Axis Powers Hetalia - Lithuania/Poland - PG - While You Were Gone
Title: While You Were Gone
Author: Ema (lightningrapier)
Fandom: Axis Powers Hetalia
Pairing: Lithuania/Poland? I don't know.
Rating: PG
Warnings: Mentions of violence.
Word Count: 1,504.
Notes: The day I read this strip, I was feeling particularly down about one thing or another and decided to cheer myself up with Hetalia. This was what I clicked on. Of course, it had to be the one sad, serious strip Hidekaz has to offer. Thanks a lot, Hetalia.
Disclaimer: APH is owned by Hidekaz and not be me. This was done so I could have a friend in the fandom, not to rip off of his storylines. This was also done from the lovely scanslation by rainy_takako, which you can find here. Thank you for the translation!
It had been a long time since Lithuania and Poland had really met up and spent time together. Even though it had been so long since the two had been together, Poland still held a particularly big place in Lithuania's heart -- it was just, Lithuania wasn't always so sure how to show it. When Poland called and insisted on a "sleepover" ("I've missed you like, so much, I just don't get why we haven't like, hung out more, you know?"), Lithuania was very pleased to realize he had free time in his schedule -- even if he was nervous, just a little, to see Poland again.
The two had planned on meeting up in the city square and taking a walk downtown, checking out what the various stores had to offer, and "we'll just, like, take things from there", Poland had said, and Lithuania hadn't argued. He'd put on his nice coat and shoes and was at the pre-established place (outside a small deli Poland had specified) far too early. He watched the citizens go by with a stomach full of butterflies -- Poland had said that if Lithuania was hungry, he should eat at that deli, and Lithuania was sure it was good, but he couldn't bring himself to eat. Instead, he'd bought a drink and a small pastry, simply for the right to sit on the patio, and waited for Poland to arrive. Fifteen minutes passed before a sturdy hand clamped down on Lithuania's shoulder. The boy nearly dropped his bottled juice in shock, but his heart slowed considerably when he turned and realized it was Poland, and not Russia -- and then sped back up when Lithuania regained all the nerves he'd been stewing over for days.
Before he had a chance to say anything, Poland had grabbed Lithuania's hand and was yanking him down the city streets, chatting about this and that. Lithuania tried to smile and offered Poland his un-eaten pasty, which Poland took quickly and practically wolfed down, finishing off with a swig of Lithuania's juice (which he finished). Lithuania didn't mind so much. He smiled and listened to everything Poland said, and didn't have to make too much conversation on his own -- until Poland started getting a little too loud.
"Wow! Poland called, pumping one fist into the air (the other was being used to carry an umbrella, which Lithuania didn't quite understand considering the sunny weather, but didn't worry too much about). "It's been a long time since I've hung out with Liet!"
Lithuania almost flushed at the nickname -- he hadn't heard that in a while. Even so, Poland's cries attracted some attention, and soon Lithuania was feeling more embarrassed about that than about the shortening of his name. "Don't make such a racket," he chided. Poland turned his gaze on Lithuania like he'd grown a second head.
"Eh?! But as long as we're out shopping, we should have fun, right!?" Poland smacked Lithuania on the back (the boy cringed, slightly, perhaps out of habit), grinning from ear-to-ear.
"But this is a time when lots of countries have tense relations," Lithuania tried to explain, keeping his voice at a low, steady volume in hopes that Poland would take his lead. "And you might be the target of a lot of them, Poland..."
"Hm..." Poland seemed like he was genuinely considering Lithuania's words -- until, suddenly, his eyes widened. Lithuania, not having noticed Poland's sudden change of expression, continued on his lecture as if unabated.
"I"m really worried about--"
"Oh!" Poland cried, suddenly, cutting Lithuania off. "Italy!"
Lithuania blinked, shooting his gaze in the direction that Poland was running off into. There was a curly-haired boy in blue just down the path, a huge smile on his face.
"Huh? Poland!" the boy cried, looking positively overjoyed, his face flushed over. Lithuania watched in slight shock, stopping a way away from the scene, his face twisted in confusion.
"What?" he whispered to himself.
"It's been a while!" Poland cried, grasping Italy's hand and practically shaking his arm off. "How ya doing?!"
"I've been great!" Italy was smiling, and the two hugged, and Lithuania had to screw his jaw shut to keep it from falling open.
