[FIC] Game, Step, Match
Title: Game, Step, Match
Fandom: Axis Powers Hetalia
Word Count: ~2400
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: America, Japan, and Canada with brief cameos by Germany, Italy, and England.
Notes: Written for moose_princess for the hetaliasunshine exchange. There's swearing too, so rating could be PG13 depending on your tolerance level. Also, love to happy_duck for last minute beta work!
Summary: Wherein America does not lose against Japan on DDR, and Canada is the friendly angry neighbor.
When Japan first introduced a machine with a metal pad that had four arrows on it and blasted poppy electronic music at him, America rolled his eyes. Japan called it Dance Dance Revolution and America snickered because watching Japan play it showed him that the island nation definitely could not dance. Honestly; a game that taught you how to dance? Please. America had better uses for his time, like shooting aliens, dinosaurs, and zombies. Scoffing, America went back to killing zombies in Resident Evil 2.
Then Japan gave him DDR for his PlayStation 2 on his birthday, and America couldn't really refuse. Accepting the gift, America tossed it with the rest of his presents and left it at that. It wasn't until it was winter, snowing, and he was bored out of his mind that America finally opened the game Japan had given him.
It took less than a day for him to become obsessed.
After three weeks of locking himself in his house, and doing his best to master every single song on expert mode, Canada found him in his mess of a living room, smelling like he hadn't bathed in weeks.
"It's the smell of men!" America tried to explain before Canada locked him in the bathroom with demands that he shower or else.
When America emerged oder-free, he discovered that Canada hid his PS2 and refused to give it back. America had to swear in the name of DEMOCRACY and FREEDOM that he would never go more than three days without showering before Canada returned the game to him. He was also supposed to be mindful of how loudly he played his games or Canada promised he would regret it.
*
After that incident, America reminded himself to have restraint every time he played video games. It was only a game, not a matter of life and death. As long as it was fun, it was okay.
Until he broke it out one day when he'd invited Germany, Italy, and Japan over to 'better their relationship.'
"You're all so boring," America sighed, swiping one of Germany's beers from the glass coffee table while Italy and Germany continued to flail on easy mode of DDR. Well, Italy was flailing. At the same time Germany methodically stomped on the arrows of the dance mat, making America wince every time he landed.
Sinking into his seat next to Japan, America rolled his eyes and said, "Play on a harder level!"
"Shut up, America," Germany growled as he slammed his foot onto the up arrow, only to miss. Italy had already failed out of the song.
"It's still fun, right, Germany?" Italy asked Germany cheerfully who only growled in response as he continued to stomp on the arrows.
"I want to play next," America declared, taking over the mat that Italy abandoned. "We'll make it a competition!"
"Competition?" Japan asked, interest picqued. "What kind of a competition?"
"High score wins," America said, pointing at the scores that flashed on the screen. "Loser has to be the Winner's slave for a day!"
"That's stupid--"
"That sounds like fun! I want to play," Italy said, interrupting Germany who did not look at all pleased with the turn of events.
Despite Germany's protests, the majority of those present agreed to hold the impromptu contest. Beating Italy was not at all difficult. Germany played better, but was still a novice, so America swept the easy victories.
"America - 2, Axis Powers - 0," America whooped pointing at the lot of nations sitting on his single couch. "Who else wants to challenge me?"
"Ah, if you do not mind," Japan said, standing with a slight smile, "I would like to try."
America figured he had this in the bag, because no one could beat him at video games. He was the King of video games! No, not King, he didn't like kings--America was the President of video games. With that in mind, America selected a mildly difficult set of three songs. And then Japan won in the third round, totaling a higher score than America did.
"What?!" America blanched in disbelief as Japan won by 233 points. "This... this is impossible. I don't lose."
"Would you like to do this on a more difficult level?" Japan asked kindly, but America knew that tone--he'd heard it enough times from England being a condescending prick. Japan was mocking him! How dare Japan think about belittling him like that?!
"I was just warming up," America huffed, as they selected the next song (Paranoia), switching difficulty levels to expert. "You're not that great."
"Ah, yes, that's true. You're much better at this than me, America-san," Japan grinned, and America scowled because he wasn't about to lose to a tiny island nation that made up the size of one of his States.
