Being a Doctor is Hard

[colonial]

Characters: America, open
Setting: infirmary
Format: action
Summary: America fails at bandages.
Warnings: shouldn't be anything particularly bad

[America hadn't gotten out of the monster attacks completely unscathed--following England when he insisted on running off to the higher, more dangerous levels had been difficult, and while a lot of the things he could throw or punch, he hadn't gotten off quite scot-free, as the claw marks on his chest showed.

Not that he'd showed them to anyone; England would be mad and make that sad face and anyway he was fine! America just had to sneak down to bandage them now and then, that's all. Not that he was particularly good at bandaging himself up. Unsure of when enough was enough and how to cut them off, it's not long before he's rolling around on the floor, his chest and legs and left arm encased in enough bandages to make him look like a mummy.

He squirms in an ineffectual circle hopelessly.]

Comments

[colonial]

I caught you! [America is pleased for all of three seconds but then, looking up at England, he realizes the concern is genuine.]

Are you okay?

[keepscalm]

[England is too busy fussing over America and shifting the gown around, even though the wounds are already fully on display.]

Are you okay? America, what happened?

[colonial]

Oh. [America looks rather embarrassed, in a childish way--like he got caught with his hands in the cookie jar.] Um--it was just one of the monsters. When the whale hit the Tower! But I'm okay, see?

[The wounds are large, crossing over his stomach and onto his back. If he weren't a young nation, he'd never have survived getting them.]

[keepscalm]

[Even though England has seen far worse in his time, it's clear that the sight of the injuries has him a little shaken, especially when he sees the full extent of them.]

Why didn't you tell me?

[colonial]

Um-- [America squirms, uneasy.] 'Cause. It's okay, and they've got scabs right?

[He didn't want England to be worried.]

[keepscalm]

Yes, but-- [He frowns. His expression is hard to place, but it seems like he can't decide whether or not he's hurt by America's secrecy.] You have to take care of them properly. They're...

[England hesitates. He doesn't want to scare America. Instead, he just swallows and finishes quietly:] ...awfully big.

[colonial]

[America looks down at his stomach, appraising what he can see.] Isn't it okay if it's getting better?

[keepscalm]

[He considers America's question with no small amount of discomfort. He's really overreacting -- America is a nation and can easily take most kinds of damage. And even if he were to be killed somehow, he would come back.

Still...]

...it'll be fine. Just make sure you clean them properly-- I can help you if you don't know how.

[Careful not to agitate the wounds, England wraps his arms around America.] Just- tell me next time, alright?

[colonial]

Okay. [Again he's a child, sighing as he agrees to do what his guardian asks.] But if I tell you then you make weird faces.

[keepscalm]

[He's thankful that his head is positioned so that America can't see his face, because he makes a pretty weird face when America says that.

Soft. He's gone too soft since he's been here. He'll have to be more careful. He doesn't want to worry America.]

Well-- [How can he word it so that America will understand?] It's just...surprising. Because you're so strong. It makes me wonder what managed to hurt you.

[It's not exactly surprising. But it does make England wonder, if only for the purpose of unmaking whatever or whoever harmed his child.]

I won't make weird faces any more, all right?

[colonial]

It was one of the monsters. I pushed it off into a big pit, though!

[Which probably says he was wandering around one of the far more dangerous floors in more ways than one, but he doesn't realize that. Instead he shifts closer to England, climbing his way up to give England a hug.]

It's okay. I'll get stronger and then I won't get hurt and then you won't have to make faces!

[keepscalm]

[England tries to ignore how his heart clenches at the implications of that. He doesn't want America to have to get stronger. Not like this.]

We'll get stronger together. It's my job to keep you safe, you know.

[He sounds light-hearted enough when he says that, almost matter-of-fact. But he's completely serious.]

[colonial]

[America doesn't know why he doesn't quite believe England's telling the whole truth. He feels like that sometimes, when England sounds a certain way or looks a certain way, but he's never sure what he's seeing. Instead of trying to figure it out he squeezes England a bit harder, smiles more to make up for it.]

Okay! It'll be like a race!

[keepscalm]

[Despite himself, he smiles at America's gesture, holding him close and raising a hand to ruffle the back of the colony's hair.]

All right. Don't go easy on me, now. And remember that slow and steady wins the race.

[colonial]

[America grins more naturally, satisfied England is at least mostly back to normal.]

What about fast and steady?

[keepscalm]

Fast and steady is hard to keep up. You can only go so fast for so long before you get tired.

[colonial]

I don't get tired! [America kicks his legs a bit, as if to demonstrate this.] I can go fast and steady!

[keepscalm]

Really now? [England knows better.] So does that mean I imagined all those times I tucked you in for bed?