Chapter Text
Hm. This one will be.... surprisingly nice. :D
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You gazed across the frozen lake, the water below it sparkling in the dawning morning. The sun had barely risen above the small mountains, and it peaked just barely, causing the entire body of water to have a natural glow that made you almost hypnotized.
You shuffled your feet, walking along the edges. You had never walked on a lake in the middle of winter, when it froze over the water. But your friends had told you it was magical. You shook your head, doubt swirling in your mind.
What if I fall in? you thought, twiddling with your fingers nervously. You weren’t an expert in this; you could easily break the ice with your weight. You didn’t know which shade of ice covering the water meant it was unstable.
So why did you want do this? You sighed, glancing behind you at the snow-covered forest. The truth was, all of those stories you had heard from your friends had made you feel left out as they laughed about slipping or practically running on the ice. You wanted a story to tell aswell.
So you had snuck out of your house at night, covered in a sweater, shorts, a hat, and boots. You had walked quickly through the forest blindly. Although you had left at midnight, it had taken you a few hours to find this lake, since you could barely see and had never journeyed this far before.
Oddly, however, plenty of people had told you not to come to this lake in particular. And you would have listened, curious about why you shouldn’t, but it was the only one frozen. Spring was taking a hold of the climate, and you wanted to make the most of it.
Here I go, you thought, taking a deep breath and gazing back towards the lake. The water below sparkled cheerfully in the rising sun. Would having boots make the ice crack easier? You didn’t know.
Heart in your throat, you carefully stepped on the ice, wincing as you fully put a foot on it. It didn’t crack or make a noise. You opened your eyes and gazed down in surprise. After a moment, you stepped forward, placing your other foot on the ice. It didn’t budge.
Relief shook through you. You stuck your tongue out, ignoring the wind lashing in your face. The cold wasn’t entirely helping you focus with being encouraged, but it definitely distracted you from most of your fear.
I’m doing it! You started to walk slowly across the surface, checking to make sure there were no cracks near you. Your surprise turned to glee, and you crouched down, looking through the transparent ice to the blue below.
You stared for a few moments. Every once in a while you spotted a fish, but it was tiny and moved slowly, as if conserving energy. You smiled at the underwater creatures, even though they couldn’t see you.
You jerked your head up and looked at the sun. It was high enough that you had to put your arm over your head or it would start to hurt. You felt memorized as you looked around you, feeling as if you were part of the sparkling water. Peace settled over you.
Even though you knew it was a bad idea, you sat down and closed your eyes, breathing deeply. How could nobody want to come here? It was brilliant! You could hear nothing but the calm swishing of the water below you, and a shiver of something else crawled up your spine. But it wasn’t the cold.
You stayed like that for what seemed like either a minute or day. Perhaps it had been a day, and you had stayed in that spot for 24 hours. It certainly felt like it. You realized that the back of your legs were starting to get wet, and before you could do anything, a shout was heard from in front of you.
”What the hell do you think you’re doing here?” they shouted. Pang of something like guilt crashed over you, and in the moment you shot up, eyes widening as a small crack was heard. You swallowed and slowly looked up to see who was talking to you.
They seemed to be a man, judging by their build, and although you couldn’t properly see their face because of the sun’s shadow, you could detect from their tone of voice that they were angry and suspicious.
Uh oh. Was this why you weren’t supposed to come here? Did somebody own the lake? Seems a bit big for one person, you thought slowly, glancing around at the seemingly endless lake.
You saw the man waving his arms and shout something else, but it was muted. You struggled to hear, then cupped your hands around your mouth. “What?” you called out. The man shifted his position, and you saw him seethe.
“I said, if you don’t leave I’ll come over there and shove you into the water myself!” he barked, pacing at the edge of the frozen surface. You backed up at the threat, and your heart seemed to stop as you heard another crack.
“I… I can’t!” you stammered back. Your blood roared in your ears. “I’m stuck! T-the cracks in the lake! I’ll fall!” The man stopped pacing and shook his head, muttering something you couldn’t hear this far away. Judging from the distance the sun shined on, he seemed to be around two tree lengths away.
“If I tell you how to get off of the lake safely, will you never come back?” the man hollered. You flinched. Why did he want you to go away so quickly? Had you done something wrong, or maybe offended him? Maybe it’s because you’re on his property, or he just doesn’t like anyone, your mind suggested.
You took a shuddering breath as another crack was heard. How stupid were you, standing up so fast? “Yes, I promise,” you whispered. The man’s face seemed to flash with irritation as he didn’t hear your voice, but he seemed to understand you answer and nodded.
“Don’t lean all of your weight onto one side,” he instructed loudly. “Make sure it’s all spread out so you don’t fall in quickly.” You did what he said, your mouth now dry with the cold flakes of snow.
