Mathias Køhler is mad for his bandmate Lukas Bondevik. But was he mad enough to ruin their relationship and their music careers?
...
The companion story to "Hetalia Under The Big Top"
Lukas was reclined on the couch. Mathias clicked away on his laptop, his back pressed against Lukas' chest, his head supporting Lukas' book as he read. Blanket on their laps, Tino and Berwald were cozied on the loveseat. They sipped their coffees as they listened to Emil help Peter through a storybook.
It was a quiet night for the Nordic household. Quieter than normal. After all that they had been through in these last few weeks, the inactivity was welcomed.
"Var stor glädje i rik—rik..."
"Riket." Emil corrected, sitting beside Peter in the easychair.
"What is riket?" Peter asked.
Emil looked up. "What is the English word for riket?"
"Kingdom." Lukas answered before Berwald had a chance, not removing his gaze from his own book.
"Oh. 'There was joy in the kingdom.'" Peter finished the page Emil held out for him.
"Very good." Emil closed the book.
"I keep getting stuck." Said Peter, a slight hang of his head.
"Come on. You're only seven." Said Emil, ruffling his hair. "You just have to practice."
"And it's hard to learn a second language," Tino added, getting up to collect the cups and plates that seemed to accumulate whenever they gathered. "You should have heard me when I first started learning Swedish."
"Couldn't understand 'im." Berwald teased.
Tino just rolled his eyes.
"You have to start somewhere." He concluded, leaving to dispose of the dishes.
"How about I bring some books when I get back. We can practice more then," Emil suggested, tucking the book into the suitcase at his feet.
"Absolutely." Peter smiled. "You have the best books."
Berwald nodded. "'S good story."
"You should tell them who the author is." Said Lukas, flipping a page. Emil shook his head but Lukas answered for him. "It's Emil."
"Wow." Said Mathias, bumping Lukas' book as he sat up. "Did you finally publish it?"
Emil avoided their expectant gazes. "What's the point? People would just expect it to sound like our music."
"You can't let that stop you." Said Peter as Tino rejoined them. "Don't let your dreams be dreams! Do it! Make your dreams come true! Just do it!"
Emil stared in confusion then his eyes narrowed. "That's an old meme."
"You showed it to me."
"What did Emil show you?" Said Tino, watching in alarm.
"A video online." Said Peter, standing on the chair to hang off Tino's shoulders.
Tino picked him up but his smile became forced as his eyes bore into Emil.
"Oh really?" Tino said, balancing Peter's weight with his freshly mended rib. "What else has Emil shown you?"
The fact that he admitted to having read their fan's fictitious works about them had always made Tino wary of Emil's internet activities.
"Your wedding video." Tino softened as Peter recounted thoughtfully. "Pappa gave you a lily, and uncle Mathias kept laughing behind the camera."
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