Updated 1/22/25

England knew something.

Scotland had figured that out pretty quickly.

As much as he and England argued and fought, they knew each other very well, had been through a lot together. They could read each other like an open book.

So even though no one else seemed to pick up on it, Scotland watched as England came to the realization he knew who "Alabama's son" was.

England didn't say anything, so neither did Scotland. Scotland could understand why England was keeping silent. Britain was in another one of his moods over the whole thing, and it was best to avoid setting him off until he calmed back down.

But how had England, of all people, figured it out? Why him? England hadn't been very close with America, so how did he figure it out?

Unless he was wrong, of course.

America having a personification that wasn't a state or territory but a child of a state made sense. Personnificiations were weird at the best of times. And everyone had something to hide. However, keeping an entire personification secret was not acceptable. After all, United Nations banned it after he found out what some empires had done previously.

How it had been used as a tool for isolation and abuse.

Not that that stopped America, apparently. Or others.

But that wasn't the point. The point was that England had information Scotland wanted, which meant Scotland would have to go to Wales to see if Wales could get it out of him.

Scotland knew trying himself was only going to fail.

Scotland was not looking forward to dealing with Wales, though. While Wales was a reliable source of information, making a deal with him was like making a deal with the devil.

You never knew what you were going to have to trade away to get what you wanted.

But still, Scotland wanted to know what England was hiding. This was the best way to do it.

No one knew how to get England to talk better than Wales, even with Jersey and Guernsey's experiences with the man.

So even if Wales weren't the blackmailing genius he was, Scotland would have still had to go to them to get the information he wanted or to figure out how to get the information he wanted.

That meant that it was time to make a deal with the devil.

"Hey, A' Chuimrigh! Can I talk to you?" Scotland said, walking up to Wales as they left the room, England quickly rushing by them.

"Sure you can, Alban. Want to know what England is up to and what he knows, I presume?" Wales said. Scotland nodded, not surprised that Wales had already figured that out, although maybe Wales wanted to know as well. Wales smiled, fangs poking over their lip.

"Good. So do I. He looked like he was planning something, which, knowing him, probably isn't a good thing. He definitely knows who that person is, but the fact that he won't tell probably means he doesn't want Britain knowing, or he doesn't want to say anything until he confirms it," Wales said with a shrug.

"Or he's just scared of getting wrapped up in whatever drama's going to come from this," Scotland added. Wales nodded.

"Well, luckily, you have me, the guy who can talk England into getting us involved because we're willing volunteers for this nonsense. And if he doesn't want to let us join, I can...convince him by reminding him of that little story from way back when that I'm sure plenty of people would want to know about," Wales said. Scotland snorted at that.

England really did care so much about what people thought of him. Even though he definitely knew that nobody liked him any more, old habits die hard.

"A' Chuimrigh, you know, embarrassing things about everyone. It's why people are afraid of you." Scotland told him. Wales's eyes became sad before he moved to cover it up, hiding his emotions behind a veil of false happiness. Scotland put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, A' Chu—" Scotland began to say before Wales shrugged off his hand and interrupted him. Scotland frowned.

"I can most likely get the information we want out of Lloegr. I'll text you when I do." Wales said coldly before marching off. Scotland flinched at Wales's cold dismissal, knowing that some embarrassing story of Scotland's would be made public for that comment.

And knowing Scotland shouldn't have said it at all.

Wales didn't like being called scary if he didn't want to be on purpose. It reminded him too much of the decades spent being told his dragon traits were wrong and the trauma Normandy gave England that England tried and very near succeeded in giving to Wales. It reminded him too much of being dehumanized and beaten before England tried to kill him.

You knew that, you idiot! Why did you have to be so stupid and say that? Scotland thought angrily to himself. He would have to make that up to Wales next time he got the chance.

Hopefully, Wales knew it wasn't intentional. Scotland was a shit brother for saying that. Why did he say that? God, didn't he ever think?

Scotland would need to make it up to him. He would need to make it up to Wales. Even though he was scary smart and scary when it came to blackmail, he was also the biggest, dorky mess you've ever seen.

And a massive nerd.

Wales may have his blackmail, but he still hadn't figured out Scotland knew he wrote fanfiction.

Wales might be older on a technicality and act like it quite a lot, but in a way, he was Scotland's kid brother, someone who he wanted to protect and look after.

Scotland hated it when he hurt them.

Even if it was a slip of the tongue.