(8)
The next morning, Lithuania woke up at 8:30, the latest he had slept in in a while. It also happened that Russia was up before him this time. He was reading a book and Vanya was curled up at the end of the bed. There was a cup of tea on the nightstand beside him.
"Good morning Toris!" he said.
Lithuania yawned and stretched. "Good morning to you too Ivan. How do you feel this morning?"
"Better. But still a little sleepy."
"Are you thinking you might go to the world meeting later?"
"I do not know. Probably not. I just started feeling much better and I don't want to get stressed out and start feeling sick again. But after you get back we could do something."
"Okay."
"Toris?"
"Da?"
"Did Belarus try to hurt you last night?"
"Oh, no. I avoided her the whole evening."
"That's good. But remember, if she tries to attack you today, tell me."
"R-right...da. Umm...are you hungry?"
"I am starving."
"They're serving complimentary breakfast downstairs...would you like me to bring you some?"
"Or I could just go with you."
"R-right. Of course. But…are you sure you feel well enough to?"
Russia chuckled. "Yes. Silly Toris. You act like mother sometimes. It's not like I can't walk. No, I will go with you. I can get breakfast myself."
Lithuania's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "Oh, right...I knew that. I was just making sure."
"Are you ready to go?" Russia asked.
"Da." Toris put the covers back and stepped onto the floor. Then he and Russia put on their boots and grabbed their robes and room keys. Russia also put Vanya inside his cat carrier, promising they would be back soon. Then, they headed out the door and took the elevator downstairs to the lobby.
-xXx-
When they go there, it smelled very strongly of breakfast, from bacon, to coffee, to pancakes. To Lithuania's relief, the lobby wasn't very crowded with other countries. There were a few of them though. A couple of them were familiar.
"Good morning Lithuania!" called a cheery voice.
"H-hello Miss Hungary." She walked up to him with her plate of food and smiled.
"Oh, hi Russia! Good to see you too." she said.
"Privyet, Hungary." Russia smiled.
"Who is this?" Lithuania noticed the small boy with light hair in braids and violet eyes, hiding behind her skirts.
"Oh, that's Kugelmugel. Austria brought him vith us because he didn't vant to leave him at home by himself. Kugelmugel, dear, vhy don't you say hi to my friends?"
He cowered further behind her skirts.
"Oh...I am sorry. He's very shy around adults."
"That's okay." Liet replied, "It's nice to meet you anyway." he said, addressing the micronation.
"Alright then," Hungary replied, "I'll see you later." She waved and walked over to the table where Austria was drinking tea and she and Kugelmugel sat down.
"Umm, Russia, I'll go grab a table, unless you want to eat upstairs in our room?"
"Let's go upstairs; I don't want to leave Vanya in his cage for too long."
"Okay." Together they went through the line, grabbed their food, and headed back upstairs.
-xXx-
When the elevator opened, they found Ukraine and Estonia walking and talking on their way down the hall. Russia's face lit up.
"Ukraine! Big sister!" he exclaimed, practically running up to meet her. When she saw him she looked up and her eyes started to water.
"I am sorry brother, but my boss said I can't talk to you!" and she ran off towards the elevator, crying.
Estonia glared at Russia before following after her.
Lithuania watched his face fall.
"All I said was hello."
Lithuania nervously laid a hand on Russia's shoulder.
"You know she loves you, Ivan...our bosses just suck sometimes."
He nodded. "Let's just go before Belarus shows up too." he said sadly.
-xXx-
The morning passed on without much activity. Soon, Lithuania was saying goodbye to Russia and on his way to the world meeting, carrying a briefcase filled with everything he needed for both him and Russia's presentations.
-xXx-
The moment Lithuania had left for the meeting, a nervous, uneasy Russia grabbed his phone and scrolled through his contacts to find Belarus. He sent a message to her;
"Do not even think about hurting Lithuania, sestra. And when the meeting is over, I want you to meet me in the alley behind the hotel."
-xXx-
When Lithuania got to the meeting, he took his seat beside Poland and the other Baltics, avoiding eye-contact with Belarus altogether, who sat two seats away from him beside Latvia. Yet, even though he tried not to look her way, he could feel her eyes burning into him.
"Liet?" Poland touched his shoulder.
He jumped, and then turned to look at him.
"OMG, geez, you're like really jumpy today. You alright? Russia didn't do anything did he?"
"Uhh...no, Belarus just makes me uncomfortable, that's all."
"Like really? I thought you liked her."
Lithuania blushed, "That was a long time ago." he said softly, "I thought we talked about this."
