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everythingismagicTitle: You Can't Take the Sky From Me [FF.NET Chapter Twenty-One] [ Writing Journal Previous Chapters ]
Pairing: AmericaxEngland, PolandxLithuania, GermanyxItaly, SpainxRomano, Belarus---->Russia, PrussiaxSwitzerland. Future pairings: GreecexJapan, HungaryxAustria, SwedenxFinland
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance/Humor/Drama/Action+Adventure/Alternate Universe
Word Count: 3.318
Summary: Ace Pilot America is on a mission for the World Military when a chance encounter with a group of Sky-Pirates leads him to team up with their captain, England, against a malevolent group that wants to fill the sky with zeppelins. [USxUK- Steampunk AU]
Chapter Summary: “What are your orders, Captain?” France inquired, and his tone dared America. He could tell that France was challenging him. Do we do what is right, or do we do what we've been told to? Those were the unspoken words.
Author's Note: I can't believe how long I delayed on this chapter. The holiday exchanges took longer than I thought, and Hero Frequency technically isn't done yet (it will be very soon!). But I really owed you all a chapter of this, and I expect to be on a fairly frequent updating schedule from now on. I am so, so sorry!
America placed his hand above his eyes, forming a makeshift visor, as he glanced at the two planes that flanked him. France and Japan, his two subordinates, with him on their first official mission as leaders of his base’s Kosmider operations. So awesome!
He was practically bouncing in his seat as he flew. He was wondering if things could honestly get much more amazing for him. Captain and now this? And okay, it wasn’t a combat mission, but this was real and China believed in him. General Wang!
America flipped on his radio, his cheerful voice piping through France and Japan’s speakers. “We’ll probably reach the Babako in about an hour? You two ready?”
“Oui, I am prepared to use my charms to wile information out of--- “
“Yeah, yeah. Good,” America interrupted. “Japan?”
“Captain Jones-“
“America!”
“Even when we’re on such an important mission?” Japan queried.
“Yup. Now’s not a time for formalities. We’ve gotta keep close, okay?”
“Oh I don’t mind keeping close--- “
“All right, America. I’m ready,” Japan cut in.
America chuckled. “Great. Oh and shut up, France.”
“Oh right, I am not England,” France countered, his voice rich with innuendo. “It is not me you wish to keep close to. Such a tragedy,” he finished with a dramatic sigh.
America’s eyes widened. “Shit France! Don’t bring up England.” He gestured wildly, despite the fact that France probably wouldn’t be able to see him. Japan didn’t know about the pirate captain. Dammit! America felt guilt pool in his stomach, because his best friend didn’t know about England but France of all people did.
France was laughing now. Japan cleared his throat, rather tersely. “Um, America, may I ask who England is?”
There was a very slight, very polite edge to Japan’s voice, as if he were maybe just a tiny bit irritated that he hadn’t been let in on this detail of his friend’s life. America sighed. “Hey, I’ll tell you later, I promise. I didn’t even tell France. He just found out, because he’s a nosy bastard.”
France gasped. “I am wounded. I was merely looking out for your well being!”
“America, you don’t need to answer if you don’t wish to, but are you in a relationship?”
The aviator’s face flushed pink at this, and he laughed nervously. “Ahaha Japan, n-no wa--- “
His words were cut off as something fell directly in front of them, from the sky above them. A flaming chunk of wooden debris, as if broken off a ship---
A ship. Shit. America turned down his radio, so he could hear beyond the crackling static noise. There were sounds from above, the faint whirrings of steam engines.
“America, look up…” Japan trailed off, something in his voice, something like fear.
“Mon dieu…”
America took a deep breath and turned his face up toward the sky, through the glass of his cockpit. His eyes grew huge and his breath hitched.
Less than one hundred meters above them, soaring through the sky like a great whale, was a white zeppelin, unmistakable as one of the Kosmider’s.
And beneath it, slowly falling, despite obvious attempts to stay abreast, to its inevitable demise in tatters and flames, was a great wooden skyship.
“Kosmider!” America yelled as he turned his radio volume back up frantically. “France, Japan! That’s a Kosmider zeppelin.”
His heart hammered in his chest, and he attempted to clear his mind of the frantic emotions that raced through it. Kosmider. And, he scowled bitterly, as expected, they were on the attack. It was definitely a pirate ship, judging by the make of the ship, although it wasn’t the Victoria (thank god).
And he was on a mission. He needed to get to the Babako soon.
“What are your orders, Captain?” France inquired, and his tone dared America. He could tell that France was challenging him. Do we do what is right, or do we do what we've been told to? Those were the unspoken words.
