"... How long ago was the last collapse...?"

"Does it matter?"

The Russian smiled, ducking his head down, as he entered the large room. He went over to the fuse box, and looked about it to see if he could find any openings to the main part of the battery. If they where lucky, it would be enough energy left to light up at least this part of the old mine, it would help greatly, because of a large well in the middle of it all. The large well was about 89 meters when they finished digging and had to get out of there, but Ivan guessed the water that somehow managed to find it's way through had dug it even deeper, and maybe made a underground mine for itself to travel through.

Though it would be terribly small and muddy, Ivan guessed it would be a good thing. Also, if he just could find the calender he had left here those years ago, he would know if the water would come flowing or not.

When the moon was full, it was a large possibility the two men would have a chance for a bath or two.

Gilbert had stumbled himself inside as well, standing beside Ivan to watch him and his doings.

As Gilbert sat down, Ivan forcefully ripped the steel plate placed infront of the opening from it's bolts, and looked inside, placing the plate in Gilbert's hands to hold.

Gilbert noticed the bolts that kept the steel plate and the fuse box itself connected was rusty beyond reuse.

He also noticed it was more muddy in here, though it was very rocky on the floor. It seemed like it was better secured than the other mine right beside them.

Ivan had picked up some tools left in a box beside the main battery, and started to work his way on it.

A few buttons where pressed, some several times, and the turn buttons he put mostly on four out of 10.

Gilbert read the description above the buttons that Ivan turned on.

Keep insensitivity of light at 7, turn to 2 as you leave the mine

Boss.

Gilbert looked to the letter the arrow pointed to. Why four?

Was it to save power?

Suddenly the lights started to flicker, and suddenly the mine lit up enough so they could see each other. Gilbert looked to Ivan, and Ivan to him.

"There. Let us go and explore to see what survived, da? And see if it works?"

Ivan seemed eager, so Gilbert nodded and got up, a bit dizzy at first, but he regained his head quickly, looking around.

The first thing he noticed about the whole mine was that this part was giant. At least 3 times bigger than the one they where first trapped in.

And by the walls and such, there where doors. Some looked intact, while others was in bits, and also covered by rocks and other remains coming from the mountain above. There was a strong, but rusty steel door to the left, and it was tightly shut.

There was no damages except some water damages on it, and it was also the first place Ivan went over to.

He placed his shoulder and arm on it, and pulled down a large lock mechanism. A large click where heard, and Ivan started pushing at it. A few seconds after, the door, with a rather terrible racket, swung open slowly, and a lit room was revealed.

Ivan sighed happily, and instructed Gilbert to come and see.

Said man did so, and went over to him, peeking in cautiously.

"This is the main sleeping room. It was where those who had night shifts slept each night. Not a single thing is changed in here, it seems too."

There where clothes lying about, some first aid kits, and the whole room smelt strongly of nicotine. A ashtray stood on a rather downbeat table, together with some chairs. They where simple and fine, just perfect to slump yourself down into after a long day.

Some smokes laid on the table, it looked like their makers had left them there, most likely to come back and smoke them later.

But they never did.

Well, not until now.

The Russian man walked inside, and went over to the bed.

The beds had two rows, and two on each side. They where pulled up to the the wall, in which the wall was covered by wood. Though it looked like they simply clued the wood to the wall, it gave protection from the elements.

Ivan started to check on of the beds, pulling the blanket off it, and shaking it lightly.

Dust flew off it in great amounts, but not so great as both Ivan and Gilbert thought it would be.

Gilbert looked to the table again, though.

He saw some plates by the corner, and a glass containing old alcohol. Also many bottles of alcohol as well.

They smelled terrible.

So, what he did, he simply picked them up, and headed out of the room.

Ivan looked curiously after him, but decided to trust him.

And while he waited for him to come back again, Ivan placed all the blankets and other bedsheets on that specific bed on the others, and wiped off the dust. He sat down in it after a little while, and laid down, feeling if the spirals in the bed had been damaged.

But no.

Not even water had flown through the steel door containing this room. The bed was in perfect shape, not even smelling bad. Though the others did when you just put your nose into them, but Ivan wasn't planning on doing that.

One bed was enough, especially now that winter started to creep itself through the rocks sealing the men from the world.

Ivan closed his eyes for a minute, but was quickly awoken by Gilbert standing over him, an ever so impatient frown forming on his lips.

"Y'know, I'm not doing all the cleaning in here. Help me."

Ivan chuckled to himself and got up quickly.

He headed with him and was instructed where there was needed cleaning.

Ivan was in charge of the rest of the mine, while Gilbert was to take care of the room.

They agreed, and set to work.

Ivan headed to the large part of the mine, searching first around the fuse box for anything that could make their stay less comfortable.

He found dead rats, alcohol bottles, some thrown away clothes, many rags, and way too many smokes lying about. He placed it all in plastic bags that the food came in, and went back to the hole in the wall to throw it out of.

