"No, Lukas, no WAIT!" Tino shot up and went after him catching him right beside the door. "Don't do this, don't stop now! This whole thing is a mess but it's because both you and Mattias are damn secretive morons! Sit back down and don't make me force you! Because I can and you will talk to me now regardless of your wishes. This needs to be cleared." Tino said forcefully.

Lukas had no other choice but to obey. He shuffled back to his spot on the bed and sat down gloomily. Tino went after him reclaiming his spot on a chair.

"You're so deep in denial it's practically choking you now." Tino said peevishly. "So don't strain yourself and let me do the talking. Just nod your head yes and no and start connecting the dots because gods help me you're worse than Berwald when he circled around the topic of our relationship for a century.

"So lets sum up what we know, okay?" He waited for Norway to nod his head and then continued. "After you attacked Mattias verbally one and a half month ago he's been distancing himself from you and you noticed and it worried you. Correct?"

Norway grimaced which he took for affirmation.

"In your stead he found himself growing closer to Netherlands and you hate that." Nod. "And now they apparently got together and you completely freaked out. Can you tell me how does this all sound like?"

He could see it the moment Lukas' denial was forced to go down.

"But... but I... how?" Tino's heart constricted at the lost sound of Norway's voice.

"As they say, remember? Never know what you've got until it's gone. I'm so sorry, Lukas..." Finland sighed placing a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder.

They sat in silence for a while, Norway digesting and Finland supportive.

"So, what do I do now? He's got together with Netherlands. It's not like I can go to him and say I want to be with him. He has the right to be happy..."

"I have no idea, Lukas. Although I'm sure that if you went to him and apologized it would make him really happy."

Norway grimaced minutely.

"Apologize?"

"Well yeah. We established you've been treating him rather coldly. He's been really unhappy. If you went and told him you are sorry for causing him pain he could forgive you and you could move on. Because the way I see it he thinks you a wonderful if a little cruel nation and person but you see him as a good for nothing idiot. That's got to sting."

"I don't think that about him!" Norway exclaimed fervently.

"Of course you don't. And I know that. But does he?" Tino said shutting Lukas up. Well, judging from what he's heard in the garden and from his own memories it was actually quite possible that Denmark really thought little of himself. That should be fixed whether or not Lukas wanted to go and say sorry.

Mattias was important to him after all. It took him time to realize that, an outrageously long time and it would've probably taken even longer if Denmark hadn't gotten together with Netherlands thus slapping the truth in Norway's face, unconsciously as it may have been.

"So be it then." Lukas sighed and Tino gave him a sad but encouraging smile, tightening his hold on his arm minutely. "I'll go talk to him. Thank you, Tino, you're a true friend." he said tiredly, standing up.

"I'm always happy to help, Lukas. Thank you for coming to me." Finland said also rising and walking with Norway to the door to his suite. "Good luck."

"Yes." Lukas grimaced opening the door. "I'm certainly going to need it. Goodbye, Tino."

"Bye."

And the door fell shut with a click.

/txtbreak/

He meant to go to Denmark immediately. He really did. But his head was spinning with everything that his conversation with Finland uncovered and Lukas needed a couple of minutes to compose himself, tidy all the jumbled mess in his head, catalog everything, acknowledge it, think it through.

He needed to know exactly what he was going to apologize for, too.

So instead of marching up to Denmark's suite and confidently knocking on the door like he would normally do faced with a problem he needed to resolve, Lukas stomped to his own place and barricaded the entrance. He needed his time to think everything through.

He spent two hours thinking and composing his thoughts into one compact image of the situation.

The next one was utilized on finding every excuse in the world he could find for not going.

And then he finally slapped his mental face and decided to man up. He was the Kingdom of Norway. No internal insecurities will make him falter in his steps when he was aiming to do something right.

That's why he was fighting the urge to bite his nails before rising his fist and knocking on the white-painted wood of Matthias' suite's door. Number 1219, how nice of New Zealand, he thought fleetingly before he hears steps from the inside. His heartbeat sped up again because what if Denmark wasn't alone? What if Netherlands was with him? In the present situation it was plausible.

The door opened.

On the other side stood Denmark, all tall and with a smile in his blue eyes. The smile dimmed a little when the man saw who his guest was.

