Hey there guys! This will be my pet project next to my other fic, 'America's Birthday'. I just had to do a Halloween themed one!

Hope you like it!

If there was one thing that Alfred could not stand it was people openly staring at him. Creepy people to be exact. Specifically, Creepy people like Ivan Braginski. Not to say that Alfred minded when normal people looked at him, but looking was quiet different then staring. Which was exactly what a certain Russian classmate was doing to him right now.

Staring.

Without blinking.

At him.

A shiver rolled up Alfred's spine. The corners of his lips twisting down to form a disconcerting frown, his eyebrows following suit.

"How is that even possible…he's gotta blink sometime…" Alfred grumbled peeking through his blonde bangs at Ivan. Despite the American's obvious discomfort the Russian stared on, seemingly unaffected by Alfred's nervous shifting in his seat or skittish sideway glances."This is getting ridiculous…"

"Quiet, fool! Do you want to invoke Mrs. Sanchez's wrath?" Arthur, Alfred's best friend elbowed him sharply in the side.

"Ow!"

Alfred broke his wary watch of Ivan to look around and half face the 'jabbie' in question. Which was difficult to do how the both of them were sitting in the math lecture hall, side by side. They were in Advanced Calculus. Which was unfortunately, for Alfred, a required course to get his Bachelors Degree. Alfred was studying to be a Graphic Designer at a local state college. He, has decided to acquire this profession by any means necessary at the youthful age of ten. He was twenty-one now and still held on to his dream of becoming a successful designer by any means necessary. Be that as it may, it boggled his mind as to why a Graphic Designer would need Advanced Calculus. Yet here he was in the worst possible class, with the worst possible teacher. He was forced every Thursday at promptly 2pm to 6pm, to sit his butt down and be educated thoroughly in the magic that was Advanced Calculus. To make matters more unpleasant then they already were, he had that very class with his long time rival, Ivan Braginski. It was the sour icing to go on top a very bitter cake if he did say so himself.

'Braginski, what kind of last name is that any way?' Alfred mused irritably as his professor's fingers skimmed through a textbook, sniffing out another math recipe in which she could make him choke on and suffer. 'When you break it up it becomes Brag In Ski, like Brag in skii's!' Alfred snorted and again received a quick, painful rebuttal from his friend but it was too late.

"ALFRED!"

Horror.

Oh, the unimaginable horror.

His professor was looking right at him, around her beak like nose as if she wanted something.

Something from him…and he so desperately wished he knew what it was. His eyes frantically darted back and forth from his open textbook to the black board, both of which contained alien writing that he could never decipher. Alfred side glanced at Arthur but the other man kept his eyes glued forward on the professor to make it appear as if he were a good student and was hanging on every word she said.

'Traitor.' Alfred thought miserably.

"Well Alfred? What is the solution?" Mrs. Sanchez's voice came out both inquisitive and threatening.

This was a talent reserved only for the most savage of teachers and Mrs. Sanchez was most defiantly a savage beast of a teacher. She was a short and sturdy woman, likely in her late forties. Her endlessly unpleasant mood rivaled only with that of her unpleasant stringy hair. The stands had long given up their luster and resigned themselves to be brutishly pulled back into a messy wreck of a bun, several pencils stabbed through it and sticking out at odd angles for either convenience or to be used as make shift weapons. Eyes beady and lips stretched wrinkly tight, Mrs. Sanchez looked like an evil troll that would be in children stories or under bridges, poised to jump out and eat off your feet.

'I would honestly give up my left shoe and favorite sock if the sacrifice would provide me with the answer.' The blonde did not share this desire with his professor; she would not find it at all funny or charming.

"Are you just going to sit there and stare at the your book, hoping it will tell you the answer, Alfred?" A few sniggers echoed around the class and Alfred felt his ears burn.

"I don't know what the answer is…" However he did know that she didn't honestly expect him to answer the problem in question. It was an age-old trick passed down from gristly teacher generation to gristly teacher generation, probably binded in a thick old book somewhere. 'How to Properly Shame your Students 101'

"That is unfortunate, Alfred. Perhaps you should spend a little less time doodling in your text book and more time actually readying it." Mrs. Sanchez was always dropping little nasty hints like that to Alfred and he was willing to bet some serious bucks that she secretly hated all things art or fun related for that matter. Both qualities his person encompassed totally. Mrs. Sanchez finally moved on to address the class as a whole, probably salivating at the thought of catching another unfortunate soul unaware. There was about fifteen of them in the class, all just as miserable as Alfred. Well all except one, Ivan Braginski, who apparently lived and breathed all things academic and boring.

