Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

Alice had just perfected her second pigtail when the door buzzed. The blond walked to the door and opened it to see her boyfriend beaming at her.

"Mornin'!" He exclaimed with all that energy he never seemed to lose. He held a cup in each hand as she invited him in. Alfred usually met her at her apartment on the way to class because hers was closer to campus. "I got you that super sugary tea you like, and coffee for me."

Alice took the smaller cup from him and took a sip. "Thanks. I'm almost ready, just let me grab my bag." The Brit grabbed her old fading red book sack and her phone from her bedroom. When she returned to the living room, Alfred was watching the TV chat away about last night.

The media seemed obsessed with Electra. She was trending along with Britannia and Columbia on nearly every social media Alice had seen. Everyone was trying to connect her to other vigilantes, old super villains that had been defeated. So far, Alice hadn't heard anything true from the news stations, it was all still speculation.

Of course, Alice wanted to know who she was too, after all that had happened last night, but she had more important matters to take care of at the moment.

Alfred offered to carry her booksack with his, a galaxy printed one, but she has refused. They drank their respective drinks and held hands on the walk to campus, chatting about their weekends.

Alfred was the sweetest, cutest, more normal guy Alice had ever met. He grew up in Virginia with his younger sister but moved to Boston, where they were now, to go to MIT. He was incredibly dorky, obsessed with the fake superheroes and Star Wars and every other science fiction franchise despite just turning twenty-one in July. He was also incredibly smart, majoring in Astronomy and minoring in Physics because the stars fascinated him.

They had been dating for just about a year and a half, meeting one of the first weeks of freshmen year in an undergrad class. He had managed to ask her out to coffee, although she didn't like coffee and didn't date much in high school, she agreed. Alice was quite glad she did, because Alfred was amazing. He was just a little too loud and talkative and he liked to eat a lot, but had a pretty good body. He had the classic heart of gold and believed in doing the right thing and all that.

Alice found that he was the main thing she was fighting for in the dark. She didn't give a damn about the good of the world, the world hadn't ever done anything for her. Half the population were terrible people anyway. She didn't care about doing the right thing or have a natural duty to serve. She fought for those few people she loved and the few good people she found left in this dog-eat-dog world. She would fight for the people like Alfred, who deserved another day where they didn't have to worry about people like Electra.

"But did you see the sky last night? It was so clear, I wish I could've stargazed all night." Alfred continued, swinging their hands as they walked up to the hall where they had their first class.

Alice's father had known a few people at MIT, so he managed to make it easier for her to get a scholarship. She was majoring in Literature, as it was one of the few things she was good at. That and setting things on fire.

"Why didn't you?" Alice asked, glancing up at him. He was a good half a foot taller than her with those sky colored eyes and glasses that were only cute on him. Alice wore glasses as well, had since she was ten. She did need them, but she found they helped to distinguish her from Britannia as well. When she was fighting as Britannia, she simply wore contacts.

"Oh-" He hesitated. "I had to go out, got busy, was too tired to."

"You weren't near that Electra mess, were you?" Alice really hoped he wasn't, she couldn't bare him getting hurt in one of those fights. Or worse, connecting Alice and Britannia.

She knew she couldn't keep it a secret forever, especially if they'd ever have a future together, but she didn't want to involve him yet. He didn't need to get involved in all that anyway. Alfred was normal, Alfred was safe. Alfred didn't belong with Britannia and Electra and Columbia.

"No. No, my apartment's not even over there, you know." The American reassured her. They walked into the classroom and found four empty seats.

Along with Alfred, Alice had two other friends. Somehow, with all their different majors, they had made it into a few of the same undergrad and elective classes.

One was Alfred's sister, Madeline but just Maddie. She was a year younger than Alfred, but the way their birthdays fell she was in the same school year as him. She also attended MIT, studying French and Medicine. She was nice and soft spoken, but could easily be sarcastic and petty, especially with Alfred. They seem to have a good connection, plenty of inside jokes and stories.

All Alice had with her brother was a few memories of their red hair going up in flames. Maybe that's why Maddie and Alfred got along more, he didn't set her on fire. Alice's pyrokinetics had negatively effected some relationships throughout her life.

The other friend was Maddie's boyfriend, closer to Alice and Alfred's age. Gilbert was an abroad student from Germany, studying Music. They had just recently moved into Gilbert's apartment together as well, having been dating for a while longer than her and Alfred. Gilbert was a bit more obnoxious and somewhat arrogant, but his personality complimented Maddie's well.

Gilbert also had an obsession with Britannia and Columbia. Alice dared to call him their biggest fan. They were basically his heroes. Of course, he had no idea that she was Britannia, so it was funny to hear all his speculations and theories about their identities and more. She nearly wanted to show up at his apartment one night dressed as Britannia just to screw with him. Maybe she could get Columbia to do it with her.

