Fanfic: A Hero You May Have Missed: Part 4
Title: A Hero You May Have Missed: Part 4
Author: nike2422
Rating: R (for violence)
Character(s)/Pairing(s): America, Belarus, Canada, France, Germany, Prussia, Russia, Ukraine
Warnings: Violence, people beating other people up.
Summary: Belarus and America leave the farm house to find the Soviet Army. They find them, and Russia treats America and Belarus to a surprise.
The smell of wood burning made America lurch out of bed. He whipped his head around, the unfamiliar room muddying his head until memories of the night before slowly blew away the fog. He glanced at the empty spot in the bed next to him before leaping onto his feet and grabbing his trousers. He jammed his legs in, noticing that all of his clothes were picked up and hung on a peg. His glasses were folded and placed on the small table next to the bed.
He stomped into his boots and bolted down the stairs into an empty kitchen. The scrubbed table had clean plates, knives and forks. He frowned, making his way past the table to the open door. The smell of a fire grew stronger and he wondered what was going on outside just as Belarus stepped into the doorway holding a stick with something sizzling on it. She let out a startled squeak and nearly fell back, until America grabbed her shoulder and steadied her. America smelled the sizzling thing and realized she was holding a cooked chicken. The smell of the meat hit his nose and his stomach growled in response.
“Dobry,” Belarus mumbled, her cheeks growing pink when she looked at America. Her eyes instantly went downcast and he thought the color on her was very appealing.
“Morning,” he answered back, giving her a warm grin.
She brushed past him to the table. The chicken gently landed on a plate. “I was surprised to find this chicken behind the barn.”
He walked over and watched her slide it off the spit. “Smells good.”
“Not too dry, I hope. He was thin.”
“It will be delicious,” America answered. He was hungry enough at the moment to not care how long the bird had survived on it's own until she managed to kill it. It was a thin, stringy rooster, but Belarus had cooked it well over the fire outside. She cut the chicken into quarters and they sat down to eat. Soon there was nothing left but picked-clean bones.
After they buried the fire and evidence of the chicken, they left the farm house and headed northeast. As they passed one deserted house after another, America's neck prickled with an uneasy feeling.
“Everyones gone.” The silence was getting to him.
Belarus was quiet as she walked next to him, her eyes scanning the road ahead of them. “Lucky for them,” she eventually replied.
“Lucky, what does that mean?”
“Yes, lucky. They had time to run away. Germany did not allow that luxury for me or my sister.”
America looked at her. “Was he really that bad to you?”
Belarus stopped walking and stared at him. The intensity of her glare made America wish a hole would open up in the road for him sink into.
“Bad … does not begin to describe - entire villages gone. They shoved everyone into the church or barn and -” She closed her eyes, hand over her mouth.
“Hey, I'm - I didn't know.” America put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently to reassure her.
She opened her eyes and looked at him, “I feel no pity for Germany or Prussia, they earned everything that happens to them now.” Belarus' jaw was set hard, “Don't believe what I'm saying? Come to my country after the war, I will show you.”
America's face lit up with a wide smile. “Really? I can come and visit you?”
Belarus's cheeks glowed with that pretty shade of pink America was beginning to really like seeing on her. She nodded. “Yes, you will be welcome.”
The girl looked started when America swept her into a bone-crushing bear hug. He picked her up, spinning in circles in the middle of the road.
“That's great!” America exclaimed, “I'll come and visit as soon as I ca-”
Their moment was intruded by the sound of a diesel engine breaking into the peaceful silence on the road. They heard the distinctive sound of tank treads and looked at each other. America slowly put her feet back on the ground before he grabbed her hand and pulled her into the forest for cover. They each hid behind a tree. America took his sidearm from its holster. Belarus reached into her boot and pulled out her knife.
The tank came into view, slowly moving in their direction. America stared at the size of it, but Belarus' eyes grew big before she muttered something under her breath and slipped the knife back into her boot.
“Hey, wait!” America hissed at her loudly when Belarus jumped up and bolted from behind her tree back into the road. She waved her hands at the tank and it came to a stop. America stood holding his pistol, noticing the large red star painted on the side of the tank.
Belarus ran over to the side of the tank just as the hatch popped open and Ukraine burst out like one of those girls in a big birthday cake.
