Hetalia Under The Big Top

Act 5: Zwingli Family Trust and Loan

Zwingli Family Trust and Loan. It isn't much of a "family" establishment. The bank is run by six ruthless lawyers, only one of which actually bears the name Zwingli. That didn't mean there were no other Zwingli family members employed here. Oh, no. In fact, one of the young ladies chatting away behind the receptionist's desk is the sister of the afore mentioned Zwingli lawyer.

The two young women were laughing away behind their desk, but they straightened up and tried to look professional as Arthur and Matthew approached.

"Bonjour. Can we help you?" The older woman. The sister of their Dutch lawyer.

"Yes, we have an appointment with Vash Zwingli."

Arthur could speak French just fine, but he also disliked everything from France, so he brought Matthew along to do most of the speaking. Plus, his manager and Vash couldn't ever seem to meet without fighting.

"I will let big brother know you are here." The younger, more innocent, girl said.

"Merci." Matthew chuckled at her referring to their cold-blooded lawyer as "Big Brother." They doubted she knew of half the deals that went on here.

They were asked to have a seat and she paged Vash.

As they took their seats a blond man entered the reception area from one of the offices and came up to the desk.

"I have the papers but what was I supposed to do with them, Emma." He asked.

"I showed you this twice, Francis." said the older receptionist, with a touch of impatience growing.

"Oui, but this is too drab to remember."

Arthur and Matthew were sitting in silence, overhearing Francis' petty griping, when Vash stepped in from another office. He was about to address the two sitting but caught sight of Francis at the desk.

"What are you doing here? I told you to file those reports!" He said, throwing his hands up in a rage.

"How am I to do anything around here when it is all so dull?" Said Francis, leaning against the desk and settling his head into his hand.

"I should fire you on the spot for your incompetence!"

"You could." said Francis, then he turned on his heel and moseyed back to his office. "But mom would be very unhappy about that."

He closed the door and Vash growled. Arthur coughed to get his attention, and Vash straightened up.

"Very sorry about that." He said, being the first to use English. "Welcome back, gentlemen. Come in. Have a seat."

He ushered them to his office and they sat in leather chairs as Vash reclined behind his mahogany desk. The office was simple, not decorated, but fitting of the wealthy Swiss banks of the area.

"So Arthur, what brings you here?"

Arthur felt his throat go dry. "Well... it seems we will need a little more time to pay off our loan."

Whatever cordiality Vash had disappeared as he sat back up in his chair and folded his hands on the desk.

"I already gave you an extension after the incident. I cannot give you a second one. If you can't meet the deadline, then I will just have to foreclose."

"We can make the payments. We just need more time." Arthur persisted.

"Time is money, Arthur, and I don't give it away for nothing in return."

Breaking the heavy atmosphere, the door swung opened and Francis walked in with a large unmarked box.

"Another package for you. This one is from Netherlands." said Francis, setting the box on Vash's desk.

"You fool! I am in a meeting!"

"Well, pardon me!" Said Francis, tossing his hair. "You said to leave these on your desk and nowhere else!"

"You can't just barge in on a meeting!"

"You are so uptight. Don't be such a hedgehog."

"Just get out!"

Francis scoffed and strolled out of the office.

Vash sighed in exasperation, dropping his head into his hand. Then he looked up suddenly, a sly smile forming on his lips.

"I propose a deal. You take that flamboyant fool with you and I'll give you another quarter to pay off your debt."

"You would be willing to postpone our debt just to get rid of your brother." Matthew questioned.

"Ugh, please. We're cousins. If I had to be any more closely related to him, I would have already shot myself."

"Deal."

"Arthur!" Said Matthew.

"What?"

"We haven't even seen his act yet."

"This is the end of the road, Matt. Unless you know how to make 60,000 euro by the end of the month, we don't have a choice."

Matthew rubbed his temples.

"This could end badly." He said, but he wasn't arguing.

"Alright. I will introduce you to him." said Vash, rubbing his hands greedily, before getting up.

They waited just a minute before the door opened and Vash reappeared with Francis.

"These are the gentlemen I was talking about." said Vash, referring to Arthur and Matthew.

"Bonjour, I am Francis. Vash tells me you are interested in adding me to your circus." Francis said in English, one eyebrow raised a bit in disbelief.

"Show them one of your tricks." Suggested Vash, returning to his seat behind the desk.

Francis shrugged but proceeded with the trick. "What is zhat behind your ear?"

"What?" Arthur groaned, expecting him to pull a coin from his ear.

"Let me get zhat for you." said Francis, reaching behind Arthur's ear, but instead of a coin he revealed a long stemmed rose. He handed it to Arthur. "For you, mon cher."

"No thanks, frog." said Arthur, only slightly more impressed with the trick.

"Suit yourself." said Francis. He snapped his fingers and the rose burst into flames, disappearing from between his fingers.

Matthew gasped, and even Arthur had to admit that was impressive.

"Yes, I do think I could find a place for you in our circus."

"Merci, monsieur, but I 'ave an assistant." Francis explained, "And I could not work without 'er. We are, what you would call, a package deal."

Arthur looked over at Vash to see if this was still part of the deal, but Vash's deadpan expression told Arthur to make it work.

Arthur cleared his throat. "Well, of course. We will add her too."

"Zhat is a kind offer, but zhe circus is not really zhe career I 'ad imagined for myself."

Again Arthur looked over at Vash and again his apathetic stare told Arthur to figure it out on his own.

"Well, if you would pardon moi." Francis started to leave and Arthur stood up.

"Why don't you at least check it out. We are a couple hundred kilometers from here. We will save you and your assistant tickets. You could see the show and decide after."

"Zhat sound charming, but I 'ave work."

"Take the day off." said Vash quickly, eager to be rid of Francis for the day.

"'ow could I say no to zhat. I will see zhe show and tell you my decision zhen."