Cola Girl
Summary: An argument and a bet with England results in America going on a date with one of his citizens. What follows is an epic night with the world at their heels which America and his date will never forget.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia or the characters imagined by Hidekaz Himaruya. I have created a few OC's and interpretations of country personifications not yet officially in Hetalia yet.
Chapter Twelve: You Don't Know I Know What I Know
"I don't think America's date is completely human," England hissed to France and Italy who sat with him in the booth even as Ava left to grab some water before taking her turn to go onstage for her karaoke song. Italy and France stared at England like he had said something crazy sounding so he continued, "I think if he's dating a selkie or one of the fae it should disqualify him from the terms of our agreement. How dare America con such a sweet and gentle creature into doing his bidding! I should find a way to rescue her from his unworthy clutches."
France quirked an eyebrow at England and said, "Angleterre, while that lovely mademoiselle is very nice in both manners and appearance (for an American at least) calling someone inhuman is going a bit too far. Lovely bijou Ava doesn't need rescuing, especially from America."
"I refuse to believe that an ordinary human girl could handle the mental strain of encountering so many of us nations in one night and still be that lovely and charming," England hotly denied and glared at France who was shaking his head in a mixture of disbelief and curiosity while Italy had a very strange sharp expression on his face which unnerved England even as Italy stared at him. Did Germany teach him that?
"You like Miss Ava," Italy declared sharply and England flinched and shook his head in denial.
"I just think Miss Ava is something of an anomaly, I mean have you ever heard of a human acting so calmly around so many nations paying attention to her all at once? Humans always get scared or angry and take off."
"This is America's first attempt to find someone to love," Italy scolded, "I can sense those two have something special between them and that they're falling into a real whirlwind romance together. If you interfere you'll just cause trouble so play fair."
"Well the rules of fair play do not apply in love and war," England passionately quoted defensively.
"I can't believe I'm saying this but Angleterre is right," France declared as he slammed his hands down onto the table for emphasis, "Nothing fans the flames of amore like the challenge of a rival in love."
Italy grabbed France by the face with both his hands and directed him to look in Ava and America's direction where Ava had stepped up to the karaoke stage. America was standing right in front of her and was staring up at her with a look of absolute adoration in his expression. With his attention forced to pay them his attention France winced when Italy said as sternly as he could muster, "Big brother France. Does it look to you as though America is in need of a challenge to pursue Miss Ava with all his heart? There are many people in this world and only a small amount pay any attention to us nations. Let humans have their love squabbles but don't encourage nations to fight over a single human or else I'll be upset with you."
"Hey out there," Ava's voice came out over the speakers and just like everyone else in the room Italy and France turned their attention towards her, "I guess you all know Alfred here since you're all his coworkers, if I haven't met you yet I'm Ava and I hope you'll forgive me as I shred up your ears with my song."
What followed her proclamation and preemptive apology was a truly inspired rendition of Madonna's 'Lucky Star'. Ava's voice wasn't spectacular or very impressive in France's private opinion but America obviously didn't share his opinion if the glazed look in his eyes and love struck smile on his face was anything to go by. America really had fallen hard and fast for Ava. Italy had finally released him so France looked over at England who was also watching Ava very intently from where he sat next to France in the booth.
France coughed to get England's attention and said, "Italy's right, you don't stand a chance with winning either her favor over to you or your bet dear Angleterre. It looks like Amérique has already swept her off her feet."
"What greater punishment is there than life when you've lost everything that made it worth living? Tea and love are both lost to me," England questioned sadly as he stared hopelessly at Ava, "She said such nice things about me, how could I not be affected by her?"
"No - she said nice things about England," France corrected, "You're just Arthur to her remember?"
"That's it!" England lit up triumphantly, sitting up like he had been jolted with electricity, "I'll find a way to inform her about America's true nature and then it'll be certain that she'll refuse to go on a second date and will even leave right away."
"Are you an imbécile?" France demanded, "It's one thing to try to affect America's date with our presence here but deliberately cheating like that is going much too far. You'll break her very worldview with information like that."
"No, you see that's the beauty of my plan, she won't get hurt at all. France, you'll distract America so I can pull Miss Ava out of the room for a moment to find somewhere private and let her know of America's true nature. She'll leave him after I provide proof and I'll at least get to win the wager and keep my tea," England enthused before he looked over at Italy who was radiating disappointment towards him, "As for you, don't act hypocritical with me when I know quite well who it was exactly that inspired Mozart and Da Ponte to create Don Giovanni, Italy."
Italy made a funny sounding strangled choke before he fled away from England's booth like England was attempting to cook again. France tried to slink away as well but England unfortunately already had him in his clutches. England's dark wizard aura grew as he menaced France with as threatening voice as he could muster up, "You still owe me for telling America about Daft Punk back in the 90s so you will help me with my plan."
"Angleterre," France whined piteously, "Amérique is completely smitten with Ava. How am I supposed to get his attention long enough to distract him?"
England's face transformed into something quite wicked when he gave France an impish grin, "You'll figure something out or I'll get Portugal to pelt you with oranges for the next hundred years whenever he sees you - and I'll allow others to join in."
France pouted and caved into England's pushy request, "Fine I'll find somehow to do zis but I don't like zis at all."
"Excellent," England said his impish smile settled into something more refined and satisfied and he waited for Ava's song to end, "I'll wait until you get his attention before I approach her."
