I wake up and yawn. Kuma was pawing at my face. I giggle and push him off. I slip my glasses on and look over at the clock. It was still early so no one would be up yet. I take a deep breath in and sit up, half expecting my lower back to explode with pain. It didn't. I smile knowing that Papa can't hurt me. I love him; I hate what he does.
I relax slightly and jump off the bed, yawning. I pick out a t-shirt, a pair of boxers, and some jeans and make my way to the bathroom. I take a towel out of one of the hall closets. I get to the bathroom, unnoticed and start taking my clothes off.
I inspect my back in the mirror. The bruises had yet to fade away. I pull off the gauze on my wrist and throw it in the trash can. I jump in the shower, and turn it on, letting the soothing cold water flow over my back. I quickly wash up and get out of the shower.
I pull my clean clothes on and wrap some new gauze around my wrist. I look down at my wrist and frown. I can't let anyone see this. I walk back to my room, slumping my shoulders. I slip on a hoodie and make my way downstairs.
I start making the batter for some pancakes. Even though I love cooking, I have to stand on chairs to reach the counter. I finish up making the pancakes just in time to see Alfred walk down the stairs. "WoAH A GHOST!" Alfred shouts. He screams and runs back upstairs. I sigh. Why must he always not notice it's me?
Arthur comes walking downstairs. He was dressed in his usual green military outfit. He smiles. "Good morning, Matthew. You're up early." He states. I nod and go back to cooking. "Would you like help with that, lad?" He asks. My eyes widen and I shake my head. I can't have him help me. He'll just screw it up.
"When will Russia be coming over?" I ask as I finish up making the pancakes, setting them all on a plate. Arthur shudders at the name. "I-In an hour or so…" He says shakily. I spot Alfred slowly making his way down the stairs. He was shaking too. "I-I-Is the g-g-ghost g-gone?" I laugh at him and nod. "There was never any ghost" I laugh.
Alfred shudders and makes his way downstairs. Everyone looks so tense today. Alfred was because he thought I was a ghost and Arthur did because someone was coming over today. I take some of the pancakes that are on the plate and divide them between three plates. I bring all three plates to the table. I go to the fridge and pull out a bottle of maple syrup that I asked England to buy for me. I go back to the table and sit in one of the chairs.
I pour maple syrup over one of the stacks of pancakes and chow down. Alfred and Dad weren't talking throughout breakfast. They just ate in silence. Arthur must be really worried about meeting with Russia.
After a little while when the kitchen was cleaned up and everyone was done eating, the doorbell rings. Arthur goes to open it with shaking hands, Alfred stands behind Arthur, holding onto his pant leg for safety, and I stand off to the side, in front of Arthur. He opens the door and is greeted by a smiling man with light, almost white hair. He was wearing a tan military jacket and had a long beige pink scarf wrapped around his neck. This must be Russia. Why is Dad so afraid of him?
Russia seemed to have a purple aura surrounding him. "Good morning da?" He says and sticks out his hand. England reluctantly shakes his hand. Russia looks over to me. "Who is this?" He says, leaning down, almost eye level with me.
Wow! He actually noticed me! "I'm Canada…" I smile at him. "But you can call me Matthew." He smiles back. "I'm Russia. You can call me Ivan." Russia stands back up.
"Please, come in." Dad says. Alfred holds onto Arthur's pant leg tighter, and his bottom lip is quivering. Dad backs out of the way of the door, and turns to Alfred. He whispers something and Alfred nods. He lets go of Dad and runs up the stairs. Arthur turns to me. "Do you want to go with him?" I shake my head.
Ivan closes the door behind him. England leads him over to the dining room table and they both take a seat across from each other. I sit at the head of the table. I prop my elbows on the table and let my chin rest on the heel of my hands. Ivan looks at me curiously. "You might want to go upstairs da? It will get boring for a little kid like you to sit here with nothing to keep you busy da?" Ivan pokes my nose.
I shake my head. "I don't mind." I say nonchalantly. He tilts his head back in laughter. I've never known someone who could laugh that easily. "You're really cute da?" I blush at this. "You won't understand anything we are talking about." He takes a strand of my hair and starts playing with it. I see Dad glare at the Russian man for doing this.
"I can try." I respond. I giggle as he tugs on my hair slightly. He seems completely fascinated by it. "You are not related to France by any chance, are you da?" He asks. "Oui." I nod. "He's my Papa." After saying this, Ivan looks at me curiously again. "Then why are you here and not with him?" I don't say anything and my hands start to shake. Out of the corner of my eye, I see England boiling with rage. Russia was completely oblivious to the Englishman.
Ivan's smile drops and he lets go of my hair, upon noticing my shaking hands. England jerks up, almost kicking the chair back. We both look up at England when hearing this. "Get away from him you pedophile! You're scaring him!" Arthur shouts at the Russian. Ivan looks hurt by those words. He retracts his hands to his sides and stands up. "I am not a pedophile da? We were just talking." Arthur glares at him. "You were practically molesting him with your eyes." He says through clenched teeth.
Tears run down my cheeks. "S-Stop fighting!" I quietly yell, mainly at Arthur. No one notices. The aura around Ivan seems to grow darker. He takes out a metal pipe and brings it over his head, ready to slam it down. I quickly climb off of my seat and onto the table, grabbing onto Russia's arm. My instincts take over, and I try to stop him. In doing so, I hear Dad's voice "Matthew, don't!" Russia brings his arm down when he feels me grab onto it. He doesn't swing his pipe that was aimed for England's head.
Ivan sets me on the table. He looks at me sorrowfully and wipes away the tears on my cheeks with his gloved hands. "What's wrong Matvey?" He asks. I sniffle. "Y-You were f-fighting and c-calling each other names and were going to hurt each other." I quickly say. Ivan clicks his tongue and smiles again. He puts his hand on my shoulder. I feel a bound of energy coursing through my veins as if I was just shocked. "I promise we won't fight anymore da?" He looks over to England. Arthur nods. I feel my heartbeat quickening and a blush run over my cheeks. What are these feelings?
Ivan lifts me up and sets me back in my chair. I giggle while he does that. My hands have stopped shaking. Arthur calms down slightly and sits back in his chair. "Are you sure that you don't want to go upstairs?" he sighs. I nod. Russia smiles at me and a blush creeps up on my cheeks again.
The two spent the afternoon discussing business. Russia was in the midst of cleaning up his papers and getting ready to leave. Kumajiro waddles his way over to Ivan and sniffs around Ivan's feet. "Who is this?" Ivan asks, smiling at the bear. Kuma picks his head up and looks over at Ivan. "I'm Kumajiro." Kuma climbs up the side of the chair so he can sit on my lap.
I stroke Kuma's fur. He lays down in my lap. "Can you come over again?" I blush. Ivan nods. "Da. I can." He smiles at me and finishes cleaning up his papers. "Do you have to leave now?" I ask. Ivan ruffles my hair and I giggle. "Da. I have a flight to catch." He chuckles. I whine at this. I didn't want him to leave yet. "I'll come and see you again da?"
I nod. Ivan heads out the door and waves to me on the way out. I wave back. I get off my chair to go and retrieve Alfred from the depths of his room. "Wait, lad." Arthur calls out. I turn back around and face him. He was smiling mischievously. "What is it?" I ask. Arthur leans down and smiles brighter. "You don't perhaps have a crush on him, do you?" He asks. I blush brighter and shake my head furiously. "Non!" I shriek nervously. "You do!" Arthur laughs. "Go find Alfred, will you?" I nod and head upstairs, carrying Kuma in my arms.
