No TItLG today. But you get another BoM instead. I needed to do something fun before working on the next chapter for that fic. Again no Southern dialect here because I don't trust myself to pull it off without insulting someone by messing it up. Nothing historical here, other than a quick flashback, but I'm hoping to bring some historical elements later on. Doing research is pretty fun.
I do not own Hetalia, as much as I wish I did. But I do own Jackson C. Jones. I on the other hand do not own the Southern America States, no matter how awesome that would be.
He could hear the shouting from his men. Many in dying pain, others calling for their family and friends, even a few calling for help. So many were still just children, well everyone was a child compared to him, children fighting the wars of men.
There was a thick smoke all around him. Something was burning and he was in the middle of it. But there was also something else. A smell he couldn't exactly place at first, but was becoming increasingly familiar. Then it hit him, it was the smell of death. He moved his hands forward, too look down at them. They were red.
Red with blood, the blood of his own people, his people, their bodies were all around him. He backed away, only to trip over one of said bodies. The smell was stronger there. He couldn't breathe. This was it, he was going to die. Die surrounded by his dying citizens.
They had failed, he could hear them. The Union soldiers, they were celebrating their victory over the rebel south. The only thing that worried him was what faith would befall his people. He hoped their faith wouldn't be too bad.
Would he forgive them? The Confederate States of America looked up at the sky. Blue. Just like the eyes of his brother. A brother who just wouldn't let him go, that angered him above anything else. He felt tears streaming down his bloody face. He was afraid of dying, but his time had come after all.
At least his people would hopefully live on. The memory of the South, of the War and of him would hunt him forever. Jackson couldn't help but smile at that. It would be his victory over his brother.
But before death could take him, Jackson felt a hand on him. A familiar strong grip pulled him out, away from the death. Someone was holding him close. He wasn't in the field anymore. His clothes had been removed along the way. His injuries looked after. But he still felt dirty.
He could feel it. The South had been destroyed. It would be a long path until full recovery. They had lost and that wound would never heal. They would move on, but they wouldn't forget. He wondered why he was even still alive. He should have died with them, his people.
"Jackson, it's over. We're staying together. He did it." Of course. Alfred. His brother, not even when Jackson was ready to go and die. He had to go and be the hero, to save him from the hands of death. His brother was never going to let his heroic act go.
"I really hate you." His voice was just above a whisper. Hi throat hurt and felt raw. Ashes, his throat was filled with ashes.
"Don't say that. Everything is going to be fine. Even the States are back and our boss is going to fix everything." Alfred was such a dreamer. He remembered how Alfred had been after winning their independence. Breaking free of the English crown, they had been a new born nation entering a big world.
"You may have won this round, but don't think I'm just going to give up." America pulled back and looked at him. He wasn't looking as healthy as a few years back. But he still looked better than Jackson. He guessed that even Alfred was feeling some of the pain in the south. Had the north lost, would he have felt some of their pain too?
"I know. But I'll always win, because I'm the hero."
Jackson woke up with a loud gasp. He hated dreaming about the war. He hated dreaming about how they'd lost. But he mostly hated about how forgiving Alfred had looked down at him. It would have been better to if his brother had showed some of the resentment some of his people had for the South back then.
Leave it to Alfred to drag him back when he had been ready to give up. Jackson hadn't understood why he had done it. During the War he had expected his brother to be angry with him. He had taken some of the States, forming a new nation with them. But Alfred had ignored that, had forgiven him. Jackson wondered if he had even hated him for an instant during the war.
He smiled sadly. Even today when they got along so bad, Alfred still held to him. Unknowingly he had placed chains around him. He had fought to free people, only to chain his brother down. Now he was but a shadow to Alfred. He doubted he even had any power over any decision.
Jackson gripped the sheets. There was no purpose for his existence. The Confederate States of America had died on May 5, 1865. Maybe he was around because of his brother or even because those few that still held some small belief on the CSA. But that made him more afraid. It meant he could simply fade one day. It would have been better if that had happened when he had wanted. But his brother wouldn't even give him control of that.
