Chapter Six
We're leaving here tonight
It was late when Iceland tiptoed downstairs. Norway had spent the night and Iceland was forced to lay awake in bed and wait for him to fall asleep before slipping out from under the covers and sneaking downstairs.
Stepping down onto the bottom landing, Iceland freezes, caught by surprise by the unexpected light streaming from the kitchen. He thought for a moment before concluding that, yes, he had turned it off before going to bed.
Inching closer to the doorway, he knew that unless his house had been broken into, there was only one person that could have turned on the light.
Rounding the corner, he was proven correct in his suspicions and sighed as he found Norway sitting at the small table, sipping from a steaming drink while flipping through a book idly.
"I thought you were asleep," Iceland said from the doorway. Only after he said it did he realize how stupid it sounded, but still the mild embarrassment he felt did not show on his face.
Norway shrugged. "Where are you running off to so late?" he asked, finally looking up from his book.
Mild annoyance flitted across Iceland's features as he frowned. "You're not my mother, I don't have to tell you," he grumbled. "I'm not a kid anymore."
"And I'm not stupid, Ice," Norway replied calmly. "I know you're going to see her. It's rather obvious actually."
Iceland wasn't about to argue, there was no point and he was wasting time as it was, standing around talking like this.
When Iceland didn't respond, Norway sighed.
"I know you're going to see her again," he repeated in his usual calm manner. "I frankly don't care all that much about what you do in the odd hours of the night, but as your brother, I do worry about you."
"Everything is fine," Iceland countered, feeling the need to defend his actions as his annoyance grew.
Norway didn't seem to notice as he took a drink from his steaming cup. "Switzerland is not one to be messing with, especially when it comes to his sister."
"I am aware."
"I'm serious Ice, what are you going to do when he finds out? You can't keep going behind his back like this."
"I'm working on it," Iceland replied with a frown.
"Are you?" Norway pressed.
Iceland scowled lightly. "He's just not ready yet."
"He's not, or you're not?" Norway asked.
"Just shut up, I'm leaving," Iceland snapped, only mildly surprised when Noway didn't make any more to stop or chase after him.
Feeling annoyed and frustrated by the conversation, Iceland tugged on his jacket and stepped out into the night. He thought over his brother's most recent words and only felt more bothered as he realized that he didn't really have an answer.
By the time Iceland reached Liechtenstein's house, he was feeling much calmer. Knowing exactly which window belonged to the young female this time, he grabbed up a small handful of pebbles and started to throw them just as before. Really though, there had to be a better way of going about this.
It only took a couple pings against the glass before the window opened and Liechtenstein was leaning out over the sill.
"Iceland?" she called in a whisper.
"It's me," Iceland called back.
She nodded, her short hair bobbing around her chin. "Meet me by the front door."
She didn't wait for a response as she slid her window shut again and disappeared.
Iceland rushed around to the front of the house, reaching the front door just as it opened.
Liechtenstein greeted the older boy with a sleepy smile. She rubbed her eyes as she invited him inside.
"Actually," he said, his hesitation causing her to look at him curiously. "I was hoping you might want to go somewhere with me."
Her brows furrowed slightly as she looked at him uncertainly.
"Where?" she asked.
"It's a surprise," he replied.
She glanced back into the house and he pressed a little more.
"I promise to be back before he wakes up."
The young woman let out a soft sigh and nodded. "Alright, I'll go with you," she said, stepping inside to grab her coat and slip on her shoes.
Iceland waited patiently before offering his hand, smiling as she gently took it with no hesitation.
Shutting the door quietly behind them, Iceland led Liechtenstein around to the back of the house and back in the direction he had originally come.
Glancing back at the girl, Iceland hoped she couldn't tell how nervous he was. He was happy that his palms weren't sweating, but his skin tingled with nerves and his heart pounded loud enough, he was sure she could hear. He had no idea what he was doing, taking her somewhere was an idea off the top of his head, a spur of the moment thing. All he knew was that he was more comfortable out of the house, where they didn't risk Switzerland waking and finding them. Only now was it occurring to him that it was probably more dangerous to have him wake and find them not there at all.
The further they walked, the more Iceland realized how stupid this idea really was. Not only did he not know where he was going, but he was taking her to a supposedly 'secret' place in her own country. Embarrassment overwhelmed him and his steps came to a halt.
Liechtenstein came to a stop beside him, a slightly confused look on her face.
"Iceland?"
He shook his head, his face as stoic as ever, failing to obviously reveal any of the emotions stirring inside him.
"Sorry," he said. "This way." He tugged her to the right with a small smile that was barely noticeable. He was certain there was something in this direction, he remembered passing a field on his way over.
