The kettle whistled as you prepared saucers and teacups and condiments on a tray. While pouring the hot water in one cup you hear the doors open, "Yo!" America's voice echoed in the empty building. He screams, startling you as hot water splashed on the counter.
"America!" you stomp your foot.
"Wh-Who are you?" he points a shaky finger at you. You stare at him blankly and then set the kettle down, "You're not _, are you?!"
You lean on the counter, "Quit tripping America, now do you want coffee or tea?"
Italy could be heard singing, "Draw a circle that's the earth! Draw a circle that's the earth!" He approaches the kitchen, "Draw a circle that's the-WHOA!"
"Coffee or tea?" you continue to ask.
"Tea!" says England who pops out from behind America.
"Now, this attire is wonderful!" comments France looking up and down and all around.
Japan silently raises his hand for tea.
Italy begins setting cups on another tray for coffee, "You're so beautiful today, _."
"Oh, uhm, thank you," the tea tray you were about to pick up is lifted by Germany, dressed in a dark grey suit. They start making their way upstairs and you follow behind counting, "...four, five, six?" The door cracked open again and you hide your excitement seeing that it is Russia. It's Russia. You face your back at him.
NO. You dressed so nicely, you wear it with pride.
"Good morning, _," you spun around.
"Morning, Ivan!" you spurt his name out with hands clamped at your side and back straight. Yet you stared at his scarf instead of his eyes.
"You're looking um," he paused. He seemed to be hesitating as he fumbled with his hands.
"I think everyone is here! Come up you two!" America called from the top of the stairs.
You clear your throat and try to walk coolly up the stairs, but ended up walking slowly, literally step by step. Russia comes at your side and lends an arm, you clutch it and start happily trotting up. The first face you see is France's, but he had more of a grimace than a smile. He changes it to a slight grin before heading inside the conference room. "Count off! America!"
"Italy!"
"Japan."
"Germany."
"Russia," you continue holding his arm as you two sat down.
"England."
"France."
"Shit, is Canada late again?" asks America as he looked over the balcony.
A small soft voice responds, "N-No, I'm right here."
You look beside you, "Oh Lord!" He had the same hair color as America with his hair parted similarly, and to make it harder to tell them apart, he wore glasses. A curl swished around as he smiled. "Hi."
"Hello!" his curl twitched happily.
"Hello, Canada, good thing you made it," said Russia.
Canada shivered, "Oh, uhm, hello Russia."
You look across the table and catch France staring at you. He moved his finger in a hook and gestured you to come to him. So you did, "Sit here, dear." You look over at Russia who had his eyebrows furrowed and glared at France who did not seem intimidated. Canada shook in his seat. You take your laptop on and flip it on.
"All righty! Let's start!" claims America as he shut the doors. "Whoo, coffee!" your limit of sugar was at least two packets, but America went for four. "Now, for these documents..."
His voice drifts away as France presses his lips against your hair since it covered your ear. "Mon'amie, if you have been warned already, I will say it again," he takes a pause. "It's impossible to hold a relationship. I'm saying it now that I see how close you and Russia are. It's only been a week, but you two seem to inch closer and closer every time we see you again. Russia is always going to be here, physically." England passes a document to him, "What is this?"
"If you weren't whispering in _'s ear, then maybe you would have gotten it," snorts England.
France skims it, "Sure, do it," you pass it along to Japan. He continues, "I have had countless relationships. Whether they were short or long, I had to say goodbye to them. I chose to say goodbye to them. Russia has never been able to quite make long lasting friendships." He sighs, "I gave him advice on how to make a friend, but recently he's been asking for...lover advice." You blush, but continue typing random things on your online document. He chuckles, "How on earth are you breaking this man down to the point where he is glaring at me as if I stole candy from him?" You see poor Canada trembling as Russia's dark aura crept upon his back. His lips brush against your ear, making you inch your head the opposite way, "You know he already considers you his lover? I didn't think he could be this greedy..." he continues leaning towards you and then jumps back from his chair.
