Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia: Axis Powers, Teen Wolf: The Series or Twilight.

Chapter 11: Ivan The Weredog Hunter

Arthur hadn't said anything in the few agonizingly long seconds after she told him, but she could feel him grip her hands even tighter than she had gripped his. Almost as if he were going to break her fingers.

And then she heard it, a low growling sound. For a moment she thought to look around to see if it were werewolves, but she felt that if she looked away from Arthur even for a moment he'd be gone, and Ivan would be dead.

His eyes were glowing green now, and his nails were digging into her skin. Her heart was beating in her chest, loud, as though it were in her skull. She was so unsure of what Arthur was going to do, and she hoped that if he decided to kill Ivan, she would be able to stop him.

And then the glowing in his eyes dimmed, and his nails stopped digging into her skin, and his grip loosened. And Arthur looked ready to run, as far away as possible, as soon as he let go of her.

But before he could get the chance, she wrapped her arms around him.

"Let go of me!" He said, "L-let go before–"And at first what she thought was anger, was actually overwhelming sadness and despair, "Y-You're n-not supposed to see!" He squirmed in her arms but she held him tighter.

Natalya knew what it sounded like before someone was about to start weeping.

"I won't look then." She said, her chin resting on his shoulder.

"It doesn't make any sense, Connor would never kill anyone." She felt his hands bunching the fabric of her dress. Natalya felt him trembling and decided to rub his back in a circular motion. "It's not fair. I should have gone with him."

The sounds of his weeping were soft, she almost couldn't hear them.

After a few moments she could hear his breathing start to relax, "Ivan never grieved our father's death…I wish he had. Maybe then he would be less paranoid."

She heard him sniffling now, as he let go of her dress.

"Do you think it's possible the vampires hypnotized your brother?" His voice was soft, and held the innocence of a child, as though he wanted to believe anything other than the possibility that Ivan murdered Connor out of blind rage.

"It could be true." She said, her tone reassuring.

When she started to feel him pull away from her, she closed her eyes just to keep her promise.

"T-thank you."

Natalya waved him away, as though it were not a situation that needed to be stressed over, "Irunya weeps constantly and I have to calm her down. It is what I do." But Natalya felt pride swell in her chest.

"This was a one time thing only, and you technically didn't even see anything."

Natalya opened her eyes, and he sneered at her.

Natalya brought it up the next day when they were eating roasted potatoes around the campfire.

"What?" Ivan furrowed his eyebrows.

"I said, do you think its possible–"

"I heard what you said. Are you questioning what I saw with my own eyes?"

"I just don't think Connor would attack Antonio if before he had been fighting the werewolves."

"You've let this animal corrupt your feeble female mind. An innocent man wouldn't take a beating for a crime he didn't commit." Ivan shook his head.

Natalya pursed her lips. Ivan was adamant on what he saw, and he was the only one who had seen the accident besides the vampires.

Could it be possible that Arthur didn't know his brother as well as he thought he did?

"That's a good fucking point. Stupid to think those damn vampires tried to convince us that Antonio was eaten by a werewolf." Lovino said before biting into his potato.

Natalya cast a glance in Arthur's direction, he met her gaze and Natalya sighed. "Big brother, you should reconsider your stance. Is it fair to be completely against all weredogs because of this one incident?"

"Is it fair that he can turn into a dog and you cannot sister? What did he do to deserve such power?"

"Well–"

"Nothing. I did absolutely nothing except be at the wrong place at the wrong time." Arthur spoke up then and Ivan turned to address him.

"So you agree how ridiculous it is that we are supposed to put all of our trust in you to protect us from the supernatural without a second thought."

"You're not obligated to do anything you don't want to. I would like to not be around in case you decide to murder me, but Lovino and Natalya need me."

Natalya thought that was a pretty bold claim, but it was true at the very least until Ivan was back to full health and they were back home.

Ivan narrowed his eyes before he sighed and shrugged, "I suppose I could spare your life because my sister is quite fond of you."

Natalya coughed, as she had almost choked on a piece of potato. She turned to look at Ivan, an incredulous expression on her face.

"But if you make one mistake," Ivan ignored her gaze, smiled and made a motion of sliding his finger across his neck.

