Iceland didn't know what to say after the initial text. He didn't want the responsibility of carrying the conversation. Hong Kong wanted to talk, hes' the one who should have apologized - why wasn't he doing this? Aside from the fact that he didn't have Iceland's number, but that's not the point. He could say something now! Instead, Iceland just sits still, waiting, watching. Thinking. He is not quite sure if there is text etiquette he needs to follow. If there is, who cares, this isn't his fault anyway.
Hong Kong texts him ten minutes later. « are you still there? »
« yeah »
« k »
As much as he didn't want to, Iceland had to take the chance to initiate a conversation. Otherwise, Hong Kong might slip away due to boredom.
« so about today »
« yea sorry about that
i wasnt thinking you know? »
« obviously »
« ouch »
« you brought that on yourself »
« maybe but »
There wasn't anything after the "but." Iceland waited for a minute, two, then five. A follow up text wasn't coming. At least not without some provocation.
« but what »
Little did Iceland know that Hong Kong was currently trying to figure out the best way to phrase what came after 'but.' He knows what he wants to say, but if he doesn't spin it the right way, it'd make Iceland upset again. He knows that much. Perhaps it's best if he just comes out and says it. He's said more scandalous things for lesser reactions before.
« i like you »
« come again »
« i like talking to you and stuff
you're kinda snobbish and hard to talk to but
still nice »
« gee thanks »
« can i come over »
« what »
« the old man is sleeping and laying here in the dark is totally lame »
« you have your phone »
« you have lights on »
« fine whatever »
Hong Kong is up and out of bed as quickly and quietly as his reflexes allow. He makes his bed - messily, but the covers are up - slips on his shoes and is out the door with only the card key and his phone. He remembers where Iceland's room is, and makes his way up in a matter of minutes. He knocks on the door and waits, and thankfully Iceland doesn't stand him up right there and not answer. Though when he does, he doesn't look that impressed at Hong Kong's presence (although Hong Kong would note that he's never seen Iceland look impressed at anything, ever).
"If you kiss me again I'm slamming the door in your face."
"Are you always this welcoming to guests?"
"No, just you."
Normal guests don't try to ambush their hosts with kisses.
To Hong Kong's credit, he behaved as he entered the room and took off his shoes. Iceland shuffled around awkwardly, not really sure how to 'host' someone in his dinky hotel room or what his guest even wanted. Hong Kong made himself comfortable on the bed, reclining leisurely and leaving Iceland pick a spot for himself. He sits on the edge, near the end.
"So... why're you here, anyway?" He has to ask.
"To like, hang out or something. It's way too early to sleep."
"You could read."
"No books."
"Did you bring anything to do?"
"Not really. I have some stuff for the flight but it'd be rude to have them here."
Whatever that means. Iceland wasn't going to ask. "So you just came over for no reason?"
"I came to hang out. I just said that."
" Can't you hang out with anyone else?"
"I wanted to hang out with you. Y'know, you're being like, awfully prickly about it." Yet Hong Kong didn't offer to leave. Nor did he seem offended, actually, and Iceland thinks it odd how Hong Kong can say stuff like that so nonchalantly Iceland sits and fidgets with his hands, glancing over to see his guest staring at the ceiling, hands behind his head.
"I take it you don't know what to do either, yeah?"
"No..." Iceland responded, sounding a bit defeated. Not that that he ultimately cared about such a thing, but he felt like a total dolt just sitting here and not... doing anything. Was Hong Kong expecting him to? As mellow as he's being, it's hard for Iceland to get a reading off him. Not that it'd be an easy thing to do anyway, due to Iceland's lack of understanding about Hong Kong's mindset and moods, but now it was making a hard task even harder and that's frustrating!
"That's okay. We don't have to like, do anything."
"Whatever." Iceland fetches his book from the nightstand and begins to read. If Hong Kong is okay with doing nothing, fine, but that doesn't mean Iceland is.
Hong Kong ends up dozing off. He's pretty ignorable in that state, even though he's taking up Iceland's spot on the bed. Iceland is reading, and could read right through the night if he needs to. He can sleep on the plane ride home.
He re-situates himself on the floor, back against the bed, knees drawn up. He's so engrossed in his novel he doesn't realize the passage of time. Three hours passed and it only feels like one, or maybe a little less, and Iceland is determined to finish his book before he goes to bed. He typically brings a couple with him in case he finishes one too early, but for a short trip like this, he brought two and figured if that wasn't enough he could buy an extra in the airport book store. Even so, once he finishes this one, he'll be out of reading material until he's about to depart on his voyage home. And as much as he hates it, he doesn't have the money to constantly be spending it on excessive amounts of books.
Iceland is in the middle of the last chapter when Hong Kong stirs and looks around, trying to find him. He figures it out, crawls to the end of the bed, and leans over Iceland's shoulder to sneak a peak at the text. Iceland jumps and squeaks in surprise, and Hong Kong laughs.
"Whatcha readin'?"
"Leave me alone, I'm almost done."
"Whatever you say."
