The Russian smiled down at Matthew, his deep violet eyes warm and loving as he dipped a wet rag in a bucket of water, wrung it out, and placed it on Matthew's forehead again.
"You collapsed about a mile from the conference. It's a good thing I saw you when I did, you could've frozen to death out there. You must be exhausted, da? To not be able to make it home…" He smiled sweetly down at him, and Matthew's heart skipped a beat. Something was off about this; was Russia really the one he'd been seeing in his dreams? He seemed so…innocent! While it's true that at one time, Russia had been ruthless, Matthew highly doubted Russia would hurt him.
Matthew stared at him with curiosity and fascination. It had been years since Matthew had seen Russia, since things between him and Alfred weren't in the best conditions since the Cold War, Russia had stopped coming to the meetings, much to Matthew's dismay. He wouldn't admit it to anyone, not even Alfred, but he had had a crush on Russia for a long time, and he'd wanted to get to know him and be friends. But when he and Alfred went to war, they were kept apart for a long time, despite their once good friendship.
"Kanada, you are feeling better, Da? Your fever has dropped drastically, so I think you're alright…" Matthew sighed. So he did have a fever; that explained the fire in his dream, and perhaps even why he collapsed during the conference. "I hope you do not mind that I have brought you back to my home, since it was much closer than yours." He blinked, thinking he saw the hint of a blush in Russia's cheeks, but he decided it was the trick of the light.
"Ah, th-thank you Russia…I-I appreciate it, but I-I think I'm okay now." Matthew sat up and almost passed out from feeling so sick. He lurched forward, trying to keep his breakfast down, and took deep breaths.
"Ah! K-Kanada should be more careful!" Russia pressed his forehead to Matthew's, who blushed profusely. Russia's breath was warm against Matthew's hot face, and smelled sickly sweet. "You still have a fever; you should get your rest." He moved away and gently pressed Matthew's shoulder, signaling for him to lie back. Matthew nodded and laid his head back down, shivering as he closed his eyes.
"Thank you again, Russia..." Matthew managed a smile and quickly dozed off. He felt warm lips touch his forehead, and the blanket wrap tighter around him, and he sighed happily as he slipped further and further unconscious.
.:.
His nightmares came quicker and with much more force than before as Matthew found himself running for his life through the forest, bullets zooming past him. Tears streamed down his face as he tried to get away, screaming for help.
"Mattvey! This way!" A familiar voice shouted to him from up ahead. He pushed his legs harder as he ran towards the voice, in hopes it would lead him to safety. A rouge bullet found its way into Matthew's back, and dropped him like a stone. He cried out in agony, unable to move at all. He looked up when he heard a noise from in front of him, and once again, he dove into a pair of beautiful violet eyes.
"Mattvey…" The figure offered a strong hand to Matthew, but he couldn't move at all. The figure sighed and knelt beside Matthew, stroking his hair.
"I-I don't understand! Why? Why do you keep changing?" Matthew was hysterical, desperate for answers. Why did he keep having these dreams? Was the man with the violet eyes really Russia? If so, why did his personality change in almost every dream?
"I'm sorry, Moya Lyubov, but it will all be answered soon enough. I promise…" Another sharp pain overtook Matthew, and everything turned black. He was cold, colder than the snow that covered his country, and he was incredibly tired. A scream pierced his eardrums as he drifted back to the real world, and a muffled voice called out to him.
"Kanada! Kanada, wake up, it's alright! I'm right here, don't worry, I'm right here!" Matthew gasped, his eyes flying open, immediately seeing the violet eyes that tormented him.
"NO! I won't let you kill me!" He was delusional obviously, but Russia still looked taken aback. Matthew's breath was coming in short, shallow gasps for air as he completely came out of his dream. He blinked and stiffened, realizing what he had said. "R-Russia, I'm so sorry, I-I didn't mean it…" Matthew felt terrible, and the guilt was evident in his eyes. Russia merely smiled and shook his head in understanding.
