Hello everyone :) Thank you to all who took the time to review and favourite, it really means a lot to me ^_^ So, allies... they are finally back together, so let's see what will happen!

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Chapter Ten- Facade

Okay, my jacket is totally perfect, hair all neat and tidy, tie done up properly... this will make a good first impression right? Wait... are my glasses crooked?
Suddenly fixated with finding the perfect angle with which to wear my glasses, I start fumbling around. After a moment, I finally find the best way to wear them... but is my tie really done up properly? Is the knot thing too big? Or maybe the tie length isn't quite right... And what about my bomber jacket? Should I zip it up or keep it open? How about halfway between the two? But then, would that detract from the tie that I just redid? No... I'll have to tie it again, the knot still seems slightly off.

Damn, I'm nervous as hell.

No. I'm not nervous. Heroes don't get nervous! They charge in head first and full of confidence, they no nothing of mere nerves! The only reason my heart is beating so fast, the only reason I have butterflies in my stomach, the only reason my mouth has gone dry... well, it's abviously because I only had a small breakfast of four burgers. Yes, that must be it, I'm totally not nervous.

Who the hell am I kidding?

I let out a deep sigh and focus on trying to put one foot in front of the other and keep what little composure I have at this point in time. I carry on making my way down the corridor (albeit slowly) and made my way towards the room in which I was to have my first meeting with my new allies: France, Russia, China and...

England...

I shake my head severely, trying to just focus. The world is at war! This is not the time for me to agonise over a painfully one sided love that has a slim chance of being requited. This is not the time for me to lose my cool even if the object of my affection and I will be reunited after what, quite frankly, has felt like the longest time in the universe. This is not the time for- well you get the idea.

I eventually walk up to the door. The door to the room that my allies are in. The door that I'm seriously contemplating running away from at this particular point in time. I can't do this! I mean, how should I act? What should I say? Perhaps if I just come back in a few days when I've had more of a chance to prepare, then it'll be for the best.

No, that's never gonna work. It's now or never; time to make a good first impression as the hero!

Although... I can totally make a good first impression in about five minutes. Yeah, I'll just go for a mini walk down the corridor for a few minutes and return feeling completely refreshed.
Turning away from the door, I carry on further down the hallway and allow my mind to wander, not really focusing on my surroundings.

Okay so the plan when I arrive at the room late is to say that I accidentally got lost, that's believable right?

I let out a sigh. This is stupid. This whole time I've been counting down the seconds until I could finally see England again, but now... This isn't a fantasy.

When I daydream about meeting England again, there are always loads of random sparkles everywhere. We don't care where we are, although it's usually some cheesy place with loads of flowers, and when we happen upon each other: tears fall. Apologies are said, we put the past behind us, and we walk off hand in hand to a sunset that just came out of nowhere, while a cool breeze blows gently through our hair...

That's obviously a load of crap.

Nothing that idealistic is going to happen. In reality, our reunion will probably be boring. We're allies now, so perhaps we are going to have a strictly business setting around us, or something similar. Damn it, I've not even met him yet and I'm already worrying about the small details! I just need to take a deep breath and-

"Ah!"

As my head was so far off in the clouds, I failed to notice that apparently someone was heading in the opposite direction to me and so we ended up colliding. I managed to catch whoever it was who I had crashed into in my arms as their arms fell around my back, clearly trying to support themselves. One we were both relatively steady, I laughed slightly.

"I'm sorry dude," I apologised, but...

Wait a second; this feeling... it's kinda familiar...

I could feel the person in my arms immediately tense, and they quickly withdrew their arms from around me. I was almost scared to look at whomever it was I had bashed into for fear of confirming my suspicions. I glanced down...

Dirty blonde hair, the scent of tea and mints, captivating emerald eyes...

"E-England," I stammered, so uncool but that was actually the last thing on my mind at this point. Wow, the height difference between us has gotten quite a bit bigger...

"Let. Go." he said stiffly. I was so shell shocked that I failed to notice that I was still holding him, but upon hearing that I quickly let go and took a step back. "Ah, I... well you see, I was just-"

"That way," he said, pointing the way I had just come. His voice was flat and even, with no trace of emotion as he said, "The meeting room is that way. I guess you should follow me." And with that, he began walking off.

I just stood there, gazing after him and not quite comprehending what had actually just happened. My heart was racing like crazy, even though it was just an extremely brief encounter that must be very insignificant to him. Of course I knew that the whole rainbow and sparkles reunion was never going to happen, but why did the real reunion have to be so... awkward. There are so many things I want to ask him:

How have you been?
What have you been up to recently?
Did you... even miss me in the slightest?

But England seemed totally composed and professional, keeping a brisk pace as he walked away, as if he didn't even care... I began to quickly follow him, my mood lowering as I realised that I had been right: For England, this is strictly business.

