Yeah, I guess some people do worse. [Some of them are his people, too. A lot of names go by he never sees on the network at all and he wonders if any of them were American, but he tries not to think about that.] But of course we're doing awesome with me here!
[England feels a prickle of ire in his blood. He doesn't want this, not today, but he's speaking before he thinks better of it.] Leadership? I think not. I'm not your bloody sidekick.
[And then, a small pang of guilt, and a memory. England drops his eyes to the bracelet again, some of the venom gone from his tone as he grumbles an amendment.] You said we were partners.
Wh--we are! [America is quick to reassure England, switching from cheerful to upset at a surprising speed even for him.] I can still be a hero at the same time!
[The rapid shift in America's mood surprises England; it usually takes more than that to shake America's cheerfulness, which is often how England ends up so frustrated with him. He feels himself deflating a little at the suddenness of it, and averts his eyes from the bracelet to glare at the floor.]
...well. Our success is due to our collaborative efforts. Not just because of you.
[Look, he's not even saying America isn't a hero! That's almost an apology.]
[For a moment, England is silent. Which is, perhaps, better than yelling, but there's still a strangely tense aura about him.
Again, his attentions return to the silly plastic bangle. This time, he finds himself running his fingers along it. His silence draws a bit uncomfortably long as he contemplates, but eventually, he finally speaks.] Are we really...?
[But, he trails off, afraid to finish verbalising the question because then it means he might get an answer. He clears his throat and finishes lamely.] You know.
Are we-- [It takes America a few moments to catch on. If England wasn't actually touching the bracelet, he probably wouldn't have realized at all, but America at least has a good eye for movement even if his ear for nuance has been known to be lacking.] Well, I mean, yeah. Who else would be?
[With a mote of surprise, England lifts his head to look up at America's face. That's...somehow rather sad. Despite England's jabs, he's always thought of America as being one of the few among them who has a lot of friends. But perhaps he doesn't; why else would he pick England?
He's so caught up in the implications of the statement that for a moment, he forgets the simpler fact that America said yes. Of course, when he realises, warmth and colour trickle into his face.] Ah.
[He turns his head to look at some of the food America has taken out, hoping to hide his rosy complexion.] I just thought...perhaps someone like Japan...?
You guys probably don't play video games together or whatever [though that's funny to imagine] but you're pretty similar besides that? And, like, Japan's older than you, yeah? But he's way older than me. [America isn't entirely sure by how much, but he does know he can count the centuries of his life on one hand, and that isn't common in the rest of the world.]
[For some reason, this assessment of his similarities to someone embarrasses England. Perhaps because he doesn't like to think about how well America knows him? There is also the fact that America is implying someone would pick England over him, which is flattering, but laughable.]
I, er...I suppose that's true. [It definitely feels weird to concede on a point like this, as well, but nothing America has said is objectively untrue.
Still, it doesn't feel right. His fingers brush the bracelet again, but this time he catches himself and pulls his hands away from each other.] ...Regardless. No matter who he might prefer, it's not— it's not Japan. For me.
So like--haha, I mean, it's fine either way, but--who's yours? [America forces nonchalance in the way only America can. It's fine and it doesn't matter, he can convince himself of that.]
[It's hard not to think of the other people that know him as well as America does, perhaps even better. France and Portugal would give America a good run for his money when it comes to familiarity. But France is...France. England doesn't call him a friend. Portugal, on the other hand, is very friendly like. Perhaps England's best friend in days gone by.
But in the modern day, who is it that consumes so much of England's free time? His Fourth of July, his Halloween, his spare time when they're all stuck in meetings? Portugal isn't the one bringing England home when he drinks or playing pranks on Japan with him. And certainly, when he was nearing death's doorstep after being bombed to hell and back, it wasn't Portugal that visited, either.
England swallows and moves his shoulders in a vague way reminiscent of a shrug.] You can't guess?
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England is less argumentative as he contributes this, though. It's just a fact.]
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[Is that joke better or worse than outright saying they're not doing awesomely?]
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[And then, a small pang of guilt, and a memory. England drops his eyes to the bracelet again, some of the venom gone from his tone as he grumbles an amendment.] You said we were partners.
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...well. Our success is due to our collaborative efforts. Not just because of you.
[Look, he's not even saying America isn't a hero! That's almost an apology.]
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Again, his attentions return to the silly plastic bangle. This time, he finds himself running his fingers along it. His silence draws a bit uncomfortably long as he contemplates, but eventually, he finally speaks.] Are we really...?
[But, he trails off, afraid to finish verbalising the question because then it means he might get an answer. He clears his throat and finishes lamely.] You know.
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He's so caught up in the implications of the statement that for a moment, he forgets the simpler fact that America said yes. Of course, when he realises, warmth and colour trickle into his face.] Ah.
[He turns his head to look at some of the food America has taken out, hoping to hide his rosy complexion.] I just thought...perhaps someone like Japan...?
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I doubt that's the case.
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I, er...I suppose that's true. [It definitely feels weird to concede on a point like this, as well, but nothing America has said is objectively untrue.
Still, it doesn't feel right. His fingers brush the bracelet again, but this time he catches himself and pulls his hands away from each other.] ...Regardless. No matter who he might prefer, it's not— it's not Japan. For me.
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But in the modern day, who is it that consumes so much of England's free time? His Fourth of July, his Halloween, his spare time when they're all stuck in meetings? Portugal isn't the one bringing England home when he drinks or playing pranks on Japan with him. And certainly, when he was nearing death's doorstep after being bombed to hell and back, it wasn't Portugal that visited, either.
England swallows and moves his shoulders in a vague way reminiscent of a shrug.] You can't guess?