(1657)

Lithuania stifles a cough. He didn't seem to be getting over his cold. Figures as their problem with Sweden didn't show signs of stopping anytime soon.

Also Prussia is acting weird. Rather than making a racket like he normally does, Lithuania caught him silently staring at him with a sad expression. It was similar to the time Prussia found out Hungary was a girl, so Lithuania assumed something else happened between them.

Lithuania found himself confronted with a weird thought: Maybe the two of them started dating.

Prussia and him haven't been practicing lately. Prussia has been over Brandenburg's place more so than before, and Lithuania had his hands full taking care of Poland. It wouldn't be odd to assume in that time he finally asked out Hungary.

He should be happy he shouldn't have to go along with Prussia's whims anymore.

Instead his cold worsened.

Poland, on the other hand, eagerly ate Lithuania's food unlike yesterday. In fact, he asked for seconds surprising Lithuania. He could almost believe Poland made a full recovery.

"Liet you know there's a new jewelry shop in town? Like, it would be cool if they had some rings with horses on them, right? Maybe even a crown!?"

Lithuania couldn't help but smile. At least one of them was feeling better.

"What's got you so chipper this early?"

"Our Sweden problem is, like, no more! Brandenburg is, like, on our side!" Poland sang.

That sounded odd to Lithuania. The two nations didn't exactly have a good relationship with Brandenburg.

Lithuania also couldn't help remember the time Brandenburg caught him and Prussia. He didn't tell anybody, did he?

"There's also a bonus!" Poland grinned. "We won't have to deal with that jerk Prussia anymore!"

Lithuania paused, "What do you mean?"

"In exchange for his help, he'll take Prussia under his full ownership."

So that's the catch.

"Don't we need the land?" Lithuania asked. "Without Prussia we'll lose our main tributary state. Aren't we already broke because of Sweden?"

"He's been kind of annoying lately so it's better if we get rid of him now," Poland handwaved. "Besides, we still have the Royal Prussia territory so it's fine! As long as we get rid of Sweden we're fine!"

Lithuania didn't agree, but Poland had the final say. That's the way of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

"Liet can you go into town and check out the jewelry store for me?"

"Okay...but we won't be able to buy anything."

"Geez you're, like, a cheap stake as usual! No fun!"

It's called being reasonable.

While Lithuania disagreed with handing over their tributary state, it might be best to cut Prussia off now before he developed any more weird thoughts about him.

Finally, he'll be rid of Prussia.

He'd eat anything but is super picky, he's barely a vassal, his ego is annoying, and he always says the worst thing possible.

Yet.. Lithuania didn't feel all too happy about that.

Lithuania finished his errands around the house when he remembered Poland told him to go into town.

He wasn't that much into jewelry as Poland was so he didn't exactly know what to tell Poland. He didn't know why Poland asked him to do it instead of going himself.

Lithuania's thoughts were interrupted by the chirping of birds. That could only mean one person.

He spotted Prussia playing with his animal friends. Lithuania couldn't understand how birds liked a loud guy like Prussia.

As Lithuania neared him, the animals scattered alerting Prussia.

"The animals like me more, Kesesese!"

This guy takes any chance to brag.

Still, Lithuania couldn't help but be bummed out.

"I'm more of a dog person. Anyway, I wanted to ask you something."

Prussia's expression tensed up. He obviously knew what Lithuania was going to ask.

"You're leaving?"

"...yeah."

"When?"

Prussia didn't answer for a moment, "...later today."

Lithuania was taken aback. How far along were these plans made? Poland didn't tell him any of it.

Prussia quickly recomposed himself.

"Yup! I won't have to worry about being Poland's lackey anymore like some nations! Kesesese!" Prussia smugly laughed. "I bet you're crying about how much you'll miss me while I'm gone? Go ahead and cry preferably while I see it!"

"Not in the slightest."

"...Come on not even a little?"

"Not in the slightest!"

Prussia frowned.

Suddenly his face lit up in a way that made Lithuania anxious. He already knew what Prussia was going to say.

"Since it's my last day why don't we practice?"

Lithuania grimaced. Is that all this guy thinks about?

"We don't need to do that anymore." Lithuania said. "Besides, don't you think you had enough practice?"

Lithuania usually just let Prussia get it over with. However, he was slowly growing sick of these sessions, and the weird thoughts it caused him to have.

Hungary is the one he's practicing for. Why doesn't he practice with her?

"It's just one second!" Prussia insisted. He pulled Lithuania closer to him. "It'll be the last time!"

"I don't want to!"

