On a Smoky Summer Evening 1b
anonymous
July 5 2011, 02:04:47 UTC
Germany stared at the small girl in front of him, wishing his vision would hold still long enough to let him truly see if the expression on her face was as stubborn and determined as he thought it was. With her delicate build and soft voice, Germany had almost forgotten that she had existed almost as long as he himself had. She knew the world, all its horrors and wonders, much the same as he himself.
He hissed as finger started to press flesh back into place and a medical kit was pulled from the bag hanging over one shoulder. She pulled out a bottle or rubbing alcohol and started to clean the wound. Black spots swam in Germany’s vision from the stinging pain adding to his current misery, but he refused to pass out in front of his saviour. If she could handle the situation with such firm resolve, he would do so too.
A length of medical thread and a suturing needle was pulled out next and she paused before sticking it into the skin.
“Brace yourself,” she murmured, giving him a brief glance of apology. “There is no way to make this less painful.”
He nodded and grit his teeth, closing his eyes so he wouldn’t have to watch the needle piercing his skin. It was one thing he couldn’t stand, seeing needles pierce his flesh, be they for vaccination or suture. He grunted at the first feeling of steel piercing his flesh, biting back groans of pain as the needle made each pass and the thread was tugged tight to hold the ragged edges of the wound in place. When no new pierce of the needle came and he felt Lichtenstein moving back, he chanced a peek over, letting out a low sigh of relief. The needle was being put away, a total of thirteen stitches trekking their way across the skin of his shoulder. But the wound wasn’t bleeding much anymore, patches already drying into scabs. The edges were still charred, but there were no longer flaps and clumps of skin dangling everywhere.
Lichtenstein pulled a gauze patch and a long roll of cotton bandage out of the kit and set about covering the wound. She wound it tight, the pressure even and Germany was impressed. She had obviously done such extensive field treatment before and he wondered exactly how neutral she had been with her activities as of late.
He lay back against the wall, watching her pack up to leave as his strength slowly returned to him. Just as she stood to walk back out of the alley, Germany spoke for the first time since she had initially come to him.
“Thank you,” he murmured, a blush colouring his cheeks as he turned his gaze away.
He heard the clicking of her footsteps pause for a moment and knew she had turned back to look at him. He chanced a glance toward her and found her one again smiling in her bright, yet serene way.
“You are welcome,” she said in answer, then turned and vanished into the evening air and the soft amber glow of the streetlamps.
~Vaduz, Lichtenstein: Present day~
Lichtenstein looked up from the bread dough she was kneading as a knocking came from her door. Odd, she thought, wondering who could be calling on her. Switzerland hadn’t mentioned that he had any plans to visit before next week.
She dusted her hands of flour on her apron and wandered through the small country cottage until she came to her front door. The knocking sounded once more just as she reached for the lock and handle. She clicked it open and stepped back to let it swing in. She stared in surprise and confusion as she saw a tall blonde on her front step. What on earth had prompted a visit from Germany? He was usually holed up in his office working when he wasn’t being pestered by Italy or Prussia.
He handed her a bright bouquet of flowers, stems and leaves neatly trimmed, and she smiled and thanked him graciously all the while trying to figure out what could have prompted such a lovely gift. Perhaps she had forgotten an important date? It was the 30th of July today, but she couldn’t think of anything she may have missed writing on her calendar. She had all the birthdates of her friends, all the holidays and meeting days properly recorded. There had been nothing of note written on her calendar for the day.
He hissed as finger started to press flesh back into place and a medical kit was pulled from the bag hanging over one shoulder. She pulled out a bottle or rubbing alcohol and started to clean the wound. Black spots swam in Germany’s vision from the stinging pain adding to his current misery, but he refused to pass out in front of his saviour. If she could handle the situation with such firm resolve, he would do so too.
A length of medical thread and a suturing needle was pulled out next and she paused before sticking it into the skin.
“Brace yourself,” she murmured, giving him a brief glance of apology. “There is no way to make this less painful.”
He nodded and grit his teeth, closing his eyes so he wouldn’t have to watch the needle piercing his skin. It was one thing he couldn’t stand, seeing needles pierce his flesh, be they for vaccination or suture. He grunted at the first feeling of steel piercing his flesh, biting back groans of pain as the needle made each pass and the thread was tugged tight to hold the ragged edges of the wound in place. When no new pierce of the needle came and he felt Lichtenstein moving back, he chanced a peek over, letting out a low sigh of relief. The needle was being put away, a total of thirteen stitches trekking their way across the skin of his shoulder. But the wound wasn’t bleeding much anymore, patches already drying into scabs. The edges were still charred, but there were no longer flaps and clumps of skin dangling everywhere.
Lichtenstein pulled a gauze patch and a long roll of cotton bandage out of the kit and set about covering the wound. She wound it tight, the pressure even and Germany was impressed. She had obviously done such extensive field treatment before and he wondered exactly how neutral she had been with her activities as of late.
He lay back against the wall, watching her pack up to leave as his strength slowly returned to him. Just as she stood to walk back out of the alley, Germany spoke for the first time since she had initially come to him.
“Thank you,” he murmured, a blush colouring his cheeks as he turned his gaze away.
He heard the clicking of her footsteps pause for a moment and knew she had turned back to look at him. He chanced a glance toward her and found her one again smiling in her bright, yet serene way.
“You are welcome,” she said in answer, then turned and vanished into the evening air and the soft amber glow of the streetlamps.
~Vaduz, Lichtenstein: Present day~
Lichtenstein looked up from the bread dough she was kneading as a knocking came from her door. Odd, she thought, wondering who could be calling on her. Switzerland hadn’t mentioned that he had any plans to visit before next week.
She dusted her hands of flour on her apron and wandered through the small country cottage until she came to her front door. The knocking sounded once more just as she reached for the lock and handle. She clicked it open and stepped back to let it swing in. She stared in surprise and confusion as she saw a tall blonde on her front step. What on earth had prompted a visit from Germany? He was usually holed up in his office working when he wasn’t being pestered by Italy or Prussia.
He handed her a bright bouquet of flowers, stems and leaves neatly trimmed, and she smiled and thanked him graciously all the while trying to figure out what could have prompted such a lovely gift. Perhaps she had forgotten an important date? It was the 30th of July today, but she couldn’t think of anything she may have missed writing on her calendar. She had all the birthdates of her friends, all the holidays and meeting days properly recorded. There had been nothing of note written on her calendar for the day.
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