Norway couldn't help but snicker a bit as he set a cup of tea on the coffee table before his younger brother.
"The honey and ginger should help you get your voice back," he said.
Iceland made a face and burrowed deeper into his blanket. It was late June; why did Norway think he needed to be curled up on the couch like this? He wasn't even sick, just a little hoarse.
"You know, I could have put garlic in it, too. But I didn't, because I'm a nice older brother."
It was one thing to be sitting around with no voice (well, okay, and a tiny bit of a hangover—just a tiny bit). It was quite another to be sitting around with no voice, (a touch of) a hangover, and an annoying brother who was taking an inordinate amount of delight in the situation.
"Or I could have put cognac in it. But you're too young for that—"
"I am not." Last night certainly proved that, Iceland thought to himself as every inch of his head pounded and throbbed.
"Sh, save your voice. You shouldn't be talking right now."
"I hate you."
"Of course you do."
Iceland sipped his tea and quietly groaned when his brother ruffled his hair. He liked the spicy-sweet warmth that soothed his throat; it tasted better than the ugly morning-after bitter-salt sensation plastered against every bit of his mouth. But he wasn't about to admit that to Norway, who had taken the liberty of sitting down next to him on the sofa and putting an arm around his shoulders that Iceland couldn't shake off.
"You know all of us are just really proud of you," he said, softly, almost as an afterthought.
Iceland took another sip of his tea and made a gagging noise, just to irritate Norway.
But deep down, he could still feel the rumbling of distant celebrations in his bones.
Inspired by a wonderful video from today's Euro 2016 match between Iceland and Austria. Since FF is stupid about hyperlinks, just look up "Icelandic commentator" and you should find it. Absolutely amazing goal on Iceland's part (that play alone makes me want to root for you all to win), but that poor man isn't going to be able to speak for a week.
In any case, congrats, Iceland. :)