Study Abroad

Rating: T

Summary: College!AU It was just a bus stop, he thought, nothing really extraordinary about it. He was just using it to get on his brother. So it came as a surprise when he found a hot Russian, at said bus stop, asking him for directions to his campus. If he knew he wouldn't look like a deranged maniac, he would hug that bus stop. RusAme

BrooklynBabbii

Recommended Listening: "Baby father" by Sade

.:Chapter One:.

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"I'm telling you Mattie," Alfred said into his phone, "Just meet me at the coffee house. I'll be there soon. I'm at…" The American looked around for a readable street sign. Snow had made its presence known on everything, along with a few icicles, "Uh, well, actually," he said, somewhat apologetically, "I'm on the Boulevard…"

He adjusted the collar of white shirt absent-mindedly, before his fingers moved to the hem of his dark sweater. He shrugged his shoulders in his bomber jacket, it was warm sure, but his ears were freezing. His white earmuffs hung on his neck, useless, since he had phone at his ear.

Walking down the snow matted sidewalk, some dark slush collecting in the gutters. It had snowed heavily a few nights before, and while the city had took the majority of it off the road so cars could move, it was snowing once more. But, fortunately or unfortunately, it was only light today.

Alfred walked through the snow, his alternating feet sometimes stepping through melting slush. He thought of other things, while his brother went on about him not being responsible and always telling him to meet him somewhere when he was half across town. Well, it didn't really matter what the other boy was saying really. Alfred was thinking of other things.

For example, he was thinking of how much laundry was going to cost this week, and how he was going to make time to actually do it. He thought of what he was going to eat for dinner, if his brother was too upset with him to make it. Oh! What to do about that one girl who kept trying to cling to his arm in that one class?

Speaking of class, he had to study tonight, he had a test on Monday, and if he wanted to succeed his goal of beating Arthur, he would have to ace that test. Alright then, what else would you do to ace a test? Good sleep, coffee, a well done breakfast, maybe some—

A loud response snapped in his ear, bringing him back form his thoughts, and he brought the phone away from his ear. He chuckled, "Mattie, Mattie, chill, it's cool." He waited for the other to stop sighing and muttering under his breath.

Alfred chuckled, as a nearby bus stop started to come into view. "Chill, Mattie," he began, "I said I'd be there in a couple of…" Whoa…Talk about stunning.

But Alfred couldn't help but think his face was familiar.

"I don't know where I'm going," a tall man said, "That's just it. I feel as though I've gone everywhere but nowhere…" A pause, as the male turned on his heel, and swiftly brushed his silvery bangs from his eyes. He was wearing a pair of dark gloves, but what caught Alfred's attention were the man's eyes.

Alfred noticed they were purple. It was bright purple that slowly melted into a darker shade of violet near the pupil. Hyacinth eyes were with silver hair over pale winter skin.

He was tall, taller than Alfred, which surprised him since the American was used to being at least a little bit taller than others. He wore a pale scarf around his neck, and it looked to be finely woven by skilled hands. Not that Alfred would know because he studying the guy.

Nope, not at all, he told himself as he continued walking. He saw that the tall male wore a dark blue overcoat but a pair of light-colored jeans underneath with dark boots.

Alfred gulped, "Hey, dude, can I…like call you back, like later?" He barely even heard Mathew ask what was wrong as his brother's voice had taken on a slight distracted tone. "Al? Alfred, I'm sorry for snapping earlier, just tell me what's—" The other wasn't given a moment to finish what he had been about to say, as Alfred snapped the phone closed.

His feet closed in the bus stop, while he tried to make his face as nonchalant as possible. Act natural, he told himself, you don't even know him.

It didn't help that he could hear the other's conversation better, as he got closer and caught the accent hanging over his words. What was that accent? It didn't sound French, or English, those he knew from Arthur and Francis. But it didn't sound Asian either, like his friend Kiku.

"Yes…" The tall man said, as his eyes roved over the street. Obviously, he was looking for the bus. "But, yes, I know. I checked the signs, but I don't know where I'm going. I have already found two Drexel Avenues and three Boulevards." The man sighed on the phone, "I'm lost, yes, but what am I supposed to do?"

Alfred hurriedly pulled out his phone, and checked the time. He knew the bus schedule, as a college student who used the bus often since his campus was so close to the main streets. The bus was coming soon, as he looked up to see the street sign and then back at the phone screen. He had about ten minutes to make a good first impression.

