Chapter Text
RE and USSR were walking down the street. They were retired countries. Still conditionally immortal, just no longer in power. Being countries, they were freakishly tall, with RE standing at a staggering 7'3'', and USSR standing just shorter at 7'.
In this world, hybrids exist, they are not very common, but they do exist. However, they are the most sex-trafficked beings among the human race, (mostly due to media sexualizing and infantilizing them) which is why they are so rare. The few that do exist are either in desolate tribes or deep in the countryside of certain countries. And so it was quite a wonder when RE and USSR were walking down the street of Moscow and saw a hybrid.
A small fox hybrid. About 5'2'' with curly, russet hair and large fox ears, as well as an elegant fox tail. The bottom half of their body also resembled a fox, with digitigrade fox legs, it showed that they most likely had ties to tribes; tribe borne hybrids usually looked more animalistic. And yet here they were, in the capitol.
RE came forward, his shameless curiosity driving him as USSR frowned behind him, already knowing that RE was most likely going to scare the shit out of the poor hybrid.
"Hello, little one!" RE said, smoothly stepping infront of the hybrid. The hybrid jumped nearly a foot, their ears flattening against their head and their tail puffing as RE startled them.
RE noticed this, but continued. "Im sure you know who I am, but what's your name? I must know what name to connect to this pretty face~" RE flirted. RE flirted with just about everyone. However, flirting with a hybrid, whom is already terrified, is NOT the right way to go about things.
USSR decided that was enough. You see, after a country retires, they 'wake up' per se, and realize how they weren't a good country. And so USSR has at least tried to become a better person since his reign.
"RE. That's enough. They're terrified" USSR grunted, crossing his arms, looking down at the hybrid, whom had lowered into a defensive stance, looking damn near ready to bolt, yet also trying to figure out whether or not they would chase them.
"Oh my!" RE said, suddenly noticing how the hybrid looked utterly terrified.
"I apologize, I suppose that was rather disrespectful of me!" RE conceded, although he didn't look too apologetic.
Hybrids, being naturally perceptive, immediately picked up on this, which did not help RE.
"Well, I suppose I shall start with the pleasentries. What's your name, little one?" RE started, "remember, it's disrespectful to ignore a former country~!" RE added with a smug smirk that made the hybrid's skin crawl.
"... My name is Rau." The hybrid said, their tail swishing uncomfortably as he looked up at the former country.
"Ah, such a wonderful name! What brings you to the city? It's been quite a while since I've seen hybrids in big cities such as this!" RE jabbered.
"The only college that accepts hybrids is in Moscow. I don't have much of a choice." Rau stated shortly, unwilling to let their guard down, and so they kept their answers bland.
"Ah, you must be quite smart then! I wonder if you'd like to join the USSR and I for lunch!" RE mused. It seemed more of an order than an ask.
USSR frowned. Not that he was against hybrids; he just didn't understand how RE couldn't see the obvious wariness that Rau felt towards them.
Rau knew it'd be foolish to deny a former country something like this. Especially former empires. Empires were stubborn and often cocky. If they want something, there's a good chance they'd fight tooth and nail to get such thing. "Alright..." Rau mumbled hesitantly, keeping their wary and alert stance as RE walked infront of them.
USSR came up beside Rau, hoping to assure the hybrid that he would make sure that RE wouldn't cross any boundaries while USSR is there. "I apologize on behalf of him. He is used to people fawning over him, and so I'm quite sure he expected the same from you. Don't worry, I will make sure he does not surpass your boundaries. Stay near me and I'll be sure he does not do anything." USSR vowed, allowing the hybrid to relax slightly.
As they walked down the street, people stared for obvious reasons. It wasn't every day that one gets to see a hybrid, let alone a hybrid walking beside two former countries.
The trio walked into a restaurant, getting a table and ordering some food. "The bills on me!" RE announced, flaunting his jewelry like a male bird. He was clearly rich. And no doubt USSR was as well, except USSR dressed more like the common folk.
"Uh— thank you" Rau murmured, their tail twitching awkwardly.
"You're simply gorgeous! Your ears— they look so soft!" RE reached over to touch the hybrids ears, before his wrist was caught by USSR.
"RE. Calm yourself. Do you even know what hybrids have gone through?" USSR scolded, his eyes narrowing.
RE paused, as if the thought of hybrid discrimination had only just formed in his mind. "What do you mean?" he asked, as if offended at the thought that he could've done wrong.
USSR glanced at Rau, knowing that it would be better if Rau explained it. Rau took a breath before speaking, his voice starting shaky, but grew stronger. "Hybrids are the most sex trafficked and sexualized beings on the planet. Rumors and stereotypes are constantly created to make hybrids seem innocent and small, or even going as low as to present hybrids as animals or sex toys. such stereotypes include, but aren't limited to– the thought that touching a hybrids' ears or tail will make us give a sexual reaction, the stereotype of "heats" which was a made up concept to compare hybrids to animals. Whenever I leave my house, I always get touched. Someone always touches my ears or makes remarks about me. I have lost family members to sex trafficking. I, myself, have been sex trafficked. I escaped early on, but that does not make it any less horrible." Rau explained, their voice holding a cold tone to it, offended by how RE knew so little, despite being a former empire.
RE looked astonished. He began to subconsciously fiddle with one of the many necklaces he had on, now feeling utterly foolish. He had been an empire! How could he have never seen this!? while USSR looked disappointed in RE.
"you— your kind— how did I not know of this!?" RE exclaimed, turning to USSR.
"It still happened when you ruled. I specifically remember from when I was younger, a guard tried to inform you of more missing cases and sexual assault cases, but each time you brushed them off. You kept prepping for balls without caring about your people." USSR explained bluntly.
