Hope you like it! Happy winter break!

Chapter Six

Norway had been awake for hours. He had made coffee, read a couple chapters of his book, and was currently making breakfast. It was a nutritious meal consisting of eggs, hash browns, and bacon. The Norwegian had hoped that the delectable smell of the greasy strips were enough to wake Mathias from hibernation. Apparently not even food could entice the slumbering beast. Sighing, Norway placed the food on the kitchen table and shambled up the stairs to force the Dane into the world of the living.

Upon slipping into the room, Norway found Mathias had fallen asleep sprawled out on his bed. His legs and left arm were splayed across the comforter and twisted into the sheets. His right arm trailed off the bed and appeared to be reaching for an object that was leaning against the far wall. It was the axe. Norway cracked a small grin at the sight of the weapon. He strode over to grab it but the minute his fingers brushed the handle, Mathias surged upward.

"SOMEONETOUCHEDMYAXEANDIWILLMURDERTHEMSLOWLYANDPAINFULLY!"

He screeched. The Norwegian flinched away from the iron blade, one hand clutching the fabric over his heart. If this is what a human heart attack felt like, he never wanted to experience it again. Norway looked up only to recoil from the burning glare of the man seated on the bed.

"Don't touch that. Ever."

Norway nodded and raised his hand in a defensive gesture.

"Okay, no touching the axe. Got it."

Mathias relaxed at the reassuring tone in the smaller man's voice. Although he still glanced protectively between his axe and Norway, his gaze had softened and his hands were no longer balled into fists.

"Did you want something?"

"Yes, actually. I just came to tell you I made breakfast if you want it."

"Oh, okay. I'll be down soon."

Mathias turned away and headed towards the adjoining bathroom. Norway had previously walked him through the basic functions of the shower and sink. Mathias was preparing to slam the door shut when the Norwegian cleared his throat.

"Mathias, what exactly where you doing last night?"

The said man cut off in mid-yawn to turn sharply around. A flush of heat gathered and spread throughout his whole face. Norway smirked at the blush that was present on the other man's cheeks. For once it was Mathias's turn to blush, not his! Mathias turned his head away to murmur something intelligible. He cleared his throat, waited for the red to die down, and tried again.

"I was in the weapon room with the axe. Is that a crime now?"

"No, of course not. I was simply wondering. Come downstairs when you're hungry."

And on that note, Norway strode out of the room, leaving a furious, blushing, man behind. He quietly sipped his coffee as he listened to the squeaky turn of the shower handle. He could hear the water running and splash off the back of the man—

Oh my god.

Denmark was upstairs. In the shower. Naked.

Norway's face lit up like a bright red billboard. He tried to steer his thoughts away from Mathias, but to no avail his mind refused to stray from its present course. The Norwegian was still blushing furiously even after he heard the water pressure switch off. He started into his mug, willing the fire to disappear from his face. Just as Norway felt the last of the blush fade, he heard of cough from the doorway. He turned to see a freshly washed Dane leaning against the wood.

Mathias was dressed in black jeans and a red shirt. He had apparently taken a liking to the color scheme. Norway was pleased to see the trench coat was draped over the Dane's left shoulder.

"Breakfast?"

Norway jerked his head towards the kitchen.

"It's in there. Get me a plate, I haven't eaten yet."

Mathias nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. The Norwegian closed his eyes and sighed through his nose. He cursed the milky pallor of his skin. Thank god he had forced the blush away while he did. A few minutes later, the Dane returned holding two plates heaped with breakfast food. He set one down by Norway and the other he carried over to the far corner of the room. He waited for the Norwegian to take a bite before digging in.

The meal was silent and the room was filled with tension. Anyone could see just how much Mathias didn't trust Norway. His shoulders were hunched over his food, and his muscles were taut and tense. He kept shooting furtive glances in Norway's direction, as if he would jump up and attack him any minute.

Neither of them cared for the strained atmosphere and ate at a rapid pace. Mathias finished quickly, and after putting his plate in the kitchen he disappeared upstairs. Norway sat in silence and watched the other man move around. Something seemed off about the way the Dane was acting. After waiting a few minutes he slowly crept up the stairs in the direction Mathias vanished in.

Norway rounded the corner and rapidly backtracked to stay out of sight. Mathias was standing stock still facing a door. Not just any door he realized, it was the door that led to the room where the nordics kept their special items. Items of great importance to them or played a huge role in their history. For example, the nations kept their flags and the old, tattered Kalmar Union flag in the room.

Mathias didn't blink as he twisted the knob and stepped through the opening. The Norwegian felt a twinge of worry for the taller man. What if seeing the flags triggered the remembrance of nasty memories? Mathias would react badly, and might run off for good this time. Norway was positive that if the Dane wanted to disappear, he wouldn't be found. He tiptoed to the open doorway and peeked his head through the crack.

