THIS looks like a world meeting! Success! The only warning in this chapter is Antonio has a bit of a temper and they discuss Gilbert's treatment under Ivan's "care" in slight detail.
International News Report- Today the nations of the world are as to what the meeting is about has still been kept hidden from all. The mystery as to why Spain and Britain has called this meeting continues. Further information to come.
"They call this meeting and then show up late!" Roderich complained in his whiny, shrill voice for the third time. The Austrian sat stiffly in his chair, disdainfully watching the others as tensions grew ever higher with the absence of Antonio and Arthur.
"What is this about? Does anyone know?" Kiku asked softly. Of all the people in the room, he was the one who had the best guess, though he didn't want to ruin anything. It was clear his friends kept the subject matter a secret for a reason.
"Yu know as much as we do, Kiku." Yao said, the oldest nation growing rather grumpy as he lounged lazily in his chair, chin resting against his panda's head.
"Guys guys! They might just be getting food before the meeting! Cut Iggy a break! Haha!" Alfred chimed in, not wanting to be outspoken by any of the others, even though he was just as irritated as the others about the no show. Being late like this wasn't even something he did anymore. Come on Arthur! What ever this is about... you won't get to tell anyone if you take much longer!
"We aren't all as driven by food as you are. Alfred. I bet that Spaniard just slept in. It's ust like him to be lazy and forget that had a meeting to attend that he called!" Roderich said, all high and superior as he always had to be.
"Has anyone seen-" Matthew began though he never got to finish his question, not that anyone would have acknowledged him. The door swung open with a bang and in stepped a rather edgy looking Feliciano, his warm brown eyes regarding the gathered nations with fear, Arthur, looking annoyed and gentlemanly as ever, groomed neatly with his flaxen hair in a disarray atop his head, and Antonio, grinning broadly with his confident emerald eyes.
If the clamor in the room had been loud before, it grew into a crescendoing, deafening roar of sound as they all fought to be heard, all but screaming over one another.
"Why is Feliciano with you?" Came the confused voice of Matthew.
"You're late!" Roderich sniffed, glaring at the three with distaste.
"What is this about?" Alfred asked, curious more so than unkind
"Why didn't you invite Ivan?" Yao accused
"What's going o-"
"Enough! How are we supposed to answer your questions if you all keep shouting?" Antonio growled, his laid back spirits giving way to the dark conquistador hidden inside. The others quieted with eyes widening in surprise. It wasn't often Antonio lost his temper. "Now then. Keep your mouths shut." He said, eyes flashing as he challenged someone to speak. "What we need to say is going to anger many of you, but I'd just listen. I may not have an ax to shut you all up with, but I trust you are all smart enough not to mess with me. If you are, El Dio... My He bless your souls." He held their undivided attention for a long while, just standing before him as the waited for him to speak again. When he stepped back, surprise rippled through the room, strengthening when he took a seat beside Arthur and Feliciano stood to take his place.
"Ve~ A... A month and for days ago, on August 24, I, F-Feliciano Vargas of North Italy went into the..." Feliciano's frame shook with fear and he paused, sending a frantic look at Antonio and Arthur. He locked eyes with Arthur when the Brit mouthed the word "Ludwig" and took a deep, calming breath to begin again. For Luddy. He told himself firmly. "I went into the country of Germany with my brother, Lovino Vargas of South Italy. Upon arrival at the German's, Ludwig Beilschmidt's, house," The clamor started up again, angry and frantic.
"Enough!" Antonio snarled, startling even Arthur with the venom his words possessed. "Let. Him. Speak." The room fell dead silent, eyes trained on Antonio. Some held wonder, others annoyance, but none dared to speak again.
Feliciano smiled gratefully and continued. "I left my brother in the car and went inside. The house was in complete disarray, and to my surprise and ran into Elizabeta Hedervary. The Hungarian claimed to have been taking care of the sickly German since the end of the war and the separation of Prussia and Germany, a separation that also resulted in the forced separation of Gilbert Beilschmidt from his younger brother." Feliciano paused again, looking at Antonio with questioning eyes as he approached a new part he knew the others wouldn't like.
