Finally, it's finished! This chapter was very difficult to write.
Switzerland had to say that Liechtenstein’s guitar festival was more enjoyable than he had anticipated it to be, even with their run in with Austria taken into account. Though Liechtenstein had taken to hovering over him like a worried hen, it had been a nice, relaxing week for the both of them. He almost regretted having to return to his own home the next day.
They were currently relaxing on the balcony of Liechtenstein’s Unterland house after returning from the final concert of the festival. Switzerland relaxed back into his chair, feeling more peaceful than he had for months as the warm breeze passed over him. The glass of wine he’d had may also have helped with his feeling of tranquillity.
It was a shame he would have to disrupt the peace soon.
He looked over at Liechtenstein, who was half asleep, with her wine glass threatening to spill its contents onto her dress. Switzerland leaned over and removed the glass from her fingers, setting it down on the small table between them before nudging her awake.
‘You should go to bed.’
‘Ah, did I fall asleep? I’m sorry.’ She stood up and picked up her wine glass and the bottle.
‘You don’t have to do that. Just go to bed; I’ll clean up everything before I go to bed myself.’
Liechtenstein put down the wine bottle, but kept hold of her glass. ‘Are you going to stay out here? Do you want me to stay with you?’
Switzerland shook his head. ‘Just for a few minutes more. I’ll be fine.’
‘Alright... Goodnight, big brother.’
‘Goodnight, Liechtenstein.’ Liechtenstein kissed Switzerland on the forehead before heading back into the house.
Switzerland watched her leave, before turning back to the scenery. He picked up the wine bottle and refilled his glass. He would just have one more drink in the peace before heading back inside.
Switzerland woke up the next morning with a cramp in his neck and the sun shining in his eyes. He rubbed his cheeks as he woke up; he must have fallen asleep still sitting on the balcony.
He looked around to find a pitcher of water and a glass seated on the small table, as well as a packet of alka-seltzer. Switzerland ignored the pills but poured himself a glass of water.
In time he heard the door open and saw Liechtenstein come onto the balcony carrying a tray overloaded with coffee, rolls, marmalades, butter and cheese. Switzerland hurried to clear the table so she could set the tray down easily.
They ate in a comfortable silence, which was finally broken by Switzerland.
They descended once more into a comfortable silence, which was again broken by Switzerland. ‘Liechtenstein, I...’ he started, before breaking off.
‘Yes, big brother?’ Liechtenstein questioned. Switzerland had seemed to have had something on his mind all week, but Liechtenstein hadn’t wanted to push him about it, preferring to allow Switzerland to say whatever he needed to in his own time.
'Liechtenstein, I haven't been entirely honest with you. That night, back in May, I wasn't just mugged. I was raped as well.’
Liechtenstein was speechless. She had known that something more must have happened that night, but had never imagined that it could have been that. Finally recovering from the shock, Liechtenstein gasped; 'Oh, big brother!' She reached over and grabbed Switzerlands hands in her own.
‘You don’t need to fuss, Liechtenstein. I’m fine. It did happen two months ago.’ The look on Liechtenstein’s face said that she s didn’t quite believe him.
‘If you say so, big brother’ She removed her hands from Switzerland’s.
Switzerland sighed. Liechtenstein obviously didn’t believe him when he said he was fine, but what could he do? He couldn’t tell her everything; he wouldn’t destroy her image of her big brother. Though by admitting to the rape, hadn’t he already done that? By allowing a human to get the better of him in the first place, and allowing Liechtenstein to see the results, he had already broken her image of him. He sighed; he had already started to tell her the whole truth, he had to finish it now. ‘It has been... difficult. I have been fearful during the day and night. My work and my sleep have been suffering slightly due to this. I have become short tempered, and the secretaries at the office are scared of me. I feel nervous when I leave my house and there is nobody around, but whenever there are crowds I want them to go away. I don’t believe I am capable of protecting myself anymore, let alone you as well.’ He stated all of this in a flat, matter-of-fact voice, but Liechtenstein could see the tears building in his eyes.
Switzerland took a shaky breath before starting again. He still wasn’t looking at Liechtenstein. ‘I can understand if you no longer wish to see me, knowing all of this. I- I will take my leave as soon as possible, and will not bother you again after today.’
‘No!’ Liechtenstein surprised the both of them by leaping out of her chair and hugging Switzerland tightly. ‘I love you, brother! You’re so brave, and strong, and smart, and- and you should never say those things about yourself.’ Liechtenstein was close to tears by this point. ‘I could never think of you as weak, or want you to leave me. I’d stay with you forever if I could.’
Switzerland, slightly taken aback by Liechtenstein’s outburst, wrapped her in an awkward hug. ‘Don’t worry. I won’t leave you if you don’t want me to.’ He soothed her, stroking her hair.
‘And you know I’ll always be here for you, as well. If you need anything, you can always come to me for it. I may not be as big or strong as you, but I’ll try my hardest to help you as much as I can’
Switerland hugged Liechtenstein closer to his chest. ‘Thankyou.’
Thank you so much for finishing this! I've been reading this story since the first part, and I loved every bit of it. The way you handled such a delicate theme and described Switzerland's reactions and feelings was perfectly in character and so believable. This story was such a great treat, and I love the way it ended with so much hope.