"Pfft. Well I can see why she makes you uncomfortable. She's like, a psycho, you know...and she is related to Russia, so that makes sense."
"Poland! That's not wery nice!"
"Pfft. But it's true."
Lithuania said nothing.
A few moments later, the room was loud with the voices of various countries talking and/or arguing with one another. A few of them also commented on how Russia was not there. At 3:00 sharp, Germany silenced everyone and began the meeting.
"It's 3:00." he said, "Where's Russia?"
"Umm…" Lithuania raised his hand. "H-he isn't feeling wery well...he told me. He isn't going to be here today."
"Alright zhen. In zhat case ve vill start, since everyone else is here."
-xXx-
It seemed that meetings at Germany's went much smoother, as he mediated the whole thing and ensured everyone talked one at a time and raised their hands. And, every time England and France started to get into an argument, a glare was cast their way and they were stopped before things got ugly.
Lithuania waited until it was his (well Russia's) turn to speak, and raised his hand.
"Ja, Lithuania?"
"Umm...I would like to start Russia's presentation, I will be speaking for him since he is not here." He scanned his eyes around the table. Belarus was glaring. If looks could kill, he would have dropped dead that moment.
"Alright zhen. Go on."
Poland patted his shoulder, "You can do it Liet. Just ignore her." he whispered. Lithuania smiled nervously, and then he stood up and straightened the papers, then walked up to the front of room.
When he got there, he set up and cleared his throat. "I will be starting now. Okay…" he took a deep breath.
The longer he talked, the more intense the tension grew, and the more worried he got that Belarus was going to attack him. He began to trip on his words, sweat, fidget, and tap his fingers. His gaze constantly reverted back to her. This time she was looking right back at him, expression icy. Then he watched her movement. He knew she had pulled her knife out of her skirts.
"Umm...as I was saying…the-" he cut off again. He began to feel very light headed. He always hated speaking in public, and now he was going to die.
"Was that it, then?" England questioned, "You cut off in the middle of a sentence."
Lithuania's breath shortened and he was shaking. He wanted to pass out.
"Hello? Are you alright there, mate?" Lithuania did not reply.
"You look a little sick mon cher." France added, "Do you need to sit down?"
"Does anyone else see this!?" England's voice rose instantly. "Hello! I am talking!"
Lithuania wanted to faint. He felt very light-headed. If he didn't do anything, Belarus would attack him and he would get killed in front of everyone. He had two choices. He could either stand up there and wait for her to attack him, or he could run.
"I-I'm sorry…" he addressed the world meeting, "I-I can't do this." The papers fell to the ground and he started to retreat to the door.
"Oh no you don't!" Belarus jumped up and ran to attack him, brandishing her knife.
"Gyaaah!" France yelped, "Someone stop her! Angleterre!"
The meeting erupted into chaos.
Lithuania tried to escape but Belarus blocked the door. She grabbed him by the front of his shirt and hurled him into the wall, then she jumped on him and prepared to stab him. Lithuania closed his eyes. I am going to die. I am going to die. Iamgoingtodiediediedie…Russia…
Suddenly, the weight was lifted off him. There was screeching.
"Let me go! Let me go! Gyaaah! Let me go!" Lithuania opened his eyes. He was alive. And in front of him, Belarus was flailing and clawing, restrained by America and Germany. But even the two of them were having difficulty holding her.
Then suddenly, BING! She froze and buckled to the ground, and there was Hungary, standing behind her, holding her frying pan, as she had just struck her unconscious. She dropped the pan, and instantly, her and several other nations were rushing to Lithuania's side, asking him if he was okay.
He nodded, "Da, da. I am fine."
"Here. Take my tea." England practically shoved it in his face. Lithuania thanked him and took it.
"This isn't a shock blanket but it might work." America wrapped his bomber jacket around Liet's shoulders.
"Oh...I do not think I am in shock but thank you America."
"Here, Lithuania, my handkerchief...to wipe your eyes."
Lithuania took the handkerchief from a brown-haired bespectacled man, just now realizing he had shed a few tears and his cheeks were stained.
"T-thank you...M-Mr. Austria?"
"Ja."
"Do you want some pasta? Pasta makes everyone happy."
"Uhh, no...thank you, Mr. Italy, I am okay, honestly."
"Liet!" Poland wrapped his arms around him in a hug. "Oh my God, Liet! I thought she was going to, like, kill you! Thank God she didn't!"
"I'm alright, honestly. Thank you all but," he looked up at Germany who was standing away from the crowd, "...We should get back to the meeting. And figure out what to with her now that's she's unconscious."
