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The summit ended with the usual quiet violence of chairs scraping backwards, microphones clicking off, papers being gathered too quickly by aides who wanted to look efficient , and Nation humans rising from their assigned seats with that particular stiffness that came after hours of pretending every word spoken in the room had not been sharpened beforehand
The Netherlands stayed seated for a moment longer
Not because he had anything left to say. He had already said enough for the day, his notes arranged in neat squares before him, his pen capped, his expression carefully mild in a way that suggested patience rather than exhaustion. Across the hall, Canada was speaking to his brother , New Zealand, one hand resting on the back of his chair, shoulders loose beneath his suit jacket. There was rain on the windows behind him, soft at first, blurring the grey shape of the city outside into something washed and uncertain
Netherlands watched the rain touch the glass.
He had checked the forecast that morning
Twice
It had said light showers
Light showers were not supposed to turn the sky the colour of dirty wool and make the roads shine black beneath the streetlamps before evening had even properly arrived
Canada looked over
The conversation around him continued, but his eyes found Netherlands through the thinning crowd, and his smile came slower than it usually did, softer around the edges. Not the polite smile used for cameras. Not the easy diplomatic one he gave when someone made a joke at a reception and everyone needed to pretend it was funnier than it was
This one was small. Private
Netherlands felt his fingers tighten around the capped pen
He stood
Canada excused himself from the conversation a few moments later and crossed the hall, stepping between clusters of delegations with that gentle, apologetic grace of someone who somehow managed to take up space without making anyone feel pushed aside. His maple leaf pin caught the overhead light when he came close
“So..” Canada said, voice low enough that it did not carry “Are we still going?”
Netherlands looked at him
Canada’s hair was slightly mussed from the long day, his tie loosened just enough to suggest that he had done it without thinking. There was a tiredness at the corners of his eyes, but his expression held a quiet hope that made Netherlands painfully aware of the folded paper in his inner jacket pocket
The itinerary
He had not called it that out loud, because that would have made it sound clinical. He had planned it with care anyway
A drive out of the city. A hiking trail just far enough from the diplomatic hotels to feel like escape. A scenic lookout if the weather cleared . A simple dinner after, maybe some wine, maybe something warm, something casual enough that Canada would not feel trapped by ceremony
A date planned around air, trees, and being allowed to walk without cameras. Canada loves hiking, he got his trait of adventure from France
“Yes” Netherlands said
Canada’s smile warmed
Netherlands added, after a beat “Unless you want to cancel because of the rain”
Canada turned his head slightly toward the window. The rain tapped steadily against the glass now, no longer shy
“Pssf- It’s just rain”
“It is becoming quite a lot of rain”
“I’m Canadian”
“That does not make you waterproof”
Canada’s smile widened, but he did not laugh loudly. He only looked down for a moment, thumb brushing the edge of his own cuff, as if trying to hide how pleased he was
“I still want to go” he said almost in a whining tone
Netherlands nodded once, like this settled everything, like his chest had not loosened with relief
“Then we go”
They left through the side entrance where the cars waited under a concrete overhang, the air outside damp and cold enough to cling to skin. Security moved around them in dark coats, speaking into radios, opening doors, watching the road with the expression of people who expected inconvenience as part of the natural order
Netherlands’s car was parked near the end of the lane, polished that morning and now already dotted with rain. He unlocked it, held the passenger door open without thinking, and only realised what he had done when Canada glanced at him with a look too fond to be fully innocent
Netherlands pretended not to notice
Canada got in, folding his long legs carefully into the car
The first ten minutes were almost perfect
Almost
The heater breathed warm air into the car. The summit building disappeared behind them, its flags slick with rain, its windows glowing like tired eyes. Canada leaned back in the passenger seat and let out a slow breath, the kind that seemed to empty the whole day from his chest
Netherlands drove with both hands on the wheel, posture straight, eyes on the road. The city moved around them in grey reflections: wet pavements, umbrellas bending under wind, taxis sliding by in lines of red brake lights
Then the traffic stopped
Not slowed
Stopped
