--vegetative state-- I must have premature arthritis because it is not natural for a person of my age to have all of her joints hurting. Maybe it's just the fact it's been below 0 wind chill the past few days where I live but then again, isn't that also an old person thing? Sigh, anyway, here's another chapter! Sorry it took me awhile.
-----
And Nowhere
"Hey, Madd." Gilbert greeted as he walked into the house, unannounced. It had been a few months and Matthew was still getting used to this sort of thing. Apparently, if you were Gilbert's friend this gave him every right to come in without knocking even if something important was happening. He could be having wild sex in his kitchen and Gilbert would still walk in as if nothing was wrong with it. That thought made the blonde blush now that he thought about it, but it was still valid.
"Yo, Gil." He turned to look at the clock as he continued to sweep. "It's too late for breakfast and I'm not in the mood for wurst yet, what are you doing here?"
"Westen kickt me oud of de haus. He's making me buy dis haus in eastern Berlin, I'm schtaying hier undil de sale ist finalizt."
"Alright, enough of your stuff is here anyway. Bringing anything else?"
"Noh, Westen ist schipping it direcdly to de haus." Gilbert sighed and mussed his hair, closing the door behind him as he slipped his large coat off. As Matthew watched him, he noted that the man needed a scarf, finally he had some idea of what to get the man for Christmas. Maybe he would get a book on knitting or something in the next few weeks.
"I see, want beer yet?" If Gilbert wasn't coming for pancakes before noon, he always wanted beer. Something about it prepping the taste buds for "fine German foot". Usually this would be wurst, one of the only things Canada knew for a fact to be safe to let Prussia cook by himself.
"Ja, I cahn'd belief Westen acdually kickt me oud…" Matthew shrugged, really not understanding his confusion, he loved being independent from his parents, Alfred did too. Even if when he became such he hurt their mother nation. They forgave each other of course. He extricated a beer from the fridge and tossed it over his shoulder as he felt Gilbert come up behind him. "Danke schön." The hiss of the can opening met his ears.
"Welcome." Matthew brought out a can of cola for himself too before closing the refrigerator and going back to cleaning.
"Vhy do you vear dat kerchief?" Gilbert took a sip from his beer and the Canadian put his can of cola on the counter.
"I'm cleaning, it keeps my hair out of the way."
"Nod dis von." His thumb and forefinger closed on the single free hair.
"Ah! S-St-Stop that! Eh! Leggo!"
"Kesesesese. Und if I don'd?" Canada ground his teeth against the unwanted pleasure, making a small noise and reaching into his pocket. Prussia pulled the hair lightly and caressed it with his fingers again, eliciting a moan and a frustrated noise with reddening face. "Kesesese."
"This!" A hockey stick struck into Prussia's side, the man released his hair and stumbled back.
"Oof! Fuck, Canada!" Blade to the face. "Ow! Really!" The Canadian held the stick at the ready still, huffing as he tried to calm himself down, the other part was sheer frustration.
"Sorry yet?"
"Nefer!" Gilbert stuck his gloved thumb into the open hole of his beer can and shook it, spraying its contents on Matthew a moment later.
"Agh! Gilbert!" His friend sputtered as he wiped beer from his face. "I've been cleaning all morning!"
"Making sure you don'd ged bort." He said with a smirk.
"First, you appear without warning, saying you're going to live here for a few days, without asking me prior, then you sexually harass me! Now you're making me clean up a mess you made! Nuh-uh! In the words of Alfred, 'I ain't doin' it'!" Matthew stomped over to his mop and shoved it into Prussia's hands.
"Hey n-"
"Clean. It. Up." For someone so small, he could be kind of scary, Gilbert only glared back.
"You hid me vid a damn hockey schtick! I von'd do it!" Matthew dead panned at his statement. Then, totally disregarded him, leaving the kitchen without word. This left Gilbert to stand, staring after him, mop in his hand in the middle of the kitchen. "Vell… I guess a liddle vork couldn't hurd."
"Thank you, Gil!" Matthew cheerily called from just beyond the kitchen doorway. He poked his head back into the kitchen, a grin bright as the sun on his round face.
"Gah! G-Goh avay! Change your clodes!" He'd been tricked! Dammit!
"Alright! Thanks again!" The suddenly cheerful blonde scampered off and up the stairs.
Why in Hell are you blushing?! That's not manly! "Fuck, I'm becoming a damn pansy I dink…"
"Not bad." Matthew said he surveyed the spotless kitchen. "Really, I'm impressed."
"Vhy voultn'd you be? Vhat's my name avder ahll?" The smaller nation rolled his eyes, a smile blossoming over his face.
"Prussia the Awesome Conqueror of All Vital Regions. Though, that pertains more to your sexual prowess than anything else."
