Author's Note: the song that inspired this chapter is My Strange Addiction by Billie Eilish!

WARNING: some physical violence in this chapter! Pushing and punching lockers! Read at your own risk!

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Romance, love, lust or anything under the umbrella of those feelings were strangers to the Russian. He had never felt first love's tender kiss or experienced anything more than a friendly handhold. So when his heart hammered in his chest around the American, the giant was left utterly confused. 'What could this possibly mean?' Those were the words constantly running laps in his love deprived mind. With slightly pouting lips, Russia decided it was time to get to the bottom of this mystery.

"Hi, America." Russia greeted warmly with a small wave as he sat down beside him.

"Welcome to Botany, Russia!" The American looked up with a dazzling smile. Their relationship was much better ever since they began the project with the moth orchid.

Russia's breath caught in his throat as the question he wanted to ask hung loosely on the tip of his tongue. "Hey, what do you think-?"

"Hey!" A random student, with the brightest red eyes Russia had ever seen, slammed down a pile of torn books in between the two country representatives. "My friend and I are new here and wanted to say hi!" In quick, broken English, the young man smiled and then shoved a frowning woman before them.

"Hello." She deadpanned in a voice that caught Russia's attention. The similarities began to click in his head as his heart quickened to the speed of light.

America did not pick up on the other's discomfort and reached out excitedly to shake the new student's hand. "Hey, my name is the Representative of the United States, but you can call me Ame for short!"

Russia's nose twitched as something hot and furious covered his beating heart. "Yes, and you can just call me, Russia." His chin lifted defiantly as he narrowed his pale, light blue eyes.

"I'm Min and this is Ashley." The young male with bright red irises tilted his head with a calculated smile in Russia's direction.

A growl almost escaped the Russian's lips, but he quickly stood up, hoping the movement would distract away from the sound. "Hey, since you're new, do you two know where the bathrooms are?"

"I..." The young man tried to say something, but stopped as he was pushed to the front of the classroom with unrestrained, brute force.

"Mr. Khloris, may I show them the restroom? They are new here." Russia batted his sweet, pale blue eyes at the other with an air of innocence.

"Of course! I love the initiative!" The sweet, circle framed teacher waved them off like one does to a curious toddler.

"Great!" A huge happy smile rested on the Russian's lips as he grabbed the back of the woman's and man's shirt collars with unnecessary force. They all exited the classroom and walked a few uncomfortable steps into a desolated hallway. "What are the two of you doing here?" Russia hissed and slammed them against a row of lockers.

"Calm down, you sicko!" Min's face contorted into anger and disgust. "It's just your government's orders. You of all representatives should know this."

"Let go now." Ashley deadpanned with a death glare directed at the Russian's skull.

"Right. Sorry." Russia sighed while rubbing his eyes due to his frustrations. He thought that giving constant updates about America's studies would be enough, but of course his government sent more spies. Nothing would ever be enough until the American crumbled with ruin. Part of him wanted to give up, pack, and run to his home country, but he knew he had to stay to protect America at all cost. The smiling goof was the only friend in the world he had. Something about America intoxicated him and he couldn't give that up yet. "Afghanistan, Yemen, report back to my country that I have everything handled. I don't need backup for this mission."

A fire flickered behind the red hue of Yemen's eyes. "No can do. We were assigned to this mission to keep tabs on you."

"Me?" An anger boiled like the rising heat of a kitchen stove which drove the Russian to slam his fist into the dull blue metal of a locker door to the left of Yemen's head. Rage blinded him as his urge to protect America only grew.

"I think we should go to the nurse's office." Afghanistan slowly spoke between the heated males. "Your knuckles busted open, Russia." She calmly watched the bright red liquid drop to the tiled floors of the school building.

"If you two don't leave, we'll need an emergency room." A voice as cold as an Antarctic blizzard chilled the two spies right down to the bone.

Amazement and fear flickered through Afghanistan's dull dark eyes. "Let's go." She reached for the sleeve of Yemen's shirt as her eyes never left the Russian. In all her years, she had never seen him so upset and honestly feared for her life.

Yemen did not resist as he was pulled away, but his fire like eyes never left the Russian's freezing ones.

Without much thought, Russia returned to Mr. Khloris's Botany class and searched for the familiar brown eyes of the American. The anger still hadn't left from his system, so his entire body was abuzz with hatred and betrayal. For some reason in that moment, he only believed that America was his remedy.

"Russia?" America whispered under Mr. Khloris's lecture about photosynthesis. His deep brown eyes widened at the sight of the other's busted knuckle. "What happened out there?" He immediately reached for Russia's left hand as the giant took a seat. America's warm touch burned hotter than the searing pain from his open wound. Not getting any answers from the other caused America to look up with unhappily parted lips. The two locked in place as the window of their souls almost collided.

Russia's already ragged breath grew much more unsteady as the question found its way back to his mind. "Do you..." He whispered so quietly that America leaned in closer which flustered the Russian.

The concerned shorter male adjusted his hold on the other's hand only to have his tanned hands stain with Russia's blood. "Oh? Do I have some bandages? Of course, I do!" The American grinned widely before digging into his bag and playing doctor with the Russian's huge hand.

The flame of hope diminished in the depth's of the Russian's torched heart. He closed his eyes and sighed as he lost his courage. Maybe he was overthinking about everything and if he admitted anything to America, the other would panic and leave his side. He found himself agonizing over the idea of the cheerful American leaving his life for good. Plus, he was too crass and weird to be liked anyway. Russia thought of himself as a great friend, but anything else he would fail miserably at. He silently watched as the American smiled at him as he finished bandaging his busted hand. There was no way he would purposefully loose that bright smile. As his pale blue eyes softened, something unexpectedly shook his whole world order.

The happily chatting American leaned down and planted a gentle kiss to his newly bandaged extremity.

Pure joy exploded in his chest as his eyes widened with surprise. 'That gesture had to mean something, right?' He asked himself as he nearly hyperventilated on the inside. A smile bloomed across his lips as he gently took America's hand in his own. "Do you like me?"

Dark brown eyes blinked with slight confusion before softening at the corners. "Of course, I like you! We're friends, Russia!"

His tongue quickly took control before his mind could catch up. "I mean romantically, America. Do you like me romantically?"

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IM LITERALLY DYING I LOVE THIS CHAPTER SO MUCH! I hope you enjoy it too! Have a great day or night or afternoon!

- WORDSPERMINUTE