Alfred was naturally sweet in nature. He could be a bit hardheaded and stubborn at times but at his core he always meant well. So it was highly unusual for him to honestly dislike anyone but Ivan always did his damnedest to get under his skin and rub him the wrong way. The Russian did not achieve this special ability with outright insults or obvious acts of aggression. Oh no, that would be far too simple, easy to deal with even. No, Ivan delighted in under the table jabbing comments that Alfred could not call him out on without looking like a paranoid, insecure moron. The comments wouldn't even strike home right away. Alfred would shrug them off at the time, thinking nothing of it or that the snipe was no big deal up until a few hours later. Usually while washing his hair in the shower or just about to drift off to sleep in his bed. Then without fail the words Braginski has spoken to him earlier would randomly flare up in his mind, pissing him off and embarrassing him at the same time.

'Ah, matching socks must not be a top priority for you, Alfred.'

Or.

'You're hair is looking especially unusual today'

And.

'Are you actually going to eat that?'

These were just a few of the weaponry words and phrases of mass destruction in Ivan's artillery. What had Alfred done to deserve such commentary delights? Absolutely nothing, that's what!

Nadda!

Zip!

Nilch!

Apparently it was in good sport for the Russian to randomly pick out someone from the mass heard of college students and make it his life long mission to piss them off until they either transferred schools or committed suicide. Alfred being a junior at his college now, had been the center of Ivan's hellish attentions for nearly two years! To think it had all started by a stupid watch and dropped book.

Two Years Ago

Alfred was late! Very late! Ridiculously late!

What was he late for? Why his very first class, on his very first day, at his very big college. The watch his dad had given him as a graduation gift from high school apparently decided to give up the ghost at the ripe age of three months old. It had suddenly stopped and of course it had to be today. Alfred had not thought to check the time on another device, such as his cell phone or laptop because foolishly, he had believed in his watch, trusted it with his life even. Apparently the watch in question did not hold him in the same high regard and was punishing him.

His sneakered feet beat against the pavement as he rushed past building after building that made up his college campus. Alfred lived in the dorms that were indeed on college grounds but unfortunately the class that he needed to be in NOW, was on the other side of campus. Which currently seemed hundreds of miles away. Clutching his textbook and binder, full of fresh striped paper and one Hello Kitty pencil he had stolen from his twin Mattie, Alfred continued to sprint toward his destination. He made the mistake of trying to do two things at once however by checking his cell phone for an update on the time while continuing his sporadic run. This distraction made the grip he had on his book and binder less firm and alas after one particular hard footfall, caused the class materials to slip from his fingers and explode all over the sidewalk. It was without fail that when one drops something, be it a purse, briefcase or in Alfred's situation, a book and binder, that it would not simply fall to the ground but rather scatter and spread out generously to cover as much ground space as humanly possible.

Alfred skidded to a halt with a loud, exasperated groan. He was half tempted to just leave the book and binder behind but he knew that he would most defiantly need the items for class. He did not want to give his professor any more reason to hate him once he finally arrived.

"Seriously, what the hell bro?" Alfred snarled at his scattered papers, disheveled book and dirty binder, as if they were a close friends who had severely let him down. "Thought you guys were team players! Thought we had something special!"

"To whom are you talking to?" A deep male voice inquired above him.

Alfred's head snapped up from where he was crouching on the pavement. His eyes traveled up from black leather shoes to creamed, coffee colored pants and finally to land on his Hello Kitty pencil. The pencil in question was being held between a gloved thumb and index finger poised out for him to take back from.

"Oh…uh" Alfred finally focused on the guy's face. The man looked about Alfred's age, maybe a smidgen older but that could just be the impression he was getting from the man's stuffy clothes and perfect posture. ' Wow, is he tall!' Alfred thought eyes sweeping over the top crown of the man's head, measuring roughly. ' Super tall!' Apart from the man's height the most striking feature was his vivid purple eyes. Alfred had never seen eyes like that before and wondered if the man was wearing contacts. He decided not to ask though, thinking that the man might think him rude.

