Can I trust you?
Ch.2: And Yet the Beginning Wasn't Over
Peter stood in front of the male considered his Mother and checked for any sort of indication of possible injury.
"Oh, n-nothing. I j- I just thought I saw…something." Finland said vaguely as he gestured at the boy's room. Then he thought better of it and continued to clean up his near mess. "But it was just a bug and it flew out the window…" That wasn't too far from the truth! Denmark was close to a pest and he did leave through the window so he wasn't…lying per se.
"Oh, good! I'm glad you're okay! You scared me and Poppa. I thought he was gonna have a heart attack. Is that what you had me come down here for then? Poppa didn't quite know what you wanted him to talk to me about either, so I took the liberty of turning on the telly!"
"That…" Finland couldn't even to begin to reply to that sentence. He actually forgot what he was being asked.
"B'n watchin' ed'cation'l programs." Sweden explained to him. Before Finland could say anything to that the doorbell rang. Sweden walked the short distance to answer it. He saw Lithuania at the door.
"H-hi! I'm here to p-pick up P-p-peter-er, Sealand…Is he here?"
Sweden nodded and gave the brunette a curious glance that came off more like an angry glare. "Sea, I's f'r y'. Th'nk y'r rides here."
"Oh! Hi, Lithuania!" Sealand waved at him before kissing his mother on the cheek, blushing, and leaving. "Be safe now, Mummy. No more of that scaring business I hope!" He ran out grabbing Lithuania and pulling him to the car.
Finland touched his cheek before shouting out. "See you soon! I love you!"
"Mom!" Sealand shouted indignantly.
"Sorry!" And with that last wave, with a few from Poland and Latvia as well, the car was gone.
Silence reigned the house after Finland closed the door. "Now, what?"
"Le's hold off on th' chores f'r now…Perhaps?"
Finland blushed, but nodded. "How does some educational television sound?"
"Borin' actually…" Sweden shrugged and pulled Finland to the couch. He sat Finland down before lying down and sitting his head on the smaller male's lap. "I jus' wanna look at y'…"
Finland blushed before focusing his eyes on the television. "Okay…" he shivered when one of Sweden's hands rose to his lips and cupped his cheek. "I love you too, Sve…Do you need convincing?"
Sweden nodded silently before reaching up and pulling Finland lips closer to his. He pushed their lips together slowly before pushing himself up to deepen the kiss. After a moan or two on Finland's part he pulled away.
Finland remembered Denmark suddenly and shuddered.
"Cold?"
"N-no…Let's go out today, hm…Perhaps for a walk? Hanatama hasn't been out yet, you see…" Finland trailed off looking at the white fluff ball curled up on the floor. She didn't really look like she needed to go out, but he didn't want to leave her here. If Denmark could get in without them realizing who else could?
Finland stood and was about to go upstairs when he realized just how frightened he was. "Sve, can you come up stairs with me?"
Sweden raised an eyebrow before standing. "Wha's wrong?"
"N-nothing! I just wanted you to!" Finland shouted angrily before darting up the stairs. He turned to see if Sweden was following before he turned and ran into their room. He started tearing things out with great vigor trying to find something appealing to wear.
"Fin…" Sweden called. After a brief silence he called again, "Fin….T'no!"
"Huh?" Finland looked up, tears formed in the corner of his eyes as he imagined terrible, terrible things happening to the three of them. Well, that wasn't right. He's supposed to be the optimistic one! He can't start worrying like this.
"D'n worry, T'no. Ev'rythings fine…" Sweden hugged him closer before letting go and looking into his eyes. "Wha's got'tcha like this, hmm?" After a few pets to the head, he felt Finland say something. "Can you rep't that please?"
"N-nothing, I'm fine…" Finland stood up and started to change.
Sweden just watched him, with a feeling of guilt and worry clouding his vision for a few seconds. He heard a knock on the door and stood up to answer.
Finland was on the top stair before he could even open the door, eyes anxious and hair tousled from pulling on his shirt so fast. When he saw who it was he nearly tripped down the stairs to see what it was about. A visit from them was a rare occurrence these days, that, and it reminded him of earlier. He mainly tripped to get closer to Sweden, and no! He didn't trip on the stairs. He tripped when he got off them, over his own feet and nearly knocked Sweden over.
"H-hi! What brings you two here?" Finland said breathlessly.
"We're looking for Den-san…" Iceland spoke quietly. "Nor's worried sick."
"No I am not." Norway calmly interjected. "I was just wondering if you had happened to see him. He's been gone for a while now. No note saying where he was going, no calls. Normally he can't go one minute without calling…"
Sweden shook his head, but Finland stiffened beside him. Norway caught the action and sighed.
"Oh, come in. It's cold out there! Do you want tea?" Finland asked nervously.
On any normal day Norway would have said no and just left, but it seemed today just wasn't normal. "Sure, why not?"
Iceland looked at him curiously before stepping in behind the floating curled Nordic male. "Thanks."
