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Entry tags:
Warmth Remains [Norway/Bulgaria]
Title: Warmth Remains
Fandom: Hetalia
Characters/Pairing: Norway/Bulgaria
Rating: 18+
Length: ~1800
Summary: After some intimacy, they go out for fresh air, a smoke, and a talk.
Other: I want to write something more complicated with them at some point, but in the meantime, there's this. :V
Warmth Remains
Bulgaria gasped, his white-knuckled fingers gripping the bedsheets. He pressed his face to the pillow and bit down, trying to muffle the sound of his moans.
Norway's breath was hot on the back of his neck. He was quiet; there was little sound aside from the heaviness of his panting. His hips rocked in quick, deep thrusts, long-fingered hands planted firm on the mattress at either side of Bulgaria's head.
So close. Bulgaria arched his back, angled his hips. Whimpered as Norway sped up in response to the invitation to fuck him deeper. There, yes, there -
He came hard with the cotton pillowcase clenched between his teeth.
They were both quiet after the end. Norway finished, sighed deeply, then nuzzled against Bulgaria, moving to brush a kiss against his cheek. Then he slid from the bed and went to wash up.
Bulgaria followed not long after.
They had been meeting like this occasionally, off and on, for a few years. One night or two. Always when they were both in the same place for world meetings. Always in hotel rooms. It was a little impersonal. But somehow – even with that, it wasn't cold. Though at times Bulgaria found himself wondering what it might be like to have more, he always came around to deciding – no. Not yet. He wasn't ready to ask for that, not when he was sure the answer would be no.
He towelled off his hair, then went back into the bedroom. Norway was pulling his clothes on. Bulgaria's heart leapt into his throat. Usually, Norway wouldn't leave so soon. Normally, he would stay for a little while, even if he did end up eventually going back to his own hotel room. The thought that he'd done something wrong washed over Bulgaria in an instant, and -
"Was thinking I'd get some air. 'S a nice night." Norway nodded to the window, then resumed buttoning his shirt. His gaze slid over to Bulgaria. "Join me?"
There was a slight smile on his lips. Small. Quiet, like the request, and much like Norway himself. Bulgaria swallowed his nervousness and his relief and returned it with one of his own. "Sure," he said. "That sounds great."
He cringed at himself and all that over-eagerness. Too much. Hardly charismatic. But at least he hadn't stumbled over his own tongue. More importantly, Norway hadn't seemed to notice.
Bulgaria dressed quickly. Or as quickly as he could. He spent a moment debating with himself – jacket or no jacket? The summer nights were creeping toward autumn, at it might be cool, but not too much. Not yet. Did he need it? More importantly, his cigarettes. He wanted one. But – Norway. Norway would probably be bothered if he smoked; he seemed like the type.
He ran the questions over in his head, while Norway waited patiently. Eventually, Bulgaria gave up and shrugged on his jacket, cigarettes in the pocket and all. Better, Bulgaria thought, to just do it. Better not to keep Norway waiting. Not that he seemed to mind – but.
The air was cool when they finally made it outside. Bulgaria found himself glad for the jacket after all. Together, they took a short walk around the hotel to a small garden lit with lamps casting a warm glow.
Norway sat on a bench. Bulgaria sat beside him.
The city was quiet. A few people passed by on the street, talking in low voices, but the garden was deserted. Empty, except for the two of them. The night was relaxed, sedate.
Bulgaria chewed his lower lip. He still felt warm from the sex, and the sea air blowing in from the nearby harbour was cool on his face. Norway was quiet, and Bulgaria wondered if he should say something. He wasn't sure. It could break the mood, or it could be the right move. Norway wasn't the kind of guy who needed chatty company; Bulgaria knew that well enough. But still, maybe he should -
"You look like you want a smoke."
Bulgaria nearly swallowed his tongue. "Uh," he said. His cheeks warmed, and he fidgeted with the collar of his shirt. Norway's expression was neutral, not judgmental, but it was still a moment before Bulgaria stopped floundering and managed to think of a response. "What makes you think that?"
