[Fic] The Last Night
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nordipaloozaTitle: The Last Night
Author: Scarlettlillies
Prompt: Finland, Any character - Final meeting
Other characters: Estonia
Rating: K+
Content notes: Set around September 1939. Both nations are brothers in this fic.
Summary: Finland and Estonia meet up for drinks. But Finland can't shake off how odd his neighbour is acting.
In a dimly-lit bar, they share a drink together. As chatty as everyone is, the mood is still somber. There are few smiles as a singer in the background reminisces of a long lost love. Finland though is in his own world and pulled out a case from his chest pocket and offered Estonia a cigarette but the man declined.
“C’mon Estonia, live a little. I bet you’ve never smoked a day in your life.”
“For your information, I live a fulfilling life and doing just fine without them,” he laughed. “Besides, smoking too many of them will kill you.”
“Details!” Finland said before he lit up a smoke. After taking a few drags, he let it lay against a glass ashtray and placed the lighter next to it. “It isn’t like we can die anyways.”
After a few friendly back and forth jabs, the conversation quickly died and Finland watched Estonia’s mannerisms closely. The man was staring mindlessly into his liqueur with an expression that would rival a grieving widow. Finland was beginning to lose his patience. In a move that was out of character for him, he smacked the table with such force that Estonia jumped from his seat and startled the now-frighten folks at the surrounding tables.
“I didn’t sit on a boat for two and half hours to watch you stare at your drink all night.”
Estonia stared at him like a deer in headlights, “Uh, right, I’m sorry.” he replied as he turned his head looking rather embarrassed. Finland quickly returned to his regular self as he realized what he had done. He rubbed the back of his neck feeling rather guilty. He couldn’t believe he lost his tempter like that.
“Oh Estonia, I’m so sorry,” he said apologetically. “It’s just… I’m worried about you right now.”
“I know, I know,” Estonia replied. “And you don’t need to apologize. I should be the one apologizing. I’m the one who invited you here and yet here I am being a bad host. Let’s restart this from scratch shall we?”
Estonia lifts up his drink up and with a grin he proposes a toast, “To friendship and brotherhood.”
Finland was impressed just how quick Estonia changed his entire persona. He was dying for a topic change and was delighted to put all of this in the past.
“To friendship and brotherhood!”
Estonia seemed to be loosening himself up after having two drinks and he was returning to his regular self as they chatted about everything under the sun. Finland went for sports and his adventures of playing catch-up with Sweden. Meanwhile Estonia talked about music and his fascination for the sciences. Even as the patrons slowly emptied the bar, they continued on and were still ordering drinks. Finally at one in the morning, the owners grew tired of them causing a ruckus and announced they were closing shortly and the two men needed to leave. They didn’t contest and Estonia paid the bill. They stumbled out of bar, laughing at the top of their lungs, and their arms entwined. The owners had never been so grateful to see someone leave as one of them locked the door behind them.
Estonia walked Finland back to his hotel. He felt guilty that he couldn’t house him. But Finland didn’t seem to mind however as it wasn’t Estonia’s fault that he lacked a spare bed and there was no way Estonia was going to let him sleep on his bedroom floor. The rooms in Tallinn were cheap and cozy and it suited his needs just fine. His feet were killing him but luckily for him, his hotel wasn’t too far from the bar they spent their entire night at.
The air feels like winter is around the corner and Finland hates it. The mood between them has also changed once he notices that they are getting closer to the hotel. Estonia loses his cheerfulness and become quiet once more. He insists it’s because he’s tired but it isn’t sitting well with Finland. Still, he doesn’t press him about it. He doesn’t want to end their stellar night on such a sour note.
At the hotel doors, Finland was surprised when Estonia showered him in so much open affection. Estonia wrapped his arms around him and pulled him for a warm and familiar embrace.
But the hug felt different than usual. Estonia had never hugged him this tightly before. There’s a sense of worry and desperation as it felt like tonight was their last night together, for good. When Estonia broke away, Finland noticed the sadness in his aqua-coloured eyes.
He finally got the courage to speak up.
“Estonia, please talk to me. Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”
There’s a long and lengthy pause, and Finland never gets the answers he wants. Instead, he avoids the question entirely. He shouldn’t have expected anything less from him.
“Thank you for such a wonderful night. Promise me we’ll do this again?”
“Of course. But—”
“Excellent. I’ll be looking forward to it,” Estonia grinned. “Please send my regards to Sweden the next you meet.”
With his hands in his pocket, Estonia walks away into the night. Finland yells out his name to grab his attention but Estonia ignores him and only offers a simple wave with a worrying smile. It only took a second until he disappeared around the corner.
