The drink in Prussia's hand was anything but alcoholic.
Not that he really needed alcohol, no, but it was just so unusual the strangeness of the situation warranted a mental note. That, and he was nervous.
Yes, the awesome Prussia was nervous. In fact, he was so nervous he was sweating, salty liquid pouring like buckets out of his skin. It was kind of a disgusting feeling, but he didn't complain- nobody to really complain to, at the moment.
He swirled the liquid around in the cup with a finger, trying to absorb himself in thoughts of it. It was some sort of soda- he didn't know which specific kind of soda it was because he didn't really like soda enough to pay attention when he ordered it- but it was some kind of a darkish brown color and didn't taste much like his beloved beer at all. There were bubbles in the drink that would slowly rise to the top, little tiny orbs of air that reflected light and drew his red-eyed gaze.
But no matter how strangely interesting the soft drink was, thoughts always lingered.
He was late.
Normally, Prussia was the late one. He'd swagger in five to ten minutes after their set meeting time, true awesome style, bring an adorable frown-smile to his date's face. It wasn't unusual; he'd pulled the same thing tonight, in fact. He hadn't seen him, had assumed he'd be there in a few minutes, and ordered himself some grub.
And once he'd finished that, he'd ordered more food. And more. And more. And now, after an hour of sitting alone, there was yet another plate in front of him- untouched, had been for the past fifteen minutes. He couldn't bring himself to eat any more, and not just because he was full; he was sickened by thoughts of what might be happening to his Birdie.
Just as he was about to give up and go home, the door to the cafe opened, a dinging noise signalling the arrival of a customer. He kept his gaze on the soda, sure it had to be someone else- he couldn't be that lucky, could he?
Someone slid into the booth across from him, and he looked up to find familiar violet eyes.
Well, I guess I'm just that awesome.
Prussia grinned. "You're late, Birdie."
Canada smiled back. "I'm sorry. The World Meeting lasted longer than I thought it would, and then Am- Alfred-" His voice hitched as he remembered to use his brother's human name- "-yelled at me again."
"Honestly, I don't see vhy it's such an issue for him." Gilbert said. "It's not like I'm not awesome enough for you... Right?"
Canada laughed lightly at his troubled expression. "No, he's just being overprotective. Don't worry. I think he thinks you'll be a bad influence."
"Me? A bad influence?" Prussia snorted derisively. "I'm too awesome to be a bad influence."
Canada rolled his eyes and ordered some food from the waitress who had approached. He turned back to the red-eyed man. "He'll get over it eventually. If nothing else, I'm sure Arthur- or maybe Alistor- will yell at him to get over it."
"Alistor?
"Scotland."
"Oh... I knew that." Prussia poked his food with his fork, finally taking a small bite- it was cold and kind of disgusting, but edible. "So, vhere is your pet bear creature?"
"I left him at the hotel room. Most public places don't like it when you carry around endangered carnivores, you know." Canada reminded him as the waitress brought back a plate of...
"You're having vurst?" Prussia asked in surprise.
"Well, yeah, I guess." Matthew shrugged. "It tastes fine at your house, and I don't eat pancakes for every meal, you know."
"Awesome." Prussia took another bite of his cold meal, gulping it down rather quickly to avoid the taste.
The bell dinged behind them, and Canada's eyes widened in surprise.
"Vhat?" Prussia turned around, wondering if it was America coming to pester them again.
"Oh, what a surprise to see you here, onhonhonhon~" France waved at them cheerfully. Beside him, England turned bright red and desperately tried to cower behind the taller man.
Prussia's brow furrowed. It was a little strange the two were eating out together without anyone else- strange, but believable. He wouldn't have thought much of it if Arthur hadn't seemed embarrassed; the man was a total giveaway, which meant something was going on... and France's actually-not-faking-it smile...
Ohhh.
"How are you today, Franc-is?" Canada asked. His voice hitched slightly part way through the name; he'd almost forgotten to address him as human, Prussia supposed, just like America earlier. Having to address someone by two different names could be difficult.
