He wasn't certain exactly why it bothered him so much, why the nagging sense of dread and unease wouldn't leave him alone. It'd just been one meeting and one slightly strange conversation after. It shouldn't be something that Canada kept finding his thoughts drawn back to. Yet… as the days after the World Conference continued on, the Canadian found his thoughts lingering back on that day. Back with his brother, and the strange sense of wrong he'd felt.

Calling was no good. Aside from the fact that America had always been a bit spotty when it came to answering his calls, it was just too typical for his southern brother to quickly brush him off. Nations were busy creatures, Canada of course included, and yet… something inside kept nagging at him. Some tiny worm of doubt and suspicion seemed to crawl through his belly, wriggling into his veins if he tried to ignore it too long.

He hated that his brother could cause so much stress for him without, apparently, really trying, but so it went. After the first hundred years of it, it stopped being something to get too upset about. He'd do his semiannual passive aggressive rant later. When he… when he was sure America was really, well… ok.

He'd asked his boss for some time off, worked extra hard to ensure he had the free days to spend on this trip south to check up on America. The extra work did help to distract him to an extent, but not enough to dispel the gaping worry that ate away at his core, that made him feel hollow and restless all at once. He checked the news far too often, read the paper and watched TV while somehow expecting to find something horrible at any minute.

Dire expectation failed to become catastrophic reality, and Canada currently found himself outside his brother's more traditional and spacious home. It was a guess, that his brother was here rather than any of the more modern apartments he owned now. The car he'd rented sat behind him, engine cooling from the remote drive out here. A backpack rested over Canada's shoulders, making him look every bit the young teenager most humans perceived him as. Wrapped in his arms, Kumaroni yawned, apparently not at all bothered as his master.

"That's… new…" Staring at the tree filled lawn, Canada noticed that a couple of the trees seemed a bit… damaged? He wandered over to one slowly, blinking at the aged bark through the slim glass that rested before his eyes. Definitely… definitely some sort of blade had carved into the bark. Dark old wood splintered and peeled away from fresh pale, sap pooling and collecting along the edges like an amber scab. He moved one hand to feel the wood, supporting Kumataro with just one arm for now.

"It's… a pretty sloppy cut…" Canada furrowed his brow, bottom lip drawing in as he chewed it. He couldn't imagine any reason America would defile the trees that surrounded his house. Lover of industry as his brother was, his personal property was a testament to the wide open lands they'd both roamed as kids. America wouldn't cut the trees around his house down. Not if he were sane or sober. 'Though being drunk might explain the horrible cut…' That was another thing… he knew America had cut down enough trees in his lifetime not to make such a worthless and amateur cut.

Damage to another tree nearby had him slinking over carefully, casting a furtive glance towards the windows of his brother's house as if he expected to see his brother peering out at him, scowling and brooding like a fairytale villain. No one was at the windows, though, and he approached the next tree. His lips twisted into a grim line, an unhappy rumble in his throat. It was almost impossible for a Nation not to know what a bullet could do… and it was very clear this tree had been shot. On purpose though? Not likely.

Canada's bad feeling only grew much worse.

He debated what to do. Wondered if he should call for help. 'Help with what?' Wondered if he should try to sneak in. 'America probably won't notice if I do.' He didn't want to foolishly walk into danger… yet he didn't want to blow things out of proportion. His brother liked to engage in a lot of very stupid pastimes and hobbies. He knew he'd get ridiculed if he jumped to the wrong conclusion here.

A chill went up his spine, causing him to shudder slightly, to hug Kumajiwa tighter. It was that strange sense of being watched again, even more unsettling this time. He wasn't used to being watched, it was strange when someone noticed him first.

"I'll… try the front door then…" His brother, foolhardy as he was, wasn't someone to be taken down lightly. He had that crazy strength to start, and enough cunning hidden behind that idiot exterior to tangle with the likes of Russia. Canada was hoping he was just being very, very paranoid.

The walk up to America's porch was surreal. The world around him wasn't silent, it wasn't as though all the birds had stopped chirping, the wind ceased to blow through the branches of the trees, or any such nonsense. All the same, Canada could swear that every step he took, no matter how careful, seemed to be inordinately loud. It sounded to his ears as if he was stomping up the walkway, which he most certainly was not. At least each beat of his heart wasn't ringing in his ears… that would have been far too overdramatic.

Reaching the door he knocked, waiting to see if America would answer before immediately going for the doorbell. The house was huge and sprawling, so the bell might be needed, but Canada gave knocking a chance first. He gave it a couple good chances really, eyes peering about as he waited. It was of course possible his brother wasn't home, or wasn't at this residence. He'd have to deal with it if that was the case, but the fresh damage to those trees made the Canadian rather confident his brother was here.