“Belarus! We found you!” Ukraine shouted, swinging her legs over the hatch and climbing down from the tank to give her sister a hug, “You are alright? Where is Darya?”
“Darya died. I landed on the other side of the Elbe and then America helped me.” Belarus turned and looked over her shoulder at the trees where he was still standing.
Ukraine's smile faded, “America? He is here with you, where is he?” She looked around, then stared when Belarus waved to him to come out.
“Come on, you are with allies!” Belarus called to him.
America put the pistol back into its holster before slowly moving out into the open. Once he came into view, he noted Ukraine's reaction. Belarus seemed oblivious, she kept waving for him to come over.
“It really is him,” Ukraine blurted out. She glanced at Belarus before greeting America as he approached. “Hello, thank you for returning our sister to us unharmed. We are leading the infantry and have prisoners, so we need to keep moving.”
“Oh, okay.” America answered. He looked past the tank and saw more vehicles. Beyond that there were soldiers with red stars on their uniforms marching toward them.
“Climb up!” Ukraine ordered. She was already slipping back into the hatch. Belarus climbed onto the huge tank and stood next to the hatch, America went behind her and sat just in front of the grates of the engine exhaust. The tank lurched forward and began to slowly crawl down the road.
Once he was sure the hot air coming from the exhaust vents behind him weren't going to fry his ass, America concentrated on taking in the scenery. Belarus leaned against the side of the turret, holding one of the railings as she talked to her sister. They passed through some more farm land until a unit of Soviet soldiers sitting in front of a farm house came into view. An officer waved to them and the tank stopped. America watched several men get up and climb onto the tank, the rest moved back to find room on other tanks coming up behind them. The officer climbed onto the other side of the turret and spoke to Ukraine.
Belarus moved back and squeezed in next to America. “These men were looking for German soldiers.”
“Oh, really? Did they find any?”
She shook her head. “No, this area is clear. They have either escaped or are dead.”
America looked at the handful of soldiers sitting on the tank with them. They all gave America curious looks. One leaned forward and asked Belarus a question. She looked at America.
“What is it?” He asked.
“They want to know if you are lost.”
“Lost?”
“You are the first American they have seen.”
“Really? No, I'm not lost. I helped you with your mission.”
Belarus told the soldier what America said, which made the others laugh.
“They thought that was funny?” America gave her a quizzical look.
“That you flew with a pilot of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment. All women. Even the mechanics, the ground crews. It was worse when we first started. Now we get some respect.”
“I think you deserve a lot of respect, that was some ace flying.”
“Sometimes society changes faster than people.”
America looked at the men sitting on the tank. They still all looked at him with grins on their faces. He knew Belarus and Ukraine were part of the Soviet Union, but so far what he had seen of collectivism he didn't like very much. It didn't seem fair that the women were fighting with the men but not getting the same respect.
The road widened and America could see they were entering a village. The tank came to a stop and Ukraine appeared in the hatch again.
“Russia is at HQ in the village administration building. Go see him, he's expecting you.”
Belarus hopped down from the tank and waved to Ukraine. America followed her and they walked into the center of the village. As they passed more soldiers many stopped to look at him. He was beginning to feel uncomfortable from the stares. Then his eyes focused on a large building that looked like a livery stable. The men packed inside wore Nazi uniforms, and they also stared at America as he passed by.
When they reached headquarters Belarus told the man guarding the entrance she was reporting in for debriefing after her mission, but before she was allowed to enter, the doors burst open and Russia bolted outside.
“There you are little sister!” Russia swept her up into a bone crushing hug, “When Ukraine told me she found you, I was very happy to know you were safe.”
America watched Russia and Belarus embrace. He pulled the leather flight helmet off of her head and looked at her hair.
“Promise me you will never cut your hair again. I can't stand to see it like this.”
“Yes, Big Brother,” Belarus replied. Her eyes were bright as she looked up at him.
“America, I barely contain my surprise to see you here. According to my sister, you came with Belarus because she was alone?”
America looked into Russia's face. “Her bombardier was killed. She needed help dropping those firecrackers and I wasn't about to let her go alone.”
Russia looked between them. “And here you are together. Do you like my little sister?”
“Yeah, I do. I don't like how she's doing such dangerous work.”
“Dangerous? We're all doing dangerous work. War is by nature, dangerous work.” Russia looked confused. “Belarus and Ukraine fight because it is their responsibility to fight as much as anyone else's. We all do our part.”
