Re: A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes [5d/??]
anonymous
February 17 2010, 16:34:34 UTC
He removes the bookmark from their previous stopping place and begins to read. It doesn’t take long before Eirik starts to wind down, eyelids drooping and snapping back open every couple of paragraphs, but he insists that Mathias reads until the end of the chapter. The boy is fast asleep well before the end, but he keeps reading anyways, just in case. He pauses at the end of the last passage and quietly shuts the book, leaning back in the chair and smiling. Niels has fallen asleep as well, his head tilted slightly to rest on top of Eirik’s.
Mathias places the book on the nightstand switches off the lamp. He leans forward and places a soft kiss to Eirik’s temple and, gently as he can muster, slides an arm under Niels’ legs to pull him up, bridal style, the smaller man making a small, sleepy noise of protest in the back of his throat and wrapping his arms around Mathias’ neck. He shuts the door to Eirik’s room quietly and pads down the hall to their own bedroom. He doesn’t bother with the lights; he knows every nook and cranny of their chambers by heart.
He smoothly deposits Niels onto their bed, laying him out and pulling the covers over him. The blond settles into the pillows and rolls over immediately. Mathias quickly strips out of his shirt and jeans and slides in next to him until his still lightly throbbing chest is flush with the other’s back. He snakes an arm around Niels waist and hugs him tightly until he can comfortably bury his face in the soft blond hair, still smelling faintly of freshly cut grass and sea air. He sighs deeply. As warmth begins to build between them, he bows his head and places a feather light kiss on the Norwegian’s neck.
“Good night, Niels.”
Niels exhales slowly and rolls over to wrap his arms around Mathias’ torso. Once he’s resettled himself, he leans in and gently presses his lips to the Dane’s chest, above his heart.
“I love you,” he mumbles sleepily.
A part of Mathias seems to melt and he smiles. He shuts his eyes, holding Niels a little tighter.
“I love you too.”
--
A/N: Lapskaus is a type of meat stew. Sorry if this part was obnoxiously sappy! Denmark's sweetest dream is to have a family you see, and the oodles of fluff were kind of unavoidable. More updates late tonight!
Re: A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes [5d/??]
anonymous
February 17 2010, 17:43:14 UTC
This is angst!anon from before
... Oh, you honestly brought tears to my eyes at the end there. The dream is so very Denmark. It's not sappy at all, it's the perfect combination of sweet and sad. ;__; Can't wait for the next chapter!
ReCaptcha: Redcoat epileptics XDD Will Arthur have a fit in the next hospital scene?
Aww, this was both unbearably sweet and sad at the same time. Sweet because I can see Denmark secretly wanting a domestic, peaceful life for all of his boisterousness (and he really does love Norway, d'aww) and sad because we know (and he doesn't know yet) that this is all just an illusion. Now I'm wondering just what turn the dream will take when/if he begins subconsciously realizing what's going on...
Oh, and I almost forgot to comment on dream!Iceland's uncharacteristic cheeriness - I wonder if that's supposed to signify that Denmark secretly wants Iceland to be more emotionally open as a part of his family too? Or if Iceland was more emotional when he was young? Or if it's one of the "off" signs that's going to clue Denmark into the whole thing not being real?
(And in case you were wondering just how good your fic is so far, apparently another anon got so excited about commenting on your fill that s/he misfired. That says a lot, I believe. :D)
Re: OP again
anonymous
February 17 2010, 23:13:41 UTC
You're very perceptive, anon! Dream!Iceland's massive OOCness is a bit of both Denmark secretly wishing he was more emotionally involved and wanting to go back to a time before he was matured enough to able to actively distance himself from Denmark. It's always been my headcanon that Denmark/Norway/Iceland once were a bit like a family, with Denmark as more of an outsider but still extremely fond of Iceland. That being said though, I didn't want Denmark's dream to be about drastically changing the ones he loves, and young kids are generally much more emotionally exuberant, hence why Iceland has reverted back to being so young. That way, Denmark can get the returned affection he's always craved without grown-up!Iceland needing to be changed so much.
And it is just one of the many things that will soon become obviously fake in his dream. Oh lordy, wait until he goes fishing with Sweden.