The doorbell then. He pressed it and waited, pressing it again only when he was certain his brother should have been able to make it to the door. Nothing worse than someone with an itchy doorbell finger that keeps pressing it while you rush for the door. America could be that someone sometimes.

He was about to give up and take on that sneaking in idea when suddenly the door opened. Canada blinked, totally caught off guard and wondering how he could have missed his brother's careless and sloppy (and very noisy) steps towards the door. 'Easy… he didn't make noise this time…' The thought was flagged and filed away in Canada's mind as he gazed at his brother.

America was… well… he was wearing his clothes, yes. Canada could recognize the articles of clothing America was in… though he'd never seen his brother in that combination of them. Oh it wasn't surreal or anything, it wasn't like he was wearing a suit jacket over star spangled swim trunks. It was… it was subtle. Again. The clothes were right yet somehow it felt more like someone had reached into America's closet and picked out the outfit for him. It… it just lacked… it just lacked his brother's usual quirks of style.

"Hey Canada, how are you?" Relaxed, his brother seemed friendly enough. He was smiling at him, casually leaned against the door frame, blue eyes intent as he gazed at Canada. Again the northern brother was struck by how odd that was. Right away, no prompting needed, he had all of America's attention.

"I'm… alright…" A bit at a loss for words, Canada trailed off. His brother chuckled, but the laugh felt… forced.

"What are you doing here anyway? I didn't know you'd be stopping by." His brother didn't seem tense, didn't seem unhappy to see him… yet he was also making no move to let Canada in. No invitation offered at all.

"I just… thought it'd be nice… to spend some time together… if you're free…?" He cocked his head to the side, hyper observant even if he tried to stay meek on the outside. His brother, however, was giving him such a scrutinizing look. Absolutely strange for someone famed for never reading the atmosphere. Things were starting to feel a bit tense when America smirked.

"Well sure, come on in Canada." His brother reached out, ruffling the hair on Kumanagi's head. "You and Kumajiro here are always welcome!" The bright boisterous laugh was close, so close, to sounding like America. So so close… but Canada could hear through it. He offered what he was certain was an imposter a weak smile and took a step to follow the man inside.

In his arms, Kumasoji looked up, cocking his head to the side. It looked at 'America' as he closed the door behind them, then looked up at Canada. "Who?" The little bear asked him, and for once the question wasn't directed at Canada. The Nation sighed, wary and ready to get out of there at a moment's notice.

"That's what I want to know…"

- s - p - a - d - e - s -

There was a ringing in his head… a strange distorted chime that seemed to warble in and out. The sound seemed tangible, like a rainbow of oily colors, spinning through his vision and dripping over him like Dalí's clocks. He would have groaned, but he found he couldn't do much of anything anymore. Time was truly breaking away from him, his body felt lost. Detached. His thoughts were taking a dangerously existential turn every time he let his guard down.

"Hmm… you have a visitor…" The voice was sheer agony, so horribly loud. It made his vision swim, the words echoing and tumbling back and forth through his mindscape. It was the 'Queen'… the green eyed captor. America wished that he could find a way not to hear the Queen. It still annoyed him to have to hear England's voice coming from those lips, with that strange foreign accent. It was even worse hearing the gloating tone.

The Queen seemed so certain he'd won.

America tried to focus though. A visitor… had that been the doorbell then? But who would be here… he… wasn't expecting anyone to visit him. The only one who might just drop by…

"The Two of Diamonds is a fool… stepping into our home like this. So far from his King…" The sensation of a hand caressing America's cheek rolled through his memory, like some strange touch that had happened long ago, like a touch he was anticipating. It was getting so weird, the way he was losing the ability to tell when things happened. If they had happened. "Oh, but I suppose… here he wouldn't… it's so strange."

The Queen trailed off, making no sense at all. Still… 'Two of Diamonds'? Who was that? America strained to move, or at least thought he did. It didn't matter if he knew this 'Two' or not. He wouldn't let anyone get hurt in his home, by these strange imposters. He could hear the Queen laughing, no doubt aware of his efforts to break free. He tried to use it as fuel, as further motivation to get moving again somehow.

He just wished he had any idea how to fight this force that held him.


Author's Note:

Silly as it sounds, I'm trying not to be too careful with this fic. It is what it is and will become what it becomes. I have a clear goal and direction in mind, events I want to type, but other than that? Trying not to over plan it. I'm running loose and wild here! Hopefully, it's therapeutic for me. Hopefully it's an enjoyable read for you.

Thank you so much to Chelseaj500 for being my only reviewer so far! Glad to have someone else excited about this idea! The kind words were definitely loved and appreciated.