A week later, my house was clean and visitor free. I liked the excitement of having people around but Arthur and Alfred were a little too much. Thankful that the week was over and the new one had begun, I could look forward to Prussia's visit. I had spent all morning picking out my outfit. I had even almost called Poland to help me pick it out. I had debated between casual clothes and my uniform, deciding I should stick with casual.
I had decided to go with a tight green shirt, brown pants and a green tie. I even debated wearing a sweater vest but figured a coat would suffice. When I was dressed, I roamed around my house waiting for Prussia. When the knock finally came, I smiled and opened the door. He smiled back at and looked over my outfit as I did the same to him. He wore a black t-shirt with a red and black, checkered bandana around his neck. His jeans were a nice fit but his jacket seemed a little thin for the cold.
"Y-You look good, Liet," he smiled and blushed a bit.
"Thank you. You do, too," I smiled, fighting my own blush.
"Are you ready to go?" he asked and I nodded.
I grabbed my coat and slid into it before locking my door and following him to a black car. He turned and smiled to me.
"I drove all the way up her. I'm pretty awesome, kesese," he chuckled and climbed in the driver's seat.
I slid into the passenger's seat and buckled up. I relaxed in the soft seat and smiled as Gilbert drove easily down the road. Despite his smile, his facial expression was clouded with worry.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"I…I'm just worried about how this dinner will go. I love West since he's my brother and all but, he's rough around the edges and Feliciano…he's just Feliciano," he sighed and stared at the road.
"Well, you're a little rough around the edges yourself. As for Feliciano, I think he's just happy. He really likes Ludwig and he really loves pasta and when he's constantly surrounded by both, of course he's going to be happy. Wouldn't you be happy all the time if you were constantly surrounded by what you love?" I asked with a smile.
"I-I guess…I just wish they weren't so loud when they had sex. I mean, it makes it really hard to sleep when I can hear it in the basement. It's annoying," he grumbled.
"Haha well, I walked in on Arthur and Alfred having sex last week," I laughed as did my companion.
"I guess West and Feliciano aren't so bad but, I just get tired of it there," he sighed.
"You know…you can always stay with me whenever you'd like. I have all that extra space in my house," I said, blushing a bit. Silence filled the car before Prussia smiled.
"That sounds nice. I think I'll pack after dinner tonight," he said with a large smile and a slight blush.
The rest of the two hour drive was a combination of silence, casual conversation and laughter. When we arrived, Gilbert sighed and looked at me.
"Things may get awkward tonight," he warned.
"I think you should get back at them." I blushed.
"How? Have sex on their couch?" he asked with a laugh and I shrugged. Then a devious smile played across his lips.
"W-What?" I asked.
"Nothing," he continued to smile and climbed out of the car.
He rushed around to my side and opened the door, offering a hand to help me out. When I slid my hand in his, a light blush came across both our cheeks. As we approached the house, he still held my hand and upon opening the door, he slid his fingers between mine, making me blush more. I only had one foot inside the house before two small arms had been thrown around Prussia's neck.
"You're back! Yay! Ludwig~" the loud Italian called into the house.
"I'm in the kitchen!" the German yelled back.
"Hurry, ve~. The food is almost ready!" the Italian still shouted.
"Italy, you're making Lithuania uncomfortable," Prussia said calmly through slightly clenched teeth.
"Ciao Lithuania! Why is your face red? Gilbert's is too, ve~" the shorter man asked with his head cocked to the side.
"Feliciano! Dinner is ready!" Ludwig interrupted.
The Italian took off and Gilbert followed at a slower pace. I stayed close and gripped his hand lightly. He smiled softly at me and led the way into the dining room. When he sat down, he nodded at the chair next to him and I sat down, forced to let go of his hand.
"U-Um, it smells delicious," I commented, smiling nervously at Ludwig.
"Thank you," he said loudly and stiffly.
"Pasta and potatoes! It's going to be yummy!" Feliciano practically shouted.
