Chapter Text
The second person found out in the middle of the night.
For Emil, it was one of those nights in which you originally wanted to go to sleep early and yet end up watching the weirdest type of videos on YouTube on 3 a.m. . He turned around in his bed. It was hard trying to find a position he was comfortable in. Nothing was good enough which was quite annoying.
The rain tap-tap-tapped against the window. Fairly calming if you asked him. The uneven rhythm of the rain was comforting, almost as if telling him that everything was alright. Ice knows that isn't true but he didn't care anymore. At least not right that moment. Slowly but surely, the rain pushed him closer towards a state of much needed sleep. But no. The universe apparently decided that he shall not rest yet. Normally, in moments like these, this would be the bladder deciding it needs emptying right now. Today however? It was a knocking against his door.
That sound must have merely been something Ice imagined. Perhaps it was the rain? After all, who would knock on his door in particular? Even if someone would, who would knock late at night? Exactly, no-one. Whoever or whatever knocked on his door before, did so again before Ice could have made up any more, to him plausible, reasons as to why he heard knocking. This time, the knocking sounded softer, almost discouraged to an extent.
Emil decided to get up and look who or what the origin behind those sounds was and sure enough, when he opened the door, there stood a person, or rather, nation. They seemed surprised that he was actually up and opened his door for them. Iceland and that nation, or perhaps even better, Micronation, looked at each other. No words were exchanged, they only stared at each other.
Emil decided that Sealands eyes were different from how they usually looked. Different from how a, technically, child's eyes should look like. They had a fear in them, an exhaustion, a disappointment, a pain that was rare to ever see in anyone, especially Sealand, for that matter. Then again, they both were nations, he thought. Not exactly ordinary people. Iceland stepped aside and let Sealand into the room. He gestured to his bed, suggesting sitting or laying on it to Peter, who accepted the offer.
"I'll be right back...", Emil muttered, loud enough for Peter to hear him.
He went down the stairs and came back a few minutes later, two mugs of hot chocolate in his hands. Ice handed one to Peter, who accepted it thankfully. Peter took a few sips, Emil took one.
"So... Do you... wanna talk about it?"
A small silence.
"No... not really"
A long silence.
With the exception for the sounds of breathing and of sipping on the hot chocolate.
A long sigh from Ice. What was supposed to happen now? Should they just sit here awkwardly, doing nothing except drink from the mug every once in a while? No, no they shouldn't. The both of them knew that. Yet, they didn't know what they should do. So, Peter took charge.
"Still, thank you."
That sentence. That simple sentence. It surprised him. Icelands eyes made their way back over to Sealand from where they previously just stared off into space in the general direction of the window. Why was he being thanked? It didn't make sense. He didn't do anything to solve whatever Peters problem was.
"You're welcome? For whatever I did to receive your thanks that is."
"Well, you're awake for starters, so you're doing better than the others in that area."
He had to chuckle at that.
"Then you let me into your room at, whatever god forsaken time of night it is right now and even make me something hot to drink! Then, you just are there, without making me feel pressured into saying anything. I'm not so sure that many people would do that for me y'know? So, thank you."
Well would you look at that, Emil deserved being thanked. That felt new to him. He had to smile.
While Sea certainly calmed down, if you paid attention it was painfully obvious that he was still uneasy. He was tired, yet couldn't sleep. Emil was paying attention and he knew that feeling all too well. That understanding gave him an idea.
An idea for something that wasn't his thing. At least for what everyone else was concerned with.
But it wouldn't hurt if he let one person know.
He trusts Peter after all.
Emil took the hands of Peter, who wasn't expecting him to take action out of nowhere and certainly, didn't expect him doing this.
It was gorgeous, to say the least. Out of nowhere and almost magically, purple as well as yellow lights appeared, dancing around the room. Dancing around them, dancing around him.
It was beautiful, truly.
Sea looked up at Iceland who only smiled lightly. The lights were mesmerizing and drew him in, inviting him to go to sleep or maybe even just take a nap. With the comforting and protective presence of those lights and Emil combined, he opted to choosing the first suggestion and so, he let himself fall asleep.
Iceland took a look at the small figure in front of him, sleeping on his bed. The lights died down, they were just to distract Peter from what was actually happening to him. It worked. Of course it did, but he couldn't have been 100% sure. After all, he never tried doing this to another human- well humanoid being before, only Mr.Puffin when he was particularly annoying. Good to know it did and he didn't turn his practically-brother into something like say, a cactus. He had to chuckle at that thought.
Now that Sea was asleep, Ice finally noticed that it was still raining. He took both of their mugs and put them on a drawer next to his bed and let out a sigh.
Just as the lights were inviting Peter, the rain was inviting Emil, just like earlier. So, he accepted the invitation once more, this time for real, falling asleep on the bed, right next to Peter.
And while it wasn't the truth, in fact, nights like these would happen more in the future, it certainly felt like everything was alright.