The environment was tense. Since Saudi had got inside his apartment, he didn't say anything else to Emirates beside asking him to help him re-due his bandage.
Emirates had made an ugly face when he pushed his sleeve to look at the dirty bandage. No wonder it had become dirty with blood, even his sleeve's fabric hadn't got away from it. But the worst had been the scar itself, more dirty and messy. It hurt a lot when Emirates started to clean it, but Saudi had to bear it and keep quiet. It had been his fault after all. Luckily Emirates felt no need to take him to the nursery to get new stitches. He finished it all and slapped Saudi's palm to test its sensitivity and finally spoke.
"You okay?"
"Yes…" He whispers moving his fingers slowly to try his hand's flexibility after his foolishness.
"Good." Emirates keeps quiet, but Saudi knew he wanted to speak to him, otherwise, he would already get up and go.
Saudi sighs, swallowing his pride, he deserved one or two lectures and a push of ears after what he had done, even from his young brother.
"Just say it." He says closing his eyes waiting for it.
Emirates doesn't speak immediately. He seems to be considering the right words first to not start an unnecessary argue with his older brother, but he didn't know that minutes of silence was slowly killing Saudi with anxiety.
"First, are you really okay?" Asks Emirates going easy on him.
"Yes… I am." He says trying to sound really honest about it.
"Good. I wanted first to say after you ran away, I took care of Yemen. I checked if he had got any injuries, luckily he only won some more bruises. His health has become worst and worst, even his older bruises don't go away so easily due to his weak physique. I gave him some tea and cookies when he got calmer. He was a bit hysterical at first, calling for you and not saying very nice things. But then he got better and thanked me for the cookies and ate them… Well, he also puked them minutes after… But he really tried. After that, when he was really calm and sane, I asked what had happened, and he told me his version of the story, but now I want to know yours. Then, can you tell me your version of the story?"
Saudi gulps feeling his throat dry. It amazed him how Emirates could look at him so calm after what he might have heard from Yemen and what he saw when he caught them.
"What did he told you?" Emirates sighs blinking his eyes a bit to keep his cool.
"I will tell you, but only after I hear your version first. I need to know both side's history."
"Fine." Saudi scolds a bit annoyed with Emirates's stubbornness. Despite that, he had to admit he was looking pretty adult at that moment, not so vain as he was usually. "This might surprise you but… It's all Iran's fault." Emirates immediately raises an eyebrow pressing his lips tight to not grin at that 'surprising' information. "He came here and interrupted a total civilized moment between me and Yemen to steal all Yemen's attention and just to show off. Then he even dared to blink an eye to me as a provocation. By the end when he went away Yemen got all so charmed by that sly snake he despised my attempt to help him. And then we started shouting at each other, I tried to leave him and get away, but he wouldn't let me. He just wouldn't. And then he grabbed my bad wrist, squeezed it, hurt me, and I just got mad. I got full of it. He wouldn't stop making stupid questions and not letting me go despite the warnings I gave him. He had it coming!" Saudi breathes deep, in and out, to calm down his voice that had got louder and louder along with the description of what had happened. "And just like that, we got into a fight… and then you appeared." Saudi looks slyly at Emirates, studying his expressions after hearing him.
Emirates shakes his head as a sign of comprehension but doesn't express much.
"Yemen told me he didn't know you had your wrist injured, he didn't mean it and feels sorry for hurting you but doesn't regret the punches after. He says you deserved it. But he also told me he just wanted to know what had happened to your arm and you refused to tell him. I don't understand why you so embarrassed for hurting yourself while cooking." Saudi's mind blasts remembering the lie he had told Emirates. "Like… it can be embarrassing to show off to everyone… fine, I get it. It would be uncomfortable to explain and some could even laugh… but not Yemen. He might be a bit unstable but he still has respect for you and he knows he also isn't a lucky cooker."
