The (Sometimes) United States of America

2. Tactical Retreats and the Crashing of World Meetings

America (Alfred), Lobby, DC
Alfred's first thought is a series of curse words.

Germany unfreezes first. "Wait, Alaska? Isn't that a state?"

Lani grimaces. "Uh oh," she mutters.

Sasha seems to have the same opinion. "Um, well, it's been fun, but we're gonna go now-"

He spins on his heel, and- smacks straight into Belarus, who leans over to study his features, likely noting his similarities to Russia.

Lani sends him an apologetic look that says she won't leave without Sasha.

Sasha takes a step away from Belarus, putting him closer to the other nations. Lani moves in front of him to protect his back and levels a glare at the closest nations.

Alfred isn't sure whether he should be proud or mortified as a few nations take a step back.

"America?" England questions, staring at the two pre-teens.

Alfred bites his cheek.

"Even if they did find out, what could they do?" Sera asked. "We can take care of ourselves, and the risks aren't high anyway. It's a different world than it once was."

He closes his eyes.

"They're my states."

Chaos.

"You told me there was no Vermont!" (France)

"You're states? Cool!" (Sealand)

"There are fifty of them?!" (Various Nations, multiple times)

A small hand grips his. Alfred squeezes Lani's fingers reassuringly and tunes out the nations. Sasha leans into his sister.

He offers up a megawatt Hollywood smile. "Well, meeting dismissed!"

DC (Sera), White House, DC
Sera thumps her head against the table once before scrubbing her face with her hands. "So, let me get this right. You revealed the existence of the states, and then ran."

Alfred frowns. "Tactical retreat."

Ginny snorts. Alfred shoots her a look that says I-don't-care-how-old-you-are-I-will-ground-you-so-fast.

Prussia, Meeting Room, DC
"How did no one know?" England wonders aloud.

Prussia rolls his eyes. It's the fifth time he's asked that.

On the other hand, everyone else knew now, so... "I knew."

England turns his head slowly. "What."

Germany raises his eyebrows. "Why would America tell you of all people?"

Prussia smirked at England. "Who do you think trained them at Valley Forge?"

It took France and Japan to restrain England from lunging across the table.

France frowns at him. "And you didn't think this was important?"

Prussia shrugs. "You're acting as if I'm the only one who knew." He leans forward on the table to look at Russia. "Isn't that right?"

England looks between them with a you've-got-to-be-kidding-me look.

"Are there really fifty?" Hungary questions.