That night, Finland never slept. Estonia’s face haunted him in ways he had never felt before. But there was nothing he could do for him now. He needed to return to Helsinki for his usual Monday meeting with his bosses.
--
It was a Friday morning when his boss pulled him into his office for an emergency. His blood went cold when he was given a newspaper with large bold letters on the front. His boss only said one thing to him before he was dismissed.
“We’re next.”
Finland nodded hesitantly as he slowly returned to his office with the newspaper in his left hand. The various government and office workers grew anxious watching Finland drag his feet and staring at the floor. Anyone brave enough to ask questions was pushed away. When word spread about their nation’s melancholy appearance, it was like a dark cloud had formed over the whole building. Everyone finished the day as if something horrible was looming their way but no one knew why or how.
Finland never budged from his desk and sat in almost total darkness, with the open blinds behind him being his only source of light. He stared intensely at the black-coloured phone. For the nth time, he slowly dialed a familiar number and placed the receiver against his ear. Tears stream down his face as his eyes remain fixated at the wall, his body trembling. No matter how many times he does this, the results always ends up the same. The silence on the other end eats away at his chest before he finally hears a click and repetitive beep.
He looked down again at his desk. It felt as if the big bold letters on the newspaper were mocking him as the words echoed in his mind repeatedly. He lost control of his emotions and sobbed openly as he buried his face into his hands.
This was not a dream. Estonia was gone. And he was next in line.
He doesn’t know what angered him more: Russia forcing Estonia into his hand or Estonia not telling him what was going on behind the scenes. He would have happily pulled some strings for him even at the expense of a diplomatic scandal. Finland wonder if that is why he chose to keep quiet. He has had moments where he could be impulsive, especially after several drinks. On the other hand, Estonia always had a sense of pride that he needed to maintain. Him trying to do things alone should not even be a surprise to him. He pushes himself until he simply can’t. He only asks for help when it coordinates with own plans.
But regardless of Estonia’s reasons, it is unpleasant reminder that the world is now at war once again. For how long was anyone’s guess.
Finland got up from his chair and lifted up his blinds to the sight of the sun in his eyes as he could see out towards the direction of the sea.
Towards the direction to Estonia.
He doesn’t know if he can help him now. But he can only hope their last meeting was not their final one. The cherished framed photo of him, Estonia, and Sweden together, taken nearly ten years ago at his (then-new) lakeside cottage, sat by the phone. He grabbed the frame and he held it close to his chest.
Yes, this was definitely not the end.
Author: Scarlettlillies
Prompt: Finland, Any character - Final meeting
Other characters: Estonia
Rating: K+
Content notes: Set around September 1939. Both nations are brothers in this fic.
Summary: Finland and Estonia meet up for drinks. But Finland can't shake off how odd his neighbour is acting.
In a dimly-lit bar, they share a drink together. As chatty as everyone is, the mood is still somber. There are few smiles as a singer in the background reminisces of a long lost love. Finland though is in his own world and pulled out a case from his chest pocket and offered Estonia a cigarette but the man declined.
“C’mon Estonia, live a little. I bet you’ve never smoked a day in your life.”
“For your information, I live a fulfilling life and doing just fine without them,” he laughed. “Besides, smoking too many of them will kill you.”
“Details!” Finland said before he lit up a smoke. After taking a few drags, he let it lay against a glass ashtray and placed the lighter next to it. “It isn’t like we can die anyways.”
After a few friendly back and forth jabs, the conversation quickly died and Finland watched Estonia’s mannerisms closely. The man was staring mindlessly into his liqueur with an expression that would rival a grieving widow. Finland was beginning to lose his patience. In a move that was out of character for him, he smacked the table with such force that Estonia jumped from his seat and startled the now-frighten folks at the surrounding tables.
“I didn’t sit on a boat for two and half hours to watch you stare at your drink all night.”
Estonia stared at him like a deer in headlights, “Uh, right, I’m sorry.” he replied as he turned his head looking rather embarrassed. Finland quickly returned to his regular self as he realized what he had done. He rubbed the back of his neck feeling rather guilty. He couldn’t believe he lost his tempter like that.
“Oh Estonia, I’m so sorry,” he said apologetically. “It’s just… I’m worried about you right now.”
“I know, I know,” Estonia replied. “And you don’t need to apologize. I should be the one apologizing. I’m the one who invited you here and yet here I am being a bad host. Let’s restart this from scratch shall we?”
Estonia lifts up his drink up and with a grin he proposes a toast, “To friendship and brotherhood.”
Finland was impressed just how quick Estonia changed his entire persona. He was dying for a topic change and was delighted to put all of this in the past.
“To friendship and brotherhood!”