"De reason vhy 'Prussia de Awesome' ist de prefix to de resd of my tidle"
"Not to get nitpicky or anything, then that would mean that you would not be an awesome conqueror, just a conqueror. Because there would be a comma after 'Prussia the Awesome'."
"Schtop using vorts und jus agree vid me!"
"Whatever you say." Matthew shook his head, a smile still on his face.
"Ahre you going to help me mofe aht ahll?" Usually Prussia didn't ask these things and just immediately assumed Matthew would help him. Either a positive or a negative answer, Matthew would still end up helping in the end. How sweet of Gilbert to actually make it seem like he had a choice.
"Sure am, you're my best friend, Gil. Why wouldn't I help?"
"Vell, you're soh small for von."
"Hm, as I recall, I carried you those years ago."
"Chih, dat vas following a var. Tvendy years of complacency coult hev mate you veak." The young blonde only laughed at him.
"First off, the war was over for forty years by that point, second, you, Gilbert, are the only one among us that has to worry about that. The rest of us remain strong regardless. Did you seriously think that Alfred of all people actually worked out?"
"You mighd hev a poind…" The albino conceded, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Anyvay, it'll be final in aboud two days."
"I see. Well, do you actually want to sit and watch television now?" Gilbert laughed and pounded Matthew on the back a few times.
"Sure, sounts like a plan." his eyes drifted up to the clock to check time. "Hm, on secont doughd, you goh sid down, I'm going to make some wurst."
"Sure." Matthew patted his back, feeling the overwhelming urge to do something more as Gilbert looked down at him with a smile. Not figuring this out in time before the contact became awkward, he left the kitchen, taking the soda he had sat out earlier with him.
Sitting down in the adjacent room and turning the television on, Matthew quickly forgot the strange feeling that came over him while in the kitchen. It had probably been nothing anyway.
The smells of cooking wurst and a pleasantly humming Prussian mixed pleasingly in the background as Matthew pulled a blanket over himself to watch the news. This was becoming such a normal occurrence it no longer felt awkward to have the man in the kitchen cooking while he relaxed. At least, it wasn't odd during lunch. Breakfast was always cooked by Matthew, the albino would show up most mornings around six-thirty or so to get his pancake fix, then he would stay around until lunch where he would cook the two of them wurst. If he didn't feel up to spending the rest of the day at the house, he would leave once he finished eating, always saying he would be back later. Most nights he did come back, usually around eleven or so and completely smashed. The nights he did return totally sober were nice nights because it meant that he could escape the man's usual sexual harassment and drunken jokes. He also tended to be quite violent if he didn't get his way, he had to knock the advancing man out once with one of his sticks a few weeks ago. The nights he didn't come back? It was really quite lonely. Some days, Prussia didn't show up at all and he was just left with Kumajirou. He supposed those days were nice in some way though, it meant that he could get real work done and it would be alright for Cuba or America to come for a visit. If they remembered to…
"Hey it's Spain…" Canada tipped his head to the side, his boss was talking about something pertaining to North and South Italy as he stood in the background. A frown started to crease his forehead when he realized the two… Three? He paused in his thoughts since three people total were involved where only two nations as a whole were… Either way, there were tensions between Spain and the entire nation of Italy. France's boss was there too, Francis himself didn't seem to be present at the moment, though. Canada had a bad feeling about this whole thing, he sincerely hoped things cooled down and quick. If this escalated into a battle between Italy and Spain… Germany would jump in to help Italy, Gilbert would help him in what way he could, France would most likely side with Spain because Germany would be defending Italy… England, being himself, would side with Germany, with England there, America would most likely join, then he would attempt to drag Canada in, maybe Japan too… It would practically be World War Three…. Practically, hopefully Russia and China would stay out of it. "Stupid people…" As a generalization, Matthew loved humans, he loved his citizens, his boss was okay too, but it seemed as though they never fully considered what could happen if they stirred up trouble. Did they never consider things from a nation's point of view? Did they even ever listen to the person they had been given to control when they advised them? What good were they if their bosses never listened?
"Hey! I'fe god lunch!" The white-haired man announced, walking into the room with two plates in hand. Jumping, Matthew quickly changed the channel to something else, local news wasn't as intense.
"Thanks." He took the plate from Gilbert, a smile on his face. They each skewered a piece of wurst at the same time, but where Gilbert snarfed the piece, Matthew daintily nibbled at it.
"You're such a voman." Gilbert commented upon observing the small Canadian's eating style.
"W-What?!" His counterpart replied, outrage beginning to leak into his eyes. He only laughed, poking the blonde in the side of the head as a "kesesese" slid from his lips. "You take that back."