He cleared his throat, hoped he didn't screw up, and looked behind him, "Um, mister?" The male on the phone paused, as Alfred finished with a grin, "I couldn't help but overhear you being lost. I can help, if ya like." Inwardly, he heard his words and groaned. Way to go, Alfred, you sound like an eavesdropping douche.

But the taller male's eyes brightened, and then he said something in another language into his phone, before putting the (expensive-looking) object away. Alfred could see the male was tired and greatly irritated from being lost. He didn't seem like someone who liked not having control over a situation at hand, Alfred noticed.

Before Alfred could say anything else, he found a pale hand extended towards him. "Ivan," Alfred looked up and his sky blue eyes met those alluring purple ones. "My name is Ivan, Ivan Bragniski; it is very nice of you to help me find my way in…this city."

"New York," Alfred corrected, as politely as he could. But nonetheless, he shook the other's hand. "And no problem, it's a pretty big place. People get lost here all the time. I go to school here, and sometimes I forget where I'm going. I'm Alfred F. Jones." Their hands stayed together a bit longer than usually necessary, but Alfred tried to be the bigger person and pull away.

He cleared his throat up a bit, behind his other hand of course, "Um, well first things first, where are you headed?" The question was common and usual, but came as sudden to the Ivan, who said, "I am meeting someone at an establishment called…uh, what was it?"

The other stood straighter, whilst leaning in favor of one direction. His eyes went skywards, as he thought, and crossed his arms over his chest. His brows furrowed, and then relaxed as his face lit up, and he exclaimed, "Ah, da, yes, it was called Stardollar!"

It took Alfred a minute to translate what the other meant, and then he laughed, "Oh, you mean Starbucks. I get it now." Ivan looked confused, "What's the difference?" Alfred stifled a laugh before it came out of his mouth, "Nothing. No difference at all…"

Stardollars, he made a mental note to tell his brother about that one when he got to the coffee house. Wait—

Starbucks was a coffeehouse and, more coincidently, the same one he had asked his brother to meet him at. Before he had a moment to say anything else, the bus pulled around the corner. Alfred smiled, and then turned his head over his shoulder to say, "Ivan, if you take this bus, you can to Starbucks faster than walking."

Ivan nodded, smiling slightly, making Alfred's heart jump a few more beats faster than normal. "That seems a better way to go about it," Ivan said, as he looked away and smiled at the incoming bus. "I am rather tired of walking around this crowded city."

Alfred laughed to clear the lump that had jumped into his throat and the blush that was spreading across his face. "Whatever you say, dude," he said, as the bus came closer, "I'll pay your bus fare, too. Don't worry about it."

Ivan smiled, although he seemed to think that Alfred was being a bit too nice. But before he could politely decline, the bus came and stopped to open its doors. There were people in front of them, but Alfred didn't seem to mind minding whereas Ivan frowned on having to wait on someone else to move faster when he had places to be.

But his turn to come onto the bus came, and he sighed as he immediately felt some relief from the cold. He followed Alfred, after the smaller blonde said a few words to the bus driver. The old man grunted and let it slide…but then his head snapped back to look behind him, eyes wide.

Alfred strolled to the back of the bus, not wanting to get distracted with the group of girls in the middle or the older businessmen and businesswomen in the front. He felt something well up in him, when Ivan sat next to him, but he squashed it.

He barely knew the guy. Who's to say when he dropped off at the Starbucks, a hot chick wasn't waiting for him? Someone that made every girl he had dated pale in comparison. Or maybe he's married, Alfred thought, he might be a couple of years older than me…

He shook his head, and then turned to said male who was looking out the window with something akin to awe. He let a small smirk play across his lips, "Um, Ivan?" Said man's attention snapped from the window to Alfred, and the American felt his chest swell and constrict at the same time.

"If you don't my asking," he began, as the bus went on its way, "Who are you meeting at the coffeehouse?" He hadn't really expected the other to answer. It was just small talk, after all. He didn't have to answer. Alfred wasn't anything to him, just someone he had just met who was nice enough to help him find his way.

Ivan almost seemed to smile, "I'm meeting my cousin, he's showing me around."

Alfred nodded, but inwardly his shoulders almost slumped, as he thought, well, at least it's not some girlfriend, I should be concerned about. Wait, what am I saying? I'm not anyone particularly special…

He wasn't that eye catching either. As he looked down at his snow caked Converses, he frowned, as he leaned down to brush the most of it away. While his face was close enough to see, he found that the hems of his pants were a little frayed since he hadn't thought to wear one of his better pairs. He really wasn't that attractive.

