"America!" Canada whispered. "Where are we going?" He was in more or less his pajamas, and was acutely aware of the cold.
"Don't sweat it, bro!" America called over his shoulder. He wasn't cold, with his stupid bomber jacket and his stupid gloves. Those stupid gloves that warmed one of Canada's hands as he was dragged down the street.
"You don't know where we're going, do you?" Canada sighed.
"Ouch! Where's the trust?" Despite his words, America didn't sound fazed at all. "The hero always has a plan!" He glanced around without breaking the pace, obviously lost already.
The world meeting was being held in Italy for the current session. This meant that Italy frolicked about while Germany had the general run of things. Italy had, however, chosen the location. It wasn't a big, well-know or particularly tourist-y city. Why Italy had chosen it was beyond anyone else's comprehension.
The street was bare save a dappling of street lamps and a lonely taxi. Not like New York at all, America noted. A brightly colored window sign caught his eye.
"Let's do that!" America pointed excitedly to a darkened building.
"We can't," Canada explained. "They're closed."
"Whaaat!" America exclaimed in disbelief. "Arcades can't close! PacMan never sleeps!"
Canada smiled in spite of himself. "Come on," he said, "I know something we can do." He picked up his pace, but didn't drop America's hand. He needed it to lead him, after all.
Walking beside America was much more pleasant than walking behind him. This way, Canada could see his face when he talked and his smile when he laughed. Not like he was looking or anything.
The two stopped at a 24 hour coffee shop to warm up. Canada protested, he was self conscious about his not-so-presentable attire. America just laughed it off and ordered two supper-sized cups of the sugary-est, most caffeinated drink available.
The girl at the counter, who couldn't have been long out of high school, was happy to finally have customers. She looked a bit too happy to see America, Canada noticed. Canada was even more appalled when America went along with it, leaning across the counter to whisper in the girl's ear.
Do either of them remember that I'm here? Canada sulked.
The coffee girl giggled and nodded when America had finished, then scampered to the back room to prepare their orders. A heavy silence permeated the air around Canada, starkly contrasting the obnoxiously bright aura of America. It wouldn't have seemed out of place for cartoon flowers to float and spin around him.
The coffee girl reappeared clutching two steaming cups. While she rang them up, Canada realized he had left his wallet in the hotel room.
"No prob, bro!" America assured him. "I got your back."
A grumpy Canada was the first to leave. America followed after returning a good-bye wave to the coffee girl.
This time it was America who was struggling to keep up. "Wait up, Canadia!" he insisted, lengthening his stride. When he caught up, he offered Canada one of the drinks, which was accepted and begrudgingly sipped.
Canada's eyes widened. Was that... maple in his coffee? America broke into a smile that was impossibly wide.
"I didn't know this was on the menu," Canada said with another greedy gulp, his irritation at the other nation temporarily forgotten.
"It's not, I asked for it special," America winked.
Canada blushed. He wanted to say thank you, but decided against it. "D-did you get some?"
"Nah, that's not usually my thing," America informed him, happily slurping his own beverage.
"Oh, I see," Canada said quietly.
Some time passed. The two had gone back to walking side-by-side, but this time Canada kept both hands on his coffee. It was much warmer than America, anyway.
"Here we are," Canada announce-whispered. They were in front of a metal archway that opened onto a grassy park. A smooth, dirt path continued from the sidewalk, circling around until it reconnected with itself or reached the gate on the other side.
"No way!" America shouted. "It's midnight nature exploration time!" He ran clumsily down the path, spilling coffee everywhere.
Canada was rather into camping and nature and the like, so he felt like he should enlighten America that city parks were not exactly the Bear Grills survival type of wilderness. Nor was it midnight. He knew, however, that it was useless, America rarely gave up once he was determined to do something. Manifest Destiny had taught him that much.
Canada calmly observed as America made a running jump for a tree branch, missed it entirely, and smacked into the tree trunk. A tiny, yellow, extremely pissed bird emerged from the shaken tree, chirping angrily like a mother cussing out her child for breaking a window. Parts of the racket sounded almost intelligent; Canada could have sworn some of the cheeps were actually the word 'loser'.
America retreated back to a very amused Canada. "Dude," the adventurous nation confided in the other. "That marshmallow peep just frickin' chewed me out!"
"I'm so proud of you," Canada congratulated him, hiding a smile while pretending to warm his hands.
"Thanks, bro!" America gave a hearty laugh. "Now come and adventure with me!"
"Actually," Canada interrupted. "I was thinking we could watch the sun rise. It is ungodly early-"
"Whoa, that's so Canadian!" America exclaimed. Canada didn't quite know how to take that.
"Well, when half your friends are either moose or polar bears, things can get pretty cray," Canada informed him, using one of America's own ridiculous words.
America laughed and hit Canada playfully on the back. Canada flinched and was thankful that America had already spilled all his coffee, otherwise it would have been all over him now.
"You're awesome, Canadia," America told him honestly. "I don't know why we don't hang more often!" He scratched his head. "I guess when there are other people around I have a hard time finding you. You should wear one of those blinking, light-up arrow-things on your head!"
Canada hoped England's plan was much better than America's.
"Look!" America pointed to the horizon. "I think the show's starting!"
"It's not a movie, America."
"It can be whatever it wants to be! Live the American Dream, y'all!" America punched the air
Canada chuckled. Of all the spontaneous, early morning "bro dates" he'd ever been on, this was the best.
LoL I had to rewrite this chapter cuz mai iPod stabbed me in the back and deleted my only copy! Curses! It's okay now, y'all. Me made up and everything.
Thanks for all the favs/reviews! I make it a personal goal not to be a review whore, I just want you to know that all the ones I've gotten so far make me extreamly happy.
I promise the next chapter will get back to the plot. Until then, ja matta!