Chapter 6: New Russia
Word count: 6,075
Every time I post a chapter I have to go through and find what words need to be italicized, sorry if I missed any.
Ivan swung his feet over the side of his bed. He was feeling a lot better now, he really was grateful that countries healed really quickly, it always came in handy. Something that would take a couple weeks for a human to heal they usually healed in that same day. Still, he needed a bath and change of clothes badly. But first...he looked around the room. This was his room, wasn't it? Ivan looked at the lamp beside the bed, it was dead for the moment and he wondered how he could revive it like Alfred did. He would try later, he still wanted to explore the room. There were two doors, one of them was open which showed that it was a bathroom. There was a large dresser on the opposite wall of the bed, close to the closed door that probably led to the rest of the house.
There was some clothes on the floor that probably belonged to his older self. The bed was comfy too, and there were lots of blankets, some thick and others just fuzzy, and none of them had any holes in them. It was a big bed too, probably enough to fit several people. Ivan opened the drawer to the end table near him curiously. It wasn't really snooping if it was his room, right? Right. There was a book there, and he picked it up, opening it. Ah...what language was this? There were a lot of characters that reminded him of his language, but it wasn't the same. Maybe it was the language his present self used now, interesting. Ivan closed it and put it aside, looking back in the drawer to find something else there that was slightly familiar to him. He reached in and picked it up, holding it in his hand. What was it called? Had Alfred said its name? Ivan couldn't remember as he turned it over, it was shiny, but he didn't think it was silver, some sort of metal though. It wasn't heavy either, it was certainly shaped funny.
It wasn't even the size of his forearm, it was curved at one end, which was thicker then the narrow...hole? Ivan looked inside the small hole. It was pitch black in there, and he couldn't see anything. He pulled away and looked at it again. This had been what one of those men had been holding when he was hurt in the shoulder during his fight, he was sure of it, but it seemed completely useless to him unless one used it as a very small club. Well, his current weapon was much better. Placing the useless weapon by the book, he didn't find anything else of interest, so he stood up and went to the bathroom. It was dark in there too. Ivan looked up, frowning at where the light should have been coming from if his stay with Alfred had taught him anything. Why weren't they coming on for him?
Did they like Alfred better or perhaps they knew he didn't belong there. Either way, he missed that light. It had been so bright, like the sun or something. Perhaps they had been able to capture the sun's light and filter it through the small things. That would explain why Alfred told him looking at it wasn't good for him. Ivan went to the tub, how had Alfred turned it on? Ivan looked at the handles, turning them should do the trick. Ivan grabbed one of the two at random, why have two anyway, and turned it. Water came splashing out.
Ivan smiled happily at his accomplishment. And stared at the water, it should be filling the bathtub, right? It did that for Alfred. Frowning again, Ivan turned the water off then on, to see if that would work. No. Huffing, Ivan pouted slightly, but then decided that he could probably use a rag and do what he could since nothing was apparently working right. Oh, but he didn't know where to find one. Ivan sighed...well maybe he could just get in the tub and use the water to splash himself clean? It would take forever, but at least it was something. Ivan put his hand under the water before pulling it back quickly. It was freezing! He might as well just go outside and roll in the snow! Glaring furiously at the difficult water Ivan turned it off.
He sat down on the floor, rubbing his cold hand and sulking. Nothing worked! The lights, and now the water, what else wouldn't work? Ah, this was just further proof of how much he needed to get Alfred back if anything! Still, he could go without a bath for a day, he would go without one for months sometimes, so it was no difference now. Sure he was covered in blood, but that was like being at war. But then there was...Ivan shifted uncomfortably, blushing. He was sure his pants were stained now and it was sticky and uncomfortable now more than ever. Ivan shook his head, pulling his scarf up to hide his red cheeks, not wishing to remember how it got there, not at the moment, he had other things to worry about!
Maybe he could change clothes, but then they would get stained too, wouldn't they? And they weren't technically his. Maybe he could wear a coat to hide it, sure all of them would be big on him, but it was freezing now in the tee-shirt and jeans. Standing up again and abandoning the bathroom, he went to the wardrobe and opened a drawer. No coats there, well, maybe this one. Nope. Ivan looked through all of them and he couldn't find any. He doubted his future self would only have one coat, so they must have been elsewhere.