"Were you talking to you're book perhaps?" The man spoke again, this time Alfred noticed the heavy accent.

"I guess I was, wasn't I!" Alfred stood up with his things, meeting the man's gaze warmly. "I'm just really flustered because it's my first day and I'm already late for class!"

"To what class are you referring?" The tall man asked.

"Digital Design! Its in…uhhhh..." Alfred shoved his fingers in his jeans pocket to pull out a wrinkled piece of paper that he had written his classes on. Before he could unfold it however the other man beat him to it.

"It is in the Annex building, classroom 4C."

Alfred's eyes scanned over the piece of paper he was holding to make sure. The guy was right!

"Hey awesome! How did you know that?" Alfred refolded the paper and returned it to his pocket.

"I have the same class." The man replied.

"Oh sweet! Well do you mind if we go there together then? I'm Alfred by the way!" He stuck out his hand and flashed his best 'I'm a nice guy so lets be friends' smile. A large, warm hand firmly grasped his own and shook his once.

"I am Ivan, I am new here as well."

"Ivan huh? Awesome! Sounds Russian!" Alfred and Ivan began walking together at a brisk pace.

"That would make sense seeing as how I am." Ivan replied simply side glancing at Alfred.

"Oh really? So are you new to the States as well?" The Annex building appeared in front of them, Alfred grinned excitedly.

"Yes I arrived a few weeks ago."

"Well hey, your English is really good!" Alfred chirped and he meant it. Other then his accent the guy was speaking extremely well.

"Thank you, it is most unfortunate that yours is not."

Wow. Wait What? Where had that come from?

"Excuse me?" Alfred said, thinking perhaps he misheard.

"The way you speak, it is as if the English language were secondary to you and not first." Ivan shrugged his massive shoulders as if he didn't just directly insult Alfred.

"You just met me! You can't base such important opinions off of just meeting someone!" Alfred exclaimed coming to a stop. Ivan stopped as well and leveled him with a steady stare.

"Interesting, first impressions are usually what one does base their opinions off of." Ivan smirked at him. Actually freak'in smirked at him! What the hell was that? Who does that? Who says stuff like that to people they just met?

"Wow, who pissed in your Cheerios this morning?" Alfred felt real anger prickle through his words, what was this guy's problem? He was trying to be friendly!

"Cheerios are an abomination to the important meal that is breakfast." Ivan fired back totally serious.

Well that wasn't ok. Cheerios were crazy delicious, one of Alfred's favorite cereals even.

"Hey what's your problem, man? I was just trying to be friendly!" Growling Alfred shoved past Ivan's shoulder to continue toward his Design class. 'Fuck you, Ivan! Fuck you and your unreasonable hatred of Cheerios!' Alfred thought irritably. 'So much for easily making new friends here.'

He never did get back his Hello Kitty pencil back from Ivan, the thieving bastard.

They had been enemies ever since.

Present Time

"Alfred, class is over!" Arthur flicked Alfred's nose, bringing him back to the present. With a startled snort, Alfred shot up in his seat.

Alfred had luckily met Arthur soon after Ivan, the two of them had been like two peas in a pod ever since. They were even roommates this year! Arthur was originally from England; he had come over to the states to study abroad for a few years. Alfred doubted that Arthur would want to go back to England; the British man seemed to love it in America. Arthur was a year older then Alfred but the slight age difference didn't bother their friendship. Some people thought that Arthur was a bit pushy and needy with Alfred at times but that was just his way of friendship and Alfred didn't mind. God knows Arthur accepted his eccentrics and oddities whole heartily. The two of them had both an odd yet very compatible friendship.

Alfred quickly shoved his notes in his textbook before standing up and clasping Arthur on the back. The two of them began to join the other students in the slow shuffle out of the class. Alfred had whole heartily intended to go back to his dorm room, order a pizza and watch episodes of Dexter on his laptop, courtesy of Netflix. This fantastic plan was foiled however when a large hand caught him about the wrist just as he stepped out into the student parking lot with Arthur. Alfred gasped and was yanked roughly away from his friend to bump into none other then Ivan Braginski.