(And I saw that misfire! When I did and realized it was for my story, I dawww'd.)
I see, and everything you said makes complete sense. I'm very impressed with how much thought you've put into this, author!anon, especially about the "does he appreciate them for who they are in reality, or does he prefer what he wishes they could be like in his fantasy?" issue.
...Fishing with Sweden? Lordy, now I have to read this soon.
Re: A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes [6a/??]
anonymous
February 18 2010, 04:44:35 UTC
HEY GUYS, ARE YOU SICK OF ME YET?
When the alarm goes off in the morning, the sun isn’t even up yet. He groans lowly and curls forward to bury his head under the blankets while Niels gropes for the beeping clock, effectively silencing it after a few seconds of sleep-drunk fumbling. He rolls over and prods at Mathias.
“Get up,” he mumbles thickly.
Mathias moans dramatically and squishes his face further into the pillow. Niels nudges him.
“C’mon, you’ve gotta get ready before they get here.”
“Nnnngggh…” Mathias flips over and wriggles closer to Niels. “S’cold.”
“It’s four in the morning, of course it’s cold.” He sighs.
Mathias matches his sigh and nuzzles his face in the crook of the barely conscious Norwegian’s neck. “Ten more minutes.”
“No, go get into the shower. They’ll be here soon and I am not going to be the one answering the door.” He reaches forward and pushes against Mathias’ chest. “And you’re hogging the covers.” He frowns when Mathias flinches. “Are you still sore?”
Mathias shakes his head, his hair tickling Niels’ nose. “Your hands are just cold,” he mumbles.
Niels pokes his shoulder. “Then you have no excuse. Get moving.”
Mathias breaths out noisily in protest but sits up and stretches. “I’m up, I’m up…” he yawns. He swings his legs over the side of the bed and grabs his robe from the hanger on the bedroom door, padding down the hall to the bathroom.
After he’s showered, he returns to their room and bundles up in soft flannel shirts and thick socks, careful not to disturb Niels as he dresses. He silently pulls his still damp hair back into a small ponytail after lacing his boots, then steps to the bedside and pulls the blankets up higher over Niels’ exposed shoulders. He bends down and kisses his cheek just as the doorbell sounds.
He makes his way downstairs after closing the bedroom door and switching on the hall lights. Outside, Berwald and Tino stand on the dark porch, wrapped in thick coats, Berwald carrying a sleeping Peter. Mathias opens up for them and quickly ushers them inside before the heat can escape through the open door.
“Hey, guys,” he greets them in a low tone, not wanting to wake the sleeping boy. “Come on in.” He shuts the door carefully and turns around to give Tino a quick hug. “Good to see you. How was the drive?” Tino smiles warmly and shrugs out of his coat. “Quick and painless. There’s no traffic off of the ferry this time of the morning.”
Mathias takes his coat and hangs it in the hall closet while Tino takes Peter from Berwald. “The guest room is already set up, so you guys can just head up,” he points upstairs and Tino nods.
“Thank you,” he replies sleepily. He adjusts his hold on Peter and Berwald bends down to kiss them both. The Finnish man returns the gesture happily. “Have fun today. We’ll see you this afternoon.”
Berwald nods and Tino heads upstairs with Peter, who still hasn’t stirred. As they leave, Mathias grabs Berwald’s hand and pulls him into an affectionate side-hug. “Hey, man,” he says to the slightly taller man. “You got the car loaded up already?”
Berwald nods. “Yes. Y’got coffee?”
Mathias laughs and pulls back while motioning for Berwald to follow him into the kitchen. “Of course I have coffee, who do you think you’re talking to?”
Berwald smirks as they enter the kitchen. “Niels ‘s a bad influence on ya.”
Mathias rolls his eyes and begins to carefully empty the coffee pot into a large thermos once he’s poured them both a cup first. They drink quickly and exchange idle conversation while Mathias packs up lunch for them both, then return to the front door so that the Dane can slide into his coat. Berwald digs his car keys out from his pocket as Mathias locks the front door and they get into the Swede’s small sedan and head for the docks just as the sun begins to peek out.