And he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to rise up to that challenge. He was a hero, after all.
“Captain,” Japan spoke, “if we don’t hurry, we won’t make it to the island in ti—“
“Captain Jones here,” America spoke over the radio, “I know, you know. I’m just trying to make this sound official. I’ll be heading up, whether you join me or not is up to you.”
“But Captain, in addition to jeopardizing our mission, if you engage in combat against military protocol, you could get--- “
“I don’t give a damn, Japan,” he snapped, in a firmer tone than he’d ever used with the sergeant. “And besides, this isn’t combat.” America’s lips thinned into a firm line. “It’s a rescue mission.”
“Captain---- “
“That ship isn’t going to wait forever for us,” America interrupted. “Japan, if you’re with me, take the left side of the ship. I know, it’s dangerous, but I won’t let anything happen to my men, all right?”
Japan exhaled. “I-“
“You don’t have to. France, you’d better be in on this since you egged me on!”
“Oh I am...”
“You take the back of the ship, it’s falling nose first.” America paused. “I don’t care how you do it, but rescue anyone on that falling ship. Get them in your cockpit, have them cling on your wing, I don’t care. Just make sure they’re safe! And if the Kosmider fires at you, don’t leave. Fire back if you have to.”
France chuckled. “Very well, hero.”
America smirked. “You’d better believe it.” He angled his plane upwards, beginning his ascent. “Japan?” He asked, hopefully.
Japan was silent for a moment. “I follow my captain’s orders.”
“That’s me!”
“Indeed it is, America.”
He grinned, and then his grin flickered away and was replaced with an expression of grim resolve. Japan and France trailed after him, as he ascended to the flaming, falling ship.
“You all should have a few missiles on your plane. Use them if the Kosmider attacks. Don’t hold back. We don’t have time for that! Our first priority is to rescue the people on the ship though,” America commanded. He rounded on the right side of the ship, the one facing the Kosmider, and immediately spotted a young woman clinging to the side, the wood splintering under her hands. America opened his cockpit. “How many?” He yelled over the din of the melee, hoping she’d be able to hear him. She put a hand to her ear, as if asking him to speak louder.
“HOW MANY?” America screamed. She nodded and held up two fingers. “There are two people on the ship,” he said over the radio. “I’ll get this lady over here.”
America flew as close to the ship as he could, only a hair’s breath away, and held out his hand. “HOP IN!” He shouted.
“INTO A MILITARY PLANE? YA GONNA ARREST ME?” She yelled back.
America shook his head. “NOT INTERESTED IN THAT, MISS! JUST HERE ON A RESCUE MISSION.” She frowned, but reached for his hand, missing the first few times before finally gaining purchase. With one quick, strong swing, he pulled the woman into the plane and onto his lap, closing the cockpit once she settled.
“You’re not going to arrest me, ya said?” Was the first thing she said, in a brassy bold voice. America surveyed her, noting her chin length blonde hair and bright green eyes. Judging by her clothing, a rich maroon coat being the first thing he noticed, she was definitely a pirate.
America nodded. “Shake on it then? I just gotta be sure, because if you are, I’m gonna have to knock you out and take control of this plane. By the way, name’s Belgium!”
America laughed. “You really are a pirate, aren’t you?” He held out his hand, and they shook. “All right.”
“Captain,” came Japan’s voice over the radio, and he sounded kind of… out of breath.
“You okay over there?”
“I am indeed. A slight bit uncomfortable, but it’s not much of an inconvenience.”
“Shit, what happened?”
“Ah no, I’m perfectly all right. I managed to rescue the second passenger.”
“AWESOME! What’s wrong then?”
“As you know, I’m not very large in stature, Captain Jones.”
The lady on America’s lap began to laugh loudly. “And you’ve got Netherlands on your lap. My brother’s half the size of one of these here planes!”
“I hear a sound quite akin to the tinkling of a bell,” France cut in. “Lovely lady, my name is—“
“Shut up, Belgium,” interrupted a deep male voice.
“Yeah, yeah brother. Anyway, dreamboat,” she paused, poking America’s shoulder. “Y’all plan on taking out that zeppelin, or is this just a rescue mission.”
America flushed a bit, because when she’d turned around to touch his shoulder, her assets had ended up shoved rather soundly in his face. And she was wearing a low cut shirt. “Um…”
“Oh sorry!” She turned back around. “I mean that the Kosmider was pretty much done by the time ya got here. They thought we were guaranteed dead, but then you came along and kinda messed that up, didn’t ya?”