"Kesesese, vhy? I vas only schtading facd." This was followed up by more of his sly laughter. Canada narrowed his eyes, his grip on the fork in his right hand tightening.
"Because you're making me angry."
"Oh, soh I von'd like you vhen you're angry? Eh, Bruce Banner?"
"Well, most people don't like me when I'm angry… I make Alfred cry…" The blonde replied sheepishly, calming himself slightly with the notion that Gilbert was always only ever joking. It was immature to get mad at him over a comment so stupid. His inane comic book reference made him feel even stupider for getting irritated at him, when it came to people like him, it was best not to react. He chose to finish the piece of wurst on the end of his fork and stick a new one.
Gilbert blew a raspberry before answering. "Anyvon coult make dat pansy cry. Besites, I cahn'd see vhy people voultn'd. You're soh cude vhen you're angry." Gilbert threw his arm across the boy's shoulder and smirked as he put them nose to nose. The desired affect was achieved as Canada sputtered nervously, his face turning red.
"G-Get away from me you pedophile!" Matthew yelled, smacking Prussia's face away from his. The albino only laughed, his whole body shaking with the hilarity of it all.
"Pedophile? Ve ahre bode adulds hier mein freund!"
"Y-yes, but I'm 142, eh! Y-you're in your 800s!" Canada sputtered again as Gilbert's laughter intensified. "Th-That's like an eighty-year-old molesting the fourteen-year-old down the street!"
"Soh, vhat you're saying ist dat you're a young und impressionaple firgin, ja?" At this, a high-pitched, angry noise spewed from Matthew's throat as he shoved the ex-nation backwards and over the arm of the couch.
"Just learn when to shut up some time Prussia! Eh!" As he lay there, sprawled out on the floor, a plate full of wurst on his face, the red-eyed man really couldn't resist chuckling.
"Kesesesese, eh?" His laughter only got louder as Matthew made another of his very un-manly noises.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" By now the blonde was long the color of a candied beet. Prussia gripped his stomach against his tiring muscles, unable to stop his laughter. "Urgh! I hate you!" Carefully repositioning the plate on his face to reveal a red eye, he smirked up at the frustrated man.
"You're soh cude."
"Giiilbeeert!!" Matthew whined now, hoping to get the joking man to stop as he buried his face in the couch.
"Kesesese, alrighd, alrighd. I schtill dink you're a voman dough."
"No pancakes tomorrow."
"Fuck."
---
December twenty-fourth, Christmas eve, Canada handed a green and red-wrapped box to the albino standing on his doorstep. The snow outside was already very deep and since Prussia had actually knocked, it was obvious he had somewhere to be. Looking slightly surprised by the gift, Gilbert opened it then and there.
"A scarf?"
"I knitted it myself…" Canada explained, feeling slightly self-conscious.
"Pansy."
"You're welcome."
"I god to goh, Westen's pardy ist tonighd aht Japan's dis year. Hier ist your gifd." Gilbert leaned over and picked something up that was hiding just beyond Matthew's front door frame. He held out a giant, bright red poinsettia as he wrapped the great, grey scarf about his neck. Matthew accepted the present and smiled at it. Really it was clear the albino very rarely bought serious Christmas presents for people, but whatever, it wasn't as if he commonly got presents, anything at all was a Christmas miracle.
"Thank you Gil, it's beautiful."
"Of course it ist. I boughd it avder ahll." Matthew snorted with good humor.
"Merry Christmas."
"Merry Chrisdmas to you too. See you…." Prussia paused, thinking something through, he appeared to be counting something. "I'll see you in… Dree days."
"Why three?"
"I von't efen know vhere I am for de nexd two und de oder, I vill provaply be detaint vhile Westen decites vheder or nod to bail me oud."
"Oh…"
"Ja, same drill ef'ry year."
"Well, hopefully I'll see you in three days then."
"Same to you. See ya."
Once Gilbert was gone, Matthew retreated into his television room and turned the world news back on. He had been following the tensions between Italy and Spain for the last month and he wasn't liking where it was going. Every time he tried to bring it up with anyone they always found some way to change the subject. They all knew what was coming and they all were desperately trying to ignore it. He sighed as he noticed Romano angrily yelling at Spain in the background.
"Merry Christmas, world."
---
December thirty-first, 11:59 PM. New years was always a big deal with the nations, unlike with Christmas parties where only close friends got together, everyone went to the world conference room to celebrate the coming year. A room full of drunk, raucous men was always a hoot, especially when there were only a few women around to calm anyone down. It was always funny to see Russia trying to get away from his little sister and it was adorable to watch Austria and Hungary sit together, hand-in-hand as they watched the craziness unfold.