Ahead of them, an endless chain of cars sat beneath the rain, their lights bleeding across the soaked asphalt. Somewhere far ahead, a horn sounded. Then another. The sound travelled through the trapped vehicles like irritation passing from one body to the next
Canada stared through the windshield
Netherlands did not move
The navigation screen calmly announced a delay of twentythree minutes
Then thirtyone
Then fortyeight
Canada turned his head very slowly toward Netherlands
Netherlands kept his eyes forward
“This is not part of the plan” he said with clenched teeth
Canada’s mouth twitched
“I guessed”
“The route was clear when I checked”
“I believe you”
“I checked twice”
“I still believe you, Holland”
Netherlands exhaled through his nose, quiet but sharp
Canada looked out at the rain again, his reflection faint in the window. He did not seem annoyed. That was almost worse. His patience sat beside Netherlands like a warm coat he had not earned
The car inched forward by half a metre
Stopped again
By the time they finally reached the road leading out toward the trail, the sky had darkened much earlier than it should have. The rain had grown heavier, drumming over the roof of the car with a blunt, persistent sound. The trees along the roadside bent and shook, leaves turned glossy and black under the storm
Netherlands parked at the trail lot with a grim sort of determination
There were only three other cars there
That should have been a warning
Canada stepped out and immediately had to push his hair back from his forehead as the rain struck him harder than expected. His suit jacket darkened at the shoulders within seconds
Netherlands came around the car holding two raincoats
Canada looked at them
“You brought raincoats?”
“Well, I planned for light shower”
“This feels like a little more than a light showers”
“Yeah” Netherlands said, handing one over “I have noticed”
Canada put it on anyway
The hiking trail began beyond a wooden sign at the edge of the lot, the path disappearing into thick greenery. Rainwater ran down the posted map in thin, trembling lines. A small notice had been taped to one side, the ink blurred at the edges
Netherlands stepped closer and read it
Canada stood beside him, shoulder nearly touching his
[TRAIL PARTIALLY CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING]
Netherlands stared at the sign
Canada leaned in
“Partially” he said
Netherlands turned to look at him
“No”
Canada blinked, too innocent “I didn’t say anything”
“You said ‘partially’ in a tone”
“It might still be fine for the first part”
“The trail is flooded”
“Partially flooded”
“That is still flooded”
Canada glanced toward the trees. The path beyond the sign was wet, but not yet underwater. Mud collected in the lower places, and rain bounced off broad leaves in quick silver bursts
Netherlands followed his gaze and felt the plan, already bent by traffic and weather, begin to crack in his hands
Canada’s expression shifted
It was subtle. He did not pout. He did not plead. He only looked at the trail with that open longing of someone who had spent the day under fluorescent lights, measured language, and diplomatic restraint, and now wanted one hour where the world did not need him to be careful
Netherlands closed his eyes briefly
“You are going to say it is just mud” he grimaced
Canada looked back at him
“It is just mud”
“And rain”
“And rain”
“And a flood warning”
“A partial flood warning”
Netherlands opened his eyes
Canada was smiling now, but gently, as if he knew this was ridiculous and still wanted it anyway
“We don’t have to go far, Holland ” Canada said “Just a little in. If it gets bad, we turn back”
The rain struck the hood of the car behind them. Somewhere in the trees, water rushed where there should not have been a stream
Netherlands looked at the trail
Then at Canada
Then at the trail again
“This is a bad idea, Nada”
Canada’s smile deepened “I know”
Netherlands sighed and pulled his hood up “Five minutes”
Canada stepped onto the trail with the bright, terrible satisfaction of someone who had won
The first part was not so bad
That was the cruel thing about it
The trees swallowed the sound of the road quickly, replacing it with rain on leaves, rain on soil, rain on the thin plastic of their coats. The path wound gently upward, bordered by roots and low plants that trembled beneath the water. Mud clung to their shoes but did not yet try to steal them. The air smelled of wet earth and crushed leaves
Canada walked slightly ahead, slower than he might have on a clear day, looking around with his hood pushed back just enough for the rain to touch his face
Netherlands noticed
“You are letting water into your coat”
Canada glanced back “I like the rain”
“You will like being sick less”
Canada pulled the hood forward obediently, though not without smiling
Netherlands hated how pleased that made him
For a while, the failed plan almost became something else. Not the date he had imagined, not the neat trail with the lookout and dry benches and golden late afternoon light, but something damp and foolish and strangely theirs. Canada stopped to look at moss growing over a fallen branch.
