"I thought you said you didn't sleep with him" America intoned agitatedly. Mexico decided that if America was going to do this every time Spain's lust came up, he desperately needed a cigarette. He leaned back and grabbed another from his coat, which was hung over one of the bed posts. Mexico quickly lit it and took a long pull before saying "And it's true, I never had sex with Spain." America scoffed "Bullshit! If I were him, I would have stood up right there and then, grabbed you, bent you over the table, and then taken you right there".
Mexico rolled his eyes and took another pull, enjoying the feeling of THC racing through his veins. He said with some sarcasm "Well I'm glad that Spain isn't you. He, unlike you has an amazing ability to be shocked. He didn't do anything. I admit that I may have flirted to show that I trusted him, but I never slept with Spain." America still looked doubtful, but he refrained from commenting again. Mexico sensed that the other was far from satisfied, but he knew better than to press the issue. America may be stubborn and completely tactless sometimes, but at least he knew when it was appropriate to shut up.
Mexico decided that it was better to move on to the next part, which entailed asking "You used to control the Philippines, didn't you?" The other nodded quickly "Yeah, she's a little fireball. I had trouble keeping my hold over her." Mexico smiled, and it was almost a sweet smile, "That's what I liked about her. It's not like I discouraged it either. Did she talk about me?" The blonde shook his head slightly "Cat was the one who was always talking about you, sometimes she would just burst into tears when someone said your name. But, Philippines always just fell silent whenever Cat got started. I always thought they just didn't like each other." Mexico replied "Well, there is a good reason for that. They didn't like each other, probably still don't for all I know, because Cat saw Piri as a rival for my attentions." The other leaned back and said "I always wanted to know how you and Philippines got so close." Mexico continued, almost as if he hadn't heard America "A few months after me and Spain made nice, Spain finally decided to import his newest colony."
Mexico could hear the yelling from a couple feet away down the hall, and from this he gathered that the new colony had finally arrived. It was almost an understatement to say that Spain had been less than enthused about this colony. He had only decided to take her because of her geographical importance. As an Asian country, she was right next to China and could easily get in on the booming silver and spice trades. Her name was Philippines, and she according to rumor, very pretty but very unruly.
As was to be expected, days before her arrival, everyone had been stipulating on what they had heard and what she was actually going to be like. Even the young colonies like Guatemala and Honduras had joined in, which Mexico had done nothing to stop. He didn't mind, being able to deal with rumors was a part of being a Spanish colony and the boys needed to be able to deal with it. Sometimes Mexico would look at Guatemala, who was now growing rapidly, and wonder if Spain would ever think of the boy as a surrogate for Mexico and make a move on him. But he always denied the idea, if Spain was interested in just looks, then he would have taken advantage of Texas, who would look like Mexico in a dim enough light, and he had not yet done that.
The sounds of yelling that were echoing from the front hall confirmed that the new girl did have a fiery temper. Against his better judgment, Mexico went towards the cacophony. He reached the front room in a matter of seconds, and the sight that met his eyes was not dissimilar from what he had been expecting. Spain, who was wearing a white shirt and tall black leather boots, was standing squared up to a short girl who seemed to be animated to the very tips of her long black hair. They were both yelling at the tops of their lungs, and the subject seemed to be Spain's ability to remove the girl from her homeland. She kept saying that he had no right to take her away like this.
Mexico could sympathize; he had hardly been cooperative when Spain had first brought him to Madrid. Had he not been so upset about his mother's death, then he would have probably chosen this same futile fighting. He understood that it must be worse for Philippines because her homeland was across a much larger ocean, almost on the other side of the world.
Spain seemed a lot angrier that he should have logically been, so Mexico guessed that Philippines had been doing this for the whole journey. He was no reason to step in though, this spat had nothing to do with him and to intervene would be pointless, possibly even futile. Philippines spat an especially choice, expletive-ridden phrase at Spain and Mexico could see the dangerous light flicker behind Spain's glass green eyes. The Spaniard moved quickly and struck the girl across the face and the sound of it reverberated around the hall.
Her small form seemed to crumple as she reeled from the blow. Such force would have silenced most people, but she turned back to Spain and said "You have to hit me to keep me quiet, that isn't power. You know I'm right, you sadistic pig." Spain seemed well past words, he raised his hand again. Mexico didn't make a decision; he simply took a couple running steps and flung himself between them. He caught Spain's wrist as the other man moved to deliver another blow, only then did he notice Mexico's presence. The Aztec boy simply said, "That is enough."
Spain seemed shocked by something; he was staring at Mexico's hand, which was around his wrist in disbelief. It occurred to Mexico that Spain probably hadn't been aware of how strong his colony actually was. It had not even been hard for him to stop Spain's blow, which had been full strength. It took a couple seconds before Spain finally looked Mexico in the face and said "Did you hear what she called me?" Mexico decided it would be best to be strong and firm, although not seem to be taking authority over Spain. He chose his words very carefully "I know, I heard. But, Tony, be wary of your temper. Remember what you told me about it. She's a child, she didn't mean it." With this, he threw a glance over his shoulder at the girl, which clearly told her that she better not say, anything to refute that statement.