Saudi sighs feeling the regret for that stupid ridiculous lie and disappointed with Emirates's insight. How could he still believe he had had really a kitchen incident after seeing inside his bandage? He had a big cut, stitched by Israel, how could he still believe? Which cooking technical could create an equal mess?
"I wasn't embarrassed on that moment to tell him, okay? I was angry, furious, I had just witness Iran steal Yemen from me. Right in front of my eyes. This is Iran, this is how bold he has become!"
"Fine… I get it." Emirates waits more minutes waiting for Saudi to calm down his tone again. "Brother, you must still keep in mind Yemen is sick. I don't know if he will handle another struck." Emirates's voice turns to a whiny voice with the last sentence. Saudi can't help it but hold him close to comfort him.
Emirates breathes loud, trying to hold a cry while Saudi caresses his back softly. He had nothing more to say to his younger brother, couldn't tell him another lie and couldn't even make a promise he knew he wouldn't keep. Comfort and a friendly shoulder were all he had to him.
The front door's knob rotates making a CLICK sound to open. Emirates immediately separates himself from Saudi's embrace rubbing his eyes to ward off the small tears and forces a smile for Oman who had just got in. She smiles back but notices something off.
"Everyone okay?" She asks. Emirates and Saudi shake positive for her, both smiling. Emirates gets up to hold her still very sensitive and almost squeezes Oman too much.
Saudi also gets up informing them he was going to check on Yemen.
The next day, a Saturday. Everyone was free from classes and could spend their time doing what they enjoyed the most. Everyone except Qatar, who wasn't feeling like doing anything at all that day due to the past events.
Oman had called her for shopping together, but she had to refuse, due to everyone's block she could no longer waste her money freely. She could be sassy, cocky and a bit too much cynical, but she was not a stupid woman.
That situation was expected, the moment she kept her NO she knew what they would do to her, how they would all abandon her and wait to see her suffocate on her own pride. Unfortunately for them, she knew to take care of herself all by herself.
Even thou, still getting Oman's calls and having her following, despite how annoying at first was… it was a bit warming for her broken heart, even if Oman only did it to keep an eye on her, it was good to not be always alone or only count with Iran's attention.
The warm wind shakes her free hair making her soul feel more lightly despise her tumultuous thoughts.
The sound of steps coming close doesn't alarm her, still focused on that unique feeling, turning just slightly to see who was coming on her direction.
Israel walks calmly getting near her, focused on her with distrust getting Qatar's curiosity for that particular strange eye stare. Israel stops. Still focused like she was trying to see right throw her.
"Qatar?" She asks.
"Yes, Zionist?" She grins amused by Israel's surprised face when getting her confirmation.
"You are so unrecognizable without your scarf! You have hair! Long hair!" Shouts Israel amazed by that figure she had never seen. Qatar was actually a gorgeous woman with a long voluminous dark hair and the wind had done its magic touch of perfection.
"Congrats with your discovery!" Laughs cynically Qatar getting up revealing her red shayla resting on her lap.
"Are you allowed to stay like that outside?" Qatar giggles looking around to see if they were the only ones there. The last thing she wanted was to have more problems for chit-chatting with the Zionist too.
"All that matters is modesty. Cover the hair is not an obligation on my place and there is no law that forces that. So yeah… I can come outside like this." She answers putting her scarf around the neck still leaving her hair free.
"I heard already of that, but doesn't seem so true in reality." Points out Israel.
"Culture is a strong influent force. When you are taught from the beginning to dress in a 'good' way, you will find it harder to change the older you get."
"I guess you have a point." Sighs Israel holding her hands behind her back. Staying quiet and focused on Qatar with amazement.
Qatar starts to find it boring all that attention and lack of words. Why would Israel come to her just to speak of her hair?
"You didn't come just to flatter me and see my beauty, did you?" Israel's eyes glow waking up with Qatar's question.
"I thought you were feeling a bit lonely because of what happened."