"I think we should all be quiet and enjoy our dinner," Ludwig said just as loudly.
"Is that why you're still shouting?" Gilbert snapped.
"I always talk like this!" Ludwig growled.
"Oh, really? Because we're just naturally loud? Live up to the stereotype, why don't you?" Gilbert snapped back. Just as Ludwig opened his mouth, Italy spoke first.
"Dinner is going to get cold! We need to eat," Feliciano said with a large smile.
Gil gripped my hand under the table and I blushed. Both Ludwig and Feliciano gave us looks but said nothing. He all passed around the food, taking what we wanted and then eating in silence. Feliciano sat so close to Ludwig, he was practically in his lap. When dinner was over, Ludwig stood with his Italian companion and nodded to us.
"We'll be back momentarily," the German said and led the Italian (who gave us a wink) out of dining room and upstairs.
"Ugh! And so begins the awkwardness," Prussia groaned.
"It'll be alright," I said nervously.
He shifted in his seat and looked at me, sliding his fingers between mine. I blushed a bright red and looked at the ground. There were a few minutes of silence as our gazes moved from each other's to the floor and back to each other. The simple and pleasing silence was broken by noises.
"Ve! Hit it again~" I heard Feliciano cry out.
"Ugh! So tight…" Ludwig's gruff voice moaned.
My eyes widened and Gil blushed a brighter red, his eyes staring at the floor. I blushed as well and gripped his hand. A loud, squeaky cry and a loud, deep groan signified the end of the sexual activities upstairs. A few minutes later, Ludwig and Feliciano returned downstairs, both smiling.
"For dessert, we have cake!" Feliciano giggled.
"Why so uncomfortable, Gilbert?" Ludwig asked and Prussia stood, knocking over his chair.
"What the fuck was that?" Gilbert shouted.
"What are you complaining about now?" Ludwig sighed.
"You know, it's one thing when you have sex every night when I'm here but when you run off while we have company is considered crossing the line!" the silverette shouted, clenching his fists.
"We didn't have to invite you over! This is our house so, we can have sex whenever we want to!" the blonde retorted.
"I live here, too!" Gilbert yelled louder.
"Then you should be used to it! If you keep this selfish nonsense up, I'm going to make you train harder than you can imagine!" Ludwig threatened.
"You know what? This isn't a home! It's a fucking prison! You're a heartless asshole!" the Prussian yelled and both the Italian and I flinched.
"Gilbert, calm down," I begged, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Stay out of this, Liet. You'll get hurt," he growled, stepping in front of me.
"For once, my brother has a valid point. Russia's bitch doesn't have an opinion in this house," Ludwig growled too and I stepped back.
"Take it back," Prussia hissed.
"What? Can't handle the truth?" Ludwig growled again.
"I don't care what you say about me but don't you dare say anything bad about Toris!" Gilbert snapped, taking a step forward.
"Oh, it's Toris now? Since when did you two get so friendly?" Ludwig taunted.
That was it for Gilbert. He reared his fist back and launched it forward. The blow knocked Ludwig backwards before he came forward and struck Gilbert. I quickly jumped in the middle and held them apart…barely.
"Stop! This is ridiculous!" I shouted.
Ludwig grabbed by my shirt and pulled me to his face.
"Stay. Out. Of. My. Way," he hissed.
"With this behavior, you're no better than Ivan!" I yelled.
"You ungrateful little…" he stopped and shoved me backwards into the table.
My lower back mad contact and a sharp pain shot through my spine. Before I could stand up straight again, Ludwig had hit me with a strong right hook and I was on the ground. Gilbert tackled Ludwig and slammed him into the wall.
"STOP!" Feliciano shrieked and all was silent.
"You hurt Lithuania! And both of you need to calm down!" the Italian continued to shriek.
Gilbert backed off and Ludwig stood, fuming. He stomped through the room and out of the house, quickly followed by Feliciano. Gilbert walked over and sunk to the ground next to me.
