A/N: I'm trying to make it seem things are happening in different timezones but I'm just making it all up.
But for personal notes and to clarify things:
Currently at H.Q: Late afternoon, nearing six...(previous car drive lasts through night) Hospital: Late Morning nearing lunch.
France yawned as he walked down the halls. When Romano had finally returned, the Frenchman had been found snoring loudly in a chair beside Northern Italy. Needless to say, the Italian proceeded to hurl thousands of curses at him before finishing with ' get out and be useful for once!'. He had wandered for a bit, not in the mood to start with the daily report just yet. He helped out in the kitchen for a little while but when he nearly drowned a meal in salt due to his drooping eyes, he took his leave.
Lazily, he walked around, not paying much mind to his surroundings. Maybe he should start making his rounds? No, still not in the mood.. Could he find a place to nap? The committee might end up throwing a bucket of water on him again. Lunch wasn't for another two hours so he didn't feel like eating yet.
"Sir? Can you move aside please?"
France gave a small smile and stepped to the hallway's side to let the man pushing the wheelchair roll by. He leaned against the wall, his eyelids threatening to close. That nap was looking pretty good right now... From his tilted view on the wall he watched the wheelchair being pushed away. He suddenly heard the echo of his conversation with Egypt yesterday. Well, getting a wheelchair there shouldn't take too much effort. He pushed himself off the wall. Time to get that tanned man off his bed.
Moments later the squeaking wheels entered the patient's room. Egypt was busy making himself a pyramid out crumpled up square-ish paper "bricks". France opened his mouth to say something but held off as he curiously watched Egypt. Carefully the man tried to place a tricky brick in just the right spot. Yes. Did it. Egypt relaxed in his concentration and turned his eyes to France.
"Where did all the paper come from?"
He was shown an empty pad of paper.
"You know...that was for communicating."
"Not...needed." the tanned man replied in a deep low voice. It was similar to turkey and Greece's but had quieter, mysterious essence to it. It wasn't husky, almost sounding like a song.
France found his jaw drop a little. He raised an eyebrow, "If you could talk, why were you drawing out words in the air yesterday? Why haven't you talked before?"
Egypt looked at him like it was the most obvious reason in the world, "Because...I. don't. want. to. Pointless words. Deaf European ears."
"Ouch," feigned a little hurt at his bluntness, "So why bother now?"
"Bored. Tired."
France shrugged, "Well, you will not be as bored once we get you seated here. You won't be able to go far but I'm pretty sure I can complain enough to Germany to let you go to nearby places outside with some escorts. Everyone could use a breath of fresh air."
"And my latest symptom?"
"Unnoticeable under a hoodie. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. For now, I can place you in the chair and you can wander the hospital to your heart's content so you get used to it. I will be sure to have Germany's mind changed by the day after tomorrow," he added the last bit with a sly wink.
"Still can't go home…" He bit his lip, "What about worsening?"
"Honestly, I feel more confidence in your state now than before. Do you feel like screaming again?"
Egypt looked back at his little pyramid and shook his head, "If I stay here longer, I might."
With that, he reached out towards France to help him into the chair. Minutes passed by as Egypt adjusted to pushing the wheels around and turning. Soon enough he decided it was time to wander down the halls.
"Just remember, avoid the other patients. The less time you all spend together, the less time you can feed off each other's misery," France glanced at the clock, "Okay…I should really make my rounds now. Be back here for lunch but on other than that, as long as you respect and promise not to freak out the humans, hospitals all yours to explore."
"Good."
"Oh, and if you want company you can search for Japan. He's usually wandering around anyways…though I haven't seen him lately."
"Okay."
Matthew squinted to the brightness of the room. He groaned as he got up and stretched out his body, joints cracked. The concrete floor hadn't been the best place to rest. His hand touched his chin, hesitant to see if there was bruise from England's punch. Thankfully, there wasn't.
Speaking of the island nation, he turned to find the man had already gotten up to dust himself off. Matthew steadied himself onto his feet. It was a bit of a struggle as blood rushed from his head. After his body settled he looked at England and frowned.