"Big brother! Fond of? That is not true!"

Natalya put her family above all else. Romance was for fools, marriage was a transaction to gain more wealth, and she would marry someone who she wouldn't mind spending time with on the most basic level teetering on tolerance and indifference. But infatuation? That was ludicrous!

"You two do seem to be getting along more." Lovino chimed in.

Ivan shrugged, "I do not care what you call it."

Natalya wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out. Her ears burned, from embarrassment as she continued to eat the rest of her potato.

They had discussed sending the coach and Betsy back through Natalya's teleportation spell and taking the train back to El Paso, once they arrived in Albuquerque. Lovino said that he wanted to spend a few more hours with them before he had to face whatever punishment awaited him when he returned. Ivan agreed that he wanted to spend a little more time with Lovino.

00000000

Betsy and the coach had been returned to Lovino's parents' front lawn. Lovino said goodbye to the horse, giving it one final hug. Natalya and Arthur had gotten their sacks and oil lamps. Lovino had taken his rifle, the cape and some money he had out of the coach.

Now they were at the train station. Natalya slipped her final letter to Irunya into the mailbox. Lovino was paying for their tickets. Arthur and Ivan were on opposite ends of the bench. Natalya sat down in the middle of them, her sack in her lap.

They were feelings of friendship, Natalya had concluded with a nod.

"If this is truly the end, should I let Dylan know?"

Natalya blinked and turned to see Arthur wasn't looking at her but ahead towards the tracks. He glanced in her direction briefly, "You know, if he's still interested in seeing you?"

Natalya pursed her lips and gave him a nod, "I assume he has already started seeing someone. I left for a month without saying a word, and I'd only seen him twice beforehand."

"Alright. I'll make sure to let him know."

Natalya's throat felt tight, and she swallowed, this would be it, after this train ride. Natalya would have to go back to her normal life helping Irunya earn money and occasionally going on courtships with men while her brother went off to fight all of the Supernatural creatures that existed in their area.

She'd have to leave all of this behind and never mention it to anyone ever again.

Unless somehow Lovino traveled to their town, she would be forced to entertain Alfred who no doubt would ask a multitude of questions upon her return. The young man would follow her around for days on end if she didn't answer his questions.

Lovino sat in between herself and Arthur, He slung his arms around both of their necks. "I'm gonna miss you both! It's not fair you two live in a different town, all of the people in my town are garbage."

"I could visit you, you know. It's not that far for me."

"Really, you'd do that for me Blondie? I'd get to rub it in my dense brother's face just how impressive you are. He'll be so jealous."

"You know you can't tell him anything about me being a weredog, right? It's a secret."

"A secret? What the hell? Why is it a secret?"

"Because that frightens people! I-it's unnatural."

"Well yeah but you told Natalie and me, and we're still here."

"That's just the way it is! The supernatural are a secret from the masses."

"Alright, I won't mention it to Feli." Lovino frowned.

"Now will you let go of me!" Arthur frowned, eyebrows furrowed as he gripped Lovino's arm, his cheeks were salmon pink.

"I was going to but now I'll just keep you here because you complained."

"I could break your arm!"

"In public?!" Lovino's eyes widened.

"He's not going to break your arm." Natalya said, resting her head on Lovino's shoulder.

"You don't know that!" Lovino said.

"I'm not; I just wanted to scare you one last time." He said before resting his head on Lovino's other shoulder, smirk on his lips.

"You're an ass! I don't want you to visit me anymore!"

On the train ride back, Ivan and Lovino shared stories about Antonio. Lovino was next to Ivan and Ivan was next to her and she was next to Arthur.

Ivan said Antonio was the last member to join their group. Ivan had joined Harvey and Clyde as their apprentice. They hadn't come into contact with werewolves and hadn't made enough money to buy silver bullets. This was before Ivan had his custom made metal pipe. But after one run in with a werewolf that almost ended in them getting eaten, ironically they were able to get away because of a weredog stationed in El Paso. A fact Ivan admitted with much resentment.

They put out a notice for a hunter who could afford silver bullets. Antonio was the best shooter and he was willing to come with them to fight werewolves, he didn't think they were insane, he just smiled and went along. Antonio had been with them for about six years.