"Germany! Germany! Happy new year!" Italy slammed himself into to the German in sheer joy, causing the larger to take a step back.
"Heppy new year Italy." Germany calmly replied as he peeled Feliciano off his front. "Vhat ist your new year's resolution?"
"Silly, you're not supposed to tell people. If you do, then they will never come true!" Really he was weaseling out of telling Germany that he was finally going to tell him that he loved him that year. This resolution was not going to come true.
"I doughd dat vas only schooding schtars."
"Remember the last time I made a wish on one, though? I told you and it came true!" Oh, Ludwig remembered alright, he ground the heel his hand against his forehead, maybe he shouldn't have asked that star for so many impossible things.
"Yo, heppy new year." Prussia greeted, walking over to the two it was a miracle within itself that he wasn't smashed yet. "You scheen Canada?" That slur in his voice meant that he had at least been drinking if not heavily.
"Who?" Both nations replied in stereo.
"Gah, you sount like his damnt bear." He downed another beer and tossed the bottle over his shoulder, it landed in a garbage can. All those times he claimed to have bad aim! Ludwig swore to crack down on his ass about it later. "You know, blonde, looks like America bud ain'd him? Carries dis bear vid him ef'ryvhere he goes? Acds like a voman sometimes…" Gilbert provided, hoping to ring some bells.
Italy only shrugged and Germany seemed pensive, the name sounded familiar… Why did it sound familiar? Oh!
"Noh, sorry, heven'd, ist he efen hier?"
"I doughd I saw him earlier. Bud maype I vas wrong."
"Get away from me you asshole!" Everyone in the room turned towards the ruckus. Romano had just thrown a chair as Spain.
"But Lovi I love you! I swear that I have nothing to-"
"Shut up!" A bottle of beer sailed across the room and very nearly hit Spain's forehead. "Try talking to your goddamn boss! Maybe then I'll fucking believe you!"
"Lovi wait!" Romano stormed from the room, Feliciano only whined and gave chase to the man as Spain stood and watched them leave. A pained frown adorned his face before he turned and went to sulk in a corner somewhere in the room. The blonde France went to join him, hopefully console him. England was nowhere to be seen, which was unusual since the two had made nice again not too long ago. Perhaps they were off once again. The cycle of their relationship changed so much no one could ever keep track anymore.
"Vhat vas dat ahll aboud?" Gilbert asked Ludwig, who only sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"De vorlt ist going crazy again."
"Fuck."
---
January first, Gilbert stormed Matthew's house, outraged that the man had not been at the new year's party last night.
"In the kitchen!" The small man's voice called from the indicated room, he already knew who it was after all.
"Vhy veren'd you aht de pardy lasd nighd?" Canada turned around to look at his irritated visitor. Usually he would try to avoid close quarters when the man was angry, it didn't matter to Canada how close the two were, Prussia was dangerous when he was angry.
"I-I never go to new year's parties. You should know that by now, eh."
"Eh? You're mat aht me for asking?"
"N-No, I'm just sort of nervous."
"Vhy?" Gilbert advanced on the man, wondering if Matthew had done something that he was regretting.
"I have no idea what you're mad at me about."
"Oh… Kesese, I scaret you?"
"Maybe…" The albino clapped the man on the shoulder, throwing his head back in laughter.
"I von'd hurd you, bud, vhy ditn'd you goh lasd nighd?" Feeling somewhat relieved that Gilbert was in better control of his emotions than he had ever given him credit for, Matthew sighed and turned around. He didn't want the pancakes to burn after all.
"You should have gathered by now that I never go to the new year's party." He shrugged. "It's just not my thing."
"Nefer?"
"You haven't noticed my absence the past few years?"
"I vas nefer really looking for you…"
"Reason why I don't go. No one expects me to be there, no one invites me to come." The blonde shrugged again. "No reason to really go." The Prussian stared at the cooking man's back, the way he stated it as just a matter of fact… It almost made him feel sad for the boy.
"I vas looking for you dis year…"
"That's sweet of you."
"Vhy doesn't dat American baschtart efer drag you vid him? I voult dink dat he voult aht leasd try."
"No, he's too busy getting England and Japan to come."
"Vell istn'd he popular." Matthew chuckled, flipping two pancakes onto a plate. "Nefer goh to de new year's pardy, nefer goh to a Chrisdmas pardy, do you efer goh to pardies?"
"I go to America's birthday party. It's the only one I'm ever invited to." Something about that just didn't seem right, Prussia sucked on his tongue in thought, tapping his fingers on the kitchen counter, much like his little brother did. As he thought, Matthew began to cook two more pancakes.
"Okay den, I vill ged you to come to aht leasd von pardy, dat your bruder does nod drow, dis year efen if it kills me." Matthew laughed.
