Chapter 10. Too Close.

Ivan hummed happily to himself. Nothing could bring him down now. He was happy, for once in a very long time. Having Alfred around, no matter how angry he could get at Ivan, brought his mood up. General Winter was affecting him less than normal, his sisters even seemed to be in better moods, even Natalia despite what she said. This was a good time. He knew it could not last forever, but it was nice while it was lasting.

Just as he expected, Alfred was cautious enough to not try to escape, even with his full magic. He did his studying at pretty much the same time every day, then he would rifle through Ivan's books and Ivan would be in the library with him, happily standing on the other side of the room. General Winter definitely wasn't happy, but as long as Ivan kept the distance he had been, everything would be fine. There were no more near mistakes like what had happened earlier. He had a control on this situation. Everything was fine. Everything was happy.

That is, until, Alfred broke his usual schedule. Ivan was walking through the halls, glancing through papers he would have to talk to the head soldiers about. He hadn't noticed that Alfred was standing in the hallway until it was too late. Until he felt General Winter's urge to kill. Ivan dropped his papers and looked ahead. Alfred hadn't even noticed him. He was staring at a nearby wall, looking around it curiously, pressing his ear against it.

"What are you doing?" Ivan asked and Alfred jumped slightly, looking over him carefully and taking a step back, which Ivan was grateful for. Alfred could see General Winter's aura and, though Ivan couldn't even see it clearly, he could guess what it must be like.

"I hear something," Alfred muttered, crossing his arms over his chest quickly. "I think. I'm pretty sure. I couldn't focus, okay?"

"What do you hear?" Ivan asked him carefully. There was no way Alfred could have already found the secret dungeon, that was protected by magic on the level of General Winter. What could he be hearing, then? This didn't make sense.

"Nothing important," Alfred grumbled and glared at the wall suspiciously. Ivan raised an eyebrow.

"You need to stop him before he finds that menace," General Winter said cruelly and Ivan flinched. His voice was louder than it had been the past few days. "If they even touch-"

"You should return to the library," Ivan said quickly. He could already feel his hands shaking. General Winter was suspicious, more so than he had been in the past. If Alfred got any closer to that dungeon, Ivan wouldn't be able to protect him from the spirit anymore, that much he knew.

"Kill him now, before he gets too far." General Winter's words echoed through his head, Ivan couldn't even hear what retort Alfred had for him. This was bad. He should just leave. Ivan moved his feet, but they moved in the wrong direction, towards Alfred, not away from him. Ivan gritted his teeth. No, not now.

"Dude?" Alfred asked and made the bad decision to take a step forward. Ivan couldn't stop himself. He gripped hard onto Alfred's neck and slammed him back into the wall. Alfred made a choked, surprised sound as his head hit the wall hard. Ivan wanted to stop, but his hand wasn't obeying him, it was obeying General Winter. He remembered the day he had nearly killed Alfred in the library, he wouldn't allow this, he couldn't allow this. He needed to…distract General Winter.

Alfred was choking, Ivan could see it, the way his face was contorting, changing color. He already hated Ivan, it didn't matter what he did, as long as Alfred could be safe. Ivan gripped hard onto Alfred's arm and did the first thing that came to his mind to distract General Winter. He kissed Alfred.

The second his lips pressed against Alfred's, his hand released the man's neck. Alfred, despite freezing upon this contact, couldn't stop his rapid breaths that came into Ivan's mouth, puffing hot breaths in his face. Ivan pressed further, surprised when Alfred didn't stop him. He stopped himself before he tongue moved without his permission and took a step back. Alfred stared at him with wide, confused eyes, still panting for air. A deep red blush had washed over his face as he leaned against the wall for support and Ivan took a few, necessary steps back. General Winter was silent in his head.

Before Alfred could say anything, yell at him or hit him, Ivan ran. He ran as fast as he could until he was back in his room, door slammed shut so hard that the wood cracked once again. He didn't bother fixing it as he regained his bearings. He hadn't expected that to happen. To see Alfred…or for his plan to stop General Winter to be kissing the man. His hand carefully rose to delicately touch his lips and he knew he had a blush on his face as well. What was wrong with him? He's trying to kill someone so he kisses them? He ran the same hand through his hair as he tried to collect his thoughts.

"You are even more twisted than I am." General Winter gave an amused chuckle as Ivan stayed right where he was, almost afraid to move. "That was…surprising. Of course, I knew your feelings were there, but I never expected you to act on them."

"Shut up," Ivan shook his head desperately. "Don't fucking talk to me."

"I wonder what he thinks of you now."

"I said shut up!" Ivan snapped. He didn't dare move. He stayed in his room in silence, hoping General Winter would get the hint, but he rarely did.

That was when Ivan felt it. With a start, he sat upright. A magic barrier had been broken. By Alfred. General Winter's rage came back immediately and Ivan started shaking, but he quickly scrambled to his feet. No. He had to stop this. He had to stop Alfred before he endangered himself. Ivan left the door to his room wide open, the pipe resting against his back as he ran as fast as he could. Alfred had found the hidden dungeon.

Alfred was in shock. One second, he's being chocked against a wall…and then…he's…Lord Braginski…he… What? Alfred honestly had no words as he leaned against the wall for support, Lord Braginski staring at him like a startled animal. Alfred's mind hadn't even caught up with him when he saw the lord run. Alfred let out some kind of groan as he slid to the ground, trying to recover his wits. That definitely took him by surprise.

