It's the 10th anniversary of 9/11, so I'm doing a tribute. I know, I know, there's a ton of others as well. I'm jumping on the bandwagon. Besides, I've had this on my brain since September started. I may do a sequel, but for now, this is just a one-shot. It depends on how well my creative juices flow, and how RL treats me. (It's not looking good, sorry.)

I don't own Hetalia Axis Powers.

Towers

England flipped idly through the TV channels as he drank his tea. A severe-looking newswoman with explosions behind her caught his eye. What's going on in the world today?

"– and there have been reports of a third plane crashing into the Pentagon in America –" The words caught his attention immediately. "There will be more information on the news at 3. In other news –"

England no longer heard the woman. America. Crash. Pentagon. Oh God.

For the next fifteen minutes he waited impatiently for 3 o'clock to roll around so that the newscaster would say more about what was going on.

"In New York City in America today, two planes were hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center. At 8:46 AM EST, an American Airlines flight crashed into the North Tower. At 9:03 EST, another American Airlines flight crashed into the South Tower. The death toll is still unknown. Here is the footage of the second crash."

The screen was filled with a plane flying directly into a skyscraper, with another burning behind it. It reminded England of the London Blitz. The sound was not un-like those of the bombs that had fallen on London then.

"Recently, there have been reports of a third plane crashing into the western side of the Pentagon." She pauses for a moment. "There is a new development. Something is happening to the South Tower. Here is live footage from New York City."

The screen is once again filled with images of burning towers, but one is partially obscured by white clouds of dust. When it clears, it's obvious that there is no longer a tower there.

"Oh my God," whispers England. "Who… Why…"

The woman is talking again, but the towers – tower – are still on the screen. "No one has stepped forward to take credit for the attack. There is still another hijacked plane heading towards Washington DC. It has not crashed yet."

"I have to get to America," England breathed. He had that feeling in his chest, the same one as when he had hear about Pearl Harbor back in WWII. He didn't like that feeling. It always came out when America was hurt. He frantically dialed his boss.

"I take it you heard about the Twin Towers," his boss said.

"I have to get over there –" England began frantically.

"There's a no fly zone everywhere in America. I'll let you know when you can –"

England suddenly remembered. "Canada!"

"No. I'm sorry, England. I'll let you know as soon as they let us start flying government planes there again."

England hung up, defeated, and sat down on the chair, head in hands. He couldn't go to America. Damn.

America moaned as he lay in the hospital bed. New York. He hated the feeling of being helpless, of being unable to go and help find people in the rubble. But no. He was confined to his bed, weak from blood loss. And there was still another plane out there. God help him if it landed in DC. The last time that was attacked… He shuddered.

He wished there were someone else here. Another nation. One who understood this pain. England.

Wait, why am I thinking of England? he wondered. But it would be nice to have the hot-tempered Brit here right now. If only he returned America's feelings… If only...