It had been a long week. America had been to several events that took up most of the day. He would be up at dawn and back home as the sun set. He wasn't afraid to admit that he was a little exhausted.
Because he had been so busy lately, he hadn't had the chance to hang out with friends or go out for a change. Not that he really minded. It wasn't until he was about to go to bed that he found himself feeling a little lonely and empty. But what could he do? Then before he could think more about it, he was asleep.
It was the end of another long day as America entered though the door of his home. His bosses words echoed in his thoughts "I understand that you might be a little worn out, so I want you to take the next day off".
America was pleased that his boss seemed proud of his efforts over the past week. He held his head high, even though his arms and legs were like dead weights.
He closed the door and made himself a late-night meal:a homemade burger with plenty of vegetables. Just the way he liked it.
He sat on the couch in front of the tv to watch his favorite show: cops, and once it was over, the news.
As he lay there on the couch, the phone rang. Who would be calling this late? Did his boss change his mind?
America hesitated to pick it up. He still didn't have caller ID, even though France had told him that it would be a good investment. He cleared his throat and picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey,America. It's me. Sorry for calling so late your time"
"England?"
America looked at his watch which read 9:30. He did the math in his head and added six hours.
"Well, it's even later for you buddy. Why are you calling at 3 am? Or should I say 300 hours?"
England coughed a little and inhaled through his nose.
"I'm in the states right now and my flight got delayed again. I was originally going to fly back home early afternoon l, but there's a lot of bad weather so all of the flights have been canceled"
"Do you need a hotel recommendation? The Ramada Inn is pretty good."
England chuckled slightly. As he spoke, his voice filled with shame.
"This is going to sound ridiculous, but I didn't bring enough money for a hotel. I guess I figured that everything would work out. I only have enough for a cab."
America paused.
"Sooo, you need a place to stay?"
America listened for a reply.
"...yeah."
America looked over at a drawing on the shelf. It was a drawing he had made of him and England when he was very little.
"You haven't come here in ages."
"It would be just for tonight. Then I will be out of your hair. I'm sorry to impose on you so late, but I could help you out in some way to return the favor."
"Out of my hair..." America muttered under his breath. He hesitated and stared at the drawing. "How far away are you from my house?"
"About.. half an hour, I believe."
"You have enough money for a half an hour taxi?"
"Well, I might have to walk a ways perhaps-
"Just tell me which airport."
"Uh, JFK".
"Okay, I'll send a taxi for you and they'll drive you here. Just pay me back later."
"Alright, thank you"
America paused again. When was the last time England ever thanked him for anything?
"It's no problem. I have a friend who knows me who works nights as a driver. I'll give him a call and tell him to look for you. I'll see you in half an hour"
"Thank You America"
America paused, not sure what to say this time.
"Bye"
He hung up the phone and quickly dialed his friend.
"Yeah, he's about 5 foot 6? And skinny and has blonde hair that sticks out in all directions. Kinda like Harry Potter, but in the books. Not the Beatle look he has in the first two movies. Yeah? You see him? Oh-and super bushy eyebrows. Yup, that's definitely him. Okay, I'll pay you once you get to my house. Cash. Kay, later."
After America hung up he went upstairs to the guest bedroom. It was kinda dusty, but the bed was made. He opened the closet door and took out a couple extra pillows and a quilt blanket. He spread the blanket on top of the bed. It was going to be a little cold around midnight, and England gets cold so easily that he thought an extra blanket would be a good idea.
He went to the bathroom and checked to make sure he had plenty of toilet paper and towels.
Okay. America checked his watch. They should be here in fifteen minutes.
He went downstairs and decided that he wanted a cup of tea and started to brew some water. He usually disliked tea, but for some reason he was in the mood to have some. It couldn't possibly be that England was coming.
He thought of the drawing again. His heart filled with sad regret, but continued to ignore it. Why didn't he just pay for a hotel for England? Why did he ever suggest that he should come HERE?
America stood alone with his thoughts for several minutes as he sipped his tea. Suddenly, he could hear a car pulling up to the house. He set the teacup down and went to the door.
Breathe, he told himself. It's just England.
He opened it to see Larry, his friend the taxi driver, and England getting out of the vehicle. Larry had a briefcase in his hand as he walked up the steps to see America.
"Long time no see buddy! Here's your friends briefcase, he looks pretty tuckered out," he set the case down by the door "so I wanted to give a hand."
America nodded as Larry slapped his hand on his back in a teasing way. He handed the money.
"Keep the change. You're the best."
"Anytime!"
As Larry walked back to the taxi, America's eyes fell on England. Their eyes met and for the first time in a while, England's eyes looked.. frail. In fact, his whole body looked that way as well.
