Snow fell across the barren land, and chilling dampness sank into the fabric of Norway's uniform. Shivering, the boy curled deeper into the snow. It would only decrease his body temperature, but at this point, he didn't care…

Dull blue eyes stared blankly up at the opaline sky, wishing a familiar face would materialize above him, grinning like he had become accustomed to. But no such thing happened, snowflakes simply brushed against Norway's pale cheeks as they fell.

Blinking slowly, the young man breathed quietly, revealing in the silence he had grown accustomed to. No idiotic smile would wake him today. But it didn't matter, right? It wasn't like he cared about the Dane. Constantly annoying him, never taking a hint. Until last time, anyway…

"Norway? You really do hate me… Don't you..?"

After bothering him one time too many, Denmark had been screamed at with all that the smaller boy could muster. Smiling tearfully, he had left, apologies lingering in his wake. And yet that was in and of itself the thing that made Norway hate him.

No one made him as angry as he did. Norway had never yelled at someone, not even when Germany invaded his home and attacked his people, or when Sweden would beat him into a near-coma during their marriage.

No one made him as… Happy, either. Norway had never smiled as much as he did when he first met the boy, first created by the mass of sand and sea released from his land after the last Ice Age. It had truthfully been the happiest day of his life, because the Dane had been his first friend.

But that didn't mean he cared, right? Of course not, everyone knew how much he hated the "older" boy. Norway hated how he always blew of the other Nordics to bother Germany, or go and socialize so cheerfully with any number of others, when he had his own family right there, waiting for him.

Touching his cheek, the Norwegian was surprised to find fading tear tracks there. The cold had numbed his face to their presence. Salt tingled on his lips as he succumbed to the emotions hidden all this time. Emotions he hadn't even known were there. Anger, Sadness, Happiness, and many others cascaded down his cheeks as he screamed at the empty sky.

Why had he been so foolish? Why had he forfeited the one thing to ever make him truly happy? No, Denmark, I don't hate you… He thought futilely. It wasn't as if the boy could hear him.

Faintly, Norway registered that his whole body had gone numb. With no motivation to move, he simply lay there limply, staring up at the sky.

Stomach growling, he whimpered as the desire for food grew. He had been on a fast for several days, and that was contributing to his laziness. The others had insisted that he didn't need to lose weight, but part of Norway thought he might have done it simply to spite Denmark. Why was he so stubborn?

As shadows began to licker at his subconscious, he felt warm breath on his face, and two large hands on his shoulders. "What are you doin' out here Nor?" You're gonna catch a cold!" Bright blue eyes stared down at him from a grinning face, as the boy grabbed him, and lifted him onto his back.

As the two trekked back to Norway's house, he looked weakly down at Denmark's still smiling face. Thinking about how often the boy took care of him, Norway made up his mind.. He would be a coward anymore. He would tell Denmark how he truly felt.

"Anko?"

"Yeah?"

"I… don't hate you…"

The walk continued in silence for a short while until the Norwegian broke it once again.

"Anko?"

"Yeah?"

"…Nevermind…"

Perhaps he would be a coward a little longer.

Author's note: Apologies to Sweden fans, but that was just a little mention of Sweden's oppressive treatment of Norway during their forced union