"The way you're chewing at your lips." Norway's dark eyes darted downward, toward Bulgaria's pocket and the lump made by the cigarette packet before lifting to meet his gaze again. "Go on, if that's what you're after."
"Oh, well... I will, then. If you don't mind."
"I don't." A pause. "You ought to share, mind you."
"Ah?" Bulgaria's eyes widened. He wouldn't have expected it – but then again, it wasn't the first time Norway had surprised him. Okay, then. He shrugged, and slipped the packet from his pocket, offering it to him. "I didn't know you smoke."
"I don't." Norway's long, pale fingers plucked out a cigarette. No change in his expression. "But now and again. If I'm with someone who's doing it." He met Bulgaria's eyes again. "Got a light?"
There was something about that gaze, the way Norway looked at him, that turned Bulgaria's insides to jelly. "Right. Yes," he said, flushing as he fumbled with his jacket pocket for his lighter. "Yeah, somewhere. Here -" He found it. Lit it. Watched as Norway dipped his head to the tiny flame, letting it catch.
Then he swallowed harshly and lit his own cigarette, amazed that he could manage to keep his hands steady, that his fingers weren't trembling too much to be useful.
They both fell quiet. Bulgaria kept glancing at Norway as he smoked, watching his content expression and the way the smoke curled around him. His long fingers. His eyes at ease, partway shut. Norway looked much calmer than Bulgaria felt.
Eventually, though, Bulgaria relaxed. It might have been the smoke. Or the night. Or Norway's soft silence.
It was a comfortable kind of quiet. The kind of quiet that came from not expecting much and just relaxing in the moment.
"One more day've this," Norway muttered.
"The meeting?" Bulgaria glanced over at him.
"Aye." Norway took another drag, looking as if he were mulling something over. "Won't be leaving until the morning after that, mind. What with how the scheduling worked out with the flight."
"Ah – yeah. Same here." Bulgaria sighted. "I would've liked to get home tomorrow night, but it just didn't work out that way."
Norway made a noncommittal noise. He looked thoughtful. "Heard there's summat going on by the harbour tomorrow night. After we're done with business, in the evening. Some kind of live music. Could join me, if you like. 'Mean, if there's nothing else you'd rather."
Bulgaria opened his mouth. Shut it. Took a drag on his cigarette in a desperate attempt to buy himself time to think.
Their relationship, such as it was, was private for the most part. Intimate. Sex and, usually, not much else. An introduction by Romania one night had led to them talking and then sleeping together – but hardly anything beyond that.
But that didn't mean there couldn't be more. Something else.
The surprising thing was that Norway would want it.
The thought made him feel nervous. Like he should decline. Like if he said yes, it would all blow up in his face. But would it?
"I, um. Uh." He tried. Fumbled. His hands were sweaty, and the words just weren't coming. He swallowed hard, took a long drag, then tried again. "Sure. I don't have any other plans, so that sounds great!" As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Bulgaria wanted to cringe. Too enthusiastic, too overeager, too much.
In response, Norway only made a quiet, acknowledging sound. He took his time with answering as he ashed, smoked, then ashed again.
"That's good," Norway said finally, much to Bulgaria's relief. "It'll be nice, having company."
"Me?" Bulgaria asked in surprise, staring at him.
Norway raised an eyebrow. "'Course you," he said. "There ain't anyone else here, is there?" He swept his gaze around the garden, then raised an eyebrow. Point made.
"Hah." Bulgaria let out an exhale of a laugh. "Well, no. But I guess... I just didn't expect it."
Neither of them spoke for a moment. Bulgaria let the subject sit, and listened to the sounds of the city, waiting for Norway.
Slowly, Norway moved closer. It was just a slight shifting in his seat, placing himself a fraction nearer to Bulgaria. Not close enough to look like anything more than two people smoking together, but just close enough. Bulgaria could feel the heat on him. He imagined leaning into him, but didn't do it.