Netherlands pretended not to watch the way rain gathered on his eyelashes. They crossed a shallow run of water moving over the path, Canada stepping first and offering a hand back as if Netherlands needed help
Netherlands looked at the hand
Then took it
Canada’s palm was warm despite the rain
Neither of them said anything for several steps after that
The trail narrowed farther in
The mud changed too. It became darker, softer, slick beneath the top layer of wet leaves. Water moved in thin streams along the edges of the path. The slope steepened, and the roots crossing the ground became harder to see beneath the rain
Netherlands slowed
“We should turn back now , Nada”
Canada was looking ahead, where the trees opened slightly. The path curved around a higher bank, and beyond it the land dropped away into a shallow ravine thick with undergrowth and rainwater
“Just to the bend?” Canada asked
Netherlands did not like the bend
He did not like the soft edge of the path. He did not like the way water ran over it. He did not like the dimness gathering between the trees, turning every shadow deeper than it had been a few minutes before
“Canada”
Canada turned at the sound of his name
Perhaps he heard it then. The seriousness beneath the irritation. The care Netherlands tried to keep folded into practical words and sharp edges
Canada’s smile faded a little
“Fine” he said “We can turn back”
He took one step toward Netherlands
The mud gave way
It happened without drama at first
One foot slid. Canada’s body shifted, his hand reaching instinctively toward a branch that bent under his weight instead of holding. His other boot skidded over wet leaves. For one suspended second, he was still almost upright, eyes wide, mouth parted as if to say something
Then he went down
Not straight down
Sideways
The slope took him
Netherlands lunged forward, grabbing at air, at sleeve, at the edge of Canada’s raincoat. His fingers caught fabric for half a second before the slick material tore free from his grip. Canada slid hard down the muddy bank, striking the side once, then rolling through wet brush before disappearing past the lip of the path
“Canada!”
The name came out rough enough to tear
Netherlands dropped to his knees at the edge, rainwater soaking immediately through the fabric of his trousers. Below, several metres down, Canada lay half on his side among crushed plants and mud, one arm braced awkwardly beneath him
For a second he did not move
The rain filled everything
Then Canada groaned
Netherlands’s breath returned so sharply it hurt “Do not move” he called down
Canada moved anyway, because of course he did. He tried to push himself up, then stopped with a sound that made Netherlands’s stomach twist
“My ankle” Canada said, voice strained
Netherlands was already looking for a way down
There was no proper path. Only the slope, slick and dark, broken by roots and brush. He lowered himself carefully, one hand gripping a tree trunk, shoes sliding beneath him. Mud smeared across his coat, his sleeve, his hands. Halfway down, his foot slipped and he landed hard on one knee, pain flashing up his leg
He ignored it
By the time he reached Canada, his hair was plastered to his forehead and rain was running down the back of his neck
Canada looked up at him from the mud
His face was pale beneath the rain
“I think” Canada said carefully, breathing through his teeth “this is no longer five minutes”
Netherlands stared at him
Canada gave a weak, apologetic smile
Netherlands wanted to be angry. He wanted very badly to be angry because anger had edges, and edges were easier to hold than fear
Instead, he crouched beside him and touched his shoulder “Can you sit up?”