Norway gulped.

"Norge! Uh, hi!" Mattias said still smiling amiably.

"Hi... Mattias." Norway said somewhat hesitantly. Denmark's brow lifted for a second.

"Well come on in, don't stand like that in the doorway!" He made a welcoming motion with his hand stepping aside. "What can I do for you?"

"I wanted to talk to you, if that's okay." Norway said stepping inside and closing the door behind himself, and that earned him one fleeting expression of confusion. His host was still perfectly nice though, despite his apparent mistrust.

"Sure is! It seems like a bigger deal, you want something to drink? Or munch on? I've got beer, water and crackers." the Dane said rummaging through his cabinets.

"Ah, no, thanks..."

"Something wrong?" Denmark turned to him with a serious look on his face. "You sound down."

"No, nothing's wrong. I mean... I hope." Norway mumbled absentmindedly.

"O...kaaay then, if you're sure... So what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?" Denmark flopped down on a chair and trained all his attention on his friend. Norway felt like he was x-rayed and he wondered how could he never before have realized how piercing was the Dane's gaze when so focused.

There were many things he hadn't realized, it seemed.

He squirmed on his place and the finally looked up and met Denmark's eyes. They were solemn, all traces of laughter forgotten.

"I heard you and Netherlands are thing now?" He started. Denmark's eyes widened in surprise.

"Yes, we are." He said defensively, like he expected a punchline.

"Congratulations." Lukas said instead feeling a prick at his heart. Fate was an ironic bitch. "You two seem good together."

"Um... thank you?" It was a statement but so hesitant that it came out as a question. Poor Dane was clearly confused.

"Yeah, well. I'm glad you're happy. Because he makes you happy, doesn't he?"

Denmark nodded dumbly staring at him. Norway's lips quirked into a wee smile.

"See, it was visible on you. He made you happy like I haven't seen you for some time. And that got me thinking... And I realized that may have been because of me." Lukas spoke to his fingers, wringing them until his bones popped. He couldn't stop that although it was a clear sign of his unease. Rule number one during negotiations – never let the other party know what you feel and think.

But this was no bargaining meeting and he came here to say some things.

Mattias jolted, some shade overcoming his features.

"Why would you think that?" He asked tensely.

"Me and Tino, we had a talk. And he showed me his point of view on many things... One of which was our relationship. And it made realize what I stubbornly refused to see for a long time." He took a deep breath, noticing in passing how tightly Denmark's hands clenched the handles of his chair.

"I actually came here to offer my apology to you. Because during all the years we knew each other you stood right behind me always having my back but before now I haven't even realized you weren't happy. More, that I could be a reason for your misery...

"I have been a shitty friend for you, Mattias. I'm sincerely sorry for that." Lukas finished forcing himself to keep his eyes on Denmark's. He had to see his honesty. It was important.

Denmark was speechless, staring at Lukas with wide open azure eyes. Were they a little misty? No, it couldn't be...? Finally though he gathered his wits.

"I... well, I'm not sure what I should say. I certainly wasn't expecting something like this, coming from you, but... Thank you, Lukas. You have no idea how much it means to me..." he stopped, feeling like voice may break if he kept speaking. "Just... thank you." he finished lowly.

Lukas nodded his head, his cross pin shining in the orange light of the setting sun.

"I... I'll go now, okay?" Norway said standing up, sending Mattias a small smile. "See you around, Mattias."

"Uh, yeah, yes, see you, Lukas. Thanks for coming. Bye." Mattias graced him with a smile on his own.

It was a brilliant smile, brimming with joy.

"Bye."

Lukas closed the door behind himself and sagged against them.

He was screwed.

/txtbreak/

15 June 1219 is to be the date of a battle in Estonia during which the Danish flag fell from heavens, according to the legends. I thought giving Denmark a meaningful room number would be a nice touch *shrug*

Anyway, here it is! Norway got slapped in the face with his mistakes and whoo, he went and talked to Denmark. His attitude sure is shocking, isn't it? So different from usual. And especially, he clearly values Denmark now. And it seems to be tugging on Mattias' heartstrings. However he's in a relationship with Netherlands, and not even that long. Complicated mess of emotions. :)

Thanks for everybody who liked and reviewed the last chapter, you guys are the best!

See you all next time!