(2)
A loud, thunderous, terrified cry woke Lithuania abruptly, scaring the living daylights out of him. He lurched off his pillow, alarmed, and found himself running across the cold wood floor, out the door and down the hall toward the source of the sound: Russia's room.
He burst in through the door; the room was dark and cold. Russia was lying on his side under the blankets, gripping fistfuls of sheets, contorting his body, kicking, and moving wildly, screaming at the top of his lungs. He was having some sort of nightmare. He screamed, and began to cry out in Russian, tears leaking from his eyes.
Lithuania rushed to his bedside and began to shake him, in an attempt to rouse him. His body was very tense as he continued to scream, trapped in a nightmare.
"Russia!" Lithuania called out in a sort of whisper-yell, "Mr. Russia! Wake up!" he continued to shake him, until finally, at once, the cries and movement stopped and Russia slowly opened his teary eyes and woke up sweaty, terrified, and breathing hard, still sniffling, violet gaze meeting and holding the concerned expression on Lithuania's face.
"Russia, a-are you okay?" he asked, then realized his hands were still resting on the Russian's shoulder and side and quickly took them off.
"I had nightmare." he said it so quietly that it was almost inaudible.
He covered his eyes and shook his head, as if he was trying to erase the memory.
"It's okay now," Lithuania said, "It's over, and you are safe and no one is going to hurt you.
He shivered. "I'm cold." he sniffed.
Do you...want me to make you a cup of hot tea?"
"Niet. I want you to stay with me. I want my little Lithuania to keep me warm." he scooted over and patted the mattress beside him. Lithuania cautiously climbed in beside him, pulling the blankets back to get underneath them.
He situated himself, sitting up, the pillow supporting his back and then Russia scooted over towards him and rested his head in his chest curling up and leaning his body against him, head tucked under his chin. Much like Vanya, who slowly emerged from under the bed where he had been hiding, and jumped up and curled up against the large Russian. .
"Hold me." Russia said.
Confused, Lithuania slowly wrapped his arms around him.
Russia continued to sniffle, and let the tears stream down his face, weeping softly, as he lay there in Lithuania's arms.
The pitiful being Lithuania held now was nothing compared to the brutish monster he had experienced before. In his arms was instead, a poor child, frightened and fragile, whose innocence had been ripped apart by torment, and who wanted more than anything to just have friends so he didn't feel so lonely. And that in itself made Lithuania feel guilty. For he himself planned on leaving in a couple of days, and didn't even want to stay here. There was silence for a moment, as Lithuania's gaze wandered and he thought to himself; how long was he really going to stay? At first he had only planned on staying for the day, but yet he had spent the night. He wanted to leave but had agreed to stay for a couple of days. What was keeping him from going? The answer: Russia needed someone, and if not him then who else would be there? No one. Russia needed him. He made up his mind.
"I will stay with you until winter ends." Lithuania said, stroking Russia's hair. There was no response. Russia's breathing and heartbeat had slowed back to normal, and when Lithuania looked down, he found his eyes were closed, and his cheeks were stained with tears. He thought he was asleep. After several moments of silence, there came a weak reply:
"Spasiba."
-xXx-
The next morning, at 6:30 AM, Lithuania woke up in Russia's bed, in the dark of course, with the latter still curled up in his arms, sound asleep. Then there was Vanya, curled up against Russia's side. Lithuania smiled at the cat's sleeping form, and then shivered as a freezing cold draft passed about him. His gaze turned to the curtains and window, which was open for some reason. Careful not to wake Russia, he wriggled his way from under his large form, gently laid him on the pillow, and pulled the blankets up to his chin. Then he swung his legs over the side of the large bed, got up and walked over to the window, and closed it.
He opened the door and walked out, pulling it shut behind him. He knew Russia woke up around about 8, so he had time to shower and make a hot breakfast. He went back into his old bedroom to get his clothes, grabbed a towel from the linen closet, and then walked to the bathroom to shower. He turned the water on to near scalding, stripped, and quickly got in, trying to avoid the cold, biting air against his bare skin. The water felt lovely against his body, and he sighed, as they relieved his scars, which always seemed to bear phantom pains, and always seemed to feel cold.
He washed his body and hair, and got out after fifteen minutes. He would have stayed longer, but he needed to get out and make breakfast. He dried off and dressed in jeans, red sneakers, a green jumper, and white button up. He did not bother with a tie. He towel dried his shoulder-length brown hair, and walked downstairs, to find his yellow apron hanging on a chair. He smiled; he had left it there, and missed the old thing for some reason. He put it on, pulled his hair into a little ponytail, and got started on breakfast. Digging out a recipe for blinis, a favorite of Russia's, he also decided to throw on some eggs. He played faint music as he worked, somehow feeling nostalgic about being in this familiar kitchen.