America frowned, “But they're girls.”
Ivan shrugged, “What difference does that make?”
“What difference does that make?” Belarus echoed. She looked at America confused.
“Ah, I get it!” Russia exclaimed, clapping his hands, “America is being the hero. Saving the helpless girl from danger.” He grinned at the other, who didn't look too happy.
“I'm not helpless. Although America did help me last night.” Belarus said, looking at her brother, “He helped with the mission, and then I … I hit my head when we crashed, he carried me to a farm house for shelter.”
“No, I never said you were helpless, just that you needed some help.” America retorted, “And we had to get out of the rain.”
Belarus glanced at America before looking down. Her cheeks turned pink again.
He didn't have much time to enjoy her blush. Russia clapped his hand on America's shoulder. “I have a surprise to show you! Just arrived this morning.”
“What is it?” Belarus asked, looking up at her brother.
“Come and see.” He said, pushing America forward and beckoning to her. She followed, and the three of them went into the administration building.
They took some stairs down into the cellar. America was ahead with Belarus coming behind Russia. At the bottom of the stairs was a wooden door, guarded by a soldier with a rifle leaning against his shoulder. He reached for the door handle and opened, letting them all inside.
Another armed guard greeted them on the inside. He stood back and let them walk past to a figure on the floor. He sat with his arms tied behind him around a post. His head hung down, but America recognized the white hair on his head immediately.
“Prussia?”
The head lifted and a bruised face gazed up at him, “America, are you here to take me home?” Prussia gave him a grin, then winced.
“Always being funny,” Russia shook his head.
Before America could say anything else, a piercing screech shot across the room. Belarus jumped forward and planted her knee into Prussia's jaw. A sickening crack filled the room and a tooth sailed through the air before smacking the wall and bouncing away.
America watched frozen with shock as the girl viciously punched Prussia as hard as she could. Then she started kicking him again. Russia stood and grinned as his sister ruined Prussia's face even more, but suddenly stepped forward and grabbed her around the waist just as she pulled her knife from her boot.
“Now now, I know you are upset, but Belarus … save some for your sister!”
Belarus screamed and flailed, lunging for Prussia.
America stared at them before he made a movement toward Prussia. The guard lurched from the corner and cut him off. Prussia slumped back on the floor. He had several new cuts on his face, and blood covered his chin from his lost tooth.
“Now go outside and calm down.” Russia pushed his sister toward the stairs. She sobbed as she stumbled out. “Poor thing, she has been through so much. But the good news is once we find the brother both of my sisters can have one to play with!”
He turned around and looked at Russia, who was as calm and cheerful as always. Running his hand through his hair, America glanced at Prussia again, who gave him a grin.
“Get outta here, kid.” He hissed through swollen, bloody lips.
“Yes! Good idea!” Russia chimed in. His hand once again firmly grabbed America's shoulder and he propelled him back up the stairs and outside. “Thank you, thank you for all of your hero help! My sister is back where she belongs, and it's time for you to go back where you belong.”
America blinked when the bright sunlight hit his eyes. He looked around for Belarus, but didn't see her anywhere. “Your sister-”
“Is none of your concern.” Russia finished the sentence just as a battered jeep pulled up. The white star on the hood had been covered with red paint. He stuffed America into the back. “Farewell, trusted ally. We will be seeing each other again in Berlin very soon!” Russia slapped the side of the jeep and it lurched forward, making America fall forward in the seat.
The entire trip away from the camp and heading west America was silent. The two Russian soldiers sitting in the front chatted with each other as they sped past deserted farms and villages. Finally, just as the sun was sinking toward the horizon, the jeep stopped at a bridge that crossed the Elbe. America got out and the jeep made a donut in the road before speeding back east into the dark.
He walked across the bridge and took the road he knew very well toward the Western Allies camp. As he walked past the spot where only two days ago Belarus had landed her little wooden crop duster it felt more like it had been months since that happened.
Canada greeted him when he walked into the camp. “You survived, eh?”
“Yeah, I survived.” America looked around, “Where's England?”
“Russia asked for some help with air support. He said flying over Berlin suburbs dropping bombs was better than sitting around here.”
He was relieved to know England wasn't around to glare at him and give him the silent treatment before hollering at him I told you so or some nonsense like that. “Did France go too?”
