Playing the Fool

Chapter 9

Walking up the steps to Englands' grand old house, America noted that there was a light on up stairs and the window was open. Music must have been playing because the closer America got the louder it  was, something celtic by the sound of it... before it switched over to 'Help!' by the Beatles. Deciding to ask him about it later, America knocked on the door. 

Jumping at the sudden loud crash up stairs, America listened as the muffled cursing and pounding feet could be heard up stairs as the music abruptly ended. Fallowed by the pounding down the stairs and to the door which was opened by someone America hadn't been expecting. Panting the brunette gave him a quizzing look before saying,

"Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for Arthur Kirkland, I guess I have the wrong address."

Waving that off, the younger man said 

"No no, this is the right place. Mr. Kirkland will be back in a few hours, if you wanted to come back then."

His shirt stuck to his sweat drenched body in a few places, it was much to big for the very thin gangly boy. Who this kid was and how on earth he got into England's house was beyond America. Brushing past him, America said

"That's fine I'll just wait inside."

Quickly the teen was in front of him again, arms out stretched. His pale green eyes flashed in warning, not that he looked at all threatening.

"I'm sorry but I don't think Mr. Kirkland would like to arrive back home with an unexplained guest just wandering about, so if you'd like to come back in a few hours I'm sure-"

Holding up his government badge to show the teen, America repeated.

"That's fine I'll just wait inside."

A look of sudden recognition crossed the teens face, with a smirk he nodded.

"Of course, welcome then America. I've heard a lot about you, try not to break anything I'll be upstairs."

Fallowing him upstairs, America asked.

"How did you know I was a country?"

Starting the music on the little radio again, the brunette walked through the indoor gym saying.

"It said on your badge you were Alfred F. Jones, granted over here there are quiet a few Alfred F. Jones but I've never meet one with sure an American accent before. Plus it was the American seal on your badge, so I put two and two."

Pulling himself up on the chin up bar, he then added.

"Besides, anyone aware of the country personifications knows a classic look when they see it. Bomber jacket, cow lick and the glasses. Who else could you be?"

"So you know Arthur is-"

"Jolly old England? Yes I do."

Swinging into a handstand on the bar, he proceed to do a weird backward chin up...push up hybrid. America watched for a while, amazed that the kid with noodle arms could even pull off such a feat.

"Who are you then, a secretary or something assigned to England?"

Laughing slightly, the teen held out his hand to shake the Americans saying.

"You could say that I suppose, but I wouldn't. Charles Kirkland, personification of London, though most people just call my Charlie."

Swinging back down to stand in front of America, Charlie grinned. 

"Your a capital?"

America asked dumbly, to which Charlie fiend surprise asking.

"Your a country? D.C. isn't the only capital with it's own personification you know, while there aren't as many of us as you countries but there are a few of us floating around out there."

Lifting a few hundred pounds in weights, Charlie continued his work out. A pondering look on his face,      the brit glanced over at America again. 

"Why are you here anyway, the meeting was in Italy a few days ago. Shouldn't Sam have gotten back to you with the latest in the world?"

America fell silent, a guarded look crossed over his face quickly. But not quick enough, Charlie's eyes narrowed.

"You look very sad and angry, something must have happened... D.C. did make it back okay didn't he? Did something happen to my cousin?"

"That is the reason I'm here, someone tried to have D.C. killed. He came home barely breathing, England agreed to help me figure out who did it."

London face lost all expression, his pale green eyes swirled in an unknown emotion. Setting the weights down, the teen stared out the window. The seconds dragged on before he suddenly smiled again saying.

"D.C. is so lucky, not for being poisoned, but he's the first of us to get to go to a world meeting. And unlike me he got to stay at home too... very lucky in deed."

America was a little confused, 

"If you don't live here? Then,"

"Why am here? Well England said he'd let me barrow the gym when I wanted to use it, it was installed for me a long time ago. It doesn't fit into my apartment anyway, so I come over here a bout once a day to work out. Unless I'm on assignment of course, I make sure to only be here when England isn't. He got a little annoyed at my frequent visiting, and told me what was the point of moving out if I was just going to be here everyday anyway."

Laughing weakly, London smirked.

"So like I said, D.C. is very lucky. Now you go find something else to entertain your self for a while, I'd like to take a shower now."

Shooing America from the room, London called though the door.

"We'll talk more later, I'd like to know the details of this attacker of my dear cousin."

Listening at the door as America went down stairs, the teen gave a wry smile.

"Someone tried to kill Sam... this should be interesting, wonder who it could have been, let me think."

Laughing to himself, London walked over to the showers.

(To be continued...)