Poland's usually so shy, he thought, watching the two in disbelief, but he's being really friendly with that guy?
"Liet!" Poland called, waving Lithuania over. Slowly, Lithuania complied, looking on Italy in curiosity now, more than bafflement. "I'll introduce you."
"Hello!" Italy lifted a hand, waving it. "I'm Italia Veneziano."
"He's a friend from when I was partitioned!" Poland said, patting Italy on the back. Italy giggled.
"Seems like it was so long ago!" he cried, talking more to Poland than Lithuania, anymore. "We both talked about our dreams a lot back then... lots of 'let's be independent!'... you remember?"
"Totally!" Poland grinned. "I'm glad we both became independent. After we split up, I started--"
And the two were immersed deep in a conversation Lithuania could neither follow nor entirely understand. He was certainly happy that Poland had made what seemed to be such a great friend, but something pulled inside of him. Was it really possible for there to be a side of Poland that Lithuania didn't know? During the Commonwealth days, Lithuania had thought he'd known everything about him. They'd been one, after all...
Even so, that wasn't the thing that was the most on Lithuania's mind. While Poland had been partitioned... well, Lithuania had been, too. Annexed as a part of the USSR. Russia...
When Lithuania tried to think of what he'd likely been doing at the time Poland and Italy had been talking of declaring independence, all he could think of was Russia, his face dark, bright eyes obscured, descending on him with that pipe, grabbing Lithuania's arm and leaving bruises on the skin, leaving marks that would tell everyone what Russia always told him: "You're mine."
Even after Poland and Italy had shaken hands and gone their separate ways, the memory chilled Lithuania for the rest of the day, and he just couldn't manage any sort of enthusiasm during Poland's shopping trip, during their dinner out, or even during the kung-fu movie Poland had rented especially for him. When it came time to sleep and Poland had the blankets and pillows spread out over the floor just like a real slumber party, the man finally said something after noticing Lithuania's change in demeanor for far too long.
"What's wrong, Liet?" he asked, peeking at the boy from over the other side of the couch. "You're looking totally stressed out."
"Oh!" Lithuania looked up from where he'd been boredly picking at his night clothes, his face flushed at being addressed so suddenly and so directly. "I'm fine," he said, and, perhaps noticing how completely fake that sounded, quickly tacked on, "Ah, can I use your bath?"
Poland frowned, but nodded, giving Lithuania a towel, explaining the way the tub plugged, and offering his special shampoo (which didn't really seem to cheer Lithuania up, much to Poland's dismay). Lithuania closed the door and Poland heard the bath water running. He sighed.
"Jeez... what's wrong with Liet, anyway?" he asked, his shoulder's slumping as he moved back into the living room. Lithuania wasn't making any sense. He'd been just fine when they'd first met up... Poland had to do something to make Lithuania smile again, just a little bit. The two didn't see each other enough for neighbors as it was, anyway!
Then, at that moment, the lightbulb above Poland's head sparked and lit.
"I know!" he said to himself, jumping up and moving towards his bedroom. "I'll play a joke on him!"
It didn't take long for Poland to retrieve the water gun from his closet and fill it with cold tap from the kitchen sink. He sneaked like a ninja across the hall, not making a sound so as not to warn Lithuania of his approach. Nudging in the bathroom door open, Poland peeked inside...
In plain view from the crack in the doorway, Poland could see Lithuania sitting in the tub. His hair was stringy and wet -- he must have already gotten to washing it -- and he had his knees pulled up, elbow resting on one, chin resting in the connecting hand. His face was downturned, his cheeks were red, his eyes almost seemed puffy -- but, perhaps more obvious (and the first thing that Poland noticed) was Lithuania's back.
The marks glistened across the country's skin -- scars and cuts that traced, zig-zagged, cut across Lithuania without mercy. For a long time, Poland sat there, crouched in the doorway, staring at those marks, knowing they hadn't been there in the Commonwealth days, knowing that he'd known every inch of Lithuania's body at that time. And yet the scars remained, ugly, crude marks carved out across the boy that made Poland's blood run cold as ice. Slowly, he pulled back, stepping out into the hallway, falling back against the wall and staring down at the water gun in shock. He didn't know what to think. He didn't know what to say.
