Equilibrium [Netherlands/Norway]
Mar. 31st, 2014 09:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
roesslyngTitle: Equilibrium
Characters/Pairing: Netherlands/Norway
Rating: 10+
Length: ~2000
Summary: Norway might like spending time with those he cares about, but sometimes, it's a bit overwhelming. Sometimes, rabbits are better company.
Other: I wanted to write something self-indulgent.
Equilibrium
The evening air was fresh, and while it wasn't too cold, there was an edge in it. Autumn would arrive soon enough. Best to make the most of the last of the summer, then. That was what the idea had been when they'd got together at Netherlands' place, anyway.
The door to the outside was open. From where he was, Norway could hear them: Denmark's voice, louder than it had a right to be. Netherlands, lower than the other, slow and rumbling. Warm. A laugh -- that was Belgium.
He'd told them he'd only be a minute, but that was a lie. As much as he liked them - all three of them - he'd spent all day with them, and he'd had enough. Enough for the time being, at any rate. So he'd excused himself, and from the sound of it none of them had thought anything of it when he'd made his way back inside Netherlands' house.
Without a word, Norway sank down onto the living room sofa, put his head in his hands, and closed his eyes. It didn't bother him that he could still hear them; he didn't mind that. There was something warm and pleasant about the way their voices mixed together. It was nice. He just needed a minute to himself.
Well. Probably more than a minute. The beer they'd been drinking had left him feeling too warm, too hazy. It was good and he'd had too much of it. Norway bit the inside of his cheek and remembered Denmark slapping him on the back and making some comment about it. Ya' shouldn't get too carried away! Never could hold your liquor, y'know.
Annoying. He could manage just fine, thanks. Never mind that he didn't drink often. With the price of it at his place, who would? And he hadn't had that much to drink, anyway.
Though that didn't change the fact that he felt too sleepy, too dozy. That was also annoying, especially since he could end up drifting off if he wasn't careful. Take far more than a minute of time to himself. Wouldn't that be just the thing, falling asleep on his friend's couch like that. Ridiculous.
But he didn't feel like moving, either. Though it'd be best, wouldn't it.
When he finally opened his eyes, a little white face set with two shiny black eyes stared right back at him.
There was a rabbit sitting on the floor between his feet.
Norway stared at it for a moment. The rabbit stared right back, its nose twitching. Neither of them moved.
Norway was the one to lose the staring contest. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips and, unable to resist, he reached down to stroke it between the ears. "Evenin', Lodewijk," he muttered, his smile broadening as the rabbit nosed at his hand. "Would've thought you'd've stayed outside rather'n followed me in. How's that, then."
Lodewijk didn't answer - not that he expected him to, of course - but he didn't seem to have any intention of joining Netherlands out in the garden, either, not with the way he kept bumping his head against Norway's palm as if insisting on more head-petting. Norway thought about it for a moment. Well, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have some company, after all.
"Easy there, then." Carefully, he dipped to scoop the rabbit up. Lodewijk let him, not seeming to mind being picked up, and as soon as Norway sat back again to sink deep into the couch cushions, the rabbit made himself comfortable in his lap.
There was no call to do or say anything else, so Norway didn't.
He closed his eyes again and took in the low sound of talk filtering in from outside. He had come inside to escape that chatter, but now, it was all right. Well, it hadn't been the talk that he'd been running from, exactly. It had been the constant presence; the constant being-around-people of it all. Much as he liked them, well, they could have it. He had his own company now. Quiet company. Lodewijk was a warm, reassuring weight in his lap, his fur soft and his nose tickling as he pressed it against Norway's fingertips.
Best of all, he didn't say a damn thing.
"Nice've you to pop by," Norway muttered as the rabbit nuzzled against his hand. "Don't mind havin' you around one bit."
Lodewijk tilted his head to the side, then nuzzled against Norway's palm, as if trying to tell him that he wanted less conversation and more petting, thanks.
That suited Norway just fine.