Sure, he was blonde and blue eyed, but hey so was his Labrador, Remy. He had a cowlick that defied gravity, for God's sake. He remembered all of the times Mathew and his other close friends Arthur and Francis calling him annoying. His other friend, Kiku, was too polite to say it directly, but even he made up some excuses for him to be left alone. His imaginary boyfriend named Heracles for example.

Alfred's frown deepened. He really wasn't anything worth much attention.

"Alfred?"

Said American's attention snapped back from his thoughts, as he looked up from his lap, and blurted, "Huh?" He looked out the window, "We have a few more spots to go…Ivan, we'll be there soon, I promise." It already felt weird saying the other's name, shows how long this friendship will last, Alfred thought sourly. Not that they were friends or anything for me to worry about..!

"Um," Ivan said, and Alfred caught the amusement lying in that voice. "You've been muttering to yourself for a little while, now." He raised a brow, and then raised his hands to adjust his earmuffs over his ears. They were already going red in his embarrassment. Smooth, Al, he thought, and that was real smooth.

"What about it?" Alfred said, not expecting the other to reply, "Well everyone is pretty much staring at you and thinking you're a lunatic or something."

He stiffened, a silent gasp escaping him, as he looked up. Sure enough, there were some people looking at there and quite a few of them were raising a brow. His face flamed red and, instead of sputtering or embarrassing himself further, he just sighed and hid his face in his hands. "What a great way to start my week…"

"I thought today was Friday…" Ivan said, confused. "Doesn't Sunday mark the start of a new week?" Alfred adjusted his earmuffs, muttering a soft swear under his breath as a few older people rolled their eyes and the girls giggled.

He glared out the window, feeling embarrassment make his face warm more as he saw his own reflection in the mirror. Damn it, he silently swore as he thought he saw a pimple growing on his face. Damn it all, this was not cool, this was so un-awesome.

"Alfred?" Ivan asked, as he was feeling a bit of concern and some sympathy for the young man beside him. He had not meant to get him embarrassed. He had merely wanted to tell him that his mutterings had been heard by quite a few people.

He reached over and put a hand on the other's shoulder, shaking it just a bit to get the other's attention. "Um, it is alright, it was kind of funny actually. You said something about pandas…"

Alfred made a face of pure mortification. Pandas? What the fuck? He didn't even like pandas! What was he doing muttering about pandas?

The American sighed, "I need coffee in the worst way…" He shook his head, as he felt Ivan shaking his shoulder a bit more. He shrugged his hands off, feeling a bit irked. "It's alright, dude, not your fault." Ivan left him alone at that, or maybe it was his tone. It had been sort of grumpy, maybe even biting.

He looked out the window and that they were just a turn from the Starbucks. They would be getting off soon. Good, he thought, he didn't want to embarrass himself further.

When their stop came, Alfred stood and gestured for Ivan to follow. The cold air hit them, and Alfred made a small sound. Ivan didn't even flinch; he seemed used to the cold. Alfred turned around slightly, and waited for the bus to leave.

Then, he said, "Well, this is Starbucks. I'm meeting my bro inside, so I guess," he scratched the back of his neck. "Um, bye? I guess… I can't see ya around, because I don't have such high hopes that odds of seeing each other are in our favor."

Ivan frowned a little at that, but he sighed lightly and then nodded. "Da, yes, that is true. But it was a pleasure riding on the bus with you, Alfred." Alfred nodded shortly, allowing a small smile, "You too. Take care there, big guy."

He spun on his heel, in hopes of saving what little dignity he had left. Until to make a mistake: He turned too quickly, and slipped on ice…and landed hard on his ass. "Shit!" He swore aloud, and to his surprise, Ivan was holding out a hand for him to take with a small smile.

"Do you need some help, dear comrade?" Ivan asked, and Alfred tried to will away the blush. What was with that little endearment in how he asked him if he needed help? They barely knew each other? They weren't friends…

But despite his thoughts on the matter, Ivan easily took Alfred's hand and pulled him to his feet in a smooth and liquid motion. Alfred's cheeks warmed, as he muttered his thanks and made a move towards the door. He was careful this time, not to slip on ice this time. He was so careful that he nearly missed how Ivan opened the door for the both of them.

His face warmed even more, but he told himself that it was because of the warmer temperature of the room. It wasn't embarrassment at all. His eyes searched the room for his brother, and he inwardly swore that his brother was so damn invisible. That was when he found a familiar face in a room full of strangers.

"Toris!" He beamed, and said brunette looked up from his book, his head seemingly going in every direction to find who called him. Alfred smiled, almost completely forgetting Ivan behind him. "Dude," Alfred said, "I haven't seen you, since like midterm! What's up?"