The sun flashed as it completely appeared from behind the mountain, and you groaned, putting your arm up to shield yourself from the bright rays. After adjusting, you looked back up at the man, waiting for his instructions. You blinked in surprise.
The man’s face… it looked different. Unlike the shades you had seen on everyone else, he seemed to have a splashes of color on his face, as if he painted them himself. But he didn’t seem to care about it; he didn’t even seem worried.
Is it permanent? you thought, squinting to look closer. To your utter shock, you knew the pattern and design of what his face showed. Was that? …The Russian flag?
You rubbed your eyes and looked again. It was still there, plain and bright. You started trembling a little more, half of it from the cold and half from you didn’t know what. You glanced at him and saw his face soften slightly. “Did you listen to what I said?”
You let out a light yelp of embarrassment. You were looking so close at his face that you completely missed the words coming out of his mouth. “N-no,” you babbled, gazing at him apologetically. “Can you say it again?”
His face darkened again, but he steadily nodded. “I want you to slowly crawl to the edge,” he ordered you. "Since you're closer to my side of the lake.... you'll have to come over." He didn't seem pleased by the idea, but didn't complain further.
You slowly inched towards him, about a foot every two seconds. The tightness in your throat slowly lessened the closer to the shore you got. As you looked up every now and then, you saw his face more and more clearly. Yes, it was definitely the Russian flag. But why did he have it on his face?
Was it.... stuck on him? You shook your head in wonder. The man suddenly, wide eyed, lurched forward. "Watch out, you blind idiot!" he roared. You looked up sharply in confusion, but it was too late.
Your foot stepped down on ice, like every time since you had been on the lake. But instead of being secure, the cracks broke the ice, and the boot splashed into freezing cold water.
You gasped and instinctively grasped the ice before you could trip in, but when you fell down more cracks echoed, and before you knew it spread up to your chin. You looked back up weakly to the man, who was pacing the shore again, and then you fell in.
The cold water hit you like cement. It felt so forceful, as if it had been waiting for a victim to fall through into its inky depths. You let out a bubbled scream, but it was muffled beneath the water. You started choking, sides heaving for air.
Your eyes began to hurt. You writhed in the water, desperate to reach the surface. You kicked and paddled, but it didn't work. You felt your hands and feet go numb as your boots slipped off and sank to the bottom.
Your lips started to feel dry even though water surrounded you. You tried once more to breathe, but all that got breathed in was the icy, cold substance. You whimpered and drew your last reserves, beginning to close your eyes.
The last thing you saw, heard, and feel, was the sound of a hand reaching down and grabbing your arm, the touch hard and yet soft at the same time. You glanced down, eyes drooping, and saw the color.
It was red.
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Russia was pacing.
He always paced whenever he was alone, or thinking, or just having a bad temper in general. It hadn't been the greatest day when he had found you on the lake. He didn't want to be the one who dragged you off and to his father's house.
He couldn't do that to anyone he didn't know. They might not deserve it. You certainly didn't. You were too quiet. Too.... he didn't know.
Russia looked back up, meeting your gaze with a glare that made you flinch. He hoped that by being rude and curt, you would leave immediately after you had gotten off of the lake. He didn't want random strangers near his home, after all. It wasn't just because of his father.
His eyes widened when he saw you sauntering faster and faster, growing confidence. You completely missed the open crack on the ice with your gaze, and you were too focused on looking at him to notice. Weird human! he wrinkled his face for a half-moment and shouted, "Watch out, you blind idiot!"
Too late, you looked down and tripped. A bolt of shock went through Russia as you slammed into the ice and opened a hole in the lake, trapping your boot into it and sliding down slowly, eyes frantic as you looked at him in fear.
Russia lurched forward, hesitating and glancing at the ice. It wouldn't hold him like it did with you. He knew just by looking at you that he was bigger and heavier. It would crash down if he ran.
Russia looked up and saw you writhing, struggling to stay on the surface. Clumsy bastard! he thought wryly. Summoning all of his strength, he narrowed his eyes. He had to save you. Not just because having a half-frozen corpse in the lake would be bad.
Frowning, he slid onto the ice. It cracked immensely when he got on, but because he had slid, he had more control and speed. Russia could see your hand just peeking out of the ice, beginning to droop.
He put on a burst of speed and stood up, lunging for the broken ice. It surprised him greatly that it didn't break from under him either. Russia shifted himself so he could grab your arm without making you more numb and hurt.
He latched his hand onto your arm and dragged you upwards easily, letting go mostly only when you were finally on top of the ice. He quickly shook off the cold and looked down at you. You coughed and sputtered but remained unconscious. He gently set you down and saw that your chest was moving but seeming to be stuck. Russia hesitated.
