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heroescutiesTitle: Alfred Jones and the Curse of the Pharaoh (6/6) [FF.net link] [Previous Chapters]
Fandom: Axis Powers Hetalia
Genre: Action/Adventure/Romance
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairing: America/England
Word Count: 3,543
Summary: Amidst meetings and their other duties as nations, they had searched for it; the final resting place of the legendary Golden Heart of Osiris. Having figured out the possible location, America and England venture into the tomb of the Pharaoh's sons to try and unearth the artifact. But the question is, can they make it out safely without incurring the Pharaoh's wrath? In short? America and England on an adventure- Indiana Jones style.
Notes: Written for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sakuratsukikage as part of ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
usxuk's 2009 Secret Santa exchange. Here's the finale! Thank you so much to everyone who has commented so far. Each and every comment has meant the world to me. Also, a special awesome thank you to technoranma for this lovely piece of artwork for the fic!
He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. A sharp, quick – thump, thump, thump, thump. A tingle, a chill, going up his spine as the hairs prickled on his arm.
The mummy had captured him. There was no way out. America closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
I can handle this. If I just stay cool, I can easily save the day. I’m a hero after all. And that’s what I do! Plus, I can’t have the Amazing Adventures of Alfred F. Jones end with this! A hero creates his own endings, and this one is going to be awesome!
With the rise and fall of his breath, he listened. Intently listened to all the sounds around him as he sought out every minute detail. He could sense England behind him, feel the bandaged hand wrapped tightly around his wrist, and through that bandage America could feel a steady pulse. In his mind, he laid out his moves. Within a second he acted on them.
“Ha!” America’s eyes flashed open, bright blue and determined.
He reached behind him, and with a flourish, he grabbed the fedora off England’s head and whipped it around in front of him to block the mummy’s vision.
“Let us go now or I’ll…” As he released the hat, he reared back a fist, ready to punch the moment the hat fell completely.
“America, stop!” England’s voice cut through his focused thoughts, his firm grip catching America’s wrist right at the last moment.
“England, he’s…he’s…” Blue eyes went wide as the fedora tumbled to the floor. “...Turkey?”
The bandaged hand released America’s wrist to reach up and pull a white mask off his face. “Yah know, considering yer own bandages it’s stupid to be freaking out over mine. Jeez, ain’t you ever seen a bandaged head before?”
America blinked, taking it all in. It was Turkey, their fellow nation, all right. His head was swathed in white bandages, as were his two hands, and when he had his white mask on it did rather look like a mummy come back to life. But here, in the light of both Turkey’s lantern and England’s flashlight, America could see that it was all just an illusion.
He started to laugh. “I thought…I thought you were…Oh never mind!”
England sighed, picking up the fedora and stepping forward beside America. “Turkey, what are you doing here anyway?”
“I’d invited Japan down to Egypt to tour the Valley of the Kings when I overheard that that bastard Greece had never done so. Got here the night before to check the place out and figure out the best places to go.” Turkey pointed down at his dusty pants and hoodie and his bandages. “As ya can see, got caught in the rains and the tomb near here’s floor caved in. Fell right thru the roof into this one.”
“KV 6 caved in?” America asked, looking upwards.
Turkey shrugged. “I ain’t got no idea what it’s called, but it was right above that pit o’water I saw you two across. At least I figured it was you two at first. I mean, with those eyebrows, it’s only a few unfortunate countries it could be. And only you America would go adventuring dressed up as your Hollywood hero.”
“Hey!” Both retorted, shooting Turkey a glare for the comments.
Turning back towards the entrance, Turkey started walking. “Come on now, Egypt’s got the way in mostly dug out. Little brat. Had to promise to buy some crap souvenirs from him to get him to do it too. Then again, I suppose I owe him for using explosives to move the rubble quicker…”
“Um, Turkey?” America asked a bit nervously as he started to follow the other nation. “Did you happen to figure out why the water in that pit was…well…blood red?”
Turkey blinked, then rubbed the back of his neck. “Ain’t got a clue. But since the water came from the flooding of the Nile, might have something to do with that.”
America and England exchanged a knowing look, both of them inwardly berating themselves for not realizing it sooner.
“Well, that explains it all right,” England remarked.
“The start of a flood always has the turbid red color from the silt of the surrounding lands,” America recited from memory. He shook his head. “Should’ve remembered that. Must have been a bad flood then, I take it?”
Turkey nodded. “Yah, it’s why Egypt thinks the tomb I was in caved in. Floor was weak and the floodwaters did it in. I kept coming after you two because I was hoping you had a way to call for help. Weather was so crap at the time I first fell thru that my cellphone wasn’t getting any reception. Finally managed to call up Egypt and get him to start blasting away at the entrance, but I was already on the other side of that damned pit, so I figured I’d letcha know the way out was clear.”
