A young man with soft blonde hair sat on the park bench by himself. He stared at the phone lying in his lap and hummed to himself. Once in a while, he would press the power button to check the time. It was easy to see how nervous he was because of his constant fidgeting.
"Alfred?"
The blonde looked up to see a tall man with white hair and child like features walking towards him. And just like that, Alfred's nervousness melted away. He got up from the bench while placing his phone away. After clearing his voice, he stepped up to the Russian man.
"Hey Ivan, you made it! It's great to see you!"
He engulfed the man into a bear hug which Ivan happily returned with double the force. Alfred grunted in response, but accepted the love nonetheless. Ivan kissed his forehead in apology then released him from his grasp.
"So why the sudden date? I thought you were busy."
"Nah, I can always make time for you."
Ivan's smile grew wide in happiness before he pulled him into another hug. He wrapped his arms around his boyfriend's waist then twirled him in the air. The young man gasped in surprise then immediately held onto Ivan's broad shoulders.
"Hey man, put me down! I'm gonna lose a shoe!"
The Russian man set him back on his feet with his childish smile. He laughed a silly laugh then kissed Alfred on the lips while intertwining their fingers together.
"What would you like to do first?"
Alfred held onto Ivan's hand firmer while thinking of a response. He swung their hands with a thoughtful expression then responded with a happy voice.
"Arcade. It's been a while since I've been able to play some video games."
"Are the video games from Kiku too much for you?"
"What do you mean? I can handle anything! I'm the hero after all."
The energetic blonde raised his fist towards the sky with a cheer. Ivan continued to smile then poked the muscles in his upper arm in amusement. Alfred back away with a pout knowing that his biceps were nothing compared to his boyfriend's. Even with the coat covering his body, anyone could plainly see his well toned muscles.
"Sometimes I hate you for having such a nice body."
Ivan frowned cutely at his comment then kissed Alfred's cheek. Alfred shook his head then stood up on his toes to ruffle Ivan's hair.
"I'm joking man. Whether you're chubby or fit, you have my love. Remember that, alright?"
His childish smile returned as he nodded in response.
"Oh right, let's take a picture before we leave."
Alfred took out a polaroid camera from his messenger bag with his free hand. He leaned closer to his boyfriend's face then adjusted the camera. Once he pressed the button, the camera made a beeping noise while the photo started coming out from the top.
When they checked the photo, it didn't turn out as perfect as they hoped. Since Alfred was shorter than his boyfriend, part of Ivan's face was cut out from the picture. Even though it wasn't accurate, he liked it anyway. They tried it a few more times then finally managed to get it right with Ivan's help.
"I never knew you had this kind of camera before."
"I'm borrowing it from a friend so that we can take a bunch of pictures of each other."
He held all the picture up to the light and was happy with the results. Looking at his boyfriend, it seemed like he was thinking the same thing. Once the pictures were placed securely in his bag, he took a few steps forward while pulling Ivan along.
At the arcade, the room was dim and had many games and machines that shined brightly. They purchased credits in a game card then explored the place. There were many new attractions such as the crane games where the player could win stuff animals if they were lucky enough. The ones with the giant polar bears caught his attention as they passed by it.
"What are you looking at, Alfred?"
Alfred pointed at the machine next to it which had different pokemon plushies as prizes.
"Aren't they adorable?"
"I guess so, but that yellow mouse is scaring me."
"Is it scarier than your younger sister?"
"Nothing is scarier than my sister."
"Good point."
"What should we play first?"
Alfred turned away from the polar bears and pokemon to focus on Ivan's question. He thought about it for a moment then heard a loud growl eminating nearby. To their left, he noticed a scary survival game that was glowing a deep red.
"How about that one?"
"Won't you be scared?"
"Are you kidding me? This will be a piece of cake. I can handle anything, remember?"
That's what Alfred was thinking as they stepped inside the game area. They closed the curtains then swiped their game card. Everything seemed fine for a few moments, but the game got the best of him. Within a minute, he was screaming at the monster that popped out of nowhere. It wasn't helping that the music in the background sounded creepy and eerie.
