A Price to Pay

Help Where Help is Needed

America had a gun. And it was pointed right at England.

(Part one)
The group at the doors collectively gasped, then the room fell into silence once more.

"A-alfred," a quiet voice stuttered out. "C-calm down. There's n-no need for such a confrontation." The man stepped forward and placed a light hand on the other's arm.

The armed nation laughed icily. "Of course, France. What I should be doing is sending my family to take care of my work for me, right?" France recoiled, as if he'd taken a blow. "No, I take care of my problems by myself, because if you can't do it yourself, then you have no business having someone else do it for you."

"America put the damn gun down!" Germany took a few steps closer, only to get tugged back by his brother. "Prussia, wha-"

"West, listen to me now and listen good. That is the face of a man who's gone; he's too unpredictable right now for your traditional tactics to be of any benefit to us or him," he said, clearly distraught and on his highest alert.

"Don't you worry, Germany. I'm not gonna shoot him. I just needed him to shut up a second is all." He holstered the Colt in it's rightful place on his side and stepped back, widening the distance between the former empire and himself.

England was trembling, tear tracks striped along his flushed cheeks. His usually crisp uniform was wrinkled and out of place in the front, where he had likely been grabbed at some point.

"Now," Alfred began, "I think a few things need to get straightened out."

---------

Alfred walked into the dark apartment, not bothering to turn the light on. As he was moving to undo his holster and hang it back up on its respective place on the wall, he heard the floorboards creak behind him.

He whipped around, pointing the revolver out in front of him and cocking the hammer back. "Who's there?" he demanded into the dark. A figure paused just outside of his field of vision, before stepping fully into the pool of moonlight flooding in through the skylights.

Alfred's eyes widened in disbelief. "Leon? Is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me."  the Asian replied, favoring the view of the floor rather than the other's face. Alfred tossed the gun to the side, embracing the younger firmly. Leon wrapped his arms around America and burried his face in his chest.

"What brings you here so late?" the North American inquired after the two broke apart.

Hong Kong bowed his head, saying, "We need your help, America." He glanced up just soon enough to catch the other's confused expression. "Yao has been taken hostage by his own country, and now me and my siblings are concerned for his safety. Please, he's our big brother; he's all we have."

America gave him a calculating look. "How do I know you're not lying just to get me to go somewhere for one of the other counrties?" His tone wasn't that of mocking or disbelief, just that of curiosity.

Leon thought for a moment before answering. "What if I can bring Yao to you? Will you help us then?"

"Of course." Alfred smiled Brightly and whispered, "that's what heroes do."

(Part two)
Alfred looked up to see China stumble through the doorway, being supported on either side by Japan and Hong Kong, with Vietnam trailing behind them. She shot a glare at the American, who only looked back down guiltily.

The oldest nation, the one who they all saw as constant and indestructible, was, to say the least, in bad shape. There were bruises along almost every inch of skin visible, random cuts and gashes oozing blood, and hair disheveled and hanging over his face, giving him an utterly defeated look.

America closed the distance between them in a few short strides, taking China into his own arms carefully.

"Hey China," he said quietly, picking him up completely and walking to a bedroom near the back of the apartment.

Yao shifted his hazy gaze over to focus on America's face. "Just because... Just because you're helping me... That doesn't mean I'm waving your debt any time soon, aru" he managed. Alfred smiled and set him down on the bed gently, pulling up sheets and a comforter to cover the other completely.

"I know. Get some rest, and we can clean you up properly when you wake up again, okay?" Alfred turned and started for the door to the room, only to be pulled back down to the bedside by his wrist. He looked at China expectantly.

"Thank you."

[[Not that bad, right? Its been a while so I'm trying to stay in character.     I made two parts bc originally they were going to be two different chapters, but neither part was long enough to stand alone, so now its this]]