Chapter 87
Giant double doors opened to the hall, the most powerful of the eastern nations standing with their governments and courts down the long carpet that lead to Russia and his Tsarina. Lithuania stood straighter, walking with a guard on either side of him slowly up to the throne. The embroidered belt around his waist glittered as the gold threads caught the light, the detailing on the cuffs of his sleeves making his clothes distinct from all others in the room. He wore a dark plaid vest, also detailed with embroidery, as well as the dark tan pants, and his hair was tied back from his face with a heavily detailed ribbon. It was traditional instead of fashionable. He was proud of his country, and he wanted everyone to see that.
He glanced at Prussia as he walked past the white-haired nation. He'd lost. He'd lost to Russia and Prussia. They'd divided his land, 10% to Prussia, the rest to Russia. He hadn't been at the meeting to decide his fate: if they would let him keep anything of his culture, if Russia was going to own him and his people, and if they would leave him alive.
He looked up at Russia and his Tsarina as they reached the end of the long room. He kept his eyes on Ivan, his head held high. He resisted the urge look around the room, setting his jaw and standing tall.
A man's voice, reading from a large paper, told of the decisions made behind closed doors.
"Lietuva, from this moment forward 90% of your current land belongs Russia. The rest is given to the great nation of Prussia."
Lithuania nodded slowly, glancing at the white-haired nation again, then back up at Russia.
"Therefore, you, Toris Lorinaitis, are to live at Russia's house from this moment forward."
Lithuania took a deep breath, nodding slowly again, looking into Russia's face. The childlike smile he saw there made his stomach turn. He would survive this. He would come back from this, and he would be a great nation again.
"All symbols and traditions associated with Lithuanian culture are, from this moment forward, banned."
"Ne-" Lithuania's words were cut short as he was forced to his knees by the guards. The ribbon was torn from his hair, and his vest and belt were ripped off as he was thrown forward onto his hands, the rest of his shirt stripped from him, shredded by brutal hands that kept him down. He looked up at Russia, hatred flashing in his eyes. He felt sick, the cold air in the room hitting his bare back and chest, sending shivers down his shaking arms. He refused to look at anyone but Russia.
He spoke in his own language, "You can't do thi-" his words were cut short as a gloved hand struck the side of his face.
"The Lithuanian language is, from this moment forward, banned in all forms."
"Rusija, Ne… Pr-" his words were stopped again, this time by the butt of a rifle. He said nothing, keeping his head down, shaking with rage, his cheek throbbing with pain.
"From this moment forward," the voice continued, "You are to be known as Northwestern Krai. The name Lietuva is, from this moment forward…"
No…
"Banned."
Toris closed his eyes, keeping his head down, biting back the tears. He winced as his head was pulled up by his hair and both arms held back firmly by the guards. He looked into Russia's face, a single tear spilling over his cheek. He watched as Russia walked down the steps slowly, glancing back at Catherine with a light bow before continuing down until he faced Toris.
"What is your name?" Russia asked, his voice was like ice, but that sickening smile still curled on his lips.
"Lietuva," he winced as Russia's hand struck his face, harder than the guards could ever manage to hit. He licked the blood off his lip and turned to face Russia again.
"What is your name?" Russia asked again, his voice even less gentle than before.
"Lietuva…" he whispered, earning him another strike, his head snapping to the side with the force of it. He looked at Prussia for a moment, trying to see if there was anything in the other nation that wanted this to stop. Nothing.
"What. Is. Your. Name."
"You're calling me-" Toris winced hard as Russia grabbed his face, turning it towards his own.
"Answer in Russian or you won't talk for a week."
Toris nodded slowly again, looking down.
"What. Is. Your. Name?"
"Meenya zavoot, Krai (my name is Krai)" Toris whispered, looking up at him.
"Da," Russia smiled, pushing the dark hair out of the smaller nation's face, "Khorosho."
Toris kept his head down, not looking up at Russia. The guards pulled him to his feet on Russia's order. He looked up again, very slowly, into Russia's face, still wearing that smile. He licked the dripping blood from his lip again, his arms shaking with fear and anger. The guards released his arms and he fell back to his knees, too weak from all he'd lost to stand.
"You're part of Russia now," the tall nation smiled, his violet eyes glittering, "Not a prisoner. Come, stand beside me here," Russia motioned next to himself with a smile.