Lithuania pushed Prussia off with all his force. Prussia landed flat on the ground in visible pain. Usually Lithuania held back since injuring him could be a disadvantage to the Commonwealth.

However since Prussia was leaving, it didn't matter anymore.

Prussia angrily got up dusting off his robes. "What's your problem!? You let me do it before!"

"Hurry up and leave me alone already!"

Lithuania stomped off. Prussia stood there baffled at the outburst.

"Lithuania!" Prussia called out.

The nation didn't turned back leaving Prussia by himself.

"Every time I visit you, it's like I'm watching some dumb romantic drama." Prussia looked up to see his brother Brandenburg. "Aren't you going to chase after him?"

"Nein...it's fine."

Lithuania made it into town and proceeded to buy Poland's favorites for dinner.

He couldn't help think of Prussia's words while doing so.

Poland's lackey.

It's not like he wanted to be, but he valued his relationship with Poland as well. Maybe a bit of him was envious of Prussia. Lithuania faintly remembered during his brief era as a kingdom fearing the life he had now. Being ordered around and becoming a Christian.

Back then the only thing he had to worry about was fighting the Teutonic Knights. They would fight one a daily basis with Lithuania firmly standing his ground against the Germanic order who feared savages like him.

However, Sweden wasn't like Prussia. Every lost severely affected him. The Commonwealth was suppose to be sure fire safety net against the other raging nations.

Lately Lithuania wondered what he valued more: safety or freedom?

On his way out of the market, he spotted the jewelry store Poland mentioned. He was only expecting to do some window shopping when something caught his eye.

Something about the item just spoke to him. The price was reasonable and it wasn't too gaudy.

The store attendant noticed Lithuania's fixation on the item.

"Are you interested in buying that, sir?"

"No…" Lithuania hesitated preparing to exit the store.

What was he thinking? Wasn't he the one complaining to Poland about their money? Yet another growing side of himself ignored all reason.

Prussia would probably like this.

Lithuania slowly walked back to the store attendant, "Sorry...I meant yes."

The store attendant let out a small laugh, "Is it for your girlfriend?"

Lithuania gave an awkward smile that probably made him look foolish.

The sky darkened. Prussia sat on the hill he and Lithuania often had breaks at. Lithuania hadn't come back since yelling at him, and probably won't see him off. Still he sat there waiting for the impossible.

Brandenburg placed his hand upon his brother, "Are you ready?"

Time was up.

"Yeah…"

Prussia grimly got up from his spot.

Brandenburg snorted, "So have you two done it yet?"

Prussia's face quickly became red. "What does that have to do with anything!?"

"The sooner we deal with your disastrous love life, the quicker we can focus on work."

Brandenburg could see his brother wasn't as chipper as he was earlier, but personal feelings come second to the Holy Roman Empire. Plus, he wasn't the consoling type.

"Wait!"

The two nations looked towards the high pitched yell. Lithuania was running towards them with all his might.

When he reached the two, Lithuania was panting hard.

Brandenburg slyly turned towards Prussia. "How touching your boyfriend is here."

Prussia hit his brother to shut him up.

Seeing Lithuania, Prussia played up his act accordingly, "You're that desperate for me to stay? Could it that you like-"

"No, I'm fine with you leaving."

Prussia flinched at the rapid response. "Then why are you here!?"

"I like to end things with a proper goodbye."

Lithuania handed Prussia a locket. A Saint Mary locket.

"You're a Lutheran now, but I remember you used to yell a lot about her, "Lithuania found himself rambling.

"Woah that's a fancy piece of silver!" Brandenburg said.

"Not really..." Lithuania muttered.

The locket was rather cheap. Prussia will surely make fun of him. Instead, Prussia silently took the locket.

Lithuania sighed, clearing his conscious. He didn't want to end things on a bad note with Prussia.

"I…" Prussia couldn't say anything. He grew more awkward as Lithuania and Brandenburg awaited his response. "You know what I mean! Nevermind!"

Lithuania didn't.

Brandenburg did and he hated it.

Lithuania noticed the sky's dark color. Poland was surely looking for him.

"See you next time on the battlefield. Now I have a reason not to hold back!" Lithuania smiled.

Why is it only at times like this you're smiling at me? Prussia internally groaned.

Lithuania ran off.

Prussia turned to see Brandenburg with an unimpressed look on his face.

"You and Holy Roman Empire are so embarrassing to have as brothers."

"Shut up! Let's leave already!"

Prussia sat in the carriage absent-mindedly staring at the locket. Brandenburg couldn't bring himself to tease him any further.