Freak'in Ivan Braginski!

"What the hell, you ass hat!" Alfred snarled, trying to shove the offending man away but Ivan held fast.

"I wish to speak with you, Alfred." The Russian said simply. Ivan ignoring the odd insult, started to tug Alfred away from his friend and further into the chilly mid-Autumn night.

"Yeah well that's not going to happen!" Alfred's hand clutched at Ivan's as he desperately tried to pry his arm out of the other man's iron grasp, failing miserably.

"Let him go, Braginski!" Arthur snarled and latched onto Alfred's other arm bringing them to an abrupt halt. Arthur's feelings for Ivan were as mutual as Alfred's but it was never Arthur that Ivan chose to harass or anyone else for that matter much to Alfred's chagrin.

"This does not concern you." Ivan growled and fixated Arthur with a very cold glare, Alfred shivered unpleasantly.

"It very well does! Piss off, Braginski!" Arthur attempted to yank Alfred away again but the Russian held fast. After a few minutes of a horrible Alfred tug-of-war, the American had enough.

"Stop! For peet sake! Stop!" Alfred exclaimed helplessly, head jerking from side to side. The three of them were adults for crying out loud, this was ridiculous! Finally the two of them halted their movements but neither let go of Alfred.

"I will be speaking with Alfred, now." Ivan said threateningly to Arthur, giving Alfred's captured wrist a firm squeeze. "Perhaps you should go knit a sock or something, yes?"

"Oh well, fuck you very much! I would like to see you ever create something other than an uncomfortable atmosphere!" Arthur was livid; no one insulted his knitting and got away with it. Alfred had learned that lesson the hard way. "Alfred and I have important class work to do!"

"We do?" Alfred asked, Arthur glared pointedly at him. "Oh! Yeah, we do! The amount is too extreme to even imagine! So if you would just-"

"I am not about to let you go. It would be easier on you and your…" Ivan looked from Alfred to Arthur, eyes lingering on the hand the Englishmen still had clasped on Alfred's arm. "Friend… if you were to hear me out."

Alfred sighed in defeat. He knew that Ivan was not about to give up, when the Russian set his mind to something he would not stop until he got his way. Plus it was really cold outside! Changing leaves decorated yellow, orange and crimson danced and skipped past their feet, carried on a cool autumn breeze. Alfred shivered. Sweeping his blue eyes to meet the mossy green of Arthur's, Alfred looked at his friend apologetically and Arthur's hard stare wavered then softened.

"Go on ahead bud, I'll be along in a moment." Alfred gave his friend the best reassuring smile he could muster given his predicament. He did not want to be left alone with Ivan but he hardly had a choice at the moment f he wanted to get back to his dorm room unharassed.

"Are you sure, Alfred?" Arthur searched Alfred's eyes, checking for any sign of uncertainty.

"He is." Ivan responded for him, tugging Alfred out of Arthur's grasp, the blonde man stumbled into Ivan's large chest and missed the satisfactory smirk he threw at Arthur.

"Hey!" Arthur growled but Ivan was already leading Alfred briskly away.

"I'll be fine! Meet you back at the room in a few! I'll even grab a pizza on my way back!" Alfred hollered, this seemed to pacify Arthur and piss off Ivan at the same time. Alfred had no idea why it would though but shrugged it off as just another Ivan oddity. After the two of them walked for a few minutes Ivan finally spoke.

"Halloween is coming."

"That it is…" Alfred responded warily. They were alone now between the campus buildings, the clip clacking of their footsteps on the pavement the only sound. Alfred shivered for the third time that night and not because of the cold. Ivan just continued walking, having finally let go of Alfred's wrist but still kept unnaturally close to him.

"So… what do you want?" Alfred finally asked. He desired to go back to his dorm room, eat pizza and watch TV with Arthur. Not walk around in the cold with a guy who probably wanted him dead.

"You will tell me your plans for the holiday I previously mentioned." Ivan stopped and so did Alfred, turning to face the American and wearing a very unreadable expression.

"No I won't. It's none of your business, Braginski!" Alfred huffed; half annoyed at the presumptuous tone Ivan had taken with him.

"Yes it is." Ivan replied simply, further irritating Alfred. "You will tell me your Halloween plans so that I can alter my own accordingly."

