Full description: This is a one-shot series starring the wonderful characters of Romania and Bulgaria. Each story will vary in genre, some of them fluffy while some of them might be sad. However, each story will not be rated higher than T! Many of these stories will be inspired, mainly by music. Feel free to leave requests and feedback.

Rope Swing.

It was a slow day, and the sun was beating on the children by the side of the road. A group of three, a tough looking girl was leading the way followed by two boys, the biggest of them dragging his feet and the other bouncing with every step. They were making their way up the street, chattering constantly as they went, pushing each other lightly and laughing as the other stuck out their tongue.

Tsvetan watched them come past his backyard, where he was swinging absentmindedly on the gate, having nothing better to do since he had been ordered to go play outside. His small feet kicked the iron bars of the gate as he leant over backwards, admiring the solid blue of the sky above his head.

"Why are you doing that?"

Tsvetan's vision was suddenly filled with an image of a soft, curious face with curious red eyes staring at him in amusement. He yelped and straightened up so fast that he banged heads with the other kid, rendering them both bent double, clutching their skulls.

"Owww!"

"I'm sorry!" Gasped Tsvetan, "I'm so so sorry!" This wasn't quite how he wanted to introduce himself to these kids…

Laughter rang through Tsvetan's ringing ears, and he looked up to see the girl doubled over with mirth at her friend's plight, ponytail flipping into her eyes.

"Alin, your face is so funny!" She said between gasps, pointing at Tsvetan's victim with a shaking finger.

"Shut up Eliza," grumbled Alin, but Tsvetan was relieved to see that he was still smiling. "It hurt!"

"I'm really-" Tsvetan's apology was cut off by Alin, who laughed and said;

"You've already said that! Is that all you can say?"

Tsvetan blushed and nodded his head, confusing Alin and the others even more.

"So that is all you can say?" Asked a bemused Eliza, head cocked. Tsvetan blushed again as he realised his mistake.

"Oh, sorry!" he said again, causing even more peals of laughter to break out among the other children. "I'm trying to stop doing that. When I nod, I really mean no."

"That's weird," spoke up the third boy. He was bigger than the others, and dressed strangely in a half mask and a fez on his head.

"I think it's cool!" Said Alin again, his bright eyes curious. "What's your name?"

"Tsvetan," Tsvetan mumbled, his eyes fixed on the dusty ground. "I've just moved here,"

"Where did you use to live?" Asked Eliza curiously, "was it Hungry, like me?"

"Or Turkey?" Piped up the boy with the scary mask.

"Or Romania?" Alin eagerly awaited Tsvetan's answer with his chin in his hands, forearms resting on the gate. "That's where I'm from!"

"Actually, I'm from Bulgaria," Tsvetan provided.

"Oooh!" Alin leant back, eyes wide. "I've been there before! Everyone spoke funny."

"You speak funny," Said Tsvetan, crossing his arms.

"And your tooth is weird!" Eliza chipped in, and for the first time, Tsvetan noticed Alin's uncannily long canine. Alin felt it self-consciously, before glaring at Eliza.

"It is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!'

Tsvetan watched the dispute with amusement, as Alin crossed his arms and Eliza stomped her foot, her heavy boots disturbing some dust that lay on the road, previously undisturbed.

"Is too-"

"Can we go already?" Complained the other boy, looking bored. "I'm really hot and I want to get to the top of the hill before lunchtime!"

"Oh yeah!" Alin jumped back into action, yelling to Eliza that he'd race her up the hill. But just before he was about to leave, he turned back and looked at Tsvetan.

"Hey Tsve, do you wanna come with us?"

Tsvetan looked back over his shoulder at is house, and then back at Alin's eager face.

"We're going up the hill to find the swing!" Eliza elaborated, pointing up the road to where a small, steep hill rose, a green splodge in the middle of the suburban buildings. "Come with us, it'll be fun!"

"I don't think mum would be that happy if I go…" said Tsvetan, trailing off. But Alin was having none of it.

"Come on~ Pleeeease?" He tugged on Tsvetan's arm, practically pulling him out of the gate in his haste. "It'll be an adventure!"

"O-Ok fine…" Tsvetan surrendered, and let himself be tugged out of his drive and onto the street.

"Hey guys! Last one to the top is a rotten egg!" Alin yelled, and all three children took off down the street, Tsvetan with them.

The rope swing was at the very top of the hill, a large plank of wood, large enough to fit four children sitting side by side hanging down from two pieces of rope tied onto what seemed to Tsvetan like the biggest, oldest tree he had ever seen. It towered above their heads, its branches reaching up to the skies in all its majesty, the king on top of his castle.

"Bags the first turn!"