England walked up to the steps slowly. He only had on a simple white dress shirt, tie, and dress pants, along with shiny black boots that he wore underneath his pants.
America's legs moved before he had time to consider it and swiftly walked down the porch steps. Within seconds he was right in front of him. It hit him just how tall he was.
England looked up at America.
"Hey. Thank you for the ride."
America nodded.
"I'm sorry that..it's...been so long, America... I'm sorry-
England began to swoon backwards. America's arms reached out to catch him. He pulled England close to his toned chest as if he was hugging him. Then he bent down and lifted him up, carrying him like a sleeping princess.
America could hear a horn honking. He looked over at the taxi window.
"Take good care of him!" Larry called out with a small grin. Then he rolled up his window and drove into the night. Leaving America alone with England.
America looked down at him again. England's top half bent down, as his arms and head dripped towards the porch floor. His arms hung in the air like branches, moving slightly as America moved. With England's neck stretched out, America could see his Adam's apple slightly, and his chin pointed up towards the rooftop. His hair was no longer bushy, but was pulled down thanks to gravity, revealing his eyebrows that he usually hid underneath his bangs.
"England..."
America whispered. The night air was so crisp, and bought a gentle breeze every few minutes. It had been so long that America had forgotten what England looked like. So he continued to stand on the porch with England in his arms, as if he was memorizing his entire body. From the tips of his boots, to the soft curl of his eyelashes.
After a while, America adjusted England so that he could stare at his face, still under the sleep spell. He suddenly had the urge to...
"America.."
England muttered the name as he hung upside down.
America's heart skipped a beat.
"England..?" He asked again. But England's mouth just hung open, refusing to say anything else. "England?" America asked again, but England made no signs that he was coming to. America shook him slightly. England's arms wiggled in the air and his mouth opened slightly more, but no more words come out.
America sighed and pulled England so that he was positioned vertically, with his legs now touching the floor and his chest against America's. His body hung limp in his arms in front of him. His boots dragged across the floorboards. America hoisted him up slightly. England bent backwards like a tree waiting to snap.
"Why are you so beautiful?"
America couldn't believe the words had escaped his mouth. But as soon as they were out, a new feeling erupted in his soul.
As he held England's chest next to his, he lifted his head up so that he could see his beautiful face. And that's when, their lips touched.
America had never kissed anymore do lovingly before, and it was Ike a new version of himself had bloomed. He slowly removed his lips from England's and opened his eyes.
England's eyes began to flutter, and soon they opened up to reveal his dark green eyes.
"America... what-what happened?"
"You fainted. But I caught you."
"Oh, I see. Sorry about that"
"No, don't apologize. I'll get you to bed."
Before England had time to say anything else, America hoisted England up over his shoulder. He could feel England's bony arms hit his back gently. He waited for England to complain, but nothing happened. As he walked through the doorway, he past a mirror and looked at his reflection: England hung over him like a pair of pants. He was unconscious again as his head dipped down with his soft blonde hair.
"Silly England."
America walked up the stairs to the guest room. He lay England's body across the bed, eagle spread.
He could kiss him again.
But that when it hit him: pajamas.
America went to his dresser and pulled out his long, blue and white striped pajamas.
As he came back in, he wondered if he should try to wake England to get him to change himself.
He'd probably just pass out again anyways. Also, he's changed me loads of times when I was a kid.
So I'm just.. going to do it to him...no big deal.
America started with his boots. Unzipping them and then setting them near the bed. Next came the pants.
What would happen if he woke up? I'll just explain the truth. I'm just having him borrow my pjs.
He unbuckled his belt and slid it off with ease. Then he unbuttoned the top of his pants and unzipped the zipper. America felt disgusted. He quickly yanked the pants off, revealing England's soft white legs. He pulled off the white socks and put them near the boots.
England now lay on the bed pant-less. America looked at England's square boxers. He tried to remember the last time he had seen England without pants but couldn't remember.
Now, it's just his dress shirt and tie.
America realized that he probably should have started with the tie because if England woke up now, it was be even more awkward.
"Why is this tie so TIGHT?" America spoke out loud through his teeth.
He yanked the side part toward him, but ended up pulling England's head up from the bed. America froze but England still slept on.
America realized how sexy England looked from this angle. He titled his head closer to the sleeping pirate until he could feel his breath on his forehead.
Once again without much thought, America kissed England's chin and then his neck. He pulled the tie closer to him, lifting England's head a bit higher off the bed. The tie hung around the middle of his neck. He was careful not to make it too tight.
"England.." America whispered to his ear. "I love you. Please forgive me..for leaving you. I'm sorry England. I never wanted to hurt you."
