Title: What You Have
Pairings/Characters: England, Hong Kong, mentions of China
Rating: PG
"Yeah, yeah, yeah…I'm COMING!" Hong Kong could hear the loud country yell from inside the house.
I think I now understand why England doesn't enjoy coming over here very much.
"Who is it?" the tall blond asked from behind the door. "England?"
"N-no, It's me; Hong Kong…I just wanted to talk to you abou-"
"HEY! Hong Kong!" The American half yelled as he ripped open the rest of the door with a smile that reached both sides of his face. "Haven't seen you in a while, eh?"
"Yes, I's been a while….eh?" He replied, confused by America's accent.
"Er..my bad. Sorry, been hanging with Canada 'fer too long I guess." The bright blond nation shrugged as he held the door open wide for Hong Kong to step in.
America gave him another big smile as he shut the door behind them, welcoming the younger nation inside. "Well…I know it's not much, but this is it!" He said proudly as he led Hong Kong into what he supposed was the main sitting room.
"It's nice." The younger nation said politely. In truth, he didn't really favor America's house. It was smaller than England's, and not nearly as elegant. It was full of posters that had odd bands and super heroes on them that Hong Kong was not familiar with. "It fits you."
Alfred smiled and ruffled up the other man's hair, "No need to be so formal, Kid! Heck, I know it's not what you're used too compared to Iggy's place!"
He quickly nodded and followed America into the kitchen, where he was offered a seat while Alfred went to get them both drinks, "Er…Mr. America?" Hong Kong asked. "England-er… I was told that you could-"
"Wait, wait, wait, wait…Mr. America?" Alfred laughed. "Really, kid; so formal! Just Alfred will do for now. Alfie, if you want."
"Ah…ok then, Alfred." He felt his face grow pink as he asked again. "Mr. England wanted me ask you about…er…becoming my own nation?"
America literally dropped everything he was doing at that sentence. Hence, two full cans of Coke hit the hard floor; one bursting open sending a spray of soda across the bottom of the wall while the older nation stood in shock.
"Y-your own nation…?" He said in a much lower voice than he had greeted Hong Kong with just a few minutes ago. "England? H-he asked…"
"I-I apologize if I come off as rude, America. Mr. England just said that if there was anyone out there who'd know, it'd be you."
Alfred was able to quickly shake off the surprise and bend down to pick up the cans of soda; setting the full one on the table for Hong Kong while he went behind the corner to dispose of the other one.
"Your own nation, huh?" He said breathed more calmly. "Ah…wow."
Hong Kong wasn't sure whether or not to excuse himself and regret ever coming or really ask Alfred what it was he did to become...his own?
"Well…" He sighed, a spark of sarcasm slipping out without him noticing. "While I am the one you should'a came to first…I sure am surprised that Iggy actually told you…"
"America…? Please don't feel pressured to answer this, but how, exactly; did you become a free nation?"
Alfred gave a hearty laugh and sat back down at the table, "That's quite the story we've got there. Well, Arthur's pretty touchy on this stuff, but I'll give it to ya straight."
Hong Kong gulped and nodded. Could it really be that bad?
"Well…" He sighed. "I started out just about where you are now, maybe a little younger, but just as excited. England and I joked around often, saying that I'd someday be an ever stronger nation than he was someday. But he only thought of it as some far off dream, while I really thought of it as some type of a goal."
America interrupted himself with a quick laugh, "Man…back in those days, England and I, we were pretty tight." He sniffed softly, "When I look back at it all, it just makes me wonder…where did all the days go?"
That's exactly what Mr. Kirkland always said.
A few moments of silence was all it took to pull him back into the story, "But anyways… eventually England and I had to part. We couldn't spend all our time together…even if he was only a lake away; he still had his own people to take care of, and I was learning so many new things…just from being alone. It shouldn't have surprised him as much as he did when he returned; I had grown up in the wilderness of myself…of course I wouldn't stay small forever."
After that, America began to rant to the point of which he would bang his fist on the table whenever he spoke of such the time when Mr. England had done something as he called 'lame' or an 'epic fail'. I seemed to have zoned out of the story until he drew me back in again, several minutes later, with the words "And then there was that night…that cold, dark, stormy night."
"It rains a lot here…don't get me wrong, but the rain wasn't much of a surprise." Alfred said suddenly, putting his hand up when he noticed Hong Kong's sudden attention. "It just sort of…fit the mood." He mumbled.
"Me and er…England and I had been arguing a lot before that day. He would come over and only a few minutes later he would storm out of the house, ranting about how I was such 'an unappreciative little twat'. I hated the looks he gave me…no, not looks…look. He always, always gave me this one look that would just kill me." He breathed, the conversation growing much deeper than Hong Kong had ever planned. "And after that…well, you know."
Mr. Kirkland had always refused to bring up details of that night too. Even though these two completely opposite nations may have a different view on pretty much everything, they still both seem to have some form of deep respect for that day. Not that I, a complete stranger, have any right to say…but theses two really are a lot closer than they think.
"Well…lucky you." America waved his hand lightly, blowing the conversation off with the wind. "It's not like you'll have to worry about any of that; being transferred back to Yao and all."
"What?" Hong Kong suddenly asked, jumping out of his chair with his hands on the table.
"Opps." Alfred said softly, covering his mouth as he had just ruined 'the big secret'.
"What do you mean?" The younger nation gulped." "What do you mean by being…transferred?"
The other man gave a long sigh and set down his drink as he also stood up from his seat. "Hong Kong…" He spoke with gentle words, "Listen to me, it's really nothing to get worked up about. I-I wasn't supposed to…well…let it slip…yet, but-"
"YET?" The Asian nearly yelled, his voice beginning to shake in both fear and anger.
Alfred set his hand on the nation's shoulder, giving himself a serious feel that quickly shut off Hong Kong's yells.
"But, you don't understand. It…it hasn't all been decided yet. There are still plenty of forms and complications we have to work out…and on top of all that, Russia has decided to-"
"Stop!" He cut in, his voice beginning to shake. "W-what do you even mean? America…what do you mean by…transferred?"
Alfred sighed softly and let his hand fall from the other man's shoulder, the smile that was usually plastered across has face had left before the moment had even began. "Hong Kong," The first time Hong Kong had actually shivered at the sound of his name. "You are going back home…to China."
For the first time in a long time…Hong Kong felt as if there was nothing he could say.
I'm being transferred back? To…China? But…how? H-how is that even possible? I mean, how can I just go back? I've been living with Mr. Kirkland for so long…is it even right to call Asia my 'home'?
"This whole thing isn't all set in stone. The meeting today, I'm guessing Iggy's there too, is about…this." America looked back at Hong Kong. He had also run out of words. What was he supposed to say? "Dammit…a hero's supposed to know how to handle these kinda things." He thought to himself.
"I-I'm sorry, kid." He whispered. "I had wondered why you had come over today asking about independence…. I guess I should've realized that you hadn't been told about the deal."
"The deal…?"
"He never told you about that either, huh?" Hong Kong guessed 'he' was supposed to be England. Alfred cleared his throat and settled down in his chair. "Go ahead and sit back down, Hong Kong." He said shortly.
"I need to explain some things."
Hong Kong's supposed to be more of a serious character but there never were any restrictions on his social skills other than down-bringing his aniki, so it was hard to tone down the emotions on him. As always, please read and review - this story will have around six chapters for those wondering. Thanks!