America had just enough time to dodge the missile that was coming his way. “SHIT!” He shouted. “Japan, take the back, France take the right side, I’ll take the left. That should at least handicap it so we can escape.”
He wanted to take down the zeppelin entirely, damn did he want to. But this zeppelin was a lot larger than the one he’d knocked out of the sky with three missiles, and plus, he would be putting the two pirates in more danger if they stayed around longer.
“Affirmative, Captain Jones.”
“Oui, hero.”
America’s cheeks pinked. Being called that was actually, a bit embarrassing. “France?” Belgium queried. “Oh I know him!”
America snorted. “Yeah, everyone seems to, for better or worse.”
He dodged again and headed to the left side of the craft, his two men following suit. One thing about the zeppelins, America noted, was that their sheer girth made it difficult for them to maneuver from attacks. Getting in a good hit wasn’t difficult, and he quickly managed to blow a hole into the side of the white craft.
France’s missile grazed, but didn’t make full contact, but that was good enough. Japan managed to knock off part of the rudder, and the great sky beast creaked under the impact. “GOOD! AWESOME! That should do it. Now everyone fly away. We’re a lot faster than this damn thing, but now we won’t have the risk of it following us. I’m out.”
The three planes departed under the fire of the zeppelin, dodging its last attempts at taking them out as they headed down closer to the sea. Belgium glanced out the side of the cockpit, a sad smile on her face as her ship descended, ever more rapidly. “There goes Elegast. Thanks for everything, old girl.”
“Your ship?” America asked.
“Yeah, that’s her.”
“Sorry,” he murmured.
“My crew’s safe, that’s what counts.” She shifted slightly, America snaking his hands around her center to reach the controls.
“Your crew is just your brother?”
Belgium chuckled. “God no! I’d die if I just had him as company all the time. I sent ‘em all away a few weeks ago, told them they were welcome back on my ship when the Kosmider threat had passed. They fought it, loyal that they are, but in the end, I gave ‘em no choice. They’re safe, and thank all, because your crew has just three planes and I’ve got eleven pirates.”
“Hold on.” America held up a finger and picked up his radio. “Hey everyone, new orders! We’re going to head to the Babako to drop these guys off, all right?”
“And abandon our mission in the process?” Japan inquired.
“What choice do we have?” France asked. “We can’t exactly show up and meet Officer Im with a pair of pirates in our cockpits, and the Babako is the closest place we can drop them off.”
“France is right,” America confirmed. “Maybe we can still get some information. It’s worth trying!”
Belgium blinked. “What are y’all looking for info on?”
“The Kosmider, of course.”
“Ah yeah,” she paused, “your radio isn’t open right now, is it?”
“Nope. They can still radio me, but I turned the outgoing speaker off, so unless I press this,” he pointed to a button, “they can’t hear me.” He grinned. “Got something to tell me?”
Belgium shrugged. “Unfortunately, not really. I mean I know what every pirate knows. We all have the same source…”
America bit his lip. “The merchant?”
Belgium’s green eyes grew large. “Yeah, you know? Wow, I’m really surprised someone in the military does, but I guess y’all have your intel…”
America laughed nervously and scratched the back of his head. “Not really. I’m probably the only guy in the military that knows about that merchant.”
Belgium’s expression turned to one of curiosity. “Oho, now you’ve got me interested! First a trio of military planes deviates from a mission to rescue a pair of pirates, and now you’re telling me ya know about the source the merchants and pirates have been using?”
America glanced out his cockpit, to the warm late morning sky. Puffy clouds were dissipating, leaving it wider and bluer than it had been when he’d left for the mission.
“I sorta know another pirate…” He spoke, almost a whisper.
“Hmm, is that so?”
“Yeah a whole crew of them… weird, I know. I mean heroes like me don’t usually hang out with pirates, but it just… kind of happened,” America explained, shifting awkwardly.
“Heroes like you?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah! I’m a hero.” He would have pointed to his chest had she not been pressed against it.
“Well, you were a pretty convincing one earlier, that’s for sure! From Captain to Captain, I appreciate it.” She winked.
“Thanks. Wait- Captain?”
“That would be me. Did you think my doofus of a brother was the captain? No way, no how.” She laughed. “Anyway, who is your pirate friend, if ya don’t mind?”
America shrugged. “I guess there’s no use hiding it. It’s Captain Kirkland… England?” A part of him kicked himself for revealing this. How was England viewed by other pirates? It was no big deal if they thought he was unlikable or whatever, but what if they thought he was ruthless or---
No, England wasn’t like that. He couldn’t be…
“Kirkland?” America nodded. “I know ‘em, but we haven’t spent much time together. He’s not exactly the friendly sort, from what I’ve seen…”
“W-what do you mean by that?” America’s stomach dropped.
