Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. If I did there'd be a canon personification for every country.
Mongolia flopped onto the couch,"Can I stay here forever, Baltabek?"
"No."Kazakhstan said, not looking up from his paperwork. It was bad enough the rest of the stans spent their time in his house. At his answer, Uzebekistan started snickering until Turkmenistan hit him. The largest of them took in a deep breath. He liked his space, but somehow his house was the de facto meeting spot for their part of the world.
East Asia met at China's. Southeast Asia met at Vietnam's. South Asia went back and forth between India's and Pakistan's, depending on who had won the latest argument. Western Asia (it was less confusing than calling it the Middle East when they already had an East) tended not to meet up as frequently, but if they did it was at Saudi Arabia's place.
In his case, it was a habit formed when they had all been a part of the USSR.
They were still, with the exception of Turkmenistan who would be if she hadn't declared herself neutral, all part of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
"What happened?"Kyrgyzstan asked sympathetically.
"Nobody wants to hear that."Tajikistan complained.
Mongolia ignored the latter,"China keeps coming to me for advice about Russia."
"Oh no, how terrible."Uzebekistan rolled his eyes.
Temujin glared at him,"You could have some sympathy."
Kazakhstan set down his pen,"Your family is insane. That's something we've said before."
"Which is why I'm asking if I can just stay here for a while."His friend smiled hopefully at him, and he sighed, before nodding.
They weren't as powerful as the rest of East Asia, but perhaps that's why they retained some sanity. Not that they were a replacement family. They were like the Baltics, not related but always grouped together so they got used to each other's company.
They had their border disputes from time to time, but who didn't?
He felt bad for his friend though. He'd always been stuck between Russia and China, both geographically and politically. A lot had changed since he'd been a preteen ruling the largest continental empire in history.
Personally, he didn't have the time to spend running around the world getting involved in other people's business. Neither did much of the company he kept. They had to work hard every day if they wanted to improve the lives of their people, or at least not be ridiculed by the west. They were a strategic position so that meant the west was polite to them…
But at the end of the day he depended more on himself than on the fickle powers that be.
"Hey, Taj."Kyrgyzstan frowned at her laptop,"Did you get an email from America?"
"I was about to ask you that."The smallest of them muttered.
"It better not be any more shit about how I should be more 'democratic."Uzebekistan grumbled as he checked his phone.
Turkmenistan peered over his shoulder,"It's an invitation."
"Which holiday?"Regardless of relations, America invited everyone to his parties with the occasional exceptions of North Korea and Russia. Kazakhstan didn't frequent them, like he said, he liked his personal space. He opened his computer, clinking on the notification of the new email. He blinked.
The fourth of July, Halloween, Christmas, and New Years'. Those were the only four holidays that the superpower would attempt to gather the world together on. He looked to the others,"Thanksgiving?"He had heard of the holiday before, but had never personally celebrated it. He looked through the details,"A banquet sounds nice."
He would prefer a banquet to a ball any day.
He clicked the confirmation button. They still had time until November, he would easily be able to take that day off.
"I'll go if you go."Turkmenistan told Uzebekistan.
"It's free food."Ruslan crossed his arms,"I'm not turning that down."
"Are you going, Baltabek?"Tajikistan asked him.
"Hm."He nodded, continuing his work.
"Kill me."Mongolia groaned when his phone started buzzing.
"Just ask America to seat you away from your family."Kazakhstan advised.
"Can you ask him for me?"The former leader of the Golden Horde asked,"If South Korea finds out I did he'll force me to come to another family bonding meeting."
"I think it's sweet."Kygyzstan smiled.
"It's annoying."Temujin sighed,"I liked it better when they ignored me."
"No you didn't."The largest of them pointed out.
His almost eastern neighbor sent him a glare, to which he stared back apathetically. He was never jealous of Mongolia's family. He had always seen Kyrgyzstan as his little sister and she was more than enough. But he didn't want to hear him complain about having such a large family. Especially when he didn't mean it.
Dark eyes softened,"No, I didn't."He agreed,"But I'd still rather sit with you."
Kazakhstan rolled his eyes, but composed the email anyways.
He absently wondered why this holiday, before shrugging. He wasn't close enough to the superpower to guess his thought process.
"Excuse me?"
