(Antisocial!ReaderxVarious) Part Two

The Problems With Making Alliances

(Antisocial!ReaderxVarious)

Part Two.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


How these meetings usually went, from your point of view, was that you would pick an open seat and would fold your hands in your lap, listening as chaos would break out until Germany or another fed up nation would speak up and tell every one to shut up. Then, some world issues would be discussed, nobody would agree on a solution, and then you would all go home.

You wondered why you even kept going to these meetings, but you kept getting invited and you felt a grudging duty to show up.

Yet, this one will be different. You would hate yourself for going home empty handed without at least trying to make a friend.

With a determined nod, you walked into the meeting, taking a glance around. There were a few nations in the room, thankfully. England and France were talking about something. Or, they were arguing about something, judging from the look on England's face.

Germany was punctual, as he usually was, Italy sitting beside him with his eyes closed and a content smile on his face. You could tell his mind was elsewhere.

Where? You weren't too sure, but you bet it was someplace wonderful.

Nothing too out of the norm, which would most likely change once the meeting began.

You took a glance around and noticed Canada, who was talking quietly with his polar bear. You would have called the polar by his given name, but Canada seemed to change it every time you asked. A small smile seemed to creep up onto your face, your brain already deciding that you would talk with Canada first.

You already knew a little bit about him, and it would make no sense to try and form new friendships without strengthening the ones you already had.

If you could call this thing with Canada a friendship.

You started to walk around the table towards him, sitting down in the empty chair beside him. Canada glanced at you for a few moments, going to turn his head back away with the assumption that you thought that his seat was empty. That was, until he noticed you looking directly at him as if waiting for him to say something.

"Ugh," you started, your voice shaking slightly, "H-Hi."

"You can see me?" he asked, a slightly confused expression crossing your face at his question.

"Yeah," you said, giving him a small smile, "you carry around your polar bear, it's a little hard to miss."

"I get overlooked more than you think," Canada muttered to himself, though you were able to pick up on that, "you just haven't talked with me in a while, I thought you forgot about me like the others."

You felt a ping of guilt, a frown crossing your face once again, "I'm sorry, I haven't really talked much with anybody as of late."

"I-It's okay," Canada said, "how have you been?"

'Crappy, my economy has gone to hell and I'm probably going to fade in a few years.' you thought bitterly to yourself. Okay, maybe the fading thing was a little extreme, but still.

"I'm alright. I could be better," you said with a shrug, "how about you?"

"I'm good," Canada said, "you just seemed a little different from the last time we talked."

You blinked, staring at him for a few moments. You were sure that nobody was noticing your weakening state. It wasn't getting too noticeable, at least you hoped it wasn't. The last time you really looked into a mirror, you could have sworn that it wasn't all that noticeable. The bags under your eyes seemed to make your (e/c) eyes a little darker, though.

Maybe that was it?

"Um..." you gaped slightly, "what is the name of your polar bear again?" you stated, which came out much louder than you intended it to.

You blushed slightly when Canada seemed a little startled by your sudden, and rather loud, question. You gave him an awkward smile, wringing your hands tighter.

"Oh, it's Kumija," Canada said, looking down at the bear, who just looked up at him and asked who he was.

'I could have sworn that he had said it was Kimuja last time...' you thought, raising your eyebrow slightly at the Canadian.

"Do you have any pets?" Canada asked, a smile crossing your face.

"Yeah," you said, "I have a cat...his name is Cat."

Canada chuckled, "you named your cat, Cat?"

"Not really," you said, "he was a stray that used to come around, I fed him and eventually let him inside. Now, he just hangs around, I guess. So, I don't really have a name for him."

You liked talking about your cat, for some reason you could talk about him without any shame. Though, this whole conversation thing was wearing you down already. Canada was very nice, and you wouldn't mind being his friend, but you were dreading the fact that you would have to bring up the fact why you were even speaking with him.

You almost felt it would be rude to do so.

Would it drive him away? The fact that you are sucking up to him in hopes of having someone solve your problems?

Maybe you wouldn't tell him just yet...

You hadn't noticed that other nations had entered and the meeting started, as per usual, with Germany and his loud voice.

The urge to crawl under the table filled your mind, but you just held your hands in your lap tighter in surprise. You usually saw you Germany getting worked up, and when that happened you had time to steel yourself a bit.

But, you were so caught up with your conversation with Canada that he made you jump, for once.

The meeting had officially started.

-- Time Skip --

Another unsuccessful meeting passed, nothing was settled and you still hadn't worked up enough nerve to call attention to your country's problems. Next time you would.

...for sure.

You didn't even get past small talk with Canada, though he seemed happy to have you just talking to him.

Ah, well, baby steps.

You rubbed your eyes as you walked out into the hall, ready to head back home.

"Hey, (C.Name)?" you heard a quiet, yet very familiar voice.

"Hm~?" you turned around to face Canada, a small smile on your face.

"I-I was wondering if you wanted to go d-do something," he said, "seeing as we were cut off..."

You stared at him as if he had just talked to you in a foreign language.

'Wait, are we going somewhere?' you asked yourself, 'No, he wants to hang out like...friends.'

No, it was too early for that.

"(C-C. Name)?" Canada asked, his blush still in place as you stared at him like a deer caught in head lights.

"M-Maybe another time?" you asked slowly, trying not to wince at your own words.

'It sounds like I am brushing him off.' you thought, mentally slapping yourself.

'You won't make friends that way,' you scolded yourself, 'say yes.'

'Well, I don't want to. Does being a friend mean suffering through that?'

'My goodness, (Name), stop having a conversation with yourself like a mental patient.'  

"O-oh," Canada said, "a-alright, another time then, eh?"

"Sure," you said with a nod, "I'm just not feeling like myself today."

Canada gave you a quick smile before turning and walking away.

And you kicked yourself the whole way home.