Gilbert clenched his eyes shut and knew it would be over soon.

It was the middle of the night and Ivan was drunk again. The Russian prowled the empty halls like wild bear while the other nations lie awake in their beds, wondering whose room he would choose. A low chant of song echoed off the walls and added sound of a lead pipe scraping wallpaper was maddening. "Certain pleasures are forever…" Ivan sang and took another drink.

Old wood creaked as he ascended the spiraling staircase and tapped on the first door. "…we are raised in disbelief."

The German could almost see the fragile child shiver in terror under thin blankets. He was so young and seen so much agony in his brief life. "Don't hurt him Ivan…" Gilbert willed the Russian to leave the child be and breathed a sigh of relief when he heard footsteps again.

Another swig of alcohol and Ivan loudly struck the wood of the second door, making them flinch. He began to sing again "Certain tortures are forever…" It was Estonia this time, holding the bible and the Lord's Prayer close to his heart. "…there is silence when we preach." Thanking the God he worshipped, he too was passed over.

"Certain pleasures are forever…" Short nails clawed at the brunette's door and Toris couldn't block out the eerie sound with a pillow. "…we are feared and disbelieved." He knew the Russian's anger and sorrow more than anyone else, he closed his eyes and knew he would be chosen again. There was a pause before Ivan walked away for a third time. "Certain tortures are forever…"

One door left. Gilbert sat up in his bed and despised himself for not barricading the door when he had the chance. He held a stolen knife tightly and would fight, he had no choice.

Ivan let his trademark piece of plumbing and bottle clatter to the ground and pressed his hands to the painted wood. He kissed the rough surface and whispered the final notes sadly "…can you satisfy my needs?"

The cool surface was pleasant on his heated skin, giving him slight respite from his internal turmoil. A part of him wanted to tear out his gory insides and smear them on the walls so they could no longer cause him pain.

Cheerful pastel paint cracked and splintered under the long drag of his nails, the emanating screech was deafening. Violet eyes studied the large shard that embedded itself into his nail-bed and watched the blood ooze freely in the moonlight. Taking the shard between his teeth and yanking it out, he drew a simple doodle on the German's door in his life fluid.

Smiling at his handiwork, he picked up his vodka and pipe and went to his own room to sleep.

Morning came like bomb, forcing the satellites out of bed to start their chores.

Toris was the first to wake and pounded on the German's door. "German Democratic! Please wake up!" He called out, still polite despite his urgency.

Gilbert threw off his sheets to answer the Lithuanian without bothering to change out of his pajama pants. "What's goin' on? And don't call me that." He whined, tying to fix his disheveled hair and the worried brunette only pointed.

Ruby eyes widened at the carnage, deep claw marks crisscrossed over damaged wood while a faded heart hung in the center. "My God…I think the nutcase likes me."

Ivan sipped his coffee and bit into a fresh pastry. "Your brother called today." He spoke flatly, licking violently red filling out of the baked goods cavity. Gilbert looked up from buttering his toast and the Russian continued "He has arranged to see you at noon at a neutral location for lunch. You will wear your finest uniform and remember that when you leave, you represent the whole of our Communist ideals."

The knife slipped out of his hand and it rattled at it collided with the table. "You…You're letting me go?" Gilbert asked and blinked in disbelief. Ivan barely let him run to the grocery store alone and now he was going to visit his little brother?

"For a few hours yes, but I expect you to be home before five and-" Before he could finish his lecture, the German threw his arms around the blonde and kissed him, shouting happily "Ivan, you beautiful, beautiful man! Thank you!" Pressing his lips against Ivan's cheek one more time, Gilbert ran upstairs to get ready.

The Russian was speechless and gently touched his face, wishing away the blush. Toris watched the scene and felt a pang of worry in his chest, he excused himself and left to speak to the German.

Gilbert was rummaging through a wooden crate at the foot of his bed, too caught up in his search to notice the Lithuanian enter the room. "What is your relationship with Ivan?"

German Democratic flinched in surprise and shrugged. "I dunno, it started out as 'enemies with benefits' and now…I don't what it is, but if I can see my West more often I-" Toris slapped him, anger in the brunette's voice. "Stop thinking about yourself for a minute and look around! Your little games are going to get us killed!"

