Ukraine had been very self-conscious lately. When they were out, eating in restaurants, or just together, she'd look down, embarrassed when she'd order. He couldn't really think of why she'd not like her English. He'd even tried to take her around New York, letting her see just how many accents and cultures there were, but she still seemed stuck on it.
Compared to Lithuania, Ukraine's English was much more broken. She had reasons for this, of course. Russia hadn't been too keen on the language, given it reminded him of America and anything that reminded him of America was something the rest of the Baltics wanted to avoid as much as possibly, lest they face a darker side of Russia. Estonia had learned with his tech, Lithuania with coming to America, and from Poland, Sealand and Estonia had helped Latvia, but Ukraine had been left behind in this, being so close to Russia that no one dared teach her more.
Because of that, her English was still lagging behind the rest of her family.
America never minded. He wasn't like France who'd be personally offended if someone didn't speak his language perfectly. America was filled to the brim with different cultures, different languages and thick accents. And frankly, he found her accent and broken English downright cute. But it bothered her, so America, being an awesome hero and all, decided it was his job to help her. He wrote up a list of awesome things for her to practice her pronunciation on.
He sprung it on her the next time she came over. Well, not immediately, there was some couch-snuggling first before he pulled the list out of his pocket and gave it to her.
"What's this?" Ukraine asked.
"Just read it out loud."
"Awesome...list to read?" She recited. She looked up, still confused.
"Just try it," America prompted.
"Have...it your way," Ukraine said. She looked determined as she enunciated each word.
America grinned. He was almost there to playing out his favorite roleplay scenario: sexy fast food worker who brings free food. He could just see it now: She'd be in her fast food worker uniform, with the buttons popping off and that cute little hat. He'd order the number 5 special, and he'd have it his way, all right.
"Then it is awesome, yes?"
"Totally."
She pronounced it avsome and it reminded him of that one episode of How I Met Your Mother where Barney was totally jealous and pining over Robin. Great episode. One of these days, he was going to show her the whole series. Maybe she'd even take some of that legendaryness back home with her. That'd teach Russia a thing or two.
She read on, adjusting the paper as she did so.
"The zombies...in zombieland fall plainly under the shotguns shells?" Ukraine said. She looked up at him, questioning.
"Boom! Headshot!" America said.
"That's.... a good thing, yes?"
"A very good thing!" America said.
Like My Fair Lady, but with awesome. Zombies made everything awesome. Like those latest Austen books with zombies? It was the first time he'd ever read Austen, and he had to admit that he thought the ultra-violent zombie action really added to the plot.
(England thought he was a heathen for this, but he always thought he was a heathen. France had personally told him to not even think of doing that to his literature, but he showed him. Pfft, like he'd ever read French literature.)
He had this niggling feeling like he should actually watch chick flicks with her, like that'd be the proper boyfriendly thing to do, or something. Probably Canada had mentioned something like that, considering now that he was dating France, he suddenly thought he authority on dating and kept giving him all this advice. Then again she had really loved that James Bond marathon they'd done a while back, and next weekend they were going to watch Indiana Jones like it was nobody's business. So the chick flicks could wait for now. At least until after he got her to roleplay a bond girl, because she was just made to be a bond girl.
"Misterrr Bond, please beware of zombies," she read, seeming more confused by the moment.
She stopped reading, realization seeming to come. "Is this roleplay? Am I naughty teacher? Should I open blouse and say 'I am naughty naughty girl'?"
"No – actually yes, open your blouse if you want," America said. "I'll never say no to that."
She chuckled. As if on cue, one of her buttons popped open. He suddenly forgot the conversation, and everything else except her sweet, sweet sweater puppies.
"So what was it for?" She asked. It took his attention from the missing button and the glimpse of her lacy bra.
"What?" He said.
"The list. What is it for?"
"Oh! That! I was trying to help your English with the list, right? Like Hooked on Phonics and junk," he said.
"So you really don't like my accent?" Ukraine asked, her voice getting that wavery way she did before she burst out crying.
"No, I like it, it's cute. But you seemed so unhappy... I wanted to awesomefy your language," America said.
She smiled. The sun was back and the crying crisis averted. Which was good, because he really hated it when she cried, especially because of him. Heroes were totally weak to girl's tears, and he was no exception.
She leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Your attempt are ah, sweet, but I am learning from Canada."
"Oh...really?" America said. He was a bit disappointed. They hadn't even gotten to the point where she would be spouting random internet memes.
"I want to improve my people's possibilities...but I will also try to remember my native language as well. Oh! I could always play 'naive Ukrainian farmgirl with thick accent' yes?"
America wrapped his arms about her waist. "Oh man, that's my favorite."
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