Happy New Year everyone. XD
October, 1956
Berlin let out a frustrated shriek as she grabbed the nearest thing to her (a vase with some dead flowers in it on the table) and threw it as hard as she could across the room, watching it hit the opposite wall and shatter. She covered her eyes and bit her lip to prevent herself from causing more of a racket. This was beyond what she had expected. She hadn't expected this, not so soon. Hungary had gathered her people and instigated a rebellion. As Berlin paced throughout the house, trying her best not to throw things and calm her anger, government officials in Hungary were being killed and other citizens arrested, imprisoned or worse.
Why hadn't Hungary waited? If she would've told Berlin about what she was planning she would've helped her gladly. She picked up something else close to her (a candle holder) and hurled it across the room, watching it hit the corner and break in half. She took a deep breath, again trying to calm down. This would solve nothing. Right now what she should be doing is looking for one of two people.
If she went looking for Hungary she probably wouldn't find her as easily but she knew a few of her hiding places where she may be hiding. She wouldn't be able to go far; she'd be in pain or in ill health with so many of her leaders being killed. Berlin's other thought was to find Russia and convince him to tell Khrushchev to back off the rebels just a bit so Hungary wouldn't be too badly hurt. A wry smile crossed her face as she softly chuckled to herself. Yes, because he always listened to her. The least she could do was try. After all, what more could she possibly lose?
Quite a lot, as it turned out in the end…
April, 1957
This was turning into one great race of who could anger the most people in the shortest amount of time. For whatever reason, Berlin found herself at a negotiation between America and Russia although she hadn't the slightest idea as to what the negotiations were about. But she knew why she was there. She had been brought to taunt America. Oh yes, that was a fun conversation she'd had the other day.
Russia had somehow figured out she was writing back and forth with America (she would have to beat whoever gave him the hidden letters within an inch of their lives if she got out of this). The look on his face when she'd walked into his room had made her think she'd done something worthy of being buried alive under fire ants but no, nothing that extreme. Just two days locked in the basement without food or water. Then he called America to tell him that he knew, tell him Berlin was being punished, and of course to taunt him in general.
So there she was, sitting in a chair, watching the two yell at each other over things she knew nothing of because she hadn't been paying a lick of attention the entire time. She'd noticed America's occasional glances at her, as if he was expecting her to interject at some point in an attempt to get them to reason with each other but no, she'd do no such thing. After a few more minutes, Berlin felt her eye twitch. The noise was getting to her. But still they went on yelling at each other. She'd had enough. The frustrated city rose to her feet and looked at both with a glare that would melt the greater part of Siberia due to the amount of pent up rage held within it,
"Shut up!"
They both immediately went silent and looked at her with a bit of surprise. She had her hands at her sides although they were clenched into fists as she resisted the urge to punch both of them out of spite.
"Do you two even remember what it is you're arguing about? Or has this just turned into one of those negotiations where you yell and yell and nothing gets done?"
The two nations were silent, America lowering his gaze and Russia glaring at her in a way that a bystander would've expected Berlin's head to be cut off by some unseen force. She sighed,
"That's what I thought."
With that final sentiment, she turned on her heel and walked out of the room.
The soldier side of her was beginning to show again…
November, 1958
"Have you completely lost your mind? Do you honestly expect them to listen to you?"
"If they know what's good for them, yes."
Berlin had to clench her teeth to keep herself from saying anything else. Khrushchev had ordered that all British, French, and American troops remaining in the western part of her city to be removed so that the city would be entirely under his control. She knew that the Western nations would never allow it but that doesn't mean she wasn't going to get her say.
The moment she'd found out she had marched straight to Russia's room to tell him exactly how displeased she was by all of this. The days of standing by silently and playing the damsel in distress who didn't know a dagger from her left foot were over. As she glared at him in a way that would've made most shrink away in terror, he drew closer to her with a threatening smile on her face,
"You've been awfully feisty lately. This is certainly unexpected."
"You could say that I'm tired of being treated like nothing more than a piece of property."
"You know that I would never do such a thing."
She scoffed,
"Yes, because you're just so wonderful."
He laid a hand on the side of her face, tilting her head up slightly,
"I'm sorry; I thought I heard a bit of sarcasm in your voice just now."
"You're damn right you did."
She was expecting a slap to the face but instead all he did was laugh,
"You're so cute when you try to be scary, Berlin. It really doesn't suit you. That face didn't work on me in World War Two…"
He gripped her chin and jerked her closer to him, a predatory grin spreading across his face,
"Which means it certainly won't work now."
Berlin grinned back, defiance gleaming in her eyes at last,
"Do your worst."
