Chapter 4

Prussia stopped in the doorway of the room. He looked straight at Russia, who only smiled.

"You're finally here, GDR," Russia smiled still, "I was about to send Latvia to go and find you." Russia motioned towards the chair to his left.

Prussia stepped forward without a word and sat next to Russia, across from Lithuania, with Poland on his left. He saw the blond country shudder as he sat next to him. Again, he noticed Lithuania glance at him, but look away as soon as their eyes met. He looked over at Poland, who's fists were clenching and unclenching under the table.

"Lithuania?" Russia motioned to him.

Lithuania stood, picking up Russia's bowl and bringing it to the pot of soup. He dished Prussia's food last, walking around the table to set it at his place without a word. Prussia saw him flinch when Russia grabbed his wrist, hard.

"You should have served our new guest first, Myshka." (little mouse)

"I-I'm sor-"

"You should give him your plate in exchange for your rudeness, don't you think?"

Lithuania tensed his jaw, but nodded.

Russia let go of his wrist.

"He doesn't have to-"

"There's no reason for you to get involved," Russia smiled at Prussia kindly, "After all, you are our important guest."

Prussia noticed Toris wince at Russia's words. He looked up at Lithuania, trying to silently apologize as Toris set his plate in front of Prussia and went back to sit at his place opposite him.

"Now, everyone, eat." Ivan smiled.

Prussia looked down at the bowls in front of him. The soup was a dark purple-red, with some kind of onion-like vegetable floating in it. He was hungry, but he wasn't sure he was that hungry. He glanced over at Russia, who noticed his confusion.

"It's called 'Borsht', beet soup. Here," Russia reached for a dish of white foam and handed it to Prussia, "It's better with the sour cream."

Sour cream in soup? In hot soup? The idea sounded fairly repulsive.

"You'll get used to it," Russia's smile seemed genuine this time, and he certainly seemed to be enjoying the dish himself.

Prussia took some of the sour cream and dropped it into one of the bowls in front of him. He glanced up at Lithuania, who was visibly trying to avoid watching anyone else eat. He thought about handing his bowl back to him, but thought better of it. He had to choose his battles. Russia seemed to be a good mood, at least towards him, and trying something didn't seem worth the risk to him at the moment. He lifted a spoonful of the soup to his lips. It was better than he'd expected it to be, tart, with a bit of spice. He wasn't sure about the sour cream, but it wasn't terrible. He looked over to Russia and nodded.

"Not half bad." He shrugged.

"Credit where it's due." Russia motioned towards Ukraine, who smiled.

"Danke-um…" he stopped himself, trying to remember what Ukraine taught him, "Spatzeiba, Ukraine." She giggled. He'd said it wrong again, he was sure of that. He noticed Belarus looking away from everyone else. "And, to you as well, Belarus."

She looked up at him surprised. "I…" She turned back to her soup, confused.

Prussia had noticed a spark in her eyes for a moment before she'd looked away. She didn't seem to be used to being treated with any kindness, and it made him angry. He didn't like her, but she was a girl, and he tried to think of himself as at least moderately chivalrous. He turned to his soup again, taking another spoonful. It was hot, warming his throat as it went down. He needed it. He was still wearing only a tee shirt, and he was still cold. He glanced to his left at Poland, who hadn't taken a bite yet. The blond country's hands were shaking. He looked over at him.

"Are you all right?" He asked, trying to sound kind.

Poland didn't answer him, but brought his hand up to reach for his spoon. Prussia noticed the bandage around his wrist, a few red pricks of blood seeping through it. He thought of the door he'd found earlier… that couldn't have been Poland's blood…he tried to push the thought out of his mind, but glanced back at Poland. His movements were stiff, and Prussia could just barely see him trembling.

He glanced at Russia, who seemed to be enjoying his meal, then back at Lithuania, who's eyes were closed. He turned to Russia. He would try it.

"Russia?" He asked, trying to sound less tentative than he felt.

"Da?" Russia looked up at him with another smile.

"I…I'm not terribly hungry," he lied, "If it's all right with you," he added, warily, "I would like to give Lithuania his bowl back." He noticed the dark-haired country's eyes dart up.

Russia looked at him, confused, but slightly entertained. "You would do this, after he was so rude to you?"

"I can be nice sometimes, when I try."

