Let her go (Norway/Nordic songfic)

It's a quiet Saturday morning in Sweden's home. A typical one. 
Breakfast is over, Sweden and Finland have taken Sealand to Ikea to get him a new comforter. 
Iceland is feeding his puffin in the kitchen. Denmark is still asleep. Norway holds a book in his lap on the living room couch.

The stairs creak and Denmark comes downstairs, eyes still lidded and running a hand through his messy hair.
He peeks his head into the living room and greets Norway. The quiet nation shows no response. Denmark shrugs and heads to the kitchen.

Iceland hands him a cold breakfast, and Denmark doesn't hesitate in devouring it.
Iceland stares at the open doorway to the living room and sighs. Denmark follows the young nation's gaze toward Norway.
Denmark knows. They are silent.

As Iceland places Denmark's dishes in the sink, he speaks up,
"Play a song, will you?"
Denmark smiles. He didn't smirk. Smiles. It was a tiring smile. He understands, he knows why.
Iceland feels it, and he can't handle it anymore.

While Iceland finishes the dishes, Denmark searches through the small hallway closet for something.
Ah. There it is.
His old guitar.

He brings it to the living room, sitting across Norway. The quiet nation shows no response. 
Iceland comes in, leaning on the doorway, not wanting to get too close to his brother.
Denmark starts humming as he finishes his tuning.


Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go


Denmark's voice is surprisingly rich. It was husky and slightly wobbly, but still rich.
His fingers run over the strings with practiced ease. 
Iceland lets out a breath and closes his eyes.
The quiet nation shows no response.


Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you’re missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go
And you let her go


Iceland bites his lip as a tear runs down his face. He doesn't cry. He won't cry. 
Denmark knows what he's doing. He smiles. he knows, and he has accepted it. The others haven't.
Norway curls up a bit more. His mind flashes with memories.


Staring at the bottom of your glass
Hoping one day you'll make a dream last
But dreams come slow and they go so fast


***
He drowns his drink and glares at the empty glass.
I'm sorry Lukas.
He shakes his head. There is no way... 
The bartender shoots him a sympathetic look.
Narrowing his eyes, he pulls out a bill and leaves the bar.
***


You see her when you close your eyes
Maybe one day you'll understand why
Everything you touch surely dies


***
He arrives home. The darkness is foreboding. He swiftly unlocks the door and heads upstairs.
He pauses on his route to the washroom. He didn't want to see himself right now.
Sighing, he trudges into his bedroom and lays down on his bed.
He catches his breath at the familiar scent lingering on his pillow.
He closes his eyes, and pretends all is darkness as the sheets soak in his sorrow
***


But you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go


***
He wants the candlelight again.
He wants light reflecting off hair, races and laughter in a field.
He wants quiet picnics, whispered secrets and the feeling of skin against his lips
But he's stuck in the dark winter of his room
and his phone stuck at 11 missed calls.
***


Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go


Denmark flicks his gaze upwards.
Norway tilts his head backwards, facing the ceiling. A hand covers his face, but not the moisture now streaming down his chin.
Iceland doesn't move from his curled up position on the floor.
Denmark lowers his head, attempting to save the little dignity they had left.


Staring at the ceiling in the dark
Same old empty feeling in your heart
'Cause love comes slow and it goes so fast


***
The morning arrives. The sun doesn't brighten the dull room.
He breathes. There seems to be less room in his chest. It sickens him.
He blinks. The world is still there.
How?
***


Well you see her when you fall asleep
But never to touch and never to keep
'Cause you loved her too much
And you dived too deep


***
Flipping around, he buries his face in the pillow
The scent still lingers. He reaches out like he does in his dreams.
It's empty. There's no one there.
Of course. Since when did anyone share his bed in the first place?
***


Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go


***
He remembers. Pants, moans, tears and crumpled sheets.
He could do nothing as he watches a life slip away.
He gulps as his family rushes around him, desperate.
It was his fault, wasn't it?
***


Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go


The door creaks open. Sealand is asleep in Sweden's arms, and they head for the stairs.
Finland breaks through the thick atmosphere in the living room and sits beside Norway.
He lifts Norway's hand off his face, and dries his face with a tissue.
Iceland makes his way over to the couch, curling up in Finland's lap, tears still flowing quietly.
Denmark's voice cracks a bit, but he continues.


And you let her go (oh, oh, ooh, oh no)
And you let her go (oh, oh, ooh, oh no)
Will you let her go?


***
He gets up and walks through his room.
It strikes him. It was this exact place.
Would the life still be here? Would the soul still linger?
Perhaps. But the memories still did, though his heart was nowhere to be seen
***


'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go


***
Lukas! I-I need to talk to you...
He tries to shake the echos out of his head.
He doesn't notice the cuts forming in his palms, doesn't notice his bloodied nails
He doesn't know where he is anymore.
***


Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go


***
His gaze flickers up. A photo, left on the table. 
Shaking fingers touch the image. He flips it, intending to hide the face from him.
But alas, a message left on the back.
I'm sorry, Lukas.
Why?
***


'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go


***
The cries of his family sounds around him. He cannot understand.
His brother clings to him, he feels his best friend's tears stain his shirt.
A phone rings. Nothing registers.
Nothing.
***


Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missin' home
Only know you love her when you let her go


***
I love you, Lukas... And Emil -- and Mathias, and Tino and Berwald and Peter --

...

I'm so sorry, goodbye.
***


And you let her go


***
He stands by the grave, his fingers loosely holding onto the lilies.
The hollow feeling in his chest doesn't leave.
The absence will forever be engraved in his heart.
***


Denmark draws out the ending chord as long as he can. Sweden places a hand on his shoulder. 
Nothing will be the same again.