“You’ll have to pardon our behavior then. We suspected it was someone with ill-intent that kept following us,” England explained.
“Or someone that realized we’d snuck into this tomb without clearing anything first with the SCA,” America muttered.
At that, Turkey laughed. “Sheesh. Egypt’s such an uptight ass about that shit. Should be called the Supreme Council of Asshats, rather than Antiquities.”
America and Turkey both laughed at that and England huffed. “I have to concur. All that bloody rubbish about wanting the Rosetta Stone back. Though at least that makes more sense than France trying to take credit for deciphering hieroglyphs first, that blasted frog! I was with Young in the early 1800s when he did his work on that. Of course, Champollion stole it and took the credit for it in 1822. Compete and utter bollocks, the whole lot of his lies!”
“England…” America said, lingering back a few steps to place a hand on his shoulder.
The Brit cleared his throat. “Sorry about that. Just…he had the same grammar flaws as Young! How on earth any sane soul could not see that thief for what he was I’ll never...”
“England,” he reiterated firmly, his hand sliding down England’s back to clasp his hand. “It’s okay.”
“Sorry,” England muttered, shifting his gaze to Turkey before dropping it to the ground. “Just a bit sore about it, that’s all.”
America reached over to where England held the fedora, took it from him and put it back on England’s head. “I believe you, for what it’s worth.”
“And I don’t give a damn either way, so you can pretend I agree with ya,” Turkey added, pushing open the door into the next corridor.
There was the pit they’d been stuck in, now with scaffolding across its width so they could easily cross. A crew of workers was congregated in the next corridor, all of them working to move the rubble out of the way.
England lingered back a few steps and America, on feeling the tug on his hand, did so as well.
“What’s up?” America whispered.
“If Egypt catches sight of us, our belongings might be searched for any relics. You remember how much of a hassle getting the Golden Chest of Osiris out of the country was without anyone noticing,” England mumbled back under his breath.
“So, we need a distraction so we can make a run for our plane?”
“A distraction would be quite…”
He halted, first and foremost due to the sunlight beaming down on them. As their eyes struggled to adjust again to the brightness of it, the angry shouts caught their ears.
“Geh Turkey!”
“Why is it always ‘Geh!’ I can come and go places you know, bastard Greece!”
“Turkey-san, Greece-san, please do not fuss! I merely came with Greece-san because he was worried about me traveling here with the flooding.”
America and England caught sight of the trio, Turkey having emerged to start in on a fight with Greece, who had apparently come along with the visiting Japan. Egypt was, thankfully, busy directing the workers near the entrance of KV 6 on what to do in order to preserve the carvings that weren’t damaged in the collapse.
“You wanted a distraction?” America asked in a hushed tone. “I think we got one.”
England smirked, clutching America’s hand. “To the plane then?”
“To the plane!”
As the two made a break for it, America caught Japan’s eye and gave his friend a wink. He’d have to explain what England and he were doing in the tomb to his buddy when they got together for their next video gaming weekend. He owed him at least that since it looked like Japan’s trip to Egypt was going to be derailed with Turkey and Greece fussing over him.
They made it unnoticed to their plane, America hopping into the pilot’s seat and England quickly settling in behind him. The engines roared to life as America patted the biplane on the side.
“All right, Ellie. Let’s go home!”
------------------------------------
After a quick stop over in Great Britain to put America’s plane away in England’s hangar for the time being, the two caught the next flight out of London headed for Washington D.C. Thankfully, with their high-level of government clearance; customs wasn’t going to be any issue to get through with their newly acquired artifact.
The odd looks America got due to his bandaged neck were another matter entirely, since he refused to wear a high-collared shirt to hide his “battle scars” (as he called them).
But he didn’t seem to mind, especially when the young boy in first class with them was asking him all about it.
“It was really an old Egyptian tomb robber trap?” The little British boy asked, his eyes wide in wonderment.
“Sure thing!” America replied, all smiles.
“Blimey!”
Beside him, England was shaking his head. He’d tried to prevent America from saying too much about their adventure, since certain matters needed to be kept secret. But between the pleading looks from both the child and America, he caved. America had been regaling the boy with tales of their adventurous exploits for over an hour now.
“And my companion here helped me get free before I could be hurt too badly! But don’t worry; it’ll heal up pretty quickly. These kinds of scrapes always do. But the adventuring and seeing it all just…wow, it’s completely worth it. ”
The boy shot a look over at England, then in a hushed whisper asked America, “Are you a Time Lord, mister? Because that sounds like something the Doctor would say!”
“What, like Doctor Who?” America asked with a grin.
