Canada walked out of his last lesson for the day, only to be tackled from behind by his soon-to-be brother real brother, America.
"Hey Mattie, do you want to hang out?" asked America.
"Err, I already have plans," Canada said soflty, "France asked if I wanted to hang out with him, before his cooking club, and maybe stay and see if I wanted to join them."
America frowned, "But we have only been here for what, three weeks? And you want to join a club already?"
The shy American smiled at Americas antics.
"Well, maybe, maybe not, but I didn't have time to catch up with France," Canada took America's hand and dragged him with him, "And you come too. Did you even talk to France, like at all? I'm sure, he would like to see you too."
America wanted to protest, but he figured that it might be fun. And France was always close to him, and helped him out on multiple occasions. And Canada was right, he didn't hear much from France this lifetime yet.
When they came close towards second year building, they saw France and his friends sitting on a grassy area near the entrance, under one of the many trees that were there, enjoying the shade on the sunny day.
Canada waved and two of the older nations waved back. And Prussia looked confused, looking at them deep in thought.
"Salut France," Canada sat down crosslegged beside France.
"Salut mon petit," France grinned, "Hey there Amerique, finally showing your face around?"
"Ha, as if you have ever called, always favoring Mattie," America stuck out his tongue.
"I just figured, if you are so much together, why waste money on international calls for both of you," France shrugged.
America rolled his eyes.
Prussia held up his hand, as if he was still in school.
"Sorry to interrupt your chit-chat, but I have a stupid question," he said.
"You always have stupid questions," Spain teased.
Prussia elbowed him, but otherwise ignored him.
"I recognized America," he said, and looked from America to Canada, "But who is this fella?"
"What do you mean, who is this?" America blinked, "This is my bro, Canada."
Prussia looked Canada up and down, "Eh? Really? I… kinda thought that one of you states got a nation…"
"WHY WOULD MY STATES HAVE THEIR OWN NATIONS?" Alfred got red in the face, "AND HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW CANADA?"
Soon Prussias face mirrored America's, "WELL SORRY, I DON'T KNOW EVERY NATION IN THE WORLD. FRANCE DIDN'T BRING HIS COLONIES OVER OFTEN, THE ONLY TIME HE INTRODUCED ME TO A COLONY IT WAS A SMALL GIRL, 300 YEARS AGO. I KINDA HAD OTHER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT. LIKE WARS… AND BEING LOCKED BEHIND A BIG ASS WALL?!"
There was a stunned silence for a minute.
Then America sighed, "I… I'm sorry… I didn't want to blow up. It's just… people tend to forget my brother so much, it's getting irritating."
"I'm sorry too," Prussia ran his hand through his hair, "I don't do well with people yelling at me…"
"Now that's settled, maybe a formal introduction?" France patted Prussia's shoulder.
He grabbed both Prussia's and Canada's hands and pulled them together.
"Prussia, this is Matthieu Williams, nation of Canada, Canada, this is my friend Gilbert Beilschmidt, or Prussia."
They shook hands and Canada smiled.
"Now that we have this out of the way, when is your gluttony club?" America asked.
"My COOKING club is in the first block, at 15:30, so we still have almost an hour before it starts," France said.
America nodded and they started to talk about what's new in their lives. How America's and Canada's parents were getting married, or how France's brother won with his teammates some sort of junior championship. None of the five boys mentioned England, not wanting to bring up his missing status.
Suddenly America stood up, surprising his companions.
"What is it Alfie?" Canada looked up at him.
America ignored him, staring into distance, as if looking for something, or trying to listen to some sound.
"What was that?" America asked, "That weird sound?"
"Weird sound?" Spain asked confused, "I didn't hear anything…"
All for brought their hands to cup around their ears, as if to hear better.
"I was high-pitched…" America said, but then his knees buckled and he fell on all four and vomited.
"Alfred!" Canada and others jumped towards the sick nation, catching him.
"Uh," groaned America as he lost balance, when France and Canada pulled him back and slumped on them.
"Let's take him to the infirmary," said France, hooked America's arm around his neck and helped him to stand up.
They helped America to get to the nearest infirmary and the nurse on duty made him lie down. She quickly brought bucket in case America got sick again. Then she turned to the rest of the group and started questioning them about what came before, if he ate anything and so. But they weren't very helpful cause as far as they knew it came from nowhere.
