I'm glad everyone liked the sex. XD Though were you guys really that surprised? It's an M rated story that said in the beginning there would be a couple adult scenes. lol Ah, kink meme, what have you done to me...
Disclaimer: Hetalia's not mine.
Ivan Braginsky was not the type of man who slunk into a place like a nervous common criminal. But for the time being, he was too worried to concern himself over such matters. And so he slipped through the front door, keeping to the restaurant's shadows and trying not to meet anybody's eyes. As if somebody wouldn't recognize a tall pale-haired man in a scarf because they couldn't see his face. Fortunately, the diners only had eyes for their food or companions, and the wait staff were concentrating on their jobs, so Ivan remained unnoticed as he slunk through the warm, homey dining area. His nose was invaded by the aroma of tomatoes and cheese and herbs, but he wasn't feeling hungry.
He had started to think he might just make it unnoticed when he ran right into the owner, Gino Lombardi himself. It was hard to say who was more surprised.
"S-Signor Braginsky!" The man backed away, color draining from his face. "Why are you here? I'm not with them! You know I'm not!"
Ivan sighed, glancing around to make sure nobody else was paying attention. "I was called by one of your waiters. I am here for Alfred Jones."
"You are Al's friend?" Gino did not relax. If anything, he looked even more frightened. Ivan could pretty much guess what he would be thinking. Why Alfred? What are you doing with that innocent boy?
"I am." Why Ivan had been called and not Matthew remained to be discovered (or the hospital, even). "Where is he?"
"In the kitchen. But ple-"
Ivan stepped closer with a cold smile. "Alfred is not to find out what I do."
"Wh-"
"If he does, I will be very displeased."
Gino trembled. "I won't tell him!"
"See to it. And before I go in there, I want you to discretely clear the kitchen of anyone who would recognize me."
"B-but... I can't..."
Ivan placed a hand on the man's shoulder. "I am not exaggerating in the slightest. Alfred finds out, very unhappy Ivan."
"S-sì, Signore!" Gino squeaked. He fled through the nearby door, into the kitchen. Ivan waited, worry gnawing at him while he watched the occasional confused chef and waiter leave. Once Gino poked his head out and nodded, Ivan hurried in.
He looked around, blissfully ignored by the staff that remained. He located Alfred seated in a chair beyond the big stone fire oven, looking annoyed as one of the waitresses fussed over him.
Ivan unceremoniously shoved the girl aside, kneeling down beside Alfred. "I am here."
"Oh, hey..." Alfred looked away with an embarrassed flush.
"Alfred."
The boy flinched and turned back to face him. "What?"
"Why did you not tell me things were so bad?"
"S'nothing I can't handle..." Alfred mumbled.
Ivan's eyes narrowed. "They said you passed out in the middle of the kitchen."
"Yeah, well..."
"What if you had been in the middle of a delivery, hm?"
"Heh." Alfred raked a hand through his hair. "Now you're sounding like Mattie." He flinched again. "Please don't tell him, okay? He'd just worry, and-"
"That is why you had them contact me?"
"Well, yeah, and he's in class, and..." Alfred shrugged a shoulder. "Look, it's really not-"
"I work hard myself," Ivan said. "And you are always so energetic and cheerful, it never occurred to me you were quite so overworked. Has it been like this the whole time?"
"Maybe..."
Ivan shook his head. "Unacceptable."
"Oh, don't you start!" Alfred snapped, eyes flashing.
Ivan drew back in surprise, unused to anger from Alfred. "Those who care about you are allowed to worry."
"I've been listening to all the same arguments from Matt this whole time! I doubt there's anything new you could say."
"Oh?" Ivan pursed his lips. "You work hard for your brother, yes?"
"Of course! We need the mo-"
"And he has been worried and arguing this whole time?"
Alfred exhaled in an annoyed sigh. "Yeees. Because he-"
"So. Explain to me how you are helping Matthew by working yourself to the point of exhaustion, presumably unable to work either job in this condition, and worrying him to distraction when he should be concentrating on school?"