Re: A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes [6b/??]
anonymous
February 18 2010, 04:46:49 UTC
They make good time to the lake and better time still getting the boat unloaded. After unpacking their fishing poles and disembarking, the sky is a hazy purple, just enough light to illuminate the water, a thin layer of stubborn fog blanketing the whole valley. It’s still early and they are the only ones out in the small lake. Mathias is sure that will change later, but for the moment, he enjoys the comfortable stillness.
They row in silence until the boat reaches the center of the lake and Berwald drops their weight while Mathias begins stringing their hooks. “S’going t’be a nice day,” the Swede muses, brushing off his hands.
Mathias nods in agreement and hands him one of the poles. “Should be another warm one. It’s weird. I can’t remember the last time we had this many sunny days in a row.”
Berwald chuckles and baits his hook. “S’your own fault fer livin’ in Copenhagen. Might ‘s well live ‘n a rain cloud.”
“Ohh, like Stockholm is any better,” Mathias huffs and casts his line into the water, the stillness of the water finally broken by the soft whizzing of the lure as it sails through the air. Berwald follows suit a moment later and drops his line on the opposite side of the boat.
Mathias sighs contentedly. He takes in the crisp morning air greedily. He has never been quite as out-doorsey as Niels, but if there is anything he can appreciate, it’s the way the air smells in the early morning; it’s still clean and the silence of the morning only enhances how pure it feels when it rushes into his lungs. He takes a few more deep breaths and rubs inattentively at his chest. It’s starting to feel sore again.
He sits back to back with Berwald for a long time in an easy quietness. After a while, (he isn’t sure how long; he’s purposefully left his watch at home.) Berwald turns to him.
“Tino ‘n me were thinkin’ of takin’ Peter camping ‘n a few weeks.”
Mathias hums. “Yeah? Where are you going?”
Berwald shrugs. “’m not sure yet. Maybe hikin’ or down to th’ peninsula. Y’want t’ join us?”
Mathias nods enthusiastically. “Yeah! If you can swing it so that it falls on a weekend, I’d love to. I’m sure it’d make Niels happy too. It’s been forever since we’ve been hiking. And Eirik never passes up an opportunity to hang out with Peter.”
Berwald smirks. “Y’gotta get that kid outta th’ house more. ‘S gonna be as afraid of moose as ‘is father if y’don’t.”
Mathias frowns and throws the plastic bait lid at him. “Hey! That was one time! And it was only because it snuck up on me.”
Berwald chuckles and swats the lid away before it can hit him.
“Oh, but hey, did I tell you?” He shifts slightly so he can face the Swede easier. “He’s got a crush on one of his schoolmates.”
Berwald raises a curious eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Yep. He was picking her flowers and everything. He won’t tell us who it is, but Niels thinks we’ll be able to spot her at the parent teacher conference on Monday.” He sighs wistfully and leans back. “Ah, young love.” He nudges Berwald. “Remember when we were that little?”
Berwald tugs at his line. “’m surprised you do with how often y’knocked yerself in th’ head.”
“Hey!” Mathias laughs, “Man, you’re mean today.”
Berwald chuckles. “Nah, ‘m in a good mood.” He transfers his fishing rod into one hand and rummages through his pocket. “Do y’mind if I smoke?”
He blinks. “Nah, man, go for it.”
Berwald taps a cigarette out and places it between his lips before patting his pockets. “Hng. Damn, fergot m’matches. Y’got a light?”
Mathias nods and digs his lighter from his jeans pocket. He tosses it to Berwald who catches it effortlessly. While the other lights his smoke, Mathias laughs quietly. Berwald takes a long drag and hands him his lighter back.
“’s so funny?”
Mathias shakes his head. “Nothin’. I’m just remembering when we used to gang up on Arthur when we were little.”
Berwald smirks. “An’ he’s still mad about it too.”
Re: A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes [6c/??]
anonymous
February 18 2010, 04:48:33 UTC
Mathias pauses before laughing again. “That’s incredible.” He turns and punches the Swede’s shoulder lightly. “Ooh, remember the time in high school when we hid his homework in the girls locker room?”
Berwald laughs lowly. “An’ he went in t’get it with ‘is hands ov’r his eyes?”
