Orchard of Mines
Chapter One: A Few Small Words
Main Pairings: CanBel, PruLiech
Minor Pairings: UkraineGreece, German Pasta, One-Sided LitBel, FranUK, SwitzBelg, AusHun, SweFin, RusUS
Rating: T
Warning: Human names used sparingly. Belarus.
Summery: Liechtenstein wants to make more friends, but her brother's too protective to let her. Deciding to take initiative she separates from Switzerland at a World Conference. The friend she makes is not what anyone expected.
..0..
Liechtenstein felt a half anxious, half excited tremor run through her. She was finally going to do it. Casting a quick glance in her brother's direction she made sure he was absorbed in his conversation with Japan. Liechtenstein felt a warm flush of gratitude in her chest at the sight.
The Japanese man was visibly nervous, glancing around every now and again, but he held his ground. Her brother didn't seem to realize anything was wrong, simply continuing to discuss the proper way to shot a gun. Japan met her gaze across the room and for a second she was certain he flashed her a small, almost undetectable, smile of reassurance. Comforted by the expression, and the fact she'd made sure to remove the bullets from her brother's guns this morning under the guise of cleaning them to surprise him, Liechtenstein slipped out of the room.
The girl felt something unfamiliar trembling through, after a second she finally identified it. Adrenaline. Liechtenstein made a smile at that. She felt giddy. It had worked, weeks of planning had worked. Looking around nervously at the bustling room she suddenly felt shy. She barely knew any of them and they were all acting so familiar with each other. A small feeling of unease passed through her.
No, Liechtenstein told herself firmly. She would do this. Kiku's sacrifice will not be in vain. For she knew very well that if her brother discovered Japan had helped her escape he'd…Liechtenstein just hoped he hadn't packed extra bullets while she wasn't looking. Taking a deep breath she steeled herself and made her way through the room trying to look calm and at ease. Not like a nervous child, desperately wanting to make friends and scared out of her mind.
All she had to do was pick someone, she reminded herself firmly. A loud shout drew her attention and she saw England loudly berating America about something. The North American country appeared to be laughing it off. Liechtenstein knew America was a rather friendly country even if she hadn't spoken to him before beyond normal pleasantries. He seemed like a good friend to make. But England's hostility and the American's boisterous nature put her off.
Perhaps when she had a bit more confidence she could…? Shaking herself slightly she continued her search. They all seemed to have split apart into groups. Groups, she was now realizing quite uneasily, that had been in place for years. What if they wouldn't have her? Liechtenstein bit her lip to distract herself from those depressing thoughts. No, she'd been through this before. Even if she failed at making friends, it would be worth it. Wasn't that what she'd decided all those months ago?
Liechtenstein had been used to being alone when her brother couldn't be there. But she wasn't used to feeling so alone. It had unnerved her how sad and almost empty she felt nowadays. And then her brother had told her he wouldn't be seeing her for weeks because he was busy. Liechtenstein had almost cried at the news. On top of getting ready for the World Conference to be held in Switzerland for the first time in years, her brother had to play peace keeper between England and France at America's brother's behest. Apparently the two had fought a fight that went beyond there normal conflicts. So badly that they wouldn't even look at each other. There was no way Vash would be able to see her now.
It had taken Liechtenstein three hours to calm her brother back down once he saw her shinning eyes and they'd parted with a less than enthusiastic farewell. It was then in that moment of crushing loneliness and despair that Liechtenstein would make friends no matter the cost. She'd soon convinced Japan, who'd been visiting Switzerland, to help her.
And now she had her only chance to make friends and she was wasting it cowering like a scared little girl. Hadn't she survived everything life had thrown at her? She couldn't rely on Vash for forever. Now was the time to stand on her own. Liechtenstein zeroed in on two figures that could barely be seen in another room adjacent to this one. She wasn't close enough to hear what was being said, but neither looked happy. The taller one, in fact, was shaking for some reason. Confused and a little curious, Liechtenstein made her way across the room in time to watch Russia flee the small room looking extremely agitated and terrified. Even more confused Liechtenstein crept closer and peeked in through the open door.
Standing there looking sad and rather defeated was a pretty female nation Liechtenstein vaguely remembered. And then, finally, she placed a name to the face. It was Belarus. The small triumph she felt at remembering the name quickly faded though. Why was she so sad? Normal Belarus was calm and cool, even a little frightening. But now she looked close to tears. Horrified Liechtenstein wondered if she'd fought with Russia, who now that Liechtenstein thought about it, was Belarus's older brother.