Bah. Weak little human, he thought grumpily. He placed his hands on your chest and pushed, hoping to hell and back he knew what he was doing. He continued for a couple of minutes, but after checking, you were still limp, eyes closed.
Russia cursed himself about feeling anxious for a person he just met. Father would scoff at me and throw them back into the lake, just to teach me a lesson about spite. He glanced at you for a moment longer, then made up his mind. He had to get help, as much as he wanted to deal with this alone and quickly.
He used his arms to stabilize you and carried you, stumbling a little as he got used to your weight. The ice near them splintered. Thinking fast and frantically, Russia began to run. Of course, since he had with you this time, the ice cracked. It nearly made him collapse himself a few times, but he growled and pressed onwards. He wasn't going to let a stupid lake kill him. Where was the honor in that?
He reached the other side of the lake shore and stayed there for a few seconds. Russia felt extremely uncomfortable cradling you like he actually cared. He violently shook his head and stared into the forests, running more steadily now that he was on land.
Russia saw his home glittering brightly and hugely. He didn't take in the structure, however. He ran up to the door and knocked it several times, hoping it wasn't his father who would answer. He felt his hands curling inward towards you, as if trying to protect you from the possible. He straightened them out, narrowing his eyes at the stupid things.
The door opened. An innocent face poked out. Russia let out a sigh of relief. It was one of the most helpful countries they had in this home; Ukraine. "Hello, sister," he said, stepping into the house.
She eyed him curiously. "Why do you have a human in your arms?" her voice sounded awkward, but right now Russia didn't care. He frowned at you. "This idoitic person decided to try and play on the lake. They fell in and nearly died," he growled.
"But you saved them?" Why did Ukraine sound surprised? Russia shrugged. "Someone had to. Corpses aren't very useful, are they?" Ukraine ignored the question and nodded to the table. "Father won't be here for a while. Set them on the table," she said calmly. Russia did so, unfamiliar nervousness settling in his chest.
Ukraine frowned and looked at your chest, same as Russia had done. "There might be something stuck in there; have you tried to get them breathing again?" she asked Russia. He nodded. "Yes. It didn't work."
Russia's sister made a thoughtful nod and rose again. "Then it must be shock. They might've been colder than they realized, and them nearly drowning could have made it worse," she explained. Russia was slightly impressed by how she knew that, but drew his attention back to you.
"So... they need warmth?" Russia questioned. Ukraine dipped her head, a flower from her crown gently falling off. She caught it and stared at it for a moment. "That would be the best option for right now," she agreed.
Luckily Russia went out a lot more then his siblings. He ran to his room and opened a closet filled with jackets and coats of all different sorts. He grabbed a few and ran back into the kitchen where they had set you down.
Ukraine looked at him in alarm, but it quickly gave way to a teasing warmth. "I don't think they need that much," she whispered loudly as if their siblings might overhear. Russia snorted. Don't be annoying, sister.
He paused, glancing at your clothes. "Do we have to take the clothes off of them before we put these on?" he asked Ukraine. She stuck her tongue out, suddenly looking a little uncomfortable. "I'm not doing that, so that means you certainly shouldn't either."
He felt himself heating up slightly. Cringing a little, Russia sharply turned back to his coats and put a couple on you. It wasn't that he cared or anything. Certainly not.
He just didn't want you to die.
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You woke up feeling a blanket of warmth covering you.
You opened your eyes slowly and coughed, chest heaving with air. You seemed lost for a second, your mind drifting. Where am I? you thought warily, glancing around at the setting. It seemed you were in some sort of bedroom.
A shadow shifted from the other side of the room. You blinked in shock as a person stepped forward, eyes piercing into your soul. It was the man from earlier! Had he saved you from the lake?
That would explain on why I still feel wet, you thought, holding out an arm to examine it. A sleeve of a sweater enveloped it, like a soft cloud.
Reality set in. You bolted upwards, groaning slightly as your head rang. “Who are you? Why am I here?” you asked with a strained voice. The man’s face, crystal clear now so you could see the clear Russian flag plastered on, softened slightly.
”You trespassed onto my territory,” he said simply. “And nearly drowned in our lake.” he crossed his arms and stared at you while you took it in. “You’re lucky I was there to save you.”
You didn’t have the energy to ask many important questions. “W-What’s your name?” you asked, sitting up a little and hugging your knees. “I thought that it would've been obvious.” Was that a flicker of amusement flashing across his face?
“Russia,” he announced. Russia? your mind echoed, sharpening with interest, wonder, and fear. Wasn’t Russia a country? Who was this man? You hesitantly held out your hand. “Y/N,” you spoke slowly.
After a few moments of just glaring at it, the so-called Russia took it. You felt awkward as they touched, but you ignored it and looked around what seemed to be his room. “This is.. nice. Did you put these coats on me?” you suddenly stiffened, thoughts sidetracking. “Did you say our lake?”