Going to the door, Ivan opened it, looking each way. Did he live in a palace? Sure, the materials weren't the same as what he was used too, but there was so much space and there were so many doors along the wide hallway. Smiling at that, he stepped out of his room, closing the door softly behind him. He would have to look around once he got a coat, it was to curious not to, he wanted to see everything, and maybe he'd be able to find some candles. Ivan walked quietly down the hall, it was almost eerie, but it was so nice that Ivan could almost think himself rich just being inside such a large place. It wasn't as big as the castles Ivan had been in, but those where usually belonging to somebody else. Even if it was one of his Rulers, it wasn't his. But to think, this was his! Ivan smiled blissfully, exiting the hallway and looking around the sitting room perhaps? Oh there was the main door, or what he assumed to be.
Alright, so this was the entrance. Ivan's eyes scanned the coaches and the table for a place to sit and eat that had some paperwork on it, there was some sort of mirror that was black, he would have doubted it to be a mirror, for it looked odd, but he could see himself in it, so what else was it? Ivan went back to the door to see some heavy coats hanging by the door and some pairs of boots below them. Going over, Ivan looked at all of them, they were so big! He smiled, choosing one of them and bringing it down, it was nice really, and he had so many of them. Ivan pulled it on, laughing a bit when the coat went past even his feet. Maybe he should put on stilts and walk around, oh it seemed like so much fun just to be thinking that one day he would be this tall. And the boots, there were three different pairs that he saw, plus the ones he had left with Alfred. He couldn't remember if he'd ever even owned more than one pair.
He sighed, nuzzling into the warm jacket. Yes, this world seemed very good...but...Ivan looked up. He didn't want to stay, and yet he did. There was so much food that tasted so rich and flavorful, sometimes too much, but it was better than being nothing. He would like some sort of wine or mead or something, but maybe such a thing didn't exist anymore? That wasn't a very good thought. Still, he had such a big house and friends here...and Alfred. Ivan blushed again, Alfred was just so...why couldn't Alfred be in his world? Sure, the blond seemed kind of silly sometimes, and childish, but Ivan loved that, and he liked indulging in it himself. He remembered when he had fun with his siblings and everything was good, peaceful and rich. But times changed he supposed.
Then there was Ivan, his boss back in his time, things were just starting to look up again. Ivan really was so smart and he wasn't boring like the others, and ah, he'd helped get freedom from the Golden Horde, and he expanded the country through so much land and money. Frowning, and casting his eyes down the country thought about it. He would be dead in this time, wouldn't he? Ivan rubbed at his eyes, cheerful mood deflated. He wasn't ready to lose his beloved tsar yet. But Ivan the III was still alive in his time, so that gave the country some small hope.
Still, Ivan had a feeling he would reject whatever boss would be trying to teach him now, but he would try to be polite as possible. Sighing heavily Ivan looked back at his coat, not wishing to dread anymore on the issue until need be. Buttoning up the jacket, Ivan figured that that would do, and he set off to look for candles.
Ivan stared at the candle in front of him, he had found some candles, and chosen one of the tall ones to use to walk around and explore. No point in looking around if the rooms were dark, though it was getting brighter outside. Still, the problem remained. He had found a candle, but nothing to light it with. This house just wanted to be difficult, he swore. Glaring at it, he willed it to ignite, which of course it didn't, standing there looking innocent. Ivan hit it, not caring as it flew off the large dining room table and hit the wall. Stupid wax was useless if he couldn't make fire! And he really didn't like the idea of going out so early in such cold weather to find something to assist him. Suddenly a light came on and Ivan jumped, looking up. "Ah, Mister Russia, you are up early." Ivan looked towards the voice, stiffening a bit.
"Lithuania." Ivan said suspiciously, "What are you doing here?"
"Oh yes, I forgot you do not know English..." Toris said, rubbing the back of his head nervously. He looked about the same as Ivan last saw him actually, "I was called by your boss. He explained that you um...shrunk?"
