A/N:
I promised you, and I don't forget promises. This chapter was incredibly fun to write!
I sit across from Alfred, waiting for an explanation as to why we both dropped out cold. He sighs, running his hand through his hair. "Well, my boss has declared martial law. After the meeting, the Southern governors held a meeting. They all decided to secede. That's why we both passed out. I passed out because a lot of my energy was taken away. You passed out because all your wounds burst open at the same time, and you gained all the energy I lost at one time. Your system couldn't take it," he says quietly. I frown.
"This is not good," I mutter. I pull on a piece of my hair thinking. If that really did happen, that meant I was a nation again. Probably even stronger than before. I start to bite my lip. Alfred waves his hand in front of my face, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"You kinda phased out on me, Conner. We really don't need that to happen right now," he says. I nod. "Well, I only came to tell you. Since this house is the South, I can't stay here," he says, sighing. I stare at him.
"Nu-uh. No way. You can't leave," I state. Alfred smiles sadly.
"Well, I have to Conner," he says, trying to comfort me. I shake my head, rejecting the idea.
"No. No, I am not going through that again," I mutter. Alfred shrugs. I start muttering under my breath. "Nu-uh. No way. Nope. Nein. Non. No. Nu. Geen. нет. Nee. Ei…" I say 'no' in as many languages as I can think of. Alfred sighs.
"Listen, no matter how many times you say 'no,' I still have to leave. Sooner or later, I will have to go," Alfred says, grabbing my shoulders. By now I am not crying. Just…sweating from my eyes. Yeah, that's it. I don't look at him, scared that he's telling the truth. Deep down, I know he is, I just don't want to come to terms with it.
We hear a honk from outside. Alfred picks up his suitcase, calling upstairs, "C'mon you guys. We need to go, the cab's here!"
The nations that had stayed for the short while at my house came downstairs. As they left they said something positive and cheerful.
"One day, I'm bringing you to my country so we can go drinking." Prussia.
"See you again, mon littlest frére." France.
"Don't befriend the frog again." England.
"Please don't encourage my brother." Germany.
"I will root for you, da?" Russia.
"See you at Thanksgiving, Conner." Canada.
"See you at the next world meeting, ve~!" Italy. As the small nation says this, he throws his arms around me, giving me a hug. I smile, hugging him back. The Italian breaks away, smiling happily. "Ciao amico!" Italy follows the rest out the door. I smile at the nations I had become friends with.
"Addio, piccola Italia," I murmur. I close the door after them. I turn to the house. It's too empty.
I stand in front of troops. I turn to them. They are all wearing grey. "We will beat the North! We will rise!" I shout. My men cheer. I feel like I cheated these men and boys out of a life. I feel horrible. The men are ready to fight. I hear drums in the distance. I order my troops to start marching. Soon, bullets are flying. Shells are exploding all around us. I'm fighting a man in his early twenties. I stab him with my bayonet the whirl around. I come face to face with Alfred.
"Hello, brother," he hisses. He raises his gun and fires.
I sit bolt upright in bed, tears streaming down my face. I start sobbing, curling into a ball on my bed. I feel something heave itself onto my bed. I feel a wet rag thing rub against my face. I'm extremely confused. Now that I think about it, the rag feels more like a dog tongue. It stops licking my face for a moment. I look at the figure on my bed.
"M-Montgomery? Monty! I-I thought I lost you!" I shout, hugging my bloodhound. He barks, licking my face. I laugh out of sheer joy. All thoughts of my nightmare have disappeared. I scratch Monty behind the ear. He seems to smile. I smile too. I missed my good dog. "Good boy, good boy," I praise. He seems to float at my praise. I yawn, tired once more. I curl up with Montgomery falling asleep before you could say "Louie and his maman."
I wander around the house, sad. What am I supposed to do with Alfred not here? On a whim, I go to his room. I sit on his bed, Montgomery sitting at my feet. "I wonder how America's getting along?" I murmur.
Monty barks in response. I sigh. I look at my brother's closet. I have a strange urge to go open it. I stand up and stride over to the door with a Captain America poster on it. I open the door, a piece of paper fluttering down. I pick it up and read it.
"Stay the hell out of my closet. I will be back." I laugh, Alfred's note cheering me up. If I want him to come home…I have to fight…I ponder my options. Sit here and do nothing, fight my brother or surrender to the north. I sure as hell ain't surrendering, nor am I going to sit on my ass and do nothing. I stride out of the room, note lying forgotten on the floor. I pick up the phone in the hallway and dial a familiar number.
"Hey, Louie. Montgomery's back. Bring the hounds and bring the boys."
A/N:
Who's Louie? Who are the boys? And what does Alfred exactly mean by that note...?