“Nah, he's making our guest comfortable.” Canada's tone was sarcastic.
“Guest?”
“Come on, I'll show you.”
The brothers walked past the mess hall and supply tents to a hastily erected enclosure. Inside were hundreds of German soldiers standing, sitting or laying on the grass. It reminded America immediately of the barn stuffed with German soldiers back at the Russian camp. “They all got here today?”
“Yeah. We have some. England's camp took more.” Canada walked past the enclosure toward a small tent. Canada pushed back the flap and looked inside. “He's back.”
France's voice echoed from inside the tent, “Amérique, excellent! And our little night witch?”
America stepped into the tent after Canada. “She's back where she belong-” His eyes grew round as he saw Germany sitting on a stool next to France.
France's eyes danced with amusement, “Did you enjoy your trip?”
“Uh … yeah, it was an real adventure. We crash landed and then we walked until we caught up with the Russian infantry.” America wasn't about to mention the night in the farm house. France was more than likely already imagining what happened. “I got to ride on an IS-2.”
“Wee, fun.” Canada quipped.
Germany was silent as he watched them talk, he cleared his throat and looked at America. “Any word of my brother?”
America looked Germany in the eyes. The image of Prussia being beaten by Belarus filled his head. “Yeah actually, he's Russia's prisoner. I saw him.”
The tent grew silent. France's hard gaze settled on Germany. “Well then.”
Canada glanced at France and stepped back outside.
America watched Germany's eyes fill with fear, then his head sunk between his shoulders.
France didn't hide his anger as he jerked his head toward the door, indicating America needed to leave.
America walked away from the tent as quickly as he could. He didn't want to hear what France was about to say to Germany. He stood outside in the cool night air, looking up at the clouds blotting out the stars as they floated by. He suddenly felt as if he could sleep for a month and headed for his tent.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Author's Note: The Battle of Halbe went from April 24 to May 1. The 9th German army attempted to fight through three lines of Soviet troops to catch up with the 12th German army and surrender to the Western Allies. Out of the 200,000 who fought through the forests southeast of Berlin, only 30,000 succeeded in reaching the 12th Army and avoid capture by Soviet troops.
Author: nike2422
Rating: R (for violence)
Character(s)/Pairing(s): America, Belarus, Canada, France, Germany, Prussia, Russia, Ukraine
Warnings: Violence, people beating other people up.
Summary: Belarus and America leave the farm house to find the Soviet Army. They find them, and Russia treats America and Belarus to a surprise.
The smell of wood burning made America lurch out of bed. He whipped his head around, the unfamiliar room muddying his head until memories of the night before slowly blew away the fog. He glanced at the empty spot in the bed next to him before leaping onto his feet and grabbing his trousers. He jammed his legs in, noticing that all of his clothes were picked up and hung on a peg. His glasses were folded and placed on the small table next to the bed.
He stomped into his boots and bolted down the stairs into an empty kitchen. The scrubbed table had clean plates, knives and forks. He frowned, making his way past the table to the open door. The smell of a fire grew stronger and he wondered what was going on outside just as Belarus stepped into the doorway holding a stick with something sizzling on it. She let out a startled squeak and nearly fell back, until America grabbed her shoulder and steadied her. America smelled the sizzling thing and realized she was holding a cooked chicken. The smell of the meat hit his nose and his stomach growled in response.
“Dobry,” Belarus mumbled, her cheeks growing pink when she looked at America. Her eyes instantly went downcast and he thought the color on her was very appealing.
“Morning,” he answered back, giving her a warm grin.
She brushed past him to the table. The chicken gently landed on a plate. “I was surprised to find this chicken behind the barn.”
He walked over and watched her slide it off the spit. “Smells good.”
“Not too dry, I hope. He was thin.”
“It will be delicious,” America answered. He was hungry enough at the moment to not care how long the bird had survived on it's own until she managed to kill it. It was a thin, stringy rooster, but Belarus had cooked it well over the fire outside. She cut the chicken into quarters and they sat down to eat. Soon there was nothing left but picked-clean bones.
After they buried the fire and evidence of the chicken, they left the farm house and headed northeast. As they passed one deserted house after another, America's neck prickled with an uneasy feeling.
“Everyones gone.” The silence was getting to him.
