Title : One Safe Place
Author: Eveliens/eeevee
Genre : mystery/suspense
Characters: America, Canada, Lithuania, implied pairings
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. This is a fanwork intended for amusement and not for profit.
Warnings: violence, kidnapping, set in the future
The room was brightly lit and tastefully decorated, like every meeting they attended, but Canada could not help but notice the subdued atmosphere. It hung in the air like a thunderstorm threatening to break, dark and heavy. Nations huddled in little geographic groups, especially the European nations. Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and England were quietly conferring among themselves in hushed voices. Canada eyed their faces, noting the lines of tension and how their eyes never seemed to stop flickering around the room. Austria's mouth was turned into a deeper frown than usual and even France looked unusually serious and drawn.
"Hey bro." America slid into the seat next to him. He had a super sized coke in one hand and a burger wrapper in the other. He took a loud, obnoxious slurp of soda and sighed contently as he settled back putting his feet on the table. "What's shakin' bacon?"
Canada shoved his feet off the table with a thump without even looking and answered, "I think something's going on?"
The two North American brothers paused to listen to the muted snippets of conversation swirling around the room. It was hard to miss the lisps of fear and paranoia.
"…Luxembourg… missing…"
"How long…?"
"…months…just gone…"
"…sure he's fine… needs a break…"
Canada hugged his bear a little harder, earning a grunt then a low growl. He glanced at his brother, who seemed nonplussed by the gossip. He gave another slurp and then cleaned off his glasses on his shirt.
"I'm sure it's fine, bro. You know those Europeans. Too damn many of them anyway." America shrugs dismissively at that and shot his wad of trash overhead. It sunk perfectly in the basket with a soft rustle.
"I thought white boys couldn't play basketball?" Canada joked quietly, unnerved by America's clear disinterest in something so dangerous. Perhaps if it didn't have an explosion in it, he wasn't interested. That seemed very America like.
America gave a fake little laugh at his attempt at humor and turned to face the northern country. Canada searched his face for a grin or a sparkle of humor and only found hard, staid blue eyes. All the freedom of the skies that normally poured out were dampened and Canada wasn't sure if it was only because he was tired or ill. He looked… focused.
"So how're you feeling, bro? The economy perking up for you yet?"
Canada paused letting a silence fall between them. The hair on the back of his neck was prickling and he shifted to the right putting a little more distance between them. Something was very wrong. Such a simple question shouldn't be screaming sirens that echoed throughout his body.
"F-f-fine… doing some business and my new boss is really on the ball. Recessions can't last forever. How… how about you?" The bear in his arms growled so low that Canada could only feel the vibrations. It was the sound the bear made when he sensed something was wrong and it had warned Canada several times before. He would never disregard the animal's senses.
"Oh, peachy. You know about my new boss, right?"
Canada nodded. Who didn't know about America's new boss? Aside from being a woman, which was a big deal in itself for the United States, there were the issues of the political upset. This woman didn't have a background in politics… she appeared as a grassroots candidate. She refused to run as either a Democrat or Republican, preferring to use her own platform, saying parties were simply two sides of the same tarnished penny. She also refused corporate money to fund her campaign, calling American multimillion dollar companies corrupt and rotten, citing a conflict of interest politicians faced in office by taking bribes. She was not a commodity and was not interested in buy-outs.
What should have been a complete failure was an unparalleled success, which seemed typical of the headstrong nation. The American people were sick of the standard campaign; they had proven that with the former boss and were more than ready to take it to a higher level. Really, there was hardly any competition at all, as she whispered the powerfully seductive words the American public longed to hear. She was not the most talented orator but her speeches were simple and appealing for the average citizen. The refreshing honesty devoid of fear mongering and mockery and mudslinging gained her office two months ago and she was more than ready for the challenge it seemed.
"Well, she's swell." America said lightly, eyes sparkling behind Texas. The bear growled, longer and deeper at his faux cheer. "She's got some plans, ya know? Things are going to turn around. We're going to mix some things up, "restructure" as she calls it. Internally and externally of course. If it works, then we should share, right? The everyone else can share how awesome the U S of A is."
Canada's head felt like it was going to explode at the implications that purred through America's normally annoyingly chipper voice. The velvety sincerity, the blind faith… a destitute nation down on its luck, poor and ailing from fallen grace… a leader who promised a stolen glory and called for national pride…
"…no…" he whispered, mouth gone dry and violet-blue eyes wide, "You can't mean…"
And then America laughed softly, darkly. It was more of a chuckle really and he patted Canada on the head, giving his curl a light yank then combing through the rest of his hair. Just as his fingers passed through the last silky strands, he curled strong, sweaty digits across the back of Canada's neck painfully. Canada tried not to wince as America brought their faces together. A mockery of his usual megawatt smile rolled across his face and Canada felt his stomach do a similar roll. Canada felt like he was looking into a shattered mirror.
America then gave his usual detestable laugh and let go abruptly, throwing Canada back into his chair with a hard thump. He swirled around in his chair a few times, before grinning, "Ahaha, you looked so scared, Bro. Like you were going to piss your pants. How uncool. No, I just meant we're getting some new healthcare junk and all that jazz. What'd you think I meant?"
