Alright, here's Ivan's POV. It starts when he and Alfred first meet, goes over Natalia's death, goes over Ivan's involvement in Kiku's death, and ends a little bit past Katyusha's death; also explains why he's following Alfred around, and some insight into the Slavic siblings' past.
Ivan doesn't see the irony of the situation: his actions towards Alfred = Natalia's actions towards him.
And I don't even know how you're suppose to feel about Ivan now. Is he a bad guy? Just misunderstood? Genuine in his affections?¿? We just don't know.
This chapter: death, sexual situation, blood, dismemberment(not too graphic), stalking, getting seriously crazy now
It starts when he is just a small boy, and his younger sister can barely walk. Their mother is an angel, or at least that's what he remembers her as. All her memories are comforting and bring warmth and safety to him. It's their father who shapes them as murderers.
He sees potential; Katyusha, the spitting image of their mother, who takes an interest in the human body. She's not repulsed by blood, or guts, or death; she's fascinated. Ivan, the only boy and therefore immediately their father's preferred child. He shoots at animals in their yard, laughing as they cower or flee. Natalia, who is so young yet loves playing with knives. It's probably more from their shine than their utilities, but coupled with her torturous acts against small bugs...
Something blesses their father with three unusually malleable children, and he takes advantage.
He trains them, starts out small and increases intensity the older they get. Oddly, Natalia is the most enthusiastic, then Ivan, and then Katyusha.
How is he to know that their father is training them to be killers?
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He takes a job after the incident with their father. He loves his sister dearly, but she is beyond help. Her actions prove that.
He becomes a librarian at some nameless town. At first it's hard to stop thinking about all the ways he can kill everyone who walks in, but eventually he gets the hang of actually being a human being.
Fate apparently doesn't like that, because it sends him a reason to be a killer again.
The boy(for he's hardly a man by looks)walks in and draws his attention immediately. The town's not that big and he's sure he's never seen the kid before.
He's enchanting. Ivan doesn't think he's ever seen such beautiful hair. It reflects light in the sun, and the boy turns after skimming over some books, smiles at him while framed by sunlight.
He can't get the image out of his head.
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The boy comes back every couple of days, and Ivan doesn't know what to think of it. He's always smiled at and thinks how nice it would be to own that smile, to be the only one to see it.
Sometimes the boy checks out a book, but his throat closes when he tries to ask his name. Instead he simply checks the book out to him and beats himself up on the inside for the missed opportunities.
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During one such occasion, he's residing himself to another self-berating.
"Will this be all?" He says and the boy nods.
He looks down and notices the book's content. A little dark, he thinks, for such a bright individual. He doesn't comment.
"Along with your name, perhaps?" The boy looks so innocent and shy, Ivan practically melts on the inside. He smiles.
"Ivan."
"Alfred."
They shake hands.
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Alfred continues to come to the library, but Ivan's having trouble now. He feels a sense of deja vu. He's not sure but he thinks Alfred is...luring him in for something. If he thinks about it, Alfred's immediate interest in him, probably on his first day in the town, is very similar to Natalia's method of luring victims in. He pays more attention and doesn't let his guard down.
However, he's not entirely sure, so he asks Alfred out anyway.
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Weeks pass, and Ivan's sure Alfred's going to try and kill him at some point. It excites him in a way it shouldn't, and he's been trying to forget that side of him but how can he with Alfred making him a target? He's never been one(well, maybe Natalia's victim, which makes him shudder), but if it's Alfred he thinks there are worse ways to die.
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Killing after sex; very clever on Alfred's part. Alfred doesn't have to spend as much energy during sex, so when it's over he still has the capability to overpower someone. And Alfred's not weak, not even weak looking. But Ivan's been trained, is confident he's stronger than Alfred as well.
Alfred obviously doesn't have the same training, as he's breathing heavily when they're through. When Alfred tries to coax him on his back he stays still, and smirks. He lays a hand on Alfred's neck.
"Surely you didn't think me a fool? You are a child in comparison to me. Your efforts were in vain from the beginning." He tightens his grip while he says this.
Alfred reaches up, hands slipping under the pillow. He looks to be stretching, but Ivan knows. He releases Alfred's neck and grips both his wrists in his hands. Slowly he brings them out from beneath the pillow, and as he expects Alfred's gripping a knife in one hand. He smiles and Alfred glares at him, clearly angry he's not getting his kill tonight.
"Go home, little boy. Maybe when you're older we can play again."