Jackson slipped off the bed. He took a quick shower and dressed. Thankfully he kept some clothes in the house for such visits. It wasn't like Alfred took notice. Jackson doubted he ever bother to clean the rooms. It was usually the States that came over and did most of the cleaning.
He pulled on a striped red dress shirt, blue jeans and the same dress shoes from the previous day. Unfortunately he didn't have any other shoes at hand. They weren't the most comfortable things to wear, but currently they had to do.
He walked outside. He wanted to finish breakfast early in case the President called for him. It would be easier for him to get something outside. But Alfred hated when he cooked, which is why he wanted to do it. He didn't have much power over his brother, but he could at least annoy him.
Jackson had been cooking some eggs when someone made their way into the kitchen. He decided to ignore them, picking a glass to pour the orange juice instead. The person hadn't noticed him yet, that was until they turned around.
"You're still here." Alfred had hoped that by the time he was up, his brother would have been long gone. It usually worked like that when he stayed.
"The president hasn't called. So I decided to make something for myself. I was so tired last night that I forgot to eat." Jackson stepped closer to his brother. "I would ask you I you wanted something, but by the looks of it I think it would be better if you didn't eat anything heavy. A good diet would do you good, brother."
That's when America lost it. They were at each other in seconds. Yelling all the profanities they could think of at each other.
England was having a pretty good dream. He couldn't remember much of it, but he was sure it had been a good dream. That's why he wasn't feeling very happy about the rude awakening. There was a lot of yelling going on and he was sure that something had been dropped, causing it to smash against the floor.
For a moment a sense of worry came to him, had France slipped in into his house again. But then he remembered he wasn't in his house. He wasn't even in his country. He was in America's home, in Washington D.C. Then everything else from the previous day came back to him.
Finding about the fact that America had kept hidden a brother from him. He had kept that hidden from England, even during his colonial days. Because that strange nation had been at one point his little brother. He wasn't ready to forgive America for that just yet. He was going to remind him about it until he grew bored with it. England sighted and slipped out of bed.
Whatever had awakened him was still going on out there. The voices were pretty loud. He recognized one as America's and the other he guessed was the other nation. Jackson, he believed was his name. He didn't have a very good relationship with his brothers. A trait that he was now noticing wasn't uncommon. The two siblings were having a heated argument.
England began to move faster. If things got physical like he had witnessed the previous night he wanted to be able to step in and stop them. Though he guessed that stepped between two nations that probably shared the same inhuman strength wouldn't be the smart thing to do.
He reminded besides the door, out of the two nations' sight. They were still fighting, but thankfully there was something between them. Keeping them at a safe distance from each other and hopefully from punching the lights out of each other or so he hoped.
"Why don't you stay in the White House instead or with one of the States, I'm sure they would love to have you around." America looked hopeful at that.
"I could. But I'd rather stay here and annoy you instead. Plus you know how our boss wants us to have some sibling time together. Now that Canada is here, why don't we ask Mexico along and start bonding."
"No. Its bad enough I have to stand you around. I don't want Mexico yelling at me too." The other nation was still upset about Texas. Someone people just never moved on.
"Fine, but do you have to cook?" America had a devious look on his face that worried England. "I don't remember you been very good at it."
"At least I know how to, instead of getting all my meals from a fast food restaurant. No wonder you are getting so fat." Maybe his food wasn't the healthiest, but Jackson at least tried sometimes.
"I'm not getting fat. I work out, a lot. Plus I don't have time to cook. I have important things to do, which you wouldn't understand."
Jackson simply laughed. "Playing video games all day isn't important work. Even if you forget, I'm the one that usually gets stuck doing the paperwork." Jackson was starting to lose his calmness once more.
"You're just still sour because I keep beating you at them." Jackson reddened at that. He only won because he didn't have any interest in his games. He had better things to do, so he allowed his brother to win so he would leave him alone.
"But that's not surprise, you can't win against me. I'm the champion at everything." Jackson's anger grew. Alfred wasn't just talking about video games. He had hinted at the unmentionable. It was a mutual decision between them not to talk about Jackson's defeat during the War.
"You're dead." Jackson was ready to move forward and strangle his brother when someone stepped inside the kitchen.
When he entered the kitchen, both nations turned to look his way at the same time. England stopped for a moment before sitting down. While they had been at each other's throat moment before, now both were completely silent. Something that was rare when it came to America.