By the time the words "game over" popped up on the screen, Alfred had his head buried in Ivan's shoulder. The white haired man chuckled then ruffled his hair.
"Alfred, you know the game is over right?"
"O-of course I know! I just felt like sniffing your shoulder for a bit."
Ivan chuckled then helped his boyfriend out of the game area. As they walked away, The Russian playfully bumped shoulders with Alfred.
"It was a piece of cake, right Alfred?"
The comment earned a growl from the smaller male, but Ivan ignored it by ruffling his blonde hair. Alfred got over his sulking then glanced at the games that were available.
"Any other suggestions?"
Alfred spotted a familiar game then pulled Ivan to where the DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) games were located. To his disappointment, they were all taken and it didn't look like anyone would be finished soon. Thankfully there was a game similar to the DDR game but had slanted arrows.
"Let's play this one instead."
Ivan took one look at the machine then to his feet.
"But I'm wearing sandals."
"Come on, I'll play barefoot with you."
The blond used all of his strength to pull Ivan onto the game platform. It took a moment, but the white haired man finally complied to his request. Alfred took off his shoes then went over to his own area after swiping the card. The surface felt cold underneath his bare feet but he didn't mind. Ivan followed his example but seemed uncomfortable.
"Don't worry, this'll be fun."
Alfred looked happy as he looked through the song selections. This machine surprisingly had Jpop and Kpop songs on their that Kiku seemed to enjoy. He's never listened to that kind of music, but he was ready for anything.
After going back to his station, he jumped a few times in excitement. Having only scary video games at home, he never got to play this. He waited for the arrows to appear then gaped when they came at a high speed. He quickly moved his feet to one of the slanted arrows then groaned when he pressed the wrong one. Playing barefoot also made the impact on his feet a bit harsh.
Unlike the usually four arrows in DDR, this game had four arrows plus a platform in the middle. Since he was more accustomed to those settings he ended up missing most of the arrows. In the end, his health bar on the top of the screen was completely empty and glowing red.
When the results came in, it surprised him that Ivan had close to a perfect score. He knew that the russian rarely played video games, so he should have an advantage over him. He looked at him in awe and saw a taunting smile on his face. Alfred narrowed his eyes in determination.
"In the next stage, I'll beat you for sure."
"That would be true if both of us survived the first round. However, it's game over since you failed the song."
Alfred glanced back at the screen to see the words "Game over" glowing in green.
"Then we shall keep playing until I kick your butt!"
He swiped their card and heard a soft chuckle behind him. When the settings came up, Alfred made sure to put the difficulties on easy. He didn't want to embarrass himself for a second time. There were people staring at them since they were playing barefoot.
Going back to his station, he ignored their stare and focused on the game. Thankfully, the song was slow and much easier than the first. Of course, he still missed a few of the arrows, but his results were significantly better. His health bar was half full which allowed both of them to move onto the next stage.
"Ha! Look, I'm getting better. Prepare to taste defeat you over sized bear!"
"Alfred, I'm not sure about you, but being called an oversized bear doesn't sound like a compliment."
"Well it is cause being an oversized bear makes you very huggable."
To prove his point, Alfred walked over to his side and gave him a long hug. His arms engulfed my body making it look small compared to him. He was exaggerating when he said oversized, because Ivan would always pout whenever someone mentioned his big frame. His boyfriend looked adorable with that expression on his childish face.
"As I said before, 'chubby or fit, you have my love'."
Alfred kissed Ivan's pale cheek then found himself staring into his boyfriend's deep purple eyes.
"Thank you, Alfred."
At that moment, he was glad that the arcade was dark so Ivan wouldn't be able to see his blushing face. He quickly chuckled then went back to his station as the next song started.
By the end of the third round, he ended up losing against Ivan but it was still fun. However, it would have been nice if there weren't people staring at them weirdly. He wasn't used to having this much attention him so it was a relief that the game was over.
