Chapter 2

Creepin' The Hotel

China stiffened as Korea came around the corner, calling his name, but didn't run. Running would only make the Korean chase him –such was the instinct of predators- and he would be mauled (read: groped viciously).

"Aniki!" Korea shouted loudly, waving. "I wanna talk, da-ze!"

Oh joy. "About what, aru?" The Chinese man said calmly, stiffening. Since when was that boy so tall?"I'm busy..."

"I couldn't find you yesterday, da-ze!" Korea exclaimed, "Was that big Russia bug-"

"Yao-Yao," A voice said from behind them both. It was Russia –Speak of the devil, China thought bitterly- and both Asians turned to face him. His large hand guided China away from his fellow nation, surprising him. "we should go, da?" The Chinese man looked Russia in the eye, confused, and caught the edge that his sister's presence had put in his pale lavender stare. China had to admit he wanted away from Korea, but was leaving with the giant really a good idea.

"Aniki, what's up, da-ze?"

China took a moment, planning, and- "Sorry, Yong-Soo. I have to go, aru." He grabbed his cat, disliking how useless it was against the German snow, and quickly followed Russia out of sight. "Belarus is here, aru?" China murmured, shivering in the cold outside as they walked aimlessly into the parking lot.

"Da." Russia whimpered, unnerved, and China saw him twitch as a squirrel rushed past. "Yao-Yao, I would like to stay in your suite."

"In my hotel?" China repeated as Russia squeezed his arm tight. "How long, aru?" He knew Russia's problem –Korea was very clever with a lock pick sometimes- but didn't want the Russian being with him for too long.

"Until this is over, da?" Russia looked down, eyes vividly purple and frightened. China couldn't help but see the towering nation for the cowering child he was on the inside and, without a thought to the man's actual age, he reached up to pat his blond head.

"Alright, aru, but once the conference is over you go home."

"Da," Russia sighed, relaxing, "thank you, Yao-Yao."

China regretted letting Russia stay with him immediately, soon growing used to Belarus' hate mail and ever-hovering presence. She hadn't managed to break in yet –although she tried often- but she was watching their every move. China could do nothing without her presence, her glare or her knives on him like white on rice.

"Russia? Go away, aru; you have a bed." China said on the third night when a weight depressed the edge of his bed. He could see the Russian man's silhouette in the moonlight and sighed in annoyance as he did not leave. In fact, Russia quietly slipped under the blanket, his frame aquiver, and curled up around China. China sat up, swatting a large, cool hand from his torso. "Go, aru!"

"I can hear her from the door, Yao," Russia said brokenly, shaking as he wrapped his limbs around the lithe little nation and hugged him close. It surprised China, and he strained his ears a little.

"...rriage, marriage, marri..." China heard Belarus outside his hotel room, not pausing at all, and sighed. No wonder Russia was so frightened. That psycho had likely been there all night.

"It's alright, aru... she's outside. We're inside, aru." China said calmly, using one hand to gingerly stroke Russia's fine hair. "You're safe..."

"'Safe'?" Russia murmured, laughing bitterly until he sounded like he was holding back tears. "I've never been safe before, Yao... only cold, cold and quiet... like in nightmares." Russia was so serious that China wondered whether he would snap.

"Just sleep, aru," he said, "and she'll go away."

Russia looked up at China, his eyes wide, and he shook his head against the Asian nation's ribs.

"No, Yao, she never goes away." Russia said, and China felt the man's grip on his body loosen slightly. "I'll go back now..." Russia let go of China, sitting up, and seemed almost ashamed f his cowardice as he made to get off the bed. China watched him with a rowing lump in his throat, until finally the shorter man reached out and took hold of the taller man's hand.

It was shaking. "Russia," China said suddenly, "no." He felt Russia tense, ready to pull away, and hardly dared look him in the eye when the towering nation turned back around.

"Yao?"

"You can sleep here, aru... I don't mind." China told him, scooting over a little and kicking the blankets back. "She won't get you here with me..." He waited in silence, embarrassed to be caught holding Russia's big hand in one of his own, and let out a breath when the other nation sat back down. Russia didn't speak as he cautiously situated himself under the covers with China, his breath audible over Belarus' chanting, and China was quick to turn his back on the man.

After a few seconds, China found himself replacing a comfort object in the circle of the Russian man's arms, and he forced his body to relax. When he did, Russia pressed his face into the back of his shoulder with a small 'mmm'.

And then they slept.

"...age, marriage, ma..."