Mathias stood as stiff and ridged as a board. If Norway didn't know better, he would have though the Dane had been zombified. The man looked pale and lifeless, his chest rose and fell shallowly. His gaze looked unseeing and far away. It was focused on the flags. Mathias stood in front of the flag of Denmark. To the sides of it were the flags of the other nordic nations.

After watching Mathias for a while Norway readied himself to confront the taller man. Before he could step into the room, Mathias jerked his head upward in a sudden movement. His cerulean gaze now rested on the Kalmar Union flag.

The moment the Dane's eyes lingered on the flag, Norway jumped into action. He could practically smell the danger of the situation. If Mathias recognized it even for a second, hell would break loose. During the Kalmar Union, Denmark went insane from grief, guilt, despair, and loneliness. His lust for power had grown, and in the end that's what tore him down. If that was the first thing Mathias remembered, he would surely go insane again.

Abandoning the quiet footfalls, Norway stumbled through the doors, startling Mathias from his reverie. He spun sharply around and snapped at the smaller man.

"What!"

Norway's eyes widened and blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"I w-was just wondering if you wanted to come downstairs and have a drink!"

Mathias's eyes narrowed suspiciously and took on a likeliness to sharp slivers of ice. He nodded sharply and stormed out of the room. Norway could hear him grumbling as he stomped down the stairs. The Norwegian breathed a sigh of relief at the close call. Praising his fast mind, Norway followed the sulking man at a slower pace. He passed Mathias toying with the remote to the television on his way to the kitchen. Norway heard the monotone of the television switch on as he rummaged through the refrigerator. He grabbed two beers and twisted the caps off in one quick jolt.

With drinks in hand Norway ventured back to the living room. Mathias was staring wide eyed at a live broadcast of Hans Christian Andersen. The famous storyteller was reading one of his own stories, The Emperor's New Clothes. Norway studied the flickering screen for a few moments before turning to the Dane in front of him. Mathias was still staring at the screen unblinkingly. His mouth was moving, silently mouthing the words Andersen was reading.

When Norway plunked down a bottle of the frothy liquid, he jumped and his gaze flew towards the Norwegian. He looked dazed as if he had just snapped out of a trance. He visibly shook his head and reached for the beer bottle. After failing two times to grab it with shaky hands, Mathias settled for turning back to the T.V. With the Dane's attention elsewhere, Norway took that time to study him.

In the time Norway was away, Mathias had encircled the trench coat around his body. With a pang of remorse, he noticed the Dane had buttoned it the same way Denmark did. It also appeared Mathias had found the stash of hair gel under the bathroom counter. The Dane's hair was spiked in the exact same manner it had used to be styled in. He looked so much like the old Denmark, Norway had to look away before the tears that threatened to spill over dripped onto his cheeks. He shuffled into the adjoining room before Mathias could see the wetness on his face.

Norway stayed locked in the room even after he heard the television click off. He ventured out only after he had cleaned up his tears and his face had faded back to it's normal color. He ambled out into the living room and spotted Mathias slumped over the couch. Either he had fallen asleep or—

Oh no.

Fearing the worst, Norway rushed around the couch. His suspicions were confirmed when he saw Mathias was holding an old photo album. Not just any album, Norway realized, it was filled with black and white photographs from World War II.

Denmark had been one of the first countries captured by Nazi Germany. At first the Danish people were not too badly treated, but then the rioting started. The Danes started attacking the Germans in the streets. They sheltered Jews and sent them over to Sweden where they could escape. This did not sit well with Germany who captured Denmark during one of the riots. He threw him into a cell where he was tortured for the crimes of his people. It had been Sweden who had found the Dane, beaten and bloody in a prison chamber.

Norway lunged for the photo album and snatched it from Mathias's grasp. To his surprise, the Dane didn't reach to grab it back or start yelling at him. Instead, Mathias blinked confusedly at the Norwegian.

"T-that was m-me."

Norway could do nothing but nod his head and place a hand on Mathias's shoulder in a calming gesture. He glanced at the Dane who sported a completely blank face. With a jolt, Mathias stood up and glared at Norway.

"No! You just put that there to mess with me!"

He advanced on The Norwegian, hands clenched in an aggressive manner.

"I didn't!"

"You did!"

"No—"

"STOP LYING!"

Mathias screeched. In a flash of movement his arm shot out and punched Norway straight in the jaw. The Norwegian fell backwards and lay in a dazed heap as the Dane stomped up to his room. The slamming door jarred the whole house yet barely made an impression on Norway. He vaguely heard the sounds of angered shouting coming from upstairs before his head lolled back to rest on the plush carpet.

Norway's gaze swam in and out of focus for the next few minutes before settling on unconsciousness. The last thing he saw before passing out was vibrant blue eyes standing directly over him.