"It's quite alright, Kanada. You were having a nightmare, da? Do you want to talk about it?" Russia's voice was kind as he took the wet rag that lay in Matthew's lap and re-dipped it into the water. Matthew shook his head and lay back down, hugging the blankets tightly to him as the Russian man replaced the rag. Russia nodded in understanding. "That's fine. If you do ever want to talk, I'm always here."
"…H-Hey Russia…? Why are you being so kind to me? I-I mean, I'm Alfred's baby brother, and you hate him…so don't you hate me too?" This thought had been bugging Matthew since he had awoken the first time. It made sense, considering Alfred and Ivan's pure hatred for each other. Russia raised a quizzical eyebrow at the young Canadian.
"Why would I hate you? Yes, your brother and I don't have the best of relationships, but I wouldn't hate you because of it. If anyone could hate you for what their brother or anyone else has done, well…" Russia blushed a bit and took a deep breath. "Well, they'll never know how much of an amazing person you are." Matthew's eyes widen as he blushed softly. Russia smiled sheepishly down at the blond and stroked his hair again. "You really are an amazing person Kanada…" Russia leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Matthew's forehead.
"Y-You don't have to call me Canada…I-If you want, my name is Matthew…" He turned away, blushing profusely, and Ivan merely stared at him, happiness in his eyes. Matthew glanced back and smiled softly. "I-I would prefer you call me Matthew…"
"A-Alright then…M…" Russia's face twisted a bit, trying to pronounce the name. He furrowed his brow. "Mahthew…" Matthew giggled, making Russia blush in embarrassment. "Oh! Mattvey!" It wasn't the proper translation, but it was close, and it made Matthew smile. Russia was still blushing, but he too smiled, his eyelids half closed. It appeared to Matthew that the Russian man before him, with the gorgeous Violet eyes, and starlight hair, was moving ever closer to him. Their lips brushed just barely against each other, but it was more than enough to drive both men wild.
"R-Russia, w-wait…" Matthew pulled away before they went too far, much to Russia's disappointment.
"I-I'm sorry…I shouldn't have forced myself onto you, especially when you're sick…A-And you may call me Ivan." Ivan straightened and smiled slightly.
"I-Ivan, I-I didn't mean that you-.." Matthew was cut midsentence by a loud crash and an angry voice.
"Mattie! Mattie are you in here?" Alfred burst through the door, his gaze immediately dropping onto Ivan. He growled, his fists clenching at his side. "What the hell did you do to him Braginski?" Alfred snarled.
"You mean other than save him from freezing to death?" Ivan glared at the American with utter hatred, and it appeared that they might just blow each other's heads off if someone didn't step in.
"Alright, alright, that's enough, understand? Everyone needs to calm the bloody hell down before this gets out of control." Another blond, closer to Ivan in age, walked into the room. His thick eyebrows were furrowed in frustration, his British accent thick. "Can't anyone behave for more than 5 minutes?" Matthew sat up, feeling dizzy and sick again, and looked over to his brother.
"A-Alfred, why are you here?" Alfred looked shocked, and a bit hurt. Matthew sighed and rubbed his temple. "Look, just go home; I'll be there in a bit." Alfred laughed like he'd just heard the funniest thing ever.
"HAH! You're hysterically funny if you think I'm leaving you here a second longer." Alfred walked over, and carefully picked his baby brother up off the bed. He pressed a kiss to Matthew's ear, whispering chillingly into it. "You're only mine…" Matthew shivered and turned his gaze to Ivan.
"Thank you for taking such good care of me Ivan…" Ivan smiled and nodded. Alfred stared at Matthew in horror but threw a glare at Ivan before taking Matthew home.
.:.
