Chapter 10: Timeless

Moscow, 7:00 P.M. February 14th, 1950

"Come one, there's something I want to show you!" The eager Russian tugged on China's arm as they raced up the winding stairs of the tower. "We're going to miss it!" He pouted anxiously as he shuffled his feet, waiting for the Asian to catch up

"I…" Yao protested, panting. Russia huffed as he scooped up the Chinese into his arms. "Too slow!" Ivan bounced up the rest of the stairs, ignoring the protests of the blushing China. He lowered the other man to the floor only when they reached the top, on the balcony. He rushed over the ledge, beckoning to the Chinese. "Come look!"

Yao leaned out over the wall to look at what he was pointing to, but a wave of vertigo stole his breath. The taller man gathered him to his chest. "Here. Hang on. I promise I won't ever let you fall."

Clutching Ivan's shoulders for dear life, China let himself enjoy the view: The soft blue of twilight, the velvety outlines of the land, and the pulsing, flickering lights of the city below, surrounding them. He was overwhelmed by the intoxicating feeling that together, they were standing on the brink of something immense. When Russia bent to kiss him, he closed his eyes, absorbing all that was so foreign, yet familiar about Ivan, like a kindred spirit- his taste, the softness of his lips, his arms holding the Chinese steady- and Yao could tell that the Russian was doing the same, drinking him in, committing the kiss to memory, as they found a home in each other in the descending darkness.

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China stared into the Russian's stormy purple eyes. He knew the blonde man had stories to tell, about the past he was fleeing from, and the future he had planned for himself. He had always been fascinated by mysteries, and now, one had landed on his lap, tempting him to solve it.

While Yao gazed off into the sunset, pondering the mysteries of the frigid country, the taller man quietly observed the Asian, fidgeting nervously. Mildly irritated by this, China turned to snap at the European. "Well, do you have something to say? Out with it!"

Ivan stammered, grinning sheepishly. "I-I was just thinking if I should introduce you to my family… But I'm afraid they might creep you out. They don't take well to strangers being a part of their lives." He let out an exasperated sigh.

China chuckled, relieved by the confession. "Aren't all families a bit like that? Why, I remember Kiku getting so worked up over Alfred paying him a visit. He actually went ahead and blew those ships right out of the water!"

"Exactly. As dysfunctional as they are, family is… wonderful, isn't it?" Russia gave this latest idea a moment to sink in and took a deep breath to summon his courage. "And there was one more thing I've been thinking about." He looked off at the distant fields, drenched in tinges of the scarlet sunset. "Don't you think it's about time you got married?"

"I don't know. I don't think I'm what you'd call the marrying kind… remember?"

At this, Ivan couldn't help but wonder if the Chinese was teasing him. Well, he thought, he deserved it after the hard time he had given Yao when they were coming up the stairs. He dared a glance at the Asian. He saw a sly look he hadn't seen since their days together during the Mongolian empire.

"I think you're exactly the marrying kind… if you manage to choose the right one."

Now China was grinning. "I could marry Alfred. Or if he won't have me, maybe court Arthur."

Russia made his voice casual. "I think you'd be much better off marrying me."

"Ivan Braginsky, are you proposing to me?" He affected a shocked tone.

"Yes, Mr. Wang, and you better answer fast, or I shall rescind my offer."

"Don't do that." China's grip on the Russian's hand tightened reassuringly. "Yes, Ivan. My answer is yes."

Russia knelt on his knee, covering China's hands with his. "We may be poor and powerless compared to those other nations…" He slipped a sliver of coal into Yao's palm. "But I swear there will be a day when we are feared enough, powerful enough, to make this coal, the blood and sweat of our people, into diamonds." He closed the Chinaman's fingers around the black rock. "Yao, this is my first wedding gift to you, among many others. I swear I will never leave you, make you feel sorrow, nor leave you alone, in sickness and in health, even beyond the gates of death. Yao Wang, do you trust me?"

A smile, a nod, and they were in each other's arms, kissing, their fingers entangled in the other's hair, the length of their body warm against the lovers, the rising cold in the gathering dark florgotten in the background.

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"Do you trust me…?"

[[First part of the flashback, beginning of the Communist Bloc/Sino-soviet alliance. Referring to Sino-Soviet Treaty of mutual friendship, Alliance, and Mutual Assistance (中苏友好同盟互助条约), with basis on a prior alliance of the same name in 1945. It's hard to pick and choose an exact date/time for this, so if you want to revise the facts, feel free to talk to me! Reviews, comments?

Please tell me: Happy end, or sad end? Please vote!]]