A/N: So, I edited this a bit before posting it. I hope it isn't terrible, haha. I have a soft spot for Russia, and I like the idea of him having a sweet/gentle side to someone he really cares about. So, my bad if he's OOC or whatnot. Anyway, enjoy the first of twenty-five of these! Yeah! ~Jax

1) What would you do if 1 woke you up in the middle of the night?

"Why…am I here?" You questioned aloud, yet your voice seemed distant, even to yourself. A sea of unrecognizable faces were swarmed around you, shadowed faces you couldn't make out, but felt watching you. Slowly these faces began to disappear and reappear, taunting you as your voice echoed into the crowd. No one answered, still watching, boring into your crippling form. Mocking your discomfort and helplessness. You tried to move forward, attempting to grab on to someone, anything to get an answer; your legs limited you, feeling as heavy as lead. Frustration boiling inside of you as you fought the increasing invisible weight that not only slowed you but was consuming you. Suffocating you and constricting every movement you made. "What….is this?" A pained groan left your lips, words falling heavily to the floor as you continued to move, now barely crawling.

They were so aware of every movement you made all the while being so careful as to never let you close to them. Their eyes still boring into you, you could feel it, even as they disappeared over and over. Watching…waiting...feeling their hot breath down your neck, barely moving, so helpless, wake up. This needs to stop, Wake up. Please. Wake up. Please. PLEASE. Wake-

Your eyes shot open, a desperate gasp escapes you as your lungs greedily take the precious oxygen from around you. Minutes past, eyes wild and your entire being covered in a cold sweat. Slowly, you lay back down onto the sheets, your muscles tense, barely allowing you to get comfortable again. 'It was that damn dream again.' A heavy, tired sigh made itself known in the otherwise quiet bedroom. Your tired eyes travel to the alarm clock, angry red digits read 2:00am. Like clockwork, every night for the past week or so, you've had the same dream. And every night, you'd wake up; it takes an hour or so until you were able shake off the feeling that someone is still watching you before going back to sleep. So, just like every night, at two in the morning, you curl up into a protective ball and soothe yourself back to sleep. Closing your eyes, you let your breathe slow down and your subconscious start to wander, allowing it to take you away-

"It's like this every night, da?"

Immediately, your eyes shoot open and you sit straight up in your bed. Your chest heaving as you take in frantic deep breaths. Your eyes scan the room shortly to see no other than the infamous country himself, Russia, displaying that all too familiar child like grin while sitting calmly at the foot of your bed.

"IVAN." Your voice was hoarse yet still powerful. "WHAT. THE HELL. WHERE'D YOU COME FROM?" You sat up and tried to push him off your bed, only to have him grab hold of your wrists, his grip was rough, making sure you weren't going anywhere anytime soon. Your still half awake state making it easy for him to overpower your attempts to get away.

"Are you trying to hurt me, _?" He chuckled as you writhed against him, trying to escape his grasp, "Are you trying to get away now, _?" He cocked his head to the side, his grip tightening a bit, making you wince slightly. You stared right at him furiously, moments passed with you staring angrily and burning holes into his skull, and him just smiling that sweet smile, clearly enjoying your frustrations.

"What are you doing here, Ivan?" Your voice was a bit softer, but still held intensity. An embarrassed blush dusted your cheeks, 'How the hell did I not notice him?!'

"I was watching you sleep of course!" He answered happily. Your mood completely changed from infuriated to a mixture of flattery and utter confusion.

"Wh-Wha-WHY?" You exclaimed, trying to hide your flustered red face, it felt as if it was on fire. Another chuckle left him as you slowly looked up into his amethyst eyes.

"You should see the look on your face right now, hilarious!"

"Answer my question, Ivan!"

"I like to watch you sleep, da." He answered softly, letting go of one of your wrists so he could tuck a loose hair behind your ear , the other moved from your wrist to rest behind your back. "You talk in your sleep a lot, and you make these cute little noises." Your face paled; how long as he been doing this? Coming into your room every night and just watching you? Oh God, he said he hears you sleep talk. Oh good lord! What could he have heard? What has your subconscious foolishly let the Great Russia hear? His voice broke your thoughts, "That is until you started having that nightmare. You've been restless." You looked up at him, his eyes sincere and soft, sucking you in. "You will tell me what is bothering you, da?" His large hand began rubbing small circles on your back, comforting you, "If it's anyone in particular, I will destroy them for you." Perplexed by what he just said you stayed silent, not sure what to say. After all, it technically was him that gave you the reoccurring dream; your subconscious was just trying to get you aware that there was an intruder in your midst.

Moments of silence passed, his hand continuing to rub circles in your back while the other stroked your hair. At any moment you were certain he was going to press further on the matter, demanding on what caused your strange and disruptive dreams. But that moment never came, instead he sighed while his rough, large hands gently caressed your hair, your back, your hips…pulling you closer to him, to his warmth. His fingers lightly touched your cheek as your head laid against his chest, the sound of his heartbeat calming.

"It's okay if you don't tell me now, _. You will tell me later~" His lips pressed against the top of your forehead, "I'll stay with you, protect you...you feel safe with me, Da?"

"Y-yeah..."

The sheets slightly ruffled as he laid you back down onto your pillows, his arms wrapped possessively around you as your eyelids began to feel heavy. Your subconscious began to make itself known to you once again. You decided you didn't care why he watched you sleep, or how he found a way into your room, or why he was acting so gentle with you. Instead you focused on his warmth, his careful rough hands cradling and soothing your tired form. You could always ask for explanations in morning, afterall.