Memories

Life One, Act Seven

Warning: Violence and abuse.

Chapter Summary:
"Now, let show you why one should never waste freshly brewed tea." - Sera Caine. "One time, before the Vietnamese War, I saw Phuong checking herself in the mirror." - Lien Hyunh, North Vietnam. "You just rest for today, Feliciano. We've got the chores covered." - Yao Wang, China.

/

"Okay... Is everyone ready...?" Australia asked, voice shaking with anxiety.

He pressed play after getting nods and murmurs of 'yes' and 'let's get this over with...'

/

Three Days Later

"Feliciano." Feliciano froze in the doorway. The basket of fresh laundry he was carrying was gingerly placed on the floor. He turned to face the woman sitting on the sofa ten meters away from him. "Come here."

Feliciano swallowed before wearily making his way across the room. Sera gestured to her teacup, which had spilled tea on the sofa a while ago. "You spilled my tea." Feliciano knows he had not caused her tea to spill, but he knows better than to say that.

"I'm sorry..." he muttered. "Let me show you why tea shouldn't be spilled." She said as she pulled Feliciano to the kitchen where a still steaming kettle sat on the stove. Feliciano tensed as Sera took hold of the kettle. She took the kettle's lid and placed it on the stove.

"Now, let show you why one should never waste freshly brewed tea." She spoke as she lifted the kettle over Feliciano's head.

His scream echoed in the otherwise silent house.

/

Romano had thrown the remote on the floor, wishing it went up in flames. "How dare she?! How dare she do these things to children?!"

None dared to calm his rage. He was rightfully furious.

They all were.

"This won't stop until we finish all their lives...?" France spoke quietly. "Or will it stop if I take back my wish?" He spoke a bit louder. "If so, then I take it back!" He'd shouted but... the goddess did not respond at all to his words.

"I'm sorry... I hadn't meant for us to go through this..." Spain placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "It's not your fault, amore. You didn't know. You wanted to know. We all wanted to know..."

America physically swallowed, eyes shifting to look at the floor. "They have phobias regarding these... Like, Iggy hates small places... or Liet hates being exposed..."

"One time, before the Vietnamese War, I saw Phuong checking herself in the mirror." North Vietnam looked as shaken as she sounded. "When I asked her why she was doing it, she told me she wanted to see what was written on her back..." she looked at France, who was glaring at the screen.

"... there was nothing there..."

France glared at the floor, tears flowing down his cheeks. Spain hugged the other tighly, rubbing comforting circles along his back.

"The sooner we finish this, the better." Germany's strained voice snapped them out of their thoughts. "Ok... let's continue..."

Turkey pressed the play button.

/

Arthur gently placed Feliciano on the bed. He glared at the burnt patches of skin, willing them to go away so his brother didn't have to be in pain. Vlad came up to them with a towel in one hand and a small bucket of water in the other. Yao was quick to walk over to them with pain relievers and antibiotics.

Feliciano whimpered in pain and discomfort, but he let his brothers attend to his burns. Arthur decided to sing a song their mother used to sing on nights when they couldn't sleep.

Hush now my Storeen Close your eyes and sleep
Waltzing the waves
Diving the deep
Stars are shining bright
The wind is on the rise
Whispering words of long lost lullabies
Oh won't you come with me
Where the moon is made of gold
And in the morning sun
We'll be sailing
Oh won't you come with me
Where the ocean meets the sky
And as the clouds roll by
We'll sing the song of the sea

"All done." Yao spoke as he placed the medicines on the desk beside the bed. "You just rest for today, Feliciano. We've got the chores covered." He said before locking eyes with Arthur. "You stay with him. I know you would be the least focused with Feliciano injured like this."

Arthur didn't deny what was a fact. He simply nodded before shifting both himself and Feliciano to lay on the bed. Arthur simply held his brother at that point, only moving whenever Feliciano became uncomfortable or in pain.

/

Tervel was putting the laundry out to dry in their backyard, eyes occasionally looking towards the window of their room, before focusing on his task again. Vlad came up to him to get the dry clothes and sheets inside.

"How's Feli?" Vlad looked like he was sad and frustrated at the same time. "Half of his face was burned. So was the upper part of his right arm as well as the entirety of his right hand..."

"Feli's right handed... How's he going to paint like that...? Painting's his passion!" Tervel glared at the ground as he vented.

/

France dropped the remote onto the table, eyes closed and shoulders shaking. Spain still hasn't let go of him, but the brunette was frozen in shock and rage.

Romano stomped out the door without waiting for anyone to call for a break. Belgium immediately went after him, worried for him.

America placed his glasses on the desk before burrying his face in his hands. Scotland sat to his left, hand rubbing soothing circles on his arm even as the redhead scowled and glared at the screen.

Ireland had moved to sit beside Germany, trying to comfort the man. Germany was grateful, but at the same time, he just couldn't bring himself to smile...

Hungary had somehow bent the edge of the table, Ukraine was the only reason she hadn't lashed out violently yet.

Liechtenstein silently cried as Belarus held her. She could not believe they lived through such violence as children...

As human children, supposed to be free from the responsibilities and tragedies of adult life...

"One hour break...?" Taiwan shakily asked, trying to hold back tears.

"We'll never finish at this point..." Greece glared at sky outside. "I want to finish this life of theirs already... maybe the second one is better..."

Egypt only watched as Greece and Turkey leant closer to each other (ever so slowly).

Latvia just sat there, eyes pointed to the ground. He was trying to think of happier things...

"One hour break." Ukraine said, glancing at the door. "Romano and Belgium will come back. Don't worry." Hungary was relieved at seeing Ukraine relax, even just by a little bit.