[Long]

Anya had already caused enough commotion with her excited chatter, it was even worse when she started hitting on the trapdoor out of there. 2p Hetalians had started filling in and chasing straight after them. 

"Oh, блядь, блядь, блядь, блядь, блядь, блядь...!" Anya panicked stressfully, pounding her fist while clutching the woman with her other arm. And was slumped on the floor, propped up on her leg. The 2p Hetalians looked weak and terribly thin. Anya had a split second respect for the loyalty of these people but definitely didn't want to see the extent of it. 

Realizing that using a hand was useless and that she only had so much time before the 2ps rip her head clean off her neck, she resorted to bashing the door open with her pipe. Surprisingly, it only took her one hit for the entire thing to flip open. Maybe it was because of her fear-induced adrenaline or the thing got lighter. Or both. Yeah, it was both.

~~~~~

CJ and Tori stood at attention, weapons drawn. Tori has never seen her weapon before, but it resembled closely to a metal rod of some sort. It was hollow like the pipes that the Slaviks wield, which is the weapon she had. It was short; a smaller version of the real thing. The gold orb on the top gave away what it was.

"A...flagpole?" Tori murmured surprised, almost in respect.

CJ nodded, twirling it a few times, a flag wrapped around it unraveled to show its colors. A weird flag design that Tori had never seen before shown on the fabric. It had the Russian colors but a big white star with some version of wings. Tori knew that design, but it was very rare. 

A body was tossed out of the hole along with frantic hands groping madly at the ground outside, hoisting their self up, practically jumping out in pure, furious, panic. The person, turning out to be a she, a very familiar she, was screaming and pulled the bench-hatch down on the heads of the incoming pursuers. Then she proceeds to slam her body into a crisscross-legged sitting position onto the bench, wearing a tired-out and fear-twitching expression. She was holding the unconscious body close.

"Yo," she panted, blinking as she gathered her bearings, taking in who was there, where she was, and what the heck just happened, "Wait, Tori?!"

"Anya?!" Tori's grip on her pipe slacked. The Lithuanian general wore an exasperated and somewhat angry look on her face as she ran up and slapped the Russian in the face. 

Anya nearly flew off the bench but promptly stayed sitting on as the ground beneath her jumped and shook, "U-Um," she stuttered, tiredly. Anya raised the person in her arms to the American General. CJ took the unconscious body in mental confusion, but surprisingly carried the body out of the way with ease, "She's light, I know," Anya nervously chuckled.

Suddenly the bench lurched forward, making Anya scream and tilt back. CJ and Tori quickly make a grab for her, pulling forward.

"Ah, Спасибo," Anya breathed, then suddenly drawn to the younger, Asian-looking girl next to her, "Who-?"

"Knock-out now, proper introductions later," CJ cut in, evenly, twirling her flag like helicopter blades. 

Anya caught sight of the flag design and her eyes widened. Tori and she stood up and she saw her Russian friend's surprise, "Like she said," Tori said, "Let's take care of the swarm first.

As the small group of 2p Hetalians groggily hoisted themselves up, resembling a lot like zombies, the trio was able to make quick work at getting them unconscious.

~~~~~

"So," Anya started after they had gathered all the bodies onto the bench, having them sit next to each other (five in total), "About that proper introduction..."

CJ stuck her hand out, lowering her pole, "General Midwest USA, ma'am."

The Russian hesitantly shook her hand, "Wow," she quirked an ashen blond brow, "You're an American general? I would've never guessed it," then she smiled, "Actually, yes I can. That was stupid, your voice says everything. Besides, we're talking about the most diverse country in the world," Anya laughs at her next sentence, "Heck, I could be American."

"You would certainly fit in," CJ says, her expression the same, even as she ever-so-slightly tilts her head to the side.

"Ah, really? Thanks," Anya grins brightly, though still sounds exhausted after that fight, "How old are you?"

"Fourteen," CJ repeated the information.

