Thank You For The Lovely Time

[whatevs]

Title: Thank You For The Lovely Time

Canon: Hetalia
Pairing: Lithuania/Poland
Rating: G
Summary: Every year, Poland gave Lithuania sweet peas and every year Lithuania didn't know why.



It was every year on the first of July that Lithuania received a bouquet of sweet peas from Poland. It had been a ritual since he had first begun living with Poland. He knew what the day was, of course. One couldn’t really forget the day they were married and he knew why Poland wanted to celebrate it in some way, but why with sweet peas? Every year he asked and always Poland would shyly make up some new answer. Lithuania never bothered to tell Poland when he obviously was lying. That was asking for him to sulk all day and getting him out of that mood was trouble enough.

But it was always when Lithuania tried to give him flowers back that things got weird. He supposed it was weird to give your friend flowers on the anniversary of your marriage, but his and Poland’s relationship had always been weird. There had never been a time Poland wasn’t strange and anything that was normal didn’t fit into their lives. If he was being given a gift, it was wrong to not give one back, right? Impolite. At least out of politeness’ sake, he should give him a gift. Bad as an idea as it seemed.

When he had given Poland lavender, he had been confused why Poland had pouted. He had thought that Poland would appreciate a bouquet of flowers back. Especially lavender since he’d assumed Poland liked that scent, he used it a lot. He’d never found out why Poland had acted that way and Poland had been adamant that his bottom lip sticking out was not pouting, but just his lip got tired.

The next year Lithuania had tried giving him rue and Poland had honestly looked heartbroken. It was a little insulting since it was his national flower, but it was useless to feel insulted by everything Poland did so he brushed it off. Poland blamed it on a stomachache and Lithuania had figured next year, he’d just get him something else instead of flowers. Yet every year it just seemed like Poland wasn’t happy with whatever he got, even if Lithuania went out of his way to get something that he knew Poland wanted. If he saw him looking at a shirt or maybe some sort of cake, he’d get it. Poland had obviously wanted it, he would be happy with it. He should be anyway. And every year, he seemed disappointed. It was all Lithuania could do to not just angrily ask Poland what he wanted from him. It was Poland. He’d always been open with what he wanted, too open really. Demanding actually. That’s why it was so strange he wasn’t so frank about it this time.

Tomorrow was July 1st and Lithuania was stuck on what to give him. This day was being forgotten as the anniversary of the Commonwealth and more of “I have to get Poland a gift and it has to be good or he’ll look sad again and he just looks so miserable when he’s sad” day.

“He doesn’t like shirts, jewelry, stuffed animals, movies, food, and obviously not flowers.” Lithuania sighed to himself, sitting at their table in the kitchen. He had run out of things to give him and out of things that could possibly make Poland happy. Usually gifts just made him happy. He was a simple nation in that aspect and it shouldn’t have been this complicated.

“Can’t you just give me a break once?” Lithuania groaned to himself as he covered his face with his hands, feeling more stressed out over a gift than he was over anything else.

“I can totally give you a break! Let’s go do something!”

Lithuania jumped and when he removed his hands from his face, he saw Poland there, grinning in the seat in front of him.

“I said you were overworking and see, you’ve got stress lines all over your face! You’re getting way wrinkly.”

Lithuania frowned, rubbing at his cheeks subconsciously. “I am not. To both of those things! I’m on a break right now and--” Seeing a chance, literally, right in front of him he smiled. “Poland, can I ask you a question?”

“You so are overworked and have stress lines, but okay, shoot.” Poland was still grinning and Lithuania had to wonder how one could grin like that when you just told your friend they were wrinkled.

Wondering how to word it so Poland wouldn’t catch on because Lithuania didn’t want to risk anymore possible headaches if Poland would somehow be hurt if he had to ask him exactly what he wanted, he sighed. “Mm, if you could have one thing in the world right now, what would it be?” There. There was no way that could--

“A bullet train!”

“Oh, I can--wait, what?! A train?”

“Yeah! Don’t you think a private train for this place would be super useful? We’d never be late to meetings or work or anything! You wouldn’t be crazy about getting to places on time and I could go to the store any time and be back in like, a minute. Plus we could land it into annoying places. Like that one pharmacy that always runs out of my favorite soda.”

Lithuania could definitely feel the signs of a stomachache coming on as he felt his good plan come crashing around him. Of course it could never be that simple. Poland could never just be nice and simply say he wanted a new pillow case or something ordinary. No, he needed the extraordinary.

