Turvallinen ja Vakaa

A/N: I know. I suck. I have not updated regularly like I said I would. I'm sorry! It has been very busy on this end and I have had a lack of inspiration for the past few weeks. However, I promise that I won't abandon this story. No matter how slow updates are or how long they take, I have no intention of leaving you all hanging. I will finish this! The good news is I actually know where this story is going to go now. (It's only going to get worse before it gets better, sorry...) So...with that in mind, here is the next update.

Chapter 11

Red: Part 3

Norway sighed as he entered the lively atmosphere of the house. Everyone was back home for a late lunch, and the house was brimming with life. He heard the sink in the kitchen, as well as dishes colliding with one another, the television was on, and the bass from Peter's music upstairs was echoing in the halls. Norway had hoped he would come home to a nice, calm, quiet atmosphere-the same atmosphere that he had left this morning. Alas, it was not to be however, although the Norwegian expected that so it was no surprise. The household was as it normally was-Peter was up in his room, Mathias had plopped his rear down on the couch in front of the television with a bowl of popcorn, Tino was in the kitchen preparing food, most likely with the dog at his feet, and Berwald was more than less likely out in his workshop doing his latest wood-working project.

-xXx-

The two brothers carried the groceries in through the doors of the dining area and kitchen. Tino's back was turned to them, and he seemed to be checked in to whatever he was doing-the dishes at this point, all the while keeping an eye on his food, and checked out of everything else.

At least he doesn't appear to be zoning out. Lukas thought with some degree of relief.

"Hey Tino." Iceland greeted, his voice once again odly carrying.

The small Fin jumped a mile, turned abruptly, eyes blazing, startled, and hurled something towards the brothers. Norway and Iceland veered out of the way as the metal ladle flew passed them, splattering some hot liquid from the stew he was making onto them. The object hit the floor with a loud clatter.

A stiff, tense silence enveloped the entirety of the kitchen. Tino pressed himself against the counter, eyes still wide and blazing with fear. His shoulders heaved, breathing hard as he tried to calm himself down. His gaze snapped from the brothers to the ladle on the floor, back to the brothers, and so on and so forth.

In that moment Denmark bolted into the kitchen, making himself known when the door hit the wall. "Is everyone okay? I heard a loud noise!?"

No one responded to him, they were far too focused on one another.

"Y-you scared me..." Tino squeaked, "I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry, I'm really very sorry...Are you...did I-"

"We're not hurt, we dodged it." Iceland said.

"Okay...okay..." Tino was bent over the counter still recovering from the shock.

Norway awkwardly walked over and fetched the ladle from the ground, and then set it in the sink.

"Tino, you okay?" Emil asked.

He looked up, after regaining a portion of his composure, "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. As long as you are."

He nodded and then walked over and set the groceries on the counter. The two brothers then proceeded to put away the groceries they had gotten.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about the groceries, you already shopped for them. I'll put them away."

"Are you sure?" Norway asked.

"Yeah, yeah. I am. Okay. You can both leave now-n-not that I want you to or that I'm kicking you out but you diid the shopping. So you can just sit around until food's ready-thank you for bringing the groceries..."

"Hey! I asked a question! No one heard me! Is everyone OKAY?" Denmark repeated.

Norway glared at the taller Nordic.

"Did you not just hear us discussing it, or did it just not register with your brain?" Norway replied.

"No-or! That isn't nice! I was just worried about you!"

"We're okay." Iceland said simply, "Tino got scared. He threw the ladle. It hit the ground. That's it. No one was hurt. The end."

"Okay. Good." Denmark smiled, "You alright, T?"

"Yes. I'm fine...just...you guys can leave now. I can finish here." he replied before turning swiftly and going back to his work.

"Uhh...okay?" Denmark replied awkwardly. Then he said, "Come on fam! Let's leave our chef to his work." He patted Tino on the head, not noticing that he stifffened, before leading Norway and Iceland out of the kitchen.

-xXx-

Meanwhile, the little fin jumped when he heard the door close loudly behind them. Now, he was disoriented, and out of it, very much disturbed. Despite the fact that he had not hurt the brothers, it was the mere thought that he had directly aimed the hot metal spoon at them and attempted to hit them that terrified him. He was glad he did not hurt them, but still, he could not shake the fact that he felt awful now. He could not shake the disturbing "what if" feeling. The feeling that he could have actually hurt them. It sent a chill down his spine.

Trying to force the unsettling thoughts aside, Tino tried to distract himself by putting away groceries and continuing to cook the family meal. However, he found himself feeling incredibly uneasy and slightly afraid. He could not think straight. His mind was far too disturbed now.

-xXx-

He was dipping the plates when sudden barking and claws scraping against the tile floor caused him to jump a mile as his puppy ran into the kitchen, stubby tail wagging a mile a minute. She was running right towards him, but jumped backed when the glass bowl he was dipping slipped out of his hands and hit the floor and broke.

Hana didn't see this as a burden, she started to run forward to vacuum up the ruined food. However, she was surprised when she found he owner glaring at her.

"God d**it Hanatomago, look what you made me do! Bad girl! You bad girl!" The anger in his voice caused the dog's ears to droop, and her face to fall, and she shrunk back with her tail in between her legs as he got down on his knees to pick up the mess. She tried to walk forward to nudge him in an apology, but he simply replied by pushing her away.

"No! You already made a mess, now out!" he said. She didn't react.

"Out!" he repeated, pointing towards the door, "Hanatomago, out!" She turned with a small whimper and walked back into the main room.

Finland huffed and began to pick up the glass pieces hastily.

And as if to add his annoyance, someone once again appeared in the kitchen to check on him. He was in no mood to deal with anyone right now.

"It's nothing, it's nothing!" Finland said briskly with a slight snip in his tone, not even looking up to see who it was, "The d**n dog made me drop the food and I broke a bowl. It's nothing. Don't say anything. Just go away and get me the dust pan and broom."

Without a word, he felt the figure's presence turn to leave.

He looked up to see who had come in. He felt terrible all over again when he realized he had unintentionally snipped at Sweden, who he had not even known had come in from the yard.

Tino! You a**hole! Out of all the things you could have said to him! That is the worst possible thing to have said! "Don't say anything." He barely talks as it is, and you just went and discouraged him. Good job. Fantastic job.

-xXx-

While Tino was busy being mad at himself for hurting the Swede's feelings, he continued to hastily pick up the large glass pieces. One jagged-edged piece grazed his palm, but it did not draw any blood, it only grazed enough to elicit a slight hiss of pain.

Sweden returned moments later, carrying the requested, well, rather, demanded items back into the kitchen. Finland got up to receive the items from the tall Nordic.

"Sweden, I'm..." Sweden's expression did not change. It remained the same stoic frown it always was, but it suddenly seemed to portray emotion. Somewhere between anger and hurt. Or so it appeared to Finland. And it occurred to him that this was the second time today he had snapped at him. Sweden had the right to be upset, and the Fin simply decided to let him. He took the items and said a small, "Thank you." before turning his head in shame, and getting back down on his knees to pick up the rest of the glass mess.

Sweden's reply was not the usual "Mmm." It was simply silence, accompanied with a brief nod, before he turned towards the sink to wash his hands, and then retrieved another bowl to dip.

It was an awkward silence, and it only ceased when Sweden went out into the main room to gather everyone for lunch.

A/N: Yeah, these chapters are short. I am sorry. However, the good news is, the shorter the chapters, the more there will be. So, stay tuned. I will try to be a more reliable updater, and I'll try to post again soon.