"We're bloody well fine, thank you." England blurted, folding his arms in a desperate bid to recover his lost dignity. "Now if you'll please just-"
"Arthur, have you always been so not awesome at the lying? Because that vas awful." Prussia interrupted, smirking.
The island nation just flushed even redder, and his companion laughed.
"Come, Angleterre, let us sit with our friends~" France pulled England over to the table and force him to sit down next to Canada, who smiled almost shyly.
"I'm going to kill you for this, you bloody frog."
"I know, mon amour~"
"Kesesese~ Judging by Francis's awesome face, you've only just gotten together and you're already fighting like an old married couple~" Prussia cackled, taking another bite of the freezing cold food on his plate.
"Oh, c'mon, Gilbert. Be nice." Canada said. "You're making Arthur uncomfortable."
Prussia frowned. "Yes, but Birdie- he vas already uncomfortable."
"Excuse me- may I take your orders?" A waitress asked, staring boredly at France and England.
All four of the group jumped; they had been so absorbed in the conversation none had heard the woman come up, and judging by her expression she'd been standing there for a while.
France recovered quickly, firing off an order at the lady. England, however, hardly managed to stutter out his choice as he turned redder than ever.
As the waitress left, Prussia smirked again. "Vow, Arthur, this awesome day is just tomato-ey for you, isn't it?"
France looked despairingly at his friend.
But to everyone but Canada's surprise- and Canada alone because he knew England's softer side from his childhood- the island nation took a deep breath and calmed himself in a miraculous feat of self-control. "...Yes, I suppose it is rather embarrassing to be seen with the frog like this. But... I guess I'll have to get used to it sooner or later- there's no going back now, I can see Alfred filming it from the corner booth." He stood up and shook his fist in the air. "THAT'S RIGHT, YOU BLOKE! I CAN SEE YOU!"
A barely-audible "Craaaap" floated across the room as Prussia, Canada, and France turned to look. This was followed by someone else talking and a whine of protest from the American.
"...Vell, looks like he has got an un-awesome partner in crime." Prussia said.
"Do we want to go over and see who it is?" France asked.
"I think we should leave them alone." Canada said, taking a bite of wurst. "Alfred's mostly harmless if you don't hurt his friends."
"But vhat about the other guy?"
"Unless it's Vash or Ivan, we don't have much to worry about." Canada replied. "And Vash wouldn't team up with anyone but Lili, and Alfred can't stand Ivan... so I think we're safe."
"...I'm sorry, old chap, I'm afraid I've completely forgotten who Vash is." England said, lost.
"Switzerland." Prussia replied. "And for your un-awesome information, Lili is Liechtenstein."
"Well, yes. I knew that- it's practically a cognate."
"The voice is far too high pitched to be either of those losers, anyways." France said, waving a hand in dismissal. "Let us just sit back and enjoy the food, oui?"
"Our food isn't here yet, frog." England grumbled.
The table fell into silence for a few minutes. Prussia ate his nasty cold food, regretting every bite but not sure what else to do. Canada took rather dainty bites of wurst, savoring every mouthful. The waitress brought along England and France's orders, and the two began to eat, as well.
To put it frankly, Prussia couldn't tell if the atmosphere was amiable or stressful.
For once, Canada was the one to break the silence, his quiet voice interrupting everyone's thought processes as he spoke.
"Arthur, Francis, I was wondering..."
"Hmm?"
"What is it, mon ami?"
"Well, you've always been like parents to me, so I wanted to know who's Mom and who's Dad."
Mid-chew, Prussia burst out into raucous laughter, nearly choking on his food.
Canada, all innocence and light, looked at France and England's reddening faces in confusion. "What?"
At the corner table, America laughed, drawing the attention of the other nearby customers.
"Please don't laugh so horribly. It's annoying." The man sitting next to him said. "You already blew our cover, so is it really necessary to blow my eardrums?"