Was it really possible for there to be a side of Lithuania that Poland didn't know?
Author: Ema (lightningrapier)
Fandom: Axis Powers Hetalia
Pairing: Lithuania/Poland? I don't know.
Rating: PG
Warnings: Mentions of violence.
Word Count: 1,504.
Notes: The day I read this strip, I was feeling particularly down about one thing or another and decided to cheer myself up with Hetalia. This was what I clicked on. Of course, it had to be the one sad, serious strip Hidekaz has to offer. Thanks a lot, Hetalia.
Disclaimer: APH is owned by Hidekaz and not be me. This was done so I could have a friend in the fandom, not to rip off of his storylines. This was also done from the lovely scanslation by rainy_takako, which you can find here. Thank you for the translation!
It had been a long time since Lithuania and Poland had really met up and spent time together. Even though it had been so long since the two had been together, Poland still held a particularly big place in Lithuania's heart -- it was just, Lithuania wasn't always so sure how to show it. When Poland called and insisted on a "sleepover" ("I've missed you like, so much, I just don't get why we haven't like, hung out more, you know?"), Lithuania was very pleased to realize he had free time in his schedule -- even if he was nervous, just a little, to see Poland again.
The two had planned on meeting up in the city square and taking a walk downtown, checking out what the various stores had to offer, and "we'll just, like, take things from there", Poland had said, and Lithuania hadn't argued. He'd put on his nice coat and shoes and was at the pre-established place (outside a small deli Poland had specified) far too early. He watched the citizens go by with a stomach full of butterflies -- Poland had said that if Lithuania was hungry, he should eat at that deli, and Lithuania was sure it was good, but he couldn't bring himself to eat. Instead, he'd bought a drink and a small pastry, simply for the right to sit on the patio, and waited for Poland to arrive. Fifteen minutes passed before a sturdy hand clamped down on Lithuania's shoulder. The boy nearly dropped his bottled juice in shock, but his heart slowed considerably when he turned and realized it was Poland, and not Russia -- and then sped back up when Lithuania regained all the nerves he'd been stewing over for days.
Before he had a chance to say anything, Poland had grabbed Lithuania's hand and was yanking him down the city streets, chatting about this and that. Lithuania tried to smile and offered Poland his un-eaten pasty, which Poland took quickly and practically wolfed down, finishing off with a swig of Lithuania's juice (which he finished). Lithuania didn't mind so much. He smiled and listened to everything Poland said, and didn't have to make too much conversation on his own -- until Poland started getting a little too loud.
"Wow! Poland called, pumping one fist into the air (the other was being used to carry an umbrella, which Lithuania didn't quite understand considering the sunny weather, but didn't worry too much about). "It's been a long time since I've hung out with Liet!"
Lithuania almost flushed at the nickname -- he hadn't heard that in a while. Even so, Poland's cries attracted some attention, and soon Lithuania was feeling more embarrassed about that than about the shortening of his name. "Don't make such a racket," he chided. Poland turned his gaze on Lithuania like he'd grown a second head.
"Eh?! But as long as we're out shopping, we should have fun, right!?" Poland smacked Lithuania on the back (the boy cringed, slightly, perhaps out of habit), grinning from ear-to-ear.
"But this is a time when lots of countries have tense relations," Lithuania tried to explain, keeping his voice at a low, steady volume in hopes that Poland would take his lead. "And you might be the target of a lot of them, Poland..."
"Hm..." Poland seemed like he was genuinely considering Lithuania's words -- until, suddenly, his eyes widened. Lithuania, not having noticed Poland's sudden change of expression, continued on his lecture as if unabated.
"I"m really worried about--"
"Oh!" Poland cried, suddenly, cutting Lithuania off. "Italy!"
Lithuania blinked, shooting his gaze in the direction that Poland was running off into. There was a curly-haired boy in blue just down the path, a huge smile on his face.
"Huh? Poland!" the boy cried, looking positively overjoyed, his face flushed over. Lithuania watched in slight shock, stopping a way away from the scene, his face twisted in confusion.
"What?" he whispered to himself.
"It's been a while!" Poland cried, grasping Italy's hand and practically shaking his arm off. "How ya doing?!"
"I've been great!" Italy was smiling, and the two hugged, and Lithuania had to screw his jaw shut to keep it from falling open.
