Word Count: 4,214

Pairing: Hong Kong X Iceland

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia: Axis Powers or otherwise

Chapter title from the song Me Against the World - Simple Plan; Each chapter is named after a song that directed what happened within each chapter, I would recommend listening to the song as you read this chapter.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1 – Me against the world

Emil's POV

I wasn't always so anti-social or emotionless but 8 years of abuse will do that to a person; I used to have friends as well and a big brother, whose name was Lukas, I loved him so much and he looked after me being a year older and all, I looked up to him.

Back when I was just 7 years old, Father left my mother for another man; a man who was nicer and more loving than mother ever was. I was happy that Father got away from Mother but I never understood why he ended up only taking my brother with him. This made mother angry and hateful of men, she never got herself a new partner and eventually ended up hating me too.

Now I have no friends because I am afraid that they will see the scars; yes the scars were deliberate, I started when I was 9 years old always carrying a blade with me in case I felt the need. I always wear long sleeves now because "Hah that's what you deserve! Maybe you will cut a bit deeper next time!" was what mother said when she saw it. She even 'helped me out' a few times, as she liked to call it, dragging knives down my chest, back and legs...

But little did I know all of that was about to change.

I woke up at 5:30 to the sound of my alarm sounding, switching it off as fast as I could because SHE would complain of the noise (and just about anything else.) I get out of bed and wander over to my wardrobe to pull out my usual clothes of brown trousers and matching jacket, white shirt, ribbon and white lace-up boots. Dressing in my clean(ish) clothes and packing my bag before making my way down to the kitchen so as not to be late.

Rule number 3; kitchen by 6:00.

Walking into the kitchen, I feel something hard strike me and before I can comprehend what had happened I was strewn across the kitchen floor "What the F*** do you think you are doing in MY kitchen this late, you pathetic child!" My mother was stood over me with a spatula in her hands; she had hit me round the back of the head! "I was ummm just... getting my Ummm breakfast." Shit, wrong thing to say! I stand up slowly backing out of the kitchen to avoid another incident... No such luck there though. "You think I am going to let you eat, I said down by 6:00 o'clock not five past now didn't I!?" What the hell? "What are you still doing here?" *Slash* "Hurry up out of my house you walking travesty!" Where the hell did that knife come from? Shit my shoulder.

Running up the stairs to retrieve my bag, holding my shoulder in the process, trying to stem the bleeding and am out of the house within 5 minutes.

Once outside I release a breath that I had not realised I was holding, looking down at my watch reading 6:15 and start my hour and a half walk to school. I live on the outskirts of Reykjavik and mother doesn't want to waste money on a bus pass, so I end up walking to and from school every day. I don't really mind it most days because it is a good opportunity to clear my head and think.

I once believed in God, and tried to pray for him to stop this; stop the pain, the sorrow and the abuse, let me get my friends back or help me to make new ones. I used to ask him 'What did I do to deserve this?' He never answered me though, he never stopped my pain or the tears from falling, I have been alone for far too long. I hate being alone there is no one to share these feelings with. I don't believe anymore, I have given up all hope at love and friendship seen as to be accepted you must first accept yourself!

-Time skip-

I arrive at school at 7:30, making it over an hour before class's start, so I decide to head to the library which I do every day, claiming the table in the farthest corner away from everyone else. I get a book out of my bag and start to read, only a few words into the chapter I start to feel a sharp pain in my shoulder. Looking down I see that the blood had seeped through my shirt and blazer, standing up I place my book back into my bag and make my way towards the closest bathroom.

Once I am in the bathroom I take off my blazer and shirt to look at the extent of my injury only to find that the cut down my shoulder goes from the base of my neck down to my armpit, the blood is still flowing slowly, with some drying on my arm and torso. Retrieving a first aid kit from my bag (I tend to use it a lot) I pull out some anti-septic wipes and a bandage to tend to my wound. Though as awkward as it was, I managed to find the best way to wrap the bandage and secure it.

After many excruciating minutes of cleaning and bandaging the cut I stand at the sink trying to wash out as much of the blood as possible with the lukewarm water and crappy hand soap but after a few minutes I see that it is no good. I put on my shirt and blazer on still covered in a huge amount of blood and walk to my form room. It took me longer to clean it then usual! I had just sat down in my usual seat; in the far back corner, when the bell rang and students started to file in, I could see each of them as they entered the classroom, they all looked the same in their Icelandic uniform, seen as the school is situated in Reykjavik, our beautiful capital. My head has started to hurt as the pain in my shoulder intensifies, I can see a few students looking in disgust most likely at the blood covering my clothes.

