A/N: Hi guys, this is a story from my old account and just moving it over here. This is Russia x Lithuania, this is based on the scene where Russia's heart literally falls out of his chest. The story is not historically accurate and Human names will be used later on but easy to follow even if you don't know them yet as it's only the two main characters. This is my first Hetalia fanfiction and I hope you enjoy, please review they mean a lot to me :3

Safe Keeping
Chapter 1: Insubordinate Heart

Russia's heart has a nasty habit of plopping out of it's owner's chest. It's a very nasty habit. Russia had been to the doctor, after being coaxed by his allies after the organ had fallen onto some papers and making quite the mess and not for the first time either, it was getting embarrassing, but the doctor had no explanation of why it did what it did or how the problem could be solved. Glue maybe?

It was happening a lot lately, not just during meetings but in the shower, on the train, during dinner, his heart just wouldn't stay put. Russia had half a mind to charge his own heart with insubordination. Russia chuckled under his breath at that thought, though it was slightly stressed, as he walked home through the snow covered streets of Moscow.

What was his heart's problem? Did it want independence? Was it suicidal? Did it just not like hi…

Russia's mood turned black as he remembered a certain Baltic state, how could thinking about his heart lead him to his precious Lithuania? Most things did nowadays, the snow reminded the blonde of the day young Litva and himself had met, the day he had come to live with him, and when the snow receded enough to show the green beneath the man's eyes would plague him even when he wasn't around.

Russia wasn't sure if Lithuania was suicidal or not, but Poland had certainly seemed distressed to hear of the suicide rate of Lithuania's people, highest in the world apparently. Was it really so bad...being with Russia? One thing for sure was that Lithuania wanted his independence, he had made that clear but was not distasteful about it, more humble and sweet, but then again he was always like that. Russia then wondered if his precious Lithuania even liked him, was that the reason he was so reluctant to let him go? Afraid his Litva wouldn't come back to him?

Thud.

Oh not again…

Russia looked down to his shoes where his heart had landed amongst the thickly fallen snow and sighed, one of these days he's going to lose the blasted thing. His thoughts were chased from him however the moment he heard a familiar rustling from behind him.

'Big brother, is that you're heart...can I hold it, give it to me big brother. Big brother give me your heart and marry me...marry me...marry m-'

Effectively terrified by Belarus, Russia did his usual bolt for home after quickly snatching his heart from the ground. Why couldn't he just have normal sisters?

~*((HETALIA))*~

By the time Russia had reached his home and safety from Belarus the poor nation was panting harshly, locking the door by key and chain Russia placed his heart on the lobby table along with his keys while he removed his coat and gloves.

"Welcome home Mr Russia" came the melodic voice of the Baltic state with rarely left the Russian's mind. "Oh...your heart..." the brunette squeaked somewhat surprised.

"Yes, it fell out on my w...way here" Russia hated how his breathlessness had made itself known whilst talking to his subordinate but Lithuania was smart enough by now not to mention it. "So, how was your day my darling Litva?"

"Oh, well..." you'd have thought Lithuania would be used to speaking in front of Mr. Russia by now but the man still seemed to intimidate him as would always struggle and pause around the larger man, Russia didn't mind though, in fact he really liked it when Lithuania was like this. The more Litva got frustrated, the more his lips would quiver, the more he'd fidget which meant playing with his hair, and most lovely of them all was that he'd blush in embarrassment. A blush that was innocent but powerful, almost forbidden and thus so tempting.

"Yes, Litva?" Russia spoke sweetly, his usual child-like smile in place.

"ummn...I finished the paperwork you gave me this morning a-as you asked, I-I cleaned the kitchen, dining room, Latvia and Estonia helped me clean the bedrooms and garden although Latvia has a cold so I didn't want to push him too hard, Sir."

"Very good, Litva" Lithuania let out a breath, his nerves having taken their toll although he knew Mr. Russia would catch him out on something, he always did. "Any calls?"

"uh, you're boss called, I've written out the message here" gesturing to the piece of paper by the lobby phone "he'd like you to call him back when possible. Belarus called but she hung up when I told her you were out, and..." Lithuania let the sentence all silent when he remembered whom else had called and he mentally scolded himself for not hiding the third caller better.

"And..?" Russia chimed sweetly cocking his head to the side like he didn't know the answer already. Shaking his head in disappointment when Lithuania didn't answer he leaned in closer to his precious Lithuania taking in the scent of cinnamon before looking over that beautiful blush. "By any chance, my dear Litva, did a certain Pole call you?"

