unFRIENDLY RIVALRY: countryhumans

Fox Hunt

5:20

The short striped man stormed out of the office, fumbling with a box of his belongings. Some files even escaped his grasp, falling onto the wet concrete floor of the car park.

"Britain, wait up!" Called out the taller man trying to catch up with him, but the other country didn't stop. Instead he marched on at an even faster pace.

"Fock off! I quit!" Growled the Brit, looking daggers at his cousin.

"Why are you leaving?" Asked the Germanic nation. He should've expected this to happen at some point. Great Britain told him several times that he was serious about leaving the company, but he still hoped that the Brit would change his mind in the end.

He stopped, turning his head back to the German.

"What are you thick or something? I've been telling you I was gonna leave this place for several years, innit?" Remarked the shorter man in irritation, dropping his box to the ground with a loud thud.

"Exactly, we've been waiting for years now. I thought that you were just bluffing."

"What part of this looks like I'm bluffing?! I've had enough of all of you cunts! Wanna know what's the main reason why I'm leaving this fucking shitshow? It's you! You think you can just use everyone as your fucking doormats. I ain't gonna be playing by your rules anymore. Now, as much as I like you as a friend, I hate you as my boss.
Cheerio, cousin." The Brit adjusted his grey tartan golf cap before picking up his belongings off the floor and walking  away from the German and towards his own car.
For a guy who was usually acting so friendly towards him this kind of behaviour was bewildering to his Germanic cousin. He hasn't openly criticised the German before like this...
Not to his face at least.

Is this what it felt like to be on the recieving end of someone's complaints?

He grimaced.

Was he really such a horrible boss?

But, his heritage forbid it...

He was brought up with certain expectations in mind;
To be someone who would be respected by most,
Someone highly influential,
Someone liked,
Someone intelligent,
Of a higher social standing...

A born leader, some may say.

And yet,

The more he knew, the more he doubted his own leadership skills.

But what else could he do in his life?
He was a businessman.
Being a leader of some sort was the only thing he knew how to do well.
He felt so proud of himself when the European Union was created. Now, he feared having to see it crumble before his very eyes.

For a moment or two he stood in the rain. Lost in thought. Oblivious to the fact that he had an audience watching the entire happening from a distance.

"He's not wrong, ya know?" The German turned around into the direction of the mysterious voice.
A short man leaned against the wall behind him, the red umbrella sheltering him from the droplets falling from the dark skies.
"You are an absolute authoratative asshole most of the time." He chuckled, fastening his designer coat.

"What are you doing here Czechia?" The tricoloured nation furrowed his eyebrows.

"Going home, obviously. It's 5, if not my dumbass brother I would've been out of here an hour ago. He's lost a file again." Explained the Czech man with a note of nonchalance in his voice.

"Is Poland still here or did he go home already?" He blurted, thinking about how he would love to distract himself from what just happened. Needing a mental getaway to his safe place. Sometimes he felt like there was absolute nothing that could brighten his mood more than talking to his Polish co-worker. Yes, he was occasionally abrasive but even his talking back felt a bit... Endearing to him at times. He himself couldn't quite explain it.
The joy he felt when he spent time with him was beyond any reasoning.

Ironic.
This was one of the very nations he was supposed to hate...
What would his predecessors say about him now?
He wasn't even sure if it was just pure friendships or something more that he felt for him.

Germany struggled greatly with the idea of love. It was something that was relatively new to him, and it confused him beyond belief.
He was just so... Inexperienced...

"Why are you asking?" Replied Czechia with a question.

"I wanted to talk to him."

"Oh I see. Didn't think you were into older men." Mocked the shorter country with a wide grin on his face. Over the years working with Germany they've developed a somewhat of a frenemy dynamic, they disagreed on politics, but got along ok outside of work...

Sometimes.

"I- what?!" The taller man's eyes widened, his face flaring red. The tricoloured nation could feel his heart jump to his throat.

"Nothing to be ashamed of. Poland is a real silver fox isn't he?" Teased the shorter nation.
Ever since the New Year's party it became rather obvious what was going through the German's mind.

Germany had developed a soft spot for the Czech's close cousin.

He could tell by the way he looked at him, that longing moony-eyed stare. What was even funnier to the Czech other than the fact that he acted like an immature teenager about it, was that this seemingly smart country probably couldn't put the puzzle pieces together himself. Or did he?

"Czechia... One more word and I'll fire you." The taller nation furrowed his brows menacingly. Flustered and frustrated. The tricoloured country felt short of breath, cold sweat running down his face. It would've been more noticeable if not the rain.
He felt so... Exposed ?

"You wouldn't do it. How many times were you and Belgium trying to 'fire' Poland or Hungary? Your fake firing doesn't even scare me anymore. I know you wouldn't dare." Reasoned the Czech Republic.
Though, he almost pitied the poor bastard.
Not only did he go soft for someone, out of all the people it just so happened to be Poland.
His cousin was by no means easy to court, and he seemed to be very much disinterested in dating ever since his last relationship fell apart.
Maybe a new relationship was just what his cousin needed after growing so cold towards the outside world.
Someone who could bring an end to his self-indulgent loneliness.
A spark of optimism in a pitch dark tunnel of pessimism.

But even then, Germany's reputation as the silver-tongued flirt with multiple romantic endeavours sucked away all of the remaining scraps of empathy he had for him. This might've been only his reputation, and the truth might've been very different from what he deemed to be reality, but even then, he had no reason to think of Germany in any other way.
He just doubted that someone like him could ever actually love anyone but himself.

" He's still in the office, now go away and stop bothering me after work." Muttered the Czech, taking a bit of a pity on a rain-drenched man.

The German's facial expression changed almost immediately. A wide, dumb smile appeared on his lips as he strolled back into the building.

The Czech man only sighed, shaking his head.

"Where the hell are you Slovakia? Hurry up, you damn moron..." He muttered to himself growing impatient as the cold bit into his fingers.

_________________________________________

Author's note:

New chapter QwQ !

No spell checks, cba to do it tonight, it's 1 in the morning.

Slightly longer than the last chapter, decided to split this into two parts because it turned out to be a bit lengthier than I expected.

Next chapter coming soon qwq

See you soon my dearest dumplings!
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