I own nothing but the story plot.

Ch.24 Insecurities

England ran a hand through his hair frustrated.

"How did this get messed up? If we can't fix it there will be major problems piled on to the economy!" he yelled at his boss.

"I know! Now hush and let's try to fix it." England was jittery and nerves on edge. He was worried for what this could do to his brothers. He clenched his teeth hours later still not knowing how to fix it. He hated the ones that messed it up so bad. He would fire all those bastards. The door opened.

"You called?" Scotland asked England's boss.

"Yes. We need your opinion on this. Some people not to be named screwed it up." He growled. Scotland's eyes scanned the documents. He frowned then sat and started scribbling and clicking away at the desk. Two hours later he had it all worked out. Everything was going to be ok. England felt himself shrink in his seat.

'There he goes again. Bailing you out of something you couldn't fix. Always the one to fix everything. Always having to stop what he's doing to help his complicated little brother.' He thought. A hand laid on his head.

"Ready to go home?" Scotland asked smiling.

"No." England said dully. "I have other things to do." He said getting up and walking out leaving his confused big brother behind. He flashed over to his house. Things were getting dusty since he hadn't been there in a while. He cleaned up then pulled out the clothes he had left there and changed. He ordered delivery food then watched Netflix on his tv. He kept his phone off when his brothers eventually kept calling him late that night. The next morning, he packed a bag knowing they would start searching. He knew a place Scotland would never look. He knew all of England's hideaway places. But now he had a new one. Scotland's own house. Scotland wouldn't expect him there since Scotland probably knew him being upset had to do with him. So he flashed away into his house and made himself comfy. He liked Scotland's house. It brought a feeling of safety and comfort for him. He felt secure. He could never understand how Scotland or something that had something to do with Scotland made him feel so comfortable, safe, and secure. More than likely because Scotland raised him. He always had this protective fatherly aura around him when dealing with his little brothers. Ever since their mom died it had always been Scotland to handle everything and make everything ok again. So it was a no brainer England would go seek out hiding at his house. Because he could be left alone and feel at ease there. He could relax and just ignore the world for a while. He curled up in Scotland's bed that night cocooning himself in the blankets that smelled like him when he was started to get depressed again. He was starting to wonder about his sanity if Scotland's scent which just consisted of outdoors, whiskey, and cigarette smoke could calm him. But Scotland made the scent smell nice because of how faint it was and them all mixed together evenly didn't smell to bad. It suited his tall buff red headed brother. It suited him because of appearance and his personality, his crazy, father brother, over protective, quick tempered, but loving personality. England furrowed his brows slightly thinking of the quick tempered part. He wondered how much trouble he was going to get in for this. Especially since he pulled his battery and SD card out of his phone so they couldn't track him. He was soaking in the tub taking a long bubble bath four days later when a hand dunked his head under the water. He thrashed trying to get back up then the hand was gone and he sat up sputtering and choking. Soap was in his eyes. He rubbed at them with a whine feeling a familiar presence beside him. A towel was shoved in his face wiping at his eyes gently. England opened his eyes and glared halfheartedly at him.

"How did you find me but those idiots can't?"

"Call it a little brother thing." Germany said smirking. "You wanted to hide where he wouldn't look. But you also wanted a comforting presence. Nothing is more comforting than the house of your big brother who raised you. Because is smells like him ja?" he said smiling down at him cheekily.

"Ja." England mocked and laughed as his head got dunked again shutting his eyes and holding his breath this time. When he was let back up he wiped his eyes and peered up at him. "You sound like you speak from experience."

"I do. We do have the same living arrangements as you five. Prussia's house is a comforting place to hide in."

"How sweet."

"Until he found out that's where I hide."

"How did he manage that?" England said shocked.

"Prussia." Germany said in a mock serious voice. "Is smarter than we gave him credit for." England mock gasped.

"Say it isn't so!"

"It's so. He learned a new skill."

"What's that?"

"Checking the mail."

