Request: Drabble where Alfred sees Ivan get close to Matthew? (platonically of course!)

Summary: America isn't going to accept Canada getting too close to somebody who could hurt him.

Stubborn Naivety

The first times it happened, Alfred had to admit he didn't pay any heed to it. A small smile. A curt nod. A few timid, cordial words. Nothing odd coming from Matthew, whose soft heart made him regard even those he should have considered bitter enemies with kindness.

Even as those interactions became more and more frequent, Alfred barely took notice. He didn't want to think about Russia more than he was forced to, after all, and he didn't think sharing a few words with him would pose any danger to Matthew – if anything, not getting on that wretched individual's bad side should protect his brother from negative repercussions.

It wasn't until a day of November that all the pieces came together with dizzying clarity.

"I'll see you tomorrow at the hockey stadium then, Matthew. Make sure to get some rest, it won't be any fun if you aren't in top shape!"

The surprise at Ivan's unexpected words was so great that Alfred froze at the doorway, unable to process what was going on.

Even more shocking was his brother's earnest nod, the confidence in the smile that lit up his face.

"Of course! Don't think I'll make it easier for you."

For a moment, Alfred almost thought he had walked into some sort of alternate reality. The scene in front of him was eerily surreal. His brother being so friendly and familiar with Russia was so utterly wrong – cordiality was one thing, but it was way past that…

Am I hallucinating?

But when Ivan walked past Alfred to cross the door, the malicious twinkle in his eyes and the sardonic smile that curled his lips were just like his usual ones, spurring the gears of Alfred's brain back into motion. A cold weight dropped to the bottom of his stomach along with the sudden realization of what, exactly, Matthew's brief – but more and more frequent – interactions with Russia had led to.

He turned to confront Russia, but he wasn't fast enough – he just got a glimpse of the man's coat before the elevator's door closed behind him. All that was left was Matthew, who was now busying himself with his conference's notes and didn't seem to have spotted Alfred.

"Matthew!"

Matthew raised his head from the notebook. The timid smile that had started blossoming on his lips withered in front of Alfred's thunderous expression.

"Al? What's wrong?"

How Matthew could sound so clueless, Alfred didn't know. The surprise was slowly turning into irritation as what he had witnessed sank in – but somehow, Matthew managed to look innocent.

"What do you mean, 'what's wrong'? Do you even have to ask?"

His words might have sounded a bit more aggressive than he had meant to, but Alfred knew his anger was highly justified. The confused blink Matthew addressed him was further proof of that.

"Since when are you so buddy-buddy with Russia, uh?"

Alfred took a step forward, folding his arms across his chest as he glared at his brother, trying to convey the severity of the situation with his imposing presence.

Matthew's eyes widened.

"Oh! That… Well, I couldn't really say we're friends, you know, but sometimes we just—"

"Play hockey together? Meet outside of work? Ah, yes. The perfect picture of casual acquaintances. Could've fooled me."

Alfred didn't try to stop the sarcasm from seeping into his voice. If only Matthew had chosen to be reasonable, he could have been kinder… pity that Matthew didn't look even a tiny bit apologetic.

Instead, his brother shrugged. The sheer carelessness exuding from that gesture made Alfred's blood boil.

"Yes, we play hockey together. Ivan's good at that, we both have fun. And sometimes, we even meet for a tea and have a chat." Matthew looked straight into Alfred's eyes. "Look, I… I know that you don't like Ivan. I know that you have good reasons for that, too. But he isn't actually so bad once you get to know him."

Alfred's stomach twisted unpleasantly.

"He's dangerous, Matthew. He's manipulating you. He'll be kind long enough to make you trust him, and then, the moment you let your guard down, he's going to hurt you. You should know this!"

But Matthew – young, naïve Matthew – still shook his head.

"It… Al, it isn't like this. He's getting better, he really is trying. I know he hurt people in the past, but now—"

"No you don't know, Matthew! You don't know half of it!"

A pang of guilt went through Alfred's stomach as his brother recoiled. He didn't enjoy yelling at Matthew – however, getting the message across was more important. He swallowed down any regret and went on in a calmer but still unyelding tone.

"What Ivan has done—"

"I don't think he meant to," Matthew interrupted him in a soft voice. "I don't… I don't think he truly realizes what he has done is wrong. And that's why—"

A sudden wave of cold spread inside Alfred's chest.

"And that's exactly why you should have nothing to do with him!"

His stomach churned. Matthew's words dug deeply inside him, a painful echo of older ones that had been uttered in a calm voice which sweetness screamed out how broken its owner was. He recalled the quiet, resigned acceptance dulling Tolys's green eyes. Just like that time, Alfred felt like he was going to be sick… but it was even worse. He never, ever wanted to see that look mirrored in his little brother's eyes.

Alfred took a deep breath and grabbed Matthew's shoulders in a firm grip.

"You need to trust me on this, Matthew. Russia's lack of awareness only makes him more dangerous. Whether he knows or not, the result is the same! He will—"

Still, that foolish brother of his shook his head, a resolute glimmer in his eyes.

"But he can get better if somebody gives him a chance! Russia doesn't realize what he's doing because he has been hurt as well. For most of his life, he has only experienced violence – it's basically all he knows, the only way he knows how to react. But if—"

"Well you've suffered too! We all have. It's in our own nature. But I don't see any of us going around hurting people for our sick enjoyment. It isn't an excuse!"

"I'm not saying it is." But even as he agreed, the lines of determination on Matthew's forehead didn't smoothen. "Look, I know it isn't. But the thing is… the thing is, he can change. From what I've seen… sometimes, it really looks like he wants to change. But changing your ways after being hurt so much is hard. He won't unless somebody gives him the chance to. And I think he does deserve this chance – everybody does."

Alfred didn't know what was more sickening – his brother's misguided sincerity, or the thought of how Russia had managed to manipulate him and how he was going to use it. They all merged inside him, making his stomach churn.

"This is bull, Mattie. He will get his chance once he has proven himself worthy of it! And he hasn't. You shouldn't be putting yourself in harm's way for him!"

Matthew frowned at that, swatting Alfred's hands away.

"Well, somebody clearly has to. Might as well be me. It's my own decision to make, anyway. I can take care of myself."

Anger welled up inside Alfred's chest. He didn't try to stop it.

"Congratulations, then. You just proved you can't! Stop living in a dream, Mattie! You can't fix everything. You're just going to get hurt!"

Alfred was aware that snapping at Matthew was going to have the opposite effect and set him in his resolution. The moment his brother's features hardened, he knew he had lost. Still, Alfred didn't back down. Anger and frustration were easy to deal with. Letting them burst to the surface was easier than coping with the fear gnawing at his insides.

Why, Mattie? Why do you have to be like this?

His brother was going to get hurt, and no matter how hard he tried, Alfred wasn't going to be able to prevent it. He wanted to scream, to tear out his hair – and he could do nothing but simmer in his powerlessness.

(word count: 1,378)

Notes:

I picture this being settled not long after the end of the Cold War.

I think that for once, America doesn't want Canada to interact with Russia not only out of jealousness or possessiveness but also because he's genuinely afraid Canada is going to get hurt. Lithuania briefly lived with America, after all, he has to be aware of what Russia can do.