"Did he?" Ivan asked, smiling falsely. Why would his boss call Lithuania?
"Well...Um...he sent me here just to help translate, since I'm a country like you and can speak Russian and Old Slavic."
"I see...how do you know this language? I thought it was dead now."
"Y-yes, but you had us learn it for America." Ivan blinked, Alfred?
"Us? Taught you, I do not understand." Ivan said honestly, "But I do not need your help." Toris looked a bit confused and put off.
"I heard that you don't remember anything sir-" Sir, taught, us.
"Is there others in this house?" Ivan asked, but then though of a better one, "This is my house, right?"
"This is your house Mr. Russia, but there's no one else here at the moment." Ivan was silent for a moment.
"Alright, there is something you can do for me I suppose..." Ivan tested.
"Yes, what is it?" No questions of what it was before agreeing to the unknown assignment, that showed either trust or...did Ivan rule more than just his country? Did he own Lithuania now as well?
"I want a map...and something to eat, I'm hungry." Lithuania nodded.
"Alright, I will be back soon." Toris said before turning and leaving. That settled it, he owned other countries. And Lithuania at that. Ivan smiled, well, at least he could trust the brunette a little now. Still, he wondered if he should trust the food. No, Lithuania was his subordinate now it seemed, so that was alright. Smiling blissfully again, Ivan stood up and picked up the candle, going back to the table and setting it down, 'I forgive you.' He thought to the candle before sitting down again and waiting, and maybe he could have Toris draw a bath too, why not? The other had made the lights work, so he'd get the bath to work. Ivan wasn't sitting very long before Toris returned with a folded up piece of paper that Ivan assumed was the map, "Here, sorry it took a little, I had to look in a few places."
"Thank you Toris." Ivan said, nodding, his human name felt weird to him, but considering the circumstance, he figured it was most appropriate. Ivan grabbed the map, starting to unfold it.
"Ah, what do you want to eat?"
"Oh..." Ivan paused, tilting his head in thought before looking up at Toris, "Come up with something." Ivan didn't know what sort of food was in this world, maybe the food he liked was gone or under a new name, so best not to strain wondering what to eat. Toris hesitated, but he didn't question it as he turned and left. He listened well...Ivan turned back to unfolding the map, which was somewhat difficult, but finally it was open. He stood up and laid it on the table. Ah, he couldn't read it though...still, everything looked different. He looked over at a part of the map he'd never seen.
What land was that? Ivan looked it over, it was quite large, maybe as big as Europe was, probably bigger. Was that Alfred? He couldn't read it so he didn't know, even if he did he had no idea how to spell America. Oh and what if some of the Countries changed their names? Like everybody was always saying 'Russian' to him, so he was the Country Russian apparently, hm, he liked Rus better, nothing against his older self, and it was similar. But then again, Lithuania had called him Russia a couple times. Russian Russia. It sounded so similar! Ah, forget it.
Back to the newly discovered land, now if it was Alfred, he was so far away from Europe, it really was like a whole other world. How did they even get there to begin with? The world really was bigger than he had thought though. Ivan looked back at his side of the world.
Now, Alfred had said he was the largest country...so...he just found the largest country. And it was big. Ivan traced his finger over the border, almost as if questioning whether that really was the boarder of his country. Had he really gotten so much land? What of the rising powers? There was so much more to the world now, but in all of Europe there wasn't very many countries that were even half the size of Russian. Wow. He had been busy in his life. Still, he was curious as to who was where and such, then again he did have a translator, though it wasn't Alfred, it would work Ivan supposed.
So, Ivan waited a bit impatiently for Lithuania to come back, which he did, with some food that was steaming a bit, so that meant it was warm, he was glad for that, and it looked so delicious, Ivan grabbed the plate and touched one, he would wait so he didn't burn his tongue. Putting the plate down next to him Ivan spoke, "Thank you Toris, but I need you to translate this for me." Ivan said, pointing at the map.