Gilbert clenched his teeth and shouted "I never asked to be here and fuck you if I'm willing to do what it takes to get out!"

Ivan recoiled his hand from knocking and his heart sank in his chest. He was using me? I thought we were friends...

"I don't like doing this anymore than you do, but I if I stay here any longer I'm going to crack."

The Russian watched Toris leave a cupped a hand over his mouth before he could scream. "Go downstairs and no matter what you, or the others hear, don't interfere. Do you understand?" The brunette shook with fear as he nodded and was let go.

The blonde peeked inside to see Gilbert unpacking an East German uniform and heard him mutter. "…If I stay here any longer I won't want to leave."

Every time I think I'm starting to understand you…

It wasn't long before the two of them were standing in the doorway, saying their goodbyes.

Ivan smoothed a wrinkle in the German's uniform and drew a star-shaped pin from his pocket "I had a speech prepared for this moment, but I don't think it fits anymore."

Gilbert didn't understand as the soviet symbol was pinned over his left breast and asked what it meant.

"It depends on the wearer. To some, it is a symbol of hope for a brighter future and to others, a life spent in chains. Now go, Germany expects you."

The Belgian diner was cramped, but not uncomfortable. There weren't many people this time of day, only two or three tables had customers. An elderly waitress set a thick slice of apple pie in front of the American, who shoved a forkful in his mouth. "I don't see why you don't try a piece…" Alfred spoke around a mouthful of fruit "…it's very good."

Ludwig cringed in disgust and wiped at the American's mess with a napkin "How can I stuff my face when my brother starves?" He wished Alfred would take this more seriously. "You need to lighten up and-" A flicker of white caught his attention and he waved an arm in the direction, shouting "East, baby! Over here!"

Gilbert seemed to mirror his brother's distaste of the man and found a seat as far as possible from him. A menu was shoved into his hands and the American kept talking "Order whatever you want and I have to say, they have great pie here and guess what…" Alfred's tone became very serious, as if he was going to reveal a great secret. "…they have bananas."

The East German blinked in offence. Fruit of any kind, especially tropical, were so rare that the only time he saw one was when the annual Christmas ration baskets. "I'm going to punch you in the face."

Alfred was taken aback by the statement, it was obviously not the reaction he was looking for. The blonde German spoke up before it came to blows "What my friend is trying to say, is that we're here to help you gain your independence. We are working on a project to defeat the Soviet Union and if it's not too dangerous, we would like you to act as a spy."

Germany held his sibling's hand under the table and Gilbert felt guilty for pulling it away. "I appreciate the effort, but Ivan isn't the monster you think he is and I refuse to hurt him."

"You weren't there during the famines, so you have never seen him starve himself so we'd have enough to live on. He has saved our lives more times than you could understand. You have never seen him sacrifice his horses and tear down his stable so we'd have wood to burn in and meat the winter. This isn't the work of some heartless animal! Ivan's-"

America started to clap slowly before Gilbert could finish. "How sweet, the Russian bear has a heart. I suppose it would mean more if it wasn't coming from a goddamn Pinko." He snapped his fingers and two agents in disguise from a nearby table grabbed the East German, knocking him out cold with a rag soaked in chloroform.

"Alfred, this wasn't part of the plan! You promised me he wouldn't get hurt!" Ludwig shouted as he jumped to his feet and held his unconscious brother tightly.

"This was always plan B and don't worry, you can stay with him as long as you like. If you'll excuse me, I have an old enemy to call." He paid the waitress in dollars and took his pie with him.

Ivan set down the chess piece and listened as the grandfather clock in the hallway chimed five o' clock. "He's not coming back." With a sweep of his hand he took the Lithuanian's knight and won the game.

Toris wasn't horrible, but it was so difficult for the Russian to find good opponents because they either couldn't play or threw the match out of fear

Gilbert was the only one who stood up to him and the stern look his wine-colored eyes sent shivers up his spine.

"I'm going to miss him." The blonde confessed and suddenly the phone started to ring. Grumbling a curse he picked it up and held it to his ear. "Hello you fucking Commie, do you know where your little wienerschnitzel is?"