"Exactly!" America chortled. "That was great!"
"I think that question is terribly rude."
"Man, you're so stiff-necked, yo! You know, they're practically my parents, too!"
"That is exactly my point. You should respect your elders."
"I'm the hero- I always respect my elders! Besides, in people years we're nearly the same age."
"Yes, but most of us are thousands of years older than you, youngling- at least in maturity."
America grinned goofily. "Dude, I can be totally mature when I want to- but that's so booooringggg!"
The other nation groaned. "I forget my reasons for agreeing to this partnership."
"It's because I'm the hero!"
"So, let me understand this thing: first Canada and Prussia, and now many nations are having the hook-up, da?" Russia asked, gazing around the table.
England, sitting rather awkwardly next to France, nodded. "Yes, I suppose so. I don't see anything wrong with it, myself- I guess Canada and Prussia just gave the rest of us the courage to act on our emotions." He frowned. "I don't know how it could be any sort of magic, at least. What do you think, Japan? You're the most magical nation here, other than myself."
"Huh? Oh, y-yes!" Japan stammered, pulling several sheets of paper off of the table and hiding them on his lap. "I do not think it courd be magic. It's probabry simpry coincidence."
"Exactly." England said, folding his arms and leaning back. "Not magic."
"Yeah, yeah. I don't care about the rest of you." America said, waving his hand in dismissal. "Dudes, I'm, like, only worried about my bro and his bro." He pointed accusingly at Germany, who frowned very slightly. "I think Prussia's a troublemaker and shouldn't be goin' out with Canada!"
"Actually-" Canada tried to add in.
"Nonsense!" England exclaimed, standing up. "They're bloody well fine together, you git! Stop interfering in Canada's business!"
"Oui~" France said. "Canada is a very intelligent boy, and if the German is too bad for him he will know."
"Mein bruder may be ein troublemaker, but he is not a bad person." Germany said firmly. "He vill not hurt Canada."
"I think America is overreacting, da?" Russia said, smiling kindly at the nation in question.
"On this point I do not agree with you, America." Japan said calmly, closing his eyes.
"Veee~ Why is America so mean to them?" Italy whimpered, picking at Germany's sleeve.
And for the second G8 meeting in a row, America ended up stomping out in a righteous (in his eyes) fury before anyone had a chance to bring up the first real point.
"...Vell," Germany said, glancing around at his fellow nations, "I think I have had enough for one day." He stood, turned around, and headed for the door. "Until the next meeting- may ve all hope it vill be more successful."
"Oui." France said, nodding politely.
"Indeed." England muttered.
"I thought it was very successful." Russia smiled.
"Veee~ Germany, wait for meeee~"
"That is a good idea. I must return home quickry."
"Who are you?" Kumajirou asked.
"I'm Canada." Canada answered absently, watching as all the other nations filed out the door. "And I guess they've finally noticed me... sort of..."
"Hey, Angleterre~" France called. "Would you like to meet me for lunch, mon amour? Since we are, of course, in France, I can show you to the best eateries of the country~"
England hesitated- he'd originally planned to return to his room and sleep (therefore taking advantage of the meeting's early release), but the offer of a meal with France, he decided, was worth missing a nap.
"All right." He nodded, and the other nation grinned.
"Merci!" France exclaimed, grabbing his arm and pulling him down the street. "I know just the place. It is very fancy and expensive, and it has a great view from the window, onhonhonhon~"
"Okay then." England said, slightly bewildered but rather too tired to protest to any degree. He stumbled along behind the nation, trying not to trip over the cracks or run into any of the French citizens they encountered (and there were a lot of the frogs, they were on a major street during lunch break for goodness' sake).
France led him to a huge building with the restaurant's emblem emblazoned on a huge neon sign outside. It did look entirely more fancy than the other nearby eateries, and all of the numerous citizens walking in had a stately grace and clothes that probably cost more than a small house- made him feel poor, in his cheap suit he'd thrown on after failing to properly prepare for the meeting.
