EU x UN Is it over yet?

Chapter 2: Just in case

TW: some lime after the timeskip if you skip to the end i'm gonna tell you what you missed

EU's pov:

The glass doors of the main entrance slid open with a hiss, and the cool lobby air wrapped around me.
I spotted him at once.

UN stood in the corridor ahead, laughing softly at something NATO had said. The sound of his voice—light, unguarded—tightened something in my chest.

NATO leaned casually against the wall, just a little too close. His hand brushed UN's sleeve, lingering a heartbeat longer than necessary. The blush rising to UN's cheeks told me everything.

That smug bastard thinks he can take UN away from me.

I forced my face into a polite mask and strode forward, the click of my shoes a little sharper than usual.

"Hi, UN. NATO."
My greeting carried the faintest chill; I let my gaze sharpen when it met NATO's. UN, oblivious, only smiled—bright enough to burn through the frost.

"Hi, EU!" he said, and the warmth in his voice sent a flush creeping up my own neck.

NATO's smirk was instant. "Getting red there, are we, EU?"

"Shut up," I snapped, a little too quickly. His grin only widened.

UN blinked at us, puzzled. "Oh—sorry, I just remembered some paperwork I have to finish. I'll see you both later."
With that, he disappeared down the hall, the soft echo of his footsteps fading.

The corridor seemed colder without him. I turned slowly toward NATO.

"Stay away from UN," I said, each word a quiet blade. "Or you'll regret it."

His eyebrows lifted, amused. I didn't wait for an answer. My paperwork suddenly felt like a battlefield.

Later that day

Night draped the city in silver when I finally left my office. The building was mostly dark, but a faint glow spilled from UN's office door, ajar just enough to show a sliver of light.

I hesitated.

Voices filtered through, low and urgent.

"W-what are you doing, NATO?" UN's tone carried a nervous tremor.

I froze, every muscle locked.

"Relax," came NATO's soft reply—too soft. "Trust me."

A silence, broken only by the rustle of movement. I couldn't see them, but the closeness in their voices left little to the imagination. My heart pounded a painful rhythm.

A muffled sound—half laugh, half gasp—floated out. Then another. The world narrowed to that sliver of light and the quiet, intimate noises behind it.

I pressed a hand against the doorframe, nails biting into my palm.

Of course. Of course it would be him.

My breath caught, unsteady. For a long moment I couldn't move. The glow from inside seemed almost cruel—warm and golden while the hallway swallowed me in cold shadow.

Finally I turned and walked away, my footsteps soft as falling ash.

Back in my own office the darkness felt heavy, like a storm about to break. I shut the door and leaned against it, eyes stinging.

The city lights outside blurred through the window, streaked by the threat of tears. I drew in a long, shuddering breath.

If NATO makes UN happy...
The thought was bitter, sharp enough to hurt.

...then what place is left for me?

I stood there for a long time, listening to the hum of the empty building, the echo of their voices still burning in my ears.

Somewhere deep inside, a resolve began to crystallize—quiet, patient, and unyielding.

This isn't over.