Work Text:
More notes: The waiting room is a white room with two large sofa chairs and a long wooden table in the middle of the room. It is a place for the country to relax before international affairs. It is a magical room that appears and disappears when needed. The quantity of tables and sofa chairs can vary when needed.
This takes place before 2023
All the country are genderless and use they/them
*.✧
"Oh, I am earlier than I thought"
Iran looked at their cell phones, the international meeting was at 10 a.m., not 9 a.m. "Why did China told me that the meeting start at 9 a.m. ?"
"Maybe they looked at the schedule wrong." Iran don't want to think too much about it.
"Look like I'll have to use the waiting room then." As Iran said the name of the room, the white door magically appeared across the corridor. That is the door to the waiting room.
"Good." Iran said shortly
As Iran was about to open the door, they thought "I wonder who will accompany me today?" With a small smile, they opened the door calmly.
Unfortunately, the person who will be accompanying him today is someone who is physically close but feels very distant. Iran's rarely seen smile dropped when he saw who it was, their blue Persian eyes widened.
"Kingdom of Saudi Arabia...?"
Those four words accidentally escaped from Iran's mouth. Actually, it feels strange to call them by their full official names... Iran prefers to use their alternative name, it is been a long time since Iran use that name... But, since they are not longer allies, Iran feels they need to use the official name.
"Iran?" Saudi said with a disbelieving voice.
Saudi Arabia didn't call Iran by their full official name, as usual.
*.✧
They look at each other, both of them couldn't believe their eyes. Someone who is physically close but feels so far away, it's right in front of them now...
"It's you."
Saudi breaks the silence. They walked slowly towards Iran with disbelieving face. Iran stepped back as they approached. "It is been a long time since we see eyes to eyes, isn't it?" Saudi greeted Iran with a sincere smile. Iran looked away when Saudi smiled at them.
"You are waiting for USA, right?" Iran did not respond and changed the topic.
"Yes, and then you are waiting for China, right?" Saudi still keep the friendly tone.
Today, USA and China have a international meeting. After this, they are going to meet with their each other's allies in West Asia.
*.✧
They sat next to each other, on their respective sofa chairs, separated by a small table. They don't look at each other.
"Did you arrive too early, like me?" Iran ask with a cold tone.
"USA mistakenly told me what time the meeting started."
"Weird, China also made a mistake like that.."
"How did they make a same mistake?" Saudi start feel suspicious about this.
"Maybe they share same brain cells."
Iran's blunt response makes Saudi chuckle like that is the funniest thing ever.
For some reason, that laughter made Iran smile a little.
"I dont know you can be funny, Iran."
"You are just easily to laugh at someone else jokes..." For seconds, Iran gaze Saudi with a small smile.
"Oh, you are smiling!"
"No, I am not." Iran looked away as Saudi pointed their small smile.
Their face started to feel hot. Even the air conditioner in the waiting room didn't help. To reduce the heat, they took their bottle of tea and drank it. The tea is warm, wait. Why does Iran drink a tea to reduce heat if the tea is warm?
They sipped the tea so quickly that they accidentally burn his tongue.
"Ouch." Iran started to feel really stupid right now. They should think twice before doing that.
"Are you alright?" Saudi walked towards Iran to check on them.
"It is not a big deal, really..."
Saudi Arabia took something out of her pocket. It is Tofiluk. A popular caramel crunch biscuit bar. Even as one of an influential country in West Asia, he is actually a sweet tooth.They always carries something sweet in his pocket, for themself and others.
They kneels before Iran.
"Here, have this. It is still cold so it can reduce the pain." Saudi said softly, as they looked at Iran.
Iran have no other choice but to accept it.
"..."
"Can you stop looking me like that.
Saudi still kneels before them with a big smile.
"Like what?"
Iran chose to ignore that gaze, he ate the tofiluk. Sweet. They thought to themself.
But, it is actually hard to ignore Saudi's gaze.
"..."
"Are you.. actually alright?" Iran asked.