“Probably”
“Slowly”
Canada tried. Netherlands supported him under the arm, steadying him as he shifted upright. Mud covered one side of Canada’s coat, streaked his trousers, and darkened his shirt where rain had seeped through. His right ankle was angled carefully, held away from the ground
Netherlands looked at it
Canada looked at Netherlands looking
“It’s not broken” Canada said
“You do not know that”
“I’ve broken things before. This feels different”
“That is not a medical diagnosis, Nada”
“No”
Canada swallowed, then tried to smile again
“It is a very Canadian diagnosis”
Netherlands did not laugh
Canada’s smile disappeared
The rain softened for half a breath, then returned harder, rattling through the leaves above them. The light was thinning quickly now, the grey of evening becoming something heavier. Netherlands looked up the slope. Getting down had been difficult. Getting Canada back up would be worse
His plan was gone
The trail, the lookout, the clean little date with controlled risks and pleasant views. gone. In its place was Canada sitting in the mud with a sprained ankle, rain dripping off his nose, and Netherlands with dirt under his fingernails and a pulse that had not slowed since Canada fell
“I’m sorry” Canada said
Netherlands looked back at him
Canada’s eyes were lowered now, fixed somewhere near Netherlands’s muddy shoes
“I pushed it” he said “You said we should turn back”
Netherlands crouched lower, bringing himself into Canada’s line of sight
“Yes” he said
Canada winced
Netherlands reached out and brushed a wet leaf from Canada’s shoulder. The gesture was small, almost too careful for the weather around them
“But I agreed” Netherlands continued “So we are not doing this now”
Canada looked at him like
“Doing what?”
“The part where you take all the blame because you are injured and feel guilty”
Canada’s mouth trembled into something almost like a smile, but pain pulled it thin
Netherlands shifted closer
“Can you stand if I help you?”
“I think so”
“Do not be brave”
“I’m always brave”
“Be quiet”
Canada lowered his head, but this time he did laugh, soft and breathless, quickly cut short when his ankle shifted
Netherlands moved immediately
“Sorry” Canada whispered
“Stop apologising”
“Sorry”
Netherlands gave him a look
Canada pressed his lips together
The climb back up took longer than it should have
Netherlands took most of Canada’s weight on one side, Canada’s arm heavy across his shoulders, their steps uneven and slow. Mud sucked at their shoes. Rainwater ran down their sleeves and into their cuffs. Canada tried not to lean too hard, which only made everything worse until Netherlands stopped on the slope, turned his head, and spoke low into the rain
“If you fall again because you are trying not to inconvenience me, I will be very angry”
Canada looked at him, breathing hard
Then he leaned properly
Netherlands tightened his grip around Canada’s waist and began moving again
By the time they reached the trail, both of them were shaking. Canada’s face had gone grey with pain, but he stayed upright, jaw set, one hand gripping the front of Netherlands’s coat
The walk back was worse
The path that had seemed inconvenient on the way in had become hostile in the darkening rain. Every root was a threat. Every patch of leaves hid mud or water or uneven ground. Netherlands kept one arm around Canada and the other ready to catch them both if they slipped. Canada hopped when he could, dragged his injured foot when he could not, and once, when pain struck too sharply, he stopped completely and bowed his head against Netherlands’s shoulder
Netherlands froze
Canada’s breath came unevenly near his neck
For a moment, the rain and the trees closed around them until there was nothing else. No summit. No handlers. No flags. No careful distance
Only Canada hurt and trying not to show it
Only Netherlands holding him in the rain
“We are almost there” Netherlands said
He did not know if it was true
Canada nodded anyway
They kept going
The parking lot appeared slowly through the trees, not all at once, but in fragments
First the pale line of gravel where the trail met the open space. Then the blurred shape of a car, headlights reflecting off wet ground. Then the full stretch of the lot itself, empty in that lonely way that made every sound feel louder than it should be
Rain struck the asphalt in a steady, unforgiving sheet
Canada let out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh
“I’ve never been so happy to see a parking lot”
Netherlands did not answer immediately. He shifted his grip instead, adjusting the way Canada’s arm rested over his shoulders, making sure he didn’t slip in the last few metres
“You are going to sit” Netherlands said as they stepped off the trail “Immediately”
“Yes, sir”
“That was not a suggestion”
“I know”
Canada’s voice had gone softer. tired . The kind of tired that settled into the bones rather than the muscles. His weight leaned more heavily into Netherlands now, no longer trying to hide it
