I'll Never Leave You (Epilogue)
Title: I’ll Never Leave You (Epilogue Part 3/3)
Author/Artist: MJtehMickster
Character(s) or Pairing(s): Poland (Feliks), Lithuania (Toris), Russia (Ivan)
Rating: PG (for Violence and a few bad words)
Warnings: Written in first person. Human names used.
Summary: Toris has declared his independence from Russia, but Ivan is having none of it. With Ivan pressing the attack, will Toris cave in and return to his control, or will an old friend come to the rescue?
A/N: Just to avoid confusion, this part is told from Poland(Feliks)’s point of view.
The first chapter on LJ
The second chapter on LJ
Alternatively, follow/read the story here on ffnet
Warning for violence. Written in first person. Human names used.
Also, this was posted without being beta-ed, mostly because my beta is currently busy with school. Errors will be fixed as found.
Disclaimer: Hetalia and its characters belong to Mr. Himaruya. The plot in this story is mine.
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I woke slowly, confused and sleepy thoughts jumbled together. What had woken me? Oh yeah, the bed’s shaking. I sighed inwardly. Liet must be having another nightmare. I wasn’t surprised, honestly. I’d been waking up to find him shaking and whimpering in terror and pain almost every night since he’d finally given in to my demands and started staying with me again. Somehow I’d managed to soothe him with a few gentle strokes to his hair, occasionally holding his hand. So far he hadn’t been awakened, but I still worried.
I opened my eyes a bit, surprised to see him sitting up. Damn. This one must have been really bad to wake him up… I decided to feign ignorance and see if he would open up to me and let me help him. “…time is it?” I mumbled sleepily. He stiffened at the sound of my voice. I knew it. Not cool.
“It’s still the middle of the night. Go back to sleep, Feliks.” His voice sounded wrong, and he refused to look at me.
I reached out and caught the hem of his shirt. Knowing Liet, he’d at least turn and look at me, his gentle smile trying to ease my worries. “You should totally sleep too, Liet. It’s gonna, like, suck so much to get up in the morning and work.” He didn’t respond, and I began to worry, propping myself up next to him and rubbing at my tired eyes.
He turned his head away from me. I tugged at his sleeve. “Feliks, it’s okay.” I frowned as his voice cracked. He definitely wasn’t okay. “Go back to sleep.”
Frustrated now, I shifted closer and grabbed his cheek, forcing him to look at me. The light may have been dim, but what I saw was not reassuring. His face was pale, his eyes wide with tears beginning to form in their corners. He tried to pull away from me and I held on tighter. He squirmed, but stopped trying to pull back, instead refusing to meet my gaze. “Man, Liet. Your face looks like shit.” Inwardly I cursed at myself. This probably wasn’t the best choice of words. It hurt to see him flinch from my bluntness, so I tried a different approach. “What’s wrong?” He bit his lip and turned away, so I grabbed his face in both hands and leaned closer, trying to get him to let me in. Couldn’t he see that I just wanted to help?
“It-it’s nothing.” He stammered.
Mentally, I shook my head. His stubbornness nearly rivaled my own. Gently, I wiped a tear from his eye. “Don’t lie to me, Toris.” I only ever called him that out loud when I was serious, preferring to use the nickname that I’d given to him long ago as a means of endearment.
At this, his defenses crumbled. The dam broke and tears flowed freely down his face. He curled his body into a ball and I released him, surprised by this uncharacteristic breakdown. “I…I can’t…” My heart nearly broke at the sight. “I can’t go back there!” How could someone so strong and proud be reduced to this? His last words echoed in my brain, and then it clicked.
I reached out and stroked his hair gently; after all, it had worked to calm him while he slept. What was there to say that it wouldn’t help while he was awake too? “Bad dream?” I asked. I felt, more than saw, his answering nod. I considered how to proceed for a moment, before deciding on the direct route. “What did Ivan do this time?”
Judging by his gasp and wide-eyed stare, he hadn’t expected this question from me. “How…how did you…” My heart sank as he confirmed my fears.
I snorted to hide my pain from him. He had suffered, and didn’t need to feel guilty for my pain too. “This isn’t the first time you’ve woken me up with your nightmares. You just woke up first this time.” I kept my voice light as his expression changed to reflect his disbelief. “Usually you’d be whimpering Ivan’s name and begging him not to hurt you. Seriously, Toris, you didn’t know?” He shook his head and I felt a small bit of pride in myself. I’d helped him escape those nightmares…until now. “Well, spill. What’d he do this time that was totally so much worse than the other times?”
For a moment, I was afraid he wouldn’t answer when he buried his face in his arms again. “He…killed you…” His mumble was difficult to make out, but I still gasped involuntarily when I realized what he’d said. He looked up, a lost, broken expression on his face. “I’m sorry!” He was sobbing again. “I couldn’t…I…h-he hurt you because of m-me…and I couldn’t stop him, couldn’t protect you…”
I nearly lost it myself this time. He was crying because of ME. I tugged him upright and pulled him into a hug, trying to hide my own pain at his words. He cried himself out when my own emotions waged war inside me. Slowly, he released his grip on my shirt and I pulled him away gently. His face was more relaxed as I helped wipe away his tears. “Better?” He nodded, and I felt a small amount of relief. “Good. Now tell me the whole thing.”
