A/N: Thank you guys for all the reviews! I feel so embarrassed whenever I read them.
Anime Boston was wonderful-fantastic! I was so happy that people recognized that I was Romano, and I got asked to take a bunch of pictures. The Hetalia photoshoots that I went to on Friday and Saturday were especially exciting. Everyone was so nice and accepting and I made a number of new friends, and now I'm part of the facebook group of the Anime Boston Hetalia people~
But I'll shut up now and start, and thanks again to TheTickTalks and Walroose for their editing (hopefully there aren't as many mistakes this time… hehe) and thanks to Wisely-San, because my PM's with you helped kick me into gear and get this typed up.
Previously:
"Lt 'em be," mumbled Sweden. "Th'y will wrk it out."
The quartet got quiet and continued to watch the door where the youngsters had departed from.
"I'll kill them if they hurt Emil," stated Norway. The group returned to their chaotic conversation while the other three continued trudging through the snow on their way to the café.
Now:
The wind blew harshly, sending large snowflakes into the faces of the three nations as they tramped slowly though the slurry of ice and snow on the sidewalk.
"Do you guys just want to skip out on the café?" hollered Hong Kong as he attempted to speak over the wind.
Greenland straightened. A bit of snow tumbled off his head, joining it's brethren on the ground. "And do what? You said it was close by!" Greenland squinted, and slouched over again; shielding his face from the biting wind and snow.
Hong Kong moved closer to the building beside him, allowing him some relief from the weather. "Have you ever used firecrackers?" he questioned the Nordics with a devilish gleam in his narrowed eyes.
Iceland shook his head hesitantly, "Not in the way you are implying."
"What do you have in mind?" asked Greenland as he moved closer to Hong Kong, his arm brushing against the Asian nation.
"We can go and show Arthur how much fun it is to play with fire," Hong Kong suggested as a smile slipped onto his normally ashy face.
Iceland took a step towards the wall, and opened his mouth to speak, "That depends on wh-" Greenland cut in, "Only if we show Mathias as well."
Hong Kong's smile widened, and he beckoned to the two nations as he took a step away from the building's protection. "Let's go find our entertainment then."
The sound of explosions was muted by the roaring of the wind. Inside a quaint English restaurant, England stood stock-still as firecrackers popped around his feet. His face contorted into an expression of mixed outrage and surprise as sparks flew around him in a frenzy. His tea cup was knocked over on the table, and tea slowly seeped into the previously white lace tablecloth.
America was still sitting in his seat across the table, laughing boisterously as he watched the Brit in front of him.
"Hey Dude! Don't move, the hero will come and save you!" America finally cried out as he stood up abruptly, jostling the table and causing the teacup to fall to the floor and shatter. It's shards joined the firecrackers on the floor.
"You dolt! I don't need your help, just grab Xiang!" Yelled England, clearly uncertain about whom to direct his anger at. America leapt forward into the fray of firecrackers, laughing as he brushed sparks from his jacket, but his gaze remained firmly fixed on the Englishman in front of him.
England decided to ignore America for now, as he focused on the three faces peering into the shop from a window at the front of the store. His face was red-hot as he screamed out, "Xiang! Don't you dare think that I won't be telling China about this!" England gave another shout of frustration, as Hong Kong gave him the finger through the window, the two bodies on either side of him did likewise before turning about face and fleeing the scene.
Hong Kong was in the lead, a large grin on his face as the English shop faded into the background as the trio strode away from the scene. Greenland and Iceland followed on either side of the Asian, their coattails waved behind them as they strode forward after the elated man.
"So, are you two up to watching Denmark have fun with my firecrackers?" Hong Kong threw behind him to the nations.
Greenland and Iceland shared a knowing glance and then Greenland declared, "We don't think firecrackers would work quite the same way with Mathias."
Hong Kong stopped walking and turned to face the northern nations, the smile on his face fading. "If you guys say so. What do you want to do in-" Hong Kong was cut off mid-sentence as he was yanked to the side. Greenland and Iceland jumped slightly and turned in the direction their friend had been pulled to.
A short Asian man, who they quickly identified as China, stood to their left with Hong Kong's collar firmly in his grasp, his face sour. Hong Kong just stood limply in his hold; too used to being manhandled by his older brother to really care.
"What do you think you are doing Xiang, aru?" China demanded of his brother.
Hong Kong blinked and remarked, "Messing with England."
China's face went dark, as his bangs masked his face. He pulled down on Hong Kong's collar, bringing the younger nation closer to his face. Hong Kong bent slightly to reach China's level.
China exploded, "Why are you doing something so stupid, aiya? This is why I don't let you come to meetings, you always get in trouble, aru!"
China turned slightly, placing the Nordic's directly in his sights, "You two. Stay away from Xiang, he doesn't need any more Western help."
China spat out the word 'help' as though it was a deadly virus. With that asserted to the two Scandinavians, China grabbed Hong Kong's hand in a crushing grip and began to drag him away, pushing through the snow as though it wasn't there. Hong Kong followed along obediently, and threw an apologetic glance back at the two nations standing behind him, who just shrugged in return.
Greenland and Iceland shared an amused look as the two Asian nations faded from view.
"That was interesting," remarked Iceland.
Greenland raised an eyebrow as he responded, "You're gonna have to get used to it – It's China we're talking about."
Iceland looked confused momentarily, and then nodded his assent, "I guess I should have expected something to happen, considering that we were hanging out with Hong Kong. His family is equally as crazy as ours."
"Emil, just call him Xiang," insisted Greenland. "After everything we've done together today, I don't think he'll mind."
Iceland looked unsure, and shook his head, "I don't know him that well, besides, I don't plan on letting him call me Emil any time soon."