The place seemed entirely hostile to him, but France dragged them in anyways, insisting on eating there even when the waiter had to hide a chuckle at England's eyebrows (yes, it was obvious he was laughing at them- he was all but pointing at his own head and yelling 'CATERPILLARS!' as he took their orders). Luckily, France had some sense of delicacy and had claimed an out-of-the-way window seat overlooking Paris in all its Frenchy splendour (he'd always prefer the Thames, personally, but the view was nice).
It was only after they'd started on their meal that France began to talk.
"Erm, Angleterre." France said, gazing out the window as he fiddled with his soup spoon.
"Hmm? What is it, frog?" England asked, using what was slowly becoming an affectionate nickname instead of Francis.
"Well, I've been feeling ill recently, and I wondered if you could help."
"You bloke, how can I help you any better than an actual doctor?" England asked crabbily.
France continued on as though England hadn't spoken. "You... see weird things, right? Magical creatures, correct?"
"Of course I do, and I still can't bloody well understand why the rest of you don't!" He paused, and his brow furrowed. "But what does that have to do with you being sick?"
"Angleterre, the gargoyle is waving at me." France muttered, still staring out the window.
England blinked. "...What?" He followed his gaze to a building on the opposite side of the street and far below, which had corners decorated with gruesome stone statues- one of which was waving.
At France.
And France was looking at it- directly at it- with a small smile, as though this was an everyday experience for him.
Which it wasn't.
For England, maybe, but not for France.
"...You bloke, you're kidding me!" England protested. "You can't see any of the other creatures- it must be mechanical!" His brain landed desperately on the excuse, not quite willing to believe it could be true.
France turned back to him again with a frown. "But, mon amour, I can see you have your green creature on your shoulder~"
England paled, glancing at Flying Mint Bunny- who had once again accompanied him to the meeting and had shamelessly ridden on his shoulder as they went to the restaurant. She shrugged, her fur slightly raised in alarm- clearly she didn't have a clue what was happening, either.
"I know, I know, but it's true." France grumbled. "I have been seeing these things for many weeks now, but I thought I was going crazy until you brought it with you that day you pretended to be asleep. That gargoyle, his name is Paul, oui? I have coffee with him every Monday." He turned and waved back at the stone creature far below.
"You're absurd, you bloody frog." England said grumpily, but his facade didn't last long.
Ten tables over, the nearest couple jumped as a man yelled in an English accent, "HAHAHA! BEAT THAT, ALFRED! I'M NOT GOING BLOODY INSANE!"
In the silence that followed, someone laughed.
"Onhonhonhonhon~"
...Okay, first of all, I realize this took a little longer to come out than the first three, but I kinda have an excuse: we're on summer break, and I was typing with a school computer XD
Now I've been using Google Docs so I've still got all the work saved, but I turned in my school laptop. At home we have other devices, but writing on an iPad is a pain and the desktops are usually being used by the other members of my family. We had a laptop that I could have used, if it hadn't finally broken the week before school ended x.x So I haven't been able to write as often, and... yeah.
So, yeah~ Reviewers! I love you all- as friends XD And also :3 ← YES! You're all nicer than I thought you'd be, was expecting major flame by now. I'm glad I don't totally fail to you all~
I'm going to do my best to give reasons for the weird things that happen in later chapters, if I can. Probably. Hopefully... Dunno XD I can be bad about that kind of thing.
So, this chapter is... different. It's sort of trying to elaborate on chapters one and two more than anything. I personally think I kind of messed up with France in chapter two and this is an embarrassing attempt to fix that mess. I'm hoping I did his personality better here, but... Well, it's certainly the shortest so far, weighing in at just around 3K.
Merci- Thank you (French)
Ein- A (German)
Anything else out of sorts, just leave a review... or PM me... or... something. Yeah, that.
Aaaaand good day, ! AF-DS out... again~