"Oh alright, what do you want to know?" Ivan looked at the map thoughtfully, "Although y-you will be learning about this when we go meet your boss." Ivan resisted making a face to that, ignoring that as he concentrated on what he wanted to know.
"This is me, yes?" Ivan asked, pointing at part of the map he had been wondering at. Toris nodded, "And I am called what now?"
"Russia." Ivan nodded, one mystery solved.
"And Alfred, what country is he?" Toris was a little surprised at how casually Ivan said America's human name, but didn't question it.
"Here." Ivan looked where the other pointed and looked at the boarders, it was still really big. Ivan would have asked what countries were around Alfred, but without a face to put them too it seemed pointless. Still, he continued asking some questions. The world had changed a lot after all, but he never did ask about how the boarders came to be what they were, because he didn't care. Ivan eat the snack he was provided more than happily, glad for the food, "Ah, Toris, can you draw me a bath? And when do we have to go...meet my boss?" The last part he said tightly, but continued smiling.
"O-of course." Toris said to the strange request, "And we still have some time, but y-you should hurry?" Ivan nodded and Toris had to hold in a sigh of relief, apparently Ivan, in the time period he was stuck in didn't mind so much to slight rushes. While the brunette went upstairs though, he tried to solve a mystery himself. He remembered when Russia was that young, during the Mongolian or Golden Horde reign and a bit afterwards as well. So it would make logical sense that the now much younger nation would be used to being bossed around, not the other way around. Strange indeed. Brushing the thoughts away for now, he went into Russia's bathroom to start the bath.
Ivan sighed heavily, the clothes issue was really becoming a problem. Toris had given him some of the others clothes to borrow instead, which were still too loose, but Ivan had found some thick enough fabric to tie around the waist of his hips. Lithuania had promised that they would go shopping for clothes after he met his boss. Pulling on the large coat again, Ivan eyed the slippers Alfred had gotten him, they were the only things even close to fitting, but it was much too cold to wear something like that. So, with Toris only have one pair and several of his older selves boot near the door, he told Lithuania to give him his pair of shoes.
Ivan did entertain the thought of not giving Toris any shoes, but they were supposed to be friends now if Alfred had spoken true, so he let the other wear one of the bigger boots that he couldn't fit in. Then Ivan got inside of another Demon that Toris started driving to the meeting. Hugging his legs to his chest Ivan looked out the window, wondering and worrying about this boss. He was always kind of nervous to meet his new bosses, though that hadn't happened in awhile since he usually knew all the dukes and lords and princes before they ascended the throne, not very well at times, but he had at least met them before.
What if this guy was like the great great great grandson of Ivan the III? Oh that would be so amazing and amusing at the same time, "Hey Toris, do you know what this tsar is like?"
"Tsar?" Toris asked, furrowing his brows, Ivan didn't...right he didn't remember anything...but still, "Ah, I'm sorry , but...the tsar's haven't been around for awhile."
"What do you mean?" Toris took a breath, apparently this wasn't going to be easy.
"The tsar's fell, you have a different system of government now."
"Oh.." Ivan said, eyes widening in realization as he looked down at the loose jeans where his knees where. So, no more tsars, sure he had had other systems before that but...he had liked that one the most so far. Feeling his world completely shatter once again, Ivan decided he wanted to know one more question, "W-what system do I have now?"
"It is one you would not have heard of...you will learn about it soon." Ivan stayed silent, "It has to do with letting the people vote for the type of people they want in government..." Toris tried to be helpful.
"The people?" Ivan asked confused, no royal line either? But...then how were these people they voted for suppose to be trained for the position?
"Y-yes, it was invented in America to some extent, yours is different from it but-"
"Alfred? Alfred came up with it?"
"Um...yes?" Toris said, a little confused. Well he had heard that Ivan had spent a lot of time with Alfred, but surely they got along just as poorly if not more so? Ivan on the other hand smiled a bit, nuzzling into his scarf in self-comfort. He still missed and didn't except the falling of the royal line...but if Alfred had invented it...
"He still uses it?"
"Yes, he's quite proud of that fact too." Then...maybe it wasn't as bad as it could be.