“And he ran straight into Elizabeta!” Mathias howls with laughter, Berwald chuckling and shaking his head. “Oh man, that was the greatest. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a tenth grader with his underwear that far up his ass.” He wipes his eyes, still laughing. “Hot damn. Elizabeta was a cool chick. We should look her up sometime.”
Berwald shrugs. “Y’know, I used t’have a crush on her ‘n high school.”
Mathias grins hugely. “Get the fuck outta here. You had a thing for the Hungarian chick?”
Berwald nods.
“No way, dude, that’s hilarious. Did you ever hook up with her?”
Berwald laughs lowly. “Tried t’ask her out ‘n home-ec class.”
“And she said no?”
“No,” Berwald shakes his head. “I tried t’be suave ‘bout it. Took off m’glasses ‘n tried to brush ‘er hair back.”
“Missed ‘r hair ‘n grabbed ‘r chest. She hit me with th’ fryin’ pan.”
Mathias gapes at him for a moment before bursting out in hysterical laughter. He clutches his chest breathlessly. “You’re a regular Don Juan, Ber!” He claps his brother on the back. “You get an ‘A’ for effort, but man, do you ever fail the execution.”
Berwald chuckles. “Least I got some.” He elbows Mathias in the ribs. “Unlike some people.”
Mathias huffs indignantly. “Ooh, shut it, Romeo. I got plenty of tail in high school. Did I ever tell you about the time I hooked up with that kid from Estonia? He-whoa!” Mathias’ free hand flies to his fishing rod just as it jerks forward violently. “Oh, dude, I’ve got one!”
He pulls back on the pole. “Hoooo, it’s a big one too!” The rod strains as he slowly reels it in, the line groaning with the effort. Berwald crushes his cigarette out and snatches the net from the bottom of the boat and shifts so that it dangles over the side, waiting for Mathias who, after a moment, manages to yank the flailing fish from the water. It strains and wriggles, trying desperately to get back into the lake, its strong struggles sending splashes of water into the boat. Mathias hauls the line back up again and hollers victoriously when he manages to successfully drop it into the net. “Got him!”
Berwald twists the net opening closed while Mathias clips his line. The fish flounders uselessly for a few moments before going still and claps triumphantly. “Hah!”
Berwald pries the hook loose out of the fish’s mouth and transfers it out of the net and into the cooler. He turns back to Mathias, smirking. “Yer soaked.”
Mathias blinks and checks his coat sleeve, which is indeed dripping wet. He groans. “Well, good thing it’s going to be warm this afternoon.”
“Small victories.” Berwald digs through their bags hands Mathias the thermos of hot coffee. “Warm up. Niels’ll be mad ‘f I bring y’back sick.”
Re: A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes [6d/??]
anonymous
February 18 2010, 04:50:09 UTC
After he towels off and takes a few long drinks, Berwald hands him a new hook and he re-casts his line and the two settle back into comfortable silence. The sun has fully raised, fog finally burned away, and more fishers have started to load their boats into the water. Mathias sighs, grinning, and leans back, his shoulders thudding into Berwald’s.
“How long has it been since we did this?” He smiles. “Just us, I mean.”
Berwald shrugs. “S’been a while.”
“What’s up with that?” He elbows the Swede playfully. “I don’t get to see my baby brother enough.”
Berwald rolls his eyes, but nods. “W’should do it more often.”
Mathias sighs again and turns back to the water. “Definitely. This is fun, I’m glad we came.”
Berwald smiles.
“M’ too.”
--
We’ve officially entered the Negaverse, my friends. Sweden is willingly hanging out with Denmark and making plans to do it again. As with the last chapter, there is something in this part there is glaringly wrong with the situation, though it slightly more subtle than the last.
Aw, man. I wish Denmark and Sweden bro-out time was canon. It’s so cute.
Anyhow, I may or may not have more up tonight! It might be kinda busy at work tonight, so I'm not sure if I'll have time to write or not. I'll do my best though!
Re: A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes [6d/??]
anonymous
February 18 2010, 05:38:36 UTC
Sick of you? Never! Keep going, keep going. This Negaverse is a fun place to be. Alternatively, damn Denmark. Your fantasies really highlight how depressing your life actually is.
