[Fanfic] The Kid: Chapter 15/24
Title: The Kid
Author/Artist: MoyaKite
Character(s) or Pairing(s): Mainly Prussia, Germany, and Freddy (little kid!OC), but almost everyone could end up in here eventually. (In this chapter: Freddy, Prussia, Canada, Romano, America.)
Rating: G (thus far)
Warnings: Fluff, discussions of mortality, potential for future character death
Summary: Simply put, Prussia goes backpacking across Europe and finds a kid. What sort of a dad would Prussia be, anyway?
Author's Notes: The original (which started on the kink meme) is here. I'm extremely fond of this story, so it's likely to continue as long as people keep showing interest. The more comments I get, the quicker I'll update. Sorry for the slight delay; explanations are available at my journal.
Prussia watched Freddy as he carefully set Piyopiyo-the plush chick that Prussia had given him for his birthday two years ago-on the chair, patting his battered, feathery head.
“Don't want him to get soaked?” Prussia asked, grinning and stretching. Freddy beamed back at him.
“You're not even gonna touch me!” Freddy boasted, puffing out his chest. “I'm faster than lightning! I can dodge every water balloon you've got, Papa!”
Prussia's grin turned fierce, and he flipped the water balloon over in his hand. It was the end of Freddy's last summer before he'd be attending an international school not too far from home; they'd decided to go on one last trip to visit Romano before school started up. They were somewhere near Rome, at Romano's private house; it was mid-August and hot. Romano had insisted that they wait until after the Ferragosto festivities had wound down; Freddy did all right in crowds, but Romano worried.
“Sure you can, Freddy,” Prussia chuckled. “I bet Al and Lovino are waiting.”
“They must be melting,” Freddy sighed, fanning himself. The air was thick and heavy; it clung to their skin and drenched them with sweat that wouldn't evaporate. They'd already stripped down to their swimsuits, but Prussia was eager to get the water fight started.
“How about we sneak attack 'em?” Prussia said, leaning down. “I bet you twenty marks that they've got an ambush waiting for us.”
“Marks aren't worth the paper they're printed on,” Freddy dutifully recited, rolling his eyes. Not that a mark had been printed in more than a decade. Prussia chuckled, and Freddy flashed him a cocky grin that Prussia was sure he'd picked up from America somewhere along the way. “Uncle Al wouldn't do something as unheroic as ambush me,” Freddy said, waving his hand dismissively.
“Prove it, then,” Prussia said, gesturing toward the door. Freddy hesitated for a split second before jutting out his chin and striding toward the door. He'd hardly made it out the door before the first water balloon splashed at his feet, but Freddy was fast-by the time Prussia darted after him, he had already evaded two more water balloons and was squirting America with his faithful super soaker.
“Papa, I need reinforcements!” Freddy shouted gleefully. He did a somersault to evade a fourth water balloon and landed to balance the gun on one knee, spraying America in the chest. Prussia glanced to one side and saw Romano filling water balloons and setting them in a huge bucket. Prussia flung his water balloon, and he managed not to think of grenades as it burst against America's cheek. Freddy whooped.
“Thanks,” Prussia said, using Italian, scooping a water balloon out of Romano's bucket. He'd discovered that he actually had to practice his languages to keep from forgetting them. “Aren't you gonna join in the fun?”
Romano looked up at him for a split second-by the time Prussia noticed the half-grin tugging at the corner of Romano's mouth and backpedaled, Romano had turned the hose on him. Cool water doused him from head to toe, knocking the wind out of him. Prussia ran for it, but Romano pursued him.
“Freddy, backup!” Prussia howled, lobbing water balloons over his shoulder. “God, how long is that hose?”
“Fifty meters!” Romano crowed, turning the hose on Freddy when he came to defend Prussia. Freddy shrieked with delight, spinning in the water. “All the water balloons you want and unlimited water gun refills if you switch sides!” Romano said, focusing the hose on Prussia again and holding his thumb so that the spray fanned out, making it nearly impossible to totally dodge. Freddy met Prussia's gaze, and Prussia gave him a little nod and a grin, and Freddy beamed, squirting the super soaker at Prussia's chest. Romano looked triumphant.
“Three against one isn't fair!” America shouted, hurling a water balloon at Romano's feet as a warning shot. “I'll back you up, Gil!”