He shuddered visibly but obeyed. He seemed okay, but my horror grew as he recounted Ivan’s actions and the beating he’d taken while protecting me. When he stopped, unable to continue, I was pretty sure that he couldn’t bring himself to tell me how I’d died in his dream.
“Man, I should have guessed.” I couldn’t help the frustration that leaked into my voice. He shrank away from me and I frowned. Didn’t he know that I wasn’t frustrated with him? “Hey, Liet.” I scooted closer. “I’m not mad at you. This is, like, totally my fault.” He opened his mouth to object and I stopped him quickly. This needed to be said, and if he interrupted, I wasn’t sure I could say it again later. “Seriously. You’ve been back for years now and I’ve never apologized to you. Look, I’m, like, really sorry, okay? You know, about the whole letting-Ivan-take-you-away thing. I kinda, sorta, maybe thought you’d be safer with him, and I didn’t want to see you continue to be hurt because of my foolishness and stupidity.”
He opened his mouth again and I shook my head. “You’re way too nice to admit how much of a pain in the ass I’ve been for you.” He chuckled slightly at this, so I plowed on. “Anyways,” I couldn’t look at him anymore. My bravery only ever lasted for so long. “I’m sorry. Yeah. And, like, I totally promise that nothing like that will ever happen again. Ever.”
He took one of my hands and I looked up at him again. “Feliks, it’s not your fault. I don’t blame you. Really. In fact, I was more worried about what might happen to you without me around to look after you than I was about myself…” He trailed off as I flung myself at him. “F-Feliks?”
“I promise…” I realized I was mumbling into his hair and pulled back, cupping his face with my hands again. He looked confused. “I promise I will never let him touch you again. And I can totally promise one other thing. I will never leave you. Ever. Again.” I don’t think that I’ve ever felt more determined. “Like, seriously. I mean it, for reals!”
“Oh, Feliks.” He pulled me into a hug. “I don’t deserve you. For what it’s worth, I don’t plan on leaving you ever again either.” I yawned into his shoulder, too tired to continue, but refused to let him go.
And that was how we woke up the next morning, resuming our normal lives…together.
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A/N: Hooray, it’s done! Now I can move onto something else, eh?
Poland always strikes me as playing dumb. I bet he’s a lot smarter than he likes to act. Hence his side of this fic.
Please comment/review! I’d love to get some awesome feedback before I start a new story!
Author/Artist: MJtehMickster
Character(s) or Pairing(s): Poland (Feliks), Lithuania (Toris), Russia (Ivan)
Rating: PG (for Violence and a few bad words)
Warnings: Written in first person. Human names used.
Summary: Toris has declared his independence from Russia, but Ivan is having none of it. With Ivan pressing the attack, will Toris cave in and return to his control, or will an old friend come to the rescue?
A/N: Just to avoid confusion, this part is told from Poland(Feliks)’s point of view.
The first chapter on LJ
The second chapter on LJ
Alternatively, follow/read the story here on ffnet
Warning for violence. Written in first person. Human names used.
Also, this was posted without being beta-ed, mostly because my beta is currently busy with school. Errors will be fixed as found.
Disclaimer: Hetalia and its characters belong to Mr. Himaruya. The plot in this story is mine.
**************************************************************************************************
I woke slowly, confused and sleepy thoughts jumbled together. What had woken me? Oh yeah, the bed’s shaking. I sighed inwardly. Liet must be having another nightmare. I wasn’t surprised, honestly. I’d been waking up to find him shaking and whimpering in terror and pain almost every night since he’d finally given in to my demands and started staying with me again. Somehow I’d managed to soothe him with a few gentle strokes to his hair, occasionally holding his hand. So far he hadn’t been awakened, but I still worried.
I opened my eyes a bit, surprised to see him sitting up. Damn. This one must have been really bad to wake him up… I decided to feign ignorance and see if he would open up to me and let me help him. “…time is it?” I mumbled sleepily. He stiffened at the sound of my voice. I knew it. Not cool.
“It’s still the middle of the night. Go back to sleep, Feliks.” His voice sounded wrong, and he refused to look at me.
I reached out and caught the hem of his shirt. Knowing Liet, he’d at least turn and look at me, his gentle smile trying to ease my worries. “You should totally sleep too, Liet. It’s gonna, like, suck so much to get up in the morning and work.” He didn’t respond, and I began to worry, propping myself up next to him and rubbing at my tired eyes.
He turned his head away from me. I tugged at his sleeve. “Feliks, it’s okay.” I frowned as his voice cracked. He definitely wasn’t okay. “Go back to sleep.”