They placed on their shoes, and continued their walk around the arcade. When an air hockey table was available, they decided to switch to that. Alfred had more of an advantage with this game, so he was feeling more confident than with the game machine.
"Hey Ivan, let's make things more interesting."
The Russian man tilted his head to the side in curiosity as he held the red puck in his hand. Alfred couldn't stop smiling in anticipation and excitement.
"If I win, then you have to do one request."
"And if I win?"
"I'll do one thing you request."
Purple eyes flickered in determination, which made Alfred put up his guard. After seeing Ivan's skills in a new game like DDR, he couldn't underestimate him.
"I accept."
Alfred nodded then readied himself for the oncoming attack. The blonde kept his eyes on the puck as it was dropped onto the field. However, he only saw a blur then heard the a short beep noise. His face pale when he saw that the score was 0 to 1.
He shook his head then focused on the game ahead of him. It wasn't over until time runs out so he was going to do his best before then. Even though that was what he thought, Ivan won by a long shot. It was nice that his boyfriend allowed him to score once in a while. Thought, he must have felt bad that He was losing to him badly.
Looking to the side, Ivan stared at him with his signature smile. After a sigh of defeat, he stood straight up and braced himself for his task.
"Alright what's your request, Ivan?"
"Let me call you 'sunflower' for the rest of the day."
"Huh? That's it? Why request that?"
Ivan held Alfred's hand then brought it up to his face. He smiled happily and leaned into the warm hand.
"You never like me calling you 'sunflower' since it sounds girly, but to me it matches you so perfectly."
His gaze sent a shiver down Alfred's back. Looking into Ivan's purple eyes, he found himself in a hypnotic trance. It was only when he caressed his face when Alfred returned to his senses. He touched his hand then removed it from his cheek while intertwining their fingers together.
"Fine, if it makes you that happy then I can live with it for one day."
Ivan smiled wider then engulfed Alfred in another hug. He lifted him off the ground for a moment then placed him back down.
"Thank you, my dear sunflower."
Alfred closed his eyes and return the hug with his own smile. He remained in their position for a while then pulled away. They held hands once more then continued walking around the arcade.
They played a few more games that consisted of a Japanese drum game, Mario kart, and shooting basketball. Of course, each game had the couple practicing healthy competition. While they had fun, it was hard for them not to battle it out. In the end, the two of them were left exhausted from their battles.
"Are you hungry, sunflower?"
"Yeah, we should get something to eat."
"So where should we eat? And please don't say McDonald, I think I've suffered enough, da?"
Alfred frowned since they weren't going to eat at McDonalds but got over it pretty quickly.
"How about we settle for Italian then? There's a shop nearby that I know has delicious food."
"Sounds good."
Before they made it to the exit, Alfred took notice of a photo booth. The difference with this one was that you could decorate the pictures after taking them. He instantly stopped Ivan then pointed at the attraction.
"Can we go there before we eat?
"I don't see why not."
They headed inside a brightly lit space with a green screen in the back. After swiping his card, a high pitched voice greeted them.
"Hey Ivan, pick a background."
"There's so many, but I guess I'll choose this one."
"Wait we can choose a few more. Hurry before time runs out."
Ivan suddenly got flustered when he noticed the time limit on the side. He skimmed through all the frames but wasn't really looking at them. In panic, he chose the last few frames at random.
"I'm sorry, sunflower."
"Hey it's no problem at all. Don't sweat it."
When the first frame came up, it was a bright pink background with yellow stars. The same high pitched voice started counting down. Alfred immediately got into position, but Ivan didn't move.
"Where am I suppose to look?"
"The lens are right there. Use that to see where you are on the screen."
"Right there?"
"Yeah so move closer, you're too far."
Click
Their picture was taken with Alfred pointing up while Ivan was looking to the side in confusion.
"That turned out pretty good actually."
"I'm not even looking at the camera."
"Hey don't worry about it, we still have a few more pictures to take. Oh get ready now."
When the next frame came up, Alfred quickly made half a heart.
"Hey Ivan, make your hand like this."