"How does that…."

"I used to get the mail first get him to just give me the money and I would mail it off for him. I would ask for the amount he would pay because his house wasn't being used. Then add my own money for the rest when I hide there because the bill would be higher. Because I used it. So that worked for about six months until he caught me adding money to the envelope once day was suspicious then he checked the mail before me one damn time and put two and two together."

"Did he tease you about it?"

"Mercilessly."

"Did he to coo at you like you were the most adorable thing on the earth?"

"Obviously he's Prussia."

"Damn I hate it when Scotland does that. Wait but how does he know when you are over there. Like the times he finds you how does he find out? He can't predict that by the mail."

"He's Prussia. He knows my hiding place, always knows when I'm upset, then there he goes barging into his house like an ass and finding me."

"You're calling him an arse for barging in but he owns that house." England said laughing.

"He's an ass because I'm trying to hide from him. Then there he goes predicting where I'll be. Then has the nerve to make me feel better." Germany teased.

"Why keep going there if he knows that's where you'll be?"

"Don't know. Part of me wants him to find me I guess so he can make it ok again. Same reason you're sticking around here. You want Scotland to find you. So he can make everything ok. You know he'll figure it out the longer you stay."

"I guess." England said softly. "It's still creepy you're over here having a conversation with me while I'm naked." He teased.

"The bubbles are covering everything. Even if they weren't it's nothing I haven't seen before. I've been drinking with you too many times to count."

"True." England said laughing. "Seriously you creep. Shoo. I need to get dressed." Germany thumped his nose and walked out. He went downstairs at the same time Scotland came through the door.

"Why are you in my…Have you been running up my bill? I have been blaming England!"

"Hey!" Germany yelled punching him in the gut making him double over. "I have not! I just found England! I was about to call you but you ruined everything! So did the mail! Fucking mail ruins everything!" he yelled throwing his hands up.

"I'm sorry. You didn't have to punch me." Scotland groaned.

"Did too. You accused me of things." Germany said then England appeared on the steps.

"Mail?"

"Mail."

"Fucking mail." England muttered. Scotland raised up punched Germany in the chest.

"Don't punch my nipple fucking red head!" he snapped punching him back. They threw punches calling each other names before grappling on the floor while England kept laughing. Scotland pinned Germany scowling.

"Truce." He growled finally.

"Fine." Germany growled. Scotland let him up. Germany went for the door.

"See you at dinner." Scotland called.

"Ja whatever." Germany said waving a hand around and left. England saw the look on Scotland's face and went back upstairs and into Scotland's room cocooning himself in the blankets pout forming.

"Don't you start pouting like you did nothing wrong! I've been worried sick and so has everyone else England!"

"Leave me alone." He grumbled. Scotland sighed.

"Why my house?" he asked after a moment of silence.

"Because I like your house. It makes me relax."

"It comforts you doesn't it."

"Don't sound so cheeky you bastard." England muttered hiding his face.

"It's cute." Scotland teased.

"Shut up!" he spat.

"Then tell me what's going on with you. First you're pissed at me, then not, then after fixing that issue you're pissed at me again, then you run away, now I find you at my house."

"Don't want to talk about it."

"I think I deserve an explanation after you have had me running country to country searching for you and worrying about you constantly. I thought something had happened to you England! Now tell me what's going on! You owe me that! After all the trouble you've put me through trying to find you!"

'After all the trouble you put me through." Echoed in England's head. He didn't realize he had started crying until he was in a lap being held tightly face mashed against a chest and he could hear his own pitiful wails.

"I'm sorry I'm always trouble for you. I'm sorry. Scotland I'm sorry. I don't mean to be trouble." He heard himself say repeatedly into his chest.

"England." Scotland said soothingly. "Talk to me." He begged. England found the words tumbling out of his mouth admitting all his insecurities. Soon he was being assured and soothed. "I promise. You're never a burden, you're never trouble. I can definitely promise my life would not be better without you. What would I do with my crazy baby brother? You bring balance and joy to my days. I always wake up wondering what crazy hilarious thing you're going to do next to brighten my day."