He gets up, dresses, and leaves, already anticipating when they next meet.
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Alfred's gone the next day judging by his absence from the library. All for the best, Ivan decides, when Natalia shows up. Better they not meet.
"Sister! What a...pleasant surprise." It nearly physically pains him to say it, but his sister only hears the words, not the tone.
"The same for me brother. You've been running from me for so long now, aren't you tired of hiding?"
Natalia's edging closer to him and he doesn't want this to turn ugly where people can see, so he tells her to meet him later, he's busy, and thankfully she agrees.
Ivan gives her the wrong address and leaves town immediately.
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He gets pretty far before she calls him. She's very upset("Why would you trick me brother?"), but he just wants her gone. However, he doesn't think he can do it himself.
A few more weeks of travel bring him to an acquaintances house, a young man named Eduard who's good with computers and technology. He asks for a number to be traced, and as he's sure Alfred probably uses multiple phones and switches them out every couple of weeks, he instructs Eduard to search for the phone's last call.
Eduard gives him an address and he's on his way. He doesn't know what he's going to find.
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He arrives at a house that looks like a normal family home. It's secluded from the main town though, so he must be at the right place.
He knocks on the door and a familiar looking young man answers. He doesn't think he's seen this man before but at the same time he's sure he's seen someone who looks just like him. Then it clicks.
"You are Alfred's brother, are you not?"
That gives him a brow raise and a wave to come on in, which he gladly accepts. The man says his name's Matthew, and yes, he's Alfred older brother. For not being twins they look remarkably similar.
There's a young boy sitting on the couch who introduces himself as Peter. Ivan's curious but focuses on Matthew. Matthew doesn't ask what he's doing there, but Ivan fills him in on some details. He asks for Matthew's phone, which the man hands over. Matthew tells him which phone number is Alfred's current one and after a few rings he picks up.
"Hey bro." Alfred says casually and it's so nice to here that voice again.
"I'm not your brother."
There's a pause before a hostile, "What do you want," comes from the line. Ivan laughs.
"I need your help, and you will meet with me or I will kill Matthew and Peter."
There's another pause, shorter this time, before Alfred bites out, "Fine, where?"
"Your brother's house."
Alfred hangs up without saying goodbye.
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They're sitting and talking on the couch when Alfred arrives. He walks into the living room and stops at the sight of them. Normal response, because Ivan threatened them yet is talking so casually with them. He smiles.
"Glad you could make it. Come here."
Alfred glares the whole way to his side, and continues to when Ivan tugs him down to sit across his lap. Ivan's been waiting to indulge in this again, and grips the blond's face to raid his mouth, a completely claiming and dominating move.
Alfred growls but endures it.
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"My sister is after me. She is a killer and must be taken out."
Alfred doesn't looked shocked by Ivan's statement, and though he glares a lot he doesn't object.
"If you don't obey, I will kill your brother and the little one in the most painful way I know how. Maybe I'll even record it and force you to watch."
Alfred makes it clear he hates Ivan.
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Natalia is a gifted killer, and they worked together years before she developed feelings for him he could never return. She's his sister, his family, and he loves her but only in the way siblings should love each other. She's crazy, insane to the point that reason passes through her head with no affect. She's beyond it, and Ivan knows only death will save him now, for surely he cannot run from her forever.
Ivan knows Natalia has reached Eduard's town by now. She doesn't know Eduard so is probably looking for any clues as to where he might have gone next. Maybe she's even found a victim to occupy her time. He tells Alfred the directions on how to get to Eduard's town and slaps the blond on the ass in lieu of a goodbye.
"While your at it, don't die, understand? It would be such a shame."
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Two weeks later he's on the phone with Alfred. Alfred's being difficult, talking about betraying his brother by following after Natalia. It fills Ivan with rage for two different reasons because one; Natalia's ruined his life enough and he doesn't need her stealing Alfred from him and two; Alfred's seriously thinking about going against his wishes for a lunatic.
"If you go through with it I will hunt you down and torture you to death. Do you understand? And it will not be fun torture; it will be lasting and painful."
"Sure, if you want Natalia alive I guess that's fine. I mean, I thought you needed me to kill her because you're too much of a pussy to do it but hey, maybe you'll grow a pair someday and kill her yourself."
Ivan grinds his teeth at Alfred's words.
"I do not care if you are with her. Do you know how insane she is? All I have to do is call and she will drop everything to find me. And if you follow her, she will lead you straight to me. I will let Matthew deal with her while I make good on my promises. Do not let me down, Alfred."