"Why the hell would I want you to alter your plans to fit mine? Is your scarf cutting off the circulation to your head or something?" Alfred eyed Ivan suspiciously. This whole situation was extremely odd. Ivan had never approached him like this before; usually the Russian stuck to his snarky insults when it came to interacting with Alfred. What gives?

"We are going to spend Halloween together." Ivan took a step toward him and Alfred took a step back, puffing out his chest in indignation.

"Hell no! That's the biggest trap I have ever heard! Plus why would you want to spend Halloween with me! You hate me and all things good and awesome in this world!" Alfred was thrown, of all the things he thought Ivan wanted to talk to him about, mono y mono, spending Halloween together had been the last thing he would have ever thought of.

"I wish to spend time with you." Ivan reached for him and Alfred ducked away.

"Is this like some sort of hazing your fraternity put you up to?" Alfred scanned their surroundings warily all the while keeping a distance from Ivan's hands. "HA HA! Very funny guys! You can come out now! Joke was hilarious-"

Alfred was cut off when Ivan's arm darted forward and grabbed his forearm firmly. It must be grab Alfred day and he hadn't been made aware.

"You better let go of me, Braginski. I have had just about enough of what ever-" Alfred gestured around them comically. "-This is!"

"This is no joke. You will tell me your plans or I will follow you until I find them out for myself." Ivan's hand stayed where it was, holding Alfred still and unable to escape.

"You mean stalk me!" Alfred exclaimed. "What is that? A threat!"

"No. It's a promise." Ivan purred smiling, his breath leaving his pale lips in white plump clouds due to the low tempter.

"Fine! I'm dressing up and going to a party!" Alfred snapped, shoulders slumping in defeat.

"Where and what are your plans afterward?" Ivan prodded on, seemingly to move closer to Alfred.

"I really do fail to see how any of this would interest you at all!"

"You interest me Alfred and as I said before I want to spend time with you." Ivan brought his other hand up and tucked a stray piece of hair behind Alfred's ear. "Tell me."

"Fuck you, Ivan! Hero's don't negotiate with terrorists!" Alfred yanked himself out of Ivan's grasp and spun around to leave. He had managed to cover a slim five steps before a bear slammed into his back. Well admittedly that was an exaggeration, there were no bears in that part of California but it sure felt like one. Before Alfred knew what was what he was spun around roughly and shoved, back first into the Design building's outer wall, large hands holding him there by the shoulders. Hot breath washed over his neck and right cheek and Alfred's blue eyes shot open in alarm.

"I believe you study thoroughly what combination of words will prove to upset me most." Ivan's voice was rough and dangerous in his ear.

Alfred would be lying if he said he wasn't scared right then. No one had ever man handled him that way before and for the first time in his young life, Alfred was at a loss for words.

"I believe you owe me some information, Alfred." Ivan's accent had grown thick in his agitation. "I will not let you free until you give it to me." Leaning back Ivan caught Alfred's shining blue eyes with his own darkening violets. Just for this once Alfred decided to humor Ivan in favor of his own well being.

"The party is at the student lounge, it's the one the school is throwing for all the students." Alfred's voice wavered slightly but didn't sound as unnerved as he felt at the moment.

"And? What about after the party? What are your plans?" Ivan's fingers lightly pressed into Alfred's shoulders warningly.

"I don't know…nothing I guess" Alfred answered shakily.

"No, not nothing, Alfred." Ivan smiled, teeth too white and expression intense to be taken as a friendly gesture. "You will be spending that time with me as will I be accompanying you to this ridiculous party."

"What will we do after the party?" Alfred asked mind numb with the turn of events or perhaps from the impact his head had made with the wall.

"I'm sure we will think of something." Ivan finally released Alfred and stepped back, Alfred nearly losing his balance and the sudden gain in gravity. "It is still a few weeks away…in the mean time…"

"In the mean time?" Alfred asked warily, placing a shaking hand on the wall that he had just been pressed up against.

"You and I will be doing Halloween activities together." Ivan finished.

"What if I don't want to? What if I say no?" Some of Alfred's bravery was returning as he challenged Ivan.

"Well that's the best part, Alfred." Ivan turned away from him and began walking away.

"I wasn't asking."

Well this was going to be the worst Halloween ever.