"I'm pretty sure even you will forget about this little promise by the end of the year."
"Soh you're saying you'll come to de new year's pardy nexd year?"
"Sure, why not?"
"Yes! I'm soh awesome I fixed de problem first ding of de year!" Laughing, Matthew flipped the pancakes in the pan.
"Your stack is done already by the way." He pointed to the six massive pancakes stacked atop one another on the adjacent plate. "Happy new year."
"Danke schön." Gilbert said with great enthusiasm, taking the plate to the table and drowning it and its contents in syrup. The blonde at the stove could only smile as his friend nearly forgot his manners as he started eating.
"Don't eat so fast, you'll choke."
"Kese! De awesome me does nod choke!" He somewhat wondered if this was what being married felt like… Or just having children.
---
"Eh, I'm not so sure about this!" Matthew tried to weasel out of Gilbert's grip as they started for the world conference hall.
"Ah c'mon rememper vaaay back in January? You sait you voult come to de new year's pardy."
"B-B-But, there will be so many people! All drinking!"
"Und none of dem 'cept me und a few oders efen know you're hier. No von vill pick a fighd vid you. Und if somevon does, jus led me know und I cahn grint dem to dusd." Yes, it had already been another year. Another year of their usual back-and-forths, pancakes for breakfast, wurst for lunch and drunken visits at night. Another year to "seal the deal that their friendship was real". As someone in the past year had put it.
"Euh, if you say so." And with that, Gilbert picked the man up and dashed inside, nearly slipping on the iced-up stairs. Stupid America.
"Mattie! When did ya decide t'come?" Alfred asked as soon as he caught sight of his little brother in the far corner of the room. No one was standing by him so he could assume that no one forced him to come.
"Oh, hi, Al." Matthew greeted as he took a sip of eggnog. "Actually, Prussia dragged me here, but I seem to have lost him in this gigantic crowd…" America stared at him for a moment in confusion, Prussia had brought him here?
"Y'mean Russia brought ya here, right?"
"Nope, I said Prussia. Gilbert Beilschmidt." The blonde shook his head disappointedly before looking back at him.
"C'mon Mattie, what did I say about that guy, huh?" In fact, Matthew remembered his exact words, verbatim.
"Hm, I believe it went somewhere along the lines of 'Oh Mattie, c'mon don't let him stay at your house! He's stupid and immature and I'm pretty sure he's insane too! Actually, if stupid were dirt he'd be an acre of the stuff'!" It really didn't help that Matthew was able to sound exactly like his brother at times.
"That was freaky, don't do that again."
"Noted, but still… He's not that bad a guy, Al. He's nice… When it suits him. He's not insane… Most of the time. And he's not stupid… Sometimes it's debatable though… He's almost exactly like you."
"Don't you ever compare me to him! He's vulgar and perverted."
"Exactly like you."
"He's loud and annoying!"
"You're that too."
"He's-He's egotistical and a troublemaker!"
"You're almost exactly the same. But lets not forget that you always think you're everyone's hero when you really don't have many friends. You are constantly stuffing your face with something, you always assume everyone knows you're thankful for them and never even consider thanking people for what they do for you. Oh wait there's more-"
"Don't you think we should do something?" France leaned in next to England's ear to whisper. The two had been standing back and watching their sons interact. It was clear by now that one of them was going to be in tears before the night was over.
"Nah, I think they're fine."
"If you say so…. Say, wanna-"
"No." England took a sip of his champagne and walked away, still very irritated that France was supporting Spain and his boss's whole asinine plan concerning Italy.
"Mon cher! You didn't even let me finish!" France cried as he gave chase to the irritated Englishman. "Je t'aime mon chéri!!"
"Shuh up ya damn frog!"
"Mathieu! How do you say it in your screwed up language?!" Canada looked away from his brother, who was now on the floor crying.
"It's not screwed up, though… It's what happens when you and England go have a love-child…."
"Well then it makes it more meaningful, how do you say it?"
"Say what?"
"I love you!"
"Oh, ch't'aime."
"Just that? Huh, I thought it would be much different…" Matthew snorted, looking away from his father as he shrugged and ran off after his mother. Sometimes he just wished the clouds would part and a bright light would make them stop fighting. But that was his father talking, his mother talking would be he wished Francis would stop acting like a total idiot.
"Voah, vhat'ja do to de man?" Gilbert commented as he looked down at the sobbing pile that was America.
"I pointed out how similar you two were. Then I just sorta ranted where you two different… I don't think he liked it very much…"
"Sounts like you hat fun" The albino laughed, slinging his arm around the Canadian's shoulder. He managed to slosh a bit of wine out of the glass he was holding and onto their clothes. Matthew frowned at him, not so happy to see that he was drunk, or just absent minded.
