Countryhumans Oneshots

Across The Pond| UK & USA

A brisk autumn breeze swept through the streets of London, stirring fallen leaves across the cobblestone pavement outside a quiet café. America, dressed in his usual casual attire—a bomber jacket and jeans—pushed open the door. The bell above jingled softly, announcing his arrival from Washington, D.C., after a long flight.

Inside, the café was warm, filled with the soft hum of conversation. Seated at a table near the window was Britain, impeccably dressed as always in a dark wool coat, sipping a cup of tea. He glanced up as America approached, his lips curling into a polite smile.

"Ah, you finally made it," Britain greeted, his accent clipped and formal, but his eyes softened just enough to show some warmth. "I was beginning to think you'd gotten lost."

America grinned, sliding into the seat across from him. "Nah, just takin’ my time. Gotta soak up all the British culture, y’know? Maybe learn what a ‘proper’ cuppa tea tastes like."

Britain raised an eyebrow, but the corners of his mouth twitched. "Yes, because your coffee obsession isn’t enough of a culture shock."

For a moment, they sat in silence, sipping their drinks. The air between them was thick, not with tension exactly, but with the weight of everything that had passed between them over the years. Their bond was old—older than most nations could imagine—and though they had grown closer again, there were still old scars.

America leaned back in his chair, glancing out the window at the bustling street. "Been a while, huh? Us sittin’ down like this. Feels like we’re always caught up in something."

"It has been some time," Britain agreed, his gaze dropping to his tea. "I suppose… it’s easy to get swept up in the day-to-day of politics, international affairs, and all that. One forgets to make time for…"

"Family?" America interrupted, smirking.

Britain’s eyes flicked up to meet America’s. There was a flicker of something there—something old and complicated—but he quickly masked it. "If you want to put it that way."

America let out a short laugh, though it held a note of awkwardness. "C’mon, Dad. We’ve been through a lot together. Wars, alliances, rivalries… You practically raised me. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you."

Britain’s lips pressed into a thin line, a sigh escaping him. "Yes, well, we certainly had our share of… challenges."

"You mean like the time I kicked your ass during the Revolution?"

Britain’s lips twitched, but he didn’t rise to the bait immediately. Instead, he took a sip of his tea before setting the cup down neatly. "You were a rebellious child. All teenagers go through that phase."

"Teenager?" America scoffed, his grin wide and teasing. "I was founding a nation, Pops! You had it coming, tryin’ to boss me around like that."

Britain exhaled through his nose, shaking his head slightly. "And look where we are now. That… phase of yours certainly left an impression on the world."

America laughed, leaning forward. "Yeah, but for real, even with all that stuff behind us, we’re solid now. We’re a team—defenders of democracy, partners in all the big global stuff. Feels good, doesn’t it?"

Britain’s expression softened, his gaze momentarily distant. "We’ve come a long way. From standing on opposite sides of battlefields to standing side by side in wars and conflicts. That’s not something to be taken lightly."

"Nope. Not at all." America tapped his fingers on the table, thinking. "Y’know, you did more than just raise me. You showed me what it meant to be independent, even if that meant knockin’ you down a peg back then."