The car was where they left it, rain streaking down the windows, the metal body dull under the grey sky. For a moment, it felt like a small, fragile thing against the storm
Netherlands eased Canada toward the passenger side
“Careful”
Canada lowered himself onto the edge of the seat with a tight breath, one hand gripping the door frame. When his weight shifted off his ankle, the tension in his shoulders loosened slightly, though his jaw remained clenched
Netherlands reached past him, pulling the door wider, then paused
Canada’s clothes were soaked through. Mud streaked his coat, smeared across his trousers, clinging to the side where he had hit the slope. Water dripped from his sleeves onto the car’s interior
For half a second, Netherlands hesitated
Canada noticed
“I can sit on the floor if you want” he said lightly, though his voice wavered at the edges
Netherlands looked at him
Then at the mud
Then back at him
“No” he said, and the word came out sharper than intended “Get in”
Canada didn’t argue. He shifted further into the seat, drawing his injured leg in carefully. The motion cost him, a flicker of pain crossing his face before he could smooth it away
Netherlands closed the door gently behind him
The rain hit harder the moment he stepped away from the car
It soaked through his coat, his hair, the back of his collar. By the time he reached the driver’s side, his hands were cold enough that the key fob slipped once against his grip
He caught it
Unlocked the door
Got in
The interior of the car filled with the sound of rain on metal and glass, louder now that they were enclosed. The heater hummed weakly when he turned it on, blowing out air that felt barely warmer than the storm outside
For a moment, neither of them spoke
Canada leaned back against the seat, eyes closed, head tipped slightly to one side . water still clung to his lashes. His breathing had steadied, but each inhale came a little too carefully
Netherlands looked at him
Then down at his ankle
Swollen already
He reached over
“Show me”
Canada opened his eyes “It’s fine”
“It is not fine”
“It’s-“
“Canada”
The name settled between them, firm and low
Canada exhaled and shifted, lifting his leg slightly. Netherlands moved closer, careful, hands steady despite the cold. He loosened the wet fabric around the ankle, fingers brushing against skin that was already warm from swelling
Canada flinched
Netherlands stilled immediately
“Sorry”
“Don’t apologise” Netherlands said, though his voice softened despite himself “Just… tell me if it hurts”
“It hurts”
“That is expected”
Canada huffed a quiet breath, almost a laugh
Netherlands pressed lightly around the joint, testing, observing. No unnatural angle. No immediate sign of a break. But the swelling was clear, and the way Canada held himself said enough
“A sprain” Netherlands murmured
Canada nodded once, eyes on the ceiling
“Yeah”
Netherlands leaned back, exhaling slowly
Rain traced long lines down the windshield
The parking lot lights flickered on, casting a dim yellow glow over the empty space. The other cars had gone. Only theirs remained, isolated at the edge of the lot as if the storm had pushed everything else away
Netherlands reached into his coat pocket
Then stopped
His hand moved to the other pocket
Then the inside of his jacket
His expression changed
Canada noticed
“What?”
Netherlands checked again, more quickly this time, fingers moving through damp fabric, searching for the familiar shape that should have been there
Nothing
He looked down at the space between the seats
At the cup holder
At the floor
The keys were not there
A thin, sharp line of panic slipped into his chest
“No” he said under his breath
Canada straightened slightly despite himself
“What’s wrong?”
Netherlands opened the car door
Rain rushed in immediately, cold and loud
“My keys”
Canada blinked
“You just unlocked the car”
“I know”
“So they’re here”
“They should be”
Netherlands stepped out into the rain again
Canada watched him through the open door as he checked the ground outside, scanning the wet asphalt, the shallow puddles that reflected the overhead lights in broken fragments
“Netherlands-”
“They were in my hand” Netherlands said, more to himself than to Canada “I unlocked the car. I opened your door. I-”
He moved around to the other side, checking near the passenger door, crouching slightly despite the rain soaking through him again
Canada leaned forward, wincing as he shifted
“They didn’t just disappear”
“I am aware of that”
“They’re probably in your pocket”
“I checked”
“Check again”
Netherlands froze
Rain ran down his face, over his lashes, into the corners of his eyes. For a moment, he looked like he might argue
Then he reached into his coat pocket again
Slower this time
His fingers brushed against something small
He pulled the keys out and stared at them
Canada watched his expression change
The tension in Netherlands’s shoulders loosened, just slightly, as he exhaled
“Oh…”
Canada let his head fall back against the seat
“Wow.”
