Warring Pyongyang // Reader x Countryhumans

New Year

      "K-Korea!" Y/N called after the republic, who had quickly started walking away. "Wait- are we seriously just going to... go?"

       The Countryhuman gave her an impatient look over his shoulder. "Yes. Hurry up."

       Y/N tried to match Korea's pace, but his legs were too long. "Slow down," she huffed.

        "Speed up." The republic suddenly grabbed her hand, and started jogging down the street, dragging her along.

       "K-Korea!" Y/N yelped, stumbling after the Countryhuman. Luckily the sidewalk had been cleared of ice, so the only problem was how fast Korea was going.

    He didn't respond, just started running faster, until they were both sprinting past Mansudae Park. Y/N stumbled along, barely keeping herself from falling flat on her face.

      From the corners of her eyes, she could see a couple of soldiers giving them alarmed looks, until they realised that there wasn't a threat, and their expressions morphed to just concerned. Y/N didn't have much time to take this in, though, too worried about avoiding missing a step.

       Korea- normally so concerned with appearances- didn't pay any attention to them, just ran down the road, pulling Y/N. When they reached the Ice Rink several streets over, the human girl's lungs were burning, and the stitch in her side was stabbing into her.

       She barely had time to observe the white, volcano-shaped structure, before Korea led her through the front door, finally releasing her hand to sign them in. She only knew what it looked like from visiting before with North Pyongan.

      While the republic handled their registration, Y/N fought to regain her breath. The woman behind the counter gave her a concerned look as she panted shallowly, bent over almost in double.

       "D-Did we-" Y/N sucked in a deep breath, the cool air burning her hot throat. "Did we have to- to run?"

        Korea gave her a slightly guilty look as he turned to face her. "Ssi-bal. I forgot that you're not as fit as me." The Korean Countryhuman had barely been out of breath, and had completely recovered by now.

       "Would you like some water, comrade?" the service woman offered, her eyebrows creased in kind concern.

       Y/N nodded thankfully, guzzling the bottle of mineral water that she was handed. "T-Thank you so much." She gave the almost empty bottle back, wiping a bit of liquid from her chin.

       "We appreciate your Communist spirit, comrade," Korea told the woman seriously, though he seemed hesitant as he said it.

         She dipped her head, smiling humbly as she gave them their ice-skates.

       "Are you... okay?" Y/N asked Korea as they walked down the hall to the main ice rink.

       "I'm fine," he said. "I just felt like running." He glanced around, confirming their solitude. "Sorry for not letting you stop."

       "It's fine." Y/N's body had finally ceased feeling like it was on fire. "I needed the exercise."

        The rink was large, under the sloped ceiling of the volcano shaft-shaped room. It looked like any other skating rink anywhere- a field of ice flanked by a ring of seats. A glass wall separated the observers from the players and any flying pucks. The rafters above were white steel, criss-crossing the room.

       The air inside was even chillier, to keep the ice from melting. Y/N pulled her jacket tighter around her as they took a seat on the bench. As she tied her skates, she examined the rink.