After watching America shove the third burger down his throat Russia coughed awkwardly.
"Hgnnmph?" The man articulated as a response.
"Is it just me or are you stuck in Europe?" America's face brightened with over exaggerated sincerity.
"Me? Naw, I'm leaving real' soon..."
"Yes? And when would that be?" America looked at the other man suspiciously.
"What's it matter to you?" He asked before taking a large bite of his fourth massive burger, the suspicion never leaving his eyes.
"It matters to me because I am starting to think that you are here without any money," he eyed the other man carefully. "Or even a change of clothes..." America's cheeks dusted with pink.
"What? Why would you think that?"
"Because you haven't changed clothes since you arrived."
"Pshh, what are you, stalking me?"
"Of course not…"
"Then I just have a couple of the exact same type of suit. No worries."
"Your suit is still wrinkled from sleeping in it."
"True, but maybe I-"
"Save it, Amerika. What are you doing here and why haven't you had any money forwarded to you?" America sighed, knowing the game was up.
"That's a tough one. See, I'm staying here to help a friend, and I haven't had any money forwarded to me because my nation thinks that I was missing in action. They probably have their suspicions that I took the opportunity to escape to a beach town or something like that. I'd rather they think I was a bit of a deadbeat than know the truth."
"And what is the truth?" America paused in his eating long enough to set his burger back in its wrapper on the table. "What happened to you?" The question felt heavy as it fell from the Russians tongue, but wanted to understand. What could have caused the happy-go-lucky nation to break? ..the very same nation which had secretly terrified him during the Cold War, and still sometimes terrified him today… Could the world's super power really have been crushed so completely by the destruction of other nations? Most global powers in his position would be secretly reveling in the opportunity to rule. The powerful nation's face contorted in pain and a darkness hid his usual sunny persona.
"Russia… The world was dying. We were so close to the brink and there was nothing I could do. What would you expect?" The fairer man looked at him with an emotionless curiosity.
"To be honest? Considering your position, you should have been seizing the opportunity. You could have ruled the world with everyone else out of the way." America looked down at his food feeling sick to his stomach.
"Is that what you would have done?"
"Yes." America's eyelashes flicked upward and the Russian was met with burning cobalt.
"What's so special about ruling people? What good is being a nation if you have to subjugate your own people?" Russia felt his chest tighten with a heat he could not identify. It felt like anger but there was something else. He imagined his lips silencing the furious man before him. The man might be babbling and furious at the moment, but something about the bubble-headed blonde practically shouting out political sentiments for the security of his people turned him on. It was like the Cold War all over again only this time he didn't have to worry about the American stabbing him whenever he looked away.
"Amerika?" America shut up for a second, glaring angrily for the interruption.
"What?"
"Why did you call me when you needed a meal? There are plenty of other nations who would have fed you." America's mouth shut completely and he turned away from the man in favor of staring at the table, the wall… anything but him.
"Well, you see… I was figuring that since I saved your butt the other night you totally owed me!"
"I owed you for saving me? That's not very heroic."
"What? No, it's totally heroic! It wasn't 'cuz you needed to pay me anything, I just figured-"
"That on some level you might enjoy seeing me again despite all the nasty things I had done?"
"No. Lithuania came to my apartment last night-"
"Lithuania was at your place?"
"Yeah, he said you kicked him out and he… he looked a little worse for wear, if you will." It was Russia's turn to look away.
"Yes, I would suppose he did…" America's eyes narrowed.
"I figured it was you. What's your problem? Seriously! One second you're jumping me and the next you're molesting poor Toris?"
"That's not fair Amerika."
"How isn't it fair?"
"Lithuania came on to me. Very strongly…"
"What? You want me to believe that shit? He's loved Poland since I can remember."
"Yeah, you're right, he has."
"Then why?"
"We've all got issues. You should be able to understand the stupid things that people do when they're suffering."
"But why is he suffering?"
"If I had to guess, it'd be because he feels as though Poland would never accept him."
"What? Why would he feel that? And how would you know?" Russia just looked at America incredulously and stood to leave.