Netherlands closed the passenger door, then walked around to the driver’s side again, rain trailing after him like a second shadow. When he got in, he shut the door more firmly than before, sealing them back into the warm, damp quiet of the car
For a moment, he just sat there
Keys still in his hand
Canada turned his head toward him
“You lost them for about ten seconds”
Netherlands did not look at him “I did not lose them”
“You panicked”
“I did not panic”
Canada smiled, slow and tired “You panicked”
Netherlands placed the keys into the ignition with deliberate care
“I was verifying their location”
“Mm”
The engine started
Warm air began to push more steadily through the vents now, slowly chasing the chill from the car
Canada closed his eyes again
A small, quiet laugh escaped him
Netherlands glanced at him “What?”
Canada shook his head, still smiling despite the strain “This is a terrible date”
Netherlands’s hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel “Yes”
Canada’s smile widened, though he winced as his ankle shifted “I mean, we got stuck in traffic”
“Yes”
“The trail was flooded”
“Yes”
“I fell down a slope”
“Yes”
“I think I saw my life flash a little”
“That is dramatic”
“It felt dramatic”
Netherlands exhaled
Canada opened his eyes again, looking at him fully now “and then you lost your keys for ten seconds
“I did not lose-“
“You panicked”
Netherlands turned his head, finally meeting Canada’s gaze
Canada was smiling properly now, despite the mud, the rain, the pain sitting sharp in his ankle
It wasn’t polite
It wasn’t controlled
It was warm
And it made something in Netherlands’s chest loosen in a way that felt almost dangerous
“This” Canada said softly “is a really bad date”
Netherlands held his gaze for a moment longer
Then, quieter
“Yes”
Canada laughed
Not loudly
Not freely
But enough
Netherlands looked back at the road ahead
Rain continued to fall, steady and relentless, but the car felt warmer now, smaller in a way that kept the storm outside rather than inside their chests
He shifted the gear
“We are going somewhere else”
Canada raised an eyebrow
“Oh?”
“Yes”
“Where?”
Netherlands hesitated for half a second
Then
“Fritland”
Canada blinked
Then he laughed again, softer this time
“In this weather?”
“Yes”
“I’m covered in mud”
“I am aware”
“My ankle is-“
“I am also aware”
Canada leaned back, letting his head rest against the seat again
“And you still want to go?”
Netherlands did not answer immediately
He pulled the car out of the parking lot, headlights cutting through the rain, the road ahead slick and dark
Then, as they turned onto the main road
“Yes” he said
Canada’s smile lingered, even as his eyes drifted closed again
“Okay”
The road back felt longer
Not because it was
Netherlands knew the distance. He had driven it before, memorised the turns, the junctions, the way the road curved just before the main highway . the rain changed everything. It flattened the world into reflections and streaks of light, blurred the edges of signs, turned the steady lines of the road into something uncertain and shifting
The wipers moved in a steady rhythm
Back and forth
Back and forth
Canada sat angled slightly toward the door, his injured ankle stretched carefully along the seat. Mud had dried in uneven patches across his clothes, flaking faintly where the heater began to warm the air around them. His hands rested loosely in his lap, fingers curled without tension
He was quiet now
Not asleep
Just…quiet
Netherlands glanced at him once, then back to the road
“Are you still in pain?”
