The clatter of silverware against plates was an undertone to the conversation that was taking place around the Brit's dining room table as the six men ate and conversed about the current situation.
"So you're being completely serious?" Ludwig asked as he took a bite of the eggs Francis had prepared. America grinned and nodded, shoveling more of his brothers pancakes into his mouth and at a look from England, swallowing before he spoke.
"Why would I be joking? C'mon dude, you didn't think the hero could just stand by and watch his friends be held captive did you?" America asked with a huge grin before starting on his third pancake.
"Well mon petit I think he is trying to say that this is a very risky idea." Francis interjected as he neatly cut into a pancake. After swallowing America snorted a laugh.
"Pfft, dude nothing's too risky for the hero! Besides, we're going to go bust Sp- Sp-" America found himself choking on the name and blinked in surprise, unsure of what was happening. England sighed and put his fork and knife down.
"Honestly America, I would have thought you knew by now." He sighed as he dabbed at his mouth. "You can't call him Spain because he is no longer a country. Albeit, he is still a representative, but as a territory or whatever Russia is calling them now. You can call him whatever new name Russia has given him, or you can call him Antonio. Spain exists no more." England explained. His green eyes were set on America, gauging the reaction of the younger nation. He was too young to know this, he hadn't seen the fall or absorption of a nation in his lifespan of about five hundred years.
Meanwhile, Francis sighed at the news of his dear friend and fellow member of the Bad Touch Trio, even though he himself had gone through the same thing as he remembered the pain of choking on his own name. Declaring that he would never give in, yet finding himself unable to say 'The Republic of France' or simply 'France' stung in his throat and burned in his chest, feeling himself lose power of his own name and his own person. It was a blow to everything, who he was, what he stood for, what he was. And then he was suddenly an inferior. Suddenly realizing what America had said, Francis looked up from his food, blue eyes blinking in shock.
"You are saying that we will be venturing to get Antonio next?" Francis asked. He could feel excitement, a happy giddiness rising in his stomach at the thought of getting his dear friend out of whatever situation he may be in. America nodded slowly, suddenly calmer and his attitude strangely sullen.
"Yeah, that's the plan. Work our way across Europe until we have everybody out." America responded shortly. He bit into a piece of bacon and they sat in silence for a moment, eating with their eyes cast down to their plates.
"Well then, what are we waiting for?" The silence was broken by Matthias, the usually hyperactive, overly excited man seeming oddly serious. His eyes shone beneath the light, glittering in excitement and anticipation. These rescue missions tempted adventure, and adventure, true, dangerous, blood pumping adventure, was something he craved for, something he hadn't tasted since those many years ago when he and his Nordic brothers were vikings. It had been far too long since he had felt the erratic pulse beneath his skin, the thrilling rush that adrenaline brought that sent his heart racing faster than his feet when he flew through the woods, chasing after his enemies. Far too long since he had the chance to swing his ax in that arc so beautiful yet so deadly to defeat his the opportunity now unfurled itself right in front of him, and he grasped for it desperately.
"Oui. I agree with Matthias. We should get going." Francis agreed starting to push himself up from the table. He suddenly winced and collapsed back into his chair with a breathy gasp of pain. Canada looked towards him in surprise and nudged him with his elbow, violet eyes scanning the older nation cautiously.
"Are you alright papa?" Canada asked.
"I am alright mon petit. No need to worry." Francis sighed. Canada frowned and, ignoring the others protest, quickly unbuttoned Francis's shirt.
"Canada, honestly at the table?" England scoffed in disdain. Canada ignored him to stare at purple bruise that blossomed over the others chest. Francis sucked in a breath as Canada softly poked it.
"Papa, how did you get this?" Canada asked. His violet eyes shone as he examined the bruise with a furrowed brow.
"It was an accident that happened when Paris first fell. It is nothing mon cherie." Francis insisted nervously. Alfred peered over at Francis from behind his glasses.
"Doesn't look like nothing to me. If it bruised that bad it looks like it might have bruised a rib or somethin'." America muttered. Ludwig grunted in agreement and rose from his seat, stepping closer to examine the bruise.
"It looks like it. You didn't say anything?" He inquired offering a hand to help the Frenchman stand. France hesitated before taking it and with a little trouble, stand. France hesitated before taking it and with a little trouble, stand up. A grimace shadowed over his face.
"It was nothing to worry anybody over." Francis snapped. England frowned and rolled his eyes.
"Well, you're less than a nation now. Things like this can kill you if you're not careful." He warned. Francis frowned.
"Since when have you cared black sheep of Europe?" Francis hissed as he pulled himself up to full height.
"I don't bloody frog." England scoffed. "Either way, I'm going to go to work. I need to make sure that my military is ready." England abruptly pushed himself away from the table, and grabbing his briefcase and coat, walked out the front door.