Eventually, he ended up falling back to lie down with his head against the sofa pillows and Lodewijk sitting square on his chest. The rabbit was quite content to stay where he was, because that meant more petting. As for Norway, he didn't care to move.
You'll regret it in the morning if you fall asleep like this, Norway thought through the warm haze of the alcohol. For a moment his hand stilled as he considered it. He didn't want to get up, but he wasn't keen on the prospect of waking up bright and early with a crick in his neck, either.
He might have ceased the petting in favour of thinking, but that didn't suit Lodewijk. A nudge of a nose to the hand reminded him to start again, and Norway obeyed, tsking as he stroked at his ears. "Fine, then. But you ain't gettin' nothin' if I fall asleep here."
His eyes fell shut. Somehow, he still felt warm and hazy. It didn't make one bit of sense. He hadn't had that much to drink, had he? Denmark's teasing echoed in his mind, and he pushed it out. No, it hadn't been that much, and it hadn't been strong stuff either –
Maybe it was just that he was feeling pretty damn content at the moment. Maybe that was it.
A fuzzy rabbit nose pressing right up against his cheek interrupted his thoughts. Norway's eyes snapped open and he stared at Lodewijk. While he had been thinking, the rabbit had taken it upon himself to move up Norway's chest until he was looking him straight in the face.
Well then.
Norway couldn't help it. He laughed quietly, nuzzling at the rabbit a bit. "Givin' me goodnight kisses, are ya?" he muttered as he gently took hold of him and moved him away from his face. "Thanks. But I ain't keen on gettin' more friendly than that, understand."
It must have been after that. That was when he drifted off. Something to do with the low sounds he could hear, and the hazy feeling that the booze had left him with, and the warmth of the rabbit curled up on top of him, and the comfort of Netherlands' sofa. For a while Norway had tried to stay awake, talking to Lodewijk as he spent the time petting at him, but it was no good – eventually, he fell asleep. He must have.
He didn't hear the sound of someone approaching, not at first, but there must have been something, as it pulled him out of his sleep. Slowly, he eased awake, and became aware of footsteps and the sound of the old wood floor creaking under them.
The footsteps stopped by the side of the sofa. Norway opened his eyes. The hallway light was on, and a large shadow loomed over the couch.
"So you're awake," the shadow muttered lowly. It was Netherlands.
"Mnh," Norway said. He closed his eyes. Opened them. Blinked a few times. Looked up at Netherlands and yawned. "What time is it?" he asked.
"Dunno'." Netherlands looked from Norway to Lodewijk, who was still curled up on Norway's chest, and by now was fast asleep, and had been for a while. "Ya found a friend."
"Was keepin' me company." Norway smiled, lifting a hand to stroke at the rabbit's ears. "Ain't as loud as Denmark, understand."
"That's why ya ran off?"
"No." His hand stilled. For a moment he didn't speak. Parted his lips, shut them. Tried to think of the right way to put it. "Needed some time to my own self, is all. Long day."
He glanced up to Netherlands again. In the dark, with what little light entered the room at his back, it was difficult to tell what expression was on his shadowy face. But he didn't seem bothered, and the nod that he gave didn't seem to suggest it either. Maybe he understood exactly what Norway felt.
"Denmark said you were drunk."
"Denmark's full of shit."
Netherlands snorted. Norway smiled. Then he lifted his hand and gestured.
"C'mere, would you."
He said the words softly. Almost, but not quite, cautiously. He didn't need to be cautious now, not with it just being the two of them – well, and Lodewijk. The two of them, and the rabbit, and the dark, and the quiet, and nothing else. And even if he had been vague with his words, Netherlands seemed to know exactly what he wanted, because he set his hand on the arm of the couch to steady himself, then bent down and pressed a kiss to Norway's lips.
It was soft, gentle, and lingering, and it was what Norway was looking for. He kissed back, brought his hand up to trail along Netherlands' shoulder before dropping again to rest it lightly on the rabbit's back. The position couldn't have been comfortable for Netherlands, bending all the way down like that, and finally Norway broke it with a gentle nip to the lips.
