Alfred didn't like the silence.

The bashful noise of the outdoors was nearly addicting. The streetlamps illuminating the sidewalk were intoxicating. But the more silence that placed itself into existence. The extensive idea that even a pen could drop – leaving him alone with his thoughts seemed frightening. To him it was even more frightening than almost death could ever be. He dreads the silence. Yet, he was perfectly immune to the overt casting of typical drive by's and Christmas mornings with other – more or less attentive – family members. So in all seriousness this shouldn't be an issue. But it was. It could loom and direct. It could be so awkward and Alfred certainly detested it.

Because of this, and because he wanted to – Alfred decided to take Ivan's invitation the next day.

Ivan: "Or. You could sneak out."

Sneak out? Alfred hadn't done that since Kiku and he went to the fair in eighth grade.

Alfed: "I don't know man, it's been a while, and I think I'm a too big to crawl through my window."

Ivan: "Nonsense. But if you don't want to I won't hold it against you."

Alfred ponders for a moment. Rolling onto his stomach and turning his phone brightness down. He looks behind him. Hallway light is off. Then he looks at the time. Almost midnight.

Alfred: I guess I could go. I need fresh air anyways. Just gotta make sure dad and Mattie are asleep.

Ivan: "What about your other father? Wouldn't he be worried too?"

Alfred: "He doesn't usually check on me. Don't worry. If my lights off he won't bother."

Ivan: "That's good, that's good where shall we meet?"

Alfred set his phone down as the messaged flashed on the screen. Where would they meet? Where did Ivan even live?

Alfred: "Maybe at the river park? I'm not sure if you're walking or not. But I am and it's closer to me."

Ivan: "Sounds fine. I'll be there in a few minutes."

When you're sneaking out. It's not that much of a challenge when you know what you're doing, obviously. But the science and maneuvering behind the act is quite divine almost. Alfred had done this many times before in the past. He threw on a red hoodie and pushed the sleeves up to his elbows. The cloth burned his stitches as he contemplated whether or not he should wrap it up. But it's no use. He didn't have the time or know-how. A small flashlight clipped to his pants, placed his toques hat atop his head and looked through his window at his driveway.

Good. There wasn't a second car.

He opened it slightly and gently stepped out onto the shingle of the roof and observed the street from left to right. Nothing. No headlights. But the brisk air was almost enough to knock him off his feet. As soon as he was crouching down he pulled his sleeves down to shield as much as he could from the biting cold.

Alfred shivers. But eventually navigates his way to the edge of the roof and onto the garbage bins finally landing on the ground.

He speed walks to the edge of the drive and looks again. Still no car in site. Good.

The streets were bare, and the music from his earbuds kept him company for the walk. It was a good mile. But he needed the air. He needed to breathe. And at least be with… was he a friend? Or glorified crush? If his dad found him right now, he'd be dead. It too cold, Alfred still makes pretty good time though. Even through the sheer chilled breeze.

When he arrives – the park is eerily silent, and the lamps along the trails of the park are dim, but comfortable to look at as the flakes of snow slowly fall past the bulb. His shivering though and he finally realizes he probably checked the temperature before he had headed out. A hast just wasn't enough.

Sure enough though, the only car that was sitting in the parking lot was a silver Honda sitting in there with someone sitting on the hood.

Definitely Ivan, the way his body could be as fitting as his and still look nearly perfect was a mystery Alfred was more than willing to uncover. The Russian stared back and smiled, and Alfred began speed walking towards him. Shivering.

"Good evening Alfred. You look miserable." An almost thick Russian accent cut through the snowy haze.

The younger teen wiped his nose with his sleeve. "You have no idea." He cringed, "You have no idea how fuckin' cold it is." He emphasized this by huffing into the air and met as a steam like fog.

The Russian huffed. "Of course I don't, I'm just wearing a long coat for nothing. And you're wearing…"

Alfred clenched his jaw and let out a breath and it seemed like Ivan was studying his lithe form.. "… I don't have anything else." The boy seethed.

He smirked and almost waltzed his body to the driver side of the door. "You might want to bring a heavier jacket with you." The hallow sound of a car door opening caught Alfred's ears. "Now get in, it's warm."

Alfred wasn't sure if it would be wise to take that offer but sitting in someone's car with the possibility of Ivan driving off and killing him was a good exchange for the rest of his moments with heat.

Alfred nodded and opened the car door with his shivering fingers. Inside was nicely spacious for such a small vehicle. The seats weren't a rough fabric, nor was it leather. It was a nice smooth fabric almost like silk. It was clean and the car's radio was turned down low the ambience was more than pleasurable for just a night out.

When they both sat in the car, Alfred rubbed his hands together excessively. They felt frost bitten and numb almost. But Ivan seemed more relaxed with his long coat and leather gloves on, but let's not forget about his hat covering his ears and with silver strand of hair peeking out – it was almost distracting.

