A/N: Yes, this chapter was short, but I didn't know how else I could've extended it. Besides, the past two chapters were kind of long, so maybe we all need a short chapter right now.
Enjoy!
Frigid water engulfed America and caused his skin to prickle. When he forced his head above the water's surface, his breaths came in pained gasps. A scream of agony would sometimes escape from his throat, as the cold surrounding him was unbearable. He wasn't sure if he would've been better off going into shock as soon as his body was exposed to the unforgiving mass of water, as even if he did hate not being able to attempt to help himself, it would bring him into unconsciousness faster. Instead, he was forced to act on instinct and try to survive the harsh conditions as long as possible. There was nothing to grab onto and no way to escape. It was all up to his body to try and endure the cold water as long as possible.
It didn't take long for the young nation to learn how to swim from these cruel tests. Being trapped in a large body of uncomfortable water frightened him to the point where he was able to reach his full potential, when it came to learning survival skills. Even though the scientists treated him poorly, such situations never failed to give him the false hope that, maybe, if he worked hard enough to withstand the obstacles thrown at him, he would be able to earn himself a better position in life. Perhaps there was a reason they were making him suffer through these cruel tests. What if, in the end, they were helping him by doing this? Hope was the only reason America hadn't lost his sanity and he was blessed with the inability to never find out the reason why he was going through this. If he'd found out the truth of the scientist's intention, along with the fact that there was no way he could escape this fate on his own, it would've shattered his will.
Frigid water wasn't the only type of water he was forced to swim in. He would also have to endure boiling water (his least favorite of the tests, as it was painful and damaging to the point of disfigurement, and it caused him the irrational fear of bubbling noises) and, if he was lucky, room temperature water. The scientist wanted to discover the nation's limits when it came to such conditions. If they could modify humans to have such impressive survival skills (not all humans, though, only themselves and the humans who gave them the life they wanted), it would be revolutionary.
America was able to swim about in the water five times longer than a human would be able to without suffering with hypothermia. However, by the time the ailment had taken affect, his ability to stay afloat was gradually crippled. His energy was vanishing and drowsiness seduced his overworked muscles. His breathing become shallow and his coordination nonexistent. It was difficult for him to still care for the situation at hand when his mind no longer wanted to focus on any danger. Instead, the idea of letting himself drown in the water was welcoming. He didn't want to fight this losing battle anymore, as his body was giving up whether he wanted it to or not anyway.
At one point, for some reason he couldn't hope to explain, his surroundings became warmer. In fact, he warmed up to the point where he believed his was overheated. This was when he stopped his futile attempts to stay afloat for good. His lungs screamed with pain as water filled them, but he didn't care anymore. All he wanted at this point was to fall asleep forever, so he wouldn't be in pain anymore.
America awoke in a cold sweat. The air was freezing and it didn't take him long to find out he didn't have any blankets covering him to keep him warm. The young nation curled into himself as he pulled a blanket over his form and put all his effort into forgetting his dream. Recalling the horrible experiments, thanks to a vivid dream, was an easy way to ruin his day. If he had complete control over his brain, he would erase the memories the scientists gave him.
However, despite his efforts, America had broken down into sobs within minutes of waking from his dream. For a few moments, he believed he was going to be alone in crying about the traumatizing memory, but he was proven wrong when the human he'd forgot was sleeping with him shifted in his bed and asked in a quiet voice, "Are you okay, Alfred?"
America didn't respond, but instead continued to sob. This caused Russia to turn on the light in his bout of concern, so he wasn't blind from a lack of it, and pulled the one he was caring for into a tight embrace. He wrapped a blanket around the two of them, in an attempt to make the young nation warm and comfortable, and ran his fingers through his hair in an attempt to calm him, "Please, don't cry, little one. It was only a nightmare. I won't let anyone hurt you."
America nuzzled his head against his caretaker's shoulder and didn't protest when the strong arms held him tighter. Though it wasn't an immediate solution to his distress, the sweet words and gentle touch helped to make him less afraid of the dream. At that moment, all he wanted to do was cling onto the large human for all eternity. He was grateful to find someone who was patient with him and wanted him to be happy.
