Chapter 12

To my dismay, I wake up to see the Stay Puft marshmallow man still next to me. I thought he would leave in the middle of the night like a one night stand or something. Well, there is nothing I can really do now, especially since my ribs still ache terribly. At least my neck feels better. Since there was just bruising, I could probably have Ivan take it off for me when he wakes up. I don't see why there is so minimal damage to his body when my beautiful body is horribly maimed. Goddamn, he can pack a punch. I know that next time (and I hope there is not a next time) I will win.

I do the only sensible thing there is to do: whine like a dog until Ivan hears me and wakes up. That seems like the right thing to do. It is about six o'clock according to the digital clock I can just barely see with my neck brace. Luckily, Ivan's soft chest is giving me enough leverage to see it. Anyway, I must commence with my exaggerated moans.

"OooOOOhhhhhh! Ivan! WAKE UUUUUUUPPP! I want you to make me breakfast and my ribs hurt thanks to you! Also, this neck brace is making my neck stiff! You have to remove it!" I gripe and whine. I was going to do it, so there. It is what Ivan deserves. The sun isn't even up. I realize that, but I do not care. He owes me for making me lose my health counters. Not even a Poké center can fix this, damn him. Luckily, it seems that my whining has seemed to make it past his ear drum because he actually is awakening. He groans in a soft way and turns his attention to me.

"What are you whining about, Alfredka?" he asks me. "I know you are very impatient and have the mind of a child, but could you have not waited until the sun was out?" I glare over at him for that comment. Such a heartless bastard. I bet he doesn't care about me at all. Then again, he did take me to the hospital and picked up my medicine, but I think he is just doing that out of pity or to prevent me from suing him or something! I don't even know why I love him so much. He is so mean to me sometimes…

"Can you just take off my freakin' neck brace?" I ask him. I kind of want to move around a little bit more. My ribs aren't the only thing restricting me from moving around. I can't move my neck and turn my head. Basically, I have to turn my entire body to even look at something, which is painful in this state. At least, Ivan is complying. He is staring down at me with his annoying smile and he unbuckles the straps before removing the thing. His smile disappears for some reason and he runs a finger along a side of my neck. It feels a little bit achy. I am just going to presume that there are purplish bruises that the Russian's sausage fingers left on my neck.

I huff at him and turn away before asking, "Can you… can you take me out of bed? I don't… want to be in bed all day." Well, being in bed is so boring, but I know that it is really hard to walk with a broken rib. I'd probably only be able to stand for about a minute without buckling over in pain. I didn't want to ask him this question while looking in his eyes because honestly, I am embarrassed. Also, his eyes are just so pretty. If I look into them too long, I feel like I might get trapped in his gaze and then he'd just eat me or kill me or something… like a siren.

Well, he doesn't eat me, thankfully, but he does pick me up from the bed. I look up at him and sigh. This time I don't feel like wrapping my arms around him. That was really embarrassing last time and I don't want to show him that I actually love him, so therefore, I will just pretend to hate him for now. Actually, I want him to go, come to think of it, but not before he makes breakfast for me. He better make breakfast for me because I can't. Or else, he better go out and get me an egg McMuffin or a McGriddle or something. Mm… yes, those sound good to me right now.

"Hey, can you get me a McGriddle, Ivan? I want one for breakfast!" I exclaim. I really do. Those are, like, the best things ever. First of all, there is syrup in the buns. Yes, syrup. And every breakfast needs a little syrup on top. My philosophy anyway. Also, they have egg and cheese in them, so that makes for a balanced breakfast obviously and then, there is the meat. McGriddles are just altogether awesome, kay?

"I swear, Alfred… McDonald's for breakfast. How are you not three hundred pounds, malenki parosyenok?" I wonder what he just called me in Russian. His Russian words are very annoying and they sound disgusting, so I don't like them. I respond to those gross Russian words by glaring up at him, crossing my arms in the process.

"I work out…" I reply reluctantly. I don't, but I have a lot of energy in me, so I often take long runs to get rid of my energy. I don't do it to work off the food. If I did it to work off the mass amounts of McDonald's hamburgers I consumed, I'd be fifty pounds lighter, but alas, I do not. As long as he doesn't call me fat, I'm fine with it. That wasn't calling me fat, I think. I think he was just wondering why I was not fat, in which case that is compliment. Unfortunately, now he seems to be snorting and laughing at my response.