Canada opened his eyes
“Yes”
The honesty came easily. No attempt to soften it
Netherlands tightened his grip on the steering wheel slightly
“Tell me if it becomes worse”
“It’s already worse”
“That is not helpful”
Canada’s mouth curved faintly “I’m just answering your question”
Netherlands exhaled through his nose
Silence settled again, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It moved with the rhythm of the car, with the sound of rain, with the quiet understanding that neither of them needed to fill every space between words
Streetlights began to appear more frequently as they approached the city again, their reflections stretching long across the wet road. Buildings rose slowly from the grey, their windows lit in warm squares against the dark
By the time Netherlands turned into the narrower street where Fritland sat tucked between older storefronts, the sky had fully surrendered to night
The rain had not eased
If anything, it had grown steadier, heavier, like it had decided to stay
Netherlands parked as close as he could to the entrance
For a moment, he did not move
He looked at Canada
Canada looked back
They were both still damp, still dirty, still carrying the trail with them in the creases of their clothes and the quiet ache in their bodies
“This is not an appropriate state to enter a restaurant” Netherlands said
Canada glanced down at himself
“Probably not”
Netherlands’s jaw tightened slightly
Canada looked up again
“But I’m really hungry”
Netherlands closed his eyes briefly
Of course he was
“Stay here” Netherlands said
Canada tilted his head “You’re leaving me in the car?”
“I am getting food”
“I can come with-”
“No”
Canada paused
Netherlands opened his eyes and met his gaze
“You will stay here” he said, quieter now, but no less firm. “You are injured . The ground is slippery . I am not carrying you again across a wet pavement”
Canada held his gaze for a second longer
Then nodded
“Okay”
Netherlands reached for the door handle
“Do not move unnecessarily”
“Yes, sir”
Netherlands gave him a look
Canada’s mouth twitched
The rain hit immediately when Netherlands stepped out
It soaked him again within seconds, colder now that the heat of the car was gone. He pulled his coat tighter around himself and crossed the short distance to the shop, the light spilling out onto the pavement in a warm, golden rectangle that felt almost unreal against the dark street
Inside, it smelled of oil and salt and something comforting
The contrast was sharp
Warmth pressed against his skin. Voices overlapped in low conversation. The soft crackle of frying cut through the space, steady and familiar. A few people stood near the counter, coats damp from the rain, hands tucked into pockets, waiting
Netherlands stepped up, placing the order with the same quiet efficiency he used in meetings, though his voice came out slightly rougher from the cold
“Two portions”
He hesitated
Then added
“Extra”
The man behind the counter nodded without comment
Netherlands waited
Water dripped slowly from the edge of his coat onto the tiled floor. He did not move to stop it
His mind did not settle easily
It moved back through the evening whether he wanted it to or not. The traffic. The sign on the trail. The moment Canada’s foot slipped. The empty space where he should have caught him
The sound of him falling
Netherlands pressed his lips together
The order was handed over in a paper bag, warm and solid in his hands
He thanked the man, turned, and stepped back into the rain
The cold hit again
The car was where he left it
Canada was still inside, exactly as instructed
Good
Netherlands opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat, bringing the warmth and the smell of fried food with him
Canada’s head turned immediately
His eyes landed on the bag
And something bright flickered there, something simple and unguarded that had nothing to do with diplomacy or restraint
“That smells really good”
Netherlands set the bag carefully between them
“It is”
Canada shifted slightly, reaching for it before stopping himself, as if remembering something
“You said don’t move unnecessarily”
“You may move for food”
Canada smiled
He opened the bag, the steam rising faintly into the air between them. The smell filled the car quickly, warm and grounding in a way that pushed the rain further away
Canada took one of the containers, hands still a little unsteady from the cold, and held it carefully
For a moment, he just looked at it
Then he laughed
Soft at first
Then a little more
Netherlands turned his head
“What?”
