(Author's Note: Theme # in my 100 Themes I'm doing. Takes place before America's stand in the annex.)
He has seen a lot of horror movies over his centuries of life, but none of them compare to the dark terror that is this mansion.
Nothing scares him more than this. Nothing. At least with horror movies, he doesn't have the threat of death looming over him every second.
It's not even his own death he fears; he fears for the lives of his friends and, most importantly, the two nations he considers to be his "brothers".
He worries about England the most. He has seen visions of the past; he has watched his older brother overexert himself, use more magic than his body can handle. He has watched England die several times; Italy even confirmed that not only did England die the most, but sometimes he was the only one to die.
He fears for Canada, too. The brother that is practically his twin may say the Thing can't see him, but America doesn't care. The risk can't be taken; he cannot risk losing the brother he used to forget was even there.
He feels useless. He's supposed to be the hero, yet he can't save anyone he holds dear. What kind of hero is he if he can't accomplish that task?
Italy has been far more of a hero than him; the auburn-haired nation has bravely gone back in time over and over, putting up with the agony of watching them die in front of him for who knows how many times. He was willing to give up his own life to make sure the rest of them would get out safely.
That is why he's decided to take action. He can't just sit by and watch as those he cares about die all over again. He especially can't sit by and watch England push himself past his limits yet again, throw away his life for no reason.
So he is going to take a stand. They need to get back the Thing in the annex; isn't it the hero's job to rid the world of evil?
He is going to be the one to save them this time. Not Italy, not England. This time, the task will fall into his hands.
So he loads his pistol, making sure the bullets are ready for firing. He will snatch at this chance; he has to prove himself. It's up to him to be a hero and finally save someone. No longer will he need to be saved.
Once the bullets are loaded and ready, he waits. He waits for the cue that they will take a trip to the annex. And when they do, he will finally prove to England that he can stand up for himself. For once, it will be him saving his brother, not the other way around.
He is America. And he will finally step up to his role of the hero.