Belarus was quiet as she walked next to him, her eyes scanning the road ahead of them. “Lucky for them,” she eventually replied.
“Lucky, what does that mean?”
“Yes, lucky. They had time to run away. Germany did not allow that luxury for me or my sister.”
America looked at her. “Was he really that bad to you?”
Belarus stopped walking and stared at him. The intensity of her glare made America wish a hole would open up in the road for him sink into.
“Bad … does not begin to describe - entire villages gone. They shoved everyone into the church or barn and -” She closed her eyes, hand over her mouth.
“Hey, I'm - I didn't know.” America put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently to reassure her.
She opened her eyes and looked at him, “I feel no pity for Germany or Prussia, they earned everything that happens to them now.” Belarus' jaw was set hard, “Don't believe what I'm saying? Come to my country after the war, I will show you.”
America's face lit up with a wide smile. “Really? I can come and visit you?”
Belarus's cheeks glowed with that pretty shade of pink America was beginning to really like seeing on her. She nodded. “Yes, you will be welcome.”
The girl looked started when America swept her into a bone-crushing bear hug. He picked her up, spinning in circles in the middle of the road.
“That's great!” America exclaimed, “I'll come and visit as soon as I ca-”
Their moment was intruded by the sound of a diesel engine breaking into the peaceful silence on the road. They heard the distinctive sound of tank treads and looked at each other. America slowly put her feet back on the ground before he grabbed her hand and pulled her into the forest for cover. They each hid behind a tree. America took his sidearm from its holster. Belarus reached into her boot and pulled out her knife.
The tank came into view, slowly moving in their direction. America stared at the size of it, but Belarus' eyes grew big before she muttered something under her breath and slipped the knife back into her boot.
“Hey, wait!” America hissed at her loudly when Belarus jumped up and bolted from behind her tree back into the road. She waved her hands at the tank and it came to a stop. America stood holding his pistol, noticing the large red star painted on the side of the tank.
Belarus ran over to the side of the tank just as the hatch popped open and Ukraine burst out like one of those girls in a big birthday cake.
“Belarus! We found you!” Ukraine shouted, swinging her legs over the hatch and climbing down from the tank to give her sister a hug, “You are alright? Where is Darya?”
“Darya died. I landed on the other side of the Elbe and then America helped me.” Belarus turned and looked over her shoulder at the trees where he was still standing.
Ukraine's smile faded, “America? He is here with you, where is he?” She looked around, then stared when Belarus waved to him to come out.
“Come on, you are with allies!” Belarus called to him.
America put the pistol back into its holster before slowly moving out into the open. Once he came into view, he noted Ukraine's reaction. Belarus seemed oblivious, she kept waving for him to come over.
“It really is him,” Ukraine blurted out. She glanced at Belarus before greeting America as he approached. “Hello, thank you for returning our sister to us unharmed. We are leading the infantry and have prisoners, so we need to keep moving.”
“Oh, okay.” America answered. He looked past the tank and saw more vehicles. Beyond that there were soldiers with red stars on their uniforms marching toward them.
“Climb up!” Ukraine ordered. She was already slipping back into the hatch. Belarus climbed onto the huge tank and stood next to the hatch, America went behind her and sat just in front of the grates of the engine exhaust. The tank lurched forward and began to slowly crawl down the road.
Once he was sure the hot air coming from the exhaust vents behind him weren't going to fry his ass, America concentrated on taking in the scenery. Belarus leaned against the side of the turret, holding one of the railings as she talked to her sister. They passed through some more farm land until a unit of Soviet soldiers sitting in front of a farm house came into view. An officer waved to them and the tank stopped. America watched several men get up and climb onto the tank, the rest moved back to find room on other tanks coming up behind them. The officer climbed onto the other side of the turret and spoke to Ukraine.
Belarus moved back and squeezed in next to America. “These men were looking for German soldiers.”
“Oh, really? Did they find any?”
She shook her head. “No, this area is clear. They have either escaped or are dead.”
America looked at the handful of soldiers sitting on the tank with them. They all gave America curious looks. One leaned forward and asked Belarus a question. She looked at America.
“What is it?” He asked.
“They want to know if you are lost.”
“Lost?”
“You are the first American they have seen.”
“Really? No, I'm not lost. I helped you with your mission.”