In one of the heater vents was a still picture of two women. Alfred presumed they were his sisters. He's seen the one with brown hair before walking around on Matthews' grade floor.

Ivan cleared his throat, "I didn't imagine it would be this cold tonight Fredya. I would have picked you up."

Alfred's voice hitches up and he chuckles nervously. "It's fine. I needed to walk ya know?" the younger male licked his lips. "But feel how cool my fucking hands are dude." He pressed his fingers against the Russian's cheek only to be knocked away in frozen shock.

"Yebena mat'! What are you doing with no gloves in this weather!?"

Alfred shrugs from the alarmed gaze. Quite suspiciously even – like a deer caught in headlights. He rubs his hands together again. "I didn't really have the time to get them."

"But you had time to get a flashlight?"

"Sh-Shut up."

Alfred swore up and down that it was an unofficial first date. Ivan and Alfred had awkwardly listened to the radio and talked as the blissful sound of wind and chill lined their ears reminding them of what was waiting for them through the doors.

But they were still laughing, and talking. Like normal people. Like friends.

"Okay then, tell me about your Family Ivan. Apart from the whole, 'I live with my sisters' bit."

Ivan huffed out his chest and rolled his eyes, his cheeks were growing red from the heat in the car. "My parents live in Moscow and sent my sisters and I here to live because they didn't want us to be caught up in 'business affairs.' It's a bit ironic but we don't question it." The boy chokes out bitterly and his eyes sulk.

"Tell me about yours Alfred. You seem so keen to bring up the topic of family."

Alfred was miffed to say the least and scrunched his face in annoyance. "Um, my dad, Arthur is from the UK, and my papa is from France. I'm not really sure how they met, but my dad doesn't really talk to his family anymore because his dad doesn't like his 'unusual lifestyle.' My nana doesn't mind but he's an asshole."

"I could never understand that either-"

"Excuse me? What is that supposed to fucking mean!?" Alfred bared his fist and was ready to fling open the door before Ivan stopped him.

"It means that you seem to at least have a nice relationship with your father. I saw when he picked you up yesterday, I noticed when you came to meet your teachers before the first day of school. He talked to you like you were both friends for years. You two seem close. Closer than I've seen any other parents with a child."

Ivan finished and Alfred lowered his hand from the door and looked at him before focusing his gaze back towards the center cup holder somberly. "Close. I mean…I guess we are kinda close." He fiddles with the end of his hoodie.

Ivan hums and Alfred looks at the time.

It's half past two.

"I should be getting home. Don't want my dad's fatherly intuition to kick in and him suddenly check on me."

Ivan lightly laughed. "I can take you home. It's snowing and cold. Please."

He rolls his eyes, "I'll be fine dude it's not that big of a deal. You don't even know where I live."

He turned the key of the car the rest of the way. The engine revved and Alfred had a sudden pique of interest as he pull the seatbelt over himself and the feeling of giddy rose into this chest.

"Fine, take this main street to fifth and turn left at the light."

Ivan's face nearly beamed victoriously.

"Stop here."

The car pulled over and the blond in the passenger undid his seatbelt.

"Thank you for the ride dude." He opened the door and you could see his breath. The snow was falling even harder. So light it was to lay on top the top of his head without melting. Thin and delicate – like it were never to end. I layered the roads and sidewalks. Lamps and cars. It was laying on the grass as if it were a mountain of snow, and his street is the peek.

"It wasn't a problem. I'll see you at school tomorrow, yes?"

Alfred nods and smiles. "Totally." He coughs, his breath itself is shivering from the breeze, "Why do you ask?"

Ivan grinned as he reached into his backseat, a cloth was visibly grabbed until it was threw at Alfred who seemed nowhere near ready to catch and staggered from the sudden impact.

Curiously he looked at it confused.

"Wh-who the actual fuck actually owns a scarf and uses it?"

"I do, and now you do – " he begins, "I better not see you without it around your neck tomorrow at school." He emits a chuckle from deep within his chest. "And any other time we meet after dark. It'll be cold."

"Is this a threat Ivan, are you actually threatening me over a scarf?" Alfred mocks as he is hanging onto the open door. "But, there where be more m-meet ups?"

"Maybe. Now close my door, it's getting cold in here. I will see you tomorrow, yes?"

Alfred grinned himself, "Totally."

He gently closes the door. And by morning, the footprints are already snowed over, the car tracks are no more. Alfred casually wakes up with a headache knowing he's seemingly gotten away with everything.

If there were a difference. He wakes up to a navy blue long scarf hanging on his desk chair being illuminated by the streetlights outside his window and the nightlight in the far corner. He'll smile and remember a not-very-distant memory.

_
SO LIKE I LOVE THIS CHAPTER. BUT I STILL NEED A PERMA BETA. PLEASE IM BEGGING YOU. SOMEONE PLEASE BETA ME. DEADASS PLEASE BETA ME!