He expected Netherlands to draw away, but then he didn't. "You don't plan to sleep here, do you," Netherlands muttered, giving a look that suggested that if that was what Norway did plan to do, he was crazy.
Norway thought about it for a moment. "Well," he said, looking to Lodewijk, who by then had woke up and was staring at him with his nose twitching curiously. "Hadn't planned on it. Just turned out that way, is all." He stroked at the rabbit's ears for a moment. "Where's Denmark?"
"Guest room."
"And Belgium?"
"...Uh. Same."
Norway schooled his expression. "That so."
"Yeah."
Norway glanced up at him. Netherlands was looking down, not at him, but at Lodewijk, who was vying for petting now that he was awake. "Well," he said, giving in and indulging the rabbit, stroking his ears gently. "Could join you. Seein's you'll have room."
A nod. "Sounds good." That sealed it.
Netherlands dipped his hands to take charge of Lodewijk, scooping him up to set him carefully on the floor. As Norway sat up, brushing his hair out of his face, he found himself glad that the sound of his friend coming in the room woke him up. If he'd fallen asleep there, his back would have had some complaints about it in the morning. For a second he glanced up at Netherlands, taking in the shadowy shape, the way he towered over him. Then he stood up and took hold of his hand.
At first Netherlands gave him a questioning look, then looked down at their hands, his brows furrowing even as he knitted their fingers together. Norway waited for a moment, patient about it was he looked up at him, wondering if he'd catch on, or if he'd have to ask. Or say it, at least, not ask for it. He wasn't about to go asking for it. Just as he gave up and parted his lips to say something, Netherlands shrugged, then slowly leaned down to kiss him.
As he returned it, Norway wondered if he'd actually figured it out, or if Netherlands had simply decided that when he wasn't sure what Norway wanted, it wouldn't hurt to try a kiss. Either possibility was equally as likely.
He felt long arms wrap around his waist, a large hand settling strong and firm at his lower back to draw him closer.
There in the dark, with Netherlands warm and tall against him, Norway decided that it didn't really matter how if he'd caught on or not. Either way, it was nice.
It really was nice.
The End
Characters/Pairing: Netherlands/Norway
Rating: 10+
Length: ~2000
Summary: Norway might like spending time with those he cares about, but sometimes, it's a bit overwhelming. Sometimes, rabbits are better company.
Other: I wanted to write something self-indulgent.
Equilibrium
The evening air was fresh, and while it wasn't too cold, there was an edge in it. Autumn would arrive soon enough. Best to make the most of the last of the summer, then. That was what the idea had been when they'd got together at Netherlands' place, anyway.
The door to the outside was open. From where he was, Norway could hear them: Denmark's voice, louder than it had a right to be. Netherlands, lower than the other, slow and rumbling. Warm. A laugh -- that was Belgium.
He'd told them he'd only be a minute, but that was a lie. As much as he liked them - all three of them - he'd spent all day with them, and he'd had enough. Enough for the time being, at any rate. So he'd excused himself, and from the sound of it none of them had thought anything of it when he'd made his way back inside Netherlands' house.
Without a word, Norway sank down onto the living room sofa, put his head in his hands, and closed his eyes. It didn't bother him that he could still hear them; he didn't mind that. There was something warm and pleasant about the way their voices mixed together. It was nice. He just needed a minute to himself.
Well. Probably more than a minute. The beer they'd been drinking had left him feeling too warm, too hazy. It was good and he'd had too much of it. Norway bit the inside of his cheek and remembered Denmark slapping him on the back and making some comment about it. Ya' shouldn't get too carried away! Never could hold your liquor, y'know.
Annoying. He could manage just fine, thanks. Never mind that he didn't drink often. With the price of it at his place, who would? And he hadn't had that much to drink, anyway.
Though that didn't change the fact that he felt too sleepy, too dozy. That was also annoying, especially since he could end up drifting off if he wasn't careful. Take far more than a minute of time to himself. Wouldn't that be just the thing, falling asleep on his friend's couch like that. Ridiculous.
But he didn't feel like moving, either. Though it'd be best, wouldn't it.