"You even like it when I prank you?" England sniffed.

"Maybe after I'm done pitching a fit about it." Scotland said chuckling. England's eyes were brighter now tears long gone even though the evidence of his crying was still on his cheeks. "Come on wee one. Let's go home." Scotland said smiling.

"I'm starving." England agreed.

"I knew you were. I could hear your stomach growling like a pissed wolf at me when I was comforting you." He said tickling it a little earning giggles. They flashed back to their home after cutting all the lights off and stuff. The others scolded England lightly for worrying them but hugged him all the same. At dinner Prussia glanced at Scotland.

"Soooo." He said smirking. "Your house?"

"My house." Scotland confirmed.

"Mail?"

"Right."

"Don't you just love bills sometimes? It helps you know when brats are hiding at your house." Prussia said casually smirking as Germany was still eating his food like the conversation wasn't happening but pink was creeping up on his cheeks.

"Has Saxony been hiding at your house?" Scotland teased.

"Oh hell no I'd kill him. Guess again."

"Hesse."

"Nein." Prussia said grinning wildly with Scotland both eyeing the nation whose face was turning redder the others but England not noticing but looking confused. England was covering a smile with his hand.

"Bavaria." Scotland said grinning wider when Germany ducked his head.

"He's definitely a brat. But nein."

"Well it can't be Germany." Scotland teased.

"Afraid so."

"Well he wasn't in your bed was he using it like his own? Like a brat?" Scotland teased jabbing England's side playfully earning a glare.

"Ja. He was. And you know? The funniest thing he said for his reason why." Prussia started.

"Because it brought him comfort? Because it smelled like you." Scotland said.

"How'd you know?" Prussia mock gasped.

"I might have made England admit his reasoning at some point when he was crying his eyes out."

"Only time they will admit stuff is when they're crying their eyes out ja?" Prussia asked winking taking the fork that stabbed him in the side from his little brother.

"Yeah. But isn't it just cute.." Scotland started.

"Completely and utterly adorable.." Prussia added in.

"When they are little sniffling messes in your lap seeking comfort and wanting to be cuddled." They said at the same time grinning wildly at the two red faces.

"You two stop picking on them." Wales said laughing.

"But it's so cute and sweet we just can't help but talk about it." Prussia teased.

"This is why I like Ireland better than you." Germany grumbled as Ireland wrapped an arm around him pulling their seats close so he could hold his embarrassed boyfriend and give him a way to hide. "He doesn't tease me about crying."

"Because I'm sweeter." Ireland said smirking in victory at Prussia. Prussia glared.

"He may like you more but you forget who he loves more." Prussia said pointing at him.

"Me." Ireland teased.

"West you hugged the person you love more." Prussia said. Germany stayed still. "Well fine I see how it is." He said. Then acted like he's leave earning a whine of protest and a huff as arms wrapped around him. Prussia grinned cheekily at Ireland making him laugh. "I'm sorry I embarrassed you." He said amused as Germany glared at him face still pink.

"And I might be a little sorry for embarrassing you." Scotland teased poking England's nose.

That night both of them had poison oak in their beds that they didn't know about until the next morning when they woke in the rash. Which England and Germany discreetly gave each other a fist bump under the table that morning. Rubber gloves were an amazing thing to have when planting things like that in someone's bed. The two older brothers didn't realize it was the two until much later.

Yay! Done! College finals have put me behind on this so be patient with me. I won't be as busy soon. Also Germany gets to make an appearance because I kind of wanted someone who understood what England's problem was to talk to him first. (Also because I love Germany as much as I love England) It's a little sibling moment between the two. Of course Prussia and Scotland had to tease them at the end because hey. That's what big brothers do. Embarrass their little siblings. Plus them teasing and those two dorks getting all embarrassed is adorable.