Estonia seemed to be loosening himself up after having two drinks and he was returning to his regular self as they chatted about everything under the sun. Finland went for sports and his adventures of playing catch-up with Sweden. Meanwhile Estonia talked about music and his fascination for the sciences. Even as the patrons slowly emptied the bar, they continued on and were still ordering drinks. Finally at one in the morning, the owners grew tired of them causing a ruckus and announced they were closing shortly and the two men needed to leave. They didn’t contest and Estonia paid the bill. They stumbled out of bar, laughing at the top of their lungs, and their arms entwined. The owners had never been so grateful to see someone leave as one of them locked the door behind them.
Estonia walked Finland back to his hotel. He felt guilty that he couldn’t house him. But Finland didn’t seem to mind however as it wasn’t Estonia’s fault that he lacked a spare bed and there was no way Estonia was going to let him sleep on his bedroom floor. The rooms in Tallinn were cheap and cozy and it suited his needs just fine. His feet were killing him but luckily for him, his hotel wasn’t too far from the bar they spent their entire night at.
The air feels like winter is around the corner and Finland hates it. The mood between them has also changed once he notices that they are getting closer to the hotel. Estonia loses his cheerfulness and become quiet once more. He insists it’s because he’s tired but it isn’t sitting well with Finland. Still, he doesn’t press him about it. He doesn’t want to end their stellar night on such a sour note.
At the hotel doors, Finland was surprised when Estonia showered him in so much open affection. Estonia wrapped his arms around him and pulled him for a warm and familiar embrace.
But the hug felt different than usual. Estonia had never hugged him this tightly before. There’s a sense of worry and desperation as it felt like tonight was their last night together, for good. When Estonia broke away, Finland noticed the sadness in his aqua-coloured eyes.
He finally got the courage to speak up.
“Estonia, please talk to me. Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”
There’s a long and lengthy pause, and Finland never gets the answers he wants. Instead, he avoids the question entirely. He shouldn’t have expected anything less from him.
“Thank you for such a wonderful night. Promise me we’ll do this again?”
“Of course. But—”
“Excellent. I’ll be looking forward to it,” Estonia grinned. “Please send my regards to Sweden the next you meet.”
With his hands in his pocket, Estonia walks away into the night. Finland yells out his name to grab his attention but Estonia ignores him and only offers a simple wave with a worrying smile. It only took a second until he disappeared around the corner.
That night, Finland never slept. Estonia’s face haunted him in ways he had never felt before. But there was nothing he could do for him now. He needed to return to Helsinki for his usual Monday meeting with his bosses.
--
It was a Friday morning when his boss pulled him into his office for an emergency. His blood went cold when he was given a newspaper with large bold letters on the front. His boss only said one thing to him before he was dismissed.
“We’re next.”
Finland nodded hesitantly as he slowly returned to his office with the newspaper in his left hand. The various government and office workers grew anxious watching Finland drag his feet and staring at the floor. Anyone brave enough to ask questions was pushed away. When word spread about their nation’s melancholy appearance, it was like a dark cloud had formed over the whole building. Everyone finished the day as if something horrible was looming their way but no one knew why or how.
Finland never budged from his desk and sat in almost total darkness, with the open blinds behind him being his only source of light. He stared intensely at the black-coloured phone. For the nth time, he slowly dialed a familiar number and placed the receiver against his ear. Tears stream down his face as his eyes remain fixated at the wall, his body trembling. No matter how many times he does this, the results always ends up the same. The silence on the other end eats away at his chest before he finally hears a click and repetitive beep.
He looked down again at his desk. It felt as if the big bold letters on the newspaper were mocking him as the words echoed in his mind repeatedly. He lost control of his emotions and sobbed openly as he buried his face into his hands.
This was not a dream. Estonia was gone. And he was next in line.
He doesn’t know what angered him more: Russia forcing Estonia into his hand or Estonia not telling him what was going on behind the scenes. He would have happily pulled some strings for him even at the expense of a diplomatic scandal. Finland wonder if that is why he chose to keep quiet. He has had moments where he could be impulsive, especially after several drinks. On the other hand, Estonia always had a sense of pride that he needed to maintain. Him trying to do things alone should not even be a surprise to him. He pushes himself until he simply can’t. He only asks for help when it coordinates with own plans.
But regardless of Estonia’s reasons, it is unpleasant reminder that the world is now at war once again. For how long was anyone’s guess.
Finland got up from his chair and lifted up his blinds to the sight of the sun in his eyes as he could see out towards the direction of the sea.
Towards the direction to Estonia.
He doesn’t know if he can help him now. But he can only hope their last meeting was not their final one. The cherished framed photo of him, Estonia, and Sweden together, taken nearly ten years ago at his (then-new) lakeside cottage, sat by the phone. He grabbed the frame and he held it close to his chest.
Yes, this was definitely not the end.
