The world we wanted 28/?
“I don't like how things have been going lately,” Russia says. “I was so happy with how my space program was going, how many friends I had and how America kept embarrassing himself. I don't like this.”
“Just temporary setbacks,” Prussia says.
“I wonder if Vietnam is going to stay with me...”
“You have to be nicer to her then.”
Vietnam keeps fighting against America and imperialism but neither Russia nor China has been willing to make a serious commitment, remembering the Korean mess they got themselves into. Prussia knows he sent some of his own guys to her but Russia doesn't consider it very important. At least he didn't use to. Now when he and China both wants her to take their side things are getting a bit more interesting.
“I keep wondering,” Russia says. “Whose fault this actually is.”
“Don't start to pick fights with Yugoslavia again,” Prussia says with a sigh. “It's pretty pointless. And not with us either, we're all trying. Even Romania, no matter how weird he is when he tries.”
Prussia remembers Romania yelling 'if you want see communism, I'll show you communism' a few years ago. It was pretty funny.
***
It takes Prussia longer to realize he made a serious miscalculation. Russia wasn't blaming any external powers this time around.
Russia calls in the middle of the night and says he has excellent news. Prussia groans, he doesn't like to be interrupted when he actually does manage to fall asleep.
“I think things will be better from now on. I have a new boss. You have to come and meet him soon. I don't think he's going to embarrass me as much.”
“Sure,” Prussia agrees before his sleep-depraved brain catches up. “Wait, what?!”
Russia tells him to sleep well and hangs up.
***
Prussia isn't impressed by new boss Brezhnev. He's old too, yet another person from Stalin's shadow. Prussia is getting tired of that, they need new ideas, new cool bosses who can give the western powers the smackdown they deserve.
Russia is very happy though, most certainly promised wonderful things about to future to convince him to abandon his old boss.
“What happened to Nikita?” Prussia wonders. Maybe he would like a visit in Siberia?
“I told you,” Russia says. “He quit, decided to retire. I think he moved to his dacha. Something like that.”
Of course it isn't as much of a move as an exile but considering how power often is consolidated it isn't that bad.
Prussia only has to make a small effort to find out where he has gone and even if security is hanging around as discreetly as possible Prussia isn't worried. KGB is much friendlier to Russia and friends than NKDV because they want to keep their jobs and their heads.
“I think this sucks,” Prussia says. “I think you were a good boss, even if you invaded Hungary, almost started a nuclear war and is obsessed with corn.”
Khrushchev shrugs, pretending like he doesn't care.
“The Soviet Union has become a better place if it's possible to overthrow the leader. Better than before.”
“And they didn't even shot you, that's must be an improvement.”
Khrushchev flinches a little but agrees.
***
New boss pondering is held at Prussia's house, because that's always a good place to hang out. Russia doesn't disapprove of Hungary going there for one thing. She is beginning to hope Russia is going to get bored with having her living with him and let her go home when he feels more secure with the new boss.
“I liked Nikita,” Prussia disagrees. “I think Russia was unnecessarily cruel to him, just throwing him out and refusing to ever speak to him again.”
“I think Russia was too nice,” Hungary says. “We're not going to listen to you when it comes to bosses. You're a horrible judge of character.”
“I liked him fine,” Serbia says. “He tried to patch things up with me, even if it had it's ups and downs.”
“Anyone following Stalin was bound to come out looking great to everyone except Russia,” Poland says. “And perhaps Prussia.”
Prussia doesn't like the mood, Hungary and Poland are not good guests today. Serbia on the other hand brought cookies he tried to feed them before he tried himself. Some people might take that as politeness. Prussia suspects Serbia worried they were poisoned.
Everyone has concerns about the change in leadership and what that will lead to for them personally. So naturally they try to avoid the subject and talk their relationship problems instead. A common factor in them is Belarus.
“I wish Liet would give up the idea of any cooperation whatsoever with Belarus,” Poland sighs. “She's like completely out of her mind.”
“I know,” Hungary agrees. “Russia dragged me off in a corner once and yelled at me for something I forgot to do. And Belarus stalked me for the entire week because she thought I lured Russia away and tried to seduce him.”