A dagger flew across the room, missing France's face and digging itself one thirds into the wall. You hide your face behind your laptop screen, so many things were running through your mind. "E-Excuse me!" you click clack your way out of the room and hear everyone give France a fuss. You shove your heels under your chair and huddle under your desk. "Lover since when?!"
That's not the point he was trying to make though...Although, I don't remember consenting to be his, girlfriend. Lover? What's the difference? If I had a life with Russia how would it be? He wouldn't be at home most of the time would he? He would probably be spending time attending conferences day by day. I will get older, physically, and he won't. I don't think we would be able to have kids. What's the point then? Am I just satisfying his need to be close with someone? He can do that after I'm...gone.
"It's only been a week and he is mentally breaking me." You rub your head, "I don't want to like him, but I don't want to hate him. Ugh, how did I get in this situation?"
Troublesome. So troublesome.
You hear the door creak open and shut. "_-chan?"
"Japan?" you crawl out from under the desk frightening him.
He starts talking to you in Japanese, "Are you okay? What did France say?"
"A lot..." you sit back under the desk as he sits in seiza position in front of you. "Japan, have you had any...lovers?"
His face flushed, "N-No! I simply had no time to associate with someone. And when I did, I found satisfaction in being with myself. I never felt the need to search for someone. Italy and Germany's company have been enough since we formed the alliance. However, that's just me." He loosens his tie, "Why do you ask?"
"Uhm..." you look away, "N-No reason."
"Are you and Russia...?"
"A-Apparently."
"What an anime romance," he sits up.
"What's your opinion on a relationship with a country?"
"I'm not sure..." he draws circles on the floor with his finger. "Time passes so fast especially in the time of war. It's amazing how fast we grew up, starting out small. Sometimes I don't return home for a month or so, but it's fine because no one is waiting for me. If there was someone...but one day they aren't there, then," he stares up at you, "I imagine that being painful." You tug your legs closer, "I have, we have lived through centuries, and hopefully will continue doing so from now on. You are still young, I would just say do whatever you like, _-chan. I'm sure France meant well, he's just looking out for you." He takes both your hands and proceeds to stand up as you lift yourself out from underneath. "You have to talk with Russia."
...
You stayed outside waiting for the meeting to end as you did before. You had nothing to do since you left your laptop inside. Love. Do I love Russia? It feels more like a high school crush though... His words, actions drives me crazy though. Love.
The door opens and as soon as you see Russia you head straight towards him, place a hand on his chest and slowly push him back inside the room. You felt the seven other countries stare at you doing so, but closed the door on them. "Russia, is it true what France said?"
"Hm?" he takes the dagger out from the wall and slips it back in his boot.
"You...consider us lovers?"
"Are we...not?" he looked hurt.
You take your glasses off and set them on the table, "You never said so. I just thought we were friends."
"I'm sorry," he steps forward, "I've never been good with words. Although I announced we were lovers the first time we met to everyone..."
Oh god.
"I guess I never formally asked you," he takes your hands, "Will you-"
"Wait," you pull your hands away, "Russia, I'm going to live for maybe a few more decades. I'm going to be here and be gone. I can't be with you for centuries to come. Why did you want me to become your friend? Why do you want to be more than friends?"
He sits down in silence. "It's so cold during winter times. Ever since I was small, even though Ukraine and Belarus took care of me, it was so cold." He holds his arms, "It feels so warm being around you. I'm attracted by your warmth." His face flushes, "Everything feels fluffy around you. I instantly wanted to steal that light, before someone else noticed it."
You look away, "Russia I don't think, that's such a good idea. I-"
His hand reached for your chin and he roughly pulls your face close, "Sorry, I made up my mind. I will make you mine, kotyonok." This is the first time you have seen him as the Russia everyone feared. The eyes you once called beautiful gleamed with eagerness. He tilts your chin, and presses his lips against yours. You shut your eyes, not knowing what to do as you felt your body light on fire. He cups your cheeks and tilts your head up to try again. Messily, he plants his lips on yours again with his mouth slightly open. He holds your face for five seconds until you push him away to inhale deeply. "Kissing's a lot harder than I thought," he muttered. He licks his lips, "But we have time to practice, don't we?"