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Bloody hell! Okay, just breathe England, focus on breathing and staying calm. You are calm. You are calm dammit!

I am anything but calm.

Honestly, what in God's name just happened? One moment I'm minding my own business, heading towards the meeting room as I mulled over the things that needed to be addressed at the meeting, and-

Wait. No, that's a lie. I wasn't thinking about what I was going to discuss at the meeting at all. How could I, when today is the day that he is joining our ranks? The truth of the matter is that I was contemplating the very appealing idea of just skipping the meeting today; hence why I had walked passed the room on my way in.

I know that it is ridiculous to be hung up so much on an event that happened over a century ago. I should be willing to be the bigger man and accept my new ally, and do my best to work alongside him. Yet I know myself very well. Despite my gentlemanly exterior: there is still the insecure me- who's heart twinges slightly at the mere mention of America. There is still the delinquent me- who honestly wants to beat the idiot senseless. There is still the caring me- who wants to protect the one who was once my little brother.

And now there is the gentlemanly me- who doesn't have a bloody clue on how to go about dealing with the current situation.

I am smart enough to realise that having a mental breakdown, or killing my new ally, or turning into some over protective parent is most definitely not the way in which I should proceed with things, so as I went on a small walk to try and clear my mind, I finally gained some clarity on how to conduct myself:

Be indifferent.

A gentleman lives his life being 'proper' and not causing a fuss over silly, trivial things. He looks over things with detached interest, and while not a bad person- he is not overly 'in your face' either. A gentleman is just simply: there. And that is how I had so perfectly planned how I was to deal with America. I was going to (attempt) to start afresh, simply being the man in the background who would perhaps offer the occasional bit of advice should he need it, but for the most part would remain neutral and not have anything to do with him beyond urgent work matters.

And so it was, with this flawless resolve, that I began to make my way back to the meeting room. It was just as I was lost deep in thought about the various aspects of this new persona I had created that it happened...

I increased my pace slightly as I headed towards the meeting room, glancing backwards slightly and making out America in my periphery vision. God, could that little 'reunion' of ours have been any more awkward if we'd actually tried? And what the hell is up with his height? He was already a damn giant the last time I saw him! But I am not going to think about that time, or the past. No, focus on the present and the future! As far as I am concerned: America is just another ally, whom I have never met before. It is much better for the Allies if I take this stance; it will increase the chance of me being able to carry out my duties effectively.

Besides, he hates me so I highly doubt he'll give a damn about my decided role as 'neutral guy in the background'. I must say that I was rather pleased with the way in which I kept my calm when we ended up colliding, it just shows that when necessary: I can follow any resolve!

I stopped once we had reached our destination, making sure that America knew which room the meeting was to take place in, before I opened the door and made sure I got the seat next to China, because I refuse to sit next to the French bastard and Russia... well the less said about that shit scary country, the better.

The door closes behind me, which is rather strange because America wasn't that far behind me. Oh well, it's not my problem. I just have to fade into the background as far as he is concerned.

"America is here," I say casually, not making a big deal of it and not making it seem like I detested the idea either- it was a nice balance of professionalism and decorum.

None of the other countries in the room actually had a chance to react to what I had just said, because all of a sudden the door was flung open.

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Okay, so I'm back at the meeting room after that extremely uncomfortable meeting with England and wondering what I should do.

He expects me to go into the room; he did lead me here after all. But... but why was he acting so standoffish? There wasn't even a pitiful attempt at small talk given on the way over here- and British people love small talk! But I shouldn't be surprised; it's only natural that I'm the only one that's looking way too much into this.

Well, that's going to end! I've worked my ass off trying to become England's equal, so I'm gonna do my best to show it! That little incident back in the hallway, that didn't count- I totally wasn't expecting it. But this time, I'll make a good first impression.

I take a deep breath and grab the door handle, willing confidence to wash over me before I flung the door open and announced: "Never fear! The hero is here!"

Oh yeah, that'll totally make a good first impression! I grinned and looked at those in the room, who were simply staring back, dumbfounded. Well, I guess that's understandable- they haven't seen anyone as heroic as me before.

"What's up dudes?" I say casually, gliding into the room to show how completely not nervous I was.

Russia gave a creepy smile and started making a noise unlike anything I've ever heard- seriously, it was worrying! China simply nodded before glancing back down at some paperwork that was in front of him.

"America~!" France said happily after a moment, getting up from his chair, "'ow nice of you to join us," he sparkled. He looked me up and down for a moment before he smiled, "My, you 'ave grown so much! You've seen this Angleterre?"

England just nodded and grunted before glancing out of the window. "Now now, is that any way to treat our new ally?" he asked, sidling over to him.

"I showed him the way here didn't I?" England said curtly, putting on a total poker face- he was completely unreadable.

