(Germany POV)
Finally, it was just the two of us, standing face to face, just waiting for the signal to begin. The sharp and emotionless stare sent chills up my spine but I was not scared. I was vengeful.
"BEGIN!"
I didn't hesitate for a second. I charged at him with fists raised. He dodged my blow with surprising speed, but I was faster. I swept my leg under him causing him to stumble. I tackled him and he hit the floor with a surprised yelp. Everyone was on their feet, unable to believe Russia had been brought down by little ol' me. Gasps and hoots echoed through the colosseum but I didn't care. I sent another blow, aiming for his jaw, but he caught my fist and flipped me onto my stomach. My head hit the stone floor and the world began to spin.
My arm that had been pinned behind my back was starting to go numb. The Russian's iron grip did not help.
"My my... I didn't expect you to be so fierce. Aren't you supposed to be a peace- loving goody two-shoes?" he snarled. My struggles were futile but I continued to do so anyway.
"If you believe that, then you must be the dumbest person I've ever met. Wait, calling you a person would be too nice," I gasped. My response didn't affect him one bit.
"You can call me whatever you like. It won't bother me," he sighed, then let go of me.
I staggered to my feet and glared at him in disbelief, "What are you doing?"
"I was getting bored. Fighting you isn't fun at all."
My eyes narrowed. I knew he was trying to rile me up and do something reckless. I must admit, it was working but I wasn't someone who liked to act impulsively unlike the others. I began to slowly back away to give myself time to think. We circled one another, our eyes unwavering and daring the other to make the first move.
After what seemed like an eternity, I bolted into action. Russia was quick to react but I had expected that. I quickly closed the gap between us and threw a kick at him. He was able to dodge but unbeknown to him, I had been guiding him to the uneven cracked platform that Finland had made. He was able to leap over it, but taking his eyes away from me was his mistake.
I swung around the large pillar and caught him with a hammering kick on the back of the head. He crumpled to the floor, cursing all the way but he didn't get back up.
I was sweating and my lungs burned but it didn't matter. I had done it. I had taken Russia down? It seemed so. The class went ballistic. Laughing and cheering filled the air.
"WAS THAT A RECREATION OF DENMARK'S SMACKDOWN MOVE?!" Poland hollered at me through the celebration. I smiled and nodded.
"You do have a good eye for your surroundings goggles, I'll give you that."
My blood turned into ice once I registered the voice. Only one person had ever dared to call me that. Poland's look of horror and shock mirrored my own and the next thing I knew, I was being choked in a headlock.
"How-"
He stared at me with an emotionless expression, "You know a single blow to the head isn't going to cut it right? I've been through far worse."
I was mentally smacking myself for letting my guard down, but I was loathing too much to note it down. I was not gonna go down gracefully.
"That's what you deserve. You know that the whole world wouldn't mind if you chose to die right? How about you do us a favor," I stuttered. My vision was starting to dim from the lack of oxygen and my body began to go limp, " Let me go you... bastard..."
"Not this time. And that's rich, coming from someone like you," his voice then lowered to barely a whisper, " I'm sure the world told your predecessor that as well."
My father... was the last thing I wanted to remember...
(RUSSIA POV)
It was not a secret that Germany's past was a touchy topic for him. So when I brought that up I fully expected for him to lash, to cry, to scream, to swear. To overreact in any way possible. But he didn't do any of that.
Instead, he burst into magenta mist and smoke .
"What the fuck?!" were the only words that came to my mind before a sudden explosion sent me flying backwards. Three ghoulish hounds erupted from the ground and leapt to his side. With a flick of his wrist, they bounded into action and began to circle me, snapping and snarling at every opportunity. As they slowly picked up speed, clouds of violet began to form around me along with a flurry of blurring images, some of which seemed oddly familiar. But I couldn't let my attention wander so I shook myself out of the daze.
Then the fatigue kicked in.
"Don't even bother getting up."
I tried to stand, but my legs seemed to have turned into jello. Then I realized something.
"The smoke...," I concluded.
It was somehow sapping up my energy like a anesthetic. My mind began to fog as I slurred out my last few words, "Whuuuhtizzdissssss...,"
Then there was nothing but darkness.
(PRESENT)
I awoke in the infirmary. Again.
I groaned and got up, my skull throbbing angrily.
"Welcome back to the living."
I snapped my head in the direction of the voice, immediately regretting it as my brain protested in pain, making me want to hurl.
"Woah. Calm down brother. It's just me," Ukraine said, smiling sadly.
"What... happened? How long was I out?" I whispered.
"Quite a while. It's almost the end of the day."
I sighed and scanned the room.
"I didn't expect Goggles to Awaken so soon- what is this?" my brow furrowed in confusion.
A messy stack of papers beside my bed had caught my attention. I reached over and unfurled the first piece from the pile.
"I found this in front of your locker. It's... fanmail..." Ukraine cautioned.
I uncrumpled a piece of paper and sure enough, it was a message intended for me.
GO KILL YOURSELF FUCKIN COMMIE
I didn't need to go any further, knowing all of those papers held similar, hateful messages.
"How awesome is this," I said smiling. Ukraine shot up and grabbed me by the shoulders
"ARe YoU KIDdiNG ME?! HOW iS THIS PILE OF SHIT AWEsOme?! RuS! HOW ARE YOU OK WITH THIS?!" Ukraine shrieked. Her face began to change from blue and yellow to black and red. Her eyes gleamed with murderous rage and... tears.
"Simple. With all this, I won't need to collect firewood for the winter," I chuckled, "Please sister, calm down."
Ukraine stared at me with a blank expression. "Oh," she blinked, her colors returning to normal. Then she began to laugh.
"I'll never understand you Russ."
We ended up chatting and laughing for a good hour before deciding it was time to go. I was feeling alright now so I left the infirmary after waving goodbye to Nurse WHO.
"Try to stay out of trouble ok?"
I nodded and slipped my ushanka back on.
"I won't,"
By the time I left the infirmary, there was only half of a period left. So naturally, I skipped.
"It's not like there is anyone hoping to see me," I mumbled to myself.
The school courtyard greeted me with a calming silence as I made my way to the giant tree in the corner. I sat on it's roots and gazed up at the thick branches dotted with viridian leaves, though some of them had begun to wither. I let the soft whistles of the wind guide my mind away, and finally felt at peace. If only I could be left alone like this forever.
A droplet of water fell upon my skin. Opening my eyes, I glanced up expecting rain clouds but there were none, yet the droplets kept coming. Then I realized they were coming from me.
"Huh," I commented nonchalantly, "It's been a while since I have cried..."
I stared emptily at the dancing clouds for who knows how long, but when I snapped back to reality, students had started pouring out of the doors. Most of them payed me no mind so I closed my eyes once more. Of course, that didn't last very long.
Shuffling and complains flooded into my ears and I begrudgingly took a peek to see a group of students had marched up to me. And look at that, Germany was leading them. I didn't make an attempt to disguise my disdain because they were certainly not here to ask if I was okay.
"I'm really not in the mood for this shit again."
Author's Thanks:
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! #1 IN RUSSIAXAMERICA?! THANK YOU ALL SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!
Good news, I'm feeling good, so expect 2 new chapters next week :)
Stay healthy and happy y'all