Alfred hurried into room 136a, a mess of stuff in his arms. His alarm never went off so he just grabbed whatever in an attempt to get to class on time without paying attention. The real hard ass professor would lock the door right when class started after all. The guy took teaching back to the middle ages. People should get fired for doing shit like that.
Still at a rush, Alfred flopped into his desk with a groan of relief. It was then he noticed the near emptiness of the room. The professor looked up from arranging his papers with a head shake and only three students sat in their desks. They gave him those odd looks that people gave him, but Alfred got those so often he stopped caring. Wasn't he about to be late though? He glanced up at the wall clock.
"Shit! This class starts at 10, not 9:30!" All his other classes started on a half hour so he got confused. He almost thought he could hear eyes roll. Really, he could imagine a sound. But he supposed this wasn't so bad. He could be early sometimes. Since he claimed his preferred desk under the window, he filled his time putting on the socks he tossed into his bag earlier and replacing his shoes. He almost finished the task with ten minutes to spare when Ivan walked into the room. The other boy locked eyes with him, nodded his head once, then took the seat right behind Alfred.
"Morning." His soft whisper made the room feel even quieter than it usually did when they spoke to each other. Over the course of the semester, other students watched them, hushing their conversation to listen. Or it seemed that way. Alfred didn't think he should consider this paranoia. When his eyes met Ivan's though, he dropped them immediately, not responding. By the time class started, Alfred managed to organize most of this things into stacks of what he needed and did not but grabbed anyway.
"Okay class," the professor's voice cut through the chatter. "If you've been paying attention to the syllabus, then you know we're starting our group project finals today. Because it's too much of a hassle to ask for your opinion, I have taken the liberty of picking the pairs for you." Alfred added his own groan to the opposition almost every student voiced. No way! What happened to freedom of assembly? Didn't that apply to getting to assemble with who you wanted to? "I don't care if you complain so shut your traps and listen! I'm only saying the groups once and it's not my fault when you can't find your partner and fail. Now…Harte and Underwood, Pyre and…"
Alfred bit the end of his pencil as he listened. His leg jittered under his desk, belying his nerves. Come one…come on. "Jones and Braginsky." Alfred's fingers clenched down too hard and he flipped the pencil out of his mouth and two rows down. The professor, of course, just continued listing as if no interruption happened. Did the universe hate him this much?! Alfred turned around and met Ivan's eye. The other boy raised one eyebrow at Alfred's expression.
"How wonderful."
"…Yeah!" Alfred choked back. Wonderful enough that he wanted to throw himself out the ever open window next to them.
Once the professor finished calling out names, he released the class, telling them to hit the library by themselves. Or go home and sleep. He didn't care. His parting reminder was that, 'he didn't care if they failed his class, so they should go waste their tuition money however they chose.' Ivan and Alfred headed to the library.
"Damn that guy's a Nazi. Aren't teacher's supposed to like…care?" Alfred muttered as they walked across campus. Ivan shrugged one shoulder.
"Maybe it's tough love. I always feel very encouraged to do my work after one of his lectures." Ivan's face pulled in a slight wince. "Not that I wouldn't anyway. I happen to like the class."
Alfred burst out laughing. "Oh yeah, no doubt about that! I wouldn't even dream of not doing my homework!" He didn't say anything, but he also considered the class his favorite, Nazi professor or not. What could he say? He was a sob for space related things.
They found a corner in the library den and sat, at first not doing anything. Now somewhere quiet, the awkwardness returned or at least Alfred felt awkward. He realized he never retrieved his pencil so he couldn't even chew on and fiddle with that. Ivan sat in a mustard upholstered chair left over from some other decade, fingering the printout with their project requirements. He frowned at Alfred jittering away with his bag strap, shoulders up, and scowl on his face. Ivan shoved the requirements toward him and crossed his arms. "We can't change partners so let's just work already. You want me out of your hair, yes?" he muttered.
Alfred met his eye again, a bit off-put by Ivan's tone. Well, it was true the guy hadn't been so bad lately and he was smart. Alfred couldn't afford to fail another project, especially the final. Ivan offered a stalemate and he wasn't stupid enough to ignore it. "I know. So you want to do option A or B?" He already had his own ideas, but he might as well ask.