Lithuania looked up at him, trying to drag himself to his feet. He looked around the room at the other nations and their courts. No one said anything. No one did anything. He didn't even see any emotion on their faces. He pressed his arms into the ground, slowly, slowly standing. He forced one foot in front of the other onto the stairs, his legs giving out as he fell onto his side. He looked up at Russia again, using the last of his strength to stand again, dragging himself to the space beside Russia, trying to hold his head high.
"Very good…Myshka," Russia smiled.
…
"No!" Lithuania shook his head, "No I can't… can't…. America, I can't… please… please…" he tried to stop his hands from shaking, "Please don't make me stay with him…" he begged, falling to his knees.
"Look, Toris, I don't really have a choice here…I… Russia was the one who helped you in the war… I… I'm sorry…. I'm really sorry, I don't like it either… but…"
"After what Germany did to me, you can't… please… please don't make me stay with Russia…"
"Latvia and Estonia are going to…"
"No…" Lithuania shook his head, leaning into his hands, shaking, "No he can't… please…." He felt America kneel beside him, and put his arms around his back. He shook his head, leaning against his friend's shoulder, "Please…"
America said nothing, but squeezed his friend's shoulders gently, "I'll get you back. I promise I won't let him keep you forever. I'll do something…"
"You…" Lithuania looked up, but not at America, "You're going to war, aren't you?"
America nodded slowly, "Yeah… yeah probably."
"Don't die."
"I'm the hero remember?" America smirked.
Lithuania looked over at him with a sad smile and nodded.
"Toris…" America's voice was more serious again, "Toris how bad is it going to be…?"
Lithuania shook his head, "He… America he changed… after the revolution…" he shivered. Russia had never been kind, but at least before his beatings had a reason. Toris doubted they would now, "It… I…." he turned, looking into America's face, "I would rather die, America."
America closed his eyes with a sigh.
Lithuania stood, dusting himself off from the ground. He looked straight ahead at the conference room door. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and walked forward, opening the door slowly. Russia was standing in the hallway, waiting for him.
"Litva!" the man smiled, pulling him into a painfully tight hug, "I'm so glad you're all right from the war. I was so worried about you, Myshka. You will come home now. You will be safe again, da?"
Lithuania looked up at him, trembling badly, "Da…" he whispered.
Lithuania pulled his shaking hands away from his face, looking out of the window in front of him. The snow was melting, patches of green showing around the dirty white slush. He could see flowers just starting to peek through the ground, breaking free from the icy cold. Spring. May…
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He looked down at his hands, the soft evening light glowing warm against his skin. He traced the scars on his right wrist. So many scars… He looked up at the window again, then stood, closing his eyes again. Slowly he loved over his shoulder at the door. The mirror caught his eye. A tall, standing mirror he had turned to face the wall. He exhaled slowly, looking back up at the door. Slowly, he stepped through it and down the long hallway towards Russia's room and office. He walked slowly, noticing every crack in the old doors of the other's rooms, the chipping paint along the very tops of the walls near the ceiling. He stopped in front of Russia's door, hesitating before knocking.
Belarus threw her arms around his neck with a beaming smile as they ran into their room.
Lithuania smiled at her. She was so beautiful, with a crown of roses in her long blonde hair, her smile beaming through her clear blue eyes. He picked her up by her waist, spinning her around before letting her down slowly on the bed, smiling down at her before leaning in to kiss her as she wrapped her fingers in his hair.
…
He kept his eyes on her face, and the painful hatred he saw in her eyes.
"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, Toris. I know what's wrong: you. I don't need you anymore…"
Her words burned. She couldn't mean it. She couldn't mean that…
Lithuania sighed. He had barely seen Belarus since. And he hadn't spoken to her. He looked up at the door and knocked.
Russia's voice called out for him to enter.
Lithuania tried to calm the knot in his stomach that he knew would try to keep him from speaking. He opened the door, walking in slowly.
"Litva," Russia smiled, looking up as the dark-haired man walked into the room.
Lithuania forced himself to smile back, slightly relieved to see Russia was in a good mood. He looked at the stack of papers on his desk, and the empty bottle of vodka beside it on the floor.
"You've been drinking…" Lithuania didn't know what else to say.
Russia nodded, "Da. It's been a long day. Vodka is a good cure for long days, da?"
Lithuania nodded, less out of agreement than politeness.
"You look nervous, Litva," Russia's voice was concerned. He motioned towards the chair across the desk from his own.