"And you thought I would be so desperate for attention that I would accept to have a chat with you?!" Giggles a bit out loud, with the cynical tone she was used to speaking.
"Well, you seemed okay with it at first." Israel's cheeks bobbled with frustration and humiliation for that wicked laugh of her. "I know the feeling better than anyone of being alone. I just wanted to show my sympathy."
"Sympathy." Repeats Qatar still giggling sarcastically. "Who do you think you're trying to trick Zionist?!" She shouts more angry with Israel.
Israel lifts up immediately her hands in a defensive way not getting what she said to exalt Qatar so much.
"W-WA-What?!"
"You might think I'm stupid enough to not see your game here. First, you got Saudi Arabia as your bodyguard. Second, you manipulated him to help your ass with that Hezbollah. Third, you helped him eliminate all his potential threats, including me! And now you dare to show me sympathy?! You hypocrite scum!"
"Wait! I didn't do anything against you!" Defends Israel herself.
"Oh… But you also didn't seem to mind it at all. What were you thinking? I would accept your hand since I'm alone? You can forget that!"
"No… I didn't." Israel bites her tongue to hold her nasty words. Qatar's explosive attitude was starting to get on her nerves, only when she had tried to be nice with her. "We had been so close to work with each other, why are you so aggressive now towards me? I did you no warm! I didn't even speak of you with Saudi! Actually… I kind off saved your ass without you know it!"
"Save my ass… you don't even know what you got yourself into…" Qatar rubs her face trying to calm herself a bit.
"Do you even know how Saudi started to see me as a target?" She asks more calm, wickedly nice.
"Because you started to spend more time with Iran?" Qatar sighs crossing her arms.
"I'm not absolutely proud of what I did, but let me ask you Israel. What hold you be able to do to save your own people?"
"That's my priority every day. Keep my people safe even if it costs my popularity. So I guess the answer would be everything." Qatar smiles at her expecting that answer.
"In those terms we not that different at all. You see… that ISIS invention of Syria and Iraq has caused a lot of troubles to everyone. But we thought it was just ISIS, the only terrorist group to exist, but with him, more terrorist groups were created. Smaller ones, less famous, but equally evil. I had the unlucky to get stuck with one of them."
"What do you mean?" Asks Israel.
"This is extremely sensitive to explain… especially if you don't know to understand the differences inside Islam's faith."
"You mean… the Shias and Sunnis? I know pretty much."
"Good to know you have some knowledge."
"I have too… I would be a reckless neighbour if I didn't." Sighs Israel rolling her eyes.
"Well, my unfortunate was that I got stuck with a copy of Hezbollah, mostly Shias, a considerable number of my own were kidnapped, and like a country who loves my people I had to do everything I could."
"So… You ended up to go after the only one who could rationalize with Shias. Iran. And gave him money for the rescue…" Israel pressure's her temple to relieve her headache with that information.
"You seem informed." Grins Qatar.
"It's known… And a great excuse you used to make dirty deals with Iran… Like a small terrorist group could ever demand such among of money as you gave to him." Spits Israel more angry at her. Qatar follows the same gesture.
"Are you insinuating I'm lying?! You're just like Saudi Arabia! I did it all for my people! You the ones who invented these stories of terrorism! The only one supporting terrorism is Saudi and his lackeys!"
"You were one of his lackeys!"
"Hey!" The shout coming far away made them both notice the Iranian coming in the company of Turkey.
Israel gulps and makes her way in the opposite direction while Qatar fixes her shayla covering her hair before Iran and Turkey get near.
"You're hurt too?!" Shouts Bahrain noticing Saudi Arabia's bandaged hand.
"I got into a fight with Yemen, again." Explains Saudi himself resting his harmed hand on his chest.
Bahrain stood shook with Kuwait beside him equally surprised but not daring enough to ask before Bahrain.
"And Yemen is also hurt?" Asks Kuwait.
