A/N: ...I'm an evil person...which is why there's more angst...kol.
"...Artie?"
America clutched the teen's motionless body close to his chest. Arthur felt so limp... so cold...so dead .
" Hey, Artie...wake up!...T-this ain't funny!"
Shaking the boy desperately, his breath hitched when there wasn't even the slightest response. The sunny blond did everything he could to swallow down the intense feeling of dread that was building up in his stomach. But the familiarity of the scene...the lifeless body in his arms...terrified him.
" No...NO! N-not again! I c-can't let this happen again! "
Placing Arthur on the ground, he crashed his lips onto the other's, blowing oxygen into the breathless boy's lungs. Taking his mouth off the teen's cold lips, he positioned his trembling hands onto the sandy blond's chest, taking a deep breath as he pressed down firmly, trying to massage the smaller male's heart back to life.
" C'mon, Artie! Breath! You...you gotta breath!"
Finding a steady pace, all exhaustion forgotten in the urgency of the situation, he continued to slam his palms against the boy's chest in attempt to resuscitate him. Ribs snapped at the force of the pressure, evident from the resounding crunch that filled the air. But the American wouldn't stop, he couldn't, not until the body under him started breathing. Concentrating on his task, the blue eyed nation lost all awareness of time and everything around him.
" Amerique! Arretez! "
The sunny blond felt himself forcefully pulled off the other blond by a set of strong arms. Struggling violently against his captor, he tried to escape, to go back to helping Arthur, but the grip held fast. America glared icily at his holder, a crazed look in his eyes.
" France! Let go! "
The French man shook his head, wearily. " Non. You've been at it for ten minutes, you're at your limit...the boy is gone, Amerique. Je suis désolé.
Struggling harder, the young nation denied the words with his entire being. " NO! You're wrong! He's not dead yet! I'm a Hero! I can still save him! "
America broke free of the other nation's grip, crawling back to the lifeless body on the cape. He knew the more time passed, the more pathetic his desperate attempts must have seemed. But he didn't care. Not when he could still save him. Still prevent the tragedy from repeating itself.
" Arthur...! ! !"
Minutes flew by, taking hope away with it. The American's hands were trembling with exhaustion, his muscles shrieking in pain, he was on the verge of collapsing, but he still wouldn't stop. Just as the last reserves of energy were going to leave him, America felt a tremor shoot up from under him. His eyes widened.
" Haaaaahh!"
Arthur's eyes flew open, his chest rising as he gasped for breath. The teen instinctively flipped to his side, water pouring from his lips as he violently cleared his lungs of the black liquid.
"Artie!"
A smile pulled on the sunny blond's lips, his relief and triumph at the boy's movement clear in his eyes. But just as his face was going to twist itself into a full on grin, it fell.
" Arthur...? What's wrong?"
The teen looked up, but his eyes weren't looking at the American. Arthur's eyes were dilated, the emerald colour of his iris thinly bordering a deep darkness. His expression was blank as the sandy blond parted his lips to utter a single word.
"...America?"
Freezing at the sound of his name, the American's mind became a jumbled mess.
America? He called me America didn't he? Does that mean...no. He must still think it's a pet name...
That idea was immediately expelled moments later.
In the seconds that the American was lost in his thoughts, Arthur's blank expression had contorted into one of pure horror. Eyes darting around, he groped at the ground blindly, not noticing the intense pain that racked his entire body.
" America ? ! America, where are you ? ! "
Tears were free falling from the teen's terrified orbs, his head swiveling both left and right, searching for the nation who watching in confused shock right beside the panicking boy. Whatever the sandy blond was seeing...it wasn't in front of him.
" ...Damn it...I didn't expect the wave to be that big...! " Arthur choked on a sob. " ...this why I told him not to come...! America, you git...! If you died, I won't forgive you...! "
It took the American a moment to process the teen's words. Wave? What...?
Eyes widening in understanding, America could only allow a single word to escape his lips.
" England?"
The smaller blond didn't seem to hear the name being called, nor did he register the dozens of eyes watching him, stunned and silent. He continued to fruitlessly search in the dark, the pathetic image of the boy's wet, terrified form burning into the minds of the onlooking nations. France covered his mouth at the sight, but was unable to tear his eyes away from the heart wrenching scene.
" Mon Dieu...! "
Unable to withstand the sight any longer, America rushed forward, grabbing Arthur and pulling him into his chest. The sunny blond tightly held onto the teen's trembling form, trying to comfort the boy.
" Shh...England. England, I'm right here."
But Arthur still couldn't hear.