“Everyone knows better than try to seduce Russia,” Poland says. “If you actually succeed you're going to end up with Russia and two knives in your back, I can't say which of it is worse.”
“I like Belarus,” Serbia protests. “She has a tough time and yet she came to help me out. I'm not going to forget that. Lithuania on the other hand isn't family. If he stopped stalking her it would get better. You should make him stop doing that."
“Belarus is alright when she isn't murderous,” Prussia says. She used to be nice once long ago and even now it was hard to not sympathize a bit with her paranoia over Lithuania's true intentions and western backstabbing. "Pretty cute the few times she's happy."
Like with Cuba or when she gets attention from Russia.
“You only have low standards because there is no way you ever slept with a woman,” Poland says and Hungary hums in agreement to Prussia's humiliation.
“You all seen how utterly awesome I looked in my Prussian uniforms. In all uniforms I ever had actually. I can't believe you even need to ask.”
“Actual nations,” Hungary says. “Not easily impressed German women.”
“That shouldn't be a rule,” Prussia protests. “And German women are not more easily impressed than anyone else.”
“I don't think you are that experienced either,” Serbia tells Hungary. “You were always too busy singing some day my prince will come while dusting Austria's piano.”
“I did not! And Austria had a big empire once. There was always someone around if I got tired of him. Like Croatia.”
Serbia looks both shocked and scandalized, lost for words.
“You lie,” Prussia says. “You always been obsessed with Austria and you always talk about your maiden honor and so on.”
“Perhaps Russia isn't the only one who fools around with his servants every now and then? Ever considered that?”
“I don't believe you,” Serbia says, finally regaining his bearings. He's probably going to go home and try to scare Croatia into giving him the answer he wants.
“You can believe whatever you like,” Hungary says and smiles evilly.
Prussia decides he's not going to open the door next time Poland and Hungary come by. He'll invite Mielke if that's what it takes to keep them away from now on.
***
“I have no idea why Hungary is such a bitch,” Prussia mumbles. “She and Poland...”
“She has to know about the letters. Slovenia and Croatia might have told her whatever she wants to know about Austria. Especially if that horrible, horrible thing she said actually is true. Or Vojvodina might, I don't really trust him when it comes to Hungary.”
“She hasn't said anything...”
“If I were her I would try to strangle you for lying. But luckily I'm not her since that would get me into even worse troubles with Russia. There isn't much she can do against you except bitch.”
“Do you think it's like that?” Prussia says. That aspect has honestly not struck him.
“Yeah, it's exactly like that. Be a bit smarter. You on the other hand can wreck horrible vengeance upon her and Poland if they keep being bitchy to you.”
“Hm... I do have a lot of Stasi agents in Poland's country I think...”
“You don't have to be that outright villainous either.”
All vengeance that comes to Prussia's mind is just that. Better to pass. But knowing he could makes him feel happier. It's weird how suddenly he ended up as Serbia's friend. Serbia is alright when you get used to him but it's yet another part of old Prussia disappearing, the people he used to hang out with are slowly being replaced with Russia's friends.
***
Czech and Slovakia congratulate Russia on his new boss without mentioning what they actually think about the situation. They end up discussing what they think about their own instead.
“I think it turned out well all in all,” Czech says. “Despite some issues we had. We kicked the fascists' asses, we had our revolution we defeated everyone who opposed it. Communism prevailed.”
“Which means we won't have to be paranoid anymore,” Slovakia says. “We can reap the benefits of the revolution instead of weeding out traitors. What's right for Russia might not be perfect for Czechoslovakia, you know. We might need slightly different things, but that's alright too.”
“I feel great about our future,” Czech says. “We just need to change a few things, try to not worry about it, alright?”
Prussia thinks that sounds quite nice, a state of affairs he would want for his country too. When he glances at Russia he sees that the nation looks far from convinced.
In my story Russia sent Belarus with his armies to help Serbia with Belgrade, but Belarus being especially involved in that isn't real life canon at all.