Cold, unrelenting rain fell upon the scene, almost battering the troops and their leaders who stood beneath it.

On one side stood one by the name of Alfred F. Jones who led those who would either live with freedom or die without it.

On the other stood none other than Arthur Kirkland who led those who would live keeping their freedoms at bay or die trying.

If looks could kill, the two would've been long dead with the way they stared each other down, steely blue eyes meeting green, a certain unmatched passion held within both. If there was one thing they knew, it was that this was their last battle and one of them had to come out victorious and it sure as hell wouldn't be the other.

"Alfred Franklin Jones!" Arthur called out, raising his musket slightly, and shocking Alfred by actually using his real name, and full name at that.

"Just say it, why don't you? If you'd stop being so stubborn and just admit it, it we wouldn't even have to do this, damn it!" He shouted, his denial taking him over entirely.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Alfred queried, hoping it wasn't about what he thought it was.

"Just admit that this is all a joke, America."

Alfred's heart dropped in his chest.

"And we can all go home."

・・・

"My name is England!"

"Engwand?"

"No, it's England! Engla-" He sighed. "Well, since I'm your new big brother, you can just call me Arthur."

"Alright, Artie!"

"No, it's-! Whatever. Just… come with me."

He started walking, but quickly realised that the child wasn't following him. He turned around, seeing him still standing there. He stood with a slight pout, reaching his arms out as if he wanted… oh, come on!

Arthur huffed as he walked back, not saying a word, but simply picking up the child and carrying him the whole way, allowing him to rest his head on his shoulder. Small fingers instantly found their way around the cloth of his shirt, and stayed locked in place there for the remainder of the walk.

"Arthur…" The child whispered after a while, his grip on the Brit's clothes tightening considerably.

"What do you want, Alfred?"

There was no reply.

"Alfred?"

Arthur turned his head to the side, only to see the child asleep, a slight smile gracing his features. He couldn't help but allow a smile to tug at the corners of his own lips. Although he was proving to be somewhat annoying, it was still in an endearing sort of way. One that he thought would make it worthwhile.

He thought.

For the most part, after that day, it was shown to be true, though more intensely than he'd originally presumed. The two would spend almost every hour of every day together, mostly because Alfred had refused to be alone without Arthur no matter what, but also because, honestly, the kid was adorable, and how could you say no to a face as cute as his whilst still owning and maintaining a soul?

You couldn't, and that's what made Arthur weak.

However, weak could also be translated into words or phrases such as kinder, or more compassionate, more empathetic. Whenever the child was depressed, or angry, Arthur couldn't stop himself from feeling the same, likewise when he was joyful or optimistic as well. Yes, the kid could be a nuisance when he wanted to, but somehow, they managed to keep the peace.

Then came the mistakes. One day Arthur had to leave, Alfred having no idea why, the closest thing resembling an explanation being "I just need some time away." Away? What did that mean? Away from what? Away from issues in his country? Issues in the other colonies? Or… possibly issues with Alfred himself?

But that didn't make any sense! Why wouldn't Arthur still like him? After all this time… had he just been making assumptions this whole time? All those times he'd been tucked into bed, or told stories of times past, or even simply been kissed on the forehead, it was all lies? Even when there were those times when Alfred had to be the kind one, and try his best to console him when he was lonely or sad… had he really not cared for him, or the family - however small it was - they'd created at all?

Well, whatever it was, it didn't matter, for he had no time to figure it out, let alone to find a way to convince the Brit into staying, for one morning, he simply up and left.

This was his first mistake.

When he returned, he found not the small, dependent child he had abandoned long before, but a teenager who seemed well enough on his own. It was known that nations did grow at a faster rate than humans, but this just seemed ridiculous! He was only gone for… wait, how long had he been gone?

It didn't matter, however, because he was never going to let Alfred out of his sight again.

This was his second mistake.

The change from basically living on his own with minimal interference from Alfred to this sudden regime was an irritating one, and one he wasn't going to take lying down.

"No, Arthur, I'm afraid I'm not going to do that. I mean, you kinda left me alone for god-knows-how-long, so I don't really see the point in doing so anymore."

"But for all that time, you have been in my house, using my land. So all that money you haven't been paying me? Yeah, I want it. Now."

"But why?!"

"Because I said so."

_However, Alfred wasn't a child anymore. "Because I said so" wasn't good enough anymore._

"But Arthur, why should I have to pay for your negligence?"

"I already told you - because I said so. Now, Alfred, kindly leave my office because this discussion is over."

"But-!"

"America," he warned, voice dangerously low, "this conversation is over. Leave."

Yes, Alfred would leave then, but there was something that most definitely would not leave him - this anger. This wrath and hatred that would grow and fester until it was released. The faster it was freed, the better it would've been for the both of them, but unfortunately, that was not what Alfred had in mind. He thought that if he just did what he said, that Arthur would finally lay off and leave him alone.

His hopes were dashed soon enough.

"Okay, I don't see why I have to pay for your stuff too. I don't even drink tea unless YOU make it for me!"

"Do we really have to go through this whole spiel again? I told you, you'll listen to me for as long as you live here, understand?"