Ivan smiled at that, relaxing into his seat. "Oh definitely option B. How else could we build a model ship to take us to the Andromeda Galaxy?"
Alfred's eyes went wide. No way. "I was thinking the same thing, but we're definitely going to the Triangulum Galaxy!"
"Eh?!" Ivan exclaimed back. "Why the smaller one? I thought you of all people would rather the biggest galaxy in our cluster!" He rarely raised his voice to this degree or showed excitement. Neither noticed it though. He and Alfred leaned forward across the table as their passion showed.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Alfred blinked. Okay, he would give Ivan that one. He did tend to go big. Giant robots save the earth? Sure. Kraken creatures from the deep? Totally cool. But he was more complex than that. Alfred flashed an impish grin which knocked Ivan back in his seat. "What can I say? I like rooting for the little guys. Everyone thinks Andromeda is cool. If I go the different way and totally kick ass, it'll be all the more spectacular!"
Ivan seemed to mull over that for a good half minute before he nodded his head. "Very well. I will give your Triangulum Galaxy a chance." Without seeming to notice the change in air, the two put their heads together and started hashing out their grand scheme of space exploration. They just started to fall into the discussion when a soft yell broke their spell.
"Al! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
Alfred jumped and looked up to see Matthew leaning over the railing, his furry and criminally cute polar bear backpack held in one hand. The twin hurried down the stairs where Alfred could see his flushed face and rather grumpy expression. "Uh yeah? Couldn't you just call?" He knew Matthew didn't much like calling him, but it looked like he ran half way across campus in a fit. Without needing to be told, he knew his brother did search everywhere.
Matthew held out Alfred's phone. His eyes went wide and he patted his pockets, turning them inside out. "Aw shit, I didn't even notice! Thanks a bunch Mattie." He snatched the phone back with childish delight. He'd get in real trouble if he lost that thing because he already ran over the quota of devices he was allowed to lose in one year. How nice of Mattie to bring it over. Matthew opened his mouth to say something more, but he was too slow.
"W-what's this? I'm seeing double?" Ivan whined, rubbing his eyes. They were so absorbed in their conversation that they forgot about the presence of the other boy. The twins looked at each other then said at the same time.
"You're not seeing double!" Ivan did not look convinced. Alfred sighed and gestured to Matthew with one hand. "Ivan, meet Mattie, my twin brother. Mattie, my arch nemesis and dear science partner." Introductions done, Matthew turned back to his brother, hands on his hips. Ivan continued to stare at them.
"Can I have my ID back?"
Alfred blinked his eyes multiple times. "Why? You have mine right? It's not like we don't have the same face. Clearly no one can tell us apart," he responded, jerking a thumb over at Ivan. Geez, they weren't even dressed similarly. Alfred had his Marvel vs DC shirt on and Matthew wore a snowy looking tie-dye. They may have been wearing the same shorts though.
Matthew crossed his arms. "You're out of lunch money." His violet eyes narrowed in accusation. "Don't tell me you switched them on purpose?"
"Uh…what? Why would I do that?" Alfred laughed as he picked at a strand of his hair. "But I'm a little busy now so if we can talk about this later-"
"Al!" Matthew lunged for the lanyard Alfred always wore. Like always though, he moved too slow and Alfred had the ID above his head before Matthew got within arms reach. He let out a loud taunt which Matthew huffed at. "Come on Al. It's mine!" he whined before making another lunge. With an effortless motion, Alfred dodged him yet again. He stuck out his tongue and continued the game of keep away, Matthew getting more and more frustrated by the second. Before they could get into it—and they, or Alfred, could play keep away for hours—someone plucked the ID away from him.
"Now now, it's not nice to tease your siblings. I'll buy you lunch if you're that desperate," Ivan chided as he handed the card over to its rightful owner. Matthew grabbed hold of it before Alfred could make a move. The violet eyed twin froze with shock and stood, looking back at Ivan with a mix of miff and awe. Ivan just smiled as Matthew said his thanks. "After all, siblings are precious things." His face twisted into a dark look with his words.