England sat through Germany's rendition of David Hasselhoff's "Hooked on a Feeling", Sweden singing ABBA to Finland again (this time "Super Trouper"), America and Ava singing Journey's "Wheel in the Sky" together and Ireland's version of "Zombie" by The Cranberry's before France finally approached America with his 'distraction.'
"Alfred," France declared as he approached America with an enthusiastic smile on his face, "We haven't been bonding recently and I zought you might like to join me up stage and perform a friendly duet version of Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" with me. Arthur and Ava can chat together."
England moved to stand beside Ava and said, "That would be grand and would allow me to tell Miss Ava several things about Alfred that I'm certain he hasn't been up front about."
America looked over at Ava gave her a wink and a smile and said, "Go ahead and have a fun chat with Arthur, I'll be fine hanging out with Francis for a little bit."
Ava shook her head at America's over exaggerated and cheesy acting but waved her hand to shoo America away, "Go on then. I don't mind spending time with Arthur here while you do a song with Francis."
America and France went over to sign up for their song and Ava turned to England with a warm smile and said, "So where do you want to have a talk?"
"Let's go out to the main area to have a private talk, shall we? I don't need to have anyone attempting to eavesdrop on our discussion," England suggested as he gestured towards the exit of the room.
"Sure thing, just let me grab my purse real quick," Ava replied as she slid out of the booth to follow England out of the room. Out in the main club area the crowd had grown quite a bit and the only area that they could talk semi privately was a cramped two person booth near the entrance of the club. England and Ava squished in so closely that their legs tangled together awkwardly under the table. There wasn't much they could do about it so England tried to ignore their contact and gestured for Ava to lean in closer in order for them to hear each other over the cacophony in the room.
Blushing furiously at their closeness England nevertheless forcibly ignored his embarrassment by asking, "Why the bloody hell did you agree to go on a date with that fool?"
"Something told me it was the right decision to make," Ava explained with a fond smile, "Plus, I know it's kind of shallow but I've got a weakness for good looking blond guys with confidence."
England blushed harder but stayed his course, "I won't fault you for your tastes in companionship but I must give you information which will completely change what you think of Alfred. Will you listen to what I have to say with an open mind?"
Ava's eyes sparkled with good humor and she leaned a bit closer to England as she said, "I'm all ears. Lay whatever's on your mind on me."
"First I have to say the name of your date is not Alfred. Believe it or not he's actually America," England waited nervously for Ava's reaction in order to decide how to continue crushing her unsuspecting worldview.
Ava's eyes widened with interest before she smiled slyly and said, "So you're telling me he has a pretty, feminine sounding name? At least it isn't Ashley or Kelly or I might've had to tease him a bit about it."
England shook his head and said, "That's not entirely what I meant. He actually is the living embodiment of America the nation. I promise I am telling you the truth."
With her eyes sparkling with mirth Ava smiled cheekily at England and asked, "Oh really? Why ever would you tell me this and how are you going to prove you aren't just a crazy Englishman?"
England steeled himself for some form of backlash and said, "I can prove it because just as America is the embodiment of his land and nation I also am the living embodiment of my own. My true name isn't Arthur it's England and now you must leave before the weight of this realisation tears your poor sweet mind into bits as you go mad."
Ava shook her head in amusement, "Wow, America really underestimated you England. He thought for sure you were just going to tell me about his bad habits and embarrassing stories about his childhood. You must really want to keep your tea."
England's mind sputtered to an embarrassing halt as he realized what she had said. Feeling himself deaden a bit in shock he intoned, "You already know America is a personification. How did you find out?"
"America told me before we got here what he and all of you are, he didn't tell me actually, but gave me hints and confirmed when I guessed correctly. He thought that you would expect me to freak out if I found out and told me to only expect to hear all about his bad habits," Ava explained with a grin.
England shook his head, his shock giving away to a mixture of defeat and irritation, "So you've known this entire time and have been mocking me with America right in front of me."
England moved to stand and leave but Ava grabbed his hand firmly and said, "I promise that humiliating you in any way was not my intention. America told me he thinks of you like a brother so I was trying to be friendly. I know America cares about what you think above all other nations and if you truly dislike me or disapprove of us then after the terms of this bet are complete he'll find a way to end things with me. I might like him and he might like me but I can tell your opinion would matter the most since you're so special to him."
"How could you possibly know that?" England demanded even as he stayed with Ava's hand in his. He glared fiercely into Ava's sincere expression - a surge of delight watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in London from years ago - a happy long weekend soaking up all the plays of Shakespeare-in-the-Park - the warm scent of sticky toffee pudding steaming in the oven while sitting on the kitchen floor and reading a well read copy of Watership Down - Ava's warm eyes blinked and England found himself back in the present as she smiled at him.
"I know America cares about you because even if a speck of me is somehow a part of him he can't help it. All relationships have issues but I know he loves you," Ava's open honesty floored England but as he tried to articulate a response the sound of someone beside the table clearing their throat for acknowledgement interrupted him.
England and Ava looked over at the small dark haired man in a nicely pressed suit that stood between two imposing looking guards who smiled at the pair once he had their attention, "I apologize for this interruption but would you happen to be Ava Victory Adams who happens to work at Phoenix Environmental Labs as an intern?"
Ava warily watched the man and hesitatingly replied, "Yes, and you are?"
The man smiled and said, "I represent Sideswipe Labs and have been sent to retrieve both a Miss Ava Adams and 'the blond guy she's with' by the request of my boss, a Mr Brian Harkins. Please come with me."
END CHAPTER TWELVE
Again I thank you all who have read, reviewed and continued to follow this story of mine. Peace to you!
