"Hey, you!" A young Lithuania turned to see a silver haired boy his age with red eyes staring at him. Lithuania sensed like him that the boy was a nation of sorts. "Are you the Grand Duchy of Lithuania?"
Lithuania nervously smiled at the probability of making a friend.
Since being born he's been forced to fight and build arrows while the other budding nations had fun amongst themselves.
"Yes, I'm Lithuania. Who are-"
A wide smile appeared on the silver haired boy's face. Out of nowhere, he wielded a sword almost as big as him.
"CONVERT OR DIE, PAGAN!"
"Huh!?"
Lithuania's hellish days had only just begun.
The boy began chasing him no stop with swords and arrows. Lithuania never got a break, he was always on edge about when the next attack would come. He'll be enjoying a peaceful snack when out of nowhere the Teutonic Knights pins him down to the ground with a lousy German suplex.
"Kneel before the awesome powers of the Teutonic Knights!"
"Give me a break already!"
While Lithuania wasn't the only nation the Teutonic Knights was harassing, he put up the most resistance. As he grew, he didn't falter against the Teutonic Knights once. If he gave up then his people would be written off as mere savages.
Estonia and Latvia meekly looked towards Lithuania, "The Christian Order isn't letting up at all..."
Lithuania kept up a brave face. He too was worried.
"Leave it to me!"
However, Lithuania won't yield to that idiot.
Once the microwave dinged, Lithuania snapped himself awake.
He managed to sleep standing up.
Dinner was long over, but Lithuania stood in the kitchen setting up a tray for Russia. Due to the storm, he's been stuck in his office all day which might be a blessing for the other nations, but less rest for Lithuania.
Estonia stopped by on his way down the hall.
"Russia is overworking you again?"
"Same old, same old," Lithuania smiled.
Estonia frowned, "Don't you think you're overworking yourself? You oversee everyone's work, you have to train Prussia, not to mention your own work-"
"It's fine." Lithuania grabbed the now set up tray. "If I have any trouble I'll ask for help okay?"
Estonia smiled, but he knew that would never happen. Latvia and him often tried to help Lithuania but he always struggled alone. Latvia often feared Lithuania didn't trust him as much as he let on.
Lithuania walked the long familiar long halls to Russia's office. He glanced outside to the beautiful moon among the falling snow. Lithuania couldn't remember the last time, he had time to notice such things. He was always working or sleeping.
Even at America's place, he busied himself to support his newly independent country.
As he walked down the halls he heard a nearby commotion. A mixture of chatter and laughter - a rarity in Russia's house. In the nearby den, he saw some of the countries watching a TV. While soviet channels were the default, they were mostly propaganda and not really "fun" to watch.
Despite the horrors of Russia, the nations co-existed peacefully in their downtime. Lithuania spotted even Prussia, the biggest complainer, having a good time.
"Liet why are you standing in front of the doorway?" Lithuania turned to see Poland holding snacks.
"I was only passing by. Are you guys watching western shows again?"
"It's an American movie. Russia would be so pissed!" Poland smirked. Lithuania wished Poland didn't look so happy about a very real chance at death. "Why don't you join us?"
"Well..." Lithuania gestured at the tray in his hand.
Poland rolled his eyes, but there was nothing he could do. He knew Lithuania as a republic of the soviet union had less freedom to defy Russia.
"Lithuania!" Latvia popped out of nowhere. "Thank God your here. Poland and Prussia were having a contest to see who petted my head the most, and wouldn't listen to me when I said stop!"
"I don't remember that," Poland said.
"Poland stop picking on Latvia," Lithuania said. "And Latvia stick up for yourself more."
He felt like an elementary school teacher.
"What about Prussia?" Latvia said.
Lithuania cursed the fact Latvia brought up his name. Prussia eagerly got up to hear Lithuania's reprimand.
"Prussia is a lost cause so he's fine."
"I see!" Poland and Latvia nodded in unison.
"Say that to my face you try-hard!"
Prussia proceeded to make a racket as Poland laughed at his misery.
Lithuania was glad they were at least enjoying their night. He continued on down the silent halls carrying Russia's food.
Poland and Latvia entered the den on their own catching the countries' attention.
"Isn't Lithuania going to join us?" Romania asked.
"He's still busy with Russia," Poland said.
Bulgaria groaned, "That sucks", before returning back to the screen.
Prussia noted that while Lithuania was popular among the other nations, he never really hung out with them outside of work.
He couldn't remember the last he saw him genuinely relaxing either.
Lithuania knocked on the giant wooden doors of Russia's office.
"Come in!"
Lithuania entered seeing Russia in the middle of a mountain of paperwork. He was tapping away until Lithuania place his tray on his desk.
"Right on time!" Russia smiled. He took a sip of his tea, before directing his attention to Lithuania. "You look exhausted."
I wonder who's fault is that?
Lithuania kept that to himself putting on a gentle expression. "This is nothing, Mr. Russia."