Tsvetan suddenly realised that the other children had started rushing up past him, trying desperately to scramble up the tree roots and onto the swing. Elizabeta had launched herself, stomach first onto it, thus making it swing sideways, almost hitting Tsvetan in the head. Alin was scrambling up, fighting with Elizabeta as he did so. Sadiq, the boy with the mask, was just big enough to climb on easily enough, leaving Tsvetan to hurry after them.

"C'mon Tsve!" Alin extended a hand so Tsvetan could get up. Tsvetan grabbed it and hauled himself onto the seat, squished between Alin and the rope. He had only just gained a secure seat before Sadiq kicked the tree trunk and propelled them forward.

Tsvetan suddenly felt as if he was flying. The rope swing flew high above the ground, making him feel as if he was part of the horizon, above the hill, above the suburb, above the city and the harbour. Elated, he let out a yell of delight, and was echoed by Alin doing the same.

Suddenly, Tsvetan slipped forward, and would've come off the swing if Alin hadn't caught him around the shoulders.

"Careful!" Alin laughed, arm still around Tsvetan. "It would hurt if you fell off now!"

Tsvetan silently agreed. The ground seemed like a very long way away. "Do you mind if I hold onto you?" He questioned, looking at Alin cautiously. However, the other boy just laughed again.

"I'm holding onto you, aren't I?"

"Oh yeah," Tsvetan mumbled, face red. Hesitantly, he slipped an arm around Alin's waist and clung on tight.

"Don't you worry, you can count on me," said Alin seriously as they held each other on the swing, swinging wildly up into the solid blue sky, "I won't ever let you go."

10 years later

Tsvetan slammed his textbook down on his desk with a resounding thud and put his head in his hands. The reason why the all his teachers had decided to give him masses of homework all at the same time was completely beyond him, Tsvetan thought, looking out of his window at the dreary grey sky. It was as if they enjoyed inflicting stress on their students. It probably gave them immense satisfaction to see teenagers walk in every morning completely sleep deprived because of essays and assignments keeping them up all night.

On that note, Tsvetan decided to start, flipping open his science textbook and plugging his earphones into his ear and prepared to unlock the secrets of the universe.

Complete the following chemical equations.

Magnesium carbonate + hydrochloric acid

"No, I can't do it…"

Tsvetan banged his head on the table slowly, cursing his over talkative classmate for distracting him when they were learning the formula. Science had never been his best subject, but blaming Alin seemed to be the best plan of action at the moment.

Tsvetan was about to attempt the next question and come back to metal carbonates and acid when his phone suddenly buzzed, Paul Simon's song 'Boy in the Bubble' playing loudly, informing Tsvetan that he had a new text to answer and help him procrastinate.

New message from ALIN
I'm bored. Wanna go walking with me?

Tsvetan stared at the message for a moment before tapping out a reply.

To ALIN
It's raining and I have science hmwrk

As if to emphasise Tsvetan's point, the rain started lashing at the window in waves, as if it was trying to cleanse the area of pleasant thoughts singlehandedly.

New message from ALIN
U haven't felt true happiness until u have walked in the rain. Fuck science hmwrk

To ALIN
True saturation u mean. It's due tomorrow!

New Message from ALIN
Cmon please~

To ALIN
Y the sudden desire to walk in the rain? Been watching some Gene Kelly?

New message from ALIN
I need some space to think and I wan with me
Not lately, but damn that boy was fine. I would totally tap that.

Tsvetan couldn't help laughing at the last comment. Alin was so incredibly open about his sexuality; Tsvetan couldn't help but feel jealous. Jealous of everyone being comfortable round Alin and jealous of the boys Alin would point out as being good looking. Yes, Tsvetan thought they were good looking too, but he couldn't help wishing that one day Alin would notice him the same way…

Don't go into that now. Tsvetan mentally shook himself and turned his attentions back to his mobile.

To ALIN
Sounds deep
How old is he now anyway?
I'm still not coming

New message from ALIN
I'm in a deep kinda mood
He died man. Stop being so insensitive
Well that's 2 bad, bcause I'm outside ur house right now.

To ALIN
Creeper. Fine, I'm coming

New Message from ALIN
:DDDD

True to his word, Tsvetan found Alin leaning against the back gate, hair and clothes completely drenched as he greeted Tsvetan enthusiastically.

"Hey man!"

"Hey," Said Tsvetan, drawing up the zipper on his tatty green raincoat as he made his way over. "Aren't you cold?"

"Not really," Said Alin, drawing his hand through his long strawberry blonde hair, which had steadily grown darker with age. "My charisma keeps me warm."

"Yeah, whatever."

