Chapter 3

Kindness?

Alone. I was alone now. Russia had shut the door to my prison on his way out. I wouldn't be leaving this place tonight. I looked down at my hands, which he'd just bandaged again for me… for some reason I'd let him…. shock maybe? It was possible. I didn't say a word, and hardly moved, when he'd come to see me. He avoided touching my skin at all, even when he cleaned the wounds on my hands he tried not to touch or hold my hands. I let them rest on my knees as he cleaned and dressed them… I looked down at his work again. They were well bandaged, and with the salve they felt cool, still painful, but not as much. He left some more painkillers by the bed. Not enough for me to really overdose, but enough to last the night. I sighed. I wish he'd have left more…I took some, and sat down on my bed. So…what was I supposed to do now? I couldn't sleep. I wouldn't let myself sleep. Who knew what that Russia freak would do to me if I let myself sleep!? I looked around the room. There was my bed, the table, the lamp… on the table was just Russia's note, a bottle of water, and the painkillers. Nothing else. I sighed. The least he could have done was left me paper and a pen.

I flopped back on my bed, ready to die or boredom. I sighed. Gilbird always cheered me up when I was sad and bored… Ever since I had stopped becoming a country I'd felt like this a lot… and Gilbird always cheered me up. But Gil wasn't here now…He hadn't come with me. I knew Germany would take good care of him for me, but I missed him… a lot.

I sighed deeply, looking up at the ceiling of my cell…I sighed again. It'd been a while since I prayed…

"God…" I whispered. I felt tears filling my eyes, but I tried to force them back. I couldn't think of anything to say… "Please… please help me…" I rolled over on my side, unable to keep the tears back anymore… and I cried. I cried and cried and cried and cried. I sobbed until my throat felt raw, my eyes burned, and my head pounded. Until my eyes didn't even have any more tears to give me, but I kept crying. Dry sobs… eventually I just cried myself to sleep.

I opened my eyes to see Russia sitting by my bed watching me sleep! I jumped with a surprised squeak.

"Good morning German Democratic Republic." Russia smiled innocently.

I bit my lip. I still didn't like being called that. "W…what are you doing here?" I internally winced. What new torture would he think up today?

"Did you sleep well?" He smiled again without missing a beat.

"No!" I snapped.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I think you will sleep well tonight though, da?"

Whatever that meant I doubted it was good news. "Oh?" I replied simply.

"Yes. You will. There is much work to be done at my house. Lithuania can't do it on his own, and the others are not strong enough. You will do it now." He nodded.

I trembled. Working at Russia's house!? I suppose it was part of the deal, but that didn't make me at all happy about it! "That… that's not awesome at all!"

Russia only smiled again. "It's ok. You will get used to it." He pat me on the head.

"Ouch!" I snapped.

Russia glared at me. "You are not allowed to talk that way to me. Do not do it again."

I shivered, if Russia's smile wasn't creepy enough, his glare was even worse. I didn't speak, just nodded.

"Good." Russia went right back to his innocent smile. And by right back I mean instantly… it was creepy… He stood up and turned towards the door.

"When can I see Germany?" I dared to ask.

"Oh never again German Democratic Republic." Russia smiled. "You belong to me now. I'm afraid you can't see Germany any more. Please don't try. The wire is sharp, I don't want you getting hurt."

His last statement I didn't believe at all, but I nodded. Deep down I'd already known I would never see my brother again….

Russia nodded to someone in the hall, and a short little blond boy brought in a set of clothes for me. I wanted my uniform, but knowing Russia he'd probably destroyed it. I rarely wore it except to the world meetings, but right now I just wanted to feel like Prussia again… The clothes weren't that bad though. A pair of jeans and a black tee shirt. It would work.

"It is what you like to wear, da?" Russia asked almost kindly. He'd thought about what I'd like?

I nodded again. "Ja. Danke." I nodded.

"In Russian we say 'da' and 'spasiba'." He smiled almost… kindly?

"Do you want me to speak only Russian now?" I winced.

"Oh of course not." He smiled back. "Though someday I do hope you learn it." He smiled.

I looked at him curiously. He was… almost being… nice? This was making no sense. I looked down at the clothes, and remembered that he was about to take me to his house to work. Any hint of gratefulness I felt towards him was instantly gone. I just nodded again and picked up the clothes. "You're going to leave while I change right?"

"Of course!" Russia smiled, taking the little boy's hand and leading him out.

I changed. The clothes felt reasonably nice actually. I sighed. No mirror.

The little boy walked into the room again. A mirror and comb were in his hands. "Here." He said simply, turning away.

"Wait. What's your name?" I asked as kindly as I could. He seemed scared of me…

"Latvia." He trembled, looking up at me. "A…are you ok?" I saw tears shinning in his big innocent eyes…

"Yeah I'm fine." I smirked. "Don't worry about me." I smiled, nodding.

He smiled back faintly, and sadly, and walked out.

I tried to tame my hair, which insisted on spiking up on the right side because of how I'd slept… eventually I gave up and walked out of the cell, since they'd left the door open again.

Russia smiled when he saw me. "You look very nice Prussia."

"S…Spasiba." I nodded. I have no idea why I decided to use his language, which felt odd and sloppy on my tongue, but I did.

Russia grinned and nodded to me sweetly. "The work is heavy today, are you strong?"

"Of course I am!" I snapped without thinking.

Russia's hand collided with my face. I winced. He was stronger than I thought he would be… I licked blood off my lip… I thought about apologizing, but I didn't. I just stood tall and looked him in the face.

"Don't talk to me like that." Russia sighed sadly. "I don't like hurting you."

I resisted the urge to make a sarcastic comment and nodded. "All right."

He led me to his house and into his yard. "See these rocks? They must be moved." He showed me exactly where he wanted them… a long way away. "Set them up like this please." He gave me a chart. I sighed, nodding. "Something wrong?" He asked.

"Nein." I nodded.

"In Russian we say 'nyet'"

Was he trying to teach me his language? I nodded. "'Nyet' I'm ok." His language felt strange on my tongue. I didn't like the feeling, but I nodded.

Russia smiled. "This is Lithuania." He motioned to the dark haired man who stood trembling beside him. "He will help you." Russia smiled, and walked away.

"Hey." I smiled at Lithuania, sighing.

"H…hello…" He trembled.

"Sheesh. I'm not going to hurt you." I shrugged.

"O…ok." He nodded.

I sighed. "So…. I guess we start?"

He nodded and we began. The work was hard, very un-awesome, and hot. the sun beat down on us. It was first time since I'd arrived that I'd been hot… it was usually freezing, and it still was outside, but the sun, the work… it was uncomfortable. Eventually we finished. Russia walked outside almost the second we did.

"Spasiba!" He smiled. "This is very good work." He smiled.

Latvia walked out with water for us then. I drank my in almost one gulp.

Russia smiled. "More?"

I nodded.

Latvia gave me more water and I drank it all. "Da…Spasiba." I nodded to Russia.

He smiled. "You may do what you wish now German Democratic Republic." He nodded.

I nodded back and walked away from his house. I walked up to the wall and looked at it… I'd get over it somehow… somehow I would break through it. I went back to my little 'room' and tried to think of a plan…