The next few hours Norway battled with himself if he should be a man and face the situation or if he should just stay in his suite or... even go home.

But no, that would be cowardly and he was not afraid. Odin, he didn't even have a reason to be.

So what, so he's just seen Denmark and Netherlands talk meaningful stuff and kiss and generally become a pair. Good for them, best of luck and he doesn't ever have to think about it anymore. Like, not at all.

Yes, he should be cool with it. Happy, even. After all that's Denmark off his back and rather permanently. Netherlands is a good man. All's well and the likes.

Except Norway.

Why?!

Why does his heart constrict at the thought of Denmark kissing the other man? Why his breath is stuttering in his throat when the image of them appears in his mind? Why are his lungs too small to fit all the air he inhales all of a sudden and his heart accelerates when it sinks in and clicks into place that his oldest friend is now in a relationship?

Norway closed his eyes and purposefully started breathing slowly and steady to calm his body.

There was no denying it now, he had to admit it to himself.

He didn't want Denmark to be with Netherlands.

And the question came again like a boomerang – why? Why exactly he was so opposed to the very idea?

Denmark was his friend...

There was one thought, a shadow of a beginning of a thought more like actually, but no, that wasn't possible. Norway didn't even look closer at the idea before discarding it. That was not possible. Not at all.

Unfortunately his mind was, as always, working against him. His initial cause for leaving his room was to distract himself from thinking about Denmark.

Who, come to think of it, has been acting kind of strange lately. Norway could remember how during the meeting he thought about how the Dane has been scarce. Like he was avoiding him. Maybe that was it? Maybe he felt hurt after Norway snapped at him and decided to do what he'd been told? But Norway was a temperamental man, under his aloof facade, and he'd gotten angry at the Dane countless times before. He'd told him many hurtful things.

Norway grimaced but forced himself to acknowledge that. He was often rude when it came to Denmark.

Actually... more like Lukas was often rude to Mattias.

They were close. Like... family close. Not like what Norway had with Iceland but still, Denmark was one of the first nations he'd ever met and they had spent almost all their time together, one way or another. And Denmark's always been clingy and possessive. Draping himself all over Lukas.

That also stopped after he'd told him off.

So his temper tantrum was the key. It pissed Mattias off. Okay, true, what he'd said was uncalled for.

It wasn't his first temper tantrum though and before this one Denmark always bounced back very quickly. This time it was different.

This time there was a month of nothing, no visits, no calls, no messages, nothing and it was so unlike Denmark who's, he now realized, been always doing that constantly, keeping in touch and close... And after that month they have a staring match from the corners of their eyes but Mattias is not winking at him, there are no grins sent his way. No, the man's talking to Sweden and Netherlands. Sweden elbows him when he catches Mattias staring at Norway.

Like it was something he shouldn't do.

Like he wanted to avoid Lukas so hard he even asked his friends to watch him!

This was messed up. Norway, Lukas, had no idea what to think about the whole situation.

The only things he knew for sure were that Denmark's new relationship bothered him and that Denmark has been acting different after that argument.

He could feel headache creeping in, a raging one, and he sighed pushing the thoughts away.

Give the walk one more shot?

He got up and, full of apprehension, decided to go.

/txtbreak/

He studiously left a wide berth between the garden and himself but for the next two hours he had a delightful walk and then a meal and somehow the presence of other nations soothed his mind. He focused on them, on their stories, their looks, their voices and it did help.

Suddenly he heard a ruckus and turned his head to watch how England lost his temper with Sealand. Funny little guy.

And then Finland appeared and talked to the kid and, gods in Asgard, the brat actually quieted down and even said sorry!

But Finland always had that effect on people. He was calm and cheerful and empathetic. His presence was a therapeutic thing.

Norway bit his lower lip and decided that he has nothing to lose.

"Finland?" he said earning the attention of his friend. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Finland looked surprised but happy nonetheless.

"Sure thing! You finished here? We could go to my room!" he responded with a smile.

"Sounds great." said Norway, bid farewell to Romania and Bulgaria who he's been sitting with and rose to join his friend at the door.

Soon they were walking the corridors side by side and Finland was humming some tune under his breath. Norway was morosely silent. He opened his mouth only when the door of the Finn's suite closed behind them.

"Thanks, Finland." he said.

"I haven't done anything yet!" Tino laughed. "So do tell, what's bothering you? You rarely want to talk about stuff..."

"No beating around the bush, are you?" Norway said earning himself a raised eyebrow. He couldn't know that it was the same thing Denmark told Finland when they started talking and Tino found that... curious.

"Nope, you know me. Now come on, spill, what's got you so morose?"

"Ah..." Oh Hel, in for a penny, in for a pound, go Norway. "So how's Denmark doing lately?" He asked finally not looking the other in the eye.

Both of Finland's brows rose immediately.

"Oh, I'd say not bad. In fact as I see it he's happier than he's been for a long time now. Why do you ask though? Usually when you talk about Mattias it's a request to keep him out of your house..." the Finn said carefully.

"Because... for the last month or so he's actually been doing that. I mean keeping out of my house. Out of my space. Out of my life, generally." Norway admitted.