He shot a look then at England, who had begun to chuckle. The older nation leaned forward and placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Now don’t go and give this idiot any more reasons to pump up his ego. The Doctor is loads more brilliant than he is.”
The boy beamed, rounding towards England. “You watch it too, mister?”
England smiled, just slightly. “But of course. Right good telly, that show is.”
They passed the rest of their flight with England and the child discussing favorite episodes and quoting favorite scenes back and forth. Much to England’s surprise, even America ended up piping in a few times with his opinion.
Well, well. Looks like my ‘ridiculous stodgy sci-fi’ isn’t so bad after all, hmm? England thought to himself as the child and America started going on about how awesome having a sonic screwdriver would be.
When the plane landed, the boy gave both of them a hug around their legs and wished them good luck on their next adventure. His mother gave them both a wave as she ushered him off the plane saying, “See, I told you flying would be fun. Wasn’t I right about that David? Not a thing to worry about.”
“Yeah! They were so cool!”
America and England shared a smile, the younger nation reaching over to clasp England’s hand. “Didja hear that? We’re cool. Even you, apparently.”
“Ha ha,” England shot back sarcastically, but the slight smirk on his lips gave him away.
------------------------------------
“Tony, we’re home!” America called out as they pushed open the door to his house. Loud explosions from a video game could be heard from the other room.
“What are you alerting him to us for?” England asked with a sigh. “You know he doesn’t take kindly to me.”
“Yeah, but after that incident with the time-release poison in the ceremonial mask we brought back, I’d rather him take a look at this now rather than later.”
“I suppose I can’t argue that, can I?”
“Would be silly to. Plus, you two are on more civil terms lately…right?”
England forced a weak smile. “Something like that.”
America took out the box with the heart in it and set down his bag by the doorway. England set his bag down beside it. Without a word more, they both walked with purpose into the sitting room to the left of the entryway.
On reaching the far bookcase, America shot a glance around the room, before tugging gently on an old worn copy of Journey to the Center of the Earth. As the book slid out, a loud click could be heard. The bookshelf swung open at that and America tucked the book back away.
“After you, England.”
England shook his head. He reached up and took off the fedora (which America had insisted England put back on once they got off their flight and reclaimed their luggage).
“If you insist,” he remarked, putting the hat on America’s head as he walked past him and down into the secret corridor.
As the neon lights on the stairwell clicked on, they illuminated all the past artifacts they’d collected that weren’t displayed elsewhere in either one of their homes or a museum.
At the top of the stairs, England could hear America calling to Tony one more time before he bounded down the staircase after him.
“I cannot believe we finally did it!” America cheered, wrapping his free arm around England’s waist.
England allowed himself a slight smile. “Well, we worked very hard and it finally paid off.”
“You wanna do the honors?”
England looked over to the middle of the hidden room where the golden sculpture of Osiris laid, all the pieces in place aside from the heart-shaped hole in his chest.
“I think we should do it together. It only seems proper,” England replied.
America beamed. “Awesome idea!”
He sat the box on the edge of the table and together they reached into it to pull the heart free. They’d encountered loads of rumors about what reuniting all fourteen pieces would accomplish. Heralds of good luck, a giant ruby or even immortality. Either way, their hearts were both beating with excitement as they settled the Golden Heart of Osiris into its rightful place with the rest of the thirteen pieces.
“Here we go!”
“Quite.”
As the heart clicked into place, a blinding white light pierced the room. Instinctively, America and England both wrapped their arms protectively around each other. Moments, perhaps even a minute had passed before they dared chance a look.
Never once letting the other go, they peered over at the now slightly-glowing golden body.
“It…”
“It was true,” England managed his mouth slightly agape.
Sure enough, now settled on the chest in place of the golden piece they’d just put there, was a heart-shaped ruby.
“But how…scientifically it just doesn’t…” America’s remark was cut off as England placed a finger to his lips.
“It’s old magic, America. Science never could replicate what magic can achieve. It’s just…a wonder all its own.”
America’s pout shifted into a bit of a worried look at that, and England quickly amended himself.
“But it’s safe. I cannot feel any harmful magic here. Just…well, the story said it was made by Isis due to her love for Osiris. That’s perhaps why it’s the heart that changes. A symbol of her love for him, preserved for all time.”
England reached over and gave America’s hand a squeeze at that. “We’ve solved the puzzle, America. You and I did it.”
His grin resurfaced then, wide and bright. “Yeah. We did, didn’t we?”
They turned to one another, leaning in for a kiss, when a grumbling voice interrupted them.
“Fucking hell. This better not be as troublesome as your last treasure,” Tony mumbled, shooting England a glare.