After a few strenuous minutes of waiting for the teacher, he finally walks through the door cutting off all of the whispered conversations around the room. Just as he turns around to face us and starts to call out the register, he spots the state of my clothes, when he reaches my name and calls me to the front of the class, I stand up unsteadily starting to walk down the aisle before everything turns black. The last thing I hear is "Emil, hang on. We are getting help now." I remember thinking quick take me before they can wake me up and stick me back into this nightmare!

-Time Skip-

I wake up in a pure white room; the clean space making my eyes hurt, lying down in bed with needles and wires connecting me to a bunch of different machines, confusion washing over me until I remember the events of the day. "Ahh, Mr Steilsson, I see you have woken up. How are you feeling?" I look around the room as my eyes focus on the doctor standing in front of me, "Oh as well as one can be after extensive blood loss. Where am I?" Sarcasm laces my voice as I try to sit up, only to feel intense pain shooting through my head again. "Please Mr Steilsson stay lying down. You are in Landspítali Fossvogi, you fainted during class due to the blood lose and a blow to the head. Can you tell me where you got them from?"

I look down at my arms and notice that my long sleeves are gone, trying to hide the scars under the covers, as to not let them be seen by the doctor, he notices my panic and tries to assure me "don't worry, we will not ask anything you feel uncomfortable with, now please tell me where you received these injuries." Relaxing slightly I begin to tell the doctor everything, about my father leaving, my mother's abuse and my scars, when I am finished the young female nurse who was waiting by the door to give me my pain medication had to leave the room, What the hell is she crying for?

The doctor notes things down on his clipboard and then thanks me and exits the room, leaving me to my thoughts, I wonder what I am missing in school. Turning to the small table on my left I notice that my phone is flashing, picking it up I see that I have messages from my mother and they are not happy at all. I am guessing she received a phone call from the school telling her what happened because all of the texts are about me causing trouble and being a waste of space, however I have become immune to her rants.

After reading all of the messages the doctor comes back into my room followed by two police officers, "Hello son we are here to ask a few questions. My name is Sgt Vilhjalmsson." I look up at the one who had spoken, he has white hair like mine but blue eyes and is quite tall, he looks nice but that does not mean I can trust him. "Hi." I reply giving him a glare daring him to come closer.

His partner stood behind him the entire time looking cut off and bored while Sgt Vilhjalmsson questioned me about the abuse, I answered the questions in short cut sentences wishing that they would all just leave me alone, I mean adults will pretend like they want to help you but then turn their backs on you when you need it the most. I have never really like police officers anyway, I mean how many times did I call them to the house after one of my mother's episodes? Told them of the abuse? They just said I was a trouble making kid!

After the police had gotten what they wanted, the Sgt spoke to me again "So we have filed a report in our records of your mother and would like to ask you how you would feel about living in America?" Shocked I don't answer straight away, I mean leaving Iceland for America. I can speak English fine it is just who would I live with, what about school? But if it meant getting away from HER than I guess I could. "Yeah, lets just take an abused child and thrust him into an entirely new country on his own. Seems like a great idea to me." I say and as soon as I have Sgt Vilhjalmsson's partner leaves the room to make a phone call seemingly about my transfer. I roll my eyes subtly, really, sarcasm is wasted on these people! "Good, there is a school called Hetalia Academy, they have a dorm system there where you would be staying and you would have to share a room with another student but don't worry we will take care of everything." I just look at him, as if he was an alien, "Okay?"

He smiles down at me and speaks to the doctor leaving me to think about America, What is it going to be like? What if the other kids see my scars? Will I make any new friends? What if I meet my lost bro...? My thoughts are cut off when the doctor and police officer walk over to me again "You are free to go, Sgt Vilhjalmsson will take you home so that you can pack your bags, then he will take you to the airport from there. The school knows you are coming and they have set up a dorm for you." I nod my head and stand up, the pain in my head subsiding, I walk over to the door phone in hand and pick up my bag from its place next to the doorframe, Sgt Vilhjalmsson following close behind.

The ride home was a peaceful one, I sat staring out of the window watching as the busy city turned into a tranquil countryside, until my house came into view. Mother was stood outside of the house waiting for me apparently, her arms were crossed over her chest and she was tapping her foot impatiently on the gravel driveway. When the car stopped I step out, the police officer following directly after and coming to stand behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders which makes me involuntarily flinch.

SHE walks over to me and grabs my upper arm; the one that she cut earlier, holding in a cry of pain I stare back at her not portraying any emotions "Where the hell have you been you piece of s**t? Get in that house now and clean it!" Sgt Vilhjalmsson pulls her hands off me and meets her eyes defying her actions but still keeping a cool atmosphere about him "You have no right to talk to this child like this now Miss Steilsson, may I call you Tryggvľna? I am taking Emil to America this evening and you are going down to the police station for questioning."

