We Don't Care (Gerpol)

Chapter 34

Russia's P.O.V.

I was kind of freaking out.

But only slightly.

Austria let out a sigh, her breath condensing in the cold air. There was snow on the ground, crushing between our boots.  I had my hands in my jacket pockets, not trusting them to hang by my sides.

Sunbeams peeked through the treetops, making little spots of sunlight on the forest floors. There was a light mist settling over the forest, limiting our vision but not too bad.

Austria studied the ground under us, giving me a few moments to look at her face. My heart twisted with attraction, and butterflies fluttered around in the pit of my stomach. She meant more than she could ever know to me. And even if it was just from a distance, her presence made the pain from my breakup that much more bearable.

She focused her gaze back in front of her, and I also trained mine on the gravel path. "So...did you ever eat that fish?" She asked randomly.
I couldn't suppress my chuckle. "Yes. I cooked it for me and my siblings."
"You have many siblings?"
"Mhm."

"That must be nice. I was raised at an orphanage. My parents didn't want me."
"That's terrible," I said, feeling a pang of sympathy.

She shrugged. "Can't miss what you never had. The only family I've had is Germany. After he lost his sister, we met at Oktoberfest, when I brought him to my house—completely wasted. It's not a likely friendship story, but, it works."

I nodded slowly. "Oktober...fest?"
"Oh yes, it's one of her biggest celebrations of the year! I travel to Bavaria with a few countries and we have a great time. We have dancing, lots of beer, Braut Wurst..."
Austria trailed off, seeing something in the distance. I followed her gaze. "What?"
"Shh," she said, pointing a few meters down the path, where there was a clump of bushes and...
...a big animal.

The huge creature had horns and hooves, not a deer, but not a horse. It looked incredibly powerful, like it could topple a truck. I recognized it as a moose.

"Ah, Canada has told me about these. They are called moose." She stared in wonder.
"They look like...bear-deers."
I nodded again. "They might be dangerous, so be careful."

I slowly edged towards the animal, guarding Austria with one hand. The moose turned to face us, watching us through its warm, beady eyes. It looked...curious, almost.
I reached out a shaky, tentative hand, directed towards the snout. It huffed through its large nostrils, sending a blast of hot air that ruffled my hair. Then, my hand made contact with the fur, and the moose allowed me to gently pet it.

Austria watched with awe. A strong sense of pride welled up in my chest.
The moose pulled away, lumbering across the path and back into the forest. I put my fists on my hips, grinning.
"And that, is a moose."

"Wow!" She said. "A real moose! I'll have to tell Germany when we...get..." the Austrian trailed off again. I looked behind me to see if there was a another moose. When there was none, I looked back only to see her watching the ground.
"What's the matter?" I said, walking a little closer. She looked up at me, eyes glossy with tears. "Can I tell you something?"

"Yes, anything." I said reassuringly. She inclined her head further down.
"I think...Germany likes Poland more than me." Her face was sullen, an expression of grim understanding.
I drew back my head, blinking in surprise. "What? Why would you think something like that?"
"I don't know, I just..." she fingered the hem of her skirt. "He seems so intent on finding Poland. Something tells me he wouldn't do the same for me."

I thought back to what Austria had told me earlier in our walk. Germany was her closest thing to family. She wouldn't think he favored someone else if there wasn't explicit evidence.