An hour later, Italy was cheering for them both, while Germany searched for aspirin to dull the migraine he was getting from the game music and the psychedelic graphics on the television screen. Both Japan and America had been playing for the last hour without stopping, and the polite pretense Japan held earlier was gone and replaced with something much more aggressive. It reminded Germany of why they allied during the second world war.
"You are a formidable foe, America-san," Japan said as his hands knotted the 'Nippon Ichiban' headband tightly around his head. He always kept a stash of motivational headbands in his backpack for a reason. Dark, dark eyes flashed in determination as he glanced at America on the other mat. "I will not lose to you."
"Bring it, Sushi-boy," America snapped as Japan hit the X button on his dance pad for a random song selection.
*
If it wasn't mentioned before, Canada lived next door to America. The thing is, they more or less shared a wall on one side of their respective houses which was nice way back when telegraphs still existed and they all used Morse code. In the 21st century, Canada regretted building their houses that way because it meant a thin and barely insulated wall. This also meant that Canada could hear all the on-goings in America's house very, very well.
It was like living with slightly muffled surround sound of his neighbor. Most of the time, Canada could ignore America's noise pollution as white noise. However, the pounding and irritatingly peppy eurobeat from his southern neighbor had persisted for last week and Canada was tired. His eyes were bloodshot and he could hear Japan and America trash talking every three to five minutes at the end of a song.
He was tempted to just go and smash the car Japan parked in America's driveway. And then smash America's Hummer for good measure.
Nearly kicking down America's front door, Canada growled like his pet polar bear, almost tripping over the carpet, and screeched at them.
"It's 3:30 in the morning! Don't you two ever sleep?"
"No," came the chorused response before a series of stomping drowned Canada's hysterical laughter. At least, America thought it sounded like laughter--Canada could have been crying.
*
By the middle of the second week, America began to feel exhaustion creep up on him. Even the cans of Starbucks Doubleshot Espressos weren't helping any more. Hell, America had already finished off the case of Red Bull he had stashed in his home office and was still tired. He had to beg Canada over the phone to head over to the store to get him another case of energy drinks, and Canada only agreed upon the condition that he used America's car. However, according to his ipod-alarm clock, that was three hours ago and Canada still hadn't returned.
He would have been worried if he weren't so distracted by Japan's stubborn refusal to admit defeat.
Popping open his last can of corn syrup laced caffeinated beverage, America glared accusingly at Japan. "Ready to surrender, Japan?"
Japan gave him a jaded look as he uncapped his weird Japanese vitamin drink, "No. Prepare for defeat, America-san."
"I'll never lose to you," America snapped, as they began the next song.
After another two hours, the exhausted America was beyond frustrated. In fact, America knew he wasn't thinking clearly since that snarky little voice on his shoulder was telling him to shoot Japan as the other nation was definitely a zombie.
A frustrated scream escaped America's lips as he pointed angrily at Japan, "Just lose already!"
"Why don't you lose first?" Japan suggested and he was so irritatingly blase.
It was then that America snapped. Later, while explaining it to Canada, he would blame the sleep deprivation. In any case, during that lucid moment, America's cotton riddled brain told him, "fuck it." Half a second later, America sprang from his game pad and body-tackled Japan off the second DDR mat and onto the carpet floor.
"What--"
And America then tugged Japan's ripped designer jeans off and chucked them out the opened window.
Stunned and horrified, a cherry-faced Japan stayed on the floor, gaping at America who scrambled back onto his own mat and finished the song. He got a C+ for missing so many notes, but Japan failed and America was satisfied because that meant he was the champion.
"Fuck yes! And that is how I roll," America slurred drunkenly. "Suck it, Loser! You're my slave for a day!"
Shaking himself out of his stupor, Japan objected, "That was unfair, America-san! You made an underhanded move!"
"All's fair in love and war, Japan-baby," America said as if that justified it. "And I win at both."
Japan's mouth gaped like a fish out of water because, "You took my pants and threw them out the window! That isn't fair in any way!"
"You could've continued," American reasoned, shrugging as he turned off the game consul and television. Flexing his back, America yawned and shuffled towards couch before collapsing on it. "S'not my fault you got all embarrassed without your pants. 'm tired..."
