A/N: So, to switch it up a bit, we're going to see Prussia's view for a little while. What has he been doing since Germany left? Hints about the plot will come into play, so pay attention! XD This will start right before Germany left Prussia's cell (oh snap, flashback!). We'll get back to Japan and Germany in a bit, if that's okay with you guys. :) Warning- hints and bits of Prussia X Taiwan (You didn't think it was all business, did you? ;D)
This is a bit of a rush job. I'm going to be on hiatus for at least the week, since I'm going to this seminar thingy… So if I don't respond to reviews, which I hope you'll leave (I'd love a nice little pile of reviews to read when I come back! 3), don't be offended. So, a thousand apologies for the rush; it's probably full of mistakes and weirdness… Les pido mil disculpas! (Some Spanish for fun- Spanish was actually my first language, but you can't really tell, since I don't have an accent… how I wish I did…)
And again, massive love to all of you, and free cookies to those of you who have reviewed! :D You guys make me blush when you tell me that I've convinced you to ship this pairing or that now you like this couple, etc; I'm touched that my little story has done that! So, sorry for the long note, but I had to say that! Anyway, here's your chapter! :)
"…and, well, that's pretty much what happened." Prussia looked down at his hands, which were folded in his lap. His cheeks were tinged with pink- he felt so ashamed. He was supposed to be the older brother, the one taking care of West, not the other way around!
Germany sighed, placing a firm hand on Prussia's rag covered shoulder. "Don't worry about it too much; I'll get you out of here, I swear." His voice came out strained, tired- at least Prussia could pick up on that much.
Prussia looked up at Germany, turning his torso to face him, the blonde's hand sliding off. Germany too looked ashamed, but of what? "Bruder," he asked as gently as possible (not one of his strong suits, but hey, at least he was trying), "I know he wouldn't just accept a bunch of cash from you. What exactly is China making you do?" Germany turned away, glancing at a corner of the room which was kept decently clean. Prussia hadn't abandoned his somewhat soldierly character.
Germany tried to speak, his face flushed, his trembling hands clenched in anger. "I… I... He-" Prussia's eyebrow met. Whatever China was doing, it must be pretty bad.
There was a knock and the weird quiet kid walked in. "Time to go." He stared at the two brothers. Prussia shivered- that kid gave him the creeps. The cot squeaked as Germany moved and hugged Prussia again. Prussia sat there for a second, then moved to return it, but it was too late- Germany stood up and looked down.
"Stay out of trouble."
Prussia choked out a laugh. "I'll try." Germany walked out, glancing back at Prussia. Hong Kong stared at Germany's back until he left, then he walked out as well. The door closed with a click. Sighing, Prussia lay back down on the cot and stared at the ceiling. Great. Germany was suffering (AGAIN) because of his idiocies. He couldn't have just stayed at home or visited France or something. Nope, the oh-so-awesome Prussia had to go and get involved with the goddamn Chinese freaking Triad.
Prussia rolled over and punched his sad excuse for a pillow. "Fuck." He rested his chin on crossed arms. "I'm such an idiot." He groaned, grabbed the pillow and put it over his head.
Prussia's eyes snapped open as someone rapped sharply on the door. He groaned- he'd been having an awesome dream about beer fountains and piles of wurst raining down. He dragged himself off of the bed and started to move to his corner to assume his usual prisoner position when the door opened and Hong Kong walked in, looking around cautiously, holding something yellow in his hands. Someone walked in after him… long brown hair, a flowing pink dress…
Taiwan.
Prussia stared blankly as she walked in and Hong Kong stood watch at the door behind her. She turned and looked at him, staring back, her eyes glistening. "I…I…" She ran up to him and threw her arms around him. She rested her head on his shoulders. "I'm so sorr-"
Prussia finally snapped back to reality. He shoved her away before she could finish her apology. "Get out," he said, his voice barely a whisper. Hong Kong turned from his post, shot a glare at Prussia and moved to confront him, but Taiwan waved him away. Prussia moved to the wall behind him, putting as much distance between the two of them as possible.
Taiwan looked hurt, but resolve hardened her eyes as she pressed forward. "I… only have a few minutes before China discovers that I'm gone, and I know you're mad at-"
Prussia scoffed as glared at her. Mad didn't even begin to describe what he felt. He was angry, yes, furious in fact, and felt completely betrayed, that much was obvious. But somehow, he also felt something more, something heavy, a tearing in his chest as he looked at Taiwan. But she didn't need to know about that. Instead, Prussia let his anger take over.
