"He surrendered! I'm going to kill him!"
No one bothered to stop the Canadian's tirade as the nation paced across the floor. Kumajiro followed a step behind his owner, lumbering along in the same circular pattern with his shoulders similarly hunched. America and China sat side by side at the table, both wearing matching bored expressions as their eyes lazily followed the blonde around room. France had been tied to his customary chair leaving his lower arms free which allowed him the ability to occasionally tap ash from his never-ending stream of cigarettes. And England was the only one in attendance pretending he had no explanation for Russia's actions.
Truth be told, he knew with Canada's change the relationships between the Ally nations were strained at best and disastrous the rest of the time. Canada was trying to keep them driven and focused to victory, but his plans were terrible and his personal relations a nightmare and it was wearing them all down. England sighed and tilted his chin to his chest. He at the very least thought they could manage their way through all of this, and although annoyed, no one was taking Canada's (or France's) insults to heart. However, that thought ended when he was called out that evening and found himself knee-deep in snow with curious violet eyes peering down at him.
Of all the places to appear, the middle of a Russian winter was not where he wanted to be wearing a tunic. The majority of the encounter was spent with his teeth chattering while Russia kept trying to capture him in a bear hug in order to preserve body heat. At least that's what he said. England still wasn't entirely unconvinced that it wasn't a 'become one' tactic. And as soon as he returned home, he had drawn a hot bath and four cups of tea before being called to be hit on drunken Prussian.
He had much better evenings. Though on the other hand, there was an evening involving several large kegs of rum, a cow, a couple hobgoblins and the queen's pants that was still much, much worse than what last night could have been.
England was abruptly pulled out his thoughts by the arrival of the missing nation. Dark coat pulled snuggly around him and scarf tugged up to his nose, Russia shuffled into the room, cast one look around, and then started to make his way to his usual seat. "Oh no you don't," Canada hissed, leaping in his path and pointing an accusing finger his way. "What was this I heard about you surrendering to the Axis? What is that even all about?!"
"Yeah, Russia, what gives?" America added in, standing up from his place and heading around the table to join them.
"I've got this," Canada glared at him to which America returned.
"Since when, maple leaf?" America retorted coming to a stop next to his brother.
"…Maple leaf…?" England looked on, also coming to join them and standing back beside China.
"Yeah, cause you know, he shakes in the wind." America shrugged while England dragged a hand down his face and China muttered something that sounded distinctly like, "Westerners…"
"That's not true anymore." Canada replied through gritted his teeth.
"Yeah? How so?" The American taunted, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"Tell that to your dental plan." Canada replied with a slight smirk, eyeing the gap still resting prominent within his brother's mouth proudly.
America's face darkened and he pursed his lips in a half attempt to hide his marred smile. "I still have to get you back for that." His fist clenched and from beneath them Kumajiro growled lowly.
"Boys," England interrupted, catching both of their attention. China had rolled his eyes to the ceiling and from his chair France had his chin resting in his hands looking more amused than he usually did (but only slightly so by normal standards). The Brit waved a hand and gave a tired look. "You were questioning Russia?"
"Right!" Canada turned his glare back up to the nation that hadn't moved at all through all of this. "Well? Are you going to answer our questions?"
Russia was silent for a long time, his eyes looking nowhere in particular. "You can judge more about a man by the questions he asks than the answers he gives." He replied solemnly, closing his eyes and tucking his nose further within his scarf.
Both brothers in front of him simply stared. "…What?" they said nearly simultaneously.
From behind them, China groaned. "Means he just called you both idiots," earning him two sets of glares.
England shrugged. "Not necessarily if he was simply pointing out that questions speak more of a person and their motives than the answers themselves."
"Enough!" Canada shouted, turning his stern purple eyes up to the other. "Just tell us why you surrendered."
Russia sighed. "In order to save a life from the hands of others, one must do what he must, especially for family. This also saves my country from more unspeakable slaughter."
"But, dude! What about the greater good?" America tried as Canada looked on in horror. "We can't let the Axis of Evil win! Think about how terrible the world would be if they did!"
"It is only what you imagine that fuels you towards this goal and your sense of justice that causes you to strive towards the outcome. Will the world really be any different I wonder? It was said the same in the past, but as no one knows what is to come we can only assume that with whichever side gains victory that life will continue as it has before."
"Huh?"
"Dude Russia, what happened to you?"
The Russian stayed silent, dark red eyes passively taking in the brothers and blinking slowly from lack of sleep. America tilted his head to the side as he studied him. "You seem… different."
England cringed slightly.
America snapped his fingers. "I know! You are not smiling! Come on, ice man. Give us one your awkward ones."
"That's really not necessary…" China's eyes were wide and he started backing away.
"No, it'll be perfect!" America grinned. "It'll make him more like himself and then we'll have the old Russia back and he'll drop the 'I surrendered like the French' act."
"Why bother?" France muttered from somewhere behind them and was easily ignored.
Russia stared at the cheery blonde before answering from within the depths of his scarf. "Optimism is the madness that all is well when we are miserable."
"Finally, someone who speaks my language…" France continued to mutter, though perked up slightly at the turn in conversation.
America was still attempting to process the last statement through. "So… You aren't going to smile at all?" he asked, giving the large Russian a suspicious look.
"What is there to smile about?" Russia replied tiredly, burying his face further into his scarf.
"He has a point." France agreed as America shot him a look.
"Oh, this ought to be good." Canada sneered taking a step back.
America groaned. "Here, do what I always do. Think of something that made you happy and then just let it show on your face, got it? Like kittens or ice cream or something." He waited until Russia gave a small nod. "Good, now go ahead a try it."
They all waited anxiously as the large nation seemed to think quite hard, his red eyes flashing back and forth as he attempted to locate a happy memory. It took several minutes before he slowly lifted his chin up out of his scarf to reveal the most terrifying smile any of them had ever witnessed on a person's face. It was the kind of twisted perverse smile that mentally unstable clowns wore while tracking down innocent youth in the dark.
France's mouth hung open at the sight, his cigarette clinging precariously to his lower lip. Canada stood with a similarly matched expression, though his dark sunglasses sliding down to meet the edge of nose as his wide purple eyes looked over them. England drew back, muttering a few magic chants of protection and everyone seemed to ignore the soft thud that resounded from an unconscious China hitting the floor.
America cringed trying to keep up an encouraging smile. "Uh… Yeah, that's, um, a good start…"
"That's fucking terrible!" The Canadian shouted from behind him and America winced, but didn't argue. "God, you look like a psychopath!"
"See?" Russia cried mournfully as he pushed his face back inside his scarf and sulking. "This was why I didn't do it."
"Ugh! Just let him be and we'll get this meeting started trying to fix the problem he caused." Canada cursed and flopped into his chair, his polar bear sitting on his haunches beside the table and everyone made their way to join them, except France who was already there and China who remained unconscious for another ten minutes.
And just like every meeting before, there really wasn't much accomplished.
AN: So, I realized I may have confused a few of you. When Engla- *cough* Britannia Angel was hit on by Prussia and changed, he muttered "Two in one night" (meaning Prussia plus one other country) and then because I was mean, decided to wait a bit before acknowledging who that extra 2P was. So no, there was no Russia wishing chapter just to be different, though hopefully England pretty much summed up what happened: It was cold. He was wearing a tiny little tunic. Russia was being scary. And then, he was less scary.
Some of Russia's statements are quotes by Voltaire or paraphrased quotes.
And just as a side note, I kinda want some sort of 'Adventures of 2P!Prussia' thing, because I still find him far too cute. Maybe he'll meet other 2P's? Or himself? Idk... Maybe when this one is finished. Months from now...