Berlin wasn't the only one with cuts and bruises the next morning…
December, 1959
The only reason arguments weren't filling the house with enraged screaming and curses uttered in various languages was because it was New Year's Eve and everyone was drunk. Well, to be accurate Estonia and Latvia were upstairs asleep as to avoid all the noise and possible odd occurrences from the alcohol that was being consumed downstairs. Their decision had been wise considering all the racket coming form downstairs.
Lithuania and Poland were singing while they danced around the room, Hungary was watching them in a fit of giggles, and Berlin and Russia were attempting to out-drink one another. Berlin was losing since it seemed that Russia apparently was made of alcohol judging by how he was still sober after three bottles of vodka. Berlin, on the other hand, was so drunk that she could hardly remember her own name much less how the contest had started.
Hungary had considered an attempt at convincing her to retire for the night and get some rest to avoid a hang over but she'd decided against it. The possibilities were too many and she just had to see the look on Berlin's face in the morning after the inevitable had happened. Berlin was quite the flirt when she was drunk and was having no trouble in trying to coax Russia upstairs despite the fact that were she sober she would have hit him over the head with a violin case sooner than attempting what she was currently planning.
Hungary turned her attention away from the two in the corner and went back to watching Poland and Lithuania dance around like drunken fools which, come to think of it, was exactly what they were at the moment. Well, she thought, at least they're smiling for once. She watched them a while longer before turning back to the corner only to discover that Berlin and Russia had disappeared. She started giggling again.
Well, New Year's morning would certainly be an interesting one this year…
January, 1960
"Why didn't you stop me?"
"At the time it seemed you didn't want to be stopped."
Berlin clutched the ice pack currently pressed to the side of her head and sighed. She was sitting in the kitchen with Hungary inquiring as to why in the name of all that was holy she didn't stop her attempts to seduce Russia the night before.
"You still should've stopped me! Do you realize how awful that conversation was for me? Not to mention I didn't even remember until I saw an empty bottle of vodka on the side table."
Hungary just smiled as the poor city let her head fall onto the counter top. It really had been terribly awkward for her. Her head hurt even more than it already did just by thinking about it.
Her first thought went to where she was. She turned her head to the side and recognized the map on the far wall behind a desk. She was in Russia's room. The next question was why she was there. Upon examining what was closest to her, that answer came back swiftly as she spotted an empty bottle of vodka on the side table, not to mention the strong pair of arms currently wrapped around her waist.
Oh my god I didn't, she thought. She dared to look back over her shoulder. Oh, but it seemed that she had. She groaned and let her head fall back onto the pillow as she closed her eyes tightly. She told herself it was a dream, just a dream. She wasn't really there, she hadn't really slept with Russia, the memories were a lie, and that he was not sleeping with his face hidden in the crook of her neck.
She waited…and waited…but the scenery did not change. Berlin sighed and covered her face in disbelief more than shame. Well, this would certainly take some explaining once her brothers found out. Oh yes, that would be a wonderful conversation. Upon feeling Russia stir next to her she panicked. Her first thought was to bolt for the door but then again, her clothes were lying across the room and on top of various pieces of furniture at the moment…how had her shirt gotten all the way to the top of the bookcase? Her second thought was to pretend she was still asleep. Quickly, Berlin closed her eyes and feigned sleep. But as fate was cruel, Russia had already seen her eyes open,
"Good morning, Anya."
She muttered something incoherent into the pillow and he laughed quietly.
"Head ache hit you yet?"
She shook her head no and he kissed the back of her neck,
"Don't worry, it will."
She reluctantly sat up and faced him,
"Did we really?"
"Da, we did."
She covered her face again and fell back against the pillows,
"Oh mein gott. How drunk was I?"
"Four bottle of vodka, my dear."
She pulled her hands away and stared at him in disbelief,
"And I hadn't passed out by then?"
Thinking back on it only made her feel like slamming her head against the counter top despite the head ache she now had. It was just as he'd said; the head ache did show up only an hour after she'd woken up. She heard giggling and sent a glare at Hungary,
"If I weren't incapacitated right now, I swear as I live and breathe that I'd-"
"Dismember me, cut of my head, burn it, feet the rest to the dogs down at the barracks, yes I know you would."
Berlin covered her face again,
"I can't believe I slept with him. Of all the people I could've picked, it had to be him."
"Well, it could've been worse."
"No, it really couldn't have."
"Not even if it was France?"
This year couldn't go by fast enough…
HAPPY NEW YEAR! XD I hope this wasn't disappointing. Oh how I love writing about Berlin when she's angry/defiant/hung over. It's just so much fun. :D