The world we wanted 26/?
Russia and his boss think about this for a while before they come to a surprising conclusion.
“We're going to give Cuba some missiles,” Russia says.
“Time for America to know what it feels like to have hostile missiles on his backyard,” Belarus says.
“It's for defense,” Khrushchev protests. “We're not going to start a war.”
“Yeah, yeah, if you say so,” Belarus says with a lack of respect that shocks Prussia. She would never have talked that way to Stalin.
Both Khrushchev and Russia are waxing poetical about the awesomeness of Cuba and his boss. It's almost cute.
“You never had nearly as nice things to say about my boss,” Prussia complains. Not that he likes the guy, but he's been hardcore communist forever.
“No offense to you,” Khrushchev says. “But he's an idiot.”
That is sadly true as well.
***
The alliance with Cuba seems to be a very secretive affair. Especially the missile part.
“You're going to Cuba with the warheads to talk calmly to him,” Russia says.
“Not that I mind,” Prussia says, because going back there, right into the action, seems like a great idea. And the Caribbean is a fun place to be. “But I thought Belarus would be the obvious candidate since she and Cuba hit off so well.”
“My boss suggested the same,” Russia says. “But my sister isn't going to talk calmly to anyone.”
“Good point.”
Talking calmly to people might be needed, because China somehow finds out and passes on one, very short message. Don't embarrass us again.
Russia throws the letter away after ripping it into two. North Korea calls and chants kill, kill, kill.
“Please brother, be careful,” Ukraine says.
“Take good care of Cuba,” Belarus says. “That goes for you too East.”
To America Russia claims nothing is going on at all and where on earth did he get the idea that he would give Cuba nuclear weapons.
***
But that is Russia's problems. Prussia feels pretty damn awesome hanging out with Cuba and his bosses. It's all 'yay for the revolution' but Prussia has been into extreme ideologies long enough to realize there are some other, less pleasant things, going on outside Cuba's house too. But it's a revolution after all and not his place to tell Cuba what to do in his own home.
Prussia tries to look after the missiles and the soldiers and equipment like Russia wanted and it seems to work fine. There is also time to hang out on the beaches and talk to Cuba about things that has nothing to do with revolutions.
Like sibling problems.
“I'm glad I don't have siblings,” Cuba says. “Both you and Canada have hopeless families. But I'm a bit jealous on Russia's family, his sisters seem so nice. The ones who are practically my family despise me for going communist now. I never expected things to be this complicated.”
“Actually-,” Prussia stops himself, realizing that Cuba does not want to hear bad things about Belarus. “Actually, Russia's sisters aren't bad. The rest of his relatives are pretty complicated too though.”
“I noticed,” Cuba says.
Before Prussia can ask if he has started to argue with any of the Yugoslavia guys yet they're interrupted by bad news. America knows about the missiles and he is issuing a blockage against Cuba.
***
There is meetings and explanations and planning. Prussia worries. He has no authority here when it comes down to it. Information has a hard time getting through, the language problem still remains and no one seems to know as much as they should anyway.
Cuba buries his face in his hands and doesn't look nearly as cheerful as he usually done this far.
“I don't want my people to get stuck in the middle of this. I don't want to be stuck in the middle. Russia has been a really great friend... And he really tries. But is it just me or is he a bit of an idiot?”
“Yeah,” Prussia agrees, no matter how disloyal it makes him feel. “He shouldn't have lied to America about the missiles, America keeps his very close to us and really, it's the same. Now it got really weird.”
“Weird?” Cuba repeats. “That's a generous description.”
Naming what really is going on is too unpleasant to even consider right now. The heat feels pressing rather than pleasant as it had earlier in the day. Prussia drinks only water and wonders how he and Russia are going to fare in this war that looks more and more likely. Even if this isn't going to be it Russia and America can't keep dancing around each other forever.
***
“Fuck America,” Cuba says the next day. “If we're going down in a inferno of nuclear destruction, so be it. As long as we're taking that bastard America down with us.”
His bosses must given him a good pep talk last night. Russia on the other hand must have been given a very, very different talk.
“Come back home imminently,” he orders Prussia. “I'm worried about you.”
Prussia promises to come back as soon as he can.
“It's not soon enough,” Russia says. “I'll be there right away to pick you up and talk to Cuba.”
***
Cuba keeps his good suicidal good mood, claiming that he feels fine about all of this when he has Russia watching his back.
“A preemptive strike wouldn't hurt,” Cuba thinks. He lights another cigar and looks inappropriately cheerful at the thought of an all out war. China has given his blessings on war since long before. North Korea loves the idea of course. Russia is the one hesitating.
“What do you think Prussia?” Russia wonders.
In a way Prussia desperately wants to see how this nuclear war everyone fear so much would actually play out. He thinks of Dresden and all the other places and are his and no one cares about because of that. America should know what it's like to have destruction rained down on his cities. It's both petty and evil and yet Prussia can't deny that's how he feels.
“Why not?” he says.
