Ugh, I'm terrible at writing... date... things. I don't own Hetalia.
Canada stood in the doorframe, a somewhat nervous expression on his face as to what Vietnam would think of his outfit. Wow was all she thought.
A red coat and pants fit snugly off his frame as though tailored (Matthew didn't know how Thailand measured him and he doubted he wanted to) with golden buttons done up along the jackets length. A white shirt was visible through the V shaped cut at the head of the coat and a tie bearing a Canadian flag was tucked playfully behind the jacket. His glasses shone like the sun while he gave a nervous smile to Vietnam.
To be honest, Canada thought the colours a bit much but, sadly his options had been limited in the whole affair. He gave a slight shiver at the memory.
"Ana- but Matthew, red and white are really your colors, even Taiwan would say so."
"Maybe, but it looks kind of... showy in more formal clothes doesn't it?"
"Ana- that's ok, you could wear these instead."
"...I don't think that those orange robes would look very good to wear to a dinner."
"Ana- of course not, first we would have to shave you head to finish the ensemble, now hold still."
Suffice to say Matthew was somewhat apprehensive about his current appearance, not to mention a little traumatised. He had escaped by vaulting over a railing while spewing apologies and affirming that he would wear the red and white outfit. On the upside, Thailand had complimented him on his agility and how it had taken him a full twenty minutes to catch him.
"D-does it l-look that bad?" Matthew asked quietly. Vietnam started, realizing she had been staring at the other nation long enough to make him uncomfortable.
"You look fine." Vietnam said in deliberate casualness. She turned quickly and started leading the way towards the door to hide her blush, listening to his soft footfalls following behind her. Opening the door she walked towards her car pausing when she heard his footsteps stop following her. Turning, she observed with mild concern Matthews white face as he stared at her car.
"Something wrong?" She asked curiously as Matthew continued to stare with a glazed look over his eyes and an expression of... horror? On his face.
"Ah, no. It was nothing." Matthew said as he shook his head slightly. Smiling, though still looking wary, he continued to follow her to the car, sitting in the passenger seat.
The drive was uneventful, aside from Matthew flinching when the car started or whenever they approached a sharp corner. Vietnam had to admit, that was strange but who was she to judge. When they finally did arrive at the restaurant that she chose, she couldn't help but feel apprehensive. It had been a long time since she had gone to dinner with someone other than her siblings, and frankly she felt a tad rusty at the whole scene.
As she parked and exited the car, she noticed that Matthew seemed to lean forward in his seat when they stopped, almost as though he expected the car to be jarred when they braked. Must be a Canadian thing she decided idly as she walked over to where he was standing near the front of the restaurant.
"S-so, lets get started e-eh." Matthew said with another nervous grin. Vietnam gave him an encouraging smile, which was the right one right? She mostly used threatening and annoyed expressions but neither of those seemed appropriate.
"Sure." She said casually, smiling slightly at his awkwardness. At least she wasn't alone in that regard. Matthew took a deep breath and gave her the most genuine smile she had seen yet, causing her heart to skip a beat, and led them inside.
()()()
"So how do I eat with these?" Matthew asked in confusion, the leaf of lettuce in his hand being on the receiving end of his extremely intrigued gaze. Vietnam gave him a patient smile and showed him how to scoop the food onto the leaf.
"Like this," she said, holding Canada's hand and guiding him as he attempted to scoop the food, ignoring the flush that lit up his face at their closeness. Vietnam smiled slightly as he scooped the food, still blushing until she released his hand. They were both eating Cơm gà rau thơm, or Vietnamese mint chicken rice. Of course, Matthew had had no idea what anything on the menu had been, and so was operating under his companions (dates) advice. It was going very well, Vietnam had to say, until Canada's face suddenly and without warning became extremely red.
Sadly, what she failed to realize preceding the event was that Matthew was most definitely not used to the strong spicy dressings used in his meal, especially in the amount that he had eaten. Vietnam began wondering what was wrong when his face turned an even brighter red than usual, and what appeared to be sweat began to bead his brow. Was she really making him that nervous? Maybe she was being too forward.
"I-I have to g-go for a minute excuse me." Matthew said breathlessly, rising from his chair with an awkward bow and making his way away from their table while his face seemed to turn an even brighter shade of red. Great, he wasn't really getting used to her at all. Vietnam sighed and rubbed her temple as she considered what she may have done wrong; maybe the setting was too formal? Then again, maybe she was being too formal? Taiwan's advice came back to mind. Be herself when around him. Now that she really thought about it, this wasn't her was it?
Matthew leaned against the wall near a large potted plant, hidden from Vietnams view, glancing around for something to cool his burning mouth; he spotted a proffered glass of water and grabbed it, gulping it down quickly. Sighing in relief, he slumped his shoulders a bit in disappointment with himself for being unable to handle the spicy food.
"I'm so bad at these things." He said morosely to no one in particular, examining the glass and wondering where it had come from.
"Ana- I thought it was going well."
