[FIC] Finland's search for independence parts 1 and 2
Title: Finland's search for independence
Author: dies_dandles
Fandom: Axis Powers Hetalia
Characters: 1st part: Finland, Sweden, Russia; 2nd part: Finland, Russia, Estonia, Lithuania
Timeline: These parts (1 and 2) cover the years from 1809 to somewhere around 1908.
Rating: PG-13 just in case
Disclaimer: I do not own! Not making profit, just having fun.
Part 1
Tino looked at his bespectacled partner in disbelief. He must have heard wrong. Berwald couldn't have just said he'd be given over... to that Braginski! He looked over to the other side of the room, where he knew the taller man was waiting. He looked at Berwald, as war-battered as himself, and touched his face.
"Is it the only way?" Berwald asked, anguished. "I can't continue fighting anymore. I've no resources..." He covered his face with his hands.
Tino looked up at his once so proud friend and moistened his lips. He knew he had to be the brave one now. He took Berwald's hands in his and smiled, tears coming to his eyes. "It's fine. I'll be fine."
"I know", the taller man answered and pulled him close. Tino pushed him off and turned around.
"And it's not like I'm going to be far away..."
"It'll feel like the moon..." he heard Berwald whisper, when he started to walk across the room.
*
Ivan had looked at the scene with dark eyes; a little bit sad, but more jealous. What did those two share that he didn't, couldn't have? He looked on when Oxenstierna pulled the small man close and released him. Väinämöinen was a brave boy, Ivan thought, I must give him that. Maybe, just maybe, I can trust his word if he comes over.
He watched the two change a few more words and then the smaller man walked over to him.
"Here I am", was all he said, tears still on his face, but not fear. Never fear. That was what Ivan liked about him; Tino had guts.
*
Tino looked up at the man and swallowed. Ivan Braginski... Even the name made him shudder, but only inwardly at his presence. He'd never show his emotions to this man, never show a weakness. He hm'ed to himself. He'd not be like those poor Baltic states, who he really liked, but also pitied.
Ivan was looking at him, so he dared a peek into his eyes. And shuddered again; how could he have such cold, unfeeling eyes and still be alive? He'd seen eyes more alive on his dead prey when he'd been hunting. He started to feel something akin to pity for the tall man.
Ivan wrapped one heavy arm around his narrow shoulders and started to lead him away. Tino glanced behind once more.
Berwald wasn't looking at them; he had his face covered with his hands again and even at this distance the Finn could see that he was trembling. He turned away to face his new future.
***
Part 2
He and Braginski had agreed that he could go as he pleased; could be as free as with Berwald, maybe even more. Tino didn't really have anything to complain about... Most of the time.
After a few tantrums, Tino had learned to avoid the bigger man on certain days, and not to annoy him more. But on the occasions when Ivan pushed himself on him, there wasn't much Tino could do. He let things happen and knew that the next day, the other man would apologize and give him whatever he asked. So he coped with it; it wasn't like it happened very often.
He didn't see Berwald, or anyone else for that matter, as often as he'd have liked. Some of them seemed to be avoiding him, but others, like Eduard and Toris, who shared his fate, would pop in occasionally - without Ivan's notice of course - and they'd talk about their dreams and ambitions and plans for the future.
Tino noticed that the pity he felt for Ivan was shared. Toris especially would talk about the tall man almost like talking about a child.
"But that's what he is", he had explained, "A big child, who really doesn't know how else to do things."
Tino had agreed. There was something extremely childlike in the man, but it didn't lessen the fact that he was also terrifying.
On other occasion; one that took place after one of Ivan's tantrums Eduard came to visit and bandaged Tino.
"You know", he said, "I think you should try to find someone to help you. I think they would."
"Are you encouraging me to disobey? You?" Tino smiled a little.
"I know. Ridiculous, isn't it?"
They had both laughed off the idea, but it began to take root in Tino's mind. Who could he turn to? Not to Berwald, not this time. He'd like to try to gain independence. If he asked Berwald, he'd end up being with him again. Most of the other countries didn't want to anger Ivan; no one
knew what he'd do.
But there was one person he knew of, who didn't fear Ivan. One person, who he could turn to. Ludwig.
***
Author’s notes: For Independece Day. ^_^
And in case you're wondering: I'm Finnish myself, so of course I'm biased. Also, I've always been into history, Finnish history was my favourite course in high school, so I knew I had to write this.