America just chuckled nervously. “Oh come on Tony, we didn’t know that it was actually a piece of fallen alien technology. I mean, come on! That’s totally something out of a TV show.”
The alien clambered up on the footstool nearby and eyed the ruby warily. “Fucking love magic.”
“Hey, why don’t you put it under code 51 protection just in case huh?” America said, edging his way towards the door.
“Yes, let’s not jeopardize the safety of the universe again,” England replied, giving Tony a glare in return.
The alien got down from the stool and walked over to a computer panel in the wall at that, starting to punch a sequencing code in that lowered a glass box down over the entire Osiris statue. “Would be faster with my Raxacorico metal mind. Fucking primitive technology.”
While Tony was entering the coding for full level protection, America quietly snatched England’s hand and led him upstairs.
------------------------------------
“So, England, it seems that you and I have a date with my newly remodeled bathroom.”
England quirked an eyebrow. “Really now?”
America nodded, eyes all innocence outside of that tiny edge of mischief twinkling in the corner. “Oh yeah. We’ve gotta test out my new jetted whirlpool tub. And with all the grime and stuff we’ve got on us, I think it’ll be a great test.”
England let himself be led down the hallway towards the master bathroom, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “And why pray tell did you get a new bathtub? I’m certain your old one worked quite well.”
“Well, first off, Amazon.com had it on sale. And I got a free magazine subscription for spending more than fifty bucks in their Home and Garden section.”
“Aha, that tempting free stuff that you love so…”
America pecked a kiss to England’s nose as he started to yank off his shirt. “Yep. Speaking of things I love, did I mention it’s a two-person tub?”
England shrugged out of his shirt, his hands already working away at his pants. “I believe you missed that important factor.”
“Yep, so I definitely need your help to test it out.”
Starting up the water jets, America and England quickly shed the rest of their clothing and clambered into it. Both of them letting out relaxing sighs as the warm water massaged their aching muscles.
England had taken great care to settle his injured left arm on the ledge of the bath, not wanting to disrupt the clean bandages America had insisted on when they dropped off his plane.
America wasn’t without his injuries either, the gash across his neck, the cut on his cheek and the scrape on his arm all bearing bandages.
As England leaned forward in the bath to run his fingers over the bandage on America’s cut, the younger nation smiled at him.
“Could’ve been worse, you know?” He reached out then and gently laid his hand beneath the bandages on England’s arm. “And I still feel horrible about this one.”
England closed the space between them, pecking a kiss America’s lips before giving him a firm glare. “Don’t. Please, it wasn’t your fault. You did everything you could to save me. Don’t feel guilty.”
America slid his hand up to England’s cheek, resting it there. “Fine, but I get to fuss over it like you always do over my minor cuts.”
“All right, I suppose I can handle that.”
Sliding around the side of the tub until he was resting beside England, America wrapped an arm around his waist.
“You know, I was about to say I’m getting too old for this kind of stuff. But, I guess if you can handle it, a dashing hero such as myself can easily manage.”
“Oh hush up,” England retorted, but he nuzzled into America’s bare side all the same.
“It was fun, wasn’t it?”
England caught his gaze, all hopeful and tenative. He smiled. “Putting aside all the traps and the jinn and whatnot, well…yes, I do suppose it was rather wonderful. Then again, well…” He cleared his throat as a blush rose to his cheeks. “Being with you usually is quite… wonderful.”
America’s brilliant blue eyes lit up at that and the water splashed around them as he closed the space between them to pull England into an embrace.
"We’re an awesome team, aren’t we England?”
"I suppose we are.” England rested contentedly against America. With a smirk, he added. “An ‘awesome’ team that is going tomorrow to the grocery store to get proper tea that isn’t Lipton, remember that?”
"Oh yes, that!” America kissed him then, slow and sweet, before pulling back to pump his fist in the air. “Look out grocery store, here we come!”
England just smiled. Tomorrow would be another adventure indeed.
THE END.
---------------------------------
Notes:
[1] The Supreme Council of Antiquities (often called SCA) is the branch of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture responsible for the conservation, protection and regulation of all antiquities and archaeological excavations in Egypt.
[2] In July 2003, Egypt requested the return of the Rosetta Stone.
[3] Thomas Young was a British scientist who was famous with the public for having partly deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs before Champollion did.
[4] Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a mysterious, humanoid alien (a Time Lord) known as "the Doctor" who travels through time and space in his spacecraft, the TARDIS.
[5] The LineaAqua Albina 55 x 55 Jetted Whirlpool, which is totally America's new bathtub.
[6] The kmt hieroglyph above is for conclusion/completion when referring to a piece of writing.