Tori chuckles half-heartedly, expecting the over-the-top surprise from her American-worthy Russian friend.

"Really?!" CJ nodded, "No way! Is she serious?! блядь, she's serious!" Anya was laughing and being shocked at the same time, which made her breathless afterward.

"Hah," Tori sighed, her breath showing in the cold, night air, "So, Anya," she lazily jerked a finger at the knocked-out woman she brought out earlier, "Who's she?"

"I have no idea," Anya breathed, as she laid down on the snow-covered grass. She felt like she could fall asleep right there. But from experience, that would be a stupid move.

Without a word, CJ walked up to the cold, battered body. She lifted up the frail lapel of her nearly unidentified jacket to reveal a handmade Hetalian pin of America. It's broken, the paint chipping, some of the metal broken off, and the like, but you could definitely tell that's an America pin. 

She held the lapel up, under the light of the lamppost, "Can I assume that she's an American Hetalian?" a small smile graces her lips, as she shakes the woman awake, "General Eastern USA, you're going to end up in worse condition if we leave you like this. May I have the permission to move you?"

"Чего, ждать!?" Anya yelped as the woman raised her head to meet CJ's gaze.

"Who da heck are you?" she slurred.

"General Midwest USA, ma'am," CJ responded dutifully, "I'm going to pick you up. Are you okay with that?"

"Negali būti..." Tori breathed. Both she and Anya had slipped into their mother tongue in awe and shock. They weren't going to ask how CJ knew that this was...the woman, herself, or how long she knew. 

"I was wonderin'," she chuckled as she allowed CJ to loop an arm under her shoulder to hoist her up. It was weird with her height, but she made it work, "Wonderin' when ya gonna figure out somethin'," she coughed, "I was so confused, didn't know what da heck was happenin', who da heck was talkin' to me," she cracked a smile at Anya, "'Ey, West Rush, ya Lit-Master."

Tori cocked a brow, "Lit-Master?"

"Amelia and I," Anya rolled the name off her tongue, a name she has long avoided, "we're considered the Lit-Masters."

"The two most powerful, loyal, and well-known and loved Hetalian generals in Hetalia," CJ nodded at them in turn.

"Huh?" Tori glanced back and forth, "Wait, Lit-Master...you mean, Žvaigždžių Pasauliai?" Tori slid into her language, as she helped CJ carry, who they now know is Amelia, up. The term 'Lit-Master' is kind of loose, the title called differently around the world.

Anya hurried in and replaced CJ's spot since the poor girl was too short to get passed Amelia's chest area. Anya and Amelia were the two tallest generals in Hetalia, higher than even the Nordic generals. 

Just as they were situating themselves, CJ's com beeped, making the girl jerk straight as an arrow. After all, they all kinda forgot those existed, "Yes?" she pressed on her com with her free hand, tucking her flagpole away, "I understand. No, nothing overwhelming happened of that sort," they heard her make a rare chuckle, "Smart of you to catch. Ah, yes, just a small round of 2p Hetalians," she hummed thoughtfully at the other's unheard response, "Yes, consider the mission finished. We have what we're looking for. She's here."

"She also wants some pirozhki and Russian water when she's done with this!" Anya called out, getting a shrill scream from CJ's com. Tori didn't know whether she should be shocked or relieved that CJ was able to flinch.

"Please refrain from screaming, General Northern Estonia," CJ sighed.

"Esty?" Anya laughed.

"Yes, we'll send our location," CJ's voice turned serious, "And we'll need medical attention. General Eastern USA looks like she's on the brink of death. Though, I suppose her stubbornness will keep her alive."

More shocked yells then a deeper, more urgent, voice fills CJ's com, "Ah," a thin black brow on her eye raises in amusement, "Mr. America."

Everyone went so silent, they were able to hear what was said on the com, "General Midwest," they heard America say, "What's all the commotion that you're causing here? It's...it's about midnight. No 2p Hetalians come out at nighttime, you know that."