When he finally opened his eyes, a little white face set with two shiny black eyes stared right back at him.
There was a rabbit sitting on the floor between his feet.
Norway stared at it for a moment. The rabbit stared right back, its nose twitching. Neither of them moved.
Norway was the one to lose the staring contest. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips and, unable to resist, he reached down to stroke it between the ears. "Evenin', Lodewijk," he muttered, his smile broadening as the rabbit nosed at his hand. "Would've thought you'd've stayed outside rather'n followed me in. How's that, then."
Lodewijk didn't answer - not that he expected him to, of course - but he didn't seem to have any intention of joining Netherlands out in the garden, either, not with the way he kept bumping his head against Norway's palm as if insisting on more head-petting. Norway thought about it for a moment. Well, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have some company, after all.
"Easy there, then." Carefully, he dipped to scoop the rabbit up. Lodewijk let him, not seeming to mind being picked up, and as soon as Norway sat back again to sink deep into the couch cushions, the rabbit made himself comfortable in his lap.
There was no call to do or say anything else, so Norway didn't.
He closed his eyes again and took in the low sound of talk filtering in from outside. He had come inside to escape that chatter, but now, it was all right. Well, it hadn't been the talk that he'd been running from, exactly. It had been the constant presence; the constant being-around-people of it all. Much as he liked them, well, they could have it. He had his own company now. Quiet company. Lodewijk was a warm, reassuring weight in his lap, his fur soft and his nose tickling as he pressed it against Norway's fingertips.
Best of all, he didn't say a damn thing.
"Nice've you to pop by," Norway muttered as the rabbit nuzzled against his hand. "Don't mind havin' you around one bit."
Lodewijk tilted his head to the side, then nuzzled against Norway's palm, as if trying to tell him that he wanted less conversation and more petting, thanks.
That suited Norway just fine.
Eventually, he ended up falling back to lie down with his head against the sofa pillows and Lodewijk sitting square on his chest. The rabbit was quite content to stay where he was, because that meant more petting. As for Norway, he didn't care to move.
You'll regret it in the morning if you fall asleep like this, Norway thought through the warm haze of the alcohol. For a moment his hand stilled as he considered it. He didn't want to get up, but he wasn't keen on the prospect of waking up bright and early with a crick in his neck, either.
He might have ceased the petting in favour of thinking, but that didn't suit Lodewijk. A nudge of a nose to the hand reminded him to start again, and Norway obeyed, tsking as he stroked at his ears. "Fine, then. But you ain't gettin' nothin' if I fall asleep here."
His eyes fell shut. Somehow, he still felt warm and hazy. It didn't make one bit of sense. He hadn't had that much to drink, had he? Denmark's teasing echoed in his mind, and he pushed it out. No, it hadn't been that much, and it hadn't been strong stuff either –
Maybe it was just that he was feeling pretty damn content at the moment. Maybe that was it.
A fuzzy rabbit nose pressing right up against his cheek interrupted his thoughts. Norway's eyes snapped open and he stared at Lodewijk. While he had been thinking, the rabbit had taken it upon himself to move up Norway's chest until he was looking him straight in the face.
Well then.
Norway couldn't help it. He laughed quietly, nuzzling at the rabbit a bit. "Givin' me goodnight kisses, are ya?" he muttered as he gently took hold of him and moved him away from his face. "Thanks. But I ain't keen on gettin' more friendly than that, understand."
It must have been after that. That was when he drifted off. Something to do with the low sounds he could hear, and the hazy feeling that the booze had left him with, and the warmth of the rabbit curled up on top of him, and the comfort of Netherlands' sofa. For a while Norway had tried to stay awake, talking to Lodewijk as he spent the time petting at him, but it was no good – eventually, he fell asleep. He must have.
He didn't hear the sound of someone approaching, not at first, but there must have been something, as it pulled him out of his sleep. Slowly, he eased awake, and became aware of footsteps and the sound of the old wood floor creaking under them.
The footsteps stopped by the side of the sofa. Norway opened his eyes. The hallway light was on, and a large shadow loomed over the couch.
