"So be it," Switzerland declared. "The duel will commence in half an hour's time in the exhibition hall next to this room. German Order, England, you have fifteen minutes to choose your seconds and meet me there. Any fighting prior to commencement of the duel will be deemed an attempt to cheat and result in forfeiture by the instigator." He turned on his heel and walked from the room with Liechtenstein following close behind him.
Prussia turned to his brother. "Deep breaths, West. No matter how the fight works out, you'll be free of him."
Germany didn't flinch visibly, but Prussia could feel him cringing inside. "He could..."
"He won't. Not permanently." He still had strength enough to come back from death. "And there are rules for what he can demand as his victory price – nothing that will harm or cause distress to any other nation."
West's iron control kept him from shuddering, but he flinched just enough that Prussia could see it.
England had taken himself across the room and was arguing with – it sounded like America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Apparently none of them were keen to stand as his second and nobody else would even meet his eyes.
"At least let me second."
Prussia doubted anyone else would see the raw anguish in his brother's eyes. Mostly they never looked past the no-expression he wore to hide his feelings. "Sorry, West. You're too involved to stand as my second." He clasped his brother's shoulder. "I need someone who'll be able to watch Eyebrows and call out any cheating."
And the opportunity to watch him for cheating ought to have been enough to get a fucking queue of nations eager to stand as England's second. Apparently the black sheep of Europe had not been making himself popular since the war ended.
"Russia, would you be willing to stand as my second?" It took Prussia little time to make that decision: nobody would challenge Russia's word. Or maybe almost nobody – if England managed to browbeat America into seconding, there could be a brawl.
Which would still be to his benefit. Not ideal, certainly, but helpful.
Russia's little smile grew bigger. "Yes, yes. Will be fun to watch."
All three of the Baltic nations shivered, and Prussia didn't blame them. Russia had an... odd idea of 'fun'.
He took a deep breath. Focus. Find that icy clarity on the other end of fury, and hold it. Live there. He could embarrass himself when this was over.
Aftermath 9 of ?
Prussia turned to his brother. "Deep breaths, West. No matter how the fight works out, you'll be free of him."
Germany didn't flinch visibly, but Prussia could feel him cringing inside. "He could..."
"He won't. Not permanently." He still had strength enough to come back from death. "And there are rules for what he can demand as his victory price – nothing that will harm or cause distress to any other nation."
West's iron control kept him from shuddering, but he flinched just enough that Prussia could see it.
England had taken himself across the room and was arguing with – it sounded like America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Apparently none of them were keen to stand as his second and nobody else would even meet his eyes.
"At least let me second."
Prussia doubted anyone else would see the raw anguish in his brother's eyes. Mostly they never looked past the no-expression he wore to hide his feelings. "Sorry, West. You're too involved to stand as my second." He clasped his brother's shoulder. "I need someone who'll be able to watch Eyebrows and call out any cheating."
And the opportunity to watch him for cheating ought to have been enough to get a fucking queue of nations eager to stand as England's second. Apparently the black sheep of Europe had not been making himself popular since the war ended.
"Russia, would you be willing to stand as my second?" It took Prussia little time to make that decision: nobody would challenge Russia's word. Or maybe almost nobody – if England managed to browbeat America into seconding, there could be a brawl.
Which would still be to his benefit. Not ideal, certainly, but helpful.
Russia's little smile grew bigger. "Yes, yes. Will be fun to watch."
All three of the Baltic nations shivered, and Prussia didn't blame them. Russia had an... odd idea of 'fun'.
He took a deep breath. Focus. Find that icy clarity on the other end of fury, and hold it. Live there. He could embarrass himself when this was over.