"Gah!" Matthew jumped and screamed slightly as the potted plant talked to him. "What the, Thailand?" Matthew asked incredulously, his sharp eyes picking out the slight differences within the plants normal contours and a pair of square glasses. Well that explained the magical appearance of the glass of water at least. "Why are you painted in camouflage?"
"Ana- well, hiding behind a fake moustache or a newspaper at one of the tables would be cliché." Canada honestly had nothing to say to the strange logic presented to him.
"R-right anyway, how did you know where we were?" Thailand grinned (Matthew thought, damn paint made it hard to see) his smile taking a mischievous turn.
"Ana- I followed your car, you two drive really slowly by the way." Matthew was surprised, not that he was followed by the eccentric nation but rather that he had done so and not rammed them in an attempt to make them go faster.
"When did you put the paint on, you dived out the hole the minute Vietnam knocked on the door?" Canada asked curiously, though he wondered what it said about his character that he was becoming less shocked by the man before him. Nothing good most likely.
"Ana- on the way here." Thailand said happily. Of course he did, when better after all to apply jungle camouflage then while driving? Still, Matthew felt obligated to say something.
"A-are you sure that's s-safe? I mean, doing that while you're driving." Thailand gave him a confused look, though still smiling.
"Ana- I didn't drive."
"You didn't? Then ho- wait, did you ride the elephant here?" Thailand's sly smile was all the answer he needed. Matthew suddenly felt a very strong urge to return to the somewhat less awkward table he had previously vacated.
"Um, I should get back." Matthew said uneasily, pointing to the general direction of his and Vietnams table. Thailand gave him an encouraging nod and slipped back into the plant. With a last nervous glance at the foliage hiding his eccentric friend, Matthew made his way back to his table.
Vietnam watched as Matthew took his seat again with his characteristic nervous smile; though for some strange reason he kept shooting glances at a potted plant. Be yourself, she reminded herself, but then again... the original point here was to get to know him so maybe she should start with that.
"So Matthew," Vietnam began, catching the northern nation's attention as his eyes snapped over to her, "why don't you tell me about yourself. Be honest, I'll know if you're lying." She said pleasantly, trying to lighten the mood with a joke at the end. Sadly, it sounded like a very tell me or I will hurt you pleasant and the joke didn't really help matters, at all.
"Um, well I, w-what would you like to know?" He asked with shot nerves. Vietnam frowned slightly, she wanted him to take some initiative with this, and it wasn't like she was interrogating him.
"Anything, what makes you tick?" She said with a bit of exasperation lacing her voice. Matthew immediately thought of vital organs, but realised she likely knew about those anyway so probably meant psychological rather than physiological. He wasn't sure if that was better or worse.
"Oh, w-well, I like nature I suppose, I'm easily forgettable and invisible though some people do recognize m-."
"Mattie, I tought it vas hyu." Both nations at the table froze at the confident voice, turning their heads slowly to regard the individual who spoke. A bleached white skinned man was walking toward them, silver hair sat atop his head as well as small yellow bird and blood red eyes peered curiously at the two at the table while a cocky grin plastered itself on his face. As for the two nations at the table, Matthews jaw had dropped in surprise and his eyes wide while Vietnams were narrowed in distrust and irritation.
"G-Gilbert!" Vietnam glanced back to Canada, surprise written on her face at the fact that he knew the Prussians human name and the possible implications of that knowledge, "what are you doing here?"
"Indeed," Vietnam said icily before Prussia could answer, "what are you doing here?" Prussia glanced at Vietnam before giving another cocky grin to the two.
"Vell, my awesomeness needed a drink, bad, so I vent out to find one. Of course, most of the bars around here can't handle my awesome self anymore so, here I am." At the last pronouncement, the Prussian threw his arms open wide as though he were welcoming the world to bask in his glory. "Then, I saw little Matthew here sitting at the table and had to grant him the awesome presence that is Prussia."
"T-that's nice, oh I'm sorry, have you met Vietnam?" Matthew asked, directing his hand to the woman seated across from him. Prussia glanced at her and frowned a bit as he assessed her, Vietnam doing the same thing to him.
"Hi, vhatever. Anyvay, Mattie, I need a drinking buddy, vhat do you say?" Matthew blushed at the last part and let out a small squeak as Prussia wrapped an arm around the smaller mans shoulder, pulling him up to his feet. Vietnam narrowed her eyes even further at that, feeling sudden anger boil up from within her at the brash mans impertinence, right when she was getting somewhere too.
"W-well Gil, I am kinda h-here with Vietnam a-and it would be rude to just l-leave." Matthew said uncomfortably as he attempted to convince the German to release him from the death grip.
"Come on," Prussia whined, "it's no fun to drink alone and hyu get hilarious after a few." He teased. Matthew blushed even harder and Vietnam quirked an eyebrow, interesting. Sadly, any interest she might have had for that tidbit was chased away as Prussia started dragging the flustered Canadian towards the bar.
"Hey!" She barked harshly, rising quickly and clamping her hand on the albino's arm encircling Canada and holding them there. "Where do you think your taking him?" Prussia looked at her curiously.