He had been going on for about an hour, and during that time, he had noticed Gilbert walking back and forth from the hole and back in the room.

Was it really that much...?

Ivan was just about the aim and throw the bag out of the hole, when...

He noticed something was blocking the entrance.

It was Gilbert. His feet wiggled about wildly, and the German cursing from him told Ivan to help him.

He slowly took Gilbert's flailing feet in his arms.

It got quiet, but then a loud scream.

Ivan simply yanked at Gilbert's feet, and the man knew it was Ivan, not a furious monster out to eat him.

"Get me out of here!"

"I am on it. Stop wiggling and it will be easier."

"I'll wiggle my ass out if I want to!"

"Do so, so I can get your waist."

… Gilbert thought to himself there was no perverted thoughts behind that command, so he did so. Shortly after Gilbert's torso was the only thing stuck.

Ivan, that had somehow climbed up the wall of rock, wrapped his arms around the others waist, and started pulling at him.

"It hurts! Stop, goddamnit!"

"Don't worry... We have to keep going.."

Meanwhile the two continued on, a shorthaired blonde man came to check on them, and looked to the scene from a short distance. His green eyes furrowed, and watched Gilbert face.

It was feverish, and the way he was moving... Also the fact he yelled like that...

He was even drooling, and gasping for air!

Said blonde man ran over to him, and pointed his gun at him.

"What the hell are you two doing!"

Getting more loose by the minute, Gilbert kicked at Ivan lightly to make him stop pulling.

"Who the fuck are you!"

Gilbert asked this out of thin air, although it was certain.

He knew this guy before.

He was the grumpy guy with the small sister that used to live by his and his brothers place.

A guy Gilbert never liked, really... He would always yell at him if he even got a meter close to his house.

And that fucking gun...

"That doesn't matter! What are you two doing!"

Gilbert snarled at him.

"I'm fucking stuck here, and he is currently trying to pull me back in!"

The gun was lowered.

"Good. Get inside now. There is a blizzard heading our way."

Ivan's eyebrows furrowed as he wanted to get the cleaning over as soon as possible... A blizzard now would not help their case, especially if Gilbert had his front rear sticking out.

He would become a frozen fish stick if he didn't move soon.

"Yeah, sure, easier said than done. Now, why the fuck did you react that way!"

"What way?"

The man asked, eyeing Gilbert critically.

"You talked like we where doing something illegal!"

"Well, your reactions and movement made it look like you where doing something entirely different."

Gilbert frowned, and wiggled slightly as Ivan gave a strong pull.

"So you're the one supplying West with porn."

The blonde man growled.

"I will leave you now."

He said as he turned away, and disappeared down to the houses.

A strong pull, however, stopped Gilbert from watching the outside as he flew back inside the man, and landed down on the ground, surprisingly soft, somehow.

Under him, laid Ivan, who sat up, groaning slightly.

"Are you hurt?"

"Nah, just my chest hurting a bit from being crushed, nothing else."

"Good."

Gilbert sat up as well, and found himself in Ivan's lap. Again.

The two men stared at each other for a little while, Ivan's eyes with a softer stare than the others, though.

Gilbert quickly looked away and collected his head again, getting up from the Russian without a word.

Ivan got up as well, and threw out his back skill-fully.

"So, you're done with the cleaning...?"

Gilbert asked, looking to him.

"Yes. Are you?"

"Yep."

Ivan sighed slowly.

"In that case, we should move everything to that room, and stay there for the night. Outside here it will get really cold."

"I know, I know."

Gilbert said, as he collected the blankets and other light weight things that he could carry.

That left the food to Ivan, of course.

They carried everything back, Ivan placing the food and other things on the table, after he had dried off some dust from it.

He looked to the cupboard placed beside a kitchen-bench, and also a small stove, with a pipe from it's back.

Gilbert had headed over to the bed, watching Ivan.

"Those lights... Shouldn't we turn them down for tonight?"

Ivan turned his attention to him now, and shock his head slightly.

"We still need to make dinner for today."

"Dinner? Seriously?"

Ivan nodded, looking to the wares Antonio and Francis had picked out for them.

"Yes. We can't go to bed hungry, da?"

"Sure, you're right."

Ivan smiled, and opened the cupboard. There he found some matches. He crouched down to the level of the stove, and found some firewood.

The then opened the door to the stove, placed the wood inside, lit a fire, and threw it in.

After a little while, the wood took fire, and the smoke coming from them escaped through the pipe, not coming back. It was clearly a good sign, it meant that the pipe had not been damaged.

Ivan then sighed contently, and started to work on the dinner.

He told Gilbert that he was making some chicken soup, and wanted him to help.

And so the two men made their dinner.

Gilbert chopped up some onions and leeks, also some paprika to add in. He chopped them abnormally small, with a knife that he had found lying about, and that he simply cleaned with his shirt. Hygiene didn't matter too much to him at the moment, his appetite wouldn't let him.

