Canada winced backwards as France applied the raw steak to his swollen eye. The older nation tsked, a sympathetic and upset look on his face.
"Oh Mattieu…"
Francis threw a glare over his shoulder at Arthur, who was standing a few steps back trying to look unconcerned and failing, "This is all you fault Arthur!"
England recoiled.
"My fault?! How is this my fault? And take that steak off your eye before you get an infection."
Canada began to remove the steak.
"Leave it on Mattieu! You need it to keep your eye from swelling up!" France said sternly as he threw another nasty look at England. "You're the one who taught him this aggression, you and your stupid rugby."
The older nation looked back at Matthew. "Oh Mattieu, your beautiful face…" Francis reached out to stroke the swollen cheek, but Canada winced away before contact could be made.
"Don't do that! You'll hurt him you, idiot!" England lunged forward and snatched France's hand away.
"Unhand me you violent monster!"
"Monster? Now listen here! Matt's a boy! Of course he's going to get into a few scraps! It's normal for a boy his age!"
"Maybe for uncivilized beasts!" France shot back.
Canada internalized a sigh as the two nations who raised him began to fight. He should have expected this to happen, but he always hoped that somehow the two nations could put aside their eternal feud for a few moments to help him. Canada sighed. Clearly, he was hoping for too much.
"I should have never let little Mattieu stay with you! I told that judge you were no good for him! Look what you did to poor Alfred!"
"I am the father! I have a right to see my own son, you nit!"
Canada dropped the steak.
"What!" England and France both looked at him.
Sure he looked to England and France as parental figures, but …
"You mean really? Physically!" Canada shuddered. "You? You? Me…" Canada bit his lip feeling dazed and uncomfortable. There where some very scarring mental images going through his head. Oh god.
France and England just looked at each other awkwardly.
"Nice going, rosbif," France whispered to England, but it lacked the baiting tone his words had had earlier. The two nations both realized that they needed to sober up and take this seriously, for Canada's sake. England winced as he tried to think of a way to tell Matthew without making the poor boy feel unwanted. They knew they would have to have this conversation at some point, even if they really didn't want to.
An: Next chapter, the explanation! And England is right. If you get a black eye, don't put a steak on it. It's a very good way to get a nasty eye infection. A bag of cold water works just as well.