She adjusted the headband that she wore. “I just mean he’s not very easy to talk to. Stick in the mud if I ever saw one. Feels like he’s always glarin’ at you.”
America’s face broke into a fond smile. “Yeah, that’s England.” The aviator took a deep breath, steeling his nerves to ask the next question. “So what’s he like… as a pirate?”
Belgium cocked her head, confused, but then sighed after a few moments. “Not sure what ya mean? He loots, and he’ll fight ya off if you try and stop him but, what else do you wanna know?”
America’s cheeks pinked a bit. “Well the thing is that I’m a hero, and… he’s a pirate and, it’s kind of weird? I mean most of the time I sorta forget that he’s even a pirate, because we’re just hanging out and--- “ Shit, he was completely rambling. His face felt hotter as well.
“You’re completely red!” She chuckled. “So you’ve got a crush on this here pirate, and you want to know if your bushy eyebrowed boyfriend slits throats in his free time or somethin’?”
“England wouldn’t do that!” He exclaimed. “He’s got…”
“Honor? Yup, even pirates have got some of that. If you know Kirkland wouldn’t behave like that, haven’t you answered your own question?”
“Yeah, I guess so…”
“Now as for how a love story between a pirate captain and a military captain ends up, you’re going to have to fill me in. I expect to be told the ending!” She smirked, winking again.
America’s face flushed again. “There’s nothing like that! I’m way too awesome to get involved in--- “
“Yeah, yeah.”
America sighed, shifting Belgium’s body a bit because damn his arms were cramping. He couldn’t even imagine how poor Japan felt right now.
He frowned and bit his lip. “H-hey Belgium?”
“Mmmm?”
He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. “…Do you think it could work?” His voice was quiet, almost a cautious whisper.
“Whaddya mean?”
America’s cheeks burned, and he focused on the sky, averting his eyes entirely from Belgium. “Me and England.”
She smiled kindly. “You’re a military aviator who left his mission behind to save a pair of pirates. Doesn’t seem like protocol is that important to ya, to be honest!”
America scratched the back of his head. “Yeah well… that’s kind of… new.”
“If ya like each other, I’m sure you can make it work.”
He nodded and shot Belgium a winning smile. “This is all theoretical, of course.”
Belgium just laughed.
America flew on, knowing that they would be at the Babako very soon. He turned to spot Japan and France flying alongside him, and then faced forward once more.
He felt kind of… bad for questioning Belgium about England’s behavior, like he was betraying him in a manner. But that was stupid. He was just making sure that England wasn’t hiding anything from him! Nevertheless, Belgium was right.
America wouldn’t have allowed himself to become as close to England as he had, if he didn’t believe in him. And England had trusted him with so much…
He sighed inwardly. Why did everyone automatically assume he was in--- he had feelings for England? I mean couldn’t they just be friends? It’s like he’d blurted out some kind of confession. They had no real reason to assume that he liked him like that. It was really not awesome, and even more so, really embarrassing.
His mind flashed back to warm wind chapped lips pressed against his own, to the half lidded green gaze, eyelashes drawn down, before they’d made contact, to flushed scarlet cheeks and hands sifting through his hair and a tongue pushing into his mouth and---
Do you think it could work?
Why had he even asked that? His heart was beating rapidly and he felt hot to the point of lightheadedness, as he snapped himself out of the memory of their kiss.
Well, they were friends. Plus, America had promised to be his hero! He’d told England that he’d make sure that he wasn’t lonely anymore, that he’d be his champion and his knight and---
And shit, that did sound kind of romantic, now that he thought about it.
Stop dwelling on things! Heroes don’t dwell, America grumbled to himself. Plus, the Babako was right up ahead, he could make it out barely, and he had to get ready to land!
“France!” He flipped the radio. “You’re familiar with this place, where would be the best place to land?”
“You mean the most discreet?”
“Yeah, that.”
“Around the back end of the market, there’s a landing pad where merchants sometimes have supplies delivered. There may be some people there, but it will not be half as public as landing elsewhere, oui?” France explained. “I will lead.”
America nodded. “Thanks. You still all right over there, Japan?”
“Fine, America,” he wheezed out in reply.
“Okay, in we go then!” He flipped off the radio speaker, and France flew in front, guiding them to the landing spot.
“Sorry ‘bout derailing your mission,” Belgium piped up as America descended.
