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Kings

Chapter 11: Letter

"It's lucky that you were born in the South, so you can make fun of the distance between us. I'm lucky to have met you and your love of foreign countries. I would climb the Andes Mountains just to count your freckles. You celebrate and suffer in all my joys and sorrows. You know that…I'm at your feet.

"With you, my darling, I want to spend the rest of my life. The rest of my life, I want to spend with you."

―"Suerte"/"Lucky" by Shakira [English Translation]

oO_Oo_oO_Oo

The moonlight streams through the skylight, the only thing that illuminates the two figures on the bed. It's not too late, not even midnight, and even with most of their clothing still on their bodies, it's hard to determine where each begins and ends.

When Ivan sits up and moves to pull his shirt off, Alfred stops him, holding his hands. "Mattie said I have to be able to walk tomorrow. I mean, it won't be that bad, but I really don't want him to tease me about limping."

"I did not say that you would be on the bottom." Ivan rolls them over, steadying Alfred over him.

However, Alfred immediately shakes his head. "No."

The first thing that flashes across Ivan's face is confusion. Then frustration. Lastly, it's hurt, and Ivan furrows his brow and tilts his head to the side slightly. "No?"

"I want to, Ivan." Alfred closes his eyes. "I really, really do, but I don't want to…hurt you."

"I do not want you to treat me as if I am made of glass," Ivan replies.

"I'm not. Seriously, I know that you're strong." Alfred leans forward and presses his lips to Ivan's. While their tongues dance together, Alfred lets his hands wander down to Ivan's waistband. The reaction is immediate. Ivan's legs try to clamp together, though Alfred's hips prevented it, and his hands clenched into fists on Alfred's back.

Alfred pulls away, sitting back on his heels while Ivan looks to the side and brings his legs closer to himself. After a moment, the Russian murmurs, "It is not fair to you that―"

"Don't worry about that. I don't care about that stuff, and I enjoyed it, regardless about who's top and who's bottom." Alfred smiles sadly. "And when it's you, I want you to enjoy it just as much as I did. Something planned out and special, not quick before I leave."

"We had sex in my closet," Ivan deadpans.

"That's different."

Ivan glares at him. "No, it is not."

"Did you enjoy it any less?"

"Nyet, of course not, but―"

"But nothing." Alfred moves forward, lying beside Ivan with one elbow under him to prop him up. "I don't understand it, but I know that it made you feel safer to be in the closet. That helped, didn't it?"

Ivan curls up against the other and tucks his head under Alfred's chin. "Da, small spaces help. Occasionally, I will have panic attacks, and that is where I go to calm down."

While he rubs Ivan's back, Alfred says, "We can work though it together, alright?"

"Your birthday then."

"What about it?"

"When we celebrate your birthday, I want to bottom for you."

"Then tell me exactly what will help you."

Ivan closes his eyes and thinks about it. "No people. And I need some kind of noise that will relax me." Then he pulls away slightly to look at Alfred, amethyst mixing with sapphire. "I do not need anything big or elaborate. A bed covered in rose petals, candles, or champagne. I want you."

Alfred smiles. "I think I can manage that."

Oo_oO_Oo_oO

Alfred closes his eyes as he settles into the airplane seat. Dixie and Mattie will be waiting at the airport eleven hours from now. Until then, he plans to sleep and catch up on some of the work that he's missed.

He's never wanted July to come more quickly in his entire life. His lips still tingle from the tiny kiss Ivan had planted on them, but they couldn't do anything more than that and hug for a moment. Ivan had worried about what homophobes would do, though Alfred really didn't care. He just wondered how hard it would be to kidnap a country two inches taller and a good twenty pounds heavier than him. Sure, he has enough strength to do it, but Ivan would surely put up a fight. Or maybe he wouldn't.

Too late now, Alfred thinks as the plane takes off. Looking down at the envelope in his hand, he folds it and slides it into his pocket. A letter from Ivan to Matthew. Alfred doesn't know whether he should be happy or worried.

oO_Oo_oO_Oo

"Dad!"

Alfred grunts as his daughter flies into him and proceeds to squeeze him like a lemon for lemonade. "Good to see you, too, Dix."

Dixie grins and pulls away, her stark white hair pulled into a sleek ponytail. Behind her, Matthew smiles. "Welcome home, Al."

"Yeah, thanks, but you seriously didn't need to come, dude. It's not like it's the only time I've ever been away."

Matthew gives him a very pointed "you-know-exactly-why-I'm-here-and-I-will-not-hesitate-to-say-it-aloud-in-front-of-your-kid" look. So Alfred continues, "But I'm glad you did! I missed you bunches, Mattie!"

Dixie rolls her blue eyes. "Guys, I'm not five. What are you two trying to hide?"

"I'll explain in the car," Alfred mutters and stomps away to the luggage pickup.

However, the explaining part comes much sooner than Alfred would have liked, and he's not sure if he's glad to be in passenger seat or not. At least Matthew can't hit him or anything while he's driving.

"Okay, so spill it, Dad," Dixie says in the back seat.

Alfred takes a breath before he rushes, "I'm dating Russia."

There's a long moment of silence. Matthew doesn't say anything or even show any change whatsoever, but soon enough, Alfred can hear confused stutters behind him.

"What?" Dixie finally says.

"Exactly what I said." Alfred tries to sound firm, but it's harder to do when he feels like he's the one doing something wrong. "Ivan and I are dating."