Re: A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes [6d/??]
anonymous
February 18 2010, 05:50:49 UTC
Happiest nation on Earth?
Only when people are looking.
I've always sort of had this idea Denmark is really happy on the surface, but then is very vulnerable and lonely when he isn't maintaining a happy face. Poor guy. :(
Re: A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes [6d/??]
anonymous
February 18 2010, 05:47:41 UTC
Anon, this story is turning out so amazing! I adore the fluffy, AU dream, but then I remember back to the actual story and it makes me sad! I love it so far!
I'm also amazed that you chose the same human name for Ice that my sister and I had decided on!
Why on earth would I be sick of you, author!anon? You're giving me a wonderful fill that's everything I could have hoped for! The tone is perfect and you don't hammer it into our heads that there's something inherently wrong about Denmark's dreams but let us pick up on it ourselves. And of course, the true pathos of the story is that the nature of Denmark's dreams alone reveal just how far removed his real life is from the life he truly wants. I never considered Denmark as a possibility for this fill when I first typed up the prompt, but now that I really think about it, what better nation to base the story around than the nation who's supposed to be the happiest one in the world (similar to how Superman is the man who's supposed to have everything)?
I'm not quite as sure about what's glaringly wrong in this part, but I get the distinct impression that Sweden is being a bit too open and talkative with Denmark. Not as blatant as Iceland's "cheerful child" characterization in the previous part, but still pretty noticeable. Denmark is probably the sort of person who'd want his family and friends to be as open and laidback with him as possible.
When I saw your prompt, I immediately went to Denmark, haha. I've been collecting fanart of the Nordics since they were introduced, and it seems that in most of the fanworks, Denmark is always very cheerful while the rest of them are just really irritated with him most of the time, or at least very removed from him. And since the Nordics are the only characters that we've ever really seen interact with him, it makes me think they're his only real friends, which would make him extremely emotionally attached to them, but miserable at the same time since they obviously don't return the feelings. I think the cheerfulness is genuine, but still sort of his way of coping.
Pfff, I'm putting way too much thought into this.
In terms of the weird parts to this chapter, there are two things wrong with Sweden: one, he's speaking in nearly complete sentences. He's still the same mumbling Berwald that Denmark knows and loves, but it's actually understandable. The second is that he is smoking, which is just out of character. (At least I think so, bahahah.)
It's not nearly as busy as I thought it would be tonight, so I should have another chapter up late tonight. Glad you're still digging it!
Mathias places the book on the nightstand switches off the lamp. He leans forward and places a soft kiss to Eirik’s temple and, gently as he can muster, slides an arm under Niels’ legs to pull him up, bridal style, the smaller man making a small, sleepy noise of protest in the back of his throat and wrapping his arms around Mathias’ neck. He shuts the door to Eirik’s room quietly and pads down the hall to their own bedroom. He doesn’t bother with the lights; he knows every nook and cranny of their chambers by heart.
He smoothly deposits Niels onto their bed, laying him out and pulling the covers over him. The blond settles into the pillows and rolls over immediately. Mathias quickly strips out of his shirt and jeans and slides in next to him until his still lightly throbbing chest is flush with the other’s back. He snakes an arm around Niels waist and hugs him tightly until he can comfortably bury his face in the soft blond hair, still smelling faintly of freshly cut grass and sea air. He sighs deeply. As warmth begins to build between them, he bows his head and places a feather light kiss on the Norwegian’s neck.
“Good night, Niels.”
Niels exhales slowly and rolls over to wrap his arms around Mathias’ torso. Once he’s resettled himself, he leans in and gently presses his lips to the Dane’s chest, above his heart.
“I love you,” he mumbles sleepily.
A part of Mathias seems to melt and he smiles. He shuts his eyes, holding Niels a little tighter.
“I love you too.”
--
A/N: Lapskaus is a type of meat stew. Sorry if this part was obnoxiously sappy! Denmark's sweetest dream is to have a family you see, and the oodles of fluff were kind of unavoidable. More updates late tonight!
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anon, ilu so much for these speedy updates. can't wait for more! :D
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...
