The following post aims
to give a concise breakdown of America and Lithuania’s relationship. Since the
material can be used for both shipping and friendship purposes, I’ve tagged
things accordingly. In analyzing their relationship, I’ve sorted it into three
main themes. Let’s go over them.

Structure:

An overarching theme of
their relationship is structure and the previous lack thereof. Lithuania moved
in with America post–WW1 for employment purposes as his country was
experiencing an economic recession.

Source: Hetarchive, Lithuania’s Outsource pt. 1

Nonetheless, it’s
important to understand where the two were coming from emotionally prior to the
move.

America was living on
his own, having just recently come out of isolation. He still wasn’t on good
terms with England and hadn’t coped with the feelings of grief and bitterness
that accompanied his declaration of independence.

Point is, America was
lonely.

Ex: During an overseas visit
to Japan for trading purposes, America attempts to befriend a whale. He also
declines England’s offer—who was able to read into America’s covert
loneliness—of friendship. Note that this takes place a little bit before, during the Meiji era of Japan.

Source: Hetarchive, Black Ships Have Come.

Lithuania had it a lot tougher. His empire with Poland had been annexed, culminating in him being
forcefully torn from Poland by Russia. In Russia’s home, Lithuania was likewise
forced into servitude. We also learn that in between the world wars, where he
had briefly gained independence from Russia, Lithuania had accumulated several
scars on his back from the abuse he underwent at the hands of the former.

Sources: Hetarchive, Hetare 4: Pact of Steel + Hetarchive, While You Were Gone.

In light of the turmoil America and Lithuania both experienced, the personal and positive experience of living with someone gave structure to lives that had for too long revolved around the chaos of
politics.

This brings me to my
next theme.

Companionship:

The two became best
friends when they lived with each other. Both experienced the loss of a partner
(America, England, and Lithuania, Poland), so to find a friend in these times
was crucial for them in establishing a sense of normalcy in their lives.

For once, work didn’t
take priority and they were able to relax, enjoy each other’s presence, and essentially become best friends.

Lithuania cooked for
America and basically organized his whole life as he took up a clerical/ assistant position.

Source: Hetarchive, Lithuania’s Out-sourcing pt 1. 

Other peak examples of
their friendship would include:

America’s pets taking a
liking to Lithuania and competing for his attention.

Lithuania sleeping with
America, since the latter was too scared to sleep alone having just watched a
horror film.

Source: Ibid + Hetarchive, Lithuania’s Out-sourcing pt 2.

Coping & Respite:

Lastly, the two’s
friendship was very much a healing experience.

America’s home provided
Lithuania with the sanctity of a healthy, stable, and safe environment—the polar
opposite of Russia’s home. He also felt comfortable enough to confide in America about his separation from Poland.

Source: Hetarchive, Lithuania’s out-sourcing pt. 1 + pt. 2.

Similarly, Lithuania
helped America cope with his separation from England.

Ex: When Lithuania first
moves in with America, we learn that America drinks coffee in spite of his
grudge towards England.

Source: Hetarchive, Lithuania’s out-sourcing pt. 1.

This grudge is touched
on again in the Cleaning out the Storage strip, where we learn that America had
shoved away items that reminded him of England (e.g., toy soldiers, a gun from
the revolution, and a suit that England gave him).

The strip involves
America cleaning out the closet—a metaphor for airing out his past and making
peace with it—and reliving his life with England as his parent figure.

Source: Hetarchive, Cleaning out the Storage.

After he’s finished
cleaning, Lithuania is perceptive enough to offer America coffee and the two serenely
enjoy the drink in America’s backyard. The nature is particularly important
because it shows how grounded and calm America has become as he decides to open
up to Lithuania.

The fact that America
drinks coffee too is symbolic in itself, as it shows that while his grudge and
spite are still present, there’s the hope and prospect that things will get
better as he matures. Essentially, Lithuania has become the familiar shoulder
for America to lean on.

In sum, while short-lived
and ending on the sad note where America became too poor to be able to host Lithuania
(following the Great Depression), the two shared a relationship that was full
of genuinity and sentiment.

The sadness on America’s
face as Lithuania is torn away from him says it all; it’s an arc in the manga
that I’ll always appreciate and have a soft spot for.  

Source: Hetarchive, Lithuania’s Out-sourcing pt. 3.