"Hmm..?"
"Don't act like I know you for one day, Jamal."
That one word, made their eyes open wide
.
"You.. stil remember that name?" Saudi Arabia surprised that Iran still remember their alternative name, Abu Jamal.
Sometimes, countries that have evolved many times and changed names many times, have alternative names to make them easily recognizable by other countries when they reincarnate back.
"Of couse, I do"
"I've known you for a long time. I know that you are someone who always hides your feelings for the sake of others. Listening to other people's problems but hiding your own...." Iran's voice sound so serious and somber.
"I heard from Qatar recently that you often cry in your room in the middle of the night, is that true?"
"I.."
"If you have a problem, you can tell others but I know you don't want to burden other gulf countries."
"You need to value yourself as much as others" Iran looked at them.
Saudi is on the verge of tears.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"!"
Unexpectedly, Saudi hugged Iran, burying face in their chest.
"Yes." Saudi whispered.
"I'm sorry if you're uncomfortable with this."
"No, this is unexpectedly...good." Iran tighten their arm around them.
"After work, you can visit me if you want"
"But, we are not allies anymore so it feels awkward..."
"It's not like we are the one choose our diplomatic relations.
"..."
A whimper is heard.
"You're so good at crying quiet, which is concerning...."
"Remember, its not your fault... It is their fault. Afterall, humans are the root of all this pain...."
"You, me and other countries are victims of human's actions."
"Except Israel, of course." Iran rolled their eyes when they said the name of that thing.
(5 minutes later)
They both returned to the sofa chair.
"Here, have this." Iran handed a small container to Saudi.
Sholeh Zard. A delicious old fashioned dessert that is very delicate and light in texture, mild in sweetness and it gets its golden color from saffron.
"Saffron can reduce stress, you should try it." Iran said softly.
"Thank you so much, Iran."
"Do you remember when you giving me a ajwa dates when I was sad?"
"Yes, that time was during the Pahlavi dynasty, right?"
"I just want to repay you. You used to always comfort me during my hardest time, so now I want to repay you."
"So, what can I do for you?"
"For what?"
"As a treat."
"Hmm.. You can choose it for me."
"Well, then." Saudi walked slowly towards Iran.
They kneels before Iran, so they are in same height.
"May I do it ?"
"Fine, just once." Iran somehow knew what they are going to do
A soft press of lips touched their forehead. Iran froze for a seconds.
"Oh god." A faint colour spread across their cheeks, subtle but impossible to ignore.
"It's not the first time we've done that." Saudi chuckled a little, amused by Iran's flustered face.
"We haven't done it in a long time, that is why."
"Want me to do it again?"
"Eh?"
"!"
"Iran, Saudi. Are you guys inside?" A familiar voice appeared, the voice of China.
The sound of a knock on the door startled them.
"Wait, an hour has passed?"
"Yes, it is." Saudi looked at their cellphone, now it is the time for international meeting for both of them.
They looked at each other. Then, they laughed together for no clear reason at all.
"Time goes by so fast, I didn't even realize it" Saudi takes their bag.
"Yeah..."
They left the waiting room.
*.✧
"So, what are you all doing in the waiting room together?" USA asked, they seems curious about it."
"N-Not really much, just chatting with old friend, you know?" Saudi Arabia replied nervously."
"I see..." USA didn't want to force them to tell what happened.
'Maybe they are make out...' USA think. 'But at least, we successfully make them meet.' USA smiling proudly that their plan was successful.
Wait what?
(Flashback, yesterday night)
"So, after our meeting, you and Iran have a international meeting on 10 a.m. ?"
"Yes, why did you ask?" China asked after sipping a cup of tea.
"After our meeting, me and Saudi Arabia have a international meeting on 10 a.m. too."
"Oh, what a coincidence."
"I have interesting idea." USA's smirk make China wonder what they are thinking.
"What it is?"
USA leaning towards China, whispering something to them.
"What a great idea, I love it."
"So we are going to do it?"
"Yes, absolutely."