A House Call
TITLE; A House Call
PAIRING; Russia/Ukraine
RATING; PG
WARNINGS; Just a kiss.
SUMMARY; When Russia comes down with a fever and refuses to take care of himself, Ukraine sees no other option but to show up in Moscow and do it herself.
The first inklings that Russia wasn't well were planted in Ukraine's mind at the most recent conference. Peeking over at him from behind some of her papers, she frowned at how stoically he sat in his chair. And was it her imagination, or was his brow shiny with sweat?
Shaking her head she turned back to face the rest of the nations present, telling herself for the fortieth time that Russia was an adult and it wasn't her place to worry over him like that anymore. She had her own problems to worry about.
But then halfway through the meeting Lithuania walked right behind her brother's chair and nothing happened. Ukraine nearly choked in surprise; there could be no doubt about it now, he was extremely sick.
Worst fears confirmed, the rest of the meeting passed by in a strange haze as her mind concocted horrible images of her brother alone in bed, life slowly draining from his body. Once the issues had been resolved, she nearly bolted from her seat and ran to confront Russia.
The nearer she got, the slower Ukraine walked. But up close it was easy to see how pale he was, and the concern flared again and banished any anxiety she held. She tugged gently on his coat sleeve, saying as she did so "Ah, Brother...c-could I have a word with you?"
Turning, he seemed vaguely surprised but gave no reaction other than a wan smile. "Of course, Sister. What is it?"
"I don't mean to pry, b-but are you taking care of yourself? You look very ill." She bit her lip in consternation, hoping that maybe he was merely tired and that there was someone at home waiting to help him recover.
Instead what she got was a small chuckle and "Haha, what a thing to say! I'm perfectly fine. Sister is imagining things."
And with a wave he turned on his heel and walked out the door, leaving Ukraine to stare after him in horror. This was unacceptable. He was certainly sick, and if he didn't take care of it there was a great likelihood that it would only become even worse. And he was telling her she was imagining it?
There was no other option, then. Making her way to the door herself, Ukraine began mentally listing things she would need on her trip. If Brother wouldn't care for himself then she would.
Opening the door and seeing her standing at his doorstep with a suitcase, Russia looked even more surprised than he had the day of the conference. Taking advantage of his momentary paralysis she hurried in and dropped her burden on the hallway floor. Turning back to face her host, she regarded him again before saying anything; he definitely looked worse.
Keeping her voice level but firm, she said "Brother, you're sick. I'm here to help you get better."
"Are you still talking about that silliness? I told you before, there is nothing to worry abou-"
"No, you are not fine." Her voice contained an incredible amount of power, and she coupled the statement with grabbing his arm and propelling him forcefully in the direction of his bedroom. Even if fever hadn't weakened him, the sheer authority in his sister's voice was enough to startle Russia into compliance. It had been a long time since she had sounded like that in his presence...
After making sure that her brother was in his pajamas and securely tucked into bed, Ukraine left the room for several minutes with the warning that she would be back, so he had better still be there.
Looking about a bit sulkily, Russia settled deeper into his blankets. By the time he had made himself comfortable his sister was back, holding in front of her a steaming mug which she proceeded to blow on a bit before handing it off to him.
"E-england told me that this was wonderful for help with all kinds of illnesses. I think he called it a Hot Toddy? You didn't have any brandy so I just used vodka. I think it should still work fine.." she explained, seating herself at the foot of the bed and looking at him expectantly. Eying the brew skeptically, he nonetheless downed it, figuring correctly that with Ukraine watching he didn't really have much of a choice. However, it was surprisingly tasty and he quickly finished off the rest of it.
"Ah, it is very good. You should tell England thank you for me." he murmured, sadly regarding the empty bottom of his mug. Shooting him a small smile, she leaned over and took it from him, tossing over her shoulder that she would get him more as she left. This was perfectly fine with Russia; the Toddy tasted more of alcohol than of anything meant for healing.
An hour and three more refills later Russia was certainly feeling more relaxed, albeit still as sick. Smiling at his sister who was dabbing his face with a cool cloth and an anxious look, he lifted his hand to cup her cheek. Ukraine nearly jumped out of her skin and dropped the cloth, which only served to make him laugh. "Sister should smile more. She looks much more beautiful that way."
He smiled tipsily as she flushed and looked away to pick up the fallen cloth. Reaching up she took his hand in hers and gently moved it from her face. "I t-think there was a little too much vodka in your drink."
Russia curled his hand around his sister's, refusing to let go after being removed from its former place. His face grew serious and somehow desperate as he plaintively appealed to her. "Sister will stay with me, da? And...maybe sing?"
At that her eyes shone as tears welled up in them, and she reached up with her free arm to clumsily wipe them away. This was a side of her brother she had not seen for centuries, and it hurt her to think that. "Of course I will. W-what shall I sing for you?"
Ukraine seated herself on the bed once again, pulling her legs up underneath her while they both decided that an old lullaby from childhood would be best.
As she softly crooned, she leaned over to brush some stray hairs from her brother's face. In that moment Russia reached out for her and pulled her down next to him, burying his head in her hair in an attempt to quell the headache that was currently trying to split his skull open.