Although Mexico didn't see it, she nodded slightly. The tension went out of the muscles in Spain's arm and the older man said "I'm sorry, Alejandro, I lost my temper, I didn't mean to, especially not around you." Mexico released Spain's wrist, and in one smooth movement, turned and grabbed the girl's wrist. She squawked indignantly, but he ignored her. The most important thing to do at the moment was to get her away from Spain, because she would invariably say something else that would make Spain angry.
Mexico pulled her, with some resistance on her part into the hall. As soon as he was sure they were out of earshot, Mexico stopped and turned on the girl. He noticed that, despite the red hand print across her face, the girl was very pretty. The fact that she was an Asian country played heavily into her features, her eyes were black as ink, as was her hair, but the scornful gaze made them hard as obsidian. She appeared to physically be about 13 or 14, hardly more than a child, although her body showed all the signs of being at least partway through puberty.
Mexico took this all in, being careful not to show her a reaction. He said, still using the measures voice he had used on Spain "How could you be so stupid, girl?" She whipped her hand out of his grasp and spat back "I need not ask who you are, it's obvious from the way your master treats you. You must be Mexico, Spain's lap dog". Mexico couldn't help but understand why Spain had hit her, that comment was a low blow.
He restrained himself and said "You're not wrong, girl, but you are most certainly not right. I am Mexico, but he is not my master, he's the man I have the ill fortune to be bound to by contract." Philippines laughed in response "Do you lie to yourself like this often? You have the strength to break your so called contract. I saw it back there; you matched his strength easily. And yet, you are still here, groveling to him." As she spoke, Mexico noticed that her lower lip had been split by Spain's blow; right under her eye was also swelling.
He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket. She had fallen silent waiting for him to respond. Instead, he took the handkerchief and carefully wiped the blood from her lip. She instinctively took a step backwards, but her face at lost its rage "W-What do you think you're doing?" Mexico matched her steps as he said "You're bleeding, and I would rather you not do it on my carpet." Philippines didn't take another step backwards; instead she stood still while Mexico cleaned the cut.
Her demeanor had shifted and she no longer seemed angry. Mexico understood, she felt scared and confused and alone, just like he had. She, like him, had been raised to believe that there was no problem she couldn't fight her way out of, which was most likely why she was being so aggressive. While he was working on her lip, he said "Let me tell you something, girl. Spain has a lot of colonies, and every single one of them lies better than you do." He finished caring for her wound, folded up the handkerchief and handed it to her "If you insist on continuing to act like that, then you will need that again."
She took it meekly, although he could see in her eyes that she was trying to figure out if she could trust him. It was the same game he had played when he had first met Cuba. Mexico turned to start walking away, this would be a test for her. As he had expected, Philippines said quickly "Wait! Mexico, don't go. I'm sorry about what I said. Please don't leave me." He turned around and looked straight at her. She was holding the slightly bloodstained handkerchief against her chest right above her heart, the fire in her eyes had also seemed to die.
Mexico nodded to show he understood and then he said "Alright, I won't leave you. My room is this way, you can collect yourself there until I find you a room". She nodded and gestured to indicate that he should lead the way. They walked for a couple silent minutes before she stopped suddenly. Mexico turned to look at her, she no longer looked quite so angry, but she didn't seem to be feeling any emotions. Her face was completely blank when she said "I just want to know. Why did you step in, Mexico? You didn't have to do anything".
He had expected this question, just not quite this soon. He could tell her the truth, but just as she wasn't sure she could trust him, he wasn't sure he completely trust her either. But, on the flipside, no one would trust a word she said about him. So he replied "I did it because you remind me of myself." Yet again, she scoffed "I don't believe that. You're Spain's favorite, even I know that. You're his golden boy." This time Mexico could counter her with a short laugh "That doesn't mean that he and I always get along." She fell silent again, which seemed to indicate that she was mulling over what Mexico had just said.
They reached Mexico's room and he opened the door casually. Still silent, Philippines walked in and without asking permission, sat on the bed and looked around. She looked relatively harmless in that position, but Mexico couldn't help but worry about her, she and Spain had not started off on the best footing and unless she yielded they were not going to get any better. With time and training, she could learn to hide her wild side, but directly under Spain's control, she wouldn't have the adequate time.
Mexico really wasn't sure why he cared so much, perhaps it was because this intemperate girl reminded him so much of himself. But regardless of the reason, he felt he needed to help her. He turned to walk out, intent on finding Spain and talking to him. Philippines immediately reacted "Where are you going? You can't just leave me here!" He responded, with a look back over his shoulder "I'm going to go talk to Spain. I hope I can save you some more pain. Feel free to make yourself at home, I will be back as soon as I possibly can." With that he walked out to find Spain.
A/N: I bet there were some of you waiting for Piri to show up, I hope I didn't disappoint ^-^
I based her character off of her long history of violent revolts, she seems like the sort that doesn't generally take crap from anyone
Please review like always