“Since when does the hero back anyone up?” Romano smirked, turning the hose on America as Freddy focused his efforts on Prussia. Prussia managed to evade most of Freddy's shots as he ran to grab more ammunition; being drenched made it possible to move in the thick, still air, but half the fun was pretending that he didn't want to get soaked.
“No flirting, Uncle Al!” Freddy shouted in English, interrupting America as he ran by him, ducking under Romano's hose as he pursued Prussia. Romano and America both turned red and blustery-Prussia, who'd finally reached the tub of water balloons, cracked up.
“Who taught you that?” Prussia asked, tossing a water balloon at Romano's back. Freddy looked immensely proud of himself.
“Mattie told me to say that to Uncle Al to get him to shut up,” Freddy explained.
Prussia laughed harder still, accidentally popping the water balloon that he'd just picked up and drenching his own arm. He flicked aside the rubber remnants of the balloon and reached for another as Freddy shot him.
“I got you!” Freddy shouted. Prussia made a huge show of clutching his hands to the spot on his chest that Freddy had hit, staggering backwards and falling over with a moan to land on the grass.
“Argh! You got me!” Prussia cried out. “Medic, medic!”
“On my way!” America shouted, racing over to Prussia side. Freddy knew a bit about honor; he didn't shoot the man who was down, and he knew better than to shoot a medic. America mimed a stethoscope. “Oh, this could be very serious. Sir!” America said, waving at Freddy. “We need a blood transfusion! Can you give me a hand?”
Freddy nodded, running over and holding out his arm. America tapped Freddy's arm at the elbow, then Prussia's. Prussia groaned, staggering back to his feet, and America clapped Freddy's shoulder.
“Game on!” America shouted, darting out of the way. Prussia dodge rolled to the side and lobbed a water balloon at Romano, but it went wide and struck the fleeing America's leg. He landed hard, and it took Prussia a minute to realize that he was still just pretending as he groaned.
“Struck down by the very man I saved!” America said dramatically, only snickering a little. “Medic, medic!”
Freddy ran over and, just as America had done, mimed a stethoscope.
“Transfusion!” Freddy declared, tapping his own arm and then America's. America made a huge show of rising from the dead, and Freddy kicked his leg. “Just get up, Uncle Al.”
Prussia twisted around, wondering where Romano had vanished to, and saw him furiously making water balloons. Behind him, beyond the house, Prussia saw black thunderclouds heading their way. The rest of the yard was clear and sunny, but a slight breeze was beginning to pick up.
“I'm out of ammo!” Prussia said, looking at America. America grinned, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a mini squirt gun.
“That's all I've got!” America shouted. “I'll go raid their base. Distract them!”
“Got it!” Prussia said, running at Freddy, who shrieked happily and ran away.
“You can't catch me, Papa!” Freddy sang. “I'm faster than lightning!”
Prussia had to admit to himself that he was panting, and all of this running was taking a toll on him, but he had gotten used to his increasingly human body; he knew his limits better than he had before. He sprinted after Freddy, roaring with a war cry that had made hardened soldiers wet their pants on the battlefield. Freddy just giggled, but Romano looked around, stunned-that moment was all America needed to swipe an armful of water balloons.
“Here!” America shouted, tossing two to Prussia. As they slipped out of his hands, Prussia saw that America realized his mistake, but before he could try to catch them, thunder boomed across the sky, loud enough to rattle the window panes. Freddy gasped, dropping his super soaker. The water balloons splashed at his feet; Freddy had somehow avoided all of the water in their water war thus far.
The clouds rolled over the sky, and a torrent of rain came loose, drenching them all to the bone. Prussia saw America and Romano instinctively hold up their arms to defend themselves, but Freddy threw his arms out and his head back, sticking his tongue out to catch the falling raindrops.
“It's raining!” Freddy sang, spinning around. He slipped and landed on his back in the mud, laughing as he splashed around. “Rain, rain, come today! Come again tomorrow!”
Prussia grinned, but the flashes of lightning worried him; they were in an open field, no better than lightning rods in this kind of weather.
“Let's get inside and get Mattie to make us pancakes,” Prussia called, his voice nearly drowned out by the thunder and the torrential rain. Freddy looked up at the word pancakes and grinned excitedly, leaping to his feet. They ran inside, tracking mud into Romano's clean kitchen. Romano was wringing out his hair.