"That wasn't a-"
"A dream. No. It was real," he crossed his arms, "Do you remember what I asked you to do once awake?"
"Oh, right!" The Canadian turned around to face the glass that contained them.
"Now focus Matthew. Let the green in."
He focused on a spot on the wall through the glass seal. The green was growing more and more vivid. His pulse quickened as he let the magic take over. Instead of subtle hints on how to escape, it gave him visions. It wasn't like before where his mind would put the clues together to form some quick drawn plan. No. The plan was being given to him.
Its strength was like his visions, uncontrollable and all encompassing. However, instead of the past, it showed him the possibilities of the future. It showed him camera blind spots, where best to place distractions, flashes of guard schedules, happenings in the surrounding area and so much more. It was so empowering and overwhelming that the nation didn't realize the water forming in his eyes.
So much…so much…perhaps a little too much.
Arthur gasped as he saw the green around the boy grow with intensity. It was like a fire igniting and building and building until the worse. Any more and its fuel was to become nothing but charred dust. He pulled the young man away from the glass and turned his body to face him. His eyes glared into the dazed gaze.
"Close your eyes Matthew," he ordered. "You have to stop!"
The nation didn't respond.
Finally, out of desperation Arthur placed his hand to cover the nation's eyes. It was cold and his palms could feel the tears that had welled up from strain. England tightened his lips and swallowed loudly as he saw the green subside bit by bit.
"Matthew can you hear me?" Arthur bit his tongue as he waited a few minutes, "Matthew are you listening? Come back now. Come back."
"Ar…thur?"
"Yes. Come back. Block out the green."
"It's going…" Matthew said with a longing sigh. It was telling him so much and it felt so great being able to have so much power, to gain all those extra senses. He honestly didn't want to let go of it. But, England sounded worried. He pushed away all the green and embraced the darkness that shielded his eyes.
Muscles that he hadn't realized were tense were able to relax now. His breathing was slowing. He pushed away from England to rub at his eyes. He shook his head. Why was he feeling so light-headed? He staggered back a little. A hand patted his shoulder in comfort before dropping away.
England cleared his throat, "I didn't think it would be so strong around you…"
"Was it that bad?" He hadn't felt anything. Other than his current state of light-headedness nothing else felt substantially wrong. He couldn't understand the other's strange panic.
"Yes. I'm sure you didn't feel too much of the strain…Green has always been the nicer magic to work with. Unfortunately it can get quite dangerous if there's no limit on it."
Matthew rubbed at his eyes again, "But you wouldn't have let me do this if it wasn't safe...would you?"
"I thought it was safe. I mean…you're not a practicing magic user. Like you said earlier, you don't have any ounce of the sight…I don't understand how it could have gotten like that," he ran his hand through his dirty blonde hair and shook his head, "Never mind that though…Was it worth it?"
The younger nation grinned, "Immensely so. It'll all be helpful with the rest of the main plan if worse comes to worse."
Arthur crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, "This plan isn't all improv?"
"Do you think I would have agreed to it otherwise?" He found a spot near the wall, sat down and leaned back, "I figured they would be done by now though…but I guess we'll have to hold off for a little while."
"Alphabet game?"
"By all means, go on," he smiled smugly as he replied.
"Cheeky aren't you?"
"Do you know any way we can get out of this?" Bruce whispered to Alfred when the leader turned around.
"Back up plan B."
They both nodded to each other as soon the man turned back to them. He tilted his head curiously as he looked to them, "What are you two whispering about?"
Alfred looked away sheepishly, "Awkward question but…where's the bathroom?"
The man shrugged and gestured at another worker to come forward, "Guide him to the bathroom," he looked back at Alfred, "Still don't want Ms. Colithnski finding you lost and wandering around."
"Understood sir," He hurriedly followed the worker away.
The man returned his attention back to Bruce, "Would you like to proceed to the next room or wait for him?"
"I'm sure he won't mind," Bruce replied calmly. He crossed his fingers as he allowed the leader to guide him to the next room. He quickly glanced back as he walked forward, hoping he could make to the exit fast enough for any possible escape.
