CH 4

A while after Ivan left, Ravis pulled on his clothes and left his room. He did his chores, still crying slightly, and made sure to avoid everyone. He was cleaning downstairs when Toris rounded the corner. "Ravis….Oh my god! What happened?" He cried, pulling his brother into his arms. Ravis shuddered and buried his head in the Lithuanian's chest.

"Toris…you…you would never…would you?"

"I would never what?" He stroked his brother's hair comfortingly. "What did he do to you?"

"It…It was horrible…" Tears fell landing warm against Toris' shoulder. "He said….he said you wouldn't take the p-punishment for me..."

"I'd do anything to keep you safe." Toris picked up Ravis, gently holding him close, and took him to Toris' room. Ravis began to sobbing again.

"I-It hurts…It hurts s-so much." The boy shivered, and Toris sat him down on the bed.

"I need you to tell me what he did to you…" Toris was shocked slightly by the calmness of his voice, but he shook his head and went into the closet and pulled out the emergency kit that he always kept there. When he turned back, Ravis had curled into a tight little ball.

"He….." The Latvians voice failed him for a moment before he managed to choke it out. "He called me a whore, Toris….he said I was no better than you."

"You're no whore Ravis." Toris smiled reassuringly, and began to clean out the bites, wincing at the deepness of them. Ravis winced and flinched away from the stinging sensation.

"Toris? D-Does it always hurt…?"

"…Not always." Toris said after a minute as he removed his brother's shirt, who stiffened, but immediately relaxed when he remembered it was just Toris. "Don't worry about your chores today Ravis. Take a long hot bath…it'll help." Toris said as he began to clean out the bites.

After a minute, Ravis spoke. "But…but what if he comes in?" A panicked look was clear in the Latvian's shining eyes. "I can't Toris…I'll just have to wor-"

"It's ok Ravis. Euard and I will keep him busy." Toris said with a supportive smile as he pushed the bangs from Ravis' eyes.

Ravis shuddered and murmured. "I doubt I'll feel clean again Toris…"

Toris pulled him into a hug as the tears fell again. "I-I can't seem to do anything but cry!" the sobs got louder, and Toris just sat and held him.

"I know how you feel Ravis…keep looking up…things get better…" He crooned as he began rocking his brother quietly. "…Eventually…"

"I-If you say so…" Rubbing the tears away, Ravis dried his eyes. "I believe you…"

"Are you sure you don't want a bath?"

Ravis nodded. "I don't want to risk R-Russia coming in." The Latvian now spoke in a hushed tone as if afraid to say it allowed. "He…he made me call him Ivan…"

"Alright…I'll smuggle you in when I clean the bathrooms…then I'll be there to." Toris muttered this and continued to stroke his brothers back. "I need to get back to work…"

"C-can I come with you? I'll do my chores to."

"Of course you can Ravis." Toris smiled, and helped put his brother's shirt back on. Ivan was pacing the hallways when the Lithuanian came from his room, and Ravis hid behind his brother after he saw the Russian.

"I'll be off…doing my chores." He muttered before disappearing in the other direction. Toris nooded as his eyes fell on Ivan and he looked down, continuing to clean.

"A little behind Da~" The Russian's voice was cold and calculating. When the Lithuanian did not answer, he felt a gloved hand on his shoulder. "It better be spotless when I return." His voice was more menacing than before, and promised the pain of another punishment if what was demanded wasn't finished.

"Where are you going sir?" Toris looked up innocently, his face masking his true feelings.

"Out." Was the growled response. "I'll be home for dinner. It better be finished upon my return."

Toris pulled out a false smile. "It won't be late…Have a safe journey sir." Ivan walked off, humming one of the many songs he knew, and swinging his pipe. Toris turned back to cleaning. "Is there anything else Mr. Russia?" The only response he received was the slamming of the front door and the car speeding away.

Immediately he ran to find his brother. Toris found Ravis cleaning the pictures, stretching painfully to reach them. "Ravis. Ivan left for town." He smiled assuring at the hopeful look in Ravis' eyes."Do you want to take a bath now?"

The younger nodded sheepishly. "Are you sure he'll be gone?"

"Yes." His smile grew. "I have the bath all ready for you, and I'll even clean the bathroom to make sure you aren't alone."

Tears sprang to the Latvian's eyes as he wondered why he believed what Ivan had said. With a hug, he nodded and followed his brother to the bathroom. When they arrived, Toris turned and put a reassuring hand on his brother's shoulder. "Do you want me to leave while you undress?"

Almost panicking at the thought of stripping, he nodded. "Y-yes, please…" Toris nodded and left the room closing the door slightly.

"Ill be right out here; just tell me when you done and I can come in." Slowly Ravis stripped and even slower removed the bandages. He winced in pain at the sight of the bruises and welts running down his chest, along with a row of bite marks along his collar bone. Sucking in a quick breath he stepped into the warm water.

Once submersed he quietly called out. "A-alright Toris." His brother came in and closed the door, locking it behind him before he began working on the sink. "W-why…does he do it?" The sudden question burst from Ravis' lips, and caught Toris off guard.

Looking worriedly at his brother, he paused to think. "I think he does it…because he's worried….worried we'll leave him…"

"B-but….the way he treats us…it makes me want to leave." Ravis muttered as his strained muscles began to relax. Toris stopped working and knelt by his brother, stroking the younger's wet hair gently.

"It'll be alright Ravis…we'll leave someday but for now…" With a sigh he returned to his work.

"If this is how he treats us when he thinks well stay…" The small boy in the tub shuddered at the thought of leaving.

"We'll get away…" Toris replied, smiling sadly and sighing once again. "I be-" Before he could continue there was a loud banging on the door.

"Toris! He's back!" Euard said, and he quickly left to continue his role of guard and ran back to meet their master at the door.

"Quick. Get dressed." Toris said, who paled even more, his already pale skin now the color of snow. Ravis needed no telling however, and he was already dressed by the time the words came from his brother's mouth. "It couldn't have been that long!" Toris muttered to himself as he heard the door slam open and shut as they both left the bathroom.