Greenland smiled at Iceland and shrugged noncommittally. Greenland then snarled and turned to the alleyway across the street, "Just come out you guys. It's getting annoying and we don't need you to stalk us back to the hotel."
The wind blew down the street as Iceland turned to face the alley expectantly, "Come on dumbasses, we don't have all day."
Finland sheepishly jumped off a nearby overhang, Sweden trudged after him at a leisurely pace. Denmark bounded out of the alley, a huge grin spread across his face; he couldn't care less that he had been caught. Norway emerged last and quickly moved next to his brother, hovering over Iceland.
"Sorry you guys," confessed Finland. "We just wanted to see what you guys were up to." Sweden put his hand on Finland's shoulder and murmured something in his ear. Finland leaned up and gave his reply with his cheerful expression back on his face.
"I can't let my little brother go wandering around a foreign city with a strange Eastern nation," Norway stated blandly.
Iceland visibly bristled at the response, "I've been my own country for almost a century now, and I was on my own for much longer than that. Greenland is with me, and he is-" Norway cut him off with a remark of his own. The other four nations watched as a verbal sparring match emerged between the two brothers. Finland laughed nervously and started up a one sided conversation with Sweden in an attempt to ignored the spat a few meters behind him.
Denmark moved to stand behind Greenland, his hand firmly on Greenland's shoulder. "You wouldn't leave me for that Asian boy, now would you Hans?"
Greenland remained silent, internally seething at the man behind him. Denmark's grip on his shoulder tightened painfully. "Would you?"
Finland glanced at Greenland worriedly, and almost took a step forward before Sweden stopped him.
"P'rhaps we sh'ld go br'k up Norge an' Emil," mumbled Sweden as he shot a look at Denmark, not giving him a choice in whether or not to help. Denmark tightened his grip even more before relaxing it and moving away from Greenland.
As the two taller nations moved to break apart the brothers, Finland scurried over to Greenland and began checking his shoulder.
"I'm sorry. You know how Mathias is, he doesn't want to be alone. Norge's independence really shook him up." Finland smiled apologetically.
Greenland shook his head in disagreement. "He's about the same age as Berwald, he should be used to disappointment. Besides, Norge left the Union long ago, Mathias should be over it, especially since they are together now."
Finland opened his mouth to respond, but stopped as Denmark brushed past him with Norway pouting in his arms. "Let's get moving Hans," he commanded the smaller nation. Greenland looked back at Finland and gave a slight smile before turning on his heel and following Denmark back to the hotel.
Iceland stopped near Finland, Sweden just a bit behind him. The trio shared a glance and also began the journey back to the hotel, the snow swirling behind them, covering their footsteps.
Greenland sat at the desk the hotel supplied in his room, messing around with a game on his computer; bored to tears. He glanced behind him at Iceland, with whom he was sharing a room. Iceland had his papers spread across his bed, the duvet dumped on the floor where it wouldn't come anywhere near the island was furiously scribbling something on one of the pages with a light blue pen. Suddenly, a ringtone broke the silence and both Iceland and Greenland turned to the source. Iceland stood up and strode to the desk to stand near Greenland, where his phone was charging.
"Well. Aren't you going to answer it?" asked Greenland. "That tone is getting rather annoying."
Iceland picked up his phone and slid it open. "It's a text message. But I've never seen this number before."
"Just read it already," snapped Greenland. "You've already been charged for the text, you may as well read it."
Iceland nodded his assent, and opened the text.
"It's from Hong Kong. How did he get my number?" Iceland wondered aloud, looking down at Greenland curiously, hoping he had an answer.
Greenland gave Iceland an amused look. "I gave him your number, during the meeting the other day when you left to grab your coat."
"For what reason? Why do you think he needs my number? What would he ever need to contact me for?"
Greenland laughed lightly, "You know how Mathias won't let me have a phone; the bastard. As if I'm going to escape from his power through a cell phone." Greenland grumbled for a bit, before exclaiming, "I just want you to keep in mind though, I -" Greenland paused and hesitated. "I like him."
Iceland looked at Greenland shocked at the admission he just heard from his best friend. "And what, you think I'm going to steal him away from you?" he questioned.
The look Greenland gave Iceland told him everything he needed to know. Greenland was afraid that Iceland would move Hong Kong's attention away from himself and to the island nation, he was afraid that because he wasn't a full nation, that the Asian man wouldn't choose him. Greenland promised retribution if Iceland took his Asian away from him.
Iceland chuckled nervously, and looked away from the man beside him and down at the text.
You haven't forgotten me yet, have you? This is Hong Kong, btw. We need to hang out sometime soon or something, and don't forget to invite Greenland to come as well.
Iceland blinked and read the text aloud. Greenland urged him to quickly send out a response. Iceland hurried to tap the keys on his tiny phone, making multiple mistakes in his haste.
"There!" sighed Iceland. "Now to see what happens."
Greenland nodded in agreement. "Let's hope it's something good."
A/N: Alrighty, so. This took a while to type up. That seems to be my problem, I have everything planned out and written by hand in my notebook, it just takes me forever to find the time to type it up since I write everything in English class. And then I went to NYC this weekend for my birthday and learned something interesting.
NYC: Lots of signs to help you find your way, but nobody actually bothers to follow the signs.
Boston: Practically no signs, if you don't know your way, too bad.
In Boston, you get to screw yourself, in NYC everyone else screws you. I still prefer Boston to NYC anyday. Those Yorkers don't follow the driving rule on the sidewalk (you walk on the right side of the sidewalk so then people in the opposite direction can get by), it was only because I'm so good at pushing through crowds that I managed to get anywhere.
Edit: ASTERISK brought up a good point in his review, and I added a quick edit in near the end. Thanks for pointing that out! I already had the reason in mind, but I forgot to include it in the story.