America smiled lightly, raising his hand up to his forehead in a quick salute. “Don’t worry about it. I just did what any real hero would.”
Pairing: AmericaxEngland, PolandxLithuania, GermanyxItaly, SpainxRomano, Belarus---->Russia, PrussiaxSwitzerland. Future pairings: GreecexJapan, HungaryxAustria, SwedenxFinland
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance/Humor/Drama/Action+Adventure/Alternate Universe
Word Count: 3.318
Summary: Ace Pilot America is on a mission for the World Military when a chance encounter with a group of Sky-Pirates leads him to team up with their captain, England, against a malevolent group that wants to fill the sky with zeppelins. [USxUK- Steampunk AU]
Chapter Summary: “What are your orders, Captain?” France inquired, and his tone dared America. He could tell that France was challenging him. Do we do what is right, or do we do what we've been told to? Those were the unspoken words.
Author's Note: I can't believe how long I delayed on this chapter. The holiday exchanges took longer than I thought, and Hero Frequency technically isn't done yet (it will be very soon!). But I really owed you all a chapter of this, and I expect to be on a fairly frequent updating schedule from now on. I am so, so sorry!
America placed his hand above his eyes, forming a makeshift visor, as he glanced at the two planes that flanked him. France and Japan, his two subordinates, with him on their first official mission as leaders of his base’s Kosmider operations. So awesome!
He was practically bouncing in his seat as he flew. He was wondering if things could honestly get much more amazing for him. Captain and now this? And okay, it wasn’t a combat mission, but this was real and China believed in him. General Wang!
America flipped on his radio, his cheerful voice piping through France and Japan’s speakers. “We’ll probably reach the Babako in about an hour? You two ready?”
“Oui, I am prepared to use my charms to wile information out of--- “
“Yeah, yeah. Good,” America interrupted. “Japan?”
“Captain Jones-“
“America!”
“Even when we’re on such an important mission?” Japan queried.
“Yup. Now’s not a time for formalities. We’ve gotta keep close, okay?”
“Oh I don’t mind keeping close--- “
“All right, America. I’m ready,” Japan cut in.
America chuckled. “Great. Oh and shut up, France.”
“Oh right, I am not England,” France countered, his voice rich with innuendo. “It is not me you wish to keep close to. Such a tragedy,” he finished with a dramatic sigh.
America’s eyes widened. “Shit France! Don’t bring up England.” He gestured wildly, despite the fact that France probably wouldn’t be able to see him. Japan didn’t know about the pirate captain. Dammit! America felt guilt pool in his stomach, because his best friend didn’t know about England but France of all people did.
France was laughing now. Japan cleared his throat, rather tersely. “Um, America, may I ask who England is?”
There was a very slight, very polite edge to Japan’s voice, as if he were maybe just a tiny bit irritated that he hadn’t been let in on this detail of his friend’s life. America sighed. “Hey, I’ll tell you later, I promise. I didn’t even tell France. He just found out, because he’s a nosy bastard.”
France gasped. “I am wounded. I was merely looking out for your well being!”
“America, you don’t need to answer if you don’t wish to, but are you in a relationship?”
The aviator’s face flushed pink at this, and he laughed nervously. “Ahaha Japan, n-no wa--- “
His words were cut off as something fell directly in front of them, from the sky above them. A flaming chunk of wooden debris, as if broken off a ship---
A ship. Shit. America turned down his radio, so he could hear beyond the crackling static noise. There were sounds from above, the faint whirrings of steam engines.
“America, look up…” Japan trailed off, something in his voice, something like fear.
“Mon dieu…”
America took a deep breath and turned his face up toward the sky, through the glass of his cockpit. His eyes grew huge and his breath hitched.
Less than one hundred meters above them, soaring through the sky like a great whale, was a white zeppelin, unmistakable as one of the Kosmider’s.
And beneath it, slowly falling, despite obvious attempts to stay abreast, to its inevitable demise in tatters and flames, was a great wooden skyship.
“Kosmider!” America yelled as he turned his radio volume back up frantically. “France, Japan! That’s a Kosmider zeppelin.”
His heart hammered in his chest, and he attempted to clear his mind of the frantic emotions that raced through it. Kosmider. And, he scowled bitterly, as expected, they were on the attack. It was definitely a pirate ship, judging by the make of the ship, although it wasn’t the Victoria (thank god).
And he was on a mission. He needed to get to the Babako soon.
“What are your orders, Captain?” France inquired, and his tone dared America. He could tell that France was challenging him. Do we do what is right, or do we do what we've been told to? Those were the unspoken words.
And he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to rise up to that challenge. He was a hero, after all.
