Oops! Turns out I was wrong about there being ketchup packets ^^' Thanks to nickyroxs21 for telling me :3
And I'd also like to thank xNeve for letting me know about some typos I had! It bothers me when I spell wrong...
This chapter contains scenes from the Valentine's Day strips, and human names. I threw China back in too XD And I made a mistake in his dialogue on purpose, because I've noticed my parents make it…
I do not own anything from Hetalia!
XOXO
The very next morning, America ordered his troops to pull out of camp. As America was preparing to set out, a puzzled officer approached.
"Sir? Why are you leaving right now?" he asked. America, just as petulant as before, fixed a glare on the officer.
"Britain didn't give me anything yesterday! No chocolate, candy, or even a card! What a jerk!" America complained. He angrily resumed what he had been doing earlier.
"I-I understand, sir," the officer lied. He felt more confused than ever, but he supposed he had better report this odd explanation to Britain. The man rushed off to find the other country.
"Britain, have you spoken with America this morning? He has a rather intimidating aura," China informed. "Do you have idea about what's wrong? For some reason, it seems his anger is directed at you."
"As a matter of fact, I haven't. How is it that I should know what's eating him?" Britain replied impatiently. "Sure, he had behaved rather strangely yesterday, but even so, he seemed fine." China frowned and shrugged.
"Yes, he actually did look happy yesterday," China admitted. The whole fiasco had flown out of his grasp, and he looked skywards, as if trying in vain to follow it.
The officer who had spoken with America came running up to the two.
"Sirs! The American forces have pulled back!" he reported. The two countries whirled around in shock.
"What? At a crucial time like this? That idiot!" Britain was the first to respond. "What was he thinking?" The officer shuffled nervously.
"W-well, he was grumbling something about Britain not giving him any chocolates…" he explained. Britain's face fell. 'Really? Could he come up with any worse reason?'
"Aiya, I'll never understand you Western countries!" China said, throwing his hands up. He put a hand to his face and frowned in consternation. Britain sighed heavily.
"I'll go sort this out, then," Britain told them. He parted from the group and hurried back to his tent.
"That bloody fool! If he wanted chocolate so badly, then he should have kept that flipping bar for himself," he grumbled. "At least chocolate arrived in the supplies I received several days ago. Otherwise, that idiot would be a lost cause!"
XOXO
"Alright, men, we can stop and take a break here," America ordered. He stopped his jeep and cut the engine. After that, America sat back and brooded. Yesterday had been such a let down!
"I know!" he suddenly exclaimed. Some cheer had returned to his voice. "I've got just the thing that'll make me feel better!" He reached over into the backseat, fishing around until he came up with a bag holding a bunch of chocolate bars.
"It's a good thing I brought extra chocolate for Valentine's! You never know when it'll come in handy," he remarked. America settled into the seat and tore open a package. Taking a super-sized bite, he smiled and munched on it vivaciously. The young country failed to notice someone walk up from behind the vehicle.
"H-hey, America… About that chocolate you wanted, I…" the person called. America turned to face him.
"What about chocolate?" he asked with his mouth full, coming face to face with Britain. The older country stopped in his tracks, chocolate ready in his hand. He just stared at America, who chewed noisily while looking back curiously.
"Y-y-you… You selfish pig!" Britain roared after he had gathered his thoughts. "I can't believe you'd abandon everyone in a war over bloody chocolate when you already have a load of it!"
"B-Britain?" America was stunned. What had he done now?
"You git! You're the least responsible country I've ever met! I hadn't raised you to become so disreputable!" Britain ranted. He waved his arms about wildly as he shouted.
"Wait a sec-"
"You flipping Americans have no sense of restraint," he continued, not giving America any chance to speak.
"Hold on. Britain-"
"You've no proper definition of propriety-"
"Arthur!" America hollered. Both countries were irate at that moment, but Britain stopped shouting. "Look, Britain, I was really angry before."
"Why? You'd better have a good reason prepared," Britain warned.
"Yesterday, you didn't give me anything for Valentine's Day, and you kept brushing me off and treating me like a kid!" Alfred expressed soulfully. "Well I'm not one anymore! I thought we went over this during the Revolution, unless you'd forgotten!"Arthur flinched visibly. That war had to be his least favorite of them all.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked tersely.
