Then I was Young and Unafraid

"C'mon Roddy, you don't vant to stay vith him," Prussia insisted to the boy.

The young nation shook his head and frowned. "I don't vant to go vith you either."

The albino grinned and crouched. "Tell you vhat," he offered; "You come back vith me and Westen..." The ex-nation winked. Glancing down, Austria saw that in his palm was a nice wad of cash.

He felt insulted. Really? Who did the man he think he was dealing with? A Kind? He was ten, not stupid. Whatever the other had planned back at his and Deutschalnd's home was definitely not worth the hundred or so euros. Glaring, the child crossed his arms and turned his head. "I like it here." He looked back to the blonds chatting in the kitchen. "And I like Schweiz and Liechtenstein too."

"He's not good for you, you know," Prussia remarked; the light-hearted glint to his eyes gone.

Austria cocked his head. "And you are better?"

"No," he admitted with a low chuckle. "But Bruder likes you. He vould vatch out for you."

"I'll stay here," the young nation finally replied with crossed arms.

Prussia smiled at him, as if he'd expected such an answer; yet hoped against odds that he'd agree. So with a fever to his red eyes, he took off a few bills from the fold and handed them off to Austria-ignoring how he pushed back. "If you vant to leave. You're big enough to vander around outside and I suspect in another veek you'll be able to leave. Ve might as vell make sure you have the money you need for then."

He didn't want to, but the boy took the euros and shoved them in the pockets of his slacks. "Danke, I guess."

"No problem," the ex-nation smirked, ruffling his hair.

"Vhat are you doing?" Switzerland demanded from the doorway. Germany next to him.

Standing up, the albino put his hands behind his neck and laughed. "Giving the Bub some last minute advice! How's it look to you?"

"Suspicious!" The Swiss snapped.

Unconcerned, Prussia shrugged and shifted his gaze to his brother. "Ready?"

"Ja."

Austria couldn't really describe how the next fifteen minutes went, it was a lot of activity; finding coats, bags, last words, handshakes and hugs and last of all, a single wink from Prussia.

"Remember vhat I told you Roddy."

The front door coming to a close, Austria was made to realize he was alone with the brother and sister once more. Struggling to find equilibrium, he told himself he didn't miss Germany and especially not Prussia.

Switzerland put a hand on his shoulder. "Vhat are you doing?" He inquired.

Blinking, Austria felt double-vision take him. For a moment, the man was a boy just like him. "...Thinking."

"I hope not about that idiot's advice," The blond sneered. "He can barely keep himself alive." The Swiss began to walk away, "Are you coming? The goats von't feed themselves!"

One last look to the door, Austria shook off the uncomfortable feeling and trotted to the other's side. "I know," he muttered.

"You've been quiet today Österreich," Liechtenstein remarked as she put a dish of potato soup down.

The boy paused in grasping for a roll. "I guess," he agreed. "It's different vithout Deutschland and his bruder."

"They vere only here a couple days..." Switzerland grunted as he took a spoonful of soup. "It can seem that much different."

Austria shrugged. "Things are funny, being six feels a very long time ago-even if it vas just the day before yesterday evening."

"Do you remember being six vell, though?" The blond man inquired.

Austria averted his eyes to his soup. "Yes? I guess as vell as anyone can remember being six."

The scraping sound of the chair let him know this wasn't okay. "Vhere are you going Vash?" The teenager inquired as her brother rose up.

"I'll be back in a few minutes-I just need to use the bathroom."

Twirling his spoon in his dinner, Austria didn't feel well. He felt like he'd put things back on edge, where they'd been just yesterday...It seemed, though, the blond knew this and as he passed, he ruffled the child's hair. "Don't vorry, I'll be back;" he asserted.

"Okay," the Austrian whispered.

Giving his shoulder a little poke, Switzerland said; "Eat up. It's getting cold." And with that, he left. Taking a bite of the potato soup, it sat heavy in his mouth and went down like lead. The boy knew he'd answered Schweiz's question wrong; now he was going to pay for it. The blond's good mood would disappear and by tomorrow he'd be sending Austria contemptuous glances once again.

He really didn't want that. He didn't like them. They made him feel...guilty and he didn't understand why.

Unfortunately, this is a very short chapter. Next will be quite a bit longer-promise. But Austria is beginning to notice things! What do you guys think of that?

Also, check out my newest Hetalia piece, The Sea; it's a drabble more than anything, but it's so versatile I'd be willing to say it could be a prompt for someone too...

To reviewers, Marik of Yami and Vanessa15975329; thanks guys. You rock. Remember guys, if you want the chance to win a one-shot, I need fourty-five reviews by chapter fifteen...so that means four of you need to review (but more than that would be awesome too)!

Thanks for reading, please review!

P.S. If you haven't, please vote on the poll I have on my page! It would help me out.

Words:

Ja-Yes

Bub-Boy

Kind-Kid

Danke-Thanks

Westen-West

Bruder-Brother

Österreich-Austria

Schweiz-Switzerland

Deutschland-Germany