He hangs up.
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It's another couple of days before the door bell rings. Ivan's the closest so he gets up, and when he opens the door Alfred's standing there with his sister's body in his arms.
"Surprise! Only the best for my favorite person." Alfred tosses her body at him and he reacts on instinct, though he is stunned. He did not expect to see her body. She looks...peaceful, unburdened by her unrequited love and so much like the younger sister he remembers. It is a cruel move on Alfred's part to make him confront the consequences of his actions, but understanding considering Alfred has a less than favorable opinion of him. When Alfred's out of the room Ivan smiles.
This one is definitely a keeper. Ivan won't let him go now.
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He leaves and buries her body, standing in front of her grave and wishing things didn't have to be like this. But she's gone now, and he can focus on the blond who's been the only thing on his mind lately. Alfred may not like him but he won't be able to keep Ivan away. He's far too obsessed now.
He follows Alfred when the blond leaves his brother's house. He decides to observe for now, trail after Alfred and watch how he kills. He's sure he'll find it just as enticing as if the blond was sprawled out on a bed naked with his favorite alcohol in hand. But then he remembers how Alfred kills, and just thinking about it makes him angry.
But he holds back and simply watches.
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Everything's going fine until an Asian man talks to Alfred. They meet once and suddenly stay together all the time, and it takes all his willpower to stop himself from killing the smaller man and stealing Alfred away to somewhere no one will touch him.
They carry out the kill together, taking their victim to an abandoned, secluded building outside town. As soon as he sees it he knows it must be how the man with Alfred kills his victims, as he knows how Alfred does it. Now he knows how that man will die.
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They move on to a new town, and pick a new victim. They're working together and getting closer than Ivan likes, because Alfred's his no matter what the blond thinks and he's not going to allow someone else the pleasure of even looking at Alfred.
He snaps a picture of them together and, in a controlled fashion to not show just how angry he is, crosses out the Asian man's face and writes Stay away above both heads.
He breaks into their room and places it on the neater side of the motel, right on the bedside table. He's been watching and knows Alfred's about to start trailing their victim, however he's not too sure the Asian man will come back here. Just a hunch.
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They're taking an awful long time to kill this guy, but Ivan can't wait any longer. As much at it pains him he watches as Alfred flirts and leaves with a group of young college boys, and keeps the Asian man and their victim in his line of sight. They'd moved to a different place to speak, and Alfred had missed it. Alfred would be preoccupied, so now was the time to strike. He returns to the motel room to start his plan, packing Alfred's things and waiting.
He doesn't wait long before the door opens and his own victim walks in. He comes up behind the shorter man and smothers him to unconsciousness. He leaves the note he'd written earlier on the bed before sitting the man in the passenger's seat of his car to not look suspicious and drives away to the perfect location to carry out his plan.
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He rouses the man from sleep and lets him know exactly why this is going to be painful. Alfred is his, he says, and the man struggles for a bit and tries to speak around the gag in his mouth but it is a fruitless endeavor and Ivan would not listen anyway.
He ties the man's hands up in chains and suspends him that way. Then he begins tearing the man to pieces.
Bones break and give, limbs come off in whole or partial parts, blood sprays in great arcs on him and the ground. He tosses each removed piece carelessly to the side, ignores the blood staining his coat and pants, revels in the short muffled screams before the man losses consciousness again, this time from blood loss. It is a painful and long death, and Ivan feels the best he has in years.
And as a car pulls up, he knows he's only going to feel better.
Alfred walks into the barn after standing in the entryway for a bit. Ivan's sitting in a chair off to the side, enjoying the blond's reaction; he looks confused, so Ivan finally makes his presence known, smiling all the while.
"Do you like it?"
Alfred turns to look at him, then glances around at the death around them.
"All this for me? You really shouldn't have."
"It is the least I can do." Ivan gets up and walks closer to his prize. "I had to get your attention somehow, and I did not appreciate your collaboration with this worm." He stomps on a nearby severed arm, knowing the man won't feel his hatred anymore but wishing all the same.
"Kiku?" Alfred looks unhappy about that, and Ivan's blood burns in him. "You know, I should kill you. You have made my life very difficult recently. I don't appreciate being toyed with. I thought you'd leave me alone after Natalia but I guess I'm just that unlucky."