"I guess tonight hasn't been so bad. Where've you been?"
"Vid Westen. Italy ditn'd come dis year, neider dit Schpain or Romano. Dey're'll ahre heving a meeding dish time. I vish dish whole ding betveen dem voult calm down alreaty, I'm schtarding to ged vorriet."
I've been worried…. Matthew almost said, but it was better he said nothing and only sighed. "The world is going crazy again."
"Dat's vhat Weschten schait laschd year…"
"Well, let's hope this state of affairs, if it must, only will hold out for another year."
"Ten! Nine!" The room chorused.
"Vell, dat time of de year again, c'mon cound vid me."
"Sechs!"
"Cinq!"
"Vier!"
"Trois!"
"Zwei!"
"Un!"
"Happy new year!" Everyone cried and then started drinking again. Matthew had forgotten how fun parties actually were. Then someone popped the confetti balloon… It was as if someone had murdered a rainbow.
"Ugh, I feel like somevon murtert a flamer." Gilbert commented as the multi-colored pieces of paper rained down upon them.
"That's not a nice or wise thing to say since almost everyone in this room is gay for someone or another."
"Ach, schud up, dey're gay."
"Yeah, that's what I'm saying…"
"Pfft."
"You're gonna get yourself killed one day for that."
"Ja, ja. Vhatefer you schlay." Matthew rolled his eyes at him.
"Happy new year's anyway. Here's to 2011, may you cool off the tensions between Spain and Italy." Gilbert and he knocked beer bottle necks together and drank. Tonight hadn't been so bad after all.
---
It was March and Matthew refused to believe what had happened over in Europe. War had been declared. Tears pricked at his eyes, why was everyone being so stupid?
Spain had declared it on Italy, France was with Spain, Germany had jumped in to help Italy just as Canada had predicted.
"Soh you heart."
"Yeah, it's hard to ignore, Prussia." Matthew nervously swallowed.
"Led's hope it doesn'd ged vorse." Gilbert took a bite of Canada's pancakes, well knowing that these could be the last he would have in a long time. "Try to schtay oud of it if you cahn. Okay?"
"I'll try. I don't know what I'll do if Alfred asks me to join, though." Gilbert sighed and stood up, he hadn't even finished his pancakes yet. "You're going already?"
"Ja… I vish I ditn'd hev to. Gott, dis schucks!" He yanked at his white hair slightly. "C'mere." Looking at him speculatively, Matthew stood, brushing himself off as he did. "Since ve provaply von'd see each oder for a vhile." He pulled the man into a hug, a very tight hug.
"I'm pretty sure it won't last that long." Canada said into the crook of Prussia's neck, his chin resting on his shoulder.
"You nefer know. Dis very vell coult become Vorlt Var Dree." Arms still around each other, they backed up until they were nose to nose. Each of them feeling that they should be doing something else… Or something more perhaps. Eventually, Prussia laughed, letting his arms slack around Canada and put his hands in his pockets. "Dat vas soh gay." He took a step back.
Just to humor him, Matthew laughed, too. They seemed to have moments like that all the time now a days. Maybe this absence from each other was just what they needed.
"I neet to goh dough." The Prussian clapped him on the shoulder as he passed him to leave. "Hopefully I'll see you soon." They smiled at one another, but as Prussia's hand slipped off his shoulder and the front door closed behind him, a frown pulled at Canada's lips. The big oaf was gone again. Leaving him alone… Again.
---
It was July now, the next part of his prediction had come true, well, not quite. Instead of America being the one who stood before him in his office asking, it was his own father. France.
"I want you to fight along side us." Us being Spain, himself and few other hodgepodge nations they could get to join their cause.
Over on America's side of all this, Japan had since refused to join in the fighting and the two huge countries in the East that he had feared the involvement of had refused too. Thank God for that.
"I don't know, Francis."
"Tu es mon fils, aidez-nous, s'il vous plaît..." Those big, blue, puppy-dog eyes… It was obvious just which of their parents Alfred had inherited them from… Canada felt himself wavering.
"I told you… I don't know… Let me think about it, okay?" France reached across the desk and gripped his shoulder firmly, pleading in his eyes.
"Alright, you sleep on it, son." He then slapped his shoulder encouragingly and turned to leave. Something was weighing heavily on his mind, his whole heart had not been in this. Usually, when England treated the man badly (as both of them treated each other so) France never took it hard. Never did he take it badly when England always sided against him for the sole purpose of beating him, so under normal circumstances, it wasn't to be considered that Arthur was the problem. However, the two had been on worse terms than usual before the war started. This war only seemed to make those matters worse. The Canadian never questioned for a moment that Francis loved the Englishman, so perhaps that was why he could see the root of the blonde's problem. Knowing Arthur though, he wouldn't care, nor would he apologize after the war. Relationships were a bad idea for nations. Always so muddled up by emotions of the human mixing with the politics of a nation.
