Canada and Finland volunteered for the mission. Romano had wanted to go too but in the end he was content with forging them some in-case documents and then he and Spain spent a long while in Denmark's armory together with their two 'agents' and Denmark himself discussing the merits of each weapon that could be of use during the heist.

In the end it was laughably easy, honestly. It begged the question how did they get so far and cause so much damage if all Finland and Canada had to do was prick them with the needles. The morons didn't even notice until it was too late and they were paralyzed and helpless at their feet. So anticlimactic. Tino had wished for some excitement and he was tragically disappointed.

At least he could ease his frustration. Human rights were all good and well but godsdamn it, those disgusting fuckers had hurt Greenland and Denmark. Nobody messes with Tino Väinämöinen or his family without there being hell to pay. And so it was with spiteful glee that he shot the needle with the neurotoxin right into the back of the man's neck and looked on as it did it's work. Matthew was quick to step in and "offer help" to the hit man, leading him away, at the same time extending his ability to blend in over the swaying, compliant human. Nobody so much as looked in his direction and everything happened right on the street; the sun shone merrily, people rushed around and four men were taken out in different parts of the city without so much as a fleeting suspicion from any of the citizens.

Soon enough they had all the perpetrators in their hands. Though they had used small dosages, so as the humans didn't suffocate; it gave them enough time to drag them into their hideout and truss them up. Getting in was also no problem - the idiots carried everything on themselves, including a scrap of paper that told the Nations exactly what was they key combination to the door. Their skills would have been enough even without it but it sure made their mission even easier.

The hideout obviously must have come from their Russian accomplice. It was modern, new, clean and well maintained, save for piles of empty take-out boxes and countless bottles of beer rolling around the floor. Tino spared a glance to the four shaking humans laid out on the floor and either whimpering or just panting in fright.

They didn't dare to try and make a break for it, even if they could see anything through the hoods Canada and he had put on their heads. Not even begged for their lives. They had tried that once, yelling "You don't know who you're messing with! We have friends! You have no idea!"

Tino was content to let them scream themselves hoarse. It made something dark twist in his stomach in contentment. Matthew's expression, however, was all scrunched and pinched (Finland was reminded how young the kid was) and so he took out his gun and gave one warning shot.

"Next one to open their mouth or try and make a break for it gets a bullet in their brain." he said calmly and that was that.

Matthew was quick to sweep the place and equipment for any kind of information. Tino let him have his fun and then they were on a jet back to Denmark with all kinds of data and four humans.

Sweden rode out to meet them and he and Finland sent each other amused glances. Good old espionage! As soon as Berwald saw them and their meek captives (the mere sound of him growling and clicking the safety off his gun had them petrified enough to stop any new escape plans) he immediately lost some of the tension that had his whole posture stiff and ramrod straight. He was clearly happy and relived that the mission was a success and the next step would reveal the gang's enigmatic accomplice and let them finish this case hopefully soon so that Greenland and Denmark could relax and focus on healing without the stress of a possibility of another attack occurring.

The whole house was tense when they arrived. Oh everyone had utmost trust in Finland and Canada's abilities but the wild card that was the Russian accomplice kept them from relaxing in their wait. Instead they gathered in the living room pretending to be at ease, talking about meaningless stuff to make the time pass. Iceland was still engrossed in his operating center (the phone), orchestrating shipments of this and that but the left hand he kept stroking Mr. Puffin's feathers with gave his real emotions away.

Sweden had barely been able to sit still, waiting for the signal to come get the returning Nations, especially since Finland was one of them. Denmark too was constantly fidgeting and sighing. Only Norway sat with a book and read it serenely. Romano and Spain just sat sprawled on their loveseat looking like they were asleep. Only when Denmark started getting up, presumably to pace a hole into his floor, did Romano open his eyes and say "Settle down, bastardo. You're fucking irritating."

Prussia snorted inelegantly and that somehow helped settle their nerves. With the tension diffused the conversation returned more easy than it was before until the signal came in that Sweden could go with the van. However, the true problem arose when he came back with Tino, Matthew and the captives and they all entered the living room.

When Denmark saw the humans he stood, going completely still but the air around him changed completely from relived joy into some dark, icy, sinister energy. It was his eyes that made everyone take an instinctive step back though.