Ivan feels like laughing(mockingly, just to piss Alfred off), but settles on a smile. "You should know you cannot kill me, not without catching me off guard somehow. That will never happen, little boy."
"Are you taunting me?" Alfred's getting angry now, and Ivan could lose himself in the fury in those blue eyes. "You have no right to be doing this to me. I did what you wanted now get out of my life."
"No," Ivan says, and he's getting angry too because Alfred doesn't get to tell him what to do. His whole life has been about others; his father, his sisters, never his own but that changes now and with Alfred. He knows that both of them angry is going to lead to some sort of confrontation and can't deny the thrill he gets from thinking about that isn't intoxicating.
"What is it you want huh? Do you have another crazy sister you want me to get rid of for you? Too afraid to do it yourself?" Alfred's taunting him now, and at the mention of his dear older sister he tenses. Alfred sees. "You do, don't you? Is your entire family made up of psychotic murderers or did you three just end up lucky. Not enough time with mommy and daddy as kids?"
Alfred is pushing his buttons, and he's getting tired of hearing that mouth produce such annoying words. He walks toward Alfred, and though his voice is steady as he taunts Ivan, he's backing up. He gets close enough to see Alfred's pupils are blown wide, and opens his mouth to respond.
He doesn't get a chance because Alfred punches him right in the face.
Alfred gets another swing in before Ivan blocks the next one by grabbing the blond's balled fist and squeezing hard, enough to feel the bones grind against each other.
"That was a very bad decision."
He returns a punch to Alfred's face, which catches him at the right angle because his knees go out. Ivan kicks him to get him on the ground, and as a result Alfred's side and back is covered in blood. He doesn't move and simply stares, and Alfred turns onto his back. Ivan balls his fists. Temptation weighs heavy on his chest, because Alfred's just so enticing and even more so covered in blood. At the same time he's being an annoying dick and Ivan wants to show him his place just as much as he wants to fuck him senseless.
"What's wrong? Gonna chicken out? Not man enough to finish me off you bastard."
His decision is made for him.
He kicks Alfred for good measure, channeling some of the anger he's feeling into it. It will make a beautiful bruise on the skin of Alfred's side.
There's a flurry of ripped away clothes falling on red puddles, soaking up the blood but he can't be bothered. He manages to throw his coat away from the blood though. He makes it known he's angry, and Alfred's ready to return the sentiment.
His hands are red from holding himself up, so when he maps along Alfred's front the tanned skin there is smeared with blood. It's a nice, pleasing compliment of colors, and decides Alfred should wear more red.
There's nothing around to ease the way and Ivan's too impatient to work him open. Besides, he justifies to himself as he pushes in roughly, this is suppose to be a punishment. Nevermind how Alfred encourages the savage thrusting, arching and letting the pleasure show on his face. He grips Ivan's hair and brings their mouths together in a kiss that could do with less teeth. Then Alfred's finishing and he's not too far behind, pushing in as far as he can because their connected now, and Ivan's never going to let Alfred go. Alfred will have to kill him to escape.
He lets himself feel the full impact of their actions, feels the ache on his face from the punches and the ache in his hands because he'd been gripping Alfred too tightly for too long. He lays atop the heavily breathing blond, taking this blessedly peaceful moment to imagine they're not killers, they're normal, healthy individuals sharing a moment of heaven.
Then Alfred comes back to himself, pushing him away with a scowl. Ivan regains his normal breathing pattern and laughs through the pain of being pushed away. They both stand up and look each other over, Ivan admiring once again the color compliment of red and tanned skin. Alfred glares at him.
"You've got what you came for I presume?" Alfred says, making no move to gather any of his clothes. Not much good it will do him anyway, Ivan thinks.
"On the contrary," Ivan says, "I've started something I intend to make last a long while."
"If you think I'm going to let you jump me every time we meet you're stupider than I thought."
"I don't think you could stop me if you wanted to."
Ivan knows Alfred might not like him but likes, if not loves the sex. It's a weakness Ivan will fully exploit.
"I'm not ruled by my dick; unlike some people, I can understand when I'm not welcomed. Leave me alone."
Alfred turns and starts walking out of the barn, and Ivan follows to show Alfred word's mean nothing to him. Alfred turns and Ivan smiles.
"What the fuck are you doing?"
Ivan glances around like there's something missing. "I think it is obvious?" He sighs as though suffering greatly over something. "Such a shame pretty things are often stupid."
Alfred looks ready to start another fight but holds back. There's a quick look of fear and doubt on his face, and it makes Ivan curious as to why the blond would feel those emotions.