Lovino met Antonio, his parents being local diplomats, when he had to take all three of them to Beavergonie for some kind of gala. Shooting was a hobby for Antonio and at first his parents were against their friendship because of class status but Antonio didn't care. They had only been friends for about three years in total.

Arthur picked up a newspaper at some point and was flipping through it.

She watched intently as his eyes scanned the page, his eyebrows furrowed, biting his bottom lip. She had never noticed he had long blond eyelashes before, and freckles across his cheeks. She also hadn't noticed that he had a scar on one of his hands, the one that was directly facing her, that could have been from a werewolf.

"Are you just going to continue to stare at me, or is there an article you want to read?"

Natalya met his eyes, "How did you get that?" She pointed at his hand.

"Sometimes it slips my mind vampires have claws as well."Arthur said, "Is that all you wanted?"

"What did you mean when you said you were at the wrong place at the wrong time? Did a weredog bite you on accident? Were you attacked?"

"Why the sudden interest?"

Natalya really wanted to know, Arthur said he wasn't chosen. Who bit him, why, and who was supposed to be the next weredog? This was the last time they'd be talking to each other.

"Because! We won't be talking after."

"Like I told Lovino, it's none of your business."

Natalya crossed her arms and gave him a pout "You and your secrets."

Arthur frowned, "It's going to bother you every time you see me isn't it?"

"Yes."

He set the paper down, before he looked around. He made a motion to cup his mouth with one of his hands and she felt his fingers brush the shell of her ear.

She felt her heart beat in her chest.

His breath hot against her skin, caused her cheeks to warm considerably with blush. She was aware that he was right next to her, his face mere inches from hers. She gripped her sack tighter in her lap. She could blame her accelerated heartbeat on anticipation, and if felt like an agonizingly long time before he said something.

Natalya's throat felt tight again and she swallowed before she blinked and was able to comprehend what he had said to her.

"I'm still not going to tell you." He had whispered.

Natalya grit her teeth, cheeks still warm, "You ass!" She turned to see him covering his mouth with his hand to stuffle the light snickering he was doing.

"That is truly on you! As if I would tell you after I said no."

"You say I am infuriating; it is you."

"Ah, I will miss this. You and Lovino are too easy to catch off guard." He smirked, green eyes sparkling with mischief.

Arthur then picked up the paper again before he turned the page, and gasped.

"What?"

"Half of Sraftbridge was burned in a fire five days ago on the full moon. The article says witnesses were trying to burn a large wolf before a Mr. Popescu shot it down. The wolf had then transformed into a man. They haven't identified who he is yet, but that shot killed him. The mayor is estimating thousands in damages. About 50 were injured and 10 were confirmed dead."

"A werewolf!" Natalya said.

"A werewolf attack? Your town; your family! Holy shit." Lovino said.

"Where were your precious weredogs then, hmm?" Ivan said, a grin on his lips.

Arthur continued to stare at the page, unblinking, tightening his grip on the page.

"I-I' m the only one in our town."

"It says a lot that none of the other weredogs would come to the aid of another even if you are in different towns." Ivan said eyes squinted.

Arthur's hands were shaking as he set the page down.

"You are just continuing to prove my point that the masses should protect themselves."

"Don't you dare act as though you've been truthful about what you do!" Arthur snapped his gaze to Ivan three spaces down from him.

"Maybe not, but it is not like I act as though I am better than humanity. You are just a group of elitist bastards, who pretend you are taking up a moral cause to boost your egos." Ivan leaned over Lovino.

"If humans could kill supernatural creatures, weredogs wouldn't have been made! We at the very least give you a fighting chance!" Arthur balled up his fists.

"Hark! I will not take this from someone who is the epitome of a disgrace. You couldn't stop your brother from being killed, and you couldn't stop a werewolf from killing people in our town!"

Natalya felt that one in her chest, and they were all struck silent, even the other passengers in the car with them. Ivan sat back in his seat and so did Arthur. Natalya blinked, the only thing that could be heard was the light chugging of the train as they moved along the track.

"I'm going to get some air." Natalya heard the creek of the wood as it adjusted from the lack of Ivan's weight. Light murmuring returned. Ivan stalked towards the door to the car before opening it and slamming it shut.