"But what if I don't want to?"

"America, you will listen to me and only me, not these preposterous ideals you have been forming as of late. I don't care what you want because you don't know what you want. I'm the only one who cares about you, and if you leave, you'll never find anyone who cares like I do. If you decide to leave and finally figure that out, don't you dare come back."

Alfred was shocked silent at his words. Arthur didn't even have to tell him to leave, he just did, without another sound. It finally seemed that all traces of defiance had left him.

The word "seemed" was used there for a reason.

Multiple other acts of defiance were attempted, including once throwing all of Arthur's precious tea into the ocean. However, per usual, this did not sway him at all- on the contrary, it only made things exceptionally worse, for his leash was only tightened even more, to a point where he was almost suffocating under all of the new rules and regulations.

He knew that it hadn't worked in the past, but he just had to talk to Arthur one last time. Maybe, just maybe, it would work.

"Ah, Alfred," he said unenthusiastically upon hearing his office door opening, "have you come up with another argument to attempt to sway me?" He sounded calm, but there was a drop of something in his voice - either irritation or amusement.

"Yes, actually, I have, Arthur. Look, I know you're probably on some power trip right now since you don't even have the decency to look at me, but I just need you to listen to me-"

"Last I heard, subordinates do not tell those higher than them what to do."

If Alfred had any one ounce of respect left then, it left him instantly, with a sharp pang of betrayal.

"Th-that's all I am to you? A subordinate?"

"Well yes, I don't know what you expected. After all, you're just a colony, aren't you?"

"Just a colony? But… But I thought-"

"Well, you were wrong, Alfred. That's all you are, and it's all you ever will be."

"So that's why you're treating this like a game, isn't it?! Let's see how long Alfred holds out before he snaps! Let's just laugh at him while he continuously asks for one simple little concept-"

"Alfred, that is enough-"

"SHUT UP!"

Within milliseconds, a fist-sized hole was embedded within the off-white wall.

"Just shut the hell up, Arthur, and just listen to me, because this isn't funny anymore! I've tried so hard to get along with you, but you never want to listen to me! Ever since you left me, you've been acting so much different! All I wanted was for you to hear me out and treat me like I actually exist! I don't want to be some kind of stupid joke that you and the rest of the world can laugh at!"

"Do you think this is *fun* for me?!" Arthur asked after he whirled around, his voice shrill. "Do you think that I *wanted* this to happen?! This isn't what I asked for, Alfred!" His words came out thickly, as if he were about to cry. "I just wanted it to be the same as before! I… I just wanted… I just wanted *you* back."

The two allowed the words to soak in for a second, taking in the tense atmosphere. Was that really what he wanted? Well, maybe he could… No, no, Alfred had made up his mind already, there was no turning back now.

"I'm sorry, Arthur. But I'm not a little kid anymore."

Arthur stared at him for a second, something like longing present on his features for a moment, but he then turned around sat back down at his desk, refusing to face Alfred again.

"Are you sure that you won't change your mind, Arthur?"

"Yes." Came the simple answer.

"Heh. That's what I thought, Arth- …England."

This was his third, and final, mistake.

・・・

Thirteen full years of humiliation and torment swirled inside of him, devouring his very being. All that time he wished to be free, and now he was finally proving himself, but this… this reaction….

It was utterly unacceptable.

"You think this is a *joke,* England?!" He said, running up to him and knocking the musket out of his hands with his own. It was tossed into the air and landed with a thud on the rain-soaked ground

"After all I've done to get here… after thirteen years - thirteen god damn years, and you think this is still child's play?!"

The now unarmed Brit cowered in fear, tripping over his own feet and falling to the ground. Alfred pressed the tip of his musket to Arthur's neck, leaving the rest of the redcoats unsure of what to do. After all, they were given orders to shoot at anyone- anyone except for Alfred, that is.

"How blind can you possibly *be?* What's wrong with you? Can't you see what you've done?! I… I didn't even want to do this. I didn't want this to happen… But you-" Alfred's breath hitched in his throat, a weary smile settling on his features.

"You… you really haven't changed, have you?" He pulled his gun back and stared at him with that cold smile, something like wistfulness lingering on his expression for a bit, but then turned and walked away, motioning for his troops to follow behind.

"Alfred." Arthur said firmly, his eyes steely and cold.

Alfred said nothing, but paused in his steps to show that he was listening.

"If you leave now… please, *please,* don't you ever come back."

He let out a humorless laugh at the request, and continued his stride.

"I wasn't planning on it."

「ｗｈｅｎｈｅｌｏｖｅｄｍｅ」

Ahahahaha ow my heart

Before you blame me, here's the things I got this idea from: When She Loved Me - Sarah Mclachlan, Uprising - Muse, and Undertale (Scene where Frisk leaves Toriel ;-;) (I also take APUSH classes which means American history this whole year including the Revolution haha /cry)

Also I wasn't really sure who I wanted you to feel bad for so it's kinda whichever character you like the best? I dunno

I also had the headcanon that using human names or nation names determines hoclose you are. In this case, America's not his little brother anymore, then he said England instead of Arthur. You do the math. /hysterical sobbing