They started walking in silence for a few minutes, rain running down their hair and shoulders, their feet dragging through the muddy road. Tsvetan pulled up the hood of his raincoat and shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans, watching Alin out of the corner of his eye. Even in the rain, Alin looked incredibly alluring.

"Do you remember when we first met?"

Tsvetan frowned at the strange nature of this abrupt question, before replying with, "Yes of course. It was outside my house, wasn't it? I'd just moved in."

"You head-butted me."

"That's right!" Laughed Tsvetan, remembering. "And I couldn't stop apologising and you couldn't stop laughing at me."

"I thought you were the cutest thing I had ever seen."

"Huh?"

"Oh, nothing…"

It dawned on Tsvetan that Alin was acting very strangely, much unlike his usual, eccentric self. He seemed a lot more thoughtful, serious. It scared Tsvetan a little.

"Alin, are you feeling al-"

He stopped, suddenly feeling shivers running down his spine, heart in his mouth. Alin had shifted ever so slightly in his walking pattern and was brushing shoulders with Tsvetan. He was too close, far too close for comfort. Tsvetan only hoped that the rain on his face would disguise and sweat drops.

"A-Alin?" He stuttered; face feeling as if it was aflame. "W-what-"

Alin only looked at him, giving him a small half smirk that sent Tsvetan's heart fluttering.

"Where are we going?" Tsvetan asked, trying to keep his tone as nonchalant as possible.

Alin shrugged, and pointed up to the top of the hill. "I thought maybe we could walk up there? Maybe it will stop raining once we reach the top?"

"I thought you liked the rain?" Teased Tsvetan, his heart still thumping at Alin's touch. Did Alin know the effect he had on him? Was that why he was teasing him so?

"I do. I was thinking about you, huddled in that ugly green raincoat," Alin joked, pulling lightly at one of the drawstrings. Tsvetan swatted away his hand irritably.

"You were the one who dragged me out here in the first place!"

"True," agreed Alin.

"Are you going to tell me why?"

"I told you, I needed space to think."

"About what?"

Alin didn't answer; he just stared ahead into the rain, up to the mist covered hill in front. Then his face split into a smile, and the old Alin reappeared, as if the sun had come out from behind a cloud.

"I know exactly where we should go."

The rope swing was exactly as Tsvetan remembered it, perhaps a little more worn down and a lot wetter, but still exactly the same. It still hung over its little mound the tree roots had created, waiting for the next person to make it fly.

It was difficult getting on, Tsvetan felt awkward manoeuvring his long limbs onto the seat without tipping it over, and the slippery surface didn't help much. However, he finally managed to haul himself up and sit without falling off, only to watch Alin slide on effortlessly next to him.

The Romanian teen twisted in his seat in order to shove the tree trunk behind him, sending him and Tsvetan swinging forward into the rain and the mist and the sky.

Tsvetan felt Alin's arm hook around his waist and hold him tight, and he in turn threaded his own arm around Alin's shoulders. Shrieking with laugher, they felt the rain on their faces, dampening their hair and pushing them off the seat. Tsvetan was forcibly reminded of a time many years ago, where Alin had held him and vowed that he would never let him go.

The wood of the tree branch creaked slightly as the rope slowed to a halt, Alin and Tsvetan still sitting on a plank of wood, arms around each other. Tsvetan quickly unwound himself, but Alin stopped him, staring deep into Tsvetan's green eyes.

"You know how I said I needed time to think?" He said his voice barely louder than a whisper.

Tsvetan shook his head without thinking before correcting himself. Alin let out a little laugh.

"Well, I think I've reached a conclusion."

And with that, Alin leant forward and captured Tsvetan's lips with his own.

For a moment (or was it an hour), they sat there, kissing lightly on a rope swing under an ancient tree, all wet faces and cold hands and clumsy technique, surrounded by the sound of wood, rain and happiness.

A/N: This story was inspired by an actual rope swing I once visited with my sister on a particularly rainy day. I went back home, wrote a poem about it and came up with an idea for a story. Sorry if some of the characters (Romania, Turkey) seem a bit OOC.

Congratulations if any of you noticed that the first sentence was an adapted version of the lyrics of the song Tsvetan uses for his ringtone. You have excellent taste in music if I say so myself…

My inner science geek shone through a little while writing this. The answer to Tsvetan's chemical equation is Magnesium Chloride + Carbon Dioxide + water. I would've written it in the chemical symbols but my computer wouldn't let me *sheds tear*.

Gene Kelly is an old actor and dancer who was particularly famous for his leading role in the movie Singing in the Rain. If you haven't seen that movie, I seriously recommend you do so, its fantastic.

Thanks for reading!