It has been a while my dudes but do not worry t'was merely schoolwork bringing me down
America didn't eat.
It was his first week back home, and he didn't eat.
They weren't going to force him, what if they triggered something and made him throw up or worse? No, "force feeding is out of the question" is something everyone agreed on. Louisiana Territory did try to force feed America once, and managed to get him to scarf down half a sandwich. After that America used the restroom and said he was too tired to stay up watching movies with everyone. No one was sure what had happened in the bathroom, considering America had made every room in the house sound proof, but they had a pretty strong guess to what he had done. He also had nightmares every other night, which was something he never mentioned when he was in the hospital. They didn't know what he dreamed of, only that he hated it. More often than never, Canada or Britain had crawled into bed with America so he could sleep that night. The peaceful sleep never lasted long with them there anyways, he would always start tossing and turning while uttering," Stop" and "sorry" in his sleep. So far, there had been three days America had claimed he couldn't get out of his bed, and every single time he was met with someone bringing a book or a board game or a Nintendo to entertain him while Louisiana and New England got him caught up on what he had missed out on in paperwork.
Korea never seemed to be around the house when these things happened, or, he wasn't around America when they happened. During the night he usually slept on the couch and during the day he tried to clean what mess there was left from last night's failed attempt at dinner or their latest movie binge. Apollo and Dae-dong were constantly scratching at Korea's legs, trying to get him to play as he usually would, but he seemed thrown out of the loop. He didn't talk as much and just looked overall tired, but everyone ignored it in favor of making sure America didn't starve himself to hospitalization again. He had lost two pounds of the weight he had been forced to gain back in the week that had passed. Britain left on Wednesday, claiming he needed to renew his visa and had to check on his brothers. On Saturday, Canada began to remind Korea of the address of the therapist (they lived in an apartment about ten minutes away, rather than doing business in an office) and telling him to go in with America if he was allowed the option. Korea didn't respond verbally, just gave a little nod of his head.
Sunday, Canada ate breakfast, told America and Korea to be ready to leave by 9:45, and went to his room to presumably call New France. Korea wore a Get Scared shirt he totally didn't steal from America, as well as the same pair of pants he'd been wearing for three days in a row. America wore a three-quarter sleeve Captain America shirt and sweatpants, donning his bomber jacket over the shirt. "I'm cold" America huffed as Korea gave him a questioning look. "You sure you don't want even a piece of toast or something?" Korea asks, and America bites his lip. "I wanna say I want it..." He trails off, and Korea smiles slightly," That means you do want it. I'll go fix you a slice real quick" He walks off with a little more pep in his step than before. "but the voice won't let me have it" America mumbles the last part.
"America, are you alright?" Britain asks, opening the bathroom door," You've been in here for thirty minutes" America curled up into a tighter ball, shivering on the tile floor. "Blimey! What happened lad, are you ill?" Britain sits on his knees beside America, brushing his hand over America's forehead. "Cold" America croaks, and Britain nods," I'm sure you are, and by the smell of it, you've thrown up" he sighs, rubbing his hands on his pants," Has there been a stomach bug going around your house? Maybe a flu or something?" America lets out a shuddering breath, cheeks flushed and sweaty," Polio in W-Washington State" he lies between his teeth, and Britain lets out a 'tsk' before wrapping America's arm around his shoulders," I can take you back to the states where your brother can watch you better than I can" Britain offers, and America shakes his head slowly," No... just w'nna go home" he mumbles, stumbling as Britain practically drags him to the guest room. Scotland was shouting up the stairs, making America wince with a dull, throbbing headache. Northern Ireland started shushing the older country, and Wales, once again, did not speak.
"Have you been eating properly?" Britain asks, feeling how America's arms dug into his neck in an uncomfortable way. "maybe I've skipped a few d'ys" America sighs, and Britain hisses. "That's not good! I need to get some food into you soon lad, you look completely starved to death!" "I'm fine, Britain" America insists weakly, setting himself down on the soft and neatly made bed. "No you aren't! You just threw up and look paler than- paler than Ireland!" Britain exclaims and America frowns, deep lines creasing his oily face," I said I'm fine dude" he says in his raspy voice. "Don't lie to me Alfred-" "I'm fine Arthur, I just... want to go home" America shivers, and Britain just sighs. "I'll... I'll take you home, if you insist" He says in a defeated tone. He raised the boy, and he had unfortunately inherited his stubbornness. "I trust you, Alfred" Britain pulls the covers over America's stick-thin form, the younger having curled into the fetal position. He doesn't move from the guest room that night, opting to run his fingers through America's dull and greasy hair and murmuring to himself.