Toris blinked, as his eyes found Alfred's, and then widened as he saw who was behind him looking confused but still managing to smile. "H-hello Alfred, um, it's good to see you again. I-I'm fine." Toris was confused. He blinked and looked at his phone, then back up at the two coming towards him. He took a small risk and hit the re-dial button on his phone.

Ivan's phone rang, and Alfred blinked and then checked to see if it was his own that was ringing. Ivan rolled his eyes, and answered his phone. He didn't like missing a call if he could help it. His voice was slightly confused, "Yes, Toris?" His words echoed from Toris' phone.

Toris gaped and blurted, "Ivan! You grew!"

Ivan raised a brow, ending the call quickly, as he smiled. "Yes, I did. It's been a while since your last visit home, hasn't it? I would assume I had changed from since you last saw me…"

Alfred blinked, frowned, all before realization dawned on him. Toris was Ivan's cousin? He looked at the bubbly brunette, now offering to get the other coffee or anything he wanted off the small menu.

Okay then, Alfred thought, as he eased himself out of the picture. He started to walk away, taking off his bomber jacket.

When, all of a sudden, he found a hand snatching at his wrist. He was about to snap, but soon found his brother all but gaping at him. "That's why you were late?" The boy was nodding his head at Ivan seemingly trying his hardest to keep up with all of Toris' questions.

Alfred nodded dumbly, "He needed help getting here, so I—"

"Do you even know who that is?" Mathew interrupted. The next thing Alfred knew, Mathew had his hands fluffing his hair. He was fixing his curl and then he asked, "Does my hair look okay?"

Alfred blinked, "Wha-wait, why do you care about your hair at a time like this?" Mathew's face warmed a bit, as he smiled sheepishly, and stopped fixing his hair. He pulled at the hem of his brown vest over his tucked-in navy blue shirt.

Mathew turned to look over his shoulder, smiling, at Ivan. The cashier at the counter was sputtering behind the register, and her hands were shaking as she handed the coffee and donuts. In fact, almost everyone was starting to finally believe that Ivan was actually there in front of them.

Mathew was twiddling his thumbs, when Ivan turned around, Toris pulling towards the door and smiled as he waved. But what he said made Mathew's smile twitch. Ivan said, "See you later, Alfred." With a smile, what Alfred thought was a suggestive wink, as he shook his hands for some reason, and Ivan was gone. It felt like something was put into his hands…

Alfred blurted the first thing to come to mind, "What just happened?" Before Mathew could regain himself from his stupor, a girl pulls her face from the window, scowling, "You damn lucky bastard! How did you do that?"

"Do what?" Alfred asked, "All I did was give him a ride." The girl's eye twitched, and she snapped, "You rode Ivan Bragniski?" Alfred's mind was blank. What?

Mathew finally broke his stupor, "Al, I hate you." Alfred looked down at his brother, as everyone in the coffeehouse immediately began to talk. Some girls, even a guy, was scowling at him. As if he had done something wrong!

"For what?" Alfred asked. He was so confused. Mathew looked up from his hands, and said, "Ivan Bragniski- the famous Russian actor, coming to the US for college- wants to see you later."

Alfred blinked, and then looked down at his hands, remembering the paper. He opened it up, and then his eyes widened at what's inside. Mathew tries to look inside and then, Alfred proceeds to drag him out, saying, "I need to step out."

Mathew sputtered, but grabbed his coat. It was his turn to ask why. Once they were outside, and out of range of the girl scowling at the window, Alfred turned to his brother. "This is why," Alfred said and showed his brother the paper.

Mathew looked at it, for a solid moment, and then he pulled out his phone and took a picture before Alfred could say anything. Then, the smaller male slid out his keyboard and said, "Come on, Al, we need to see a few people."

"What-why?" Alfred asked, as he pocketed the paper. Mathew looked up, eyebrow twitching, "Because the most famous foreign actor of all time just gave you his number." Alfred nodded, "I know that, so what?"

Mathew's eyebrow rose, "Do you pay attention to the news?" Alfred shook his head, and Mathew continued flatly, as he said, "He's going to your school, you dumbass. You have his number and showed up with him to the coffeehouse." Alfred blinked, and Mathew continued walking.

"I give you a week, before paparazzi tries to break down your dorm door," Mathew said darkly. Alfred blinked and, for some reason, he thought of the bus stop.

He could hug that bus stop right now.

…Thank you to Germerica, for being my 80th reviewer for "Beneath the Surface"! X) Here's the college fiction you asked for! I added a slight twist, and tried to make it funny while still keeping it within my element! :P

I hope you liked it!

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