…I'm sort of not sure what to say here =3=…8D Thanks for the reviews! And point out some of my spelling and grammatical errors. I'm an artist not a writer, though I seem to be able to point out other peoples spelling and grammatical errors better than catching my own… =3='''. Ok, I'm just sort of pushing to fill this space with mindless blather :D…special right? But anyway, yeah…here's the next chapter, I hope you all enjoy! X3
I also wanted to thank Kasumi, for your very kind review...and yes...pirate!England is 100% pure grade sexy x3
Chapter Twelve: Bonds and Bondage
It was the after noon of the next day that Dimitri had finally gotten over the rather ugly hangover he had from the little drinking party the other day. He was sitting in the large dinning room looking over that morning's paper and enjoying warmed cereal and hot apple cider. Despite the fact that it was the only thing he was able to keep down, he took a sip from his mug while reading over the current economic standing.
After setting the mug down, he turned the page and adjusted the paper so he could read the latest story more clearly. What he found, sent the mug tumbling over the side of the table, the contents splashing all over the fine carpet. "How…could this be!?" he read a bit more, eyes straining more and more the further he read.
'A group of Siberian Guerillas were captured, interrogated, and then executed for conspiracy and treason. After which, their villages were burned to the ground as a warning to all other conspirators, that defiance will not be tolerated.'
Combing his fingers into his hair and gripping at it, almost to the point of ripping it out, Dimitri read over the article three more times before the sound of the side door opening jolted him from his senses. Looking up, he saw that it was his brother, smiling cheerfully as always, and walking over. However, Ivan paused when he saw the spilt cider, he glanced up questioningly towards the other.
"Dimitri? You spilt your drink all over my carpet…" his words were hard to register, was he simply pointing it out in case Dimitri hadn't noticed, or was he accusing him of something? Whichever the case, the snowy haired brother slowly bent over and picked up the mug.
"I apologize…brother…" he said slowly while setting the mug down on the table once again, "I'll call some one in to clean…"
"Oh no, it's alright, Toris will clean it up, da?" Ivan interrupted, his smile growing a bit more, "But…is something wrong? You don't look so well brother, it is the hangover again, da?" he chuckled, "You will learn to hold liquor too! Than we can drink again!"
"Ivan…" Dimitri gripped the paper, how could the other be so calm about this? "What is this?" he held the slightly crumpled paper out so that the other could see the article. Ivan simply glanced at it once before chuckling again, he seemed to snuggle into the front of his scarf for a moment before giving his answer.
"I told you that I would take care of it didn't I?" his smile did not waver in the slightest, but the look in his eyes betrayed the mask he was wearing, "They were causing trouble for you, so I took care of them, da?" Ivan walked over and gave Dimitri a pat on the shoulder, "They're even sending a team out to find your tigers…"
Dimitri was silent for a long while, he then got to his feet and pushed Ivan's hand from his shoulder, "Ivan…how do you expect my people…and me…to react when you're killing them?" he asked.
The Russian stared, an almost childishly questioning look on his face, but still his eyes betrayed him, "You are…not happy?" he asked, "I did it for you…"
Dimitri shook his head, "No Ivan, I'm not happy…you lied to me, you killed my people behind my back when I was unable to protect them, and you're over stepping your boundaries'!" he spun and pointed at the other, "We may be united, but Siberia is still mine!"
Ivan burst into laughter; he seemed practically beside himself, he was even doubling over a bit, much to Dimitri's dismay. Finally though, Ivan managed to stifle his laughing for a moment in order to speak, "You're funny when you're angry brother," he said, "But you forget, Siberia is a part of Russia, one with Russia, we are one in the same…" the other then lunged forward and caught Dimitri by the neck and shoved him back against the dinning room wall, where he was pinned, "You forget your place brother, who was it that saved you from that English pirate? Who was it that pulled you out of the life of a pathetic, begging, dirty whore? Who was it that cleaned you? Fed you? Got you back on your feet? Who was it that gave you the life you have now?"
Dimitri knew that Ivan was strong, but he was not expecting to be over powered so easily, much less successfully pinned to the wall behind him. Staring into the violet eyes that seemed to burn into his scarlet ones, he remained silent...it was Ivan of course. Ivan saved him…Ivan, Ivan, Ivan. "You may have broken those chains and promised me a new and better life. But so far…all you've done was replace the old chains with shiny gold…new ones."
Sighing, Ivan's smile had turned into a disappointed frown, "Brother…you're hurting my feelings…" he whispered, "Why are you being so mean? I was only trying to help…" his gaze rose once more, a smile…no, a smirk…spread across his face, "You're being ungrateful, I tried to be nice, but now…I think you need a good reality check." Without much warning, a strong fist connected with the red eyed brother's stomach, knocking the wind clean out of him, making him cringe and then double over when Ivan released his neck.
