Worldwide Secrets

Chapter 12: PTSD

A/N: this chapter got unexpectedly dark, with mentions of the Holocaust and allusions to the death camps in Poland. There's also allusions to non-WW2 genocide in the Americas and the Baltic nations.

Once everyone has sat down, Lithuania picks up the book again.

"Dear Diary,
Today I discovered that Arthur and João are together. Aiya! I truly am an old fool.
• Yao"

China is once more embarrassed, glaring at the book. "This is your fault, isn't it Romulus?" He mutters sourly, referring to Ancient Rome.

Meanwhile, the other nations are focused on England and Portugal, two nations sitting next to each other. England raises one of his thick eyebrows challengingly.

"Surely at least some of you are aware that João and I have the longest-standing alliance in European history?"

When no one acknowledges this, Portugal laughs. "Then again, we haven't been very open with our relationship, have we, meu amor?" ("My love" - Portuguese)

"No, love, I suppose we haven't," England comments. No one notices the crestfallen, some may even say heartbroken, look on China's face. He quickly schools it into one of neutrality though.

When there's no further commenting, Lithuania continues with the next entry.

"Dear Diary,
I hope that Im Yong Soo Gangnam Styles off of a cliff.
• Chaiya (Thailand)

"It's signed by the rest of the East Asians," Lithuania notes with a laugh, sending ripples of laughter through the room.

"Hey!" South Korea protests. "K-Pop is awesome da-ze!"

"Hell yeah it is!" Northeast agrees, with Pacific Northwest nodding in agreement. South Korea runs down to the American Regions, giving them high-fives before returning to his seat.

Lithuania passes the book on to Latvia, who takes it gingerly. Clearing his throat, he reads the page before him in a wavering voice.

"Dear Diary,
Alfred and Feli think that we should invite Sweden and Germany to our next session. Sweden's kinda intimidating, but he doesn't seem that bad. His Offenhauser and his Koenigsegg Agera would get him in. But like, Germany's cars don't matter since he and I have some pretty bad blood. Like, I get it that he's obviously not the same person, but he just makes me uncomfortable. But like, he's Feli's friend...
I don't know... Maybe the group should stay just us three right now.
• Feliks."

Northern Italy and Northeast look to their friend in concern. Poland is watching the table, not making eye contact with anyone. The two decide to walk over to their friend, each putting a reassuring hand on the Pole's shoulder.

"Ve, you could have told us," Veneziano reassures Poland.

"Yeah dude," Northeast smiles brightly. "We would have understood. These things take time to cope with, even for us."

"Like, thanks guys," Poland smiles at his friends, even if it doesn't totally reach his eyes.

"Ve, no problem!" Italy Veneziano hugs Poland, an action the American is quick to copy. After the hug, the two return to their seats. Shifting awkwardly in his, Germany clears his throat.

"Do-do I still make you uncomfortable?" He asks Poland hesitantly. The Pole return his gaze to the the table as the tension in the room thickens.

"Yeah," Poland answers after a few moments. "You kinda do. And like, I get it, it's in the past, you really didn't have control over the situation, whatevery! If it was bad for you, it was worse for me! First the invasions, and the partitioning, then it was the camps and the deaths!" Poland's shoulders are stiff and hunched, his voice angry and upset. He had begun speaking faster, working himself into a panic.

"I was split between two tyrannical humans and suffered as people in my land died cruelly! And I couldn't do a damn thing!" He cuts himself off with choking sobs, fists in his hair and bent over in his chair.

Veneziano, Northeast, Lithuania, and surprisingly Finland are at the Pole's sides in seconds. Northeast and Lithuania start untangling Poland's fingers from his hair. Italy turns the chair away from the table and rubs his friend's back soothingly. Finland kneels in front of Poland and talks him down in a soothing tone.

Germany, meanwhile is white, cold and clammy. He's in shock. While having apologized to Poland and done all that the Pole let him to in order to try and make amends, Germany had never considered how the war as a whole had affected Poland. It was expected that the Pole would hold resentment towards the German, but to see that he was bottling up so much trauma was jarring.

The fact that the mere mention of the events could illicit this type of reaction was shocking to not only Germany, but to several other nations as well. Of course, they could all relate to trauma, but Poland's reaction was unlike ones they themselves have had. Those like the Baltic's, the American Regions, and Mexico however, could understand Poland.

The Baltic's have their dark past of deaths and torture in the Soviet Union.

Mexico and the American regions grew up amidst the senseless slaughter of their land's natives.

The Regions had fought a bloody Civil War just a century after their independence, while a couple of them had fought in their own war for independence as well. They had also been involved in almost every major international conflict since their independence, so they knew a thing or two about wartime trauma.

Finland, North Italy, Lithuania, and Northeast managed to calm Poland down after a few minutes. Of course, "calm" is a relative term as the nation is still slightly shaking and crying.

"We're calling a break!" Northeast shouts before the group of four slowly lead Poland from the room and into the Hall, toward someone's room.