“I've got the batter ready,” Canada said, smiling from the end of the counter. Romano jumped, then looked embarrassed.
“How was your book?” America asked, reaching over to stick his finger in the batter. Mattie swatted his hand away.
“Not nearly as exciting as watching all of you duke it out, eh?” Canada said, pouring out the batter onto the skillet. “I thought you'd want pancakes, so I made some while I filmed you.”
“Where's Piyopiyo?” Freddy asked, looking around. “And Barát? And Demeter?”
Demeter was Freddy's cat, a gift from Greece; she disliked thunder, and often disappeared as soon as it started raining. Canada smiled.
“They're all safe and sound in your guest room,” Canada said.
“You're gonna catch a cold, Freddy,” Romano said. “Here, I'll get us all towels. Stop tracking mud around, America!”
“Got it, got it,” America said easily, pulling away from the counter. “Thanks, Lovino!”
“Thank you, Lovino!” Freddy shouted after him. “I love you!”
Canada smiled to himself, and Prussia grinned as he looked around at his family. The human-feeling made his back ache; he cracked it and stretched, utterly satisfied. Germany was at Italy's house, miles and miles to the north; Romano still didn't get along with him. But there Freddy was, bringing everyone together.
Canada flipped the first pancake over, and Prussia stooped down to muss Freddy's damp hair.
“I love you, kiddo, even if you defected to the other team,” Prussia said. Freddy threw his arms around Prussia's neck.
“I love you, too, Papa!” Freddy said happily. Prussia hugged him back and imagined that the pain in his joints had eased. It was all worth it for this.
Chapter Guide: ( Ch. 1) ( Ch. 2) ( Ch. 3) ( Ch. 4) ( Ch. 5) ( Ch. 6) ( Ch. 7) ( Ch. 8) ( Ch. 9) ( Ch. 10) ( Ch. 11) ( Ch. 12) ( Ch. 13) ( Ch. 14) ( Ch. 15) ( Ch. 16) ( Ch. 17) ( Ch. 18) ( Ch. 19) ( Ch. 20) ( Ch. 21) ( Ch. 22) ( Ch. 23) ( Ch. 24)
Author/Artist: MoyaKite
Character(s) or Pairing(s): Mainly Prussia, Germany, and Freddy (little kid!OC), but almost everyone could end up in here eventually. (In this chapter: Freddy, Prussia, Canada, Romano, America.)
Rating: G (thus far)
Warnings: Fluff, discussions of mortality, potential for future character death
Summary: Simply put, Prussia goes backpacking across Europe and finds a kid. What sort of a dad would Prussia be, anyway?
Author's Notes: The original (which started on the kink meme) is here. I'm extremely fond of this story, so it's likely to continue as long as people keep showing interest. The more comments I get, the quicker I'll update. Sorry for the slight delay; explanations are available at my journal.
Prussia watched Freddy as he carefully set Piyopiyo-the plush chick that Prussia had given him for his birthday two years ago-on the chair, patting his battered, feathery head.
“Don't want him to get soaked?” Prussia asked, grinning and stretching. Freddy beamed back at him.
“You're not even gonna touch me!” Freddy boasted, puffing out his chest. “I'm faster than lightning! I can dodge every water balloon you've got, Papa!”
Prussia's grin turned fierce, and he flipped the water balloon over in his hand. It was the end of Freddy's last summer before he'd be attending an international school not too far from home; they'd decided to go on one last trip to visit Romano before school started up. They were somewhere near Rome, at Romano's private house; it was mid-August and hot. Romano had insisted that they wait until after the Ferragosto festivities had wound down; Freddy did all right in crowds, but Romano worried.
“Sure you can, Freddy,” Prussia chuckled. “I bet Al and Lovino are waiting.”
“They must be melting,” Freddy sighed, fanning himself. The air was thick and heavy; it clung to their skin and drenched them with sweat that wouldn't evaporate. They'd already stripped down to their swimsuits, but Prussia was eager to get the water fight started.
“How about we sneak attack 'em?” Prussia said, leaning down. “I bet you twenty marks that they've got an ambush waiting for us.”