Going up the stairs with Toris, Ivan followed the other through the unfamiliar building. What was his capital now? Surely if so much had changed so had that. Still, he had some more pressing issues to focus on that were more immediate as Toris stopped. Ivan looked up to who he assumed was his boss in this time, who looked back at him. Ivan blinked, tilting his head slightly. Should he bow, they weren't royalty, but it was his boss, darn the personal greetings and not knowing them! Ivan tipped his head a bit, hopping that would suffice, "Ah, hello." He could hear Toris translating in another language, not English though, he was sure, it wasn't nearly as soft as that.
"He says hello. He wants to know how this happened. If any country did this to you." Ivan shook his head in response to Toris's translation.
"I don't remember, sorry."
"What did America say to you?"
"Ah, he helped me out a bit...like he told me about...cars and...phones? And light." Glorious light, "He was also the one to tell me that I was the biggest country." Ivan continued, "And about the allies and um...the freezing war? Something like that."
"Do you mean the cold war?" Toris asked this time before translating it back to Ivan's boss, had Alfred really taught him all about that? World War Two and the Cold war and about technology? That seemed like quite a bit. Ivan nodded.
"Yes that is it. Ah, but Toris, I want you to tell him I'm not Russia." Toris looked confused, but once again didn't question his former ruler, translating it.
"He wants to know how you are not Russia."
"I am the country of Rus, not Russia. I know nothing of him."
"He says that is why you are going to be given some history as well as some language classes. That you are now Russia since you have taken his place."
"But I haven't." Ivan said, he didn't want to take the others place, but how could he explain that?
"He says that you have though, you are Russia in every sense but memory." Ivan repressed the urge to argue with that, body was different. Sure, they looked alike and they were each other...in a sense, but they couldn't be interchanged. Ivan just shook his head, the man said something and Ivan once again waited for the translation, "He says that it may be hard, but they need a Russian representation and your clearly it...so even if this thing is temporary. But we don't know what sort of effects it would have on the country and its people if there wasn't a representative." Ivan took that in silently...what did happen to a country when this sort of thing occurred? But it never did. If a representative disappeared so would the country, either through war or famine or something, but it was never pleasant. Would the people die? His future people and the daughters and sons of the ones he knew now. But what was he kidding, he wasn't any hero and throwing his life for people he didn't know...even if they were his people...his blood and body and soul in the future...and it was only temporary, right?
"I..." Ivan started, looking down, but to learn everything about this new world before he got his memories back? Then again, if he was going to get his memories back then there was no harm in learning now, since he was going to experience it later. But what if he was sent back to his time period? He wasn't a fool, he knew a lot about the future already, too much. So if he went back he couldn't ever breath a word as to what had happened here. Not one. That was a lot of pressure, both ways and he still wasn't nearly ready to let go of his old world to become Russia. He'd never become Russia, not this quickly and not this moment, sure in the future obviously he became Russia, but... "Alright...but only temporarily. And I do want one thing."
"He says he's glad you are willing to accept the terms and want to know what you want." Well a lot of things actually, but he could handle himself well enough...still, he wasn't very pleased at something he had recently had as his taken away, he was possessive he knew it, but he didn't care.
"I want Alfred to teach me English." And that way Alfred would have to come here and spend a lot of time. Or the other way around, either way Ivan was happy and if he didn't learn English very fast? Oh well, more time to spend with Alfred, and this was so much simpler then the plan he had come up with before! He could see his boss hesitate when Toris told him his request, but Ivan stood firm, literally, staring at the man, though he wouldn't hurt Russia's boss, he wasn't afraid of intimidating him.
"He says that that might be difficult and perhaps there is another way to-"
"No, that is my condition, I think it is a small one to pay for what you are asking of me. I am possibly giving my life for a country I do not know anymore." There was silence for a while before.
"Alright, it's a deal, he will talk to America's boss about it." Ivan brightened happily. Yes, this was turning out to be a pretty good day. Except for the whole becoming Russia, because that wasn't so great. But...oh well.
