There the body lay, nestled under in all the ice and snow.
"Ivan?" America found his voice barely above a whisper.
He stirred, but didn't speak.
"Are you alright?"
"What are you doing here?" He was interrupted in his peaceful misery.
"Everyone said you've been like this for a while." He stepped closer. "Even Toris said he couldn't get you to talk."
Russia sat up suddenly, knocking off his hat to reveal the wispy strands of pale blonde underneath. "Well, tell them I am fine."
"Then why are you lying out in the snow? You'll freeze to death."
"I go in sometimes, da." He chuckled. "You think I cannot take a little cold?"
America shrugged, shaking in his ice-coated jacket.
"Anyways, I just wanted to see if you're okay."
"Perfectly." He grinned, an empty vodka bottle slipping from his gloves. It rolled several feet on the compacted snow.
"Are you sure?" There was the all-too-familiar "Because if you're not, I'll be perfectly glad to be a hero and help you" glint in his sapphire eyes.
"Trying to be a hero, da?"
"No, I just…"
He stood up, emphasizing the fact that he was taller than the other nation. "Why do you always like to be involved in other people's business?"
"I don't. I just heard you haven't been acting….normal, whatever that is for you." He regretted the choice of words, wincing in fear.
Russia edged nearer, just a tad into America's comfort zone.
"Oh…?" He smiled, peering down at the determined and terrified face.
In a moment of naivety, America puffed out his chest, trying to seem threatening. "Yes. And I think, by the way, it IS my business." He shook, both from the cold and fear.
Yet when he looked into the violet eyes, they were soft, amused.
"Your business, da?"
He felt the hot uncertainty on his cheeks as stuttered "Y-ye-yes."
What he did was not the expected reaction, not even close.
"You look cold." Russia laughed, wrapping his large arms around the shaking frame. "What were you thinking, coming in your flimsy jacket?" He brushed the dusty layer of snow off the gold hair. "If anyone will freeze today, it's you."
"Are you okay?"
"I told you, perfectly."
"Oh, okay." Russia WAS warm.
And although they seemed like they should be frozen, his lips were anything but as they brushed lightly against America's.
His eyes widened in shock, but not because of the fact that Russia had just kissed him, it was because he liked it.
"Why…?"It was the only word he could say.
"Because I wanted to. You liked it, da?"
He paused, thinking of a suitable reply. He decided to lean forward and repeat the action, just a sliver more aggressive this time.
But there was still an experimental quality to it. He was just testing the waters. Double-checking.
However, soon after he pulled away, he went straight back with unhinged passion, sure of his sudden attraction.
"I suppose." He grinned, half unbelieving of the past few moments.
Russia kept looking at him, as though in shock himself, until he just drew him back up to his face.
For as cold as their mouths must have been that night, they were surprisingly warm.
I just love the idea of Ivan/Alfred 3
Sorry if it came out sounding like a ramble =)
-Lissa