“Marks aren't worth the paper they're printed on,” Freddy dutifully recited, rolling his eyes. Not that a mark had been printed in more than a decade. Prussia chuckled, and Freddy flashed him a cocky grin that Prussia was sure he'd picked up from America somewhere along the way. “Uncle Al wouldn't do something as unheroic as ambush me,” Freddy said, waving his hand dismissively.
“Prove it, then,” Prussia said, gesturing toward the door. Freddy hesitated for a split second before jutting out his chin and striding toward the door. He'd hardly made it out the door before the first water balloon splashed at his feet, but Freddy was fast-by the time Prussia darted after him, he had already evaded two more water balloons and was squirting America with his faithful super soaker.
“Papa, I need reinforcements!” Freddy shouted gleefully. He did a somersault to evade a fourth water balloon and landed to balance the gun on one knee, spraying America in the chest. Prussia glanced to one side and saw Romano filling water balloons and setting them in a huge bucket. Prussia flung his water balloon, and he managed not to think of grenades as it burst against America's cheek. Freddy whooped.
“Thanks,” Prussia said, using Italian, scooping a water balloon out of Romano's bucket. He'd discovered that he actually had to practice his languages to keep from forgetting them. “Aren't you gonna join in the fun?”
Romano looked up at him for a split second-by the time Prussia noticed the half-grin tugging at the corner of Romano's mouth and backpedaled, Romano had turned the hose on him. Cool water doused him from head to toe, knocking the wind out of him. Prussia ran for it, but Romano pursued him.
“Freddy, backup!” Prussia howled, lobbing water balloons over his shoulder. “God, how long is that hose?”
“Fifty meters!” Romano crowed, turning the hose on Freddy when he came to defend Prussia. Freddy shrieked with delight, spinning in the water. “All the water balloons you want and unlimited water gun refills if you switch sides!” Romano said, focusing the hose on Prussia again and holding his thumb so that the spray fanned out, making it nearly impossible to totally dodge. Freddy met Prussia's gaze, and Prussia gave him a little nod and a grin, and Freddy beamed, squirting the super soaker at Prussia's chest. Romano looked triumphant.
“Three against one isn't fair!” America shouted, hurling a water balloon at Romano's feet as a warning shot. “I'll back you up, Gil!”
“Since when does the hero back anyone up?” Romano smirked, turning the hose on America as Freddy focused his efforts on Prussia. Prussia managed to evade most of Freddy's shots as he ran to grab more ammunition; being drenched made it possible to move in the thick, still air, but half the fun was pretending that he didn't want to get soaked.
“No flirting, Uncle Al!” Freddy shouted in English, interrupting America as he ran by him, ducking under Romano's hose as he pursued Prussia. Romano and America both turned red and blustery-Prussia, who'd finally reached the tub of water balloons, cracked up.
“Who taught you that?” Prussia asked, tossing a water balloon at Romano's back. Freddy looked immensely proud of himself.
“Mattie told me to say that to Uncle Al to get him to shut up,” Freddy explained.
Prussia laughed harder still, accidentally popping the water balloon that he'd just picked up and drenching his own arm. He flicked aside the rubber remnants of the balloon and reached for another as Freddy shot him.
“I got you!” Freddy shouted. Prussia made a huge show of clutching his hands to the spot on his chest that Freddy had hit, staggering backwards and falling over with a moan to land on the grass.
“Argh! You got me!” Prussia cried out. “Medic, medic!”
“On my way!” America shouted, racing over to Prussia side. Freddy knew a bit about honor; he didn't shoot the man who was down, and he knew better than to shoot a medic. America mimed a stethoscope. “Oh, this could be very serious. Sir!” America said, waving at Freddy. “We need a blood transfusion! Can you give me a hand?”
Freddy nodded, running over and holding out his arm. America tapped Freddy's arm at the elbow, then Prussia's. Prussia groaned, staggering back to his feet, and America clapped Freddy's shoulder.
“Game on!” America shouted, darting out of the way. Prussia dodge rolled to the side and lobbed a water balloon at Romano, but it went wide and struck the fleeing America's leg. He landed hard, and it took Prussia a minute to realize that he was still just pretending as he groaned.
“Struck down by the very man I saved!” America said dramatically, only snickering a little. “Medic, medic!”
Freddy ran over and, just as America had done, mimed a stethoscope.
“Transfusion!” Freddy declared, tapping his own arm and then America's. America made a huge show of rising from the dead, and Freddy kicked his leg. “Just get up, Uncle Al.”