Finland rushed off to go make tea. Leaving the three other men in the living room…awkwardly.
"So…" Iceland stated calmly. "Cold weather-…"
"I'm going to help Finland with the tea." Norway interrupted putting up his coat and walking away.
"I's b'n a while…" Sweden muttered.
"Yeah." Iceland agreed hanging up his own coat as well. "Can I watch TV?"
"Sure."
The two sat awkwardly them on the couch with Hanatamago between them and watched the television, unknowing of the conversation between the men in the kitchen.
-Meanwhile-
"What?" Norway questioned quietly beside him as he pulled out tea cups.
"He was here…"
"Denmark?"
"Yes…He was here, I don't know what for, but he was upstairs in Sealand's closet. He scared the life out of me. He told me not to tell Sweden." Finland confessed. He felt slightly better.
"That is only for the best. If Sverige knew, he would surely kill Denmark. Thank you. We'll stay for tea, but then we will leave and find him." Norway informed quietly.
After serving tea the four sat together and talked. Finland sat on the floor beside Sweden and thought about what Denmark could have possibly been doing, thoughtfully petting Hanatamago. Maybe he was trying to surprise Sealand, but heard he was leaving and tried to leave before being caught? But then that left the question was he the person that was in the bathroom with him? And that left the question why was he in their bathroom! What the heck, this is all so confusing! He grabbed at his head knocking over his tea. "Dammit, all!" He turned to see the others looking at him, slight looks of surprise on their stoic faces. "Sorry!" he stood to get the mop from the kitchen. He filled the mop bucket before sopping up the tea from the already soaking rug. "Ah, sh-…" he held it that time when curious faces peered up at him. "Shoot." He said with a smile.
When the mop was soaking in the bucket and Sweden went to go get a towel to try and soak up what Finland couldn't get Norway decided that they were leaving.
"Oh, I see. Okay." Finland walked them to the door.
"Don't let that bother you Finland. I'll cuff him once for you, then another for Sverige and another time just for me. I don't know what he was doing, but I'll make sure he doesn't do it again." Norway nodded at him once before turning.
After glancing between the two, Iceland waved before following Norway out.
"Th'y left?"
"Yeah…"
"Hm…" Sweden mopped up the mess on the rug to his best ability before standing and kissing Finland on the cheek. "I love y'."
" I love you, too, Sve." Finland smiled at the taller before turning away, a worried look on his face. "Let's go walk Hana-chan, shall we?"
"Mm." Sweden agree before throwing the towel away.
-Minutes Later-
Finland was sitting on a park bench. The weather was nicer now and Finland sighed happily as he watched Hanatamago and Sweden circle a tree. Hanatamago was apparently as frightened as he was, and wouldn't go two feet away from Sweden. So, the man was forced to follow her if she was to enjoy herself. When the two came back, Hanatamago curled up at Finland's feet and Sweden sat down beside him.
"Ar' y' okay, Fin? Y' D'n't seem t' b' actin' y'rself…" Sweden confessed his worries.
"I'm fine, Sve. I think I was just anxious to get outside. I feel a lot better now." Finland smiled that heavenly smile at him.
"Tha's good. Y'know, y' scared m' earlier today." Sweden whispered as he leaned closer. "I thought y' were hurt. I would'nt 'ave wan'ed that."
"I'm sorry for scaring you…I was just…" Finland didn't continue that sentence as Hanatamago jumped up and distracted him. "Hi, Hanatama-chan! Come 'ere!" He lifted the white ball of fluff onto his lap before turning to Sweden. "I don't wanna leave yet."
"'T's cold…Ya sure?" Sweden asked staring into Finland's eyes. At a small, "Yes" the subject was dropped.
-An Hour Later-
Finland opened the door and sighed as the warm air caressed his cheeks. He looked around and decided that he would start dinner. "I'm going to go cook. Did you want anything before I get too busy?"
"Mm." Sweden bent closer to him and left a light kiss on his cheeks. " I love ya'."
"Love you, too, Sve."
Just as Finland was about to turn to go to the kitchen, the front door opened and Sealand came in with a chocolate bar, popcorn littered in his hair.
"Goodness, what happened?" Finland bent down in front of Sealand and brushed popcorn off of his head. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Mom. The movie theater just went crazy when something happened on our movie screen that wasn't supposed to… Poland was like 'OMG' and Lithuania said 'Oh Gosh' and covered our eyes. Lots of people were mad and went to yell at the manager, that is, after people started throwing their buckets of popcorn in madness." He seemed happy as he continued. "Poland kept saying OMG all the way here, but me and Latvia wasn't paying attention, so we didn't see it anyway. Lithuania was tired though, so he said he and Estonia are gonna call you tomorrow about it." Sealand shrugged. "They barely got us out of there together in one piece."
"Go take a shower while I go and get supper together, okay?" Finland smiled as Sealand nodded and turned to go upstairs. "Well, it sounded as if he had fun, now didn't it?"