Looking between the two of them, Matthew's eyes went wide. "Um…thanks again. Al, talk to you after class!" And with that hurried farewell, he darted away. Only when it came to disappearing could the meeker blonde move at impressive speeds. The other two hardly noticed.
"Well," Ivan started as he sat down again. "I had no idea you were a twin. How interesting." Alfred realized then that he stared off after Matthew's retreating form, never blinking, with a fond smile on his lips. Alfred snapped.
"Don't even think it." He slammed his hands onto the table, leaning forward until he invaded Ivan's space and blocked his view in the same move. So what if Ivan stared at him like that all day. To hell if he wanted to do the same to Mattie just because they looked identical. "If you lay one hand on my bro, I'll string you from the second story by that stupid scarf!" Alfred growled. The seriousness of the threat sunk down over them. This was more than their little game of messing with each other. For a second, they just stared at each other. The smile left Ivan's face and his eyes lost their coldness. Something else showed there, but it flashed away before Alfred could really inspect it.
"Don't worry, I have no interest in him," Ivan responded with the same seriousness as Alfred. "I'm only interested in you."
The young blonde stumbled back, his brow furrowed in confusion. He knew he sucked at reading things, but he felt sure Ivan just said something significant. What? Why? Alfred really didn't get it and when he couldn't put the puzzle pieces together, he tossed them aside. Huffing, he shook his head at Ivan before turning away. "I really don't get you." If he didn't understand, then he'd ignore the facts. It got him through life until now so he embraced the strategy. Don't just play the idiot—be the idiot. He felt those violet eyes burn into him with twice as much strength as before. It left shivers racing along his spine and a heat burning everywhere else.
Silence met him, final and oppressing, needing to be filled. "And don't look at him with those eyes," Alfred choked out past a throat suddenly gone dry.
Ivan stared for a second, his expression still serious and unsmiling. "Okay."
"And don't ever do anything like what you do to me."
"Only for you, right?"
Alfred's head was swimming. He realized he still stood and his arms shook where he leaned on the table. Disgusted, he pulled away and crossed his arms so Ivan wouldn't see the weakness. He could feel his ears burn though and he would kill for a scarf like Ivan's to hide under. Was that the dreadful, worn thing's purpose? He nodded his head because he realized Ivan asked a question. "Right."
After a second more of unease, Ivan took pity on him. He let out a little laugh and patted the arm rest of the other chair. "Sit down already. You look like a leaf." He shook his head with little tutting noises. "Really, who do you think I am? I have two sisters so I understand. As expected, you're very protective of him. Are you older? Do twins specify that?"
Swallowing hard, Alfred sat down again. The strained atmosphere discharged with the sound of Ivan's laugh. That's all it took. "Huh, no. He's the first one out. Can you believe it? And he's always been meek like that." Alfred smiled as memories filled his mind. Maybe it was a twin thing, but they were always close. Because of that, they could fool around like they didn't like each other, point out each others faults with no remorse, and never need to make up. "And you? I mean, are you older?"
Ivan blinked, looking surprised to be drawn into the conversation. He lifted a hand to his scarf and closed his eyes, burying his nose in the cloth for a second. "One older sister, one younger. A long time ago, we were close." He didn't offer more. Due to his silence, it seemed he didn't want to, but Alfred never much paid attention to the should-asks and shouldn'ts. Tilting his head, he asked anyway.
"Why aren't you close? Didn't you just say siblings are precious?" A part of him wanted to know about Ivan. When this desire arose, he had no idea. Maybe just now. But Ivan was the one who opened the doorway for it. Didn't someone say 'know thy enemy', but he just wanted to know because Mattie and Arthur always said he had to know everything, like some kind of nosiness curse. Lifting his head from the scarf, Ivan blinked wide eyes at Alfred. He expected the older boy to dodge. They weren't friends or anything, but Ivan didn't even hesitate.
"Because my big sis is seven years older with a job and a fiancé." He smiled and Alfred recognized the bitter cold in it. His real face? "I'm not welcome. Well, it can't be helped since she's finally making a good life for herself. I'm happy." But Ivan didn't look happy at all.
