Capitol Punishment
Chapter 14
"How did you even know we were at Starbucks?" Washington asked after calming down from his outburst, leaning his head back on the black leather seats. At this point, he has already given up, resigning himself to nurse his slowing growing head ache. He doesn't usually get motion sickness, but something was totally eating him from the inside. It was either stress or maybe even some kind of alien trying to disrupt his immune system and eat his brain. He suddenly felt chills as he remembered one scary alien movie that left him huddled in his bunker for days, only finally emerging from his blankets when he ran out of fish food for Link. It was way too scary…
"Did you really think we sent the agent after you answered that call at Mr. America's house?"
The agent's response jolted Washington out his wacky thoughts, and he turned to glare at the suit next to him.
"Fucking Johnson."
He heard a sneeze from the front seat.
Washington felt he should have known better. Secret Service Agents were pretty clever, and he was already suspicious when Agent Johnson seemed so gullible, so inexperienced and asking weird questions. But Washington had gotten cocky, he was Batman, Captain America and a ninja all at once! He'd finally been outsmarted. And now he was practically a hostage again. He sighed. Too soon in one day, he really wished he had those ninja skills. Fucking Johnson…
"We saw you leave the house and tailed you both to that Starbucks. By the way, your driving has improved." The Agent next to him finished. Washington wanted to punch him in the black tinted glasses.
"Hey! No texting!" The agent next to London ripped the phone out of London's hand and shoved it into his suit coat pocket. London huffed and crossed his arms like a child whose toy was taken from him.
"This is utter bollocks." He grumbled.
"You English people actually say that?" Washington asked, only half curious. He shut up when he received a glare in answer. He was too tired right now to actually care.
They took the rest of the ride in silence.
Around four O'clock, America and England tiredly walked back to America's Chrysler Pacifica hybrid. England was glad that America was trying to help the environment, especially as the White House denied climate change, by getting a hybrid car. But he still couldn't help but silently laugh at the idea of America driving a minivan. It was just a funny image. In the car, America huffed a bit.
"America, being the circumstance and recent developments in your lands, you held together fairly well."
America still frowned, but he sat up straighter in the driver's seat at the praise. "Damn straight."
England looked confused. "What?"
"Never mind. Put on the radio, I need a distraction." England messed with the buttons a bit before the news came on. Talking about leaving the Paris Climate agreement.
"Turn it off."
England scowled a bit before changing it again until BBC World News popped up.
"Ah here we go." He said satisfied.
"Really."
"Of course."
"Fine." America resigned himself to listen. Talking about Brexit affecting the economy. England turned it off.
America laughed as England seemed to massage his head out of sheer exasperation.
"Can't escape work, can we?"
"No, it seems we cannot." England sighed. He checked his phone, having left it on silent throughout the meeting. A couple hundred emails, some new messages, nothing out of the ordinary until he spotted a message from his capitol. Addressed as 'My Palace.'
Problem. We need help. Do not declare war.
England's insides turned to ice, his heart practically stopped. Thoughts raced through his head. His capitol needed help? And America's too? They were alone and vulnerable and not with their countries. And what was this about war!? The message was from hours ago! The message was so vague, surely it was incomplete! London would never leave him hanging in suspense, not when his capitol was usually so wordy. He must have sent it quickly and inconspicuously. In panic, England hit the call button and waited, heart beating harder with each ring until all he got was voicemail.
"America, step on the fucking gas. Get us back." He gritted out.
"Huh? What's up with you—" America started.
"Bad news. Capitols need help." England stared seriously at America, wanting him to get the message. "How fast can you get home?"
America's face became stone hard. "Apparently not fast enough."
"Don't even start, I know you feel you haven't been good enough for him, but now is not the time." England pleaded, green eyes showing of all the emotion he couldn't say. The American nation drew a deep breath, pushing his self-doubts aside. England always knew what to say to get him to focus clearly.
"It's fifteen minutes. I can do it in five."
The car accelerated.
Washington paced back and forth in his room, his fish seeming to match his movements as if feeling his agitation.
"Stop pacing, you're giving me vertigo." Came a slightly sarcastic voice from his bed.
