America watched intently as his brother turned to go back to the fridge. The moment he was sure Canada was out of earshot, America stifled a quick coughing fit into his fist.
What was going on with him?
The coughing amplified his headache.
There was no way he'd be around Canada acting like this, he should probably leave before...
No! I am America! I never get sick and I am the most heroic, powerful nation in the world!
He would kick Canada's butt at Super Smash Brothers then proceed to go home and pack things for his trip to Libya tomorrow. This world needed a leader, and there was no land greater than America, the beautiful! Rain or shine, America would always be that hero!
He stood up with gusto and it took a few seconds for the room to remain still enough for America to cross over into the living room. America knew that no matter what, he would be a leader and a role model for Canada, for his allies and for the entire world.
This sucked balls.
America and Canada had been playing through Subspace Emissary mode, America playing as Captain Falcon and Canada hovering behind him as Kirby, for a few hours.
This sucked major balls.
He cleared his throat loudly and tried to focus on the game. America had been sneaking coughing fits every time his brother would turn around. It was getting more and more difficult to speak or even breathe without going into a hacking frenzy. Even now his throat was screaming for water and his lungs pained sharply with each inhale. To make matters worse, he hadn't been able to breathe through his nose for a while now, forcing him to take more dry breaths through his slightly parted mouth. Despite his pain, he carefully attempted to hide any sound of congestion when he spoke. He definitely did not what Canada thinking he was some weakling that couldn't take care of himself. America was a hero, and being a hero was a twenty-four seven occupation.
But man his head ached.
After another particularly loud throat clearing, Canada had to make a mental effort not to keep stealing glances at his brother, but he looked again anyways. America was certainly uneasy. It was obvious he was struggling with something.
I hope he's not bored with me again...
"Ah, America? You wanna play a versus match?"
America didn't acknowledge Canada for a few seconds before sluggishly glancing towards him.
"I guess- *ahem* I mean if you wa-a- AAahGSHUUUu!"
The sudden noise caused Canada's heart to skip a beat.
He's so loud...
"g-gesundheit. Are you okay?"
The sneeze had surprised America as much as it had startled Canada. America attempted to recover as quickly as possible, because there wasn't anything wrong and he didn't want his brother thinking otherwise.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be? Would you pay attention to the game you're go-.. gonna-
Canada saw America's face slowly turn from a look of confidence to a painful grimace.
"Eckshew, gahCHEw!"
America couldn't stop; one after another a powerful sneezing fit had wretched his body, making him helpless. The sharp pain in his head erupted and his raw throat wailed in agony. If he had stopped sneezing for a moment a wheezing cough would merely replace it.
Canada had watched the outburst for a few moments before deciding to take action. America was sneezing forcefully into his hand. Without saying a word to America, who was still caught in a fury of sneezes, Canada went to grab the box of Kleenex in the bathroom. When he returned, America was rubbing the bridge of his nose, completely silent, looking very tired.
How had Canada not noticed before? It was so obvious to him now, the flushed nose, pale face and slight bags under his eyes. His brother was obviously ill. His coughs were deep, Canada hoped it wasn't anything terribly serious.
Thoughts were running through America's head like wild fire.
What will he say if I can't snap out of this? What if he tells everyone else? I have to leave before he starts thinking things.
Only then did he notice Canada's discrete tissue gesture. He acknowledged Canada with a congested "thadks bro" and went to blow his nose. He realized that he was too clogged to make any process and instead only irritated his throat from all the pressure. He quickly cleared his throat a few times to try and alleviate the itch, but to no avail. America was soon caught in another stifled cough which slowly evolved into a productive coughing fit. It made a deep rumbling sound in his chest and was alarmingly painful.
Canada watched with increasing amounts of concern. His brother, the powerful America, was battling with something fierce. He was so strong, seemingly invincible at times; it never occurred to him that America could... could fall so ill. He was suddenly incredibly offended.
When America had finished he apprehensively looked towards Canada, fearing his brother's reaction. Canada seemed confused, maybe even a little hurt.
"You could have told me if you weren't feeling well, we could have just watched a movie or something. Then I wouldn't have kept bothering you because I thought you were getting bored."
America was initially surprised. Canada thought he was bored? Quickly, however, that surprise turned into mild frustration.
"Why would I ever go around saying sobethin like that?"
America changed his voice to a mocking tone.
"Oh, I'm just TOoo fragile to play video games Canada! Why don't you make a big frickin plate of flapjacks to get me back on my feet?"
"Well... well maybe if you weren't spraying mucus all over the place it wouldn't be a problem!"
"The LAST thing I need is advice from such a suck-up wuss!"
With that last biting statement, America got up, unlocked the door and slammed it open to the fierce scene of a snow storm in full swing. With his ridiculous strength he managed to slam the door behind him despite the large amount of snow and wind against the door.
What a mindless stupid idiotic... HOSER!
Canada sat on his sofa as tears slowly formed in his eyes.
What right did America have to do that?
Canada stared at the front door. Through the window he saw nothing less of a blizzard blurring its way through his front yard.
What an idiot...
This was so unfair. Why did America have to be so full of himself?
Canada got up to peer out the window, the snow was almost completely obstructing his view.
His truck is probably buried...
America was blasted by a flurry of snow and wind. He trudged forward straining to find even the slightest glint of red from his Toyota. He found the task near impossible, either from his mind splitting migraine or the thoughts plaguing his head.
He really wanted to be honest with Canada; he just couldn't bear the thought of Canada seeing his brother as something so weak. Because America wasn't weak, right? He was never sick or worn out, always the opposite. He was a hero all the time. Whether a terrorist needed some whoop-ass or a third world country was in need, he was the best country to call on. Canada needed that America, not this guy.