He finished and set the table, starving, but decided to eat with Russia when he woke up, and made some tea to hold him over.
For some reason, Russia was up later than usual, and him and Vanya came down the stairs at almost nine. Lithuania was sitting at the table sipping tea when he heard the footsteps coming down the hall. Russia entered the dining room.
"Dobroye utro." Liet said.
Russia yawned, and then smiled; "Privyet Litva." then he sneezed.
"I sveikata." Lithuania said, speaking in his own language.
"Ačiū." Russia replied. He walked over to the cupboard to get food out for the cat that lingered around his feet, and sneezed again.
"Are you getting sick Mr. Russia?" Lithuania asked.
"I do not know." he replied, taking the food out and pouring it into Vanya's bowl. He eagerly went over and started to gobble it down.
"I made breakfast, it got a little cold." Lithuania said.
"That's okay, I'll warm it up." he sniffled. Then coughed.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Da. I am really tired and achy though."
"Why don't you sit down and i'll warm up your breakfast? The tea is hot though."
"Da. Okay." He sat down in his chair, and shivered, wrapping his arms around himself. Lithuania put Russia's breakfast in the microwave, and then went back to check on him. He was sipping his tea and shivering. Lithuania didn't even bother to ask about a blanket, he just brought one from the living room and wrapped it around Russia's shoulders.
"Oh...Spasiba." Russia seemed surprised that Lithuania had put the blanket around him.
"Are you sure you don't feel sick Russia?"
"I'm just achy and cold."
He coughed again.
Lithuania set his plate in front of him. "Okay. But you should probably rest today. I think you might be getting sick. I-I will take care of you."
"Okay. We could tell more stories and watch another movie today."
"Yes, whatever you want to do Russia." Liet! What are you thinking!
Russia looked out the window near the table and sighed. Frost covered it, and he could not see out. Not to mention it was dark.
"I hate winter." he said to himself.
"Did you say something Russia?" asked Lithuania.
Russia turned and looked into Liet's green eyes.
"I hate winter. It's always so cold and dark. I want to live somewhere warm. But I'm stuck here."
Lithuania had no response. He could not think of what to say. He hated Russian winter as much as Russia did.
There was a moment of silence, when Russia turned and smiled at him.
"At least I'm not alone this time, da? I have my little Lithuania and Vanya."
"Umm….y-yeah of course." Lithuania chuckled quietly. But in his mind, he grimaced. He hated being called Russia's "little Lithuania", it made him feel like he belonged to him and that he was his property.
"Um Russia?"
"Da?"
"How come you call me that?"
"What?"
"Your Little Lithuania."
"Because you are my little friend. Why? Do you not like it? I always call you that." he thought he caught a slight bit of irritation in Russia's voice.
Liet held out his hand and began to sweat nervously. "N-no-n-not at all...I just...it's a little strange because...I'm not wery small…." he cut off. He thought he was digging himself into a hole. It was true though. He was almost as tall as Russia, but he was thinner, weaker, and, well, frailer. He looked at Russia. He was frowning, eyebrows narrowed. And Lithuania thought he was going to get attacked.
"Then...what would you like me to call you?" Russia asked, looking at him quizzically, and coughing again.
"Umm...well…" Crap. What do I tell him? "...You c-could c-call me by my actual name...I- I mean...m- my human name."
"What is it?" Russia half-demanded.
"It's...it's T-Toris."
"Toris? I like Toris." Russia said, "Okay Toris. Then you call me Ivan."
"Ivan?"
"Da~ that is my name."
"O-okay."
"Okay then Toris. Let's go in the living room now, da?"
"O-okay Mr.- I mean Ivan. I have to clean up though."
"Fine. I will be in the living room, you come when you are done."
"Yes sir."
"Stop that." Russia said.
"Huh? W-what do you mean?"
"Friends don't call each other sir."
"I'm sorry-I-force of habit...okay Ru-Ivan. I'll, I'll be there soon…"
With that he turned and went to hurry about in the kitchen as Russia walked to the living room, Vanya trailing behind.
Liet finished his kitchen duties, and then headed to the living room to find that Russia was sitting in front of the crackling fire on one of the armchairs, wrapped up in his blanket. He sneezed.
"I sveikata." Lithuania said again.
"Cold." Russia said when he saw Lithuania.
"Do you want another blanket?" Lithuania asked.
"Da."
Lithuania walked to the couch and grabbed another blanket that was hanging over the back. He unfolded it and wrapped it around the Russian's body. Then he went to sit on the chair across from him, only for Russia to grab him and pull him into his lap, and wrap him in the blankets as well.
