Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia
Australia didn't know why Russia would be visiting him, he hadn't even seen or spoken to Russia since that world meeting he wandered off in. It didn't even end well at the time. He had been dragged away by his dad the second he found his colony around the Russian empire, he had also been warned by England to not go near the other nation again. And then England's dislike for Russia didn't improve when the two fought in that war against each other, Australia and New Zealand were still young and living with England at the time. But Australia could still remember the many months he and New Zealand were alone in the house waiting for their father to come back from war.
After all, why would Russia be visiting him? Not many nations outside England's empire bothered with him, except to take part in the gold rush. But even then, only China was the one to actually speak to him after he had defended him from those police officers.
What if they were hostile? Australia didn't exactly have a large military, or any at all for that matter. He relied solely on England for that, but when his dad he had reassured his son that he would handle security and defence, it never actually occurred to Australia what he would do if he was actually invaded. That thought had never crossed his mind when England was still here, as Russia didn't seem as scary or intimidating when his dad was around.
Australia was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't even notice that the Russian ships had already docked. Australia could feel the fear radiate off his people, for some reason they also feared an invasion from the Russian Empire as they were one of the largest powers near them.
'Don't be a drongo,' Australia thought to himself, 'Just go and see what he wants. Who knows, he could just be passing through'
Besides, when Australia had met Russia before, he seemed like an alright bloke, Australia just hoped that he still was.
As soon as Russia stepped on his land, Australia shivered. It was like a chill ran up his spine, he briefly wondered if Russia had brought all of Europe's winter with him. Australia plastered on a friendly smile and approached the older nation.
"Ah hello little Australia," Russia greeted as he looked down at the personification, "I thought you would be the first to show. You have grown since we last spoke, but you are still small дa?"
While Australia had grown significantly thanks to the discovery of gold and the growth expansion of his land, he was still shorter than England and defiantly shorter than Russia. Though he doubted he would ever be taller than the Russian Empire, he did have the biggest country after all. But he still hated being called short, it was what a person would call a child, and he wasn't a child anymore.
"It there something you need mate?" Australia asked.
"дa," Russia smiled, "Otherwise I wouldn't have travelled here"
Australia didn't know how to respond, he found it awkward around Russia. After the whole world meeting fiasco, he hadn't really spoken to the older nation since. And the whole war between him and England had made things tense between the two powerful Empires. But here was Russia standing before him decades later treating Australia as if they had known each other for centuries.
"Then what brings you down under?"
Russia seemed to glance around his surroundings, as if he was only just noticing the inquisitive stares of Australia's people directed towards him. It didn't bother him so much as he was used to being on the receiving end of wary glances and stares. He soon turned his attention back to the teenaged nation awaiting his answer.
"I think it would be best if we spoke somewhere privately, дa? Your people staring might overhear"
Australia took the hint. Russia wanted to speak about certain matters, personification matters specifically. Well there goes the idea, and slight hope, that this was just a social visit. Russia clearly wanted something from him, just thinking about what it could be was making Australia's head ache, which didn't help his cold in the slightest. Well if Russia was looking for money, he would be in the wrong place
Australia glanced back to see his people standing a fair distance away. He could faintly hear their anxious and panicked whispers as they watched the conversation between Australia and Russia.
"Well there's always my house," Australia suggested, "It's on the outskirts of town so it's a fair bit of a walk"
"I don't mind," Russia smiled, "It would be nice to see your home дa?"
His eyes held a child-like glee as he felt the warmth from Australia's land. It was a stark difference from his harsh winters, so he would enjoy it while he could.
Australia led Russia to his house. The walk remained awkwardly silent one that Australia didn't try to break, he knew if he asked Russia about why he was here the older nation wouldn't say until they reached a place where humans could overhear.
It wasn't long until the two nations had reached Australia's house, even though it seemed like forever to Australia, and entered the living room.
"Do you want a cuppa or anything?"
"I don't suppose you have any vodka?" Russia asked. He sat down on the couch while Australia remained standing.
