Catty: Thanks as always for following my stories everyone! I really appreciate it!

The Amazing Fiesta Queen - I'm glad you like the update! To thank you for all your reviewing, I've decided to dedicate this chapter update to you. Perhaps you can use it to brag to other Hetalians or something, IDK.


"What do you want with me?" the girl pleaded, eyes filled with tears. Blood and bruised painted her skin and Ivan held his pipe behind his back, smiling sweetly. The room was cold and dark and the binding on her wrists and ankles was cutting into the skin, causing scarlet to drip onto the painful ropes. Every movement she made caused her entire body to flair up in pain.

"Glupaya devochka," Ivan laughed, his voice even. He forced his accent to be a little more obvious, which might have been comical if it wasn't so terrify for the poor blonde, "Don't you see… I do not want you at all. In fact, I'd be happiest if you were no more. Now is good time to meet my good friend pipe for last time. Spokoynoy nochi!"

"No! No, please! You can't do this!" she begged, desperately, but her words fell on deaf ears. Ivan raised the pipe and brought it down with enough force to cause a definite crack. Her head fell forward and blood trickled out of her mouth, hitting the floor with the occasional plop.

"I am glad we have come to agreement!" he cooed, towering over the girl with that sickly sweet smile still on his face, "You will be bothering Alfred no more, Da?"


Lovino didn't know how he'd ended up in this low-grade ice cream shop. Here he was, sitting beside the miserable blonde he'd taken notice of, not too long ago. When he'd run into the boy on the street and asked about his girlfriend, he'd expected Alfred to be a little sad, but not to full out break down in the middle of the sidewalk. He'd managed to coax out of the boy what had happened and all but dragged him to the ice cream parlor he could find, not because he remembered that was Alfred's favorite or anything. That's jus how you deal with crying people, dammit!

He pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket and dabbed at Alfred's face, trying to clean it up a bit now that the other wasn't bawling his eyes out. The staff had disappeared ages ago, only staying long enough to give them some ice cream on the house just thanks to Lovino saying who he was. He was thankful that there wasn't an audience to see him being so weak. It would never do to taint his reputation with kindness.

"Thank you," Alfred sniffled, casting his baby blue eyes in Lovino's direction, "You really didn't have to do all this. It's not like you really even know me all that well." Lovino wiped a few last tears off his face and put away his handkerchief before responding.

"Think nothing of it, Alfred," he insisted, calmly, "You obviously are very upset about this whole thing. You seemed like you could use a pick-me-up. I thought I vaguely remember you mentioning ice cream to be a personal favorite of yours. I just didn't want to look like a bastard for abandoning you."

"You're kind of really sweet, Lovino," Alfred chuckled, "I know we've got this whole costumer-patron relationship going for us, but I wouldn't mind getting to know you better."

"As in a relationship?" Lovino demanded, skeptical. He wasn't sure that would be a very good idea in his line of work. Eventually, Alfred would find out and his masterpiece would be ruined. He definitely didn't want that.

The hesitance must have been evident on Lovino's face, because Alfred laughed, "No need to stress out. I didn't mean it like that. I don't think I want any more relationships, any time soon. I just mean we could be kinda like friends, but like… With other stuff, if you want." Lovino could clearly see the reminiscent look he took on.

"You want to be fuck buddies?" Lovino clarified. On one hand, he'd avoid relationship drama while retaining intimate connections with his recent subject of fascination, but on the other hand he was kind of insulted.

"You make it sound awful, Dude," Alfred noted, scrunching up his nose in distaste, "Do we have to give it a label at all? I want to get to know you, like friendship-wise, but I mean, we don't have to be just friends…" Lovino scooped up a spoon of slightly melted ice cream and stuck it in Alfred's mouth to shut him up.

"I'll think about it, Bastard."


Alfred was back at work the next day. Francis had insisted Matthew join him, since him and Arthur wasn't sure their son was one hundred percent recovered, yet. Matthew had been relatively jobless for the first part of the shift, but the second Alfred's regular waltzed in, his brother's attention had been completely focused on the Russian. He watched with interest as Alfred would briefly step away from the customer only to rush right back after dealing with another. After a while, Matthew just handled the other patrons and Alfred was happy not to have to leave the man's side, again.

Eventually, their coworker showed up and took over for the boys. While Matthew took his time, Alfred was practically out the door faster than he could change. He couldn't imagine that he had to hurry that much to get to his next job, granted it was across town, but it their father owned both locations and he would hardly scold Alfred for being late.

Matthew followed behind his brother, quietly, and spotted him walking up to the Russian he'd been talking to all that time. He just barely silenced a gasp when the tall Russian leaned in and kissed him, Alfred obviously reacting positively to it. They must have known each other, which was impossible, since Alfred had only just stopped dating that other girl who'd been kidnapped and then had reappeared, head smashed in with a blunt object. Surely, he couldn't have gotten over her already.

"Unless," Matthew realized, horrified as the other man led Alfred to his fancy looking limo, "He was dating this guy and Claire at the same time!" He had an urge to tell Arthur and Francis right away - to have them talk some sense into the boy! - but he couldn't do that. Already, Alfred's voice was ringing in his head, telling him he was a snitch and a terrible brother.

No, he'd just have to reprimand Alfred, himself.