The cerulean seemed to glow eerily with the blood lust on Mattias' face. Berwald glared at him warningly when he tried to come closer and a feral growl was all he got in response. The Dane made one more step forward when Norway intercepted him, hissing "Take them out of here" at nobody in particular. Everyone listened, eagerly fleeing the living room in a hurry. Even the captives didn't try to make a fuss. They must have had some survival instinct, if their intelligence was somewhat lacking.

"Get out of my way." Denmark, because in that moment it was all Denmark, said calmly in Old Norse. Lukas was really tempted to do just that, hearing the cold steel in his friend's voice that reminded him so of the darkness in their past. He pushed the flashbacks away forcibly, focusing on here and now.

"No."

Denmark sighed, blinking slowly. "Don't test my patience, you know what I'm capable of."

"I know" Lukas said squaring his shoulders. "And that's why I can't let you go take your anger out on those humans."

"Stop joking. It's not like you care about them." Denmark snorted derisively.

"You're right. I don't." Norway looked right into those electric blue eyes. "But I care about you. And this is not you. Not anymore."

"You're wrong. It's all me, baby."

"No, it was you. Eight or so centuries ago. You're not this bloodthirsty killing machine anymore. You changed and the world has changed."

"Oh, please. Everybody tortures humans." Denmark rolled his eyes but they lost some of their glow and Lukas was glad to see it go.

"Be that as it may. They do it behind closed doors. This is not a hush-hush case, Mattias." he emphasized the name because it was a human name his friend had chosen for himself to be able to become closer to his people, continuing with "Not since other Nations started helping us. Don't lose what you worked for all these years, making yourself into a proud country, famous for its prosperity and fair treatment of your humans. Don't lose this. They're not worth it your reputation and they sure as hell are not worth your sanity!"

It was probably the longest speech he has made this century (save for his presentations at the World Meetings) and Denmark was suitably thrown, since it was also a very emotional one.

It came straight from Norway's heart.

Denmark's formidable frame shuddered as he sighed and seemed to hunch, running his hands over his face. When he straightened again after a few minutes of quiet, controlled breathing Lukas could see Mattias peering at him gratefully from under his wild hair.

He wasn't completely himself, still exuding that dark aura that spoke of hidden desire to maim, hurt and take lives but the violent brute was back in his cage.

"You're right, of course." Mattias said tiredly in their contemporary languages again. "And I don't think I should see them tonight after all. But leave them to me, I want to have a chat with them." he asked.

Norway only nodded his head in acquiescence. "Thanks." Denmark sent him a quick smile. "If you could tell everyone to get some rest. We'll get back to this tomorrow morning." He then turned to leave in the direction of his room. In the doorway he stopped again. "Lukas, I'm-"

"It's okay. Go."

"Just, thank you." Denmark finished and left.

Lukas couldn't help the warmth that settled in his chest. It was truly incredible, that Denmark had listened to him and came out of his flashback with barely a verbal snap at him. The past was frightening, capable of unimaginable cruelty and violence. It could have went so much worse...

He came downstairs to let the others know that they were free, welcome and even encouraged to go crash for the night. The cells were secure and so was the basement itself, made into an operational center (come on, no self-respecting super-assassin in whose hands the fate of their whole nation laid would neglect to organize a secret lab/IT center and a private prison in the place they lived! Not to mention some other mighty handy goodies installed all over…)

Iceland had to be dragged away from the computers displaying all the acquired data downloading from the portable device Matthew had used to store it in. He clearly couldn't wait to crack this case and be done with the unrest. Lukas bodily shoved his grumbling little brother out after Sweden, who eagerly went to get to Finland. Tino was already at their suite taking a shower after the mission. Canada was in the basement surveying the downloading process together with Prussia and they too were relived to be able to get some rest. Gilbert dragged his tired boyfriend upstairs to show him their suite. Norway bid them goodnight, killing the lights.

The captive humans were left in separate cells, still blindfolded and bound though the metal cables they used were loosened enough to not cause too bad damage and be mildly comfortable as long as they did not move. Norway couldn't find it in himself to muster the energy needed to get them some food. They would survive until tomorrow without supper, he decided shrugging and went in search of rest himself.

/txtbreak/

Well, as I promised - we're back to the main plot! You know, I actually wanted Denmark to torture them but somehow it didn't go like that. Eh, I hope you like it :)

Thanks for reading and guys, your reviews are the best thing ever to me ;)