Alfred opened his mouth to answer, but changed his mind and glared instead.
Ivan nodded. "I thought so."
"Look, it doesn't matter! He can't work, and just working one job isn't going to pay for rent and food and bills and his schooling and books and everything!"
"Then don't worry about his schooling anymore."
Alfred looked ready to throttle Ivan. "I can't! I know he doesn't have to pay loans back yet, but I don't want him to start a new career in debt! I want to save for-"
Ivan pressed a finger to Alfred's lips. "Consider it paid for. Books, too."
Alfred drew back in shock, eyes wide. "No, Ivan-"
"It is not open to discussion," Ivan said firmly. "Nor is you quitting one of your jobs, because you will."
"You can't just-"
"I can. Which job do you prefer?"
"But charity is-"
"It's not charity. It is... a scholarship from my company."
"Ivan!" Alfred looked like he was about to panic.
"Which job will you keep?"
"Look, Ivan, I-"
"No."
"If you'd just-"
"No."
Alfred's angry expression finally cracked, and he laughed helplessly. "It's like trying to argue with a brick wall."
Ivan nodded. "Yes it is."
"I like the bar better..."
"I thought you might." Ivan smiled at his lover. Well that hadn't been particularly difficult. Matthew was a good boy, but he was too soft to go up against his twin's stubborn streak. Alfred needed a nice brick wall once in a while. "You will inform Lombardi soon?"
"He's gonna hate you..."
"I am prepared for that."
"And Mattie's gonna be smug..."
"I'm sure he will be too relieved to be smug."
Alfred snorted. "If I didn't already know better, I'd say you were an only child if you honestly think that."
"Well." Ivan stood. "My job was to take you home. You will get lots of rest."
"Yeah..." Alfred allowed himself to be pulled to his feet.
"And on your next night off, we will go out." And maybe this time Ivan would get to choose the place. He kept thinking that, but it never happened for some reason. Their dates had consisted of going to a football game, going bowling, an action movie, laser tag (which Ivan had been rather good at), and sundry other activities chosen by Alfred.
"Yeah," Alfred said again, perking up.
"Come. I will not tell Matthew that you collapsed. Just that you were tired."
"Thanks."
They left the kitchen, Ivan glancing around warily. He spotted Gino and glared, changing the other man's expression from disapproving to terrified. Gino nodded and gestured toward the front door. The coast is clear! Alfred didn't question it when Ivan hurried him out of the restaurant.
"I am gonna miss that place..." Alfred pouted. "And it's how I met you!"
Ivan smiled. "That is sweet. But if you prefer the other job, that is what you should do for now."
"Yeah..."
A quick ride later, and Ivan was following Alfred into the small apartment he shared with his brother. Nothing had changed since the last time he had been there. It was funny how one could instantly tell who lived more in which area at a glance. The corner of the living room with the computer desk was relatively neat. The corner with the recliner was littered with food wrappers, the occasional beer can, and comic books. The right half of the couch was marred by food stains, more wrappers, and even discarded clothes. The left half was pristine, even its pillows straighter and plumper. It was endearing, the twins always sitting in the same spots, even when they did things together. It was also kind of weird, that Matthew's cleaning never ventured into Alfred's territory.
The walls were decorated with various photos from the boys' baby- and childhood. Ivan had given up trying to guess which child was whom in them.
"Want something to eat?" Alfred asked, gently hanging his jacket up. It was the only thing he owned that he treated with care.
"Sit," Ivan said. "You're supposed to be resting.
"All right..." Alfred dropped into his recliner with a rustle of candy wrappers.
"But I might stay," Ivan mused. "To make sure you rest. And to see your brother gloat."
Alfred snorted. "Jerk. You'd just confuse us again, like always."
"I have only done that twice. How could I confuse you two if he came walking in the door?"
"You could."
Ivan once again mentally cursed Matthew for telling Alfred about the second time, not long after the first time they had slept together...
