characters: Hong Kong (Ji Lam) & Iceland (Eyvindur)
word count: enough
summary: A fairly clichéd walk home from school leading to…whatever.
disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia, ect,. I totes posted this on tumblr, first. Surprise, surprise.
He could say 'thank goodness' with the class now over. It was not as though Literature was boring subject, as he very much enjoyed it, so much as the chair was proving to be an annoyance for his back. There was also the fact that it was Friday and he wanted to be able to sit around before having to go to work. Petty problems, really.
There was sudden recollection as he picked his backpack off the floor after the teacher dimissed them (as opposed to the bell.) The internet had told it would be raining that afternoon; Eyvindur had the mind to stick some umbrella into his bag prior to leaving for school so he would have some protection offered to him. The cheap umbrella was set on his desk as he was putting his books away in his bag and soon he would be off.
Eyvindur was not terribly forgetful but there was something that did not cross his mind right away. Right when he was heading for the closest exit of the building, going with the flow of the many students, there was a light tug on his sleeve. He did not want to stop and cause traffic but he did spare a glance. The first thing he took notice of was a smile and that hand still on his arm. Ji Lam was walking along with him, leaning in a little close than necessary.
As shameful as it was, he had been thinking of the boy beside him as of lately. Ji Lam was something he would have originally called an annoyance. Eyvindur did not initially appreciate the other boy trying to take bits of his lunch but Ji Lam would soon be bringing food to share that consisted of fried leftovers. The two of them actually went far enough to trade games amongst each other and they would be returned in one piece. Ji Lam was no longer troublesome even though he enjoyed his jokes that varied in humour.
How did he forget that boy?
"Hey," Ji Lam waved with his free hand.
"Um, hello."
"So, like, you going home?"
Eyvindur only blinked in response to Ji Lam's question. Where else would he be going? Well, he did have his shift at the movie theater but that was not to start for a little while. He came to a stop and stepped to the side when he was about to get to the double doors leading outside, side pressed against the wall, Ji Lam finally letting go of his sleeve. Eyvindur took the moment to fiddle to get the strap keeping the umbrella closed and managed to get it off, shaking the umbrella a little.
"So, you're going home?"
That question was going to stick, wouldn't it?
"Where else?"
Ji Lam watched, now not appearing too interested and leaned in slightly, "Hey, Eyvindur."
"Huh?" Eyvindur looked up, brow raised.
"You know, my place is on the way to yours," Ji Lam needlessly informed him. "And, like, I fed you. With it raining and all, the both of us should share that umbrella of yours."
There was a possibility that Ji Lam was right but there was no use in bringing up the whole food thing as Eyvindur figured they were even enough on it. But how could he say no? After all, Ji Lam was a person who would keep pressing until something happened in his favour; and, well, Eyvindur would not exactly admit that he had his reasoning of the other causing his stomach flip pleasantly.
"Fine, fine," Eyvindur sighed. "But we got to keep the same pace."
He moved quickly out the door only to falter when he was having a problem with opening his umbrella. There was no real damage done by the time Eyvindur managed to get the umbrella opened and lifted over his head. Ji Lam joined him, having been smart to wait inside before stepping out, huddling close with the size of the umbrella not exactly being the biggest.
Despite what Eyvindur had said beforehand, they were walking slower than a normal day. Eyvindur was holding his breath as he held the umbrella, not looking at the other. It was a foolish thought but the other's closeness was getting Eyvindur anxious. There was a similarity with the lack of personal space with Ji Lam's teasing and that had gotten Eyvindur flustered a few times than he would have liked. What was happening now felt like something that was genuine. Well, it was two friends sharing an umbrella.
"You know, I think I am almost done with the game you gave me." Ji Lam nodded to himself once.
Good, Eyvindur was finally provided with a distraction. He kept his eyes forward as he began to question the details of Ji Lam's progression in the aforementioned game. While the conversation was entertaining enough, it was only able to have Eyvindur forget the slow pace they were going at. His mind was still on the other boy and not so much of what they were speaking of. He even dared to look at Ji Lam now and then, being close enough to see his eyelashes. They were not remarkably long or short but they were Ji Lam's and that counted for something.
There was no point in being in denial; Eyvindur was admiring the closeup every time he looked and that was not a friend-like thing to do. He knew very well what it all meant but it did not mean it would be approved by Ji Lam.
Disappointment was what Eyvindur mostly felt when they finally got to Ji Lam's house. Eyvindur had wished for the walk to continue though Ji Lam probably had his own things to tend to. But Ji Lam was not showing signs of going anywhere, merely staying by Eyvindur.
"We're here." Eyvindur looked at the door.
"Yeah, I see that."
Ji Lam wasn't stupid, Eyvindur figured even if he was beginning to question that thought. No, they were still standing there with the umbrella just barely managing to protect them from the rain. Unexpectedly, Ji Lam brought his hand up to grab the handle of the umbrella even though Eyvindur's was there. There was a slim chance that Ji Lam was trying to be helpful against the possible intentions of him trying to pester him. Eyvindur his heart felt as though it had shot up to his neck, somehow. If he wanted to breathe he was not sure if he could even remember how to do so.
"Stop being…weird." Eyvindur did not dare to pull back even with his words working against him.
"What was that?"
"You heard me."
The brief smile on Ji Lam's face was enough to tell Eyvindur that he had been right. Ji Lam was just being ridiculous but it was somehow pleasing Eyvindur. The other was going about his usual antics but he was choosing not to go bother someone else with them. It was peculiar to even think in such a way that he was but Eyvindur was able to look past something. Maybe standing too close to Ji Lam had him imagining things.
If things were truly the usual silly games to entertain Ji Lam then they were unfair. Eyvindur only got a little hot under the collar and questioning things that were better left alone. Ji Lam's smile was something Eyvindur found himself unable to resist. It felt like a cruel trick. Eyvindur's hand tightened on the umbrella's handle as he looked Ji Lam in the eye.
Eyvindur was quick about it. With the distance being nearly nonexistent, it was not difficult to shift forward and press his lips to Ji Lam's. The other boy's lips were not the softest but it was Ji Lam and it only had Eyvindur enjoy the feeling. Such illusions were clouding his judgement but he never felt the other make a sudden movement of trying to get away. As a matter of fact, Ji Lam was failing to react in anyway from what he could tell. Eyvindur pulled back, not sure whether or not to feel relieved yet.
"You know…." Ji Lam spoke sooner than Eyvindur expected, head titled slightly. "I had my umbrella with me the whole time."
No, he didn't know but Ji Lam pulled his hand back and slipped out from under the umbrella. Ji Lam was quick about getting the door opened only to hold it cracked behind his back.
"Eyvindur should text me and then take me for pizza, later. Don't forget or my feelings will be hurt before the first date." The tone was clearly joking as he began to smile much like before.
Eyvindur did not have the time to say anything as Ji Lam waved and slipped into the house. Many things were going through his head and they all were somehow centered around one thing. Ji Lam was his friend. Ji Lam let him kiss him. Ji Lam was a big eater. Eyvindur's wallet would possibly suffer but it would not change lighthearted feeling.