DenNor.

Prompt: "Will you ever understand? I did it because I love you!"

Note: Set sometime after the Treaty of Kiel.

It was strange, to finally be given the chance to see the one who still tormented his thoughts, a scenario that he had endlessly played through many times, but he had never expected it to be quite like this. When they hadn't spoken in years, years that he hadn't bothered to count, Denmark's endless letters used to stoke the fire, their unread words easier to bear than what reading them would take.

Norway had returned to his room from an exhausting, boring meeting, one where he knew he and his country was only given the pretense of having any control, any importance, fully expecting to collapse into bed, only to find a drunk Dane waiting for him, already speaking to him before he even had the chance to shut the door.

Even now, he's wondering why it took him this long to break down. But apparently a bottle of vodka, empty now yet still clutched in his hand, was enough to drive him over the edge and to him, and he doesn't dare ask how he got past the guards; though he vaguely suspects that there may have been violence involved, judging from the bloody cuts and scrapes on his knuckles, and he's already dreading the Swede's words once he finds out that Denmark had attacked his men. If there was any way to explain how he got through the window, still open and bringing in drifts of freezing air, well… The Dane had a way with climbing trees, a thought that takes him back to a time that he simply thinks of as 'before', when they were still young. Together.

But he's never been able to stop him from doing what he wants, and ignoring him hadn't worked out.

"Let me explain."

The desperation in Denmark's voice tugs at the part of him that is still soft with hope, that wants to listen and be comforted, the part of him that is hopelessly, inexplicably intertwined with him.

But the part of him that remembers everything, in his heart and in his mind, keeping him awake at night, is stronger.

"You can't explain betrayal."

"You never listen, do you? Will you ever understand? I did it because I love you!"

He shakes his head, the indignation present in Denmark's voice igniting his own, allowing him to ignore any pull the words have on his heart, and he bites back.

"What is there to listen to, except for your drunken lies? My country was signed away, like a cheap prostitute, and you didn't even waste your breath with warning me beforehand, and you're wasting it now. You should leave. Before I call the guards."

"You wouldn't."

But the stoniness in Norway's eyes assures him that he would, if pushed to it. But he's come this far, and he is not giving up as easily as Norway would hope; going as far as begging on his knees. Pathetic.

"Please, just… Please. I'm begging you to listen. If there was ever a part of me that didn't try as hard as I fucking could, to fight, to change what happened, then hate me, as much as you need to. But goddammit, did I try. I just want the chance to explain. I just want to see you."

"Well? Has this changed anything yet? Lessened your guilt? Because this has not helped me. Not at all."

"I'm sorry. I tried to talk to you, for years, but you never answered my letters."

"There was nothing more that you could say."

"Really? Did you even bother reading them?"

The truth in Denmark's words sends the ache of guilt coursing through him.

"No, I didn't. But the time for that was already over. It wouldn't have fixed anything. Any of this."

"Maybe not. But do you know how that feels? To be ignored? What happened, hurt. All of us. And don't forget Islánd. Or have you already?"

"Don't you dare bring him up. You know that I would be with him, right now, if there were any way I could."

"Why not?"

"Need I remind you that it was your government that negotiated him into remaining in your possession? He wouldn't have understood why I had to leave. Even if I had tried to explain it."

"I couldn't have stopped them, Nor. I've taken care of him, just like when we were together. I can tell you, all about him and how he's doing, if you just let me stay. And when I leave, I can tell him that you're okay, and not feel like I'm lying through my teeth." His voice softens. "He misses you."

Norway searches his face, trying to find a reason to say no, to prevent this. He know he's being bribed, but he is just tired. Tired of the anger, the frustration of trying to hate someone he loves because of the hurt that he can bring.

And he wants to hear about him.

"Fine. You have the night, however long it may be. To say your peace. To make me understand, why I still care. If I even should." Reaching behind him, he flicks the lock on the door. It wouldn't help if they knew Denmark was in here, but he suspected that the Swede still had a heart hidden somewhere.

It's clear that Denmark had expected much worse, and much less time; the relief on his face is palpable.

"Thank you-"

"Don't make me regret this already, you insufferable Dane."

It was surprisingly easy. It felt natural, to talk with him, finally falling silent when it was late and there was not any more words left to say, except for the ones that mattered most. It was easy to give in to the past, letting him hold him in his arms, and it was easy to pretend that it would last longer than one night.

Until the morning comes, the only thing left to remember that he was even there being a letter, left by the Dane; yet it was obviously in the messy script of a child. Iceland.

Needless to say, he didn't burn it.