Black Coffee :|: America x Russia :|: Countryhumans

Act I, Chapter Fourteen

Everything felt different.

"America! Stop daydreaming and clean the coffee machine, please!"

Well, not everything. America was still slacking off, the café looked cozy and the pastries in the display still looked as dry as ever. It wasn't very crowded as usual, and there was a strong scent of caffeine in the air – which is to be expected of a café, of course.

What felt different to Russia was the way he saw America. Before he knew the energetic country, he considered him nothing more than a stranger – someone who made his coffee and didn't care about his day no matter how many times he asked. Someone who was a blank slate; a random NPC that still didn't have a quest for him yet.

But now, it was different. He knew him, and he felt oddly proud he knew him. It felt...comforting seeing a familiar face and suddenly, without warning, Russia had the uncontrollable urge to do something he had never done before.

He strolled across the tiled floor up to the decorated counter.

Расслабься, Россия. Будьте спокойны, уверены в себе. (Russian: Relax, Russia. Be calm, confident.)

America was leaning on the counter, chin buried in his arm as he stared at the ceiling with a faraway look on his striped (yet of course disguised) face. He had seemingly ignored his manager's request and instead opted to keep his head in the clouds, refusing to come down.

"доброе утро, Meri." (Russian: good morning)

That certainly got America's attention.

"Ruski!" the shorter man grinned and shot up, furiously tapping what Russia wanted into the cash register before he even had a chance to order. "Black coffee, I'm guessing?"

Russia chuckled, pulling out his wallet, "You know me so well."

America looked around the restaurant and behind the counter at his co-worker Mongolia. With the customers chatting and Mongolia too busy trying to beat her high score with her hacky sack to actually do her job, America figured he was in the clear.

Leaning over the counter he whispered, "Do you want extra stuff? Free of charge~!"

Russia pondered the offer for a few seconds before leaning in as well, deciding to whisper in America's ear since he was so close, "Why not? 2 teaspoons of sugar, please."

America jumped back and shivered, smiling widely with red cheeks. He got to work turning on the coffee machine and placing the cup under, rubbing the back of his neck to try to put the hairs standing on edge back down.

"U-um, sure...just...gimmie a sec."

Russia raised an eyebrow and tilted his head, confused.

"Are you alright, Meri? You're acting kind of strange."

The north American nation waved him off, sprinkling in the sugar with practiced precision. He popped on the plastic lid and handed it to Russia as he exchanged it with less money than it was worth.

"Yup! I'm just dandy - what makes you say that?"

"You saying 'dandy' is a good example."

America shuffled his feet, blushing less now, but the colour still definitely there, "Yeah...sorry, just – um – got a lot on my mind."

Russia nodded, swallowing his doubts and self-deprecation before asking what he was about to request.

"Do you think you'd have enough space in your mind for me?"