The first part of this chapter is an anti-PruCan, before shifting to ScotCan.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

ScotCan: I'll Never Hurt You

"You're useless!" Gilbert shouted.

Matthew cried from his position on the floor, arms raised to cover his head from any more blows. His cheek stung, but he didn't care at the moment. According to Gilbert, he deserved it.

He had tried to leave so many times, but every time Gilbert would drag him back and hurt him even more. And he couldn't tell anyone, since who would believe them? Gilbert was the jokester that adored cute things. He would never hurt Matthew, at least that was what they thought.

And even if someone did believe him, he didn't want to think about what Gilbert would do to him then. If he thought that he had known pain before, he knew that Gilbert would redefine the meaning.

Matthew was trapped, but maybe that's what he deserved.

…

One day Matthew arrived home to find the house empty. He was glad, since that meant that Gilbert wouldn't be mad at him. But when he went to the bedroom to change out of his work clothes he saw a note on the bed.

I can't take your shit anymore. I'm leaving.

It took Matthew a moment to process what had happened. And when he did, he fell on the bed and cried, not of sorrow, but of happiness.

He was free.

Or so he thought.

…

"I heard about what happened with you and Gilbert," his friend and colleague, Francis, told him two days later at work. "It's horrible. You were such a cute couple."

"Y-yeah," Matthew said, biting his lip.

He avoided the Frenchman's eyes. Could he tell him about how his relationship with Gilbert really was? Francis was Gilbert's friend, and he was the one that introduced them in the first place. Would Francis believe him? Would he tell Gilbert, and would Gilbert return to hurt him because he told Francis?

The thought terrified Matthew, and he completely zoned out. He only reacted when he heard his name by another colleague, Arthur.

"Matthew, are you okay?" Arthur asked.

"The love of his life just left him," Francis said. "Of course he's not okay."

No, Matthew couldn't tell them. Let them believe that he was upset because Gilbert left them. Don't let them know that Matthew had been told so many times that he was a useless waste of space that he started to believe that. Don't let them know that he was scared that every accidental bump could be a shove, leaving him with more bruises.

Because according to Gilbert, he was and he deserved every bruise.

…

Alistair had gone to give his younger brother the papers he had forgotten when he bumped into someone. And immediately, that person started to apologise.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," the other said. "I wasn't looking where I was going, and you probably have other things to do, and…"

"It's alright," Alistair said. "I was the one that didn't look where I was going."

The young man, who had been looking down, looked up with wide indigo eyes that made Alistair's breath hitch. There was a hint of nervousness there, and the young man was fidgeting with his hands.

Alistair didn't think he'd ever seen someone so cute before.

Later when he asked his brother about the young man, he learned that he was named Matthew and that his boyfriend had recently left him. Alistair then started to go to Arthur's work more often in hopes of seeing the young man.

…

Matthew was in a coffee shop, sitting across from Alistair. It was the second date they've been on. He felt calm in Alistair's presence, and tried very hard to keep him happy. He didn't want to know if Alistair would hurt him if he got angry.

But maybe he deserved getting hurt. Maybe he really was as useless and pathetic as Gilbert had told him.

…

They had been dating for two months, and Alistair would admit that he was getting frustrated with Matthew's shy attitude. It might have been cute in the beginning, but the other acted as though he was afraid of him. He should have gotten at least a little comfortable, right?

Alistair didn't like it if Matthew acted scared of him.

"You need to speak up more," Alistair said. "I mean, I've seen you whenever we go out. You let people walk all over you. I know you're shy, but you could still say something when someone bumps into you or cuts in line."

Matthew didn't say anything, he simply stood from the table and went towards the kitchen. Alistair followed him.

"I don't understand it," Alistair continued. "I've seen you play hockey. Why can't you be more like that? And why do you act as though you're scared of me? Do you have any idea how much that hurts me?"

"I'm sorry," Matthew whispered. "Please…"

"No," Alistair continued, his frustration growing and his voice rising. He also started gesturing with his hands. "Matthew, you should stop apologising as though you're the one that did something to the world when you allow everyone else to do whatever they want with you. Do you have any idea how many people would take advantage of that?"

