Note: These were originally posted in the FF . net story "Flying Pieces of Paper." They have been moved to this new story in an organizational attempt.

x Readers.

The roar spread through the crowd like a wave. You screamed along with them, the people, your people, who crowded around the government building. You felt elbows and jostles, and someone kept stepping on your heels, but you screamed along with them.

A ring of police surrounded the building, the space behind them looking too large and empty against the mass of bodies on the other side. You hoisted your picket sign and screamed the rallies of those beside you—

"Give us independence! Give– us– independence!"

Your people had been fighting for this, since the first currents of regional differences to the separation of interests between yourpeople and the government's people. And now, you were all so close. The government—and the personification—were breaking.

Someone touched your elbow, too soft to be accidental in the swirling mass of bodies. You turn your head to scream encouragement, but the call dies in your throat when you recognize Prussia. You grin, laughing at the sheer joy of the situation and his appearance.

"What are you doing here?" You shout over the noise, stepping closer so that he could catch your words.

"How could I miss this?" He asked, gesturing.

And for a moment, you almost felt guilty. Prussia, who loitered around World Meetings, aiding countries with military advice, always offering to do your paperwork or clean or tell you the best way to get the government's attention.

But this was your nation, and you nod at his question, joining in as another chant for independence started up again. Prussia was at your side, screaming along, interlinking his arm with yours and pulling you through the crowd so you could see the governmental building.

You allow yourself to be led, excitement making your fingers tingle. Prussia was warm against the chill air, and you suddenly felt better than he was there. It was always him to help you edit proposals, wasn't it?

He would laugh at your suggestions, tease you, but then he would always have another idea, something that worked and made everything better.

And he stayed with you, until the guards knocked back the protesters and the sun began to dip below the horizon. The crowd began to filter away, and suddenly you and Prussia could stand side-by-side without being pressed together. And then the streetlights flickered on and you were the only two standing on the trampled grass in front of the building.

You were still breathless from the rally, hair wild, adrenaline still making your heart race. Prussia stood, hair shining underneath the city lights. He was gazing away, and you watched his profile for a minute.

Did he miss this? Having a people? The various scientists who studied the personifications seemed to argue that there was still a cultural divide that allowed Prussia to survive, but surviving wasn't the same as living.

Prussia sprawled on the trampled grass, and you took a seat beside him. Your gaze fell on the building and your felt yourself smiling.

"What is it?"

You looked over to Prussia, who had twisted his body so he could make eye contact. You laugh, start to say something, but end up laughing again. Prussia wiggles on the ground, and the ridiculousness of the situation gets you again.

"I think I'm actually going to gain independence," you finally manage, shaking your head. "I think my independence is actually going to be granted. Can you even imagine?"

Instead of a warm response, Prussia was silent for a moment. "It's not as easy as that, you know. I'm just saying!" He sat up, attempted to smile. "It's hard. It fun, and exciting, but God, is it hard."

You pick at the grass, wondering where your boundaries were in this conversation. "Do you… Are you ever… Sad about it?" You grimace. "What I mean is—"

Prussia scoffed, a playful glint to his eye. "What you mean is that you can't speak worth anything. Don't worry, I'll be there to help you through learning how to talk. Speeches. I write great. Practice every day."

"You write in your diary."

Prussia shrugged defensively. "Same thing!"

"It's really not."

The look that crossed his face was one of indignation but also, vaguely, of agreement. You laughed again, leaning so you touched shoulders. It had been a good day. Your laughter died off, and it was just the sound of night traffic.

You looked over and met Prussia's eyes. He immediately looked away, and you saw his jaw clench. You were good friends.

You were going to be a nation. You were going to have responsibilities, going to have to fight tooth and nail into other nations' politics and trade, going to form a new government and fight your own issues. Distractions, you thought absently, were probably not a good thing at this point in time.

But it was just Prussia, sitting next to you in the chilly air.

He looked back to try and salvage the situation, so you leaned and kissed him. His mouth opened in surprise against your own, and he seemed frozen until your hand found his. Then, it was gentle and cautious as your adrenaline wore off.

A nation was allowed distractions.