Fandom: Axis Powers Hetalia
Genre: Action/Adventure/Romance
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairing: America/England
Word Count: 3,543
Summary: Amidst meetings and their other duties as nations, they had searched for it; the final resting place of the legendary Golden Heart of Osiris. Having figured out the possible location, America and England venture into the tomb of the Pharaoh's sons to try and unearth the artifact. But the question is, can they make it out safely without incurring the Pharaoh's wrath? In short? America and England on an adventure- Indiana Jones style.
Notes: Written for
sakuratsukikage as part of usxuk's 2009 Secret Santa exchange. Here's the finale! Thank you so much to everyone who has commented so far. Each and every comment has meant the world to me. Also, a special awesome thank you to technoranma for this lovely piece of artwork for the fic!He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. A sharp, quick – thump, thump, thump, thump. A tingle, a chill, going up his spine as the hairs prickled on his arm.
The mummy had captured him. There was no way out. America closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
I can handle this. If I just stay cool, I can easily save the day. I’m a hero after all. And that’s what I do! Plus, I can’t have the Amazing Adventures of Alfred F. Jones end with this! A hero creates his own endings, and this one is going to be awesome!
With the rise and fall of his breath, he listened. Intently listened to all the sounds around him as he sought out every minute detail. He could sense England behind him, feel the bandaged hand wrapped tightly around his wrist, and through that bandage America could feel a steady pulse. In his mind, he laid out his moves. Within a second he acted on them.
“Ha!” America’s eyes flashed open, bright blue and determined.
He reached behind him, and with a flourish, he grabbed the fedora off England’s head and whipped it around in front of him to block the mummy’s vision.
“Let us go now or I’ll…” As he released the hat, he reared back a fist, ready to punch the moment the hat fell completely.
“America, stop!” England’s voice cut through his focused thoughts, his firm grip catching America’s wrist right at the last moment.
“England, he’s…he’s…” Blue eyes went wide as the fedora tumbled to the floor. “...Turkey?”
The bandaged hand released America’s wrist to reach up and pull a white mask off his face. “Yah know, considering yer own bandages it’s stupid to be freaking out over mine. Jeez, ain’t you ever seen a bandaged head before?”
America blinked, taking it all in. It was Turkey, their fellow nation, all right. His head was swathed in white bandages, as were his two hands, and when he had his white mask on it did rather look like a mummy come back to life. But here, in the light of both Turkey’s lantern and England’s flashlight, America could see that it was all just an illusion.
He started to laugh. “I thought…I thought you were…Oh never mind!”
England sighed, picking up the fedora and stepping forward beside America. “Turkey, what are you doing here anyway?”
“I’d invited Japan down to Egypt to tour the Valley of the Kings when I overheard that that bastard Greece had never done so. Got here the night before to check the place out and figure out the best places to go.” Turkey pointed down at his dusty pants and hoodie and his bandages. “As ya can see, got caught in the rains and the tomb near here’s floor caved in. Fell right thru the roof into this one.”
“KV 6 caved in?” America asked, looking upwards.
Turkey shrugged. “I ain’t got no idea what it’s called, but it was right above that pit o’water I saw you two across. At least I figured it was you two at first. I mean, with those eyebrows, it’s only a few unfortunate countries it could be. And only you America would go adventuring dressed up as your Hollywood hero.”
“Hey!” Both retorted, shooting Turkey a glare for the comments.
Turning back towards the entrance, Turkey started walking. “Come on now, Egypt’s got the way in mostly dug out. Little brat. Had to promise to buy some crap souvenirs from him to get him to do it too. Then again, I suppose I owe him for using explosives to move the rubble quicker…”
“Um, Turkey?” America asked a bit nervously as he started to follow the other nation. “Did you happen to figure out why the water in that pit was…well…blood red?”
Turkey blinked, then rubbed the back of his neck. “Ain’t got a clue. But since the water came from the flooding of the Nile, might have something to do with that.”
America and England exchanged a knowing look, both of them inwardly berating themselves for not realizing it sooner.
“Well, that explains it all right,” England remarked.
“The start of a flood always has the turbid red color from the silt of the surrounding lands,” America recited from memory. He shook his head. “Should’ve remembered that. Must have been a bad flood then, I take it?”
Turkey nodded. “Yah, it’s why Egypt thinks the tomb I was in caved in. Floor was weak and the floodwaters did it in. I kept coming after you two because I was hoping you had a way to call for help. Weather was so crap at the time I first fell thru that my cellphone wasn’t getting any reception. Finally managed to call up Egypt and get him to start blasting away at the entrance, but I was already on the other side of that damned pit, so I figured I’d letcha know the way out was clear.”
“You’ll have to pardon our behavior then. We suspected it was someone with ill-intent that kept following us,” England explained.
