There are worse things than snow. True, the cold is pretty terrible or the way winter always seemed to drag on forever, but at least in the beginning it wasn't so bad. The white looks nice and everyone wants to run out into it to build snowmen but with rain, he had never been much of a fan. It was just cold and wet and there wasn't even anything fun to do in it. The only bright side being that it ended much quicker than the winter months.
All of this the hero considered as he was stuck indoors watching the rain knock against the window adjacent to his desk. He had already exhausted all of his usual tactics for combating boredom when inside his office though. His desk had a pile of supplies on it that he had made a precarious tower out of until that final eraser caused the entire thing to collapse. He found a new box of paper clips within one of the drawers and hooked them together adding them to his already existing chain that he stowed away unless he really needed one. And he made several baskets using the wastebasket and crumpled papers he was sure he would no longer need and cheered as each one landed successfully. Now the only thing left to do was watch the droplets of water run their course down the pane of glass.
America sighed and dropped his chin into his hand casting a glance at a few documents he had doodled along the edges of. Maybe he should read them instead of scribbling stick figures fighting little enemy stick figures in epic battles around the margins. He shook his head as soon as that thought crossed his mind and went back to staring out the window at the rain. He wasn't really up for it today.
Maybe he should get up, stretch and go find something to eat? But what was the question. He had already powered through the biggest submarine sandwich to ever exist and topped it off with a large slice of cake. His mind turned to thoughts of the freezer and whether there was anything left to that tub of ice cream he had bought the other day when cold steel pressed itself against his neck.
America stiffened as the knife dug into his throat and tried to calculate what had just happened. He hadn't heard anyone enter, no footsteps or the sounds of the doors opening or closing, and he hadn't been expecting someone to arrive. His hands clenched into fists as he tried to catch a glimpse of the person behind him in the window's reflection. "What do you want?"
Italy sighed and leaned against his back. "Stress relief."
The blonde's jaw clenched and relaxed. "And how is that supposed to work?"
"Don't be so dense," Italy warned him, the knife wavering ever so slightly. "You know exactly how this is going to work."
America held still trying to figure an easy way out of this. Whether fortunate or unfortunate for him, Italy did not give him much of a chance to think through a plan. The brunette growled and continued to talk. "I just cannot believe him. And Romano! Ah! Or Hungary for that matter!"
Italy's free hand clenched onto America's shoulder as he continued. "How can they all think that was for the betterment of me?"
The American winced as the knife pushed further against his throat, at a loss as to what the brunette was talking about. "Hey man, I don't know what's going on, but-"
"Stay out of this." Italy hissed into his ear.
"Kinda hard not to," America replied with a roll of his eyes.
Italy grimaced but relented, loosening the grip he held on the blonde's shoulder. "I have a certain problem…"
"I'm getting that."
"Do not toy with me!" Italy warned, knife pressing further against America's neck. The blonde hissed at the pain, his hands tightening on top of his desk. "It is more of a personal matter."
The knife relaxed against America and the blonde nation breathed a little easier with the added room. "Germany proposed to me."
"Um… Congratulations?"
"I didn't accept!" Italy snapped.
"Oh. Uh… Dude, how could he…?"
Although he grimaced, Italy didn't do anything more. "And Romano and Hungary helped in planning it. And now I am unsure with what to do with them."
With the end of Italy's confession neither nation moved or spoke creating a tense stalemate with their silence. Finally the one to fidget, America took his turn. "I'm confused… Why are you not talking to them about this?"
Italy growled. "That is none of your business!"
"Uh, it kinda is." America argued, instantly regretting the words as the knife tip broke his skin. "Hey! You dragged me into this!"
Italy sighed, running his fingers through the hair on the back of America's head, rolling a few of the locks as he pursed his lips in though. "I suppose I will give you that."
"How about you give me back my neck!"
The brunette rolled his eyes, easing up on his knife ever so slightly. "I never realized the hero would be so pathetic."
"What about you?" America growled at the insult, "I thought you and Germany were close or is all my intel wrong?"
Italy's hand tightened on a fistful of blonde hair and yanked it backwards. "I will find all of your spies and kill them slowly." He whispered lowly in his ear.
"So the dude proposed to you?" America kept up, "What's the big deal? You've become so pathetic that you can't deal with something like that? You can't even solve your own issue instead you're here avoiding it."
"Shut up." Italy hissed.
America quieted slightly but not for long. "What's even the problem? And you honestly can't find a solution to it?"
The brunette fell silent for a minute. America wasn't sure what to think until he began to chuckle. "Grazie, America. You are a lot more helpful than you let on."
"Uh, yeah. You're welcome." America replied as the knife was suddenly pulled away. He spun around in his chair ready to face his intruder only to find the room empty of the additional occupant. His bright eyes scanned every corner surprised Italy could simply vanish like he had. It made the entire thing feel like a day-dream gone haywire except for the pain at his throat and the blood that came away with his hand when he touched it.
His hand reached for his phone to call the visit in, but wavered as he wasn't sure what number to dial. Who wouldn't tell him off for letting Italy get the better of him?
The rain continued to drum against the window pane as America pulled his arm back and stared at the documents on his desk for another few hours.
AN: Okay, who did it? Who is tempting me with PruCan? It's like offering drugs to an addict you know ;)