"Good day, isn't it? Had a very nice sleep last night, hope you guys did too?" England smiled awkwardly at the two nations. They didn't answer him back. Instead Alfred sat down in another chair and continued to glare at his brother.
Jackson wasn't paying his brother much attention on the other hand. He was looking at England with interest. "Good morning, Mr. England."
"You can call me Arthur." England smiled. He wanted to have a good relationship with the man. He turned to look at America. He was Alfred's brother after. Maybe he hadn't been given a chance to help the other nation like had done with Alfred.
"I'm making breakfast, if you want some." With that Jackson returned to work on the food. Doing his best to ignore his brother, Alfred was still looking at him. He was forced to pick the broken glass from the floor. When his brother had made his way to the kitchen, speaking a loudly as ever. It had startled him into dropping the small glass.
"I still think that going down to Mc. Donald is easier that cooking." America pouted, literally pouted at England.
"You're like a child Alfred." Jackson smiled down and finished frying the bacon. He finally placed everything on the table. He included a place for Canada and France. He took a quick look around. The other two nations weren't up. But if England had stayed, he guessed the other two probably had done to.
"So Jackson you like cooking?" England was sitting beside America and was looked up at him with interest.
"I guess I do." Unlike America who had stayed in the house given to him by England, Jackson had chosen to raise himself. The colonist sometimes helped, but he spend more time alone than with them. He'd been worried that England would have found him if he was with them for long periods of time.
"I had to learn how to cook for myself since an early age. After that, Alfred wasn't really the cooking type." He glared at his brother from across the table. But he quickly turned to look at England instead.
"If you're wondering, I thought about meeting you a few times. But I was too afraid. I had seen what some of the colonist did to the natives and it made me afraid." England looked sadly at the boy. So that had been the reason why he had stayed away.
"But I saw you when you visited. Then I was a "soldier" during the Revolutionary War, it was the last time I saw you, until yesterday." He participated in the other wars. But he had made sure to stay away from the units the other nations were part of.
"I can understand why you chose to do that during that time, but why stay hidden after." Jackson blushed slightly. He wasn't much of a people person and relationships with other nations looked too messy. You made friends and then because of wars you could become enemies. It was less troublesome just not having personal relationships with them.
"Or at least with Canada, he's your brother too." Just like with Mexico he hadn't paid him much attention. Jackson had been tempted to contact the other nation, especially during the war. It had been the first time that he had tried to reach the other nation. But that in the end didn't work out for him or his people.
"My boss tried to contact you during the War Between the States" Alfred rolled his eyes at that and murmured something along the lines you keep changing the name "but you declined." Jackson chose to ignore his brother. He would call it whatever he well damn want.
"But your country decided to remain neutral." Another reason why he wasn't very fond of the nation, something he needed to put aide if he wanted to begin a good relationship with the rest of the world. Thanks to some of the decisions made by their nation, they weren't very high in the liked list. It didn't help that he had his brother's history (stupidity) on his back too.
"Yes, I remember." England blushed slightly and took someone of the tea Jackson had made. He hoped the other nation was better at making tea than his brother. He hadn't been very happy with America back then. But he also didn't believe that siding with the South would benefit his people. But also because he didn't want another war with America, so he had remained neutral.
"I thought maybe we could go out today, have one of those barbeques you people love so much over here." The weather was looking nice for today and it would give them a chance to know each other better.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Jackson probably doesn't want to do that." Jackson glared at his brother once more.
"I think that's a good idea." He accepted because firstly because his brother was against it and second because he wasn't going to say no to a good old barbeque. That would go against everything he believed in. "The president will understand giving the reasoning, he's been asking for this for years."
Jackson smiled innocently at his brother. "We should inform the others too."
"I think it'll be a good thing." The three nations jumped at the sound of the new voice and turned to look at Canada. Who was sitting on the table and smiling at them.
"How long have you been sitting there old chap?" England was the first to speak. He hadn't even noticed the other nation walk in.
Canada smiled sadly at them, almost ready to smack himself on the head. "I walked right behind you." He was already used to this. It wasn't the first time and it would hardly be the last.
