Chapter 80

"Bela!" Lithuania grinned, holding his arms out to her as she stepped up to the doorway. He lowered them slowly, trying to look at her face as she was silhouetted against the light from the hallway. He didn't move, just looking at her. "Natashka, what's wrong?" he could hear her breath shaking.

"I…" she looked up at him, into his eyes. It killed her. They were so beautiful, so deeply green and so incredibly caring. She tried to force down the choke in her throat. She couldn't cry. She couldn't do what she had to if she cried.

"Natya, please…" he took a step closer to her, reaching for her again, "Tell me what's-"

"Don't come any closer," she said, forcing as much ice into her voice as she could find.

Lithuania stopped, "Natya?"

Belarus held her breath for a moment, praying it wouldn't betray her. She looked up into his face again, forcing herself to keep her eyes fixed on his. She took deep, shaking breath, and shook her head, "My brother was right…" she whispered, not letting her eyes leave his.

"What?" Lithuania asked, confused. Dread sank into his chest, gripping, twisting in his stomach. He didn't look away from her.

"He was right, you're my weakness. Because of you, I'm not strong enough. He was right. Every time he hurt you he was right. You deserved it. You're weak. I know what's wrong with me, Torsh-Toris. I know what's wrong: you. I don't need you anymore…"

"W-…" he fought the instant tears, the pain in his chest almost unbearable, "No. I don't believe you."

Belarus kept her eyes on his still, her heart twisting in pain as she saw tears well up in his eyes, "I hate you," she turned, walking towards the stairs.

"Stop…" he ran after her, catching her wrist, turning her and looking into her face, "You can't mean that… please… who told you to say this? Did someone threaten you? Bela, please…"

"Let go of me," she pulled her hand away, "No one's forcing me to say anything." She shook her head, not daring to look up at his face. She couldn't look at his eyes. She couldn't watch him break. It was already killing her to hurt him.

"Bela… please, have I done something, have I-"

"Nyet!" she snapped, looking up at him again, "You're just weak. I don't love you anymore. I hate you. I hate everything you are. My brother has tried for so long to change you, to make you stronger, and you just can't do it! You're just weak and you always will be! What's wrong with you? You're pathetic… You're pathetic and I hate you!" She slapped him as hard as she could. She took a step back, looking away as she watched his world crumble on his face. He closed his eyes, tears slipping down his bright red cheek. She looked away. She couldn't watch him cry. She heard a short, choked sob escape his throat as he whispered.

"I will never stop loving you…"

"You should," she snapped, turning and walking away to hide the tears. He couldn't see them. He couldn't trust her.

Lithuania watched her leave, running back into his own room and slamming the door, locking it behind him. He looked back at the dark wood. She couldn't have meant it. She couldn't have. He didn't believe it… his cheek stung. She wouldn't do that. She would never hurt him. She wouldn't say that… he fell to his knees, leaning against the door. She couldn't mean it…

…

Belarus slammed her door behind her, kneeling in front of it instantly, leaning against it as sobs overtook her. She let them, covering her face, crying until she had no more tears, and then sobbing, sobbing until her lungs burned and her chest ached, and until her throat was raw and her lips were chapped. She didn't care. She pressed her hand to her chest as if it could relieve the pain. She wanted nothing more than to run to him and beg his forgiveness, to feel his arms around her, to kiss his scars and tell him she loved him. She loved him, but she was dangerous. He couldn't love her. She couldn't hold him there. He would stay as long as she stayed. She couldn't let him stay. She couldn't be the only reason he stayed. She didn't care if it killed her, she wouldn't let him stay for her. For every night alone, for every day without a single look from him, it was worth it. It was worth it if it would make him fight her brother. He had to leave Russia. He had to, and she wouldn't hold him back anymore. His freedom was worth the price, she loved him too much to not let him go.

I love you, my Torshka… I will never stop loving you…

She looked up, hearing a knock at her door. Her brother. She stayed on her knees, grabbing onto his coat and looking up at him.

"Please, please forgive me, big brother… I'm sorry I liked Lithuania! I'm sorry I forgot that I love you. My loyalty is only to you now, forever, I promise, I promise!"

