yuuago: (EstFin - You're My Best Friend)
[personal profile] yuuago
Title: Of New Candles and Old Flames
Pairing: Estonia/Finland
Rating: 13+
Summary: Estonia and Finland meet again shortly after Estonia's independence is restored. It's time to pick up the pieces.
Notes: I wrote this back in September and posted it elsewhere, but it's only now that I've gotten around to doing the final edit. I'm still very happy with this one.



Of New Candles and Old Flames

The match sputters into life, flaring high before calming and slowly burning down. Finland watches as Estonia lights the candles: one, two, three. He blows out the match. The smoke curls up around him, then dies.

The light flickers on Estonia’s face and catches his glasses, the soft glow illuminating his worn, weary expression. He is tired, Finland thinks. Overwhelmed, and with good reason. Only months ago he had finally succeeded in breaking away and getting back the autonomy that had been taken from him all those years ago. It had been a struggle and though Estonia had not spoken a word of complaint to him, the exhaustion that accompanied the freedom showed in his face and seemed to hint at a worry that all of it would not last.

They had been out together that day, really together for the first time in what seemed like forever, walking side by side as in the old days. It wasn’t the old days. Tallinn had changed; the air itself seemed different. He’ll be cleaning up this mess for years, Finland thought.

Now in the candlelight he watches him as he rearranges the candles, delaying. The shaking of his hands shows his uncertainty. There had been no awkwardness when they came back together but now that they are completely alone Finland can see that he is unsure.

He goes to him then and touches his shoulder. When Estonia looks at him he draws him close and kisses him softly, gently. His friend yields and slides his long arms around Finland’s waist. It has been a long time, Finland thinks. Too long. But it is the same as he remembers it. Estonia’s mouth is soft and inviting, welcoming Finland as he presses against him and wraps his arms around his shoulders, not minding as the glasses bump awkwardly, cool metal against his cheeks.

That is familiar. He missed it, just as he misses everything else. The warmth of him. The way it feels to run his fingers through his hair. But Finland finds him different now, in some ways. There is tension all through him, stress, something wound up tight inside of him. He can tell by the way it feels to be close to him, kissing him. The responses are nervous, and Estonia is clinging.

Finland breaks away and murmurs a question against his lips. What can I do? What can I do for you? Estonia’s response comes after a moment of hesitation. He withdraws from Finland and takes off his glasses, his hands trembling as he sets them on the night-table. When he looks back to him again Finland knows that he can barely see him, because it is dark and he is almost blind.

“Stay,” Estonia whispers, his voice ragged, almost hoarse. "That’s all. Just stay.”

“Okay.”

Finland takes his hand and squeezes it. In a moment they are holding each other again.



Somehow, eventually, they make it to the bed. Finland presses him down onto crisp white sheets and kisses him firmly, the gestures meant to be reassuring. I’ll stay. He thinks it as he slides his tongue into his mouth, stroking. I’ll stay. As they break for breath they linger nose-to-nose, pressing feather-light kisses to slick lips. Don’t worry – I’ll stay. He thinks it as he trails kisses over his jaw, along his throat. Maybe he even whispers it. If he does, Estonia does not reply with words; only movement as he tilts his head to give him room, his breath hitching.

When their lips meet again it is lightly, Finland delivering gentleness that was not there before. He wants more. After so long, he wants him, but the lingering tiredness he saw in the candle-light and the way Estonia now responds with softness rather than passion all tell him, no. Not tonight. So he restrains himself for the time being, draws back the desire and kisses him gently. He doesn’t mind. Another time. He loses himself in Estonia’s lips and the sensation of the scholar’s elegant hands stroking his hair. At some point they will snuff out the candles. At some point they will fall asleep, wrapped in each other’s arms, still wearing their clothes. It doesn’t matter. It’s fine.



When Finland wakes it is because the sun has filtered in through the partly-closed curtains and warmed his eyelids. He blinks, yawns, and stares at the ceiling for a moment. Estonia is not there and the bed is cold. He can smell coffee and can hear the sound of someone moving around in the kitchen. When he finally rises he goes there and finds him, and is greeted with a smile.

“Good morning, Soome.”