"This is the place" Korea says eventually, stopping in a parking lot. The apartment wasn't much to look at, but didn't look like a tenant slum either. It looked like a normal apartment building. "The paper Matthew gave me says second floor, room 56-B" Korea sighs, folding up the slip and putting it in his pocket," Let's go Al" America bites his lip guiltily, staring at the plate of buttered toast with a bit of cinnamon sugar on it, the way he would have eaten it had he been normal. But he wasn't normal, and he had wasted his sibling's money, Korea's time, and Canada's wages to pay for food and the therapist. Not to mention using up the countries' vacation days for them to be able to stay with him so long. "You getting out, or do I have to carry you?" Korea asks, looking tired. America shakes his head, standing on shaky legs and walking into the apartment building next to his best friend. "Thanks for... staying" America mumbles, and Korea simply hums in acknowledgement. They took an elevator up, knowing that America didn't have the strength to walk up the stairs. They shared with a middle-aged women and what looked to be her mother. "You guys the new neighbors?" The middle-aged women asks, and neither of them speak. "Quiet guys, finally" She huffs," There are so many people here that don't get that some of us have a job to wake up to" "W-we're going to a therapist" America sputters, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"A therapist, who- oh, you mean Reyla" The middle-aged woman frowns, and the older woman shakes her head," Poor girl, she's been trying to get her doctorate in psychology for years. Can't seem to pass her classes" "She's loud as fuck too! Always watching some weird Asian movies or playing rock music at ungodly hours. Which one of you needs therapy? I bet it's the Asian one, you look depressed. Good luck with her, her last 'patient' stopped coming after three weeks" The middle-aged one growls, and America feels himself growing nervous. "Thanks for the input" Korea says harshly, grabbing America's hand," We'll be heading to the therapist now" America said a simple goodbye to the two ladies, allowing Korea to drag him behind the older of the duo, disliking the clammy feeling of his palms around his wrist. "This Reyla person can't be all that bad" Korea mutters, knocking on the door that was labelled '56-B'. America and Korea waited for a few minutes, no sound coming from the apartment at all. "M-maybe she isn't home, we should come back later" America suggests, and Korea holds him in place," We're seeing her one way or another" he says firmly, knocking again but louder.
There's a loud groan from inside the apartment, and a few cluttering noises before the door is unlocked and is swung open to reveal a girl in her late twenties with dark hair dyed blue at the tips and pale skin, patches of skin covered in small freckles. She looked like a tired college student from the way she slouched and dressed," Yes?" She sighs, and Korea clears his throat," We're hear to see Reyla, the therapist" After a moment, she shakes her head," Reyla will be up in a minute. You two can sit on the couch or somethin'"
"It's so cold" America whimpers, curling into himself. He had his largest hoodie on, as well as sweatpants and a duvet pulled over his trembling form. Oregon bit his lip, tossing an apple from hand-to-hand. It killed him to see his brother like this, the man who was thought to be indestructible, the United States of America himself, the symbol of hope and policeman of the world, was starving and huddled on his bed. Sure, he hadn't been too fond of living with the loudmouth American before, but Oregon grew to enjoy being around him. "A-Al? Alfred?" Oregon calls out, entering the bedroom," You okay?" America looks over at him, pale and miserable," I'm fine dude" he attempts to smile, but it drops from his face quickly. "I brought you an apple" Oregon offers, holding it out," It's really just water so it shouldn't be too bad, right?" Oregon wasn't beating around the bush, he knew his brother had an eating disorder. It hurt him to say that, but he knew. Everyone knew. It's why they were so worried. But New England, Louisiana Territory, and Florida couldn't be there for him all the time as they were too busy taking his work load. They couldn't afford to send him to a shrink right now either, otherwise they would have done it earlier, before he got so... bad. America looks ready to reject the apple before Oregon looks at him pleadingly," Please" He croaks, voice wavering," Just this apple?"
America sighs in defeat, and Oregon feels a little bit better. America tries to sit up, and Oregon sits down next to him, putting the elder's full weight on his shoulder,"I'll help you with it. We can even cut it into slices if you want" "I'd like that" America mumbles, and Oregon's heart aches with a sudden 'pang'. America wasn't supposed to mumble, he was supposed to shout everything as loud as he possibly could at all times. Oregon reached into the bedside drawer and pulled out a box knife, sliding the blade out and cutting the apple into bite sized pieces. "We think we've found Texas" Oregon says, handing America a few pieces of the apple," Santa Fe said he was somewhere near the Gulf, we were gonna look for him when New England got back" America nods, weakly taking one of the apple slices and chewing it hesitantly. Oregon feels a bit, just a tiny bit better, when America perks up enough to finish the apple slices. "Santa Fe and Ohio should be coming over soon" Oregon coos, allowing America to roll over onto him and bury his head into his neck, soaking in his body heat.
"I love you Alfred" Oregon sighs, wrapping his arms around him," Stupid big brother"
America and Korea sit on the couch awkwardly, two cups of Irish Breakfast Tea on the coffee table in front of them. The blue-haired girl (who they learned was named Claudia) was reading on the floor. Neither man had offered her a seat on the couch, but they didn't need to as she said she preferred the floor. "When is Reyla going to be here?" Korea asks, trying to keep a curt tone out of his voice. Claudia shrugs," She usually comes around ten thirty, she works the night shift" Korea nods in understanding, and America shifts to lean on his shoulder. "Your friend seems pretty out of it" Claudia laughs a bit, and Korea sighs. Sensing that joking wasn't going to get the two young men to open up, she opted to offer something else. "I've been working on a pie recipe, do you want to try some?"
I'll try to update more often, school is ending pretty soon :3. Sorry I haven't posted in a while I've just been a bit overwhelmed