Alfred's fear eventually proved greater than Ivan's pacification, and the atmosphere inside the dingy apartment became one of skittish haste and desperate concealment. Alfred became stringent in hiding their "equipment", and it was a testament to his worry that he didn't even respond when Ivan made a veiled threat involving other kinds of equipment. The American began wearing less and less of his t-shirts, and instead stayed in his work uniform most of the day. Unfortunately, Ivan took little notice of such precautions, and it was he that decided to continue their weekly activities, leaving without Alfred to return late at night, blood-stained and sullen.

The two of them hardly spoke any longer, and so it was three days until Alfred finally learned of a second visit by their beloved city's servants.

"What? There was another one?"

"Yes. Tall, and unfriendly. He asked me about my pipe."

"You mean you left the damn thing laying around? Ivan, how much of an idiot can you be?"

"You are the idiot, malyutka, not me. He noticed nothing. Accepted that it was a memento. It will be nothing more."

Alfred sighed and rubbed his face with his hands, slowly nodding. "Fine. Whatever. Do what you want." A long silence extended between them, a distant ticking reminding them of the passage of time, until Alfred spoke again. "If they do connect one of them to you, it'll be easy for them to connect the rest. You don't mess around."

Ivan shrugged. "I take a professional interest in what we do. And I have the knowledge at my disposal-why not use it?"

Alfred chuckled harshly, sitting up before moving to wash the dishes. "You know, I've always wondered about that…how did you end up in that lowbrow pharmacy, anyway? Obviously, you work well as hired muscle, but whenever we hunt, you…toy with them. Play with them. Study them, even. Did you-"

"I went to school for medicine."

"Yeah, I know. Then you dropped out?"

"Failed a class, here and there. Cultural studies. Communications. Writing." Ivan made a face, then stood.

"So you just-abandoned it altogether? Went for the pharmaceutical degree instead?"

"Yes. Surgery was never an option for me. This way, at least, I do not forget."

"Forget? Dude, the first time we went you knew what you were doing. Don't tell me you did solos before me."

"A few. My sister…well, we covered for each other. I rarely killed back then, though."

"Oh. Right. Your batshit crazy sister. I forget about her." Alfred nodded.

"In any case, it does not matter. You hide things well-we will be fine." With a firm nod, Ivan moved into the other room, beginning to undress.

"You keep saying that, Russkii….so why do I not feel convinced?" Alfred mumbled to himself, setting the last plate aside before reluctantly moving to follow his companion. Ivan stood to one side of the bed, watching him, then slowly moved to approach him, placing his hands on Alfred's shoulders.

"Ivan…."

"Malyutka."

"No. Not-no."

"But we do this every week. Do not tell me you are suddenly…squeamish."

"It's not that, just…"

"You start this, usually. Come, now. You honestly do not want me?"

Alfred winced, turning to face him. "Ivan, it's not like that, it's just-I didn't come this week, and you-we-we always do it afterwards, and I didn't this week, so-"

"Ah. I forget. Did we ever decide what it was that truly aroused you?" Letting his voice take on a contemplative tone, Ivan cupped Alfred's chin and pretended to study him. Alfred, however, shoved his hand away and stalked off, folding his arms.

"It's not funny, Ivan. I said no, and I mean it. I'm not in the mood."

"Fine, then. I can accept that." Ivan nodded, watching him, then returned to his side of the bed. Alfred paused, slowly relaxing, then changed into his own nightwear before similarly climbing under the sheets. Scooting back into the curve of Ivan's body, he curled into a ball and fell into a troubled sleep, Ivan's arm lying over him to ensconce him in a world of blankets and body.

o

Ivan's predictions turned out mostly true, as another week went by without further incident, and Alfred slowly began to relax. However, his skittishness prevented him from joining Ivan the second time he took an "excursion", and so he sat restlessly in the apartment as he waited for the Russian to return. The silence of the apartment slowly made the usually loud man jittery, and by the time he heard a key in the lock he was nearly shaking. Leaping forward, he almost collided with Ivan as the larger man ducked into the darkened room, and Alfred hurriedly stepped back to let Ivan inside.

"Get in. Close the door, quickly." Bloodstained and hunched over, Ivan motioned for him to hurry and dashed into the other room, peeling his jacket off at last before pulling his shirt off. Alfred hesitated, closing the door quietly before doing up the latch, then raced to join him, eyes wide.

"Ivan! What the hell happened!"

"I was seen. It happens." Ivan shrugged, tossing his shirt into the sink before beginning to search the medicine cabinet.

"Seen? Ivan, what-how could you let this happen?"

"I did not have you planning my excursions. I made a mistake." Cursing under his breath, Ivan pulled out an unmarked bottle, sprinkling the solution inside onto his shirt. "I was weak. Having to rely on you for such a simple task-"

"Why the fuck did you let it happen! You ruined it, Russkii, ruined everything, and now they'll know! We won't be able to show our faces ever again, nowhere, and they'll find us and we'll die-"

"Shut up." Glaring at him, Ivan straightened, running the water in the sink. "We will be fine. They are the insects, and we are the wolves, and we will crush them like the dust mites they are. They cannot touch us. We will survive."

"You say that, you always say that, but now you've been seen! They'll figure it out!" Desperate, Alfred came to look Ivan in the eyes, barely a few inches from his face.

"So what? We can do this, Alfred, if you keep a level head. Calm down."

"I can't, Ivan, can't you get that? This might all be over!"

Ivan shook his head, sighing as he pulled his shirt from the sink. "Fine. Think that way. But if your panic gets us arrested-"

"It won't. Just-" Alfred copied him, sighing before moving into the bedroom. "Let's be careful, okay?"

"Yes. Careful. As we always are." Ivan confirmed, following him before turning out the light, letting them fall into the anonymity of darkness as they both fell into bed and went to sleep, exhausted.

(*Malyutka: little one)