Canada sighed, turning in his chair and looking out the window behind him. He wanted so bad to get away from this, at least for tonight. Ivujivik sounded like a good idea… But really, tonight was not a good night to get away, he had to think hard about his brother's offer.
The following morning, Matthew was awoken at six AM by a phone call. Jumping upright in bed, he quickly groped the bedside table for the offensively ringing object.
"B-Bonjour?" He answered tiredly once he got the receiver to his ear.
"Vhat do you dink you're doing?!" A furious voice hissed over the phone.
"W-what? Who is this?"
"It's de mutter-fookin' tood fairy, who do you dink it ist?!"
"Gilbert?"
"Who else voult call you aht six o'clock your time?!"
"Hey… Sorry, I'm kind of tired and we haven't spoken in a few months."
"Don'd gif indo dat fookin' loser. You hear?"
"What?"
"I heart dat… Your vater askt you to join in de var ofer hier. Don'd do it. Schtay neudral, alrighd?"
"Uh… Okay…"
"Goot."
"How have you been?"
"I'm sorry I cahn'd schtay und talk for very long. Jus… Don'd ged yourself indo dis alrighd?"
"Alright, I already said I wouldn't."
"Promise?" Frantic yelling filled the background as Prussia asked. He barked something in German away from the phone before returning the phone to his ear.
"Promise… Is something the matter?"
"Noh, noding aht all. Goh back to bett now."
"When do you think you can-"
"I hev to goh, I'll talk to you soon maype." The Prussian hung up then, leaving Canada feeling somewhat confused. At least he knew how he was going to answer France when he came for his visit today. Even if the man would probably assault him again with his eyes… And in other ways…
As the weeks began to pass, turn into months and the war over in Europe escalated, Canada stopped hoping for phone calls from Prussia, but was rather happy in being neutral. It seemed ridiculous that France and Spain with the allies they had were able to hold out this long.
It hadn't even been a year yet. Too bad no one knew the war was to draw out for nearly two years. But when the two offending nations surrendered, Canada, like so many other nations, hoped everything would return to normal.
He waited by his phone nearly every day and made sure to keep his front door unlocked during the day, occasionally he would even wait up until midnight, hoping for a certain person to drunkenly stumble in. Once two months passed and everything was settled between the nations of Europe… Nothing changed… Eventually he went about his business as if he weren't hoping for his best friend to visit.
Ring, ring, ring!Canada jumped up from the couch, tripping over himself as he did. He snatched up the phone with an eagerness he had never before known, but somehow calmly managed to get the receiver to his ear.
"Bonjour?!" He happily chirped into the phone, sure it was the only person who ever actually called him.
"You're in a damn happy mood." This caused Canada to pause. This voice was not very familiar, but he knew it to be the voice of a nation. Which one it was, he could not say.
"Uhm, hello… Who is this?"
"Romano Italy." Such a random person to be calling…
"Uh, hello Romano… Are you sure you don't have a wrong number?"
"No, I'm looking for Canada." Well this was weird…
"Uhm, I see… Well, in that case. What can I do for you?"
"I need you to do a favor for me. It's kind of under the table, though."
"You mean like spy work?"
"Uh, yes, exactly like that."
"Alright, uhm… What's the job?"
"I need you to bug Germany's home."
"What?!"
"We can discuss fees if you want…"
"You're hardly in a position to be discussing fees Romano…"
"We still can and I can pay you back later. Things are about to get better around here as it is." Canada held the phone away from his face, taking a deep breath. His mind quickly ran over all the pros and cons of this and eventually it came to the general consensus that maybe this wasn't such a bad idea. Just how he got to that decision he would never know. Maybe Prussia had rubbed off on him during their years together.
"Alright, I'll stop by tomorrow, it must be about… Midnight over there."
"No, no, come over now. We need to get things ready. I need you to leave during the meeting tomorrow to do it."
"While everyone is…" Out of their homes… Matthew found a devilish smirk he knew was not originally his come over his face. It wasn't a necessarily brilliant plan, but it was a good one at least.
"While everyone is what?"
"Oh, nothing. I'll be over soon."
---
Canada started off at the meeting the following morning, knowing exactly what he had to do as he clutched Kumajirou to his chest. Nearly he almost intervened when Gilbert and Russia seemed to have a small fight over on the other side of the table. He also felt particularly outraged when Gilbert answered Russia with the simple "I'm not fucking Canada, Russia!" when the larger nation asked who it was he was speaking with. Matthew would have yelled and he would have expressed his anger towards the man if Alfred hadn't concluded the fight.
