Capitol punishment
Chapter 7
"Alright, you've had your tea, now talk." England got straight to the point.
London narrowed his eyes at England from over the rim of his cup in the middle of sipping his tea, and he probably spent a bit too long swallowing before delicately setting his cup down. England was pushing him and he still wasn't sure how to bring up the capitol topic, sitting at the little table in their hotel room. America deserves to know first, but England wasn't going to let him talk until he knew the whole story. How do you do go about this? I may have accidentally discovered America's capitol, because oh, I wrote a book about it even though we are kept a secret so he wrote me a letter and I flew over without your permission… That probably wouldn't go ever well. He put his elbows on the table and put his head in his hands before taking a deep breath. From the other side of table, England spoke up again in almost the same position with his hands on his temples before London could open his mouth.
"At least, London," he drew out his words, "tell me what exactly you were doing running around freely in Washington D.C."
That was an easier question to avoid. "I was enjoying a personal tour given to me by a nice young man. He was rather delighted to have company, and I couldn't turn him down."
England snapped up quickly. "Would you stop being so vague? You've been like this since last night! I really need to know what's going on here and you're giving me nothing! Why were you, and your friend, being followed so adamantly by America's Secret Service?!" He was beginning to talk with his hands.
London brought his head closer to the table. England must be drawn tight to react so quickly and negatively to his statement, London had to pick his answers more carefully if he wanted this to be a less stressful conversation.
"Well… they weren't following me, I assure you, and they were after him—"
"And who, exactly, was he?" England asked lowly. London has known England long enough to figure out that he was trying to weasel closer to the information that London was trying not to disclose.
Meanwhile, England was getting distraught and angry, but was trying to keep it together. London was hiding something from him, and that's never happened before. London didn't trust him right now to be open with him, and England realized that this fact hurt. But he had to know, for his national security and for his closest friend. He was worried.
"It's complicated, you see, he read my book that I wrote about being a capitol—it was not meant to be taken seriously, it was supposed to be a realistic fiction," London had to clarify at England's dangerously raised brows, "And this boy was a fan who wanted to meet me, so he wrote me a very nice letter asking to meet me—" England interrupted him again. With his arms and legs crossed, he suddenly looked imposing and disciplined.
"Where is this letter?"
Oh dear God, I can't have him read it. "I don't have it with me, and it was very personal, so I would prefer if I keep it between him and me." London said carefully, sitting up straight to combat England's imposing figure.
"Alright, continue." England was nice to let him go with that one. "Why was it so important for you, the capitol of Great Britain, to meet him?"
He was getting into dangerous territory. London was trying to squeeze around England's questions, but he was losing ground and he was getting nervous. He floundered trying to answer quickly.
"Well, uh, it's very complicated, he has a certain condition and I couldn't possibly—"
England broke. He stood up so fast that his chair fell back with a thump.
"WHAT CONDITION IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR YOU TO LEAVE WITHOUT TELLING ME?"
London stood up to meet him.
"HE'S AMERICA'S CAPITOL, THAT'S WHAT."
Silence. The door squeaked to their left. America was standing in the doorway with his hand still on the knob, his blue eyes wide behind his glasses, and his mouth slightly ajar.
Oh dear, London thought.
Then something occurred to England.
"How did you get in here?"
America's response was too quiet, but said very clearly.
"I asked the lady at the front desk, said I was a friend and showed her I worked for the government." America held up his badge and I.D. to show England and London.
But the moment was broken when London's phone rang on the table. He'd already forgotten it was there. Daniel's name was on the I.D. Speak of the Devil, London thought bitterly.
"Oh hold on a moment please," London picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Yo, broski, yeah, I'm gonna have to cancel that meeting with you today, something came up." Daniel sounded hurried and short of breath, London started to worry.
"Wot? Why? Is something the matter?" Suddenly he felt the stares of both England and America, who were now listening intently.
Danny let out a nervous laugh, "Yeah, um, I'm being followed by some strange men in black, and I don't want you with me."