"You. Work out? You wouldn't have the patience for that. I don't even have the patience for that…" I glare up at him. Can't he tell by my stunning body build that I totally work out even though I just lied to him to answer his stupid question? Okay, well, I see he saw through my lie, but I might as well pretend that it is actually true.

"I can tell you don't have the patience, Mr. Chubby Bunny," I spit back at him. He puts me down on the couch, smiling down at me like he is about to murder me. Okay, maybe I shouldn't have insulted him about his weight. I don't like to be insulted about my weight, so why should Ivan. Well, ugh. I don't care what happens to Ivan. Just cuz I love him doesn't mean I have to care about his feelings. I guess it actually kind of does… according to that Doctor Who episode. But why would I take advice from a TV show! A BRITISH ONE, NONETHELESS! Reminds me of my stupid old boss, Kirkland.

"I don't see why you are one to insult me like that, Alfred…" he tells me, "I would have thought that you of all people would know not to insult people like that…" Man, his face looks really sad now. It's causing me to bite my lip. He sits down on the arm of the couch since I am taking up all of it. I could probably sit up, but I like lying back on the couch.

"Gosh… I-I mean… that you are soft… and warm and cuddly. I like people like that…" Man, imagine how horrible it would feel to hug someone bony. It feels very uncomfortable. My old boss and I were brotherly close at one point and he is rather bony and small. I could feel his bones just poking into my flesh, especially if he was trying to push me away like he often did. So uncomfortable. Therefore, Ivan is really nice to hug.

Luckily, what I said made him smile at me and not in a murderous fashion. He is very cute when smiling truthfully, even with that ugly bandage over his nose or that bruise and those stitches on his jaw. I sigh in relief and decide to put my arms behind my head. "Sooo… are you gonna get me my McGriddle, babe?" What the heck? Why not go along with this silly dating thing? I mean, I don't think I'll get anywhere if I don't go with it. I love Ivan unfortunately anyway. His blush on his face. Babe isn't even really a blush-worthy word. I suppose it could just be that I have never called him something couples call each other.

"Can't I make you a more healthy breakfast, Alfred?" he asks me quietly and nervously. I decide to sit up despite the killer pains in my ribs and get into a more comfortable position. I could probably walk at this point… as long as the bandages don't move out of place. Oh, that's right, the doctor said I could get a brace and then, I could go to work. Well, I'm not ready to go to work. I'll go to work when Ivan goes to work. "I have to go to work in an hour, though…" I shouldn't have said that.

"Oh, you do?" I ask him. He nods his head, seeming a little bit impatient. I sigh deeply. I don't want to be here all alone when I could be doing my awesome job. "Can you get me a back brace…? And pick me up Mickey D's while you're out?" See what I did there? See what I fucking did there? Yes, I am going to go to work today and I tricked Ivan into getting me McDonald's. At least, I think I tricked him.

"Oh, fine…" Ivan sighs. Yes, I knew it would work and once again, the Russian walks out of my home. Well, since he is going to work and I don't want to be totally bored, I suppose I'll go to work with him. With the back brace, I should be fine… as long as I don't do any manual labor that has to do with lifting heavy things. I have to work on a New Year's design now. Since I got hurt, they just gave my Christmas assignment to a different person while I recover.

A half hour later, Ivan gets back with the brace and the delicious-smelling food. Ooh. He's nice. Anyway, he gives me the back brace and I go upstairs to change into my work clothes. I remove the tight bandages and strap on the back brace before heading back downstairs. I'll eat the McDonald's on the way to work. Ivan will have to drive. I'm not allowed to operate heavy machinery either, unfortunately.

"I'm going to work with you," I state, "because I have a project I need to work on in the animation room…" I purse my lips. I can be very stubborn, but Ivan can, too. Some of the memories I remember from our past there is always something constant in Ivan's reactions. He will do whatever to make things go his way. It is unsettling and sometimes he will hurt people even. I even had to show up to detention one time just so that Ivan would not be "alone." It was an interesting argument. I'm still not going to admit that I love him…

"Okay…" he smiles down at me. No retort. How odd? I would have thought that he would have a retort or something. Well, whatever. I link my arm in his and we walk out to the car he took to my place. We live in the same apartment building, though, so he is in his own allotted parking spot. It's a better parking spot than mine, goddammit. It's closer to the apartment building. Gah! How dare he have a better spot than me? Regardless, I get into his car and cross my arms. He starts driving off to our work place.

