Book 3 - Retrievers

XXXIV - Bruised Chest

"Tazzy?" Louisiana asks.

Russia watches Louisiana slowly walk forward, her hand out. Texas hides his face even more, shaking and crying.

"Don't look at me," Texas whines, hunching over.

"Tazz, it's okay," Louisiana soothes, rubbing Texas' back.

Texas hiccups, and wraps his arms around Russia tightly. Russia flinches.

'Those punches are going to bruise.'

Russia hugs back. Alabama walks up behind Russia and carefully picks Texas' hat up off the floor. He brushes it off and awkwardly stands by, holding it. Mississippi walks up and starts rubbing Texas' shoulder, tears in his eyes.

New York and New Jersey start trying to herd the younger states out of the room, and Virginia and Delaware try to comfort them as they leave. Most of the states seem frozen in their spots. The provinces scurry off.

North Carolina and South Carolina cling to each other, and Tennessee is softly crying into her hands. Kentucky holds Arizona and Oklahoma by their hands and Arizona sniffles.

The sniffles soon turn to wails.

Texas stiffens at the noise, and he tries to hide even further. Texas' crying swells in intensity, and he shakes uncontrollably, clutching at Russia's back. Russia holds him tighter.

"I'm sorry, I can't stop. I can't. I can't. I can't stop. I want- I can't. I'm so sorry," Texas heaves between sobs.

"It's okay," Russia promises, "it's okay. You're okay."

Russia starts to gently rock Texas back and forth in the hopes of calming him down. But offering comfort only seemed to make Texas cry even harder. Russia's heart clenches.

Russia can feel Texas' gasping breaths in his frame.

Russia catches America's gaze. America looks close to crying himself before he visibly takes a deep breath and sighs. America's expression hardens, and Russia's heart aches.

'It's destroying him,' Russia realizes, 'it's destroying most of us.'

America hugs some of the states standing beside him before swiftly disappearing up the stairs. Worry fills Russia's mind.

'I hope he's okay.'

Russia turns his attention back to Texas, who is swaying and leaning heavily against him, bawling. Russia rubs small circles on Texas' back and starts humming again. Sure, he can't hear the tune to correct himself, but he figures it was probably close enough.

Texas chokes and tries to muffle his crying into Russia's sweater. Russia smiles sadly and cradles Texas' head in one hand and trying to block Texas' face from the world with his other arm. Texas begins to squirm a little, and Russia loosens his hold.

Texas pulls away a little to stare up at Russia. Russia's heart cracks at the tears and snot on Texas' face.

"You don't understand. I need to. You don't- I need to protect you and dad and everyone else and I need to please," Texas begs.

Russia quietly shushes him, and Texas's voice fades from Russia's hearing.

"You don't need to protect anyone," Russia promises.

"But- But I have to!" Texas exclaims, shoving against the growing bruises

"No," Russia says soothingly, trying to ignore the throbbing in his chest, "you don't."

"But-"

"It's not your job. You need to care for yourself."

"But I need-"