Starry Night [11]
anonymous
April 23 2009, 20:13:29 UTC
The next day passed quickly. The conversation they had engaged in the night before was forgotten, or so it seemed. Estonia did not say a word about it, and Poland didn’t question him - though it seemed that he was more cautious about touching Estonia’s hands, more careful about how it was done and more aware of both time and place.
The weather was mild and they spent much of the day out running errands, returning home only briefly in the late afternoon. Shortly after the sun sank below the horizon they went out together once more, this time for a different sort of outing altogether. Poland teased him, saying that it was their first real date. Though Estonia blushed and sputtered and protested, his objections were only in jest. It was true, and he knew that no denial could possibly change it - and more importantly, he didn’t want to change it. It was an oddly uplifting thought, and throughout the night whenever Poland’s fingertips brushed his own the gesture sent a shot of warmth through him.
The hour was late when they slipped outside once again. City lights dimmed the stars but the moon was bright and it cast a soft glow over all that the golden pools of light from the streetlamps did not touch. Snowflakes fell lazily, drifting in the still air, dusting their dark wool jackets with white.
Somehow, Poland convinced Estonia that it was too early to go home just yet, in spite of the very late hour. His method of persuasion was uncomplicated. A bright smile and a well-timed kiss ensured Estonia would not refuse him. He gave in easily to Poland’s charms, and so they walked together through a well-lit park in comfortable silence.
Though Estonia tried to relax and enjoy the quiet, peaceful moment, a nagging worry lingered in his mind. Poland’s teasing from earlier in the evening, which had made him so happy at the time, echoed over and over in his head. “Hey, this is like, our first date, isn’t it?” he had said. Thinking about it made the situation seem all the more complicated. Not only were they together - there was no doubt of that; the snow on his face and Poland walking by his side were real enough - but soon people would find out about it. Soon his brother would find out about it.
“You’re doing it again.” A teasing voice jarred him from his thoughts.
“Doing what?” Estonia replied, glancing at Poland.
“You’re like, all quiet and stuff again. Knowing you, you’re probably worrying about something.” Poland took his hand and squeezed it, walking a bit closer to him. “And don’t lie and say you aren’t, ‘cause like, I know. I totally know. You’re like Liet that way.”
Estonia sighed. In fact, he had planned on denying it completely but it seemed Poland would not be easily fooled. He turned the comment over in his mind, analyzing it from all angles before deciding that there really was not any way he could wiggle out of explaining. “All right,” he said finally, pursing his lips. “You’re right.”
“Of course I’m right. I’m like, always right, right? Well, not always, but usually. Now, tell me what’s bothering you.”
It was an order, not a request. It seemed Poland would not give up until he had what he wanted. Do you really want to put up with this? Estonia asked himself. He was beginning to realize exactly what Poland had meant when he explained why he and Lithuania had never dated, during their exchange on that night which now seemed so many years ago. Even so, part of him felt it was was somehow worth the trouble, and that part was loud enough to drown out any protesting. “I was just thinking,” he began.
“You’re always thinking,” Poland interrupted. “You think too much.”
“Yes, yes, I know. And you don’t think enough.” Estonia smiled and squeezed Poland’s hand. “Now, don’t interrupt. I was just trying to figure out how I’ll go about explaining all of this to my brother.”
The weather was mild and they spent much of the day out running errands, returning home only briefly in the late afternoon. Shortly after the sun sank below the horizon they went out together once more, this time for a different sort of outing altogether. Poland teased him, saying that it was their first real date. Though Estonia blushed and sputtered and protested, his objections were only in jest. It was true, and he knew that no denial could possibly change it - and more importantly, he didn’t want to change it. It was an oddly uplifting thought, and throughout the night whenever Poland’s fingertips brushed his own the gesture sent a shot of warmth through him.
The hour was late when they slipped outside once again. City lights dimmed the stars but the moon was bright and it cast a soft glow over all that the golden pools of light from the streetlamps did not touch. Snowflakes fell lazily, drifting in the still air, dusting their dark wool jackets with white.
Somehow, Poland convinced Estonia that it was too early to go home just yet, in spite of the very late hour. His method of persuasion was uncomplicated. A bright smile and a well-timed kiss ensured Estonia would not refuse him. He gave in easily to Poland’s charms, and so they walked together through a well-lit park in comfortable silence.
Though Estonia tried to relax and enjoy the quiet, peaceful moment, a nagging worry lingered in his mind. Poland’s teasing from earlier in the evening, which had made him so happy at the time, echoed over and over in his head. “Hey, this is like, our first date, isn’t it?” he had said. Thinking about it made the situation seem all the more complicated. Not only were they together - there was no doubt of that; the snow on his face and Poland walking by his side were real enough - but soon people would find out about it. Soon his brother would find out about it.
“You’re doing it again.” A teasing voice jarred him from his thoughts.
“Doing what?” Estonia replied, glancing at Poland.
“You’re like, all quiet and stuff again. Knowing you, you’re probably worrying about something.” Poland took his hand and squeezed it, walking a bit closer to him. “And don’t lie and say you aren’t, ‘cause like, I know. I totally know. You’re like Liet that way.”
Estonia sighed. In fact, he had planned on denying it completely but it seemed Poland would not be easily fooled. He turned the comment over in his mind, analyzing it from all angles before deciding that there really was not any way he could wiggle out of explaining. “All right,” he said finally, pursing his lips. “You’re right.”
“Of course I’m right. I’m like, always right, right? Well, not always, but usually. Now, tell me what’s bothering you.”
It was an order, not a request. It seemed Poland would not give up until he had what he wanted. Do you really want to put up with this? Estonia asked himself. He was beginning to realize exactly what Poland had meant when he explained why he and Lithuania had never dated, during their exchange on that night which now seemed so many years ago. Even so, part of him felt it was was somehow worth the trouble, and that part was loud enough to drown out any protesting. “I was just thinking,” he began.
“You’re always thinking,” Poland interrupted. “You think too much.”
“Yes, yes, I know. And you don’t think enough.” Estonia smiled and squeezed Poland’s hand. “Now, don’t interrupt. I was just trying to figure out how I’ll go about explaining all of this to my brother.”
Reply
Leave a comment