Fill In For Me

by Light8mare

The countries are all so bright and happy. And yet they've gone through so much. How could they remain sane through so many genocides and wars? So much violence? So much chaos? Perhaps it wasn't them facing that. Perhaps it was another side that did. A less "stable" side.

1. Chapter 1

He felt like he was floating.

When he climbed the stairs. That's how it felt.

Floating.

Was it better than drifting? Or fading?

He wasn't sure.

But it felt nice.

A nice change. That's how he knew that what he was doing was right.

He smiled as he looked down. A nice view. Why didn't he come here more?

Unimportant. He had a job.

He hopped up onto the ledge, spread his arms wide, as if he were trying to encircle the whole town, or maybe the whole country, and looked down.

So many people. His people. All so busy. All so wound up in their lives that they wouldn't look up at the funny man standing on top of the building.

The man about to jump.

Not time yet, he reminded himself. Not ready yet.

And then... It was.

And he rocked just the slightest bit forward and let gravity take over and drag him.

Down, down down.

He could remember that brilliant line from that one TV show, that one really popular one that one of his own had created.

"Falling is just like flying... Only with a more permanent destination."

Fortunantly for England, he was the exception to this rule.

Even while he was lying awkwardly over the pavement, blood running over the concrete like watercolors on paper, bones turned to tiny glass shards by the impact, he was the exception.

Just like all his fellow countries.

Emergency services showed up. People were everywhere, panicking.

He was loaded onto the vehicle and driven away without a siren.

When he woke up, America was leaning over him, watching him.

He was upset.

"Oh Artie... Don't tell me it's happening again."

England just smiles at him. It was.

Tears were running down his face now. England stops smiling.

Tears weren't good. America might become like him. That was bad. It wasn't time for that, no not at all.

England reaches up slowly from the hospital bed and tries to wipe the tears away with his stiff fingers.

America smiles sadly and chokes softly on his crying. "I know. I shouldn't. I get it Oliver."

England just smiles back silently, his blue and pink marbled eyes watching America contain his grief.

It was going to be ok.