Yeh, this is a bit of an indulgent chapter on my part...I just wanted to include some friendly stuff. Ah well, no-one's told me off for it yet~
Alfred was distracted, eating everything in sight; "Yao~ how can ya cook like this?
"Like what aru?"
"Like! Like this! Its soo good and ya always manage it! Dude, you made vegetables nice!"
China blushed at the praise "I have a lot of experience aru..." he didn't take it too much to heart though. The poor boy had grown up with England's cooking, so he knew the bar was a little low. Still it was nice to be appreciated like this
"You like cooking?" America was busy eating vegetables, smiling: "What are these"
China looked over "Leek aru"
"What's a leek?"
"A vegetable aru...like sort of long and white with leaves at the end?"
"...Oh. So, like grass?"
"..." China stared. He couldn't possibly..."You do know that grass isn't a vegetable aru?"
"What? Course it is! Dude!" He downed another mouthful of rice; "It's green!"
"But it's not edible" China countered before swallowing a piece of chicken "Therefore it's just a plant aru"
"I ate it..." America frowned.
"You...why did you eat grass aru?"
"England said I should eat my vegetables...so I did! I ate the grass!"
"That...explains a lot aru...but you shouldn't eat grass, it's bad for you" He was vaguely aware that he was slipping into that nagging big brother mode, 'aniki mode' as Yong Soo had dubbed it. He sighed "I'm not surprised England struggled to get you to eat vegetables though aru, his cooking is to be feared"
"It ain't always that bad." America hadn't even realised he was sticking up for his...ex...
"Hmmm..." China looked sidelong at America, sipping his tea. Maybe that was a bit too soon "It may just have been me aru..." And the rest of the world, but he wasn't going to add that at this time
America pouted, deciding that eating as much rice as possible would stop him crying at that thought, Arthur. Evil. Evil bastard. He glared down at the floor instead of speaking.
China felt slightly guilty as he saw America attempting to drown himself in rice. He reached over for America's hand sympathetically "Slow down aru. You'll choke."
America, somehow, swallowed it all without choking. Just. Glancing over at Yao he smiled, not letting the other let go of his hand: "Just don't wanna let your food get cold!"
"Alright...Alfred, I don't mind if you want to talk about it aru, there's not much I haven't heard before"
"Talk about what?" He asked, frowning: "I. Don't. Care."
"If it's too soon, I understand aru, but just, if you need an ear...it can help to talk to someone who's already been through it aru" China said the last part quickly, looking away
Alfred glanced over, frowning; "You mean you and Ivan?"
"No, I-" China paused, unsure whether he should tell America "You aren't the only one England's played aru"
"Y-you an-and Arthur?" America looked horrified, hurt, he'd known England had had relationships before but... "When?"
China sighed "During the 1800s aru...on and off, it was never as...pleasant as your relationship with him..." he frowned "I don't remember much of it to be honest aru"
Alfred pouted, glaring down at the table; "Is there anyone that whore hasn't fucked?"
China sighed into his teacup "Sometimes I wonder aru...I don't think he's had Belarus yet..."
America stood up, walked around the table and threw both arms around his elder, hugging him close.
"Eh?" China looked up confused at Alfred "What is it aru?"
Alfred couldn't shy away as fresh tears burnt his eyes; "I just...feel sorry for you."
China felt tears burning his own eyes as well, but he willed them back "What? Why would you feel sorry for me aru? It was a long time ago" he faked a smile, but didn't try and escape Alfred's embrace. He didn't know why but it felt...nice to be held like this for once, rather than doing it for someone else.
America gently buried his tearstained face into the others hair, sniffling: "Still hurt though?"
China felt a lump in his throat as his voice cracked "A-always..." he leant back into America, giving in to the tears that slid slowly down his face "Always..." America had half been expecting that, carefully, he pulled the other to his feet, holding him close as he shushed him, stroking his hair. Alfred used to hold Mattie like this, when that stupid Prussian made him cry. China reached up and fiercely wiped away the tears, feeling an idiot for crying in front of someone "I-it's nothing aru...just bad memories"
Alfred gently took the others hands, watching him; "Don't...You can cry. I won't tell. You've got feelings too!
China flushed, embarrassed at the attention "I-I..." he looked away, ashamed at crying in front of a guest.
Alfred just smiled, gently placing his fingers under his chin: "It's okay, it really is. Don't blush like that!" China stared at the American. Of all the nations to comfort him...he never would have guessed it of him. Unable to stop the tears anyway, he gave in and leant against Alfred as the tears continued to fall. Gently, he pulled the other much closer, stroking his hair and rocking him gently, eyes closed: "You sound so young..."
China gave a short laugh, surprised by the admission "I'm allowed to once in a while aru"
"Uh huh..." America smiled: "Go sit, I'll wash up, it's the least I can do..."
"N-no" China shook his head, clearing his throat "You're a guest aru, I'll do it"
Alfred just gently pushed the other along to sit on the sofa, pushing the panda from before into his hands: "Here! Company!" With another smile he darted off into the kitchen. Come on! He was a hero after all!
China sighed, but curled into a ball around the plushie on the sofa, waiting for the tears to stop falling. How long had it been since he'd cried like this? And to do it in front of a guest, in front of America...at least he hadn't made fun of him, although in the circumstances that wasn't surprising.
It didn't take long until America was finished, smiling, he ran into the other room. "All done!" Alfred dropped the towel sitting beside the other; "You alright now?"
China took a few deep breaths before answering "Yes aru, I'm sorry that I dumped that on you"
Alfred smiled, resting a hand on his shoulder; "Cool, cool! So, What we gonna do?"
China paused "I don't mind aru. I've got a gaming console for my siblings that you can use if you want?"
America laughed, nodding; "Win! Play with me?"
China sighed "I'll try, but I'm not very good aru"
He crossed the living room to his TV, pulling open one of the panels in the table it was sat on to reveal a nearly untouched console
America grinned, diving over to help him, dangerously close to him with every touch: "Dude! Why don't you play?"
China shrugged "It's never interested me that much aru, plus it's not much fun on your own" China looked through the stacked games "I...don't know what half of these are aru..."
America grinned, raiding the pile; "Hmm...that's awful. Done that...and that...and that...That's for girls!" He held up a copy of Hello Kitty paradise.
China looked away quickly "Th-these are all my sibling's games aru! Not mine!" And that was totally not the only game that he'd played voluntarily in this pile
Alfred just placed it on top of the others, smiling: "...Boring...boring...boring...Ha! Here!" He held up the game he was looking for; "Proper action, gore and Zombies! Good, right?"
China looked at the cover, which just showed a close up of a yellow eye, spattered with blood "Err that looks a little..." He sighed, why not; America was the guest after all "Alright aru"
You ain't scared?" He smiled, setting up the game and grabbing both controllers, dumping himself on the sofa next to China.
"N-no aru! I'm just suspicious as to what Kiku and Yong Soo have left in my house!"
America laughed, settling himself next to the older nation and watching the opening: "well...It ain't bad. Just kind of generic. Ya know the controls?"
"Err, kind of...oh, never mind it's telling us anyway aru" China looked over "You do realise this game isn't in English aru?"
America smiled, relaxing slightly; "Course not! Makes it more fun cos I can make up a plot! Ready to kill some Zombies?"
"Ok aru!" China watched as the cut scene came to a close and their two characters were pitched into darkness
Like I said...not much happening, hopefully people like anyway? They aren't too OOC? Story will get more on track (Haha, on track? We had a plot?) next chapter honestly!
Please review! I really want to know what people think!