His eyes dilated further, until the emerald green was overtaken by a black void. He couldn't see anything but darkness...couldn't hear anything but silence...there was no warmth where he was. Arthur started to whimper in the confines of the American's arms, he trembled violent, his panic rising, breath coming out in short bursts. He began to hyperventilate, his heart beating at a dangerous rate.
America looked at the figure in his arms worrying fervently. He didn't understand what was happening, but he wasn't stupid enough to think that whatever it was, was good.
" England! Calm down! "
The sandy blond's breath didn't slow down in the slightest. Not able to stand by any longer, China scurried over to the blonds, and in one swift movement he raised his arm hitting it against the back of the smaller blonds neck. Arthur went limp in America's arms.
" China! What did you do that for? !"
The Chinese nation regarded the American's angry glare.
" He was having a panic attack, aru. After almost drowning, if it continued, his life might have been in danger. "
Understanding, America nodded. Making sure the teen was comfortable in his sleep-like state, he stood up, carrying the teen and heading back towards the villa.
" Is it enough? "
China looked at the American's back, confused.
" Proof. That Artie's England. Is it enough?"
The Chinese man nodded, even though he knew that the blue eyed nation wasn't able to see him with his back turned as he retreated in the opposite direction.
"Where's America?"
The nations were gathered again in the living room, with the exception of the American nation.
" He collapsed the moment I finished tending to England's injuries, aru."
After arriving at the villa, China had inspected and treated the unconscious blond's wounds. America, once he had confirmed that the teenager was alright, had taken his place beside the boy and fallen asleep, his arms wrapped around the smaller figure protectively. He had exhausted himself both mentally and physically during the search and no longer had the energy to keep his eyes open. The Chinese nation turned to the other nations.
" Did you find out who did this to him, aru?
Germany answered. " Yes. Russia and mein bruder are taking care of them as we speak"
A moment of silence engulfed the room. Everyone in the room was worn out, no one knowing what to say after all that transpired in the last few hours. Strangely, it was Canada that spoke first.
" So, what do we do now, eh? "
A soft buzzing filled the room as everyone began muttering to themselves or whoever was beside them.
" What about the boy? Now that we know, il est l'Angleterre, what are we going to do with him? "
China shook his head. " I don't know, aru. I've never seen something like this happen before. "
England was lost.
He remembered the wave crashing in, and America's arms tightening around him, but after that there was nothing.
Darkness.
Silence.
Coldness.
Nothing else.
He gazed around in the outstretched blackness. Noticing that he was alone a fear gripped his heart. The English nation called out.
" America?"
The name echoed in the silence, but no response followed it.
" America ? ! America, where are you ? !"
More memories flooded his mind. He remembered being carried away by the freezing, black water. Away from America.
" ...Damn it...I didn't expect the wave to be that big...! "
Arthur searched in the darkness, a sob rippled through his body, threatening to escape from his throat. He choked it down.
" ...this why I told him not to come...! America, you git...! If you died, I won't forgive you...! "
After searching through the empty darkness for what felt like an eternity, the English nation froze, finding himself unable to move. England whimpered, not caring if anyone heard him, he doubted that anyone was there, anyways. He was completely alone.
Immobile in the cold silence, his mind started to blur as his memories faded in his mind. He could no longer remember how he arrived in the never ending darkness. All he was left with was his thoughts, no...a single thought.
It's cold...
Arthur gasped as he woke up in cold sweat. A sense of panic began to rise in his chest as memories of the last few hours rushed into him.
Where am I ? !
Trying to heave himself up, he found that he was being held down by a heavy weight. His eyes darted towards the source, fear closing in. It was Alfred. Instantly relaxing, the teen let out a loud sigh of relief. If Alfred was there, he knew he was safe. The sandy blond blushed at the recent thought and continued to survey his surroundings. From the unicorns that were covering the brightly lit bedroom, Arthur figured that they must be back at the villa. A minute later, after confirming that everything was alright, he settled his head back on the pillow. At the moment he felt safe...and warm. Contently, he cuddled closer into the American's arms, ignoring the feelings of embarrassment he knew he'd have in the future.
Basking in the warmth, Arthur drifted back into sleep.
A/N: Fufufufu~ Did you guys think I'd really be evil enough to kill off Artie? Causing him pain is fun but I'm a stickler for happy endings. Bet you guys didn't guess that, that was how I was gonna confirm Artie's identity to the other nations. (^.^) I felt kind of bad for leaving you with a cruel cliff hanger so here you guys go. Another chappie! I have go to bed now though since I'm going to school in the morning. (T^T) Winter break flew by so fast ~! Well..um..Reviews make me smile!
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