Just a AmericaxBelarus one shot I wrote earlier today. Enjoy!

Sometimes I wonder if it's even worth it. All this fighting and pain isn't getting us anywhere. If anything it's trapping us in a dark place that we can't get out of.

"I hate you."

Those three words were like a knife wound to the heart. Why can't you understand just how much you mean to me?

"I just want to go back home to Big Brother!"

Ivan, it was always Ivan you wanted. You never wanted me. To you, I was nothing but a villain. It didn't matter that I had saved you, nor did you care that I'm the only reason you're alive.

You screamed and lashed out. I let your hands find their marks, for your words hurt more than your fists.

"I wish I had never met you!"

Another blow and more pain. I closed my eyes, taking in the sent of your perfume.

"I wish you had left me in snow!"

More pain, and the sent of my own blood assaulted my nose. I felt my arm begin to go numb.

"Big Brother would have found me. He would have saved me!"

Not likely. He abandoned you there in the first place.

I didn't realize I had spoken aloud until your delicate hand hit my face.

"Don't say that! Big Brother loves me!"

I opened my eyes and adjusted my glasses. I saw the tears in your eyes. You weren't angry, I realized. You were afraid.

You were afraid that of being left alone. You didn't want to experience that pain again.

I wrapped my arms around you as you crumbled to pieces, years of pent up emotions spilling out. I ran my fingers through your platinum blonde hair as you calmed down.

I knew everything that you had said to me was a lie. You were better off now, and we both knew it. You just hated to admit it.

"Promise that you'll never leave me."

We both knew that wasn't possible, one day you would have to go back. We would never see each other again.

But people make mistakes. People make promises that they can't keep. All because it seems to be the right thing to do at the time.

Maybe that's why the words left my mouth. Maybe that's why, all these years later, you hate me and refuse to even say my name.

"I promise."

Only because I can't bear to see you cry.

Only because I don't want you to hurt.

But mostly, because I love you.