"Well obviously, you don't care one cent about me. You don't even see me as a friend!" Alfred pouted. He crossed his arms and turned away.
"Hey, hey, of course I care!" Arthur assured him. He walked around to the other side of the car and climbed into the passenger's seat. Alfred turned away and tried to exit from his side, but Arthur stopped him. Alfred shook the other country's hand away, but stayed, opting instead to stare stonily in the other direction.
"America, does the simple exchange of cards and sweets really mean so much to you?" Arthur asked quietly.
"Well, in my country, Valentine's Day is celebrated by friends and couples alike. I keep sending valentines to you, but you never send me anything!" Alfred said. He put his feet up on his seat and hugged his knees. "I kept reasoning that you couldn't figure out who kept sending stuff from overseas, or were too busy to think of me… but for once, we were in the same place on Valentine's Day, and nothing happened!" Both sat in stiff silence after that.
"I knew it was you," Arthur admitted, breaking the silence. "Every time, for all of those years."
"Then why didn't you answer back or anything?" Alfred asked agitatedly. "Did you think they were stupid too?"
"N-no, I…" Arthur trailed off. He realized that he had failed to return such simple gestures. No wonder America felt so rejected. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was hurting you by not doing anything in return. Will you forgive me, Alfred?" Alfred looked up quickly in response to his other name. Arthur rarely ever used it and his voice was soft, without any of the patronizing tone that usually accompanied it.
Large green eyes sadly looked back at Alfred. Arthur felt afraid. Would America push him away again? He was making the same mistake over and over again, and nearly everyone he had ever cared for had left him for it.
"… Just think back to the Revolution for a moment. I left you because you stopped listening to me… You only paid me any mind when you wanted something from me," Alfred muttered. Britain did not answer.
"Even after all these years, you're still doing it to me, British Empire." The smaller nation tightened his hand around the door handle, unsure if he could listen any longer.
"But even so, I still want us to do stuff together," Alfred finished.
"Alfred…?" America pressed his forehead against the wheel, eyes squeezed shut.
"I shouldn't want to have anything to do with you, but I do!" he shouted, voice cracking. "… I remember the way you treated me when I was little… and I want things to go back to how they were. Th-that's why I always act like a god-forsaken child around you!" He paused and sighed, voice dropping back to a near-whisper.
"Tell it to me straight, Arthur, do I sound like a pathetic old man to you? Have I become one?" Arthur was at a complete loss.
"N-now, Alfred, tears are unbeco- oh, never mind!" he quit trying to deal with it in any of the ways he would have before. Arthur wrapped his arms around his former brother's shoulders and let Alfred's head rest on his chest. He would put aside his reservations, just for the moment.
"There, there, you may let it all out. I'm here now, and I don't think your motives are silly at all," he soothed. Alfred just buried his face in his older brother's jacket, too jumbled with embarrassment and relief for anything else.
"And when you're ready, we'll head back to camp. Then we can work on your penmanship skills over tea," Arthur told him. Alfred chuckled quietly, shaking his head.
"I'm gonna have to say 'no' to tea and writing lessons, but I'd love to chat while I have coffee."
"Now see here! When did you start disliking tea? You used to love it!" Arthur protested. Alfred looked up with a cheeky grin. His face was slightly puffy. "Boston Tea Party, dude." Arthur scowled, while Alfred laughed brightly and freely.
XOXO
February 1946
Home after a long work day, America leisurely opened his mailbox. A smallish stack of mail greeted him, as usual. America liked to use the telephone for quicker communication, and ever since, the need for written letters had dwindled. He flipped through the letters, magazines and fliers on the way to his front door. Nothing stood out from the mail…
"Hey? What's this?" he asked, looking down. A package had been left on his porch. America set down everything he was holding and picked up the box to examine it. His pulse picked up when he saw that it was sent from London, England.
"From: Arthur Kirkland," Alfred read aloud to himself. He couldn't help but hug the package to his chest.
"Thanks, Arthur…" he whispered.
End.
XOXO
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the story X3 I had fun writing it out :D
So thank you for reading it 3 Happy Valentine's Day!