I know it's not the appropriate season, but I couldn't resist. Been chatting with a friend about how Korea's story seems to be a loose analogue of Shiloh's in "Repo! The Genetic Opera", with Japan as Nathan, and I guess this is his "Chase The Morning" sequence (except Finland likely won't be showing up again, much less losing his eyes).
Korea was woken by the sound of bells. He squirmed and sat up, irritated.
The family who had taken him in while Japan was away weren't exactly nice to him, but they were bearable. They knew who Japan was, and by extention who Korea was, so they didn't quite dare actually hurt him. Most of the time they ignored him except to tell him what chores he needed to do next, though the two teenage daughters giggled either at or about him a lot. He didn't mind. He didn't even care about what they called him, either what they said to his face or the worse things they said behind his back. At least he didn't lie awake nights wondering if they were going to decide to start touching him and ... Actually, he'd be quite happy if Japan never came back. Though at least at Japan's place he was allowed something approaching an actual bed, but oh well, the floor was at least not draughty. The drawers and cupboards containing sharp objects were unfortunately locked, so he couldn't find anything to break open his chains, but even so, it could have been worse. At least he got to see some people other than Japan. The daughters sometimes talked to him and even let him gently flirt with them, when their father wasn't listening. He made sure to maintain a respectful physical distance, but it was fun to occasionally say something just daring enough to make them giggle with him instead of at him.
The window burst open. Korea yelped, jumping to his feet and promptly falling over again when he tripped over his shackles. The window had been locked - he knew, he'd checked it in vain hope before going to sleep. Icy wind blew in, and a dark figure appeared, silhouetted against the moonlight. Korea trembled, wondering whether to call for help. The figure spoke.
"Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!"
Korea gaped as the figure climbed through the window, revealing itself to be a young blond in a red fur-trimmed coat and hat, carrying a bulging sack. It was definitely another nation, but Korea didn't immediately recognise him.
"What the heck's going on?" he hissed, starting to shake; he was wearing only his undergarments, and the wind was freezing. He picked up his shirt and tugged it on.
"Oh, hello! Korea, right?" said the blond, closing the window. "Don't be scared! I'm Finland, my friends call me Tino, and tonight I'm Santa!"
"Santa?" Korea asked in disbelief.
"Yes! Haven't you heard? On Christmas Eve I bring gifts to all the good boys and girls! And nations."
"I know who Santa is! Isn't he supposed to be some fat guy with a huge beard?"
"Don't believe everything you hear, kid," said Finland with a chuckle.
Korea raised an eyebrow. "Okay, I have to ask; why are you visiting me? I don't celebrate Christmas, I'm not even Christian."
"I know, but being Santa is about bringing goodwill to everyone," Finland told him. "I don't usually visit people who don't leave stockings out, but I figured it wouldn't be very Christian to leave people out, would it?"
"Heh, guess not. But, uh, I don't think there's any present I can have. Japan doesn't let me have anything he didn't check out first."
"Well, I'll just have to make sure there's no evidence," said Finland with a wink, taking a box from his sack and handing it over. "Burn the box and paper when you're done."
Korea ripped off the shiny paper, squealing when he uncovered the contents. "Red ginseng candy! Thank you, thank you, I've missed this stuff! Japan hasn't let me have candy in thirty-two years, he says I'm too old for candy and it'll make me fat. Huh, I'd have stolen some from him, but he doesn't even seem to like sweets."
"Glad you like it," said Finland, beaming. "Oh, I have one more thing for you."
"Another present?" Korea blinked. "What?"
Finland threw his arms around the boy's skinny body and hugged him firmly. "Here. I guess you don't get hugged much."
Korea returned the hug hard enough to knock Finland's breath out. "No, I don't. Thanks! And give Italy a hug from me?"
"Sure!" Finland leaned closer and whispered into Korea's ear, "Your brothers do love you, you know. They just suck at showing it."
Korea, for once, didn't know how to respond. He pulled away, smiling sadly. "Well, I guess you've got other people to see. I shouldn't keep you here."
"Yes, I should be going - gotta deliver presents to every country on Earth before dawn!" Finland picked up his sack and headed for the door, waving. "I'll visit you next Christmas!"
"Oh, please do!" Korea leaned out of the window and waved as Finland's sleigh rose into the sky. "Bye! Happy Christmas! See you next year!" He couldn't be sure, but he thought he saw Finland waving back as he disappeared behind a cloudbank.
Happy tears streaked down Korea's face as he sat cross-legged below the window and tore open the candy box. "Aw, wasn't that nice, eh, Balhae? He's so sweet! I really needed to see a friendly face - well, there's you, but I mean outside a mirror. And look, we have candy now!"
Bleh. Christmas. Just some stupid Western plot to take us over with shiny toys.
"Don't be rude, Balhae, or I won't let you ride along while I eat this candy."
... Okay, maybe it's not so bad. Now don't hog it. Screw your lack of candy, I haven't had any for one thousand and sixteen years! Next time, get yourself annexed by someone who keeps sweets in the house.
Korea giggled, and he and Balhae, sharing their tastebuds, set about destroying the evidence.