Just a Freak

2| Past

"Brat!" "Die already! Why are you still here?!" "Just dissapear already, nobody here wants you!" "Are you talking to your damn fairies again? Cut it out!" "Don't look at him, Anne, your brother is just a freak and a disgrace to our village!"

I woke up, sitting up instantly and noticed I was covered in sweat. Since it was still rather dark outside I couldn't see anything which got my brain to make me imagine what I just dreamt. I curled up and leaned against the cool wall, slowly pushing myself towards the corner until my back hit another wall, making me shudder from how cold it was. While I was crying there, hugging my knees thightly to make myself as small as possible I had to whisper to myself that it all wasn't real, that it had only been a nightmare and that now I was safe from them. That didn't help much, just a little but I was grateful for that small bit. Still, I could feel the stones all over my skin hitting me and making me whince while they didn't only leave bruises but small cuts from how sharp they were.

Before it would get worse I pulled the covers away and moved away even when my brain practically screamed at me to stay there because then I was safer. I ignored it, I didn't care about that innthe moment because I knew that I am safe here. Nobody would hurt me as long as I am with the others. They would protect me if anybody tried to do that again with me, I was sure of it.

I quickly walked to the bathroom, not minding the fact that I probably woke everybody up. After locking the door, undressing and putting my clothes into the laundry basket I hopped into the cabin and turned on the water, getting soaked by it immediately. I sighed as I felt the relaxing stream on my skin as I started to wash myself, not even minding to hurry up so nobody would wake up.

That was when I suddenly heard a knock on the door, breaking calming atmosphere for a moment.

"Norge? Are you in there?" I heard a high voice ask; it was Denmark. I sighed and turned away but still replied, my voice raspy and sounding tired "Ja, now leave me alone!"

After a moment or two I finally heard Denmark leave, happy he didn't ask but I knew that he would later, while we had breakfast. I was definitely not looking forward to eating then.

It took me anout fifteen minutes afterwards until I finally got the heart to get out again, feeling the cold air instead of the hot stream of water hit my body which made me shudder but I didn't care and took a towel to quickly dry up, combed my hair. When I wanted to take new clothes I remembered I had forgotten them because of my rush before. I sighed, wrapped the towel around my waist and walked out to get dressed.

Less than five minutes after I was already seated at the dining table, my first cup of coffee in my right hand and Denmark on the other side of the table. Why did he have to be the only one who woke up?

"Why are you ip so early?", "Why did you shower?" and so on. He asked me at least fifty question about why I have been up so early, why I was grumpier than usually etc. Did he really forget that I didn't even have one complete coffee yet? Was he that stupid. Before I could get up, annoyed of his curiousity, and punch him I heard Finland and Sweden walking down the stairs. The smalle one of them just looked between us, got a full portion of my glare and decided to not interfere, however, I didn't punch Den, maybe later but not now.

It was silent until Finland finally got coffee with me and was seated right next to me, making me sigh in relief. He was definitely better to talk to than Denmark but unfortunately he began to ask the same question as the Dane almost, making me want to slam my head against the table until I passed out.

"Norge woke me up!" Was Mathias's only reply to which I would have loved punching him but instead I took a big gulp from my coffee, emptying my mug with that and got up to make a second one. I was already sure that I definitely needed at least a litre coffee to survive this.

Luckily I heard another person come down from the bedroom, a bit slower than the others but that wasn't important now. It was nice that Iceland finally decided to wake up too. I didn't tell Finland about what exactly my brother promised me, he had been asleep at that time already.

"Hey, Ice, how are you? Would you like some coffee? Oh! I see you got the licorice!" I heard the Fin say as I turned around again with my coffee and sat down beside them, staring holes through my brother while I remembered about the day before.

"Ice, how are you feeling? We care about you, you know." I asked rather directly because I hadn't had enough coffee yet. My brother just told me he was tired, making me raise an eyebrow since I didn't believe him.

"Are you sure? You know you can talk to us. Now please tell us what has been bothering you." I commanded, making even Finland look at me with a warning look but I ignored it. Sweden seemed pretty uncomfortable with the situation and got up to make breakfast for all of us so he wouldn't be involved into what seems to be forming into an argument.

"I-I haven't getting much sleep, that's all." my brother wanted to tell me but I didn't get convinced, especially because he stuttered so I decided to just ask directly "Who is Einar?"

Finland seemed like he wanted to snap at me now but turned towards Iceland, actually curious about that too. He tensed completely, making me worried and it only got worse when I suddenly saw a tear running down his cheek, his face full of sadness before he ran off to his room. I forgot my coffee at the table and followed him up. While I ran upstairs I heard the door slamming shut, making me whince but I continued to storm up to his room. I stopped in front of his door, composed myself and then slowly entered, staying as quiet as possible. It broke my heart to see him like that, curled up and almost crying. I closed the door behind me, still giving my best to not scare him. I got onto his bed and what happened next definitely surprised me, I couldn't decide if in a good or bad way, because he reached out for me to hug him. I accepted the embrace and held him close to my own body, caressing his back slowly to give him some sorts of comfort.

"I'm sorry." Why was he apologizing? He hadn't done anything wrong. I still stayed silent and gave him comfort in silence when suddenly a question bugged me.

"Do you remember when I found you, Ice?" I asked and looked down to him, thightening my grip on him a bit, my hand still caressing his back calmly.

"You know I don't remember, it's all a faded memory. You know how I didn't even have a memory to begin with when you did find me." He answered and made me sigh before I replied calmly "But you have since regained your memory, no?"

He didn't answer anymore afterwards ao I took it as a yes and finally asked the question that has been bothering me since the day before "Ice, who is Einar?"

He tensed in my arms and I raised an eyebrow. The topic must be really triggering for him, he kept refusing to tell me which only made me ask further. Maybe I shouldn't? But I was just so worried for him because of his behavior since yesterday.

Suddenly I heard an answer which even made frown deeply "He was my big brother."

What does he mean with that? I first couldn't figure out what he meant but soon the answer hit me like a brick. He has died before too..? I couldn't believe it, it was almost too much for me to just think about it so I held Iceland thighter, only wanting to comfort him and be here for him. For now I just wanted to be a better brother to him.