A/N: The last chapter, sorry for keeping you waiting.. Enjoy~ (and read the part in the very down,too. Some explanations and apologizes in there.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ivan thought he knew people well. He had always been good at reading their expressions and moods. He knew that whenever someone talked to Wang Yao about Japan or Kiku Honda, he instantly turned emotionless and cold as ice. It was also clear to him that whenever Berwald Oxenstjärna would see his precious 'wife' somehow threathened or teased, it was pretty sure that the person behind it would (in the best case) end up in coma.
But what he didn't understand was Eduard's suddenly changed behaviour. How could that formerly quiet, invisible and descent Estonian turn so rapidly into a loud one and one making a number of himself and refusing to do anything Ivan tells him to. He had no idea what had suddenly caused this transformation.
He'd have to find out.
-----
Eduard was feeling a bit smug of himself. Sitting across the table, Ivan was giving him poisonous looks, which he acknowledged by staring back, his emerald eyes twinkling. He wasn't going to tear his gaze away, like he had before, lowering it towards the old wooden floor. No, he'd stare into those icy purple eyes in to the end of the world if he'd have to. He wanted to prove to Ivan that he could put up. That he wasn't weak.
Toris sensed the tension between them and was starting to feel more and more worried. He shot a have-you-any-idea-what-he's-up-to -look into Raivis who tried his best to look innocent and ignorant. He decided it was better to kill the campfire before it lit the whole forest up. He rose up from his chair and drew Ivan's attention to himself.
'I-I have to go to do some shopping today, and because Easter is coming, I need some extra hands to help carrying the groceries, so I was wondering if all three of us could get the day off from our chores', he blurted out in a same breath take. Ivan looked at him suspiciously, then nodded slightly.
'I guess that will be okay. Yes, you can go.' Toris sighed in his mind, reliefed. The situation had started to seem rather alarming. He'd have to discuss with Eduard later.
Eduard stood up as well and started to collect their breakfast supplies.
'Aitäh', he turned to face Toris. The tall brunette flinched and dropped the plates he was carrying. The room fell silent. Toris and Raivis looked like they had seen him jump off a cliff, and Ivan's eyes darkened dangerously.
'What did you just say?' Ivan rose slowly and spoke with a low, but sharp tone. Toris and Raivis' gaze darted from Ivan to Eduard, who stood tall and didn't move an inch, and to Ivan again, who approached him from the other side of the table.
'Answer me, what language did you just use in my house?'
Eduard, helding his head high, answered calmly:
'Tänasin juba hommikusöögi eest. Ja ma rääkisin minu oma emakeelt. Kas seal on mingisugune probleem?'
And thus, Ivan finally snapped.
'HOW DARE YOU, YOU HAVE NO FUCKING RIGHT TO START ACTING COCKY AND SMUG UNDER MY ROOF AND ESPECIALLY IN MY PRESENCE. I THOUGHT WE HAD AN AGREEMENT; OR WOULD YOU RATHER BE SENT TO SIBERIA THAN SPEND YOUR MERE LIFETIME HERE?!!' And when there still wasn't any kind of reaction from the Estonian, Ivan grabbed him from his arm and said;
'You're coming with me, then.'
'NO! Ivan, he doesn't know what he's doing, he's merely pasted childhood! If you have to punish someone for his actions, punish me, I'm the rolemodel!' Toris let out a desperate cry, sprinting towards Ivan and Eduard, but was slowed down by Raivis, who threw his arms around his big brother's slim waist.
'Please, not you too, not again', Raivis said with a tone slightly louder than a whisper.
'Toris, this has nothing to do with you, you cannot take the blame from my actions. This is my own decision, and I'm almost in full age!' Eduard yelled at him as Ivan dragged him towards the room that was oh-so familiar to Toris. He had hoped so that his brothers would never have to enter it. He had done everything and went there instead of them, every time, but now Toris felt he had failed protecting his younger siblings from the horrible fate. He gave Eduard one desperate, apologizing look before a massive wooden door was closed between them. His beyond my help now, Toris thought to himself. Please, God, be with him..