“Or someone that realized we’d snuck into this tomb without clearing anything first with the SCA,” America muttered.
At that, Turkey laughed. “Sheesh. Egypt’s such an uptight ass about that shit. Should be called the Supreme Council of Asshats, rather than Antiquities.”
America and Turkey both laughed at that and England huffed. “I have to concur. All that bloody rubbish about wanting the Rosetta Stone back. Though at least that makes more sense than France trying to take credit for deciphering hieroglyphs first, that blasted frog! I was with Young in the early 1800s when he did his work on that. Of course, Champollion stole it and took the credit for it in 1822. Compete and utter bollocks, the whole lot of his lies!”
“England…” America said, lingering back a few steps to place a hand on his shoulder.
The Brit cleared his throat. “Sorry about that. Just…he had the same grammar flaws as Young! How on earth any sane soul could not see that thief for what he was I’ll never...”
“England,” he reiterated firmly, his hand sliding down England’s back to clasp his hand. “It’s okay.”
“Sorry,” England muttered, shifting his gaze to Turkey before dropping it to the ground. “Just a bit sore about it, that’s all.”
America reached over to where England held the fedora, took it from him and put it back on England’s head. “I believe you, for what it’s worth.”
“And I don’t give a damn either way, so you can pretend I agree with ya,” Turkey added, pushing open the door into the next corridor.
There was the pit they’d been stuck in, now with scaffolding across its width so they could easily cross. A crew of workers was congregated in the next corridor, all of them working to move the rubble out of the way.
England lingered back a few steps and America, on feeling the tug on his hand, did so as well.
“What’s up?” America whispered.
“If Egypt catches sight of us, our belongings might be searched for any relics. You remember how much of a hassle getting the Golden Chest of Osiris out of the country was without anyone noticing,” England mumbled back under his breath.
“So, we need a distraction so we can make a run for our plane?”
“A distraction would be quite…”
He halted, first and foremost due to the sunlight beaming down on them. As their eyes struggled to adjust again to the brightness of it, the angry shouts caught their ears.
“Geh Turkey!”
“Why is it always ‘Geh!’ I can come and go places you know, bastard Greece!”
“Turkey-san, Greece-san, please do not fuss! I merely came with Greece-san because he was worried about me traveling here with the flooding.”
America and England caught sight of the trio, Turkey having emerged to start in on a fight with Greece, who had apparently come along with the visiting Japan. Egypt was, thankfully, busy directing the workers near the entrance of KV 6 on what to do in order to preserve the carvings that weren’t damaged in the collapse.
“You wanted a distraction?” America asked in a hushed tone. “I think we got one.”
England smirked, clutching America’s hand. “To the plane then?”
“To the plane!”
As the two made a break for it, America caught Japan’s eye and gave his friend a wink. He’d have to explain what England and he were doing in the tomb to his buddy when they got together for their next video gaming weekend. He owed him at least that since it looked like Japan’s trip to Egypt was going to be derailed with Turkey and Greece fussing over him.
They made it unnoticed to their plane, America hopping into the pilot’s seat and England quickly settling in behind him. The engines roared to life as America patted the biplane on the side.
“All right, Ellie. Let’s go home!”
------------------------------------
After a quick stop over in Great Britain to put America’s plane away in England’s hangar for the time being, the two caught the next flight out of London headed for Washington D.C. Thankfully, with their high-level of government clearance; customs wasn’t going to be any issue to get through with their newly acquired artifact.
The odd looks America got due to his bandaged neck were another matter entirely, since he refused to wear a high-collared shirt to hide his “battle scars” (as he called them).
But he didn’t seem to mind, especially when the young boy in first class with them was asking him all about it.
“It was really an old Egyptian tomb robber trap?” The little British boy asked, his eyes wide in wonderment.
“Sure thing!” America replied, all smiles.
“Blimey!”
Beside him, England was shaking his head. He’d tried to prevent America from saying too much about their adventure, since certain matters needed to be kept secret. But between the pleading looks from both the child and America, he caved. America had been regaling the boy with tales of their adventurous exploits for over an hour now.
“And my companion here helped me get free before I could be hurt too badly! But don’t worry; it’ll heal up pretty quickly. These kinds of scrapes always do. But the adventuring and seeing it all just…wow, it’s completely worth it. ”
The boy shot a look over at England, then in a hushed whisper asked America, “Are you a Time Lord, mister? Because that sounds like something the Doctor would say!”
“What, like Doctor Who?” America asked with a grin.
He shot a look then at England, who had begun to chuckle. The older nation leaned forward and placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Now don’t go and give this idiot any more reasons to pump up his ego. The Doctor is loads more brilliant than he is.”
The boy beamed, rounding towards England. “You watch it too, mister?”