Washington turned on him. "How can you be so calm?! I'm freaking out here!" He gripped his hair like he was trying to remove the mental pain physically from his head. "What if they take me away? What if I never get to see him again? What if they make a restraining order? What if—"
"District of Colombia, this is not some creepy stalker court case, they will never really be able to take you from him. He is your country and you are his capitol, his heart that fuels his veins. If they know what is good for them, then they will leave this alone to its natural courses." London spoke calmly, sitting cross legged on the stars and stripes blanket.
"Oh yeah? What about Berlin? It was in your book."
London froze. Damn, this boy really payed attention when it was important.
"That was a special case. He was almost split. It was after a world war. It was the only choice."
"Made by the government, couldn't they do the same thing to me?" Washington was about ready to cry, he could feel his throat closing up and his breathing rapidly increasing. He was in big trouble, like he was after leaving the Harrison Ranch. Congress wouldn't let him leave. He was a young boy. He doesn't have any power. No one listens to him. He was going to be punished. He froze when arms encased his body and hands push his head into a firm chest. He almost pushed away when he felt hands petting his hair.
"Shhhh, it's okay. You're not alone. You're a capitol. Not a child. You hold great power. You just don't think you do. Just let it out." London spoke softly into the lad's hair. He had never had to do this before. Comfort somebody like this. England kept everything under wraps until it would break open like a dam and they would discuss things together in a room until he felt better. But Washington was so distraught that he need physical comfort to soothe mental wounds. However, he knew what Washington needed to hear and understood his pain. He would help his Watson.
Washington let out a huge breathe and cried. Nobody has held him like this since his time on the ranch over one hundred years ago, when Mrs. Harrison would hold him close as he cried from the pain of being away from the capitol city during the Civil War. He wondered if this is what it was like to have a family again, somebody to tell him it will be okay again soon, somebody to ease him when he felt sick to his stomach, somebody hold him together when deep rackety sobs jolted through his chest and jostled his body. He tried to steady his breathing, listen to London's words and heartbeat. They seemed to calm him and bring him back from his panic.
"What about you? I'm worried about what would happen to you here too. I don't want you to be in trouble because I wanted attention." Washington mumbled between deep breaths into London's chest.
London almost laughed. Washington was still worried about him at a time like this? It was his choice to come in the first place, he could have disregarded the letter and none of this would have passed. He was sort of surprised that the fairies hadn't gotten their hands on such a good hearted boy, they would have been so pleased at the catch. And Washington was ready to blame himself, as if it was his fault that his government didn't follow natural country laws. He called it 'attention' downplaying his role in the whole ordeal, making it easier to blame himself by calling it something petty and unimportant when it really was the opposite. London payed attention to these kinds nuances in language.
"It would be worth it."
Washington trembled. Somebody was going through this for him. Because he was worth it. Huh. He's never heard that before. But it was one of the most important things he had ever heard. As much as he wanted to stay in this comfort for all eternity, he had to pull himself together and give the feds a what for. London was right. He wasn't just a child. He was a capitol. The capitol of the United States of America, one of the most powerful nations on earth. He can stand up for himself, he has been trained by politicians for decades. He stood up straight and looked at London's bright green eyes.
"Thank you. Let's go kick some governmental ass."
London smiled.
Good timing cause the door opened, and an agent stood in the doorway.
"Sirs, the administration will see you now."
An hour before, the countries leaped out the car in the garage and barged into the door, scaring Americat six feet into the air before he scampered up the stairs.
"Washington! London! Please be here!" America called out, leaving an echo in the empty house. Of course, no answer.
"Bloody fuck! This is terrible! What the hell are we supposed to do now? My capitol is missing in your country!" England growled.
"What, like it's my fault? Don't you point fingers at me! My life isn't exactly fitting together like peas and carrots right now, and I just lost my capitol for the fourth time!" America cried.
England did the math. Yesterday at the mall, this morning as a hostage, and this afternoon. What was the fourth time—oh! Right. 1814. England forced his anger down. They needed to focus on finding their capitols, not blaming each other for grievances, past and present.
"Stop! We need to look for clues! Where do we begin?" England turned to look America in the face, but he wasn't looking.
"England."
"Come on, you idiot, don't just stand there!"
"England."
"We need to hurry! They could be hurt!"
"England!"
"Whot is it!"
"My truck's missing."