Not Over Yet

Part 5

"Mister? Mister, wake up!"

Arthur was not sure when or how, but he completely blacked out some time after Russia had left. Now he had a matching headache to go with his burning throat, just dandy. It certainly did not help that someone was shaking him. Wait, what? Who was that?

"Mister, it is dark. You should not stay here. If you are lost, I will help you home."

At least this person seemed kind.

"S-sorry." he choked out, feeling like each word was coated in sandpaper, "I j-just feel asleep. I will be fine."

Apparently it sounded like sandpaper, too, because while the voice stopped he began to feel something cold on the back of his hand.

"Water."

The word actually sounded like something of a command, but he paid attention to it only subconsciously as he took the bottle. Only then did he realize that he was still curled up, and then proceeded to right himself before taking a long draught of the liquid. Maybe kind was too insignificant a word for this person, Arthur began to think, feeling the relieving effects on his throat immediately. It then occurred to him that he still had yet to look his savior in the eye, much less introduce himself and give his thanks.

"Ah, my name is Arthur Kirkland. Thank you for your kindness, what may I call you—"

Arthur's words died as he locked eyes with a clearly luminescent purple in the darkness.

"My name is Nikkita D. Jones, at your service."

Arthur did not need the missing light or the introduction to know that this was the girl that had been with Alfred and Jackson. What was she doing out here? Jackson visiting him on his own freewill was one thing, but Nikkita was so young. If he had ever caught Alfred walking around after dark, all alone, like this he would have punished him severely. Though, he supposed he was bound to have done it anyway. The thought made him grimace. Nikkita's gentle shifting about drew his attention once more.

"Are you lost, Mister?" she repeated.

That knocked some sense into the stunned nation, "Oh, no! I know my way around D.C. Thank you, but should you not be getting home? It is awful late for someone so young to be out."

He was not quite sure how he should talk to the child. Was she even aware she was a nation, much less if he was? Either way, should he say he knew her brothers or just pretend to be a stranger? He would have to keep her a secret anyway, so maybe he should just stay a stranger. He doubted he would be visiting Alfred anytime soon, anyway—Bloody! He forgot all about visiting Alfred about the treaty. What time even was it?

"What about the park?" her words brought Arthur back to earth, "You sure look lost. Even regulars would be when the sun goes down. And I am home, late or not."

Arthur did not even notice the cryptic ending to her response as he realized that she had been right all along: he was lost. He may have known D.C. decently, but he did not even know the name of his park, much less its lay out.

"It seems you are right." he admitted, glancing around and recognizing that he could not see even a foot in front of him, "I am more disoriented than I thought."

He began to feel warmth in the hand that did not hold the cool bottle of water, "Then I will help you out. You said you could find your way then, but I could walk you home, too. It can be dangerous at night."

Arthur was not completely sure how to respond when he felt he should have been the one telling her that. Instead, he only squeezed her hand in acceptance and set off following her through the dark. He could not see a thing, but maybe she could, seeing as she was having no problems navigating. She took various twists and turns, not hesitating once, and Arthur felt a little awed. She knew the land, much like Alfred had in his youth. The thought made him tighten his grip on the little hand in his own. How many times had he lost Alfred when his hand had slipped away, again? Far too many.

"Do not worry, Vanya was in the wrong."

Arthur's eyes widened as he pinpointed the identity of that nickname.

"Excuse me?"

"He was wrong." she continued, unaffected by his question, "Big brother Alfie even told him so. Now he is mad, too, but not at you."

He blinked, trying to focus his sight on the child. He only could catch glimpses of that glowing purple, like amethysts. How he wished he could see the rest of the child.

"Even big brother Jackie wished he would have shut his mouth."

"You heard all of this?" he probed.

"I was supposed to be in bed. Jackie thinks it is inappropriate to fight in front of me so he took me to my room, himself."

Arthur frowned, "You are not supposed to eavesdrop."

"I am not supposed to here, either, but I am. And you are lucky that I am."

Arthur supposed he could not argue there, but still.

"Your brothers are bound to be worried about you."

He did not know how he knew, but he knew the child was smirking, "When they realize I am gone."

That was where Arthur's responses run dry. Alfred was bound to realize it, or Jackson one. He had figured out very quickly that Alfred had not been an incompetent older brother like he had first imagined. In fact, Arthur was pretty sure he was one of the best as far as nations went. Even so, the way Nikkita had said just made him feel as though she knew what she was talking about. The whole conversation gave him that feeling, actually. It made the silence a little unnerving.