"I'm so sorry, Liet," he whispered and lifted a hand to touch my check. When I flinched, his eyes widened before developing a saddened look, lowering his hand.
"I-I shouldn't have gotten involved," I mumbled.
"It's not your fault. I never should have hit him," Gilbert sighed.
"I never should have called him Russia," I mumbled again.
"We deserved it," Gilbert said, meeting my gaze.
"We?" I asked.
"Both of us have done horrible things like Russia. Don' you remember the whole Teutonic Knights deal? And you can't tell me you forgot about Hitler. If anything, we're worse," he said sadly.
"I didn't mean to direct it at you!" I gasped.
"West is my brother. Any insult to him is an insult to me. We're one and the same," he mumbled.
"No! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!" I cried.
"I'm just as bad, Liet. I hurt you," he whispered.
"I hurt you, too! Don't blame yourself," I begged.
"I've done so much more than you have. I deserve any insult you throw at me…I'm so sorry, Liet," he whispered the apology.
"I forgave you a long time ago," I whispered back and pressed my lips to his earnestly.
My back and face hurt but I didn't care. I wanted Gilbert to understand that I forgave him. I wanted him to understand that I was sorry for everything I had. I just wanted him. When I pulled away, his eyes were wide and his face was red.
"I-I'm sorry," I stammered and looked away.
"No, Liet, don't apologize. I…I've wanted you to do that for a while," he mumbled and pulled my face to look at him.
He pressed his lips on mine and shut his eyes. When I did the same, he ran his hand up my leg and to my hand, lacing his fingers between mine. I moved closer, squeezing my eyes shut as pain shot through my back. Gilbert pulled away, sensing my pain.
"Are you alright?" he asked with a worried look.
"I-It's just my back…" I answered weakly.
With a gasp, he stood, ran to the door and snatched up his jacket and keys. When he came back, he gently helped me up and guided me to the door. As we stepped outside, I almost collided with Ludwig.
"Where are you going?" he asked nervously.
"Just move! I have to get Toris home!" Gilbert snapped and picked me up, bridal style.
He rushed me to the car and set me down in the passenger seat. He ran around to the driver's side, put the key in the ignition and sped out of the driveway. Since Gilbert decided to speed, we made it back in about an hour and a half. He rushed me inside and set me down on the couch, rushing to get the first aid kit.
"Take off your shirt," he demanded when he was by my side.
"W-What?" I blushed.
"Take it off," he demanded again.
"It's just a bruise," I mumbled.
"Off," he demanded.
I blushed and nervously slid off my tie and unbuttoned my shirt, sliding my undershirt over my head. I was self-conscious despite my toned body from wars and work. He would soon see why.
"On your stomach," he demanded, blushing. I painstakingly rolled over and heard him gasp.
"A-All of these scars…" he whispered.
"Russia…you now know you aren't the only one with scars because of him," I whispered, tears forming in my eyes.
"There are so many…and now you have long bruise because of me and my brother…I'm sorry, Liet," he mumbled. I could hear his voice break.
I felt the couch dip on both sides of me and then felt legs on both sides of mine. I blushed as I felt bare hands run over my back. Soft lips pressed against my skin, kissing the lines of each scar. My face was now bright red and stained with silent tears. When the lips had stopped kissing, the arms slid around my torso and a body pressed gently against mine.
"I'm so sorry, Toris," Gilbert's hot breath tickled my ear.
"I'm alright, now," I whispered back.
His lips kissed my neck before he stood and helped me to my feet. He helped me up the stairs and into my room.
"Will you be alright in here by yourself?" he asked.
"I'll be okay. Good night, Gil," I smiled and climbed into bed.
I waited for him to disappear before I let more tears fall. The pain wasn't just in my back anymore. My heart hurt now, too. I have said something terrible to Ludwig and Gilbert along with begin reminded of a painful past. I knew I would be at peace with it in a week or so but for now, I was hurt.