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AMERICA
They piled out of the house the next morning, scrambling over bags and misplaced belongings and their throats caught in their hearts. Reich had insisted leaving in the morning would be crucial for a better sight and vigilance.

Half of the group still hungover, the house was stumbled out of for the final time, leaving behind its quiet conversations for a desolate darkness. China clicked his phone off. "We'll think about what we could possibly do at the airport," he decided, addressing everyone's worried expressions.

"How could he have known?" Poland muttered. "We haven't gotten activity from UN since... ages ago. Reich, you're sure it was them?"

"I'm sure. And I have my suspicions." A frown knitted Reich's brows together. "But no time to dwell on that. We need to get to safety."

"The nearest airport is a five or so minutes' walk," JE offered with false brightness. "We'll be able to get there pretty quick."

"We're out in the open," North snapped, matter-of-factly. "Isn't it easier for UN to find us then?"

JE narrowed his eyes. Tensions were growing at an unprecedented speed; out of lethargy, out of bitterness at an interrupted sleep, out of fear at being discovered. There wasn't a high chance at cracking old divides ─ but suspicion was inevitably a precursor of damage.

"I'm sorry," North sighed abruptly, rubbing his temples. "Fine. Let's go."

They walked in pairs, hushed conversation parting the group. This early in the morning, there were barely any other Russian citizens out in the streets, spare for a few haggard passerbys looking like they had just arrived from transfer flights.

Russia naturally quickened his pace as South fell back to talk with his brother. His hand grazed America's. "Hey," he smiled.

"Hey."

"Are you still hungover? You're bumping around into a lot of lampposts, you know."

A beat of silence. "Maybe," America said bashfully, rocking on his heels. "Remind me never to listen to South Korea again when he's had more than one sip of Soju."

After fishing around in his pocket for a moment or two Russia tossed him a small bottle of liquid. "Remedy. I used to use it when I used to drink every other day. Worked like a charm," he added, winking.

A flush flooded America's face as he knocked the vial back. "Mm. Thanks. Guess I also benefited from you parting ways with the vodka."

"As I said, can't fight a dictator under the influence. Can't really fall in love with the most attractive guy I've seen and somehow have it work out perfectly under the influence either." A leap in the dark.

"What's up with you?" America grinned, leaning in closer playfully. They had shared a room, a kiss, and the daily flirting should've become second nature by now.

And yet, it elicited a blush anyway. "The prospect of potentially getting killed by UN in the next day is kind of feeding into this bravery," Russia blurted.

"You should get threatened with death more then."

"Stop," Poland wailed, hands over his ears. "Not this early in the morning."

The group had suddenly halted. Reich was squinting at the map. "I am positive I am reading this wrong," he said, intuitively holding it upside down. They had wandered somehow into a bricked alleyway smelling putridly of exhaust, plumes of dust from a scatter of cars fanning out before them.

"Reich has never been able to read a map," Ukraine groaned. They had resorted to traditional navigation, thinking that their phones may be the reason for the tracking. North dragged his hands down his face.