"Yes…" Sighs Saudi begging silently to not have to repeat what had happened to them too. Emirates comes to save him resting beside him in the table and easily starts to explain what had happened with Saudi's previews words. They both stay quiet, hearing with attention. Saudi could notice their expression get more and more serious and furious. He feared it might be because for him, but Bahrain's final shout relieves his mind.
"That stupid Iran! He has done it again!"
"He really is getting extremely bold… Like it wasn't enough to take Qatar from us and now he wants to convince Yemen to harm us." Continues Kuwait.
"My friends and brothers… notice how Iran does his hateful plays. He slyly is trying to convince us to turn our backs on each other. If we let this happen we are to ones to blame for not seeing the previews warnings. Qatar is already lost and isolated, soon she will be succumbed by regret." Speaks Saudi calmly to get their focus on him. "We must not fall for his tricks again. We need to stay united and trust each other no matter what. He will try to poison our minds, convince us we are each other's enemies. We cannot let that ever happen!"
"Have you already spoke with America? Didn't he wanted to rip that deal?" Asks Kuwait.
"I think so, but he has some internal problems and I think he has been wasting his energies running after Syria with the others." Responds Saudi.
"Syria has been throw so much, I don't know how can she still run away from everyone and stay straight. It's creepy." Comments Kuwait to Bahrain.
"She is actually very badass. What it's creepy is how her boss still hasn't lost his place, despite the way he treats Syria, she still kept her loyalty." Says Bahrain.
"Another victim to Iran's hands! Syria has been poisoned by Iran for far too long. He made her aggressive." Points Saudi.
"This isn't over. After Syria, he will turn Lebanon or Jordan against us. I can feel it. I tried to talk with Lebanon the other day, and she was so rude to me, she said ´why don't you go waste your time with your little perfect friends' shorty'. Can you see how unkind she was? Call me 'shorty'?! I only said 'hi' to her!" Complains Kuwait. Saudi sighs scratching his beard while thinking.
"Good mention. With so much going on we forget those small things. Has Lebanon got rid off of that Hezbollah?" Ask Saudi getting an ugly grin coming from the three.
"She tried, but Hezbollah it's too strong, and has so many supporters investing on him." Says Emirates.´
"Has she at least took that terrorist organization out of her government?" Asks Saudi breathing loud trying to prevent the heat go to his head. A second ugly grin from them was enough to answer. "Has she at least tried?!"
"See her side… Hezbollah has been with her for far so long, it did support her in the worst situations." Tries Emirates to appease with no results.
"It's a terrorist! Doesn't matter what he has done!" Shouts Saudi feeling the head already burning, and by Kuwait and Bahrain's scared expressions he was all red. "Do you have lack brain inside your head?! Why do you think Lebanon was aggressive with you?!" Asks directly at Kuwait who kept himself quiet. "It's Hezbollah! It's Iran's trick to influence her! Many supporters investing… you mean Iran it's giving more money to keep that decease alive! Do you even imagine where that money came from?" Scared, Kuwait and Bahrain just shrug.
"That deal you sillies! It opened to him lots of bank accounts, and he took all the money and invested in terrorist groups… And you say Lebanon tried… She must have felt that money was all worth it."
"We don't know that! I trust in Lebanon's good intentions." Says Bahrain but regrets immediately when Saudi kicks the table with his hands.
"You a fool then! Lebanon has been abusing of our good grace just like Qatar did!"
"Saudi Arabia! Don't tell us you want to do it again!" Shouts Emirates lifting up to face his brother, equally mad. "Have you forgot what you said just a few minutes ago?! Has that speech of trust each other just to show off?!"
Saudi razes an eyebrow impressed by Emirates's courage to confront him but shows not big care for his words. He couldn't. Bahrain and Kuwait were watching.
"No, silly brother. We won't push her away as we did with Qatar… We know she hasn't the means as Qatar has, and we don't want her on a civil war again." Emirates sighs more relaxed and sits down. "This time I will just have a word with her."