Changement

Part 13

"This is ridiculous, Kumaminji." Canada was currently dealing with that marvelous phenomenon that had a tendency to ruin even the best-planned weddings. Cold feet.

He was currently waiting outside of the meeting room, hiding in the doorway of an empty room that allowed him a good view of everyone who went in and out. And he'd been keeping very careful tabs of who went in and out, hoping desperately that Spain was right about Prussia. It would be really embarrassing if Prussia didn't show after he'd done all of this work.

Right now he was rather worried that that was exactly what was going to happen. Since Prussia hadn't shown yet. Although neither had Germany, which was weird.

Kumajiro was rather confused—not that this was at all strange. Usually when they came to this building, they'd go to a room filled with all sorts of noisy people. And now he and this strange man were just standing in an empty room and staring out of the doorway at a hallway.

And then suddenly the strange man jerked backwards, making a high-pitched squeaking sound as footsteps pounded down the hallway toward the meeting room. Footsteps which were coupled with the doors being thrown open and then a voice that sent thrills down his spine. "Do not fear! The awesomeness has arrived!!" (And why did that voice send shivers down his spine? Really?)

He peeked his head out again, just in time to see the door close behind Germany's back and catch a glimpse of that silvery-coloured hair.

Ah, his heart was absolutely racing.

He could do this. He could do this…

A few minutes later, he was still standing in the doorway, head resting against the wall as he laughed softly in a tone that hinted that he was only a few minutes away from breaking down in tears. He couldn't do this…

Kumajiro stared up at the stranger above him and then started to paw at his pants, which made rather interesting noises when he did so. He was distracted from whatever his goal was by this fact…

Canada's attention, however, was caught by the action and he opened his eyes, staring down at his bear. And then he really laughed, standing straighter. "You're right. I've already done this much. I'll just keep regretting it if I don't at least finish what I've started. Being eternally ridiculed can't be much worse than feeling like a coward."

Kumajiro was pretty sure he hadn't said anything about that. But then he was distracted again by the noise when Canada started to walk away, shoulders thrown back as he attempted to push enough air into his lungs to make sure he made an entrance that would be sure to get him noticed.

"Here goes nothing," he sighed to himself, and then pushed the doors open with as much force as he could muster. Which actually surprised him, as the action caused one of the doors to slam into the wall and then bounce back.

And immediately a few hundred eyes were on him…

Including a pair of ruby-red ones that instantly widened in shock.

"Hey, sorry I'm late, everybody!" he called in his loudest voice. Which was at the volume level of most people's speaking voices. Still louder than he'd ever spoken before—and the room was so silent that he probably could have whispered and everybody would have been able to hear him perfectly.

"Mattie! What are you wearing?!" His brother finally exclaimed, the first person in the room to actually speak.

He glanced down at himself and then looked back at his brother. "Clothes?"

He'd never actually had all of the nations' attention on him before. It was a rather disconcerting experience. How in the world could his brother deal with it all the time? He almost wanted to sink into the floor.

Still, he'd very carefully schooled himself in exactly what he'd do.

Which, in simplest terms, was this…

Act confident. Just like Prussia and America.

Well, maybe not just like, but similarly at least.

"Sorry I'm late," he repeated again, moving over to his seat and sliding into place, noticing how everybody's eyes had followed him as he sat down. Remember what Spain's note had said, he reminded himself before he could sink down in an attempt to disappear. Act like Prussia. Act like this is completely normal.

He leaned forward, elbows on the table, noticing that both England and France were staring at him with almost matching, completely shocked expressions.

And then Italy managed to break the tension in the room by tugging on Germany's collar and questioning, "Ve~ Doitsu, how come we don't play dress-up anymore?"

That effectively broke the silence that had descended on the room, as Romano screeched in fury and threw himself at the still-suffering German, hitting him while screaming in Italian at an unintelligible pace.

"Ve~ nii-chan! Don't hurt Doitsu! He's still sleepy!"

America was immediately at his brother's side, tugging him to his feet. "What are you wearing?" He repeated again, motioning toward Canada's outfit. "You look…You look…"

"Totally awesome!" Prussia interrupted.

To say that America was not happy about that remark would be a severe understatement. He was irritated, confused, and that damned Prussia was now trying to sidle up to his little brother!

His little brother, who for some weird reason, was dressed almost like a biker…

He was wearing a pair of black skinny jeans—very skinny jeans—from which hung at least ten different silver and gold chains of varying lengths, some of which reached almost all the way down to his knees. Then, on top, he was wearing a black t-shirt with a red pentacle design, over which he wore a black leather jacket decorated with silver rings and studs…and around his neck were even more chains of various thicknesses and lengths. And his hair was pulled back in a ponytail, tied with a red strip of cloth, a pair of sunglasses over his eyes instead of his usual glasses.

The most shocking part, though, were his ears. Both of which were absolutely covered in piercings. At least seven in each ear…

"Ah, Angleterre. This brings back such fond memories. Remember when you came to that meeting after you got your lip pierced?" England looked rather unsure of how to answer that. He had rather pleasant memories of the punk wave, but he wasn't sure how he felt about one of his former-colonies wearing something like that.

France, on the other hand, had apparently gotten over most of his shock and stood up, tugging at one of the earrings, making Canada wince. "Are these real, mon cher?"

"Ow! Non!"

"Why are you wearing that?" America was definitely not pleased. Had Prussia put him up to this or something? Why else would his brother suddenly be wearing something this ridi—

And then suddenly the rest of the nations seemed to jerk out of their daze.

"Canada-san, may I take some pictures of you?"

"Those piercings look like they would hurt, da?"

"Piercings originated in Korea!"

Italy wasn't really paying attention; he was too busy poking a passed out Germany. "Ve~ Doitsu? Doitsu? Did you fall asleep, Doitsu?"

"Hey, why don't you come out clubbing with us sometime?" And now Denmark was at Canada's side, an arm thrown comradely around his shoulder.

Now America was flashing multiple people dirty looks.

Nobody really noticed as Spain made his way over, beaming in his usual happy way, a hint of something a little more malicious flashing through his green eyes as he leaned over Canada's shoulder and whispered in his ear, "See? I told you the rest of the world would recognize you if you did something to stand out."

And then he was gone heading over to stop Romano from drawing on the sleeping Germany's face with a permanent marker that he'd found somewhere.

Leaving Canada adrift in a sea of unfamiliar recognition.

A/N: Well, there you go. Canada's outfit. I feel like it wasn't as awesome as some people were thinking, but… I like it. Lolz. xD

And for everyone who guessed on Japan's cosplay. Woohoo!! Lots of you got it!! Takara Miyuki from Lucky Star!! Don't ask me why he was cosplaying as a girl… ;D

As a random trivia fact, I spent basically the entire time writing this chapter listening to "Mein Gott". Oh Prussia. Until the end…when I switched to "Cell Block Tango" from Chicago. Homicidal!America anyone? xD