"Damn. But hey, my father says I'm a fucking disgrace all the time." Lovino said just as Natalya got up.

Natalya stalked towards the door and threw it open. She walked across, when she opened the other door she could see her brother just ahead.

"Ivan! Wait!" She said as she scrambled to catch up to him.

The man continued to walk. She followed him to the next car that held the beds, to which he finally stopped. No one was in the car with them, and he leaned over to open the window.

"Ivan–!"

"Are you here to get me to take back what I said?"

"Is this about father? You never told me what happened that night."

"Vampires killed him, I know that, and I vowed that they wouldn't hurt anyone else. Cut off the head, the rest of the snake will follow."

"I know that, I'm talking about when you found him."

Ivan frowned, "It does not matter."

Natalya frowned and balled up her fists at her sides, "You do know that the rest of Arthur's family is human, da?"

"And I am supposed to be sympathetic? If they knew, they would cast him aside as well." Ivan furrowed his eyebrows, "Something has changed in you, little sister. You would have agreed and been on my side."

"Nothing has changed! I am on your side! Every action I have taken has been for you! You have to understand that Arthur could have killed you at any moment and all I would have been able to do was stand back and watch!"

"I have made my bed, and I would have lied in it." Ivan shrugged, "It is not my fault he is weak."

Natalya pursed her lips. Her brother was stubborn. She sat down on one of the beds.

"Well I'm glad you're alive and I'd like to keep it that way."

0000000

They got off at El Paso, it was still midday. There were alot of people getting on and off of the train. They would be saying goodbye to Lovino before catching a carriage to Sraftbridge.

"Mister Braginsky, it was nice meeting you." To which he then muttered, "I wish under better circumstances." Lovino held out his hand but Ivan pulled him into a tight hug, "Lovi, you are welcome to visit me anytime if you need something."

"A-ah I'll keep that in mind." Lovino patted Ivan on the back.

Then he let him go.

"Natalie, will you teleport me to Sraftbridge sometime?"

"Yeah I could. I had not thought of that."

"Until then, wish me luck with my parents and my brother. They're going to have a lot of words for me when I get back." Lovino said.

"Good luck Lovino." To which he bowed and she curtsied to him.

"You have a lot to look forward to when you go home, don't you? But it'll be fine, probably. If not, I could pass you off as a stray dog I found." Lovino said, turning to Arthur.

Arthur let out a seemingly exasperated breath. "I'm sure it won't come to that." Arthur crossed his arms, "You take care of yourself, I suppose."

""You too! Since you're doing this shit by yourself now. I don't wanna hear you got killed by telegram like I'm your distant lover or some shit."

"Who says you'll get a telegram?"

"I said I don't want to get a telegram!"

"You won't! That's only for situations when one is at war!"

"Well whatever, I still don't want one."

Arthur wraps his arms around the Italian quickly before stepping back.

"Alright, off you go then."

Lovino blinked but tipped his hat before he walked into his town.

The carriage ride to Sraftbridge was oddly quiet. Natalya kept thinking about Irunya and how she would react when they arrived. It had taken almost two days and it was now the beginning of dusk. The carriage pulled them right in the middle of their town.

Arthur and Natalya used the last of their money to pay the driver, it was 11 dollars for the entire trip. Ivan stepped out of the carriage first and then Natalya followed.

Ivan started walking in the direction of their home.

"Farewell Natalya." Arthur gave her a bow.

Natalya felt her throat closing up on her, but managed to give him a curtsy, before she choked out a "F-farewell Arthur."

Arthur turned away from her then and walked in the direction of his home. Her heart beat in her chest, almost painfully. Natalya pursed her lips before turning to the direction of her home where Ivan stood at their door watching her and presumably the exchange. His violet eyes were cold and she shook her head before she joined him by their wooden door. An oil lamp had been lit above the door.

Ivan knocked on the door to their home. They waited for a few moments and soon it opened to Irunya who gasped before she fainted.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Criticism Welcome.

Ever since I read a human AU fanfic where Romano and England were BFFs I've wanted that for them.

Finally we're back to where we started! Weren't you wondering how Ukraine was doing?