He heard Poland cough. He ignored it.

Russia smiled more, "All right. I'll play along. Liet, you can get your bowl back."

Lithuania winced at the nickname he didn't let anyone except Poland use, and walked around to Prussia's side of the table, reaching for his bowl. Prussia noticed scars on his wrists as he took the dish. He looked up at him, with very little expression. Lithuania looked back with a very slight nod of thanks and went back to his chair.

Everything hushed into an awkward silence. It didn't feel tense, just stiff.

CRASH

Prussia jumped, looking over to Poland, who had lost his grip on his spoon, dropping it hard enough to break the bowl, causing the hot soup to splash into his, and Prussia's legs.

Prussia stood suddenly, looking down at Poland, who still sat, shaking in pain, trying to dry off his legs with his sleeve. Prussia grabbed his napkin and tried to help.

Poland recoiled, "Don't. Touch. Me." His eyes were filled with hatred.

Prussia took a step back, and tensed his lips. Ukraine was already rushing over with a towel to help Poland. Prussia looked back at Russia, who was staring at Poland with what looked like disgust.

"I'll make you eat like a dog if you do something that stupid again." Russia snapped, then sighed, looking to Prussia. "Are you all right, GDR?"

Prussia nodded. "Ja." He looked over to Poland again, who cringed every time Ukraine touched him.

The rest of the dinner finished without incident. As soon as Russia left the room, the Baltics hurried to start clearing the table.

Prussia tried to help Poland stand, noticing him struggling. Again, Poland tried to pull away.

"Stay away from me!" Poland's arm trembled in his hand.

Prussia realized Poland was too weak to even pull away.

"I'm just trying to help."

"I don't, like, need, or want, your… help." Poland's words were harsh and sharp. Prussia could tell he was trying to sound like his usual self, but he was failing.

"GDR?"

He looked up. It was Lithuania's voice.

"Help us clean up? Or do you think you're too good for that?"

Prussia set his jaw and clenched his fists. Toris was usually once of the nicest countries to be around, when he chose to be cutting with his words it was because he meant it.

"Nein. I'll help." He relaxed his hands. He wouldn't fight. At least, not now. He was going to figure out some way to make up with Toris. Somehow. He picked up some of the remaining dishes and carried them into the kitchen, following the other Baltics. On their way back to the dining room he grabbed Lithuania's arm and pulled him into a side hallway. He let go when he noticed Toris shaking.

"Look. I know. I know I was a complete… jerk to you, but… we're both stuck here, so we might as well try to get along."

Toris shook his head, "Tell that to all the people you forced me to kill." He tried to push past Prussia.

"That my boss forced you to kill." Prussia stopped him, holding his shoulders with both hands.

"You didn't do very much to stop him though, did you?"

"How can you say that…?" Prussia shook his head, frowning.

"Thank you, for convincing Russia to let me eat." Lithuania pushed Prussia's hands off his shoulders,

Prussia straightened, frustrated. "You and I don't have to be friends, but at least I'll try and be civil to you." Prussia set his jaw.

Lithuania shook his head and walked away without another word.

Prussia crossed his arms over his chest. He'd at least made progress. Lithuania had said more than four words to him. He turned around and abruptly ran into Russia.

"I apologize again for Toris's unkindness to you, GDR. I will make sure he knows to be more kind to you in the future."

"Ne-Nyet. You don't have to do that." Prussia tried to shrug it off. He refused to be the cause of any more pain for Lithuania. Ever.

"He has a place to learn too, da? I cannot just let him think he can speak to my guests that way." Russia smiled and turned to walk past Prussia.

Prussia stepped in front of him again. "Don't hurt him."

Russia cocked his head to the side, looking down at Prussia, somewhere between amused and annoyed. He smiled, "Oh, that's right, you were so very rude to me earlier. Perhaps you do not understand yourself, da?"

Prussia took a deep shaky breath, "I understand just fine, but-" He gasped as Russia gripped his neck, forcing him to his knees.

"Your place is not to get in the way. Your place is not to tell me how I may, or may not, treat my property. You understand this, da?" He smiled.

Prussia gripped Russia's choking hand with his right hand, and swung a well aimed punch to his face with his left. He instantly regretted it. Russia's hold on his neck tightened more, and he gulped for breath desperately. He closed his eyes, hoping it would hide the fear in them, as Russia pulled his pipe out of his coat.

