Thanks to ScandinavianTrash for reviewing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

SwissLith: Saving a Life

Toris stared at his reflection for a long moment. He hated to see the person in the reflection, and usually tried to avoid it, but lately he couldn't help but want to see what others saw.

He always felt disappointed.

Dull green eyes, mousy brown hair, pale skin, dark circles around the eyes… He wasn't what one would consider beautiful, was he? He was a coward. He was a failure. He was a waste of space. A waste of money.

He felt bad that his parents paid for his college education, but what was the point? He had no future, no matter how he looked at things. He was just an inconvenience for everyone.

But that didn't matter anymore. Soon enough, it would all end. He would buy a bottle of pills when his classes for the day were over. He had managed to convince the doctor to prescribe them for him. He just needed to pick them up.

He was tempted to just skip classes, but it was Valentine's Day. While he wasn't expecting anything, he liked to see the people around him. It used to convince him that there was still beauty in the world. But he had accepted that there was nothing left for him.

With a sigh he turned away from the mirror, and left for his last day of class.

…

"Here."

Toris blinked in surprise when a small box was placed on the desk in front of him. He looked up to see his Swiss classmate in front of him, his face red. Toris looked down at the box again before he hesitantly took it. He was surprised to see a box of chocolates.

"What's this for?" Toris asked.

"It's Valentine's Day, isn't it?" Vash snapped. "And… I was wondering if you'd like to go to dinner with me."

Toris was startled. Vash's face was blood red, and he avoided the Lithuanian's eyes. Toris smiled softly.

"Okay," Toris said.

Vash looked up, and it was as though the tension melted away. The Swiss nodded his head firmly.

"Alright then," Vash said. "After class?"

Toris hesitated for a moment, before nodding his head.

"Alright then," Vash said. "I-I'll see you later."

Vash stomped away, and Toris was left to wonder about what happened. And why Vash wanted to go on a date with him, of all people. There were many other people that Vash should rather take.

But he was curious, and for the first time in a long time he felt a bubble of hope. He wouldn't be able to buy those pills now, but perhaps he wouldn't need them.

…

Toris sank onto his bed, smiling widely. He couldn't remember the last time that he had smiled so much. Or when he had truly smiled.

The date with Vash had gone well. He had always thought that the other was harsh, and a little mean, but he was actually very shy, and very considerate. He had a great love for his younger sister, and when the conversation had turned to her Vash had this misty-eyed look.

Of course, Vash also wanted to know about him. Toris didn't have any siblings, but he did have two cousins. He hadn't really known what to say to the Swiss. Toris didn't really like to talk about himself. There was nothing to talk about, in his opinion.

But apparently, Vash didn't think so. When Toris had asked him why he asked him, of all people, Vash had turned shy again and admitted that he had admired Toris for a while now. That he always thought that Toris was unconditionally kind, with a gentle demeanour that made Vash want to protect him, but also that made Vash want to seek the warmth of that gentle heart. And when Toris heard all of that… well, he was sure that he was no longer pale.

And Vash had asked him for another date during the weekend. Toris didn't want to turn the other down, so he agreed.

But… It would be unfair if Toris killed himself now. Vash was looking forward to the date. Toris held the box chocolates in front of his chest and smiled happily. He would wait and see how it went.

…

The two of them had been dating for a few months. Vash had noticed that Toris had become a lot happier. In the beginning he was a lot more reserved, but now it was as though a light had turned on behind those eyes. It was as though the Toris from before they were dating was a cloudy night, but now he was a sunny day.

Vash rather liked the change. He also felt somewhat pleased that he was the one responsible for the change, even though he wouldn't admit it out loud. But Toris had gotten used to reading his moods, and knew what he really meant. It made Vash even more convinced that he had made the right choice in starting a relationship with the Lithuanian.

"I'm sorry I had to drag you with me," Vash said.

"It's alright," Toris said. "It's just the bank. It's no problem."

"Still…"

"It'll be fine. You just have to replace your debit card, right? It's really no big deal."

Vash smiled softly. He was really fortunate to have Toris as a boyfriend.

While they were waiting on the couches that served as a queue Vash noticed three men enter, wearing ski masks. He grabbed Toris's wrist, and he heard the Lithuanian gasp next to him.

"Everyone freeze!" the first man said, pulling out a gun and pointing it wildly.

The second pulled out another gun and pointed it at the panicking people, and the third man, though he also had a gun out, went up to one of the tellers.

Vash and Toris remained on the couch, clutching each other's hands. They both knew that it would be best to make themselves as small as possible.

They heard the sirens, and figured someone must have tripped an alarm. Then someone decided to tackle one of the robbers, and the robber automatically started firing some shots.

Vash found himself being pushed down, with Toris looming over him. The Lithuanian had a pained look on his face, and when he looked down he saw that there was a red stain growing on Toris's shirt.

"What were you doing?!" Vash asked hysterically.

"It would have hit you if you didn't move," Toris said. "Heh. I guess I saved your life. We're… even now."

Toris collapsed on top of Vash, and the Swiss panicked. He pressed his hand against the wound while desperately racking his brain to figure out what Toris meant. They were even? What did that even mean?

The only thing that made sense was that Vash had saved Toris's life at one point, but he had no memory of such an event.

But then it clicked.

"Someone, help!" Vash said, shifting their positions so that he was on top, and thus be better able to press his hands against the wound.

Toris's eyes were closed, and he was extremely pale. Bad signs. At least his heart was still beating, and he was still breathing.

People were moving around, but Vash's full attention was focused on Toris. It couldn't be. The thoughts of the present merged with the thoughts of the past.

Toris had always been so pale. He used to have dark rings around his eyes, and his eyes were always so dull.

"Toris, open your eyes," Vash said.

Toris groaned, his eyes fluttering open briefly before closing again. It was long enough for Vash to see that they looked almost lifeless. The same way his eyes used to look like. Dying eyes.

Vash was positive now that Toris had been contemplating suicide before they started dating. And he wouldn't allow that life that he had unwittingly saved to simply be snuffed out as collateral damage in a bank robbery.

"Please, don't die," Vash whispered.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up. A paramedic was standing there.

"We'll take it from here," the man said.

"Please save him," Vash said.

"We'll do our best."

Vash watched as the ambulance took Toris away. He bit his lip, before he ran over to his car. His boyfriend needed him. And he needed to know the truth about what Toris had said.

The prompt is: 'Person A has been severely depressed for a while and decides to commit suicide. But before they can do it, Person B does/says something that convinces them not to, without Person B realizing it. Months later, in whatever context, Person A takes a bullet/arrow/whatever for Person B. As Person B holds Person A in their arms, person A says, "Heh… I saved your life… I guess that makes us even." Person B is initially confused because they don't remember any time where they saved Person A's life, but then they realize what Person A means. Whether Person A dies from their wounds or not is up to you.'

I decided to leave Toris's fate to your imaginations.

The other day I had to go to the bank to have my debit card replaced since it was on the verge of expiring. So Vash was at the bank for the same reason.