"So you're awake," the shadow muttered lowly. It was Netherlands.
"Mnh," Norway said. He closed his eyes. Opened them. Blinked a few times. Looked up at Netherlands and yawned. "What time is it?" he asked.
"Dunno'." Netherlands looked from Norway to Lodewijk, who was still curled up on Norway's chest, and by now was fast asleep, and had been for a while. "Ya found a friend."
"Was keepin' me company." Norway smiled, lifting a hand to stroke at the rabbit's ears. "Ain't as loud as Denmark, understand."
"That's why ya ran off?"
"No." His hand stilled. For a moment he didn't speak. Parted his lips, shut them. Tried to think of the right way to put it. "Needed some time to my own self, is all. Long day."
He glanced up to Netherlands again. In the dark, with what little light entered the room at his back, it was difficult to tell what expression was on his shadowy face. But he didn't seem bothered, and the nod that he gave didn't seem to suggest it either. Maybe he understood exactly what Norway felt.
"Denmark said you were drunk."
"Denmark's full of shit."
Netherlands snorted. Norway smiled. Then he lifted his hand and gestured.
"C'mere, would you."
He said the words softly. Almost, but not quite, cautiously. He didn't need to be cautious now, not with it just being the two of them – well, and Lodewijk. The two of them, and the rabbit, and the dark, and the quiet, and nothing else. And even if he had been vague with his words, Netherlands seemed to know exactly what he wanted, because he set his hand on the arm of the couch to steady himself, then bent down and pressed a kiss to Norway's lips.
It was soft, gentle, and lingering, and it was what Norway was looking for. He kissed back, brought his hand up to trail along Netherlands' shoulder before dropping again to rest it lightly on the rabbit's back. The position couldn't have been comfortable for Netherlands, bending all the way down like that, and finally Norway broke it with a gentle nip to the lips.
He expected Netherlands to draw away, but then he didn't. "You don't plan to sleep here, do you," Netherlands muttered, giving a look that suggested that if that was what Norway did plan to do, he was crazy.
Norway thought about it for a moment. "Well," he said, looking to Lodewijk, who by then had woke up and was staring at him with his nose twitching curiously. "Hadn't planned on it. Just turned out that way, is all." He stroked at the rabbit's ears for a moment. "Where's Denmark?"
"Guest room."
"And Belgium?"
"...Uh. Same."
Norway schooled his expression. "That so."
"Yeah."
Norway glanced up at him. Netherlands was looking down, not at him, but at Lodewijk, who was vying for petting now that he was awake. "Well," he said, giving in and indulging the rabbit, stroking his ears gently. "Could join you. Seein's you'll have room."
A nod. "Sounds good." That sealed it.
Netherlands dipped his hands to take charge of Lodewijk, scooping him up to set him carefully on the floor. As Norway sat up, brushing his hair out of his face, he found himself glad that the sound of his friend coming in the room woke him up. If he'd fallen asleep there, his back would have had some complaints about it in the morning. For a second he glanced up at Netherlands, taking in the shadowy shape, the way he towered over him. Then he stood up and took hold of his hand.
At first Netherlands gave him a questioning look, then looked down at their hands, his brows furrowing even as he knitted their fingers together. Norway waited for a moment, patient about it was he looked up at him, wondering if he'd catch on, or if he'd have to ask. Or say it, at least, not ask for it. He wasn't about to go asking for it. Just as he gave up and parted his lips to say something, Netherlands shrugged, then slowly leaned down to kiss him.
As he returned it, Norway wondered if he'd actually figured it out, or if Netherlands had simply decided that when he wasn't sure what Norway wanted, it wouldn't hurt to try a kiss. Either possibility was equally as likely.
He felt long arms wrap around his waist, a large hand settling strong and firm at his lower back to draw him closer.
There in the dark, with Netherlands warm and tall against him, Norway decided that it didn't really matter how if he'd caught on or not. Either way, it was nice.
It really was nice.
The End
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Date: 2016-05-12 06:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-05-12 08:53 am (UTC)