Hi guys! Chapter two, all right... So this was supposed to be a lot longer than it is. I had another three pages written out on the original, it didn't even come close to what i had originally written. Not sure how i feel about this. the first draft had a hamburger party though! XD! So i decided the first person to review gets whatever oneshot they want. Also this isn't my first fanfic, more like my ten-billionth. it's just the first i've taken the time to type out and post.

Disclaimer: i, very sadly, do not, in a most depressing manner, own, alas, hetalia. *faint w/t hand/brow sweeping motion*

So anyways there isn't really any more reason to keep you waiting so... (dramatical music! Ba-dun-dun-DUN!)

Chapter two begin!

One week later

Ivan walked into the living room and instantly regretted it. The rest of the G8 had been locked in a deadly Halo war for the better part the morning; remains of breakfast still littered the room. He turned to leave. Out of the corner of his eye Alfred saw him. Two more steps to the door—

"Hey Ivan! Why don't you play!" Alfred called over his shoulder, fingers moving over buttons rapidly. "Oh shit!"

So close! "There's no more controllers da?" Ivan smiled before backing away.

"There's enough," Alfred said tossing him Ivan the controller he just ripped from Feliciano's hand, ignoring his squeal of protest. "It's you, me and Ludwig against Arthur and the rest."

"The whole game's rather stupid," Arthur said from his spot on the couch between Alfred and Francis.

"Spoil sport."

"Git"

"Limey—Hey ow!"

Ivan caught the controller with one hand, "I have work that must be completed, da?" he said setting it down on the end table.

"Dude you're always working, just play one round?" Alfred looked at him with pleading blue eyes.

"Fine."Ivan sat down on the sofa between Alfred and Ludwig. Everyone else was either on the floor or positioned various seats around the room. He hadn't played this game before and fumbled with the controls for a bit, trying, mostly failing, to get the hang of it. One round quickly turned into two, which turned into three and so forth.

Saying he felt awkward though was probably a huge understatement. Even Alfred, normally clueless, could feel the drop in the atmosphere. After a while though everyone started to relax a bit. They switched up teams every once in a while and Ivan could feel a valuable morning slipping away. Not that he cared at this point. He could even feel himself laughing along to jokes; if only a bit half heatedly. After all, this little bubble of… of what? Not quite happiness, but not pain. No it was far from pain. Acceptance maybe? Whatever it was would be ripped away from him soon enough though, better not to dwell on it too much.

"Hey! Friendly fires not cool bro!"Alfred said, waiting to respond. "We don't shot our allies in America, that's not how the heroes do it!" He grinned laughing loudly.

"I do not kill my allies, "Ivan frowned, but chuckled a moment later. He didn't need to be defensive after all.

"'Corse you don't," Alfred laughed again.

I'll go along, for a bit. Ivan thought happily. It won't hurt any. Of course it could hurt a lot if he wasn't careful. It would be best to just leave this. Stay away from everyone because he wouldn't be hurt that way. Don't let yourself be happy because it'll only be taken from you. Isn't that one of the first things he ever learned? It's always taken from you.

But it was so tempting. To grasp onto this little life-line cast down into the dark pit he was condemned to. To hold on and let it bring him up into the light, to laugh and have friends.

But is it worth the risk? That was the question that plagued him more than any other. Should he risk it? Risk the tiny, fragile string given him to break, to accept hope and have it taken from him? It would be. Oh yes, in the end it was always taken from him wasn't it? And the pain, the pain was always so much worse. It's why he secluded himself from everyone wasn't it? To keep them at an arm's length so they'd never be able to hurt him. And if they got to close he would just hurt them first. It's what worked. What kept him sane, even if just barely. Or at the most prevented his insanity from consuming him entirely because if he kept getting hurt there was no telling how much longer he would last.

So he should just leave it be, go back upstairs to his room and do paperwork that his bosses send and avoid human contact. He didn't need that line if it would only give him pain. Best to stay where he knew the dangers and how to deal with them. Stay where the dark and shadows were a comfort and he knew what to do and where he belonged. Best to keep the monster hidden lest it turn it's saviors into victims.

So why did he always, always take that damned line?

Why story must you be so long on word and so short here?!

. depressing. i feel like my goal in life is to make my characters miserable. i wrote a happy story once. half the characters died.

i don't think there will be much death in this story though. Anyways a look into the inner workings of Ivan's mind that will help you understand some of his actions later.

i hope no one i know reads this :(

The P.O.V. changes next chapter! YAYZ! you'll love T-

? Character: Hey! Don't tell them who i am!

Me: ohhh why not?

? character: they must guess! and if they guess correctly the get a present!

Me: ohh! Ohh! what is it?

well you'll just have to review now won't you? Mwahaha!