It was quiet.

Back in the hotel room, things were quiet. Texas stood alone by the hotel door, hiding his body as best he could in the shadows. His arms were crossed and his teeth gritted, wishing that the south hadn't taken away all his weapons after the five were dragged back.

A single shot, all the states braced themselves.

California sat in the corner by the closet, unmoving since Colorado dumped him there hours ago. His clothes were still torn, and his eyes were wide and unblinking. All over his shirt was dried brown blood, and his left lense on his glasses was still stained with the crimson color. The worst were his hands, the ones he couldn't put down, stained the same color as his shirt.

None of them had been hit, the only sound was a distant crow and heatbugs.

Then.

"T-Tex?"

New York remained shell-shocked on the bed, wrapped in every blanket his brother could think of. He was rocking back and forth and letting out tiny whimpers, unable to be comforted or calmed. Occasionally he let out the tiniest 'cherry', before dissolving into sobs once again, burying his face in the torn remains of his shirt. His hands were stained the same color as California's, and the stain was all over his face as he tried desperately to stop the tears from flowing.

Crimson blood against a white dress shirt.

A loud cry as DC fell into California's arms, his other boyfriends hurrying around him.

"I'm about to do something drastic. I'm about to do something drastic." Florida chanted, all but Kubrick staring at the wall in front of him, hat discarded and face swollen from all the cry. His voice was hoarse, and he'd probably lose it within the night if he kept this up. Still he paid no mind to the pain to his throat as he stared at the wall, chanting over and over again.

"I'm about to do something drastic. I'm about to do something drastic."

"California....protect them. You.....you can keep them together."

"Dee no....no you can survive this! You just need to hold on!"

"At....least you....won't have.....those.....meetings anymore?" DC smiled a watery smile, eyes slowly losing life.

Louisiana kept his head pressed against Florida's back, having lost his battle to stop Floirda long ago. The man was well past drunk, and if Florida fell asleep he'd probably have another three daiquiris just to forget. How own face was flowing with tears soaking Florida's tank top; he was trying to whisper comforts to Florida but he knew it was useless, since he couldn't believe what he was saying.

"Mom?"

Texas glanced back at the TV table, at the shiny piece of broken metal sitting on the stand. In the dim twilight, he could make out the American flag, split in two, after Florida stepped on it trying to get to the man who killed DC. It had been a present long ago, when they first started dating DC, for something for him to remember them by when he went back to Washington.

Now broken, just like they were right now.

New York let out another strangled cry as Texas turned back to face the door, eyes dark and mind completely blank except for one thing, revenge.

"I'm about to do something drastic." Florida continued, voice going hoarse and hoarser. "I'm about to do something drastic."

DC didn't have to die, DC didn't deserve to die. DC should've had a long happy life with his boyfriends, not have his life cut short because of some power-crazed nerd.

Texas finally removed himself from the shadows, throwing open the hotel door and stepped out into the hall, slamming the door behind him. His other boyfriends didn't even flinch.

"I may be joining you tonight, sugar if this goes bad. I hope you saved a nice seat for me up there where you are." Texas thought, stalking his way passed the other rooms, only one thing in on his mind.

The south may have taken away all his weapons, but he had other ways of seeking vengeance for the ones he loved.