Chapter Text
"Third?"
Silence.
GE sighed- quietly- before gently rapping on the door, once again "Third, are you in there?"
He was. GE knew that much. He didn't know why he asked anymore- Third never replied.
So now, he turned the doorknob, pushing open the door-
No surprise, Third was lying on his back on the bed, holding his phone up as high as his arms could move it, staring up blearily.
"Third. I called you."
Silence. Not even a small noise, or nod of acknowledgement.
"What are you doing?"
Now, Third glanced over at him, grey eyes as empty as ever "Talking to my friends."
Which should have made GE feel better, but from his dead expression, he could guess which friends Third was speaking with-
"We're going to play a board game with your sister. Come down and join us."
"I don't want to."
"Third." GE said more firmly "Come on."
"I don't wa-"
"Third." Again, his voice rose just a bit more, tone just a bit more firm-
As GE's shadow fell over the bed, Third looked up, pushing his phone away, a genuine hint of fear crossing his face for just a moment- causing a twinge of pain in GE's heart- before he levelled his expression again, until it was nothing but boredom and teenage angst.
"Yeah, sure." Third stood up, dusted himself off, and began making his way to the door "I'll go right ahead and do what you say, before you throw me into a wall or strangle me or something-"
GE's eyes flashed with panic and he took a step forward "Third, please, you know that I'm so sor-"
And Third was gone.
GE exhaled deeply, resisting the urge to burst into guilty, self-hating tears, and instead quietly followed Third downstairs.
There, he found Weimar leaning against Third, energetically spouting out rapid comments, practically fizzing with bubbly, loveable energy as Third stared ahead blankly, looking like he hadn't slept in a few years-
"So.. what do you guys want to play?" GE asked, trying to keep his voice cheerful.
Third gave him a deadpan look, simultaneous to Weimar leaning forward "Monopoly!"
Third crossed his arms, staring down at the carpet "No. Let's play Uno."
"Really? Why?"
"It's shorter."
There it was, the dead-flat honesty.
Teenage Third was a pain sometimes- but GE felt guilt even thinking that for more than a moment- this was all his fault...
He glanced back at Third, who was staring at the wall, eyes distant-
Then, GE looked at Weimar, who had a hesitant, confused smile on her face- one there by habit.
She was wearing a trench coat and scarf- Fascist Italy said that he liked it when she wore trench coats- so she did.
Fascist Italy was... her... boyfriend.
Or at least that's what they said.
From the look in his eyes as he held Weimar, and leaned against her, and even kissed her (that was the point that GE normally kicked them out of the house) it was clear that his heart was elsewhere.
And then Third...
Ever since Fascist had asked Weimar out, he'd fallen yet more out of his youthful, constant, faking smiling, and deeper into traditional angsty teenager moods, seeming quiet, and genuinely more upset with life-
If he just talked to Weimar, GE knew she would break up with Fascist in a flash, that she would do anything to make her brother happy-
But he never said a thing. GE suspected that he didn't even know why he was upset, that he wasn't aware of any feelings he may hold for that stupid Italian-
Oh, but Fascist was aware of his own stupid feelings- every time he leaned against Weimar and laughed, his eyes trailed back to Third, watching, waiting, almost desperately.
So in summary? From what GE as an adult could tell- Weimar wasn't really in love with Fascist, but liked him enough to 'date' him and have a slightly romantic, mainly platonic relationship with him. Fascist Italy probably/definitely had a crush on Third Reich, and was trying to use Weimar to make him jealous. And Third was either in denial- or fully unaware of his own feelings.
Teenagers...
But teenage relationship drama aside- and back to the game-
Weimar was shuffling and dealing out the cards- seven for everyone.
GE watched, almost curiously as Third studied his hand, eyes focused and thoughtful for once- before quickly looking away once Third glanced up at him.
"I'll go first!" Weimar declared happily, placing down a yellow 'one' card.
