He's there again. Behind him. England knows, he always knows when he's being watched anyway, but this one. This feeling, it took a little longer to attune.

Perhaps because the being isn't anything of this plane, human or nation. No, this being is different, and it has taken a liking to England. It follows him around like a lost puppy, trailing a few steps behind as it blends in with crowds. Or, it watches him from rooftops and through windows.

It doesn't try to hide it's attraction towards The Island Nation, in fact, it makes its obsession obvious. A little too obvious when they're alone.

England shuts the door to his old home. He takes off his coat and boots and goes to relax in his living room. The fire has already been lit and a cup of tea is already waiting for him, as per usual over the last couple of months. He sits on his setee and cradles the warm tea in his hands, attempting to kill the autumn chill. The setee dips beside him, he doesn't even glance over at the being that has now joined him. He doesn't need to, he simply sighs and leans back, relaxed.

The being smiles at him, it's ice-blue eyes glinting. England looks at it. At the jet-black hair and grey ram horns that curl from it and down, framing it's, rather handsome, face. It is a devil. A devil that has taken on this twisted form of America and decided to make England's life that little bit more complicated. "What?" England asks the smiling creature.

"Nothin'" It says in that annoying drawl. 'It' is also wrong, although a more accurate description than anything England can come up with, as the creature has decided on the name 'Al' for some reason.

England hums and takes his attention away from Al, simply relaxing. Its strange, he muses, that he has become so accustomed to Al living in his home. It's only been a few months since The Devil, because that's what he is, has made himself quite comfortable with England.

Al shuffles over, and rests his head on England's shoulder, his horns now gone to allow him to do so. Al closes his eyes, though England can tell he is not asleep. This action doesn't surprise England in the slightest, it is not the first time The Devil has done this and it wont be the last. England simply rests his own head on Al's as they lapse into a comfortable silence.

Yes. It's strange. But it works, for the time being.

Al encloses him, his eyes glowing in the darkness of England's room and fangs now very noticeable, as England has been on the receiving end of them a few times.

Like right now, as The Devil nips and bites and sucks his way down The Nation's torso, making him squirm. England gasps at a particularly hard bite on his naval, and lightly smacks the smirking being.

Yes, he thinks. Yes, this is strange indeed. But it works.

"Hey England!" Said nation turns at his name to see none other than America running towards him. Black hair and ice blue eyes flashed in his mind for a moment. "So, how'd you think this meeting went?"

"As well as it ever could, I suppose." England replies tiredly. He simply wants to go home to a nice cup of tea and...His train of thought stops at a pang in his neck. These damn meetings are never good for any nation's physical health. He places a hand at the back on his neck and stretches. He opens his eyes to catch America eyeing his neck and collar-bone. His expression is carefully blank, but he looks almost...angry?

"America? What is it?"

"Those," America motions to his neck, "who gave them to you?" England blinks.

"What are you talking about? What's on my neck?" England places a hand on his neck once more.

"Those lovebites. Who gave them to you?" America steps towards England, as the brit's face explodes in colour and embarrassment. Both of his hands whip to his neck to hide whatever marks Al had left there.

England turns and whispers. "Damnit, Al, I told you not to-!"

"Al? Who's he?" America takes another step towards England. He turns back to face America. Black hair and horns flit in and out of his vision once more.

"He's-...He's no one. It doesn't matter." England goes to leave, but America blocks his way.

"Why doesn't it matter? Who is he, England?" America stares down at him, making his height advantage obvious.

"It doesn't matter, get out of my way, Al- America! America, just-...Just move!" England pushes past America successfully and rushes down the hall. Two pairs of eyes watch him closely as he leaves.

A body forces England against his front door as soon as it is shut. A mouth encloses over his forcefully before pulling away. "Why did you tell him my name?" Al asks angrily. "Why does he continue to try and get close to you?"

"It was an accident, and he wasn't trying to get close to me! Why did you leave marks on my neck? I told you nothing above my collar, you idiot!" England attempts to push the heavy body off of his own, but it just presses him harder against the door.

"I had to make them all see who you belong to. And, of course he's trying to get close to you, are you that stupid? He was going to invite you out somewhere before he noticed my marks." A finger runs up his neck at the last statement, "I was watching. You like his attention, don't you?"

England glares at The Devil, shoving him away successfully and making his way into the kitchen. Al follows him and watches as he makes tea. Al can get annoyingly possessive at times.

Being possessive makes him angry, and being angry makes him say hurtful things towards England. This makes England upset, which means Al has to apologise. But then the cycle stars again. It really is a vicious circle, and England can't escape it. He's not under some guise or emotional trap either, he actually can't escape. England's asked Al to leave before now, many times, and it simply doesn't work, so he has learned to live with it.

"You do, don't you?"

"Shut up."

"You do. You like that he's worried about you. That he cares. Heh."

"So what? So what if I do?"

"Because he doesn't. You're coming to the wrong conclusions again," Al slowly walks towards England and wraps his arms around the smaller person, resting his head on England's shoulder. "He doesn't care about you. None of them do. Only I do," Al whispers into his ear.

England pauses as he pours the tea. Al has told him this many times, at least once a day...Why would he keep lying to England like this? Unless...

Unless he's right.

Of course he's right. Al has rarely been wrong about most things, why would he be wrong about this? Other evidence supports this as well...

"America was only curious. I mean, of course he is. The little England has a partner. Someone who cares about him like they never did. Well, you're not worthy of their indifference and rumours. You're better than that. You're the British Empire. Who cares what they think?" Al breathes against his neck. He's right. He's so right. "They just want to make fun of you. Laugh at you. Only I care. You should stay with me. You'll be happy..." Al's hold tightens around England as he nuzzles the smaller mans neck.

England suddenly turns around. Al expects him to shove against The Devil's chest, but then he feels arms wrap around his torso and a face press into his neck and shoulder. Al's hold becomes more gentle as he holds England within his embrace.

"You're right." England croaks.

"I know." Al's eyes glint. "I know..."