America scarcely laid down before he was asleep.
Japan frowned at America's snoring form, as he sat seiza on the carpet. Five minutes later, he realized something very important when he decided he should probably go home: his jeans were still outside. Japan scrambled to the window to see if he could retrieve his pants without going outside and being indecent.
To his complete and utter horror, his jeans were no longer on the lawn. A quick panicked scan resulted in him locating it on the apple tree in America's yard along with a pack of squirrels who (Japan swore) were laughing at him as they dragged his jeans into their burrow. There were also children playing on the lawn across the street.
"America-san! Please wake up; my jeans are still outside!"
America mumbled something incoherently before snoring and turning over, his body hanging precariously at the edge of the couch.
"America-san!"
A grunt came from the blond nation, and then a hand grabbed Japan by the arm before tugging him onto America's chest.
"Wha-!"
"Mmm, Tony," America muttered in his sleep, officially trapping the paralyzed Japan in his all too tight embrace.
"I'm Japan, America-san," Japan cried as he tried to unsuccessfully squirm away. "America-san, wake up!"
Unfortunately, Japan's distressed cries only met snoring.
*
Eventually, Canada stopped by, surprised to find a half naked Japan sprawled on top of America on the couch, all but dead to the world.
"What is this?!"
"Stop, Zombie-Japan!" America cried, jolting awake and up. Like a pair of dominoes, America's sudden movement caused the still asleep Japan to fall off the couch and crash onto the carpet with a loud groan.
"That hurts," Japan grumbled tiredly, rubbing at his smarting shoulder to ease the pain from the fall. He blinked blankly up at Canada's cherry face, before it dawned on Japan that the situation probably looked worse than it actually was.
"Er..."
"This is not what it looks like," Japan immediately said, realizing that him wearing only his underpants indeed looked rather inappropriate. "There's a reason that I'm not wearing pants, I promise!"
Canada buried his face into his hand and Japan heard him count to ten. Once he'd done so, Canada looked up and beamed at Japan, patting the shorter nation jovially on the shoulder. "It's all right, I understand. You got wrapped up in America's crazy shenanigans. I sympathize. It's all America's fault. It usually is."
Canada's sudden change of mood made Japan nervous. And then Canada turned his cheer to America who looked a mixture of confusion and anxiety.
"All your fault," Canada snarled at America who immediately shrunk as much as he could on his couch. "You self-centered moron! Do you not think about your neighbors?! I've been up for the last week and a half no thanks to you! Of course you don't care! You have no respect for anyone other than yourself! All you cared about was winning even though it was inconveniencing others! You never think before you do things! Maybe if you got over losing, you'd be less of an exasperation! Oh, by the way, I smashed your car! HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?!"
"WHAT?!"
"And now I'm smashing this," Canada jumped on America's PS2, much to that latter and Japan's horror. And then Canada did it again and again until the machine was in pieces.
"M-my PS2! No! I hate you!"
America ran to his room in tears, because how could Canada do such a horrible thing? It took three hours before Japan could convince America to come back out... and that was with a promise of gifting him the PS3.
*
Japan was wary when America called him over a few weeks after Japan had given him the PlayStation 3.
"I have a new game! You have to come over and play since you're the only one who can match my skills," America bubbled gleefully over the phone. "You'll like it! It's like DDR, but better because it's more American!"
Japan was skeptical, especially after Canada's rampage on America's DDR. But America was convincing, and kind of whiny, so Japan decided to indulge the large nation and went over to America's house.
Japan was somewhat surprised to find England there too, wielding what looked like a bastardized Fender guitar.
"Rock band is totally the new DDR," America exclaimed excitedly to Japan before ushering him hurriedly to a fake looking drum set. "Come on, Japan, get on drums! You play it exactly like Drum-Mania. I'm totally the lead guitarist because I'm awesome like that! England's on bass."
"I'm only here because I want to play The Beatles: Rock Band," England mumbled embarrassed as he swung the wireless guitar controller around, so he could face the flat screen.
"Well, we're not doing that until we finish Rock Band, and Rock Band 2," America brattily informed England, even though he was secretly most excited to play that one too.
America glanced over at Japan and grinned, "Ready?"
Twirling the drumsticks like a professional, Japan smiled back, "Yes."