"And 'ere I was expecting some sort of dramatic reunion between the two of you, 'ow boring~" he said jokingly, putting a hand on the Brit's shoulder and leaning in close to whisper something to him.

"France is about to get hurt," Russia said happily, looking as France snaked his hands around the gentleman, who... didn't do anything? Of course I was looking on too, in complete confusion. I thought those two hated each other, so then why was France all over England? And why was England just sat there letting France do that?

To be honest: it's pissing me off.

It was as I was looking as France was still clinging to England that, and I swear I'm not making this up, he glanced at me and smirked. The Brit swatted him away then, making some snide comment but I wasn't really focusing, because there was no mistaking it now: France was deliberately holding my gaze, and there was a glint in his eye. What's going on? Yet before I could come up with a logical explanation, our little staring contest was ended when China spoke up:

"Right, well now that we all know each other I think that we should get down to business, aru."

"I quite agree," England nodded at China and began to sort through his own paperwork.

"Okay, the first order of business is: should we use Angleterre's food as weapons on the Axis? Or is that just too 'arsh?" France piped up, smirking as he saw England getting visibly riled up.

"I think that England's cooking would most definitely be our most effective weapon," Russia said creepily, dropping the temperature around him by about 500 degrees.

"I agree, aru," China added.

"While I appreciate the joke," England said through gritted teeth, "You do realise that there is actually a war going on? So, I would appreciate it if you would keep your bloody comments to yourself."

"Who's joking?" France said, looking at the other blonde seriously, but with a grin playing on his lips.

"Hmph! I refuse you play your childish games, frog!" he sniffed indignantly.

"Just because you know your food stinks~" France neatly dodged the stapler England threw at him and chuckled, while China sighed and said, "Here we go again, aru."

"You think you're so bloody great just because you have a few high ranking restaurants at your place? Well I've got news for you Frenchy: Only a bastard like you would be idiotic enough to cook snails!"

"And yet they still taste better than anything you can produce!"

"That's it, screw you!"

I just looked on as the two of them launched at each other, trading blows before getting themselves into a sort of wrestling deadlock.

"Is it... always like this?" I asked as France tripped England up so that he ended up sprawled on the floor.

"Yes, it is fun to watch them hurt each other isn't it?" Russia smiled as England managed to roll out of the way of a kick from France, pick himself up and deliver a hard punch to his stomach.

"Hmm... well I'm the hero, so I'll stop the fighting!" I proclaimed, partly because I wanted to actually show what I could do, but mostly because this fight seemed to be France's ploy of touching England somehow... God, I sound so paranoid.
I approach the fighting countries with caution before timing my move to perfection.

I caught hold of England and restrained him while giving France my winning hero smile and saying, "The hero commands this fight to stop!"

"Hnn~ Is that so?" he said, raising an eyebrow. Meanwhile England, who had been extremely animated only seconds ago, went completely still didn't say anything- the stoic expression he wore before returning once again.

He pulled away from me and coughed, before going to sit down at his seat once more with a resigned look. "Let us dispense with the fighting and actually try and have a meeting," he said, sounding completely automatic and unnatural.

What the hell? I can't tell for sure at this point cuz it's still kinda early, but it feels like England is definitely avoiding me...

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-Entry 2512-

Meetings with the Allies are... weird.
I guess I wasn't really sure what to expect, but the last thing I expected was, well, what it's really like.
I've been going to these meetings for about 10 days now, and I've spotted a pattern:
Either China or England tries to start the meeting off normally before France does something to piss off England, so they end up in a fight while China sighs and Russia creeps everyone out.
I initially tried breaking the fights up, but it's kinda useless.
I'm totally right when I say that England is completely blanking me. He'll smile and joke with China, and even converse with Russia. Then of course, he's always fighting with France but at least he acknowledges him.
I'm the only one he actually ignores. He just gets a blank expression whenever I say or do something, and makes a conscious effort to not be alone with me.
At this point, I'm getting desperate: all I want is a bit of acknowledgement from him, even just a little.
How can I break the mask that he shows only to me?

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"So as you can see, if we attempt to launch an attack from here, the forces will-"

"-Angleterre?"

"France... I swear to God if this is another bloody crack about my cooking I will personally see your demise," I said flatly, not in the mood for another one of our spats after we've already had about four already- and it's still the morning.

"Let England finish and then you can have your silly arguments, aru," China said, both elbows propped up on the table and resting his chin on his hands.

"Thank you China," I smiled, glad that at least someone here was focused. I turned back to the blackboard and continued to annotate the chalk diagram, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of each of the different tactics that had been raised so far.

