Oh, this chapter is sort of depressing in the beginning, but it gets funny…so…um, just hang on.
Warning- there's some FrUK and some Can-US if you squint.
Also, some recreational use of illegal drugs. (Maybe that should've been first?)
Also, i didn't proofread at all...so...i'm sorry.
Songs-
'Look What You've Done'- by Jet. (I loved this song since I was eight. LISTEN)
'Have no Fear'- by Birdyork
'Such as it Ends'- by Ludo
'70 million'- by Hold Your Horses
It was only the first day of August.
The world meeting was probably more awkward than any of the previous ones- this year at least. It was missing the endearing scraps and bickering that everyone had grown so used to. All the European nations were just as sick as Alfred, whose condition had declined again this week.
It was August now, so the American had to present some sort of plan to pay off his debt. His bosses had been arguing and debating it for the past few months, but they had finally come to an agreement. President Obama had given his speech last week, talking about his cuts to government spending to raise the debt ceiling so they wouldn't default. It was only a temporary fix.
Alfred rubbed his eyes, dipping his glasses down on his nose slightly to get past them. He yawned and curled his fingers around a cup of black coffee. It was too early to worry about sugar and creamer, he wanted straight caffeine. It didn't help that he hadn't slept much this week.
He'd tried going to Russia last Friday. He knocked on the door, and Ivan opened the curtain over the window, but not the door. He just stood there solemnly, staring back through the glass, holding an aged photograph of the two of them. He held it up so Alfred could see just how old it was, and how long he must've held onto it. Then, he slowly ripped it in half so that the side with the American was completely severed from his half.
Alfred remembered cringing, but he just forced an apathetic shrug and moved back to his car. He was lying every time he pretended he could handle this. He was slowly losing everything. It would be nice to know that at least he'd fixed things with Russia...
No matter how hurt Ivan looked while he did it, he'd ripped apart whatever held the two them together for the last century. And, Alfred almost wanted to cry when he thought about it.
The Russian hadn't arrived at the monthly World Summit yet. Alfred didn't know how he would handle it when Ivan showed up. The American just looked around at the countries already present.
Greece and Poland seemed to be hit the hardest. Greece was sleeping with obvious difficulty breathing. Poland just sat quietly, hands gripping a bag to vomit in…just in case. Spain and the Italians looked a little queasy, and Germany was being as calm as possible so as not to upset his recent vertigo, but he'd been pretty healthy recently. The Baltics seemed alright for the most part, just a little dizzy. The Nordics were silent, even Denmark didn't seem willing to do much.
Francis was sitting stiffly while Arthur tried to talk to him. The Frenchman didn't seem to be listening, or even acknowledging the Brit's presence, which only served to make Arthur more frantic to get his attention. It had just been weird to go so long without the lewd advances- n-not that Arthur liked being pursued. Francis must have heard the rumor about England and the United States…
The only one who seemed truly healthy was China. And, he was wearing a calm, smug expression. He wasn't the type to rub it in people's faces, but he really did feel a bit of pride at the current situation.
Alfred watched the door uneasily, but the clock ticked on and Germany stood, calling the meeting to begin.
America gave his speech, highlighting his spending cuts and setting up a chart to show how he'd split up his resources. It saddened him how he had to neglect crucial things like his crumbling infrastructure just to pull his debt back up.
...
After the meeting, Matthew chased the American down. Alfred didn't notice him at first, but the Canadian started talking about defaulting, and America's attention snapped into focus.
"If you default…I'm going down with you," Matthew said sadly.
Alfred sighed. If he defaulted, half the world would go down with him… "I know Mattie. I'm raising the debt ceiling…I'm working on it. We're not going anywhere…"
The Canadian nodded, gripping his brother's shoulder tightly. "I know you're trying, but…just don't fail us." His tone was so strained and urgent. He'd grown paler and thinner just like the American. "You make up one-fifth of the world's wealth and seventy-five percent of my foreign trade…This is important…don't you dare default tomorrow…" There was no real malice in his demand, just sadness.
Alfred closed his eyes and collapsed against the wall as his brother left him standing there, alone in the hallway. He rubbed a hand across his cheek, pulling his eyes open. He groaned silently.
