America/England

America/England is a popular slash pairing in Axis Powers Hetalia, involving the characters of America and England.

The pairing is sometimes referred to as Joker, a portmanteau of the first syllables of the characters' human last names (Jones and Kirkland).

Baby America

During a visit to the Americans, Sweden and Finland caught sight of a little boy in the wilderness. When England and France heard about this, each of them became convinced that the child was supposed to be his little brother, resulting in a quarrel over ownership of America. France attempted to win America over with his food, which depressed England because his cuisine couldn't match up to France, but America ended up choosing England when he saw him crying.

After gaining custody of America, England vowed to work hard to keep him safe. However, when America (still only a child) effortlessly lifted a rampaging bull off the ground, England realized that America might not need such protection after all.

Colonial America

In his childhood, America was extremely fond of his "big brother" England, pretending to enjoy his cooking and becoming upset when England had to depart for Europe. England, in turn, paid special attention to the boy, giving him toys and clothes. He told America to do his best and become strong while he was away, and on his next visit was stunned to discover that America had grown taller than him.

The American Revolution

The brotherly or father/son relationship between England and America changed irreversibly when an older America declared to England that he was no longer his baby brother and wanted to be independent from him. England, unwilling to let this happen, managed to overpower America but ultimately found himself unable to shoot him, and collapsed into tears at America's feet. America, looking down at England and remembering when he looked up to him as a child, said that he used to be so big.

The War Years

America and England were both part of the Allied Forces during World War II. Despite this, the two did not get along well with each other. England in particular, still bitter about the Revolutionary War, was quick to deride America's plans. America was just as quick to insult England back, saying that his scones were awful. An enraged England tried to choke America upon hearing this, exclaiming that he had made the scones himself.

England often tried to outmaneuver or humiliate America, but never was successful. In one instance, he tried to get America drunk but ended up becoming drunk himself, ranting about how America wouldn't have gotten as far as he did if it weren't for him and crying about America's ungratefulness.

In three separate strips, England was shown falling ill. In one, America tried to cure him by putting a hamburger on his forehead. In another, England asked him to say his name like he used to; America refused, but ended up yelling out his name when England appeared to have died. The third one, included in the published manga, had England confess to America that he didn't hate him and be on the verge of admitting something else before falling unconscious; America expressed glee at his apparent death because he knew it would cause England to become wide awake again.

Buon San Valentino

In the second part of the Valentine Day strips, England learned that America had withdrawn his troops after not getting any chocolate from England. England showed up at his house with some chocolate, only to find America already eating a barrelful of chocolate.

Modern Life

In the Happy Birthday strip, England showed up at America's birthday party despite claiming that it made him sick to remember the Independence Day being celebrated. America told him that he enjoyed remembering how he humiliated England on that day. England looked hurt by this until America said that he lied, causing him to become annoyed instead. England gave America a present too, but it turned out to be a punching glove that punched America in the face when he opened it.

Fan Speculations

Many fans say that England's behavior towards America as an adult is reflective of the tsundere, a character that acts cranky and combative to his or her love interest but harbors a hidden sentimental side for him/her, because the insults he directs toward America seem to stem from his hurt over America leaving him. In the first part of the Christmas 2007 strip, a drunken England reveals that he suffered from a broken heart for at least a century. He doesn't say outright who the object of his affections was, but most fans agree that it was America.

America's own behavior towards England can be interpreted similarly; the only times he gets melancholy is when he remembers his former relationship with England and how it ended badly, but he never shows this to England, instead going out of his way to tease or infuriate him, which some fans see as his way of hiding what he really feels about England.