APH: Don't Look Down
Title: Don't Look Down
Author: grosse_averse
Characters: Ukraine, America, Canada; maybe hints of Canada/Ukraine
Rating: G
Summary: For prompt #30, "slope". Katya accompanies the North American brothers to the slopes.
"Al, I'm serious, we should probably have four people on this thing."
"No sweat, no sweat Mattie! Doesn't that bear of yours make four?"
"Al, we're not going to bring Kumajirou on a sled..."
Katya has to giggle as she watches the two brothers bicker. "Why don't we try it with three?" she suggests, and Matthew's face turns red.
"S-sure." he mumbles. Alfred looks triumphant.
"All right!" he crows, and adjusts his goggles. "C'mon little lady, you get a front row seat!"
Katya laughs again, though with nervousness this time, as Alfred leads the way up the short slope. The hill they are on stretches endlessly downwards, where she can make out the small figures of the rest of the nations, enjoying the snow during a Winter Conference. When Alfred hands her a helmet she gladly puts it on, buckling the strap under her chin.
Alfred holds the sled as Katya makes to get on, but Matthew stops them.
"A-actually," he says quietly. "If it's all right with you, could I go in front?"
Katya is a little relieved - she was getting nervous about being in the front - so she nods and steps aside. Matthew clambers on with practiced ease and Katya slips on behind him. Hesitating, she starts to wrap arms around his waist but stops, settling for holding them by her side.
She can see her brother and sister staring up at them from the bottom, and she raises her arm to wave. Natalia waves back; Ivan crosses his arms.
"Ready?" Alfred asks in her ear, and she nods. When nothing happens, Matthew snaps, "Don't keep us in suspense, Al, just go!"
Alfred chuckles. "Keep your shirt on, Mattie." he assures, then Katya feels the sled moving, sliding over the snow, tipping down the slope...
The sound that emanates from her throat is a cross between a scream and a laugh. Alfred hollers, and Katya feels the wood beneath her depress as he jumps on, wrapping his arms around her waist. In turn, Katya grabs onto Matthew, who makes a strangled sound before she can't hear anymore. The wind rushes past her ears in a howl and pushes against her face.
She has never felt so free.
She leans forward, pressing herself against Matthew's back, and shouts, "Thank you!"
"What? For what?" Matthew shouts back, tilting his body slightly so the trio goes skidding diagonally across the slope before moving back around.
"For taking me with you. I haven't gone sledding since I was small. I didn't go sledding when I was part of the USSR because my brother thought I would hurt myself. I envy you and your brother, and the freedom you have. I'm having a lot of fun!"
This is what Katya means to say, but instead she laughs breathlessly, caught up in the rushing moment, and Matthew reaches back with one hand to squeeze her elbow. He understands, she thinks, so she grips tighter, turns her head to catch Alfred's holler of excitement, and hangs on for the ride.
Author: grosse_averse
Characters: Ukraine, America, Canada; maybe hints of Canada/Ukraine
Rating: G
Summary: For prompt #30, "slope". Katya accompanies the North American brothers to the slopes.
"Al, I'm serious, we should probably have four people on this thing."
"No sweat, no sweat Mattie! Doesn't that bear of yours make four?"
"Al, we're not going to bring Kumajirou on a sled..."
Katya has to giggle as she watches the two brothers bicker. "Why don't we try it with three?" she suggests, and Matthew's face turns red.
"S-sure." he mumbles. Alfred looks triumphant.
"All right!" he crows, and adjusts his goggles. "C'mon little lady, you get a front row seat!"
Katya laughs again, though with nervousness this time, as Alfred leads the way up the short slope. The hill they are on stretches endlessly downwards, where she can make out the small figures of the rest of the nations, enjoying the snow during a Winter Conference. When Alfred hands her a helmet she gladly puts it on, buckling the strap under her chin.
Alfred holds the sled as Katya makes to get on, but Matthew stops them.
"A-actually," he says quietly. "If it's all right with you, could I go in front?"
Katya is a little relieved - she was getting nervous about being in the front - so she nods and steps aside. Matthew clambers on with practiced ease and Katya slips on behind him. Hesitating, she starts to wrap arms around his waist but stops, settling for holding them by her side.
She can see her brother and sister staring up at them from the bottom, and she raises her arm to wave. Natalia waves back; Ivan crosses his arms.
"Ready?" Alfred asks in her ear, and she nods. When nothing happens, Matthew snaps, "Don't keep us in suspense, Al, just go!"
Alfred chuckles. "Keep your shirt on, Mattie." he assures, then Katya feels the sled moving, sliding over the snow, tipping down the slope...
The sound that emanates from her throat is a cross between a scream and a laugh. Alfred hollers, and Katya feels the wood beneath her depress as he jumps on, wrapping his arms around her waist. In turn, Katya grabs onto Matthew, who makes a strangled sound before she can't hear anymore. The wind rushes past her ears in a howl and pushes against her face.
She has never felt so free.
She leans forward, pressing herself against Matthew's back, and shouts, "Thank you!"
"What? For what?" Matthew shouts back, tilting his body slightly so the trio goes skidding diagonally across the slope before moving back around.
"For taking me with you. I haven't gone sledding since I was small. I didn't go sledding when I was part of the USSR because my brother thought I would hurt myself. I envy you and your brother, and the freedom you have. I'm having a lot of fun!"
This is what Katya means to say, but instead she laughs breathlessly, caught up in the rushing moment, and Matthew reaches back with one hand to squeeze her elbow. He understands, she thinks, so she grips tighter, turns her head to catch Alfred's holler of excitement, and hangs on for the ride.