Uploaded a little later than I wanted but the last few days have being busy for me. Please enjoy. ^.^

T/Ws: Mentions of violence and murder

Chapter 13: Unwrapped

3rd September 1945

Gilbert had managed to navigate breakfast without pissing the Russian off. His success in his plan relied on two things, getting the Russian alone and not pissing the Russian off. So far he had succeeded in keeping the Russian placid and soon would be the next part of his plan, getting the Russian alone.

Gilbert waited around near his office until he saw him go inside, once he had Gilbert walked up to the door and knocked on it.

'What is it?' Ivan yelled through the door.

'It's Prussia, we need to talk.' Gilbert said seriously.

'Come in then.' Ivan responded.

Gilbert walked in to find Ivan sitting at his desk, writing by hand on some paper besides a broken typewriter. Gilbert stood there awkwardly trying to figure out how best to start.

'You want to sit down?' Ivan said annoyed as he gestured to the chair in front of his desk.

'I want to ask you some things and I want you to answer them.' Gilbert said as he sat down.

'Why do you think you can demand such a thing from me?' Ivan smiled menacingly.

'Clearly me and you need to talk about Stalingrad because otherwise we are just going to be arguing for the rest of time and god knows I am too awesome to get battered by your stupid rusty pipe every day.' Gilbert argued.

'You have five minutes.' Ivan sighed.

'You said to me that night when I was in the cell that you pretended not to know me incase your boss found out, even though he clearly wasn't fucking there.' Prussia said losing his temper near the end.

'Then when we were in Stalingrad you did everything you could to make sure I could see my brother again only to separate us back in Cecilienhof. You claim to actually have cared for me but beat the shit out of me every five minutes so explain it to me? What the fuck is going on here?' Gilbert snapped.

'I did what I could, my boss has eyes everywhere and if I go against him. Just… bad things happen okay.' Ivan explained.

'Like you did everything you could. You just wanted to keep me, like a toy and then have the nerve to claim I am the one who played you. I actually did care Ivan, believe it or not, I cared. You made me feel so special but that was all part of the act right? Get them close then pull the rug.' Gilbert scoffed.

'It isn't like that. I care so much. I didn't want it to end like this. Even now I am trying to figure out how I can get you to see your brother. I wouldn't waste my first time… on someone I didn't care about. It was never an act but you don't understand what will happen to me if I disobey like that.' Ivan sobbed.

'You said before, he made you stop a tank with your bare hands. You're arms broke a little big fucking deal. That would heal in like a few days for us. Am I not even worth a few days of pain and a small telling off to you.' Gilbert rolled his eyes.

'No, that's not it. All I did to earn that was talk back. Ifhe knew I helped you escape and fed you back then, it would be so much worse. And I… I am scared of him. Of all my bosses, they are all the same.' Ivan said panicked, clutching his chest.

'Please, how much worse can it get.' Gilbert said in disbelief.

'Remember when you asked me about the bandage on my neck. You want to know why I wear it. Then I will show you.' Ivan said his hands shaking as he took off his scarf.

Ivan then slowly unwrapped the bandage around his neck to reveal a long scar along half of his entire neck, it was old and faded but still very very noticeable.

'When I was younger, I disobeyed my boss badly in an attempt to protect my sisters. He got really angry at me and hit me so hard I fell to the ground. He then lifted me up by my hair and took his knife and cut my throat in front of the whole court.' Ivan winced as he thought about the pain and grabbed his neck with one hand.

'He just stood there and laughed at me as I choked on my own blood until I died. He even made everyone around him laugh too. I woke up a few days later abandoned outside in the snow with this hideous and horrible scar to remind me of the experience, it was so scary and I… I just… I can't disobey them. All of my bosses are like this. It wasn't the first or the last time a boss of mine has murdered me.' Ivan cried as he remembered the memory.

'Holy shit.' Gilbert just said in shock, what else could he say.

Sure he had some shitty bosses in his lifetime. None of them had actively murdered him, especially in such a brutal and humiliating way. Given that Ivan was still scared of such a repercussion he bet any money these things still happened.

'That actually explains a lot about why you act how you do, you know.' Gilbert sighed as he got up from his seat and walked over to Russia.

He grabbed Ivan's scarf before gently wrapping it around his neck again, once he had, he pulled the Russian into a tight hug that Ivan gladly accepted.

'We can go back to what we had, back in Stalingrad. I only have one request. Just like back then, do what you have in your power to help me see my brother as much as I can. Do your best and I promise you that your boss will never hurt you like that again because you will have the Awesome Prussia here to protect you.' Gilbert said seriously and he buried his face into the Russian's hair.

'Okay.' Ivan said between cry's.

He wasn't sure what Prussia could do, besides he was meant to be the strong one. However in that moment Ivan didn't care. He felt so safe right now. He couldn't remember how long it had been since he felt this safe.

It was nice, being loved and protected. He would make sure he could do everything in his power to get Gilbert a chance to see his brother again. No matter what.