Capitol Punishment

Chapter 10

America's house interior was surprisingly simple. Coming into the front door was the living room with white walls and a beige carpet. It was definitely his house, with little decorations that generally carried either an eagle or the stars and stripes. However, here and there, one could find objects that held great meaning, like the pictures of Canada and him celebrating their respective birthdays together and a little red toy soldier guarding the entry way. America made his home very homely, and most found it to be very comfortable. In front of the TV was a coffee table surrounded by some brown leather couches which Danny found perfectly comfortable for a nap.

Danny's body had pretty much healed itself by the time they laid him on one those couches. For now, they decided he just needed some rest, being that he no longer needed any medical help to fix the hole in his shoulder. And damn was Danny exhausted. He wanted to pass out right then and there, but as his brain was starting to recollect itself he was getting curious as to where he was. Because this definitely was not his bedroom. And where ever he was, Danny thought, it needed some glow in the dark stars on the ceiling.

Meanwhile, America was realizing that he had no idea what to do now. Thankfully, England was catching on to his growing mild panic.

"America, can I talk to you in the kitchen?" England said and patted America's shoulder as he walked towards the kitchen doorway. "And London can you watch him?"

"Of course I'll watch him, I'm not going anywhere." London replied sitting next to Danny's head on the long couch as America followed close behind England through to his kitchen.

Landon was suddenly left alone with a healing Danny. "Now what." He muttered looking down at Danny's tired face which was upside down from his perspective. He wasn't sure if he should say something or not, but then Danny beat him to it.

"The letter!" Danny's face lit up with realization. "Dude I almost forgot, it's in my pocket."

Landon looked confused, "What letter?"

"It's what I wanted to show this morning, I got it from the mailman cause he woke me up, and my fish wouldn't answer the door." Danny watched as Landon's face only became more confused.

"Your fish…?"

"Yeah his name is Lincoln but I call him Link."

"Lovely, which pocket is it in?"

"What? My fish isn't in my pocket, that's silly Donny. There's the letter in my right pocket addressed to me, and watch out for the knife, its vintage."

Landon scowls at the name but doesn't comment. "You're telling me that you had a knife in your pocket during that whole ordeal in the alley? And now you're asking me to fish a letter out of your own pocket that also holds that knife."

"Well yeah, bro I have lived a pretty sheltered life holed up in Capitol Hill, do you think that I have ever killed a man? No sir, I'm a hero not a killer." Then Danny shifts his head so that he wasn't looking at Landon. "And that knife is special, a gift from a friend long ago." Danny looks back up at Landon and pouts. "Besides, it's in a snakeskin sheathe and my shoulder still hurts."

Landon rolls his eyes. "Alright." He reaches over Danny's head and pulls an old folded note out his pocket. Now Landon was intrigued, this paper was yellowed and antique. He holds it back up to his face to read. Ugh, old writing styles, he groans inwardly as he reads the first sentence. But as he reads further down the page he becomes steadily more upset. It made sense, that they kept poor Daniel away because of bad strategy and bad protection, but they had no right to keep this knowledge away from America, to not even give him the chance to defend himself, and to separate him completely from the sacred relationship between country and capitol. Landon was about to stand up in outrage.

"NOPE."

Landon found himself being pulled back down the couch and a heavy weight on his legs. Danny had carefully maneuvered his head on Landon's lap and was pulling him down.

"Let me up lad, I have to show them this letter, it's a disgrace." Landon said angrily.

"No, you're my pillow and I'm tired. Put it on the table. We'll deal with it later." Danny pouted up at him and closed his eyes to further his point.

Landon ran a hand down his face in exasperation, but gave in and put the letter on the table. He couldn't get up anyway, there was a wounded child on his lap and he was surprisingly stubborn.

"Fine."

"Good."

Landon leaned his head back on the couch. It seemed like a good time for a nap anyway.

Back in the kitchen, England and America stood facing America's back glass sliding doors with a good view of his back porch and yard. America had just recently started working on the back yard flowers for spring. It was something he did when he was stressed. America spoke first.

"Did we just leave a kid with a bullet wound on my couch?"

England closed his eyes and let out a breath before replying.

"No America, capitols heal just like we do. In fact they heal faster when their countries are around them. He will be fine."

"Oh good." America sighed in relief and remembered something from years ago. Back after the London Blitz he remembered how England would hardly let London out of his sight. Every time they were away from the capitol, London's condition seemed to worsen for a while and England would be anxious to return for his safety. However, whenever they returned, London would grit his teeth and tell them he was fine. Don't worry about him when they have a war to win. London's strength surprised even America.

"You probably have more questions." England stated.

America did have more questions, only now that he had time to ask them, he couldn't remember any of them.

"Is he really my capitol?" America looked hopeful over at England.

England didn't move his gaze from the yard when he replied.

"He is healing, is he not?"

"Oh yeah, I suppose you're right."

"It seems logical, but I really don't know. We haven't had any real confirmation, we just followed London and saved a boy's life. We should probably ask them."

"Do you think he'll like me?"

England paused and then turned to look at America, whose eyes were pleading with emotions. Of course America would be unsure of himself, at a time like this when everything seems to going wrong in his country. He was insecure and England felt the obligation to help the younger country sort things out, especially since America now had something new on his plate. But England was sure that whoever this boy was on the couch, he and America needed each other. They would be good for each other. And England was going to make sure of it, for his former colony. He was also guilty of being the one who burned Washington to the ground. Now he can make up for it. England gave America a gentle smile.

"America, you can only make sure you do what is best. Whether or not he likes it should not be your first priority. Remember that the hero always does what is right, which is not always the elected choice. And who was the only one that liked your deathtrap?"

"My Harley?"

"Yes, that. He may be a capitol, but he should be your capitol. He may look up to you more than you know. I have had London by my side for hundreds of years, and he still surprises me from time to time. Try not to worry. Do I think he will like you? We should probably ask him." England went to pat America's shoulder again when he was met in a crushing hug. He hugged America back.

"Why do you always have to make sense?" America mumbled over England's shoulder.

England chuckled. "Somebody has to keep your head out of the stars. Your heart can stay up there, but we need your head down here." They let each other go and stood apart.

"You always know what to say." America laughed, "Thank you."

England waved him off and made a gesture for America to follow him back to the living room.

"Come on, git," He let out a laugh, "we should go ask him."