Canada shook his head, still laughing despite the way it caught slightly at the edges
“This is-” he paused, breath hitching once before continuing “ this is actually the worst date I’ve ever been on”
Netherlands stared at him
Canada looked up, meeting his gaze
“We got stuck in traffic” he said , counting quietly on his fingers “The trail was flooded. I slipped and fell like an idiot. I think I twisted my ankle pretty badly. We got soaked. Covered in mud. You lost your keys-”
“I did not-“
“You panicked”
Netherlands’s mouth pressed into a thin line
Canada smiled wider
“And now we’re sitting in a car, in the rain, eating takeout because we can’t even go inside without getting judged”
Netherlands did not respond immediately
Canada’s smile softened
“But” he added, quieter now “I’m having a good time”
The words settled between them
Not loud
Not dramatic
Just…there
Netherlands looked at him
Really looked
At the mud still caught at the edge of his sleeve. At the damp curl of hair near his temple. At the faint tension still held in his shoulders from the pain he hadn’t quite escaped
At the way he was still smiling
Netherlands reached into the bag, taking his own portion, though his movements were slower now, more deliberate
“This is objectively a failure” he said
Canada nodded
“Yeah”
“The plan did not work”
“Nope”
“There were multiple points at which we should have stopped”
“Definitely”
Netherlands opened his container
Steam rose between them
Canada took a bite, wincing slightly as he shifted his ankle, then relaxing again as the warmth spread through him
He let out a small breath
Netherlands watched him
“You should not be laughing” Netherlands said
Canada swallowed, then looked at him again
“I know”
Netherlands held his gaze
Canada’s expression did not change
The rain continued to fall outside, steady against the glass, turning the world beyond the car into something distant and blurred
Inside, it was warm
Small
Contained
Canada leaned back slightly, careful of his ankle, and took another bite
He let out a quiet, satisfied sound despite himself
Netherlands looked down at his own food, then back at Canada
“You fell” he said
“I did”
“You could have been more seriously injured”
“I know”
“I should have insisted we turn back earlier”
Canada’s hand paused mid motion
He looked at Netherlands
“You did insist”
“I did not insist enough”
Canada shook his head, slow
“That’s not how that works”
Netherlands frowned slightly
Canada shifted, just enough to face him more fully
“I wanted to keep going” he said “You told me it was a bad idea. You were right. I still wanted it”
Netherlands said nothing
Canada’s voice softened
“You didn’t make me fall”
The words were simple
Clear
They didn’t try to fix anything
They just…removed something that had been sitting too heavily in the space between them
Netherlands exhaled slowly
Canada smiled again, though smaller now, more tired
“And for the record” he added “I’d still do it again”
Netherlands looked at him sharply
“You would choose to fall down a slope again”
Canada huffed a quiet laugh
“No. Not that part”
Netherlands raised an eyebrow
Canada’s smile lingered
“The part where we go anyway”
The rain tapped against the windshield
Netherlands looked at him for a long moment
Then, quieter
“That is a terrible decision”
Canada nodded
“Yeah”
He took another bite
Then, after a pause
“Still worth it”
Netherlands did not answer immediately
He picked up one of the fries, turning it slightly between his fingers as if examining it
Then he ate it
They sat like that for a while
Eating
Listening to the rain
Letting the evening settle around them without trying to reshape it into something neater or more successful than it had been
At some point, Canada’s laughter faded into something softer. His shoulders dropped further, exhaustion catching up now that the worst of the adrenaline had passed
Netherlands noticed
“After this” he said “we are going somewhere with proper lighting so I can look at your ankle again”
Canada nodded “Okay”
“And then you will rest”
“Yes”
“And you will not walk unnecessarily”
Canada smiled faintly
“I already agreed to that”
Netherlands glanced at him
Canada’s eyes had drifted half closed again, though he was still awake, still present in the quiet way he had when he trusted the space around him
The storm outside did not ease
But inside the car, it did not feel as heavy anymore
Netherlands reached forward, adjusting the heater slightly higher
Warm air filled the space again, soft and steady
Canada shifted closer to it instinctively
Neither of them spoke
The date had failed
That much was clear
But as the rain continued to fall, and the warmth settled deeper into the car, and Canada’s quiet breathing evened out beside him, Netherlands found that the failure did not sit as sharply as it should have
It had not gone as planned
But it had still happened
And Canada was still there, Mud streaked, Injured, Laughing earlier despite everything
Still choosing to stay
Netherlands looked out at the rain
Then back at him
And for once, he did not try to correct it into something better
He just let it be