"I don't feel so good," groaned America.
"No kidding," Prussia deadpanned.
America glared at him, trying to come up with a witty comeback when he froze, a look of horror on his face. And then he leaned over the bucket and started vomit again.
"Jeez, what did you have for lunch? Poisonous mushrooms?" Prussia looked something between disgusted and concerned.
Then his cell phone rang and Prussia fished it out of his pocket.
"Hallo? Hungary? Why are…?" Prussia asked confused, "I did? Sorry, I forgot. Eh, you are with Austria again? I can't come now, we had to take America to the nurse…"
Prussia flinched and pulled his cell phone away from his ear, so others could hear some yelling from the other end. But it seemed to be in german, cause Prussia immediately yelled back.
"Why the hell are you yelling now, you pansy?" Prussia snapped back at Austria in german, "What? The news?"
Prussia frowned and looked at France, who was closest to the tv in the nurse room, "Can you turn on news? Austria is blowing a fuse."
France nodded in confusion, grabbed remote and turned the tv on. It took him only going through 3 channels to find news. The nations gathered around and watched as the news showed a scene, that looked like taken from a warzone.
"What is this?" Spain asked, "Or rather, where is this?"
Suddenly they saw a show made from afar and they realized what city they are looking at.
"T-trade center?" America whispered in horror.
"How is this possible?" Canada gripped Americas shoulder and squeezed it.
"I…" America started, but was interrupted by school announcement.
"Attention all students," came the announcer's voice from the speakers on the campus, "We regret to inform you, that all after schools have been canceled for today. The students are advised to stay at their dormitories. Furthermore, Alfred Jones is asked to come to the main office. Thank you for your attention."
After that silence spread through the room.
America was first to find his voice.
"Am I… at war?" he asked shocked.
"No, I don't think so," France said slowly, "I didn't hear about any major conflicts. And besides, they didn't call any other nation. If you were at war with someone, they would call for both sides of the conflict."
"You sure?" America asked in small voice.
"I… think so," France bit his lower lip.
America nodded, more to reassure himself, than for anything else.
"I have to go…" America said.
"I will go pack your things!" Canada called and ran out of the room.
Spain put his hand on America's shoulder, "And we will help you to the office, amigo."
"You were requested by your government to go back to your country," said the principal as soon as the nations stepped into his office, "I'm sure you have seen news from America by now. It seems to be act of terrorism, but nothing is confirmed yet. Helicopter will take you to Luxembourg airport in 15 minutes."
America was so distracted he could only nod.
"Can we," started France but he was quickly interrupted by door abruptly opening.
Everyone looked to the door, to see Austria with serious look and Hungary looking sheepishly at them.
"I request to accompany America to New York," Austria said calmly.
"What? No way," principal shook his head, "They only requested America, and you would only be in the way."
"I am sixteen," Austria crossed his arms on his chest, "Surely you don't want to sent ten year old alone, even if he is a nation."
Principal frowned, but then he sighed.
"He wouldn't go alone, but fine, you can go," he waved dismissively.
And at that moment Canada burst in with a travel bag.
"I packed our things, we can go now!" he burst out panting.
"Our?" principal frowned, "Absolutely not! I already allowed additional person to go, you are staying!"
"BUT MY MOM IS IN NEW YORK!" Canada snapped.
"I think it would be better for Canada to go," France suggested.
The principal sighed again, and started to massage his temples.
"Fine," he said after a few seconds, But no more! Now get out, the helicopter will leave in 7 minutes!"
The nations quickly pilled out, not wanting the principal to get even more angry and go back on his word. Besides, they could already hear the helicopter's motors, so they better get to the helipad.
"Hey Austria, why did you..?" Prussia started to ask.
"I meant it, it would be stupid to send just America with some mortal," Austria shrugged, "And from the older nations, I am the closest to him. You bunch are only eleven. I am the most logical choice."
Prussia looked conflicted, like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he stayed silent.
They quickly got to the helipad, where the helicopter was already landing. Hungary handed Austria a small bag, who took it, as well as the bag from Canada's hands, so the younger boy could have free hands.
"I was informed to take America to Luxembourg," said the pilot as soon she the helicopter touched the ground.
"Yes, a bit of change of plans, principal approved of this," said Austria calmly, "I'm Austria, this is Canada, and this America. Only us three are coming."
The pilot nodded and opened the door for them.