What kind of weirdo suffocates someone before they kiss them? On top of that…they were both dudes. Alfred wasn't into that. No way. But the way his stomach knotted and twisted told him otherwise. What the fuck was that? He shouldn't feel that way. It wasn't even a long kiss. Maybe just a few seconds, at most.

I know you're there

And that damn voice! It was back and echoing through these halls! Alfred was sure he'd found it. But his mind was distracted, trying to reassemble himself. Everything just needed to stop for a second while he figured this out. It was enough that the choking stopped his mind from thinking to use magic to protect himself, but that he was sure even his physical abilities were completely out for the count now.

Please!

"Shut up!" Alfred snapped at the voice. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! I can hear you! Stop!" Alfred gripped onto his head tightly. One thing at a time! He had to figure this shit out one thing at a time or his mind would explode. He was sure it was already exploding.

Come here! Please!

"I know!" Alfred groaned. "You want me to come there! Where the fuck is there? You tell me!" He slammed his hand into the wall behind him, but the wall suddenly wasn't there. Alfred tumbled back and let out a small scream (which he would never admit to anyone) as he tumbled down a few stairs that he was sure weren't there a second before. He slid down a little further as he groaned, rubbing the back of his head. He looked around and saw the regular stone walls around him, but a stairway he'd never seen before.

You.

"Me?" Alfred muttered, slowly standing up. He couldn't think, really. There was magic energy all around this place, a dark fog surrounding him, enclosing him. He forgot about the outside world. He slowly descended the stairs. "What about me?"

I can hear you.

Alfred reached a wooden door with a thick lock on it. He broke it easily with magic and the door swung open. The magic nearly suffocated him again and he struggled to breathe and see. But he saw a single thing in this room. Something that completely entranced him. A single, floating, golden ball.

I can see you.

Alfred stepped forward curiously. It was almost like he could see a shape in the ball, like the magic surrounding it was creating something. Part of it stretched out towards him and Alfred moved his hand out to touch it. He almost moved without his own consent, but he was just so damn curious, he knew this was him moving. All that mattered was that golden ball, the voice coming from it, and the magic pouring through this room. It was suppressing as well as fighting. He was so confused and taken over by this sensation, nothing even mattered, not even the butterflies in his stomach, not even a minute before.

Just a little closer.

Alfred took a hesitant step forward. This thing needed his help. It had been pleading with him pretty much since he got there. He had to help it, but he didn't know how. He could start with offering his hand, so he moved even closer still, but he was still too far away from the ball.

"Alfred!"

The voice was dull, in the back of his head. Hardly a blip in his mind. He continued forward.

"Alfred!"

The voice was sharper and Alfred stumbled slightly.

No. Please don't. No!

"Alfred!"

Alfred knew that voice. The one not in his head. It was Lord Braginski. The butterflies returned, but his mind had trouble returning to reality. What memory did he have of Ivan? The dance? The…the kiss… Alfred wanted to turn around, but that meant he had to look away from the ball. He stopped walking.

Please! You're so close! Just a little further! Please!

The voice was screaming at him, begging with him. Alfred had to continue…but…

"Alfred! Get away from that!"

The voice in real life cut through it all. Alfred glanced back and his mind crashed to reality. Why was he down there? What had just happened? Lord Braginski stood at the doorway of the small room, slamming his fist against a magic barrier. Alfred was confused and…lightheaded, but he moved ahead slightly. His head hurt and there was something nagging at the back of his head, almost like a voice, but he forgot about it quickly. Lord Braginski looked…panicked. Afraid. Terrified. Alfred almost felt touched, but at the same time, he was pissed off. That guy showed his face after suffocating him and then confusing him like that? No way in hell.

"Fuck you," Alfred snapped at the man, leaving the room. The second he passed over the threshold, he felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of him and he almost felt…drowsy. Alfred shook his head as he passed Lord Braginski, who looked heavily shocked, but Alfred didn't turn around as he walked up the stairs. Lord Braginski followed him quickly behind.

"Don't you have somewhere else you could be?" Alfred snapped again as soon as he was up the stairs, Lord Braginski still close to him, incredibly close. Too close.

"Alfred," Lord Braginski swiftly placed a delicate, shaking hand on Alfred's forehead. Alfred immediately tried to move away before he realized what Ivan was doing. This was a spell, one he used a lot. Why? What had he done? Did that fucker want Alfred to forget what he had done?!

"Get the fuck off of me!" Alfred snapped and tried to fight back, but he was too slow.

"Sleep," Lord Braginski commanded and Alfred already felt himself drifting. He hated the fact that he'd be forced to pass out in that man's arms, but he had no control over it now. Even his own magic wasn't helping him in this. That was when he realized this wasn't Lord Braginski's magic. It was the magic of that menacing aura. Alfred panicked, but it was quickly drowned by the drowsiness. What did that aura want with him? "Forget."

Now this was far from filler! I'm really happy! Trust me! This is beautiful! Every part of it! Plot is beauty. Life is grace. Anyway, I'm done fangirling over my own writing. What is this glowing ball? What part does it play in all this? And the voice Alfred's hearing? What is General Winter doing now? What will Ivan do next to stop him? So many good questions that I already know the answer to! I'm so happy. And we got nice fanservice, though it's nice and awkward like those two do.

Hope you enjoyed! Please review to tell me if you did!