"Are you sure that you're not just being paranoid? Is it just the secret service again?" London huffed, and sat back down at the table. He felt their stares harden on him. They picked up on that information real quick and realized that whoever was on the phone may just be the object of their conversation, the capitol of the United States of America.
London was startled by Danny's answer. "No! I mean, yeah sure, it's not like I walked an extra block or two, in a circle, and watched them follow me for two miles on the same three streets," Danny's voice seemed to darken, "I would know if they were the Secret Service, I've been doing this for years, and this isn't the first time I've had these men on my tail."
"WHAT? YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWED BY STRANGE MEN BEFORE?" London was almost outraged, Danny was a capitol and didn't seem to know the drastic consequences if he was ever caught by terrorists or enemies. If these men didn't hurt Daniel, then Landon sure will after all this was done. He really needed to find out what those aggravated assault charges were.
"Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that?" Danny's voice returned to bubbly and nonchalant.
England tapped London on his right shoulder, his gaze serious. "Put it on speaker." America was at his left shoulder, and London felt cornered. He didn't want to, but he complied.
Danny's casual voice came into the room. "I think it started in the 90's, these assholes in black keep trying to kidnap me, and I'm just like, 'Isn't that illegal?' but they don't seem to care, and the Service guys usually keep a guy on me to make sure it doesn't happen, but I left them behind back at base, so I'm just gonna have to lose 'em again myself. I just wanted to call to tell you not to show up, it could be dangerous."
London sputtered. "Could be dangerous? Of course it's bloody danger—don't you realize that you are a little more important now? Apparently they do! Where are you, we need to get you to safety!"
"We? Look Brit dude, I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, I've been doing it alone since the 1850's," at this America flinched, "I can lose 'em, just you stay away so I know you're okay."
"No, tell me where you are." Landon was firm, staring at the phone as if it would tell him.
"No, ugh, please. Dude. This is ridiculous, I want you out of this."
Surprising London, England spoke first at the phone. "You're right lad, this is ridiculous, that you aren't helping yourself, now give us your location." America suddenly took out his own phone, looking at something intently, before looking back at both of them.
"Uhhhhhhhh who is that? I don't recall meeting two brit dudes."
England brought his hand to his face. "You're avoiding the question. Where are you? Are you still walking?" America caught London's and England's attention.
"I can track his call." America said quietly so Danny couldn't hear. The Brits raised their brows, then Landon's eyes narrowed.
"Isn't that a tad shady? Invasion of privacy?" He whispered back.
For once, America looked exasperated. "I don't think that's important right now! Don't question the NSA! They do it all the time on NCIS! I just happened to ask for it on my person!" He whisper screamed back. "I can track his call, what's his number?" London gave him the information, as England talked to Danny.
"Yeah, I'm still walking. I'm fine guys, I could run or call a taxi or—Fuck!" They heard a screech of tires, and increase in Danny's breathing. They all turned back to the phone.
"What? What is it Daniel?" Landon asked frantically.
"Dude, they brought out the fucking black van," another breath, "And they're running now, I gotta jet!"
America whisper-screamed frantically. "Don't let him off the phone or we lose the connection!" He started heading towards the door and waved them to follow him. "Come on, I got a location!"
England yelled at the phone, following Landon out the hotel room door. "Stay on the line boy, please!"
"Alright," Danny panted again, clearly now sprinting through the streets of Washington. "Who are you please?"
Landon waited until they were downstairs before he spoke to Danny this time, as he jogged through the lobby with America and England. "Daniel that was England, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland."
"Whaaaaaaa…" Danny quieted while still running. "You serious?"
At this England and London shared a laugh on their way out the hotel door. This boy. He was wowed by just the knowledge that he spoke to a country, just like he'd been when he met London, the capitol, that day before.
Then England and London stopped laughing and looked pointedly at America. They had reached to sidewalk and their ride.
"What? Get on." America's ride right now was a Harley Davidson motorcycle, fortunately with a side car. America swung his leg over, and patted the area behind him. He smirked at England.
"We don't have time, come on. London gets sidecar." He handed London the phone with the tracker. "Tell me where to go."