Ivan did the same, but his half didn't look like a heart. When the picture was taken, they saw that his end looked like a circle rather than a heart. At least this time they were both looking at the camera.
The next one Alfred suddenly climbed onto Ivan's back which almost made him fall but they managed to stay put. He did hit his head on the ceiling when Ivan stood up straight.
"Man that hurt."
"Alfred, did you lose weight? You're very light."
"Hey focus on the picture. My head is cut off from the screen, so kneel down."
"Oh you're right."
At the last second, Ivan bent his knees in time before the picture was taken.
"Do you want to try carrying me, sunflower?"
"No no not now. Not with an empty stomach."
"You've done it before. Is it because I'm fat?"
Ivan gave him another pout that resembled a kicked puppy when he set him back on the ground. Alfred glanced at the screen then grabbed Ivan's face. Just when the timer said '1', he connected their lips in a kiss. As they pulled apart, Alfred smacked his boyfriend's head looking slightly annoyed.
"Ow."
"How many times do I have to repeat myself? I love you no matter how you look and that's a fact."
"I'm sorry."
Alfred let out a sigh as he smiled up to his childish boyfriend. He wrapped his arms around Ivan then leaned on him.
"You're such a kid, Ivan. Are you really older than me?"
"I am, but which one of us still eats the kids meal from McDonalds."
"Hey, you know I do that for the toy. Sometime they have some awesome stuff."
"Of course sunflower, whatever you say."
Ivan kissed the top of Alfred's head while being careful to avoid the strand of hair sticking up. He learned from past mistakes not to mess with that except on certain occasions.
After taking a few more picture they soon moved to the decorating section. As Ivan added some accessories, Alfred placed the dates on all of the pictures. Then a mischievous idea popped into his head. He changed Ivan's hair to blue then added ears to his head. Alfred was hoping that the Russian wouldn't notice this change, but his laugh gave it away.
With all the other pictures, Ivan gave him a similar treatment. Instead of blue, he made it pink and placed a pink bow on his head. His first instinct was to remove them but he liked how childish it looked. It made everything cuter that Ivan was the one who did it. He really was such a kid.
"Hey I know you're having fun but remember to decorate the other pictures. We don't have much time."
Ivan instantly switched to another picture to draw whiskers and add cat ears. In the photo with them kissing, he also placed the words 'mine' at the top. Alfred chuckle to himself then saw the screen turned white. Apparently their time was up, so nothing could be done.
Alfred shrugged his shoulders but Ivan looked genuinely disappointed. He stared at the ground with a small frown as they waited for the machine to print our photos.
"Hey cheer up. They never gave us enough time for these things, but there's no use sulking over it."
Ivan gently kicked the machine then turned his back on it. Alfred patted his back then grabbed the picture when they came out. He was really pleased with the results.
"Alfred, we'll come back and take pictures again right?"
"Of course, so smile already and let's go get some food. I'll give you your half of these pictures the next time we meet."
He quickly placed them in his bag then lead Ivan outside. There he took a surprise picture of his boyfriend in front of the arcade. The ending product showed a confused Russian standing by himself at the entrance. He looked liked a lost child waiting for his parents to find him.
"Man Ivan, why are you so photogenic? It's really not fair."
"The camera seems to love me more than you, sunflower."
"What your secret? Are you just a natural?"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
Alfred playfully bumped shoulders with Ivan as they headed towards the restaurant. They walked in a peaceful silence that didn't feel awkward to either of them.
"You're unusual quiet. Are you planning something?"
"There's just a lot on my mind."
"Like?"
"How lucky it is to have a boyfriend like you."
"I could say the same thing about you."
"Aw stop, you're making me feel embarrassed."
They continued another conversation with one another until they arrived at their destination. Inside, they were overwhelmed by the scent of fresh garlic bread. Thankfully they didn't have to wait long for a seat to be ready and was immediately escorted to a booth.
After sitting on opposite ends, they looked over the menu. Alfred always got the same thing, but he still checked the other items that were available.
