War's Edge

Vulnerable Times

Delaware felt uneasy at the front. Virginia was probably the oldest—she had the most influence, too—but he was the first official state of America. Not to mention the fact that he hadn't actually expected a need to ever call for a full fifty-state meeting. Well, almost. Maine volunteered to keep an eye on Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii, and Alaska.

Now, Delaware was responsible for a tie-breaking vote among the thirteen council.

America himself looked dead—his eyes were dull and bored, yet there seemed to be some underlying malicious glint. His constant tapping on the table made his irritation clear, and he made it no secret that, at the moment, he couldn't care less about what happened. Earlier, a disagreement pushed America to break a chair—it seemed to quiet everyone enough for proper discussion.

"...how are you feeling...?" Delaware asked America with a surprising amount of volume in his voice to be heard throughout the room.

He shivered upon making eye contact with America. It felt so... unnatural... to be under such an uncaring gaze.

"Cold."

Again, Delaware felt a shiver run up his spine and all hair stand on end. Such a simple response, and yet it just bred more questions. Really, Delaware didn't want any of the answers. To his onlooking siblings, he appeared cool, calm, and collected—that couldn't be farther from the truth. He cleared his throat, standing up under the scrutiny of his siblings.

"Until further notice," he began with a flat tone, "the United States have overridden America. Texas will take his place in official meetings in disguise."

Delaware awkwardly sat down. He didn't like all the eyes on him, and he didn't like having to speak in front of all of them, but he needed to look strong for his younger siblings. Of course, Texas was going to be rebellious as he usually was. This made him a perfect temporary replacement for America, which Texas only ever protested because he wanted to make sure he stood out as an individual.

"Y'all must be outta yer goddamn minds!" Texas shouted with a thick accent, "Who am I gonna fool? Mexico will sure-as-Hell recognize me!"

Virginia addressed the issue with another question; "Would she endanger your life by ratting you out?"

No.

Texas begrudgingly settled and agreed to take America's place. He'd have to dye his hair from its auburn color to America's blonde color, and he'd have to hide his own accent, but whatever it took to save face. Besides, he looked like a carbon-copy of America himself.

"Just as a reminder," Virginia added, "there aren't any nations coming over. If you feel the presence of another nation, direct them to the east coast or to an airport to leave. If you feel it could be dangerous for either the States or America himself, then report it to one of the thirteen."

Texas hesitated at that. The presence of a nation, the one he'd felt when near Mexico or America, felt like a slight tug—like the opposite ends of a magnet. It was subtle, but familiar enough to identify that grand air and presence that nations usually had. That's what he'd felt when he was searching for New Mexico, and the kid had returned looking happier, saying he met—

"Wait! Wait just a goddamn second—"

North Carolina rolled her eyes, sharply quipping, "Texas, dear, the decision is final."

"I know! Can ya gimme a second," Texas grumbled, biting back a few insults, "Look, a couple o' days ago, maybe a week ago, New Mexico wandered outta the house. I thought he was talkin' to America because I felt America's nation presence."