"Big brother Alfie will not let Vanya force you into the treaty, you know." she explained, "But you have to understand that Vanya just wants to protect what is important to him."

Arthur believed the first bit, but the latter he was having trouble with, "Really?"

"Mm-hm. Vanya likes us, my brothers and I. He always visits. However, things are a little complicated with me."

When she did not continue, Arthur's curiosity got the best of him, "'Complicated' you say?"

A soft chuckle met his ears, "Yep. Good to know you are not too skeptical."

Arthur felt his face heating up. What kind of kid was this?

"They fought over me, Vanya and my big brothers. If it had just been between them maybe it would not have been such an issue, but their governments got involved. After the initial fight it was agreed that Alfie was keeping me, but they still had to have some sort of agreement between the nations. That was why they had the treaty, even if Vanya really does not mind me staying with my brothers. But now, because of the treaty being broken, so is the harmony. They both have to keep up appearances just in case the others find out, because I forever became a prize that day. So you finding out means I can never see Vanya again, and he is my big brother, too."

Arthur felt himself chewing on his lip. He was beginning to do that far more often it seemed. What Nikkita had said would have made perfect sense for anybody, but Russia. That maniac just wanted her for himself and probably had her fooled. Still, she seemed quite wise for her age and he could not tell she was lying. Then again, she may have that same acting ability as her brothers. He had no idea what to believe.

"So, do you want to live with… 'V-Vanya?'"

The child seemed to pause, "Well, I would not mind. I love Vanya, but big brother Alfie and big brother Jackie mean the world to me. I do not regret that they won me, but I would not have regretted it if Vanya had either. I like how things are now, with Vanya visiting, but I do believe that he would have taken very good care of the three of us if he had won the bet!"

Arthur would have had a spit-take if he could, but instead broke into a hacking fit. It was so bad that he even had to stop.

"H-how do you—"

"They told me when I woke up, of course."

As plausible as that was with those three, Arthur was still having a hard time digesting it. In fact, he was wondering what Nikkita knew and what she did not, not to mention how. There was a major line between what she should and should not know in his opinion, but even he could not find it in his own mind. It was a little startling, actually, at how confused it made him. All he knew is that Nikkita deserved her innocence preserved as long as it could, and no one had a right to mess with that, not even herself and her eavesdropping habit. Surely Alfred had figured it out and was careful with what he said? Arthur was when he figured out just how much Alfred picked up as a child. They were practically sponges after all.

"Here is the exit, Mister."

It took a moment for him to process the words in the midst of his mental searching, but the now visible streetlights eventually helped. Finally he could actual see his little heroine. Arthur supposed she was a hero, was she not? She had saved him.

"Thank you, you are my little hero." he stated fondly, without a trace of bitterness, remembering all the times he had said the exact same words in the past to a certain someone that would be very pleased to have another "heroic" sibling.

Though, when he had said such things to Alfred he had smiled the largest smile he could muster and started giggling. Nikkita did something a little different. Her smile was soft, but incredibly warm like Alfred's sunlight smiles. It seemed, almost humble in a sense, as if she were being the one giving the compliment.

"Mister?" she began, "Do you want to know what I think a hero is?"

Arthur was incredibly curious by now, and could only bring himself to nod.

"I think a hero is someone that will sacrifice himself to give another person a chance. A person cannot be helped if they do not want it, after all. Still, even if that person was rejected, he is not that person's hero, but I still think he is a hero for reaching out a hand in the first place. That is all he can do because a person has to be their own hero, too. So, I am not your hero, Mister, you are."

Arthur could not help but blush at the implications of the words. Really, he could not make heads or tails of this child.

"I am going home now, Mister, but if you are still lost I can take you somewhere instead."

Arthur shook his head, "No, I am good from here."

Nikkita walked away a couple of feet from him before she stopped.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"I will not make you agree to the treaty, either, but be nice to my brothers, please Mister. All of them."

Arthur felt his heart shatter a little.

"I will, but only on one condition."

The child perked, turning her head around and revealing curiosity filled amethysts.

"Call me Arthur."

A smile that was incredibly gentle and powerful at the same time was his response, "Thank you, Arthur. Come visit sometime. I live namely with big brother Jackie, though, so you will have to ask Alfie to go get me."

And with that, she was off, leaving Arthur stuck in his stance. Only once she was gone did he figure out something that had been tormenting him the entire time. Alfred and Jackson's smiles were that of sunlight, but Nikkita's were not: they were moonlight.