Wow, an update already?! It's actually quicker than I thought (well not really). This chapter exists as a part of this fic's advance six months' or half year celebration. Hope you enjoy the chapter and inquire your thoughts. That's all!

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia or its characters

Warning(s): Refer to the warnings on the chapters prior. It might help you

Interlude I: Six Months Celebration Chapter

Mathias came gradually awake, scratching his wet head, upon hearing the so familiar sound of siren approaching nearby, and forces his body up as if his ribs weren't scorching pain to move away.

(If he listens more carefully with his body movements, he would have heard his ribs crack).

His fingers felt sticky due to the red liquid oozing from the back of his head and Mathias observed the scene playing before him, blinking slowly as he process the whole situation.

A car was parked in a forced pace and has a large dent on the bumper. A woman was crying, kneeling beside a man who suffered mild concussions and a slow head bleeding while being unconscious. Beside her were three good first-aiders who had seemingly rushed up to the scene after the accident, and judging by the blood on their shirts, they tried stopping the man's bleeding?

Mathias raked his hair again, sighing and picking up his bag not too far from him, slinging it at shoulder level. He stuffed his hand in his pocket, wondering what his mother will say to him now that his shirt was soaked blood. She would most likely throw a fit and chastise him for an hour for being reckless.

That's right, he remembers-he had been hit by a car when he went a little detour.

No one saw him move from his position. They didn't stop him from picking his bag, walking while still bleeding and gasp at him because of his previously pristine shirt was stained red. No one noticed him, in fact.

Suddenly, a cold touch on his shoulder triggered him to wince akin to a cat, sending electrical currents, jolting sensations and searing nervousness throughout his body, and cautiously turned his head, bracing himself.

"Are you okay, lad?"

Oh, it was just Arthur.

Mathias bitterly smiled, nodding at the junior (well, not really. Arthur's a year lower because of...complications), and made the smaller man his arm rest again. He forgot Arthur can see him, so if anything, he shouldn't be surprised. It was his skill that enables him to do so.

The Briton argued a little, but he complied after seeing the dark shadow on his friend's face, and he understands it. The Dane needs comfort. And that was that he supposed to inflict.

The rest of the walk was entirely silent aside from the crickets chirping and the vehicles beeping, and nope, they weren't bothered; it was all what the two wanted-to have peace. So locking the spaces between their fingers, Arthur reassuringly squeezed it along with his eyes.

They'll be fine. No one was looking at them.

(Unbeknown, a shadow was watching them behind the pole, gritting his teeth).

When Mathias got home, instead of the usual scolding because of recklessness, he got a tight hug. His mother hugged him as if her life depends on it or perhaps he would disappear if she did not in a way the Northern European could comprehend. Mathias did not understand and he still hugged back.

It was rather disrespectful if he didn't return the gesture after all.

(Behind them, at the kitchen door leaning, Arthur let a stray tear fall. He was jealous of him and wondered how it felt like to be pampered).

The day after that, it was their lunch break when an eventful scene happened after a one liner statement of:

"I never know you and Arthur are an item"

Lukas coldly said, arms crossed as he stands in front of Mathias, demanding an earthly explanation as to how, when and why they got together.

Mathias paused, placing down his portable gadget, and tilted his head as if it was spoken in a language different than his. He raises a brow at him, having the thought of inquiring about the said statement, when his mind processed the question. "Huh?"

"I saw what you did the other day" if possible, Lukas had faced palm further than he was already. Mathias snapped his fingers and got what he was asking.

"What are you saying, Luke? An item?" he subtly rolled his eyes, internally sighing, and grunted. "I never knew either. As long as I'm concern, Arthur and I are just friends. Nothing more."

"Then why are you two holding hands?"

"It was a way of comfort"

"..."

"Why are you so practically bothered? It was just a friendly gesture!"

Lukas eyed his suspiciously and leaned forward as though he was scrutinizing him. "What kind of a man does that to a fellow man? In modern society, people are often judgmental and wouldn't accept that kind of excuse. Or unless, you yourself is a closet gay"

"I am not a gay!" Mathias exclaimed, voice lower and louder. He slammed his hands down on his desk, standing up and meeting the Norwegian face to face, growling. "For goodness sake Lukas, why are you so bothered?! We are not dating"

"But you two can!" Lukas retorted in a volume that matches the formers. "I heard and read much about that secret love lives and obvious denials. Being the same gender does not hinder you from loving each other, instead, it strengthens it."