"Of course," CJ said calmly.

"Then what the heck you doing out? You're going to get sick and cold and everyone's back at the hotel! You're the last group that needs to get back," America said.

"We had some difficulties," CJ replied.

America's voice had a spike of suspicion, "Difficulties," worry seeped in, "Like what? Are you and East Liet hurt?"

"Thankfully, not," CJ sighed, "But there are some that need medical attention. I have already given the request to General Northern Estonia."

"What do you mean? Is there more Hetalians with you?" America's voice started straining.

"Yes," CJ smiled, "Two more. An American and Russian Hetalian."

There was no sound on the other end, which earns another rare chuckle from the young general, "I suppose we also request for some transportation to the hotel destination," she said, "I am too young to get a cab, the rest is in shock and supporting one of our heavily damaged generals, and, personally," she shakes her head, "I am way too young for this."

~~~~~

Soon they were at the hotel and Tori, Anya, and CJ shared a room. Amelia was immediately catered to a hospital with America at her side. It's past midnight and the snowy outside view of London from their third floor was beautiful.

Anya had been sleeping like a baby ever since she got to the hotel bed. She had to carry a body around an underground dungeon after all. CJ and Tori had reported what Anya told them about the hatch from underneath the bench and the squads are going to investigate tomorrow. England and Alice took it upon themselves to interrogate the captures tomorrow, too. But, for now, Alice had fallen asleep at Amelia's side in the hospital and America is still working tirelessly on the Hetalian reports.

CJ was standing out on the hotel room's balcony, wearing that same expressionless face as she stared down at the streets of London.

She heard a yawn behind her, but she didn't turn around, "Go back to sleep, General Eastern Lithuania," she said.

Said general made a surprised sound as she walked over next to CJ. She leaned against the balcony railing, resting her elbows on the top, "Shouldn't you get to sleep? Like you said, you're fourteen, you need some sleep."

"I've stayed up longer," CJ shrugged.

"No matter," Tori shook her head, "It's been a long tiring day and a lot of stuff went down," she set a hand on CJ's shoulder, trying to guide her back inside.

"But I'm not tired," CJ said, the words dangerously sounding like the child she looked like.

"Yes, you are," Tori chuckled, leading her inside, "You're not changing out of your clothes, huh?"

"We don't have uniforms like the military," CJ replied, "So it shouldn't be a big deal to sleep in these clothes. My jacket kept them from being wet," she glanced at the black jacket resting on one of the chairs. 

"Ah, okay," Tori patted CJ on the head. She wondered. CJ felt like a sister. Like Nikolai, the Northern Belorussian general. Silent, strong, and loyal. Though, she wasn't as irritated and cling-happy as he was. Just...mysterious.

"I hope that doesn't mean anything harsh," CJ murmured into the drifting snowfall.

"Ah, I forgot that you can read minds," Tori laughed, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Don't worry, you didn't forget anything," CJ said, "I can just read the atmosphere," she glanced at her Lithuanian acquaintance, "I haven't met General Northern Belarus, so I can't say for certain. It appears I thought wrong. I thought he was the Central general."

Tori choked on her spit at how specific she was able to read in the lines. Kind of surprising, for a young girl to be able to do that. Sure, she knew that the Japanese Hetalians can do this quite well, but the Americans? Maybe Amelia, she always seemed to have mind-reading abilities, especially if it's reading Anya's mind (the two have been friends for a wicked long time). Plus, this one looks very new and usually, the Americans are so hyper and expressive, new or not.

"...What are you?" Tori found herself saying to herself as she gazed up at the ceiling, laying in the bed.

"American," CJ whispered, still sitting out on the balcony.

The wind was soft and so was her voice, singing the same song she did, from what Tori felt like, was so long ago. Singing about a Christmas without war. 

It wasn't long before Tori drifted off into a dreamless sleep.