England x Reader- Cheer up Charlie

A smile slowly began to tug at your lips as you pulled into the parking lot of the new world meeting area, the sight of England walking out the doors coming into your vision. The man had called you at the last minute, no more than half an hour ago, wondering if you could come pick him up from the latest meeting held in his own country. By the sound of his voice over the phone, he didn't seem the least bit happy. But you had grown accustomed to this, knowing that he probably had an off day at the meeting, perhaps worse than usual. You could see a yawn escape his lips from where you sat in the car, his figure slouched only slightly, hands stuffed deep into his pockets like he usually did when he was upset. Once he was close enough to the car, you bent to your right while the seatbelt held you back, hand grasping the door handle and pulling it open for him to get in.

"Another hard meeting, huh?" this sentence escaped your lips as he gave a quiet mumble, sliding into the car seat and fastening his seatbelt. There was definitely something wrong with him.

Arthur leaned his head back against the leather headrest fastened to his seat, his hands gingerly making their way into his mop of messy blonde hair. He gave a small sigh, heavy emerald hues looking away from the car parked in front of yours and over to your concerned (e/c) eyes. He nodded, sliding down in his spot so his knees were resting on the glove compartment in front of him. "Don't even get me started." his eyebrows furrowed, nothing but frustration reflected in his expression. "We never end up getting anything accomplished at any of these blasted meetings, and it always winds up with France making some stupid git remark that makes me argue against it. America always needs to be the center of attention, so he had to come in and continue bugging the hell out of me. Honestly, I don't even understand why we have these bloody conferences. It always ends up the same way- with me getting frustrated and blowing my top. It even gets so bad to the point where my tea tastes absolutely bitter and I can't stand to look at it anymore..."

Your eyes widened, never really realizing how much he hated gathering up with other countries. Sure, you knew that he had been frustrated, but not enough so to the point where he wouldn't drink his afternoon tea. He was the country of England. Arthur never usually got sick of his Earl Gray. Giving a small, almost saddened smirk, you set your hand gently on his shoulder, which had been covered with the wrinkle free, pristine army suit he usually wore.

"Hey, don't get so down about it. Maybe the next meeting will be better than this one?"

"I highly doubt that. Nothing ever gets accomplished. I mean, how hard is it to talk about world issues? I could see it being a little difficult at times, countries attempting to resolve differences and all, but it shouldn't end up with yelling and arguing over pointless little things like 'how stupid Americans are'. I shouldn't be the one to talk, but I'm never usually the one who starts the discussion." Arthur turned his attention back to the car that had been gradually driving away from in front of you, turning into the street and driving off for the day. "I'm the United Bloody Kingdom, for gods sake. I shouldn't have to put up with all this nonsense."

A muffled giggle managed to escape you, though you had tried to keep it to yourself so the British man wouldn't get more angry than he already obviously was. It had been rather amusing seeing Arthur when he was upset over the littlest of things, such as the topic he had been ranting about for minutes on end. You found him strangely adorable when he would get this way, and it couldn't help but make a small smile adorn your face. You didn't want him to notice this, however, because he would ask how you could possibly be smirking at a dire time such as this. All and all, he always acted like the world was going to end over some simple little problem that could be patched with common little words.

"Iggy, don't you think you're being a little too.. Oh, I don't know... Overdramatic? I mean, it's just a meeting. I know that it's important to you and all, but shouldn't you just try to settle things instead of joining in on the bickering? Even if it's just you, it might help cease your current problem." you cocked your head to the right, seeing his expression softening only the slightest. He crossed his arms over his chest, as if to pout like a small child, and looked down to his lap. You knew he hated the nickname that his brother gave to him when he was younger, so you had to take it upon yourself to call him it every so often.

"I suppose you do have a point." he sighed, his eyebrows un-furrowing from their current position and into a softer tone. "But it still doesn't take away from the fact that every meeting I go to, it ends up in total chaos that even I, nor Germany, can control. An ex-pirate, unable to get together a board room full of bickering countries. How's that for pathetic?"

You transitioned your gaze to the steering wheel, not exactly liking the way his attitude had suddenly transitioned from down right angry to self pity in only moments flat. It wasn't enjoyable to see one of your closest friends get upset all the time, especially over something so little. You could see where he was coming from with the whole 'country chaos' thing, but it was nothing to brew over. Deciding to make him happy once again, you attempted to think of something that would brighten his overall mood.

The only one thing you could remember that could usually cheer him up when you were children was not a special object, such as a blanket or toy, but a small tune that the two of you had shared and sang together on slow Sunday afternoons when there had been nothing else to do. You had taken the song from his favorite movie when he was younger, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and added some of your own lyrics to sing to him when he was down. It could always make him smile and get out of the funk he had been in, so you had memorized it just for him so you could sing it on special occasions when he would get into the mood he was at that moment. Smirking, you turned your now excited gaze back to his, nudging his arm with your pointed elbow.

"You get blue like everyone, but me and Mint Bunny, can make your troubles go away," Arthurs head lifted up only the slightest, his expression in an overall confused stature, not really brightening up in the slightest. "Blow away, there they go..."

His full attention was now on you, emerald hues seeming to lighten from the dull color they had currently been in. He had known exactly what you had been doing to cheer him up, and by the looks of him at that moment, it had been gradually working.

"Cheer up Arthur, give me a smile. What happened to the smile I used to know? Don't you know your gin has always been my sunshine; Let that sunshine show." you nudged him once more, a smile starting to slowly spread across his lips, as if he had caught the good mood from you yourself. "Come on, Arthur, no need to frown. Deep down you know tomorrow is your tea. When the days get heavy, never pitter patter, up and at'em boy."

"Some day, sweet as a song, Iggy's lucky day will come along. Till that day you've got to stay strong, Arthur. Up on top is right where you belong." you carefully put your key into the ignition, turning your head away from the man beside you with a small smirk, such as you had done when you were a child singing to him in the forest behind the cottage he had resided in. "Look up, Arthur, you'll see a star. Just follow it and keep your dreams in view. Pretty soon the sky is going to clear up, Arthur. Cheer up Arthur, do. Cheer up Arthur. Just be glad you're..."

Slowly driving the car away from the parking lot, you gave him one last smile before turning your full attention back onto the road.

"You."

Putting his head back down, Arthur's lids slowly made their way over his no longer burdened eyes, hands folded in the wrinkles of his green pants.

"Thank you, poppet. I needed that."