Belarus told the soldier what America said, which made the others laugh.
“They thought that was funny?” America gave her a quizzical look.
“That you flew with a pilot of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment. All women. Even the mechanics, the ground crews. It was worse when we first started. Now we get some respect.”
“I think you deserve a lot of respect, that was some ace flying.”
“Sometimes society changes faster than people.”
America looked at the men sitting on the tank. They still all looked at him with grins on their faces. He knew Belarus and Ukraine were part of the Soviet Union, but so far what he had seen of collectivism he didn't like very much. It didn't seem fair that the women were fighting with the men but not getting the same respect.
The road widened and America could see they were entering a village. The tank came to a stop and Ukraine appeared in the hatch again.
“Russia is at HQ in the village administration building. Go see him, he's expecting you.”
Belarus hopped down from the tank and waved to Ukraine. America followed her and they walked into the center of the village. As they passed more soldiers many stopped to look at him. He was beginning to feel uncomfortable from the stares. Then his eyes focused on a large building that looked like a livery stable. The men packed inside wore Nazi uniforms, and they also stared at America as he passed by.
When they reached headquarters Belarus told the man guarding the entrance she was reporting in for debriefing after her mission, but before she was allowed to enter, the doors burst open and Russia bolted outside.
“There you are little sister!” Russia swept her up into a bone crushing hug, “When Ukraine told me she found you, I was very happy to know you were safe.”
America watched Russia and Belarus embrace. He pulled the leather flight helmet off of her head and looked at her hair.
“Promise me you will never cut your hair again. I can't stand to see it like this.”
“Yes, Big Brother,” Belarus replied. Her eyes were bright as she looked up at him.
“America, I barely contain my surprise to see you here. According to my sister, you came with Belarus because she was alone?”
America looked into Russia's face. “Her bombardier was killed. She needed help dropping those firecrackers and I wasn't about to let her go alone.”
Russia looked between them. “And here you are together. Do you like my little sister?”
“Yeah, I do. I don't like how she's doing such dangerous work.”
“Dangerous? We're all doing dangerous work. War is by nature, dangerous work.” Russia looked confused. “Belarus and Ukraine fight because it is their responsibility to fight as much as anyone else's. We all do our part.”
America frowned, “But they're girls.”
Ivan shrugged, “What difference does that make?”
“What difference does that make?” Belarus echoed. She looked at America confused.
“Ah, I get it!” Russia exclaimed, clapping his hands, “America is being the hero. Saving the helpless girl from danger.” He grinned at the other, who didn't look too happy.
“I'm not helpless. Although America did help me last night.” Belarus said, looking at her brother, “He helped with the mission, and then I … I hit my head when we crashed, he carried me to a farm house for shelter.”
“No, I never said you were helpless, just that you needed some help.” America retorted, “And we had to get out of the rain.”
Belarus glanced at America before looking down. Her cheeks turned pink again.
He didn't have much time to enjoy her blush. Russia clapped his hand on America's shoulder. “I have a surprise to show you! Just arrived this morning.”
“What is it?” Belarus asked, looking up at her brother.
“Come and see.” He said, pushing America forward and beckoning to her. She followed, and the three of them went into the administration building.
They took some stairs down into the cellar. America was ahead with Belarus coming behind Russia. At the bottom of the stairs was a wooden door, guarded by a soldier with a rifle leaning against his shoulder. He reached for the door handle and opened, letting them all inside.
Another armed guard greeted them on the inside. He stood back and let them walk past to a figure on the floor. He sat with his arms tied behind him around a post. His head hung down, but America recognized the white hair on his head immediately.
“Prussia?”
The head lifted and a bruised face gazed up at him, “America, are you here to take me home?” Prussia gave him a grin, then winced.
“Always being funny,” Russia shook his head.
Before America could say anything else, a piercing screech shot across the room. Belarus jumped forward and planted her knee into Prussia's jaw. A sickening crack filled the room and a tooth sailed through the air before smacking the wall and bouncing away.
America watched frozen with shock as the girl viciously punched Prussia as hard as she could. Then she started kicking him again. Russia stood and grinned as his sister ruined Prussia's face even more, but suddenly stepped forward and grabbed her around the waist just as she pulled her knife from her boot.
“Now now, I know you are upset, but Belarus … save some for your sister!”
Belarus screamed and flailed, lunging for Prussia.
