Denmark/Norway

Denmark/Norway is a popular slash pairing featuring the Nordic countries Denmark and Norway. It is sometimes referred to by fans as 'Apple Beverage Pairing', taking obvious inspiration from the first three letters of the nations' names.

History
Denmark and Norway grew up together, apparently having shared history as Vikings. At the time of the Kalmar Union, Denmark ruled over all five Nordic nations, but everyone (beginning with Sweden and Finland, followed by Norway and Iceland) left him in the end. Denmark believes to this day that the two are best friends, but Norway is said to not feel the same. Norway teases Denmark, but Denmark is completely oblivious.

Present Day
There are very few comics featuring both Denmark and Norway, and none exploring their relationship exclusively. The few times they do appear together usually depict some teasing, bickering, or comical violence from Norway while Denmark remains obliviously blithe. In the strip "The Nice Products that Come From Scandinavia Are...", Norway is seen to openly criticize his Danish counterpart, though his jab at Denmark's volume has no affect and he replies with a cheery "I see!"

In the "Nordic Lines" strip, Norway doesn't hesitate to strangle Denmark with his own tie when the Dane asserts that the other Nordics should call him 'big brother.'

The Hetalia Fantasia 2 Drama CD includes the most we've heard yet of Denmark and Norway as they bump into Japan and Germany. Denmark is enthusiastic and makes boasts about adventuring and beating up monsters, but Norway flatly counters they stand no chance without a healer, that they're lost, and/or that Denmark's an idiot. Denmark seems oblivious to the idiot remarks as he vehemently protests the statements on being lost.

When Denmark bumps into Japan and Germany, Norway says he's not good with meeting new people and is going back until he realizes who the strangers are. Denmark starts to tease that Norway prefers it be just the two of them, but gets cut off by another strangling as Norway threatens to equip all his curse items now. Norway easily carries on a friendly conversation with an uncomfortable Japan while keeping the hold on Denmark and asks about a command to attach a leash, around which time Denmark says he gives in. He laughs and says Norway's easily embarrassed while Norway denies it cooly. Norway also teases Japan about not liking him or Denmark when Japan is politely resistant about the four of them teaming up to search for Italy and Iceland.

When Denmark compliments his "best friend's" weapon (a book) as looking cool Norway replies that it's to hit the Dane's pinky toe with. Once they find Iceland the three are clearly relieved to be reunited and Norway heals Iceland even though the latter protests that he's not a child. Norway fondly replies that he still is, but when Denmark starts to say something about how Iceland's their little bro, Norway smacks him and coldly orders the Dane to find Sweden and Finland already. This drama CD is also the first time the two's voices are heard and shows the hot blooded/cold mannered foil extends to Denmark's enthusiastic, loud, annoying voice in contrast with Norway's unwaveringly stoic, quiet, velvety one.

Fan Speculations
Because so little has been revealed about the two characters, let alone their relationship, fanon varies immensely. The two countries have a long history together with two unions, the second stretching over four hundred years from before the Kalmar Union until the loss of Norway to Sweden (to make up for the loss of Finland to Russia) in the Napoleonic Wars. Norwegians have referred to the union with Denmark as the "four-hundred year" night, and fans make of that what they will.

Many stories feature unrequitted love, usually on Denmark's end. In depictions where they're a couple, they might be exactly the same as the comic portrayls extended into a relationship, complete with the comical violence and obliviousness. Those traits can be toned down into a less slaptstick and more affectionate relationship, though still with some level of tensions and roughness on one or both ends. Others take a much darker approach like the most common depiction of the Denmark/Sweden pairing, having Denmark victimize Norway and exhibiting a cracked mentality. This is generally due to turning Denmark's Viking past, rule during the Kalmar Union, and subsequent wars against Sweden to mean that the character himself is violent, unstable, and sadistic no matter how much he loves and fears losing Norway. He can still have a joking, cheery and oblivious aspect to him during these darker depictions. The flip side, with Norway being abusive and Denmark devoted but victimized or happily oblivious, can sometimes be found as well.

In any depiction, regardless of the level of serious or comical violence, Norway's roughness towards Denmark can be directly attributed to real Norwegian resentment over the four hundred years of Danish-dominated union between the countries. Pairing or not, the two characters are seen as great foils for each other given Norway's more cold personality matched against Denmark's jocular, headstrong tendencies.

Webcomics: Extra Stories

 * The Nice Products that Come From Scandinavia Are...
 * Wordy Nordic Comic

Other Responses
The relationship between Denmark and Norway was parodied by the Danish artist Humon in the Hetalia Personality Swap strip of Scandinavia and the World