My Firearm is My Friend
It started just like any other day. Any other normal clear and crisp September morning; bright and sunny with a cottony white clouds lazily floating about in the skies over head. Alfred decided to wake up a little late that morning seeing as how he didn't have any meetings to go to until late that afternoon. It was about eight o' clock by the time the personification of America finally decided to roll out of the fluffy and warm comfort of his bed. The large man swung his long legs over the side of the mattress; flinching a little when the soles of his feet came in contact with the cold hard wood floor of his bedroom. The ash blonde stretched his arms high above his head before letting the limbs flop back down limply to his sides.
The morning world seemed blurry and out of focus for a few seconds before America stretched over to his bedside table and retrieved Texas; placing the glasses on the edge of his nose where they belonged. With the world now clear to his blue eyes behind prescription lenses Alfred hauled himself off his bed; lazily scratching his well toned stomach while he shuffled out of his room and to the other side of his flat where the kitchen lay. After a long night of sleeping and not eating the seemingly bottomless pit of a man was starving.
It started as a little crick in his neck which Alfred just assumed was from sleeping in one of those weird, awkward, and sprawled out positions he usually slept in. The big man swiftly jerked his neck and felt a little relief as his vertebrae cracked comfortably. Alfred was feeling a bit too lazy to cook that morning so he decided one bowl of Fruit Loops, one bowl of Frosted Flakes, a bowl of Apple Jacks, and one more of Lucky Charms would be enough to hold him over until later. He happily hummed to himself- a near ironic "My Country Tis' of Thee"- as he opened the cabinet where he kept all of his favorite sugary morning cereals. His neck started to hurt a bit more as he poured himself a bowl of Fruit Loops first and added a splash of good old fashioned cold milk. He ignored it again assuming it would go away after a nice hot shower a bit of R and R on his balcony.
The American- not caring that he was still clad in only cowboy themed pajama bottoms- walked out onto his balcony overlooking the beautiful sky line of New York City. Even though it was still relatively early the city was already alive and bustling with the millions of people who inhabited it. Men and women heading off to jobs they both loved and hated. People riding the somewhat grimy subways to get from place to place or indulging themselves in a more expensive taxi ride. Children all happily sitting in school excited for learning (well okay that was a lie). Alfred felt alive and invigorated as the school kids recitation of the "Pledge Allegiance" filled his body with the love his people felt for their country; for him.
He flopped down into one of the deck chairs; kicking his feet up on the small table as he enjoyed the warmth of the morning sun on his skin and the small chill of the breeze. Fall would be coming soon. It left the American feeling a bit depressed since summer was his absolute favorite time of the year, but ever the optimist he just told himself that soon enough summer would be here again. Years seemed to fly by when you were a near immortal; a near immortal who happened to be just over three-hundred and twenty years old.
That was the cool part that came with being the personification of a country. You never died. Well not easily, hence the term near immortal.
By the time Alfred had finished off his first bowl of fruity, loopy, sugary goodness his neck was bothering him more, spreading to his shoulder a bit. His head was also bothering him a little bit; but at the moment it was nothing more than a light throbbing in the back of his skull. Still ever the optimist Alfred brushed off the feelings covering it up with more food and a couple of Advil if need be.
Alfred threw his fourth and last finished bowl of cereal into the sink, deciding he would clean them up later or just leave it for his housekeeper. He couldn't remember if today was one of the days she came to clean up his house (well someone had to do it because if Alfred was left on his own to clean things definitely wouldn't go over very well). The American stretched a bit; rolling his shoulder and humming a sigh as he headed to the bathroom; it couldn't hurt to take one Advil. He retrieved one of the small red pills from the medicine cabinet before he shuffled back out the kitchen to get a glass of water to accompany it. Al threw the little pill towards the back of his throat, washing it down with a big gulp of cold water. He let out a refreshed sigh as the pill successfully made its way down without him choking on it.
Alfred stood there for a moment; just starring off into space and suddenly losing himself in some kind of other world. Something… something just didn't seem right that morning. Something didn't feel right. In the back of his brain some kind of sense of impending doom was buzzing around like an agitated bee. "Calm yourself Al… nothing's wrong. You're fine, you're country's fine. Everything is all honky dory." He gave himself a little pep talk; assuring himself that the little bee buzzing around in his mind was just all made up. The ash blonde turned away from the sink; bringing the glass back up to his lips again and taking another long swig of the cold clear liquid. It was then when the first attack happened.
Alfred felt it in his chest. It felt like someone had taken a shining silver blade and gave him a quick sharp stab right in the heart. He gasped in pain and in shock; spewing out a mouthful of water onto the hard wood floor. The pain was quick and vanished within a few seconds so the American was left to stand there in confusion, wiping his mouth and wondering what on earth could've brought on that pain.
There was only one thing that could cause his body pain like that. War. There was no war; the world was relatively peaceful at the current moment. So why was his body aching as if his people were fighting.
