Disclaimer: All the characters are Hidekazu Himaruya's.
Summary: A late night conversation about names between two lovers. PWP, one shot, UKUS, USUK
A/N: A little USUK romance I wrote a long time ago. Today I finally finished it, adding a few sentences here and there and spell-checking.
The title is from Shakespeare: "What's in a name? that which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet".
A rose by any other name
The lights were off but the curtains were open. It was dark outside but the moon combined with the streetlights was enough to turn the blackness into more of a gray shade in the room.
England looked outside the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the stars but knowing it was rather impossible in the middle of the city.
"I could take your name, you know", America whispered all of a sudden, startling England who had thought the younger man was asleep already.
"I admit I'd like the sound of the United States of England", he replied, getting closer to America now that he knew he was awake.
"Haha, you idiot", America chuckled pulling England even more closer against him. "I'd never give up my name like that!"
"Then whatever nonsense were you sprouting?" England replied trying to push off of America, hurt by his words and wanting to show it.
"I meant Kirkland. Don't you think Alfred. F. Kirkland would be kinda cool?"
"It does sound good…" England ended his struggle against America's strength and lied still by his side. America's arm settled better around him and he kissed England's forehead softly.
"Or you could be Arthur Jones, y'know."
"I vote for Alfred. F. Kirkland."
"What about Kirkland-Jones? Or Jones-Kirkland?" America moved on the bed so that he was now properly facing England, staring into his bright green eyes with enthusiasm showing in his own blue ones. He was getting into this thought about names.
"Actually, I like that the best out of these all. It sounds so…"
"Awesome? Cool? Heroic?"
"How do you get heroic out of it? I meant romantic!"
America laughed and placed another kiss, this time on England's lips. "I guess that'd really show you're mine."
"And…?"
"And?"
"And that you're mine, too." England punched America's arm. "Or am I going to be Kirkland-Jones and you'll stay as just Jones?"
"Alfred Just Jones, how does it sound?"
England punched him again. America replied with a kiss on England's lips that made the other man melt. "As idiotic as you."
"Of course I'm yours, too", America said, caressing England's arm. "I'm the one who was willing to change my name for you in the first place."
"Well, technically talking your name was Alfred Kirkland when you were a child…" England grinned at America's pouty look.
"You're ruining the mood."
"Sorry."
"Kiss me better."
"You little… " But England smiled and he did kiss America, long and lovingly on the lips. "There. Better?"
"Yup!" America was beaming in happiness, his pearl white teeth almost shining in the dark room.
"You're so childish sometimes…"
"But don't you still love me? In joy and sorrow and in bad and good, no matter how annoying I sometimes am?"
"No matter how annoying you are… That's exactly it."
America laughed and pulled the cover over them so they were left in darkness. England looked at him asking him what he was planning and America's heart stopped beating as he saw the bright green eyes gleaming in the darkness.
He knew he was so in love that if England truly asked he would change his name to whatever he asked. But he also knew that England loved him as he was and didn't want him to change, not even the slightest bit.
They were already perfect together as it was.