There was Alfred at their meeting place, right on time. Smiling, Ivan crept closer, intent on hearing the yelps he made when he was startled. But he was in for a disappointment. Alfred jumped slightly, but didn't make a noise when Ivan came up behind him and wrapped his arms around him.
"I've missed you. I have a lovely evening planned," he murmured into the smaller man's ear. "And a nice new box of condoms to finish things off with."
"Condoms?" Alfred said quietly. "Well at least my brother hasn't taken complete leave of his senses."
Ivan quickly stepped back, cursing himself. "Matthew."
"Ivan..."
Ivan blinked, shaking off the annoying memory. "Yes?"
Alfred stared intently at a spot on the wall. "Uh... thanks."
"For what?"
"For... you know... everything today."
Ivan smiled. "Think nothing of it."
Alfred yawned, curling up on the recliner. "Dunno what to say when my boyfriend forces thousands and thousands of bucks on me..."
Ivan stepped closer, leaning over to kiss Alfred's forehead. "Is that where you are going to sleep?"
"Yup."
"Interesting. Good night, then."
Alfred fidgeted in his chair, tugging at the noose tied around his neck. "I hate this thing."
"Surely you have worn a tie before..." Ivan said, peering curiously over the top of his menu.
"Yeah... but not much..."
"You look very nice in a suit."
"Thanks." Alfred turned back to his own menu. "I knew you'd pick a French place."
"I have heard this is a good restaurant."
"Why'd you pick a place you haven't been to before? If you wanna impress the boyfriend, take him to an awesome place you like!"
Ivan actually looked a bit guilty for some reason. "I suppose. But I wanted to try this place."
"You're Russian, dude."
"That does not mean I only eat Russian food."
"I don't know what any of this stuff is." Alfred tilted the menu around, as if that would help. "I'll have to call Francis. Or Mattie, he studies French..."
"It describes what the dishes are in English under the name."
"Yes, yes... If I end up with snail or frog I'm going to be very unhappy."
Their waiter—who looked like a pretentious douche to Alfred—returned with the bottle of wine Ivan had requested. The name meant nothing to Alfred, but he figured it was probably expensive. He had never been much of a wine drinker, but he'd give it a shot. The waiter poured their wine for them, which Alfred felt they really could have done themselves, then left them alone again.
Ivan took a sip, clearly enjoying the wine, judging by the semi-orgasmic expression. Alfred chuckled to himself, earning a confused look. "Nothing."
"No, it's all right." Ivan's smile returned. "I like when you laugh, even if it's at my expense."
"Aw..." Alfred felt warmth spread through him, as it still always did when Ivan said things like that. "You know, Ivan-"
"Vanya," he corrected."
Alfred blinked. "What?"
Ivan was staring intently at his wineglass. "My nickname."
Alfred stared at him a moment, smile stretching into a grin. "You're just now telling me your nickname?"
Ivan nodded. "I would like if you called me Vanya."
"Of course!" Alfred beamed. There was big intimidating Ivan, who may not laugh much but had a kind of creepy giggle, with piercing eyes and could make someone feel uneasy just by looking at them... looking bashful and asking Alfred to call him by his nickname.
"But not too much in public."
Alfred shook off his thoughts. "Huh?"
Ivan gave an awkward shrug. "You know... don't do it around people who would copy you. My older sister is the only other person who calls me that, and I'd rather keep it that way."
"Oh! Right." Alfred felt another wave of warmth and affection. "Whatever you say, Vanya. Oh! Speaking of your sisters, how are they?"
"They are good, thank you." Ivan did not speak much about them, really. And Alfred had yet to meet them. Well, the older one didn't live in America, so that made sense at least. "And your brother?"
"He's doing great!" Alfred grinned. Ivan had been right about Mattie; he hadn't gloated at all upon finding out about Alfred quitting. He had been too relieved and thrilled to be smug. And he was happily cutting back on expenses, not knowing his education was taken care of. Alfred still hadn't figured out how to tell him that the boyfriend who barely knew Matthew was paying for it...