Sweden nodded and went upstairs behind the micro-nation, perhaps to get the broom to sweep up the popcorn. Finland turned and headed into the kitchen to begin cooking. It was early, but he wanted to eat early and then be able to relax, not that he would be able to.
After dinner was cooked and sat on the table, Finland pat himself on the back for not going crazy because of how many problems he was having with his clumsiness tonight, Finland went to see where everyone else went. The popcorn that was on the floor had been swept up and thrown away, but there was no one in the living room. The house was eerily silent.
"Sea? Sve?" He called as he turned to the staircase. All was still at the top. He was getting nervous… He took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and began making his way up the stairs. "Sve? Sea? Are you up here?" Silence met his nervous question. No one could've gotten into the house when he wasn't paying attention! He was distracted, but after finding Denmark in his son's room he'd never let his guard down again.
When he opened Sealand's bedroom he was only met by the salty smell of sea water. He turned and opened the bathroom door. The bathroom was completely empty. He turned and went to his and Sweden's room. The room was empty…He opened their closet door…Empty…Then the bathroom door…Empty…He was about to give up and check outside when he saw a shadow pass the door out of the corner of his eye.
"Sve?" Finland whimpered as he turned quickly. "Hanatamago? Sealand? Someone?"
There was a noise downstairs that sounded like scurrying feet, but Finland was too afraid to move. "Sve, please? Where are you?" He swallowed and headed for the door. As he turned the corner he noticed a figure standing at the end of the hall near Sealand's room. The figure was shrouded in darkness. It could have been anyone…Finland felt his heart hammer in his chest as he tried to step down the stair while keeping an eye on the figure.
His foot missed and he felt his other foot bend and loose its footing. "Aaaah!"He was falling down the stairs. Maybe it was because he was afraid, but time seemed to speed up. One minute he was trembling on the top stair, then he was falling, now he was at the bottom of the stairs on his back. Lying limply, his leg hurt, he felt tears stream down his cheeks. "Sve…Sea…"
"Momma!" He heard Sealand cry. "Poppa, where are you? Momma's hurt!" Sealand made his way through the living room and as he did Finland noticed a figure at the top of the stairs, then it walked into the bathroom. Then Sealand was at his side. "Poppa's coming from the garden! What happened?"
"Sea, Sve…Upstairs…" Then Sweden was at his side checking for bumps and bruises. Sealand seemed to think his Finland had gone delusional, shrugging it off with a, "We were outside."
"Let 'im speak…" Sweden asked Finland what happened.
"I fell…I couldn't find you…There was…" Then everything went black.
"He has a concussion, he might not remember some things…Be careful how you approach him… How'd this happen?"
"Momma fell down the stairs while we were outside waiting for dinner…"
"Sea…" Finland muttered as he opened his eyes. The room was dim, but his eyes still burned causing him to squint. "Where am I?"
"Momma! You're at the doctors!" Sealand hugged him. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay…Sore, but okay…What happened? Why am I here?" Finland rubbed his head to feel a bump on the back of his head.
"Ya fell d'n the stairs 't h'me." Sweden reached out to touch his head, but Finland flinched back.
He hadn't done that in a long time…It kind of hurt him to see that reaction, but he withdrew his had nonetheless.
"Oh! I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble! So, what's Sealand doing here? And why'd you call me Momma?"
Sealand frowned. "Momma? You don't remember?"
"Okay, wait…Let me think…Okay, no! I remember…I'd normally say 'I'm not your Momma', right?" Finland smiled at Sealand before turning to Sweden. "You adopted him, right? And now we all live together…with Hana-chan…" Finland turned to Sealand and asked, "How have you been?"
"Scared…I thought you weren't gonna wake up! You've been asleep since dinnertime yesterday!" Sealand frowned and pointed at the watch on Finland's wrist. "It's afternoon on Sunday now!"
"I'm sorry! To make it up to you we'll have whatever you want for dinner-! OW!" Finland pulled the blankets back to see his ankle wrapped up. "…If Sve is up to it!" Finland turned a nervous smile in his direction.
Wait, that was why his mannerism was so off…Finland doesn't remember that he and Sweden are together. He somehow thinks that Sweden is still scary and likely to hurt him.
Sweden nodded his head, his eyes on the floor. "Yeah…"
Finland shuddered at Sweden's downcast expression and turned to Sealand. "See, and I'm all better now. No need to worry." Finland flung his legs over the bed and looked up at the doctor. "I can leave now, right?"
"Yes, you are much better off than we believed you were. You seem fine…If you feel anything wrong just come back…" The doctor nodded before turning and walking away.
Sweden rolled a wheelchair in front of Finland. "Wh'n we g't 'ome…I'mma 'ave t' carry y'."
Finland's eyes looked panicked for a minute, but then he nodded. He stood, hopped one-legged to the chair and sat. "I can't wait to get home for some reason. I'm suddenly really nervous…Almost like I'm scared."