“Captain,” Japan spoke, “if we don’t hurry, we won’t make it to the island in ti—“
“Captain Jones here,” America spoke over the radio, “I know, you know. I’m just trying to make this sound official. I’ll be heading up, whether you join me or not is up to you.”
“But Captain, in addition to jeopardizing our mission, if you engage in combat against military protocol, you could get--- “
“I don’t give a damn, Japan,” he snapped, in a firmer tone than he’d ever used with the sergeant. “And besides, this isn’t combat.” America’s lips thinned into a firm line. “It’s a rescue mission.”
“Captain---- “
“That ship isn’t going to wait forever for us,” America interrupted. “Japan, if you’re with me, take the left side of the ship. I know, it’s dangerous, but I won’t let anything happen to my men, all right?”
Japan exhaled. “I-“
“You don’t have to. France, you’d better be in on this since you egged me on!”
“Oh I am...”
“You take the back of the ship, it’s falling nose first.” America paused. “I don’t care how you do it, but rescue anyone on that falling ship. Get them in your cockpit, have them cling on your wing, I don’t care. Just make sure they’re safe! And if the Kosmider fires at you, don’t leave. Fire back if you have to.”
France chuckled. “Very well, hero.”
America smirked. “You’d better believe it.” He angled his plane upwards, beginning his ascent. “Japan?” He asked, hopefully.
Japan was silent for a moment. “I follow my captain’s orders.”
“That’s me!”
“Indeed it is, America.”
He grinned, and then his grin flickered away and was replaced with an expression of grim resolve. Japan and France trailed after him, as he ascended to the flaming, falling ship.
“You all should have a few missiles on your plane. Use them if the Kosmider attacks. Don’t hold back. We don’t have time for that! Our first priority is to rescue the people on the ship though,” America commanded. He rounded on the right side of the ship, the one facing the Kosmider, and immediately spotted a young woman clinging to the side, the wood splintering under her hands. America opened his cockpit. “How many?” He yelled over the din of the melee, hoping she’d be able to hear him. She put a hand to her ear, as if asking him to speak louder.
“HOW MANY?” America screamed. She nodded and held up two fingers. “There are two people on the ship,” he said over the radio. “I’ll get this lady over here.”
America flew as close to the ship as he could, only a hair’s breath away, and held out his hand. “HOP IN!” He shouted.
“INTO A MILITARY PLANE? YA GONNA ARREST ME?” She yelled back.
America shook his head. “NOT INTERESTED IN THAT, MISS! JUST HERE ON A RESCUE MISSION.” She frowned, but reached for his hand, missing the first few times before finally gaining purchase. With one quick, strong swing, he pulled the woman into the plane and onto his lap, closing the cockpit once she settled.
“You’re not going to arrest me, ya said?” Was the first thing she said, in a brassy bold voice. America surveyed her, noting her chin length blonde hair and bright green eyes. Judging by her clothing, a rich maroon coat being the first thing he noticed, she was definitely a pirate.
America nodded. “Shake on it then? I just gotta be sure, because if you are, I’m gonna have to knock you out and take control of this plane. By the way, name’s Belgium!”
America laughed. “You really are a pirate, aren’t you?” He held out his hand, and they shook. “All right.”
“Captain,” came Japan’s voice over the radio, and he sounded kind of… out of breath.
“You okay over there?”
“I am indeed. A slight bit uncomfortable, but it’s not much of an inconvenience.”
“Shit, what happened?”
“Ah no, I’m perfectly all right. I managed to rescue the second passenger.”
“AWESOME! What’s wrong then?”
“As you know, I’m not very large in stature, Captain Jones.”
The lady on America’s lap began to laugh loudly. “And you’ve got Netherlands on your lap. My brother’s half the size of one of these here planes!”
“I hear a sound quite akin to the tinkling of a bell,” France cut in. “Lovely lady, my name is—“
“Shut up, Belgium,” interrupted a deep male voice.
“Yeah, yeah brother. Anyway, dreamboat,” she paused, poking America’s shoulder. “Y’all plan on taking out that zeppelin, or is this just a rescue mission.”
America flushed a bit, because when she’d turned around to touch his shoulder, her assets had ended up shoved rather soundly in his face. And she was wearing a low cut shirt. “Um…”
“Oh sorry!” She turned back around. “I mean that the Kosmider was pretty much done by the time ya got here. They thought we were guaranteed dead, but then you came along and kinda messed that up, didn’t ya?”
America had just enough time to dodge the missile that was coming his way. “SHIT!” He shouted. “Japan, take the back, France take the right side, I’ll take the left. That should at least handicap it so we can escape.”
