Chapter Text
Finland huffed to himself, standing by the kitchen counter. The Christmas season was always so stressful for him. Not that he didn’t love Christmas! He was Santa of course he loves Christmas! But he woke up to Sweden’s snoring again, and he can’t find the coffee. Norway always hid the coffee when he and the others came over. He was so stingy with his coffee, milk, snacks, especially his butter. Ever since that butter shortage, which was well over 10 years ago now! Would it kill him to leave the K-Cups out!? It felt like a pointless endeavor, shifting through the cupboards.
“Perkele!” He slammed a door a bit too hard and regretted it instantly, looking to the hallway of rooms, the loud noise reminding him of how quiet the house was. He didn’t mean to do all of that. He just needed his coffee, gosh darn it! Okay. Maybe this was silly. Just take some deep breaths.
“...It’s 4 in the morning, why are you up, Finland?” came a sleepy younger, surprisingly deep, voice. It wasn’t the familiar one of Iceland. It was Hong Kong. He’d come over to stay with them for Christmas because apparently he and Iceland were friends (and England and China were having disputes on who he’d stay with. It was a whole thing and Hong Kong doesn’t like to talk about it seems.). When was Finland supposed to hear about any of that? But he’d woken someone up. If he woke Hong Kong up, he might’ve woken Norway up. Norway was a notoriously light sleeper, and Finland did not want to deal with Norway! He’s not the most kind in the morning...
“Ah! Hong Kong, I’m so sorry, I just got a little frustrated looking for coffee is all. You’re welcome to go back to sleep if you’d like.” Finland ushered, hoping to resolve the issue quickly.
“I can’t really do that.” Hong Kong shrugged and went into the pantry, taking out the cereal. “I’m awake now, sup?”
“I guess I am sort of the same way. You’re welcome to have some coffee- or maybe tea? China actually gave me herbal tea, I don’t really know what any of it is supposed to do but maybe you’d like it?” He went back into the cupboards, pulling out a box of tea bags, opening it to find the K-Cups, “So that’s where Norway hid them, smartie pants. Well, that’s good for me. At least there isn’t some troll keeping guard of them!” Finland’s smile returned as he started up the Keurig.
“So… Where did the tea go?” The teen questioned, taking the box of K-cups curiously.
“I’m sure it’s somewhere” The blond looked at the dripping coffee as if it were holy water. “You’re welcome to look around.” He continued. Hong Kong nodded in response, he’s usually more energetic, but he’d stayed up until one with Iceland playing Mario Kart. He needed a lot more than cereal at the moment, but wasn’t a big coffee guy. It’s gross and bitter and only makes you feel worse later, so inefficient. He much preferred tea, not the crap England would give him though. That was something he really liked about China. Excellent tea, way better food. Chinese food in England is a disaster.
“You really like that stuff, you must spend a lot of money on it.” Hong Kong notes, going to the fridge and taking the jug of milk.
“Finns, we do love our coffee, it’s pretty cold up here after all. I drink a lot of it around Christmas.” Finland started before Hong Kong cut him off.
“Mhm. How much money do you spend on it?” He reiterated.
“I’m not too sure Hong Kong, that’s a bit of math. You’re pretty smart with money though, aren’t you?” A pensive finger came to the Finn’s chin.
“Are you a fan of my work?”
“Your work?”
“Yes, my work, China says I’m lazy, but don’t listen to her. She is crazy now.”
“Mhm.” Finland smiled and nodded, sipping his coffee. Hong Kong was very talkative, how did Iceland become friends with him?
“I’m not a big export of coffee, but you said there is a high demand for coffee, so I should tell my boss to export to here now shouldn’t I? You will pay more for it won’t you, i can up-charge for the foreign appeal and all.”
“... You’re really into this business thing, aren’t you?” Finland chuckled, he didn’t really know what else to say. He is Santa, not... some business guy. Being Santa is a lot more about logistics.
“Would you talk to your boss about it then?” Hong Kong smiled and looked oddly hopeful.
“Uh- s-sure! I could!” came his unsteady answer. He didn’t know! Can he talk to his boss about that!? It’s not really his place, is it? His boss probably doesn’t even handle the trade side of things.
“This could be an amazing opportunity for me.” Hong Kong nodded with a little smirk. He then turned to his Fruit Loops and filled the bowl with milk, a smile on his face. He doesn’t get to eat a lot of food like that in China. He likes junk food as any kid does, England says he’s a lot like America in that regard. But neither of them have any taste, so he doesn’t care.