He barely has time to reply before Estonia kisses him. Arms encircle him as they had the night before, drawing him close. Finland sighs against his mouth and welcomes him, takes him in, tasting mint. Toothpaste. Fresh. Estonia is awake and holding him and though he hasn’t yet shaken off the fog of sleep Finland realizes that there is a vigour in him that was not there the previous night. Their kiss is long and deep and when they break for breath, panting, he asks why.

Estonia looks at him as if unsure how to respond then draws him closer, holds him more tightly, buries his face in Finland’s hair. “You were here when I woke up,” he says simply, his breath tickling Finland’s ear. “That’s all.”

That is all. Estonia kisses him again and Finland realizes then that it was reassurance that was needed, the promise of some small form of stability. The kisses they share silently say that this is how it will be now, nothing else but the two of them.

When they part, smiling, the warmth lingers. Soon they will make their way back to the bedroom. Soon there will be more closeness, more kisses, shifting and touching and fabric falling to the floor. But first, coffee. This is a new beginning, and they both should be awake for it.
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Date: 2010-01-10 07:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ktomson.livejournal.com
so sweet *puppy eyes* made my evening xD

Date: 2010-01-10 08:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] reikkuli.livejournal.com
This pairing REALLY need more love!!! <33
(And I need better avatar to show how much I love this fic)

Date: 2010-01-10 10:24 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] box-of-doom.livejournal.com
Awww.....


The idea of Estonia needing Finland's strength and presence is adorable.

Thank you for sharing this. <3

Date: 2010-01-11 12:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] confictionery.livejournal.com
UGH SO CUTE I CANNOT HANDRE IT

Date: 2010-01-11 12:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] confictionery.livejournal.com
also I thought this was supposed to be set after Estonia's first independence in like 1917 or something so this like

He’ll be cleaning up this mess for years, Finland thought.

made me laugh because I was like "no Russia's just going to fuck him up again" :(

Date: 2010-01-11 12:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] confictionery.livejournal.com
I FELT TERRIBLE WHILE I WAS LAUGHING I'm just a bad person.

Maybe? XD You said "restored" so it should be clear, I think I just ended up skimming over that in my SON I AM EXCITE for FinEesti :')

Date: 2010-01-11 12:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] confictionery.livejournal.com
This is a new beginning, and they both should be awake for it. Also, there was a TV someplace which tells you this is modern KATYA THIS IS FOR YOU DO YOU GET IT NOW.

Date: 2010-01-11 12:48 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] confictionery.livejournal.com
I always try to save it for rainy days but I thought I'd help you out /brofist

Date: 2010-01-11 02:25 am (UTC)
hokuton_punch: Chibi versions of two original characters cuddling, captioned "forget smile again." (shuichi richi hidden faces chibi)
From: [personal profile] hokuton_punch
;o; Awwwwwww damn that's lovely. YAY SWEETNESS AND SNUGGLING. *basks in*

Date: 2010-01-11 09:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oupsss.livejournal.com
Awwwww! And now I know who is an author of one of me favourite fics *hugs* I love this text. Thank you very much for it ^______^

≁❀

Date: 2010-01-11 09:45 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] manzanadorada.livejournal.com
Aaah, think I recall reading this earlier but not commenting... so anyway, I love this, how it flows along with the warm fuzzies overtaking discomfort and uncertainty.

Date: 2010-01-11 10:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tomphi.livejournal.com
I'll join the awwwww chorus. This was sweet fic, there just isn't enough Estonia/Finland.

Date: 2010-01-11 08:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] vocarosia.livejournal.com
Awwww Yuu that was so cute I'm going to get cavities ahhh ♥♥ You have such an... elegant writing style, idk I can't explain it 8D /saves this

Date: 2010-01-11 09:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oupsss.livejournal.com
Really. I love this fic. Some time ago I had hard time and I was reading it along with few more just to don't think about all this mess around me and feel better. It really helped me, even if it sounds funny ^^""""

Date: 2010-04-10 01:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] annakas.livejournal.com
This was awesome!
I absolutely loved it.

And it rang so true. When Estonia regained it's independence Finland gave it a lot of humanitarian aid because the economy basically crashed hard with the chance of currency and closing off of the old soviet trade roads.

So seeing some Estonia Finland fic was awesome!

Date: 2012-01-29 03:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bkreed8.livejournal.com
Cannot contaaaain. EstFin is my OTP and this is so cute and wonderfully written!! <3
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