"I really hate to do this brother but…you really shouldn't have gone against me…" Ivan's smile, so childish…so cruel, "But once that team finds your precious tigers, they're going to kill them, kill them and take their fur."
--
"Francis, have you heard any news about my brother?" The tall and well toned blond almost demanded the Frenchman who was sitting before him. Despite his stoic expression, it was clear that he was very concerned about his brother's mysterious disappearance, and as such, so was Francis.
"No, as much as I hate to say it…I have not heard anything." He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his slightly stubbled chin, his ocean blue eyes drifting to the side. It had been several days sense he'd last heard from Gilbert, it wasn't like him to just…disappear. "I have my people out looking and listening for any possible clues, though I suppose I shouldn't say 'Don't worry', wouldn't you agree Ludwig?"
The blond drew back a little and folded his arms, a very deep set frown on his face. Such a ridiculous request, of course he couldn't calm down. Even though his brother was loud, obnoxious, over zealous, and crude, he was still his brother and as such deserved his concern. He figured it was only a matter of time before something like this happened, but now that it was actually happening, he half wished it hadn't.
"So, tell me, how has work been treating you?" Francis suddenly asked, he hoped it would at least distract the other long enough to make him calm down a little.
"Well enough…" was the only answer he got, he'd have to try again.
"I don't suppose you know whatever happened to your former employer?"" a slight smile had formed on the Frenchman's face, but it was masked by a smile of pure curiosity.
"You know as well as I do what happened to him…" Ludwig replied, "What I don't know is what happened to him after you released him."
"Hard to say really, it's not like he had anybody to come and take care of him…he wasn't particularly well liked if I recall correctly." Francis chuckled, "Even Antonio has rather colorful stories he never wants to retell about him."
"He was a good captain though…" Ludwig interrupted, "For a pirate captain, he was very good…"
"Oh? But you know as well as I do that his hobbies are less than admirable."
Ludwig was silent, he knew, and as much as he was ashamed to admit it, he partook in those hobbies as well. Perhaps call it a youthful life experience, one he wished he'd never done and could very easily do without.
"You're wondering what happened to him aren't you?" Francis prodded slightly, "The boy, Dimitri…"
"Ja…"
"Last I heard he's quite happy living with his brother, he's once again the ambassador to his homeland, and is currently flourishing." Francis gave a shrug, "Which honestly surprises me a little."
"Why do you say that?" Ludwig's brow furrowed slightly, the last thing he needed to hear was that the boy had escaped one horror only to be dropped into a new one.
"Ivan…" Francis said, "His childish face masks the heart of a true tyrant. His countries economy was starting to fail, his people are in constant upraise, he himself has questionable mental stability…" he sighed, "The last person you'd ever want to get on the bad side of…" Sighing and leaning forward so that he could rest his elbows on the edge of his large desk, "He was the one who insisted that Arthur be locked away in my prison, the only instruction he gave was to insure he never…ever…thought about Dimitri ever again. I would hate to find out what he would do if he got his hands on you two."
"Does he know?" Ludwig suddenly spoke up, his face had turned very pale, this Ivan, how could he be that boy's brother? It hardly seemed right.
"I used every resource in my control and then some to throw Ivan off your tails, but that doesn't mean…" Francis stopped, his eyes grew as his head lifted from his hands, "That doesn't mean…shit…" Ivan was far from the trusting type, Francis knew this first hand, which meant that after getting his brother back, it was only natural that he would question him. Find out everything that had happened to him, and if Dimitri said anything…The one loose end he forgot to cut,
Ludwig looked as if he was going to be ill, but he quickly shoved the feeling down before rubbing his temples. If his brother really was taken by this Ivan, what were the odds he'd ever see him again, much less ever see him alive again?
--
With the incident with his brother putting Ivan in a particularly feral mood, the Russian made his way idly down one of the many long hallways in his home. He had run into Toris on the way, the poor Lithuanian could sense the other was not in a particularly good mood, and instructed him that there was a mess in the dinning room that needed picking up. Of course, what Ivan failed to mention was that it wasn't just the spilt apple cider that needed picking up. Apparently he had violently reminded Dimitri exactly where he stood in this so called relationship, and then left him there bleeding. Poor Toris would have quite the time trying to get both cider and blood stains out of the carpet, as well as tend to the others wounds.
Ivan in the mean time had ventured down into the basement, with his mood being so foul, he needed something to entertain him. But what would he do today? He'd already giving his newest guest his initial welcome, but now he actually had to come up with something, either to do to him or make him do onto himself. It was usually more entertaining to watch the conflicted expressions on prisoners who are forced to do things to themselves they wouldn't normally do. However, he had held back on his brother but still felt like hurting something.
