Is there really anymore need for this author's note?
Note: I don't know who was actually the president or leader of North Korea in 1975, and the closest I could find was Kim Il-sung. If you want to correct me, please do so. Solomenstev was also the leader of the USSR in 1975.
Enjoy.
North Korea was over in Moscow, just outside of Russia's front door. He was going to knock when suddenly Russia opens the door, wearing a heavy parka and snow boots with a snow shovel.
"Oh, I guess you need to clear the snow, then?" North Korea quirked his eyebrow, masking his anxiety to the Russian.
Russia, who's lower half of his face was covered in his scarf, nodded and gestured over to another shovel, giving a shrug as if to say: If you want to help…
Since he hadn't asked about South Korea, North Korea voluntarily took the shovel and followed Russia, who started with a path from the front door to the sidewalk. They were out there for about half an hour when North Korea started swaying a little and put a hand over his mouth.
"Is my kitten okay?" Russia looked over in concern.
North looked into the other's eyes, fearing the ice coldness that has been there for 2 months. However, it was as if that ice had melted, back to the purple pools he loved so much, that were now filled with concern. "I think I'm feeling nauseous." He put his hand over his mouth again as he felt another wave over come him.
Russia walked over to the smaller nation, and picked him up bridal style, causing the other to blush madly and to be utterly confused deep down by the sudden change in attitude. He giggled slightly, like a child. "Then you should lie down, da?"
North Korea looked at him with determination, "You still need help with the driveway," However, he pulled a hand over his mouth again as another nauseous wave came.
Russia shook his head, bringing the other inside and pulled the coat and boots off. He then placed the other on the large couch lighting a fire and putting a blanket over the other. "You should rest."
He kissed the Korean on the nose and walked outside, "I'll be back."
As he was left on his own, North Korea stared after him, wondering what had caused this sudden change. He looked at the fire, the flames dancing around in an intricate dance that could only be done with such light, care free flames. It seemed bright, almost too bright. Too innocent. It didn't fit the mood he was feeling. Didn't fit what was going on with Russia.
He shook his head. I'm thinking way too much. Still, Russia is acting strange… Not that I'm complaining.
More nausea overcame him. He went over to the bathroom, having enough of trying to keep it down. He knelt there waiting for the next wave to come. While there he saw a little blue box. His interest and curiosity getting the better of him, he picked it up. It was a little testing kit for pregnancy, the one each country was given by their bosses at the end of whatever study they did a while ago. He didn't pay attention to that study.
He felt the next wave come and he let it go. As he ceased, he eyed the box that was abandoned on the floor. He found the idea ludicrous, but it was morning, and he didn't get sick often. He eyed it a little more, debating whether or not to give it a try.
A knock on the door alerted him of another presence. "Are you okay?"
He sighed a little bit hearing the Russian accent, "Just give me a minute."
He looked at the testing kit again, then decided to pull one out.
Following the instructions he leaned over the sink and looked in the mirror. He saw some left over marks that Russia had left, and some dark circles under his eyes from the restless nights in his country. He looked like shit. He started wondering what it would be like if he was pregnant. He wasn't too keen on being a parent right away, even if he did like children to an extent. Plus, Russia wasn't exactly a good choice as a parent either, though he probably would be excited for that. That is, if the circumstances were different.
With everything going on with his brother, and who knew what else with the rest of the world, he doubted this would be a good idea. His country didn't allow homosexuals, as it was punishable by death, and he knew his boss wouldn't be too pleased with even knowing that he was in a romantic relationship with Russia. Yes, he was kind of a good ally, but the fact that he would know of his country's sexual orientation was worrying. If him or Russia were female he wouldn't worry so much.
He didn't pay attention to the sound of the door opening, nor did he realize that a certain Russian was behind him in the mirror. He felt hand sneaking around his waist in a comforting gesture, which caused him to jump.
He heard a small laughter, "Don't be so worked up, da?"
He relaxed some in the other's embrace, giving a small sigh of relief. Until he saw that the other was holding the test. He tried reaching for the test, but realized his hands were pinned to his sides, unintentionally, by the Russian.
Russia held it just above the counter, examining it. North looked at the more important part, the results. He felt a sweat drop on his forehead as he looked at it.
Positive.
Shit. He thought this in his head as it finally triggered a response from the other.
Russia spun him around so he was facing the taller nation. He feared the worst and closed his eyes in anticipation. That is until he felt himself being picked up and spun around, as well as hearing joyful laughter from the Russian. He snapped his eyes open and stared at his lover in disbelief. He then started squirming in the other's grip, wanting his feet back on the ground.
"Oi! Put me down!" He yelled at the other. To his relief, the other did so.
"I'm so happy you don't even know!" Russia was beside himself with joy.
The Asian nation tried mellowing out the much taller nation, which didn't yield much success. He eventually gave up and just put his hands on his hips to try and get the other to see that he needed to calm down.