She was still for a moment in sheer surprise. Then she wrapped her arms around him and murmured comforting nothing words in his ear as he finally drifted off to the rest he so badly needed. The vice-grip on her middle did not lessen, though, and Ukraine resigned herself to staying there. It was a familiar position; they all had often huddled together in one bed at night to keep the winter chill at bay.
Sometime in the night she was awakened by a loud clamor right in her ear. Rousing herself to full alertness she sat up to find that the perpetrator of these horrific noises was none other than her own brother. She could only assume he was having a nightmare; he was shouting about Mongols, Ivan the Terrible, Stalin, the Romanovs drowning in blood why wouldn't anyone help them?
Pulling him close to her despite his thrashing about, Ukraine started talking. In the chaos she had no idea what is was she was even saying, only that she was shouting it desperately - and her face was wet, when did she start crying with him?
As swiftly as it had started it was over again and Ukraine had her brother back with her, breathing slowly and still holding too-tight onto her arms. They sat together silently for several minutes, just listening to the other's breath and heartbeat. Finally Russia whispered, almost inaudibly, "I am sorry for that."
"There is nothing to be sorry for." she admonished, fiercely pressing a kiss onto his forehead.
After this first day things proceeded much more smoothly. A pattern was developed between the two of them, and within two weeks Russia was back on his feet completely.
The time had come for Ukraine to take her leave. She repacked her luggage and carefully slunk down the stairs. It was absurdly early in the morning, and she meant to exit without waking her brother.
Pleased that she had reached the door without any sign of him having woken, her heart stopped working for a few seconds when a voice behind her rumbled "Leaving without saying goodbye first? Is Sister so sick of me?"
Trying to contain her wild panic, she spun around to see that Russia was chuckling good-humoredly at her. A joke, he was joking. Laughing along with him half out of relief, Ukraine replied "Haha, I-I didn't want to bother you with it. You have enough work to catch up on, a-and it's not as if you aren't going to see me again, besides-"
As she spoke, Russia had fondly placed his arms onto her shoulders. Suddenly he leaned down and gently kissed her, breaking it only to plant another kiss on her forehead. Turning his shell-shocked sister around, he murmured "Spasibo, dearest."
With that he pushed Ukraine out of the house and shut the door behind her. Seemingly unaffected by the chill temperature outside, she slowly tapped her lips as if unsure that they were really attached to her face. Then she sunk to her knees and began laughing and crying all at once, feeling as if she were about to burst from the warmth inside.
Apparently Ukraine wasn't the only one who brought healing with her.
PAIRING; Russia/Ukraine
RATING; PG
WARNINGS; Just a kiss.
SUMMARY; When Russia comes down with a fever and refuses to take care of himself, Ukraine sees no other option but to show up in Moscow and do it herself.
The first inklings that Russia wasn't well were planted in Ukraine's mind at the most recent conference. Peeking over at him from behind some of her papers, she frowned at how stoically he sat in his chair. And was it her imagination, or was his brow shiny with sweat?
Shaking her head she turned back to face the rest of the nations present, telling herself for the fortieth time that Russia was an adult and it wasn't her place to worry over him like that anymore. She had her own problems to worry about.
But then halfway through the meeting Lithuania walked right behind her brother's chair and nothing happened. Ukraine nearly choked in surprise; there could be no doubt about it now, he was extremely sick.
Worst fears confirmed, the rest of the meeting passed by in a strange haze as her mind concocted horrible images of her brother alone in bed, life slowly draining from his body. Once the issues had been resolved, she nearly bolted from her seat and ran to confront Russia.
The nearer she got, the slower Ukraine walked. But up close it was easy to see how pale he was, and the concern flared again and banished any anxiety she held. She tugged gently on his coat sleeve, saying as she did so "Ah, Brother...c-could I have a word with you?"
Turning, he seemed vaguely surprised but gave no reaction other than a wan smile. "Of course, Sister. What is it?"
"I don't mean to pry, b-but are you taking care of yourself? You look very ill." She bit her lip in consternation, hoping that maybe he was merely tired and that there was someone at home waiting to help him recover.
Instead what she got was a small chuckle and "Haha, what a thing to say! I'm perfectly fine. Sister is imagining things."
And with a wave he turned on his heel and walked out the door, leaving Ukraine to stare after him in horror. This was unacceptable. He was certainly sick, and if he didn't take care of it there was a great likelihood that it would only become even worse. And he was telling her she was imagining it?
There was no other option, then. Making her way to the door herself, Ukraine began mentally listing things she would need on her trip. If Brother wouldn't care for himself then she would.
Opening the door and seeing her standing at his doorstep with a suitcase, Russia looked even more surprised than he had the day of the conference. Taking advantage of his momentary paralysis she hurried in and dropped her burden on the hallway floor. Turning back to face her host, she regarded him again before saying anything; he definitely looked worse.
Keeping her voice level but firm, she said "Brother, you're sick. I'm here to help you get better."
