[ON HIATUS] The Orphanage of the Unfortunate and Unwanted (Countryhumans AU)

Chapter X: Who Does This Child Belong To?

(Same POV)

I had finished my lunch with Spain, and we headed out back onto the crowded streets of the city.

"We live on a planet with no 'humans'," Spain said, his eyes trailing to the birds flying in the sky. "Our world is rather small, though. Most of it is reserves and wild land. We do have countries from the past still living, but not all of them are alive. The country that lived for the longest survived to around 3500, including the years after the country's fall."

I nodded subconsciously, trying to inhale all the information to its fullest.

"It's funny, though. You say that your father, UK, abandoned you because of hate, while our UK has been looking for his son for years..." the other trailed off, looking to his side in deep thought. Despite claiming himself to be a fully grown adult male, he was still quite small and skinny, making himself look like a teenager. He had his hair tied back into a low ponytail and had dull hazel irises. 

"Who are his children?" I asked, stopping near a clothing store.
Spain followed suit and looked me in the eye. 

"Their names are Australia, New Zealand, Canada... and there's another named America, who is the one that he's looking for."

"However," Spain added before I could reply, "None of them were always raised by him. In fact, the lines of parents go for so long that almost none of us know who to call 'mum' or 'dad'. But nobody can actually give birth anyway; it's just that you're more likely to have a future country be your kid if you are in a relationship. I don't know, really."

"That reminds me- I haven't told you my name yet," I said. "It's United States of America."

Spain lowered his gaze and nodded. "Similar to UK's son, if I remember correctly. He wouldn't allow anyone to see a picture of him, though, so if we were to help him, it'd be quite hard."

So upset that he feels ashamed, huh. I looked at the sky aimlessly, thinking about how I would feel if I was in the same situation. However, all I could think of was how my father probably wasn't caring about me in the moment, which believe it or not, made me feel empty.

"Well, would you be fine if I introduced you to some countries? It may help if they've seen you, so then you can get more help getting back home."

Spain was giving an offer. Should I take it?

I accepted the offer, not knowing what else to do other than stand awkwardly, and we set off. The first person we met was a country with a tricolour flag - green, white and red.

"Ah, Cariño (Dear >:) )! Um, I've brought a friend."

Maybe I should learn a foreign language, I thought, because I don't understand a word they are saying.

Whether it be Spanish or French they were talking, I didn't understand.

"Buongiorno (good day*), United States of America," I felt discomforted with how distanced he seemed from me, and how he called me by my full name.

"I'd prefer if you shortened it to USA," I said, hoping he'd comply.

"My apologies, I'll take note of that."

The dead seriousness in his tone and the straight face he kept was nowhere near welcoming. Somehow, Spain thought this person could be his friend.

Oh, and he smiled at him! I thought you were the most dead-faced person in the world!

"You may come in."

*On Google translate, it says good morning, but it can be used at any time of day except night. However, this is a word that is rather formal, so you'd say it to someone you don't know, say a stranger.

(EY! United Kingdom! POV:)

Um, warning: This may contain some offensive stuff (well I mean, UK calls a country stupid) all due to UK's personality. However, this does not represent my own opinions, so please don't take this as a representation of me or any other people. Skip if you feel discomforted, my apologies for the inconvenience.

"I wonder where that rat may be..."

In front of me, I had an anxious Australian that had not too long ago been aged up, a confused Dutch boy fiddling with the end of his jacket, a stupid German Empire and a former colony of mine. Behind that colony, Singapore, was a worrisome Polish boy.

"That rat, sir, is your son. You're supposed to find him, not call him names," Singapore said, trying to hug Poland in an awkward position.

"Mr UK, why don't you care for your son?" that little weakling can't speak. Stupid Polish boy, his ancestors are all weak compared to all the other great empires.

"I did, but he crossed the line."

"How?"

I bit the inside of my cheek, not bothering to answer his question. He asks too many anyway.

"German Empire, you are at fault for this." He was my former enemy, how could I not blame him for this?

German Empire's sullen eyes trailed over to me, and we made eye contact. His face was as cold as stone, the same expression he always gave me. We were never close to being friends anyway.

"Would it be alright if we talk about this? Alone."

Forget about what I said earlier, German Empire is the rat.

"Excuse me!? Stop blaming me for something I done over a century ago! I'm a dead country anyway!"

"You're the one who caused the war-"

"NO! Austro-Hungarian Empire was faulty - blame Kingdom of Serbia too!"

"Does this run in your blood or something?" I spat, boring my eyes into the other's until he looked away in shame. "Your cousin, doing all these petty things, and he's blind."

"Almost blind, mind you."

"Balderdash!" I let out a sarcastic laugh, expecting German Empire to eventually break down. "He can barely recognise a person in front of him."

German Empire was strong but weak at the same time. His face showed despair and internal agony, desperate for a way out of this.

Stepping forwards to him, I said, "If it pleases you, I'll stop this rambling."

The other didn't respond, but I discarded the argument anyway.

"So, what was it you wanted to talk about?"

I sat myself down on a chair by the dining table, trying to be nice and offering my former enemy a seat, but he left himself standing.

"Tell me about your child," German Empire said. Looking at him from my angle made him appear to be looming over me - powerful, if you were inferior, which was clearly what he wanted everyone to see him as.

"You've already met him, that's more than enough information about him received than enough," I replied bitterly.

"Well, if it's not about him, then I'll ask about you," German Empire hissed in an equally bitter tone. "Why did you abandon your son? Do you not care for him?"

My face almost split into two as I gave him the creepiest smile I have ever pulled.

"Well, yes. And, believe it or not, I never did in my life.