Frustrated now, I shifted closer and grabbed his cheek, forcing him to look at me. The light may have been dim, but what I saw was not reassuring. His face was pale, his eyes wide with tears beginning to form in their corners. He tried to pull away from me and I held on tighter. He squirmed, but stopped trying to pull back, instead refusing to meet my gaze. “Man, Liet. Your face looks like shit.” Inwardly I cursed at myself. This probably wasn’t the best choice of words. It hurt to see him flinch from my bluntness, so I tried a different approach. “What’s wrong?” He bit his lip and turned away, so I grabbed his face in both hands and leaned closer, trying to get him to let me in. Couldn’t he see that I just wanted to help?
“It-it’s nothing.” He stammered.
Mentally, I shook my head. His stubbornness nearly rivaled my own. Gently, I wiped a tear from his eye. “Don’t lie to me, Toris.” I only ever called him that out loud when I was serious, preferring to use the nickname that I’d given to him long ago as a means of endearment.
At this, his defenses crumbled. The dam broke and tears flowed freely down his face. He curled his body into a ball and I released him, surprised by this uncharacteristic breakdown. “I…I can’t…” My heart nearly broke at the sight. “I can’t go back there!” How could someone so strong and proud be reduced to this? His last words echoed in my brain, and then it clicked.
I reached out and stroked his hair gently; after all, it had worked to calm him while he slept. What was there to say that it wouldn’t help while he was awake too? “Bad dream?” I asked. I felt, more than saw, his answering nod. I considered how to proceed for a moment, before deciding on the direct route. “What did Ivan do this time?”
Judging by his gasp and wide-eyed stare, he hadn’t expected this question from me. “How…how did you…” My heart sank as he confirmed my fears.
I snorted to hide my pain from him. He had suffered, and didn’t need to feel guilty for my pain too. “This isn’t the first time you’ve woken me up with your nightmares. You just woke up first this time.” I kept my voice light as his expression changed to reflect his disbelief. “Usually you’d be whimpering Ivan’s name and begging him not to hurt you. Seriously, Toris, you didn’t know?” He shook his head and I felt a small bit of pride in myself. I’d helped him escape those nightmares…until now. “Well, spill. What’d he do this time that was totally so much worse than the other times?”
For a moment, I was afraid he wouldn’t answer when he buried his face in his arms again. “He…killed you…” His mumble was difficult to make out, but I still gasped involuntarily when I realized what he’d said. He looked up, a lost, broken expression on his face. “I’m sorry!” He was sobbing again. “I couldn’t…I…h-he hurt you because of m-me…and I couldn’t stop him, couldn’t protect you…”
I nearly lost it myself this time. He was crying because of ME. I tugged him upright and pulled him into a hug, trying to hide my own pain at his words. He cried himself out when my own emotions waged war inside me. Slowly, he released his grip on my shirt and I pulled him away gently. His face was more relaxed as I helped wipe away his tears. “Better?” He nodded, and I felt a small amount of relief. “Good. Now tell me the whole thing.”
He shuddered visibly but obeyed. He seemed okay, but my horror grew as he recounted Ivan’s actions and the beating he’d taken while protecting me. When he stopped, unable to continue, I was pretty sure that he couldn’t bring himself to tell me how I’d died in his dream.
“Man, I should have guessed.” I couldn’t help the frustration that leaked into my voice. He shrank away from me and I frowned. Didn’t he know that I wasn’t frustrated with him? “Hey, Liet.” I scooted closer. “I’m not mad at you. This is, like, totally my fault.” He opened his mouth to object and I stopped him quickly. This needed to be said, and if he interrupted, I wasn’t sure I could say it again later. “Seriously. You’ve been back for years now and I’ve never apologized to you. Look, I’m, like, really sorry, okay? You know, about the whole letting-Ivan-take-you-away thing. I kinda, sorta, maybe thought you’d be safer with him, and I didn’t want to see you continue to be hurt because of my foolishness and stupidity.”
He opened his mouth again and I shook my head. “You’re way too nice to admit how much of a pain in the ass I’ve been for you.” He chuckled slightly at this, so I plowed on. “Anyways,” I couldn’t look at him anymore. My bravery only ever lasted for so long. “I’m sorry. Yeah. And, like, I totally promise that nothing like that will ever happen again. Ever.”
He took one of my hands and I looked up at him again. “Feliks, it’s not your fault. I don’t blame you. Really. In fact, I was more worried about what might happen to you without me around to look after you than I was about myself…” He trailed off as I flung myself at him. “F-Feliks?”
“I promise…” I realized I was mumbling into his hair and pulled back, cupping his face with my hands again. He looked confused. “I promise I will never let him touch you again. And I can totally promise one other thing. I will never leave you. Ever. Again.” I don’t think that I’ve ever felt more determined. “Like, seriously. I mean it, for reals!”
“Oh, Feliks.” He pulled me into a hug. “I don’t deserve you. For what it’s worth, I don’t plan on leaving you ever again either.” I yawned into his shoulder, too tired to continue, but refused to let him go.
And that was how we woke up the next morning, resuming our normal lives…together.
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A/N: Hooray, it’s done! Now I can move onto something else, eh?
Poland always strikes me as playing dumb. I bet he’s a lot smarter than he likes to act. Hence his side of this fic.
Please comment/review! I’d love to get some awesome feedback before I start a new story!