"No this won't do. Please, have a seat!" Russia got up from his desk. He dragged Lithuania to a nearby couch and forced him to sit. Hands on Lithuania's shoulder, he suddenly declared, "I'm going to spoil you this time!"
At that moment Lithuania couldn't be more tense.
Russia thoroughly rubbed Lithuania's shoulders. Lithuania ignored the roughness as best as he could. Russia doesn't know the word gentle. Lithuania decided to distract himself from the painful "massage":
"How did your trip in America go, Mr. Russia?"
"Spending time with America is always fun!" Russia said. "America told me a bunch of stories of your time working with him. However, compared to our time together, we're much closer, right?"
Lithuania felt the pressure on his shoulders increase. Any more and he could have split in two.
"... Yes, Mr. Russia." Lithuania stammered. "We're...the best of friends..."
Lithuania honestly thought of America's place as heaven, but knew better than to suggest otherwise. Saying America's name outside a business context was forbidden.
"Speaking of work, how is Prussia's training coming along?"
Russia had a keen interest in Prussia due to West Germany's rapid development. Most of the money funded the military, so the soviet countries continued to lag behind the western world.
"Prussia does his work well. He makes sure to finish everything even if he has to skip a night of rest. His economics are better than most nearing Czechoslovakia. His agriculture is also excellent-"
"What a throughout analysis! You seem to be observing Prussia well." Russia interjected.
"For your sake, Mr. Russia."
"If I remember correctly, you and Prussia have a long history."
"We worked together when we were younger, but we're basically strangers now."
"But you fought a lot in the past. Surely you two know each other more than mere strangers?"
"Who hasn't Prussia fought with, Mr. Russia?"
"That's true," Russia laughed.
Like Lithuania, Russia was one of Prussia's many victims in the past. While most people would hold a grudge over that sort of thing, Russia still considers them friends. Even now as he works him to death.
Russia remained quiet for a moment before asking, "Have you ever fallen in love?"
"Sir?"
"Seriously fallen for someone to the point you lost yourself in vapid emotions?"
"...no, I haven't."
Russia loosened his grip a bit. Lithuania turned to see a sad expression on Russia's face.
"Our relationship is merely a mutual agreement, I know that. I hope one day you'll feel the same as me."
"...sorry. I'm still not ready for that kind of commitment."
Russia sober expression soon replaced itself with his usual smile. "That's okay. As long as you let me do as I please."
Russia's hands shifted from Lithuania's back to his neck. Lithuania in that moment felt a mixture of fear and confusion. Russia pushed Lithuania down on the couch then crawled on top of him.
Despite Lithuania's uneasiness, Russia remained calm.
"What do you think love is?" He asked.
"Unconditional devotion?"
Lithuania spat out the first generic thing that came to mind.
"That's a given. Try again!"
Lithuania pondered a bit. His mind was blank.
"It's just something that happens...I think?" He awkwardly mumbled.
Russia frowned. Clearly, Lithuania didn't give him a good answer yet again. "I don't believe in that weak definition of love. I want something more concrete like the scars on your back. They're a nice picture. Proof of your devotion and submission to me."
Russia leaned in.
Lithuania quickly shut his eyes. He endured the sensation. He thought of everything else but what he was doing. Something that'll make him mad, happy, or sad.
A date with Belarus, a fight with Poland, or hanging with America.
Anything to avoid thinking about the present.
If he had to blame anyone, then from the bottom of his heart he cursed Prussia.
He's fooling around while Lithuania has to suffer. Lithuania can picture him laughing about some dumb joke that wasn't even funny then getting depressed when nobody laughs along.
"Would it kill you to loosen that ugly mug? You're all smiles with Pol-whatever."
"I actually like Poland though." Lithuania rebuffed.
Prussia ruffled Lithuania's hair. He hated that. Why did Prussia feel the need to use him as a towel for his sweaty hands?
Prussia didn't care. He treated Lithuania as if he was a toy. So when he had bouts of decency this did nothing but piss Lithuania off.
A cold sensation roamed towards Lithuania's back. He winced.
"You're surprisingly into this."
Lithuania's face went red. "Shut up...P...russia..."
"...what did you say?"
Lithuania froze. He opened his eyes in an instant. The face looking down on him was Russia.
"...Russia?" Lithuania nervously stammered.
The dark look on Russia's face petrified him.
He messed up. He got too lost in the past. Surely, Russia will punish him.
The phone suddenly rang. Russia's eyes lighten up breaking out of his trance.
He heavily sighed, "There's never enough time in the day, is there?"
Russia nonchalantly got up and answered the phone. Lithuania was unsure if he should breathe let alone move.
After a while, Russia looked towards Lithuania and waved him off. He's been dismissed. It must be an important call.
Lithuania hurriedly escape the room. He went off into a small corner and cried. Everything he has built up with Russia is close to shattering.
His mind is still haunted by the past.