Chapter 51

"Stay back!" Hungary pushed Gil away, turning back to Estonia, who had lifted Lithuania from Gil's arms.

Gil watched, shaking as they carried Lithuania into his room. The man was conscious, but only just barely. Gil met his eyes for a moment, but he couldn't tell what emotion they held. The world moved in slow motion. His arms shook, from the power that had been behind his strikes as much as the fear that he'd truly hurt Toris. He stood, almost frozen in the hallway, his mouth open, lungs gasping for air as horror sunk into his chest. He didn't wince as he felt a cold gloved hand on his shoulder. He didn't move, just stared at the doorway to the room where almost everyone in the house had disappeared.

"They don't understand, Ptitska…" Russia's voice was sad, almost pained, "They won't understand. We're too powerful for them. We scare them. We'll always scare them. You did the right thing, just as I asked you to…"

"Don't you DARE question a direct order, soldier!" Prussia snapped, striking the man with the back of his hand.

"Sir, yes sir!" The man stood up straighter, nodding once.

"What were your orders?" Prussia asked, his voice cold.

"Burn the library, sir."

"Then. Do. It." Prussia snarled, clasping his hands behind his back again. He watched as the soldier led his men into the library, then smiled as the smoke rose to the sky. He turned, walking up to the beautiful redhead kneeling beside the ruins of a once towering building, her hands bound in front of her, the guns of his men pointed at her head. He kicked her leg, smiling at her reaction to look up. He nodded for his men to leave and grabbed her arm, dragging her to her feet, ignoring her pleas. He pushed her up against the wall of the nearest standing building and pulled her arms above her head, bringing his face dangerously close to hers.

"You betrayed me…" Belgium sobbed, shaking her head, trying not to look at Prussia.

"You know what my soldiers are doing to your women?" he asked coldly, ignoring her rightful accusation.

She nodded, shaking, sobbing, looking up into his face as he pressed her against the wall, "Please…"

"I'm going to spare you," he whispered, "Surrender."

She looked up into his eyes, terrified. She nodded, "I surrender…"

"Good," Prussia smirked, "My men will easily get to France from here, you're very helpful…" he pet her cheek with his free hand, then slapped her hard, "Be grateful that's all you'll get from me!" he snapped, "I can't speak for my guards, but I'm not going to protect you from them." He yanked her arms down and dragged her towards the guards, not stopping as she fell to the ground, continuing to pull her along as she struggled and kicked to stand. He dropped her on the ground in front of the guards, noticing her bleeding legs out of the corner of his eye. The stone and rubble had cut into them, tearing her military pants to shreds. He sighed, walking up to one of the guards and leaning to whisper an order to him.

"If anyone touches her, I will know, and I will kill them, is that understood?"

The soldier nodded, "Yes, sir!" The man saluted.

"Good," Gil nodded back, glancing down at Belgium again. She was sobbing. He hated seeing girls cry. He turned back to look over the city, his red eyes scanning every inch of it. Smoke, dust, ash… the library still burned, the hot red flames lighting the city as twilight set in. The sounds of gunfire and the screams of women chilled the night air. He'd done this. And if felt powerful.

Gil turned to look at Russia, still shaking, "Why…?" he whispered, "Why did you… I didn't want to do that… what did you do to me!?" He pushed Russia's arm off his shoulder, turning suddenly, staring into Russia's face, confused, angry.

"Ptitska…"

"STOP CALLING ME THAT!" He froze, Russia's expression changing from understanding compassion to anger. "I thought you liked your cage…"

Prussia stared into Russia's face, his hands shaking. He wasn't sure he could get out of this. He wasn't sure he wanted to. He clenched his hands into fists, staring into Russia's eyes.

"I thought you didn't have any fight left, GDR," Russia sighed, "I was wrong…" He pulled his gun from his belt and aimed it at Prussia's chest.

"Go ahead. I don't care." He shook his head. His eyes dared Russia to fire. A few hours away from him would be worth it. A few hours away from everything…

"Ivan what's wrong with you!" Belarus screamed, running to her brother, bringing her knife to his throat, more accessible with only the turtle neck covering it.

Russia didn't move the gun away from Gil, smiling down at his little sister, "I didn't touch him," he smirked, "GDR did."

"What?" Belarus turned, lowering her knife, looking at Gil, shocked, "I thought you two were…"

"Bela, I can explain everything, I-"

Russia laughed.