Oh, you honestly brought tears to my eyes at the end there. The dream is so very Denmark. It's not sappy at all, it's the perfect combination of sweet and sad. ;__;
Can't wait for the next chapter!
ReCaptcha: Redcoat epileptics
XDD Will Arthur have a fit in the next hospital scene?
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(And in case you were wondering just how good your fic is so far, apparently another anon got so excited about commenting on your fill that s/he misfired. That says a lot, I believe. :D)
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And it is just one of the many things that will soon become obviously fake in his dream. Oh lordy, wait until he goes fishing with Sweden.
(And I saw that misfire! When I did and realized it was for my story, I dawww'd.)
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...Fishing with Sweden? Lordy, now I have to read this soon.
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When the alarm goes off in the morning, the sun isn’t even up yet. He groans lowly and curls forward to bury his head under the blankets while Niels gropes for the beeping clock, effectively silencing it after a few seconds of sleep-drunk fumbling. He rolls over and prods at Mathias.
“Get up,” he mumbles thickly.
Mathias moans dramatically and squishes his face further into the pillow. Niels nudges him.
“C’mon, you’ve gotta get ready before they get here.”
“Nnnngggh…” Mathias flips over and wriggles closer to Niels. “S’cold.”
“It’s four in the morning, of course it’s cold.” He sighs.
Mathias matches his sigh and nuzzles his face in the crook of the barely conscious Norwegian’s neck. “Ten more minutes.”
“No, go get into the shower. They’ll be here soon and I am not going to be the one answering the door.” He reaches forward and pushes against Mathias’ chest. “And you’re hogging the covers.” He frowns when Mathias flinches. “Are you still sore?”
Mathias shakes his head, his hair tickling Niels’ nose. “Your hands are just cold,” he mumbles.
Niels pokes his shoulder. “Then you have no excuse. Get moving.”
Mathias breaths out noisily in protest but sits up and stretches. “I’m up, I’m up…” he yawns. He swings his legs over the side of the bed and grabs his robe from the hanger on the bedroom door, padding down the hall to the bathroom.
After he’s showered, he returns to their room and bundles up in soft flannel shirts and thick socks, careful not to disturb Niels as he dresses. He silently pulls his still damp hair back into a small ponytail after lacing his boots, then steps to the bedside and pulls the blankets up higher over Niels’ exposed shoulders. He bends down and kisses his cheek just as the doorbell sounds.
He makes his way downstairs after closing the bedroom door and switching on the hall lights. Outside, Berwald and Tino stand on the dark porch, wrapped in thick coats, Berwald carrying a sleeping Peter. Mathias opens up for them and quickly ushers them inside before the heat can escape through the open door.
“Hey, guys,” he greets them in a low tone, not wanting to wake the sleeping boy. “Come on in.” He shuts the door carefully and turns around to give Tino a quick hug. “Good to see you. How was the drive?”
Tino smiles warmly and shrugs out of his coat. “Quick and painless. There’s no traffic off of the ferry this time of the morning.”
Mathias takes his coat and hangs it in the hall closet while Tino takes Peter from Berwald. “The guest room is already set up, so you guys can just head up,” he points upstairs and Tino nods.
“Thank you,” he replies sleepily. He adjusts his hold on Peter and Berwald bends down to kiss them both. The Finnish man returns the gesture happily. “Have fun today. We’ll see you this afternoon.”
Berwald nods and Tino heads upstairs with Peter, who still hasn’t stirred. As they leave, Mathias grabs Berwald’s hand and pulls him into an affectionate side-hug. “Hey, man,” he says to the slightly taller man. “You got the car loaded up already?”
Berwald nods. “Yes. Y’got coffee?”
Mathias laughs and pulls back while motioning for Berwald to follow him into the kitchen. “Of course I have coffee, who do you think you’re talking to?”
Berwald smirks as they enter the kitchen. “Niels ‘s a bad influence on ya.”
Mathias rolls his eyes and begins to carefully empty the coffee pot into a large thermos once he’s poured them both a cup first. They drink quickly and exchange idle conversation while Mathias packs up lunch for them both, then return to the front door so that the Dane can slide into his coat. Berwald digs his car keys out from his pocket as Mathias locks the front door and they get into the Swede’s small sedan and head for the docks just as the sun begins to peek out.