Hong Kong flops down on his belly to wait out the last ten minutes. Without a word, Iceland finishes his book, puts it away, and disappears into the bathroom. Hong Kong is waiting for him when he returns, chin resting on his hands while he swings his legs idly.
"Going to bed?"
"It's the middle of the night."
"So?"
Hah, that was rich, coming from a guy who just woke up. Iceland rolled his eyes. "So, yes, I'm going to bed."
"That's too bad."
"Some of us like to sleep normally." And not take naps, it was implied. Though Iceland was being a bit of a hypocrite here, but Hong Kong doesn't need to know that.
"Okay, but I just thought it'd be nice to kiss you again."
Iceland looks like he inhaled too much air and choked on it. He doesn't faint again, thankfully, but his face lights up from the blush spreading across his face, he's tongue-tied, and doesn't know what to do. So he picks up the pillow and throws it down on Hong Kong's head with as much force as he can muster. Hong Kong doesn't appear too bothered, but naturally has to make his annoying blase comments: "You could really stand to loosen up."
"Wh- what makes you think I want to k- k- kiss you?!" Controlling his voice is hard, but Iceland manages not to shout.
"It's fun. And you were bored earlier."
"That's why I was reading!" Okay, that was more shouty-er.
"You aren't now."
"I'm going to bed. Get out."
"How about a good night kiss then?"
Iceland takes the pillow and whaps Hong Kong again. Hong Kong laughs.
"Stop laughing, it's not funny!"
"See, this is like, what I meant about loosening up."
"Shut up!"
Iceland was losing it. He couldn't stop blushing and he was starting to yell for real and he was going to get in trouble and they'd see this boy in his room teasing him with that stupid devilish grin of his and oh no that'd just be too embarrassing to handle.
This is too embarrassing to handle.
Hong Kong notices this, and gets up to help Iceland calm down. He silently agrees that no one needs to hear them causing a scene. He tries to approach, but Iceland skitters away, closer to the door. Instead of mad, he looks... upset? Hong Kong is pretty sure that's what it is.
"Hey, it's okay. It was just a joke, yeah?"
"Some joke."
"Don't be like that." Hong Kong manages to corner Iceland by the door, but keeps in mind to stay back enough to give Iceland escape route options, in case he freaks out and needs to run to the other side of the room or something. However, instead of escaping, or freaking out for that matter, Iceland does the complete opposite and tries to curl up on himself, make himself seem smaller. Internally, he's in panic mode and this is just what he does to get through it, even if the defensive maneuver is pretty useless right now.
Hong Kong considers the best course of action to take. Although upon coming up with a solution, he throws all rational thought out the window and leans in
and
kisses Iceland on the cheek. Delicately, as if to not rub it in his face that he just got smooched.
"See, it's not so bad."
"Shut up."
Well, at least he sounds better. In fact, Iceland looks like he's calming down, too, and that puts Hong Kong at ease as well. To be extra safe, he takes a step back, hoping Iceland will use the space to his advantage and upright himself again, and stop looking so small and pathetic. It's not very becoming (but kind of cute, in a sad way).
Iceland relaxes and scoots away from the door, back towards the bed. Maybe if he ignores it, it'll go away.
Nope, Hong Kong follows, partially because he feels like he just should, if that could really be counted as a reason.
"Can I crash here?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because it's my bed."
"I already slept in it. And you already survived like, what, two kisses today? What's the big deal?"
Honestly, Hong Kong also felt kind of weird just thinking about leaving yet again after Iceland had some weird reaction to being kissed.
"I like my space."
"Are you going to get mad at me again?"
"About what?"
"Kissing you. You sounded mad over text. I apologized, so it's fine, right?"
"You apologized once."
"Well, I'm not apologizing for this one."
How cheeky. Iceland huffed, figuring it was going to take some work to win the argument. Work he didn't want to deal with right before bed.
"Whatever."
"So I can stay?"
"If you kiss me again I'm kicking you out."
Hong Kong rose his hand in a 'promise' gesture, then dived for the bed. There was a bit of fuss and tussling to get on their appropriate sides, and Iceland laid down rules about being a certain distance apart - not like the bed was all that big, but it made Iceland feel better - no touching, no funny business period, etc. Hong Kong basically shrugged off all the rules but offered an understanding "okay" after each, to pretend he was listening.
Lights out and under the blankets, Iceland curls up to sleep. He's on edge, expecting Hong Kong to continue his questionable behavior, but he is surprisingly good. Until Iceland falls asleep, that is. But Hong Kong doesn't do anything bad, simple curls up around Iceland, nice and snug. He touches Iceland stomach, which still feels warm and soft, even though his shirt. He can't help but smile as happy, peaceful feelings well up in his chest. They've had a rough start, but he has a good feeling about this new friend of his. His cushy, kissable, very cute friend. He'll do the proper asking later, once they're both awake and in decent moods. It might be a little out of order, doing things like this, but Hong Kong doesn't mind getting ahead of himself.
He doesn't mind going a little fast.