Note: At one point this fanfiction references my fanfiction 'Oblivious Idiots in Love'. You don't need to read it before this one in order to understand the fic, but I would recommend reading the fic if you have the time and motivation for it. However, please note the main events of this fic takes place BEFORE 'Oblivious Idiots in Love'.

.

Genre: Love, Hurt AND Comfort.

.

Sverige = Sweden, in Swedish (and the rest of the Scandinavian languages).
Sví = A nickname for Sweden based on an old Norse name and the majority of the Nordics' name for Sweden.

.

. [ Realization of Love ] .

.

Though Finland would never tell Norway this was the case, the first time Finland realized how much Sweden loved him was actually a few months before the incident where Sweden finished all of Finland's paperwork in perfect Finnish. However, Finland would never be able to tell Norway this, because… The first time Finland actually realized how much Sweden loved him, was ironically also the first time he made Sweden cry.

Looking back Finland couldn't even remember how the fight began, just that he had done all of the screaming during the mostly one-sided fight while Sweden calmly let him vent all of his frustrations. Finland hadn't even really been angry at Sweden. However, at some point Finland's anger had decided to make it personal anyway.

"And would stop glaring at me with that scary face of yours while we're fighting!? You know I'm right!"

If Finland wanted to, he could blame many things for his outburst. He was tired, work was being difficult and, and… and so many things. Something just made him snap that particular day, and yet Finland immediately regretted his words the moment they left his mouth. All of Finland's anger instantly snuffed out the moment he felt a rock of dread drop into his own stomach and he watched Sweden flinch away from him with widened eyes, as if burnt. Finland could do nothing as he witnessed Sweden's eyes fill up with hurt and fear far beyond what Finland had ever seen the other nation display before.

"I'm… My face- My face scares you?" Sweden's small voice then shakily asked Finland.

"What?" Finland said dumbly, while his brain tried to fully catch up with his mouth and realized what he just told Sweden. "No-"

"How long?"

"Sví-!"

"NO-! H-How… How long have you been afraid of me?" Sweden demanded, his voice shaking with emotion as he backed himself into a wall - away from Finland - with hurt and horror in his eyes.

"Sverige, no-! I admit I sometimes found you a bit intimidating in the beginning, but that was before I got to know you! I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have said what I did just because I was angry-"

"But that was the truth! Wasn't it? You find me and my face scary! Since the beginning-"

There was a choking noise of air as Sweden's voice pitched higher at the end of his own words, and to Finland's anguish he couldn't tell if Sweden was trying to stop himself from throwing up or letting out a sob.

"No, I USED TO!" Finland corrected, desperately trying to make things right. "Not anymore! Sví, I know you now!"

"I've been in love with you for centuries without even noticing you were afraid of me! How do I know you're telling me the truth now? How do I know you didn't spend YEARS doing things I asked you to just because you were terrified of what I would do if-!"

"NO!"

Something cracked within Finland as he listened to Sweden spit out those words as if he had just found out he was some kind of monster. It was heartbreaking to see Sweden look absolutely horrified and sick to his stomach at the very thought that Finland could possibly have done things in the past because he was afraid of what Sweden would have done in retaliation if he refused.

Unable to hear Sweden say another word Finland aggressively chose to interrupt Sweden by rushing forward to not so gently grab hold of Sweden's tie, forcing Sweden's face down to his own height.

"Listen to me closely," Finland said with steel in his voice and stared Sweden directly in the eyes, because he NEEDED Sweden to understand this.
"You have never made me feel forced to do anything. Do I make myself clear? NEVER."

Sweden's expression wobbled and tears began to spill over from his eyes.

"I refuse to deny there have been times when your leaders have been complete assholes to me and my people," Finland continued a little softer and let go of the tie to gently cup Sweden's cheeks.
"But you? Sverige, you are the kindest person I know. I TRUST you. There were times in the past when I could feel intimidated when I didn't understand what you meant or wanted, but I never truly feared you. I have never doubted your kindness or the fact that you are a good man, Sví. I wouldn't have stayed with you personally like this for as long as I have if I had been afraid of you for all these years."

Sweden's mouth opened and closed several times, with no sound coming out while his tears kept falling, but Finland still dared to give him a small lopsided smile in return.

"We have been through a lot together over the years, Sví, but I trust you. I'm not afraid of you."

"R-R'lly?"

"I promise."

Unsure of how to prove it to Sweden, but still wanting to, Finland shifted his arms as he took yet another step closer. Since Sweden was still bent forward Finland was able to lay his chin on Sweden's shoulder, rest his cheek against Sweden's own and hug him firmly. Refusing to let go while he tried to channel every ounce of love and trust for Sweden through the embrace. It felt like forever before Sweden reacted, but to Finland relief it eventually happened - and he then felt Sweden's shaky arms slowly wrap around him in return.

"Fin?"

"Mm?"

"If-" Sweden's breathed out shakily. "Fin, I k-know you promised that you're not afraid of me-"

"I'm not," Finland promised and tightened his hold of Sweden.

"Yes, but if you ever – ever… Lea- Leave. Promise me? Promise that you'll leave me if I ever do something to scare you. I don't want you to feel… I never want you to feel afraid of how I would react."

Finland couldn't help but to tense at Sweden's words. There was no way Sweden would ever be able to scare him enough to leave, especially now looking at how far they had come together. However, Finland also recognized Sweden needed the reassurement that Finland could – and would – leave him if something happened. Not that Finland believed for a moment Sweden would ever make him feel the need to leave anyway.

"I promise," Finland said, and closed his eyes as he squeezed Sweden even tighter.

Because as Finland had come to find out… The first time Finland realized how much Sweden loved him, was also the first time Finland realized just how much he loved Sweden back – and if this promise was what Sweden needed, then Finland was prepared to do it.

.

. [ The End ].

.

.

. A/N: A relationship should always be built on trust and love.

With that said it's canon in Hetalia that Finland used to be intimidated by Sweden, but also that Finland is not afraid. At least never enough to leave because of it. It's also canon it got better over the years when they got to know each other, so I suppose this fic is my attempt to address a turning point in their relationship – but also that at the time when Finland's and Sweden's relationship actually began to turn more romantic, Finland would NOT have been afraid of Sweden.

(Entering a relationship with someone you're afraid of, no matter the other's intentions, is just…No.
Don't do that. That's a horrible idea. All people in a relationship deserve to feel loved and SAFE.)

.

I also want to make it clear that Finland is not at fault here. You can't help who you feel/have felt intimidated by, just as little as you can help how you look. At the end of the day Sweden's and Finland's case was just an unfortunate situation.

.

History note: As Finland briefly mentioned in the fic, Swedish leaders haven't always been kind to the Finnish people throughout history. However, it's also important to note that I don't believe Sweden, the person in Hetalia, would ever do anything to hurt Finland. He loves Finland too much to ever dream of it – which is also why I think it would hurt him even more to believe Finland was/is afraid of him personally.

.