Hey everyone! Back for another chapter! This is such a fun chapter in my opinion! I like the way it plays out, and I know I'll probably have a bunch of the RusCan fans cringing at this, but I don't like the way the pairing is normally portrayed. I like the thought of a flustered and cute Russia, and a dominant, fun loving Canada being free to be himself. You'll notice quite a bit of the dynamic change in the team, at least til the story really picks up. Mattie does turn a little less masculine later, but in the situation, I can't imagine anyone just smiling and going with it.

I'm ahead of myself. That's not for chapters.

I-Heart-Sesshoumaru13- Glad to see you're back! I hope you like this chapter! Let me know!

Steelgrey- Hello! Thanks for letting me know what you think so far! Glad to hear you like it!

Anywho, on with the show!

Disclaimer- LOL! Russia's the bitch and Mattie's the butch...

Chapter 2

Ivan stared confused at his phone. He'd gotten the text about three minutes after he'd left the meeting, but it didn't make sense to him. It was Mattie's number, he'd checked three times, but it only had one word in the message.

Why?

Ivan realized he'd probably meant why did he kiss him, why did he help him, something along those lines and smiled.

You never treat me like evil. You are a good friend.

Ivan reread to make sure he didn't have any errors before he hit the send button. A warm smile lit his face as he turned and walked to his car. Another message came in and he glanced down at the phone. Mattie again. He opened the message.

Thank you.

It wasn't much, but it was enough to make Ivan grin. He grasped the phone to his chest, feeling a warmth in his heart at the thought of someone thanking him. He giggled as he slid into the rental car and softly put the phone into the cup holder after plugging in the cords.

He reached his hotel about twenty minutes later. He went to his room to change, looking down at his watch. He had half an hour to get dressed, then he had an hour to reach the arena, though he didn't have the slightest idea of where it was. He called down to the front desk after he'd gotten his button up out of the way.

The woman on the other end of the phone nearly laughed at him.

"It's directly north of this building. If you step out of the front door, it's to your left."

"Ah, Spas- er, Thank you." the flustered Russian sighed as he put the phone down. The arena was next door? How did he miss that on the way to the meeting? The whole reason he'd rented the car was because of the drive to the arena, and he didn't even need it? He chuckled as he shook his head.

The meeting was the main reason he was here, but there was a secondary reason. One of his upcoming hockey games was going to be against this team, the one playing at home in the building right next to his hotel room, and he was expected to check out the other team. There were many flaws in this plan, starting with Ivan, though he'd heard hockey was really a fun, good sport, had only played it a few times on frozen ponds and lakes. He'd never been to a professional game, and honestly had no idea what he was supposed to do. He felt silly, like his boss was happy to get him tickets to watch a bunch of kids smack a small can back and forth on a frozen lake with sticks.

His boss knew he wasn't much for electronics, having rather had other things to do with his time. It took him too many years to even be convinced to carry a cell phone, getting him to sit and stare at a television long enough to watch a whole game?

They both knew it wasn't happening. He barely had the patience to play, but here he was, going to this game. He could see the excitement, the jerseys the fans wore as they'd been walking around that day, but honestly Ivan would have been just as happy sitting here in his room, reading a book. He stood and finished dressing, and with his extra hour before he was supposed to be heading over he decided to grab a bite to eat in the hotel's restaurant.

He managed to make it into the lot just as the lines had started to form. Ivan went over and stood as a bunch of people started freaking out. Ivan could hear yelling and glanced over, seeing one of the teams running up to the building. He watched as a few of the team mates started signing autographs or chatting with the people in line before going in for warm ups. He watched as about halfway down the line a familiar laugh rang through the air. He turned, staring and honestly surprised to hear the voice.

He watched as Mattie signed a woman's jersey, over his own name on the back and stared. "Matvey?" He asked and Mattie glanced up, though they didn't know whether it was the feeling of being watched or the calling of his name that grabbed his attention. Mattie grinned and waved him over.

