Distrust
Arthur sat anxiously in his chair as the meeting carried on. Basch and Ludwig were on heated terms from the previous argument and the tension with Ivan was making everyone on edge. It was a constant war between Basch, Ivan, and Ludwig as to who should lead since no one wanted to share the leadership.
"I say we should just have you three share the leadership, non?" Francis recommended to the glaring trio.
"What do you mean?" Basch questioned.
"I mean you divide your leadership amongst each other and then you won't all have to worry about doing one job and getting blamed for failing it all," Francis continued.
"I guess that could work," Ludwig said.
"Nyet," Ivan growled.
"I don't care, to be honest," Basch claimed.
"Then I guess Ivan can go do something else because of how disagreeable he is being," Yao spoke up.
"H-hai," Kiku agreed. A few people looked over at the Japanese man as he hadn't spoken since they ended up at the base. Yao smiled to himself as he finally managed to get Kiku back to a sort of normalcy.
"Fine, do not expect help from me if any of you end up in deeper trouble than you can handle," Ivan snapped before standing up and slamming his hands onto the table.
"Stop acting like such a spoiled brat!" Yao chastised the Russian. The two had a dark stare down until Ivan backed away.
"You represent the whole of Russia, stop being childish and grow up so you can represent your people!" The Chinese man continued.
"We represent nothing now Yao-Yao," he commented with a smile as he knew he had won this argument.
"What do you mean?" Hanatamago and Kumajiro could be heard play fighting in the other room and it drew concern to the Canadian and the Swedish man but the situation at hand was more pretentious than a small scuffle between the two pets.
"Do not call me Yao. Yao." he enunciated the last two syllables in his sentence as he glared darkly at the Russian. Ivan smirked.
"How I love that nickname, it brings back so many memories," Ivan said in a sing-song tone.
"Shut the hell up Ivan!" Yao finally snapped.
"Do not come near me or talk to me again!" Yao hissed before getting up and storming out of the conference room. Tensions were strung a bit higher as usual from the argument and Yao just storming off but nothing was going awry after the meeting. It seemed Yao went to the most secluded place in the building to just cry. That's how Kiku found him anyways. Kiku was left to comfort his poor brother who was once again, heartbroken. The meeting ended and lots of hateful and distasteful glares were sent Ivan's way, but he could care less as he was used to that sort of treatment in the first place.
"I hope he learns how to control his behavior in later meetings," Basch whispered to Ludwig. They seemed to be on better terms due to the agreement with shared leadership.
"Yeah me too... It's quite the problem if he's causing arguments," Ludwig replied.
"He could split the group if he's not careful."
Basch and Ludwig shared looks of concern as they thought about the arising situation.
"And not in his favor either," Ludwig added. Basch nodded as response and stayed silent. He was thinking of Lili as usual and worrying. His eyebrows knit together as he remembered the mission that ended in the death of Lukas.
"We really don't represent anything anymore," he suddenly said.
"What?" Ludwig's outraged voice replied.
"I mean... Lukas died so easily, he was practically dead once they managed to get to him and so were the Baltic states, think about it."
Basch flicked a strand of hair from his face as he thought harder about the current situation.
"Those people who started this... and are currently convincing everyone that it's our fault have probably caused the people to lose faith and now we've been reduced to nothing but mere humans, right?" he stated. Ludwig nodded and gave a sigh.
"I suppose so, it's unfortunate, though," he said and gave a bitter smile.
"Yeah, we'll still destroy the people who decided to impose this on us."
Basch had a determined look on his face as he looked at Ludwig.
"You, Italy, everyone here will survive until the end," Basch said. Ludwig nodded.
"I have to get back to Feliciano before he starts whining again..." Ludwig mumbled, slicking his hair back. It had slowly been getting longer than he desired.
"See you around then," Basch said and gave a small wave before the German hurried off to find the Italian. He seemed in a rush as whining could be heard from the other side of the hall.
"If only we could all feel the same... I'll go check on Yao maybe." He thought to himself for a moment.
"Yeah, I should," he confirmed with himself before walking off and going to find Yao. After a minute of searching, he found the Chinese man curled up in a ball and staring at the wall with a dark and brooding look on his face. Basch knew he often had a small scowl but he'd never seen this look and almost turned on heel and left but it was too late.
"What do you want?" Yao asked.
"I came to talk to you, after Ivan pulled that little stunt of his," Basch explained.
"Well, if you came here to cheer me up or get information out of me then go," Yao snapped in a bitter tone.
He wasn't in the mood to bring up past wounds to rub salt in them or try to be sympathized with since no one could understand it.
"You loved Ivan, dearly didn't you?" Basch asked.
"Shut up," Yao mumbled.
"Answer me, you'll never get over today if you don't and we need you back because your one of our medics," Basch snapped.
"So, that's all you care about?!" Yao hissed.
"No, it's not," Basch replied coolly.
"Then why do you care so much for me? I'm just an old man whose time should've been up many years back."
Yao's eyes expressed only sadness and angst.
"Because, without you, Kiku wouldn't be how he is, he probably would be dead and your kind to everyone so you shouldn't deserve the treatment Ivan gives you."
Basch stared back intensely. Yao returned the glare. His eyes softened.
"Thank you, Basch," he finally said and gave a shy smile.
"No problem, you can still take your time getting better since he did say some pretty mean things but don't keep letting it get to you," Basch said.
"Yes, thanks." Yao bowed stood up and bowed his head. Basch blushed as he never normally got this kind of attention and it somewhat embarrassed him. Yao's modesty also made Basch feel a little inferior and sort of rude in comparison but he wouldn't dwell on the thought since he wasn't as bad as per say, Alfred.
"Night squadron!" Ludwig's gruff voice called out.
"That's my cue to head out," Basch said and waved off as he ran to Ludwig.
"Basch!"
"Here!"
"Lovino!"
"Right here jerk!"
"Sadik and Alfred!"
"Here!"
"Arthur?"
No response.
"He said he was going..." Ludwig grumbled.
"Bloody hell! I'm right here!"
"Alright, this will be the permanent evening patrol unless... something... happens." Ludwig observed the group and deemed it good enough.
"I better come back to come back to my brother you Swiss jerk!" Basch rolled his eyes and looked at the group.
"Count off," Basch ordered.
"1!"
"2."
"Tres!"
"Dort!"
"Fünf," Basch finished the count and observed the group.
"Let's head out then."