"That's just creepy." Both Jackson and America turned to look at each other in surprise. They both hated when they did that. It was almost as creepy as Canada's invisibility or Russia's ability to appear out of nowhere.
Jackson pulled out his glasses. Maybe he hadn't noticed the other nation because he wasn't wearing them. He had to do with human glasses after America had taken his right after the war. He looked at his brother, one day he would take them back. When the time was right, just slipping in when he was sleeping just wasn't fun.
Even if that's when Alfred had done to him, he had slipped them off from his unconscious form. Jackson hadn't been very happy about it. But his brother had declared that Texas was back in the union, so the glasses were his. Even if they had been a "gift" from Mexico, part of the South.
They had even gone to Texas, for the state to declare a truth owner for the glasses. But the State used and bored with their fights simply throws, literally, them out of his home. After a while they simply gave up on that idea and Jackson had been forced to use normal human glasses.
"I'm calling our boss to inform him of our plans." Jackson gave the room one last glance before moving the hallway. France still wasn't up and he had thought that Alfred sometimes overslept.
He picked the phone and called their boss, who just as he had guessed was glad to see the brothers hanging out. Plus it would be beneficial for Jackson to also bond with his fellow nations. That had been the reason why he had allowed Jackson to go for Alfred to the meeting. That and it would be safer to send an actual nation over a human or even the States.
Last time they had sent a human, thing had turned rather nasty when some countries started fighting. The States were probably the next best choice, but just picking one out of the fifty was a risky move.
When he placed the phone down, Jackson turned just in time to see France walk out of one of the guest rooms. He looked his way and started at him in surprise, until realization hit him. "For a moment I thought you were one of the States, almost forgot yesterday."
Jackson simply nodded but before he had a chance the doorbell rang. It probably was the mail or even one of the States visiting Alfred. He turned away from the French nation and made his way to answer it. He was the one nearest to it anyway.
Back in the kitchen the other three nations were just finishing eating. "He's lucky he sometimes cooks something nice." Alfred said with a mouthful of eggs. Even with their differences in cuisine around the country, they were still able to enjoy them as much as their own.
Jackson had somehow managed to avoid England's influence in his cooking. Maybe the French, Spanish among others had influenced him more. Something Alfred and he guessed many others were thankful for. While England had its good dishes, Arthur himself didn't.
"America you should try getting better with your brother. I know from experience that fighting with your siblings will only distance you from each other." He could hardly stand his siblings. They rarely visited each other and when they did things were never pleasant. He didn't want such a future for America too.
England took hold of America's hand and looked at his eyes. "I know sometimes is hard, but it's even better knowing that there is someone else out there you can trust to be there. That you won't be alone" England noticed Canada and continued quickly. "Other than Canada of course, since you already have each other. I didn't forget you lad."
"Arthur is right Alfred. When we were separated" right after the Revolutionary War "I felt like some part of me had been ripped away. If that ever happens again I feel better knowing that there is someone else looking after."
"Guys" Alfred looked at the two nations "maybe our relationship isn't the best. But Jackson and me still got each other's back. Even when we don't agree on things, when our nation, or people need us to work together. We put everything else aside and do it for them." Alfred stopped talking for a moment, thinking back at a memory.
"I could have allowed him to die. To become the only personification of the United States of America, but I couldn't. We had been killing each other's men, our own people only hours before. But the moment I say him dying, I couldn't let that happen to my little brother. So I pulled him away, dragged him from the bodies of the dead and looked after his injuries myself."
The resentment between both sides was still strong. Even if many had been ready to move on, fix the damage the war had caused. Alfred had still feared someone else trying to hurt his brother. When his boss had been killed later his fears only grew.
"He wasn't very happy about it. The defeat had damaged his ego a lot. He was also afraid for his people, I think even more than for his own life." True that back them punishments had been very different.
"I never really put much attention to the war here in the states. Civil Wars weren't rare for us." England tightened his grip.
"It was hardly the first time I fought a sibling" England and Canada paled slightly, only to give America equally angry glares. "But it was the first time I was forced to fight my people like that." During the Revolutionary War there had been some problems with the Loyalist, but nothing like the Civil War. The small disagreements and fights his people had could never compare to that war.
