It was a long and boring day as usual.

Germany had just sent out one of the groups to chase down America in California. He wasn't completely sure, but the record showed America around the same spot every day in the evening.

"I hope I didn't lead them to a dead end," he sighed, acknowledging the fact that America could be forging his location this whole time.

A sudden voice startled him. "You should worry about yourself first, don't you think?"

Germany panned his eyes over to the door frame America was leaning up against. He nonchalantly replied, "Well, that depends. Why are you here?"

"You know, as much as I love a good strategy, I'm afraid you're too much of an asset to my players."

"You still really think this is all a game, don't you?"

"Well, you'd maybe know if you were out there like the rest of them," America hummed. "How does it feel? Being locked up in here while everyone else is on their little adventure to find me?"

"I'm not locked up, I'm helping," Germany argued.

"Is that what you think?" America laughed. "You do realize the others are just using you like always, right?"

"Call it whatever you want, we're fixing you back to normal," he stated firmly.

"I'd be worried about more than just fixing me if I were you, because, soon, I won't be the only one who's going to be like this."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'll tell you a secret," America giddily replied and motioned towards him. "Russia stole the duplicate vile-and yes, I do know about that." Germany nervously bit his bottom lip while America wandered his eyes around the bleak room.

"Now, I wonder, what will he do with it now that he has it?"

Germany panicked and rushed over to the lab to see that it was indeed missing while America continued just happily smiling behind him.

Shaking his head, he convinced himself otherwise, "Well, in any case, he wouldn't be dumb enough to actually drink it."

"That's the funny thing, I am convinced that he will. Desperation makes us do crazy things, after all," America said with confidence.

Germany frowned. "Desperation? What could be possibly desperate about?"

"Why, me, of course." America bowed as if he was in a performance.

Germany locked the empty case up and rolled his eyes. "I won't let that happen."

America waved his hand and his expression darkened. "See, I didn't exactly come here to reveal everything and expect you to keep a secret."

Germany scoffed, "I'm not afraid of you."

"You should be. I'm quite the monster in this story."

"Please. I've met plenty of actual monsters in my lifetime and you're nothing more than a joke compared to them."

America clicked his tongue. "I'd watch it, if I were you."

"-you might think you're oh-so-scary, revealing your darkest self, but you're still such a child America," Germany muttered in pure dissapointment. "You still have so much to learn about being an actual threat."

America could feel his anger fueling up inside him until something stopped him.

"What the hell..." he stopped, feeling a sharp hot pain go into his heart.

Germany said, "You underestimate me, still. That poison inside you is corrupt for a reason."

"W-Why am I feeling this?" America stuttered, trying to control his emotions.

"You're trying to hate me when it's impossible to, because anything you hate, now becomes something that you love," Germany simply explained and smiled. "Japan really did a number on you with it, didn't she? She thought you hated her, poor thing."

"Make it fucking stop," America stammered.

"I'm afraid only you can do that, but don't worry, once your soul mate gives you a true loves kiss, you will be back to your usual self. Isn't that so romantic?"

America slapped his hand on the desk in objection. "That'll never happen!"

"And why do you say that?" Germany bittersweetly asked, "Is there something you want to tell me?"

"Russia will become like me."

Germany widened his eyes. "So it's true. You two are..."

"Yeah whatever." America rolled his eyes. "I ensured that he would get it."

"-and you think it's impossible for you two still to love one another even if it's your worst selves?"

"We'll both be too vengeful," America explained.

"You'd be surprised. Love still manages to find it's way in, in any person."

America crossed his arms. "That's what you think, but once Russia drinks that potion, he'll listen to no one but himself and his own selfish desires, just as I do."

Germany smiled and shook his head. "Sorry to break it to you, but Russia's weakness is not his selfishness America."

"What? How the hell would you know?"

Germany rested his hand against his chin and pondered. "Let's just say I know him really well."

"What is it then? What's his weakness-riches, power, glory?!" America frustratedly screamed.

Germany somberly gazed into his trembling eyes. "Don't you know..? It's you."

...

Meanwhile, in Chicago, Indonesia just came out of the alarming building to see an empty front yard and a few text messages from the group chat explaining their "sudden" disappearance.

Indonesia almost crushed the phone in his hand. "Just wait till I get to them-I will fucking stab that son of a bitch for leaving me behind-" he stopped in his tracks and widened his eyes when he recognized the sudden figure appear in front of him.

"Hello, Indonesia."

The EU stood tall and serious, and whatever he was here about, Indonesia had a good feeling it had to do something with this recent charade of events.

"Oh... Um..." He couldn't formulate the right words. Did he already know about the situation at hand? Or was he supposed to hide it from him?

EU could tell Indonesia looked nervous to say anything. "Is something wrong?" he asked.

"No, just wow," he fake-coughed, "Um, I would have never guessed to see you here."

EU looked around the wreckage confused, and yet, without care. "I happened to be around after some concerning news reached the higher-ups. Do you have a moment?"

Indonesia backed up. "I shouldn't-I have places to go and be at. So sorry, this isn't the best time, yeah..." he nervously mumbled in a sweat.

The taller man wasn't amused. "I'm afraid that was less of a question and more of an order. You will comply to this." Indonesia couldn't do anything about it and followed the EU to a helicopter nearby.

They flew to some headquarters the EU refused to discuss about with Indonesia, and quickly after landing, Indonesia was led to what appeared to be the hospital wing of the building.

Behind a glass window, he saw two fairly ill people laying still in their beds. Their skin was dark and dull, and they both looked to be dying.

"Who are they and what's wrong with them?" Indonesia hesitantly asked.

"On the left, is North America, and on the right of him, is Asia; two of the seven continents," EU explained in a somber tone while Indonesia suddenly felt incredibly insecure and small beside him.

"Asia just caught it, but North America has had it the worst. He's been unconscious for over three weeks. We think this is a virus of some sorts."

"That's... terrible..." Indonesia awkwardly muttered while putting the puzzle pieces together in his head. His only concern was the Asian continent. He had no clue why she was sick.

EU lowered his head. "I know. So, I brought you here to ask you how the countries are doing. Did anything happen to any of them that could have caused this?"

Indonesia nervously tapped his fingers together. "Uh, no... Not that I can think of," he sheepishly laughed. "Must be some weird virus like you said."

EU sighed softly, "Alright then. Thanks for cooperating with me anyways, Indonesia. We'll keep trying to heal them in them meantime." He sighed again and closed the curtains to the glass window.

EU then turned to the short boy and asked, "Do you want to be dropped off back where I found you?"

"A-Actually, there's another place I need to be at," Indonesia stuttered. The EU raised his brow in question.

"And where would that be?"

Indonesia clenched his fist. "The Philippines."