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"Jay. I wanted to talk to you about South. I mean, he's always been off but he's almost seemed, worse lately. He wouldn't even sign to Germany last week when they met up. He barely even let Ger into his house."
"And, why should I care?" Japan looked at America with such a strong look of apathy it almost sent chills into him. Where was all her warmth from before? Her life from when he first met her?
"Because he's your brother. And you should care about him."
"Nonono. He's your son. I stopped caring about him when he stopped caring about me okay?" Japan refused to look at him. No eye contact was fine, that was normal Japan. But not even looking at him was just wrong. She was hurting too. She definitely missed him.
"Jay, look." America crouched down to be at her level, "I know you're hurt that he likes Germany more than you. I know it can feel like you're being replaced. But he still loves you."
"I don't care okay. You can't make me care." Jay looked completely away from him, her arms crossed and defensive.
"Jay. You can't just push everyone who hurts you away." America was trying so hard to at least make her turn around. To look in his general direction. To at least make her be open to any sort of conversation between them. "You don't know what he's going through too."
"Well what about my mom? You were the one who destroyed her."
"She refused to surrender. I had no other options. I know that hurt you Japan and I'm trying so hard to make it up to you. But if you won't accept anything. I can't help you either."
"You still hurt me America. And it takes more than a baked cookie to help you when you have to hear about your mother dying from radiation poisoning. I couldn't even visit her!" Japan finally turned to face America and she waved her arms around, a trait she had in fact picked up from her time with him.
"That wasn't my decision to make."
"I had just lost my mom! And one of my brothers! South wouldn't even talk to me. And you just came up and was like, 'Oh, I'm your father now you cannot resist.' Like come on! I didn't need you then! I just needed a friend. I needed my brothers! Both of them! And all I had was you." japan's imitation of America was really bad but she wasn't totally wrong. And while a lot of that stuff was out of America's control, it didn't stop the pain Japan had felt during that time. "And you left me."
"I-I didn't leave you Jay. You left of your own accord when you were old enough."
"Because you were going to leave me anyways! Might as well have gotten it over with sooner. Just like how you're going to leave me now."
"No." japan looked at America startled.
"What?"
"I'm not going to leave you Jay. I promise."
"You can't just say that! Everyone leaves. Eventually." She was back to not looking at America, but her body was faced towards him and her arms were crossed.
"Well. I'm not like everyone else. Am I? You've seen me at meetings, I'm a bit of an odd ball. You didn't need to leave me then, because I wasn't going to leave you. And I won't give up on you, or South. Because you're my kids, and I love you both very much."
"Really? Everyone leaves me. Friends, Family. They either die or move away, or get themselves a new boyfriend and everyone just forgets about me. So if nobody is going to remember me, what;s the point of trying to have any sort of relationship. South and I haven't talked in years! You think I'll know how to help him better than you? I don't know why everyone leaves. Do I smell? Is it my personality but what is it with me that drives everyone away!? Am I just, not enough? For anyone? "
"Jay, you're more than enough. Sometimes its not our fault that we drive people away. Sometimes, it just happens. And there's nothing we can do except move on. You've grown into such a strong, powerful and independent young lady. And I'm so proud of you for that. But sometimes we have to lean on others for support." He smiled and cautiously placed a hand on her shoulder. She didn't shrug it off so America counted that as a win.
"I- thanks. Thanks Dad."
"Of course Jay. Now, do you want to help me help South?"
"Sure America."