"How could you do that Mattie? How could you stay with Commie son of a bitch?" Alfred was pissed as he paced around the living room. Matthew sighed and rubbed his temple with his forefinger and thumb. This had been going on for an hour now, ever since they had gotten home, and it seemed endless. Matthew's fever was back, and instead of taking care of him like a big brother should, Alfred was lecturing him. He sighed again and rolled his eyes.
"It's not like I had much of a choice Alfred, I collapsed! If you loved me, you'd be thanking him! He saved me Alfred, and I'm absolutely grateful to him!" Matthew sighed in frustration and stood, nearly collapsed with a dizzy spell. Alfred's arms were around him quickly, holding Matthew to his chest tightly.
"Don't strain yourself Mattie, I've got you…" Alfred's breath was warm, only adding to the heat on Matthew's forehead. His lips pressed gently to the smaller blonde's burning skin and down his face, stopping just short of his lips. "I love you Mattie…" Alfred pressed his lips firmly against Matthew's, who, due to the fever, was too weak to try and fight him off. Alfred pulled back after a few seconds, gazing into his brother's violet eyes.
"S-Stop doing that to me…! I love you Alfred, but not like that! I'm your brother and your friend, nothing more!" Alfred released Matthew, who swayed with unease. Alfred looked hurt and betrayed at Matthew's words and looked away.
"Mattie….I didn't mean for you to feel that way, I'm sorry… I'll go back to America, if that's what you want…" Alfred had already turned and headed for the door, obviously upset.
"N-No…Alfred, wait ple-…" It was as Alfred was opening the door and to the snow of Mid-November Ontario that the entire city erupted in a burst of white light. Alfred and Matthew were thrown backwards and the windows exploded from the blast. Alfred was the first to rise as he moved with difficulty over to Matthew.
"M-Mattie…? Bro, are you alright? H-Hey, say something Mattie…Mattie?" Alfred shook Matthew's shoulders and pushed him to his back, exposing his bloodied body. Alfred screamed his name, trying to wake him up, but he was out cold, losing blood and a horrifying pace. Had Matthew been hit by something, that wasn't possible! Alfred had been standing in an open doorway when the bomb went off, but he was fine. Sudden realization hit him and he gasped. No…Ontario had been attacked, and Matthew took the blunt of it.
Matthew's dream state came quickly, and though it was the same nightmare as before, something seemed off. The violet eyes appeared before him, but they were saddened as they stared down at Matthew. "Mattvey…You must hold on just a little longer. Please Mattvey, I nee-…" The violet eyed man was cut off, and blood splattered onto Matthew's face. The violet eyes grew dark and the man collapsed in front of the small Canadian.
"Poor 'Mattvey'…," A voice chirped in a bloodied blade exposed in the moonlight. "It must suck to have everyone you love stripped away from you, right before your eyes." A figure emerged fully in the moonlight, Violet eyes shimmering in amusement. Matthew's eyes widened in horror, staring at his perfect copy, from his eyes to his hair curl.
"No…No, not you, anything but you!" Tears coated Matthew's cheeks as his doppelganger personality, the part of him that took over every time Matthew was involved in a war, moved closer to him.
"Oh, it's me alright, my precious little Mattie, and you know what that means?" A crooked smile spread on his face. "It means bye-bye innocent little Mattie, and hello Matthew Williams, the worst force to ever be messed with. We'll rule the world together Matthew, we'll kill them all, together!" The doppelganger's laugh filled the entire forest as he plunged the sword deep into Matthew's chest.
.:.
"MATTIE! Please wake up! Please don't leave me Mattie!" Matthew could hear Alfred crying, but it was muffled and distorted. His consciousness swam back to the surface, and with a jolt and a gasp, Matthew saw up quickly, wide awake. "Mattie? Bro, c-calm down, y-you're alright…" Alfred's voice trembled as he wiped his eyes. Hot tears coated Matthew's cheeks as he turned to Alfred.
"A-Alfred…it's me; I'm the murderer in my dreams. I'm going to start the next war."