Pushing open the cell door and walking in, making sure to hang the lamp in its usual place so that it could cast just the right amount of light into the dank room. And, right where he had left him, Ivan found his new toy. Looking just the way he'd left him, black and blue with a mix of red…ah yes, those colors really did go well with his complexion.
"Aren't we looking lovely today." Ivan beamed, making the other jolt slightly. Apparently his captive had been sleeping, "You would like to come out and play with me, da?"
Platinum hair, stained with red and dirt brown splotches, shifted as the worn body tried to turn enough so that its owner could cast a venomous glare towards the Russian, "G-Go t-to…hell…B-Brag-ginski…" he stammered in a very dry and raspy voice. He wasn't sure how long it had been since he last drank anything, he hadn't eaten in a while either.
"Awww, why is everybody in such a bad mood today?" the other whined, but he then chuckled, "That sort of puts me in a bad mood too…" he then withdrew a metal faucet pipe from somewhere on his person. The sight of this makeshift weapon made the others crimson gaze widen, "Why can't you be a good boy, Gilbert? Once you become one with me, this can all go away, da?"
"Tch…" Gilbert just growled and looked away, like hell he'd lower himself by joining this maniac. Besides, he was sure his brother was looking for him, not that he liked relying on his little brother to come and save him, but he knew when he was in a situation where outside aide was the only option, especially if he wanted to get out of this alive…or at least in one piece.
This got him wondering, this guy was that boys brother right? So…did that mean that the boy was here? In this house? Gilbert couldn't help but smirk to himself, no way…the odds of that boy coming down here and then suddenly deciding to help him after all these years…wasn't gonna happen. Oh well, he'd accepted that he wouldn't be forgiven for that years ago. Perhaps this really was a sort of divine retribution…silly really, that he'd believe such a thing, but that was starting to look like more of the case the longer he stayed locked down here.
His thoughts were silenced when the heavy metal pipe connected with his back. With his arms shackled above his head, he wasn't able to move very far to avoid the continued strikes. One particular strike had forced him to cough up some blood, was he bleeding internally now? Probably…
--
Arthur was sitting at a dinner table, he was surrounded by a rather large group of people, all of Asian decent clearly, and all talking in languages he didn't understand. However, he could feel the occasional glance drift over him from time to time as he slowly turned over a few rice grains and mixed them in with a rather sweet smelling sauce. He was starving, but he needed to take a moment to register that he was actually sitting here about to eat a warm meal, his first warm meal in five years.
Yao seemed to sense the Brit's distress and scolded his brothers and sisters for staring. However, the noisy one who had found him seemed to ignore the scolding and put an arm around Arthur and gave him a rather heart jolting shake, which the other assumed was supposed to encourage him in some manner.
"What's the matter? Aren't you hungry? You must be hungry, I could hear your stomach growling from upstairs! Hey! You want me to help you? Here, let me help!" he took his own spoon and scooped up some rice and sauce before pushing it towards the others mouth, only to be met with resistance, and a pair of arms flying out and trying to push him away.
"S-Stop! I can do it myself!" Arthur blurted out before Yao could reprimand the others rudeness. He took the spoon from the other and slowly brought it too his mouth, it seemed that everybody had taken up staring at the strange sight, all apparently holding their breath, watching.
Arthur paused but the spoon had brushed the front of his lower lip, he could smell it…he could almost taste it…sheer will power alone was not enough to keep him from pushing the spoon the rest of the way. It was such a simple meal, but the blond just let it sit there in his mouth, spoon half sticking out between his lips as his head lowered.
That was when the male sitting beside Yao politely cleared his throat, unlike most of the others, this one was much shorter, well, save for the lone female…he was dressed in a finely woven eggshell Yukata and would occasionally pull a stubborn clump of short and well groomed black hair behind his ear, though it would simply fall back and perfectly frame his face.
"Is…Arthur-san not pleased with his meal?" he asked in a soft voice, his dark eyes, though gentle looking, seemed to be boring into the Englishman's forehead as if daring him to say otherwise. However, this was not the case, Arthur just sniffed once before pulling the spoon from his mouth and forcing himself to chew…in all honesty, he was trying to savor the moment for as long as possible, just incase this nightmare turned out to be just that.
There's just something about the title of this chapter that brings an odd sort of smile to my face. But yeah =3=
Dimitri has a glass stomach, one punch and he's down…but he as a very strong defense when he has the chance to put it up which usually makes up for it. Usually….
:D I really like this chapter too :D