Ivan was working on the chicken, frying it before adding it to the soup. It was just enough for both of them, it seemed.

Ivan placed a unused plate on top of the pot, to let it steam and get thicker. Gilbert sat by the table, "cleaning" some plates and spoons to use for their dinner.

It smelled incredible good at the moment, and both of them felt their tummy's starting to growl for food.

Ivan used the time he had to cut some slices with bread, and placing it on the "clean" plate. He found a large spoon, in which he cleaned the same way Gilbert did, and finally poured the soup into the bowls.

A few minutes later both of them sat with their face nearly dipping into the soup, slurping up every little drop of soup that they could get. Ivan ate slow, watching his stomach, while Gilbert wolfed down everything, licking the bowl clean. He waited for Ivan to finish, before asking if he wants more soup, and when he didn't, Gilbert took the last few drops and wolfed them down as well.

He was nice and bloated, easily said.

A content smile grew on his lips.

"Thanks for the food. It was awesome..."

Ivan chuckled, and nodded.

"It has been a while since your last decent meal, da?"

"Yeah. Ever since I left West's house."

Ivan looked to him curiously. Gilbert then knew what he wanted, and sighed.

"West is my little brother. We lived together, but I moved out, because of his nagging and constant sleeping with his boyfriend."

Ivan nodded, smiling a bit.

"So you live alone now?"

"Yeah. It's awesome to be alone anyway. As long as you're not trapped in a mine."

Ivan smiled still, his eyes kind.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean what I said."

Gilbert mumbled.

"I don't like being alone in mines, or enclosed spaces. I'm supposed to be an awesome, free guy, like a bird, y'know."

Ivan simply nodded.

"So yeah..."

"You wont be."

"..."

"I promise."

"..."

Gilbert simply looked away, though a small smile grew on his lips. The Russian was already proving himself to his promise.

Making dinner for both of them and letting Gilbert eat the last bite, was a way of being nice... At least.

Though it could make Gilbert alone if his companion didn't eat like he should, so he decided to watch Ivan and see how much he had to eat to be full, or even bloated. 'Cause being bloated, for Gilbert that is, was for one time only a good thing.

He had to keep an eye on his awesome weight! Not on Ivan's, though. He was like a big teddy bear. Something that you could hug, and also something warm.

Gilbert kept a mental note to make sure he would claim this teddy bear to himself in bed.

Like a bed warmer.

Ivan suddenly then got up.

"Shall we head to bed...? I guess you're tired."

"Yeah, sure. I'll be going first, then you can come after. I wanna be a bit warm, at least."

Somehow it was decided that they where to sleep together in the same bed.

It didn't really feel like a problem for any of them, so why not?

Ivan went over to the bed, and laid a blanket over it, to cover the more dirty area of the bed. He then wrapped a pillow in a blanket as well, and placed it neatly on the end of the bed.

Then he gave Gilbert a blanket.

"... We're sharing this, ja?"

"Yes, if you want to."

"Fine."

Gilbert plopped down in the bed, and made himself comfortable.

As soon as he regained his warmth, he lifted up the blanket, and Ivan followed him into the bed, lying on his back beside him, claiming some of the blanket to himself.

Gilbert, however, pouted a bit, hoping the Russian would hug around him, so that he could get warmer.

Well, well.

Instead, Gilbert flung his arm over the man's chest, and nuzzled up against his arm, welcoming himself into Ivan's space of the bed.

Ivan however, didn't seem to mind.

He let the sleepy Gilbert snuggle up, and sighed slightly.

This was rare for the Russian to do, so he kind of enjoyed it.

During the next few minutes, Gilbert fell asleep, his head halfway lying on Ivan's chest, snoozing softly.

Ivan smiled as he looked to him, and stroked his head slightly.

He felt a strange relationship to the man, as if they where family.

It was the most common friendship Ivan had, so he wasn't really able to describe it elseway.

Ivan sighed heavily, even enough to wake Gilbert, but without said Ivan noticing.

Gilbert looked up to him slightly, his eyes musing to him. He then got a bit wide eyed, as the Russian started singing a soft, Russian lullaby for himself.

It was mostly made up on the spot, but the way he sang it made Gilbert lay his head down again, and listen, as well as listen to the man's heartbeat.

"Family waits,

So you close your eyes.

They follow your dreams,

So wide, so nice..

Lying in mama's arms,

You see,

There isn't a fear for you to believe..."

He hummed the rest, until his eyes closed. In a while, he fell asleep.

As Gilbert noticed, he looked up, lifting his head from Ivan's chest.

Ivan looked peaceful.

Gilbert sighed, he couldn't believe that he was together in a mine with such a sap like that..

Though having a loving family and a hug would be nice now...

Gilbert just closed his eyes and laid his head down again.

It was better to not think about it now.

Now he was tired and wanted to sleep.

So yeah... Why not?