Safeway Pyongyang // Reader x Countryhumans

Shattering Illusions

    Y/N's heart plummeted to her stomach. She couldn't feel anything but a slow, creeping sense of horror.

      'America.'

     He would destroy this land like he had destroyed so many others. 'Saving' them, like she had been taught in school.

     The worst part was, she couldn't even comfort North. She couldn't give him a 'you're not an isolationist anymore- I'm here speech.' He wasn't a normal human- normal words and promises couldn't work.

      He was a Countryhuman. No matter what she said, she couldn't lift sanctions, couldn't bring food to North's people, couldn't stop a war. She doubted that she could even bring a smile to North's face right now.

     The gap between them suddenly felt very wide indeed.

     The most that she could offer was to drag the futon blanket over to him, wrapping it around both of their shoulders like a shawl, and leaning her head against him. He understood, and leaned back on her.

      They stayed like that until the sun set. Stayed even longer until the moon had risen high in the sky, casting cold winter light over both of them. Stayed like that until they had both fallen asleep.

    And on the other side of the world, someone got a phone call, hanging up and laughing when they received the news.

     He lowered his shades, and looked up at the sun, a cold smirk curling the edges of his lips.

_________

    North was in business mode in the morning.

     He had left by the time that the morning music woke Y/N up. She had been moved onto the futon, the edges of the blanket wrapped around her, her qilin tucked into her arms.

     There was a note in Choson'gul by her pillow, of which they now had two.

     'I had to go, but I didn't want you to wake up alone.'

     Y/N smiled, feeling bittersweet.

     Wandering down to the lobby, she ran into Hae, who was carrying a stack of papers.

     "Morning, Hae-" Y/N started.

     "Can'ttalknowgottago," Hae rushed out, running off.

     "Come on," Kangwon said, beckoning her. "I'm taking you to work this morning."

   "What's everyone up to?" she asked, heading into the parking lot.

      "Korea wants to hold a meeting for disenfranchised countries," the Provincehuman explained as they got in the car. "Everyone is trying to help. Between you and me-" He leaned in, whispering like it was classified information. "I think that Korea has Hae carrying blank papers up and down the stairs."

      Y/N knew that the province was just joking to try and cheer her up, but the image of that was incredibly funny, and definitely something that she could see North doing to distract the farming province, if less important things were going on.

     Her recording that day was actually about the meeting. Though she was addressing the North Koreans, the message was directed at any foreigners watching, basically riling them up, so that they would demand that their own Countryhumans go.

      Y/N was starting to get the hard, beseeching newscaster's note in her voice, as she asked, "Do they really care about their people if they won't fight for them?"

      "Y/N," North asked, as soon as she walked back in the door of the high-rise. "Do you want to come with me to the meeting?"

     "It's happening?" Kangwon asked excitedly, and his country nodded. "Ura!"