Chapter 9

~Year 1939

I should help him. I really should, but I can't. I don't have enough men or strength to oppose Ivan. But seeing Fin fighting, no matter the circumstances, makes me feel disappointed in myself. I should help him. But maybe 5000 men could make a difference.

If you don't understand what I mean, I can tell you. It's the winter war. Fin is giving it all he has, but it's still not enough. He needs help, but if I start helping him, Ivan will notice it and start attacking me instead. If he does that, everyone who's taking refuge at my place, will be in grave danger. Seeing that it's a world war, my place could become a battlefield, just like that.

So I've started giving Fin help, very discreetly. Sending men who volunteers, a few planes, some weapons and other useful stuff. I know it's not that much help, but it's something. At least, I'm trying to help. All in all, there's about 5000 of my men who're fighting with Fin.

I want to tell him that he's not alone, that I'm here if he need me, but stubborn as he is, he'll never want me to help him completely.

Currently I'm standing in my kitchen, making some köttbullar*. The smell of meat fills the house, and can swear that Stockholm will show up sooner or later. She always shows up when I cook. It's like some sort instinct.

I place the food on a plate to let it cool, and then head out to get the mail. I see that there's some sort of letter in my mailbox, so I take it with me - it's the only thing in the box - and head back into the kitchen. I tear it open and start reading.

Moi moi, Su-san!

Maybe you're wondering why I'm writing to you in times like this, but I have a reason. First I want to thank you for your help. I'm really grateful.

Second, maybe you've been wondering all these years why I call you Su-san. It's because your name, Sweden, is kinda hard for me to pronounce, hence the Su. When I first thought about calling you Su, it struck me hard. It sounds so empty and plain, that you'd probably be annoyed by it. Nowadays I know you'd never get annoyed, but I didn't know you that well, so I got really scared. Then I remembered that somewhere in Asia, they added -san to people's names, as a way of saying Mister. So I kinda borrowed it, and got Su-san.

Thirdly, I never told you my human name, did I? It's Tino. Tino Väinämöinen.

Once again, thank you for your help! Hope we see each other soon!

/Tino

I notice now that the paper is wet. Not wet like it's been left in the rain, but wet like someone cried whilst reading it. I look myself in the knife next to me, and true enough, I can see some tears running down my cheeks. I never really show my feelings in front of others, but there's something about Fin - no, Tino - that makes me want to scream everything I think about, out loud.

"Hallå*, Sverige! I brought some kanelbullar*! And - hey, wait! Are you crying?" Stockholm says, making me aware of her presence. I wonder why, but her voice makes me feel a bit better. Not that I was sad or something.

"Are you even listening, Sverige?"

XxXxX

Hello everyone! What did you think of this chapter?

By the way, quick info. Stockholm's name comes from Klaragatan, a road in Stockholm, and Andersson is the most common last name in Sweden. Forgot to tell you that last chapter. Oops!

Köttbullar = meatballs

Hallå = hello

Kanelbullar = cinnamon rolls

I'm thinking of getting some sort of cover for this fanfiction! Any tips?

Thanks for reading! ( ^ω^ )