"Braginsky, we need to have a word."
Ivan sighed, he was having the worst day of his life, no, scratch that, there were worse days but still, Tolys had broke up with him yesterday and him, being the idiot he was had mentioned it to Katya and she made a fuss about it insisting on visiting him so he could "cry his heart out" as she put it.
Ivan didn't mind talking with Katya but she was always worrying about every little detail, she didn't need to think about his problems too, on top of that he couldn't find his cat since last night and now he was being called by his boss, which was never a good thing.
Ivan stared at the mahogany table in front of him, the papers on it were placed neatly, the Russian wasn't surprised by the tidiness, Ludwig had always been like that, what did surprise him, was the little eraser next to the pens, it had the shape of a pizza, with vibrant colors, it looked like a kid's toy.
Noticing Ivan's stare, Ludwig placed the eraser in one of the drawers of his desk.
The blue eyed man, cleared his throat."I want to talk about the report you gave in today."
Ivan focused on his boss. "Of course, is there something wrong?"
Ludwig placed the papers in front of him, it was heavily underlined and was full of comments and notes by the sides of it. The blue eyed man frowned "Something wrong? Ivan, this is by far the worst report I've ever read. it looks like a threat."
"A threat?"
"Yes, the language is ambiguous but the hostility is too noticeable, we can't use it, it looks like a passive aggressive letter."
Ivan knitted his eyebrows, a wave of embarrassment passed through him, he had written that communicate the night Tolys broke up with him, perhaps his anger at the portly confessed cheating had swept into his writing. He took the paper in his hands and sighed "I'll try to correct it."
Ludwig shook his head. Taking a file from his pile and examining it. "No, I've been thinking and it's better if you take a break from work. I already asked Matthew to tone it down."
Ivan panicked, was he being sacked? "Excuse me?"
His boss refused to meet his gaze, flipping the pages of the file. "Yes, there have been some...uhh... requests from your coworkers, they said that you are overworking, and that affects the working environment, as you seemed to be stressed and well, the others feel pressured by you.."
Ivan frowned, who could have possibly said those things? "I don't think that's right.I haven't been disrespectful with anyone."
Ludwig stared at him for a brief second but Ivan felt himself exposed, as if the blue eyed man had managed to see his exhaustion and notice his sleepless nights. "I know, you've been working a long time already so even when the news are a bit exaggerated, they hold some truth. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't read this report."
Ivan's words were hurried, not enough to show the self-assuredness he wanted. "Sir, I can correct it."
The file was placed in front of him, a schedule showing his work hours. Ludwig kept his face emotionless. "No, Braginsky, I checked and your vacations had been delayed for too long. Take a break from work, recharge your energies and then, you can come back."
"But-"
"it's not questionable, I discussed it with the committee yesterday and they approved, the decision has been taken. You have been scheduled a month of vacation but it may increase due to your previous delayed ones."
With that, Ivan was left with no choice but to obey, he was notified of his vacation period, starting from the next day, Ivan was relieved that he didn't lose his job but now he had time to be alone, to think about what had happened.
Dreading his way back home, he took the longest road, hoping it would keep him from entering his empty apartment, it made him feel sad, not only was Tolys absence a reminder of his failed attempts at having a relationship, but his cat was nowhere to be seen, worrying him even more.
The faint light leaking through the window made him aware of the hour, it was already late, not that he had to wake up early or anything, but night had come in a matter of seconds, and he hadn't prepare any dinner.
With a heavy sight, Ivan propped himself up, fighting against the weight and tiredness that had kept him in his car since he arrived from work.
He opened the car's door and looked at the market around the corner, If he was going to indulge himself in sadness, he might do so with some vodka as well.
In the grocery store he was rummaging through the aisles, looking through out the lines of bottles, once he found the ones that reminded him of his homeland, he took a bottle of vodka and went to the register, the old lady in front of him gave him a strange look. Ivan ignored her, looking around impatiently and tapping his foot.
When the transaction was finished he passed through the glass door and hurried to his car.
A loud voice made him stop in his tracks."Ivan is that you?"
The voice was familiar, in fact it was the kind of voice Ivan would recognize even in his deathbed.
He turned to see a silly American smile and sighed.
"Dude, you look like shit." the american was wrapped in a winter coat, carrying a small travel bag with him.
Ivan replied tiredly. "Thank you Alfred, is nice to see you too."
Alfred dropped his bag and approached him for a hug. "Sorry, but you look like you were mugged and then run over by a truck."
Ivan complied, giving the american a small smile. "Well, I feel like that, so there no much of a difference. What are you doing here?"
The american gave him an apologetic look."I came to pay Mattie a visit, but he can wait, priority number one is to take you out of the whole you are in."
The russian shook his head, glancing down. "Alfred, I'm just tired, some good sleep will and tomorrow I'll be better."
Alfred mocked him."I don't know Vanya, the vodka in your hand tells me that wasn't your plan."
Ivan laughed nervously. "Oh this, it's only because I've run out of it, I'm not going to get myself drunk, just replace the empty one."
"Dude, don't lie, let yourself be pampered by a friend once in your life. Say, do you still live near here?"
Ivan nodded. "Yes."
"Can I stay the night there?"
Ivan ganced at the apartment complex, at his window, the curtains were open but there was no light coming from the inside, of course there wouldn't, nobody was there, not even his cat knocking things out of the shelf. "Sure."
"Good, let me grab some things here and then we can go."
Ivan stayed out with Alfred's bag, he glanced at the glass entrance after the blonde was inside, his reflexion showed him that Alfred's words were no exageration. He looked so pale,his hair was tousled, his tie was out of its proper place, no wonder the old lady back there was looking at him, he looked like a mess, a mess that was buying alcohol. He could pass as a drunktard if it weren't for his not wobbly way of walking.
Alfred came out of the store a few minutes later, carrying a paper bag, smiling brightly, making silly jokes and refusing to reveal what he had bought.