"Dude, okay I have a totally sweet plan with like, no weaknesses at all!" America suddenly interjected my explanation and bounced up to the front of the room. He grinned at me, whereas I remembered to keep calm and not let any emotions get the better of me: returning his grin with a calm look. I saw his eyebrows furrow slightly before he resumed the grin, reaching over me to try and grab the chalk in my hand. I tensed naturally- I never was one for bodily contact. I stiffly handed him the chalk, keeping my breathing even and remembering my role as the elusive one who will only stoop to help in dire emergency. I stood back from the black board and allowed him to begin scribbling something that I think was meant to represent Germany, although it was hard to tell.

"Okay, so picture this dudes: seeing as Russia is like freaky big, all his troops surround Germany, while England and China create diversions. Naturally, I'll be the hero and when all seems lost, I'll fly down and use my super powers to secure the win! Hahaha, pretty sweet right?"

By this point, America had drawn himself in what I can only imagine to be some form of super-hero outfit, because to be honest it just looked like a two year old had gotten their hands on the chalk and gone mad. No one bothered speaking for obvious reasons- the plan was awful and stupid.

"I can understand that your stunned silence is because you are in complete awe of my epic plan, it's natural," he nodded. Oh my God, he's completely delusional!

"You think this plan is awesome, right England?" he turned to me, and I'm pretty sure I had a deadpan look on my face before focusing and becoming the indifferent person once more.

"I don't think that will work," was all I said, despite wanting to shout about how utterly ludicrous it was.

"Huuuuh? Why not, explain it to me dude."

I sighed in exasperation: I don't want to get too involved. Besides, one of the others can explain how stupid the plan is, it doesn't need to be me. I just ignored the question and went to sit down in my seat, waiting for someone to speak up.

It was China who broke the short silence in the end, or at least tried to. He had only gotten three words out before America yelled, "No!" He calmed himself down, and then looked right at me. I concealed the surprise and curiosity I was feeling and kept my poker face, quirking an eyebrow slightly.

"England, I asked you to say something. Tell me honestly what you think of my plan, and tell me properly!"

I could see France getting more and more interested, leaning backwards in his seat to take more information in.

"It is hardly fair on the others if I do all of the talking," I said calmly before looking out of the window to indicate that I didn't want any more part in this.

"Pfft! As if dude! You're probably so quiet cuz you gave yourself food poisoning cuz your food sucks!"

I froze.

France burst out laughing.

America glared at me defiantly.

I could feel my perfect mask begin to crumble, and one of my eyes twitched slightly. No, I cannot get carried away. Just remove myself from anything to do with America and everything will be fine. "Do not pick up habits from France, no one will like you at the end of it," I said coolly, but he was persistent.

"So that means I'm right? I mean, you're totally not denying it."

Another surge of emotion- anger- swept through me. Damn, just stay calm...

"What's the matter? Don't have anything to say to that?" he challenged.

Stay. Calm.

"I am simply refusing to partake in this foolish game," I said evenly, trying not to let the bite in my words become too evident. I have to keep myself uninvolved with him as much as I can!

"Hah! Yeah right! If you ask me, we should use your food as a method of torture if we capture any prisoners!"

That's it, my patience snapped.

"WHO THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?"

"I'm America, the hero!" he winked.

"Some damn hero you are! Coming in here with a bullshit plan, what the hell is wrong with you? Do you have any concept of common sense? Because so far, you haven't bloody shown any!" I yelled, breathing heavily.

He simply grinned triumphantly, chucking the chalk in his hand onto the table and sitting back in his seat, humming a happy tune.

"Oi! You git, don't just make such grand claims and then back the hell out of the damn fight!"

He looked up at me, big blue eyes curious as he cocked his head to the side. "I have no idea what you're talking about dude!"

"What the hell?" I asked in annoyance.

"Must be you getting senile in your old age, you're forgetting stuff."

"That's it!" And so, completely throwing away my perfect mask of aloof-ness, I moved to hit America, but he easily blocked. "Looks like you need a lesson in manners, git," I practically growled, but he still had on that same, infuriating grin...

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-Entry 2519-

I did it! I totally found a way to stop England from ignoring me!
Annoy him.
Sure, not exactly the approach you take for someone you're in love with, but at least this way he actually talks to me instead of giving simple sentence answers.
No matter what, I'm determined to get to his real emotions, so that I can understand him better.
However, until then it looks as though I'll just have to tease him. It kills two birds with one stone:
England notices me more, and I get to see how cute he looks when he gets mad.
England, prepare yourself: I'm gonna figure you out!

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Well, sorry I haven't updated for a bit but I has GCSEs and such at the moment -_- Life sucks, boo!
On the plus side, at least there aren't any hardcore emotional wars now! But... that isn't to say there won't be hardcore emotional stuff coming up at some point, this is a drama after all XD Anywho, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and keep a look out for the next update~ :D As always, your reviews make me very happy ^_^
Until next time~!

xx-animeXalchemist-xx