"All right, let's go!"
Fandom: Axis Powers Hetalia
Word Count: ~2400
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: America, Japan, and Canada with brief cameos by Germany, Italy, and England.
Notes: Written for moose_princess for the hetaliasunshine exchange. There's swearing too, so rating could be PG13 depending on your tolerance level. Also, love to happy_duck for last minute beta work!
Summary: Wherein America does not lose against Japan on DDR, and Canada is the friendly angry neighbor.
When Japan first introduced a machine with a metal pad that had four arrows on it and blasted poppy electronic music at him, America rolled his eyes. Japan called it Dance Dance Revolution and America snickered because watching Japan play it showed him that the island nation definitely could not dance. Honestly; a game that taught you how to dance? Please. America had better uses for his time, like shooting aliens, dinosaurs, and zombies. Scoffing, America went back to killing zombies in Resident Evil 2.
Then Japan gave him DDR for his PlayStation 2 on his birthday, and America couldn't really refuse. Accepting the gift, America tossed it with the rest of his presents and left it at that. It wasn't until it was winter, snowing, and he was bored out of his mind that America finally opened the game Japan had given him.
It took less than a day for him to become obsessed.
After three weeks of locking himself in his house, and doing his best to master every single song on expert mode, Canada found him in his mess of a living room, smelling like he hadn't bathed in weeks.
"It's the smell of men!" America tried to explain before Canada locked him in the bathroom with demands that he shower or else.
When America emerged oder-free, he discovered that Canada hid his PS2 and refused to give it back. America had to swear in the name of DEMOCRACY and FREEDOM that he would never go more than three days without showering before Canada returned the game to him. He was also supposed to be mindful of how loudly he played his games or Canada promised he would regret it.
*
After that incident, America reminded himself to have restraint every time he played video games. It was only a game, not a matter of life and death. As long as it was fun, it was okay.
Until he broke it out one day when he'd invited Germany, Italy, and Japan over to 'better their relationship.'
"You're all so boring," America sighed, swiping one of Germany's beers from the glass coffee table while Italy and Germany continued to flail on easy mode of DDR. Well, Italy was flailing. At the same time Germany methodically stomped on the arrows of the dance mat, making America wince every time he landed.
Sinking into his seat next to Japan, America rolled his eyes and said, "Play on a harder level!"
"Shut up, America," Germany growled as he slammed his foot onto the up arrow, only to miss. Italy had already failed out of the song.
"It's still fun, right, Germany?" Italy asked Germany cheerfully who only growled in response as he continued to stomp on the arrows.
"I want to play next," America declared, taking over the mat that Italy abandoned. "We'll make it a competition!"
"Competition?" Japan asked, interest picqued. "What kind of a competition?"
"High score wins," America said, pointing at the scores that flashed on the screen. "Loser has to be the Winner's slave for a day!"
"That's stupid--"
"That sounds like fun! I want to play," Italy said, interrupting Germany who did not look at all pleased with the turn of events.
Despite Germany's protests, the majority of those present agreed to hold the impromptu contest. Beating Italy was not at all difficult. Germany played better, but was still a novice, so America swept the easy victories.
"America - 2, Axis Powers - 0," America whooped pointing at the lot of nations sitting on his single couch. "Who else wants to challenge me?"
"Ah, if you do not mind," Japan said, standing with a slight smile, "I would like to try."
America figured he had this in the bag, because no one could beat him at video games. He was the King of video games! No, not King, he didn't like kings--America was the President of video games. With that in mind, America selected a mildly difficult set of three songs. And then Japan won in the third round, totaling a higher score than America did.
"What?!" America blanched in disbelief as Japan won by 233 points. "This... this is impossible. I don't lose."
"Would you like to do this on a more difficult level?" Japan asked kindly, but America knew that tone--he'd heard it enough times from England being a condescending prick. Japan was mocking him! How dare Japan think about belittling him like that?!
"I was just warming up," America huffed, as they selected the next song (Paranoia), switching difficulty levels to expert. "You're not that great."
"Ah, yes, that's true. You're much better at this than me, America-san," Japan grinned, and America scowled because he wasn't about to lose to a tiny island nation that made up the size of one of his States.
