April 10th, 2014 - Not a Date

AUTHOR: seecarrun

April 10th, 2014 - Not a Date

"It's not a date. It's not a date."

For as long as he could remember needing to know such a thing, England had a tell-tale equation he used to figure out if a particular outing was a date or not.

It was simple, but brilliant in its simplicity, and for thousands of years, it had yet to let the island nation down:

If you have to ask if it's a date, it's not a date.

"It's not a date. It's most definitely not a date."

As far as England was concerned, if the person asking you out on the outing did not make their intentions clear enough for you to know for a fact that they were romantic intentions, they did not mean them to be romantic at all.

Simple.

"Not. A. Date."

So why in the name of the Queen was he struggling so badly with this one?

Oh right. Of course.

America was the one who extended the invitation.

Frowning at his sweaty, frumpy appearance in the mirror, he let out an agonizing groan and fell back onto his bed. "I'm pathetic," he sighed. "Just because it was America, doesn't change anything. It's still not a date."

It had all started at a meeting when he offhandedly mentioned being able to tolerate a particular one of America's newest string of superhero movies, (and definitely not because the titular character happened to resemble a certain someone) and America happened to overhear.

"No way, dude! You like Captain America?"

England flushed. "Tolerate him."

America ignored him. "That's so cool dude! You know, the newest movie just came out. Wanna come to my place this weekend and watch it with me?"

England blinked. "You haven't seen it yet?"

"Pffft, of course I have," America snorted, waving him off. "But I'd totally see it an eighth time, if it means you get to see the movie how it was meant to be seen!" He winked. "In America."

Willing down the blush he knew was beginning to creep up his neck, he crossed his arms. "That's preposterous."

"Awww, c'mon England!" he whined. "I'll even pay for ya! What do you say?"

And of course England had agreed. Like America would have let him refuse if he tired.

Which led him to the guest bedroom in America's New York penthouse, stressing over which way to style his hair (not that it mattered, it would be messed up in 4.2 seconds anyway) for his totally-not-a-date.

"Hey England, ya ready to go?" America called form the hallway, knocking on the door. "It's a short walk, but we gotta leave soon if you wanna catch the previews!"

"One moment," he called back, fruitlessly running his hand through his hair once more before throwing open the door far too quickly to play it off as anything resembling casual.

America jumped a little surprise at the sudden opening of the door, but fell into relaxed mode quickly. England couldn't help but notice he was wearing a nice, button up shirt that brought out his eyes, and his good jeans.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

England nodded, grabbing his wallet off the chest of drawers by the door and following him down the hall. "I apologise for keeping you waiting," he mumbled, for lack of anything better to say.

America smiled at him over his shoulder and gave a thumbs-up. "No prob, dude! You look nice."

"Thank you," he mumbled, coughing in his hand to hide his pinking cheeks. "You look very nice, yourself."

America answered with a kind smile, holding open the door for England as they walked out the door and to the elevator.

Inwardly, England pumped his fist in the air.

It's definitely a date!