Thankyou for reading and reviewing! I'm glad you enjoyed the story and found Switzerland so believable; I tried my hardest to get him and his reactions in character.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Re: Untitled- chapter 8, part 1
(Anonymous) 2012-11-16 12:02 am (UTC)(link)Switzerland had to say that Liechtenstein’s guitar festival was more enjoyable than he had anticipated it to be, even with their run in with Austria taken into account. Though Liechtenstein had taken to hovering over him like a worried hen, it had been a nice, relaxing week for the both of them. He almost regretted having to return to his own home the next day.
They were currently relaxing on the balcony of Liechtenstein’s Unterland house after returning from the final concert of the festival. Switzerland relaxed back into his chair, feeling more peaceful than he had for months as the warm breeze passed over him. The glass of wine he’d had may also have helped with his feeling of tranquillity.
It was a shame he would have to disrupt the peace soon.
He looked over at Liechtenstein, who was half asleep, with her wine glass threatening to spill its contents onto her dress. Switzerland leaned over and removed the glass from her fingers, setting it down on the small table between them before nudging her awake.
‘You should go to bed.’
‘Ah, did I fall asleep? I’m sorry.’ She stood up and picked up her wine glass and the bottle.
‘You don’t have to do that. Just go to bed; I’ll clean up everything before I go to bed myself.’
Liechtenstein put down the wine bottle, but kept hold of her glass. ‘Are you going to stay out here? Do you want me to stay with you?’
Switzerland shook his head. ‘Just for a few minutes more. I’ll be fine.’
‘Alright... Goodnight, big brother.’
‘Goodnight, Liechtenstein.’ Liechtenstein kissed Switzerland on the forehead before heading back into the house.
Switzerland watched her leave, before turning back to the scenery. He picked up the wine bottle and refilled his glass. He would just have one more drink in the peace before heading back inside.
Switzerland woke up the next morning with a cramp in his neck and the sun shining in his eyes. He rubbed his cheeks as he woke up; he must have fallen asleep still sitting on the balcony.
He looked around to find a pitcher of water and a glass seated on the small table, as well as a packet of alka-seltzer. Switzerland ignored the pills but poured himself a glass of water.
In time he heard the door open and saw Liechtenstein come onto the balcony carrying a tray overloaded with coffee, rolls, marmalades, butter and cheese. Switzerland hurried to clear the table so she could set the tray down easily.
They ate in a comfortable silence, which was finally broken by Switzerland.
They descended once more into a comfortable silence, which was again broken by Switzerland. ‘Liechtenstein, I...’ he started, before breaking off.
‘Yes, big brother?’ Liechtenstein questioned. Switzerland had seemed to have had something on his mind all week, but Liechtenstein hadn’t wanted to push him about it, preferring to allow Switzerland to say whatever he needed to in his own time.
'Liechtenstein, I haven't been entirely honest with you. That night, back in May, I wasn't just mugged. I was raped as well.’
Liechtenstein was speechless. She had known that something more must have happened that night, but had never imagined that it could have been that. Finally recovering from the shock, Liechtenstein gasped; 'Oh, big brother!' She reached over and grabbed Switzerlands hands in her own.
‘You don’t need to fuss, Liechtenstein. I’m fine. It did happen two months ago.’ The look on Liechtenstein’s face said that she s didn’t quite believe him.
‘If you say so, big brother’ She removed her hands from Switzerland’s.
Re: Untitled- chapter 8, part 1/2
(Anonymous) 2012-11-16 12:03 am (UTC)(link)Switzerland sighed. Liechtenstein obviously didn’t believe him when he said he was fine, but what could he do? He couldn’t tell her everything; he wouldn’t destroy her image of her big brother. Though by admitting to the rape, hadn’t he already done that? By allowing a human to get the better of him in the first place, and allowing Liechtenstein to see the results, he had already broken her image of him. He sighed; he had already started to tell her the whole truth, he had to finish it now. ‘It has been... difficult. I have been fearful during the day and night. My work and my sleep have been suffering slightly due to this. I have become short tempered, and the secretaries at the office are scared of me. I feel nervous when I leave my house and there is nobody around, but whenever there are crowds I want them to go away. I don’t believe I am capable of protecting myself anymore, let alone you as well.’ He stated all of this in a flat, matter-of-fact voice, but Liechtenstein could see the tears building in his eyes.
Switzerland took a shaky breath before starting again. He still wasn’t looking at Liechtenstein. ‘I can understand if you no longer wish to see me, knowing all of this. I- I will take my leave as soon as possible, and will not bother you again after today.’
‘No!’ Liechtenstein surprised the both of them by leaping out of her chair and hugging Switzerland tightly. ‘I love you, brother! You’re so brave, and strong, and smart, and- and you should never say those things about yourself.’ Liechtenstein was close to tears by this point. ‘I could never think of you as weak, or want you to leave me. I’d stay with you forever if I could.’
Switzerland, slightly taken aback by Liechtenstein’s outburst, wrapped her in an awkward hug. ‘Don’t worry. I won’t leave you if you don’t want me to.’ He soothed her, stroking her hair.
‘And you know I’ll always be here for you, as well. If you need anything, you can always come to me for it. I may not be as big or strong as you, but I’ll try my hardest to help you as much as I can’
Switerland hugged Liechtenstein closer to his chest. ‘Thankyou.’
Re: Untitled- chapter 8, part 1/2
(Anonymous) 2012-11-18 10:00 am (UTC)(link)Re: Untitled- chapter 8, part 1/2
(Anonymous) 2012-11-19 08:18 am (UTC)(link)