A single tear fell onto England's cheek. Then another.
"But.." America's hands clenched England's tie a bit tighter, "I can't forgive you, for leaving me. You left me all alone England. I needed you. Where were you when I was sick? When I needed someone? Where did you go?"
The salt water tears dripped from America's eyes down to England's neck.
"How could you be so cruel? What did I do to deserve so much loneliness? I know I can be troublesome but I was a kid England. How could you-"
The tie suddenly tightened, causing the knot to close around England's neck.
America let go of it and pulled on the knot. It wouldn't budge. Then America took both hands and ripped the tie in half, Captain America style.
England took a deep breath and continued to lay eagle spread on the bed, his pants on the floor and his tie shredded.
America collected himself and unbuttoned England's shirt. He placed his arm around England's back so that his shirt was behind it. He pulled him close. As England slept against him, America pulled his shirt off one sleeve at a time until England was just laying against him with his bare skin.
America threw the shirt down by the boots and then carefully laid England back on the bed.
As his tears dried up, America kissed England's cheek where the tear had fallen.
When his lips touched England's face, they felt cold. America felt England's arms and realized then just how cold he was. His feet were like ice.
There's no way I can warm him up in this bed.
Then it hit him: England loves baths.
Or at least, that's what he remembered.
He threw the spare blanket over England and ran to the bather and started the tub. It was a small, average tub, but England could fit into it.
As he waited for the tub to fill up, he wrapped England's feet in a heated blanket. It was just a small one, but it worked for feet.
After several minutes, the tub was full. America lifted England over his shoulder again, his skin touching America's warm sweater, and carried him to the bathroom and shut the door.
America held England in his arms and tested the water one more time. It was a little hot, but England needed it. He dipped England's toes into the tub and then his feet.
England didn't seem disturbed, but then again he didn't seem disturbed when he nearly choked him in the other room.
America suddenly felt concerned, is England..okay? He placed his ear next to his heart. A steady heartbeat was heard. It seemed normal.
Back to the tub-America was NOT going to remove his boxers. That was TOO far. So, he held England in his arms and slowly lowered him into the warm tub. Slowly, America let go of England and let him lean back into the tub.
There. Nice and warm.
America stared at England's face. His head was tilted to the side with his mouth slightly open. He looked..adorable.
America looked down at England's boxers. They seemed to float underwater.
I need to get his chest warm...it's out of the water right now. America took a sponge and gently poured the warm water over England's chest. England's head slightly flinched, but then relaxed.
America filled the tub up more as the water started to drain. He remembered why he never used the tub-the plug was broken.
As he turned to grabs the towels, England's head suddenly slipped into the water, submerging him.
"England!"
America grabbed him and pulled him up. His chest glistened with water on it. His hair dripped with water.
I need to be more careful. If I fall asleep trying to keep an eye on him-
America pulled England to the side of the tub and dragged his arms over the side. His head dripping with water as it hung limp .
America removed his pants and shirt. He had a very muscular physic, but not too bulky. He kept his briefs and glasses on as he climbed into the tub. He grabbed England's waist as he gently leaned England's head against his chest. He lowered them down into the tub.
Then America remembered reason number two he never took a bath. He couldn't fit.
So he sat against the wall of the tub with his knees bent, as England lay between them against his warm chest.
It was almost like England was a nice cool, blanket. Because of the additional weight, the water rose up even higher and perfectly covered England's chest up to the base of his neck.
He could still wake up, America reminded himself. But America was too sleepy to think about it. As his chest rose up and down, he felt England's wet head rest heavily against him.
America wrapped his arms around him to hold him in place.
"America..."
The name escaped England's lips again for a second time.
America opened his eyes and looked down at his sleeping princess.
"England..."
Together, they slept in the bathtub as the water slowly drained out...
The next day
America awoke in his bed. The second his eyes fluttered open, he realized in fear that he didn't fall asleep there originally.
He looked around-England? England? Was he still in the tub?
He ran to the bathroom and swung open the door. No England.
He ran to the guest room. England's clothes were gone. No England.
He went downstairs to the kitchen where he saw-
"England!"
England stood in the kitchen with a piece of toast in his mouth.
"Waht?" He said with his mouth full.
"Oh-uh-um-uh-How did you sleep?"
"Good" said England. He swallowed the toast. "Like a baby"
"That's good. No nightmares or anything..?"
"Nope, I was out. That bed was pretty comfortable."
America stood there not sure what to say.
"Do you want some toast?" England asked?
"Sure..."
America sat down and realized the seat felt cold. He looked down and realized...he was in his boxers. When did he-? Was he wearing boxers last night?