Russia looked down at her, pulling away, staring down at her, "You left Mishka…?"

"He didn't understand! He's too weak! Not like you, you're strong! I want to keep being strong like you, big brother!" she nodded, grinning up at him.

Russia smiled, his sickening childish smile, "That's wonderful, Bela. I'm glad you want to be stronger!"

"Me too!" she smiled back, nodding quickly.

Russia was impressed. "I'm proud of you, little sister," he said with a smile.

She grinned, looking up at him and forcing the tears to stay back. She had to fool everyone, even herself.

…

"Gil?"

Prussia looked up towards the door and smiled, "Latvia!" he motioned the boy closer, standing from his desk and wrapping the boy in a hug, kneeling to reach him, "Why are you here?"

"I miss miss miss…miss you…" Latvia looked down, away from Gil.

"Yeah? Well, I missed you too," Gil smiled, lifting the boy's chin to look at him, "What's bothering you?"

"N-N-Nothing…" Latvia bit his lip.

"Come on… what's going on?" Gil smiled still, trying to sound encouraging. He was worried. Russia hadn't hurt him, had he?

"Russia…" Latvia tried to collect his thoughts, trying to think of the right words, "R-Russia legalized my my my my old flag…" Latvia wrapped his arms around himself, not looking up at Gil.

"What?" Prussia whispered, confused, "He let you what?"

"He l-l-l-legalized my old flag… it's not official… but but but it's legal again…" He looked up into Gil's face, "Gil… Gil I think… I think maybe it's all going to end… it it it it scares me… but… but I'm… Gil, maybe there's there's there's hope!" his blue eyes sparkled.

GDR stood, "Latvia… please… don't talk like that. Russia is the reason we're all alive. Loyalty is-"

"Hungary's going to to… to let your people through…"

Prussia froze, "What?"

Latvia smiled, "She's going to let your your your people through. She's opening the b-borders to West Germany from her side… she's going to let let let let them go through…"

Prussia took off through his door, running to find Hungary. He found her in her room, standing beside her side table, looking at a map. He grabbed her around the waist, picking her up and spinning her around, then wrapping her in a hug.

"Well, I see I made someone happy!" She giggled, looking up at him.

"if you hadn't been married to Roderich for so many years, I think I'd kiss you right now!"

"Don't even think about it, Beilschmidt. I'd punch you in the face and you know it!" she laughed, pulling herself free from the hug.

"True…" he smirked, "but Liz… are you really… are you really going to let my people through?"

"I'm going to try. I don't know how many I'll be able to help, but I'm sure going to try," she beamed, looking up at him, "We're going to end this, Gil. We're going to win. I promise we're going to win!"

"I don't know how to thank you…"

"Fight. Russia. Keep fighting and don't give up!"

…

Latvia brought the cold cloth to Prussia's forehead again, laying it down gently, "D-d-d-does does does it hurt?" he bit his lip.

Prussia nodded, looking up at Latvia, taking a deep shaking breath, "It doesn't matter. It's worth it…"

"It's been s-s-six days…" Latvia said.

"Seven, actually," Gil winced again, trying to sit up a little, while keeping the cloth on his head. It took more effort than he would admit to. He froze suddenly, seeing Russia standing in the doorway.

"So," Russia sighed, "You want your people to leave? Don't you see what it's doing to you?"

"I. Don't. Care." Prussia smiled, "They're getting away from you!" He shrank back against the headboard without thinking as he saw Russia step closer. He mentally kicked himself for it, trying not to be afraid. It didn't work.

Russia pushed Latvia out of the way, slamming the boy to the ground, and turned to Gil.

"HEY!" Prussia threw off the covers, forcing himself to stand, almost collapsing for a moment, steadying himself on the headboard, "Don't touch him!"

"Really, GDR? You would try this again? Haven't you learned after all these years?" he grabbed the smaller country's neck, lifting him off the ground.

Gil kicked, grabbing at Russia's hand on his neck.