"To get a drink obviously." Prussia said, glaring at her hand then her in an intimidating manner. "Got a problem vith it?" Vietnam narrowed her eyes, rising to the challenge much to the Prussians surprise.
"Yes I do as a matter of fact." Vietnam said dangerously, fire dancing in her eyes. Gilberts own red eyes narrowed but he still smiled at the thrill of danger.
"Vell, maybe hyu vould like to join us." He said in amusement, mussing Matthews hair with his hand playfully. Vietnam gasped in shock (a similar sound coming from a nearby plant but it was ignored) before slugging him in the arm, hard.
"Ow!" Prussia yelped in surprise, removing his arm from around the now very confused and embarrassed Canadian. "Vhat the hell." He added angrily, rubbing the assaulted area with his hand.
"That was very disrespectful." Vietnam admonished with clenched fists and her jaw taut with anger. "If we weren't in a restaurant I would beat you to a bloody pulp for that."
"Fine, let's go outside then. And don't dink I von't hit a girl." Gilbert shot back as he flexed his fists. He very likely shouldn't have said that but it was too late now.
"Oh, I am going to enjoy this." Vietnam said as the two marched out the doors, leaving Matthew standing alone and very confused. Collapsing in his chair he stared at his food as though the pieces of rice would line up and offer him an answer to explain the whole situation.
"What just happened?" He asked his meal, who decided not to answer.
"Ana- Prussia and Vietnam went outside for a fist fight."
"Gah!" Matthew started, ripping his gaze from the food to look in shock at the green painted man in glasses sitting across from him in Vietnam's chair, the potted plant dragged beside the chair to sit idly there. "Stop doing that." Thailand looked at him curiously.
"Ana- doing what?" Matthew was about to explain but instead sighed and decided to give up; it was a fight that could not be won.
"Never mind, what happened there, Vietnam just flipped out?" Thailand gave him an appraising look before nodding in understanding.
"Ana- of course, you wouldn't know. Touching someone's head is a rather big thing here, so when he did that it was rather disrespectful." Matthew cocked his head in thought then nodded in understanding to the man before him, glancing out one of the restaurants many windows lining the walls in worry.
"Are they going to be ok?" Thailand gave him a reassuring smile as Matthew turned back to him.
"Ana- Vietnam will be fine." Matthew gulped a little at that, noticing how he had failed to mention the Prussian.
Smash. Turning back to the windows, they observed the albino come flying through one in a rain of glass and curses. Said German soon stood, brushed himself off and set out through the front doors again after grabbing an empty chair to take with him.
"Ana- She is really mad." Thailand said offhandedly as he watched the Albino exit, muffled crashes sounding from outside, corresponding with when the albino left for the outside. "She must really like you."Matthew coughed a little in embarrassment and looked away while Thailand eyed him appraisingly, smiling to himself as he watched the other nation blush lightly.
The noises continued for a time, around ten minutes, before stopping abruptly. Matthew looked towards the broken window in an attempt to discern what had happened.
"Well that was refreshing." Vietnam's voice came from the door. Canada snapped his eyes over to the chair opposite him in a panic, only to see it empty of his friend, though the plant was still situated beside him. Vietnam strode over to the seat opposite and glanced curiously at said flora, but said nothing as they continued their meal in an oddly comfortable silence
()()()
Matthew waited for Vietnam to open the door to her home and slipped in behind her. They both stood in the living room facing each other, their rooms down opposing halls, nervously standing and waiting for the other to make the first move. Oddly enough, Matthew did so.
"I, I had a really nice time." He said awkwardly, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
"Yeah, me too." They both lapsed into another uncomfortable silence.
"I-I really hope we can do something like that again sometimes except, you know, maybe less brawls." He gave a nervous laugh at the end, brightening when Vietnam smiled lightly back, glad to have made a good impression on their date. That was right, she was finally willing to admit that that had been what the outing had been.
"No promises." They both shared a genuine laugh before wishing each other a good night and leaving for their rooms, satisfied with how the day had turned out. Once in her room and the euphoria from her happiness faded did she realize the implication that Prussia seeing them there would have.
"Oh damn."
()()()
Prussia made his way out of the restaurant, holding a borrowed tissue to his nose to staunch the blood leaking from it profusely. He was smiling though, it had been awhile since he had been in a real fight.
"Damn, she could throw a punch." He chuckled as he made his way to where he had parked his rented car. Taking out the keys he prepared to unlock the door, when he noticed the lock was no longer where it had been; rather it was several feet lower than it had been when he parked it.
"Mein car!" He shouted, staring at the crushed mass of metal and glass with two large round footprints imbedded in the crushed roof. "Mein Gott, vas it run over by a herd of elephants?" His incredulous comment was right, to a point, as there had only been one irate pachyderm involved. Prussia suddenly groaned again.
"My deposit."
Well, there it is. So... good? Bad? Tell me what you thought. Sorry if I butchered the accent. Read and Review, it makes the world smile, or with Hong Kong and Egypt their lips twitch slightly.