RE stared at USSR in utter shock, before turning to Rau, his expression changing to one of remorse. "I... I do apologize. If I had known what your kind had gone through, I would not have acted so immaturely," RE stammered, clearly not used to apologizeing. Despite RE's stammering, it was clear that he ment his apology.
Rau stared at him, looking a mix of disappointed and annoyed. "You're an Empire. It's your job— no. It's literally the purpose of your existence to be aware of this stuff and make efforts to stop it." Rau grunted, his ears tilted back.
RE stared at Rau, looking deflated. If the situation weren't so unfortunate, USSR could've laughed. RE never looked so deflated. He was always flaunting something and was always loud. It was nice to see him knocked down a knoch.
"R-Rau, I deeply apologize... I understand if you decline, but could I please get another chance? I would like to prove that I'm no longer the negligent Empire I once was" RE pleaded, his voice uncertain. He had never begged someone for forgiveness before. He didn't know what to say. He realized that he was speaking from what he heard while other people begged him for forgiveness.
Rau stared at him, then at USSR, most likely to see if RE was lying. USSR knew RE well, and could always tell when he was faking, but it was clear that RE was not faking. So USSR nodded once, a sign of approval.
"... I'll give you a second chance. But only if you actually show you deserve it." Rau stated shortly. Offending someone to such an extent was not something to be forgotten about.
A minute of silence passed, until a waiter came over, and now RE was back to his usual self, but now a bit less disrespectfullly.
Rau got a small meal, as hybrids, being small and built for survival, didn't need to eat much. However that shocked both USSR and RE, who, being very tall and used to buffets, ate a lot. "Are you sure you don't want more..?" RE asked hesitantly. He was most likely thinking that Rau was dealing with some type of trauma that cause him to eat very little.
Rau looked confused for a moment, before realizing what RE meant. "Oh, no. Hybrids are built for survival, I don't need much food to be full"
That assured RE and USSR. "So... What are your plans for the future?" RE asked, shifting the subject.
"Oh, I'm job hunting. Many jobs won't accept me because I'm a hybrid, despite the fact that I passed both school and college with flying colors and have multiple degrees." Rau explained, pleased with the fact of his educational intelligence, yet also annoyed at the prejudice that employers had.
"Ah, if you live with me, you won't have to work!" RE said, momentarily forgetting how that could come off as offensive.
USSR looked away, as if getting second hand embarrassment at how horrible RE was at flirting with anyone besides his basic fangirls.
Rau narrowed his eyes. "I'll let you off because it's clear you meant it in a nice way, but I don't want to be dependent on anyone. It'll only feed into the stereotypes of hybrids being weak pushovers.
RE immediately took back what he said, looking guilty as he realized that this wasn't something he could say to hybrids. "Oh, I do apologize! I didn't mean it in that way! I just—" he was cut off by USSR
"He's speaking from muscle memory. Doesn't make it good, but he's just used to flirting with the fangirls and fanboys he sees on the streets. He most likely just acted on muscle memory." USSR explained bluntly, causing RE's ears to flush red at being called out like that.
Rau frowned, but didn't look surprised. "That makes sense. But anyways. I have stuff to do, so I'm afraid I can't go home with you." Rau said finally,
RE looked disappointed, but didn't object. "Okay. Well, I'll see you around, I suppose" RE smiled.
Rau nodded, standing up. He gave them a nod before walking out.
Months pass. RE and USSR go weeks and weeks without seeing Rau. Eventually they looked up Raus name, and it showed that he had gone missing two weeks ago.
USSR showed the news to RE, who looked utterly devastated. He had begun trying to convince Russia to start adding more laws in favor of hybrids, and Russia was just beginning to follow through with it, but now Rau was missing, and there was a good chance that Rau had been kidnapped and sex trafficked, meaning there was little chance of ever seeing them again.
RE stormed into Russia's office. Russia was working; he looked up, annoyed at RE's rude interruption, but paused when he saw the devastated and serious look that RE had.
"I need you to find Rau. Now." RE pleaded.
Russia raised an eyebrow. "Who's Rau? And why should I find them?"
"I've talked to you about Rau before! One of the only hybrids to pass a high end college. The one I— I—" RE stammered
"The one he has a crush on!" USSR called from the other room, making RE look damn near as red as Soviet.
Russia sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We have bigger problems than this. I cannot go on a wild goose chase for some hybrid you saw once and got rejected by." Russia announced, annoyed.
RE looked in despair. Not the pout he usually had when denied something. This was genuine greif. "Please! I'll do anything! I'll help you with work, I'll stop asking you for money! I'll always be respectful when opening your door! Please just find Rau!"
Russia stared at him, frowning as he saw RE's breath swiften. Russia did NOT want to deal with RE sobbing. "Ugh, fine. I'll send a team out."
RE nodded, turning and stiffly walking out, walking past USSR, who looked concerned at RE's despair.
The team was sent out, and came back with nothing within a few days, clearly having not actually done real work.
The next week, RE and USSR took a trip out to the more uninhabited land of the Nation to try and calm down. They were walking through the forest, when they heard a ragged breathing, and the sound of breaking bone. They looked through the trees to wear the sound was coming from, and the sight they saw horrified them.
Rau was caught in a fox trap, which was wound tightly around their back right, paw-like foot, cutting deep enough to shed blood. However that wasn't even the most disturbing part. Rau was gnawing on the rotting carcass of a deer. Well, only the bits that were on it's front leg, as that was the only part that Rau could reach.
Rau looked completely out of it, his eyes glassed over and his teeth bloody, his clothes ragged and his ears pinned back in distress. Rau didn't seem to notice them, focused on trying to get what ever nutrients he could out of the rotting deer leg. Which was no where near enough to survive.