America stared at them before he made a movement toward Prussia. The guard lurched from the corner and cut him off. Prussia slumped back on the floor. He had several new cuts on his face, and blood covered his chin from his lost tooth.
“Now go outside and calm down.” Russia pushed his sister toward the stairs. She sobbed as she stumbled out. “Poor thing, she has been through so much. But the good news is once we find the brother both of my sisters can have one to play with!”
He turned around and looked at Russia, who was as calm and cheerful as always. Running his hand through his hair, America glanced at Prussia again, who gave him a grin.
“Get outta here, kid.” He hissed through swollen, bloody lips.
“Yes! Good idea!” Russia chimed in. His hand once again firmly grabbed America's shoulder and he propelled him back up the stairs and outside. “Thank you, thank you for all of your hero help! My sister is back where she belongs, and it's time for you to go back where you belong.”
America blinked when the bright sunlight hit his eyes. He looked around for Belarus, but didn't see her anywhere. “Your sister-”
“Is none of your concern.” Russia finished the sentence just as a battered jeep pulled up. The white star on the hood had been covered with red paint. He stuffed America into the back. “Farewell, trusted ally. We will be seeing each other again in Berlin very soon!” Russia slapped the side of the jeep and it lurched forward, making America fall forward in the seat.
The entire trip away from the camp and heading west America was silent. The two Russian soldiers sitting in the front chatted with each other as they sped past deserted farms and villages. Finally, just as the sun was sinking toward the horizon, the jeep stopped at a bridge that crossed the Elbe. America got out and the jeep made a donut in the road before speeding back east into the dark.
He walked across the bridge and took the road he knew very well toward the Western Allies camp. As he walked past the spot where only two days ago Belarus had landed her little wooden crop duster it felt more like it had been months since that happened.
Canada greeted him when he walked into the camp. “You survived, eh?”
“Yeah, I survived.” America looked around, “Where's England?”
“Russia asked for some help with air support. He said flying over Berlin suburbs dropping bombs was better than sitting around here.”
He was relieved to know England wasn't around to glare at him and give him the silent treatment before hollering at him I told you so or some nonsense like that. “Did France go too?”
“Nah, he's making our guest comfortable.” Canada's tone was sarcastic.
“Guest?”
“Come on, I'll show you.”
The brothers walked past the mess hall and supply tents to a hastily erected enclosure. Inside were hundreds of German soldiers standing, sitting or laying on the grass. It reminded America immediately of the barn stuffed with German soldiers back at the Russian camp. “They all got here today?”
“Yeah. We have some. England's camp took more.” Canada walked past the enclosure toward a small tent. Canada pushed back the flap and looked inside. “He's back.”
France's voice echoed from inside the tent, “Amérique, excellent! And our little night witch?”
America stepped into the tent after Canada. “She's back where she belong-” His eyes grew round as he saw Germany sitting on a stool next to France.
France's eyes danced with amusement, “Did you enjoy your trip?”
“Uh … yeah, it was an real adventure. We crash landed and then we walked until we caught up with the Russian infantry.” America wasn't about to mention the night in the farm house. France was more than likely already imagining what happened. “I got to ride on an IS-2.”
“Wee, fun.” Canada quipped.
Germany was silent as he watched them talk, he cleared his throat and looked at America. “Any word of my brother?”
America looked Germany in the eyes. The image of Prussia being beaten by Belarus filled his head. “Yeah actually, he's Russia's prisoner. I saw him.”
The tent grew silent. France's hard gaze settled on Germany. “Well then.”
Canada glanced at France and stepped back outside.
America watched Germany's eyes fill with fear, then his head sunk between his shoulders.
France didn't hide his anger as he jerked his head toward the door, indicating America needed to leave.
America walked away from the tent as quickly as he could. He didn't want to hear what France was about to say to Germany. He stood outside in the cool night air, looking up at the clouds blotting out the stars as they floated by. He suddenly felt as if he could sleep for a month and headed for his tent.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Author's Note: The Battle of Halbe went from April 24 to May 1. The 9th German army attempted to fight through three lines of Soviet troops to catch up with the 12th German army and surrender to the Western Allies. Out of the 200,000 who fought through the forests southeast of Berlin, only 30,000 succeeded in reaching the 12th Army and avoid capture by Soviet troops.