The pain struck again, much more intense this time. Ripping through his chest and making him cry out; dropping his glass and letting it fall down to the earth where it would meet its end in pieces. Alfred clutched his chest; falling onto his knees and curling around himself. The pain did not go away this time, it stayed, burning and throbbing deep within his chest. He breathing became labored, sweat glistened on his sun kissed skin, his heart squeezed and palpitated. His left arm felt tingly and strange- like someone heavy was sitting on it- his neck and shoulder hurt and it was hard to breathe. Alfred couldn't deny it, but judging by the symptoms he could tell he was having a heart attack. The American knew he wouldn't die from it, but that didn't make the pain any less horrible.
There was only one thing that would bring his body this kind of illness…. Someone attacked his capital. Someone was attacking Washington D.C. But who? Who would dare attack him, the United States of America? He was one of the most powerful nations on earth; if he fell everyone fell. So why would someone….
He never got to finish his inner inquisition before the next attack took hold of him. His limbs started going weak, numb. It felt like a dentist had injected the entire left side of his body with all the Novocain in the world. He started to panic. What else could possibly go wrong? He was already having a heart attack and now he was on the brink of a stroke? What the hell was happening to him? Suddenly the back of his head completely split with horrible pain; ripping along the inside of his skull with great ferocity. Alfred squeezed his eyes shut, letting out a mangled and slurred cry of agony.
Alfred rolled over onto his side, crying and screaming as the pain the wracked his body. He clutched his head and suddenly felt something thick and sticky coating his forehead and soaking into his locks of ash blonde hair. Trembling and weak he brought his hand down to inspect what the unknown substance was though he already had a pretty good idea. Sure enough when he brought his hand down his entire palm was covered in the dark sticky substance that was blood. Alfred was shaking uncontrollably as he brought his hand back up to his head to inspect where exactly the blood was gushing out from. His calloused fingers brushed against his forehead where the American soon found to very large gashes ripping across the delicate skin just under his hair line.
Alfred felt his vision going blurry, not only because he was on the brink of losing consciousness, but because he knew that right now his country was under attack. His people, his children were being attacked. It wasn't his sudden plummet in health that scared him it was the loss of his children that made his eyes blur up with tears. The salty droplets ran down his cheeks leaving wet streaks in their wakes. His people were being attacked and by judging from his current state it was happening right outside his door.
Alfred rolled onto his stomach and set his eyes on the glass door that led to his balcony. He had to see, he had to see what was happening. He had to know. Heart attack, stroke, and horrible gashes or not he had to see what was happening. The American's large body trembled, his breath came in short labored gasps, his body was weak and he could move. But despite all the pain he pushed way past the point of one-hundred percent and began to crawl in a pathetic manner to the glass door. He had to see. He had to see. After many long, grueling, and agonizing minutes Alfred made it to the door, but his will and body was starting to give out. He grabbed onto the doors handle with his one good arm, gritting his teeth and summoning all the strength he had left to haul himself up if only by a few inches to see through the balcony's railing and look at the city.
It was a pretty sight. It was horrifying.
Out in the distance he could see it. Huge, billowing, plumes or midnight colored smoke soared up into the sky painting it's once bright blue color over with darkness. Flames licking the sides of buildings with their burning red and orange toned tongues. People running through the streets away from the chaos all praying that their lives would be spared. Alfred could feel the edges of darkness creeping up along the corners of his vision; threatening to take him and pull him deep down into the bottomless depths of unconsciousness. He was going to pass out. He knew it. There was no way he could stop it. The sight of the Twin Towers burning and crumbling before him was almost too much for his weak body to bear.
In his mind he could hear screaming. So many wailing, agonizing cries as his people perished in the cross fire. He body felt like he was sitting on a bed of pins and needles with each and every person perished in the chaos. It was all too much for one man to bear.
Alfred let go of the door handle and collapsed back onto his side, much too weak to move and grab the telephone to call for help. His strength had been spent. He lye there motionless and barely breathing. Blurring vision scanning the room one last time as he felt himself fading away from reality. He glanced over at the calendar hung on the side of the fridge with a magnet- the magnet that was a picture of him and his good friend, Arthur, when they had traveled to Wild Wood together during the summer. Just under the picture he looked at the date; mentally installing into his brain.
September 11th, 2001.
This would be a day he would never forget.
So yeah, new story. I was watching the movie "The Happening" and when the soldier dude said, "My Firearm is my friend, it will not leave me side" I got the idea for this fiction. It's USUK of course set right after the tragic day of 9/11. It's supposed to focus on the way America's behavior and attitude changes after the terrorist attack. It's supposed to show his paranoia and his fear of other nations. It's probably going to be super angsty so if that's not for you don't read because I think this is going to be a tear jerker. Well in any case reviews are very, very much so appreciated. There's nothing that makes me want to right more than hearing feedback from my readers. Thanks so much! :D
