Just A Little Test 4
Whose brilliant idea was it to have a team meeting anyway? Not for the first time, Australia found himself checking his watch; as he listened to his teammates discuss strategy. How many ways were there to kick a ball? The needle on his watch moved and he stood up. "I'll meet you at the restaurant and we can finish talking there, eh mates?"
Russia frowned as he leaned back in his seat. "Where are you heading? You have asked us to assist you in winning your match, but you have not participated in the meeting at all. It is like your head is in the clouds, da?"
Australia grinned sheepishly. "Oh, well. I have a lot on my mind." He jumped as a hand clamped down hard on his shoulder.
"Oh sure. Go get your date! We'll be fine for a few minutes without you!" Australia looked up to see Denmark grinning. Did they know? It didn't matter anyway.
"Great! See you at the pub then." He turned, hurrying out of the room and to the elevator. He hoped that it wasn't one of those days that the elevators just took forever. He had to get to the lobby before America did! He heard the bell chime behind him and turned, hurrying into the already crowded box, relieved to see that everyone appeared to be heading to the lobby as well.
It felt like a hot, crowded eternity before the doors opened and he was shoved out into the lobby as the other guests filtered out around Australia. He craned his neck, searching the expanse of the room. Good. He hadn't left America waiting, because America wasn't there yet. Not that he really had to worry about that. He was pretty sure he'd never seen America on time for anything. Not meetings, not wars, and certainly not dates. Australia found a seat and leaned back, watching the news on the lobby's television. It wasn't anything interesting, and every chime from the elevators drew his attention away from it.
After what felt like another lifetime, America finally emerged from one of the elevators. Right away, Australia noticed two things. First, he noticed that America had frocked up a bit since he'd last seen him, and second, he noticed that the first thing was making him drool a bit. He wasn't even wearing the old bomber jacket he insisted on wearing everywhere, instead opting for a wool naval-styled pea coat. It was a ireally/i good change on him. Australia shook his head and stood, licking his lips before calling out. "Over here, mate!"
America smiled brightly and walked over. "Hey! Sorry I'm late. I was just talking to Finland and lost track of the time!"
Australia didn't let the fact that he was taken aback by the mention of Finland show as he continued to smile, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Oh? Must have been an interesting conversation then…" He might have been phishing a little. But if there was anything he knew about America, it was that a little push was all it took, as long as it wasn't top secret for national security.
"Yeah! I told him I was going to watch you play snowshoe soccer! He asked why I was only watching, so I explained that your team was already full, but it was okay because I was totally going to help you win by being an awesome cheerleader!"
Australia smiled. So America wasn't bothered by that then. That was good, at least.
"So then he said that I could play on his team, if I still wanted to play. Isn't that great! So I can cheer for you when I'm not playing, and then maybe we'll get to play against each other at the end! It will be great! Oh, but I'm warning you now I'm not going to go easy on you just because I like you. What's the point of playing, if you aren't playing to win, right?"
Australia's eye twitched slightly as he struggled to keep the smile on his face. "…Of course not." Finland; that slimy rat bastard. He knew this would happen, didn't he? And that's why he had Sweden help him fill his team, so that he couldn't ask America to join it. Oh, he was good. But it was no matter. Australia moved an arm around America's shoulders, smirking in smug self-satisfaction when America leaned into him as he started leading him out of the hotel and toward the pub.
Finland might be good, but Australia was better.