-----
'Are you feeling proud of yourself now? Did you think pissing me off would be a brave thing to do?' Ivan insisted as he locked the door and threw Eduard roughly on the floor. He could feel the dull taste of dust in his mouth; the room clearly wasn't in common use. Actually, it looked as if it wasn't in any kind of use. The look of the room was dominated by the could brick walls, giving the expression of an old castle's dungeon. The window opened in a cold view of the grey lake. Eduard thought if it had ment to be so narrow, preventing the possible escapes perhaps. Under the window there was a creaky-looking chair and a large wooden crate. Somehow he didn't want to know what was inside of it. He tried to stand up, rising himself on his elbows, but Ivan pressed him in the ground with his foot, forcing his torso to lie down amongst the hard floor.
'You are staying right there. It seems like I have to teach you some manners', he said with icy tone. He reached for the crate, his other foot still
between Eduard's shoulder blades. He heard a metallic-kind of clank and, facing the rough wood, closed his eyes and prepared himself for the first impact.
Still, the first blow caught him off guard. A heavy metal pipe hit the back of his head and he let out a cry of pain and surprise. Fuck, the others must've heard that, he thought as he felt the throbbing pain spread down his spine. I must get a grip of mys-'. Another hit, this time on his right shoulder. He let out another scream as he felt his collarbone snap. The next impact hit him in the ribs and blew the air out of him. Eduard gasped for air as tears were starting to form in the corners of his eyes. No, I won't be crying, not in front of him, I won't show him that he's actually hurting me! There was a hit on the side of his head, and he felt his vision to blur, and felt the stinging taste of iron in his mouth. It made him feel sick. And the pain, he felt nothing but pain. How could Toris stand this, night after night?
Ivan paused and Eduard heard him panting. He was rolled over to his back and Ivan leaned down, face a mere inch from Eduard's.
'Now, tell me, have you learned anything? Or do you want me to teach you some more?' His grip from Eduard's uniform's collar tightened and another yell escaped from his lips as Ivan's knee crushed his own.
'K-käi k-kuradile, tibla', he spatted the words on Ivan's face. The Russian's face twisted with rage and next thing Eduard felt was his fist in his stomach, once again blowing all the air out of him. And then, he felt nothing, Everything went black.
-----
Eduard heard voices from distance. He tried to open his eyes, but it seemed like they were glued together. He tried to move his limbs, but they wouldn't obey him. So instead he concentrated on checking if he was still alive. At least it seemed like it, unless you could still feel pain in the afterlife. Eduard felt his heart beating, and on every beat it hit his sore chest from the inside, and moved his broken ribs. He let out a weak whimper as it did, and he could feel, undoubtly Toris', hand on his cheek.
'It's okay, we're here, you're safe now', he could hear his soothing voice. Raivis slipped his trembling hand carefully into Eduard's, and he managed to squeak it softly, showing them he was still alive.
'From now on, I'd think you know how slight the line between courage and stupidity is.'
Eduard managed to nod. He sure did.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's finally finished! I decided to stay up last night. The whole night, and started to write this last chapter.
Hoshit it's a long one :D
I'M SORRY FOR IVAN IN THIS, HIS LOYAL FANS. And sorry the way I made Eduard speak to him, I should wash his(my) mouth with some soap..
But yeah, some translationss~
Aitäh. = Thank you.
Tänasin juba hommikusöögi eest. = I just thanked for the breakfast.
Ja ma rääkisin minu oma emakeelt. = And I spoke my own mother language.
Kas seal on mingisugune probleem? = Is there some kind of problem?
Käi kuradile = Go to hell
Tibla = A mocking name for 'Russian' (I'm not sure if this is Estonian or Russian, orz. But it was in this book I was reading, so w/e. EDIT: Thanks to ktomson (or her father:D), it's Russian, and thanks for correcting that letter btw ^^)
Those senteces should be somewhat right. I think.. Feel free to correct if they're not :D
This chapter is not ment to be offending, but if someone gets offended, I apologize D:
But now, it's time to thank all my reviewers and people who favorited/alerted my fic, the feedback has been really encouraging. I love you gais ~3
(And remember to review this chapter too, ne?)
I should propably go to sleep soon..
xoxo, Chin