"I'm going to quick throw something on" America chuckled weakly. He saw that England was in his clothes from yesterday but they looked very nice, no sign of wrinkles.
America ran up stairs and tried to jog his memory has he clothed himself:
I was in the tub..with England...and then...what? Then what??
He looked at his hair, it looked damp. He didn't remember getting his hair wet. He combed it back and went downstairs.
He saw a plate of toast with cinnamon and butter.
"For you. Just how you like it."
"Oh, you remembered?" asked America as he bit into it.
"I remember lots of things. However, I don't really remember getting here. That's a bit of a blur"
"Oh. That's funny." America crammed his mouth with toast. It tasted just how he remembered England used to make it.
England shut the fridge and poured himself some orange juice.
"Want some?"
America nodded. He was going to need it if he wanted to swallow the dry bread he just chewed.
"You got a phone call earlier. France is coming over for something."
"What does he need?"
"He just said he wanted to talk to you. He wouldn't talk to me about it"
America smirked. "France.. talked to you? And it didn't end up being another war?"
"We can control ourselves, sometimes"
"Sometimes" America repeated. He drained the rest of his juice.
"England.. do you really not remember anything from last night?"
England turned to face America. He looked into his blue eyes.
"Is there something you want to tell me?" England asked.
America hesitated. This is what he gets for not thinking this through.
"I just..I just"
England looked at him.
"I just wanted to thank you..for stopping by. I haven't seen you in a while and it was nice-to see you."
"Of course" England responded. "I missed you too. America... I'm not sure if I said this already but, I wanted to say that...I'm sorry for how I've treated you in the past. I never ever wanted to hurt you. You have every right to be angry at me, but I just wanted you to know-
"I forgive you"
England looked up again into America's eyes. America's eyes darted away.
"I'm sorry...for hurting you too...England"
England looked down and nodded.
"Thank you...America"
America nodded.
They both finished breakfast and soon heard the doorbell ring.
"That must be France" said America, feeling worn out again.
He opened the door to see a man with blonde hair to his shoulders standing on his doorstep.
"America! How are you?! It's been so long!" France hugged America.
"What's Up Francis?"
"I was in the area and wanted to say "hello~" I even brought you some of my homemade pastries."
"Thanks! I'll have to save them for later." he set them down on England's briefcase that he forgot to grab last night.
"Anything for my favorite customer!"
"England's here."
France looked over America's shoulder to see England in the kitchen.
"Oh..so he is. I did talk to him briefly so I should have guessed he was still in the process of leaving."
"He's okay. He can stay as long as he likes. We had a good talk"
"Oh, you did? Well, that's wonderful! I'm so proud of you!" France started to walk back to his car. "We'll catch up some other time then. Enjoy yourselves!"
England came out in the porch as France waved. America and England waved back.
As the car drove away, America turned to England.
"So, when do you think you'll be headed back? I work tomorrow but you can hang here if that's alright with you. I need to get groceries though."
"I don't know, I'm free until next week. So I'll just plan it by day."
"Okay"
"So,... America, I hung your briefs in the tub to dry. Just in case you were wondering."
"You-you what?"
"From last night. You were asleep in the tub with your briefs on, don't you remember? The tub was nearly empty when I woke up, so I couldn't leave you in wet clothing, so I found some boxers in your room and I-"
"So-that's how I-"
"I had to drag you out of the tub, so your hair got wet because of the rest of the water at the bottom. Sorry about that."
"But-How-What-carry-me-How-?" America's face went from red to pale.
England smirked.
"Thanks for taking care of me, America"
"Oh-god. Oh no-I ugh-"
America began to swoon. His eyes rolling back into his head as he fell forward into England's arms. England hugged America's waist into his chest. America's body bent backwards like a tree about to break. His feet bending backwards against the wooden floor with his arms hanging spread-eagle. His neck also bent backwards, his chin pointed towards the sky. His eyes remained shut but his mouth hung open open slightly.
England grabbed America's glasses and placed him safely in his back pocket. He then hoisted America over his shoulder. America's long arms stretched down England's back while his damp hair hung down towards the floor. His shirt had started to peel down as well, leaving part of America's back exposed.
England held him like this for a second to catch his breath. America was a bit heavier than he was, and taller.
"Cmon England, you did this last night, you can do it again."
England went through the door as America's limp arms dangled in the air. England held America's legs tightly. He looked in the mirror by the door to see America hanging over his shoulder.
"England.."
The name escaped from America's lips.
England glanced at the mirror again. America continued to hang unconscious against England's back. It was like a sleeping spell had been cast over him. After several seconds of silence, England replied:
"I love you too America"
Then he headed to the couch in the living room.
The End