Poland's usually so shy, he thought, watching the two in disbelief, but he's being really friendly with that guy?
"Liet!" Poland called, waving Lithuania over. Slowly, Lithuania complied, looking on Italy in curiosity now, more than bafflement. "I'll introduce you."
"Hello!" Italy lifted a hand, waving it. "I'm Italia Veneziano."
"He's a friend from when I was partitioned!" Poland said, patting Italy on the back. Italy giggled.
"Seems like it was so long ago!" he cried, talking more to Poland than Lithuania, anymore. "We both talked about our dreams a lot back then... lots of 'let's be independent!'... you remember?"
"Totally!" Poland grinned. "I'm glad we both became independent. After we split up, I started--"
And the two were immersed deep in a conversation Lithuania could neither follow nor entirely understand. He was certainly happy that Poland had made what seemed to be such a great friend, but something pulled inside of him. Was it really possible for there to be a side of Poland that Lithuania didn't know? During the Commonwealth days, Lithuania had thought he'd known everything about him. They'd been one, after all...
Even so, that wasn't the thing that was the most on Lithuania's mind. While Poland had been partitioned... well, Lithuania had been, too. Annexed as a part of the USSR. Russia...
When Lithuania tried to think of what he'd likely been doing at the time Poland and Italy had been talking of declaring independence, all he could think of was Russia, his face dark, bright eyes obscured, descending on him with that pipe, grabbing Lithuania's arm and leaving bruises on the skin, leaving marks that would tell everyone what Russia always told him: "You're mine."
Even after Poland and Italy had shaken hands and gone their separate ways, the memory chilled Lithuania for the rest of the day, and he just couldn't manage any sort of enthusiasm during Poland's shopping trip, during their dinner out, or even during the kung-fu movie Poland had rented especially for him. When it came time to sleep and Poland had the blankets and pillows spread out over the floor just like a real slumber party, the man finally said something after noticing Lithuania's change in demeanor for far too long.
"What's wrong, Liet?" he asked, peeking at the boy from over the other side of the couch. "You're looking totally stressed out."
"Oh!" Lithuania looked up from where he'd been boredly picking at his night clothes, his face flushed at being addressed so suddenly and so directly. "I'm fine," he said, and, perhaps noticing how completely fake that sounded, quickly tacked on, "Ah, can I use your bath?"
Poland frowned, but nodded, giving Lithuania a towel, explaining the way the tub plugged, and offering his special shampoo (which didn't really seem to cheer Lithuania up, much to Poland's dismay). Lithuania closed the door and Poland heard the bath water running. He sighed.
"Jeez... what's wrong with Liet, anyway?" he asked, his shoulder's slumping as he moved back into the living room. Lithuania wasn't making any sense. He'd been just fine when they'd first met up... Poland had to do something to make Lithuania smile again, just a little bit. The two didn't see each other enough for neighbors as it was, anyway!
Then, at that moment, the lightbulb above Poland's head sparked and lit.
"I know!" he said to himself, jumping up and moving towards his bedroom. "I'll play a joke on him!"
It didn't take long for Poland to retrieve the water gun from his closet and fill it with cold tap from the kitchen sink. He sneaked like a ninja across the hall, not making a sound so as not to warn Lithuania of his approach. Nudging in the bathroom door open, Poland peeked inside...
In plain view from the crack in the doorway, Poland could see Lithuania sitting in the tub. His hair was stringy and wet -- he must have already gotten to washing it -- and he had his knees pulled up, elbow resting on one, chin resting in the connecting hand. His face was downturned, his cheeks were red, his eyes almost seemed puffy -- but, perhaps more obvious (and the first thing that Poland noticed) was Lithuania's back.
The marks glistened across the country's skin -- scars and cuts that traced, zig-zagged, cut across Lithuania without mercy. For a long time, Poland sat there, crouched in the doorway, staring at those marks, knowing they hadn't been there in the Commonwealth days, knowing that he'd known every inch of Lithuania's body at that time. And yet the scars remained, ugly, crude marks carved out across the boy that made Poland's blood run cold as ice. Slowly, he pulled back, stepping out into the hallway, falling back against the wall and staring down at the water gun in shock. He didn't know what to think. He didn't know what to say.
Was it really possible for there to be a side of Lithuania that Poland didn't know?