"Come with me. I want to check on that." Canada insisted as he tugged on Francis's hand. He simply nodded and tailed the younger nation out of the room and up the stairs. More silence as Matthias, Ludwig and America stared after the two.
"So, when are we going next?"Matthias asked peering over at America. He pushed his glasses further up on his nose and threw a glance out the window.
"I think we'll head out tomorrow at around eight. Fly out somewhere near Madrid and then drive in. Rumor has it he's in Royal Palace of Madrid. We're not sure if the royal family is safe or not, but if they are we're getting them out to." America decided. "Then after that we need to figure out who to get next."
"Feli and Romano."
"Lukas."
Silence.
"We'll decide when we get Antonio out. Until then, all we can do is plan. So-" America was cut off by the jarring sound of his cell phone and he quickly scrambled for it, frowning at the lit up screen before sliding his finger across it's face to answer.
"Hello?" He asked, eyebrows knit together in confusion. There was some chatter before America replied. "Yes, this is Alfred Jones." He clarified with a quick nod. More chatter. America's frown deepened and he rubbed at his eyes beneath his glasses. "Alright, what about it then?" He demanded. Suddenly his entire facial expression changed, going from confusion to realization to elation. "You aren't joking?" More chatter that sounded a lot like 'No sir'. America's face split into a broad grin."That's awesome! Tell him that he has my personal permission to begin testing and I want to be the first person you inform on the results, am I clear? Alright then. Good bye." As soon as he hung up America practically hollered in excitement before turning to the other two in the room.
"Things are starting to look up guys. With my new weapon there's no way the commie can beat us! Of course, I can't tell you what it is. It's kinda secret… Heh. Now c'mon, let's go find a map or something. We need to get this mission planned and over with!" And with that the United States of America disappeared up the stairs, leaving behind two very confused nations.
The moon streamed past heavy curtains, casting it's pale light across the floor and plunging the rest of the room into a deep shadow. The bed remained untouched, made perfectly as Antonio sat silently in one of the chairs, staring out into the dark city of Madrid. The curfew that was instilled didn't permit anybody on the streets past twenty hours, and the unnatural silence of the city sent shivers down his spine. He could feel the deep, steady breathing of each and every one of his people, feel the fear they felt towards the new government now that Russia had taken over. Emerald eyes turned towards the star spangled sky in disdain, sadness washing over him and causing him to take a shaky breath. Where were his friends? His allies? Where was Lovi? Were the two brothers okay or was little Feli shaking under the bed sheets beside his brother, terrified beyond belief and unable to sleep or eat or drink? The questions he asked himself were torturous, only cause him to think more and more about the predicament that Europe was in. Where were Gilbert and Francis, his two closest friends? Were they alive and safe? He hoped so. He hoped desperately so.
Sighing and running a hand through tousled brown locks, Antonio grasped the cross around his neck and prayed, shutting emerald eyes in an attempt to block out the outside world. He prayed that Lovi and Feli were safe, that his friends were alive and that one day, freedom would release the grasp that Russia had over Europe. He prayed that the world would hold itself together and stand against the tide of war.
Hours passed. He didn't know how long, nor did he care to, but when he opened his eyes again the moon still glowed above the city, his people were still asleep and Russia still had a hold over Europe. A sigh of disdain escaped his lips as he crossed his arms and gently pressed the cross that hung around his neck against his lips. The world would need all the help it could get.
A light wind stirred the night air, cool against tan skin as it comfortingly wrapped around only he could see how the others were doing, how Lovino was doing. He wished the Italian hadn't pushed him away so often, maybe that way he could've spent more time with him. Maybe that way he wouldn't have missed him so badly and wished for his safety more than anything else in the world.
Looking up at the stars and the moon, he only hoped that Lovino was doing the same, staring at the same stars and the same moon he was, thinking about whatever it was the grumpy Italian would think about. With that thought his mind, he talked. He talked about the situation that Europe was in, how fucked they were, how he hoped that his royal family was okay. How he wished for the safety of his people and the lives they had built. And finally, he talked about how much he missed everybody. His allies, his enemies, his friends. And Lovino.
"I miss you Lovi. I hope you know that and I hope you miss me to. Tell Feli that I say hi, si? That I wish he is well and that he isn't being too picky about what he eats." Antonio chuckled into the open night air.
"I hope you are alright Lovi. And hopefully, I'll see you soon."
AN: A little filler chapter because I have block and I'm really sorry. -_- Ah well, at least I got the chapter out. Anyways, thanks for the continued support. And we're at a 3.58 Reviews per Chapter average right now! Seven more reviews and we can hit the four review average! And next week look out for an extra long (6,000 WORD) chapter soon! That got the most votes, so I'll try to get that out ASAP. AND OHMYGOSH THE DOCTOR WHO 50th ANNIVERSARY WAS TODAY AND OH MY GOSH THERE WAS SO MUCH WHOUFFLE AND IT WAS FABULOUS. Either way, thanks for reading! See you next Saturday~!
