For as long as he could remember, which was a long time indeed as a nation, Matthew had observed Alice every morning wake to a steaming cup of tea. It wasn't always the same of course. English breakfast, earl gray, something strong and bitter each morning. He didn't mind it all too much, it was just one of those simple requirements that she had.
He only began to mind when it suddenly became his duty to fix such drinks for her each morning. It was a thankless job, serving it to her, and it often came with complaints. It was either too hot or too cold, too sweet or too bitter. Honestly couldn't she just be polite enough to thank him?
This morning seemed the same as any other as he set down the saucer which held a perfectly warm cup of the bitter liquid down in front of her. Though he sometimes would partake in some as well, this morning he was perfectly happy with his steaming cup of Tim Horton's coffee. Unfortunately it was a bit too brisk this morning for his taste to indulge in an iced capp, much to his displeasure.
He sat down quietly across from Alice, waiting for the inevitable grading of his mundane morning task. But this morning was different. Alice took the delicate handle of the teacup in her slender fingers and stopped before the rim grazed her lips. She paused, looking at the surface with recognition before moving her other hand to cradle the side of the cup. She gazed at it with slightly lidded eyes and full lashes, before bringing it up finally to take a small sip. Her eyes fluttered closed, savoring it, before bringing it back down to stroke the intricate design and smile reminiscently.
Matthew had paused mid-drink from his coffee mug, his treasured caffeine not quite making it to the edge of the opening of his mug. Why was she acting so strangely? It was rare for Alice to show such a sign of emotion unashamedly, even to him. She was simply too proud! So what kind of miracle could have produced this?
His eyes went to the tea, hoping he hadn't in his tiredness put something toxic in it or something that could have this weird effect on her. There certainly weren't any drugs... It was then he realized as he stared down at the familiar hazel brown trapped inside. He gave a warm smile himself, knowing what she must be thinking.
He hadn't been paying much attention, when he had served her maple tea.
Smokey streams of steam billowed up from the white porcelain cups, only to be blown away into oblivion by the brisk autumn wind. It was approaching late october, and the chill air already brought promises of a freezing winter. Though that was pretty normal here in America.
It had been Alfred's turn to host the meeting, which needless to say he took control of once again much to everyone's headache. Matthew almost bitterly thought his brother deserved the extra cold winter this year, though he knew Al would spend it hibernating as usual. Honestly, sometimes he couldn't believe they were related.
Matthew knew that wasn't right though. He really did care about his brother, but he'd just felt a little bitter toward him lately for some reason. Well, multiple reasons. One was the obvious amount of attention he commanded in comparison, something he always wished he could achieve. Even when it was his turn to speak he felt like barely anyone was listening to him! Another was... well, it was the reason he was now here, sitting at a small cafe across from someone he'd least expected to ever accept to this, England.
Alice sat across the quaint round table from him, tugging her coat a little closer to herself and cursing the cold under her breath already. Though she'd never curse the season of course since it was oddly her favorite.
Matthew had nervously asked her suddenly if she'd like to get a cup of hot tea with him as soon as the meeting adjourned. It was no mystery that she left as soon as humanly possible, especially if it was held here at Alfred's house. He was more than surprised when she had agreed! Though... Alice hadn't quite been herself lately he noticed.
Ah, that was why he was being so bitter. It wasn't quite what Alfred had done to her, because the past was the past and honestly when didn't America patronize their former mother country? No, he was upset that although he seemed so dedicated to teasing her every day, he hadn't noticed something. He hadn't noticed how gradually she appeared more and more tired, as if exhausted with everything. It was her job to set America back in his place, and yet lately... her outbursts to his ridiculousness had become less, and often delayed.
It wasn't as if he especially watched her during the meetings or anything! Observing was about all you could do when you were so unnoticed during these things. Though, he had to embarrassingly admit that his attention drifted more to Alice than anyone at the meeting. She was just... interesting was all!
He sighed to himself, knowing arguing like this inside of his own head was just pointless.
"Is everything alright?" Alice suddenly asked him, having caught his sigh.