This made Mathias shut up. Stupid books. Most of it are probably just lies. I mean, look where it got me! Lukas' accusing me and it's not even real. His mouth clicked in an audible manner and he glared at him.

"Guys, calm down. You're distracting a few others" Tino pleaded, positioning himself between the two, arms stretched to go between them. It was true in a way. Ivan stopped threatening the two Baltics in favor of listening to the two Scandinavians' screaming match and even Francis had stopped pestering Alfred and Gilbert in his mess.

Mathias paid no heed to the Finnish man and fixed his attention to the emotionless blonde in front. Why was so Lukas bothered by it and acts like a grumpy nanny? Why was Lukas angry at him for holding hands with Arthur? Why was Lukas acting so possessive of him?

A thought instantly clicked in his head. He smirked at the Norwegian (perhaps it was because it was it). Contrary to popular belief, Mathias was no idiot. He can comprehend situations better than Alfred. If he wants, he can get it like when he enrolled in the school itself. Maybe that's why Arthur feared him a bit.

Long before he could process it however, his mouth—oh so terrible control of blurting things loose—spilled it all, and stiffened afterwards in a morbid fashion.

"Perhaps...Lukas, pray tell, are you jealous?"

He was greeted with thick pentalogy series books square on the face.

Lukas was fairly sure he was just confirming things with Mathias and demanding an explanation for what he saw the other day when he was on his way from his detour.

But, when the other asked him, "Perhaps...Lukas, pray tell, are you jealous?" He found himself throwing his precious books on Mathias face; exactly 180 degrees throw in a nice precision.

He hadn't exactly meant to do that-he was planning to do less-yet he rushed up without thinking. He shot the books the moment the word 'jealousy' was blurted out. Maybe Mathias was finally rubbing him to do the same or he was right on his observation.

The class went silent after a loud slam, anticipating the next course of movements between the two, and were intimidated by the uncharacteristic growl from Lukas' mouth.

The spiky haired blonde was stunned, placing a hand at his face and feeling the sting, and stuttered. How...how dare he? Why did he do that? Did he nail the term for him? Have he irked the Norwegian worse? Why?

Mathias glared at him, baring his teeth like an animal, clenched his fists and stormed out, leaving the room confused at the sassy and low acting gesture. Ivan sighed and prodded the Baltics again. Looks like no one is a bigger animal than him, after all. Francis also awkwardly went back to his business and soon the whole room does so.

Tino went beside him, leaning over his ear to whisper. Lukas blinked and digested the words of suggestion given to him, like the warning bells on the forming pit on his stomach, "Lukas, why did you do that? You know Mathias' a sensitive person. Go ahead and follow him!"

If the Finnish man wasn't the class rep (and his friend), he would have denied and brushed the warning off. Fortunately, Tino was.

So, he left as soon the bells chimed, rushing to the door before Antonio came in with his lectures prepped. He hid from the shadows and began to find the idiotic Dane to bring him back. And perhaps, to apologize for throwing books at him.

(Lukas read about tsunderes before, and sadly, it turns out, he's displaying syntomps).

"Come on, where are you?" He whispered to himself, wondering where the Dane might be.

Needless to say, he has not taken account of the possible scenarios once he saw him. And, amusingly, it turns out; it was more than what he bargains for when he saw him on the floor motionless.

"Which one should I drink today?"

Mathias fumbles through his messy tests, hands digging inner to the hidden pleasure behind the failed marks on papers, and clicks his tongue audibly when he reached the bottles.

He pulled one from his locker and turned it around, reading the instructions, hazards, contents and the labels prior opening the cap with a smooth pop. Bringing forth his nose, he smells it and inhales the delightful smell of satisfaction of the day.

It smells like roses and lavender-the scent of his mother's clothes every morning.

Gradually, he brought it to his lips and drank, ignoring the putrid and acidic taste aside, and swallowed it while grimacing morbidly. The contents were tough, strong and utterly undefeatable. It made him want to vomit it back but he preferred restraining himself.