He was tired of everyone telling him he had failed them. He was trying as hard as he could…
It didn't help him feel better when he was watching the Comedy channel to calm his nerves and his favorite comedy reporter, Steven Colbert was reading off 'America's Bucket list'. It was funny though, including things like invading Iran and getting a tattoo of a Chinese kanji on Florida. Alfred burst out laughing when Colbert told him to, 'Finally just do it with Canada. The tension's been building for years. I'm talking crazy-last night on earth- grabbing boarders, slapping Rockies, halving French, no eye-contact, eating Poutine out of each other's Great Lakes- nastiness…"
Everyone on earth was counting him out. Even a lot of his own people had fear of losing the superpower status that he'd strived off of for so long. If he lost all his power…he'd lose his ability to bring justice to the African and Middle Eastern countries.
But, that wasn't even what was bothering him at the moment. A lot of people in other countries wanted rid of him. He'd seen videos on Youtube, directly threatening the United States. A lot of them were just crazy wack-jobs living in Serbia or Russia and didn't reflect the nation's feeling as a whole. But, Alfred knew better than anyone the power of a bunch of crazy people with a real hatred.
What if the United States ceased to exist? What if China or North Korea attacked him while he was down like this? His military was well-equipped and well-trained, but under-funded.
American's were notorious for building up militias on short notice. If anything, Americans were patriotic and would fight for their country. But, if - for some reason- China changed his mind about the United States and attacked, there simply wouldn't be enough people to hold them back…
Alfred groaned again, sliding down against the wall and curling up tightly on the floor. The hallway was clear so no one would see. He buried his face in his hands and held back a sob. His skin had gone from a lightly glowing tan to a sickly grey color. He felt weaker and weaker every day. He trembled slightly. More than anything, he was just scared.
He didn't want to die…
…
…
Ivan was sick of shredding newspapers. But, there was still a small stack of headlines left. Anything with the seven-letter 'A' word on it, or the two-word 'U''S' title needed to be destroyed.
The Russian wasn't even sure why he was so mad. He'd gone hunting for sport over the weekend, just to have the satisfaction of killing something. He just imagined large bushy eyebrows on the deer and raccoons, and it made it somehow fulfilling to shoot them between the eyes.
It shouldn't be affecting him like this. He hadn't been so pissed off at the American since 1991 when he'd first met him after forming the Russian Federation. Alfred had called him a 'Fucking phoenix' and laughed at him for being a teenager again.
But, he'd grown back up again and Alfred had redeemed himself.
But now…
Who knows what was going on now? Their countries were still getting along well enough, but Ivan wanted nothing to do with Alfred. He didn't even go to the World Summit, just to avoid him. Today was the day Alfred would give his deficit speech.
Ivan rose from his desk and moved his trash can, filled with shredded papers, aside so he could get up.
He walked out into his foyer. The two halves of that picture he'd torn up three days ago were still lying dejectedly by the front window. The Russian leaned over slowly to pick them up.
It was an old picture that he'd spent a lot of time preserving so it wouldn't crumble to ashes. He'd probably had it since the 1880s. He'd hid it from Stalin throughout both world wars.
Just a picture, really. It just had him and Alfred, facing each other and smiling. It wasn't custom to smile for photographs at the time, but America insisted they look happy.
Ivan lined the halves up so that they were facing away from each other as if they were smiling off in separate directions. The thought of Alfred grinning for everyone else and never again for him…
The Russian found himself tearing the two halves up into shreds now.
No…he didn't want this. But, what could he do? America loved England. Just like the last century. And, Ivan was falling back into his old ruts, just pushing the American into Arthur's arms…
Ivan turned and punched the wall. His hand smashed through the plaster and he cursed himself silently in his native tongue. He'd have to get that fixed later. It was a good thing nobody was watching…
…
…
"Alfred? Why're you still here?" a soft voice said. A foot nudged the American in the side.
America sat up, rubbing his stiff neck. "Ugh. Canada? Why haven't you gone home?"
"I had to talk to Francis…" Matt said cryptically.
Alfred just groaned, gripping the wall and pulling himself up. A strong arm gripped his wrist and helped him. The Canuck might be a bit tired and sore from his economy, but he was still strong enough to lift the light American.
"You okay Al?" Matt posed. "You look tired. Did you sleep last night?"
"I got five hours…I think. I'm just stressed…" the American grumbled.
Matthew grinned. "I know how to fix that…I don't do this often, but…you should come to my place…"
…
"You wanna know what I think?" Matthew laughed, stretching his back out over the side of his beaten old couch like a cat. His eyes were rolling around languidly, not really focusing. Alfred just grunted from where he was sitting across the small room, and by small room, of course they were in a shoe closet with the door barricaded. "Hm. I think that Serbia, Russia, and China are having a hot threesome…and they're just not telling you…"
Alfred growled something unintelligible. He didn't want to think about Ivan getting with Yao again...