Romano stared at his idiot,"You heard me."
They'd had a few Thanksgiving dinners when they had lived together. It wasn't big, but it was one of the meals they would pray before eating. It was only a few because he claimed was invited to eat with his president for the others. At some point, he realized that was bullshit.
He never called him out on it because they were just friends. Friends that had an agreement to ignore each other's major issues because dealing with them meant admitting they cared more than they should.
It hadn't been his place to deal with this back then. It was supposed to be his family's. That's why he hadn't fought more against Lithuania dragging him to that meeting. He had made sure to be particularly provocative in that room to ensure his family did something.
They were dating now. That meant they were supposed to help each other with this shit.
The day after Canada had mentioned their mother, he'd opened up about his grandfather. Though it wasn't like there was much that was unknown about Rome. He'd still shed a few tears over his residual resentment, but when Alfred said he understood he hadn't elaborated. He'd opened his heart but the gesture was not returned.
That left him with nothing to do but dig for information himself and confront him.
Spain was as useful as he typically was. Finland was surprisingly more helpful.
Alfred had a mother. Her people had turned against him when Europeans arrived and they realized they shouldn't trust someone with his appearance. He'd been barred, violently, from seeing his sick mother. Canada said he didn't remember that happening, but he had gone to live with France before America chose to go with England. She hadn't been bedridden when the northern twin had left.
It had messed him up when Rome went to face Germania and never came back.
There was no way Alfred was unaffected.
"This doesn't have anything to do with my mom."Alfred said tightly.
"Bullshit."
"Look, Lovino-"
"Don't look, Lovino me."He slammed his hands onto the table,"We're having this discussion."
"We really don't need to."Blue eyes darkened,"Tell your brother and Germany they can come over on my Thanksgiving. Hell, I'll invite Gilbert myself. We can have a nice family dinner. Happy?"
"You wouldn't be fucking happy."He glared,"What's your issue with Thanksgiving?"
"Nothing."Alfred sighed.
"How many times have I told you you're a shit liar?"He took in a deep breath. If he was angry while the blond was defensive they wouldn't get anywhere. He could reign in his temper for his boyfriend. He released it and dragged his chair closer to the superpower, close enough that he could place a hand on his knee,"If you don't want to celebrate it, I can tell Feli to fuck off, but I want to know why."
His boyfriend met his gaze for a tense few seconds, before averting it,"You know…"He let out a deep breath,"They teach kids that Thanksgiving celebrates how the natives and the pilgrims managed to get along…that this is a day that everyone should come together and focus on the positives in life, what we're thankful for…"He shook his head,"As if we can just ignore that the natives were nearly wiped out."
"That wasn't your fault."Romano softened his tone.
"Isn't it?"Alfred sat up straighter,"If I didn't exist…"
"The world would be a shittier place."He fought to keep the anger out of his voice,"You didn't kill your mom, dumbass."
Playing the blame game never made anyone happy. The only way Native America would have survived European discovery…he honestly couldn't think of one given they were violent and disease ridden. He had lived through the plague and seen it kill off too many people. He'd seen first hand how sickness could tear through a town and leave no one alive.
His boyfriend had been little more than a baby at the time. Sure, a baby that could throw buffalos, but he didn't have the experience to change anything.
He was only a fucking child. Romano was willing to argue all day until he got that through his thick skull.
"I know…"Alfred sighed, and he wasn't sure whether or not to believe him,"But if there's any family I should have with me on Thanksgiving…it should be Mom."
"So you just mope around on that day?"The Italian clarified, getting a huff at his wording that he interpreted as a yes,"You think that's what your mom would have wanted?"
The American shook his head,"She wanted me to be happy."
"Then let's celebrate this shit."He grinned,"Aren't you the one always saying that we should try and make the negative something positive?"
It was one of his most aggravatingly endearing qualities. It was that aspect of him that had made him think, once Lovino had introduced him to all the dons, that they should form a coalition. The Commission. Because that was what organized crime needed, more organization. In that same time, he'd also looked at a global depression and decided to still host the Olympics.
Endurance was something all personifications had by default. So long as it didn't destroy their nation or their people, they were going to survive it. They learned to stand tall when the weight of all their troubles tried to crush them.
