[England feels like he should say something else, something romantic about having America in his arms again or sharing a kiss or looking him in the eye in person, but he's still a bit too overwhelmed from offering his heart earlier.
He adjusts his scarf to a more normal position. He wishes he could stay on the line with America and suffocate the strange tinnitus of the emptiness inside of him, but he shouldn't distract America from his travels.] Then...I suppose I'll talk to you later?
[He sounds very reluctant at the idea of hanging up.]
[That sounds like an invitation. England scrambles to think of something relevant that isn't too soppy.] What did you want to do once we're back together?
[England didn't really have any travel plans beyond "make sure John is safe."]
[America's mind immediately goes to the most inappropriate possible response.] Um! [He's getting red again.] Well. You know. [Really red. It's probably obvious, shit.]
[Well. England supposes that is technically an answer. He's glad he wasn't the only one considering it, and despite his own embarrassment, he bites his tongue not to laugh at America's reaction.] We could do that.
Okay. Good! 'Cause, y'know, yeah. [But anyway--] We can do other stuff, too! Stuff that's not that. Like--hanging out in general. And with Ginger, too!
[It's sort of sweet that America says that like it would be a given that he'd want to do it. England can't resist teasing him, hoping for a spot of normalcy as a distraction.] I didn't realise you'd miss me that much when I left.
[When he left to get John. Not when he died. He doesn't want to think about how much America might have missed him while he was dead.]
O-oh, okay, good. [That's probably a weird response to England, isn't it? America is being really weird right now. Ugh, no, he wants to be normal about this!] So--that can be put on the to-do list, or whatever.
[A little, embarrassed smile sneaks onto America's face.] Me too. But--I mean, it's not just that or anything, like--I miss just walking around with you here.
[After all that fuss about I love you and all, England didn't expect America to say something so sweet. He lets out a disbelieving, embarrassed sort of laugh, soft and breathy as he looks away from the tablet.] Yeah. It's not quite the same without you.
[Especially now that they are considerably more attached than before.]
[America wants to memorize that laugh. That's such an awfully cheesy thought.] The blanket fort isn't as nice without you around. [He insists on calling their sleeping arrangements a blanket fort, even if it's more of a blanket nest.]
[America must be feeling very sentimental, indeed, to be saying all these things. England's saucy expression falls off his face, replaced with curiosity and some vulnerability.] "Always"?
[Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise. He does remember America saying some things that implied his feelings aren't necessarily recent, but it would be easy to say that sort of thing out of regret, without necessarily meaning it.]
[England is pretty sure that most friends don't sleep tangled up in one another like they did, even before this. Though now England can't help but wonder about all those times America ended up in his bed at home because something supposedly frightened him.
He lifts a hand to the back of his neck, nervous energy buzzing beneath his skin and making him all the more aware of his missing sense.] ...you said decades. Didn't you?
[England was, admittedly, pretty foggy by that point.]
...how long has it really been? [His curiosity gets the better of him, and he has to voice the question. He wants to know if he was right to be hesitant for all these years; what would he have done if he'd said something before America became interested in him, after all?
After a beat of silence, he adds:] You don't have to answer if you don't want to.
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He adjusts his scarf to a more normal position. He wishes he could stay on the line with America and suffocate the strange tinnitus of the emptiness inside of him, but he shouldn't distract America from his travels.] Then...I suppose I'll talk to you later?
[He sounds very reluctant at the idea of hanging up.]
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[England didn't really have any travel plans beyond "make sure John is safe."]
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[When he left to get John. Not when he died. He doesn't want to think about how much America might have missed him while he was dead.]
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[When things weren't going to hell, anyway.]
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Or very lonely and he's hoping to feel closer to America however he can. Same thing.]
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[Especially now that they are considerably more attached than before.]
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[He's just joking, of course. He felt the same way when it was just him and Ginger, and that was even before...all this.]
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[Maybe it shouldn't be a surprise. He does remember America saying some things that implied his feelings aren't necessarily recent, but it would be easy to say that sort of thing out of regret, without necessarily meaning it.]
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He lifts a hand to the back of his neck, nervous energy buzzing beneath his skin and making him all the more aware of his missing sense.] ...you said decades. Didn't you?
[England was, admittedly, pretty foggy by that point.]
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After a beat of silence, he adds:] You don't have to answer if you don't want to.
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