It has recently come to my attention, due a recent review, that the past few author's notes have, essentially, been used by me to treat this site as a blog of sorts. After all, I have no pets at the moment to rant this stuff to. Rest assured, I had no intention of doing that. In an attempt to rectify the situation, I've finally managed to write this chapter, pitiful as it is, and type it up. Hopefully, it'll suffice in quelling any potential negative emotions. The next part of this chapter will be posted within the next few days, since I'm going to be busy with my godparents and family.
On that note, Happy 4rth of July, everyone! Have a happy, crazy, fireworks-spectacular day! Just don't take a leaf out of Deidara's book and blow yourself up in the process, okay? Also, Happy (belated) Canada Day! Hug the nearest polar bear plushie and be sure to remember to cherish your maple syrup and pancakes for breakfast!
This chapter has been brought to you thanks to a nagging conscience, a need to use humor to help combat the annual "4rth of July/American Revolutionary War angst-fest" that floods the Hetalia archive around this time every year that seriously leaves me wishing to give England a hug, an 8-hour trip down south to visit my godparents, and a steaming cup of English breakfast tea with milk and sugar. Yes, I do drink tea on the 4rth of July, and I don't care if that makes me seem like a Benedict Arnold. I need my tea fix like Germany needs beer.
A warning for all PrussiaxHungary, PrussiaxAustria, AustriaxHungary romantic pairing shippers out there that might be reading this: this chapter contains slight hints of PrussiaxAustria, but not as a definite pairing. Prussia is merely making the observation that, from a sexually attractive viewpoint, Austria is indeed quite attractive, in an elegant sort of way. I just doubt he'd really act on it often, given the fact that Hungary's quite protective of Austria and wields the considerable power of the Great Frying Pan of Doom.
In regards to any actual crushes or romantic interest, Prussia, I think, would not be looking for that sort of relationship with Austria, at least not now. I always personally pictured him as seeing Austria as the sort of longtime friend/acquaintance/former enemy that you've known long enough to make unexpected visits to, help yourself to their fridge without asking first, and occasionally hit on and/or grope just for kicks because you know you make the other person feel kind of awkward and pissed off while simultaneously helping boost their ego XD
Back at the car, Prussia had become rather bored. After all, the other nations were already looking for Romano's supposed "jackass" significant other (if he even existed, as Prussia privately thought the kid, if there even was one and Feli hadn't misheard, was likely adopted since Romano didn't seem the type to want to settle down), so he wasn't really needed to help with the search. Austria, on the other hand...well, Prussia thought he was partially here just to be huffy, elegant eye-candy. Not that he'd ever say so, it wouldn't do any good for Hungary to find out somehow (and he knew she'd find out, one way or another) and end up severely injuring him. The last time he'd hit on her ex-husband, he'd ended up in the hospital for a week recovering from the massive amounts of bruising, blood loss, and broken "perverted" fingers, and his brother had refused to sneak in any beer or dirty magazines for him. Although the nurses had been pretty hot...
Before he'd gone into the house to help with the search, Germany had also put the top for the car on, in order to offer some shade from the late afternoon sun. Austria reclined, chocolate-brown cowlick slightly wilted, against the plush black leather seats in the back of the car, his slender fingers gently moving along the edge of one seat to the tune of "Moonlight Sonata". Prussia stared him for several minutes, ruby eyes following the finger movements the way only the truly bored can do, before deciding to do something fun: namely, causing a hell of a lot of trouble. "Hey Specs, they're probably going to be in Romano's place for a while, wanna take this thing out for a spin in the meantime?"
The elegant nation raised a slender eyebrow in response, throwing an arm up over his face to block the offending view of Prussia grinning at him like a maniac. "No, I do not want to, as you so crudely put it, "take this thing out for a spin". This isn't even your car, it's a loan from the Roman Empire, and honestly, I'm not eager to discover what will happen to us if we drive this car anywhere and you inevitably find some way to crash or damage it. Even if he's not an empire any longer, that doesn't mean he doesn't have any fighting power left, and he'd probably be more than willing to use it in order to beat you into the ground for wrecking his property."
Prussia was, naturally, unfazed and unconcerned. "Aww, c'mon, it'll just be for a little while. Nobody's going to notice, they're all looking for ole Sourpuss like a pack of bloodhounds on the trail of a bigass stag. And I'm really goddamn bored."
Austria merely peered over the rims of his glasses to give him an annoyed look, before returning to tapping out musical tunes against the sides of the nearest seat upholstery. "If you feel like risking your brother's wrath for a suicidal joyride, I suggest you at least let me get out of the car first, as we both know who'll have your head on a platter otherwise." Prussia shivered ever so slightly, as visions of painful head injuries and broken bones, courtesy of one very protective Hungarian woman, danced through his head. "Fine, get your ass out of the car. But you're seriously missing out here."
Thankfully, as the heat was still quite intense outside, Germany had been considerate enough to also leave the car windows rolled down. Therefore, there was a small opening through which one could climb through. Austria stared rather doubtfully at the relatively small potential exit, wondering if trying to get out through the window was such a good idea. After all, if he got stuck, he'd have to deal with half of his body being trapped outside the car and forced to bear the heat while the rest of his body was left to the mercy of Prussia. What to do, what to do...
The decision was made for him when he saw, out of the corner of one eye, the rather alarming sight of the ex-nation trying to hotwire the car, a handful of tools pulled out of god knows where being used to try and pry open the dashboard panel in front of the steering wheel. "What are you doing, you fool!?", he hissed angrily, moving instinctively to try and stop his fellow passenger. Prussia merely gave him a rather annoyed look, as if to say 'Are-you-stupid?', before replying, "Trying to start up the car, duh. West took the keys with him when he went inside, so to get this thing started up, I need to give it a little...help." Austria huffed in frustration, reaching out to grab the screwdriver and Swiss army knife in Prussia's hands. "Are you mad? I already told you that it's not a good idea to deface the car!"
Immediately, the ex-nation moved away, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth as he hid the tools behind his back. "Uh-uh, I said I was going to get this thing started, and I meant it. So stay out of it, will you? It's not like I'm going to ruin it, I've messed with enough cars over the years to put it back together...I think."
For a moment, Austria only stared at him, unwilling to try and understand what went on in the ex-nation's head. After a few moments, he sighed in resignation, and turned his head away. "Just...just let me out of the car. If you're going to be defacing the vehicle, at least unlock the car doors so that I can leave, and therefore forfeit any and all responsibility for your insane actions."
Ruby eyes glinted for a moment, considering the pros and cons of such an action, before Prussia nodded in consent, using the screwdriver and Swiss army knife in tandem as a substitute crowbar to pry open the panel, revealing a thick rainbow tangle of wires, plugs, and circuits. Peering inside for a moment, he looked over the mass of wires in front of him, before selecting a deep green wire to the far right, tugging on it with one hand. There was a resounding click as the car doors unlocked, allowing Austria to open the door and get out of the car. Nodding curtly in reluctant thanks, the elegant nation shut the car door and headed into Romano's house, humming a complicated, elegant waltz under his breath.
Prussia stared after him from a moment, taking a few seconds to admire the other nation's backside (purely for entertainment purposes, of course), before returning to his work on the car. After a few minutes or so, the familiar vroom of the engine starting up greeted his ears, and a grin broke out across his face. Taking the wheel in both hands, Gilbird fluttering into place to perch on his shoulder, he looked out the window, feeling the urge to cackle maniacally as a thought occurred to him. West is going to be so damn pissed. But it'll be so worth it.