"I hope my designs will look better this time…" I sigh. That first Christmas design I used kind of sucked. I couldn't even get it in on time due to this stupid injury, so now, I guess I'll just have to work on the New Year's one. Ivan stops the car in front of the building and he takes me inside, holding my hand. Why is he holding my hand? I don't want his fallacy to spread to work! I try to rip it away, but his grip is tight. Whatever means necessary. I can feel glaring eyes piercing into my soul. Natalya, obviously. She is really mad at me… for… various reasons. Well, I am totally over her! Yes! Totally not lying to myself!

Ivan takes me to the elevator and looks down at me. He is still holding my hand. "Fifth floor, bastard," I snarl at him. He presses that… and the sixth floor, his floor. He is still staring down at me. I am glaring back at him. I find all his niceties very suspicious. I love him, but he still really gets on my nerves, which is why I really really cannot ever tell him this until I absolutely find a reason that I have to. "Why are you staring at me?" I ask him reluctantly. It is getting creepy at this point.

"I am admiring you… I like the way your face looks." Ivan has such a smug grin on his face. I am so not going to let him get away with these petty compliments because damn it, I don't like blushing. My cheeks are so warm right now, but I think I will just dismiss that for now and just glare at Ivan. Blushing makes me feel so not like a hero and more like the damsel in distress. I especially feel like a damsel in distress currently because Ivan has to keep taking care of me.

"Stop it! You have to be the damsel in distress! Not me! Get into a pretty dress, please!" I snap at him all the sudden. I don't know what has gotten into me to say that out loud. I cover my mouth in shock. "I… I… Never mind." The only thing I can do now is just not look at him for right now. My floor beeps anyway. "See ya…" I say quietly before exiting the elevator.

I think I'll just go directly to the design room. That sounds like a fantastic idea. I need to talk to someone about this. Maybe that nice guy with the glasses… if he is in this department. He's like Ivan. He kind of floats around from section to section. Mostly, he works on computers, though. He is exactly like Ivan, but less intimidating, creepy, and wayyyyy easier to talk to and work with. He's even Eastern European. He doesn't seem to be in the department, though, so I go over to one of the tablets.

New Year's Eve… Well, I draw the skyscraper as the L and that giant ball as one of the O's. After an hour, I turn the E into a face blowing one of those ridiculous air horn things. The G is a bunch of confetti blowing in the wind and the other O turned into a person popping the little thing full of confetti that turned into the G. I finished it, so I suppose I'll submit it. Wow, four hours went by in just that. My eyes hurt. I think I'll just go nap off what I said to Ivan earlier. I deserve it after working for, like, four hours with broken, bruised ribs.

I walk into the elevator and Ivan is just waiting in there. I swear… Can I never get time away from him? This really sucks. I don't like him at all. At least, I don't like that he is here alone in the elevator with me again.

"Are you going to take a nap, Alfred?" he asks me. How did he know? Can he read minds? He is really creepy, but that just steps over the line. I wonder how my face looks- "You seem to be having trouble processing my question, dear Alfred. Did I kick your brain out?" Oh, he did not go there. I mutter profanities about Ivan to myself which are too explicit to even think about. I nod my head in answer to his question, though. "Yay! That is where I am going, too!"

"Never mind… I think I'll go talk to Eduard…" I say to him, a short growl in my voice. I want to avoid him. I get out at the floor that it stopped at and go up the stairs to meet Eduard, the glasses guy. He stumbles back. It seems he is surprised. "Oh yeah, Braginsky clocked me in the nose… And gave me a few hickeys," I avert my gaze. I don't really want to say what he actually did to me to Eduard, but I assume that is why he is so surprised.

"Oh… Wait, what?" Maybe I should have used something else. OH GODDAMMIT. This is what I was trying to avoid. I was trying to avoid us dating being spread around the office. Oh, if Eduard tells, it is going to spread like wildfire! This is the end of my life. I know it is. I'm dead. Alfred F. Jones, died of literal embarrassment. That is what it will say on my placard, along with lovely almost husband to Ivan Braginsky and that will really suck! I don't want that on there! Especially not the second one.

"Just forget I said anything!"