"Here we have the crystal processing room!" The man said proudly.
They appeared to be in a room quite roomier than most to accommodate the large machinery inside. Pressers steamed as they crushed into fine dust. They would then be poured onto a conveyer belt observed by a handful of workers with thick gloves, all of which dutifully looking for large pieces that avoided earlier destruction. These were tossed into a bin to be sent back through the first step. A few meters away from the workers a pot boiled away the crushed remnants. Later on these bits were to be filtered again then crushed once more into glittery dust to be collected into small cylindrical plastic containers.
Bruce looked at it with wide curious eyes and the leader grinned with pride, "These crystals store the energy that we collect from the nations via the connection to work with our technology from earlier. We crush them down for storage purposes and boil them to get rid of any impurities. The plastic containers nullify their highly electrifying nature."
The man gestured to a tester who had just grabbed a container to come forward. He took the gun into his own hands, pointed to a far steel wall and fired. The shot obliterated the wall leaving it awfully resembling a slice of Swiss cheese.
"Still not enough though, " grimaced the leader, "The technology still has its flaws and the energy only lasts any hour or so. Not all that bad I suppose…"
Bruce leaned back on the balls of his feet,"Wow that's-"
"Warning! Warning! Fire Code Breach 9! Breach 9! All personnel are to line up according to drill measures! Breach 9!"
The leader groaned, "These curious "geniuses" haven't gotten a lick of common sense."
"Breach 9 being?"
"Code for explosion in the air duct systems. I'm sure America thinks he's so clever right now."
"So what do I- Wait! You just called him-"
"America," the man repeated icily before turning to him with a smug smirk, "Yes, I said America. Ms. Colinthski may have been oblivious today but I'm the leader of this company. Don't think you've fooled me so easily Australia~"
He had known. He had known all along who they were. Would that mean their drill wouldn't happen? Was everyone in the building practically gathered around the area? Was Alfred caught right now? Bruce couldn't wait a second later to let them burst in, he dashed toward the glitter on the conveyor, betting on an idea he had as he watched the ray gun.
"You are surrounded! Surrender now Australia and we won't be forced to use violence," there was chuckle, "That's for later. Don't we all want to save up energy?"
"Nation energy, please give me nation energy, please" Bruce muttered under his breath as he let his hand reached stealthily behind him while he kept his eyes glared at those who inched closer. No, that wouldn't be enough, "You're all sick monsters!"
The man smiled wider, "Says the immortal to the humans. Capture him!" the workers in the room formed a circle around him and closed in.
At this point, Bruce had successfully gathered a handful of the glittery stuff without harming himself. The feeling of the glitter at first had been a strange tingling feeling but as the contact remained, it felt like it was refreshing his entire self. He crushed it tightly together before showing it off to halt them all in their tracks. Eyes were wide with both surprise and terror.
"I'll toss it all of you if you get in my way!" he took at their moment of loss to book it out, quickly stuffing his pockets with as many of the plastic containers he could.
Alfred better be okay, he thought. Now wasn't the time, he had to find Matthew and Arthur.
"Fire code Breach 9!"
Matthew perked up as he heard the stomping of boots leave the area. He waited until all was quiet. He pulled a piece of cloth that had been tightly wrapped around him under his shirt.
"I'm guess that was the signal?"
The Canadian nodded as he unwrapped the cloth to reveal a beaten up pointed piece of metal. The object was oddly shaped and parts of it seemed to be dented as if by a hand print. England was to say the least, shocked.
The younger nation smiled, "I said I wouldn't agree if it wasn't thought through. They didn't exactly leave me weaponless and everyone just assumed I was checked before I got tossed in here."
"A-and where exactly d-did he grab that piece from?" England stammered, clearly still baffled but also frowning immensely.
"The plane." Tap, "Why?" Tap. Crash. They both backed away as the glass fell. Hurriedly, Matthew moved the pieces with the metal to provide a safe path through. Without Hesitation they bolted.