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They row in silence until the boat reaches the center of the lake and Berwald drops their weight while Mathias begins stringing their hooks. “S’going t’be a nice day,” the Swede muses, brushing off his hands.
Mathias nods in agreement and hands him one of the poles. “Should be another warm one. It’s weird. I can’t remember the last time we had this many sunny days in a row.”
Berwald chuckles and baits his hook. “S’your own fault fer livin’ in Copenhagen. Might ‘s well live ‘n a rain cloud.”
“Ohh, like Stockholm is any better,” Mathias huffs and casts his line into the water, the stillness of the water finally broken by the soft whizzing of the lure as it sails through the air. Berwald follows suit a moment later and drops his line on the opposite side of the boat.
Mathias sighs contentedly. He takes in the crisp morning air greedily. He has never been quite as out-doorsey as Niels, but if there is anything he can appreciate, it’s the way the air smells in the early morning; it’s still clean and the silence of the morning only enhances how pure it feels when it rushes into his lungs. He takes a few more deep breaths and rubs inattentively at his chest. It’s starting to feel sore again.
He sits back to back with Berwald for a long time in an easy quietness. After a while, (he isn’t sure how long; he’s purposefully left his watch at home.) Berwald turns to him.
“Tino ‘n me were thinkin’ of takin’ Peter camping ‘n a few weeks.”
Mathias hums. “Yeah? Where are you going?”
Berwald shrugs. “’m not sure yet. Maybe hikin’ or down to th’ peninsula. Y’want t’ join us?”
Mathias nods enthusiastically. “Yeah! If you can swing it so that it falls on a weekend, I’d love to. I’m sure it’d make Niels happy too. It’s been forever since we’ve been hiking. And Eirik never passes up an opportunity to hang out with Peter.”
Berwald smirks. “Y’gotta get that kid outta th’ house more. ‘S gonna be as afraid of moose as ‘is father if y’don’t.”
Mathias frowns and throws the plastic bait lid at him. “Hey! That was one time! And it was only because it snuck up on me.”
Berwald chuckles and swats the lid away before it can hit him.
“Oh, but hey, did I tell you?” He shifts slightly so he can face the Swede easier. “He’s got a crush on one of his schoolmates.”
Berwald raises a curious eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Yep. He was picking her flowers and everything. He won’t tell us who it is, but Niels thinks we’ll be able to spot her at the parent teacher conference on Monday.” He sighs wistfully and leans back. “Ah, young love.” He nudges Berwald. “Remember when we were that little?”
Berwald tugs at his line. “’m surprised you do with how often y’knocked yerself in th’ head.”
“Hey!” Mathias laughs, “Man, you’re mean today.”
Berwald chuckles. “Nah, ‘m in a good mood.” He transfers his fishing rod into one hand and rummages through his pocket. “Do y’mind if I smoke?”
He blinks. “Nah, man, go for it.”
Berwald taps a cigarette out and places it between his lips before patting his pockets. “Hng. Damn, fergot m’matches. Y’got a light?”
Mathias nods and digs his lighter from his jeans pocket. He tosses it to Berwald who catches it effortlessly. While the other lights his smoke, Mathias laughs quietly. Berwald takes a long drag and hands him his lighter back.
“’s so funny?”
Mathias shakes his head. “Nothin’. I’m just remembering when we used to gang up on Arthur when we were little.”
Berwald smirks. “An’ he’s still mad about it too.”
“For real?”
“Mm-hmm.”
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Berwald laughs lowly. “An’ he went in t’get it with ‘is hands ov’r his eyes?”
“And he ran straight into Elizabeta!” Mathias howls with laughter, Berwald chuckling and shaking his head. “Oh man, that was the greatest. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a tenth grader with his underwear that far up his ass.” He wipes his eyes, still laughing. “Hot damn. Elizabeta was a cool chick. We should look her up sometime.”
Berwald shrugs. “Y’know, I used t’have a crush on her ‘n high school.”
Mathias grins hugely. “Get the fuck outta here. You had a thing for the Hungarian chick?”
Berwald nods.
“No way, dude, that’s hilarious. Did you ever hook up with her?”