To his horror, the Russian said, "I'll call our bosses!"
He yanked on the other's scarf, "No you're not! Remember my boss doesn't know!"
Russia shook his head, "He wouldn't mind! Watch!"
He went over to the phone and started dialing. North panicked and slammed the phone back on the receiver. "I'm warning you, Ivan! Don't call him!"
"Nonsense! He won't mind!" Russia tried dialing again, only for the same to happen.
They stared at each other, North in worry and frustration, Russia in a blank stare. Russia then leaned in and gave a deep kiss. North leaned in a little, tilting his head for better access. They parted, leaving North breathless. He stood there, thinking about that kiss. It was sweeter and softer than the past two months, almost like normal.
Then he heard Russia's voice, "Da, may I speak to Kim Il-sung, please?"
North's eyes widened and he tried reaching for the phone, only to be held back by Russia's hand pushing his head away. He struggled, but to no avail.
Eventually, Russia was connected to Kim Il-sung, "Ah, annyeonghaseyo, Mr. Kim. I've got really good news about North and I. Hm. Yes. He's carrying my child!"
North froze. He was mentally cursing himself for ever letting Russia call his boss. He looked warily at Russia who had an innocent face.
"Hm? Oh, yes, he's here." Russia handed the phone over to North, who looked like he was staring at the devil, if he actually believed one existed.
He took the phone and hesitantly held it to his ear. "Yes, sir?"
"May you please go to another room to continue this conversation." He knew that wasn't a question. He motioned Russia to leave, which the other happily did so, going back to tending the fire.
"Yes, sir." He waited for his boss to speak.
"Do you care to explain this… issue." Again another command.
"Well, the relationship, yes. As to the pregnancy…"
"I don't need an explanation for something that is self-explanatory. What I do care to know is why I didn't find out about this before hand." He could hear a slight accusing and angry tone.
"Well, I knew that it would go against what I'm supposed to stand for-" The boss cut him off.
"Let's forget about you being a country for now."
"Excuse me?" North raised an eyebrow, quite unsure what the other was aiming at.
"Just follow me on this. Let's say I'm your father. What would you say to me about the relationship that you had been hiding?"
"I-I would say that, I really liked him. A-and I knew you wouldn't have approved of it."
His boss made a noise of confirmation. "And? What would you say about the pregnancy in that situation?"
He thought about this a moment. What would he say? Forget the "situation" his boss created, what about right now? He wasn't sure he wanted it, yet he didn't feel right getting rid of it, and Russia was so happy knowing this.
"I… I would say I wanted to keep it. B-Because I felt responsible for… creating it. I-I wouldn't feel right removing it. Even if I didn't want it, I couldn't. And… and Russia is already so happy… I wouldn't want to take that happiness away from him. And in a way… I think I'm happy, too. Whether or not I really want it or it's an inconvenience, I think it can teach me something about life, about caring for something other than myself."
He could hear his boss sniffling and…crying? He was quite surprised that his boss was showing a weakness like that, even if it was over the phone.
He heard his boss a few seconds later, with a tender tone. "Then let's apply that to now. As of now, you are immune to the law of homosexuality and you are allowed to keep the child. Your reasons are more than enough to convince me, and others won't object. You know, for the first time that I've ever heard of, most Asian representatives… don't really object to their bosses, almost like they just bend over, hoping to appease whomever. I'm glad you got a backbone, that you are willing to stand up to me and everything you are to stand for, for something that isn't normally easy to obtain. I want you to be happy. Besides, if any one raises a fuss, I can say that the child can be like insurance for our close relations with Russia."
North Korea was shocked, unable to speak. He was okay? He didn't need to worry? The fact that his boss was so moved by that… He wasn't able to comprehend anything. He felt wetness on his cheeks, and when he reached up to touch his cheek; he felt the tears pool out of his eyes.
"T-thank you, sir." He couldn't manage anything more.
"I want you to stay with Russia until the baby arrives, understand? I'll clear it up with Solomentsev. Hm? I have a meeting I need to go to. Please, take care." He hung up.
North stood there, leaning slightly on the wall. He couldn't believe that played out so well.
Russia walked in behind him, and pulled him close to his own body. "I told you so."
"You have no idea how scared I was if he did mind it." North let his head rest back against the other's chest, staring into the other's eyes.
They stared at each other for a few seconds, before Russia broke out into a grin and a laugh escaped. North slowly let his own smile grow, and, before he knew it, he started laughing himself.
It was the first laugh he had since the cease-fire in 1953.
America's house
South Korea packed the medal into a small case that he kept in once corner of his dresser. He would have to either dispose of it or find a way to give it back to his brother, though he wasn't to confident about finding him.
What would he say? Just tell him "Hey! You know while you were spying on me, you forgot your medal! Here you go!"
Yeah right. He had a feeling that his brother would either avoid him or he wouldn't be able to actually talk to him at all. America would probably figure it out sooner or later that North was in there, and he didn't want another disaster on his hands.