Alfred frowned because even he could tell they dropped into something heavy. Even so, he prodded forward, not about to give up until he understood that bitter smile Ivan wore. "And your younger sister?"
"Committed." Committed? Wait, as in-? Ivan flashed his brightest smile as he steepled his hands in a sweet gesture. "See, Natalia loves me so much that even though we're siblings, she wants to marry me!"
"You're kidding right!?" Alfred yelped. His voice, which hadn't been quiet most of their conversation, finally reached a volume that got people snapping at them. He bit his tongue and sunk down in his chair. Ivan also sat with his shoulders slumped like a very large wilted flower. He didn't bother telling Alfred to keep his volume down even with such a delicate subject. Alfred quieted anyway. "Dude, I'm sorry to hear that." It didn't matter what Alfred thought about him. He did pity him the situation.
Ivan flashed a humorless smile. "Even though she's made my life hell, I find it hard to hate her. Is that wrong I wonder?" His eyes focused somewhere beyond Alfred, as if he didn't know who he talked to anymore. Alfred wondered how long he kept all these things inside of him. "I love my sister, but I do not love her like that." With his eyes suddenly sharp, he turned to Alfred again. Ivan opened his mouth, shook his head, then closed it again. A faint flush rose on his cheeks and he leaned forward to point at the sketches they did of their spaceship plans. "That's why I love space. One day, I want to run away there."
Alfred found himself wordlessly nodding his head. He understood. "Me too," he whispered back. Maybe for him it was less of running away as running forward, just running to be anywhere else. This world didn't suit him and his big dreams. If he could get lost somewhere among the billions of stars, then maybe he could find himself. Running towards or running away, it didn't matter because they were running to the same place. Alfred cleared his throat in the deep silence that covered them. "Hey Ivan, if I figure out interstellar travel first, I'll let you hitch a ride. Ya know…need a co-pilot and all." He tangled a hand in his blonde locks, eyes turned away.
One slow blink served as his answer, then Ivan smiled. The big silly sort that Alfred noticed even while trying to avoid the other boy's eyes. "And when I figure it out first, I'll invite you along too." Ivan notably said 'when' not 'if'. Alfred chose not to point that out, but he noticed. Oh, he definitely noticed. Smiling despite it, Alfred's curl bounced as he nodded.
"Deal! Now swear on it!" he exclaimed with a hand thrust out to the middle of the table, pinky extended. Ivan stared at it for a second before connecting his pinky to Alfred's. They promised and then sat at the table with the blueprint of their dreams between them. Ivan kept staring and Alfred couldn't help but think some words still went unsaid. "What?"
"Hm?" Ivan hummed, finally breaking his stare. "I was just thinking that you're not a total idiot," he answered in a serious voice.
Alfred's eyes went wide. "What?! Of course I'm not!" The outburst caused the other library-goers to loudly shush them again and Alfred ground his teeth together. Ivan burst out in laughter, head thrown back with the carefree noise.
"I'm glad."
After trading hesitant smiles, the two started passing their notes back and forth, adding to them in silence. Lunch passed; they didn't notice. It wasn't until they'd spent hours in the library that Alfred's stomach let out a roar loud enough for Ivan to sit back in his seat, eyes wide. "Hungry?" He checked his watch and pulled his lips on a frown. "Oh. Shall we eat? I'll buy your food like I said."
"Uh…you sure about that?" At this point, Alfred forgot all about the ID scramble earlier. A free meal from Ivan? Well, it was a free meal. As if he could say no. When Ivan gave him a serious stare, he nodded back. "It's your money. I'm game!" With that, they started packing up their things. Or mostly Ivan did and Alfred checked through his messages, a few of which came before he reclaimed his phone from Matthew. A particular message gave him a start. He narrowed his eyes at the number, but he didn't think he knew it. Whoever sent it put their number in and labeled it 'awesome me' though. A second more and the label clicked. "Oh snap! Never mind, Ivan. Gilbert just invited me…uh…to a potato eating contest? I think. This guy seriously doesn't know how to text!"