"Prussia! Do you or do you not know where they are?!" The man was irritated today, his relationship with Japan hadn't been going so well. Just the other day he had come over to visit with Matthew to complain about the whole thing. Japan didn't want the war to become what everyone feared it would've been, even if America urged him to help him. Knowing Alfred, he had taken Kiku's refusal pretty hard and had waited the whole war to spew this at Matthew.
Canada only sighed as he stood up and placed Kumajirou in his chair. The best time to leave was always when America was yelling. He heard Prussia sigh, "kesesese" and give a vague answer as he slipped from the room. As long as Prussia didn't notice his absence, no one else would. At least he was sitting away from the door today, usually, if he was required to come to meetings, he would sit directly by the door.
Just as he slipped out, Germany and Italy came rushing down the hall, Canada jumped as the tall German thrust open the door and shoved his companion inside. Alfred's voice rang out as he asked where they had been. The blonde growled something and the doors closed. That had been a close one, if he had chosen to leave a moment later everyone's attention would have been on the two entering and the one leaving. Never before had Canada been thankful for his invisibility.
Don't lose your nerve Matthew, just go and do your job… Taking a deep breath to steady his rebelling nerves, Matthew left the world conference building. At least Germany's house wasn't too far away.
---
What the Hell is Austria doing here?! The blonde's internal monologue screamed as he saw brunette Austrian leaning into one of Germany's cars, a bucket and sponge nearby. Peeking over the hedge slightly, he listened to the aristocrat grumble to himself, hopefully he would mention exactly why he was there. Maybe it would give him some clue as to how long the man was going to stick around. He only had until the end of the meeting after all. Wait… Why wasn't Austria at the meeting today? Hadn't Hungary been there? Biting his lip and casting away his distracting thoughts, he listened.
"Mein Gott Ludwig, you so owe me for this." Okay, not too helpful except Germany now owed Austria some sort of favor. Matthew almost sniggered about what Gilbert would say if he heard that…
Focus!
"Eugh! It's in the seats! Okay, I can't do this!" Austria thrust the sponge down into the bucket of water and stood, stomping his foot stubbornly.
In the seats? What the Hell did Germany do in his car?
"But… I can ask him to keep that Prussian on a tighter leash… Yes… No more annoying phone calls at four AM!" Austria soaped up the sponge once again and began to scrub the leather interior, at least it was easier to clean than fabric.
Keep Gilbert on a tighter leash? I guess he's been annoying him the past few years… Matthew almost felt insulted that he'd been so easily replaced… Then he thought that the two had known each other for centuries. Austria had been there before Prussia was even born and hence had watched him grow up probably. He shrugged, shoving this unneeded thought aside.
After waiting another twenty minutes, Austria finally stood and walked into the house, those chunks floating in the top of bucket made Canada's stomach convulse. It appeared that the man had been cleaning up vomit… Italy had been with Germany when they arrived and he did look sort of sick still… Him vomiting in the German's car certainly did explain why the two had been late. The man probably had to scrub himself for twenty minutes before he deemed himself clean if the Italian had thrown up on him.
Thinking it wise to move before Austria came out to his own car, Matthew slowly made his way into the German's garage, hoping his invisibility would be enough to keep from being seen. Just as he had hoped, the Austrian walked right past him and out to his car after locking Ludwig's and leaving the keys on the front tire. He apparently still had the German's garage door opener judging by how he didn't need to leave his car to close it.
Sighing with relief, Canada finally slipped into Germany's home and got to work.
-----
Notes:
Wurst--German sausage
Danke schön--Thank you
Bruce Banner--An American comic book character from The Incredible Hulk. (Just in case, I have no idea if things like this appear overseas or not)
Mein freund--My friend!
Mon cher--My darling!
Je t'aime, mon chéri--I love you, my darling!
ch't'aime--I love you
Sechs--Six! (German)
Cinq--Five! (French)
Vier--Four! (German)
Trois--Three! (French)
Zwei--Two! (German)
Un--One! (French)
Tu es mon fils, s'il vous plaît aidez-nous--You are my son, please help us…
B-Bonjour--H-Hello?
Mein Gott--My God.
Hm, that's a mighty long list ain't it? Oh well, most of it's counting. French is totally lost on me _ I'm cut off from the usual person I'd ask over the weekends so if anyone can correct me as soonn as possible it's welcome.
For people paying attention, this occurs during chapter three XD, don't worry this is a much shorter story and will not be going over all chapters, just ones I deem important.
P.S. I want to get a call from the mutter-fookin' tood fairy at six AM XD