Canada managed a shaking smile and he unconsciously checked to make sure he hadn't wet himself. No, but that didn't stop the nervous feeling roiling in his gut telling him to run. This was America, right? His brother. The longest unguarded border…
Nervously he ran his tongue over his lips and swallowed. His fingers clutched the edge of his chair tightly, his knuckles turning white.
America took one last slurp of his coke and chucked the empty container at the trashcan. Unlike the last projectile, this one flew widely off-course and hit Russia with a wet, cardboard whap. The large nation looked up, KOLing, and Canada watched as America apologized, rather insincerely, and tried to hand over some used napkins. Russia discovered this only after the grease and mustard were ground into his suit.
And things went back to normal.
It wasn't until the meeting had finished its grueling marathon of debates and arguments and brawls that America caught up with Canada again. The northern nation had been trying to sneak out without another confrontation, but America merely smiled and leaned across the doorframe with one hand idly on his hip. He had already shed his awkward suit, the one that always made him look like a child dressed up at a funeral, and was smiling.
"So, Bro, my boss has been talking a lot… and well, she has this great plan." America started seriously. He leaned further into the doorframe and rested his temple against it with a resigned sigh. The last decade had not been kind to him Canada realized. He had the same tired air as some of the older European nations, his eyes sporting unflattering shadows and his shoulders slumped awkwardly as though carrying the weight of the world.
"Okay." The niggling feeling from earlier was back, itching between his shoulder blades. He let himself be led to the seat and slumped down feeling his back mold into the same position he had been in for hours already. America seated himself on the table's edge, legs dangling like an overgrown kid and head lulled back loosely. He simply sat for a moment, legs swinging lightly, while Canada fidgeted uncomfortably.
"You know I try hard, right?"
Canada blinked, completely surprised.
"I didn't want to drag everyone down. I… I hate facing the disappointment, ya know? I feel like such a loser; I can't even recover my own fumbling economy. Hell, it's been years since the health care bill was introduced and I still haven't sorted that one out!" A strangled chuckled wrestled out from behind his pursed lips. He looked up abruptly at Canada, eyes steeled and mouth set in a grim line, "I'm sick of being the butt of the joke."
"You're—I mean, everyone's having troubles right now… it's not just you."
America cocked his head in a mocking gesture, one that was vaguely reminiscent of Russia, and Canada shivered momentarily overlapping sky blue and dark violet, "But I am the trouble, don't you know? Of course, I'm the wonderboy and the scapegoat all in one. Things go nice and it's good job America; thanks for saving our asses. Things go to Hell in a hand basket and suddenly the knives fly at my back.
"My boss thinks that I should make some new friends on the playground. So I'm putting up the stick and pulling out some popsicles." America suddenly leaned forward with a malicious smirk, "What's that saying? You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream?"
"That… that is at odds… with what your boss wants!"
"My boss wants a strong America." America replied flatly, all malice and emotion effectively extinguished in an instant, "A single, strong America. Mexico has already agreed to adopt United States' protection and laws in exchange for… well, in exchange for many things… green cards… money… exclusive agreements. I may be weakened but dammit if I'm not still a superpower."
Canada could feel his heart hammering madly in his chest. His breath came in short, labored gasps, searing his lungs with every drag like a new smoker. He was cornered… cornered with a nation gone mad. No, worse than a nation… a superpower. He wasn't Russia; he wasn't up for playing chicken with America. He was sure he could survive but that's all it would be: surviving. And America could easily make it the most miserable existence ever experienced in the realm of the world.
"So it's a for-or-against situation?" Canada swallowed reflexively and muffled a yelp as America clamped down a hard hand on his shoulder, "Of course not! What kind of democracy is that?"
Canada wisely bit back a retort about America's previous attempts to spread democracy that ended like a Christian missionary bringing the plague to the natives.
"What about NATO?"
"Needs restructuring; it's obsolete."
"I—I'll have to talk to my boss…"
"Duh. My boss is already setting up a conference for the four of us. I mean, it's consensual, I promise! Just trying out some new stuff to see if it works. It's only a little experimentation after all." America oozed enthusiasm and Canada smiled weakly in return.
He wasn't happy with the fact that America only seemed normal when he was talking about his new boss. It couldn't hurt to go to America's little meeting and see what was going on. It was probably some harebrain scheme to create soda and pizza trees or some such nonsense. He was just tired and overworked and stressed right now and his humor had gone a bit black. Yes, that must be it.
America's voice was husky and hot in his ear, "I'll make it worth your while."
Canada's blood pressure couldn't take it anymore. He jumped up and fled the room calling apologies over his shoulder. He went straight to the bathroom, hugging the cold porcelain for a long minute before crouching back on his thighs. Slowly, reluctantly, he left the safe haven of the stall and splashed cold water on his face.
America didn't… scheme… he reassured himself. America was too obvious and oblivious to scheme. Except during the Cold War… he was quite clever at psychological warfare then. And… and… he had to be getting desperate. And there was his charismatic new leader who was stirring up nationalism and drawing the country together… she just needed some glue to cement the American public together...
Canada shut off the water and straightened his back. He would go to that meeting and see exactly what America was planning. It couldn't be anything that horrible after all.