though didn't I?"
"I still wonder if it was against my better judgement." America made a sound of indignation, until he saw the almost imperceptible smile playing about Japan's lips.
"You know you love me." he teased.
"I suppose I do."
"Only suppose?" America watched as another layer fell away from Japan's face as he blushed. Japan seemed to be trying words for a moment, before he decided that professing his feelings was entirely too undignified and chose to just kiss America instead. America certainly didn't mind this change of events. It had taken a really long time for them to get back to this place after they lost so much between them. He had been grateful that they had both persevered to work through all the questions they had about each other at times, for it was really a great thing that they had.
And he had been right all those years ago. Getting to know Japan had been great fun, and he had even made friends with a whale along the way.