My references for 1 and 2:
History of Finland and
Great Northern war
Author: dies_dandles
Fandom: Axis Powers Hetalia
Characters: 1st part: Finland, Sweden, Russia; 2nd part: Finland, Russia, Estonia, Lithuania
Timeline: These parts (1 and 2) cover the years from 1809 to somewhere around 1908.
Rating: PG-13 just in case
Disclaimer: I do not own! Not making profit, just having fun.
Part 1
Tino looked at his bespectacled partner in disbelief. He must have heard wrong. Berwald couldn't have just said he'd be given over... to that Braginski! He looked over to the other side of the room, where he knew the taller man was waiting. He looked at Berwald, as war-battered as himself, and touched his face.
"Is it the only way?" Berwald asked, anguished. "I can't continue fighting anymore. I've no resources..." He covered his face with his hands.
Tino looked up at his once so proud friend and moistened his lips. He knew he had to be the brave one now. He took Berwald's hands in his and smiled, tears coming to his eyes. "It's fine. I'll be fine."
"I know", the taller man answered and pulled him close. Tino pushed him off and turned around.
"And it's not like I'm going to be far away..."
"It'll feel like the moon..." he heard Berwald whisper, when he started to walk across the room.
*
Ivan had looked at the scene with dark eyes; a little bit sad, but more jealous. What did those two share that he didn't, couldn't have? He looked on when Oxenstierna pulled the small man close and released him. Väinämöinen was a brave boy, Ivan thought, I must give him that. Maybe, just maybe, I can trust his word if he comes over.
He watched the two change a few more words and then the smaller man walked over to him.
"Here I am", was all he said, tears still on his face, but not fear. Never fear. That was what Ivan liked about him; Tino had guts.
*
Tino looked up at the man and swallowed. Ivan Braginski... Even the name made him shudder, but only inwardly at his presence. He'd never show his emotions to this man, never show a weakness. He hm'ed to himself. He'd not be like those poor Baltic states, who he really liked, but also pitied.
Ivan was looking at him, so he dared a peek into his eyes. And shuddered again; how could he have such cold, unfeeling eyes and still be alive? He'd seen eyes more alive on his dead prey when he'd been hunting. He started to feel something akin to pity for the tall man.
Ivan wrapped one heavy arm around his narrow shoulders and started to lead him away. Tino glanced behind once more.
Berwald wasn't looking at them; he had his face covered with his hands again and even at this distance the Finn could see that he was trembling. He turned away to face his new future.
***
Part 2
He and Braginski had agreed that he could go as he pleased; could be as free as with Berwald, maybe even more. Tino didn't really have anything to complain about... Most of the time.
After a few tantrums, Tino had learned to avoid the bigger man on certain days, and not to annoy him more. But on the occasions when Ivan pushed himself on him, there wasn't much Tino could do. He let things happen and knew that the next day, the other man would apologize and give him whatever he asked. So he coped with it; it wasn't like it happened very often.
He didn't see Berwald, or anyone else for that matter, as often as he'd have liked. Some of them seemed to be avoiding him, but others, like Eduard and Toris, who shared his fate, would pop in occasionally - without Ivan's notice of course - and they'd talk about their dreams and ambitions and plans for the future.
Tino noticed that the pity he felt for Ivan was shared. Toris especially would talk about the tall man almost like talking about a child.
"But that's what he is", he had explained, "A big child, who really doesn't know how else to do things."
Tino had agreed. There was something extremely childlike in the man, but it didn't lessen the fact that he was also terrifying.
On other occasion; one that took place after one of Ivan's tantrums Eduard came to visit and bandaged Tino.
"You know", he said, "I think you should try to find someone to help you. I think they would."
"Are you encouraging me to disobey? You?" Tino smiled a little.
"I know. Ridiculous, isn't it?"
They had both laughed off the idea, but it began to take root in Tino's mind. Who could he turn to? Not to Berwald, not this time. He'd like to try to gain independence. If he asked Berwald, he'd end up being with him again. Most of the other countries didn't want to anger Ivan; no one
knew what he'd do.
But there was one person he knew of, who didn't fear Ivan. One person, who he could turn to. Ludwig.
***
Author’s notes: For Independece Day. ^_^
And in case you're wondering: I'm Finnish myself, so of course I'm biased. Also, I've always been into history, Finnish history was my favourite course in high school, so I knew I had to write this.
My references for 1 and 2:
History of Finland and
Great Northern war