“You don’t crash into stores, Poland…”

That day was spent telling Poland the etiquette of proper bullet train usage and by the time night rolled around, Lithuania was tempted to just buy him a book about proper manners. That would probably have been a gift to the whole world, he thought to himself. But getting Poland any book nowadays was useless, considering he wouldn’t read them unless they had a storyline he found interesting. It usually included some corny romance with a hero involved.

But Poland’s gift was forgotten almost instantly when Lithuania remembered the world meeting the next day and when Poland had forgotten the world meeting the next day as well. It became a matter of taking care of two sets of notes since Poland never was good at doing work. The night was spent going over notes, Poland complaining about the fact they hadn’t had time for a nice dinner, and Lithuania wondering how he had the patience for any of this as he tried to explain the importance of tourism.

----

Lithuania had had to rush back to his house quickly for another suit when he entered the kitchen and there was Poland, shyly extending the bouquet of sweet peas to Lithuania.

Oh crap I didn’t get him anything, Lithuania thought to himself as he took the flowers, trying to smile while guilt overcame his system. He’d been so busy preparing for the meeting and just not knowing what to do anymore with gifts that he’d forgotten. Poland looked at him expectedly and Lithuania laughed nervously, smoothing out his tie as he hurried for words.

“Ah, Poland, you see, I don’t really have anything for you this year. I just got so busy and everything, with this meeting and you know how I am.” Poland was already frowning, unable to hide his emotions and Lithuania saw the disappointment. The same disappointment that was there every year and he had to wonder just what was it that Poland wanted? What could Lithuania do to make him happy? He looked down at the sweet peas, feeling like there had to be some obvious reason why he always gave him these. His eyes met Poland again, who was looking away and acting clearly upset. “Maybe I could take you to dinner? Anywhere you want to go!” Poland’s expression still didn’t change and Lithuania rushed for something else. “And a movie? We could go for ice cream or maybe hang around somewhere? I have some time after the meeting. We could do anything you wanted.”

Lithuania was almost afraid Poland was about to cry or something as dramatic when he just laughed, brushing his hair back as he took a hair tie from his wrist to put his hair back. “It’s no big deal, Liet. Stop worrying and let’s just get to the meeting and stuff. Germany always gets cranky when people are late.” Poland rushed off right after and even if he was smiling, Lithuania hadn’t been living with Poland for the majority of his life to not know Poland was purposely trying to act okay. Poland was open about those things. If he didn’t complain or act upset when something bothered him, it was serious. He’d never been very rational, crying over wine spilling on his white skirt and not crying when someone important died or a serious event happened.

The fact that Poland wasn’t complaining, calling Lithuania names for forgetting meant that the gifts were important to him and as Lithuania stared down at the sweet peas, he just wished he knew what to do because as crazy as Poland drove him; he wanted him happy.

The ride over had been awkwardly silent as Lithuania tried to start up topics that fell on deaf ears and at the meeting, Poland avoided everybody. Hungary asked Lithuania what was wrong immediately and he had not had an answer for her. She had seemed suspicious, as protective over her dearest friend as always when she walked over and Poland just shook his head, murmuring something that was meant for her ears. Seeing her hug him, Lithuania felt a strange uneasiness. Why couldn’t he just let things be easy once? Lithuania knew he had made a mistake and he wanted to make it right. How? Lithuania had no clue because Poland wouldn’t just tell him. And then again, if Poland would just be honest about anything important his life would be simple. Poland had made it obvious in the hundreds of years he’d known him he couldn’t do simplicity. What was he expecting now?

“Are you two fighting?” Estonia asked during a break when Poland ran to go to the bathroom with some flimsy excuse. “You keep shooting worried looks at him.”

Lithuania sighed, wishing it had been a fight. Then he would have known how to handle this situation. “If it was that simple. Hey, Estonia? If you were being given flowers, what would you do?”

“I’d ask why I was receiving them in the first place and then ask about any possible allergens and poisons it could contain.”

Lithuania almost asked about the last part (poisons, really?), but deciding he already had enough confusion going on with Poland he didn’t need anymore with his brother. “I can’t ask. I--mm, never mind. Thanks for the suggestion.”

Estonia seemed curious still, but knew better than to keep bugging Lithuania when he was having problems with Poland. That was a lesson learned throughout the years. The nation’s never ending patience was always depleted when it came to Poland and so Estonia went on his way easily.

But by now it was apparent that something was going on between him and Poland, Lithuania swore he could feel everybody looking at them. He was sure that Russia would be seeing his chance and so Lithuania needed to figure out a way to quickly get him and Poland to the car before he tried anything. Maybe while he was running he’d figure out something for him and Poland to do to make all of this better.

