Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia or any of its characters. I'm also not making any money off of this.

Eyes closed, leaned back against the cold brick wall, Austria doesn't see the figure approach from the right. Ear buds instead of earmuffs deaden him to the world- he doesn't hear the crunch of footsteps in the snow either. A long cigarette nestled preciously between his bare fingers finds its way between his lips. Austria takes a long deep inhalation, chest rising beneath the heavy coat. He breathes out slowly, warm breath intermingling with hot smoke, billowing around like the fog in an old movie. France smiles as he stands next to him under the overhang of the old house- Germany's old house to be specific.

Austria feels the presence next to him- smells drink and roses and something else that is just unpleasantly France. He sighs, and looks at the bricks beneath his feet thoughtfully. Out of the corner of his eye he sees the bright flame of the match as he lifts the cigarette to his lips again a touch more quickly.

"You're going to miss the great finale," France says as he watches him with a hint of tipsy amusement. Austria is visibly irritated as he removes one of the ear buds to better hear. The moment he does he hears the loud bass thumping through the glass pane next to him and he glances unconsciously inside to the loud party. Austria snorts looking away again before he catches another sight of North Italy trying to feed Germany a small biscotti.

"Yes, heaven forbid I miss Ludwig telling me that kissing me is like licking the bottom of an ashtray." He taps a few ashes to the ground, leaning harder, shifting feet uncomfortably. "I don't know why on earth I told you that. Doubtless you'll just use it against me some time when you're sober and vindictive." France chuckles softly as he too takes a drag of an unfiltered Gaulois.

"What makes you think I'm not sober now, little master?"

"Your breath for one... And one would think after all these centuries you'd move on to calling me something more creative. The rest of the world has, after all... moved on, I mean," he finishes softly.

"Ah, but not the darling little prince, non?" France moves to pinch his cheek. Austria slaps his hand away out of habit.

"There you go, baiting me again."

"Perhaps, Roderich for tonight, for the New Year, let's say I make a resolution. How about I am a complete non master baiting gentleman."

Austria chokes, nearly dropping the cigarette, half doubled over as the smoke burns his lungs. France uncharacteristically doesn't laugh but instead sighs and looks up at the bright snow falling sky.

"You are a..." he coughs again violently for a spell. "You are nothing but a..." He sucks in another breath and swallows, looking dazed, seeing spots dancing in front of his eyes. "Forget it." Austria moves to put the other earbud back in place. France catches his wrist meeting the narrowed eyes that turn to him with a look that's far too sober.

"Forgive me, that was beneath me."

"I didn't think there was anything that was." He turns away fixing his attention deliberately into the window watching North Italy dancing around with Germany. He doesn't see Prussia. He does see Hungary and Poland dancing and he sees America seemingly engaged in an odd wrestling match with himself in the center of the living room. The music blares far too loudly.

"Perhaps you?"

"What?" It takes a moment before Austria fully registers what France just said. He doesn't turn back, only watches the lot inside turning on the television holding their drinks. "Don't be stupid," he snaps without any heat. He takes a nervous drag on the cigarette. "You know I loathe the very sight of you."

"But of course, the world goes by, and the little master stands watching from behind the glass." France looks to the snow falling around them as he brings the cigarette to his lips thoughtfully. "It's like we're in a snowglobe, isn't it?"

"Did Ludwig put you up to this?" Austria takes a step back when Germany puts an awkward hand to North Italy's face, seeing those eyes searching him out in the snowfall outside. He ducks his head staring at his boots. "I've told him more than once there's nothing to feel guilty about. It isn't as if we're just two ordinary men in the world. It isn't as if I begrudge him his more... festive partners. Perhaps you ought to go back inside already. You're making me unusually maudlin."

Austria taps the cigarette again. He feels the heat of France's body behind him realizing only now that he isn't wearing a coat. Nonetheless the fingers that brush his cheek from behind, that trail the length of the cold write to the right earbud are warm.

"What are you listening to?" France doesn't wait for a response before putting the small bud in his own ear.

"Stardust," they both say at the same time. Austria feel a tickle in his throat as he takes another puff of the cigarette.

"It's not what I would have expected of you." There's a small upturn to the side of Austria's mouth.

"I suppose not but I enjoyed listening to it during the war. It was forbidden of course. But then again so were a lot of things. So are a lot of things now." He looks at the cigarette between his fingers. "I never would have imagined this would be one of them. Funny how the world works, isn't it? But perhaps if we were just ordinary men it wouldn't matter."

Austria looks inside once more before defiantly putting the cigarette out on the damp brick of the house. He pinches off the cold cherry and drops it in the ground putting the last half back in his pocket so it doesn't go to waste.

"Perhaps I would live here then. Maybe I could live here." He holds his hand back above his shoulder not turning to face France. "May I have that back."

"Are you coming back inside then?" Austria feels the warm smoky breath blow past his face.

"Does it matter?" He can see the clock inside reading only a few short minutes to go. The earbud is place back into his hand and he puts it back in his ear warm. He's had enough of France. "Though I dream in vain," echoes in his head. Austria laughs softly. "Go back inside, Francis. You should be able to find someone to kiss before midnight. Perhaps if fairy tales are true you'll even turn back into a prince." Austria's hand reaches up and brushes the cold brick as he moves to take one more step towards the large window watching inside as if everyone were part of a grand shadow box existing only in his own head. He starts when he feels a hand over his.

"You really must be drunk. Hasn't Gilbert told you that Eisriesenwelt is my heart? The fool has certainly said it to me often enough." His fingers curl on the brick and he jerks his hand away turning back around to shove past France if need be. That gaulois burns brightly between his lips. It's the first time that Austria has looked at him all night. His eyes are clear, his hands lazily going back into the pockets of his jeans. Austria pulls out both earbuds shoving them in the pocket of his coat next to the music player. France hasn't spoken a word yet. Austria yanks the cigarette from his mouth and throws it to the snowy ground. "Dammit, I'm not some ridiculous pity conquest and I'll have you know that it's not me who's the-" Austria swallows when France just quietly raises his right hand, warm and gently calloused to the side of his face studying him like a master sculptor beholding his creation. "This is absolute nonsense and I won't be made fool of if Gilbert or Alfred or-" He stops talking when his head is turned, tilted, repositioned, France intently looking at every part of his face save his eyes with that deceptively lazy countenance. "It's... it's not my heart." He kneads at the back of his neck looking down between them to the thin button down shirt France is wearing wetted to translucence. "It's just some... some insignificant part of my lower back, really..."

"Then forget all of it." Austria licks his lips when France speaks again.

"Do you really think it's so easy for our kind to just..." Ten. France takes a step forward. Nine. Austria takes a step backwards. Eight. France takes another step forward. Seven. Austria remains where he stands feeling the cold steal his breath. Six.

"Then let's say tonight that's all that you and I are."

Three.

"What?"

Two.

"Ordinary men."

One.

France leans in and kisses him.

Note: gaulois is a brand of cigarette

Eisriesenwelt is the world's largest ice cave and happens to be located in Austria