Title: Lingering Memories
Part: Cold War Era (1945-1991)
Pairing: Russia/China, implied Russia/US, implied Russia/Prussia, implied US/China
Rating: R

Summary: History isn't something full of flowers and love; History is violent, History is what we try to hide. War doesn't change the world – we change it; war doesn't take away what we treasure most – we do. Love isn't something that we search for, but something that finds us, and saves us.

Notes: The first part, the WW2 era section, was a long fic exchange for a good friend a long time ago. I've kept as true to history as possible but I had to re-invent some things so take any historical reference with a pinch of salt.

This is the second part of the original idea. I am not going to focus as much on America's foreign policy here (or I will really go on a tirade), but instead I am opting to focus on the internal politics of the USSR. I will put up appropriate warnings as I complete each part. Also, I'm pretty sure my writing style has changed since I first wrote the WW2 section, but I'm doing my best to imitate so that the feeling of the story changes as little as possible. Please enjoy, and maybe leave me a review! There's always so much room to improve.

Special: If there is a certain situation during the Cold War you wish me to cover (without digressing too much from Russia/China), please let me know!


Cold War Era (1945-1991)

"From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia, all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and, in some cases, increasing measure of control from Moscow."


6. 1945-1949; the Beginnings of the Cold War

Alfred was an idiot. Truman was a useless prick. "What is wrong with their people?" I sighed. "Personally, I think they're over-reacting." I buried my face in Yao's neck, feeling his hair around my face. "They need to give you a chance. You're better than all of them."

"Ivan," Yao pushed me off. "It's not a laughing matter."

"As though you aren't affected by their anti-communism stand," I said flatly. "Some post-World War era we're building. Those democratic people should sit down, stop talking, and see who's really at fault. Isn't that what democracy is all about?" I caught a smile as Yao turned around. "What?"

"You're worried, aren't you?" Yao said, smiling at me. "As you should. Ludwig almost killed you. You yourself almost collapsed. Alfred, Arthur, Francis, they're all not concerned about what you need -"

"I know exactly what they're thinking, Yao," I snapped angrily. "You don't have to tell me again. It's me they're worried about, not you. They think you're taking after me, but you're nothing like me." It wasn't fair that just because Yao picked communism over democracy he should not be given the respect he deserved. After all, he had been the one to fight back against Japan's invasion; he had stood up, each time he was felled, and here he was, stronger than before.

"Why do you think that?" I could see that he was annoyed now. "Hey, I chose this, alright? We've been through hell and survived, we'll be fine." Yao said firmly, slipping underneath my arm. "I think I should know best what I want, and who I am."

"Yeah, well, tell them that."

"You know politics don't work that way, Ivan."

Of course I knew, and it wasn't just any politics – it was what Alfred defined as right. Everything now revolved around him, and it made me so mad. What happened to the rest of us, the rest of us who never wanted to see another World War? Although, if violence was the only way to ensure my country's safety, so be it. That's how I would deal with it.

I didn't expect our old alliance to work in a post-war era, only not for my security concerns to be forgotten.

Yao's fingers interlocked themselves with mine, squeezing my hand gently.

I pulled him roughly towards me. "Gilbert," I breathed teasingly over his face. "Hello."

"What the fuck? I don't care if right now I'm under you, one day -"

"Your country no longer exists, Gilbert," I said cheerfully. "Those Western idiots don't give a crap about what happens to you anymore. They're more concerned over their precious West Germany... Your brother, you know?"

His protests were amusing, indeed. But when Alfred, Arthur and Francis had met to discuss the future of Germany, they certainly had conveniently forgotten all about a certain East region... Prussia, for example. If it was going to be the West against the East, so be it. Let it be known that Soviet Russia was not simply going to back down, and that we never have.

I threw him roughly down on the floor, hearing an 'oof!' escape from his body.

"Unfortunately, you're not a certain Wang Yao, so I have no interest in you except for pushing Alfred over the edge," I said easily, watching him glare up at me. "I don't really want you near me, but since you'll be useful in ensuring your brother doesn't come near me again, I'll be sticking around."

A string of expletives escaped from his mouth, and I wanted to laugh. Oh Gilbert, I don't even know why you're under my charge. This... gaining more territory issue is just something Alfred is obsessed about, not me.

"Shut up," and I heard a howl of pain from Gilbert, as my foot connected with his face. "You're such an annoyance, no wonder Alfred would rather give you up than fight for your independence. He knew he wouldn't be able to deal with you, because he already has me to deal with."

Gilbert clutched his nose gingerly, his eyes narrowed hatefully at me. I smiled at him, and he started cursing at me. "You fucking asshole! You broke my damn nose! What the fuck is wrong with you?" He lunged towards me, his blood getting all over my body. That's annoying, alright.