"Ivan! Here to check out the competition?" Mathew laughed as Ivan nodded, surprised at the brilliant smile that graced the Canadian.

"I didn't know you played." Ivan stated, still startled still by this whole revelation while Mattie laughed, shaking his head.

"Yeah, I play, but just a little, right?" He looked out at the crowd who yelled out denial with happy grins on their faces. The team made their way closer to the building before Mattie grabbed Ivan's hand and lead him over with them. "He's with me!" He yelled to the security as they went in through the door, and the man nodded, letting them through.

"You came all the way here to the game and you didn't even know I played?"

"I know nothing of hockey, but with the game in two weeks, I'm supposed to be there, but I've never seen a hockey game that wasn't just playing on the lake." Ivan stated, feeling dizzy as Mattie dragged him through the labyrinth of hallways behind the arena.

"Stay here!" Mattie yelled as he ran into the locker room, leaving Ivan standing, surprised and curious. He looked around, seeing the arena outside of the door at his side and his eyes widened.

It was a little larger than the arena they had on the lake, but the rows and rows of seats, the huge black cube with what looked like calculator screens to the Russian hung from the center. It was huge! He stared in shock at the grounds that this game was to take place on with wonder before the door behind him opened and Mattie came out, dressed in his gear, save his skates that were hung over his shoulder. "Come on, I'll take you to a good seat!" He grasped Ivan's hand and ran off.

"Captain!" One of the men yelled and Mattie called over his shoulder.

"Be back in five, promise!" He yelled as Ivan turned to the man running with his hand in his.

"Captain?" Ivan chuckled and Mattie nodded, a childish grin breaking over his face.

"Yeah, since I kinda started the league, I got the team captain spot. I told them if I ever get too old to just let me know, but I think they like having me around for the most part. They're the only ones who don't forget me, my team and you." Mattie turned back and grinned again.

Ivan felt his heart chill. "What about your fans?"

"Unless they see me, my jersey or something solid that reminds them, they don't remember me either." All those autographs I just signed, most of them probably already forgot." Mattie sighed and Ivan could only stare for a moment before his mouth moved on its own.

"After the game, after you're done, let me treat you to dinner." Mattie stilled and turned to him, his eyes wide for a moment and Ivan had worried he'd pushed too far when the younger man's face lit up.

"Yeah! That would be nice, actually!" He grinned as he finished taking him around.

Since most of the people who were there as special guests already had the badges, Mattie took the guest pass he'd had on him and signed it, clipping it over the ticket that hung from the lanyard around Ivan's neck. "If anyone says anything about you being in that seat, show them this, alright?"

"Da. Spas- er, Thank you." Ivan watched as Mattie sat hard in the seat beside him and slid his boots off, his skates on and laced them up before crawling over to the ice.

"Hope you have fun!" Mattie grinned as he sped across the ice.

For a moment Ivan thought he was flying.

It was only a few moments later when the skaters came out and started doing laps on the ice, starting into warm ups. Ivan couldn't tear his eyes away from the men. They all held an optimistic grin as the glided around. The other team came out and Mattie blew his whistle, telling his guys to get to their side, so the other team could warm up as well. Mattie met someone else at the halfway mark between the two sides and they chatted for a moment before their hands met in a tough shake. The both nodded before going off to continue.

It was almost forty minutes later people started pouring into the seats. Ivan stared behind him as the stands filled, team jerseys and jackets lined the stadium as the teams flew into their locker rooms like water. The Zamboni went out to smooth the ice before the game started, leaving Ivan to wonder if this game could possibly be worth the hype they put into it.

He chuckled as he realized how things change sometimes. "Are you here for Mattie?" The woman who sat beside him asked and Ivan nodded, staring down at her, still surprised. "You look really overwhelmed!"

"It's my first game. I didn't know Matvey would be in something this big." Ivan's eyes swept the stadium again and the woman nodded, rolling her eyes.

"Well, you know hockey. It's always like this, right?"