"Find myself wanting to take things quiet and slow these days. It ain't hard to do that with you."
Norway said it so easily, as if it were self-evident. As if it wasn't a big thing. But it was. Bulgaria chewed on his lower lip, finding himself blushing and wondering what to say. He knew exactly what Norway meant; there were days when he felt like he was a million years old and wanted nothing more than to take things at a slow pace and enjoy some peace and quiet. It was one of the things that had draw him to Norway in the first place; his silence, his quiet and mysterious calm – which became less mysterious after sleeping with him for a while.
Bulgaria ran his tongue over his teeth. What should he say? What could he say? Finally, he settled for, "I like that too. I... like being around you, too." And it came out so clumsily, but he found that he didn't care at all, because when he looked at Norway again, he found him smiling – small, but genuine, and absolutely there.
Maybe it didn't matter if he was awkward or not. Norway didn't mind. And if he doesn't mind, Bulgaria thought, maybe this will work after all.
"Glad to hear it." Norway fell quiet for a moment, looking up at the sky, smoke curling around him. When he looked at Bulgaria again, his eyes were dark and warm. "I'm ready to go back up whenever you are," he said, nodding toward the hotel.
"Almost." Drag. Ash. Bulgaria wondered what Norway meant. A round two? He wouldn't mind, exactly, but it would be a bit much. He wasn't sure if his body was up for it. "Um. What do you have in mind?"
"Just being cozy a while. If that's all right." Norway hesitated, then shrugged. "'Less you're after something else, that is."
"No, that sounds god. Great, actually." There was a time when he never would have expected to cuddle up next to Norway in bed, but now that he knew what it was like, Bulgaria couldn't help but like the thought.
And he was glad to be with someone who'd call it quits after one round. There was that, too.
Drag, ash. Then finally he was ready to go.
Norway rose, and offered his hand.
Bulgaria took it, letting him draw him up. Relishing that moment of contact before he let go.
The warmth remained.
Fandom: Hetalia
Characters/Pairing: Norway/Bulgaria
Rating: 18+
Length: ~1800
Summary: After some intimacy, they go out for fresh air, a smoke, and a talk.
Other: I want to write something more complicated with them at some point, but in the meantime, there's this. :V
Warmth Remains
Bulgaria gasped, his white-knuckled fingers gripping the bedsheets. He pressed his face to the pillow and bit down, trying to muffle the sound of his moans.
Norway's breath was hot on the back of his neck. He was quiet; there was little sound aside from the heaviness of his panting. His hips rocked in quick, deep thrusts, long-fingered hands planted firm on the mattress at either side of Bulgaria's head.
So close. Bulgaria arched his back, angled his hips. Whimpered as Norway sped up in response to the invitation to fuck him deeper. There, yes, there -
He came hard with the cotton pillowcase clenched between his teeth.
They were both quiet after the end. Norway finished, sighed deeply, then nuzzled against Bulgaria, moving to brush a kiss against his cheek. Then he slid from the bed and went to wash up.
Bulgaria followed not long after.
They had been meeting like this occasionally, off and on, for a few years. One night or two. Always when they were both in the same place for world meetings. Always in hotel rooms. It was a little impersonal. But somehow – even with that, it wasn't cold. Though at times Bulgaria found himself wondering what it might be like to have more, he always came around to deciding – no. Not yet. He wasn't ready to ask for that, not when he was sure the answer would be no.
He towelled off his hair, then went back into the bedroom. Norway was pulling his clothes on. Bulgaria's heart leapt into his throat. Usually, Norway wouldn't leave so soon. Normally, he would stay for a little while, even if he did end up eventually going back to his own hotel room. The thought that he'd done something wrong washed over Bulgaria in an instant, and -
"Was thinking I'd get some air. 'S a nice night." Norway nodded to the window, then resumed buttoning his shirt. His gaze slid over to Bulgaria. "Join me?"