Antonio raised an eyebrow and nodded his head, letting the small Italian know it would be alright and to continue, eyes sweeping across the room as the others shifted uneasily in their seats.
The tawny haired nation bit his lip and sighed, looking down at the ground. "Sickened, and frightened for my friend's life, I requested the help from my brother, Kiku Honda, Antonio Fernandez Carriedo, Arthur Kirkland and Elizabeta Hedervary in a mission to rescue Gil-" as expected, the Italian was cut of as indignant roars of fury sounded from the throats of more than one nation.
"Restrain them all! They have gone against the decision of the world!" Someone shouted in fury, though it was impossible to tell who it was through all the noise. Soon Feliciano found himself cornered by Yao and Roderich. His eyes widened in terror as he tried to run away, only to be pressed against the wall.
Surprisingly, before Antonio had the chance to get the others to back of, Alfred stood up, pushing his glasses up on his nose and pushing himself between the two angry nations and the shuddering Italian. "Wait for a second! Let's wait to hear the rest of what Feliciano has to say!" He commanded. "Antonio is right. We should let him speak without interruptions. The American didn't move from in front of Feliciano until the others had all sat back down. "now. You were sayng?" He asked, sitting back down and gesturing for him to continue wit a smile.
Feliciano hesitantly looked at Antonio and Arthur, finding courage in their unwavering determination. "... A mission to rescue Gilbert from East Germany, where the actions of Ivan Braginski had gone unchecked and unnoticed." He paused, looking at all the faces in the room, many of which had stayed silent through the entirety of the meeting so far. Kiku, Alfred, Francis, Yao, Antonio, Arthur, Roderich, Vash, Felix, Matthias, Lukas, Berdwald, Tino, Emil, Heracles, Sadiq, even Lars and Bella. These people can help... He thought, continuing on with confidence. "On August 28, the nations aforementioned, including myself, traveled into Russia. Kiku parted ways with us to watch the wall, Antonio and Arthur went inside to lead Ivan from his house, and Elizabeta, my brother and I all waited for the all clear to go rescue Gilbert. A window to the basement bathroom was open, and I slipped through it, though managed to make enough noise to draw Ivan's attention to me. He captured me, as well as Arthur and Antonio. I was afraid, as any of you would be, but it was more because of what state we found Gilbert in than any true terror for my own well being." Feliciano paused and glanced at the door. "Eliza... You and Gilbert should come in now." He called.
It took a moment, but Elizabeta soon appeared, leading Gilbert behind her. She walked slowly, aiding the Prussian who didn't appear to be able to walk well under his own power. She had kept the bandage around her head, though Gilbert had stubbornly taken his off, revealing a nasty, spider web like wound that was half scarred, half opened. The most damage was concentrated on his temple. Crimson eyes regarded his condemners with carefully neutral eyes as the took in his still battered appearance. Apart from the scar on his face and head, he also still had his rib brace on, covered in stark white bandages that made his translucent skin look even paler. Elizabeta had convinced him not to wear a shirt to better show off his bandages, even though he couldn't stand when people stared.
"Why not just take a picture? It lasts longer. You all should have seen me when I was first rescued." Gilbert tried to joke, voice still raspy and harsh in his chest. "Seriously. We took pictures... You all should see." He said, voice dead serious and accusing, challenging. He took a folder of pictures from Elizabeta and threw them down on the table with the same furious, accusing eyes. It was these people's fault he had endured what he had, why Ludwig was no doubt enduring the same. The other nations passed around the photos, sickened, horrified, disgusted. Gilbert kept his eyes averted from the other nation's faces and from the pictures themselves. He didn't realize he was trembling until Elizabeta's arms wrapped around him from behind and she rested her forehead against his shoulder.
"It's ok love. It's ok. Shhh... Don't think about it. He can't touch you now. He can't hurt you." Elizabeta whispered in a rush. She pulled the flower from her hair and put it in Gilbert's, more to comfort him by giving him a piece of herself. She didn't dare prolong their hug with Roderich's disapproving eyes on them.
