Hetalia Oneshots

Nyo!Prussia (Julchen) x Reader - The Cost of War

I still remember the exact moment she walked into my tent, the scent of cold metal and damp wool trailing behind her like a ghost of the battlefield. The canvas flaps barely had time to settle before she strode in, tall and confident, her crimson eyes scanning the space as though she owned it. A streak of dried blood ran down her pale cheek from a thin, shallow cut, and I barely had time to register her presence before she spoke.

"You. Nurse." Her voice was sharp, her tone expectant. "Fix this."

I turned from my supplies, meeting her gaze with a raised brow. I had treated many soldiers before, some frightened, some weary, some stoic—but none quite like her. There was an arrogance about her, something unshaken and relentless as if she saw herself as invincible despite the evidence to the contrary.

I motioned for her to sit on the cot, but she remained standing, arms crossed.

"It's just a scratch," she added, smirking. "Not even worth your time, but orders are orders."

I sighed, already feeling the irritation prickle at the back of my neck. "If it's not worth my time, then why are you here?" I asked, reaching for a clean cloth and some antiseptic.

Her smirk widened. "Maybe I just wanted to see if the camp nurse was as lovely as the others said."

I nearly dropped the bottle in my hand. Heat rose to my face, though I willed it away as I focused on dampening the cloth. "Flattery won't make this sting any less," I muttered, stepping closer.

She didn't flinch when I pressed the cloth to her cheek, though her smirk faded slightly. Up close, she was even more striking—her features sharp and chiselled, her long platinum hair cascading down her back in a way that seemed almost unnatural against her uniform. The other faded scar on her cheek, though small, told me she wasn't new to this life.

"Punctual and diligent," I mused aloud, trying to distract myself from the way my fingers brushed her jaw. "That's what they say about you, right?"

Julchen chuckled, the sound was rich and self-assured. "They also say I'm the best in the camp."

I rolled my eyes. "That part I figured out for myself."

Despite my initial frustration with her attitude, I couldn't deny that something about her intrigued me. Perhaps it was the way she held herself, like nothing in the world could truly shake her. Or perhaps it was the way her crimson eyes softened—just slightly—when she looked at me, like she saw something worth paying attention to.

I finished cleaning the wound and reached for a bandage, but before I could apply it, her hand caught my wrist. I looked up, startled.

"You're different," she said, tilting her head as if studying me. "Most people either fear me or worship me. You just look... annoyed."

I swallowed, unsure of how to respond. "Maybe I don't have time for arrogance," I said, attempting to pull my hand away.

But she didn't let go. Instead, her grin returned, this time slower, more deliberate. "Or maybe you just like a challenge."

I finally managed to wrap the bandage around her wound, my fingers working quicker than necessary. "You're done," I said, stepping back. "Try not to get yourself killed."

Julchen stood, rolling her shoulder like the whole encounter had been nothing more than a passing amusement. But as she turned to leave, she paused at the entrance, glancing over her shoulder.

"I'll see you again, nurse." Her voice carried a certainty that sent a shiver down my spine.

And despite myself, despite the frustration she had already managed to stir in me, I knew she was right.