Now we're kinda getting into the start of something.
"Oh," England said upon entering the kitchen and finding Russia there, leaning back against the island counter with his phone pressed to his ear. She took a step back. "I'm sorry."
He held up his hand, motioning for her to wait. She clasped her hands behind her back and bit her lip as she waited for him to finish his call. When he hung up and looked towards her, she said, "I was just going to see if I could make tea."
"I think I have an electric kettle somewhere. I'm not sure if I have tea bags though," he said, tucking his phone into his pocket and moving away from the counter.
"You don't have any tea?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't drink it very often so I don't get it very often," he explained, beginning to search through cupboards.
"We'll have to fix that. I'll make a list of teas to get,"
"A whole list?" he asked as he shut another cabinet door.
"Yes, I like having a little variety,"
"Well, I have earl grey," he said, pulling out a battered box and holding it up for her to see.
"And the kettle?"
"I think it's downstairs. Wait here," he said, brushing past her.
She sighed and strode over to check the box of tea. She frowned, even if it did seem to be useable. She had thought he drank tea more frequently than that. Still, she waited for him to return for only a few minutes. He even rinsed out the kettle and filled it for her. "Thank you," she told him, forcing herself to smile.
"You're welcome. I'll go grocery shopping, and if you make a list I'll get the teas for you. I'm going to make dinner soon, too."
"Alright, do you want any tea?" she asked as she began to heat the water.
"No, I'm fine,"
"Ok then,"
She tried to ignore him as she finished making her tea, looking over her shoulder every so often only to see him focused on his phone. As soon as she'd finished, he started making dinner, and she scurried out of the kitchen. She ended up returning to the office Russia had given her to work in, mug clutched tightly in her hands. She sat there in the stiff office chair, comparing the tea and the mug to her much tastier tea back home and more easily held cup. Frustrated, she tried to will away the thoughts of homesickness she shouldn't have after all of her experiences abroad. She hadn't even been gone long. She took deep breaths, taking in the scent of the tea and enjoying the warmth in her hands.
Eventually, she did have to go down and share an awkward dinner with Russia. She retreated back to her office immediately after. This time she did so without the company of her tea. She attempted to entertain herself with her laptop, but she ran out of interest and energy. Keeping aware and tense drained her considerably. She just couldn't get comfortable, and it made adjusting to the move difficult.
She shut down her laptop and moved into Russia's bedroom. She changed quickly into her pajamas and pulled off the jewelry she wouldn't wear to bed. Afterwards, she went to the hall bath to finish readying for bed. She left the bathroom to find Russia entering the hall.
"You're going to bed already?" he asked.
"I don't have anything to do, and I'm a little tired," she answered with a shrug.
He looked away then turned back to her. "Are you alright, being here?"
She tilted her head, debating on how much truth to tell. "It could be better, yeah."
"Is there anything that would make it better?"
"Not really, it's mostly a matter of sleep," she shook her head. "It doesn't have anything to do with you. I don't really like sleeping in a bed with another person, and I'm definitely not used to it."
Another part she wouldn't tell him was that his mattress felt horrendously hard. Her mattress was soft in a comfortably worn way, and it was just too great a difference. Still, she wasn't about to try mattress shopping with Russia.
"You must sleep lighter than me," he said, running his hand through his hair. "I haven't minded."
"It's your bed, too."
"Fair point," he said with a nod and a weak attempt at a nice smile. "So there's nothing I can do to help."
"Stick to your side of the bed a little more," she said, speaking more sharply than she intended.
He looked surprised for a second. "I don't know how to help that. Maybe we can try different sleeping arrangements."
"What, like switching sides of the bed?" she asked, leaning her weight back onto one foot and crossing her arms.
"No, I meant," he paused, glancing away then looking back at her. "In relation to each other."
She narrowed her eyes. "Are you suggesting sleeping like an actual couple?"
"I suppose, yes."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm not ready for that at all. I'll deal. Goodnight."
"Okay," he said, looking away again. "Goodnight."
She walked back to the bedroom and climbed into the bed. She did her best to find a comfortable position and waited for sleep to arrive. It took some time, but she fell asleep before Russia joined her. She woke at some point in the middle of the night with his hand pressed up against her back. She pushed herself up into a half sitting position and came very close to smacking him. Instead, she picked up his hand and did her best to drop it over the general area of his chest. Russia responded by starting awake and mumbling something in Russian. "England?" he asked. "What is it?"
"Can't sleep," she groused, dropping her fist onto her pillow. She sighed and flopped back down, curling up and pulling the sheet over herself.
"Sorry, there's nothing I can do to help?"
"I don't think so," she said tiredly.
"Well, try to relax," he murmured, reaching out and placing a hand on her waist.
She pressed her fingers to her forehead. "Was that meant to help?"
He didn't respond immediately and she rolled her eyes, willing to try anything to sleep easier. She did actually remember the last time she'd slept in a strange bed with someone else, and she'd done it with their bodies pressed together. "If you're going to do it at all, do it properly," she said, tugging his hand forward so that his arm fell over her waist.
"Okay," he said, shifting positions behind her.
She surprised herself by feeling better with him touching her, knowing where he was and maybe even feeling a little grounded; a little normal. He relaxed quickly, tucking his hand comfortably against her. She took a deep breath, reminded herself that she could sleep with Russia at her back, and fell asleep. She woke in the morning alone.
He didn't mention how she'd pulled him over to her when they saw each other next at dinner. She couldn't bring herself to mention it. Of course, she tried falling asleep before he joined her in bed again, but this time it didn't work. "Still awake?" he asked as he climbed in beside her.
"Obviously, did you want something?"
"No, just checking," he said, putting his arm over her waist again without even attempting to stay on his side first.
"You're really alright with doing this?" she asked, refusing to turn around and face him.
"If it helps," he said, shrugging. "Does it?"
"I don't know yet,"
"Well, we can try it out then,"
She gave up and rolled over to face him, grateful for the darkness. "You're being awfully nice about all this. Usually you just come off even more stubborn than America and try to do whatever you want."
"I don't want to…you call it starting off on the wrong foot, don't you?"
"Yes,"
"I don't want to do that. We're going to have a very long time to spend together,"
She squinted, trying to discern anything from his facial expression. All she saw were his closed eyes. "I guess that's sweet of you, or maybe just well planned."
"There's no point in doing otherwise. We'd just end up miserable, and that was not my intention," he said, opening his eyes to look at her.
"That's true enough, thank you, I guess, for trying to make it easier anyways."
"You're welcome, sleep well," he told her, closing his eyes again.
"If only," she said with a sigh, turning from him.
"It'll get better," he assured her. He began to brush his thumb gently against her, and she could feel her cheeks heat. She tucked her face against her pillow and said nothing.
She woke alone again in the morning, but she felt better. She could almost smell herself on her pillow, and she took a moment to breathe deep and smile.
It took a little over a week, but one morning she did wake to find Russia still in bed with her. She had tucked herself against him and he still had an arm over her waist. "Are you late?" she asked quietly, wondering what the protocol was now.
"No, I'm on time. I've been going in early."
"Why?"
"I thought it would be easier."
"Good morning, then,"
He chuckled. "Good morning."
He got out of bed, and England sat up shortly after. She caught her reflection in the mirror and paused. She tried not to think about how she felt comfortable with seeing herself in Russia's bed. She definitely didn't think that maybe she'd eventually be comfortable seeing herself with Russia in that mirror.
I definitely think it's better than before. Hope you enjoyed, and please review!