(If it was for the sake of an uneventful peace, he was willing to risk his life to attain it. He doesn't-shouldn't, couldn't, wouldn't-die after all. So it's fairly fine.)

Half minute later, he could feel his stomach grunts in pain, and he winced backward to the trashcan to vomit. He grips on the can's edges and expelled the contents of his lunch.

Oh goodness, he could vomit his organs at this rate for it was burning!

He slumps on the lockers, tiredly, and fought his eyes to stay open to make sure no one sees him before he dies, though he shook it off after realizing that most are on their rooms now.

He gradually sinks down on the floor and curled in a fetal position. He clenched his fists and let the pain throb louder and louder whilst counting the minutes of sufferings as he blanks out.

His senses have long gone dull, and hardly processed the figure approaching and barely responded when he was shook. All he feels right now is peace...and a tad bit of coldness seeping.

Someone was heaving. That was the first detail Mathias thought when he woke up hours later. The corridors were silent, devoid of buzzling chatters, and the lights were turned brighter than it was prior his 'sleep'.

He tried moving his muscles to stand, but something was pushing down, after a jolt. So he opened his foggy eyes to at least see what's keeping him down. Perhaps, it was the trashcan or a locker when he hit it violently after drinking.

Instead, when his vision cleared up, he saw a pair of violet orbs looking at him. And that was the second thing he noted.

The third, however, was much more shocking. When his sense of touch was restored, he felt something warm pressed against his lips. Something dry and soft with a warm moisy feeling...

"Gyah!" He panicky pushed the person off him and moved backwards, alerted by the sudden violation. "Stay away you creep!"

"M-Mathias?" The person croaked, voice breaking and weaking. "Y-You're...awake?!"

The Dane stopped, petrified. He know whose voice it belongs to. "L-Lukas?"

"J-Ja...it's me"

"What are you doing here?" Mathias choked out, not hinting that it was meant to be mean. "I thought you were in class"

"Class ended three hours ago, Dan" Lukas said monotonously yet it was evident he was hurt by the question. "I came here after lunch and found you lying on the floor limply, like you died"

Mathias nodded slowly. So, Lukas saw him die, huh? How delightful. He should have brought a camera to tape Lukas' reaction upon seeing him. A sudden jerk pulled him out of his fanstasy and in to the blonde's arms, hugging him, and Mathias was shocked.

"No...You died, Mathias," his voice was cracking. He held him tighter, grip being tougher, and buried his head on the Dane's chest. "When I saw you, you no longer have a pulse. It was all blank and even your skin felt so cold. I tried everything to save you, but you didn't come back

"I tried filtering the foam from your mouth for you to expel it, yet it didn't work. Then I tried doing CPR after so long, and finally you came in" he finished, sobbing. "You're an idiot, Dan. Why did you do it?!"

His friend's sob echoed throughout the hallway and he did nothing other than to rub the other's back, gradually blinking. Mathias pinched himself to see if he was dreaming because Lukas does not cry. Lukas doesn't look like a broken puppet out of strings or a broken stereo. It was supposed to be the other way around!

Yet, here he was, still cradling his broken friend.

Mathias forced his mouth to reply and felt the strain of being pressured. "Lukas, I...please don't cry-I'm already fine-

"For goodness sake, don't you dare say that! You drank a whole bottle of solvent cleaner! How are you fine?"

Okay, that caught him off guard. Mathias stopped rubbing the broken friend's back and stared on the floor. How was he fine? That's...an impossible question, because he doesn't know either. He looked at the man and sighed.

Perchance, he should tell it to Lukas as the latter has a right to know and the fact he knows he can see him, convinces him more.

"You caught me on that," Mathias heartily said, trying to lift the mood by snickering. "Come; let's move to a spacey place before I explain everything. We don't want to get caught in this position, do we?"

Realizing that indeed hugging in the hallway is peculiar, a small tint of pink entered Lukas' cheeks and he grumbled as he follows the suit of the former's suggestion. Mathias grinned at him and whistled, going to the playground downtown.

"So, let me get you straight; you can't die?" Lukas identified the point of his friend's explanation and picked it.