A glance to Poland and he was only doodling flowers on the hand-out which was nothing but a reminder. He didn’t look back at Lithuania and seemed as if he was focused on doing just that. Lithuania decided to just stare down at his own paper and not look at anything else. It wasn’t as if anybody ever asked his opinion. They were all too busy fighting with each other to care about that. Usually it was frustrating, but today it was a blessing.

The meeting, unsurprisingly, was too long and Lithuania was glad when it was over. He was ready to stand and make a dash with Poland to his car before anybody could talk to them. But before he could prepare, Hungary was over with a smile.

“I’ll be taking Poland for the rest of the afternoon. Hope you don’t mind me stealing him? He‘ll be back by dinner.”

Lithuania almost wanted to say that yes, he did because they needed to talk, but when Poland walked over to her, Lithuania found he couldn’t. It wasn’t even right of her asking him. It wasn’t like he owned Poland or he had any right to say anything other than yes. Poland was his own nation. He put on a smile and nodded. “Of course, have fun.”

Hungary looked to her friend. “Hey, go wait for a moment? I want to talk to Lithuania for a moment.” Those words made Lithuania worry and apparently Poland too as he looked slightly horrified. “Don’t give me that,” she said with a frown. “Just talking. I won‘t say anything.”

The look that shot across Poland’s face didn’t make him seem too sure, but he walked away when Hungary gave him a look which left Lithuania with the possibility of an angry Hungary on his hands, mad he had probably done something to hurt her best friend.

But when she smiled at him, Lithuania was surprised. “Listen, Poland…“ She looked like she was looking for the right word until she spoke again. “Is Poland. You know how he can be, but his heart is in the right place and it’s honestly a little sweet on his part. Sweet, but horribly executed as always.”

A frown came to Lithuania as replied, “Ah--what? I don’t understand…”

“Poland’s told me to never talk about it so I won’t. I promised him and I’ve never broken a promise to him yet. But I’m not about to just stand by and let this chance miss you both because neither of you are getting it. Go to a flower shop and just ask about those flowers.”

Lithuania understood immediately what she was talking about. “Wait, you know what he means with those? Then can’t you just--”

“No. It isn’t even my business. I just hate watching Poland hurt himself anymore than he has to. He deserves some happiness and you do too. And really, you two could use a push in the right direction. He’s obviously not getting the message clear to you. Kiss and make up. It‘s still a surprise you two haven‘t done it already.”

With the sly smile she gave him, Lithuania had a horrible idea of what she was trying to tell him and suddenly felt as if the whole thing was wildly inappropriate to be discussing.

“I’ll see you later. Poland will be back tonight and here’s to hoping for some good stories from him tomorrow! Also Russia looks ready to walk over here once I‘m gone so I‘d run if I was you.” She gave him a wave and Lithuania waved back although he hoped deep down his waving wasn’t somehow encouraging her until he realized she mentioned Russia and he ran out of the room and into his car as fast as he could, locking his door behind him.  Catching his breath, he wondered about what Hungary had told him. Had she honestly been implying…that? It was Hungary, she’d always been well, herself in those matters, but it was very uncomfortable to think that she would even suggest….

But Hungary knew what was going on and had given him a hint how to fix it. Go to the flower shop and ask about the flowers. Hungary had always been a helpful nation. She was always pretty good about such things, offering Poland a level mind when he couldn’t himself. Though right now he wasn’t even sure what his own mind was saying. Did he honestly think Poland had talked to Hungary about wanting them to-- It was Poland! There was no way he’d just--no.

But then what did Poland tell her? She had told him to go to the flower shop and he supposed that was an obvious place to go. Although he’d been there enough times, buying Poland flowers and it was obviously not what he wanted. He’d moped the two times he’d been given flowers in return, but right now Lithuania was desperate for things to just make sense.

Confusion was still there as Lithuania pulled up to the nearest flower shop and wandered in, a worker coming up to him quickly and asking what he needed.

“Ah, um, what do you know about sweet peas?”

“Sweet peas? Well, they were popular back during Edwardian England. But that’s really all I know. Were you looking for the meaning?”

“The meaning?”

The worker nodded and began rummaging around. “Yes, the meaning. All flowers mean something and I have a book right here so I can--right. Here. Let’s see. Sweet peas…blissful, delicate pleasure…” Lithuania felt his face flame at that and tried to keep listening past the internal screams of ‘no no no no…’. “Good-bye? Oh. And it also means ‘thank you for a lovely time’.”