Lithuania's eyes spoke the truth so his lips didn't have to; he almost looked ready to cry. Russia didn't know if he liked this or not, any reaction from the Baltic was precious but Russia could never really place his emotions, they were strange things.

"Tut, tut Litva...what was he saying to you?" Russia wasn't retreating from his close proximity with the brunette, he knew it made Lithuania nervous or bashful, he could never really tell, but he knew he enjoyed seeing Lithuania's face up close. He really was very pretty.

"...H-he was just chatting, he got a new pony called Darcie...and he painted his house again, it's now half pink and half white...l-like a marshmallow..." Lithuania let the sentence fade again, hoping he wasn't in too much trouble. Poland was his friend, it's not like he talked about Mr. Russia, or Lithuania's life at all really, not that he minded; talking about himself was pretty embarrassing.

Russia let out a purposeful sigh to show some dislike of Lithuania's antics, the brunette knew ablout his superior's attitude towards Poland but it confused him to think of why it did bother Russia so much. This wasn't the first time this conversation had come up, but this was the first time Russia's heart was exposed during it and Lithuania could see the pulsating organ to the side of Russia, normally Russia was completely unreadable, but the speed of the heart beats scared him.

"Litva, why do you insist on disobeying me" Russia breathed as he moved even closer, he wasn't sure if he wanted to scare Lithuania or if it was some self indulgence to get so close, Russia didn't understand feelings but he knew he wanted Lithuania. He had imagined so many scenarios of them, mainly doing ordinary things...only together; things like the dishes or laundry, paperwork and chatting then there were the…others.

There were scenarios that had danced through his mind in abundance, ideas hat were not so ordinary for superior and subordinate, things like holding hands, embracing and such. He had imagined so many things like their first date, what they would do if it ever came true, the second and the third, running from Belarus, kissing, arguing, and making was an insatiable need to keep him around and protected, for Lithuania to be his.

The blonde's cold breath tickled Lithuania's cheeks as he 'hmmed' not really expecting an answer, but then his precious Litva said something that truly took him aback.

"...a-are you g-going to...hit me?" he almost whimpered.

Russia physically stepped back, lavender eyes slightly widened by this. He hadn't hit Lithuania in decades, in the old days attacks were like lectures only more direct, hits didn't patronise or drag on and on but that kicked puppy look on Lithuania's face had eventually persuaded the husky nation into a less physical method of reprimand. He just didn't understand why those words had left the brunette's lips.

"...why would you think that my Litva?" he spoke in a calculated and careful tone.

Lithuania didn't speak he just shifted his gaze to Russia's side where purple eyes soon followed and fell upon the erratic beats of Russia's heart. Oh...

Russia's eyes didn't leave his heart's betrayal of information as he asked Lithuania to get dinner ready, a slight pause from the Baltic before nodding and entering the kitchen. Russia waited until he heard Lithuania busy in the kitchen before picking up his heart and whispering "I am really beginning to hate you" before sticking the accursed organ back in its place.

He wasn't surprised by the reaction of his heart to be honest, Lithuania was so wonderful, he could cook, clean, sew, fight with sword and words, show kindness in the harshest of situations, he was beautiful, he could sing as he was in the kitchen at that very moment so sweetly...but why was that warm smile never aimed at him? Russia left it to the idea that maybe he just didn't deserve that smile. He didn't deserve it. He was harsh, cold and numb, much like his countries land. Lithuania was so warm and kind and understanding.

But why did Poland deserve it? He was self-centred, ignorant and flaky. Russia knew they were just friends, Lithuania was in a whole different league than Poland as far as maturity and pretty much anything good you could think of, plus they had known each other from such a young age they couldn't see the other in such a way.

The whole thing just tired out Russia's mind, and he didn't need his brain deciding to plop out too.

After dinner, which was delicious as usual, Estonia excused himself after the awkward meal, for some reason the small talk was pained and stressed, Lithuania took his, Estonia's and Russia's plates as Latvia had been resting from his cold, after washing the dishes and putting them away Lithuania took up an extra plate of food up to the small nation in his bed.

Russia decided to try and take his mind off of his heart's reactions and his precious Litva by completing some of his paperwork. After 10 minutes of twiddling his thumbs and swinging on his chair Russia conceded to himself that no work was actually going to be done. Sighing, Russia went downstairs to retrieve his favourite vodka, he had plenty in his office but the vodka that burns doesn't allow many thoughts to finish themselves and that's exactly what he wanted right then.

Reaching the top of the stairs the nation's feet came to a slow stop as he heard something sweet from Latvia's bedroom. It, of course, was Lithuania. Stepping lightly as possible Russia bent down to look through the keyhole where he was presented with a view of Latvia lying down under the covers with a slightly flushes face from the cold and Lithuania sitting neatly on the edge of the bed, a half eaten meal on the bedside table and the brunettes elegant fingers running gently throught Latvia's hair.

