The Aftermath

Chapter 15

The morning sun started to peek over the half standing buildings and revealed the complete destruction once again to the unfortunate eyes to witness it. UK was awoke long before the first beams of light reached down to his tent and was already working on his points for the next meeting, with long break between them to manage his soldiers around. He had gotten the news from his ground and that had dragged his mood quite down. How long was he away from home again? At least a few mounths for now, but he had not the energy to think too hard about it. At some time he had to go back to his own soil soon, because his people were awaiting him, that was sure. Also he wanted to make sure if the rebuilding projects and care programmes for the many who lost their home, were running smoothly. It was his responsebility after all to take care to everyone who swore loyality to him. Also he missed his common ground, the food, the language, no annoying "friends"... But the arrival of Germany and the still lingering problemes all around put a big hold on his returning plans. UK sighed. He was tired. He needed rest after this crazy bloddy war, not constant bickering. He already dreaded the awaiting meet-up. If he had to guess, France would be a confused, non-debateble mess, America would talk about his wants like there were already facts and Soviet wolud start an argument over something sooner or less. "Quite cynical today, huh?", UK thought to himself. If he always had to be the voice of reason to the group, it will make him mad at some point in time. He had to call the others to their senses but they just...won't... listen... Politics are a frustrating work.

Tired, UK dragged himself up the stairs. It was the same building from the last meetig and it reminded him of home (again). "How can home sickness run, if some random building from the bloody Jerrys remindes me of home?", UK thought grudgingly. "Desperation is going strong." As he walked into the apartment, he left out a sigh. "Hello!", he called out disgrunteld. "Hope you are having a wonderful day." He stepped into the kitchen, were America and Soviet were already sitting. "Great irony.", Soviet mumbled unimpressed. "That's the point:Irony. What else is left for us in this time?" "Oh, it's one of those moods..", Amerika sighed. "Just ignore and don't talk to him, then  you will be fine... most of the time.", he said to Soviet. "Son! Not that on this time! I am not in the mood today." "See? This is what I meant. And I had to deal with this overdramatic melancony my whole colony time." Sowiet showed himself unimpressed. UK rubbed his tempels and dropped down on the kitchen chair. "Spare me with your scorn, son." "Hey, at least one on this table has to keep the spirits up. Speaking of high spirits, were is France?" "I don't know. Have not seen her jet today." "And I thought you are always trying to get in her pants with your constant attention-giving..." "SON!" UK gave America an very angry glare. "I forbid that you are talking like this over us. That with France is long over and you know that! She just needs some extra support after all she had to endure and I am just trying to help, is that clear?!" America did not answer and just grinned, UK exactly knewing what he was thinking. Soviet said nothing but he thought to se a tiny lifting of one corner of the mouth. UK tool a few deep breaths to calm himself. "Let's just keep this professionell, okay?" "Sure thing." Still smirking, America placed a cup berofe him and filled it up with some coffee. "Some good old field coffee. Had no tea laying around." If this was an another attempt of provoking him, UK stayed strong and did give America not the sense of satisfaction. Bravely, he took a sip from the bidder drink, while thinking of fine,  calming baldrean tea.

"Ok, let's get started." America clapped his hands together. "But France isn't there.", UK said. "Aachh..." He made a dismissive gesture. "We will manage it without her this time." "But it's important that we make every desicion together!", UK replied. "How often do I have to tell you this? The entire point of rhe allies is that we are doing things together."  Slowly, he got tired of reminding everyone over and over again to cooperate. But if he didn't, who else would? "Oh come on... We worked over the important territory issue the last time, so it will be OK if she misses out from some boring stuff. Also, you just can tell her later what happend." "Son, please..." "No offense dad, but to be honest, France is not really suited for meetings like this for now.", Amerika said thoroughly. "Huh?" "I mean... you said it yourself: She needs some extra support and care to regenerate her strengh. She is just too emotional caught up in the moment and nervous and quite hysterical..." "Hey, America! It's not nice to talk about her like that!", UK called out in outrage. "It's true. Just yesterday she was screaming on top of her lungs after I suggested my great idea with moving forwards from a logistical standpoint..." "That is something completly different!" "Oh, that was the noise!", said Soviet suddenly with a terryfying grin. "I already wonderd... But it says a lot..." Oh, please... Not you too... "Your oh-so-glorious idea struck a bad nerve and you know that very well. When you want France not to be such a mess, maybe you sholud think first before you speak and not be picking on open wounds. "I have enough open wounds myself and I am not making a fuss like that.", America laughed. For some reason, Soviet looked apruptly up and stared angrily at him, what America seemingly did not notice.

"And also, then it would be the best to protect France from more emotional damage and just get the hard themes over right now, so that she doesn't have to suffer another mental breakdown and we have still intact ears afterwards. It's a nice compensation in my book." UK could hear clearly the hidden mockery behind the consoling sounding words. America was a master in this branch of rhetoric. "That's not fair to her. And she is not that weak as you want to make her out to be!" UK turned to look to Soviet. It is unbelieveble that he had to stand up against America and his ego all alone. "Soviet, you wouldn't want to be left out from important desicions in this round either, aren't you?" I can play the same game as you, son. Soviet shook his head slightly, while otherwise not moving. "Nyet.", he just said. "That is how France feels too. I talked to her before a few times about this paticular issue. A issue who also involves me." Sadly he was not lying. The secrety between America and Soviet had to stop. Or else there wouldn't be a point of all this anymore. With this sentence, was the cat out of the bag, so to speak.

America and Soviet looked shortly at each other and then back to Soviet. "What are you talking about?", his son called out in outrage. "Do you seriously have to bring this up again all the time?" "Frantsiya has dellusions.", Soviet just said bluntly. "What does she see in us?" "Hey, slowly." UK lifted up a hand. "I am bringing this always up because this got more frequent in the last weeks and it concerns me. Soviet, France has no dellusions, i can assure you that. She has eyes, just like the rest of us. That's the magic trick." "Then she needs glasses.", Soviet grunted uncaring. "Or I do, because I don't know what she is seeing. A huge nonexistant consperracy maybe." "I am just talking to my fellow ally and... comrade. Nothing more. Are you on your weird I-decide-to-who-you-talk-to-mode, dad like when i was a colony?", America scoffed, like a unruly teenager. It brought up bad memorys. UK sighed in quiet defeat. "I am still allowed to voice my concerns.", he said determing. "And I am concernd about the whole dynamic here. When France is the start..." "Dad, pleeaaasseee....", America sighed with an annoyed voice. "This one time not joining will not kill her, now lets just get on with this. I have stuff to do for today." "So you just gonna leave it like that?", said UK to Soviet, in hope that he would disagree with America's dogeing, like he did with everything. "Get your worman under control, and then we will talk about it again.", he said with the same short, creepy grin. "She is not..." UK had to control himself, before he would say something he would regret. "Fine! I'll be the next to be locked out anyways...", he hissed furiously. "Oh, daad...", said America with his annoying everything-is-just- not- that-bad-voice, that UK hated so much. "Now don't start like that. We will never lock you out. You are a valuble member of the allies after all." This time, UK couldn't decipher if this was sarcasm or honesty, and that scared him. Maybe he would never get a notice to the meet-up for the next time, after France... Soviet made an impatient gesture. "Are we now finally starting? I have to take care of an army later in the day." "Of corse." America smiled more brightly then ever. UK said nothing. They are not listeneing anyways, so they could stuck their high horses right up their...

"I know, this whole Germany-theme is getting kinda boring, so I have a new one for some varity.", said America entusiasiclly. "A theme, who still keeps me busy: What are we going to do with Japan?"