Lithuania doubted Poland was saying good-bye, but the last one made sense considering what the day was. If he was just trying to thank him for the Commonwealth, giving him the flowers seemed like the most backwards way of doing that. How could anybody know what he wanted to say that way? His conversation with Hungary came back and he frowned as he recalled it. She’d said it had been horribly executed. If he thought it over and her words, it all slowly made sense. He went silent as he thought about all of it.

The commonwealth really had been something he remembered fondly more often than not. Poland had been his bossy self, proclaiming everything had to be Polish and not even bothering to give thought to anything Lithuanian. It had never been about him trying to erase Lithuanian culture, he’d never looked down on it. Poland had just assumed everything was better if it was Polish and it was his naïve way of thinking he was just doing what was best.
It had also been selfish and Lithuania couldn’t deny that. He’d laughed at Lithuanian traditions and old pagan ideas. He hadn’t understood Lithuania’s attachment to his old gods and practices. Poland really hadn’t understood anything and had always been a little cruel. There was no arguing that Poland had not been the best partner. Poland had not even been the best friend ever and even now, Lithuania could still list the problems he had with Poland without having to stop to think.

But Poland had never intentionally hurt him. Never had he wanted to hurt him just for the sake of doing so. Poland was bossy because it was in his nature, not because he wanted to control and suffocate his culture. Or at least not anymore. And the only time Poland had honestly intentionally hurt him…

If Lithuania thought about it for too long, he’d feel himself grow angry and he hated feeling that because in his mind, only one person deserved his anger. Poland had apologized, Poland had actually regretted everything. Nobody else had done that. And even though it was easy to become angry, remembering Vilnius, it was easy to calm down when he remembered Poland’s apology. His sincere, tear-filled apology where he had admitted he was wrong. Something he’d never heard Poland do before. Something Poland had never done for anybody. Poland did not show regret and he didn’t do apologies very well.

When Lithuania remembered he was the first one to receive a true apology from Poland without prompt, it was easy to smile and go on another day by Poland’s side. Too easy and Poland was honestly the only one he thought he could ever do that with because Poland was the only one who tried for him. Nobody did that. Nobody but Poland, even with all his flaws. He knew that Poland cared in the end of the day and that was what mattered. That was what always mattered.

And Lithuania knew he cared about Poland most because no matter how much Poland angered him, a life without him was painful and bland. He felt bored and always thought about him when they were away from each other. He could complain at the end of the day about how much work he didn’t do because of him, but it was because of Poland he was calmer. Poland was a master at knowing when to step in and settle down his nerves. Lithuania appreciated it and it was probably one of the many reasons why Lithuania was sure he couldn’t live without him. Ever.

The sudden realization of how this all added up made Lithuania slightly blush. Hungary’s words, Poland’s actions, and even his own that he’d never even noticed. Those times when he’d thought how nice Poland looked or if he actually just felt weird around Poland at times with no explanation. It all made sense and the sense was terrifying. Thinking about it, Lithuania already felt his stomach start to cramp and he wanted to deny it all. But he couldn’t.

“Sir?”

The worker seemed worried about him and Lithuania smiled. “Ah, sorry. I was lost in my thoughts. Is it possible for me to look at that book you have for a moment? Thanks.” When he was handed the book about the meanings of flowers, he wasn’t even sure if this was a good idea. There had to be a hundred and more ways for it to all go wrong, but knowing that, he continued to look through the flowers, looking for the perfect meaning of what he needed to say.

Finding what he needed, a small smile came to him.

“Could I buy something now please?”

----

Waiting for Poland to come home was the worst part of it. He looked at his gift on the counter and finished setting the plates. What Poland wanted for dinner was usually what they had, Lithuania made his favorite meals anyway. It seemed like the perfect thing to do for the situation. It was a romantic gesture.

Lithuania slumped down in a chair when he realized he used the word romantic and sighed. He was honestly doing this. He was honestly feeling this.

Since when had he started to fall for Poland?

Maybe it had always been there, maybe it had just started that day; Lithuania wasn’t sure. All he knew was that he couldn’t just bottle this all up and let things go as they were. Poland’s intentions were clear and so Lithuania knew he had to make his clear. It could all be for the better. Hungary was smart and had been hinting towards it. Perhaps this was a good decision.

“But what if he wants to start the commonwealth up again?” Lithuania murmured quietly to himself, feeling the stress pile up as he stared at the food he was making. He could just hide his gift, he could just offer the dinner as a peace offering and everything would be okay. Poland didn’t like fights to go on and would try to move on quickly. All of this could be forgotten. Things could go back to normal.

The scariest thing, Lithuania realized, was knowing he didn’t want things to go back to where they were.

