ℌ𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔞𝔠𝔥𝔢 [𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔱𝔯𝔶𝔥𝔲𝔪𝔞𝔫𝔰 𝔵 𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔢𝔯]

Chapter 16

"Y/n? Y/n! Wake up please! I knew I shouldn't have let her go upstairs alone. Not in this state."
I moved a little and I felt a hand on my cheek.
"Боже ты мой (Oh my god), she's crying."
I opened one eye and at first everything was blurry, but when my eyesight came into focus I saw Russia leaning over me.
"Ngh, lemme 'lone. I wanna sleep."
A piercing pain in my head suddenly hit me.

I groaned and clutched it.
"Are you sick? Are you feeling okay? Do you want me to carry you downstairs?"
His last statement left him red.
I got off the bed and stood up
I took a few steps forwards and stumbled.
Once again Russia caught me.
"How the hell do you have such good timing for catching girls."

"Well, you have a tendency to fall for me. I always need to be ready."
I rolled my eyes and steadied myself.
"Shut up."
He chuckled and picked me up.
"W-what the fuck?! Put me down right now! I demand you to unhand me peasant!"
I struggled and gently hit him on the back.
He carried me downstairs anyway.

Australia had left by this point and America was sitting on the couch, on his phone
"Meri!"
"Yeah-"
He turned to us and the look on his face was priceless
I gave him a tortured look
"Halp. Please."
America got up and walked towards me.
I thought he was going to help me but instead he poked my nose.

"BOOP"
He gave me a stupid grin, and did it again.
I swatted at his hand and Russia literally threw me onto the couch.
"You're surprisingly heavy." He commented
"It's rude to comment on a lady's weight." I retorted
America snickered.
"Yeah Russia! Stop being rude!"
I smiled groggily, they're actually getting along.

I yawned and wiped my eyes.
My cheeks were still wet and my nose was blocked.
"Okay! So! You're staying with my dad next! Since you've stayed with Russia for two days."
I nodded and stood up again.
"Okay then, who's gonna take me?"
"Me!"
They spoke in unison.
"Who?"
I giggled

They looked towards each other and glared.
"How about you both take me? Or I could get Japan to-"
"No no! We'll bring you!" America insisted
"Okay!"
I began walking to the door and opened it.
The cold air hit me like a wall and I began shivering.
Russia had taken back his jacket at this point and I walked out into the falling snow.

Birds were singing and deers were looking for grass in the snow.
"Why are there animals here? Isn't it too cold for them?"
Russia shrugged and walked towards a deer.
It actually didn't run away from him. It lifted its head and stared at him. He held out his hand and the deer sniffed it.
I watched in awe. America stood behind me and chuckled.
"Kinda cool huh? He's pretty good with animals."
I turned to look at him, an amused look on my face.

"What?"
"Nothing, it funny to me. You guys argue so much and now you're complimenting him."
"I'm not complimenting him, I'm stating the obvious."
"Can I ask you a question?"
"You just did."
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah sure. What is it?"
"....do you guys hate each other?"

"What? No. Well, sorta. Um, we're like, how do I put this? Friendemies? I don't know."
"Is it because you guys broke up?"
He stayed silent and refused to look at me.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that..."
The silence hung in the air and I looked down at the floor.
It was broken by the sound of trotting hooves.
Russia walked over to us
"Hey, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine."
Russia looked at me, and leant over to me
"Is he okay?"
I sighed
"I may have brought up your breakup."
He facepalmed
"You shouldn't have done that, it wasn't good."
"Yeah I can see that."
"Did you apologize?"
"Yeah."
"Don't worry then, he'll be fine."

I nodded
"Let's hope so."
"Guys! Are you going to stand there all day? C'mon! We need to go!"
America was waving frantically at us.
Russia took my hand in his and pulled me towards the car.
"I call shotgun!" I sang, running towards the door. "Man, I've been waiting for years to say that!"
They both laughed and America got in the driver's seat.
"Looks like you're stuck in the backseat Russia." America smirked

"I'm not that sad about it. I get a free nap on the way." Russia grinned back
"Hey! No fair!" I whined.
"It's your fault for calling shotgun. Now you gotta suffer the consequences!"
I stuck out my lower lip and gave him sad eyes.
"Stop doing that and get in before I toss you in."
I begrudgingly opened the door and sat on the seat.
"Don't worry, at least you get to sit next to me. I don't know what I would do if I was forced to sit next to him for an hour."
I giggled and looked over at Russia.

"You comfortable Ru Ru?"
He was already lying down and winked at me.
"Yup."
America started driving and the trees flew past us in a blur.
My eyes widened as I caught a glimpse of the same humanoid figure in the trees.
"The fuck...?"
I could tell from Russia's voice that he saw it too.
"Meri, did you see that...?"
He shook his head.
"No, I've been watching the road the whole time. Why?"

"Nothing, don't worry about it."
"Oh, okay...?"
Could that figure have been Australia? It might be..but he seemed so nice.. It might not be.
"Guys?"
"Yeah?"
"Yup? What do you need?"
"Did Australia want me to leave?"
"No, he was one of the first people to vote to keep you here."

I nodded
"Who wanted me gone?"
"Uh, North Korea, Germany, um, Singapore, Belgium, uh, South Korea and Philippines?"
"Philippines and South didn't vote."
"You saw they wanted to."
"Yeah but you never know, they might not have wanted to send her back."
"Okay, that's what you think. But still."
"Stop assuming."
"I'm not assuming! I'm just pointing out my opinion!
"Like normal, your opinion doesn't matter in this case."
"Good lord, shut the hell up."
"No, you shut up."

I needed to stop them arguing so I interrupted.
"Okay, I get it. Stop acting like children."
They both went silent
"Ahem, sorry about that." Russia awkwardly chuckled
The silence in the car continued for a while and eventually Russia fell asleep.
"Um, so, did you want me to explain about why we act like this towards each other?"
I turned to America
He didn't seem upset, he seemed willing to explain.

"Are you sure you want to talk about it? Doesn't it upset you?"
"No, it's something that I need to talk about."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. I need to talk about this."
"Okay then, if it makes you feel better."
"Yeah, okay. Thanks by the way."
I smiled.
"No problem, what are friends for?"
His smile faltered for a second but he didn't stop looking thankful.