Fortunately, it didn't take long for the young nation to relax in his caretaker's embrace. After ten minutes, the tears stopped sliding down his cheeks and he was silent. Russia rewarded his calm demeanor by upgrading the petting of America's scalp to gentle pulls on various strands of his hair. The one he was caring for had grown to love this act of affection, despite how much it had caused him to freak out when the action was first performed on him. Initially, he believed the gentle hair pulling would lead to the human gripping it in a harsh manner, as the scientists did when he didn't behave. Instead, there turned out to be something natural and soothing about the sensation. Never would it had occurred to him hair pulling of any type could be enjoyed, but once more, the well-intentioned human proved him wrong.
America closed his eyes and stretched out his arms the same way a cat would stretch its front legs if it was relaxed. Russia let out a small giggle at this reaction and asked, "Are you enjoying yourself?"
America didn't respond, but instead, went limp in his caretaker's arms. At this, Russia stated, "You're so cute, Alfred! How is it even possible for someone to be this adorable?"
Russia couldn't help the reaction, as the young nation was acting cute. He didn't mean it in a romantic sense, but he was still overwhelmed by how precious the one he was caring for was. There was no denying it, as America had grown to trust him, he had stolen his heart in the process. Even when he was angry with how the other was acting, he still had a soft spot for him. Sometimes, guilt would attack his conscience when he had to scold the young nation, as he hated to make him upset. Despite this, it made caring for him an easier task, as he was more eager than ever to go through with it.
Even when America fell asleep, Russia continued to cuddle him. This was the last week he would be able to spend with him, before returning to his own house for a month. As much as he wanted to continue caring for the other, he understood he wouldn't be able to hang around him forever. Even if they ended up becoming best friends after this ordeal. There were going to be times where they would to have to be on their own, as the life of a nation required one to spend some time away from friends so they could work and represent their people. With this in mind, he wanted to make the best of what time he had left to pamper him.
Russia couldn't help but flinch when the young nation mumbled in his sleep, "No, I don't wanna..."
His caretaker stared at him for a while, as if expecting more to happen. However, after uttering those words, America snuggled closer to the one holding him and resumed to letting out quiet snores. Confusion pricked at Russia's mind, Did he just speak fluent English in his sleep, or am I imagining things? A part of him was creeped out by this, as he hadn't expected or believed it was possible for the young nation to sleep talk. It couldn't be a result of faking his handicaps, as there would be no point in doing so. Besides, it was obvious the one he was caring for wasn't capable of talking, or performing other simple tasks grown humans could. If he was faking, he wouldn't appear so stressed when he tried to speak, or embarrassed when he failed in doing so. Most of all, the scientists wouldn't have allowed him to be an independent adult. They would've made sure he wasn't capable of functioning properly.
Maybe some of the memories he lost are coming back to him in his sleep? Russia theorized, It seems like that would be the only possible way he would be able to talk in his sleep. I'm definitely going to have to tell the others about this. Maybe they'll be able to come up with a better reason for this.
Russia turned over so he was laying on his side and made sure America was snuggled next to him. After making sure they were in a comfortable position on the bed, he reached over to turn the lamp off. He pulled the young nation closer and rested his chin on the other's head. Though he was creeped out by the fact that the one he was caring for was able to speak in his sleep, at the same time, he was curious as to how it was possible. Nations were capable of doing many things humans couldn't. Some could even say they were magical. After all, they could live for hundreds, even thousands of years, withstand nightmarish conditions, sometimes had super strength and other supernatural abilities, and some were able to keep lifelong pets who can talk. These features were only a handful of their outstanding attributes.
With these factors in mind, Russia was able to understand America's ability to relive forgotten memories in his sleep or speak in his sleep, when he was unable to do so in consciousness, wasn't far fetched. This still didn't stop him for being interested in the strange ability. What other secrets was the young nation hiding? He had dealt with this nation during the cold war, and understood what he was capable of. He was fascinated by how intelligent and mysterious the other could be when he wanted to and was happy to discover this part of him wasn't stolen by the scientists. It gave him hope that America was still the same person he was before he was 'modified' by the cruel people who tried to destroy him.