Homeless (a Hetalia Fanfic, Book Three)

Chapter 39~!

Weapons? Check.

Uniforms? Check.

Stealth gear? Check.

Supplies? Check-a-roo.

The planes weren't going to used this time. Instead, we would be traveling by ship across the Mediterranean Sea once we reached it. From there, it would hopefully be smooth sailing until we arrived on land. 

Somehow, the mission wasn't the farthest thing from my mind while I was busy puking my guts into the toilet bowl in my private bathroom. 

"I'm fine!" I yelled at no one in particular when it was over. Never mind the red swirling around in the water, or the crimson speckles on the seat. No one was around to convince me otherwise, and I knew I was completely healthy. One hundred percent a-okay. I could go on this mission and nothing would stop me. 'Mattie needs me... I've gotta find him.'

"Alice? Hey, you in there?" I heard the call coming from outside the room's door, and I quickly used a bit of toilet paper to mop up the blood while I flushed the toilet. Then I washed out my mouth with tap water and answered the door, but not before making sure my clothes were blood-free.

"Hey, Owen. Sorry, I was in the bathroom." The lie spilled over my lips before I really knew what I was doing.

"Come on, we're getting briefed for the mission," he said, motioning over his hand with a thumb.

"Okay," I said, shutting the door of my room behind me so I could follow him at a speed-walk down the hall and out of the building. The sun was out again, spilling its rays over everything in sight. There had been a light rain shower the evening before, and the remnants of that glistened as it evaporated into the atmosphere. I couldn't help but stop to take a breath of the clean, refreshing air.

Owen noticed and decided to comment. "As if you didn't get enough of the rain last night."

I grinned at him. "Hey, I missed the rain. That's all."

My brother, of course, was referring to how I'd been out and about in the rain for almost an entire hour after dinner. Yes, I'd made a right fool of myself, but what did I care? Those water droplets on my skin had felt absolutely amazing!

All of a sudden, I had felt like I could breathe again. Had a weight been lifted off my chest thanks to the rain? That sure seemed to be the case here...

One tree's branches hung over the path we trekked on, and mischievously I ran ahead of Owen and shook the boughs as he passed under them. What few raindrops that still clung to the leaves showered down on his head, and I snickered at the unamused look he shot me.

"Thanks, Alice."

"You're welcome, brother dearest~" I sang in return. "Come on, race ya to the meeting!"

"You're on!" he declared, and took off before I could even count down. He pulled ahead of me, but I caught up to him and just barely managed to win as we crossed the "finish line," which was the threshold of the building's outer door.

"The winner!" I announced loudly while imitating Vanellope von Schweets' triumphant voice. Owen just recovered his breath and congratulated me on being the fastest state in the Pacific Northwest. "Thank you, my loyal subject," I replied with a graceful curtsy. He lightly smacked my arm in retaliation and motioned for the two of us to continue on to the briefing session.

We weren't the last to arrive, but we were far from being among the first. When the final stragglers came in, the door was shut and we all fell silent. The lack of chatter was unnerving, but I didn't dwell on it too much. There were more important matters at hand than thinking about how our usual rowdy bunch was being very complacent and serious.