"So your birthday is coming up soon. Is there anything specific that you want?"
Alfred looked up from the menu then smiled brightly at the mention of his birthday.
"How about a big hamburger plushie? Or better yet, a double cheeseburger plushie!"
"Don't you already have a giant hamburger plushie?"
"Well there's nothing wrong with having more than one right?"
"Are you planning to have a collection of hamburgers?"
"Maybe, but don't worry I will always love you more than hamburgers."
Ivan instantly smiled a very happy smile that looked different from his usual smile. Alfred quickly took out his Polaroid camera then took a picture of his face. The Russian rubbed his eyes in attempts to get rid of the blue spots in his vision. The flash was very bright in the dim lighting.
"Is taking pictures of me going to be a new habit of yours?"
"Who knows?"
He placed the picture with the rest of photos along with his camera. Alfred was careful that nothing was crushing the digital device.
"You know, I might end up blind from the camera's flashes."
"Which will give me a perfect reason for me to never leave your side."
His smile stretched further along his face.
"I love you Alfred, you know that right?"
He reached over the table and held his boyfriend's hand with his own. His violet eyes looked deeply into bright blue ones. Even with the dark lighting, it was easy to see the affection in his eyes.
"Yes, I do. I love you Ivan."
Alfred smiled but froze when Ivan leaned into his face. When their lips touched, He closed his eyes and squeezed his boyfriend's hand. There was no spark that was explained in romance novels, but he felt his heart beat faster than usual.
Ivan's free hand moved to the back of his head to pull their faces closer. The kiss intensified and left both of them breathless when they parted for air. As they stopped to regain their breathing, Ivan tugged at Alfred's arm.
"Sit next to me."
"And if I say no?"
"I'll carry you over here if I have to."
"Is that a promise?"
The blonde chuckled before he sat next to his possessive boyfriend. He knew that Ivan wouldn't do anything to hurt him, so he had nothing to worry about. It was nice to feel protected and know that you'll be loved all the time.
When the waiter came back, they ordered their food then went back to taking more pictures with the Polaroid camera. Even in the dim lighting, all the photos turned out greats. Not all of them were perfect, but it was still precious to him.
"Who did you borrow that camera from?"
"That's a secret."
"You know, I'm surprise that you know what a Polaroid camera is."
"Hey, I'm not that ignorant. Give me more credit."
"Forgive me."
He wrapped one arm around Alfred's shoulder then pulled him closer to him. The blonde rested his head on Ivan's shoulder then closed his eyes.
"I could just fall asleep in this position."
"Really? Before you said my shoulder is too stiff to sleep on."
"A guy can change his mind right?"
Alfred snuggled closer to his boyfriend which made him smile in response.
"Of course, sunflower."
The next time Alfred opened his eyes, the waiter came by with their food. He placed two plates on their table then walked away without saying anything.
Ivan stabbed the pasta with his fork then twirled it a couple of times before offering it to him. He smiled gratefully then accepted the food. In response, he grabbed a ravioli with his fork then fed it to Ivan. He chewed it happily then kissed Alfred on the lips.
"You taste like cheese. I wonder if you taste better with bacon."
"Do you want to ask for bacon?"
"Nah, I need to stay away from that. Too much fat is already in my system."
"I'm surprised you're watching your weight. Is that why you didn't order three dishes for yourself?"
"Well since I want to live long, yes."
Ivan fed him another piece of pasta with his signature smile. They continued this process for a few minutes until all of the food was gone. Their plates were taken away then replaced with the check. Before Alfred could grab the paper, Ivan held it away from his reach.
"Ivan, I can pay for myself you know."
"Yes but I want to do this."
"Come on don't act like this, hand me that check."
Alfred tried reaching for the check but Ivan wouldn't let him. He even climbed on top of him to gain an advantage.
"Give me that check!"
"No!"
Ivan grabbed both of Alfred's hands then held them down much easier than usual. He pushed that thought aside when the waiter came by their table. The Russian gave him the check then released his boyfriend when the coast was clear.