"Nein, zhe meeting can vait until ve know for sure zhat you are okay."
"I am...I just need to sit for a little."
"Alright zhen. Stop crowding." Germany said, "All of you, back up, give him space. Sit down." the crowd of countries dispersed and took their seats.
"Zhere. Now vhat should be done about her?" he indicated the heap that was Belarus.
"Throw her in the street." someone said.
"Call the police!" suggested another.
"Get security!"
"Nein, nein. Ve are not going to throw her out on the street or anyzhing like zhat. Now does anyvone else have a suggestion?"
"We could just throw her out of the room and lock the door." said Estonia.
"What, so she can, like, try to kill someone else!?" Poland yelped.
"No. She wouldn't do that. She's not a mass murderer. She only tries to eliminate people that get close to Russia. She won't just attack anyone." Estonia continued.
"Are you sure?" Germany questioned, "I do not vant her attacking my people."
"Yes." Estonia replied.
"Latvia is zhis true?"
"Uhh...y-yes sir."
"Ukraine is zhis true?"
She nodded.
"Lithuania, is zhis true?"
"Umm...y-yes Mr. Germany. It is. She wouldn't hurt just anyone, only if they try to quarrel with her or get close to Mr. Russia."
"Alright, fine zhen. Estonia, go ahead and put her outside on the couch and lock zhe door so we can get back to our meeting. But I am still going to call security to guard her until zhe meeting is done."
The Baltic nodded. "Can someone come help me please?"
"I can handle this, bruh!" America announced, getting up and walking over to the unconscious Belarusian. He picked her up and slung her over his shoulder. Her knife clattered to the ground. Lithuania got up and moved to sit down in his chair, and America opened the door. A few moments later he came back in, and Germany locked and barricaded the door shut.
"Zhere. Now we can get back to zhis meeting. Ve've only got about an hour or so left and zhen we can all leave."
-xXx-
Belarus opened her eyes, angry, and with a pounding headache. There was also a burly German security guard standing near her, which added to her foul mood.
"Who the h*ll are you? And why are you just standing there!?" she demanded.
"You attacked another person. So you vere kicked out of zhe meeting. I vas told to stand guard over you until it is over."
"Whatever." she took her phone out of the pocket of her skirt and opened it. There was message from her brother.
"Do not even think about hurting Lithuania, sestra. And when the meeting is over, I want you to meet me in the alley behind the hotel."
She completely disregarded the first part when she saw that her brother wanted to meet her.
A small smile curled on her lips.
"Excuse me sir," she said sweetly, "I need to go and meet my brother. He just texted me. May I?"
"Let me see your text."
She showed him.
"Alvight fine."
-xXx-
She left the stuffy office building and hailed a cab, then gave directions to the cab driver to the hotel.
When she got there, she paid the driver and then went into the alley. She saw no one.
"Big brother!" she called, "I'm here."
No response.
"Brother? I came to meet you." she sing-songed.
She continued to walk and look around, calling, beginning to get annoyed.
"Brother, is this a joke!? Hello! Where are you, you jerk!?"
"Ahh, Bela. I was waiting for you."
She turned and her face lit up. "Brother! I'm here."
He appeared around the corner and walked toward her, he was holding his pipe. She began to run towards him, and when she got close enough, he grabbed her and slammed her against the wall, holding her there with one hand.
"B-brother?" she stared at him, in disbelief. He was not smiling.
"I-I'm happy to see you. Are-aren't you happy to see me?" He ignored her and held the pipe over his head like he was going to strike her.
"Listen to me little sister. If you EVER hurt Lithuania again, do not think I will hesitate to end you." He dropped the pipe.
It took her a moment to process what he said. "But you are mine, big brother! He has no business being close to you like he is!" she exclaimed.
"No I am not yours. I could never love you like that." Russia replied.
Her voice rose with emotion. "He doesn't care about you! He left you alone! I love you more than anything! I came back to you! He only comes back because he is afraid of you! He only stays because he is afraid of you! All he cares about is saving his own skin!"
"Do not act like you know him better than me! He tried to be with you but you pushed him away! You don't want anything to do with him! So you wouldn't make an effort to know him, and therefore you can't! He cares about me more than you ever did! All you care about is yourself. You only came back because you wanted something from me! You wanted my love! But I don't love you like that. I can't." Russia's voice had also risen with emotion.
"Do you love him!? Is that why!? What makes him so much better than me!?"