"You don't say! He hadn't come over even once? Then he must've been calling a lot." Tino said. He knew, of course, that that was also not the case but Mattias was his friend who asked him for help. He was not going to let his friend down but at the same time he should know where they all stand. What is it exactly that worries Lukas and how to help him too?

Both so dear to the Finn. Both so stubborn and secretive.

"No..." Lukas squirmed. "He hadn't called. Or texted. There was nothing. Isn't it weird?"

"It certainly is! Oh my... and you have no idea why would that be?" Tino prodded. Maybe now he would get to know what broke Mattias...

"Uh, well. Do you remember the meeting in Germany?" Upon receiving a nod from his friend Norway continued. "Afterwards everyone went to a bar. But I wanted to go home and Denmark decided to go with me. The thing is... I didn't want him to do that and I told him off for it. I acknowledge that it was hurtful, what I said, but I thought he'll just sulk for a while and then come back..."

Tino nodded grimly.

"And what did you tell him?" he urged.

"Just the... gods, the usual stuff." Lukas grimaced. It sounded plainly awful. How can something so hurtful be ever referred to as usual? And yet... he made it so. He felt vaguely disgusted himself.

The Finn nodded. It made sense. It wasn't by any means a secret that Norway often lost his temper with Denmark and he has never been a gentle one, except for Iceland's earliest days.

"Mattias would kill me if he knew I'm telling you this but his tough is his exterior. He's tough, alright, but inside he's also very sensitive. We could all tell that the way things were between the two of you wasn't how he wanted it to be. You were kind of harsh though, you've got to admit it, Lukas."

"Yeah... I can see that now... You said he's happier now though?" Norway asked feeling... hurt, actually. For almost whole their lives he and Denmark's been very close (no thanks to him, his mind supplied) but Finland said that the Dane's been unhappy a lot. And now he's stopped contacting Norway and he suddenly becomes happy?

"Oh, Lukas... Look, it's not like he's happier because there's less of you in his life... Maybe it's that he took your words to heart and found himself other friends to spend his time with, I'm sure though, that if you called and explained he would be happy to visit you again." Tino said. He felt bad now because Lukas was clearly hurt and didn't want to admit it and he wanted to help him but there was also helping Mattias...

"Yeah, with Netherlands attached to his hip." Norway muttered under his breath.

"Excuse me?" Tino blinked.

"I said that if he would come then Netherlands would be right there with him. They grew very close lately, didn't they?" Norway clarified.

"Oh, I guess so. It's kind of cute, I think they have a potential for it to grow into something more." Tino smiled minutely but it quickly disappeared in the face of Lukas' frown. "Does it bother you?" he asked confused.

"It shouldn't. After all there's only gain from that for everyone. But for some reason... for some unfathomable reason just thinking about them together makes me feel so... so angry. I don't understand this. Finland, what's wrong with me?" Norway asked helplessly looking at his friend.

Meanwhile Tino's mind was reeling. It couldn't possibly be true! There was hardly any indication before but Lukas made himself clear, even if he denied it.

He had feelings for Mattias. Norway had feelings for Denmark.

After all this time, Lukas confessed to having deeper feelings for Denmark right when the Dane decided pursuing a relationship is a lost cause!

Okay, okay lets not get ahead of ourselves. This needs to be thoroughly explained.

"You feel angry when you see them talking?" Tino prodded gently.

"Yeah, but... I... I need to tell you something. Earlier today I went for a walk. There's this garden here and I went there and somehow I ended up overhearing something." he paused biting his lip. Should he continue or should he stop. It was all awful, his brain felt like it was scrambled, he was so confused. He couldn't understand himself and it made him uneasy and on edge.

"Yes?" Tino breathed, his amethyst eyes digging holes into Lukas.

"I... I heard Denmark. And Netherlands. They talked for a while and then... they were kissing. Denmark said that he's been in love with someone but they continuously rejected him and then Netherlands jumped to tell him all about how wonderful he is in his eyes and then they were kissing. Finland, Tino, I shouldn't've been there." Lukas' voice started getting louder and more frantic. "I shouldn't have but there were those pebbles on the paths and they would've heard me if I tried to leave any sooner! I didn't want to hear them and I didn't want to see them kissing but I couldn't leave! And when I saw them..." his breath hitched and Tino laid a hand on his trying to show his support. Lukas took a shuddering breath.

"It felt like Jörmungand himself was coiled around my chest and... and... I just don't know anymore..." he finished feeling his eyes damped and he swiped a hand over them angrily. He was acting like some overemotional teenage girl and such behavior did not go well with his title. The proud country of Norway shouldn't sit bawling to his friend about his hurt feelings. It was ridiculous!

Abruptly Lukas stood up and headed to the doorway saying "I'm sorry, Tino, I have no idea what came over me, I-"

/txtbreak/

You know what guys I'm not sure about this one. I think Norway got a little out of character here, don't you? Then again he's rarely in such an emotional storm on the screem so lets chalk this all up to his unstable state ;)

Anyway, thanks so much for sticking around and reading and reviewing, God guys I love you for that! Thank you for all the likes and follows, you make my day! :)

I hope you liked this chapter and see you all next time~!