"Do you have any idea how easy you are to control?" Russia snapped, dropping him to the ground next to Latvia, "All I have to do is threaten to take away those drugs-"

"Please!" Gil turned to him instantly, looking up into his face, his eyes begging, "Please don't-"

"See? Perfect… so easy to control…"

Gil kept his head down. He didn't want to give Russia the satisfaction of seeing the defeat on his face.

Russia looked down at his satellite, giving him a hard kick in the stomach, satisfied to hear a gasp escape his lips, "What's your name?"

No… no please no I can't play this game… please…

Latvia stood, looking up at Russia and taking a backward step towards the door.

"Stay, Latvia," Russia ordered, "You should see this too. I think you and the others have been thinking far too much about rebellion. What would they say if you go back to them covered in GDR's blood? Do you think it would help?"

Latvia shivered, hiding his hands behind his back, trying to hide how much they were shaking, "Y-y-y-yes M-M-Mr. R-Russia…" he didn't look up at him.

Gil looked up at Russia, following his arm down to his hand, and the metal pipe it held. He shivered, imaging it hitting his back over and over until his ribs broke. He wasn't sure he could take it again.

"What. Is. Your. Name?" Russia asked again.

"German Democratic Republic, GDR…" he whispered almost without thinking, not looking at anything, just staring straight ahead. Nothing mattered. Nothing except giving the right answers, avoiding that pipe.

"And what are you?"

"A Soviet state…"

"And who do you belong to?"

"The Soviet Union… Russia… you," he closed his eyes, trying not to think about everything those words meant.

"And what is the purpose of the wall?"

"To protect me…"

"And those who try to cross it? What do they deserve?"

"Death…"

"And your brother?"

"America's Dog…" his voice broke.

"And you are?"

Gil shook his head, "Your bird…"

"And what," Russia kicked Gil's right arm away from his body pinning it to the ground with his boot, "Do I do to birds who won't stay in their cage?"

Gil looked up at him, terrified, "Russia please, please…" he begged.

"What do you think, Latvia?" Russia smiled, turning to the boy.

Latvia's eyes were fixed on Russia's boot. He shook his head, "Don't…" he brought both hands to his face, shaking his head faster, "Russia please don't hurt him!" He looked up into the violet eyes, his own bright blues shimmering with tears, "Please…"

"Would you rather I break yours?" Russia grabbed Latvia's arm, pulling the boy off the ground.

"NO!" Gil grabbed Russia's arm with his left hand, straining up to try and pull it away from Latvia, "No please, please, I'd rather you break mine… please…"

Russia laughed, "Listen to you both! You're both so adorable, trying to protect each other!" he kicked Gil's face back, releasing the white-haired nation's arm in the process.

Gil didn't move, trying to collect his thoughts, his head spinning. Russia's boot slammed next to his face, making him jump.

"Are you loyal to me, GDR?"

Gil nodded slowly, keeping his eyes closed. He could barely think, the world blurry around him from the force of Russia's boot.

"Prove it," Russia smiled.

Gil looked up at the giant country towering above him, still holding Latvia by the arm as the boy squirmed with tears spilling over his cheeks. He looked back at Russia's boot in front of his face.

"Who do you belong to, GDR?" Russia asked slowly, the smile still on his face.

Gil leaned forward, letting his lips touch leather, "You…" he whispered, closing his eyes, looking away. He heard bone snap and a scream of pain as Latvia was dropped next to him on the ground. Russia left the room without a word.

Gil turned to Latvia, reaching for his arm, "Sh… sh, please… please let me help…"

Latvia sobbed, looking away from his arm, horrified. He tried to stop crying, tried to be tough.

"I'll get Estonia…" Gil bit his lip, looking into Latvia's face. "I'm so sorry…" He stood carefully, his ribs aching, and stepped towards the door.

"Just… D-d-d-don't… don't give up…?"

Gil didn't have an answer. He forced a smile and threw open his door, half dragging himself to Estonia's room.

A/N: A very "Split" chapter here. The beginning with Liet and Bela taking place a bit earlier than the second part... *sighs* poor all of them. Russia may be weaker than he was, but that still leaves him extremely powerful. Poor little Latvia... but everyone is starting to fight back, and fight back quite a bit. Russia is quickly loosing control (and I'm not mad about it!)

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