"But…I mean…he's Russia! Cold War! Cuban Missile Crisis!" Dixie says. "And even now, we're not on the best terms with him."

Matthew glances at Alfred for a moment before he turns his eyes back to the road, emphasizing her point nonverbally. It's something Alfred hasn't ever mastered and envies his twin for. Of course, every country also thinks that his twin has no backbone and is only ever polite. A sneaky guy, Matthew is.

"I'm not dating him as a country. I'm dating Ivan as a person."

"How does that even work?"

"I don't know. If Artie and France can do it, so can we."

Dixie huffs, but she doesn't say anything else for the rest of the drive. It's not too far to their house, and Alfred finds himself wishing it would be farther.

Once they pull into the driveway, Dixie takes Alfred's bag inside, and Alfred nearly sneaks away after her―

"Where do you think you're going?" Matthew shuts the car door and leans back against it, crossing his arms.

"You said that all you need to know is that I'm happy!" Alfred whines as he trudges back to the car and slumps against it beside his brother.

"I still want to know the details about what happened. I trust you, not Russia."

Alfred frowns. "You don't have to trust him or even like him, but show a little more respect since he's my…boyfriend."

"Give me a reason." Matthew narrows his eyes at the other, the violet darkening. "You've never acted like this towards anyone."

"Do you remember that time you punched me for joking about France being a rapist?"

"Very clearly."

"It's the same thing."

"You insulting my father is different from me not liking your choice of partner."

"Not really."

They stand in silence for a moment.

After a while, Matthew sighs, his voice softening. "Alright. Just tell me how this came about."

Alfred shrugs. "I don't really know. I mean, he's not bad. He's actually a lot like France in some ways, being misunderstood and all."

"Since when do you think that Francis is misunderstood?"

"I guess since Ivan gave me a different point of view." Alfred looks at the trees around the house. Technically, they're just outside of D.C., but it's not such a big deal that Alfred usually specifies that. "Anyways, we started getting closer, and it just sort of…happened. I know we moved really fast, but…I'm happy. Like, I can't even put it into words. I already miss him so much, and I feel like such a schoolgirl with a crush, but I'm just so happy." He glances at his brother. "Does that sound crazy?"

"That sounds like love."

Alfred quickly averts his gaze. "No, I don't think that it's love. I mean, not yet at least."

"Of course." Matthew's lips are twitching.

"You're laughing at me!" Alfred points at the Canadian.

"I'm not laughing at you, Al." Matthew lets his lips pull into a smile. "I just think that you're confused about everything when it's so obvious."

Alfred huffs and crosses his arms. "Yeah, what's obvious, smart guy?"

"That you're falling in love with him."

This time, Alfred doesn't say anything. Instead, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out the envelope. He hands it to his brother. "Here. Ivan wanted me to give this to you."

Matthew takes it with a smile. "I'll read it later. For now, how about some pancakes?"

Alfred grins. "Oh, Mattie, I love you!"

"Of course. How could I possibly think otherwise?" Matthew says as he follows his brother into the house.

Oo_oO_Oo_oO

Dear Matthew Williams,

I am quite sure that by now Alfred is home safely. I also know that you take after your father in many aspects and are very protective. It must be quite a surprise for your brother to return home after a mere week and announce that he is the lover of his former enemy, and if one of my sisters were to do such a thing, I would immediately suspect ulterior motive.

I know that I cannot possibly ease your mind about such things, but I wish to make it very clear that I want to keep Alfred and Ivan separate from the United States of America and the Russian Federation.

With that said, I am unsure about the protocol for these kinds of things and I have never dated someone before. I think it is marriage that I am supposed to ask for a blessing, so until any such time, I would simply ask that you allow me to prove my love for Alfred to you. He has invited me to his birthday celebration in July, and I would like to formally ask for your permission to court him then.

I apologize that this is all very sudden, but Alfred and I have discussed this and we decided that we are both adults and therefore can determine how quickly is too quickly.

Thank you for reading this letter, as it would mean a great deal to me that I have the approval of Alfred's most beloved person in the world, and please keep him from doing anything too ridiculous until July.

Sincerely,

Ivan Braginsky

Author Note: Yes, the chapter was much shorter than I usually post, but it couldn't be helped. Thank you all so much for reading! If you're excited for the next part, please, Please, PLEASE REVIEW!

The name of the sequel is Love?, and I will post it next Friday, so be on the look-out for it!

A hint for Love?

Alfred is just a little bit anxious to see Ivan again.

Arthur can't help but stare as Alfred sits on the floor in front of the door. Everyone else is in between the foyer and living room, setting up tables and moving furniture.

"Angleterre, leave him be." Francis appears behind Arthur, wrapping the other in his arms. "He is simply lovesick."

While Alfred and Ivan are working out the next step in their relationship, there seems to be something bothering Matthew.

"I think that Alfred will believe what he wants to believe, so there's the answer to your second question. As for you, you're going to say that you're always there for me and tell me that I should get this worked out." Matthew picks up his half-full wine cooler and drains it.

"And what are you going to do?" Francis asks.

Matthew shrugs. "Well, I don't know exactly. I should be pretty drunk after two or three more of these―" He wiggles the empty bottle. "―and I hear that alcohol is an amazing aphrodisiac. Maybe I'll change out a White Russian for a white Prussian."

And then in all of this madness, Alfred can't help but wonder…

Does he love Ivan?

Well, until then―!

Happy Writing,

Crowsnight