"You heard me I don't," Mathias pushes the swing forward with his feet. "And apparently it seems like those people who are close to me, leverage themselves in the same boat as my mom"

"That's harsh," Lukas fumbled with his fingers on the chains and let go. "It shouldn't be possible that no one sees you die. It's hard to miss in a way"

"Says the one who can see trolls" he scoffs in reply, assuming that he will grill the other's patience.

"Shut up, Mathias, you know they're real" the other hissed in annoyance, watching the Dane's lopsided smile.

"Are not"

"Are"

"Are not"

"Are"

"If you say so," Mathias chuckled. He ruffles the smaller man's hair, satisfied that he was back to normal. "Now, that's the Lukas that I know; sarcastic and snarky"

"Why do you think I'm not acting like myself earlier?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nope" he said popping the 'p', shrugging. "You just sounded like the one I used to know"

Now Lukas was interested. "And who is that?"

"It's-

It was one summer afternoon when they set out to play. The sun was blazing, sizzling that it made people's chattering faint. Within the center of the street, a truck was forcefully stopped in its tires as useless characters crowd amongst themselves to see what was happening.

On the dead center were him and another kid within his age. The other kid was sprawled out on the cement with him kneeling beside him, pleading.

It was filled with red.

So much red.

It made him wants to expel the contents of his lunch and run to the nearest restroom to compose his bearings that it was nothing but a dream.

Yet, he didn't. Why? Because he has to be there, watching the red color devour his broken friend. He has to observe how the impact of the truck takes the life of his friend, slowly and gradually, as if it was planning on torturing him.

One of the useless characters tried calling an ambulance. The other videoed it for him to post on the internet and few silently escaped the scene as there was nothing they could do.

Granted, they knew, it was too late to save the friend. He was going to die.

The friend held Mathias' hands and clasped it in his own, accidentally putting red all over the other's hand. He held it firmly as he wanted for the Dane to listen attentively to his dying words. He gazed on one the other's blue eyes (like his own) and muttered.

"Even though I may not survive, please don't forget me"

-a secret~" he finishes, leaving the thought hanging. He stood up and stretched, happily, and twirled around. "Come on Lukas let's go home-I'm starving!"

'Don't leave me hanging, you idiot', he thought and said out loud, sighing. "You're as gluttonous as ever, you know that?" He followed again his suite and walked beside him.

Mathias rubbed his belly, laughing. "He he, it's my special skill after all"

It's angstier than I thought! This was intended to be a one-shot and nothing more because I think some are wondering, if you've noticed, instead of Lukas, Mathias have the power, and this special chapter portrays one of the possible outcomes if I continue this. Handy, but a bit rushed, isn't it?

Omake:

Mathias suddenly stopped swinging his feet when an idea of the fight earlier came to his mind, turned to Lukas and mischievously smirked. "Hey Norge, that reminds me, why were you kissing me earlier?"

A blush crept on Lukas' face and flushed, tainting his cheeks pink. "I was not kissing, you idiot! I was performing mouth to mouth resuscitation on you" he hissed and punched the speaker's arm, painfully.

Mathias frowned and rubbed his chin, confused. "Isn't it the same with kissing only in a saucy term?"

"I-It's not!" If anything, the blush deepened and he found himself creating a new shade of red. "S-Seriously Mathias, if you don't cut this out, I am going to kill you even if you can't"

"Now, now don't be so angry. I was just teasing" he lets a lopsided grin and places his arms behind the back of his head. "I knew you're very much easy to grill"

"S-Shut up-this is your fault!" Lukas stuttered. He stood up from the swing, hurriedly got his bag, and walked away. "Hmph, you're always be an idiot, Dan"

"Hey wait for me!" He precipitously grabbes his things and walked up to his friend's pace.

Mathias stared at the orange sky and admired the vast endless stretch the sky can do. He wonders if telling his friend about his secret was worth it and if it will have a different effect from what he has been experiencing, like the sky. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, smiling.

"But you know Luke..." he genuinely said, perking Lukas' interest. "That was my first..."

"Don't say it!"

"KISS!"

"I-Idiot!" Lukas took Mathias tie and began choking him while turning as red as Antonio's tomatoes.

Ah, the happiness~

Infer what you want, but for me, Mathias was just teasing him. For others...please enjoy the short DenNor moment