"I'm sorry," Matthew repeated, eyes darting around, as though looking for an escape.

"No Mattie. You should stop apologising for every little thing!"

The last few words came out in a shout, and Alistair had unknowingly backed Matthew into a corner. The smaller male trembled, before he threw his arms over his head.

"I'm sorry," he said. "Please don't hurt me. Please…"

Alistair's eyes widened, his frustration dying down. This was genuine fear that he was seeing from Matthew, and he seemed to think that he would hurt him.

"I'm sorry," Alistair said. "I didn't want to scare you. Matt, you've got to understand. I'd never hurt you. But when you think that it hurts me. Matt, I'd never hurt you."

Matthew peeked from behind his arms, his eyes watery. Disbelief was evident. Alistair swallowed and took a few steps forward until he was close enough to hug Matthew, and that's just what he did.

He felt the smaller male tense before relaxing, before he started to cry. Alistair rubbed his back soothingly, wanting to comfort the younger. This wasn't just shyness or nervousness. This was fear. And one wasn't naturally this afraid of someone else.

That's when things started to click into place. He had met Matthew after he had gotten out of a relationship that lasted more than two years. Matthew's quietness, and his frequent apologies. He acted like someone…

Alistair pulled back slightly so that he could look at Matthew's face, concern filling him.

"Matt, your last boyfriend…" Alistair began. "Did he hurt you?"

Matthew looked down and nodded, and Alistair pulled him into another hug.

"I'm sorry," Alistair said. "Just know that I would never hurt you. I care for you too much. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I love you."

He kissed Matthew's head, and he thought he heard him whisper 'I love you too', but it could have been his imagination.

…

Gilbert was at the bar with Francis and Antonio when a redhead tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to face him, only to be met with a fist in the face.

"What the hell?!" Gilbert yelped, holding his bleeding nose.

"You deserve much more, but I'd rather not get arrested," the redhead said in a Scottish accent.

The redhead left, and Gilbert was still confused, and so was Antonio. Francis seemed to be pondering something.

"I wonder what you did to Alistair," Francis said.

"You know that guy?" Gilbert asked.

"Oui. He's Arthur's brother, and Matthew's new boyfriend."

That last bit of information made Gilbert's eyes widen, and his past relationship with Matthew came flooding back to him. And only one thought occurred to him.

He knew.

And for the first time since their relationship, since he had started hurting Matthew, Gilbert felt guilty.

But now it was too late.

Okay, so it's a long prompt. Here goes: 'Person A was in a long abusive relationship with someone (maybe someone from your NOTP) but no one knows this because the other person acted so good and kind around everyone else and Person A wasn't brave enough to say anything. For one reason or another, they leave Person A who has at this point became very quiet and self-hating, but everyone assumes that is just because the "love of their life" has left them. After some time, they eventually end up going out with Person B. They still stick to their old habits (apologising a lot, acting very quiet, being scared that Person B will get mad and hurt them). Person B however, cares greatly for Person A and just assumes they are naturally shy and/or they're a bit shaken from their last relationship. After a while of dating, Person B starts to get frustrated at Person A's due to their meekness and gets so frustrated that they unintentionally start to raise they voice and are gesturing wildly, Person A instinctively uses their arms to cover themselves screaming "I'm sorry please don't hurt me!". Person B is horrified that they scared them so much, and apologies, saying that they would never hurt them. After Person A doesn't believe them at first, but eventually realises that they are telling the truth and hugs them, crying into Person B's arms. What happens next is up to you.'

Did I ever mention how much I hate PruCan? The above scenario… that's how I see how it would go. Most of the other popular pairings simply annoy me, but this one… It started as a crack pairing, and should have stayed as a crack pairing. There are other, better choices for Canada, like Romano or Netherlands. I'd even prefer RusCan or AmeCan over PruCan. And this is probably the only time I'm ever going to write PruCan.