GE didn't have any yellows- because of his stupid green and blue deck- but did have two +2s for... possible future use. He settled on using his blue 'one', and watched as Third put down a blue 'four' and it went back to Weimar-
As the game dragged on, the mood seemed to lighten, everyone- including Third- laughing a bit over Weimar violently +4-ing GE, and his overexaggerated dismay, and then freaking out as Weimar came close to Uno- only for Third to knock her down with a Blue 'Five', and she, not having a blue or five, was forced to resort to picking through the deck, which was suspiciously lacking of blues and fives-
And as GE looked up, a soft, happy feeling filled him at the faint smile on Third's face-
But then, their eyes met-
And the smile was wiped away.
And GE was left with a feeling, just as empty as Third's expression.
Weimar smiled, innocently, but not unknowingly, clearing her throat, putting down a blue card she'd finally found-
And dragging them back into a world of fun and games.
.
.
.
America crossed his fingers, closed his eyes, took a deep breath-
And rolled the die.
They skittered over the table, across the board, jumping one-
Twice-
Three times-
And falling still.
Four, and two.
Six.
America, still not comforted, bit his lip, cautiously moving his piece- a scruffy little black dog-
Past the candy store, jail, museum, library-
And onto the Chance Square.
He took a deep breath, reaching for a card, slowly, cautiously turning it over-
He blinked once.
Then-
"nooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!" he wailed with only slightly exaggerated despair "No NO NOOOOO!!!!!!"
Alaska giggled, and Russia shot a smirk at America "C'mon. Read us the card. Enlighten us."
America sniffled, and, in a small, pained voice, read "You were... caught running a scam. Pay $5 to the bank."
He paused, staring blankly at his feeble two monopoly dollars, then back up.
Russia smiled tightly "So, America, you admit defeat?"
America stared at the board, all properties owned- but not by him.
Then, he looked at Alaska.
"Alaska..." he said softly "Looks like Daddy's having some money issues.... why don't you help him out a bit? You seem to have a... pretty nice pile of cash there..."
Alaska wrinkled her nose, considering that for a moment- just a moment-
"No."
America immediately turned to Russia with a pleading expression "C'mon Rus... couldn't you-"
Russia crossed his arms, glaring at the man before him "Why would we help a scammer?"
Alaska giggled as America squawked with indignation "That- that's not true, I- I'm not a SCAMMER! This game is LYING! LIES! ALL LIES!"
Russia gave Alaska a small smile "How about we leave your bankrupt papa to wallow in a pool of self-pity, and we count our money and see who wins?"
"Oki!"
America, tears suspiciously gone, scooted forward and helped Alaska count her atrociously large pile of money, splitting everything into groups of fives, then tens, then twenties-
Then, the two wealthy monopolies faced each other.
"Forty." Russia said, voice calm and controlled, with an air of cool confidence.
Alaska's eyes lit up "FORTY TOO!!!"
Russia paused for a moment, eyes widening, before it was his turn to release a noise of pure denial "Wha- America! You counted wrong, didn't you? You- you-"
America grinned, leaning back lazily "Oh c'mon Russkie, you think I'd help you, after you denied me of necessary aid at a time like that?"
"So did she!!!!!"
"Well, I'm sorry, but I counted it. 40, too. She wins." America said, exchanging a gentle, yet deviously knowing look with Alaska.
Russia stood up with a sigh, briskly holding up a hand to Alaska.
She shook it with an air of solemnity, face still and dignified-
Before she burst into giggles and jumped up, wrapping Russia into a hug.
Russia laughed, holding her up and whirling her in the air before bringing her back down to Earth.
"How about you and I go for a walk outside, and leave the loser here to clean up?" Russia suggested.
"Yeah!" Alaska agreed happily.
"Noooo!!!!!" America wailed "That's not fair! Russia how could you do this to me?????"
"We'll be back in an hour." Russia replied with a smile, before holding Alaska's hand and making his way to the door "And I expect the house to be nice and tidy when I come back."
America stared blankly as the door shut, closing with a small click!
Then, he fell onto his back, releasing a loud huffing noise, and yawning "Well then you'd better lower your expectations-"