Berwald laughs lowly. “Tried t’ask her out ‘n home-ec class.”
“And she said no?”
“No,” Berwald shakes his head. “I tried t’be suave ‘bout it. Took off m’glasses ‘n tried to brush ‘er hair back.”
Mathias leans forward, grinning expectantly. “Oh no…”
“Missed ‘r hair ‘n grabbed ‘r chest. She hit me with th’ fryin’ pan.”
Mathias gapes at him for a moment before bursting out in hysterical laughter. He clutches his chest breathlessly. “You’re a regular Don Juan, Ber!” He claps his brother on the back. “You get an ‘A’ for effort, but man, do you ever fail the execution.”
Berwald chuckles. “Least I got some.” He elbows Mathias in the ribs. “Unlike some people.”
Mathias huffs indignantly. “Ooh, shut it, Romeo. I got plenty of tail in high school. Did I ever tell you about the time I hooked up with that kid from Estonia? He-whoa!” Mathias’ free hand flies to his fishing rod just as it jerks forward violently. “Oh, dude, I’ve got one!”
He pulls back on the pole. “Hoooo, it’s a big one too!” The rod strains as he slowly reels it in, the line groaning with the effort. Berwald crushes his cigarette out and snatches the net from the bottom of the boat and shifts so that it dangles over the side, waiting for Mathias who, after a moment, manages to yank the flailing fish from the water. It strains and wriggles, trying desperately to get back into the lake, its strong struggles sending splashes of water into the boat. Mathias hauls the line back up again and hollers victoriously when he manages to successfully drop it into the net. “Got him!”
Berwald twists the net opening closed while Mathias clips his line. The fish flounders uselessly for a few moments before going still and claps triumphantly. “Hah!”
Berwald pries the hook loose out of the fish’s mouth and transfers it out of the net and into the cooler. He turns back to Mathias, smirking. “Yer soaked.”
Mathias blinks and checks his coat sleeve, which is indeed dripping wet. He groans. “Well, good thing it’s going to be warm this afternoon.”
“Small victories.” Berwald digs through their bags hands Mathias the thermos of hot coffee. “Warm up. Niels’ll be mad ‘f I bring y’back sick.”
The Dane takes the coffee and nods. “Thanks.”
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“How long has it been since we did this?” He smiles. “Just us, I mean.”
Berwald shrugs. “S’been a while.”
“What’s up with that?” He elbows the Swede playfully. “I don’t get to see my baby brother enough.”
Berwald rolls his eyes, but nods. “W’should do it more often.”
Mathias sighs again and turns back to the water. “Definitely. This is fun, I’m glad we came.”
Berwald smiles.
“M’ too.”
--
We’ve officially entered the Negaverse, my friends. Sweden is willingly hanging out with Denmark and making plans to do it again. As with the last chapter, there is something in this part there is glaringly wrong with the situation, though it slightly more subtle than the last.
Aw, man. I wish Denmark and Sweden bro-out time was canon. It’s so cute.
Anyhow, I may or may not have more up tonight! It might be kinda busy at work tonight, so I'm not sure if I'll have time to write or not. I'll do my best though!
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Only when people are looking.
I've always sort of had this idea Denmark is really happy on the surface, but then is very vulnerable and lonely when he isn't maintaining a happy face. Poor guy. :(
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I'm also amazed that you chose the same human name for Ice that my sister and I had decided on!
captcha: possible feeling Awwww! ;_;
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I'm not quite as sure about what's glaringly wrong in this part, but I get the distinct impression that Sweden is being a bit too open and talkative with Denmark. Not as blatant as Iceland's "cheerful child" characterization in the previous part, but still pretty noticeable. Denmark is probably the sort of person who'd want his family and friends to be as open and laidback with him as possible.
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Pfff, I'm putting way too much thought into this.
In terms of the weird parts to this chapter, there are two things wrong with Sweden: one, he's speaking in nearly complete sentences. He's still the same mumbling Berwald that Denmark knows and loves, but it's actually understandable. The second is that he is smoking, which is just out of character. (At least I think so, bahahah.)
It's not nearly as busy as I thought it would be tonight, so I should have another chapter up late tonight. Glad you're still digging it!
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