Japan sat alone in the meeting room, manga book in hand as he waited patiently for the other nations to arrive. It was polite to arrive promptly and his plane had suffered no delay's so naturally he arrived early to the meeting. He was used to this, and also used to the fact that arriving an hour before the due time likely meant that he'd be waiting for a minimum of two before the meeting actually commenced.
But gradually the nations did filter in, some early, some on time, some late. Japan placed down his manga and greeted each nation as they came in.
Sealand was the first to turn up after him, unsurprising trying to sneak his way into the meeting hall. Japan didn't get a chance to greet him though because Sealand was promptly escorted out by one of the humans guarding the hall.
Estonia turned up next, ever the punctual one, grabbing his seat and frowning as he realised that his new place didn't come with a plug for his laptop charger.
Japan gave a soft sigh under his breath. The new rule. Germany's new rule. Normally he was quite happy when Germany took the order in the meetings because it generally meant that the stuff he had prepared for each meeting did get done and he was able to present his new technologies.
Germany just had this way about him that made everyone listen to him. Of course the ability to yell over everyone, even the always loud America might have helped him, but in the end it was Germany who always managed to focus the nations. Or at least he had until the last world meeting.
It had been a disaster and Japan shuddered and drove away the thoughts of it quickly, turning to greet Ukraine instead.
He settled back down afterwards, returning to his thoughts with a soft internal sigh. He was sure to Germany that the plan had seemed good at the time but Japan was more doubtful.
The nations were being seated alphabetically. Alphabetic by the Romanic alphabet at that matter meaning that Japan had flustered over where his seat was for a moment. He supposed it was only naturally though as Germany had decided upon the rule and the Romanic alphabet was known quite well throughout the world.
The nations continued to flit in, Austria, Hungary, the Nordics, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
Germany of course arrived promptly at 2:00 with Italy in tow. Italy gave Germany a broad smile and affectionate kiss on the cheek before slipping into the seat next to Japan babbling his thanks at how they were seated next to each other. Japan smiled back and returned Italy's handshake also thankful that he got to sit next to a friend.
Germany sat down in his seat not too far from them and started shuffling his papers. Japan could tell that he was already irritated that not everyone was there on time but it happened every time so he really should expect it to happen.
More and more late comers slipped into the meeting hall and took their seats until only a few were left.
Greece slipped in just as Japan was trying to figure out who they were waiting for. Japan gave a polite smile and greeted him and decided not to question the cat on his head. Although he did wonder if Greece was even aware the cat was there.
Next to happen was yelling outside the door as Prussia tried to join the meeting. The humans were trying to reason with him but in the end a quiet cold nation took hold of Prussia's sleeve and told the humans that Prussia was his guest for this meeting. (what was his name again? Ca-something right?)
Only a couple of chairs were empty now, the big one close to the top of the table waiting for America. The meeting was in America but even so his lateness wasn't exactly unusual even so Japan considered dubiously.
Then there was one more chair down next to Ukraine and Japan tried to work out who it belonged to. Which other nations had a name beginning with U?
England appeared through the door and Japan smiled to greet him as well. The lateness wasn't that much of an issue, without everyone there the nations were happy to chat and discuss amongst themselves, some in such deep discussions Japan doubted they even noticed England's arrival.
"England, it's good to see you, I trust you are well?" Japan greeted and England paused in fluster as he headed past Japan and stopped.
"Ah, yes, very well Japan, you too I hope? Terribly sorry for being late, my flight was delayed." England answered, almost distracted Japan noticed as England reached up in an attempt to flatten his hair and make it neat.
"I'm very well too England and I'm glad you are, remember Germany's plan though? Therefore you're seat must be-" Japan craned his neck to look up the table but there was no gap left in the 'E' section.
"Ah, yes, I'm just on my way to take my seat by Ukraine, I represent the whole of the United Kingdom in these things because my brothers refuse to turn up. If you wanted to talk about something though?" England answers and Japan gives a nod of understanding happy to have realised who the seat belonged to.
"No, I don't believe I have anything I need to discuss business wise, but if you ever do want to visit for tea please feel welcome." Japan offered.
England smiled one of those rare smiles that Japan feel privileged as a friend of England to receive. "That would be lovely Japan, you must come to visit me too, the roses will be blooming beautifully in a few weeks."