"Of course I do, he is my friend...my best friend. But I don't love him like that. Just like I don't love you like that. Because you are my sister."
She studied him, confused.
"Listen to me, sestra...Bela...Natalia. But when I say this though, I do not want to give you the wrong impression, okay? I want you to think about what I am going to tell you."
She nodded.
"I love you because you are my sister. I love Lithuania because he is my friend. That is not the same love that you are thinking. Romantic love is completely different. I think you have your feelings mixed up. I have no romantic feelings for you or Lithuania."
"You-you love me?" she asked, in a small voice.
"Da. Because you are my sister."
"But you love Lithuania too?"
"Da. Because he is my friend."
"How can you love both of us?"
"Because loving people as your family and friends is different than loving people romantically. I have family/friend love for you, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, and sometimes Estonia. I have romantic love for no one. I love you Bela, but I can't love you the way you want me to."
She was silent for a moment as she tried very hard to process what he said. Then she replied, "Yes you can...because...I realize now...I think-that I have family love for you too because...you are my brother. I just get jealous and I feel left out when you spend so much time with everyone else and not me. I chase you and scare you and act the way I do because I want your attention. And when I don't get it I get very angry. And I handle it the wrong way. I realize now I don't want to marry you, brother. I just want you to spend more time with me and pay more attention to me. I just want to be with you-no...around you. I just want to be around you."
"I want that too. And I want to spend time with Ukraine as well. We can try to fix our family and make it better. But in order to do that you have to stop hurting, scaring, and threatening the people that get close to me and you have to stop with the "marry me" stuff if you want it to work. And you had better never hurt or try to hurt Lithuania again."
Belarus nodded. "And Ukraine needs to stop running away from us."
Russia chuckled, "Hopefully she will soon." He was silent for a moment, "…So then we have agreement, da?"
Belarus nodded.
"Good."
"It's going to be hard to change the way I act, big brother. But I can try."
"At least you will try. Now, I am going to go back inside. What are you going to do?"
"I think I will go walk around a little...to try to...understand what we just talked about."
"Alright. Goodbye then."
"Bye." she turned and started to walk away.
"W-wait…" he grabbed her arm and turned her back around.
"Yes brother?"
He pulled her into a tight hug. She froze.
"Ya lyublyu tebya, sestra."
Her small arms slowly wrapped around him and her face was buried into his chest. After several moments they let go.
"I don't remember the last time we did that." Russia said.
"I don't either. But it felt...good."
"Da."
"I am going now brother, bye." she turned and left.
He watched her shape vanish and then walked back to the hotel.
-xXx-
When Russia opened the door to his room, he found that Lithuania had returned from the meeting.
"Ivan there you are. I was wondering where you went."
"I was just taking care of some business. Belarus won't be bothering you again." He sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Wh-what do you mean? Wh-what did you do?"
"I threatened her a little and we talked. It seems we understand each other more now. So it should be better between us. Me and both my sisters."
"T-That's wery good, Ivan. I am wery joyful for you."
"I just hope everything is going to work out. I want more than anything to fix the relationship between us. So we can be closer as a family." His shoulders sagged and he sighed, hanging his head. "I honestly do not know what will happen next."
Lithuania stood in front of him for a brief moment and then hesitantly walked over, sat down beside him, and laid a hand on his shoulder and rubbed it reassuringly.
"I-I'm sure everything will be fine."
Russia looked up, violet eyes meeting green.
"I mean, after all, we already fixed ours. I am sure you can do it again."
Russia smiled, "Thank you Toris."
"That's what friends are for."
A/N: And that wraps up Belarus's conflict. I wanted to portray her in a more positive light. Personally, I think that she is just a jealous, neglected younger sibling that wants her big brother's attention and has gone to extremes to get it. (But it still fun to interpret her the psychotic, obsessive way too). Anyway, Being the oldest of three, I know how younger siblings get when they feel neglected by the older ones. They get ornery and devious and they do whatever they can to get your attention. So that's that. And although Belarus's part in this fic is done, this isn't the end of the story. There's still conflict this duo has face. Plus, it's about time I add in some more fluff. And also, if I get enough petitions for it, I might write a companion piece to this that focuses on Russia and his sisters fixing their relationship. I have been wanting to write a Soviet siblings story for awhile now. So, as always, review please! And tell me whether or not you all would want a story about Russia and his sisters. Also, question: Did everyone have a good holiday? I did! I got a ton of new Hetalia stuff! What about the rest of you?
Translations
Sestra: Sister (Russian)
Ya lyublyu tebya, sestra: I love you, sister (Russian)