And Lithuania was singing.

The words were Lithuanian so Russia could only understand the odd word or two but the voice, as hushed and sweet as it was enveloped him, the feelings he sung with were tender and...loving? was that it?

It hurt him, Russia knew that much, it seemed to stab his heart with a thousand tiny needs that embedded themselves to deep. Latvia was Lithuania's brother, that Russia could understand, but the care and love that was so easily being expressed right in front of him, but not to him, it hurt.

At that very moment Russia's heart decided to jump out of his chest, the insubordinate little bastard that it was, but Russia had managed to catch it mid air before it hit the floor and decided this was as good a time as any to leave the bittersweet scene before him and he made his way to his study with his heart in one hand and his vodka in the other.

Latvia had improved a lot very quickly, Lithuania thought as he was nearing the end of his chores for the day, he was glad he chose to have the little nation take it easy otherwise he would probably be worse by now. Lithuania let out a long breath as he relaxed into his sweeping, things weren't so bad here, especially since the beatings had ended years ago. The brunette felt slightly guilty however, that look on Mr. Russia's face when he had asked if he was going to hit him stung terribly at the Baltic's heart.

Lithuania didn't mistrust or dislike Mr. Russia as much as it seemed, it was quite the opposite actually, those eyes so childish and sweet, they could be cold when Mr. Russia wanted them to be but there were the odd occurrences when Russia was caught off guard and his eyes revealed just how easily he could be hurt or upset. Gentle spirit with a heart in need of thawing. That was Mr. Russia, if only others took the time to see that.

Setting the broom aside and letting the room turn dark as he made his way through the house, checking things one last time before bed. Estonia and Latvia were asleep already and the house was deathly quiet so the brunette wondered if Mr. Russia had already retired for the night. It was unlike him not to say goodnight to Lithuania, maybe the occurrence in the lobby had shaken the blonde nation more than Lithuania thought. Was Mr. Russia mad at him?

Making his way through the upstairs it became apparent that Mr. Russia was not in his room, the lights were still on in his study and the door was slightly ajar. The Baltic breathed in deeply, he was rarely in Mr. Russia's study, he usually needed the larger nation's permission but there were the odd occurrences when entry was acceptable otherwise. Defending it for example, if someone was trying break in to steal information and Mr. Russia was out at the time and so on. This was the most common occurrence however, the door was usually locked even if Russia was inside the study, so when it was unlocked that usually meant one thing. Mr. Russia was drunk.

Slowly opening the door further and stepping inside Lithuania felt saddened by the sight before him, on one side of the room lay Mr. Russia, passed out on the couch, half empty vodka bottle in hand. The floor by the couch was littered with empty bottles, he sure was downing the stuff that night, was he really so depressed? Lithuania frowned, small pout over his lips as he started cleaning away the bottles and placing them in the trash, he placed the lid back on the half empty bottle that was guided slowly from Mr. Russia's hand before he placed it in one of his many cabinets.

Lithuania knew he didn't have the strength the carry him to his room, he couch was a sufficient place to sleep although thinking ahead Lithuania knew a hangover would follow in the morning and so closed the curtains and fetched painkillers and a glass of water in the dark of the kitchen before leaving them on the coffee table by the couch and covering Mr. Russia with an extra duvet from one of the guest bedrooms.

Lithuania then scanned the room for any further mess, his eyes fell on the desk where Mr. Russia did his paperwork, true enough papers were in disarray, but that wasn't what caught the brunette's attention. In the middle of the desk, half covered in papers, lay the heart of the blonde nation.

'Oh Mr. Russia, one day you'll lose this if you keep this up…'

There was something in Lithuania that wouldn't allow him to just leave it there, it was a heart of heaven's sake, it was meant to be cared for. Looking at the papers there was little blood from the organ but there appeared to be old papers with older stains, clearly this isn't the first time his heart had plopped out during work. Gulping, Lithuania shook off his squeamish tendencies and took the still beating heart into his hands. It felt...strange, holding something so strong yet delicate and the feeling of its beating both unnerving and melodic.

Upon closer inspection Lithuania noticed the stitches and discolouration, it must be pretty beaten up, so many wars and attacks, and on top of that falling on the ground so many times couldn't have been too good for it either.

Sighing the Baltic whispered to the air "your heart should mean more to you than this...it deserves some care...and if you won't then…then..."

Lithuania said nothing more, only turned off the light and closed the door, heart still in hand.

Hope you enjoyed reading and please review!