"That was totally not necessary."
"I know."
"Anyway thanks but I'll be paying next time."
"Of course."
"Hope you enjoyed your meals, bast- I mean sirs."
Alfred looked up to see a worker who wasn't their original waiter. He had dark brown hair and a large curl. His name tag read 'Lovino' and he was staring closely at him. Lovino's eyes peered into his for a second longer before he left us.
"I'm going to go to the restroom. Wait for me at the front okay, sunflower?"
"Sure."
Ivan kissed the side of his head then left him at the booth. Alfred grabbed his bag then walked to the front of the restaurant. Before he can go through the exit, he felt someone grab his arm.
"I really feel like punching you right now."
Alfred looked at Lovino then gave him a happy smile. Lovino raised an eyebrow in confusion then scowled to himself. He gripped his arm tighter but Alfred barely flinched.
"Lovino what are you doing? Get back to work!"
"I know, leave me alone already you bastard."
He flipped off one of his coworkers then turned his attention back to Alfred. The blonde continued the smile which made him scowl even more.
"I hope you know what you're doing."
Lovino pulled away and gave him one last look before going back into the kitchen. Alfred rubbed his arm then exited through the double doors.
Outside he was greeted by the cold night air. He rubbed his hand together then started humming to a song. It didn't take long until Ivan came came up and hugged him from behind.
"Were you waiting long?"
Alfred shook his head then held his hand.
"Thanks for dinner, Ivan."
"No problem. Anything for my sunflower."
He kissed his forehead lovingly then engulfed him in another bear hug.
"Also, thanks for going on a date with me today, Ivan. I really enjoyed it."
"So did I. Shall I walk you home?"
"I'd like that."
They started walking down the road hand in hand with the crickets as the only noise accompanying us. The silence was comfortable, and the atmosphere was nice. Alfred looked at Ivan in the corner of his eye, and saw that he had a wide smile on his face. He immediately looked away when Ivan caught him staring.
"What's on your mind?" Ivan asked in curiosity.
"Why do you ask? Is it because I'm making a funny face?"
"You always make a funny face, especially when you're thinking."
Ivan chuckled which only made his boyfriend pout in return. Instead of using words, Alfred childishly kicked the russian's leg. However it was more of a gentle tap to show that he was upset more than angry.
"Don't worry, I like all the emotions you show me, especially when you're very hot and flustered."
The Russian leaned in and stole a quick kiss from the american's lips. He held Alfred's face in his hands then pushed him against a wall. Ivan's tongue easily found its way into his mouth which instantly sparked something in his stomach.
Thankfully there was no one walking on the streets, so they had some privacy.
When they pulled away, Alfred had to lean against his boyfriend for support. His cheeks were bright red and he was panting lightly. Ivan licked his lips while staring at him possessively.
"See? You look absolutely delicious against the wall and under my control."
Alfred looked up to his boyfriend and found himself once again lost in those purple eyes. He gripped Ivan's coat then shook his head to get rid of the spell.
"It's not nice teasing people, Ivan."
"I know, but I can never control myself around you."
"And if I refused you? Would you back off?"
Ivan towered over Alfred's smaller body and trapped him against the wall. He leaned down so that their faces were centimeters apart before responding.
"I would convince you to change your mind."
"Is that a promise?"
Alfred met those eyes again but with a different attitude. His eyes were shining bright with emotion while his lips were curled in a happy smile. Ivan expected a different reaction from him, but he didn't mind this response.
"Are you tempting me, sunflower?"
"I'm simply asking you a question. Nothing more, nothing less."
Their moment was disrupted when the nearby street lamp shut off. Alfred gently pushed his boyfriend away then held his hand.
"Come on, you still need to walk me home."
They continued their walk with neither one of them starting a conversation. Alfred was keeping his eyes straight on the road ahead of him but still had a content smile on his face. Ivan took the time to study his boyfriend.
"You know Alfred, I really like this side of you."
"What do you mean? I'm still me."
"Of course you are, but you seem so...kind and considerate."