It only took a few moments to find and he could hear Norway's voice reprimanding him the whole way. A sense of relief washed over Iceland and leading Liechtenstein to a small hill, he sat down on the chilled, damp grass. She followed suit a moment later, dropping his hand.
"It's a clear night, I thought it would be nice to come look at the stars," he said, feeling the need to provide some sort of explanation as he tilted his head back to look at the pinpoints of light that dusted the sky.
It wasn't the best excuse, but she seemed to be okay with it, looking up at the sky as well with a slight look of wonder.
"It's beautiful," she said in a whisper, as if afraid her voice would scare the stars away and cause them to scatter to the edges of the horizon.
"I agree," he said, just as softly.
They sat in silence for a while, both comfortable with the quiet until Liechtenstein finally broke it.
"Brother has been acting strangely lately," she said casually, but there was a touch of worry to her tone.
"Strange how?" Iceland prompted.
"He's been very distracted it seems. I think it's because Mr. Austria has been coming over more."
"Austria?" As far as he knew, the two countries didn't get along very well, so it came as sort of a shock to hear they Austria had been visiting.
She nodded. "He came over for dinner last night, it was quite strange."
"Strange?" Iceland, once again, answered with a one word question.
She nodded again, her eyes staying on the sky. "Usually, when Austria visits, Switzy gets very tense and agitated, but last night he just seemed… odd." She was having trouble finding another word to describe the strange feeling she was getting from her brother the night before. He and Austria had barely made any eye contact through the whole meal.
"I think Mr. Austria likes Brother," she said.
Iceland blinked, that was not what he had expected to hear.
"What makes you say that?" he asked, genuinely curious.
She was quiet for a moment and Iceland looked over to see her in distant thought.
"Well, a long time ago they used to get along much better, Big Brother was always helping Mr. Austria and trying to teach him how to fight. Now they don't seem like they get along as well, but recently Mr. Austria has been visiting a lot more and seems happy to be spending time with Brother. And he's been bringing over gifts. Even though he won't admit it, Brother keeps all of them. I think he likes Mr. Austria back, they just won't admit it to each other. Ms. Hungary would call it womanly instinct," she answered.
Iceland listened, his gaze drifting back to the sky. "Do you think something will come of it?"
She hummed lightly. "I don't know, but I think it would be nice if something did. I think Brother can get kind of lonely sometimes."
Iceland nodded, he could understand that.
"He doesn't like me," Iceland said after a moment of silence. He said it casually, as a statement of fact.
"He just worries about me is all, he's very protective and wants me to always be safe," she countered.
"I know, but I just wish he wouldn't underestimate me so much," he said.
Liechtenstein frowned. "I trust you, Iceland," she said. It may have seemed like such a random statement, but at the moment, it was what Iceland needed to hear.
"We need to tell him soon. That we're… interested in each other," he said softly, avoiding looking at her. He could say they were dating, he didn't feel that they were quite to that point yet.
"Well, he knows that already," Liechtenstein answered.
"Yes, well, that we're pursuing that interest," he said.
"Oh, yes." She blushed lightly, a little embarrassed that she hadn't caught on, blaming it on it being late and the fact that she was tired.
"Do you think he'll be angry?" Iceland asked.
She frowned. "Maybe, but he doesn't like to make me unhappy, so I don't think he'll do anything…" She sounded like she wanted to be confident in her words, but there was still a hint of uncertainty there.
"I make you happy?" he asked, finally turning to look at her. He hadn't mean for the question to sound so shocked.
Liechtenstein nodded with a small smile. "Yes, you do Iceland," she answered.
A small smile touched Iceland's lips and without another word their fingers intertwined and they looked back up to the canopy of stars.
Iceland wasn't sure how long the peace lasted and he was far from ready or willing to let it end, but he knew they had to get back before Switzerland realized they were gone. That, and Liechtenstein had dozed off on his shoulder.
"We should head back," he said gently, careful not to startle her.
She hummed questioningly and sat up, rubbing her eyes.
Iceland stood and offered a hand. She took it and he helped her up, keeping a hold of the hand even as they started back to her house.
Despite needing to get back, they took their time, hands clasped as they walked.
When they finally reached the house, Liechtenstein turned around with a small smile, her hand on the door handle.
"I really enjoyed tonight, thank you," she said softly, leaning forward and placing a kiss to Iceland's cheek.
He blushed ever so slightly and smiled. "Of course, good night, Liechtenstein," he said in the same soft tone, giving her hand a light squeeze he leaned forward and placed his own kiss to her night-chilled cheek.
The smile she gave him in return was genuine and gentle and the memory of it was enough to keep him warm all the way home.