Thanks to Related to Moon, Bibi02846, comwiz and SansTheLanguage218 for reviewing.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.
Chapter 13: All the Little Sheep
Canada smiled when he saw Australia. The two had agreed to meet up at the park, and they would each bring their pets along.
Canada had gone back for Kumajiro, since the bear had been sleeping when Canada had gone for breakfast, and now he was ready to spend some time with his brother.
But when he got closer, he was surprised to see New Zealand with Australia. Then again, the two of them were usually together, even though they tended to start fighting about something every five minutes or so.
Canada hoped that he wouldn't need to play peacekeeper with those two.
"Hey, Matt!" Australia greeted, waving him over. "Glad you could make it."
Canada smiled, before he glanced towards New Zealand. The other had brought his sheep along, which wasn't surprising. Canada supposed that Australia had invited him in much the same way he had invited Canada.
"Hello Matthew," New Zealand greeted, a lot calmer than Australia. "How have you been?"
"I'm alright," Canada said, hugging Kumajiro closer.
The bear seemed to have other ideas, for he squirmed in Canada's hold. Canada took the hint and let the polar bear down, and he immediately started exploring.
"Kuma's got a lot of energy today," Australia remarked, walking closer to Canada with his koala over his shoulder.
"I know," Canada said. "I wonder what's up with him."
He jumped slightly when he felt something on his shoulder, and he turned to see the koala reaching for him. He smiled, before taking the koala into his arms. The marsupial cuddled into his chest, seemingly letting out a content sigh. Canada chuckled.
"So," Australia said, "how're things with England and the others?"
Canada's mood immediately fell, and New Zealand was the first to react to it.
"What's wrong?" New Zealand asked.
"I spoke to France yesterday after the meeting," Canada said, sitting down on the ground.
Australia's eye twitched, seeing the state Canada was in.
"What happened?" Australia asked.
"He said… Jett, Fletcher… Do you think other nations would only be using me?"
"What?!" the two asked, aghast.
"Did France tell you that?" Australia asked.
Canada nodded, and the koala reached out a paw towards his face. Canada recognised it as a comforting gesture, and scratched the koala behind the ear.
"And what about England?" New Zealand asked.
"I haven't spoken to him in the last two days," Canada admitted.
The three fell into an uncomfortable silence. Australia seemed to be the most bothered by the silence, since he was jumping around. Finally, he was the one to break it.
"So, what do you two want to do?" he asked.
"Well it's too early for lunch," New Zealand said. "What do you suggest Matthew?"
"I'm not sure," Canada said. "We just need to make sure to be near the meeting room around break time."
"Why?" Australia asked.
"I need to get my phone back from Estonia."
"What's up with your phone?" New Zealand asked.
"America stepped on it."
The two Oceanic brothers winced, but agreed to go and fetch the phone.
"We could always go to the zoo," Australia suggested.
"No," New Zealand said. "I highly doubt they'll let us in with a sheep, koala and polar bear."
"Speaking of which," Canada said, "where's Kuma?"
Kumajiro was wandering the park. He could smell America, and needed to make sure that he wouldn't be bothering Canada.
He finally found America. He was walking with Japan, who seemed just a tad annoyed. The bear was pleased to find that America had no idea that Canada was even there, and so returned to his master.
"Um, if you guys don't mind," Canada said, "I would like to go buy ingredients for pancakes. Belgium and I kind of have a competition over whether pancakes or waffles are better, and we're going to be making some tomorrow, since neither of us have meetings."
"Pancakes and waffles?" Australia asked, eyes wide. "Matt… You were planning on inviting us, right?"
New Zealand also looked hopeful, and Canada flushed.
"W-well… I guess, if you want to come…" Canada said. "Netherlands and Czech are also coming, and I think Luxembourg will be coming too… Maybe Slovakia…"
"How'd they get an invitation?" Australia asked.
"Well, Belgium said we needed judges…"
"We can play judges!" New Zealand said. "Right Oz?"
"You know it, Kiwi," Australia said. "We'll be the best judges."
Canada smiled.
"So… want to help me buy ingredients?" Canada asked.
"Sure!" Australia said.
"Let's just get your bear first, alright?" New Zealand suggested.
Canada nodded, and he left to go search for Kumajiro. That left the Oceanic siblings alone, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
"Now, why did you really invite yourself along?" Australia asked.
When Canada had approached him the previous evening to ask if he wanted to do something, Australia had been thrilled. He would get to spend some time with Canada. And New Zealand had heard, and so had invited himself along. Australia was glad that Wy and Hutt River weren't nearby, otherwise they would have invited themselves as well.
New Zealand shrugged, looking in the Canada's direction.
"It's been a while since I spent some time with him," New Zealand said. "After all, we don't visit that often."
Australia had to grudgingly agree. It was mostly the climates that kept them away from each other's countries. And at meetings, England, France and America tended to hijack Canada, so they couldn't really spend time with him.
He just didn't like New Zealand there.
"You know Oz, you're quite transparent," New Zealand said.
"And how do you figure that?" Australia asked.
"If Canada wasn't so oblivious, he'd know that you liked him."
Australia's eyes widened.
"How do you know that?" Australia asked.
"You need to be more discreet," New Zealand said. "Like me."
It took Australia a moment to figure it out, and his eyes narrowed.
"You like him too," Australia said.
"That's right," New Zealand said.
Before they could speak any more of the subject, Canada arrived with Kumajiro. But the two Oceanic brothers would keep an eye on each other.
New Zealand smirked. He knew that the knowledge would make Australia paranoid and desperate, and in that desperation he would make a mistake with Canada. And then New Zealand could make his move.
New Zealand is a bit of a schemer here. While Australia is a bit more impulsive, New Zealand is methodical. And because Australia is holding himself back regarding Canada, New Zealand can push the right buttons, since holding back isn't Australia's thing. And now that Australia knows that New Zealand is a rival with Canada, their general rivalry would drive him to do something stupid, possibly ruin his chances with Canada, which is what New Zealand is hoping for.
And in other news: yesterday, it started snowing! This was the thing I've been looking most forward to when I came to France. Considering the last time I've seen snow was when I was eight years old (16 years ago), you can just imagine how I acted. Thankfully, there were no witnesses.