"How dare you just bounce in here? Do you have any clue what I've been through? What my brother's going through for me?" Prussia's wavering voice stayed low, but malice seethed through.
Taiwan looked taken aback. "I know they've treated you pretty badly… " She turned away. "…I wanted to help but China- he's been… " Taiwan's voice picked up confidence. "He's not himself. And Germany-"
"Don't you talk about my brother," Prussia spat out, his arms crossed as he turned away from her. "Just leave. I don't want to look at you, you traitorous bi-"
"I didn't betray you." Taiwan said, her voice full of defiance. She reached up and grabbed Prussia's shoulder, forcing him to look at her. "That was a lie China made up," Taiwan kept talking as Prussia opened his mouth to retort. "I told you, he's not being himself. He's using you and your brother to get back at-"
Hong Kong turned around and quietly closed the door. He held up a finger for quiet, his other hand still holding something. "Someone's coming. Taiwan, we have to go." Hong Kong grabbed her wrist.
"But-" Taiwan's gaze lingered on Prussia, who glared back. What, was he supposed to believe her just like that?
"We have to leave now, unless you want to get caught." Hong Kong tugged on her arm gently.
Taiwan sighed. "I'll try to come back some other time then."
Prussia snorted. "Don't bother." Again Taiwan looked hurt, but she conceded that there was no reason for Prussia to still trust her. Hong Kong tugged her arm again and she turned to leave. Suddenly, she remembered something.
"Hong Kong, can I have-" Hong Kong held out the fluffy-looking yellow object in his hand. It moved. Carefully, Taiwan took it and turned back to Prussia. "Hold out your hand," she asked him, to no avail. He just kept glaring at her. She grabbed his hand and forced it open with one of hers. "Here. I thought you might want it."
Prussia looked down at the object in his hand. Could it be?
The yellow ball chirped and flew up, settling in Prussia's hair. It was!
"You brought… Gilbird?" Prussia asked, astonished. "But…"
"I did not betray you, Prussia." Taiwan said simply. "I could never do that." Hong Kong yanked on her arm, pulling her towards the door. She moved away and quickly, the siblings left the room. Prussia stood staring at the door as the lock clicked.
Chirping noises came from his head, reminding Prussia about his little yellow companion. "Hey little guy!" said Prussia as he lifted a finger for the bird to perch onto. He brought Gilbird to eyelevel. "They been treating you okay?" The little bird chirped happily. "Aw, I missed you too."
The sound of running footsteps reminded Prussia that he was still imprisoned by the Chinese Triad. "Shit. Um, hide there, Gilbird!" Whispering, Prussia pointed the bird at his bed as someone rummaged with the lock. Immediately, the bird flapped his tiny wings and flew over to it, taking cover in the tight space between the bed and the wall. Not a moment too soon- the door slammed opened and in came China, looking irritated, his face flushed from running.
"Has she been in here, aru?" China asked quickly, supporting himself on the door frame.
Prussia feigned ignorance. "Who?"
China huffed and puffed. "Taiwan. Has she been in here, aru?"
"Why would that bitch come talk to me?" Prussia turned away, moving to his bed and sitting down.
Smack. China had slapped Prussia across the face, leaving a red mark on his pale cheeks.
"Look at me when I talk to you, aru! And that 'bitch' is my sister, aru. As a part of my family, she deserves respect, especially from trash like you, aru!"
For some reason, the brief conversation (if you could call it that) with Taiwan left Prussia emboldened. Combined with the knowledge that China was doing something horrible to Germany, Prussia snapped back at China.
"Some family you got there... Every single person in it has left you." China reached up angrily, grabbing a fistful of Prussia's ragged shirt, his other hand reaching towards a knife he had on his person at all times. Prussia looked down at the smaller nation, contempt in his fearless eyes.
"You are just asking for it today, aru."
Yelling in Chinese came from the hallway. China's eyes lit up at whatever was said and he released Prussia. "You're very lucky I have something to do, aru. When I get back, you will pay dearly for your words, aru."