Prussia twisted around, wondering where Romano had vanished to, and saw him furiously making water balloons. Behind him, beyond the house, Prussia saw black thunderclouds heading their way. The rest of the yard was clear and sunny, but a slight breeze was beginning to pick up.
“I'm out of ammo!” Prussia said, looking at America. America grinned, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a mini squirt gun.
“That's all I've got!” America shouted. “I'll go raid their base. Distract them!”
“Got it!” Prussia said, running at Freddy, who shrieked happily and ran away.
“You can't catch me, Papa!” Freddy sang. “I'm faster than lightning!”
Prussia had to admit to himself that he was panting, and all of this running was taking a toll on him, but he had gotten used to his increasingly human body; he knew his limits better than he had before. He sprinted after Freddy, roaring with a war cry that had made hardened soldiers wet their pants on the battlefield. Freddy just giggled, but Romano looked around, stunned-that moment was all America needed to swipe an armful of water balloons.
“Here!” America shouted, tossing two to Prussia. As they slipped out of his hands, Prussia saw that America realized his mistake, but before he could try to catch them, thunder boomed across the sky, loud enough to rattle the window panes. Freddy gasped, dropping his super soaker. The water balloons splashed at his feet; Freddy had somehow avoided all of the water in their water war thus far.
The clouds rolled over the sky, and a torrent of rain came loose, drenching them all to the bone. Prussia saw America and Romano instinctively hold up their arms to defend themselves, but Freddy threw his arms out and his head back, sticking his tongue out to catch the falling raindrops.
“It's raining!” Freddy sang, spinning around. He slipped and landed on his back in the mud, laughing as he splashed around. “Rain, rain, come today! Come again tomorrow!”
Prussia grinned, but the flashes of lightning worried him; they were in an open field, no better than lightning rods in this kind of weather.
“Let's get inside and get Mattie to make us pancakes,” Prussia called, his voice nearly drowned out by the thunder and the torrential rain. Freddy looked up at the word pancakes and grinned excitedly, leaping to his feet. They ran inside, tracking mud into Romano's clean kitchen. Romano was wringing out his hair.
“I've got the batter ready,” Canada said, smiling from the end of the counter. Romano jumped, then looked embarrassed.
“How was your book?” America asked, reaching over to stick his finger in the batter. Mattie swatted his hand away.
“Not nearly as exciting as watching all of you duke it out, eh?” Canada said, pouring out the batter onto the skillet. “I thought you'd want pancakes, so I made some while I filmed you.”
“Where's Piyopiyo?” Freddy asked, looking around. “And Barát? And Demeter?”
Demeter was Freddy's cat, a gift from Greece; she disliked thunder, and often disappeared as soon as it started raining. Canada smiled.
“They're all safe and sound in your guest room,” Canada said.
“You're gonna catch a cold, Freddy,” Romano said. “Here, I'll get us all towels. Stop tracking mud around, America!”
“Got it, got it,” America said easily, pulling away from the counter. “Thanks, Lovino!”
“Thank you, Lovino!” Freddy shouted after him. “I love you!”
Canada smiled to himself, and Prussia grinned as he looked around at his family. The human-feeling made his back ache; he cracked it and stretched, utterly satisfied. Germany was at Italy's house, miles and miles to the north; Romano still didn't get along with him. But there Freddy was, bringing everyone together.
Canada flipped the first pancake over, and Prussia stooped down to muss Freddy's damp hair.
“I love you, kiddo, even if you defected to the other team,” Prussia said. Freddy threw his arms around Prussia's neck.
“I love you, too, Papa!” Freddy said happily. Prussia hugged him back and imagined that the pain in his joints had eased. It was all worth it for this.
Chapter Guide: ( Ch. 1) ( Ch. 2) ( Ch. 3) ( Ch. 4) ( Ch. 5) ( Ch. 6) ( Ch. 7) ( Ch. 8) ( Ch. 9) ( Ch. 10) ( Ch. 11) ( Ch. 12) ( Ch. 13) ( Ch. 14) ( Ch. 15) ( Ch. 16) ( Ch. 17) ( Ch. 18) ( Ch. 19) ( Ch. 20) ( Ch. 21) ( Ch. 22) ( Ch. 23) ( Ch. 24)