Lithuania and Estonia were both over; the one made dinner while the other "fixed" his computer. (At the current rate of curses and promises that the new problems would soon be fixed, he doubted that it'd be usable in an hour, let alone improved.) When asked what they were doing about their responsibilities at home, Estonia had explained that he'd put Finland in charge, and Lithuania could only barely conceal his joy at Poland's assumption of authority. They both had others in their lives they could fall back on, which was wonderful. He was happy for them both; he really was.
That said, Latvia sincerely wished that they would leave him alone.
"Estonia?" he called, as casually as he could. Estonia muttered something about BSD and "obnoxious distractions" before remembering to whom he was speaking. He swiveled around in Latvia's newly raised office chair.
"Sorry, forgot where I was for a second. What's up?"
'Where you were? What, exactly, does that mean?' "How's it going?"
"Well, um, I got the SSH – " Latvia's eyes abruptly glazed over " – It's going alright. I'm just a little… behind, because of some minor problems that your computer's developed. It'll be fine, though. I just need to get another computer on the network. Say, your laptop wouldn't happen to – "
"Absolutely not. I need that for work."
"Fine, fine." He raised his hands defensively. "Just trying to be helpful. I might have to get some more equipment from my house, though, if you don't mind."
With an effort, Latvia suppressed the urge to demand that he leave.
"That'd be fine," he said aloud. "By the way, how long are you expecting this to take, approximately?"
"God, I don't know." He turned back to the computer, his expression both curious and concerned. "I'm not sure exactly what happened, which could add a couple of hours, and there's that new part, and – "
"Just give me the total."
"Um… Another day or two? Maybe?"
'I'm never getting rid of them.' "What about Lithuania? Any clue how long he's staying?"
"How should I know? He's here on his own."
'Sure he is. Do you even expect me to believe you?' "Oh." He shrugged. "I just thought that since you're always talking, and you came in the same car, you might've talked about it."
"No, we didn't. It's not a bad idea, though," he added quickly. 'Don't antagonize him, don't patronize him. Lithuania was very clear about that.' "It'd make sense if we talked about it. Really, we just listened to music on the way over, and we only talk about small stuff."
"Of course." 'How stupid does he think I am?' "So how are things going with Finland, anyway?"
"Huh? Oh, they're good. Really good, actually. Sweden's noticed, and he's very relaxed these days. Well, relaxed for Sweden. You know how he is."
"That I do." He allowed himself a small smirk. 'Don't let him think you approve, or he'll never leave.' The smile disappeared. When he spoke again, his voice was cold and distant.
"And Poland? Have you seen him recently?"
"Yes. He's… calm, which is weird. But he seems happy, too, so who am I to argue? Now, um, I think I should get back to the computer, if you don't mind."
"Not at all. Wouldn't want you staying all week, would we?" The tone was friendlier, but it didn't have to be harsh to make his point.
"Of course. I'll be gone before you know it." With that, he returned to his work.
Latvia kept watching him, picturing a small scorched spot in the part of Estonia's neck at which he stared. 'Get up and leave. Get up and leave. Realize that I'm staring at you and leave… He's awfully focused on that computer. How long's it been since he's been out to buy groceries? Good thing he's living with Finland, or he'd starve.
'That said, it'd be nice if he'd leave. They can't stop treating me like a child, even now! Especially now. I made one little mistake, one, and they're acting as though I planned to kill myself. I never should've called Lithuania for advice. He talks and worried too much. What was I thinking?' He rubbed his shoulder pensively for a second before catching himself. Thankfully, Estonia was again absorbed in his word of backslashes and pointers.
'It's probably because I used to go to him about stuff when we lived at Russia's house… It might be why he can't stop thinking of me as someone who needs protecting. Maybe if I quit running to him, he'll learn to treat me as an adult.
'Of course, that won't make me any bigger. For that, I'm going to need some territory, not to mention some money. What was that deal Switzerland was talking about the other day? It sounded wonderful…
'Of course, if I start trying to get rid of them properly, they'll act as though I'm "pushing them away" or something. That's what happened with Austria, after all. Then again, it just got worse when he conceded. Maybe I should just play it safe for now: cool and neutral. I don't want them to stay, but I'm not going to force them to go. Besides, it's not as though they're staying the night. Unlike Germany and Prussia, they don't have any grounds to demand that of me (thank God).'
"Dinner's ready!" Lithuania called. A moment later, he poked his head out of the kitchen to make sure they'd heard. (These days, he couldn't stand the thought of being too quiet.)
Estonia clearly hadn't, and Latvia had to loudly clear his throat to get him to look up. Lithuania crossed his arms in the half-worried, half-parental way he always had at Russia's.
"Estonia, did you hear me?"
"Um… was it about food?"
'You are going to be cool and reserved. You will not smile. You will not relax. You will not, repeat not, laugh at this, no matter how ridiculous it gets.'
"Yes. Dinner's ready."
"Oh, wonderful. I suppose we'd better get going soon, then?"
"As soon as the meal's over," Latvia cut in, not allowing Lithuania to set a time. "I have some work I need to get to, and I can't do it with guests. It'd be rude."
He paused for a minute, letting the irony of "rude" sink in. When he continued, he was deliberately bright and relaxed.
"Now, what's for dinner?"
"Oh, I made putra. You like it, as I recall."
"Of course." His smile softened into something more genuine. "Thank you for remembering." 'No, stay hard, stay ice cold. If you don't, they'll be here all week.' He quickly returned to a scowl, but Lithuania had already disappeared back into the kitchen.
Estonia was staring at Latvia's monitor out of the corner of his eye, clearly wondering if he could get away with another few minutes without being sucked in. With a scarcely audible sigh, he turned back to his host.
"It's nice to see you again, you know," he ventured.
"Yes, it is," came the wooden reply. They both recognized the disinterested, vaguely subservient tone.
"We, ah, never seem to see each other any more, you know. I mean, there are the therapy sessions, but those don't really count."
"No, they don't."
Encouraged by the reply, Estonia went on, gesticulating for emphasis. "I mean, we used to be so close, and now it seems as though we never get together. I'd understand if it meant that we only got to know each other so well because of… being together, but I'd rather think that we had something in common. Perhaps we should hang out more. I mean, find out if there's anything… Anything at all, really." 'Anything except the memories.'
"Have you talked about this with Lithuania?"
"… No. I thought I'd run it by you first."
"Why?"
"You're more honest. You'd tell me if it was a terrible idea. He'd agree whether he wanted to or not." He waited, watching as Lithuania carried the first of three bowls into the room. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"What do you think?"
"I think it makes sense." He was surprised at his own answer. 'That's what I get for talking without thinking.' He considered saying something else, mitigating or taking it back, but before he could, Lithuania came in again balancing a bowl, a glass, and a spoon in each hand.
"It's on the table," he called.
"Right," Latvia replied mechanically. Without looking at one another, he and Estonia rose to go to dinner.
"I never understood why you liked these small meals," Estonia commented, more for Lithuania's benefit than theirs. "It must be difficult to eat lightly after a long day."
"I didn't have a long day. I stayed here with you, remember."
"I know. I meant before." 'With Russia, when you were running around constantly sweeping, cleaning, and running errands.'
"I just didn't get hungry much." He shrugged. "Sometimes that happens. It's a personal reaction." He glanced over at their audience, and it was only by quickly turning back to Estonia that he avoided a startled jump.
For the first time all day, Lithuania was openly staring at him. More accurately, he was staring at the small spot on Latvia's shirt over his shoulder, about the size of a 50 kopek piece.