Prussia ignored him, choosing to glare instead as China left the room. There wasn't much China could do to him now anyway-maybe beat him some more? Prussia lay on his bed, stomach down. He decided to forget all the crap that was going on and get reacquainted his long gone friend.
"Hey, Gilbird, come here," he whispered. The little yellow bird peaked its head out from the gap it was hiding in.
"So, how's it been?"
Gilbird chirped and Prussia laughed quietly. "Kesesesese! France really did that? Tell me all about it!"
Prussia had again fallen asleep, Gilbird nested in his hair. It was hard to keep track of the time, since he didn't have a window in his cell, and the only measure he had of the days he spent was when he got fed, and even that wasn't reliable, since the Triad fed him sporadically; just enough to keep him alive and well, but not enough to get rid of the gnawing hunger in his stomach. He groaned as he slept, his stomach growling. All he ever dreamed of now was food and beer- that was, if he wasn't having nightmares about the day he was captured, like the one he was currently having.
Prussia was pacing around the room, his fingers drumming against his thigh. Where was Taiwan? She had promised to be there with a new buyer. He looked around the small, dark room. It was cold, damp, since it was the basement of a fake storefront. The supposed store had shelves and everything, but a sign on the front that said "Coming soon; closed for refurbishing".
Prussia rolled in his sleep, Gilbird fluttering his wings to avoid being crushed.
The door burst open, light streaming in. "Prussia!" yelled a voice that he had been dreading for the past few weeks. "Come out now and maybe I'll go easy on you, aru!" Prussia didn't even think about it- he ran to one of the walls that had a secret door. His hands ran across the stone, searching for the crack that would operate the mechanism for the door. A click let him know he had it. He pushed hard and got one foot in to the tunnel behind the door when he felt the barrel of a gun on his back. "You're mine, aru."
Prussia mumbled something in angry German, still asleep.
"She betrayed you, you know. Taiwan never loved you- she just used you, aru."
"No… you're lying…" Prussia mumbled. The dream took a turn for the surreal.
Taiwan came into his dream. She reached up, her hands around Prussia's neck. Her lips were slightly parted as Prussia leaned down for a kiss. Suddenly she was torn away, and China was in her place, holding a knife to Prussia's neck instead. Germany appeared out of nowhere, running towards China and trying to push him away, but instead he got hit by the knife, a stab to his chest. Germany fell to the ground and coughed up blood. Prussia tried to reach out for him, but for some reason, he couldn't move. China smiled and walked over to Germany. He bent down and smirked as he stuck two fingers in the wound. Germany shuddered as China stuck the fingers in his mouth. Horrified, Prussia tried to yell, but he was still frozen. China took his fingers out of his mouth and moved his dripping red lips to Germany's neck, leaving a bright a red mark.
With a gasp, Prussia awoke. He twisted his neck, searching the room for signs of China, Germany or blood. Finding none, he sighed, his head falling back to his pillow. Gilbird, who had flown off of Prussia's head in a panic, sat quivering, afraid. Prussia reached up a finger to stroke his head.
"It's okay, little guy. We're fi-"
The door to his room once again slammed open. Immediately, two men were on Prussia, pulling him to the floor by the arms before he had a chance to react. They quickly tied his wrists behind his back with a rope. Prussia grunted, but didn't struggle- he didn't want to get beaten within an inch of his life again. One of the men yanked open Prussia's mouth and stuffed in a thick cloth. Prussia choked on it, his eyes widening. Why did he need a gag? Panic set in and Prussia tried to kick the men away, put they had already moved back to his arms. The duo dragged Prussia out of the room, his thin clothing not helping stop the burn from friction against the stone floor. He continued struggling to no avail until they finally tossed him into a well furnished room.
"Just leave him here, aru." Prussia turned his head to the sound of the voice. China smirked down at him as the men left. When the door closed, China began unbuttoning his robe. "For your punishment," China said as Prussia tried to squirm away. "I've decided to show you exactly what your brother is doing for me, aru." China reached down and lifted Prussia's chin, brown eyes meeting red. "This is how he pays for your stupidity, aru. Are you prepared?"
A/N: And that's the chapter. Again, tons of apologies, this chapter is total crap, I finished writing it tonight and bam, I'm sending it. I'm sorry for all the errors, for the rushed tone, everything! :( Feel free to yell at me!