“Sure, sure. It could be.” Finland took a longer sip. Then Hong Kong took a large gulp of the milk jug. The jug. Oh, wow, how unique! Iceland’s got such special friends.
“Hmph.” Finland looked just behind Hong Kong to see Sweden, standing tall in the kitchen. “Coffee?” He smelt the air.
“Ah! Just a mug, I used the Keurig. But I can get you a K-Cup, Ber.” Finland chirped.
“Hm.” Sweden nodded, waiting patiently.
“He’s so scary.” Hong Kong remarked, “It’s bad enough it’s dark, you know. So lame.”
“Don’t say that out loud!” Finland scrambled, shoving a hand on Hong Kong’s mouth.
“Why not?!” He shoved Finland off of him. Then a gravelly noise came from the living room.
“Are you talking about me?”
“No, Ber, don’t worry! W-watch your- Sunday morning cartoons, or something!”
“It is Saturday. Are you sick?”
“No, no, I’m perfectly well.” Finland shifted to the living room, waving his hands a little in reassurance.
“Let me check your temperature.”
“That is not necessary, Ber!” He chuckled nervously.
“Let me check. Norway was sniffling. You might be sick.” Sweden furthered.
“Yo, can I eat these?” Hong Kong popped into the living room where Finland was fighting a pushy Sweden who seemed to have summoned a thermometer off of him. He was pointing to a bag of some Norwegian snack, so it was probably Norway’s. Maybe not a good idea to eat those. “Since you didn’t answer, I’m going to eat it.”
“Hey, Hong Kong, wait a minute,” Finland got Sweden back onto the couch, rushing into the kitchen. But somehow Hong Kong had already consumed half of the bag. “oh. Never mind then.”
“Let me check your temperature.” Said Sweden from the living room again.
“Berwald, i’m fine.” He tried to say as gently as possible, while still showing how fed up he was.
“...okay.” Sweden sounded like he nodded and resigned.
“GODMORGEN FAMILY! And Hong Kong.” Denmark twirled in the room.
“Yo.” Hong Kong gave a small head nod.
“Denmark! You’re going to wake up Norway!”
“Well yes. That’s the point, finny, shut your whoremouth.”
“Denmark, you are such a headache, I haven’t even gotten to finish my coffee... this is miserable...” Finland started preparing a mug of coffee for Norway. He will inevitably wake up at this rate if Denmark had.
“You feel sick?” Sweden got up from the couch.
“BERWALD. I SWEAR TO GOD.”
“I am sorry.” He sat back down. Then the four heard the loudest groan ever groaned. Norway.
“Oh, Norway, good morning, good morning, I made you coffee.” Finland gave him a mug.
“You found my coffee?”
“Oh, don’t worry, I won’t drink all of it!”
“That is what you said the last time, Fin.” Norway glared, Finland didn’t engage further, he knew better. “Did you eat my bag of Twist?” he asked, looking in the pantry.
“Your what?” Finland questioned cautiously.
“My Twist. My candy.”
“Oh, these were yours?” Hong Kong said, holding the bag of the chocolate covered candies, one shoved in his mouth.
“You let Iceland’s friend eat them all!?” He grabbed Finland by the collar, which made the other yelp.
“I didn’t let him! Berwald was bothering me with the thermometer and, okay, he asked, but I was busy. Sorry.”
“My what?” Iceland said, coming in from behind Norway, rubbing his eyes.
“Little brother. Your friend ate all of my Twist.”
“Good.”
“I see where you stand...” Norway glared at Iceland.
“I stand against wherever you are.”
“Okay, everyone, let’s stop fighting. Let’s just have breakfast. Denmark it’s your turn to cook.” Finland turned to Denmark, who fell back asleep, leaning on the fridge door. “Alright. Well, it looks like it’s my turn to cook. Again.”
“What’re you making?” Hong Kong questioned, still eating cereal. Iceland was with him, but he just ate it dry and from the box. Teenagers these days...
“Probably oatmeal.” The older one gently took the cereal away. “Don’t fill up on junk. You need things that are good for you.”
“This is good for me! It heightens my stock projection skills.” Hong Kong insists. Iceland looks at him sideways and leads him away from the kitchen.
The holiday season — it really is the most wonderful time of the year, isn’t it?