Capitol Punishment

Chapter 16. This is about to get real political here. Just a friendly warning.

Just down the hall, Washington D.C. and London were in a blue painted room with lots of chairs lined up like a classroom with standing room at the front. To Washington it looked like the meeting room they have at the theater group he used to help out for on weekends. He was half expecting a group of little kids in fish costumes to come in after their featured performance in Little Mermaid's Under the Sea. Washington ended up as kid wrangler and was in charge getting them out of their fishy costumes and back to their proud parents. It was one of the more stressful moments of his life. Especially when a lobster threw up on his shoes. Seafood was hard after that.

They each took a chair near the front and waited a couple of minutes for the official welcoming committee. The silence was a change of pace after their day, it was almost shocking like jumping from hot into ice cold water. Washington was a little jumpy and thought about what has progressed lately. Just the other day, he was only a lonely boy, lamenting over the sudden and fast moving bouts of sickness and nausea he felt at this current moment in his history. He wasn't even sure how important he was, he only could theorize that he was a capitol due to London's book. London is what really changed his life and for that, he would be forever thankful. It was London who found him, who believed in him, who is fighting for him. And he's only known him for a little over forty-eight hours. Washington thinks that's enough to give London the title of best friend. He's only had one other. London did save his life after all. He could've been hit by that taxi, but London did the selfless hero thing and jumped them to safety.

Then that day had changed at the National Mall. It was kind of funny when he looked back on it. London had fallen into the man-made reflecting pool at full speed like the ducks he's seen at the pond when the kids chase them into the water. Even then, he hadn't even known his own country was standing no further than the tree line about twenty feet away.

That next morning the letter showed up at his door step. Or more like the mailman showed up at his door, but that's details. And BAZINGA, he was a capitol. What's a better way to learn about your existence than a depressing divorce letter?

Later that same morning he had nearly been kidnapped by suspicious men in black. And not the cool Men in Black either, it was the 'We aren't doing anything legal' men in black. He really hoped that it would be the last he will ever see those men, but even in the safety of Capitol Hill, he knew that those hopes were far-fetched. It's been twenty years. They probably weren't going to stop after a fatality.

After his Captain America moves in the alley, the events were kind of fuzzy. He remembered leaning on London for support, the rumble of the Harley, and the sweet sound of tunes. The next clear moment he had was talking to London about the letter, and a really nice nap. That nap had been chaotically cut short, when they were woken up by the sound of gunshots. Still, he believed it was worth it. Cause the moments following, he got to meet his country.

The dude was taller than he was, but his presence alone just grabbed attention and power. Washington was captivated by it. How on earth could he ever be down on himself again when he's got that beacon of inspiration? Like, let freedom ring. Capitol and country? He honestly believed that together, they could do anything. But first and foremost, he's got the chance to make a new friend. First he has to make friends with his country, before they can do anything. And America seems friendly enough, like that one guy at the party who's always trying to dance, even if he's bad at it, and then he seals it together with a well-placed dab and the crowd goes wild. Always trying to be 'hip.' He was an interesting dude so far.

Easing their little moment of silence into sound, London started a conversation, startling Washington out of his thoughts.

"What do you think of America?" He asked out of the blue.

Washington answered as if that was exactly what was on his mind.

"He seems like the perfect American dad."

London looked at him incredulously, "Wot?"

Washington realized his mind and mouth didn't exactly connect correctly and he clarified quickly, "Oh no, not like that," he ran a hand through his hair and grinned, "He looks like the type of guy who would wear socks with sandals. You know, offer to power-wash the deck on the weekend. Like he could grill up a mean lookin burger with extra cheese and a hot dog on the side."

London chuckled, "Well you're right about that last one."

"Oh God, I hope so." Washington said hungrily, "That being said, I'm hoping we can be friends. I've always been a little lonely, like me against the world. Link can only offer me so much wisdom, but he can be real quiet." London raised an eyebrow at him, he was beginning worry about Washington's sanity whenever he talks about his fish. But he continued.

"Someday I hope we can play videogames, so I can beat his ass at Mario-Kart and laugh about it over pizza. I wanna see that jeep go off road and shoot a buck with an arrow. Even shoot the Buck from the moving jeep. Do you know bad ass that would be?" He clenched his fists in excitement. "I want him to teach me how to even use a bow, cause I've only done rifle, and shot-guns are way too messy for hunting." Washington looked wishful. These are things he's always dreamed about doing with somebody since he had been cooped up for over a hundred years without someone like Andy to show him what real living was like. His time with his new friends has been brief and fret with constant disruption, but it was exciting. The most excitement he has ever seen. Was this what his life could look like if congress loosens their grip? Washington sure hoped so. He turned to London.

"What's it like with England?"