There was a slight smile on his lips. Small. Quiet, like the request, and much like Norway himself. Bulgaria swallowed his nervousness and his relief and returned it with one of his own. "Sure," he said. "That sounds great."
He cringed at himself and all that over-eagerness. Too much. Hardly charismatic. But at least he hadn't stumbled over his own tongue. More importantly, Norway hadn't seemed to notice.
Bulgaria dressed quickly. Or as quickly as he could. He spent a moment debating with himself – jacket or no jacket? The summer nights were creeping toward autumn, at it might be cool, but not too much. Not yet. Did he need it? More importantly, his cigarettes. He wanted one. But – Norway. Norway would probably be bothered if he smoked; he seemed like the type.
He ran the questions over in his head, while Norway waited patiently. Eventually, Bulgaria gave up and shrugged on his jacket, cigarettes in the pocket and all. Better, Bulgaria thought, to just do it. Better not to keep Norway waiting. Not that he seemed to mind – but.
The air was cool when they finally made it outside. Bulgaria found himself glad for the jacket after all. Together, they took a short walk around the hotel to a small garden lit with lamps casting a warm glow.
Norway sat on a bench. Bulgaria sat beside him.
The city was quiet. A few people passed by on the street, talking in low voices, but the garden was deserted. Empty, except for the two of them. The night was relaxed, sedate.
Bulgaria chewed his lower lip. He still felt warm from the sex, and the sea air blowing in from the nearby harbour was cool on his face. Norway was quiet, and Bulgaria wondered if he should say something. He wasn't sure. It could break the mood, or it could be the right move. Norway wasn't the kind of guy who needed chatty company; Bulgaria knew that well enough. But still, maybe he should -
"You look like you want a smoke."
Bulgaria nearly swallowed his tongue. "Uh," he said. His cheeks warmed, and he fidgeted with the collar of his shirt. Norway's expression was neutral, not judgmental, but it was still a moment before Bulgaria stopped floundering and managed to think of a response. "What makes you think that?"
"The way you're chewing at your lips." Norway's dark eyes darted downward, toward Bulgaria's pocket and the lump made by the cigarette packet before lifting to meet his gaze again. "Go on, if that's what you're after."
"Oh, well... I will, then. If you don't mind."
"I don't." A pause. "You ought to share, mind you."
"Ah?" Bulgaria's eyes widened. He wouldn't have expected it – but then again, it wasn't the first time Norway had surprised him. Okay, then. He shrugged, and slipped the packet from his pocket, offering it to him. "I didn't know you smoke."
"I don't." Norway's long, pale fingers plucked out a cigarette. No change in his expression. "But now and again. If I'm with someone who's doing it." He met Bulgaria's eyes again. "Got a light?"
There was something about that gaze, the way Norway looked at him, that turned Bulgaria's insides to jelly. "Right. Yes," he said, flushing as he fumbled with his jacket pocket for his lighter. "Yeah, somewhere. Here -" He found it. Lit it. Watched as Norway dipped his head to the tiny flame, letting it catch.
Then he swallowed harshly and lit his own cigarette, amazed that he could manage to keep his hands steady, that his fingers weren't trembling too much to be useful.
They both fell quiet. Bulgaria kept glancing at Norway as he smoked, watching his content expression and the way the smoke curled around him. His long fingers. His eyes at ease, partway shut. Norway looked much calmer than Bulgaria felt.
Eventually, though, Bulgaria relaxed. It might have been the smoke. Or the night. Or Norway's soft silence.
It was a comfortable kind of quiet. The kind of quiet that came from not expecting much and just relaxing in the moment.
"One more day've this," Norway muttered.
"The meeting?" Bulgaria glanced over at him.
"Aye." Norway took another drag, looking as if he were mulling something over. "Won't be leaving until the morning after that, mind. What with how the scheduling worked out with the flight."
