The Hetalia Global Warming Crisis; Get Out Alive
24— The Burning One
~America~
"So this story… what you're saying is true?"
"Yeah, of course! I wouldn't lie. Not about this."
America and Germany were facing each other from across the table, blue eyes meeting blue eyes. After a private meeting among the Axis, America had joined them, only to be stopped and interrogated by the German. The others were watching warily, but had enough sense to stay silent. China and England were resting soundly in the next room. Up against the former Axis and their allies, America stood alone.
"And Australia?" continued Ludwig, obviously shaken by the news.
"…" Alfred fell silent. He knew his expression would be enough to confirm it.
"Mein Gott," Gilbert muttered under his breath. "Would that happen if we got caught, too?"
"They're keeping their word," Kiku pointed out flatly. "The enemy isn't killing us off purposely. Instead they capture us and use us to catch Canada. Only then will they slaughter us all, just as they promised."
"Just like in a game of chess," observed Antonio, the cheerfulness all but gone from his eyes, "capturing all the pieces first before going for the king. They have honour."
"If their methods of solving their problems were not so… sick," Kiku said, struggling to stay calm, "I would have called them honourable. But there is no honour in killing dishonourably, even though they keep their word."
Alfred stared at Kiku blankly, looking lost.
"What else did you find out?" Ludwig queried with a glance at the confused American.
"The bodies of the assassins we fought were removed," he said distractedly. "I forgot to mention it earlier."
"What do they want with dead bodies?" Gilbert asked out loud, voicing the question everyone was thinking about.
"Nothing good," grumbled Lovino. Feliciano whimpered and Lovino pressed closer to him comfortingly.
"What do you think, America?" Antonio asked the tall man.
"A room of blood…" was his distant reply.
"America?" Antonio started to look worried.
"…"
When the American didn't respond, the Spaniard nudged him.
"Wha…?"
"Something's on your mind, mi amigo," Antonio said softly. "What are you still not telling us? Is it your wounds?"
Alfred looked at him with unfocused blue eyes. Ludwig narrowed his eyes and Gilbert folded his arms across his chest, eying the American suspiciously. After a long moment, Alfred looked down and spoke.
"It was a wolf," he began slowly, his hand making its way to his bandaged shoulder. "A huge, mutated wolf attacked us as we made our escape. It… she was the scientist… I think. She was about to kill me. She wanted to kill me, and only me. England… saved me. And instead he had to…" his voice cracked and he fell silent.
"America-san…?"
"You're not making any sense, bastard."
"Are you alright, amigo?"
Alfred slowly looked up and met Ludwig's eyes. He had a haunted look on his face that made the German shiver.
"I probably sound crazy, and it might as well have been an illusion," he rasped, rubbing the injury on his shoulder absent-mindedly. "But these wounds don't lie. England's possible death is more real than anything. Of that I'm sure."
"America-san," Kiku murmured, extending a hand. "You're making it bleed…"
The bandage around his shoulder was stained red. Blood was soaking through and smearing over his hand. He wanted it to hurt, and he shot Kiku a silencing glance.
He deserved the pain, after all.
He was the one who was meant to die. Not England.
Oh, God, he thought for the hundredth time. Please not England…
Antonio stepped forward to grab his hand and stop him, but Alfred only flinched and snapped at him.
"Don't touch me!" he snarled, blue eyes wild and hurt, like a cornered beast.
"America, calm down," Gilbert said softly, moving closer to help him. "What did you mean when you said 'room of blood'?"
A spark of disgust and fear twisted his expression and he hissed.
"I can't say," he spat. "Don't ask me things I don't know."
America…
"Just answer our questions, America-san," Kiku said gently. "We just need to know, that's all. You can't keep things from us all the time."
Alfred's lip curled.
"Leave me alone. You don't wanna know what happened."
"America, please," Gilbert pleaded.
"Stop it!"
Are you burning somewhere…?
"America—"
"Stop!"
Gilbert's hand was extended towards the American. Alfred had grabbed his wrist and twisted it, forcing the Prussian to freeze. For a moment, no one moved.
Alfred let go and Gilbert retreated a few steps back, looking startled.
"Leave."
Germany took it as an opportunity to get out of the safe room. He met the eyes of his party, and then stared coolly at the shaken American.
"Very well," he said softly and firmly. "We will leave. All of us. China will stay to take care of you. Fare you well, America."
He walked out without another word. Gilbert and Kiku followed without hesitation, with the former man rubbing his twisted wrist and wincing in pain. Antonio glanced at Alfred in concern, then gathered the two Italians and guided them to the exit. The door shut with finality behind them.
America's legs shook and he collapsed with despair.
I'm burning on the inside…
He doubled over, bit his knuckles, and screamed.
Hetalia belongs to Hidekaz Himaruya
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RECAP
Now that all the narrators have been introduced, I decided it's about time to have a recap on everything that has happened:
In the first arc, The Game, Canada, America, Australia, England, France, Russia, China, Japan, Germany, North and South Italy, Prussia, and Spain all become trapped in a building after a meeting, imprisoned by magical barriers and a mad scientist out to get them. They soon meet her partner-in-crime, the still unknown bluish-black-eyed boy with the slicked back hair and the chilling talent at throwing knives. He manages to take down Australia before he himself falls, making the possibility of death all too real for the nations. It turns into a deadly game of chess; a game of wit and willpower with Canada as king.
Determined to find a safer place rather than stay in their cramped, temporary camp in the back room, America and England set out to find the main objective of the second arc: The Key. As well as the blockage of England's magic. After getting to know each other's true feelings in the dark halls, they find the set of keys… and a room coated in blood. On their way back they are kidnapped and tortured, with only the help of Canada's and America's telepathic powers to help them escape, but at the (possible) cost of England's life.
Meanwhile, Canada learns to draw strength from inside of him, and begins to learn just how powerful one young country can be. With the help of the mysterious apparition in the form of a white wolf named Waabishki, Canada grows stronger and starts to change — for better or for worse.
It is in the third arc, The Basement that America starts to deteriorate. After saying goodbye to Canada, France, and Russia, who travel to explore the now-opened basement, America stays to tend to his wounds and take in the horror of what had happened to him. With the combined traumatizing experience, the belief that it was his fault for allowing them to hold the meeting in the cursed building, and the possibility of England losing his life, America, the famously strong-willed optimist, starts his slow descent into madness.
While China struggles to keep the Brit alive and America struggles to keep himself sane, the Axis devise their own plan to take matters into their own hands and search for their enemy's "king": the scientist called "RedWolf Rocky". Because of this, Spain discovers the hidden truth behind the building's past, and starts to lose his cheerful nature in order to keep his goal in sight. For him, he no longer needs the mask. Therefore, a battle to win information from America only tortures the young nation even more and finally breaks him, giving the Axis the reason to leave…
Meanwhile…
Canada continues to grow stronger;
America continues to lose his sanity;
Spain continues to reveal who he really is.
Their experiences are scarring their hearts and bringing out sides of them that they never knew existed.
Where they will end up, only fate can tell…
…guided by the hands of its creator.