The world we wanted 18/?
“I wonder,” Russia says in a singsong voice. “I wonder where Hungary went...”
Her house is empty and her military support with her. Russia on the other hand brought his army back into her capital. Hungary's house stands there and taunts them by existing.
“Burn it down,” he orders his soldiers.
Last time Ukraine burned it down when she took Budapest with the Red Army. Prussia would feel worse about it if Hungary had longer time to get attached to this house.
***
Russia's intelligence, now named KGB and more loved by Russia under the new regime, know where to find her. They're pretty good at what they do, Prussia's own secret service takes notes.
Russia tries to dismiss Prussia again but he refuses to take the hint. Hungary is alone when they find her, she must share Russia's opinion that this is a business strictly between nations at this point. She looks and both of them and scowls.
“So you came to back Russia up. I'm very disappointed in you. I thought... I thought it would be different between us now.”
“I'm not,” Prussia protests. “I'm trying to mediate before anyone gets seriously hurt.”
“A bit too late for that,” Hungary replies.
“Prussia is so thoughtful,” Russia says. “So worried about the unity within our alliance. I wish you thought about that too.”
“I told you Russia, I don't want to be communist anymore. I'm not going to join NATO or bother you in any way. I'll be neutral and I'll still be here between you and the west, but my people are feed up with the communist regime. I'm really sorry I sided with Germany but you can't hold that over my people forever. Most of them didn't even want it.”
“I wish I knew I could have told you and your allies I didn't want this when you invaded me and you all would have gone home again. That would have been nice to know.”
Prussia knows it's hopeless to discuss that subject with Russia. It's a game of misery poker he makes sure to always win. Hungary doesn't take the bait either.
“You can show America and everyone else you're not the bad guy. We can both gracefully back away from this confrontation. You don't really need me, you have a lot of other nations who want to play with you. We could let this go peacefully, I promise to still be your friend.”
Russia smiles softly and that isn't a nice expression coming from him. Hungary must know deep down she lost already, otherwise she would try to physically kick Russia out, not appeal to his better side.
“No,” he says.
“Uhm, Russia, perhaps-” Prussia starts.
“Hungary is one with Russia now,” Russia cuts off without looking away from Hungary. “I paid and paid in blood and this is what I got in return. No one can tell me what to do anymore.”
“If you're going to be like that I'm at least I'm going to make an effort.”
With that she draws the gun she kept hidden inside her coat until now and shoots Russia right in the chest. She quickly backs away, right into Prussia who never considered moving away.
“Wait,” he says and takes her arm. At this point Russia's fury might turns things into a bloodbath if she runs away. “I don't think this is a good idea-”
That was a mistake, his stalling has given Russia enough time to recover from the surprise.
Russia grabs hold of Hungary and smashes his pipe into her shoulder. She cries out and stumbles into the wall. Russia hits her again and she goes down.
What Prussia should do is step between them and order Russia to stop. But Hungary hasn't been a very good ally to him, has she? If Russia decides he is tired of all this and his Soviet Union is good enough the German Democratic Republic is going to disappear into West Germany. Prussia is going to end up with nothing and nowhere to go.
“Russia, stop,” he still says but without trying to get between them.
Russia looks at him, for a moment like he doesn't recognize him. Then he relaxes the grip on the pipe and merely looks at Hungary for a long time. She breaths hard and tries to not show how much pain she is in.
“You should help Hungary up,” he says after what feels like forever.
Prussia helps her to her feet without a word, there really isn't anything he can say now when he ended up as Russia's backup after all.
“How unfortunate things turned out like this,” Russia calmly says. The imminent danger is gone, now Russia thinks about other things than how to best bash someone's head in with the pipe. “I heard fascist elements have infiltrated your government. That is very disturbing. They must have deceived you and turned you against me. No one who who wants the best for you would tell you to try to fight the Soviet Army.”
“Do you even believe that yourself?”
“I think that theory is better for our future relationship. Let us accept that interpretation, yes? I wouldn't like to tell my commanders your people are the enemy and should be treated such.”
Hungary breaths in, it almost sounds like a subdued sob. Finally it must have sunk in that Russia can indeed can storm in and do whatever he wants. Outside, Russia's tanks and Russia's soldiers are killing her people when they resist.
“Why can't you be such a good friend as East Germany and his boss?” Russia distantly says while Hungary tries to push away Prussia and stand on her own. “Now we have to get rid of your stupid treacherous boss. You make us all look bad.”
“How thoughtless of me,” Hungary says but both she and Prussia are willing to let Russia talk about how unfortunate all of this is.
“I don't understand why you make me do things like this,” Russia continues and looks sad for real this time. “I can't let something like this pass, everyone will think I'm weak again and everything will fall apart. America and his lackeys encourage you to do stupid things and hope I end up hurt and it's bad for everyone.”
“Does it really have to be like that?” Hungary wonders. She hesitates but continues anyway. “That isn't the communist utopia you promised us. Do you really want things to go on like this?”
“If everyone worked harder to build communism instead of plotting behind my back we would have everything they promised us long ago,” Russia replies and his voice turns harsher again. “But now you're going to work harder to build communism and be a better member of our friendship and cooperation pact, yes?”
“Yes,” Hungary quietly says and looks down. Russia isn't going to listen to anyone, no one is coming to help her and the Soviet army is much more powerful than Hungary's own.
“Your house seems to have burned down,” Russia says. “You can come and live with me for a while until it has been rebuilt.”
Hungary agrees to that too but Prussia can feel how she is shivering. If it's from rage or fear or both he can't guess. This is the worst part about Russia's new order, to be trapped between alliances and friendships. And even if Hungary would actually have asked, if Prussia actually would have said yes, they still wouldn't been able to throw out Russia from Hungary's land if he wanted to stay.
It's all pathetic excuses and Prussia drinks himself into oblivion after Russia brought Hungary with him back home. He hates them both for giving him such impossible choices.