Perseverance was an altogether less common trait, but it was one he saw in Alfred. He had the ability to move forward despite those troubles, an Atlas capable of shrugging. In many ways, he thought that was his true strength.
Alfred stared at him,"Something positive…"He suddenly smiled,"You're amazing, Lovino."He moved forward, pressing a kiss to his cheek,"How about we organize a feast for the world?"
That was his boyfriend.
He grinned,"Now that's a fucking plan."
By the world, Alfred meant the world.
He got to work on dinner as they laughed over the seating chart. He didn't realize just how much effort shit like this took. He had to give the macho potato some credit, and that was before they got the requests. There weren't any rejections so far, but it wasn't like this was a normal party. Even the most antisocial of nations wouldn't turn down free food.
He turned over in bed so he was facing his boyfriend. The American had his arms crossed behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling. He stared at him, his featured illuminated by the moonlight shining through the window. He appreciated these moments of calm, but he couldn't ignore the aura of sadness. He moved closer, but didn't ask.
He'd pressed enough for today...
"Why do you think she's never visited me?"Alfred finally asked.
...But he wouldn't pass up an opportunity to put down another demon.
Romano felt his breath stutter. It was no secret that Grandpa Rome visited. Hell, the man had appeared to all the Axis and Allied powers stuck on that damned island during the war. He never stayed long, and his visits were infrequent and impossible to guess, but they happened. That alone was supposed to be impossible.
"It's only Grandpa that does that."He answered,"I wouldn't think on it too hard."
"I can't help it."His boyfriend sighed, closing his eyes,"You know…part of why I'm so scared of ghosts is cause I'm scared she will come back…"
"Your mother loves you."He threw a leg over him and pushed up so he was straddling the taller man. His eyes opened in surprise, and he made sure to catch his gaze,"She would be proud of you, Alfred."
"How?"Blue eyes clouded,"With all I've done-"
"I didn't say she'd be proud of what you've done. We've all done shit no one should be proud of."He stared down at him,"I'm saying she would be proud of the man you've become."
The man he was falling in love with.
No, that wasn't right.
"Really?"Alfred didn't smile.
"Have I ever lied to you?"Lovino muttered.
"No."
"Then don't think she wouldn't love you."He leaned down to touch their foreheads together, closing his eyes,"As much as I love you."
He had already fallen.
But neither of them had said that out loud.
Alfred laughed, and tilted his chin up so they were kissing. The superpower then flipped their positions, and he let out a huff as his back hit the mattress. His eyes opened to meet his boyfriend's, and his smile now had no trace of sadness in it,"Your timing…"He chuckled, kissing him again,"I love you too."
India watched Thailand add too much spice to the curry, and made a note to take more rice to compensate. He liked spice in his food, but his eastern friend reached near suicidal levels if left to his own devices. He was the only one in the kitchen with the man, having left the other room before Pakistan could pick another fight with him, but he pretended not to see.
If he wasn't allowed to argue with Pakistan, then he could have this small act of revenge. Though the only reason he avoided the fight was to keep Afghanistan happy. She always hated it when they bickered.
He wasn't one to back down once they started. He was stubborn and opinionated that way. So he left the room before the Kashmir region could come up and send Afghanistan running to Kazakhstan. The man already had his hands full with the other stans and Mongolia.
There was also the small matter of China looking for Mongolia and Imam knowing Yao was looking for Temujin.
It was strategic for him to stay in China's good graces, but he wasn't going to ignore his involvement in the Kashmir region either.
Was that petty?
Probably, but he was part of the Commonwealth, and all of them had learned from England how to be petty.
Though he did sympathize with the northernmost of the East Asians. Ever since the more powerful nations had shifted their focus to personal ties rather than business he'd felt a small amount of discomfort. It was strange to meet up for more than just politics.
It was also nice. With globalization and the recent advancements in technology, there was no reason for them to remain distant from each other. They no longer only met up on the battlefield or when discussing treaties. It was impossible to go a week without seeing one of the other personifications, a far cry from the years he used to spend with just humans for company.
He knew Bangladesh was enjoying the new effort towards closer relations. Granted, his foreign policy was essentially to be friendly to everyone so of course he liked this.
"Neeraj?"Sri Lanka walked in with a form,"Can you look this over for me?"