“I just want America to leave me alone,” Russia says, uncharacteristically quietly and subdued for a more formal meeting. Is that fear in his eyes? It can't be. “Why doesn't he answer me? We should talk about this and try to be friends instead.”
“I don't need friends like that,” Cuba says. “And it's too much at stake for you to give up now, isn't it?”
“I know,” Russia replies.
***
Prussia tries to explain to Russia that he really, really needs to go home and look after his own army and government if it's going to be a war.
“No,” Russia says and instead clings so hard on Prussia that he can barley breathe. “Why doesn't anyone think, I don't want this, I don't want more of my people to die. I don't want you and your brother-”
Russia stops and doesn't continue. Once again Prussia wonders what the war plans Russia's bosses refuse to show him actually say. He knows he's supposed to go for West Germany if things come to the worst and is fine with that. But Russia has a lot of nukes and Germany is well within reach for them. How much of Europe is going to remain if they actually go for an all out confrontation? But it wouldn't be such a bad end, would it? Perhaps it will be glorious, an end worthy the legacy of Prussia.
"You shouldn't be smiling," Russia says.
***
So it's once more time for everyone to try to fit into Russia's house while Russia says he's going to talk with America and sort things out. The hint of desperation in his voice is clear to everyone. This once he doesn't even bother to throw out Chechnya who also is unusually subdued. At least Russia isn't trying to press them all into the basement. There is a lot of speculation if that basement in question will make a good nuclear shelter.
“It would be sad and very anti-Soviet to meet the nuclear apocalypse sober,” Armenia thinks.
Georgia agrees and shares bottle after bottle of wine with her, served from fancy glasses. Latvia joins in too. All three of them are soon falling down drunk despite the early hour. Everyone else pretend not to notice.
“I don't think it will be so bad,” Belarus says. “My brother will defend us.”
Lithuania looks unusually calm even if his hands shake as he pours more tea for himself and Estonia.
“This is pathetic,” Prussia says. “We should be mobilizing, not hanging around and whine.”
“Do you know how Stalin used to refer to us?” Lithuania asks. “Like buffer zones. If there is a war we're not going to be Russia's family anymore, we're going to be living shields. Especially you.”
“I know what I was in for when I accepted the German Democratic Republic,” Prussia replies. “If I have to fight for Russia, I'll fight. I don't need family, I need allies and that's what I promised to be to Russia.”
“If only Russia would remember what allies mean,” Kazakh says. “I was in Stalingrad too and even you seem to forget that.”
“You were?”
Kazakh throws a glass at him. Prussia barley manages to dodge.
“Don't fight,” Ukraine begs. Kazakh grumbles a bit further but in the end no one has the energy to make the arguments serious. The worst part is having no idea what's going on, Prussia hates it so much that he snaps at the pathetic discipline of the drunken trio despite that they don't deserve it. It's not like Russia's paranoia will allow them to lead any defenses anyway.
***
Finally, finally, America and Russia agree to meet and their bosses talk. Prussia and Belarus wait with Cuba. The two of them stand very close. Prussia feels like the third wheel and it makes conversation even more awkward.
Eventually Russia returns.
“We're taking our missiles back home,” he says.
“That's it?” Cuba cries at the same time as Prussia calls “what?”.
“America is not going to invade you and I'll take my missiles home now,” Russia states. Like it's just between him and America and no one else.
“So to you I'm just a pawn in yours and America's little dick measuring contest? Which you seem to lose by the way.”
“I think you are being rude now,” Russia says, but his heart isn't in it, he doesn't sound nearly as menacing as he can. Belarus does not chime in to defend her brother either.
“Sorry,” Cuba says, just as unenthusiastically. “But you should have talked to me too instead of making the deal with America behind my back. You should have gotten a better deal. I thought you were my friend.”
“I try to be,” Russia sighs.
***
“What did America tell you?” Prussia wonders. “That's really it? You didn't get anything more useful from him?”
“I've been to Japan,” Russia says out of nowhere.
“Well, I haven't, since you never invited me.”
“You shouldn't be involved with your former fascist allies,” Russia imminently says. “I saw Japan's cities. And the hospitals. And I thought of how much better my and America's bombs are now. I don't want that to happen to Moscow, or you or anyone else.”
“Horrible things happen to everyone,” Prussia replies. “The important thing is that we shouldn't lose. Then horrible things will keep happening to us.”
“You make a good point,” Belarus agrees.
“We didn't lose,” Russia says but he probably doesn't even believe it himself. Somewhere America must be celebrating how he scared off the big bad evil Soviet.
***
Lithuania greets Russia by hugging him hard. Russia is visibly stunned.
“I'm so grateful you regained your senses,” Lithuania says. When he lets go Latvia and Estonia hug him too and mumble similar statements.
“You're all wimps,” Prussia says and leaves, closing the door behind him. He doesn't look back. He can't exactly describe why he is mad. No apocalyptic war should be a good thing. Maybe it's because if Russia actually has the self-control to stay his hand, he could have done so other times too.
Somewhere else America is just as terrified as Russia over what the hell they are doing... I'm not sure if Castro would be so excited over attacking America but Cuba is really pissed off and a bit impulsive.