Lithuania stepped towards the chair, sitting down for less than a second before standing again, "I… I can't… I…" he looked into Russia's face. Into those violet eyes. He looked away. He wanted so badly to hate him, but he couldn't. He let a long silence pass, not looking at Russia, keeping his eyes fixed on the window.
"Litva what's-"
"Why am I your favorite?" Lithuania cut off Russia's words, turning to look at the giant county.
Russia leaned back, surprised, "I…"
"Why did you take me back from America? Why? After Germany was done with me, why did you take me back?" He kept his eyes on Russia's watching for any hint of anger, any sign that he should back away. He saw only shock.
"I was afraid for you. Germany nearly killed you, I needed to protect you Litva…"
"Protect me from what!? Germany lost, the war was over! Why did you bring me back here… please… why…?"
"Because I can take good care of you, Litva, because-"
"200 years ago why did you leave me alive?"
"What?" Russia asked, standing.
Lithuania took a step back, studying the man's eyes. He still saw no anger in them, "You took everything. You took everything from me, you took my land, my culture, my language… you even took my name… why didn't you just kill me…? Why? Why didn't you kill me?"
"Litva what's gotten into you…?" Russia walked towards him, his voice just slightly colder, but still full of concern.
"I want to know…" Lithuania whispered, taking another step back away from Russia.
Russia said nothing, looking down into the bright green eyes looking up at him. He hadn't noticed the pain before. "Toris… you… you do like it here…Da?"
Lithuania closed his eyes with a sigh, looking away.
"You're my friend, aren't you…?"
Lithuania didn't answer, looking up at Russia again. He pulled away suddenly as he felt Russia's hand on his shoulder. He was brought to his knees instantly by an iron grip on his arm. He looked up at Russia, trembling, not daring to pull away.
Russia let go, looking down at Lithuania, an expression of confusion on his face again, "You hate me…"
Lithuania sighed, standing. He shook his head slowly, "Nyet. I don't hate you… but…" he took a deep breath, "Russia… after the war… you just took me. You just took me here… I…" he shook his head again, "You've beaten me, you've starved me, you've tortured me and the people I care about, and…" he stopped himself, closing his eyes for a moment again. He looked up into Russia's face again, "Why am I your favorite?"
Russia said nothing for a long time, just staring into Lithuania's face. "Because you always forgive me… no matter what you always forgive me. You always come back… you… you always forgive me."
Lithuania closed his eyes, biting back the choke in his throat. He wanted to hate Russia. He needed to hate Russia. He needed to for his own safety, but he couldn't. "I don't hate you…" he whispered, "I've seen what you hide with that scarf too many times… I've seen you cry… I've seen how badly it hurt when they… when they died… I was there on Bloody Sunday when you…" he shook his head, he didn't need to remind Russia of that. The memory still stung, and still terrified him, "I remember when you were just a little boy, covered in bruises from a monster you called 'father', hiding in the snow, just trying not to cry…"
"Litva, stop…" Russia looked away.
"I can't hate you…" Lithuania sighed, his voice distant. He glanced out the window again, smiling faintly as he saw a tiny yellow flower trying to push through the green leaves holding it back. He turned to look up at Russia again, "I'm leaving Russia."
"What?" Russia's voice was shocked instead angry.
"I said: I'm leaving, Russia…"
"I won't let you! You're not allowed to leave!" Russia's voice grew hot with anger as he reached for Lithuania's wrist.
"You can't stop me now… you can't… you took my country illegally after the war… and I'm done. I'm leaving, Russia. I'm going home."
A/N: And we are now officially in May of 1989, and Lithuania is going to leave! He's going to work to leave now! YAY! Lithuania actually declared it's independence in May of 1989, making it actually the first country in the SU to do so if my research is correct. This also means we're officially in 1989, and you know what that means... but LITHUANIA STANDING UP FOR HIMSELF IS MY FAVORITE THING! Though... I find this scene so sad... there are certainly hints of Russia's possessiveness, but it's easing off quite a bit by now as he's getting better too... but Lithuania... the memories in the beginning, what Russia's done to him, taken from him... but he still forgives him. He always will. But he has to leave. And with Belarus gone... (and as we know, that was her plan, to leave him so he would leave...) he's going home.
Thank you so much for the reviews! And so quickly! This is getting super exciting and all the ideas are happening and updatings coming full speed ahead again! After all, this is the 2nd update today... XD Hmm... what treats for all of you... Pumpkin bars, and mashed potatoes (for you Penguin!) and all the yummy treats! What are your favorite Thanksgiving foods? Mine are definitely pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes and gravy!