"Yeah nah mate, sorry" Australia said, "I'm still underage"
Even though he was almost a century old he still looked fifteen
"That's alright," Russia smiled and pulled out what seemed like a flask from his coat pocket, "I brought my own"
Russia took a swig from the flask and stored it away in his pocket once again and watched as Australia sat in the chair across from him. Australia felt sharp claws tug at his shirt as Steve crawled up to sit on his owner's shoulder. The koala growled menacingly at the still cheerfully smiling Russia, Australia only hoped the koala wouldn't attack Russia like he normally would with England.
"You have an interesting friend Австралия" Russia commented as he looked at the red eyed koala perched on Australia's left shoulder.
"Don't worry about him, he won't annoy ya" Australia assured. At least he could try and hold the koala back if he did go in for the attack. But luckily enough Steve seemed to sense the aura from Russia and remained firmly on Australia's shoulder.
"So what was it that you wanted to talk about?"
"Ah yes. I have come to negotiate trade. It would be beneficial to us both дa? It would help with you economic issues"
Wait what?
How did Russia know about that? Australia figured that not many people outside of his dad's empire would know about that, after all not many other European countries would concern themselves with his economic troubles. There were a couple of reasons for this. The first wasn't very close with hardly any European countries, he hadn't established any sort of alliance or relationship with any of them outside of England and his family. The second reason was also due to the fact he wasn't recognised by the rest of the world as his own nation.
"How'd you find out about that?" Australia asked, a slight suspicion had filled him. But Russia seemed oblivious to the slight accusation as he continued to smile.
"I overheard England mention to Canada about it in a meeting. So I thought it would be the perfect time to establish trade, don't you think?"
Australia chewed his bottom lip in thought. It would actually be a huge help with his economy, it was the miracle idea he told his boss he would come up with. It would help his people out immensely if he could sell some of his produce to Russia. And it wasn't like Russia was demanding anything drastic in return, like becoming one.
"You've got yourself a deal mate," Australia grinned. All of his nervousness and awkwardness went out the window now that he was satisfied to learn that Russia was here on good terms.
If it was possible, Russia's smile had widened at making a new friend, "It'll be wonderful to work with you comrade"
"You know I gotta ask," Australia wondered out loud, "Does England know you're here?"
That thought had been weighing on Australia's mind ever since he felt the presence of the Russian Empire enter his land.
"дa he does," Russia smiled with an innocence that concealed his childlike mischief that sparkled in his purple eyes. He then pulled out a slightly crumpled letter from his pocket and held it up for Australia to see.
"Well he will as soon as I send him the letter asking to sail here to establish trade"
The war that I mentioned at the start of the chapter is the 'Crimean War' (1853-1856). The British Empire, Ottoman Empire and the French Empire fought against the Russian Empire when Russia tried to gain more territory which happened to be under Turkish rule so the Russian and Ottoman Empire went to war. The British and French Empires, fearing the Russian Expansion joined sides with Turkey. The British, Ottoman and French Empires were successful but there were over 200,000 casualties and over 500,000 from the Russian Empire. During this time I imagine that Australia and New Zealand would still be kids living with England. I know Canada was involved and fought in the British Empire but I don't think Australia or New Zealand fought in the war, don't quote me on that though I wasn't born in the 1800s xD
In the early 1900s when Australia gained their first Prime Minister Russia did sail to Australia to establish tries and trade with them outside of their relationship with Britain. And actually, this blew my mind when I read it, but Russia's leader in the 18th century had heard about Australia (we were still called New Holland at the time) through the Dutch where we were, and the Russian's actually tried to sail several times to Australia, but were unsuccessful. So we could have been colonised by the Russians! Omg how different would our history have turned out if we were. But during this time many Australian's adapted a 'Russiaphobia' of sorts, they feared an attack or invasion by the Russian Empire.
But I love the platonic friendships fics between Australia and Russia, so I just had to write them interacting again. So England didn't know about it? I wonder what the reaction would have been, he would just be sitting calmly at his desk doing paper work when he stumbles upon the letter that Russia (eventually) sent expressing interest in sailing and establishing closer ties with Australia. Unfortunately, I can't dwell on that too much because the next update will basically contain a very important scene at the end of the chapter ;)
Drongo- idiot or silly person
Cuppa- Cup/mug of tea
Yeah Nah- No, whereas Nah Yeah means yes
Австралия (Russian) – Australia
Дa (Russian) - Yes