He wanted to take down the zeppelin entirely, damn did he want to. But this zeppelin was a lot larger than the one he’d knocked out of the sky with three missiles, and plus, he would be putting the two pirates in more danger if they stayed around longer.
“Affirmative, Captain Jones.”
“Oui, hero.”
America’s cheeks pinked. Being called that was actually, a bit embarrassing. “France?” Belgium queried. “Oh I know him!”
America snorted. “Yeah, everyone seems to, for better or worse.”
He dodged again and headed to the left side of the craft, his two men following suit. One thing about the zeppelins, America noted, was that their sheer girth made it difficult for them to maneuver from attacks. Getting in a good hit wasn’t difficult, and he quickly managed to blow a hole into the side of the white craft.
France’s missile grazed, but didn’t make full contact, but that was good enough. Japan managed to knock off part of the rudder, and the great sky beast creaked under the impact. “GOOD! AWESOME! That should do it. Now everyone fly away. We’re a lot faster than this damn thing, but now we won’t have the risk of it following us. I’m out.”
The three planes departed under the fire of the zeppelin, dodging its last attempts at taking them out as they headed down closer to the sea. Belgium glanced out the side of the cockpit, a sad smile on her face as her ship descended, ever more rapidly. “There goes Elegast. Thanks for everything, old girl.”
“Your ship?” America asked.
“Yeah, that’s her.”
“Sorry,” he murmured.
“My crew’s safe, that’s what counts.” She shifted slightly, America snaking his hands around her center to reach the controls.
“Your crew is just your brother?”
Belgium chuckled. “God no! I’d die if I just had him as company all the time. I sent ‘em all away a few weeks ago, told them they were welcome back on my ship when the Kosmider threat had passed. They fought it, loyal that they are, but in the end, I gave ‘em no choice. They’re safe, and thank all, because your crew has just three planes and I’ve got eleven pirates.”
“Hold on.” America held up a finger and picked up his radio. “Hey everyone, new orders! We’re going to head to the Babako to drop these guys off, all right?”
“And abandon our mission in the process?” Japan inquired.
“What choice do we have?” France asked. “We can’t exactly show up and meet Officer Im with a pair of pirates in our cockpits, and the Babako is the closest place we can drop them off.”
“France is right,” America confirmed. “Maybe we can still get some information. It’s worth trying!”
Belgium blinked. “What are y’all looking for info on?”
“The Kosmider, of course.”
“Ah yeah,” she paused, “your radio isn’t open right now, is it?”
“Nope. They can still radio me, but I turned the outgoing speaker off, so unless I press this,” he pointed to a button, “they can’t hear me.” He grinned. “Got something to tell me?”
Belgium shrugged. “Unfortunately, not really. I mean I know what every pirate knows. We all have the same source…”
America bit his lip. “The merchant?”
Belgium’s green eyes grew large. “Yeah, you know? Wow, I’m really surprised someone in the military does, but I guess y’all have your intel…”
America laughed nervously and scratched the back of his head. “Not really. I’m probably the only guy in the military that knows about that merchant.”
Belgium’s expression turned to one of curiosity. “Oho, now you’ve got me interested! First a trio of military planes deviates from a mission to rescue a pair of pirates, and now you’re telling me ya know about the source the merchants and pirates have been using?”
America glanced out his cockpit, to the warm late morning sky. Puffy clouds were dissipating, leaving it wider and bluer than it had been when he’d left for the mission.
“I sorta know another pirate…” He spoke, almost a whisper.
“Hmm, is that so?”
“Yeah a whole crew of them… weird, I know. I mean heroes like me don’t usually hang out with pirates, but it just… kind of happened,” America explained, shifting awkwardly.
“Heroes like you?” She raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah! I’m a hero.” He would have pointed to his chest had she not been pressed against it.
“Well, you were a pretty convincing one earlier, that’s for sure! From Captain to Captain, I appreciate it.” She winked.
“Thanks. Wait- Captain?”
“That would be me. Did you think my doofus of a brother was the captain? No way, no how.” She laughed. “Anyway, who is your pirate friend, if ya don’t mind?”
America shrugged. “I guess there’s no use hiding it. It’s Captain Kirkland… England?” A part of him kicked himself for revealing this. How was England viewed by other pirates? It was no big deal if they thought he was unlikable or whatever, but what if they thought he was ruthless or---
No, England wasn’t like that. He couldn’t be…
“Kirkland?” America nodded. “I know ‘em, but we haven’t spent much time together. He’s not exactly the friendly sort, from what I’ve seen…”
“W-what do you mean by that?” America’s stomach dropped.
