Fear

Latvia was afraid of Russia. Afraid of his crude punishments, his sadistic smile and cold aura, that emanated on five meters from he was standing. Raivis was trembling, when he felt it. And he was sure that this horrible man is fearless. Or maybe he fear only holy water, just like other demons and devils. Someone that cruel can't fear anything. Fear just didn't suit to him. Estonia could be frightened, Lithuania could be frightened, Latvia could be frightened, but Russia? It was some kind of rule – everybody was afraid of him, but he feared nobody. Fear was human thing and nobody considered Russia as a human.

Or maybe there was something like this…? Sometimes Raivis was wondering how would look like expression of fright on this always smiled face. He tried to imagine this big purple eyes scared, or this huge body trembling, and he felt it really difficult, really impossible. Besides if Russia found out that one of his servants was thinking about something like that, he would kill him. So Raivis was doing his chores and thinking about it only in this few times, when he was free.

That night was quiet and pretty warm, in spite of blizzard outside the window. Raivis was sitting in his bed reading something by Chekhov. Well his satirical novels always cheered Latvia up after day filled of unpleasant events. Russian literature wasn't that bad as Russia himself. Generally his culture was really amazing and good. Sometimes Latvia made an conclusion that without Ivan's cruelty, he would get easily rusificated*.

Silence was full of peace and softness. Evening was Latvia favorite time of the day. Exactly – the time before Raivis go to sleep (and, well, the time, when he was waking up, was most hated moment in day). When he was alone, without his huge guardian named Ivan, he was feeling nice harmony in his heart. In the rest of the day he could be used to many works, but nobody will interfere him in this holy time, that was only for himself. Even Russia respected that rule.

But that evening was different. It started innocently. Latvia suddenly put up his head, because he heard sound of steps in the hallway. Well, people were walking there from time to time. It was rather normal, that he could hear them. Raivis returned to reading, but after few seconds he heard sound of HIS heavy boots. Latvian's eyes widened. Curious he started to listen carefully. It seemed Russia was in hurry. And after some time of listening Raivis ears caught sound of other's boots.

Suddenly door to his room was quickly opened and – to Latvia's terrifying – Russia came in, slammed the door behind himself and leaned his back against them. He was breathing really heavy and slowly, which proved he was running. Latvia started to trembling as always. Then Ivan's gaze turned from the door to room and stopped on scared Raivis, who hugged his knees and also was staring at his master.

"Oh, crap." Russia cursed. He quickly turned his face to doors, but the sound of others steps started to get louder and then…

"Brother, where you are?" Woman's voice, full of softness, almost love, came from the other side of the doors. Latvia quickly realized, it was Belarus' voice and that she started to check every door in the hallway.

Ivan once again turned himself to the Latvia. He came closer to the boy and whispered:

"Hide me, quick! If she find me, I'll be doomed for life."

Raivis didn't say anything. He was just watching him for few seconds and couldn't believe what he was seeing. Widened eyes, filled with frightening; quick, restless breath; sweated forehead, hands nervously clenched on the bolds of bed and finally this frightened expression on chubby face. Latvia had no doubt about this – Ivan Braginsky was scared. And this view was so weird, so touched, so sad, that Latvia forgot about everything, what he suffered from Russia, and decided to help him.

Still trembling Raivis stood up and started to looking for any good hide. His eyes suddenly stopped on the big closet, big enough for Ivan to hide there with bent knees. Raivis smiled and quickly opened its doors and just pointed it. Still terrified Ivan nodded nervously and came in. When he was already there, Latvia closed the door and rapidly jumped into the bed. Just when he had done it, Belarus opened entrance of his room and rolled her eyes on the room.

"Heh?" She looked at Raivis with surprise. "Why are you trembling, Latvia?"

Latvia was still trembling, because he was thinking about Ivan's presence in the closet. He knew he had to stop or find excuse, for Ivan's and his own sake. Belarus knew everything what was happening in Russia's house, also that Ivan made him trembling like a little frightened animal. She will realize it and Russia will be unhappy of it. And when he is unhappy… Oh, my… But it was rather interesting, that Ivan was afraid of his own little sister. This meant she must be even more cruel then he.

"I… I…" Raivis was in progress to figure something out, but couldn't thought about anything good.

"So Vanya is here." She said coldly and started to check every corner.

Latvia's heart started to pound quickly. He had to do something. If he won't, something bad could happened. Belarus was nervously, almost angrily checking his room. Fortunately she didn't came to closet yet, but she started to sorting the pillows on Latvia's bed and even put up the cover to find no sign of Ivan. She made angry expression and even growled.

"Tell me, where he is!" She yelled, catching Raivis' collar and shaking him violently. "Tell me, where is my brother!"

"I don't know!" Latvia cried. "Really!"

Her eyes were dark purple, even darker then Ivan's. And Raivis saw wrath and obsession there. She wanted hers brother in really unhealthy way. Maybe she wanted to punish him, or maybe just force to something he hated. Anyway, she was determinate to get him.

Meanwhile in the closet Ivan was nervously listening, what was happening outside. He wanted Belarus to just gone already. God, how he wanted her to leave! And when he heard her angry yelling and desperate callings of Latvia, he wished that teenager won't betray him.

"I will ask one last time." Belarus' voice came to Russia's ear. "If you won't answer, I will leave you on the snow for whole night only in pajamas. So tell me: Where. Is. Ivan?"

Russia held his breath. His ears started to gain its limits, that he could hear even mosquito in the other side of the room. Do Raivis will try to save his skin from Belarus' wrath? Or maybe he will be loyal to his master, which in this situation was really hard? If Ivan was in his place, he probably would hesitate. Even now he couldn't know, what he would choose.

"I will tell you!" Horrified Latvia cried and Ivan knew his time had come. He prepared himself to face the Belarus, when he suddenly heard Raivis' shaking response: "He escaped through my window!"

"Oh, crap!" Belarus cursed and released Latvia. "He must be down from five minutes!"

Russia couldn't believe that he was hearing sound of leaving Belarus and then sound of slammed doors. Raivis slowly opened the closet and Ivan saw his face enlighten by lamp on the ceiling. Latvia wasn't trembling, he was just watching his master with weird mix of interesting, worry and fear.

Ivan slowly came out from the closet. Then he started to rub his arms and walking from side to side. Latvia came back to his bed, but not to Chekhov. Suddenly he realized something and rubbed his eyes, to check, if it is for real, but yes, it was real. Russia was TREMBLING!

"Y-you know…" he started. Russia stopped and gazed to him. Raivis took deep breath and continued: "You can stay here for some time."

"Stay here?" Ivan said with surprise.

"She will be probably looking for you. You can wait for the morning, if you want. Not that you are afraid of anything, but…"

"Latvia…" Russia whispered with disbelief, but then smiled.

Ivan came closer to Raivis and hugged him so tightly, that he could hardly breath.

"Thank you for everything." He whispered to Latvia's ear. "I will never forget it."

That evening Latvia discovered new face of his master. That evening Latvia discovered that Russia also had his own horrible fears. That evening Raivis discovered, Ivan also have someone, who make him trembling and sweating. That evening he and Russia were equal.

That evening Russia was human.

*rusification - process of intentionally (or not) influent of Russian culture on other nations. It was one of the points in programme to, for exemple, made Russians from Poles in the Russian annexion of Poland.