Matthew just laughed, sitting up and digging his knees into the couch cushions. Some people might think it odd that he had furniture in his shoe closet, but this was the best place to smoke a joint. "I also think you're being too uptight," he teased.
Alfred pouted. "All three of them hate me. And…" he sighed, vision swirling. "That would be so fucking hot…they wouldn't even let me watch…"
Matthew took a puff from his self-made weed-cigar and pulled his brother up by the collar to breathe the smoke in his face. "You can always just imagine it…" he drawled.
Alfred just laughed, swatting the hazy air. "Heh~ We're such pervs…"
"We should get out of here…" Matthew suggested. He was starting to hallucinate. The room felt way too hot. It would catch on fire if he didn't get out.
"Hey, Mattie…I bet I can turn my eyelids inside out…" Alfred mumbled, contemplating. He reached up for his face and poked one of his eyes tenderly.
"Fuck dude, that'd be so cool!" the Canadian mused, completely forgetting the raging imaginary fire. "Do it!"
Alfred peeled his eyelids and rolled them up, but they fell back down. So, he tried again. It didn't seem to be working, and his eyes were watering pretty badly. Still, it felt like his eyes were falling out, and it was kinda cool.
Matthew jumped as something hopped up against the wall. The fire was completely gone now- for some reason. He stood up and moved his coats aside to see what had moved. "I found a frog!"
"France is in here?" Alfred giggled.
"No, a real frog!" Matthew said.
"Well, what's it doing in here? Get it out~!"
The Canadian just shrugged and leaned forward, grabbing up the slimy animal. It felt boney and skinny, with too much goo, so Matthew just threw it as hard as he could. It splattered into the wall with a sickening 'thud'.
Alfred just jumped up and fist-pumped. "That was so fucking cool~!" he cried.
Matthew grinned and jumped up to high-five his brother before sitting back down.
They both started when the door suddenly exploded. Alfred jumped over the couch and ducked behind the wood and cushion. Matthew just trembled where he sat, trying to disappear- and probably succeeding.
Arthur stood in the doorway, waving the smoke away with his hand calmly. He'd just opened the door to find two of his former charges trembling on a couch and baking in the Canadian's closet…
-and was that a dead frog smeared to the wall? …The hell?
The Britt sighed and rubbed his temple. "Alfred. You do realize that you're breaking your own law…?"
The American's head popped back up over the couch. That door had just fucking exploded! It must've been England's doing… "Arthur! God, you're so badass!"
The Brit decided not to accept a compliment from someone who was 'tripping balls'. "Never mind…I came here to talk to Canada. You seen him?"
"I'm right here…" the quiet voice said, giggling a little that no one ever saw him- because it seemed humorous at the moment. "Why you looking for me? Did I win a prize?"
"Um…no," Arthur said, raising a massive eyebrow. He brushed his collar down primly. "I came to thank you for speaking to Francis for me. It turned out that he was just feeling sick and wasn't actually upset at me. He came to tell me that after you talked to him. But, it's appreciated nonetheless."
Matthew just waved his hand dismissively. "T'was no problem~" he said casually. He reached for his cigar and held it out. "Y'want some?"
"Um. No, I'll pass."
"Ugh, you've got another stick up your ass, Artie~!" Alfred exclaimed, laughing at his elder.
The Brit's face flushed and he snatched the cigar from Matthew's hand. He'd show them. He'd done drugs twenty-times worse than their 'weed'. But…still, that had been the eighteen-hundreds…that was different.
He accepted the joint, took a quick drag, and closed the door.
Alfred patted his back. "That's better, right~?"
Arthur just narrowed his eyes at the touch. "I'll kick you in the knee," he muttered.
Yeah! I like the 'bro-fist' type of usuk. Not the smut. Eww…pedo/teleiophelia-incest. Yucky~
Isn't Canada adorable when he's high~
Um...for the record, i don't support drug use. I actually enjoy making fun of people who are stupid enough to get themselves addicted... I know, i'm a mean person. I laughed so hard at some of the videos I used when researching the effects of Weed…wow…
I've got school starting tomorrow, so I won't update as often. I've gotta keep my grades up and work around the community more to get recognized by our state senator and get a letter of recommendation for West Point. I WANT THIS SO BAD!
Please Review~?