Still staring at his phone and squinting, Alfred didn't pay Ivan much attention, even when the other boy stepped into his view. "Oh. I understand." Alfred just hummed in response. Slinging his bag over one shoulder, he stood and started for the door. Before he could make it one step though, he went tumbling face first into the carpet. His phone skittered across the floor as he squeaked, looking around like giant monsters would swarm down on him any second. Ivan removed his foot from from Alfred's shoelaces that never got tied that morning. "It's dangerous to walk around like that. Really, you should tie your shoes more often." With a bright smile, Ivan stepped around him and exited the library first.
Alfred supposed it was too much to ask for a day totally devoid of normal Ivan. He crawled over to his phone and opened Gilbert's message again. 'Sure, where do u want to meet?'
xXx
Potato eating contest turned out to be code for IHOP and lots of hash browns. Besides them, almost no one sat in the restaurant. It was just Gilbert, Alfred, and heaping plates of food between them. "So anyway, I heard some interesting things about you and Ivan," Gilbert started. Alfred watched him with wary eyes. "Aw come on, don't look at me like that! You've started a war against him haven't you! I even heard…" Gilbert dropped his voice into a whisper. "…that you're trying to get him expelled!"
Pink tinged Alfred's cheeks. How the hell did this random guy know? Not even Matthew should know about his little plan. Alfred really needed to do some snooping into this Gilbert character. He spelled trouble if anyone did. "Uh…yeah. What about it?" Since the guy already figured it out, Alfred didn't bother denying his plans. He honestly felt foggy over his steps though, even if there were only three.
"Well, the great thing about me is I'm awesome at planning," Gilbert continued to prattle on. "Since I find your cause worthy, I am going to offer my assistance! With me, that Russian freak won't stand a chance!"
Alfred stared for a long second, then blinked. "Thanks?" He picked at his hash browns and toast, accidentally dumping an entire packet of butter on one triangle. Gilbert didn't notice his fumbling hands and forged ahead with grand gestures and enough words that even Alfred felt swamped by them.
"Great! I knew you'd want me on your side, my little apprentice of deviousness! Now, I was thinking up this plan last night. It's a little complicated, but you'll see…it's great. First, we need about a gallon of soap, LED lights, and little of pap…or was it porpika? Anyway, need that…and a horse…" he continued to mumble, his words losing their meaning as he got more excited. His list went on for about ten more items before he started the directions which became even more meaningless. "And when you mix the blue and the green, it should light up the entire room. I'll gallop through the halls on horseback proclaiming me—er, I mean us—gods come to free the students, and that's when you shove Ivan inside the destructo zone! From there-" He shot his arms out wide, knocking his napkin halfway across the room. "Boom!"
Alfred's eyes went wide. "Wait what? We're not doing that!" he snapped. Gilbert stared back at him, shock written all over his face. Alfred pulled his hand away from the fork now stabbed all the way through a hash brown pile. "I don't know why you want to butt in on this, but I don't want your help. That plan…what the hell, man? Leave Ivan alone. He's mine to screw with! If I so much as see a blue light, I-I'll tell the principal on you!"
"Hah?!" Gilbert blurted out. He sat back in his chair, still staring with those odd colored eyes of his. "Damn, I had no idea you were so possessive. Well excuse me for wanting to help. I can see when I'm not welcome, so I'll see you around lil brat," he muttered with a pout forming. He pulled out his wallet and slapped a wad of cash down without counting it, then shoved back his chair.
"Huh, Gilbert? Wait…" The other man didn't though and Alfred soon found himself sitting alone. The guy didn't even finish all his hash browns. "Possessive? What the hell." He pulled Gilbert's plate over and stared finishing it off with his mind still whirling.
As soon as he finished the food and paid with Gilbert's money, Alfred hurried home. The first thing he did was flop onto his bed and call Kiku. Thank god for solitude, but really, what was up with Mattie never being around? Since when did he have more of a life than Alfred? Whatever. The second his best friend answered, Alfred launched into the conversation. "Hey Kiku! What're you up to?" He hadn't gotten a hello; he assumed he spoke before Kiku could utter one. Now, just music and a concentrated silence filled the line. Alfred's brows furrowed. Didn't that music sound familiar?