Before Prussia knew what was happening Russia was kneeling behind him, pulling his chin back with the cold metal pipe. Russia's face was uncomfortable, threateningly close to his. He tried to force the pipe away from his throat, but Russia only pulled it closer.

"This is your first night here, so I will be kind to you, but if you ever dare to strike me again, I will make you regret it… da?" Russia lifted the pipe suddenly, causing Prussia to fall forward, coughing and gasping. "Is that understood, GDR?"

Prussia said nothing, too busy trying to breathe. Russia kicked him onto his back, and pressed his boot into his chest.

"I said, 'is that understood, GDR?'."

Russia towered over him. He set his jaw, tightening his hands into fists again. He nodded.

"Good." Russia smiled, and offered him his hand, pulling him up to stand upright again. "Now, you will need to sleep. You were very, very tired yesterday. You slept almost all of today. Tonight, you will sleep better, I think." Russia smiled again.

Prussia shrugged, nodding.

"Do you like your room?"

Russia had just beaten him to the ground and how he was asking how he liked his room? The dissonance of Russia's mind disturbed him.

"I… I wouldn't mind having a pen and paper, or a journal, or… something like that," He never missed a day of journaling if he could help it. Somehow it helped to keep him sane.

"I can have one sent to you by tomorrow." Russia smiled, nodding.

Prussia nodded back, "Spatzeiba." He failed again.

Russia sighed, "Spasiba. Keep practicing. You'll understand eventually."

Prussia nodded.

"All right, I have to go deal with Lithuania now." Russia's smiled.

Prussia shivered. How could he smile all the time?

Lithuania walked back into the hallway, freezing when he saw the pipe in Russia's hand.

"M… Mr Russia…" He trembled. "I'm just finishing with the dishes and-"

"Come here, Myshka." Russia smiled.

Lithuania walked forward slowly, visibly shaking.

"GDR can take those from you." Russia nodded to the dishes.

Lithuania handed them to Prussia with a look that Prussia didn't quite understand. Fear? Anger? Pleading?

"Russia please don't-" Prussia's voice was cut off by Russia.

"Turn around, Toris."

Prussia took a step back,

"Nyet, don't leave, GDR." Russia glanced back at him.

Prussia stood straight. He looked at Lithuania in terror as the dark-haired country turned around and was forced to kneel by Russia's hand on his shoulder. He tried to mentally process how he could get Toris out of this. He was about to let the dishes slip from his hands when Russia's pipe came crashing down on Lithuania's back between his shoulders. He saw Toris wince, hard, but he didn't cry out. Russia walked around to face Lithuania, and offered him help standing.

"See?" Russia looked up at Prussia with a smile, "I did not hurt him. Just a reminder to be kind." He smiled.

Prussia stared, Lithuania's trembling told a different story than Russia's.

"Now, both of you have more work to do, I think. I will be in the library. I have much work to do, and would like to not be disturbed." He smiled, and walked down the hall.

As soon as his back was turned Prussia ran up to Lithuania, "Are you-"

"I'm fine." Lithuania stretched his shoulders, grimacing. "It didn't really hurt."

Prussia didn't believe him, "Like hell it didn't."

"I'm used to it." Lithuania took the dishes from Prussia's hand and walked past him without another word.

Prussia watched him leave. The words stung. His stomach dropped. What had he gotten himself into?

A/N: It's late here, so I will make these short notes! I promise!

I'm sorry, not sorry for being unkind to Leit. And he and Prussia sure aren't getting along yet.

Poor Poland... not a lot of stories I see for him actually involve how DARK his countries history is, especially during WWII and right after it. The Soviet Union wasn't particularly kind to him either. More to develop on him though.

I feel like this chapter was less detailed than my previous chapters. Maybe it's because I'm tired, but I still like how this turned out. I love it when Russia snaps from kind to harsh, to kind, to cruel, and all over again. His ability to control his emotions is... well kinda not there. And yes, he genuinely thought he was being kind to Liet, and just teaching him, gently. How do you think Russia learned as a child?

As always, reviews are deeply appreciated! As a few of you can now attest to, I do reply back! (and will talk to you endlessly about history if you'll let me XD)