Pain's Universe Part 9
Germany was trying to do paperwork. Trying because there was a nebulae of burning stars scattered across his back. His hands burned as a pinwheel galaxy full of neutron stars moved in them. He winced, uncurled the pen from his fingers and got up from the desk. He raised his arms above his head-they shook- and stretched. Not even a third of the way through, his legs began to shake and he sat down-hard-on the floor. There were neutron stars burrowing through his legs and he bit his lip to keep from screaming.
"I can't do it." Loki said from behind him.
In his haste to get up, Germany wound up on his stomach at Loki's feet. "What are you doing here?" he asked, pushing himself off the floor.
Loki shook his head and helped him up. "This is exactly why I can't do it. You've already paid."
Germany blinked at him and leaned against the wall. "I don't follow."
Loki frowned and felt his pulse. It was fast-almost jumping out of the skin. "You're in pain." he said in an exaggerated patient tone. "That's a natural consequence of the spell. Their pain got taken away and you received it instead. It's equal exchange, so I can't take a price."
"Oh" Germany said, sliding down the wall. The room spun and he thought he could feel the rotation of Earth beneath him.
"I'm starting to regret letting you do this." Loki muttered above him. "It's not fun anymore." Germany felt a hand on his forehead-icy cold against his skin. "Sleep"
"Wha-?" Germany tried to say, but the world was slipping away into grey and then there was nothing.
Gently, Loki laid him flat on the floor. He picked up the cell that was on the desk and texted Prussia to come pick Germany up. "I set things in motion." he said to the silent room. "It's all up to them now." He stepped towards the door, taking a glance at Germany to make sure the spell was still holding. "I'm getting soft." He shook his head and disappeared.
"I can't do it." Loki said from behind him.
In his haste to get up, Germany wound up on his stomach at Loki's feet. "What are you doing here?" he asked, pushing himself off the floor.
Loki shook his head and helped him up. "This is exactly why I can't do it. You've already paid."
Germany blinked at him and leaned against the wall. "I don't follow."
Loki frowned and felt his pulse. It was fast-almost jumping out of the skin. "You're in pain." he said in an exaggerated patient tone. "That's a natural consequence of the spell. Their pain got taken away and you received it instead. It's equal exchange, so I can't take a price."
"Oh" Germany said, sliding down the wall. The room spun and he thought he could feel the rotation of Earth beneath him.
"I'm starting to regret letting you do this." Loki muttered above him. "It's not fun anymore." Germany felt a hand on his forehead-icy cold against his skin. "Sleep"
"Wha-?" Germany tried to say, but the world was slipping away into grey and then there was nothing.
Gently, Loki laid him flat on the floor. He picked up the cell that was on the desk and texted Prussia to come pick Germany up. "I set things in motion." he said to the silent room. "It's all up to them now." He stepped towards the door, taking a glance at Germany to make sure the spell was still holding. "I'm getting soft." He shook his head and disappeared.