Capital Punishment

Chapter 6

Knocking woke Danny up that morning. Groggily, Danny lifted himself off the bed, and wrapped himself in his star spangled blanket and began his trudge towards the door. Danny gave his fish a drowsy glance as he put his hand on the knob.
"Next time, Link, you get the door." The fish seemed to just squint at him.

"Yeah, I know you heard me." Danny said as he opened the door. Oh what a surprise. Mail.

"This is for Washington D.C.? Huh, it just has this door number. Here you go, sir." Said the bright eyed mailman.

At first, Danny just stared at the letter being handed to him like he was being handed a rattle snake. Confused and apprehensive. Washington D.C…? His brain did not compute.

"Sir?" The mailman jerked the letter towards him. Danny jumped.

"Oh, uh, sorry, yes, uh, thank you, sir." Danny grabbed the letter, shut the door, and hopped back on his bed. The hell is this about? His name on a letter? He wasn't even sure if it was his name, he'd only ever discussed this with Landon, who else would know? Danny cocooned himself in his blankets and used his phone as a light to open the letter. Strange. The envelope was recent, but the letter was dated 1854. That was when he'd been declared a national secret.

To Washington D.C.

In the light that it would inevitable that you eventually realize the true nature of your existence, I thought it appropriate that you know the reason of which that Congress has withheld this information from you and the country of America.

Danny groaned, he hated how people wrote back in the 1800's. All flowery and confusing, they should just get to point, it would be quicker. Maybe that's why it was easier to be illiterate back then, the educated had to learn to write like goddamn Shakespeare.

I will have you know that I am writing you this letter without the knowledge of congress, as the other congressmen do not think that it will be necessary for your future. This letter is only for when you realize that you are the Capitol.

Daaaaaaaaamn, Daniel thought, I be right.

Only for when the government of the future deems it to be essential or for when you begin to search for your country, I have arranged for them to give you this letter.

Danny froze. What? How would they know? He only talked to Landon, and when he searched the archives in the past, he never told them that he was specifically searching for America. Wait. Could it have been the Secret Service? Did they recognize America yesterday when he didn't? Danny cursed. America was probably in that tour group that yelled at Landon.

"UGH. I WAS SO CLOSE." He yelled at the letter, as if the letter would sympathize with his misgivings.

So the Secret Service must have told congress, and they gave him the letter. STUPID DAMN LETTER—

Why is it that congress has not allowed for America to care for you? It is because congress does not believe that he can. In the war of 1812, Washington died. America was not able to protect him. Congress does not believe that he can protect you.

Danny swallowed a lump in his throat. Oh my God. What a bombshell. He suddenly felt sick, but it wasn't because of a vote this time. Washington died. He was the replacement. The replacement that America never knew about.

He is too immature, impressionable, and irresponsible. In that respect, Congress has chosen to use its authority to protect you and has taken you into custody, and they do not want America's interference. They have forbidden you to meet him, and they will not divulge to him the knowledge of your existence.

Danny was suddenly seeing a pattern. Why did this look like a divorce? Oh America, you cannot possibly protect our poor boy, you have already lost the first. You are forbidden to see him ever again. He is in our custody now. Danny chuckled as he imagined that of an overly dramatic woman, lavishly throwing up her arm as if to shield her head from the thought. But wait, this was serious. He searched the words again. Forbidden to meet him? Well that's some grade A bullshit right there. Danny stared down the letter, seemingly to put it in its place. This 19th century asshole congress can't tell him what to do. They obviously didn't suspect that some sentient circus peanut like Trump would ever get the presidency. He was literally passing out from the conflict, he needed the relief of having a country to pick him up when he fell apart.

I hope that you will see reason. I do not completely agree with congresses arrangements, but I do understand their concerns. If you ever do meet America, I hope that it will be because you are not given a choice. I dread the day of such an occurrence, but there is already an impending conflict over slavery, so I believe that it may be sooner than I would like. If you ever do meet America, please Daniel, be aware of that he might not be able to care for you as we have.

There was no name. Well he never did meet America during the Civil War. Danny ran, away to the Harrison Ranch. Wow way to make Danny nervous about meeting America. Care for me? They apparently thought that Danny liked to suffocate in the company of old white men. They never understood him, which was why he went to Ranch in the first place. What Danny needed was a friend, not to be coddled. This was the land of the fucking free, and congress tried to cage in its own Capitol because it knew "what was best for him." Danny had been nearly as old as all of those congressmen, even if he hadn't appeared that way, they could not possibly have known what it was that he had truly needed. His country.

Danny put down the letter. He was going out to meet Landon, and if he wanted to meet him in the afternoon, he should start his escape sooner rather than later. If he had to sneak pass the Feds like Goddamn Batman, than give him a cape. He was his own hero here. Danny smiled sadly at the thought.

He just wanted a partner.

Landon

Landon awoke to his covers being aggressively torn off his body. He scowled and deeply regretted changing his hotel to room with England. He also briefly wondered what the aggravated assault charges were in America.

"Talk. Now." He practically could hear England's frown from the end of the bed. London sat up.

"A cuppa tea first?" London tried. England faltered, and came to agree.

"Fine, but then we get down to business. I don't know when America will be over, you know he's sporadic like that."

Oh yeah. Landon had nearly forgotten. They would be getting an energetic American his morning. Maybe then he could tell America, but damn—he would probably have to tell England first. Landon rubbed the drowsiness his eyes. He was meeting Danny again at the Starbucks before the world meeting starts for England. But for now, he was meeting with a cup of tea.

Danny

Danny was on his way to the Starbucks later that morning, the letter folded neatly next to Andy's Knife. He'd successfully snuck past the Feds like all the times before. This time, he had imagined himself in all black, like Batman, sneaking through the halls of the base where his room was located. Danny smirked to himself, getting a few questioning stares from some strangers. Oh yeah, I'm a fucking NINJA. I'm SO good at this. Suddenly he felt a shiver go down his spine. He looked over his shoulder. Men in all black, maybe half a block back, were stalking him like pack of wolves. Danny swallowed nervously. They weren't wearing suits. They weren't the Secret Service. Aw fuck… He pulled out his phone to call Landon.

Looks like he might be needing those ninja skills.