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He follows after the blond despite Alfred's obvious annoyance with him doing so.
Town after town he trails the blond, watching and intervening when necessary. If they are to be together Alfred's going to have to stop his nasty habit of luring others in with the promise of sex. He needs to understand that Ivan's the only one he needs to go to, the only when he can go to.
Anyone who catches Alfred's interest gets a visit from him. He speaks nicely enough but throws enough threats in his message to get the other person shaking by the time he's done. He gets great satisfaction from watching them let Alfred down easy.
As a result Alfred has no choice but to come to him for sex, and Ivan knows his plan's working and soon Alfred will be all his.
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Alfred gives him the slip once, using an impressive combination of maneuvers to escape him. It is of no matter, because sooner or later Alfred's going to have to return to his car. Ivan sabotages it and plants a tracking device for good measure.
Alfred returns and tries to leave in his car, but Ivan's holding something that prevents that. He swings it around in his hand, enjoying the look of absolute fury and hatred on Alfred's face.
Someday he'll be looked at with love and devotion, and that makes this all worth it.
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A little more than a month has passed, and Ivan's sure Alfred won't be able to last much longer. The blond hasn't killed anyone in weeks, and Ivan knows how draining that can be.
He's waiting in Alfred's motel room when a knock sounds. He knows it's not Alfred so goes to see who's at the door. He's instantly surprise to see his older sister through the peep hole.
He opens the door and greets Katyusha with a smile, one she returns and they hug because they haven't seen each other for a long time now. Ivan's reminded of Natalia and the fact that he is the cause of her death, and fears Katyusha will hate him for it.
Before he can say anything there's a sharp pinch in his neck and the world starts tilting. Katyusha whispers her apologizes as he losses consciousness.
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He wakes up to an empty motel room. Alfred's stuff is gone, and so is the blond and Katyusha.
Ivan sits up.
He really doesn't want to believe Katyusha would do something like this. But the evidence is clear, and Ivan knows the proper punishment. He won't tolerate anyone taking Alfred from him. She may be his sister but she's going to die for her actions.
He sits and waits.
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Katyusha calls him a few days later. He's still in the same town as before, waiting patiently for this very call. She apologizes and sounds to be crying, and Ivan's anger is briefly overshadowed by the urge to comfort her, to wipe away her tears. She looks so much like their mother, who cried a lot as well, and the urge to sooth runs deep in him. But she's done an unforgivable deed by taking Alfred away from him.
She tells him her location and he leaves as soon as the call's over.
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It takes several hours to arrive, and he sends a thanks to whoever's listening that the motel isn't surrounded by much.
He's holding a gun in his hand, because she's his sister but he can't bring himself to cause her that much pain.
He walks up to the door and Katyusha opens it before he's even knocked yet. He lifts the gun and fires, hitting her in the chest.
There's betrayal on her face, but she dies quickly and Ivan feels barely anything for just having killed his sister. But now...
He steps into the room and slams the door, and as Alfred's nowhere immediately visible he turns to look behind him.
There Alfred is, beautiful as always. He has this stunned look on his face, and Ivan's missed it so much.
"Hello Alfred."
Alfred appears to be only able to breath and blink at him, but Ivan takes a step forward and Alfred responds in kind, taking a step away. Ivan frowns and steps closer, but Alfred continues to evade him.
"You...you killed her!" He's never seen Alfred so conflicted about a kill. Yes Ivan killed her, but Alfred should hardly be surprised by that. She took him from Ivan, she had to pay, familial relation aside.
"You shouldn't sound so surprised. If anything you should be thanking me. She separated us, and she had to pay. Now we can be together."
Alfred's backed up as far as he can, shaking his head. The knife he'd been clutching is laying on the ground now. Alfred's unarmed.
"No you're...crazy! We are not together; how many times do I have to tell you I hate you!"
Ivan walks forward until he's right in front of where Alfred had backed himself into a corner. There's nowhere to hide now, nowhere to run to.
"You'll understand someday," Ivan says as he pulls out a damp cloth. He grabs the back of Alfred's head and presses the cloth against Alfred's face, ignoring the protests and scratches along his arms from Alfred's hands. Eventually Alfred stops struggling and then goes limp, the effects of chloroform to much for him. He slumps but Ivan holds him up, wraps his arms around Alfred's waist and upper back.
He hugs Alfred to him, enjoying the warmth and knows he's not ever going to let this go.