England smiled, just slightly. “But of course. Right good telly, that show is.”
They passed the rest of their flight with England and the child discussing favorite episodes and quoting favorite scenes back and forth. Much to England’s surprise, even America ended up piping in a few times with his opinion.
Well, well. Looks like my ‘ridiculous stodgy sci-fi’ isn’t so bad after all, hmm? England thought to himself as the child and America started going on about how awesome having a sonic screwdriver would be.
When the plane landed, the boy gave both of them a hug around their legs and wished them good luck on their next adventure. His mother gave them both a wave as she ushered him off the plane saying, “See, I told you flying would be fun. Wasn’t I right about that David? Not a thing to worry about.”
“Yeah! They were so cool!”
America and England shared a smile, the younger nation reaching over to clasp England’s hand. “Didja hear that? We’re cool. Even you, apparently.”
“Ha ha,” England shot back sarcastically, but the slight smirk on his lips gave him away.
------------------------------------
“Tony, we’re home!” America called out as they pushed open the door to his house. Loud explosions from a video game could be heard from the other room.
“What are you alerting him to us for?” England asked with a sigh. “You know he doesn’t take kindly to me.”
“Yeah, but after that incident with the time-release poison in the ceremonial mask we brought back, I’d rather him take a look at this now rather than later.”
“I suppose I can’t argue that, can I?”
“Would be silly to. Plus, you two are on more civil terms lately…right?”
England forced a weak smile. “Something like that.”
America took out the box with the heart in it and set down his bag by the doorway. England set his bag down beside it. Without a word more, they both walked with purpose into the sitting room to the left of the entryway.
On reaching the far bookcase, America shot a glance around the room, before tugging gently on an old worn copy of Journey to the Center of the Earth. As the book slid out, a loud click could be heard. The bookshelf swung open at that and America tucked the book back away.
“After you, England.”
England shook his head. He reached up and took off the fedora (which America had insisted England put back on once they got off their flight and reclaimed their luggage).
“If you insist,” he remarked, putting the hat on America’s head as he walked past him and down into the secret corridor.
As the neon lights on the stairwell clicked on, they illuminated all the past artifacts they’d collected that weren’t displayed elsewhere in either one of their homes or a museum.
At the top of the stairs, England could hear America calling to Tony one more time before he bounded down the staircase after him.
“I cannot believe we finally did it!” America cheered, wrapping his free arm around England’s waist.
England allowed himself a slight smile. “Well, we worked very hard and it finally paid off.”
“You wanna do the honors?”
England looked over to the middle of the hidden room where the golden sculpture of Osiris laid, all the pieces in place aside from the heart-shaped hole in his chest.
“I think we should do it together. It only seems proper,” England replied.
America beamed. “Awesome idea!”
He sat the box on the edge of the table and together they reached into it to pull the heart free. They’d encountered loads of rumors about what reuniting all fourteen pieces would accomplish. Heralds of good luck, a giant ruby or even immortality. Either way, their hearts were both beating with excitement as they settled the Golden Heart of Osiris into its rightful place with the rest of the thirteen pieces.
“Here we go!”
“Quite.”
As the heart clicked into place, a blinding white light pierced the room. Instinctively, America and England both wrapped their arms protectively around each other. Moments, perhaps even a minute had passed before they dared chance a look.
Never once letting the other go, they peered over at the now slightly-glowing golden body.
“It…”
“It was true,” England managed his mouth slightly agape.
Sure enough, now settled on the chest in place of the golden piece they’d just put there, was a heart-shaped ruby.
“But how…scientifically it just doesn’t…” America’s remark was cut off as England placed a finger to his lips.
“It’s old magic, America. Science never could replicate what magic can achieve. It’s just…a wonder all its own.”
America’s pout shifted into a bit of a worried look at that, and England quickly amended himself.
“But it’s safe. I cannot feel any harmful magic here. Just…well, the story said it was made by Isis due to her love for Osiris. That’s perhaps why it’s the heart that changes. A symbol of her love for him, preserved for all time.”
England reached over and gave America’s hand a squeeze at that. “We’ve solved the puzzle, America. You and I did it.”
His grin resurfaced then, wide and bright. “Yeah. We did, didn’t we?”
They turned to one another, leaning in for a kiss, when a grumbling voice interrupted them.
“Fucking hell. This better not be as troublesome as your last treasure,” Tony mumbled, shooting England a glare.
America just chuckled nervously. “Oh come on Tony, we didn’t know that it was actually a piece of fallen alien technology. I mean, come on! That’s totally something out of a TV show.”
The alien clambered up on the footstool nearby and eyed the ruby warily. “Fucking love magic.”