"It's just a nose. If it hurts so much, cut it off. No wonder Alfred chose Ludwig over you, you're such a wimp." The dripping blood from his nose was distracting, as I watched each drop fall onto my scarf. I pushed him roughly away. Get off me.

"Well, yeah? I'm not a pushover like Poland was, I'm Gilbert-" his boast turned into a scream, as I drew my pistol, and shot him through his thigh. I grabbed his roughly by the collar, pulling his crumpled body up to my face level.

"Listen, Gilbert, I don't give a damn who you were, and what you did. Right now, you don't even exist. So do me a favor, and just stay here, quietly, please," my voice was pleasant, and it sounded just like a request. Despite the obvious pain he must be feeling, Gilbert kept silent, his teeth gritted, averting my eyes, and he understood that it wasn't a request, but an order.

"I'll send someone to check on you," I said, pasting a smile back on my face. "I hope it didn't hurt too much."

I let my fingers crawl gently across the fading scar on my abdomen, remembering from years before how Ludwig had shot me in cold blood. It didn't mean much – he knew I would have done the same should I have been in the position he had been in. And he was right.

If that alliance hadn't worked so many years ago, why should any alliance with the other Superpower work? Thinking about America made me want to break something, everything he did infuriated me, and I let him exploit that weakness. Ever since Alfred had found his strength, he had been interfering in every issue, whether it concerns him or not. I knew he would not have been happy when the Soviet Union was declared communist, the world's first communist state. But why should he even care? I let out a hiss. It's not like Soviet communism was perfect, there were many apsects of what Stalin did that made me wish I could kill him, but despite that, how can Alfred claim his democracy was perfect when he spent all his time poking his nose where it should not be in?

I opened the door, letting my eyes adjust in the dim light. I could just barely make out the curled up figure on the bed.

And his new boss, what was his name again? Truman...? I think?, was a useless prick. At least, with Roosevelt, he had bothered to acknowledge our existence. Closing the door quietly, I slipped in next to the still figure, placing a gentle kiss on the exposed neck. Yao sat up in alarm, his fright etched onto his beautiful features, only relaxing a little when I smiled at him. That was fun.

"Don't do that!" he half-yelled. "Not when people are sleeping!" He shoved against me. "Stop smiling, it creeps me out. It makes me think that you're going to do something to me."

"Do you want me to?" I asked, innocently, trying to hide a smirk. "I'm very good at what I do."

Yao rolled his eyes, and pulled the blankets back over his body. "Get lost, I want to sleep. I have things to do in the morning, as do you." His body froze as he looked at his hand. "Ivan, are you bleeding?"

"Huh?" I was confused at his question. "No, I'm no- Oh, oh." I took his hand, stained with blood.

"Oh? What kind of answer is that?" Yao sounded exasperated. "It's a lot of blood. What the hell, let me see!"

"It's my scarf, Yao," I said, holding him back. "It's not my blood. " Yao would not be happy. "…It's Gilbert's."

"W-What? Are you crazy? Did you kill him? Why is there so much blood?"

"Gilbert, Prussia, you know? I probably am. No I didn't. I shot him in the leg," I answered amiably. Yao was so agitated, and it was pretty adorable, until he started inching away from me.

"You scare me," he said bluntly. "You don't go shooting people like that..."

"I would point you towards the cruelty of your country's history, Yao, but I think should know it better than I do," I said, my voice icy. "You are not exactly in a position to judge me."

"Unless it means exacerbating this stupid war between you and Alfred!" Yao yelled angrily. "I don't want another war, okay? What's this between East and West, it's bullshit. There's no use in separating Gilbert and Ludwig, even if you want revenge. Isn't this revenge enough? He's no longer a threat to you-"

"No longer a threat? Are you blind, Yao? He's a satellite of Alfred, Alfred who wants me dead!" I snapped angrily, and Yao retreated quickly away from me. I took a breath quickly, before smiling apologetically at him. "I'm sorry. It's not your fault. But I'm only doing this because Germany once invaded my country. I do not want to see that happen again." I reached outwards him, feeling him shiver under my touch. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright, I understand," Yao said shakily. "Look, can we sleep? I'm really tired, and I'm sure you are."

"Can I sleep here?" I asked, turning begging eyes at him.

It was always nice to see Yao smile. It was something I always look forward to, because it just made me love him more, and it made me forget.

"Without that bloody scarf, sure." He patted the empty area next to him, before slipping back under his covers. I smiled to myself, before lying down next to him, placing an arm around his waist.

I already had what I wanted. I didn't want world domination, and I definitely didn't want to practice expansionism, I had no use for it. Right now, all I wanted was for Alfred to see reason, and that I only needed him to help me with my security. Yao curled up closer in my body, his hand gripping tightly onto my shirt, and I rested my chin on his head.

I could see the first snowflakes through the window against the moonlit sky.