Work Text:
"Tap, tap, tap." Someone knocked the door.
Raivis was surprised. He had been almost asleep when he heard the strange noise. He quickly put his coat on and jumped out of bed to answer the door.
"I'm coming!" Raivis called out as he ran towards the door. "It is so late.Who will it be?" He said to himself,looking through the spyhole. He couldn't imagine who would visit him on such a cold winter night.
Complete darkness.
"Who's there?" he asked, opening the door.
It was Tino. Raivis heaved a sigh of relief. Thank goodness it wasn't Ivan.
"Um... Raivis, I'm really sorry to bother you so late, but I need to ask you for a favor." Tino smiled awkwardly.
At this time did Raivis notice Eduard behind Tino. His face was flushed, breathing slowly and gently.
"Ah, of course, no problem. I'm glad to help." Raivis wasn't good at refusing.
"Eduard is... a bit drunk. Could he stay at your place for the night?"
Raivis agreed.
"Goodbye, I'll take good care of him!" Raivis said,waving his hands.
Almost instantly, Raivis felt a wave of regret. How could he take Eduard into the house? He was too tall and was drunk. Raivis was sure he wasn't clear-headed.He sighed and patted Eduard's shoulder, trying to get his attention.
Thank goodness, The taller nation slowly opened his eyes.
"Um... Estonia-san, could you manage to walk inside by yourself?"
Raivis observed Eduard's eyes behind his glasses. They usually sparkled brightly,reminding him of the Baltic Sea, but now they seemed hazy, covered in a mist... a bit... unfocused?
"...Seeing Estonia-san like this... is really nice..." Raivis was startled by his strange thoughts."...Am I the special one?"
He is your FRIEND.Raivis warned himself.
His face flushed and his heart beat fast. He tried to drive these thoughts out of his mind.
"Estonia-san, I'll sleep on the sofa today, and you can sleep on my bed. Is that okay?" Raivis asked.
"What in the world! He's fallen asleep again?!" Raivis was going to be crazy.
He tugged at Eduard's arm, helping him rest against the sofa.
"Mmm... Raivis..." Eduard mumbled his name softly. This successfully made Raivis stop in his tracks; he had been about to fetch Eduard a glass of water.
"...What?" Raivis felt his heartbeat quicken, and he tried hard to keep his voice sounded normal.
"Raivis, actually, I... have loved you for a long time. I'm serious."
Oh my god! Eduard liked him? This was something Raivis had never dared to imagine.
There's no doubt that they shared a common history. But when did it start? Raivis couldn't recall clearly. Perhaps it was when they fought together against the invasion of the Teutonic Order. Or even before that, in the tribal era, they had already known each other. Since those days, they had always been together, ruled by Prussia, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Germany, and the Soviet Union. Admittedly, it was a time of suffering, but they were together.
Together,that was enough.
"Are you listening to me?Raivis?" Eduard's eyes were bright, eagerly awaiting Raivis's response.
"Ah... ah... I'm listening..."
He had always thought of Eduard as his friend (or perhaps a brother). Now, that seemed somewhat laughable.
But at this moment, Raivis's only thought was:
"Estonia-san loves me, and I love Estonia-san! We love each other."
Raivis felt his face was on fire. He enjoyed reading romance novels, but it was the first time that he had became one of the lead roles of a romantic relationship.
Raivis took a deep breath and made a major decision—
"Eduard... I... I like you too!" Raivis finally mustered his courage.
What should he do next? Raivis quickly reviewed the novels he had read.
———Raivis's brain short-circuited.
He shoved the empty glass into Eduard's hand and rushed out of the room.
————————————————-
"Oh no, why did I give him an empty glass?!"
Raivis practically fled into the kitchen. Leaning back against the cold wall, he covered his burning cheeks with his hands. He felt his heart pounding wildly.
"He said that... he said he likes me... and I said it too... oh heavens, what have I said!"
His mind was a tangled mess. He took several deep breaths before barely steadying his trembling hands. Carefully, he poured a glass of water and walked back to the living room again.
Eduard was still in the same position, his glasses slightly askew, his gaze was still hazy, but there seemed to be a hint of a smile on her lips. He took the glass Raivis passed to him and said , "Thank you, Rai."
Rai? Not Latvia, not Raivis, not Galante But...
—Rai.
Raivis felt his heart stopped a beat. He sat down awkwardly on the other end of the sofa, twisting the hem of his shirt nervously with his fingers.
"...Eduard... what did you say earlier..." Raivis gathered his courage, his voice as faint as a mosquito's hum, "...were you serious? Do you... remember?"
He was afraid it was just drunken nonsense, which will be forgotten completely the next morning. If that were that case, he truly didn't know how to face Eduard.
Eduard set down the glass, turned his head, and looked into Raivis's eyes. Though his gaze behind the glasses still held a hint of intoxication, it was exceptionally focused on Raivis. He nodded gently.
"I remembered." His voice was a bit huskier than usual from the alcohol,but with undeniable seriousness. "I've been loving you for a long time, Raivis. This isn't drunken talk... I just finally dared to say it, thanks to the alcohol."
He reached out and gently covered Raivis's hand, which was nervously clenched into a fist.
Raivis looked up, meeting those eyes which only be filled with his own figure. He grasped Eduard's hand, fingertips no longer trembling.
"I am... serious too." Raivis showed the first relaxed and radiant smile tonight."Very, very serious."
Eduard smiled,too. The smile dispelled the last traces of haze from his eyes, making them clear and gentle. He applied a little pressure, pulling Raivis closer to him.
"Well,then..." Eduard asked softly, with a hint of sounding out and anticipation, "...could I... not sleep in the bed? The sofa... seems more comfortable."
Raivis's face turned red again, but this time he didn't shy away. He muttered quietly, "The sofa is too small... and, my, my bed... is wide enough."
"Then... I'll be in your care, Raivis."
Early the next morning.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains.Eduard woke first, frowning at the slight headache from his hangover.Then, he felt the warm weight and even breathing in his arms. He looked down to see Raivis curled up against him, sound asleep, his light golden hair brushing against Eduard's chin, looking completely unguarded.
Eduard felt indescribably happy. Fragments of last night's memories came back clearly—the knocking, Raivis's worried face, that declaration he'd mustered the courage to make, and Raivis's equally sincere and fervent response.
Carefully, he tightened his arms, holding the person in his embrace a little closer, and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.
Raivis, as if sensing Eduard's movement in his sleep, curved his lips into a smile and snuggled even deeper into his embrace.
Their new day began officially in the warm morning light and the sound of each other's heartbeats. And this time, they would no longer be just friends facing hardship together, but lovers walking hand in hand towards the future.