"Re-playing Final Fantasy 12," Kiku finally replied with.
"Uh…really? I don't like that one much. I couldn't get out of the starting town. They won't let me back in the city gates!" Alfred complained. Besides, there were no giant robots.
Kiku sighed and a loud slurp sounded. Ramen? "Well I admit that it's not my favorite, but I decided to play every game through in order. I'm hardy going to skip one!" The slurping moved on to a crunchy sort of munch. Alfred winced both from the noises and what Kiku said. Was that why he hadn't seen his friend in two weeks? He was video game binging. Even to Alfred it sounded sad. Kiku didn't seem to hold his opinion though. He un-paused the game and the buttons clacked away. "You have no patience so you wouldn't understand. That door doesn't open the first time, but if you'd just wait…how should I say it? Instant gratification rots your soul." Alfred could almost hear Kiku rolling eyes at him.
"Oh thanks. I feel a lot better about myself now," he muttered back. So what if he thought the game should be straight-forward? That was common sense. As the video game noises continued and Kiku didn't bother responding, Alfred remembered why he called in the first place. "Um dude, can I ask an important question."
A long silence passed before Kiku paused his game again and Alfred just barely heard his sigh, like he tried to hold the phone away to hide it. It wasn't often that Alfred tried being serious. "Yes of course. What is it, Alfred?"
"Am I possessive of Ivan?"
This time the silence lasted even longer. "I-I really wouldn't presume to know anything. I'll agree with whatever you think," Kiku stammered before Alfred could repeat the question at a louder and more desperate volume. Instead he let out a groan.
"That's not an answer!"
"Well…I'm sorry to hear that…"
"No really, I don't care if you offend me or anything. Don't always agree. It's real annoying, man. I know you have an opinion on this cause you've been making eyes and backhand comments at me since the semester started. Tell me already! What do you know that I don't?!" Alfred exclaimed.
There went that sigh again. When Kiku spoke though, it was without any of the earlier hesitation. "You want my opinion? Fine. I think you're a complete idiot and you are most definitely as obsessed with Ivan as he is with you. Is that what you want to hear?"
Alfred stared at his phone. "…H-hah?! Are you serious?" He paused. "No, of course you are. But seriously, do you have to be so blunt!? Because u-um…eh…what?" He really didn't know what to say to that. Kiku said it so clearly, without room for argument. Alfred was that obsessed? He wanted to ask since when, but he didn't want to know because it wasn't true. But it was. The voice in his head agreed as much as he wanted to ignore it. Even now, he couldn't stop thinking about Ivan. "Arg no way! What the hell is wrong with me?!" Alfred screeched, pulling fistfuls of his hair.
Kiku resumed his game. "I have no idea." Alfred continued to moan as Kiku played for another few seconds. The loudest slurp filtered out yet. "Eh?" Clattering noises spilled out, then a mild curse. "Hey Al, you want to bring me over some take out. I'm out of food again and I'm sick of Chinese delivery. Oh, and get my mail too."
Say what? "Have you not been outside since you started playing?! Omg, I am not bringing you food. If you want something, then go yourself!" Dear god. He wanted Alfred to run errands for him after saying something like that? Well, Kiku had another thing coming to him. As his best friend, it was Alfred's duty to moderate unhealthy behavior. Kiku did so with him in the past. They created this unspoken rule early on in the semester after realizing they had the same binge tendencies with games and movies. "Seriously, sunshine is good for you! And if you haven't left your apartment by Tuesday, I will stage an intervention! Now good bye, Kiku. I have…some thinking to do." With that, Alfred hung up on his now quite flustered friend. He dropped face first into his pillow and let out a groan of despair. Thinking? Who the hell was he kidding? Just thinking about thinking made his head hurt. What was happening between him and Ivan?
(AN: It's been a long time, ya'll. I got real busy and kinda uninspired for a while, but then I received some wonderful reviews and that reawakened my spirit for this fandom and I did my best to get this out as quick as I could. Thank you very much you people who said such kind things to me. It really did help. ^_^)