Disclaimer: Hetalia and its characters do not belong to me - unfortunately - they belong to their respective creator/owner.
Author Note: So I've been working on a chapter for a different fic and before I get too into it, I thought I'd post another chapter of this real quick. I think I am going to end it within a few chapters, though. But I'll give it a proper ending. Enjoy and leave feedback!

Assignment 6

Being an assistant sometimes meant doing menial chores for your boss that weren't in the job description. Like the ever-famous coffee runs. Or the horrors of secretary telephone lines. Or even just making up excuses for them to their coworkers when they skip out on work or arrive late. Colin knew all the unspoken labors that sometimes come with certain bosses searching to take advantage of employees. He was no stranger to it, having been essentially kissing-up to people all his life. He'd performed all the stupid tasks ever featured in television shows and even more.

What was new, however, was going grocery shopping for someone who thought food for cats was good enough for them as well.

So…here he was, walking down the street to the grocers. He really shouldn't have been surprised. Hadn't Colin heard weirder since he became Hercules Karpusi's assistant? Being made into the man's – essentially – caretaker wasn't something too horrible, he supposed in hindsight. A waste of Colin's talents? Definitely. Demeaning? Of course. But, horrible? No, not really. Compared to others, he should be grateful he even had a job right now.

So it was with this mindset that he entered the store and gave the food list he was given a glance, adjusting mister Karpusi's "favorite bag" that he was handed to carry the foods (this store was one of those that suggested customers bring their own bags). More cat food on the list, of course. At least some normal foods were listed, Colin was relieved to see.

Finally achieving what he came for, he carried the bag of products to the cashier to purchase. Standing in the slow-moving line, Colin looked for something to amuse himself while he waited. Feeling eyes on him, he looked to his left to see a young lady about his age studying him. She had a lovely face and an even lovelier figure. He smiled at her and, realizing she was caught, she blushed furiously and smiled shyly back.

Colin's heart fluttered.

This was the kind of woman he liked. Shy, innocent, and peaceful. Kind of like a little rabbit, he thought, endearingly, with a blush. Since working directly for Parliament he hadn't had a lot of time to date or, really, just meet anyone. He wasn't outgoing to begin with, so looking for someone quiet like himself was actually really hard for him. And here she was! What a coincidence.

Don't mess it up, Colin. Lure her in with conversation then invite her on a walk or for coffee or something. You can do this! Don't let this chance slip away.

He quickly moved down the already decreasing line at the register and set his products on the conveyor belt quickly while thinking furiously. He turned to the introverted woman as he lifted the bag his employer gave him from the counter.

And failed to realize it was now upside down.

As if on cue, a cascade of paper squares descended to land noisily on both the conveyor belt and the floor. Startled, Colin looked down, still holding the bag awkwardly.

Condoms. Condoms were everywhere. Oh, God. Oh, shit! No! They were in the bag the whole time at the bottom. And now they were everywhere!

Horrified and now very aware that many people were now staring, he looked at the woman who could've been his future peaceful, pretty, smart, gorgeous, funny bride. She looked just as startled as he and, as if in slow-motion, she blushed furiously as her eyes averted, a clear sign of romantic dismissal if Colin ever saw. Dammit, he was cheated!

"Get around, do you?" the cashier asked with a teasing grin as Colin's embarrassment meter reached its breaking point. "Maybe you can give me some pointers, huh, mister player?"

"Noooooo!" Colin fled the store in tears, ignoring the call of: '"Wait, sir! You forgot your groceries!"'

He was never going to show his face here again! Never again! He'd move to Australia and be alone forever! The most embarrassing thing to ever happen to him! He could never go back to that store or be around those people!

Dramatically, he ran all the way back to his home to drown the embarrassment in alcohol and music and forget everything in the world that ever existed!

._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._.

Back at his own home, Greece checked the clock in confusion as he petted one of his felines, wondering what his assistant was doing now. And sighed. He needed that bag back. It was his favorite for a reason.

TBC...

Post Script - Oh, Colin, what actually makes you think she is any of those things? She's probably just as weird as Greece is. Too bad I'm not the type of person to grant an OC with romance. There are way too many of those.