England is home. Home from all the exhausting work, home from fighting stupid battles and all the madness happening around the world. And he can finally get a good night's sleep.
Well, not really home. It's kind of his home, being his colony. England is in America's home, where he presumes that his "little brother" will be asleep. It is late at night, after all. But, to his surprise, the young nation pops his head out of a corner once England opens the door. Hi!"
"America?" England asks, unable to keep the surprise out of his voice. "Why are you awake at such an hour? It's late, you know."
"I was waiting for you!" America chirps. "I wanted to ask you a question, actually."
England sighs, pulling out a chair from the dining table in the kitchen and taking a seat. He's tired and his patience is wearing thin after so much work. "Well? What do you want to know?"
"Wellll..." America tilts his head to the side in thought. "England, how much do you earn in an hour?"
What? "That's none of your business," England snaps irritably. "Grown-up things like that are none of your concern."
"Pleeeease," America begs. "I just want to know how much you earn in an hour."
The European country sighs once more. "Fine. If you must know, I earn 20 pounds an hour when I'm not fighting battles."
"Oh. Ok." America lowers his head for a moment, then solemnly looks into his adopted brother's eyes. "Big brother, may I please have 10 pounds?"
England loses his temper.
"If you're just going to use the money I give you to buy toys, then go to your room and go to bed." He shouts. "Think about how selfish you're being. I work so hard just to earn money, and I don't have the time nor money to appeal to your childish requests."
Quietly, America heads to his room and closes the door.
After a while, England starts to calm down. Maybe I'm being too strict on him, the Brit thinks. Or maybe America just wants something really badly- I can understand that. And anyways, he rarely asks me for money.
England walks into America's room. "Are you asleep yet?" "No, not yet." America replies.
"I think I was being too strict just now," England admits. "I shouldn't have lost my temper like that... here's the 10 pounds you wanted." "Thank you, big brother." America happily takes the money and pulls out a wad of crumpled bills from under his pillow.
England only watches on with confusion. "Why would you ask me for money if you already had it?"
"Because I've been saving up, and now I have enough." America answers. "Big brother, now I have 20 pounds. May I buy an hour of your time? Tomorrow, please come back from work a bit earlier. I want to spend more time with you."