America started groping through the snow when an urge to cough came. Soon he was doubled over from the force of the congested cough pausing just long enough to catch a wheezy gasp of air.
I just need to get back home. I'll sort this out as soon as I get back. Before Canada sees me, I'll be gone. I just have to get back, I have to...
He'll never drive through this.
Canada stood there, conflicted.
I... I don't care if he doesn't get home.
Guilt panged Canada just at the thought. In reality, he couldn't bear the idea even on a normal day. But today? It's hardly what Canada would call normal. He couldn't recall the last time he had seen America like this, if at all. He wiped away the tear forming in his eyes and tried to decide the best plan of action.
What if he can't get to his truck? He might be trying to unbury it with his own hands...
Canada grabbed his coat and located his snow shoes by the door.
I don't want him to be any worse off.
The truth began to set in for Canada, he was incredibly sad. Not because America yelled at him, but because America's reaction was to get away from him. Canada wanted nothing more than to be inviting to the neighboring country and now, because of what Canada had said, America had literally ran away from him, into a blizzard.
Canada was the worst brother, ever.
He might never come over again. Who would?
But those were selfish thoughts. Right now, he had to make sure America was okay.
He pushed into the door with all his strength and stumbled in to the icy wind.
"A-America?"
He whimpered. He couldn't see anything. He walked a few frantically searching for anything. His eyes settled on a huge mass, America's truck, and waddled towards it.
"America?"
He voice rose slightly louder. He reached the truck and frantically tried to clear the windshield from snow. There was no one inside.
His heart began to beat frantically.
"AMERICA!?"
He yelled louder than he ever had before when he spotted a little swab of color buried snow some ten feet away. He made his way over as quickly as the blizzard would allow him and kneeled.
America was almost covered in a blanket of snow and wasn't moving.
Canada quickly unburied him and hoisted the hefty country over his shoulder.
The task would have been impossible under any other circumstances due to America's taste for hamburgers and no exercise, but somehow the sleight nation managed to get the country inside and close the front door.
Canada spread a blanket in front of his fireplace and laid America there. He lit a fire and went to grab several comforters and pillows. When he returned, America was still out of it, but his eyelids were beginning to flutter. Canada covered America and kneeled next to him. Americas face was alarmingly white and he had begun to shake violently.
"A-America? Can- can you hear me?"
America eyes crept open.
"Why am I... How did you... Damn!"
Out of habit, he immediately sat up but was met with a wave of pain and dizziness. America grimaced and fiercely grabbed his head.
"Maybe you should just lie down for a second."
Canada enforced the suggestion by carefully lowering America down onto a pillow he had brought. To his surprise the task was easy. He couldn't tell if America was obeying him or was too tired to do otherwise. Humiliated, cold and downright sick; America stared at Canada with anxious eyes, prying for answers. Canada answered the silent plea.
"I found you outside, you... you weren't moving. I suppose you passed out."
For a rare moment, America was speechless. After a few moments of studying Canada's worried expression America was, again, uncharacteristic. He sat up, this time slowly as to not aggravate light headedness, and began speaking to his brother on eye level.
"I'm sorry."
Canada felt tears began to pull at his eyes.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you anything and I'm sorry I tried to conceal anything. But I'm really sorry for what I said..."
Canada now had tears streaming down both eyes. America looked sternly at Canada
"Geez, bro, better stop, you're starting to look like a total sissy."
Canada couldn't help smiling while he quickly buried his head in his hands to wipe away the tears.
"Sorry, sorry. Continue."
When he was done drying his eyes Canada noticed his brother wasn't gazing up at him anymore. America was quickly losing color again and his eyes were fluttering. He was having trouble sitting up and slowly swayed backwards on his elbows. This seemed to go by unnoticed to America who was currently trying his best at sounding confident.
"Yeah, I didn't mean to yell at ya. You just.. just caught me.. off... guard."
"I honestly, sincerely didn't mean to pry or make you feel uncomfortable."
Canada held the back of his hand to America's forehead. He felt warm.
America endured the dizzy spell and begun regaining his composure just as Canada left to grab a thermometer, just to be sure.
America had apologized, but he'd rather show it through actions.
"K, so I'll just get out of your hair now."
He slowly rose to his feet mentally fighting the urge to lie back down.
He sniffed loudly and tried to leave only to be blocked by an incredibly distressed Canada.
"I'm sorry if I pried, but I really think it's in your best interest if you stayed."
"Dude, you're making a big deal out of nothing. I'm fine; it's probably just a strong cold front or something. I'll come back on another day and we can hang out then, alright?"
Canada had no intentions of letting his brother run around in a blizzard when he was sick, especially if he was in denial.
"One thing first, take your temperature. If it's just a cold front then you shouldn't have a fever.
"I'm fine."
"Then it shouldn't be an issue."
Canada flashed a triumphant smile as America reached out for the thermometer in Canada's hand. Canada's expression was quickly replaced with a look of apprehension as America popped it into his mouth. America tried to look as annoyed as possible without coughing again. The room was starting to spin and it was getting harder to multitask. As soon as the digital device beeped America began hacking violently, the thermometer falling to the ground. Canada reacted quickly and caught the swaying, coughing country before he hit the floor. America still hadn't stopped choking, he was getting dangerously flushed and his cough quickly went from productive to wheezy.
Canada led America back to the make shift bed the best he could and nearly tumbled backwards when he finally lowered the bulky country down. Only now was America finally gaining control over his cough, taking quick hoarse breaths. Canada regarded America with alarm; he hadn't ever seenhis brother like this. He quickly reached for the fallen thermometer. With dread Canada looked to the little digital display screen.
"That's not good..."