An hour later, Italy was cheering for them both, while Germany searched for aspirin to dull the migraine he was getting from the game music and the psychedelic graphics on the television screen. Both Japan and America had been playing for the last hour without stopping, and the polite pretense Japan held earlier was gone and replaced with something much more aggressive. It reminded Germany of why they allied during the second world war.
"You are a formidable foe, America-san," Japan said as his hands knotted the 'Nippon Ichiban' headband tightly around his head. He always kept a stash of motivational headbands in his backpack for a reason. Dark, dark eyes flashed in determination as he glanced at America on the other mat. "I will not lose to you."
"Bring it, Sushi-boy," America snapped as Japan hit the X button on his dance pad for a random song selection.
*
If it wasn't mentioned before, Canada lived next door to America. The thing is, they more or less shared a wall on one side of their respective houses which was nice way back when telegraphs still existed and they all used Morse code. In the 21st century, Canada regretted building their houses that way because it meant a thin and barely insulated wall. This also meant that Canada could hear all the on-goings in America's house very, very well.
It was like living with slightly muffled surround sound of his neighbor. Most of the time, Canada could ignore America's noise pollution as white noise. However, the pounding and irritatingly peppy eurobeat from his southern neighbor had persisted for last week and Canada was tired. His eyes were bloodshot and he could hear Japan and America trash talking every three to five minutes at the end of a song.
He was tempted to just go and smash the car Japan parked in America's driveway. And then smash America's Hummer for good measure.
Nearly kicking down America's front door, Canada growled like his pet polar bear, almost tripping over the carpet, and screeched at them.
"It's 3:30 in the morning! Don't you two ever sleep?"
"No," came the chorused response before a series of stomping drowned Canada's hysterical laughter. At least, America thought it sounded like laughter--Canada could have been crying.
*
By the middle of the second week, America began to feel exhaustion creep up on him. Even the cans of Starbucks Doubleshot Espressos weren't helping any more. Hell, America had already finished off the case of Red Bull he had stashed in his home office and was still tired. He had to beg Canada over the phone to head over to the store to get him another case of energy drinks, and Canada only agreed upon the condition that he used America's car. However, according to his ipod-alarm clock, that was three hours ago and Canada still hadn't returned.
He would have been worried if he weren't so distracted by Japan's stubborn refusal to admit defeat.
Popping open his last can of corn syrup laced caffeinated beverage, America glared accusingly at Japan. "Ready to surrender, Japan?"
Japan gave him a jaded look as he uncapped his weird Japanese vitamin drink, "No. Prepare for defeat, America-san."
"I'll never lose to you," America snapped, as they began the next song.
After another two hours, the exhausted America was beyond frustrated. In fact, America knew he wasn't thinking clearly since that snarky little voice on his shoulder was telling him to shoot Japan as the other nation was definitely a zombie.
A frustrated scream escaped America's lips as he pointed angrily at Japan, "Just lose already!"
"Why don't you lose first?" Japan suggested and he was so irritatingly blase.
It was then that America snapped. Later, while explaining it to Canada, he would blame the sleep deprivation. In any case, during that lucid moment, America's cotton riddled brain told him, "fuck it." Half a second later, America sprang from his game pad and body-tackled Japan off the second DDR mat and onto the carpet floor.
"What--"
And America then tugged Japan's ripped designer jeans off and chucked them out the opened window.
Stunned and horrified, a cherry-faced Japan stayed on the floor, gaping at America who scrambled back onto his own mat and finished the song. He got a C+ for missing so many notes, but Japan failed and America was satisfied because that meant he was the champion.
"Fuck yes! And that is how I roll," America slurred drunkenly. "Suck it, Loser! You're my slave for a day!"
Shaking himself out of his stupor, Japan objected, "That was unfair, America-san! You made an underhanded move!"
"All's fair in love and war, Japan-baby," America said as if that justified it. "And I win at both."
Japan's mouth gaped like a fish out of water because, "You took my pants and threw them out the window! That isn't fair in any way!"
"You could've continued," American reasoned, shrugging as he turned off the game consul and television. Flexing his back, America yawned and shuffled towards couch before collapsing on it. "S'not my fault you got all embarrassed without your pants. 'm tired..."
America scarcely laid down before he was asleep.