Gilbert reached up to touch the flower in his hair, eyes soft and actually flashing with fear for a brief moment. So Ivan couldn't touch him, couldn't hurt him. Not physically, but he could still hurt his brother! That's why they were there though.
Feliciano continued his story after a moment, the room now dead silent. "We were all downstairs the next day when we heard crashing upstairs. Lovino and Elizabeta had come to rescue us... They served as a distraction, battling Ivan. This allowed Ludwig Beilschmidt to come and get us out of the basement." He paused uncertainly as a rather confused looking Matthias raised his hand, for once being polite. "M-Matthias?" He asked curiously.
"Ludwig came to rescue you guys? How... How does that work He wasn't supposed to cross the wall...And if he didn't know you were going over to East Germany to rescue Gilbert, how would he have known where to go?" He asked, dodging a smack to the back of his head by Lukas. The blonde haired nation was usually rather obnoxious, but the question was actually one many of the others had been asking themselves as well.
"Oh! Ve~ Lovi! Lovino went to Ludwig's house after I got captured and got Ludwig to help. I don't know how they got over the wall, but they did. He... He begged for my Luddy to help..." Feliciano's heart had leapt into his throat and a horrible pressure was building behind his eyes as the started to well with tears. "He explained to us what the plan was. Arthur and I were supposed to get Gilbert out of the house, while he and Antonio were supposed to go find Elizabeta and Lovino." He stopped there, eyes closing and trembles rocked his frame and sobs shook him silently. He couldn't bring himself to voice the next part of the story.
Gilbert sighed and shuffled to the small Italian's side with sympathetic crimson eyes. He wrapped translucent arms around the trembling man and pulled him to his battered chest, similar to how he would to Ludwig when he had been younger. "We all headed up the stairs then..." He continued the story where Feliciano had stopped, glaring at all the others venomously. "Mein bruder went first, then Feli and Iggy helped me up the stairs, following close behind him. Antonio brought up the rear. When we hit the top of the stairs we found Ivan had smashed Elizabeta in the head with the pipe, a blow similar to something I had suffered earlier." He said bitterly, running a cool, gentle, probing finger over the divoting scars that marred his temple. "Ludwig told Arthur to get her and together the four of us, Feliciano, Arthur, Elizabeta and myself, escaped into the woods behind the house. When Antonio and Lovino joined us maybe an hour later, mein kleiner bruder... Mein Ludwig... Wasn't with them." He spat through gritted teeth. "He stayed behind, giving himself over to Ivan without a fight to allow the rest of us to esape without prosecution or punishment." He paused when he felt Feliciano's tears splashing against his shoulder. "He saved our lives, and our nations. Ivan was all ready to declare war on them all... Now I don't know about you all... But after having been held prisoner by Ivan and being beaten like I was... I'm just praying he hasn't died yet."
"So... Gilbert, now you expect us all to fight another war for you and your brother, when the entire ting could have been easily avoided if you all would have just done as you were told? Yes. The way Ivan treated you is inexcusable. It was completely unnecessary, and I'm sorry he hurt you as bad as he did, really I am... But I know none of us are ready for another war... I'm sorry Gilbert, but I won't subject America to another war so soon... And I advise the others to follow suit." Alfred said, rubbing his temple and looking away. He wanted to help, it was just in his nature to try to help out everyone. He hated seeing anyone in as much pain as Gilbert was, but at the same time he wouldn't be following the rules as a nation and putting his people first if he promised to fight on Gilbert's side.
"Nein. Not exactly. I'm not asking you to fight Alfred. I'm not asking any of you to fight actually... We think if enough of us talk to Ivan, he might listen and understand that what he is doing is wrong.. Bitte Alfred." Gilbert begged quietly, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He hated to admit to anyone, but Alfred especially, that he wasn't strong enough to save Ludwig himself. "Gott... Bitte. You of all people should know I wouldn't be asking for help if I was capable of doing this alone..." He whispered, hanging his scarred, silver haired head in defeat, his shoulders hunched forward in defeat, and his pride shattering in the eyes of the strongest nation in the world.