"Are you still talking about that silliness? I told you before, there is nothing to worry abou-"
"No, you are not fine." Her voice contained an incredible amount of power, and she coupled the statement with grabbing his arm and propelling him forcefully in the direction of his bedroom. Even if fever hadn't weakened him, the sheer authority in his sister's voice was enough to startle Russia into compliance. It had been a long time since she had sounded like that in his presence...
After making sure that her brother was in his pajamas and securely tucked into bed, Ukraine left the room for several minutes with the warning that she would be back, so he had better still be there.
Looking about a bit sulkily, Russia settled deeper into his blankets. By the time he had made himself comfortable his sister was back, holding in front of her a steaming mug which she proceeded to blow on a bit before handing it off to him.
"E-england told me that this was wonderful for help with all kinds of illnesses. I think he called it a Hot Toddy? You didn't have any brandy so I just used vodka. I think it should still work fine.." she explained, seating herself at the foot of the bed and looking at him expectantly. Eying the brew skeptically, he nonetheless downed it, figuring correctly that with Ukraine watching he didn't really have much of a choice. However, it was surprisingly tasty and he quickly finished off the rest of it.
"Ah, it is very good. You should tell England thank you for me." he murmured, sadly regarding the empty bottom of his mug. Shooting him a small smile, she leaned over and took it from him, tossing over her shoulder that she would get him more as she left. This was perfectly fine with Russia; the Toddy tasted more of alcohol than of anything meant for healing.
An hour and three more refills later Russia was certainly feeling more relaxed, albeit still as sick. Smiling at his sister who was dabbing his face with a cool cloth and an anxious look, he lifted his hand to cup her cheek. Ukraine nearly jumped out of her skin and dropped the cloth, which only served to make him laugh. "Sister should smile more. She looks much more beautiful that way."
He smiled tipsily as she flushed and looked away to pick up the fallen cloth. Reaching up she took his hand in hers and gently moved it from her face. "I t-think there was a little too much vodka in your drink."
Russia curled his hand around his sister's, refusing to let go after being removed from its former place. His face grew serious and somehow desperate as he plaintively appealed to her. "Sister will stay with me, da? And...maybe sing?"
At that her eyes shone as tears welled up in them, and she reached up with her free arm to clumsily wipe them away. This was a side of her brother she had not seen for centuries, and it hurt her to think that. "Of course I will. W-what shall I sing for you?"
Ukraine seated herself on the bed once again, pulling her legs up underneath her while they both decided that an old lullaby from childhood would be best.
As she softly crooned, she leaned over to brush some stray hairs from her brother's face. In that moment Russia reached out for her and pulled her down next to him, burying his head in her hair in an attempt to quell the headache that was currently trying to split his skull open.
She was still for a moment in sheer surprise. Then she wrapped her arms around him and murmured comforting nothing words in his ear as he finally drifted off to the rest he so badly needed. The vice-grip on her middle did not lessen, though, and Ukraine resigned herself to staying there. It was a familiar position; they all had often huddled together in one bed at night to keep the winter chill at bay.
Sometime in the night she was awakened by a loud clamor right in her ear. Rousing herself to full alertness she sat up to find that the perpetrator of these horrific noises was none other than her own brother. She could only assume he was having a nightmare; he was shouting about Mongols, Ivan the Terrible, Stalin, the Romanovs drowning in blood why wouldn't anyone help them?
Pulling him close to her despite his thrashing about, Ukraine started talking. In the chaos she had no idea what is was she was even saying, only that she was shouting it desperately - and her face was wet, when did she start crying with him?
As swiftly as it had started it was over again and Ukraine had her brother back with her, breathing slowly and still holding too-tight onto her arms. They sat together silently for several minutes, just listening to the other's breath and heartbeat. Finally Russia whispered, almost inaudibly, "I am sorry for that."
"There is nothing to be sorry for." she admonished, fiercely pressing a kiss onto his forehead.
After this first day things proceeded much more smoothly. A pattern was developed between the two of them, and within two weeks Russia was back on his feet completely.
The time had come for Ukraine to take her leave. She repacked her luggage and carefully slunk down the stairs. It was absurdly early in the morning, and she meant to exit without waking her brother.
Pleased that she had reached the door without any sign of him having woken, her heart stopped working for a few seconds when a voice behind her rumbled "Leaving without saying goodbye first? Is Sister so sick of me?"
Trying to contain her wild panic, she spun around to see that Russia was chuckling good-humoredly at her. A joke, he was joking. Laughing along with him half out of relief, Ukraine replied "Haha, I-I didn't want to bother you with it. You have enough work to catch up on, a-and it's not as if you aren't going to see me again, besides-"
As she spoke, Russia had fondly placed his arms onto her shoulders. Suddenly he leaned down and gently kissed her, breaking it only to plant another kiss on her forehead. Turning his shell-shocked sister around, he murmured "Spasibo, dearest."
With that he pushed Ukraine out of the house and shut the door behind her. Seemingly unaffected by the chill temperature outside, she slowly tapped her lips as if unsure that they were really attached to her face. Then she sunk to her knees and began laughing and crying all at once, feeling as if she were about to burst from the warmth inside.
Apparently Ukraine wasn't the only one who brought healing with her.