disclaimer: If they were mine, we can agree that there would be so many AmeViet moments that it'd be pointless.

notes: I know I shouldn't have started another fanfic, since I already have a lot of drabble collection and chaptered stories to finish, but when I get my hand on the pen and paper, I just... argh! And I can't believe it's one of my FUTURE projects, which becomes current one in that short of time. I'm going to cry.

Please review to tell me what you think.


1, introduction

America's heard about her even before meeting her, one of China's siblings, England says, and it's such a pity that France has had his hands on her first and that little boy from China, Hong Kong scowls and tells him to forget getting her unless he wants his ass to be kicked. America's heard about her from France, when the man complains how much she's hard to deal with and China sneers at him and mutters something about 'of course, she's my sister, what do you expect?'. China's sister, he knows, and he's already predicted that they have something similar, perhaps the same stubbornness, the same challenging status to the one who dares to invade them, the same pride even when they lose. England and France even call her 'China doll'. He's heard about her in Versailles, when Nguyen Ai Quoc sends the "Claims of Annamite People" and he thinks he sees light in China's eyes.

America's always wanted to meet her.

And she isn't like anything he's imagined.

At least he's right to think she looks a bit like China, with black hair tied in ponytail, golden brown eyes that hold wars and pain, the same dignity and pride when she stands facing other countries, who're more powerful and dangerous. He's heard something about 'please be gentle with the Japanese' and an uncomfortable feeling settles on in his chest as Russia nods and says 'of course, Lien' and glances at his direction. Her eyes follow Russia's, looking at them, at him, and there's something in her eyes – something like cold and distant – but it disappears so quickly that he almost thinks it must have been his imagination.

"Where's China?" She asks and there's disappointment in her voice that America clearly doesn't like.

"China?" Of course, Russia isn't happy with China's absence either, as he looks pointedly at the Chinese army. "I think he has to settle something in his country." She just nods, turning her eyes back to France and England in distaste, and finally, she's looking directedly at America. "Oh, you've already known France and England, right? But you must have heard of -"

"Nice to meet you!" There's no way he'll let Russia cut in his heroic introduction, "My name is America, but you can call me Alfred, I hope we'll get along. The hero will help you with all he can!" He realizes he's spoken a little too fast and hurriedly hides his awkwardness by laughing.

A feature-bright touch on his outstretched hand and it takes him few seconds to know she's shaking his hands.

"It's pleasure to meet you, I'm Vietnam."

It's a good enough start, he decides.

2, Love

For the first time in a very long time, Vietnam feels afraid. She can feel it, she knows this feeling, she knows this aching longing means. She's been feeling it for almost one thousand years as she lifts her gaze up to the north. She's been locking it at the bottom of her heart, and devotes the remaining of her heart to her citizen – she thinks she'll keep loving China forever without his knowing, but now she can sense it's stirring up. And she's scared. She knows what that feeling can do, it makes her blind and insane, and if there's something Vietnam doesn't allow to lose, it's her sanity. More importantly, she's supposed to hate him. America isn't someone you should love, he's just a kid with a bit of hero-complex, naïve and full of life and she's so envious of him. Envy doesn't turn into love… right?

(But every time when she feels like the South, she thinks of loving him and almost gives in to the command of her heart.

And every time there's a voice whispers in her mind, "Don't. Did you forget Mi Chau?"

"I won't be like her." She says, and hopes that her voice sounds strong.)

3, Light

She leans against the rock and bites her lips to prevent a scream as one of the bombs goes off again. Looking at her bleeding arms, she wonders idly what President Ho will say when he sees her. The vague thought of cleaning before going back appears in her head before the ground shakes again. She holds her head with her uninjured arms, trying to stand up. She needs to get out of her – fast, when she still feels like the North and not being overwhelmed by the South…

She's clearly underestimated the strength of her legs. The moment she's up, the same dizzy feeling attacks her head and she staggers on her feet. Vietnam closes her eyes, waiting for a terrible crash.

But it doesn't come.

Someone's holding her, she realizes, and when she opens her eyes, it almost makes her to shut them again because of the light. Golden light, like the sun itself - but the sky is grey due to smoke so when does that color come from? And she sees the blue. Sky blue. The answer is as clearly as crystal and Vietnam immediately jerks away. America doesn't look surprised at her reaction, as he lowers his hands and sighs:

"Please go, this place is dangerous." He says instead.

A moment of silence before she finally croaks out: "Th – Thank you."

And she walks as fast as her feet can allow because it's not time to feel like the South.

4, Dark

Vietnam doesn't like storm, she doesn't like the sound of thunder outside, which keeps her from sleeping. She thinks dryly about what Taiwan will say when she shows up at the family gathering tomorrow. She lies on her back, on top of her bed's covers. Of course it must be like this – she wants to sleep and the sky doesn't let her, she doesn't want to sleep and everything is so quiet for her liking. What has she done to defy the high power above? She sighs, strains her eyes in a fruitless battle against the solid wall of darkness. She can detect a few things – a chair, a wardrobe – but they're already on her memories – and a vase of roses in the window as the thunder flashes.

She remembers she has a guest.

She goes out of her room, is it a bit indecent to keep him up just because she can't sleep? But he says she can go to him whenever she wants, right? She doesn't know why she's acting like this, maybe PMS. He doesn't even bother to close the door – figure – and through the faint light, she can see a laptop balanced on his lap, America's sleeping, his head hanging at a very uncomfortable angle, and his chest rising steadily. He's going to break his neck at this rate. She sighs, the rain attacking the window and the shadows from various objects on the ground stretching, long and dark. She's going to have to clean it later.

The screen is lit up a pale blue, he falls asleep while playing game. With a sigh, Vietnam comes closer and place the laptop on the dead and snaps the lid shut. The room is covered in darkness again, and it's a relief somehow, because she clearly doesn't want anyone to know her next action. She grabs his head gently and places the pillow next to and slides it behind his back. His neck will be fine that way. And she leaves the room, without turning a light on.


notes: Princess Mi Chau (媚珠) is the daughter of An Duong Vuong who got married to Trong Thuy (Zhong Shi), the son of Trieu Da.

The basic story of its is like Romeo and Juliet:

Trọng Thủy, the son of the Qin mandarin Triệu Đà, was sent as an emissary to the king of Vietnam (then known as Âu Lạc), and was given the hand in marriage of Mỵ Châu the only daughter of An Dương Vương.[1] But she betrayed her father to her husband's father, leading to the fall of Cổ Loa fortress to Triệu Đà. In legend An Dương Vương fled with his daughter, not knowing she was the traitor, but having ridden to a river a giant golden turtle, told him "The enemy is sitting right behind you!" - and he killed her. Prince Trọng Thủy arrives immediately afterward, and finding the body of his beloved wife and his father-in-law nowhere to be seen, drew his sword and killed himself, in order to be with his wife forever in eternity.

note2: Please review to tell me what you think.