He smiled fondly at Ivan for a moment, then perked up as he remembered. "I have something for you!"
"Something?" Ivan asked with that little smile he always wore.
"A gift!"
"Oh? What's the occasion?"
"No occasion." Alfred tugged the gift—nicely wrapped in the only non-specific-occasion paper he could find, purchased long ago for a young cousin's birthday, and featured teddy bears—out of his bag and handed it over. "I just wanted to get you a present."
"Well isn't that sweet." Ivan lightly shook the present near his ear, then tore into the paper.
Alfred chattered on while Ivan did that. "Because you don't like the cold, and it can get cold here, and I thought it'd be nice if you had something else you treasured like your scarf..."
Ivan lifted the box out of its wrappings and looked at it, smile growing strained. "A Snuggie."
"Yeah!" Alfred grinned at him. "And it's tiger striped! Like... like Siberian tigers."
Ivan studied the box. "Would not a robe serve the same purpose?"
Alfred's face fell. Didn't Ivan like it? "Oh. I guess..."
A brief flicker of horror crossed Ivan's face. "Ah! No, sorry, I mean... Thank you. I will wear it all winter. In the house."
Alfred brightened again. "Oh, it doesn't have to just be in the home, in the commercials the people-"
"Thank you, Al," Ivan repeated. He set the box aside and reached across the table to take Alfred's hand. "That was very thoughtful of you."
Alfred's smile grew. This date was going well!
And because he thought that, when he tugged his hand away from Ivan to pick up his wineglass, it knocked into Ivan's, sending the ruby liquid right onto the Russian's lap. On what was presumably a very expensive suit.
Shit.
"Oh god! I'm so sorry!" Alfred sprang out of his chair, intent on getting some damp napkins from the bathroom. But that was not meant to be either, as he ran straight into a waiter hard enough to send them tumbling to the floor. Alfred winced, feeling something slimy the waiter had been carrying now in his hair, dripping down his face.
The restaurant had gone very quiet as everyone stared at him. Alfred's face heated and he tried to will his body to die. He tried even harder to will his eyes to not fill with hot, stinging tears. He stood, brushing himself off, not looking at Ivan. Oh god, their relationship had been going so well, so wonderfully, Alfred couldn't stand thinking of it ending, but what else would happen after he ruined an expensive suit and humiliated him...
He could see Ivan staring at him out of the corner of his eye, jaw hanging open. Alfred turned to him to apologize, but before he could, Ivan burst into laughter.
Alfred's own jaw dropped. Ivan was... laughing.
At him... But still laughing.
"Ivan?"
It was something of a disappointment that his laughter trailed off. "Come..." Ivan's smile fell as he turned to glare at the restaurant in general. The other patrons slowly looked away, returning to their own conversations. Alfred quickly apologized to the waiter he had run into before following Ivan to the restroom.
"Oh god..." Alfred said again. "I am so, so sorry, the evening was going so well, I'm such a-"
"Shh." Ivan glanced down at his ruined clothes. "I have a good dry cleaner."
"Can he get that out?" Alfred asked in a small voice, daring to hope.
"If he knows what's good for him."
Alfred gave a wavering smile. "I hope so. Oh, eugh, what the hell is that..." He wiped at the slime on his face, grimacing.
"It would appear to be ganache and berry sauce," Ivan said. "You have cake on your head."
"Oh. That's not so bad."
"No." Ivan leaned over to lick Alfred's cheek. "You taste good."
Alfred stared at him, utterly baffled. "Why aren't you angry?"
"Should I be?" Ivan tilted his head. "That was funny."
"Oh." Alfred couldn't help but smile as he remembered. He had done it! He had reached his goal. Too bad it wasn't something less humiliating...
"You thought I would be mad?" Ivan tugged Alfred into a hug, apparently not caring about the cake goo he was getting on himself. "You are so precious. If anything, I love you more."
Alfred froze, as did the rest of the world around him. "You what?" They had not said those words to each other before. In fact, nobody had ever said that to Alfred, outside of his family.
