Story: The Game
Description: America finds out about a game his states have been playing when he hasn't been looking, and finds out that they aren't as innocent as hoped.
AN: Um, hi there. I'm Beyond-The-Winter, and this here is the beginning of my first fan fiction. ^^ Um, please be nice, but don't be afraid to criticize me on anything- I want to get better at writing, and all that good stuff.
Anyway, onto The Game.
The room was softly lit, with deep maroon walls, and amber colored light fixtures jutted out every couple feet, creating a calm ambiance. There were plush chairs settled around a huge fireplace on the south end, cased in terracotta and lightly carved in a Mexican-inspired design. There was a mural on the north wall of a forest shielding a placid lake, unbroken even by the rows of bookshelves- indeed, the shelves appeared to be little cabins dotting the quiet woods. The west wall was not a wall at all, but a vast window what would have over-looked a contemporary sculpture garden, but was now shrouded in equally vast velvet maroon curtains that seemed to be brushed with images of cowboys, horses and jutting rock formations. The west wall held only doors; doors that seemed comically small for the largeness of the room. And the room was large. It had to be. This is where America gathered his children.
America heaved a great sigh. It wasn't easy to keep a calm atmosphere when all fifty states were home, and most days he would even encourage the chaos, but this day the laughter and fidgeting were only making things worse. This day was not a happy one, and there was a matter to discuss which was- in his opinion- a disturbing matter. There they were, fifty heads bobbing, swaying, and twitching to their own beats, occasionally bumping or smashing into one another, causing fits of giggles and (at best) half-angry words. America watched their interaction sadly for a moment; how innocent they seemed! How happy and satisfied! How could they have done what was accused of them? But the evidence was before him, they were guilty, all of them, he knew, but he needed to hear the truth from their mouths. They were gathered here, around a gigantic mahogany table, unaware of why the meeting was called.
"Texas." America called, his voice having become loud by nature to be heard over the dull roar of conversation that plagued these get-togethers. His best efforts to shush them before-hand had not worked, but when the Lone-Star State was selected, all of them looked at America expectantly as if they were aware of the gravity of where his attention fell.
"Yes, Father." Texas responded flatly, meeting America's gaze with blue eyes, so much like America's own, even daring to flip back the same, identical hair.
"Texas," America continued in a mock casual tone. "Where did you get that black eye?" The room was dead quiet before Texas answered.
"The batting-cages, Father." Texas said as emotionlessly as he had before, and America knew that guarded look- it was the same one he had used countless times on England when he was young.
"And, where did you get the cuts on your hands, Texas?" America questioned again, unrelenting.
"Cooking with Louisiana." Texas responded again.
"And the burn on your neck?" America pressed on.
"A failed attempt to cover up a hickey." Texas offered up as excuse.
"And the rope marks on your palms?"
"Working on the farm."
"And the clawing on your chest?"
"Oregon's cat doesn't like me."
"And the bruises on your back?"
"I fell from the barn."
America's game of questions continuing on to revel more and more intimate scarring, and Texas continued to repeat the places he allegedly received them until one jarred him, the one thing he received most recently, and could not be explained away as carelessness. It was with this question that the states knew what they had been called in for this day.
"Texas, how did you get that heart-shaped brand on your inner left thigh?" Texas didn't answer. America sighed again.
"Won't answer me now? Fine," he said, impatience beginning to show. "Minnesota-" America switched his target, and Minnesota gasped, not used to her father's attention let alone his scorn. America ignored her discomfort and kept his voice firm. "Minnesota, how did you get the teeth marks in your shoulder?"
"I-I-I, I just…" She stammered, slouching into her colorful scarf and her oversized hoodie, her one brown and one blue eye darting from America to Texas, back to America again several times before America asked her another question.
"Minnesota, how did you manage to bust your lip?" Minnesota squeaked.
"A-ah, a tussle with Wisconsin!" Her voice heightened with nervousness and grew even higher at the end almost questioningly, seeming to know that America didn't buy it.
"Alright, Minnesota." America leaned in and rested his mouth on steeple fingers for a second, regarding her tense frame before going on. "Why don't you tell me what 'The Game' is?" There was an tense, pregnant pause before it was interrupted by New Jersey.
"We all just lost it." He said quietly, almost a whisper, but it was enough to rouse a half minute of stifled laughter and many hidden grins.
"I'm not talking about your internet games." America said, not bothering to try to keep the emotion out of his voice this time. It was a clear, steely anger, and whatever joy was hidden in the situation was lost forever. "I want to know exactly why Texas and Minnesota look as though they've been beaten." Nobody dared breath.
America calmed himself, getting angry at them wouldn't do. As bad as the situation was, he had to at least hear them out before deciding to be angry with them. He exhaled out his nose, breaking the screaming silence.
"England was here last night, as you all know, and he and I went out for the night." America glanced around, each and every state was decidedly looking anywhere but at him or one another. "When we returned, re retired to bed." He went on. "However, shortly after- England has informed me- he was roused by a… a noise." His states were now fidgeting out of discomfort.
"Texas, Minnesota; care to explain what you were doing last night?" Texas and Minnesota locked eyes, his determined and embarrassed, hers wide and fearful. Minnesota gave Texas a small nod before hiding her mouth and nose with her hands, trying to be invisible like normal.
"Fine." Texas caved. "We'll tell you everything."
AN: Naaaaaaaaaah~ Sorry if it's a little short, but I didn't want to launch right into it right off the bat. Here I'm just setting up the mood and whatnot I guess. Anyway, please leave a review and tell me what's on your mind. :D