When the door closed and Poland came bouncing in, acting his usual self, Lithuania knew Poland was doing what he usually did. Just pretending everything was okay and at least a happier Poland was easy to do this with. Thanks to Hungary’s help (she had probably planned all of this). He’d expected this.

“So, Liet, Hungary and me--whoa, Liet. You went all out!” Poland sat down at the table, looking excited at all of his favorites right before him as he looked to Lithuania. “This had to have taken--”

“Forever?” Lithuania interrupted. “Yes, it did. But we need to talk, Poland.”

Poland’s face fell and he sat back. “We can talk while we eat and I can tell you about my day?”

Lithuania shook his head and stood up, getting his gift off the kitchen counter as he took a deep breath. Sitting back down, he slid it over to Poland. A planted pot full of white violets and Poland looked confused.

“Liet?”

Trying a smile, Lithuania was sure he couldn’t have looked anything but nervous. “They mean let’s take a chance.”

Poland blushed and laughed, sounding anxious. “Take a chance on what? You sound really dumb right now, let’s just eat and the flowers are super nice. Thanks!” Poland was about to just brush the whole conversation off and Lithuania felt a burst of confidence in himself, not wanting to lose a chance. He’d lost chances at so many things and he was going to take this one, one that felt right. Hungary had been right. This should have happened a long time ago and Lithuania wasn’t putting it off any longer.

“Poland, let’s take a chance.” His hand reached forward to grab Poland’s whose face was all red now. Lithuania didn’t even know if he was blushing himself.

“Liet! You’re talking weird and I don’t know what to say! What are you saying and--!”

His voice sounding serious, Lithuania spoke up. “The sweet peas. Thank you for a lovely time, right? You’re welcome. I’m sorry I never got it until now and I’m sorry I never realized, but I do now. I get it. And I know. I really know now. I know this is sudden and I know you probably just want me to stop saying know, but I…please. Let’s take a chance. I love you, Poland. I don’t really think I’ve felt this way before about anybody and will you please, just--”

Before he could finish his sentence, Poland burst out crying and Lithuania felt the mood go away. The intense mood he’d set up unknowingly that Poland broke with a sob as he covered his face. Horror filled Lithuania’s mind. Had he misunderstood? Poland was crying right now so had he really messed up?

“Poland, oh God, I’m sorry. I thought maybe you wanted…? No. Oh. Please, just forget it then. Please stop crying.” Lithuania knew he was blabbering and he was about to say something else when Poland looked at him, still crying as his lips trembled.

“I won’t forget it! I don’t forget anything and I won’t forget what you just said ever! I’m so happy and oh my gosh, I think my heart’s going to burst, Liet.”

“Why are you crying then?” Lithuania asked, confused, though he felt himself start to smile when he realized what Poland was saying.

The other nation shook his head and continued crying. “I’m not crying! Rude, I don’t cry and I’m just happy. Okay, I’m just really happy and my eyes are probably just happy too so they’re doing weird things. I’m not crying…”

Lithuania’s smile grew larger as he stood up and walked to Poland, pulling him up into a hug. Cries were still coming from Poland and Lithuania was sure his shirt would get dirty and the food was going to go cold, but he couldn’t stop smiling and holding onto Poland, who was clinging to him now and not showing any signs of stopping his tears.

It wasn’t surprising when Lithuania felt tears start to prickle at his eyes and he laughed softly, holding onto Poland tighter. The bad could outweigh the good and there were risks, Lithuania knew. Their bosses, other countries, and themselves. They still had their issues and Lithuania knew this wouldn’t be easy.

But the chance was worth it and Lithuania was going to take it.

“Thank you for the lovely time, Poland.”

Poland grasped Lithuania’s shirt and spoke against it, the words muffled. “Oh my gosh. You big dork. You--” But Poland pulled away and though his eyes and nose were running, his hair a mess now, Lithuania thought he still looked beautiful.

“I love you, Liet. I‘ve always loved you. It‘s always been you.”

It was a simple confession. The words made Lithuania’s heart beat faster, hearing Poland say them as he couldn’t control himself and lean in to take Poland’s lips with his, kissing him softly. It tasted like the salt from his tears and as corny as it sounded, it tasted like happiness. Best of all, it tasted like Poland.

What would happen next was unsure, but Lithuania couldn’t be damned to care as he stood there with his lips pressed against Poland’s, not taking a moment to pull away.

He’d take this chance for as long as he could.

----------
Notes: Lavender can mean distrust and rue means regret. White violets, of course, can mean 'let's take a chance' :)