Author's Note
I was scrolling Tumblr last night, and came across one of those prompt games where you pair a line of dialogue with a ship and write something. Well, I was inspired to fit multiple into a quick little LietBela ficlet, where they discuss how they've managed to move on from each other in modern times. Discussions of mental health, teasers of who they're each actually dating now.
Lithuania huffed as he placed the box back in its place, and pushed it back against the wall. He had collected so many things in this basement over the years - some personal effects, some contraband that had to be hidden during certain imperialist and communist regimes - and he made sure to muck out some of it every once in a while.
It had been hard to do this in the early years after the Soviet Union fell, the trauma and depression making it hard for him to go through it all and figure out what he could let go of. Over time it became easier to do, as his mental health improved in the new millennium, and today's progress must be tied to the latest wave of happiness in his life.
He bent down to grab the last box, only to pause as he heard movement upstairs. The front door opened and shut, which was followed by the sound of footsteps down the hall to the kitchen.
"They can't keep doing this," Lithuania grumbled to himself as he went for the staircase. His neighbours were never consistent in calling him ahead of time and asking if they could come over. Latvia was the most courteous and consistent, followed by Ukraine and Estonia, while Poland never called ahead. Then there were the other two: the one who never visited unless she deems the circumstances extreme enough, and the one who keeps disobeying every restraining order placed on him.
He silently went up the stairs, listening for any other sounds of movement and only hearing the liquor cabinet doors open and close. As he reached the top of the staircase and emerged into the hallway, he took a deep breath through his nose to take in any incriminating scents.
Vodka, flax, and maybe flowers? Why would she smell like flowers?
Another sound from the kitchen, the chair moving as the guest took a seat. Lithuania rolled his eyes as he walked over to the kitchen and finally looked into the room.
She was seated at his kitchen table, taking a swig from one of his open bottles of vodka. Beside her on the table was a large bouquet of roses.
"Flowers?" Lithuania asked as he walked in, "For me?"
"Of course not," Belarus answered after swallowing her swig of vodka and lowering the bottle, "They were given to me, I was taking them home."
"It's only 11, it's too early for this," he said as he swiped the bottle out of her hand, "Have you eaten yet today? Can I get you some coffee?"
"Somebody's a bit grumpy today," she remarked as he took the cap from the table as well, "Yes, actually, I had a filling breakfast. Don't bother with coffee, I won't be staying long."
"Well then," he addressed as he walked to the cabinet, putting the cap back on the bottle, "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
"You've been way too happy lately, Tolys," she accused, "You can't lie to me about it, I know you too well."
"Well yes, I have been happy," he agreed as he opened the cabinet and put the vodka back in its spot, "My mental health has greatly improved over the last while."
"It would also help that you snagged the gentler of the two golden retrievers as your boyfriend."
Lithuania shut the cabinet door a little too hard in reaction to that remark, briefly shaking the bottles inside.
"You found out?" he realized as he turned to face her again.
"That you and Canada are dating, and are over the moon in love with each other?" she elaborated with a huge smirk, "Of course I found out."
"And what about it?" he pressed as he joined her at the table and sat in another chair.
"I'm here to congratulate you," she declared, a sarcastic tone taking over as she raised her hands and lightly started clapping with a smile on her face, "Bravo, well done, after all this time you finally gave up on me and moved on!"
"Oh, go fuck yourself," he groaned, "How did you find out?"
"It's amazing how much Liechtenstein knows about everyone," she explained, "She spilled the beans at breakfast this morning."
Lithuania frowned as he glanced at the flowers again.
"You had breakfast with Liechtenstein, and now you're here with a bouquet of roses," he considered, "Are the flowers from her?"
"No, they're from her brother," she corrected, "He's now officially my boyfriend."
"Switzerland?" he pondered, "I never took him to be a romantic. Why didn't you tell me before that you two were an item?"
"Well, you managed not to tell me about Canada for four years, so consider us even to start," she justified, "Second, we've only been dating for a few months, so it's not that serious yet. Third, since I didn't know you were happy with Canada, you were liable to respond with jealousy for the development in my love life."
"You have such little faith in me, Natalya," he defended, "I only ever wanted to make you happy, to give you all the reasons to smile."
"You are so full of shit," she countered, "You wanted to possess me, the way men used to and still do wish to control pretty ladies."
"Perhaps I did, 500 years ago," he relented, "The times have certainly changed, haven't they? You and your brother really did a number on my mental health over the centuries."
"Holy shit, you sound like a damn therapist," she criticized, "At least it's keeping you the fuck away from me, that's the good part."
"You should really consider therapy yourself," he recommended, "Your eternal obsession with your brother surely isn't healthy."
"Go fuck yourself," she shot down, "No therapist would live long enough for me to unpack all of that."
"Maybe I should call Switzerland," he added, "He at least deserves to know what he's getting into."
"That's it," she announced as she immediately rose from her seat and grabbed the roses, "I'm out of here."
"Lovely to see you again, Natalya," he bade farewell as she marched out of the kitchen.
Lithuania waited at the table, listening as her footsteps marched forward through the hall. They stopped at the front door, and he frowned as the footsteps came back and Belarus returned to the kitchen door.
"What about my siblings?" she inquired, "Do they know about you and Canada?"
"Katya knows, she helped set us up in the first place," he answered, "Ivan doesn't know, and considering he's on bad terms with Matthew right now, it's best that he remains unaware of my little secret."
"I'll cut you a deal then," she proposed, "You do not talk to Switzerland about our relationship, and I won't tell my brother about yours with Canada."
"That sounds fair to me."