A rustle of surprise stirred the room as Matthew stood up and walked over to stand beside Gilbert and Feliciano, both shy and confident. His face was a light shade of pink as he held Kuminjiro tightly to his chest and coughed to clear his throat. "I... I'm um... Dating Ivan.. I don't know how many of you knew that..." The Canadian flinched and hid behind Gilbert as the others let out indignant cries of fury and actually whimpered when Alfred looked at him with such hurt in his eyes he thought he was going to cry. "No please! Don't... Don't be upset! He isn't so bad... I can help you talk to him! He... He might listen to me..." He said quietly, not meeting the others' eyes. "I think h-"
"Mattie no! Sit down... You aren't getting any more involved with this than I am! I don't care if you have an attachment to Ivan... Sit back down." Alfred said, sounding frantic and appalled that his sweet, soft spoken brother would be involved with his enemy. "It's not worth getting mixed up in th-"
"No!" Matthew said, glaring at his brother with more fire than any of the gathered nations had ever seen from determination quickly faded though and he fixed his eyes on his feet, biting his lip. "Alfred I'm going to help them, and y-you aren't going to stop me. Gilbert and L-Ludwig are my friends, and if they need m-my help, I'll be darn sure to give it to them! S-So stop sitting on your butt a-and actually try to be the hero y-you claim to be!" Matthew yelled in as loud a voice he could muster, lavender eyes huge as the other nations stared up at him in shock.
Alfred actually looked ashamed as he dipped his head with a sigh. He remained that way for a moment before looking up at his brother with a smile. "Alright Mattie . Alright. I'll go with you to talk to the Russian." He said with a sigh before getting up and walking to them. "For the record though, you all are crazy to think he'll listen."
Matthias was the next to get up with an arrogant smirk and his ax in hand. "I'll come! I am always up for a nice battle... And I miss my neighbor. Luddy is fun to drink with and always has good beer... Come on Lukas!" He called over his shoulder to the small, quiet Norwegian.
Lukas rolled his eyes, looking rather like he wanted to smack the Danish. He stood beside Matthias with a glare, looking unamused. "Apparently Matthias is dragging me to help you..." He mumbled, glancing irritated, at the other Nordics.
Arthur and Antonio stood up and walked beside them and Elizabeta stepped closer to the group. "It's pointless to say that we'll help, considering we've already said it... Gracias amigos. Antonio said, pulling his fiance to him in a tight hug.
"Alright. Alright we get it. You're thankful for our help. When are we going? And what exactly is it that we are doing in the first place? I can't be the hero without knowing what we are doing..." Alfred said, looking more determined than before.
Gilbert glanced at Feliciano, only to find that the Italian was looking back at him questioningly. He sighed and tried not to focus on the anger driven nervousness clawing out his chest. "Tomorrow we will all meet at Ludwig's. It is the closest place from where Ivan is holding him captive. We all go to talk to him, make it clear we aren't looking for a fight... Tell him what he is doing is wrong, show him it isn't ok... With any luck he'll listen to us and let mein bruder go. But if he doesn't, this is important, Matthias, Antonio." Gilbert warned, glancing at each man in turn. If anyone was likely to pick a fight with the soviet, it was them. "No one is to try to fight Ivan. That'll only result in a war... That happens it's more than likely that many of you will end up dissolved. If not even Alfred or Ivan himself are ready for another war... Well... It's just crucial that no one provokes him. If he doesn't listen, then I have a different idea we can try. I don't want to resort to plan B, but if it comes down to that..." Only I'll be the one affected. He finished the thought in his head, flinching at the mere idea.
Everyone nodded in agreement, even Antonio though the gesture was reluctant and only coaxed out of him because of a gentle kiss to the back of his hand from English lips. "We'll see you all bright and early tomorrow then." Arthur said, dismissing everyone from the meeting. As everyone filed out, he leaned into Antonio, smiling slightly when strong, tanned arms wrapped around him without hesitation. "I hope this works, love..." He whispered softly, burying his face into Antonio's neck with a soft sigh. I can't lose you because of someone's careless words Anthony... I can't...
Dun dun duuuuuun! What is everyone going to do when they see Luddy all beaten up? And Gilbert... What is he thinking? He certainly has something up his sleeve... Reviews are great!