Gil turned away, he couldn't explain. He couldn't explain everything.

"And what are you going to tell her, GDR? That you were so high you stopped thinking?" Russia smiled at his sister, "With anyone else, Bela, you would have loved watching GDR… blood everywhere… he was entertaining to watch, I promise-"

Belarus cut him off by slapping him with her knife, drawing it across his cheek, leaving a deep, bleeding gash.

Russia sighed, wiping the blood on his sleeve. He grabbed her wrist, pulling her arm up, not enjoying the squeak of pain the sudden movement elicited, "Natya… no one in this house is allowed to strike me. Isn't that right, GDR?" Russia looked up at him sternly.

GDR nodded, still standing frozen as Russia lowered his gun, replacing it in his belt and turning towards his sister again.

"Give me the knife, Natya," Russia sighed again like a parent disappointed with their child.

Belarus looked up at him, shaking. She obeyed, releasing the knife as he brought his free hand to of it, his other still gripping her wrist. He pulled her arm down, turning her hand towards him, exposing her palm.

Russia looked into her face with another sigh, "Don't do that again, all right? This will remind you."

"Vanya, plea-" Belarus winced as her brother drew her knife across her hand. She didn't cry out, only gasped. She looked up at him, shaking.

Russia pulled her hand to his lips, kissing the cut gently, "Now, let's go find you a bandage, all right little sister?" he smiled kindly.

Belarus nodded, shocked. She glanced back at Gil as Russia lead her down the hallway towards the medical closet.

Gil watched, horrified. If Russia would do that to his own sister… he'd never seen him hurt either of them before. He looked around the hallway as Russia and Belarus rounded the corner, walking out of sight. He looked back towards Lithuania's room as he heard a choked cry of pain, and murmurs of comfort from the others. He ran towards the door, doubting they would let him anywhere near Lithuania. He bit his lips as Hungary's eyes met his. Hatred. He'd rarely seen the expression from her, and never towards him. She ignored him, turning back to Lithuania as she held both of his hands while Estonia tended to his back with help from Ukraine. Gil shuddered, he'd used the facet of the pipe on Lithuania's back, tearing open old wounds, and any fresh ones he could find left from Russia a few days before. He looked around the room, looking to see if Poland was sitting nearby. He didn't see him. He looked back towards the bed, watching in shock as Poland stepped out from behind Estonia, handing the taller country bandages, pushing Lithuania's hair away from his face gently, looking up to Estonia for instructions. Gil was surprised to see him helping. He looked all right. He was relieved. He'd been worried about how much damage he had done to the little blond. He stepped back as Poland looked up, the green eyes meeting his. He turned away from the door way as Poland looked up at Estonia, nodding and walking towards him. Gil took a step down the hallway, away from the door, when he heard Poland's voice behind him.

"Gil?" Poland's voice was shaky but determined.

Gil turned around, trying to stand less straight, trying to look less intimidating, "J-yes?" he made sure to use English, afraid German would trigger another panic attack from Poland.

"We-we need to talk…" Poland whispered, not looking at Gil's face.

"All right…" Gil nodded, "Where? Here?"

Poland shook his head, "No… F-follow me… but not too close…" He nodded.

Gil walked behind Poland carefully, pausing for a moment to increase the distance between them until he could see Poland shaking less. He looked around as he was led into a small guest room that no one was using. Once inside, Poland turned to face him.

"Poland…"

Poland ran forward, slamming Gil back into the wall, his arms on the slightly taller man's shoulders, "WHY!?" he said, his voice thick with anger, "You let me go, then you do that to Liet!? WHY!? What the HELL HAPPENED in there!?" Poland let go of Gil's shoulders, stepping back again, wrapping his arms around himself, shaking still, from both fear and hatred.

"Russia got me to do what he wanted… I don't even remember how… or… Feliks I don't remember anything until I dropped that pipe, I-"

"You always were good at hurting people…" Poland shook his head, angry tears streaming down his cheeks.

"I know…" Gil looked down.

"Look at me…" Poland whispered, "LOOK AT ME!"

Gil obeyed, looking up into the haunting green eyes. He had to force himself not to turn away. The agony in Poland's eyes was more than he could take.

"Liet's been begging us not to hurt you… he isn't blaming you. I am."

Gil nodded, "I wouldn't expect you not to-"

"I'm not finished yet…" Poland's voice shook as he tried to bring all the authority he could muster into it.

