Black Coffee :|: America x Russia :|: Countryhumans

(OPT. B) Chapter Fifty-Nine

TRIGGER WARNING:

Blackmail (surprise, surprise amiright?)

Mentions of prostitution and human trafficking (wHoOp wHoOp)

~~~~~~~~

Calm music flowed through the scenic garden, tangling in the long grass and small wind chimes strewn about in blossoming trees.

China took a deep breath in through his nose as he moved his hands towards him in a flowing motion and exhaled through his mouth when he pushed them out again. He imagined water slinking through his fingers and rolling around his arms, letting the hairs on his red skin stand on end. The breeze ruffled his hair and loose clothes ever so slightly and brought the calming aroma of sweet-smelling flowers to his senses. He stood in the sand near a huge stone in the middle of his Zen garden, the warm sand surrounded a barrier of water that trickled along, with small splashes here and there from the koi fish.

As he shifted into another Qi Gong move, he thought of how the world flowed from one action to another just like his actions. Just like how consciousness flows from one thought to another. The flow of time, the flow of thought, the flow of cause and effect all blended together in a huge stream of knowledge.

Halfway through flowing into another movement, China felt a presence. Someone was in his sacred garden, and this person was not welcome.

Sand crunched under what sounded like heavy combat boots as a figure approached him, China simply keeping his eyes closed and his arms moving, feeling the ebb and flow of the universe.

Breathe in.

The crunching stopped a little way away from him.

And out.

Suddenly China felt a hard kick to his lower back, and he went crashing to the ground, sand flying. Before he could sit up two gloved hands grabbed his wrists and pinned them behind his back, ripping him back and forcing him to look up.

A red and yellow face adorned with a beaming smile.

Which to anyone but China would probably not be seen as utterly terrifying.

China scowled to himself, glancing over his shoulder at his assailant. They wore all black (which was very suspicious clothing to be wearing during the day) with a strong build underneath, and had gloves on – but he assumed they were a country. Mainly due to the fact there was only one person who would carry out his harasser's evil deeds.

"There was no need to physically restrain me," China pointed out calmly, though on the inside he wanted to rip the arms off his suppressor.

"I'm sorry, China! I just couldn't take any chances," Vietnam said sweetly, innocently balancing on one of the rocks in front of him. To anyone else it would seem like a childish move to explore or keep occupied, however, China knew it was just another example of Vietnam's classic play for power. He loved looking at everything like a game of cat and mouse.

And he had found his prey.

"You certainly haven't changed, I see. Still making others carry out your dirty work."

Vietnam giggled, "You say that like it's a bad thing. However, if I recall correctly, it was you who said that it's important to ask for help when you need it."

"I think you know I was not referring to taking hostages."

"You're not a hostage, silly! I just want to offer you a little deal."

China narrowed his eyes, "I'm familiar with your deals. I'm not interested."

Vietnam hummed, sitting down on the large rock and swinging his legs over the side, "I thought you might say that. That's why I brought along some...persuasion."

He clicked his fingers and the man clad in black behind China pulled a yellow folder out of his jacket and handed it over to Vietnam who hummed when he opened it as if someone had just said something very interesting.

"You've been busy haven't you China?~" Vietnam cooed, holding up a picture to his red and yellow face.

The photo was surprisingly clear. It showed China's iconic red face with the 5 stars. He had sunglasses on and his head down as he walked away from a strip club with a slightly dishevelled human woman on his arm counting bills as they walked. China felt his face heat up as he looked away from the picture, swallowing.

"Prostitution hmm? My, that isn't very righteous of you."

"I'm not scared of a bit of embarrassment," China said after clearing his throat, still calm and fighting down the blush in his cheeks. "People turn to prostitution all the time; it isn't that surprising. People will get over it."

"That they will, but how will they react to these fun little tapes I have here?" Vietnam purred, pulling some burnt CDs out of a pocket in the folder. "They have a little ditty on them I like to call 'China confessing to human trafficking'."

China straightened and tensed when the man's grip tightened significantly, pressing him to the ground more in case he decided to pull anything.

"Oh? Did I strike a nerve?" Vietnam asked, hopping off his rock to get closer to China's face with a smirk. "How will everyone react to watching this crystal-clear video of you in a meeting with our dear friend Philip, talking about how rampant human trafficking is. Too bad they'll hear you both agree at the end that there's "no point in fighting it" and that "the people don't matter"."

China bit his lip – had he really said those things? He had hadn't he?

Vietnam got a little bit closer, his face shrouded in shadow and his voice low, "I wonder how that will affect your alliances. Philip for one will be devastated, won't he? Poor Philip. I'll be there to support him, tell everyone that clearly it was China who convinced him not to take action – that he was only listening to his respected elders! Everyone will agree and realise that their trade with a country with such ideals would be supporting them, so you will be left broke and alone, just like you've always feared."

"You're a monster," China said quietly.

"I'm not the one who supports human trafficking."

"You don't understand the effects this will have on-"

"I most certainly do, China. So I suggest you do as I say, and these nasty little secrets-" Vietnam placed the CD back in its pocket and the photo with the many others in the folder. "- will remain secret."

China sighed, looking up at him in defeat.

"What is it you need me to do?"

Vietnam grinned slyly, "oh nothing you won't enjoy, I promise."

Closing the folder and putting it behind his back, Vietnam stood up straight again. The sun shined behind him, creating a ring of light surrounding his head as though he were some kind of angel.

But he was far from it.