“Hey, why don’t you put it under code 51 protection just in case huh?” America said, edging his way towards the door.
“Yes, let’s not jeopardize the safety of the universe again,” England replied, giving Tony a glare in return.
The alien got down from the stool and walked over to a computer panel in the wall at that, starting to punch a sequencing code in that lowered a glass box down over the entire Osiris statue. “Would be faster with my Raxacorico metal mind. Fucking primitive technology.”
While Tony was entering the coding for full level protection, America quietly snatched England’s hand and led him upstairs.
------------------------------------
“So, England, it seems that you and I have a date with my newly remodeled bathroom.”
England quirked an eyebrow. “Really now?”
America nodded, eyes all innocence outside of that tiny edge of mischief twinkling in the corner. “Oh yeah. We’ve gotta test out my new jetted whirlpool tub. And with all the grime and stuff we’ve got on us, I think it’ll be a great test.”
England let himself be led down the hallway towards the master bathroom, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “And why pray tell did you get a new bathtub? I’m certain your old one worked quite well.”
“Well, first off, Amazon.com had it on sale. And I got a free magazine subscription for spending more than fifty bucks in their Home and Garden section.”
“Aha, that tempting free stuff that you love so…”
America pecked a kiss to England’s nose as he started to yank off his shirt. “Yep. Speaking of things I love, did I mention it’s a two-person tub?”
England shrugged out of his shirt, his hands already working away at his pants. “I believe you missed that important factor.”
“Yep, so I definitely need your help to test it out.”
Starting up the water jets, America and England quickly shed the rest of their clothing and clambered into it. Both of them letting out relaxing sighs as the warm water massaged their aching muscles.
England had taken great care to settle his injured left arm on the ledge of the bath, not wanting to disrupt the clean bandages America had insisted on when they dropped off his plane.
America wasn’t without his injuries either, the gash across his neck, the cut on his cheek and the scrape on his arm all bearing bandages.
As England leaned forward in the bath to run his fingers over the bandage on America’s cut, the younger nation smiled at him.
“Could’ve been worse, you know?” He reached out then and gently laid his hand beneath the bandages on England’s arm. “And I still feel horrible about this one.”
England closed the space between them, pecking a kiss America’s lips before giving him a firm glare. “Don’t. Please, it wasn’t your fault. You did everything you could to save me. Don’t feel guilty.”
America slid his hand up to England’s cheek, resting it there. “Fine, but I get to fuss over it like you always do over my minor cuts.”
“All right, I suppose I can handle that.”
Sliding around the side of the tub until he was resting beside England, America wrapped an arm around his waist.
“You know, I was about to say I’m getting too old for this kind of stuff. But, I guess if you can handle it, a dashing hero such as myself can easily manage.”
“Oh hush up,” England retorted, but he nuzzled into America’s bare side all the same.
“It was fun, wasn’t it?”
England caught his gaze, all hopeful and tenative. He smiled. “Putting aside all the traps and the jinn and whatnot, well…yes, I do suppose it was rather wonderful. Then again, well…” He cleared his throat as a blush rose to his cheeks. “Being with you usually is quite… wonderful.”
America’s brilliant blue eyes lit up at that and the water splashed around them as he closed the space between them to pull England into an embrace.
"We’re an awesome team, aren’t we England?”
"I suppose we are.” England rested contentedly against America. With a smirk, he added. “An ‘awesome’ team that is going tomorrow to the grocery store to get proper tea that isn’t Lipton, remember that?”
"Oh yes, that!” America kissed him then, slow and sweet, before pulling back to pump his fist in the air. “Look out grocery store, here we come!”
England just smiled. Tomorrow would be another adventure indeed.
THE END.
---------------------------------
Notes:
[1] The Supreme Council of Antiquities (often called SCA) is the branch of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture responsible for the conservation, protection and regulation of all antiquities and archaeological excavations in Egypt.
[2] In July 2003, Egypt requested the return of the Rosetta Stone.
[3] Thomas Young was a British scientist who was famous with the public for having partly deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs before Champollion did.
[4] Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a mysterious, humanoid alien (a Time Lord) known as "the Doctor" who travels through time and space in his spacecraft, the TARDIS.
[5] The LineaAqua Albina 55 x 55 Jetted Whirlpool, which is totally America's new bathtub.
[6] The kmt hieroglyph above is for conclusion/completion when referring to a piece of writing.
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no subject
Date: 2010-01-04 05:13 pm (UTC)This was a wonderful ending! I loved his whole fic from start to finish. The way you added the little things and mentioned things from history and the awesome adventure scenes and EVERYTHING.
And the ending was extremely sweet. <3 I loved this fic to bits!
no subject
Date: 2010-04-29 12:09 am (UTC)