Matthew quickly shook his head, forcing himself back to reality. He shouldn't space out like that! Though... he was surprised. Had Alice just noticed something he had done? "N-no! I mean, I'm fine."
"If you're sure..." She responded, a bit taken aback by how suddenly he had answered like that. Perhaps she had just startled him was all.
Finally she lifted the simple mug in her hand, swirling the liquid around within it absently. "So... might I ask why we're here?" It wasn't as if it was a normal occurrence for Canada to even speak to her all that often actually, especially so casually.
"W-well..." He began, not expecting the sudden question. He gathered his thoughts quickly though, knowing there was no other way around this. "Alice, are you okay?"
This time it was Alice's turn to take surprise in his observations. She blinked at him, setting the tea down once again for a moment.
"I mean, you seem exhausted lately... Not as England, but Alice, are you really alright?" He clarified, knowing it was confidential to reveal nation intelligence.
The genuine surprise and swell of emotion from his showing concern allowed him for a moment to see through the jaded emeralds that usually stared uninterested upon everything. They were really so bright and revealing... like jade mirrors.
It was just a flash really, just a fraction of a second before they returned to normal and she was looking boredly down at the table once again. "Fine... just a tad overworked, luv."
She had added the term reassuringly, he knew. Still that didn't keep him from feeling suddenly uncomfortable with the term. It flustered him! How could he help it when it wasn't said so casually around here?
Alice didn't seem to mind, leaving him to his muddled thoughts while she finally was able to take the first sip of her, now warm, tea. She paused though after a bit of the liquid hit her taste buds, blinking at the unexpected sweet sensation.
"What is this?" She asked in innocent curiosity, interested in the unique flavor.
"Ah, i-it's maple tea... I thought you might like it so I brought some and asked them to make it for you. Since they only sell it at my house I mean..." He tried to explain as best as he could. He was still stumbling over words though! He just needed to calm down!
Alice took another long sip and let out an extended breath, which was at the beginnings of turning into wisps of white clouds spewing from between her lips. Lips that were... smiling?
Matthew found himself staring in wonderment upon the small content-looking smile which had appeared upon her lips. He couldn't help smiling warmly at the view of a more relaxed and, relatively at least, happy Alice. It was so odd, yet not as out of place as she had expected.
His mouth moved before he could think to stop it, his words coming out almost as soft as a whisper, but shockingly steady for once. "You're really cute when you smile."
Alice glanced up at him, a tint of red lightly dusting her pale cheeks. "W-why... thank you, I think..."
It took a moment for him to process. Wait.. she had heard him?! He immediately went red and laughed nervously. "N-no I meant... ah... oh maple..." He couldn't really say he didn't mean it! He'd sound like a jerk! But then it sound like he was hitting on her... Was he? He didn't know!
Alice was actually thankful he was preoccupied with his inner monologue since she couldn't help but giggle to herself as he fidgeted in his nervousness. It was all just too sweet.
"Matthew?" She finally interrupted him, waiting until he had lifted his head for recognition that he had heard her. "Would you mind... if I visited your house sometime soon? I mean since you say you can only get this tea especially there and all." That was the only reason she was asking really! Oh... who was she kidding? She really did want to spend more time with the flustered little nation, no, with Matthew.
"U-umm... sure. Of course!" Matthew replied with a bit of a smile.
Still reminiscing on how their whole relationship had began, he continued smiling dreamily over at her. Distracted by his thoughts, he hadn't noticed the hint of playfulness which had snaked its way into hers.
"So Matthew... you wouldn't happen to be planning something would you? Like a proposal?" She asked jokingly, having been remembering the first time he had served her this as well. He only did so on rare occasions now, or random moments such as these and she never failed to tease him for it.
"E-eh?! What?! P-p-proposal?! No! No! Nothing like that!" Matthew quickly stuttered, his face turning as red as the leaf upon his flag.
Alice once again couldn't help but laugh. He was just so unbelievably adorable when he was embarrassed like that. Some things just never changed, and she silently hoped that he wouldn't.