Japan and England had left about an hour ago, and China left shortly after, saying his boss had a meeting with him in Shanghai when he went back. That left him and America alone in the living room.
His hid his stomach, which had expanded quite a bit to accommodate the two unborn children, from America, knowing he would just be in a fouler mood if he were looking at it.
He gazed out the window, looking at the mountains with the snowcaps. The trees had lost their leaves long ago, leaving bareness. Some snow had covered the ground, leaving patches of white fluff here and there. Some frost made intricate, delicate designs on the window, making little etchings, and fog covered some of the window.
America looked at the other out of the corner of his eye. He saw that South was drawing some random designs in the fog, almost absent-mindedly. He sighed silently, making sure the other couldn't hear. His face went from neutral to one of sadness and regret. He gazed out another window; only it was missing this one tree that was out the other window. It was the tree that he and South always called theirs. He remembered the summer nights they would spend out there, sleeping under the stars and tree branches, and the spring days they would be out there, with each other sitting on one branch just staring out towards the mountains and having no care in the world.
How he longed for those days again. They didn't fight often, and if so, it was about something so trivial that they would break out laughing in the middle of the fight at the ridiculousness of it. It was just him and South, each other against the world. Nothing else mattered.
It was never like this. He didn't want them to end up hating each other. Yet, he felt that every time he talked, it was only making things worse and driving his love away. But it was almost the same when he didn't speak, as if things were so far down hill that it wasn't going to stop until they reached rock bottom. He felt he was going to loose South one way or another. He didn't want that. Yes, he was, quite frankly, a dick to South since the beginning of this mess, but he didn't want to loose him. Even now, he was starting to loose his will to fight. He didn't even know if he still believed in ridding themselves of these unborn children. He was so lost.
He took another look at the Korean on the opposite side of the room. He was starting to feel the cold in the room that almost never came inside in November, or, at least, didn't seem to; since he had South by his side every minute they were here together under normal circumstances. America breathed a deep sigh, not caring if the other heard him, which he most certainly did if the twitch of his mouth was an indication. He got up and walked towards the kitchen.
If he wanted to keep South by his side, then he would need to start doing something to at least let him know he still wanted a chance.
A half hour passed, South was still staring out the window when he heard a small clink next to him. He ignored it for favor of the window. He knew America was still around, not wanting to speak to him. He then smelt a very enticing smell, one he hadn't had for a couple of months.
He looked to his left, and saw a bowl of kimchi. He looked at it for a few seconds before looking up to see America's back retreating towards his study. He hesitantly took a bite, widening his eyes a little that it was extremely spicy, just the way he liked it. He noted that it was a rather large portion for one person, more like three people, and a note was taped to the bottom.
Give me another chance. Please. I love you.
The messy writing could only be from the American. South Korea looked after where the other's form used to be. He gave one more glance to the note before eating more of the kimchi.
Later that night…
America exited his office and headed towards his bedroom. He was stopped by seeing a sleeping Korean on one side of the bed. On his bedside table, a note was stuck to the lamp. He picked it up and read it.
Only one more chance. That's it.
America smirked a little and glanced at the sleeping Korean. He looked so tranquil.
He pulled the sheets over himself and fell asleep, though he wasn't going to push cuddling at the moment. He would have to take it slow, so as to not risk loosing him again.
London, England
Japan had just gotten out of the shower when he noticed England was going through their closet.
"Sorry, love. Just need to be ready for a meeting with Scotland tomorrow." He was visibly cringing at the mere mention of his older brother.
"Well, you can't avoid him forever." Japan chuckled some, causing the other to roll his eyes in a joking way.
England was about to go to bed when he saw a small pink object on the ground just peeking out from under the bed. "What's this?"
He reached to pick it up, but Japan quickly grabbed it, "I-it's okay! It's my side, I need to keep it clean!" He hurriedly took the object away before England could say anything.
Japan ran to the bathroom and kept the door shut. He breathed heavily and held up the pregnancy test. He really shouldn't let it be lying around, much less shouldn't still have it, but some how he still kept it. He slid down the door until he was sitting on the ground and held his stomach lightly.
Eventually, he came out and hid the test in his secret box he keeps under lock and key so that England couldn't access it. Not that he didn't trust him, but curiosity was a big issue in the British Isles, to the point where the saying "curiosity killed the cat" nearly comes true if they were cats. He then went to the bed and carefully got under the covers, using more blankets to cover the bump. England was none the wiser as he slipped a hand around the other's midsection.
"I love you, Kiku." England whispered into the other's ear.
"Aishiteru, Asa." Japan turned his head to give a quick kiss and turn his head back.
It was too quick for England. The way he seemed to want to get it over with, it irked him. America's words kept coming back to him. He noted how distant Japan had come to be over the couple months, and he saw how Japan didn't even want attention from him half the time.
Could Japan really be cheating on me?
End of Chapter 8