Alfred looked at his boyfriend with a look that Ivan instantly recognized as confusion.
"I mean you're always kind to me, but today it feels like you multiplied that by a hundred."
"Dude, you're not making any sense."
Ivan rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment and fumbled to get his words out correctly. He seemed to be getting flustered over talking about something that appeared so simple.
"Not once today did you call me a 'commie bastard'."
"Hey I know I've called you that before we started dating, but there's no reason to say that now."
"Sometimes when you get mad at losing against me you blurt out those words. Or other times you say it as a joke."
"Hey, it was childish of me for saying those mean things so I decided not to do that anymore."
"You didn't drag me to McDonalds today either or make fun of my body."
"Ivan you're thinking way too much about this."
Alfred waved his hands as a gesture that the things he did was nothing. Ivan however didn't see it as that.
"Alfred I'm serious. You're not acting like your usual stuff."
"Is that a bad thing?"
Ivan stepped closer to him and gripped his hand more firmly.
"Not at all."
Alfred opened his mouth to say something but ended up letting out a sigh instead. He shook his head in defeat and decided to give in.
"Alright you got me, but don't get used to me being considerate. You won't be seeing this side of me anymore."
"That's really a shame since I prefer the present you than the regular you."
"Well жесткая удача."
Ivan gasped in surprise then smiled in pure happiness. Alfred covered his mouth and cursed his timing. He was hoping to surprise his boyfriend with Russian when they would say goodbye.
"You even learned Russian for me?"
"Well I don't know anything. I only learned a few phrases, nothing special."
The Russian shook his head then engulfed the smaller male in a warm hug, causing them to pause in their walking.
"By the way, how's my accent? Did I pronounce it right?"
"You seem to have more of a Western European accent but you got the words right."
Alfred gently patted Ivan's back then was released from the bear hug. As much as he enjoyed the warmth, it was getting late and he needed to get home.
"What other phrases have you learned?"
"Not telling."
This resulted in Ivan pouting at him which he completely ignored. Even when the Russian was looming over him, he didn't budge.
"Please?"
"No."
"You reverted back to your mean self."
"I don't care."
"Sunflower, please tell me."
"Nu-uh."
"Why not?"
"It's payback for teasing me earlier."
"I'm sorry, please forgive me."
"Oh I already forgave you, but this will teach you to think twice before teasing someone."
Ivan frowned in disappointment tread quickly by his side. The blonde watched his boyfriend sulk and could imagine a gray cloud hovering over him. He huddled closer to the blonde in hope of coaxing Alfred to tell him.
"I promise not to tease you so please tell me."
"I don't think so."
His response made Ivan sulk even more. Rain was coming down from the mini cloud along with a bit of thunder. Alfred had to hold back a laugh as he imagined this. He allowed this to go on or a few moments then decided that he suffered enough."
"Ivan."
As his home came into view, Alfred grabbed Ivan's coat then stood on his toes. He leaned close to his ear while holding on to his shoulder as support.
"Я люблю тебя."
Alfred dropped back to his feet but didn't realize the affect of his words. Ivan's cheeks grew red in embarrassment and his lips were quivering. He lowered his head and held onto Alfred's hand in an almost painful grip. The Russian squeezed it then showed him the happiest smile he's seen today.
"Я тоже тебя люблю, Alfred."
The blonde smiled back to him then continued walking until they were standing at the front doors.
"I had a great time today. Thanks for coming out on such short notice, Ivan."
"Anything for my sunflower."
Ivan planted a soft kiss to Alfred's forehead then stole a quick kiss to his lips.
"Thank you for making me the happiest person alive."
"Aw you're exaggerating, Ivan. All I did was be myself."
"Even so, I feel like I've fallen in love with you all over again."
Alfred averted his eyes in embarrassment at the comment. The Russia took the opportunity to connect their lips in another kiss. When they pulled away, both of them were blushing.
"Well then, goodnight. I'll see you later."
"Goodnight Alfred. Don't stay up too late."