"I love you."
Alfred drew back to look at Ivan, eyes wide and heart thudding against his ribs. Ivan loved him... Did he love Ivan back? He had never been in love before. What were some of the stereotypical symptoms? Thinking of the other person all the time, wanting to be with them forever, rapid pulse and butterflies just from the thought of them, a spark from their touch, the desire to make them happy above all else...
Alfred smiled. "I love you, too."
They embraced again, but only for a moment. Ivan's blasted phone rang. Alfred whined, wondering how many dates would end this way. Too many did already. Even when Alfred was working too much, it had never interrupted the free time he actually got...
Ivan gave him an apologetic look as he drew back, answering his phone. He listened for a moment, expression stony. "Thank you for telling me, Toris, I will take care of it."
"What?" Alfred didn't want Ivan to go to work now. "Do you have to take care of it soon? Is it an emergency? Can I come?"
"I am sorry." Ivan leaned forward to place a tender kiss on his lips. "I wish I could stay and help clean cake off you, but I really need to deal with this now."
"Okay. Can I come along next time you have work to do?"
Ivan looked torn. "I, ah... I don't think that's possible."
"Oh. Well, get going." Alfred gave what he hoped was a brave smile. "They need you."
"Thank you." Ivan kissed him again, then hurried off. His eyes had looked a little wild, Alfred wondered just what sort of emergency it was...
Thank god for Toris' warning. Ivan stepped outside the restaurant just in time. His blood froze in his veins as he realized how close that had been.
"Brother," Natalia said, voice as polite as it was frosty. "What a coincidence. I was just coming to see you."
Ivan cleared his throat, forcing his voice to remain calm. "And I was just leaving. What brings you here?" He crossed his arms over the coat that hid his stained suit.
Natalia apparently did not feel the need for subterfuge. "Who is he?"
Ivan, though, did feel that need. "Who?"
"The one you're here with." Her eyes narrowed, and Ivan swallowed thickly. "Who. Is. He?"
"Just a friend." Ivan scowled at her. "I am allowed to dine with companions."
"Then why don't I know him? When you wish to dine with a companion, you choose one of us. Nobody knows this person."
"I do not appreciate you spying on me. Or threatening my friends just because I have a life outside of... us."
Natalia's eyes flashed dangerously. "Brother, I-"
"No." Ivan's frown deepened. "You go home right now." Maybe he could still get back to his date. Or maybe not, it might be safer to just leave...
"I also have a message to deliver."
"What?" Why couldn't she just leave?
"It is from the Dollhouse owner. The one I helped out."
"Oh, Mr. Beilschmidt?" What the hell did he want?
"Yes, him. He is opening a new... club. The Red Rose."
Ivan sighed. "And he wants our protection?"
"No... Since it's in a neutral area, he wants all of us to be there for opening night."
"He wants our patronage..." Ivan stared at her in disbelief.
"That's right." Natalia scowled. "I request that you not go."
"Oh?"
"I do not want you ogling those women!"
Oh. "I assure you, Nata, I would not ogle-"
"Brother!"
Ivan sighed again. "We'll see. If we prove to be good customers, he might owe us two favors..."
"Brother!"
"Business partners are a good thing to have. I promise, Nata, whatever happens, I will not ogle a single woman."
It took some more arguing, but Ivan finally managed to convince Natalia to return home. Though he was only able to do so by accompanying her, so any hope of returning to his interrupted date was dashed. But at least he would always have the memory. If he hadn't worried about others finding it, he'd have taken a picture with his phone. Alfred, sprawled on the floor with a cake on his head! Ivan had felt utterly horrible for laughing, especially with how upset the boy looked, but he just couldn't help himself...
Now he just needed to find out if his suit could be saved.
And he needed to find a way to wear a Snuggie without anybody seeing him and losing all respect for him. Because Ivan had to lie to Alfred about everything else, he'd be damned if he would lie about using his gift, too.