Japan frowned at America's snoring form, as he sat seiza on the carpet. Five minutes later, he realized something very important when he decided he should probably go home: his jeans were still outside. Japan scrambled to the window to see if he could retrieve his pants without going outside and being indecent.
To his complete and utter horror, his jeans were no longer on the lawn. A quick panicked scan resulted in him locating it on the apple tree in America's yard along with a pack of squirrels who (Japan swore) were laughing at him as they dragged his jeans into their burrow. There were also children playing on the lawn across the street.
"America-san! Please wake up; my jeans are still outside!"
America mumbled something incoherently before snoring and turning over, his body hanging precariously at the edge of the couch.
"America-san!"
A grunt came from the blond nation, and then a hand grabbed Japan by the arm before tugging him onto America's chest.
"Wha-!"
"Mmm, Tony," America muttered in his sleep, officially trapping the paralyzed Japan in his all too tight embrace.
"I'm Japan, America-san," Japan cried as he tried to unsuccessfully squirm away. "America-san, wake up!"
Unfortunately, Japan's distressed cries only met snoring.
*
Eventually, Canada stopped by, surprised to find a half naked Japan sprawled on top of America on the couch, all but dead to the world.
"What is this?!"
"Stop, Zombie-Japan!" America cried, jolting awake and up. Like a pair of dominoes, America's sudden movement caused the still asleep Japan to fall off the couch and crash onto the carpet with a loud groan.
"That hurts," Japan grumbled tiredly, rubbing at his smarting shoulder to ease the pain from the fall. He blinked blankly up at Canada's cherry face, before it dawned on Japan that the situation probably looked worse than it actually was.
"Er..."
"This is not what it looks like," Japan immediately said, realizing that him wearing only his underpants indeed looked rather inappropriate. "There's a reason that I'm not wearing pants, I promise!"
Canada buried his face into his hand and Japan heard him count to ten. Once he'd done so, Canada looked up and beamed at Japan, patting the shorter nation jovially on the shoulder. "It's all right, I understand. You got wrapped up in America's crazy shenanigans. I sympathize. It's all America's fault. It usually is."
Canada's sudden change of mood made Japan nervous. And then Canada turned his cheer to America who looked a mixture of confusion and anxiety.
"All your fault," Canada snarled at America who immediately shrunk as much as he could on his couch. "You self-centered moron! Do you not think about your neighbors?! I've been up for the last week and a half no thanks to you! Of course you don't care! You have no respect for anyone other than yourself! All you cared about was winning even though it was inconveniencing others! You never think before you do things! Maybe if you got over losing, you'd be less of an exasperation! Oh, by the way, I smashed your car! HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?!"
"WHAT?!"
"And now I'm smashing this," Canada jumped on America's PS2, much to that latter and Japan's horror. And then Canada did it again and again until the machine was in pieces.
"M-my PS2! No! I hate you!"
America ran to his room in tears, because how could Canada do such a horrible thing? It took three hours before Japan could convince America to come back out... and that was with a promise of gifting him the PS3.
*
Japan was wary when America called him over a few weeks after Japan had given him the PlayStation 3.
"I have a new game! You have to come over and play since you're the only one who can match my skills," America bubbled gleefully over the phone. "You'll like it! It's like DDR, but better because it's more American!"
Japan was skeptical, especially after Canada's rampage on America's DDR. But America was convincing, and kind of whiny, so Japan decided to indulge the large nation and went over to America's house.
Japan was somewhat surprised to find England there too, wielding what looked like a bastardized Fender guitar.
"Rock band is totally the new DDR," America exclaimed excitedly to Japan before ushering him hurriedly to a fake looking drum set. "Come on, Japan, get on drums! You play it exactly like Drum-Mania. I'm totally the lead guitarist because I'm awesome like that! England's on bass."
"I'm only here because I want to play The Beatles: Rock Band," England mumbled embarrassed as he swung the wireless guitar controller around, so he could face the flat screen.
"Well, we're not doing that until we finish Rock Band, and Rock Band 2," America brattily informed England, even though he was secretly most excited to play that one too.
America glanced over at Japan and grinned, "Ready?"
Twirling the drumsticks like a professional, Japan smiled back, "Yes."
"All right, let's go!"