Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia
To say the meeting was in chaos would have been an extreme understatement. However, as chaos was normal when it came to this group of people, actually admitting that it was chaos meant something horrible was happening. At the moment, Mother Nature had her own plans. Outside of the building a fierce thunderstorm raged. Of course, Alfred had decided on holding the meeting in Tampa Bay, Florida, which just happened to be the one place on his home soil where thunderstorms hit with the most frequency.
"CHIGI!" Romano's fearful call rang out through the room as a clap of thunder loud enough to shake the very foundations of the building. His automatic reaction was to turn to the Spaniard beside him and practically leap into the other man's lap, clinging to his fearfully. The other Italy brother's reaction was almost identical except for the fact that Germany was standing up and so he was forced to cling to him by wrapping his arms and legs tightly around the taller man's torso, nearly knocking him over.
Canada, thankfully, wasn't as afraid of thunderstorms as the two Italians and simply tensed up and screwed his eyes shut whenever a crack of lightning lit up the room. Between bolts, Matthew looked up at his brother who was trying to keep some sort of order. Alfred should have known better. After all, the room they were sitting in had large panes of glass on two out of the four walls and thus made it feel like they were out in the storm themselves.
"Guys calm down!" America frowned deeply, holding up his hands palm out in the universal gesture of 'my bad'. "Be happy it isn't a hurricane! It'll be over in a bit. Promise" He said quickly, debating with himself on whether he should call the meeting to a close in order to resume later.
The groups of countries were currently in the Grand Hyatt's large meeting room. The Hyatt being, of course, one of America's most luxurious hotels meant that Alfred was showing off just how good he had it. Though no one was really impressed, at least enough to admit it. America had even paid for each country to stay in the hotel albeit in pairs.
Canada couldn't help but smile a little when America had decided to let the countries go back to their respective rooms. Instructing them to return in two hours, having been told by his assistant that the storm would be over by then. As the countries dispersed, England scolding America yet again for picking such a stupid spot for them to have a meeting, Canada watched contently.
At one of the particularly loud claps of thunder shook the building, Canada buried his face in the fur of his polar bear and tensed his body against the rolling noise. Matthew had gotten used to the noise that accompanied the flashes and had even come to find some of the lightning strikes to be rather beautiful. To say he had a love/hate relationship would be an accurate statement.
So, instead of leaving with the other countries he decided to stay and watch the storm as it happened through the clear glass. What Canada wasn't expecting was that someone would stay in the room with him.
"It is beautiful, non?" that thick French accent met Matthew's ears and he almost fell out of his seat. "I do not get many thunderstorms at home, as you know" France smiled serenely, his gaze locked on the windows. Canada was so absorbed in looking at the man before him that he didn't even flinch when the thunder struck again. Finally, Canada tore his gaze from Francis and gazed back outside, a blush spreading over his cheeks.
Matthew felt like he was going insane. After knowing exactly why France was so hurt and not knowing what exactly how the other man was going to behave tomorrow. He knew it wasn't going to be pretty that was for sure. Canada looked down at Kumajirou and ran a hand over the bear's head as he let out a frustrated sigh. Then it hit Canada like a ton of bricks.
If Matthew knew anything about Francis, he was still in love with Jeanne even if he didn't or wouldn't admit it.
Canada didn't stand a chance.
Canada rose from his seat, Kumajirou in his arms, and slowly walked out of the room all the while trying not to bring any unwanted attention upon himself from the man dominating his thoughts. However, France looked up momentarily and even thought about saying something but decided against it, turning to look back at the storm outside.
Matthew walked down the hallway quietly, heading to the hotels bar and for all intents and purposes planning on getting smashed. Something he would normally never even consider. But then again, it wasn't every day that you realized your heart would be broken before you even had the chance to feel any joy.
On his way Canada dropped Kumajirou off in his room, deciding that a polar bear would draw far to much attention from the other patrons and not wanting to deal with it. Once he had taken a seat at the bar, the blond haired man pulled a small piece of elastic and tied his hair back loosely, not wanting to deal with it at the moment. After all, he was always told that his hair resembled Frances and right now that thought made him feel sick to his stomach.
The Bartender set down the nations Budweiser as soon as Matthew proved two things. Yes he was over 21, and yes he was actually staying at the hotel. Canada frowned deeply, his blue eyes glazing over as the alcohol hit his system and his thumb gently tracing around the rim between sips.
He was momentarily distracted by the maniacal laughter of Prussia as he ran by with his partner in crime of the moment Cuba. Matthew frowned lightly as he narrowed his eyes at whatever Gilbo was holding but decided against asking, letting the two run off to do whatever they were planning on doing. All Canada's alcohol inflicted brain could figure was that whatever the two were doing wouldn't end well and he hoped that they weren't doing it in the room he and Cuba were sharing. Canada gasped lightly when he caught sight of his brother heading over towards him and quickly turned back to the bar, downing his glass and making a face before ordering another.
"Cana-Matthew, what are you doing here? I thought you were at the meeting room," America asked with a gentle sigh, taking a seat beside his almost identical brother and ordering a Sam Adams. He had almost forgotten that they weren't allowed to refer to each other by anything except their human names when they were out of the meeting room.
"I should ask you the same thing" Canada offered a small smile before his blue gaze fell to the fresh drink before him, eyes far away. He really wasn't surprised that America hadn't realized that he wasn't at the meeting. Actually, he would have been really surprised if anyone had missed him. America let out a bark of laughter before deciding just how to respond.
"It was Ivan. He brought up Communism again and you remember what happened last time" America began and paused in his explaining just long enough for both siblings to shudder deeply. "Well anyway, they told me to go get something to drink while they talked it over and well…yah…here I am" America smiled widely, looking at Canada over the rims of his glasses.
"So what's your story?" Alfred pushed again, taking a deep swig from his bottle and letting his ever-present smile shine through.
"I'm in love with Francis and he's in love with someone else" Canada sighed, setting his chin on the counter and not even blinking when Alfred nearly choked on his alcohol. The elder of the two's eyes went wide and he looked down at his brother as though he had only truly seen him for the first time.
"W-what?" Alfred spluttered, grabbing a few napkins and cleaning up the mess he had made. He studied the other mail for any sign that he was pulling his leg but found that he was dead serious. Alfred turned to the bartender and asked how many beer's Matthew had had and sighed deeply when he was told four.
"I love him so much it hurts. But he's in love with Jeanne" Canada said, his hands clenched around the glass so tightly that his knuckles turned white with the pressure. "What am I supposed to do Alfred?" Matthew choked back a sob, his eyes closing tightly and his head sinking as his gaze fell.
Alfred felt his heartstrings tug at the drunken man beside him, for once not thinking of a way to exploit or torture Matthew with this new information. Alfred frowned lightly, tearing his gaze away from the other male and taking a deep swig of his alcohol. That was when a wide smirk stretched his lips and a dangerous glint came to his eye.
"Don't worry. I have a plan"
Despite the fact that the alcoholic beverages had practically eliminated all of the Canadian's ability for higher thinking, he still had a sinking feeling that he wouldn't like this one but.
The next chapter will probably cover just what Cuba and Prussia were doing while the other nations were all in the meetings ^^
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