Never Left

Chapter 3

Originally published on: April 17, 2020

"Alright Chips, sorry it's not much." Russia said as he unlocked the door. Ame peered in and immediately stopped wagging his tail. What happened? He thought as he looked around. Russia rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yeah sorry I didn't clean beforehand, I didn't really expect to come home with a dog. I only went because Uke and Canada made me." He explained. The white dog looked up at the mention of the maple syrup loving country.

Russia smiled at the thought of making a pun about how horrible his life had been, knowing that America always liked bad puns.

"Life's been pretty ruff." He said, if only his beloved were there to enjoy it. "Well anyways, come on in I'll let you explore while I unload the car." He said walking back towards his car, leaving the white dog to wander the house.

Ame trotted towards the couch and stared at it, remembering all of the movie nights he and Russia had spent cuddling on it. Next he went into the kitchen, where he found an unhealthy amount of vodka bottles scattered around, some were broken, others intact, but they were all empty. Ame trotted is the stairs and into the bedroom. He looked around. Like the kitchen, there were vodka bottles scattered through the place, the sheets on the bed had been tossed around, everything just looked like a massacre.

"Chips! Come here boy!" Russia called from downstairs. Ame perked his ears and returned to the country calling him. Though he wondered, had Russia really been doing this poorly since he had died?

"There you are." The man said pulling out his phone. "My sibling and their boyfriend want to see a picture of you." He explained, not really caring that he was talking to a dog and wouldn't get much of a response. It was nice to be able to talk to someone who would listen. "There, sent." He said and plopped down onto the couch, letting out a large sigh. Ame looked at Russia and jumped up on the couch next to him, resting his head on the man's leg. Russia smiled and let his hand stroke the white dog.

Ame would have really liked you. He thought to himself, but was quickly interrupted by his phone ringing. He picked it up and answered.

"Hello."

"OMGoodness she's so CUTE!" Russia winced as he hear Uke squealing on the other side of the phone.

"It's actually a h-" Russia sighed as he was cut off before he could explain that Chips wasn't a girl.

"If she isn't spayed you should breed her and make her have babies with another dog! Ohhhhh I bet they would be adorable." Ukraine said, it was clear that they were about to explode from all the excitement. Ame flattened his ears at the 'make her have babies' part. Sure he had always wanted children at some point but the fact that Ukraine actually said that kinda bothered him. Then again he couldn't blame them, they didn't know.

"Ukraine, they're a boy. Also I don't plan on breeding him." Russia said. Uke went dead silent.

"...oh."

"Yyeeaaaahh..." Russia said awkwardly. Ame thought for a moment. What if Russia did get him neutered...actually maybe it wasn't the best idea to imagine getting his balls chopped off.

"Oh also, UK wants to get together Wednesday night. Just as a family thing." Uke explained. Russia was dead silent. "He said you don't have to come if you don't want to and that he understands if-"

"I'll come." Russia responded, his voice was all of the sudden cold and harsh. Uke smiled.

"Thanks bro, maybe you could bring Chips too? I think that maybe he and UK and France's dogs could get along. Plus I know everyone is gonna want to see him once they know you have him." Ukraine said.

"Yeah okay, I'll bring him. Just Tell UK so I don't seem rude."

"Will do."

"Thanks Uke."

"No Problem big bro." And with that Russia ended the call and looked over to Chips, who was still resting his head on Russia's leg. Russia sighed and got up.

"I should clean this place so you don't step on any glass or something."

For the next hour and a half Russia spent his time cleaning the house, throwing away all of the empty bottles, using the vacuum cleaner to suck up all of the glass shards that he might have missed. By the end he was exhausted. He hopped into the shower and quickly cleaned himself, brushed his teeth and climbed into bed. Ame hopped up onto the bed next to Russia. The man shot up.

"Off." He commanded. Ame just sat there, looking at him.

"Off." Russia said again, this time more firmly. Ame whined and jumped off the bed and stared at Russia.

"Your bed is in the living room downstairs if you want to sleep there." Russia grumbled before burying his face into his pillow. Ame huffed and wandered down into the living room to see a dog bed by the fire place.

Well I'll just bring my bed to him. He thought as he grabbed the edge of the bed with his mouth and began to drag it up towards the bedroom, determined to sleep somewhat close to Russia. About halfway up the stairs Ame gave up and just returned to his old bedroom to see Russia fast asleep.

Welp he can't stop me now. He thought as he got onto the bed and curled up next to Russia, making sure to make minimal movement as not to wake the sleeping country. Slowly drifting into sleep.

 — — — — —

I can't decide when I should refer to him as 'Ame' and when I should refer to him as 'Chips'. Oh well. Have a nice day. :)