"Guess that lazy attire you insist on wearing paid off here. I wouldn't have expected you were armed under all those folds."
"Can't go one second without criticizing can you?" Matthew shook his head, "Anyways, that green lessened the glass breaking process down to two steps so I guess I won't have to deal with too many people."
"I don't want you to use that green magic right now though. For now, let me scry the location."
"But I think I can ha-"
"Sh," Arthur said curtly as he pulled them down a quick turn of a hall. There was a gasp of breathe as the Englishman closed his eyes again to use magic to look around. He gulped loudly, "Was the Fire code intended to distract everyone?"
"Yeah. Distract then we can get out."
"Follow me then, that plan has changed," Matthew's arm was grabbed and they were soon jumping from hiding spot to hiding spot, whether behind a plant or a machine or a cart. Not that it was going to be enough to get too far.
"HEY OVER THERE!" They couldn't escape getting noticed. Faster than ever before, they England continued leading the way and ditched stealth for speed. Matthew had to swing around the metal to keep people from grabbing at them, cringing at the blood he drew.
"Any idea where you were supposed to meet them?" Arthur yelled at the nation as he shoved away an employee with a tazer to the ground. BZZZT! The poor fellow zapped themselves unconscious. Matthew grabbed it and handed it to England while they continued running.
"Here take this. Backup Plan B says to get every weapon available."
The Englishman pressed the button on it to see a nice surge of electricity buzz through, "Nice."
"Anyways. It was" Whack. Argh! "Supposed to be." BZT! "Right in front of the cell holdings."
"We'll have to leave- DUCK!" they both did as another worker weakly swiped at them, "this all up to…" BZZT!, "Luck."
Their conversation stopped here as more seemed to pour out of every room and hallway they passed. Lucky for them, most of these people were not physically prepared for conflict. Like sheep shied away from the threatening tazer and the now bloodied metal object. The real pursuers were still hot on their tails as they could closely hear their curses and shouts of coward accusations like maniacs.
As they sped up faster and faster, it was harder to keep track of what was around them. Sharply they turned another corner. Two hands grabbed them into darkness. It covered their mouths and muffled their protests. Workers dashed by, shouting for them then silence…for now.
"What a mess…" Bruce sighed as he let the two fight out of his hold.
"What happened? Where's Al?" Matthew mouthed at him. The hesitant expression said it all.
"The leader wasn't…fooled like we hoped."
"But you were gone for so long,"
"It was a shock to us too…"
England coughed, "Either of you have one of Alfred's belongings?"
Bruce pulled out his glasses from one his inside pockets, "He almost left behind in that backpack on the truck."
"Well his absentmindedness sure has its merits," England reached the object. He muttered some strange words under his breath and then both his hand along with the glasses started glowing. It was tense silence save for the small buzz in the background caused by machines and perhaps the odd echoing stomp of boots searching for them. When England finally returned there was a look of disbelief on his face which was then followed by a face-palm.
"Are you kidding me?" Arthur muttered, "That idiot. That clever idiot."
"Where is he? What happened to him? Is it okay? What did he do?" The rush of questions from the other two spewed, almost reaching speaking volume levels until another worker made another tour down the hall. They only let go of their breaths once the footsteps couldn't be heard so clearly anymore. It stopped their questions but their anticipation still reflected in the intensity of their eyes.
"He is fine. In fact, He should be headed here in 3…2…"
"AAAAHHH!"
Crashing through the one of the air ducts and naturally the ceiling support, Alfred found himself in a dark room surrounded by dust and rubble. He dusted himself off quickly, spitting a few curses here and there. He squinted a little ahead of him.
"Oh my gosh dudes is that you?" He cried…a little too loud.
"HEY! SOMEONE'S OVER THERE!"
"Damn it!" England grabbed the closest arm, "We can't have this reunion right now. Follow!"
They ran down the halls once more but the scare tactics weren't working anymore, they were getting closer and closer.
"We've got to make them stay back somehow…"
"HERE! TAKE THIS!" Bruce uncapped one of the plastic containers and tossed it. It caused many people to scream and run back. Unfortunately the glitter eventually fell and people would jump over the dust to go after them again.