He sighed when he saw it was a budget analysis,"I'm not your human calculator."
"But you like math."She grinned.
He rolled his eyes,"I'm good at math. That doesn't mean I like it."He nonetheless went about checking it over.
He was the powerhouse of South Asia. As such, it was the least he could do to help his neighbors. He didn't have any major problems with most of his region, except immigration issues that came up with basically every country that shared a border. Maldives preferred to spend her time with Seychelles. Nepal had been growing closer to China, but still hung around with Bhutan.
Speaking of Bhutan, the young man walked entered the kitchen.
"When's dinner going to be ready?"He asked Thailand.
"Soon."The southeast Asian nation beamed, as if he wasn't about to poison the group of nations that were gathered. It was that smile that made them forgive and forget every time he messed up their food.
"Okay."Bhutan took a seat next to him,"Did you see America's invite?"
"Yes."It was essentially a world meeting but with no promise of attempting to do anything serious and multiple promises of food. He'd celebrated a Japanese Thanksgiving once with the island nation, but the superpower always had an intense way of celebrating his holidays. He smiled,"I'm going to go."
It was his kind of scene. He'd already started planning his dramatic entrance.
"Still, this is the first time he's ever hosted a Thanksgiving dinner."The other Himalayan nation rested an arm on the table,"I wonder what it's going to be like."
India grinned,"Bland, boring, western food."
"Let's hope it doesn't come with bland, boring, western company."Sri Lanka laughed.
"He'll probably try to convince us to play his version of football."He sighed,"Again."
"Again?"Thailand asked.
"It was a challenge."He'd tried to teach the superpower to play cricket, Australia had tried to explain his version of football, and Canada had offered hockey tips. It was…an experience.
"How much of ASEAN is going?"Bhutan asked.
Thailand shrugged,"Everyone, I think. I've only talked to Linh about it…"
"Central Asia's going."Afghanistan reported, walking in to also check on the food,"Just heard from Kyrgyzstan."
The others soon piled in to have dinner. Somchai was the first to start eating, and he had to wonder if there was damage to his taste buds. He didn't even flinch at the heat. Honestly, it was almost a pity he hadn't been taken over by England. Maybe he could be like America and able to eat charcoal. He ate his own slowly, trying not to tear up at the familiar burn.
"Is something wrong?"The elephant lover asked.
"No."Nepal coughed, while Bhutan started chugging water.
"Thank you for making dinner for us."Bangladesh managed a teary-eyed smile.
"Thank you for letting me. Linh doesn't anymore."Sri Lanka snorted.
Vietnam was a smart woman. India kept eating, adjusting as well as he could so he could enjoy Pakistan's tears. And there were tears. Oh, he was glaring at him through the tears, but he couldn't speak and wasn't that the true blessing here.
India chuckled,"Are you happy about spending more time with them?"
"Aren't you?"Thailand tilted his head.
"I guess."That earned him an elbow from Bangladesh. He groaned,"And I didn't mean it like that."He leaned forward,"I meant when are you going to make things official with Linh?"
That got the Thai to choke on the barely edible food. Bhutan silently hit him on the back.
"Me and Linh?"He coughed into his hand,"I don't think she even likes me as a friend."
Bangladesh face palmed.
"What?"Thailand continued,"She's so serious. Which sucks because she has the prettiest laugh-"
"You've heard her laugh?"Nepal interrupted.
"Haven't you?"
"No."India grinned,"And that's the point, Somchai."
"A lot of women find a sense of humor to be important in a partner."Sri Lanka teased.
Thailand blushed, and the subcontinent was beginning to understand why America did this repeatedly. He had invited Thailand over to try his hand at matchmaking. Since the dance party, he had been wanting to see if he was any good at it.
Hollywood had schooled America in romantic clichés, but when the romantic clichés were accompanied by bad dance numbers, that was Bollywood territory.
He was determined to prove Bollywood was better than Hollywood.
He was going to do that by bringing together the nations the superpower failed to.
"Do you think she'd say yes?"Thailand asked.
"Definitely."
One for one, and he was just getting started.
Kazakhstan- Baltabek (which is intentionally similar to Otabek for any Yuri on Ice fans out there)
Mongolia- Temujin
Uzebekistan- Ruslan
Afghanistan- Imam
India- Neeraj