London blinked, suddenly the attention was on him. He thought for a moment, scrunching his eyebrows in a pondering manner and bringing a hand up to his chin as if it would help him pull the thoughts from his head and out through his mouth. Washington thought he looked like a detective moments from solving the case. Of course the question was easy, but there were too many answers and London wanted one that really meant something to him.

"England and I like to talk. We both love language, all of its nuances and tricks. Shakespeare really inspired us back in the day." London smiled contently thinking back to the times where England would suddenly show up at the door and excitedly pull London off to a play. "We discuss things a lot, trying new ways to play with words and twist them into something else. He really loves a good insult, even if it is aimed at him. As long as it's clever, he enjoys the competition. We also like to talk about magic—"

"Really? Magic?" Washington failed at holding back a snort. London glared with a wicked side-eye.

"Yes, is there something wrong with that?" He said suspiciously.

"No, No, it's just that he seems so serious. Magic is just a little too out of the ball park, isn't it?" Washington said, holding his hands in a placating manner.

"No, not at all."

"Ooooookay then. Sorry." Washington relented. They both jumped when the door opened. The welcoming committee was here.

Washington's eyes narrowed. He wasn't sure who he should have suspected to dish out the outcomes, but he really should have known. Senate Majority leader. Good ole' Mitch McConnell. Washington always thought that he looked like a tortoise. Like Master Oogway from Kung Fu Panda, just not as good natured. This guy was out for party goals, not really for the country as a whole and that bothered Washington, who always wanted his government to work together as one. Senator McConnell wanted to change some things that Washington is. Like literally is. Washington's beliefs are a mesh of laws that already exist. Because Roe v. Wade happened, he was okay with abortion. Because Obamacare was passed, he liked the idea of a national health care. Because same-sex marriage was legalized, he was nonjudgmental with love. He was becoming more and more afraid of what he could turn into if this administration got its way with him.

"Mr. Washington, Mr. London, I hope you are two are well."

"Not at all." London answered bluntly, arms crossed and scowl already on his face.

McConnell ignored him. "Now I hear that you've been trying to come into contact with Mr. America, is that true?"

"Yes, I'm not going to deny it. I have been for a couple decades now." Washington answered clearly, feeling his inner politician come up from the depths of his mind. He made sure to look directly into the Senate Majority leader's eyes. He wasn't going to back down now.

Washington watched the tortoise face distort into a mixture of surprise and disappointment, as if appalled by the idea that the little capitol had been disobeying for longer than they realized. Not a good look for such an easy going animal, Washington thought. But then the senator covered it up by reverting to his resting tortoise face.

"Well, I am sorry to tell you that this will have to stop. Congress cannot allow you to continue organizing with America."

Washington squinted at him. "That doesn't even make practical sense. You do realize that you just asked the government to stop organizing with the country."

"And do not apologize to him for something that you are not even remotely sorry for." London added angrily.

"It doesn't matter. It's been written in the law. Ever since 1961. Ratified as the 23rd and a half amendment of the constitution. We cannot go against the law, it has the final say."

Washington stared. "What." He was shocked.

London was outraged. "That cannot be bloody true!" He stood up from his chair, aggressively speaking to the senator. "You cannot just make up some number and expect us to swallow it!"

McConnell managed to look solemn. "I'm afraid it's true."

Washington stared paralyzed at the floor. This put a kink in everything. There was more to his predicament than he previously thought. He nearly smiled bitterly to himself when he realized that he should have known it wouldn't be as easy as just letting America take custody of him. It was law apparently. What was he going to do now? He started, realizing that he now had a choice to make. Give up? I think not. Laws aren't meant to be broken. But they can be amended. He once again looked at the senator in the eyes.

"Then change it. Our founding fathers made the constitution with plenty of forethought, knowing that the country would have to change as time moves forward. They made it so that it can be amended for a reason. Don't you dare tell me that it must followed as if it was the Bible. This isn't church. That document isn't holy." Washington stood up. "We can change it. We must."

McConnell looked only slightly surprised, more because little Washington just stood up to him. He just shook his head sadly, as if what Washington said changed very little.

"You think that congress will be worried about that in a time like this? They barely even know about your existence." He spoke softly, Washington thought his little tortoise eyes glittered menacingly even though his face didn't change. "They have more important laws to make and change, they will hardly have time for you and your little problem. And you shouldn't worry them over a little matter such as this."

Washington couldn't speak. He had lost his voice.

London's jaw nearly hit the floor. "You've got to be bloody kidding me." He mumbled under his breathe. Was that a threat? Of course they wouldn't be able to prove it, because the clever bastard chose his words so carefully that it could be easily interpreted into something else. Problem. This was a definitely a problem.

However, at that moment, it seemed that their saviors burst through the doors.