Austria helped the younger nations to board, before climbing in himself.
"Good luck," yelled Prussia, as Austria was closing the door, at which Austria gave a small half salute.
Then the helicopter lifted off, leaving the Bad Touch Trio with Hungary on the ground.
The flight to Luxembourg was uneventful. And the whole flight America was gripping Canada's hand so hard, it hurt, but Canada, didn't even flinch. In Luxembourg there was already American agent waiting for them and Concorde plain ready to get them to New York in four hours. Though they couldn't land in New York's airport, as all USA flight were grounded, and they only had special permission to land on a small airport near New York.
During their flight America got sick again and a seat had to be reclined, so he could lie down.
"I'm sorry," murmured America as he tried not to vomit again.
"Nonsense, you are actually faring quite good," said Austria, "You are still only ten, and under attack."
"Yeah, thanks…" America tried to smile, but his eyes widened and he went pale.
"Alfred what it is?" asked Canada concerned.
But America didn't even acknowledge his brother, staring into the air. Then America let out a guttural scream.
After the scream died down America was left shivering.
"What happened?" asked Canada panicking, but America just shook his head.
Austria tried to ask the pilots if they had any information, but they didn't have any clue either. Only after a hour did they find out what happened. One of the Twin Towers collapsed. And soon after that the second one, though this time they were prepared and America's reaction was not so bad.
The streets of New York were chaotic. But even in that chaos the other cars were letting through the black car with signal lights, that America and others were sitting.
"They are gone," Canada said in astonishment.
He couldn't believe, that those big skyscrapers were just gone. America on the other side, didn't make a single sound.
They arrive at the Trade Center, or more what was left of Trade Center.
"Was zur Hölle?" Austria said, as he emerged from the car.
The scene before him was looking like scene from a war zone. There was rubble everywhere and the people around them looked more like ghost than humans.
A government official greeted them.
"It's honor sir," he said solemnly to America, "Though the circumstances could have been better."
America nodded as he looked around with wide eyes.
"We heard, you could help us look for survivors…?" said the man.
America gulped and tensed, "I.. I will try."
The man led the nations straight to where the WTC 1 and 2 were once standing. Many firefighters and volunteers, were helping injured or trying to clear the rubble while looking for survivors.
"Alfred?" America heard a voice, his head snapped towards the voice.
He saw a firefighter, whom he recognized as colleague of his dad.
"Alfred what are you doing here?" asked the firefighter.
"Uncle Bruce?" America said, "I was called here to…"
"Called?" asked Bruce Layton, "Oh my god, did they tell you…?"
"Tell me what?" America asked confused.
Austria sensing something amiss tried to intervene, "Not now, sir."
"Tell you that you dad was there when it…" Bruce said, but couldn't finish.
America's eyes widened.
If Austria could, he would have decked the man in the face. If America was distressed, he couldn't do what they called him in for.
"Mr. America, please," the government official put a hand on his shoulder.
But America was already panicking, cause his dad was most likely dead under tonnes of steel.
Austria kneeled down.
"America," he started, then he sighed, "Alfred, listen to me."
He waited until America made an eye contact with him.
"I'm sorry Alfred, I know you want to run to find your dad, but think about all the other people that got stuck there. You can help find them and save them," Austria said as calmly as he managed.
It took a few seconds for America to nod. The blonde closed his eyes and took few calming breaths. In and out. In and out. All while concentrating. At first there was nothing. But then he heard it. Heartbeat. And another. And another, and some more. He heard several heartbeats from under the rubble.
America opened his eyes, his eyes sharp and concentrated. He spun around and ran towards the rubble.
"Here is someone!" he called to the firefighters, who were watching him curiously.
But he didn't spare them any attention. He was climbing the rubble.
"And here," he called again, and then he pointed to his left, "And there is about 3 survivors!"
Austria looked at the people standing around, "You heard him. Move it!"
Canada opened the door to the flat in which America's dad and now his mom were living. He asked the government official to take him there, while Austria stayed with America.
"Mom, aunt Claudie, it's me," Canada called out, "Me and Alfred got called here."
But there was no answer.
"Mom?" Canada called again, "Aunt Claudie?"
Still nothing.
Canada looked into every room, but didn't find anyone.
He ran back to the door and looked at his companion desperately.
"My mom is gone!" Canada said with panic in his voice.