Book 4 - Spring

XXIX - Sass

Dixie nods before looking to New York.

"Don't worry about it. I've got things I'm looking at here. Egypt will probably have to leave tomorrow, and everyone else maybe next week."

Dixie nods.

"It'll just have to be another task," Dixie says, chewing on his pencil, "It'll be a long drive to the airports."

Russia stares at the staircase, the rest of the conversation flying over his head.

'How do I fix this?'

'How much does he think I know?'

'I didn't mean to hurt him.'

His eyes burn and everything swirls together.

Someone pokes his shoulder, and he gasps, his arms swinging up to block his face.

"Whoa!" Ukraine exclaims, "I'm not going to hurt you!"

Russia lets out a shuddering sigh, lowering his arms.

"I take it more happened than you told me," Ukraine says with a pained laugh.

"What have I told you?" Russia asks, his vision fuzzy.

"The torture thing, the monsters, the dark. You know, normal things to go through on a trip," Ukraine bites sarcastically.

"Oh yeah," Russia says quietly, his gaze locking on the ceiling.

"Rooooos?" Ukraine calls, snapping his fingers.

"You shouldn't stay here," Russia says.

"And you should? Out of either of us, I'm the best off."

"I don't want you to get hurt."

"Shut up. I wanted you to tell me that you were hurt."

Russia sighs. "Now you know."

"I did not want to find out like this."

Ukraine sits down between Dixie and Russia, shifting a few papers around, and New York gathers them up to move them. Ukraine mutters what looks like a "Thank you" to him.

"Why should I go back? I won't be going to my home," Ukraine says.

"You'll be safer there," Russia argues.

"I don't want to go. I'm not going to."

Russia sighs.

"Besides, look at what happened to you!"

"And?"

Ukraine laughs a little. "You can't be trusted alone."

Russia chuckles.

"So," Ukraine starts, "now what?"

"What?"

"What do we do now?"

"We set up here," Dixie interjects.

"And?" Ukraine says, looking at Russia.

"And survive," Russia says with a tired sigh.

"Okay, yeah. I got that much. Now, what are you going to do about America?"

"I..." Russia starts, "I don't know."

"Oh come on!" Ukraine says, "No idea?"

"I-"

"No excuses. I wanna see where this goes, and I'll be damned if you give up."

"Why do you care?"

"Because it's funny," Ukraine says with a smile before adding, "also, it's really bothering you."

"And?"

"And I need something to do."

Russia rolls his eyes.

"Right."

"Well?"

"I didn't mean to hurt him."

"I know. What are you going to do about it?"

"You can tell him what I told you," Dixie says.

Ukraine turns and Russia meets Dixie's eyes.

"Tell him what I told you," Dixie says, "it'll be okay."

"But I thought you didn't want him to know."

Dixie laughs darkly. "Too late for secrets now. Besides, it'll help you explain what you meant."

"Oh look," Ukraine says, "an opportunity to explain yourself. You going to take it?"

"I don't know."

"Too bad," Ukraine says, standing up, "come here."

Russia looks up and grabs Ukraine's hand. Ukraine pulls him to his feet. Russia holds his breath and his vision flashes white. He leans heavily on his brother as they meander up the stairs.

"Which room is yours?"

Russia shakily points to one of the doors over Ukraine's head.

Ukraine walks over and knocks on the door. Then, without waiting, he kicks in the door and walks in with Russia.

America stares up at them, tears on his face.

Ukraine places Russia on the bed before turning to look at them.

"Now kiss and make up!" Ukraine says brightly before turning and walking out.

The door closes loudly and leaves Russia with a ringing in his ears.