Gil waited, silently staring into eyes he wished would look away from him. They didn't.

"I am blaming you, Gil… because it was your hands that… you were the one who drew… blood…" Poland tried to force his voice to steady, "But… you're not the only one Russia has forced to do… horrible things… He's made me betray my own people, more than once… I saw what he did to them… and I couldn't stop it…" Poland looked away, "Just like I couldn't stop you…" His eyes met Gil's again.

Gil set his jaw, forcing himself not to look away, forcing himself to keep his eyes fixed on Poland's as tears slipped down his cheeks.

"I don't forgive you, Gil… I can't… but…" Poland almost struggled to get the words out, "Thank you… for protecting me back there… I… I couldn't have…"

Gil said nothing, waiting for Poland to continue.

"Liet said you could have killed him and you didn't…?"

Gil nodded slowly, still looking into Poland's face.

"Thank you… for that too…" Poland nodded, staring up into the red eyes he'd never seen look so broken before. They were nothing like the blood hungry eyes he'd seen staring down at him years and years before. They were nothing like the eyes that sparked with excitement as he'd cried and screamed… There was pain in them now, almost like his. But not like his. Prussia was still Prussia, no matter how many times Russia told him he wasn't, and Poland couldn't forgive him. Poland ran out of the room without another word.

Gil stared into the empty room. There was no furniture, just long dark red curtains on the windows, half closed. Cold evening light streamed past them, casting a haze on the dusty room. Gil slid down the wall, resting his arms on his knees, staring at nothing. He couldn't think. He wasn't sure if it was the drugs, or something else. It didn't matter. He could still feel tears streaming down his cheeks, but he didn't stop them. He didn't sob, he barely breathed, just stared straight ahead. Finally, he started shaking uncontrollably. His breath caught in his chest. He still looked straight ahead, trying to process everything. He couldn't process everything. He brought his hands to his face, pressing them into his forehead. He felt dizzy, his skin going cold. He shook his head, gasping for breath, trying to breathe normally, trying to regain the sanity he felt slipping.

"G-Gil?"

He turned suddenly, still trembling, tears still running down his cheeks. "Latvia…" he looked up at him, shaking his head, "Go… please go, I don't want to hurt you too…"

Latvia took a step back, "L-Litva told me… told us… what what what what happened… I'm still m-mad at at at you, but… but Litva isn't…" Latvia shook his head.

Gil looked away. He wanted Lithuania to be angry with him. He should be angry with him. Why wasn't he angry with him!?

"R-Russia made me…" Latvia paused, biting his lip. It wasn't a memory he liked to talk about, "he made me… k-kill a b-bird once… to to to to 'make m-m-me stronger'…"

Gil looked up at Latvia again, "I'm sorry…"

Latvia looked back at Gil, taking a step closer to him, "Are you ok…?"

Gil shook his head, "Nein… Nein Ich nicht…" He wrapped his arms around Latvia as the little country ran to him. He buried his face in the boy's jacket, letting Latvia hold him as he sobbed until he couldn't speak until he could barely breathe.

Latvia looked up around the room as he held Gil. He turned to the light streaming in through the window. So cold. Why was everything in the house so cold?

A/N: So... for some reason, no one is as mad at Gil as I expected them to be... I guess Liet is convincing them? (except maybe Hungary... she's pretty angry... so is Belarus...) but a lot of them understand... which is pretty sad itself, that they would understand... *sigh* At least things are starting to get a little better? Also, a World War 1 flashback for you all. (Does anyone else think no one talks about WWI enough? It's almost always WWII... for everything, not just Hetalia... odd...)

As always, reviews are deeply appreciated! I always reply, and I tend to write very long replies. XD And I love love love love LOVE discussing this story with you guys, your theories, ideas, predictions, your insights on the chapters... etc. As always, lots of treats! Let's see... Reeces, butterfingers, and M&M's for everyone! Then Lemonade, iced tea, and mango smoothies for all! :D :D :D :D

I actually listened to soundtrack music while writing this one. Specifically the Soundtrack from "Munich" a 2005 film that I haven't seen. I was on John Williams Spotify page and I found it and just... perfection... the two songs I specifically listened to were: "A Prayer for Peace" for the beginning, and "Hatikvah (the Hope)" as soon as Poland starts talking to Gil. There you go! Enjoy!