Turning to me Sgt Vilhjalmsson speaks again, this time ignoring my mother who is ranting and raving at him "Right Emil can you go upstairs and fetch your things, I will keep your mother out here so you can pick up everything that you need. Okay?" I nod my head and walk up to my room, it only takes me a few minutes to pack all of my things because frankly I don't have that much but I spend a few minutes looking around the room, thinking.

I know that most of my life I have been abused and beaten but before faðir and bróðir left I had made some good memories of my brother and I here, playing and hiding from our parents arguing. I miss him so much.

Walking down to the car and placing my things in the boot, to then find my mother was sitting in the back of a second police car, I ignore her icey glare and climb into the other car with Sgt Vilhjalmsson and wait for him to drive me to the airport, taking me far away from here.

-Time skip-

The drive to the airport didn't take very long as I had my headphones in and was listening to a few of my favourite bands; All time low, my chem and Skillet. However, Sgt Vilhjalmsson was not taking me to the school, he was letting me make my own way there, I mean who would leave an abused child to fly to a new country and attend a new school without anyone there that they know?

Anyway I keep my face neutral despite all of the turmoil I might be feeling and board the plane when it is called, sitting on the plane I start to feel nervous, butterflies fill my stomach; which is still growling seen as I have not eaten all day. As soon as the plane is filled with passenger and the plane takes off I am sat watching the people and my home city of Reykjavik fade into nothing as the plane takes me higher. The overheard voice sounds that we are at a safe altitude and that we can move around the cabin and use our technology, I retrieve my phone from my blazer pocket (Clean ones, I changed when I was in my room) and plugged in my head phones listening to my favourite bands all the way to America.

Once the plane had landed and I had collected my bags of the conveyor belt, I notice a sign with my name written on it. Walking over I get asked by the man holding the sign "Hey there are you Emil Steilsson?" I wince at the pronunciation of my last name but nod. Following the man when he walks me to a taxi waiting outside the airport, I guess Sgt's partner was organising this when he was on the phone in the hospital.

Looking out of the window during the flight I decided that I should at least stop my music and listen to what he had to say "Well then, I am here to take you to Hetalia Academy, It is a nice school you are going to love it there. It is a bit weird though, there are students from almost every country in the world and I don't think any of them are from the same country." I nod along not really wanting to talk but I let his voice wash over me as I watch the scenery pass us by.

After a while of driving we stop outside a huge Building. How rich are these people? This school is massive! "Well here we are kid, I was told to drop you off outside of the dorm building and here we are. Oh and don't worry the fair was paid in advance."

I get out of the car and pick up my bag from the boot, making my way up to the dorm building trying to find the office, I make it up to the front door before I am jumped on by a student. "Hello there mate, I am Alfred F. Jones and I am the Student body Vice president. How do you do?" I am startled and just stare at this over-energetic student before another voice pierces the silence "Alfred. How many times have I told you not to be so loud? I am so sorry about him, I am Arthur Kirkland. Student body President. We are here to show you to the office and then your dorm." I just nod my head still not feeling comfortable enough to speak. Alfred and Arthur exchange glances but then turn and walk into the building, expecting me to follow. Keeping myself around 5 paces behind the now arguing due, I clench my fists tightly over the strap of my messenger bag keeping my eye trained on the floor.

As we make our way down the long corridor, covered with flags from many countries, a teenage boy, maybe of Asian descent? Walks by giving me a smirk and a wink as he passes; blood rushes to my face as I meet his eyes, a smile shaping my features for the first time in years. The duo opens a door which I guess is the office and I walk in, with both Alfred and Arthur right behind me, "Welcome to Hetalia Academy Emil, I am the head teacher Roma. I expect you have already met Alfred and Arthur. You are in dorm room 23, your roommate will help you get settled in. Have a fun time here at our unique school." I walk out of the office again and follow my guides up the stairs to my dorm room, neither of them speaking, which is fine by me as it gives me chance to catch up and adjust to this new atmosphere.

They stop outside the door marked 23 before turning to me "Good luck Emil, I hope you feel at home." Good luck, what does that mean? Before I have a chance to ask, Alfred has knocked on the door and a voice calls out "Enter if you dare." Rolling my eyes, I open the door and step in carrying my bag with me, I place it on the floor and face the other person standing in the middle of the room.