You raised your hand to strike him across the cheek, but hold yourself back. You didn't hate the kiss, you just hated how he didn't ask for your consent.
"You're in control."
You remember America's words.
I am in control.
Although you feel your face flustered, you sweep your hair out of your face and notice Russia's back is facing the wall. You approach slowly and press your chest against him, making sure he is trapped between you and the wall. He looks down, his face becoming red. You touch his cheek and lean in slowly, "I don't hate the thought of being yours." You feel his hands travel from the waist to your hips, "But you have to get permission first." You push his hands off, take your laptop and bag, and haughtily walk out the room past America, France and Italy pressing their ears against the wall. You stare at them for a while, grab your heels, and continue walking out the building.
...
"Dammit Ivan, I should've named you something else," you sat the bear on your chair as you tugged your heels off. "I'll call you Mr. Bear from now on, okay?" You open your laptop and see your "Pictures" folder was open and spammed with pictures of France. He also snapped pictures of Russia and Canada. "I'll delete these later," you check America's flights and tickets. He has a flight to England coming up in a week, "I should call him up later." You check your phone, "No messages or missed calls..."
Well, you did walk out on him, I wonder if he's mad.
...
"I wish spring would come already," sighed Italy as he stared out the window of the hotel buffet. The hotel resided next to a beach, but of course, no one wanted to attempt swimming in the freezing water. The sky cleared to a deep blue revealing the mountains whose snow covered caps looked like clouds. "Let's go swim when we go back to my place Germany! You too Japan!"
"It's January you fool, it's still freezing," he responds while sipping his coffee.
Canada approached their empty seat with a filled plate, "Hi guys, can I sit with you?"
Germany gestures, "Sure, you-"
He immediately sits down facing Japan since it is a square table. "Oh thank you, I was so terrified today."
"Yes, today had a different kind of...drama," agreed Germany taking a disappointed bite out of a small sausage. "His aim hasn't gotten worse though," he stares over at the other half of G8 who sat closer to the buffet, probably because of America's preferences.
"What was France thinking?" he stuffed his mouth with food.
France bravely sat near Russia instead of sitting in front of him as England awkwardly sips his tea and America chomps on his bacon. "Whoo! Thank goodness there was still bacon around!" cheers America.
"You just had to bug the kitchen staff to give you the leftovers," England rolled his eyes. He watches as France takes a bite out of a croissant, and Russia angrily chew his food. "Oh bugger this," he puts his tea down. "What is with you two today?" Russia glares at him, so England turns the other way, "M-Mainly with France."
"Isn't it obvious? We are a country, it's not our duty to be looking for relationships."
"Ironic coming from you," comments England.
"Those aren't relationships, most of them," reminds France.
Russia straightens his back, "I already know the consequences, France."
"Russia, America could have hired someone completely different from that girl, you could have taken interest right when they showed you a bit of kindness," France uses his fork as a pointing stick.
"Oh, please," America gulps a piece of bacon down, "I disagree, I don't think just any girl can catch this dude's attention."
"I give you advice to make a friend, and next thing you know you are defiling the conference room?" France shifts the subject.
Russia sinks his head a little in his scarf, "It was just a kiss."
"Oh, but I love how she left you wanting more," chortled France remembering her stomping off all of a sudden and peeking inside to find Russia covering his face in embarrassment. England hides his smirk behind his tea cup as America decides to not hide his laughter and gives Russia hearty pats on the back. Russia covers his face once more. "Yeah, you're right, America, I don't think any girl can make Russia feel this way."
"Just stop talking..."
"HELLO!" America picks up his phone. "England, next Saturday? Y-Yeah of course I knew that! Hm? Oh, you're totally coming, England won't trust me with holding any documents any more. Huh? Yeah your ticket is already taken care of! OH HEY YOU WANNA SPEAK TO RUSSIA? Ah, she hung up."
Russia covered his face entirely with his scarf.
"Aw, look Russia is embarrassed again," giggled France as he poked Russia's head.
"Don't test his patience," warned England.