"There's got to be a way to keep this up in the air," Bruce yelled as he continually tossed the glitter at the their pursuers.
"If only we could get a cloud of it…like make it into a bomb to explode."
Alfred widened his bright blue eyes, "I've got! Matt hand over the metal! Bruce pass me a couple of those and start racing ahead all of you. I've got this!"
"What're you-"
"BATTER UP!"
POOF! The strength of the United States representation caused the containers to burst. Clouds blocked the entire hall entrance now. Good thing too. They had reached a dead end. Trapped. And the humans were on the other side of that cloud now.
England remained calm however, "It's fine. We'll just have to make our own exit."
"HOW?"
"Magic!" England started drawing something on the ground with his hand, "Just hope he's not doing anything important or intimate right now."
Matthew was about to ask who but the hurried chanting had already begun. Bruce shook his head and his last two containers to Alfred. POOF! The cloud was refreshed again. Alfred had his bat in ready swing in case anyone still got through. Still nothing for a while.
"AHA! Here it is!" The circle that the Englishman had been chanting to was now in a strong glowing green now. Like a pool of light shone upwards then faded a little. England tossed the tazer he had been holding into it. The object shone for a moment bathed in light then disappeared.
"Portals ready!"
Poof! "Good. Cuz that was the last container and I think they're getting a fan."
"Stop!" he warned, "One at a time only! You have to wait for ten seconds for each next person to pass through. It is very important to do so. Don't want you to suddenly switch minds or something like that on the other side," The three others gulped, "So who's first? I'd offer myself but I have to keep this open."
Nervous glances were exchanged. The warning wasn't all that reassuring.
"I-I guess I'll do it," Matthew said, "I've been dealing with all this magic anyways."
He jumped in. Then faded.
Bruce counted to ten next, adding in a little bit more just to be safe, "I swear to you ol' brows I better be all in one piece on the other side."
"Your insulting ungrateful mouth will be intact."
The brunette faded. Alfred started his counting immediately.
"1…2….3….4…"
Alfred gulped when he started to hear a machine being turned on. He continued on.
"5…6…7…8…"
WHIIIIRRR!* A fan was blowing away the cloud. England took the metal bat from Alfred's hand and tossed it in their direction hoping to stop the fan.
"9…"
He searched his own pockets and found a pen. A tiny ow was heard on the other side. Okay…it did something. He dug into his other pocket and pulled out Alfred's glasses. Better give that to the-
"10!"
All of a sudden England was pushed into the portal.
"What are you do-"
Then he faded. Clank! The glasses fell from his hands and lay beside the disappearing glowing circle.
Alfred never heard the last of that sentence from that nagging voice. He breathed in deeply as he put on a brave face. He turned around to see the shocked expressions of the workers that had been expecting four nations not one. The American sighed and bent down to pick up his glasses as they thawed from their shock.
"I'm the hero," he put them on, "This is what I do."
"I wonder what he's thinking," said a nation as they watched the brunette deeply breathe with his eyes to the ceiling. They blinked slowly, never wavering in their stare.
"No one knows." replied another nation switching off duty, "Been like this at meeting too. It's not like too much really has changed about him."
"Yeah, when he's not like this he's asleep."
"Only thing that's changed is he doesn't react to the name Turkey anymore."
They quickly looked at the sleeping patient when the country was spoken. No reaction.
"So weird..."
A/N: Americans and America fans...I'm so sorry.
In other news: The magical trio will appear quite soon to help. Also, in better news I have made it a goal to finish this fic before University classes start (otherwise this will go on the longest hiatus ever) so here's hoping I get super inspired this time around a lot more (and get off tumblr...).
All those past chapters happen over the course of little over a week. This story is going sooo fast. I want to slow it down but I also want to get it done. AAAAA. I'll have to find a way.
*Fans. I have no idea what sound they are supposed to make.
Next Time: Another chapter of cloaked nations and Japan. A plan revealed?