"I shall arrange it then," Japan answered with a bow of his head. England ducked his in return and hurried onto his seat after a glare from Germany reminded the two nations that they were at a meeting.
They didn't actually have to wait to much longer for America to arrive. He burst through the double doors in dramatic fashion with a broad grin in a smart suit that must have been new because America had never really got the hang of ironing so creases were pretty common.
Germany sighed but at least looked pleased to have everyone there and ready to start the meeting.
America carried on into the room, long steps that gave Japan the distinct impression that America was trying to show off to somebody. Did he want to borrow money from somebody again?
But in the end America strode straight past the seat at the top of the table and waltzed down to the end. Where of course he found no chair.
"Come on guys! You can't be so mean as to hide the chair of the United States can you?" America whined and stuck his head under the table as though he thought the chair was hiding beneath.
"Why don't you just go and bloody fetch your chair instead of whining about." England grumbled from next to where America was stood.
Japan watched the two in curiosity, a calm expression on the outside but his mind was working fast as he watched something that looked… staged.
America grumbled right back and the two exchanged a series of quips and insults as America dragged his chair over and tucked himself in next to England. Right next to England because there was only just room for the chair between the other two.
There seemed to be a general air of intrigue as to the happening because really, when would Alfred ever give up the opportunity to be at the head of the table.
But Germany started talking and most of the nations were distracted.
All except Japan that was.
For once instead of politely listening like he always did to Germany's speech he watched England and America down the far end of the table.
At a glance there didn't seem to be anything too unusual. America was having fun trying to draw with his left hand and England was resolutely paying attention to the speech. That happened nearly all the time, America must have been an expert at drawing with his left hand by now.
Yet Japan still found something odd about this scene and he couldn't quite place what it was, it wasn't like they were doing anything different. At some point America would give up the drawing and poke England with a comment about his eyebrows or his cooking. Oh…
So that was it. Even before Germany implemented this rule hadn't England and America always sat next to each other? Japan thought back and realised he couldn't place a time when they hadn't been sat there together.
Although was that odd? Before Germany's rule the countries had formed a hierarchy of the table with some of the most influential nations sitting at the top of the table. Japan had been privileged enough to sit up there himself. Naturally England and America had been there as well. They'd all settled into their seats and often chose the same ones so really it wasn't that odd was it?
It still bothered him though. He felt like he should be seeing something that was so obvious but that he was missing it.
So he watched. Intensely. He almost expected to be noticed but England and America were almost pointedly keeping their eyes fixed in one direction. England at the speaker and America at his doodles. And then, then, after what must have been an hour of observation Japan caught it.
A bored America shifted back casually leaning back his head and… whispering something in England's ear. And England turned pink. Japan was sure of it. As sure of the fact as the fact that he really, really wished he had his camera right now.
He was almost certain of it now, it had been so obvious that he should have noticed it easily. The way they threw insults, yet it nether seemed to upset the other, America's new suit and his attitude to impress, England and his flusters over his appearance, why America always doodled with his left hand…
Japan nudged his elbow backwards and accidently-on-purpose knocked his pen off the table. He murmured an excuse me and ducked under the table and smiled at his find.
America and England were holding hands.
Back again with something a bit different this time :) Although only really because they're counties this time, they're still the same old adorable dorks. This is something I've been meaning to write for ages... as in ever since I realised that the 'United' part of both their names means that they're together when you sort them alphabetically :)
These drabbles are also progressively getting longer? Is that a good sign? Sorry it trailed off at the beginning though (a thousand words before America appears in a USUK one shot ridiculous isn't it?) But I wanted to explore the nature of their relationship from someone else's view, which happened to be Japan. For who knows what reason. (As for the long and mostly pointless conversation between England and Japan I'm not really sure where that came from - it just happened. Maybe because I also ship IggyPan? Although most of the time I just like their friendship dynamic? I'm digressing.)
Anyway I hope you like this one :) It's definitely my favourite so far! - Sekaira
ScorpetoRoses - Prompts would be an amazing help thanks, from anyone in fact, this is perhaps the biggest writing project I've ever tried to undertake so I don't really want to run out of things to write about. (As a thanks in advance I slipped in some PruCan for you!)
Magpiebee - Thanks for reviewing every chapter so far I seem unable to write Alfred as anything other than a dork but I'm okay with that because it still gets his character across, I hope you like this one too!
Foxessive (guest) - Thank you! I'm really glad you like it :)
