Disclaimer: Dun own nada~!

A/N: Ahh... i just had to upload it~ it was in my mind the entire night! Oh well~ And thanks for all the story alerts.

A miniature staring contest went on for several minutes in which time Ivan's emotions were scattered all over the place. Should he break eye contact, speak, maybe the boy wasn't right in the head? On the other hand he was Ivan Braginski and he wasn't about to lose something as simple as a staring contest to a kid. But said kid's eyes were blank and something about them was nerve wracking. After several more minutes Ivan finally lost it, "What?" Aforementioned kid gave a semi-amused snort. "So you can talk."

"Da, I speak."

He seemed to have gotten bored quite easily and went straight to the point. " Where are my things?"

"What are you talking about, little one?"

"Please don't act like you don't know; I woke up in a strange place, with you shoving liquid down my throat, my coat and boots are missing, presumably it was you who removed them. I repeat, where are my things?" So the little one was a smart aleck, well two could play at that game.

"Da, I removed them but I don't see why I should give them back to you. If I give them back that means you want to leave. What kind of person am I if I let a little kid out into a snowstorm? A kid who clearly can't take care of himself because you ended up on my front step practically dead."

Ivan was certain that this would receive some form of emotion from that blank face but, it remained as passive as ever. Did this kid feel anything at all? The kid gave a light 'humph' as if amused before retaliating. "You may be older than me, even if that is the case it is clear my maturity and intellect far surpasses that of your own. Also, I will inform you that I am sixteen therefore I hardly fit the term 'little one'. Now if you will return my things to me I may leave this place and be out of your way."

A laugh left Ivan's lips, he not even trying to suppress it. No expression crossed the other's face, it was as if he was expecting this sort of reaction. Ivan laughed and laughed and laughed until his tear ducks started to water. When he finally calmed himself his attention returned to the kid. "Now you're trying to pull my leg, there is no way you're the same age as me, little one!"

"Yet, I'm more mature." He sighed and pulled the blanket off his body not even shivering at the cold. Holding out his hand he demanded, "My things."

"Okey, even if you were sixteen I just saved you from dying from the cold. I'm not letting you go back out there. How about you finish the broth, get some rest, wait for the storm to pass, and then be on your merry little way. Oh and how about a thank you because I saved you from certain death."

"I didn't ask to be saved. If you will not get my things I will get them myself."

He swung his legs over the edge of the bed but as he did he began coughing again. Ivan sighed when he saw bright red contrast with the boy's pale skin. He for once knew what to do, he calmly went out of the room and grabbing a glass of water and wet cloth from the bathroom he went back. When returning he found the pale boy was still coughing up blood. Setting the glass and cloth on the nightstand he patted the boy's back until the coughing fit was over.

The boy seemed drained of energy after the episode so Ivan took it upon himself to wipe his mouth and hands with the cloth before coaxing him to sip some of the water. "My things." He managed.

"No, you are sick, I am not letting you go out there."

"All the more reason to be rid of me. My things."

"Listen, if it makes you feel better your coat and boots are right there against the wall," he told him pointing a long slender finger over his shoulder to the general direction he had tossed them, "just... relax okey?" The boy shook his head no. "Stop being a stubborn brat." Ivan growled out as his large hand forced the other back down on the bed and held him there for a second. However, to Ivan's surprise, he was not met with resistance. Must be really exhausted if he isn't putting up a fight. 'Good actor if even I didn't realize it.' Ivan thought to himself.

In a moment of kindness Ivan pulled the blanket up over the small form. He let out a small sigh as he realized the boy was still glaring blue violet at him. "I'll get you something to eat in the morning, you can have a shower, and then if the storm has let up I'll let you leave if you want to that badly." No response. "Good night, little one." He gave a half wave over his shoulder as he carried out the broth and closed the door behind him.

Heading downstairs Ivan emptied the bowl in the sink, washed it and put it away. Reheating some of the broth on the stove and making some rice in his rice cooker Ivan made himself some dinner. The kid wouldn't try to leave in the middle of the night, would he? No, he was probably too weak. Ivan's food lay in front of him as he thought and by the time he was back to the present it was fairly cold. Too lazy to reheat it Ivan poured some soy sauce on his rice and ate up.

Again being lazy Ivan threw the dishes in the sink not bothering to attend to them. He looked at the time before sighing. It was almost quarter to ten and he was exhausted. Even on a school night you wouldn't catch Ivan going to bed before eleven and tomorrow being the first day of winter holidays, normally he would be going to bed as the sun came up.

After taking a hot shower and putting on some flannel pajama bottoms and a T-shirt Ivan started his night time routine. He tossed his school uniform in the wash bin to wash later. After putting on his ridiculous pair of fuzzy slippers that he had received from Natalia for his birthday, the ones he had acted like he had detested, they being yellow and prints of sunflowers on them, but he actually cherished them, (after all Ivan loved the color of the sunflowers and anything to do with anything sunny and the fact they kept his feet warm) he marched downstairs again. He made sure the doors were locked and the lights off then went over to the thermostat and cranked the heat up to twenty-eight degrees Celsius, a pleasant sleeping temperature. He then proceeded to pour himself exactly half a cup of milk, which he heated in the microwave for exactly forty-six seconds, before removing it and stirring it five times counter-clockwise. Carelessly he tossed the spoon in the already full sink and headed back upstairs to his room. Hopping under his warm covers he drank his milk before setting the glass on the bedside table and turning out the light.

A few minutes passed and Ivan was drifting off the warm milk already having an effect on him. Right before he slipped into a content slumber he thought to himself, Hope the little one doesn't cause trouble. Then he drifted off to pleasant dreams. Little did he realize, trouble was the least of his worries.

R&R por favor! ^-^