England looked slightly sick, but reluctantly hopped behind America. "Is there a helmet?"
America just laughed. "Hold on tight dude."
London watched the exchange with a snicker from his safer looking spot in the side car before he was distracted by Danny's voice. According to the tracker, Danny wasn't too far. They could be there in minutes.
"Guys, though seriously? I might have to get off soon to run better—"
"NO!" All three of them yelled at the phone, just as they pulled off the curb.
"Okay, yeesh, I got the memo," Danny took another breath in his run, "What's that noise? Are y'all driving? I thought I told y'all to stay put."
"Daniel, you better be bloody grateful, because we are risking our arses for you. I'm riding in a god-forsaken side car of a motorcycle—Oh Dear Lord!" Landon grabbed the side of the car as it turned quickly. He suddenly realized why England didn't own a motorcycle, and why America did. It was bloody dangerous, and America was weaving dangerously through traffic with England looking pale and clutching America's waist like a life-line.
Surprisingly, Danny just laughed through the phone.
"What is it git?" Landon said angrily into the phone before calling out to America, "Turn left!"
A sharp turn left had Landon gritting his teeth, and holding on for dear life. "AGh!"
"Oh my God." A snicker and deep running breath, "I can just imagine you guys on motorcycle, and I bet it's frickin' hilarious." He paused for another breath. "Wait, who's driving the bike?"
"America." Landon managed to get into the phone. "Turn RIGHT." Another fast sharp turn, and a distressed noise from Landon.
Silence from the phone. "Daniel?"
Danny was getting tired and he couldn't seem to lose the stalkers this time. Hot on his trail, he felt like a rabbit being chased by a pack of wolves. He needed to come up with a better plan than run like a bat out of hell, but keeping up the conversation was taking his focus away from a strategy. And then this? It was America driving Landon?
"Is it," another pant came through the phone, "Really him?"
Instead of an answer, he heard Landon yell at America. "TurN LEFT—oh my God imgoingtobesick."
Danny came to corner and turned, stopping so fast at the black van in front of him that he fell back on his butt before narrowly scuttling underneath the arms reaching for him. He dropped the phone and ran down a side street, sprinting out the other end and crossing the street with little regard for traffic. He was almost out of steam, but he knew of an alley where he could confront his stalkers. He looked over his shoulder to confirm their chase, seven men in all black with their faces covered, before sprinting full steam ahead. How does Batman do it? Daniel's exercised-addled brain thought, Dudes gotta have, like, lungs of cheetah, chasing after all those criminals. Damn, I need to get out more. Or lay off the McDonalds. ANYTHING TO MAKE EXERCISE EASIER.
Landon quieted after he heard a crash. "Daniel?"
There was some harsh cursing, something that sounded suspiciously like the phone skidding away until there was nothing left but sounds of traffic. They were only a street away. So close.
"Which way London!?" He heard America call out to him.
"I don't know! He dropped the phone! But, uh, it looked like he was going down a street… go LEFT AGAIN." Hard fast turn left. "HERE!"
They quickly got off the bike, and London ran over to a phone lying lonely on the ground, the call still on.
"Bloody hell…" London was now distressed as he picked up the phone, they had to find him quick or they would lose him again, this time for good. America pulled something out of his belt to hand to England.
"BLOODY HELL YOU BROUGHT A GUN!?" England bristled at the gun being handed to him before taking it.
"No," America casually replied, pulling out another from the bike, "I brought two guns. And a pocket knife." He handed the knife to London. Suddenly they heard a gunshot, not too far down the street. They all took off running, bravely (or stupidly) towards the danger.
Danny found the alley, and ran down it just as he heard a bang and felt something fly passed his arm that left a hole in the wall in front of him. They brought guns this time. Danny panicked, suddenly he didn't feel like batman anymore. He stumbled and skidded to the concrete, destroying the skin on his arms. Gritting his teeth, he stood up and got into a fighting stance. I ain't goin down without good brawl to put under my belt. Good enough to make Batman proud. Seven men surrounded him.