"I do not know." Ivan watched as a few familiar faces came in towards the back and frowned. Would Alfred and Arthur really come to Mattie's game as a date? Isn't that a little too much after the words earlier? He turned, seeing the woman stare at him, her confusion showing.

"This is my first game. I never see hockey before." He watched as her eyes widened. She jumped up, saying something about concession before running off. She came back a few minutes later and sat, handing him a cup and a hot dog, surprising him. Ivan looked up confused and she grinned.

"It's your first game, so this one's on me! Go ahead!" She grinned as she took a swig from her own cup before her eyes shot out to the ice. "I'm Sam's wife, Ellen." The woman grinned and Ivan smiled softly, doing his best to relax in the heated atmosphere.

"Ivan Braginski. Matvey's my..." He frowned, looking for the best description in English before finally replying, "He's my best friend." Ivan smiled softly.

This was Canada. This was the young man who blew away Russia and Germany, as well as anyone else who did something to cross his path. The quiet man he was in that meeting was his persona, the face he showed the rest of the world, but here in his home he was the man who shot out of the door behind his team, his fists pumping in the air. The stadium erupted into applause and Ivan grinned as Mattie glanced over at him with a beaming smile.

It was about two and a half hours later that the stands slowly emptied as the Zamboni came out onto the ice. Ivan stared, surprised by the excitement and wonder that he'd just seen. The woman stood and waved him towards her. "We can go wait in the hallway together."

"Hallway?" Ivan realized she probably meant the hall that Mattie had originally taken him to and he stood with a nod and a smile. "Da, lead the way. I don't remember." He chuckled nervously as the woman laughed, walking along before him.

She got to the locker room and slid the door open a few inches. "Mattie, I brought your boyfriend to the hallway!" She yelled and Ivan burned bright red, dropping the coat he'd had over his shoulder, waving his hands.

"Нет ! It's not like that! We're just friends, Da?" He stumbled and the woman looked up at him and crossed her arms.

"Your pause when you said he was your best friend was entirely too long to actually just be best friends." She laughed. "Don't worry. We're Canadian, we're too caught up in Hockey to care." She laughed again and Ivan burned bright, still waving his hands in panic when Mattie opened the door.

"My boyfriend?" Mattie raised his eyebrow and Ivan burned bright all over again.

"Мне очень жаль, Matvey, I don't even know-"

"Ivan, calm down!" Mattie watched as Ivan calmed from a near panic attack. Mattie watched with curiosity. Was he always so high strung? "Not like you didn't already kiss me once today, right?" Mattie grinned, seeing Ivan fluster even more.

"I didn'- I don't-" He stumbled over words and sentences before Mattie walked up and patted him on the arm.

"Calm down! It's fine! You really saved my ass back there." He watched, suddenly feeling a tad guilty for causing him to panic again. Mattie noticed his breathing was erratic and frowned.

"I knew you two were together." Ellen stated. "It would take someone as calm and docile as Ivan here to even out you, you hellion!" Ellen laughed and Mattie joined in, but for entirely different reasons.

Ivan just stood there, staring between them, completely lost in whatever had just happened. "Huh?"

"She's saying I'm the butch, and you're the bitch." Mattie laughed as Ivan flustered all over again at the realization of the words. "Ivan, don't give yourself a heart attack! Calm down!" Mattie watched as Ivan's eyes widened, his heart beat visible in his throat. His panic caused his pupils to dilate and Mattie ran into the locker room, dragging out a chair. "Sit!" He said as he slid the chair in behind him, rubbing his back to try and even his gasped breath. "Were you always this high strung?" Mattie watched as Ivan slowly started to calm back down. "No more picking, alright? We're not together, Ellen. Just friends." Mattie glanced up, seeing the realization dawn on the woman who stared.

"That's too bad. You two would make a cute couple." She sighed and Mattie chuckled. Even as Ivan's breathing calmed down, his hands stopped shaking, his cheeks grew more red.

That's it for today!

Hope to see you all back here again tomorrow!

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