I look around the room and notice a Danish flag pinned up onto the wall above his bed, so he is from Denmark, well this is ironic. "Hey Dude, How are you?" I look up only to find that he is not talking to me but to the students behind me "Yo Mat I am good." I back up into the wall looking at the floor of course he would not notice me, why would he? As the Dane is conversing with Alfred I give him the once over, his hair is a pale blond sticking up in every direction, he is wearing a red shirt and black tie to match his trousers making him look edgy and cool, he is tall and has a nice build to him.

Looking back at the floor I start to shrink back into myself but am quickly shaken out of my thoughts by Arthur stopping the others conversation "I am terribly sorry for cutting this short but there is a reason for why we are here or have you forgotten Alfred." Alfred looks embarrassed for a few seconds before his grin reappears, he looks at Arthur and whispers something in his ear which makes him blush. "Bloody Git! Anyway Emil why don't you introduce yourself?" I look from Arthur to the Danish boy and give a small nod of my head, keeping all emotions out of my expression and voice I do exactly what he suggested. "Hi. I am Emil and I come from Iceland."

I receive a grin rivalling Alfred's from the Danish man which is quickly followed by his own introduction "Wow, Hey Emil My name is Mathias Kohler and I am from Denmark. Oh my gosh. We now have Scandinavia back, we can become the once great nation of Scandinavia!" I stand looking at Mathias confusion taking over, "Oh I am terrible sorry in my rush I forgot to introduce us properly as well." I turn back around and take in the appearance of the two student council members. Arthur is a short man with blonde hair and green eyes, he is wearing a three-piece suit even though he is not in school. Whereas Alfred on the other hand is tall has dark blond hair and blue eyes hidden behind his glasses, unlike his friend he is wearing jeans and a hoody, one with super heroes on. "I am Arthur Kirkland from the United Kingdom and this is Alfred Jones, born and raised in the United States of America. We will leave you alone to get to know your fellow classmates and to get settled, if you have any problems then just come and speak to us."

They both retreat out of the door, not closing it fast enough so I can hear "He looks like he don't belong here Iggy, I don't like him." I stand by the wall looking once again around the room, I notice that one side is completely bear with just a bed and desk, I walk over and place my bag on top of the bed before sitting down. "So dude, should I introduce you to the rest of the gang?" I stand up off my bed and follow Matthias out of the room, he leads me down the corridor and stops outside room number 26.

I roll my eyes when he walks in without knocking "Hey Guys! Meet my new roommate. He is from Iceland. We now have made Scandinavia!" I step into the room and survey my new surroundings before looking at the three people sitting on the floor playing what seems to be poker, "H...Hello, I'm Emil." I look back down at the floor trying to shrink into the background. "Hello, Emil, I am Tino from Finland." I nod towards the smaller man before an intimidating person sitting beside him speaks "Hi, I'm Berwald. I'm from Sweden"

I move my eyes towards the final teenagers and freeze, tears coming to my eyes as I take in his hair colour and his facial features, he reminds me of faðir. "Lukas. From Norway" I realise that he has just told me the name of my brother, I smile to myself before turning back to the four people in the room. "It is nice to meet you. I think I understand why you called them Scandinavia now." I see Tino and Berwald smile at that but Lukas just rolls his eyes, I swear I know him from somewhere but where? Is he a relative? Cousin maybe? "Why do you keep staring at me?" My thoughts cut off as I tune back in to the sound of Lukas's voice, I realise I had been staring for a while as all eyes in the room were on me "Sorry, I was just... I mean you look really familiar."

A look passes through his eyes and he looks as if he is thinking of something before his eyes grow wide and he faces me again. "What did you say your name was again? Where are you from and what is your mother's name?" I; along with everyone else was shocked by the sudden outburst of questions posed by the Norwegian. "Emil, from Iceland and my mother's name is Tryggvľna. Why?" His eyes widen as if he has seen a ghost, getting up from his place on the floor he walks over to me before pulling me into a hug, I start to cry when I hear him whisper in my ear "lillebror, it's been a while..."

Translations:

Landspítali Fossvogi - A hospital in the capital city of Iceland

Vilhjalmsson - An Icelandic name which originates from the word meaning son of Vilhjálmur

Tryggvľna - A female Icelandic name, I decided to give this name to Emil's mother

Faðir - Father

Bróðir - Brother

For all those who don't know I will just give a quick character profile so everyone knows who is who, though some might be obvious from where they are from:

Emil Steilsson - Iceland

Lukas Bondevik - Norway

Tino Väinämöinen - Finland

Berwald Oxenstierna - Sweden

Matthias Køhler - Denmark

Arthur Kirkland - England

Alfred F. Jones - America

Li Xiang - Hong Kong