Russia narrowed his eyes. “Yes, I did. I didn’t want a frozen corpse in my father’s house,” he ignored the second question. “You’ll leave as soon as possible,” he prompted, leaving the room. He began to close the door, but opened the crack slightly.
“If.. if you need anything, tell me,” he asked hesitantly. You blinked in surprise. Based on how annoyed he had seemed when you were on the lake, you didn’t realize he would have saved you, much less give you warmth and temporally shelter.
Before you could ask anything, however, he left. Your thoughts span around your head, making your forehead hurt. You closed your eyes, too tired to think about what had just happened. You quickly fell into a deep doze.
The next time you woke up, it wasn’t on your own accord. A door had slammed shut so loudly it had jerked you from rest. You heard with wide eyes two people arguing, one of them the man’s voice. Russia.
But who was the other one? You realized, with a sinking feeling, you didn’t want to find out. The voices seemed to get louder and louder until they banged your skull like a hammer. And then you saw a person stomp into a room in the same hallway as this one.
They seemed angry, and you saw Russia walk into view almost a moment later to say one last thing. Your mind was too blurry to make it out, but the other person stepped forward and looked down at Russia.
He loomed. You didn’t know if that was appropriate to call someone that, but he loomed above Russia. He was at least a quarter-foot taller, and comparing Russia with anyone else in your life was already bizarre enough.
The man hissed something in return and slammed the door in Russia’s face. The man took a step back, then looked towards your door. His eyes glittered and he slowly walked towards it.
You didn’t have to time to act like you had been sleeping before he opened the door to the room. “Come on,” he said to you quietly. “We have to go now. This is your chance.” You looked helplessly at him, fear growing in your belly. Chance to do what?
“I can try,” you murmured softly. You uncovered yourself from the blankets and started shivering, despite having a couple of jackets on. Russia seemed to be stuck, but after a moment he seemed to make up his mind and advance towards you.
You squeaked as he picked you up and carried you off of the bed. He didn’t seem to have an expression as he did it; his gaze was unreadable. You, however, were speechless. What the- you didn’t have a reaction. A blush crept to your cheeks without you realizing it. What was he doing?!
Russia easily cradled you, even though you must be close to his weight. But his height allowed him to carry you quite breathlessly. He walked quickly down the hall and past what seemed to be the kitchen, opening the front door.
”Wait! I can’t walk out in there!” you shouted fearfully into his ear, glancing desperately as he opened the door. It was snowing hard. It must have turned into a blizzard while you had slept.
“You’re not going alone,” he said with a tone that invited no protests. He looked down at you, and his eyes seemed to stare silently into your soul. They were soft, and hard, and everything you couldn’t explain all in one lifetime.
“I’ll bring you to your neighborhood, but you will make it to your home after. Understood?” he explained. You thought for a moment, still blushing slightly that he still carried you like a baby. “Y-yes,” you stammered.
A small smile twitched at the corner of Russia’s mouth as he nodded. He then started to run into the snowy forest, ignoring the flakes of below-freezing temperature. He never stopped once for breath, and you just stared ahead, not knowing what to say.
After a moment, though, a question popped into your mind, and it was still a little fuzzy to remember to shut up when asking personal questions. “Why did you want me away from your house so fast?” you said sleepily.
Russia continued running, but he glanced down at you for a half-moment. “I don’t want my father to meet you,” he answered firmly. “He wouldn’t like you. He hates bubbly people, and so do I. Usually.” That last part was under his breath, but you had heard it anyway. But you were a little tired and didn’t properly put it into your mind.
You were starting to nod off until he made a complete stop. You staggered away, embarrassed that you had almost fallen asleep. Russia gently put you down, and you unintentionally leaned onto him when standing up.
He curled his lip but immediately stopped, eyes softening when he saw how tired you were. You realized your mistake and pulled away, feeling a jolt of relief when you saw your familiar neighborhood.
What a story you had to share with your friends. Saved by a country. You could imagine what they would say to you. You glanced up at Russia. He glared suspiciously at the town and backed up, looking at you. “You’re okay now, right?”
Why did he care so much now? You were out of his territory. But you nodded, grateful that he cared. Russia looked around to see if anyone saw him, then ducked back into the forest. He glanced over his shoulder one more time to look back at you. His gaze was warmer than it had ever been in your direction.
And then he was gone.
You exhaled, not knowing what to say or think. You were just relieved to be back, to know where to go. And to go back to your bed. Twilight had taken ahold. You had been asleep the entire day at Russia’s home.
You saw your house after walking along the streets. By now you were practically dragging your feet. Your parents’ weren’t home, but knew where the key was. You half-heartedly picked it a couple of times, then went up to bed and buried your face in a pillow.
What a day.