"I'll try not to. Oh and remember to get me my giant hamburger plush."
"I will."
Ivan gave him one last hug then walked away while waving goodbye. Alfred returned the gesture until the Russian was no where to be seen. Once he was completely alone, the blonde entered his house.
Inside, everything seemed quiet but he knew better. The blonde immediately went upstairs and into his room where he found his twin brother, sleeping on his bed.
He walked over and shook his shoulder. There was no response, so he took out his phone. After finding the right app, he placed his phone close to his brother's ear then pressed the button to make a loud fire alarm. His eyes immediately bulged open in complete shock.
"Where's the fire!? Where's the fire!?"
As the frantic male looked frantically around the room, his eyes suddenly landed on the owner of the room. Once his mind start to register that there wasn't a fire, he smiled.
"Oh hey Mattie! How was your day out?"
Matthew smiled then headed over to his closet where his suitcase was located. He placed his messenger bag next to his luggage while Alfred remained sitting on his bed.
"It was nice. Thanks for lending me your clothes."
"Not a problem. I know you're all packed up and ready for Canada so it's the least I can do."
"I'm sorry I couldn't hang out with you on my last day."
"It's alright, we can hang out more when I visit you during winter. Do you really need to go there?"
"Yes I do. It's been my dream to go there and you know that."
"Yea, it's just...I'm gonna miss you bro. I'm gonna be very lonely here in this empty house."
Alfred got up from the bed to give his brother a crushing hug. Matthew groaned in response but returned the embrace.
"I'm going to miss you too Alfy."
"Make sure to stay away from strangers alright?"
"I'll try my best to do that."
"And if you ever change your mind, I'm only a phone call away."
"Yes Alfred don't worry."
"I'm serious Mattie. It's going to be tough living by yourself."
"Thanks for worrying about me, but I'll be fine."
"But you might get mobbed by a polar bear!"
"I think you're exaggerating too much. Just what did that article of Canada teach you?"
"That my little brother is going die a tragic death. Don't leave me Mattie!"
"Alfred stop crying. You're making it sounds like I'm going to military school."
"Heroes don't cry! I'm just worrying about your well being."
Alfred sucked in his tears and tried not to sniffle. Matthew smiled and gave his brother another hug.
"And I thank you for that. I love you Alfy."
That comment broke Alfred's will and caused him to start bawling on his shoulder. The younger brother patted his back in attempts to calm him down.
"You better call me or else I'll hate you forever."
"Understood Alfred."
They remained in that position for a while longer until Alfred finally managed to control himself. He awkwardly coughed then settled back down on Matthew's bed.
"So what time do I have to drop you off at the airport tomorrow?"
"9:00."
"P.M.?"
"A.M."
"Ugh, so early."
He sprawled himself out on the bed while hugging his pillow. As much as Matthew hate to admit it, he was going to miss having his brother around.
"Come on Alfred, I need to get some sleep."
Alfred pretended to ignore what he said and allowed himself to fall asleep there. Matthew did his best to push him off, but he didn't have his brother's crazy strength. The lazy blonde continued to sleep peacefully as it nothing happened.
"Alright you win this time."
They slept in each other's beds often a lot as kids since Alfred couldn't sleep by himself after watching a scary movie. He actually still does this now, so Matthew was used to sharing the same bed with him.
"I guess Ivan will have to accompany him once I'm gone."
Matthew removed his clothes then changed into a baggy shirt and gym shorts that Alfred loaned him. He got himself ready for bed then went back to his suitcase.
He smiled briefly then started looking through all the pictures he took today. Each of them made him smile yet cringe at the same time. He didn't like lying to Ivan, but it needed to be done. Now that he got to have his moment of happiness, he'll seal away his feelings for his brother's boyfriend.
After placing the last pictures into his suitcase, Matthew turned off the lights then grabbed an extra pillow from his closet. He pushed Alfred to his side of the bed then joined him on it. He lied on his back then close his eyes.
Maybe someday, he would tell Ivan about what happened today, but today was not that day.