"What's taking him so long?" America turned to look at hallway. He could hear his brother speaking softly on the phone or at least speaking to someone. Maybe France was finally up.
"Maybe your boss needs him to attend the meeting." Canada said, finishing his meal.
"Doubt it." America was ready to walk out and see what was happening when the doorbell rang.
"I wasn't expecting anyone." Well four nations had already dropped in. Who would stop some of the States or even another nation to do the same? He hoped it was just some human passing by in need of help, than the first two options. He still wasn't feeling healthy enough to have his brother and the States around at the same time.
Jackson pulled the door open, France was already behind him and in the next room the other three were making their way outside. Right outside and looking very happy were some nations. By some Jackson was afraid to say almost every nation that had been able to take the day off.
"He does look a bit like America" "He even has that standing piece of hair, but on the back" "He looks cute with glasses" "Is he a natural ginger?" Jackson's eyes widened and he stepped back quickly. The nations continued to talk, some not even in English.
America at one point had joined him at the door and was now looking sickly pale. This is exactly what he needed, a bunch of nations on his yard. He wondered how upset his boss would be if he called the Secret Service to get rid of them.
"What are you guys doing here? It's not even my birthday." America was trying to regain control of himself. This was so not happening.
Poland stepped forward. "Like, we came to meet your brother, of course." He escaped us during the meeting yesterday, but Russia had Belarus follow France, England and Canada to your house.
The three nations looked at each other. So that's where the feeling of been watched had come from. Belarus was really good at spying on people, they admitted to themselves.
"Do you really think you could have kept that secret from awesome me?" Prussia said from the back. Besides him they say Spain and Romano.
"Y'all came here to see me?" Jackson said, but the words had come as a whisper. Only America and France been the nearest were able to hear him.
"This is your fault. Just because you decided it would be a good idea to go to the meeting. Now there are a bunch of nations in my front yard!" America stopped an idea coming to him. "But they're here for you, so you can take care of them."
"America" England placed a hand on his shoulder "We aren't going to leave him alone with them.
America sighted, he hated when England used the rational parental voice. But he was right. They would rip him or drive him mad. That was something that only America (and sometimes the States) was allowed to do.
"Well you wanted to have a barbeque; this one will be the biggest one yet." America graved his brother's arm and dragged him off. They had a lot of shopping to do. But he was ready to leave him with the mob for a little bit. Canada could watch after him.
He grabbed Canada with his other hand and dragged the other nation to the backyard too. He needed them out of his front yard before people started wondering why a group of people were standing there. Thankfully they were used to Alfred's crazy parties.
On the bright side, this was the first time in years that he had seen his brother wordless. Good things did come to those who waited. He looked at his still pale brother. He had wanted people to know he was around, now he needed to face it. Once he recovered he would be fine. If he was able to face 50 States, then a few nations would be nothing in comparison. He just needed to get over the shock.
"Canada, look after things here. I'm taking England and France to help me with the shopping." America smiled at his brother and began to walk off.
England stopped and turned to look at them. "Don't let Prussia or Denmark near anything flammable. Remember what happened last time." This was going to be a very long day. He was going to need lots of tea and probably booze. To survive this day he was going to need to be very drunk. Very drunk.
He looked at France that was happily waving at Spain and Prussia. America besides him was smiling mischievously, almost like Russia in one of his creepy days (which was almost always). Very drunk indeed.
Note for this chapter: A few jokes here. But in my headcanon, Texas (glasses) belonged to Mexico. Who after loosing that territory lost them. Jackson declared that because Texas was part of his territory now then the glasses were his (their boss gave them to him). But right after the war while helping his brother, Alfred took them. When Jackson tried to take them back, Alfred declared that Texas was part of the Union once more so they were his now.
In truth America needs them more than Jackson. But he really doesn't like loosing to his brother and hasn't stopped trying to get them back. This problem will only be sorved the day Mexico tires of their bulls**t, punches them both and takes them back from them.
Another thing, while Jackson makes funs of America's diet. His food isn't actually any better when it comes to health. He just thinks otherwise, because he prefers homemade meals over the fast food that America prefers.