"That's better." Russia said.
"Do you have chills?" Lithuania asked, uncomfortable in this position. Not only was it awkward cuddling with the large man, but laps were not comfortable. And it's an oven under these blankets and in front of the fireplace.
"Da. But Toris is warm."
"O-okay." he fidgeted.
"Are you uncomfortable Toris?"
"A-a little."
"Lean against my chest, da? It'll be more comfy that way."
Toris did exactly as he was told. And he found it was more comfortable.
"Better, da?"
"Yeah."
It wasn't long before Russia warmed up. Lithuania was told to get off of him, and he shed two of his blankets. However, coughing, and sneezing still continued to wrack him, and he began to complain about a sore throat. This time Lithuania was sure he was getting sick.
"I'll go make you some more tea, okay?"
"Da~" Russia's voice was slightly hoarse from coughing. Lithuania headed to the kitchen.
"Do you want me to call someone to look at the heater?" Liet called from the kitchen.
"D- *cough, cough* Da."
-xXx-
Lithuania brought the tea back into the living room and handed it to Russia, and then departed to the hallway where the phone was, and dialed a number for a company he had seen in an advertisement. He arranged for the repairman to come tomorrow around eleven.
-xXx-
The end of the day came up on them, and Russia seemed to have gotten worse, and was complaining about a headache and fatigue. Lithuania placed a hand over his forehead.
"You're burning up." He said, "I think you need to go to bed when you're finished eating. Rest should help you."
Russia nodded. "I want to take bath. It'll help me feel better."
"Okay. Do you want me to bring you up some more tea?"
"Da." Russia replied, and with that, he got up and slowly headed up the stairs, coughing, using the railing for support, and Lithuania could not help but feel bad for him.
He watched him to make sure he got up the stairs without falling, and then proceeded to clean up and do dishes, as he did after every meal, brewing another cup of hot tea.
-xXx-
He didn't remember the last time he had ever felt like this. He was weak, and tired, and the disgusting, painful cough was hurting his throat. His body hurt. His head was pounding and felt like it was on fire, but and the rest of his body was cold. He sat on the toilet in misery, coughing, wrapped in a towel, and waited for the tub to fill up with the warm water he wanted to completely submerge himself in.
That was when a cold draft passed through the room, and Russia shivered, and then realized with a jolt that the bathroom window had been open. He was also confused, because that window was never opened, because there was no screen behind the glass. It also hadn't been open a second ago. He started to painfully get up to go and close it when a strong gust of frozen wind smacked into him and a large snow cloud appeared outside, making it impossible for Russia to see out, freezing the entire window frame. He backed away and the room was suddenly much colder as a large gust of frozen wind blew in. He shielded his face and backed away towards the tub until it was gone. He slowly uncovered his eyes and then froze in terror. There was a single, short message written on the mirror.
это я
(It's me)
Terrified, Russia turned back to the window, just as a figure started climbing in. He recognized them: Blue clothing, ghostly pale flesh, snow white hair, beard and mustache, and glowing ice blue eyes. General Winter. He walked toward Russia, and reached out for him, cape dragging behind. All around him everything started to freeze as General Winter reached toward him. Russia backed away as the floor began to freeze beneath him, tears stung his eyes, when suddenly his back hit the door. He frantically tried to turn the knob, but it was frozen. General Winter's gaunt hand was getting closer. Russia made himself as small as possible, pressing himself against the door.
"No...go away…Leave me alone...no, no!"
A freezing cold hand grasped him by the neck. All warmth started to leave his body, and it was so cold it burned and it began to freeze him. He was powerless.
-xXx-
A knock on the door snapped Russia back to reality. Everything was normal. Except the fact that Russia's eyes leaked with tears. He turned his head from the door and swiftly wiped them away, relieved that it was only a vision.
"C-come in."
Lithuania opened the door, "I have your tea. Oh, you have not got in yet."
Russia slowly turned his head to meet green eyes and brown hair. "Toris?"
"Yes...Ivan?"
"You can't leave me until winter is over."
A/N: Mwah ha ha! And enter General Winter. I am making him a cold-hearted, soulless jerk in this fic for plot purposes. I hope everyone is enjoying this fic so far. This may or may not become RusLiet. I am not sure tuned. Don't forget to leave a review!
Translations
Niet: No (Russian)
Spasiba: Thank you (Russian)
Blinis: Russian pancakes
Dobroye utro: Good morning (Russian)
Privyet: Hello/Hi (Russian)
I sveikata: Bless you (Lithuanian)
Aciu: Thank you (Lithuanian)