"Ah – yeah. Same here." Bulgaria sighted. "I would've liked to get home tomorrow night, but it just didn't work out that way."
Norway made a noncommittal noise. He looked thoughtful. "Heard there's summat going on by the harbour tomorrow night. After we're done with business, in the evening. Some kind of live music. Could join me, if you like. 'Mean, if there's nothing else you'd rather."
Bulgaria opened his mouth. Shut it. Took a drag on his cigarette in a desperate attempt to buy himself time to think.
Their relationship, such as it was, was private for the most part. Intimate. Sex and, usually, not much else. An introduction by Romania one night had led to them talking and then sleeping together – but hardly anything beyond that.
But that didn't mean there couldn't be more. Something else.
The surprising thing was that Norway would want it.
The thought made him feel nervous. Like he should decline. Like if he said yes, it would all blow up in his face. But would it?
"I, um. Uh." He tried. Fumbled. His hands were sweaty, and the words just weren't coming. He swallowed hard, took a long drag, then tried again. "Sure. I don't have any other plans, so that sounds great!" As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Bulgaria wanted to cringe. Too enthusiastic, too overeager, too much.
In response, Norway only made a quiet, acknowledging sound. He took his time with answering as he ashed, smoked, then ashed again.
"That's good," Norway said finally, much to Bulgaria's relief. "It'll be nice, having company."
"Me?" Bulgaria asked in surprise, staring at him.
Norway raised an eyebrow. "'Course you," he said. "There ain't anyone else here, is there?" He swept his gaze around the garden, then raised an eyebrow. Point made.
"Hah." Bulgaria let out an exhale of a laugh. "Well, no. But I guess... I just didn't expect it."
Neither of them spoke for a moment. Bulgaria let the subject sit, and listened to the sounds of the city, waiting for Norway.
Slowly, Norway moved closer. It was just a slight shifting in his seat, placing himself a fraction nearer to Bulgaria. Not close enough to look like anything more than two people smoking together, but just close enough. Bulgaria could feel the heat on him. He imagined leaning into him, but didn't do it.
"Find myself wanting to take things quiet and slow these days. It ain't hard to do that with you."
Norway said it so easily, as if it were self-evident. As if it wasn't a big thing. But it was. Bulgaria chewed on his lower lip, finding himself blushing and wondering what to say. He knew exactly what Norway meant; there were days when he felt like he was a million years old and wanted nothing more than to take things at a slow pace and enjoy some peace and quiet. It was one of the things that had draw him to Norway in the first place; his silence, his quiet and mysterious calm – which became less mysterious after sleeping with him for a while.
Bulgaria ran his tongue over his teeth. What should he say? What could he say? Finally, he settled for, "I like that too. I... like being around you, too." And it came out so clumsily, but he found that he didn't care at all, because when he looked at Norway again, he found him smiling – small, but genuine, and absolutely there.
Maybe it didn't matter if he was awkward or not. Norway didn't mind. And if he doesn't mind, Bulgaria thought, maybe this will work after all.
"Glad to hear it." Norway fell quiet for a moment, looking up at the sky, smoke curling around him. When he looked at Bulgaria again, his eyes were dark and warm. "I'm ready to go back up whenever you are," he said, nodding toward the hotel.
"Almost." Drag. Ash. Bulgaria wondered what Norway meant. A round two? He wouldn't mind, exactly, but it would be a bit much. He wasn't sure if his body was up for it. "Um. What do you have in mind?"
"Just being cozy a while. If that's all right." Norway hesitated, then shrugged. "'Less you're after something else, that is."
"No, that sounds god. Great, actually." There was a time when he never would have expected to cuddle up next to Norway in bed, but now that he knew what it was like, Bulgaria couldn't help but like the thought.
And he was glad to be with someone who'd call it quits after one round. There was that, too.
Drag, ash. Then finally he was ready to go.
Norway rose, and offered his hand.
Bulgaria took it, letting him draw him up. Relishing that moment of contact before he let go.
The warmth remained.