"But my mother called me at four am on Saturday just to have a chat, I have to keep reminding her about time zones." Alfred snickered at her story.

"Well my mom keeps telling me you've gotta come drive down with me at Christmas. She already met Gilbert last year and she keeps bugging me about you." The American said.

"If I can get out of flying home, it's a deal. I'd definitely give up a week of dealing with my family to be with you." Alice answered.

"Maddie keeps telling her you're not real." He added and Alice laughed.

"I'd believe her."

"Hey!"

"Hey!" They both jumped as something was slammed down on their combined desk. A pale hand moved, showing the newspaper sitting on the desk. Gilbert stood over it with a look of pure excitement. Alice noticed Madeline standing behind him holding a cup of coffee and a blank face. "Did you guys see this?!"

"Someone please tell him to shut up." Maddie begged behind him. Alfred sent a sympathetic look toward his sister as she sat on his left.

Alfred and Alice both looked at the front of the newspaper. 'NEW SUPERVILLAIN IN BOSTON?', it screamed in large black letters.

"How couldn't we have, it's all over the news?" Alice answered, skimming the article.

"This is so crazy, I mean, two superheroes and now we've got a supervillain too. It's so freakin' awesome." Gilbert grinned.

"You know, most people aren't happy when there's a new crazy evil villain with superpowers in your city." Alfred reminded.

The albino waved him off. "She's not attacking normal people, duh. We're all fine."

Alice looked up finally with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you gotta look at the evidence, Allie."

"Don't call me that."

"We've only see this girl once ever. It was a bank robbery, where the five guys were robbing the bank, she broke in, killed them, then proceeded to only go after Britannia and Columbia. No big public scene. No mass murder or genocide or any shit like that. She obviously wanted Britannia and Columbia's full attention and she got it." Gilbert explained. Alice frowned, she hadn't thought about any of that yet. There had to be some purpose in it all. Electra had to have a motive.

"But all she did was fight 'em. There wasn't even a message or a long plan or anything." Her boyfriend argued.

"She just tried to kill them." Alice finished for him.

"And failed." Alfred added.

"Ja! But it was a pretty kick-ass fight, you wanna see the security footage the bank released? It's pretty awesome!" Gilbert pulled his phone, but the professor had walked in and asked everyone to take a seat.

Given Gilbert's perspective, Alice could barely focus on the lesson.

"So what movie do you wanna watch?"

"Alice?" The Brit suddenly glanced at him.

"What?"

"I asked, what movie do you wanna watch?" Alfred repeated with a frown. "Are you okay?"

"Of course, I'm fine." Alice retorted, crossing her arms on the couch. Alfred was on the floor by the TV ready to switch the settings when they decided what to watch. "We can watch whatever you want, I don't care."

The American watched for a second before grabbing a DVD off the shelf. "I just got the new Star Wars movie, so if you want.."

"Sure. That's great." Alice sighed and stood. "I'm going to get a cup of tea, want anything?"

There was already a bowl of popcorn on the table waiting for him, so he refused.

The blond walked into the small kitchen of Alfred's apartment. His apartment was just a bit larger than hers with an extra bedroom since Maddie used to live here as well. Alice sighed and leaned against the counter, forgetting about why she had even gotten up.

Usually she was good at keeping Alice and Britannia separate. She could have a lovely night with Alfred and being fighting with Columbia the next night and wouldn't think twice. But the current situation with Electra was taxing.

It made sense. Electra had a main purpose, it was just to kill her and Columbia. They hadn't done that well in the fight last time. Electra could kill her. What would happen if she did? Would the news stories all broadcast her identity to everyone after she died? What would Alfred think?

"Alice?" She jumped and saw Alfred walk over. He set the DVD case on the counter behind her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She scoffed.

He frowned and took her hands. "You've been spacing out all night. What's wrong?"

"It's really nothing, you shouldn't trouble yourself."

"Are you worried about all that Electra stuff?" He asked and her heart skipped a beat. He couldn't know. "Gilbert was right, she's not targeting normal people like you."

Alice let out a breath of relief, he didn't know. "We don't know that. We've only ever seen her once." It was easier to play along with this and pretend that this was it. This was easier than the truth.

"Nothing'll happen to you, I promise. I'll protect you." He smiled and pressed his forehead against hers.

Alice smiled. She wasn't the one who needed protection. She stood on her toes to kiss him softly.

"Now come on," Alfred continued. "I thought we were gonna have a movie night."

Alice allowed him to take her hand and lead to her to the couch. They curled together up in a bundle of blankets. For just a little, Alice managed to forget about Electra and Columbia.