She adjusted the headband that she wore. “I just mean he’s not very easy to talk to. Stick in the mud if I ever saw one. Feels like he’s always glarin’ at you.”
America’s face broke into a fond smile. “Yeah, that’s England.” The aviator took a deep breath, steeling his nerves to ask the next question. “So what’s he like… as a pirate?”
Belgium cocked her head, confused, but then sighed after a few moments. “Not sure what ya mean? He loots, and he’ll fight ya off if you try and stop him but, what else do you wanna know?”
America’s cheeks pinked a bit. “Well the thing is that I’m a hero, and… he’s a pirate and, it’s kind of weird? I mean most of the time I sorta forget that he’s even a pirate, because we’re just hanging out and--- “ Shit, he was completely rambling. His face felt hotter as well.
“You’re completely red!” She chuckled. “So you’ve got a crush on this here pirate, and you want to know if your bushy eyebrowed boyfriend slits throats in his free time or somethin’?”
“England wouldn’t do that!” He exclaimed. “He’s got…”
“Honor? Yup, even pirates have got some of that. If you know Kirkland wouldn’t behave like that, haven’t you answered your own question?”
“Yeah, I guess so…”
“Now as for how a love story between a pirate captain and a military captain ends up, you’re going to have to fill me in. I expect to be told the ending!” She smirked, winking again.
America’s face flushed again. “There’s nothing like that! I’m way too awesome to get involved in--- “
“Yeah, yeah.”
America sighed, shifting Belgium’s body a bit because damn his arms were cramping. He couldn’t even imagine how poor Japan felt right now.
He frowned and bit his lip. “H-hey Belgium?”
“Mmmm?”
He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. “…Do you think it could work?” His voice was quiet, almost a cautious whisper.
“Whaddya mean?”
America’s cheeks burned, and he focused on the sky, averting his eyes entirely from Belgium. “Me and England.”
She smiled kindly. “You’re a military aviator who left his mission behind to save a pair of pirates. Doesn’t seem like protocol is that important to ya, to be honest!”
America scratched the back of his head. “Yeah well… that’s kind of… new.”
“If ya like each other, I’m sure you can make it work.”
He nodded and shot Belgium a winning smile. “This is all theoretical, of course.”
Belgium just laughed.
America flew on, knowing that they would be at the Babako very soon. He turned to spot Japan and France flying alongside him, and then faced forward once more.
He felt kind of… bad for questioning Belgium about England’s behavior, like he was betraying him in a manner. But that was stupid. He was just making sure that England wasn’t hiding anything from him! Nevertheless, Belgium was right.
America wouldn’t have allowed himself to become as close to England as he had, if he didn’t believe in him. And England had trusted him with so much…
He sighed inwardly. Why did everyone automatically assume he was in--- he had feelings for England? I mean couldn’t they just be friends? It’s like he’d blurted out some kind of confession. They had no real reason to assume that he liked him like that. It was really not awesome, and even more so, really embarrassing.
His mind flashed back to warm wind chapped lips pressed against his own, to the half lidded green gaze, eyelashes drawn down, before they’d made contact, to flushed scarlet cheeks and hands sifting through his hair and a tongue pushing into his mouth and---
Do you think it could work?
Why had he even asked that? His heart was beating rapidly and he felt hot to the point of lightheadedness, as he snapped himself out of the memory of their kiss.
Well, they were friends. Plus, America had promised to be his hero! He’d told England that he’d make sure that he wasn’t lonely anymore, that he’d be his champion and his knight and---
And shit, that did sound kind of romantic, now that he thought about it.
Stop dwelling on things! Heroes don’t dwell, America grumbled to himself. Plus, the Babako was right up ahead, he could make it out barely, and he had to get ready to land!
“France!” He flipped the radio. “You’re familiar with this place, where would be the best place to land?”
“You mean the most discreet?”
“Yeah, that.”
“Around the back end of the market, there’s a landing pad where merchants sometimes have supplies delivered. There may be some people there, but it will not be half as public as landing elsewhere, oui?” France explained. “I will lead.”
America nodded. “Thanks. You still all right over there, Japan?”
“Fine, America,” he wheezed out in reply.
“Okay, in we go then!” He flipped off the radio speaker, and France flew in front, guiding them to the landing spot.
“Sorry ‘bout derailing your mission,” Belgium piped up as America descended.
America smiled lightly, raising his hand up to his forehead in a quick salute. “Don’t worry about it. I just did what any real hero would.”