How awful. Liechtenstein's eyes burned with tears of sympathy. She remembered the one and only fight she and Vash had had. It was horrible and Liechtenstein hadn't been able to sleep for a week terrified he hated her. She recalled how relieved she was when he'd told her he wasn't mad. Then inspiration struck. If anyone needed a friend it was Belarus. After all Liechtenstein would have loved to have someone to talk at the time of her and Vash's fight. Nodding to herself, Liechtenstein stepped in the room, closing the door behind her. It would be embarrassing for the whole world to see you when you're upset, she decided.
"H-Hello." She managed timidly and a pair of startled cool blue eyes.
..0..
"H-Hello," a soft voice called and Belarus stiffened turning quickly to find the owner of the voice. Her eyes narrowed as se took in the slim girl looking up at her shyly. Belarus resisted the urge to pull up her lip in disgust. Her boss would have been proud of the restraint she was showing if he'd seen this pitiful little creature.
She was a pretty girl, with wide innocent green eyes, and short blonde hair. Her delicate face and hands were gentle and soft, not showing a day of hard works wear and tear. She looked weak, trusting, and reminded Belarus of Lithuania, who had that same quiet aura. All in all she was all things Belarus hated. Not to mention she looked like that Swiss mongrel, who'd actually dared to shot at Brother, not a year ago for attempting to strangle America. The bastard clearly deserved whatever he got for being so rude to Brother. And in all honest he was lucky it wasn't Belarus who'd gotten a hold of him, America would be bleeding like a stuck pig if Belarus had her way, but Brother was oddly possessive of him. Belarus would have worried if they hadn't so obviously loathed each other.
"What?" Belarus snapped, none too diplomatically or with anything resembling warmth. That repulsively kind look in the girl's eyes didn't fade.
"I know it's none of my business-" the girl began.
"I don't doubt it isn't, so why are you here?" Belarus did not like this girl or the knowing calm and sympathy that saturated her. Then again Belarus didn't like anyone besides Brother, and, most of the time, Katyusha.
"It's just, just," suddenly the girl looked near tears. "I saw what happened with Mr. Russia and thought you might need someone to talk to."
Belarus stiffened and felt a hot rage grip her. But through that was something else, something she despised. Embarrassment. How dare this little sprig of a nation spy on her and Brother's private words! Belarus was about to reach for her knife, but the girl continued.
"I know how horrible it is, when you can't agree with you big brother." The girl looked deeply mournful for a split second. "I just wanted to tell you not to worry. I'm sure your brother loves you very much and he'll come around eventually."
Belarus froze, even her heart didn't seem to beat as those earnest eyes stared at her with such honesty she didn't doubt the girl's sincerity. Belarus's anger disappeared. This was-This was-How was she supposed to handle this? She was used to the others being disgusted by her pursuit of Brother or terrified of her. Not even Katyusha, who did her best to understand Belarus, had ever done that. Given her an encouraging word. Been supportive of Belarus's campaign. And for it to happen right after a particular callous snub from her brother, (He hadn't even looked to her or listened!) made it even more shocking. Belarus felt odd. Almost…happy. Belarus blushed as warmth spread through her.
It was oddly nice. To have someone say something like that. And, she looked up again to confirm it, to not look at you in fear. Even Lithuania, for everything her claimed, would watch her warily sometimes. Yet here this girl, Belarus couldn't even remember her name, was being kinder to her than anyone had been in years. It reminded her of how Brother had used to treat her when they were young and she felt a similar, though definitely not as meaningful, since this girl was obviously not Brother, pleasure.
Looking over her again, Belarus decided to reevaluate her first impression. After all she knew very well what the other counties said about her. It would take a lot of nerve to face her down so fearlessly. Belarus firmly refused to acknowledge the fact that Lithuania had attempted the same thing for years.
Perhaps the girl wasn't so pathetic or weak, in fact now that Belarus really looked at her she reminded her, oddly enough, of Brother. They both had a loneliness in their eyes. Though this girl's lacked the harshness of Brother's, they still had the same pain to a degree. And since Belarus had long decided she was the solution to Brother's loneliness she saw no reason why she couldn't be the solution to this girl's. Though of course her heart would forever belong purely to Brother.
"Thank you," Belarus managed and the girl beamed at her brightly.
"Who are you?" Belarus demanded, a little more harshly than she'd intended. The girl seemed not to noticed and, if anything, looked happier.
"I'm Liechtenstein." She chirped.
"Belarus," Belarus answered unnecessarily. The girl's face was now bright enough to burn retinas. Belarus dryly wondered if she should buy a pair of sunglasses since she had decided on continued contact with the girl. Belarus had the oddest feelings that everything was about to change thanks to a few small words.