Unfortunately, the lessons started right away, with Toris as his translator, of course they were somewhere else then where he had meet his boss, but same building it seemed. Ivan didn't pay much attention to the history portion of it, completely blanking out, but he still smiled and nodded when asked something or when they seemed to be checking if he was paying attention. Instead he thought about the world now and then as he knew it, Alfred was a new country, the strange flower he found in his pocket that was pretty, he wondered, maybe it was his national flower? He'd ask later, maybe he could find more, Alfred maybe had some, he was kind of hungry, maybe he could get that thing Alfred had bought him, Ivan sighed, it didn't help at all that he kept thinking of the blond. He knew he would lose mentioned country once he went back to his own time, and that was one of the things Ivan felt jealous about his future self. Even if it was technically him, it made him mad to think that he might be sharing Alfred during his stay.
Best not to think about it, but Alfred did, he could tell. Oh they were looking at him, he nodded, humming, "Interesting." They seem satisfied, good. Still, he decided that he was going to enjoy the blond as long as he could before Russia got back or they switched places. And if he did go back to the past he'd have to wait so long! If he just got his memories back then that would be great because he could keep America, but...at the same time...he missed his world, he really did. He didn't know much at all about Alfred and he knew he didn't love the blond, they had only just met but...Ivan sighed internally. He really liked Alfred. Sure he was still new to the whole guys sleeping with guys, still kind of weird to him, and he had been kind of confused on how it worked until...well...Ivan moved his scarf to hide the blush, neither the teacher nor Toris seemed to notice much as he moved a bit. Oh apparently now he was also being told about political situations, he didn't care about that either. He zoned out once again.
Alfred really was...attractive when he wasn't wearing so much clothes. Ah, he shouldn't think about that though! It had hurt a bit, well maybe more than that, but he felt completely better and he couldn't completely forget about the pleasure. Especially when Alfred touched his neck and nibbled and licked and Ivan let his head hit the table. Stupid lust, stupid sin, "Ah...are you alright?" Ivan sighed, nodding before sitting up again.
"Yes, I'm alright." Ivan said, "Please continue." They looked a bit worried, but continued. Ivan rested his cheek on his hand, resting the elbow on the table. It didn't help that Alfred was the first person Ivan had ever slept with.
Alfred woke up to a ringing, he turned over and smashed his fists on the alarm clock, hearing it break, 'The face's clock is to tired.' He thought, still mostly asleep. The ringing continued and he realized that it was his phone somewhere in his groggy mind. Alfred looked at the clock to see what time it was to see it was smashed to bits, dammit. Groaning and getting out of bed Alfred walked slowly like a zombie to his dresser, picking up the phone, "Hello?" He asked, tired.
"Alfred." He recognized his boss's voice, great more scolding, hadn't he had enough of that yesterday?
"Dude, boss I said I was sorry about everything, can't you wait until after I've woken up by my own free will to lecture me?"
"I got a call from Russia's boss." His boss didn't sound very thrilled, he kind of sounded worried.
"Oh god, nothing happened to Iv-Russia, did it?" Poor cute little Ivan alone in the future and not being able to speak...wait...this was still Russia...still, he was worried. Great, now he was like fully awake and really stressed, and he hadn't even had his coffee yet.
"No...but there's been a request." Alfred blinked, confused, "They have asked that you in particular go and help Ivan learn English."
"Haha, no way, seriously? Why not like England?"
"They said that Russia requested you as his teacher in order to keep the country from falling." Wait, him being Ivan's teacher stopped Russia from collapsing, sure he was important to saving the world and all, but that important? It was just a language, "So if we don't agree then they will take that as us wanted them to die and um...well."
"Got it, diplomacy and politics and all that shit." So his boss had to let him see Ivan, no if's and or buts about it. Haha, that little trickster, he knew that Ivan had been the one to pull the strings through all this. God, he really was a little manipulator, even at that age, it was kind of funny to think about, but Alfred wasn't very surprised. It wasn't like Ivan was the most innocent thing in the world, even if he was younger.
"Try not to cause a war while your over there." Oh great, he was going to Russia, to the freaking ice land of the world, he would have to pack warmer clothes then, "I've arranged a plane to take you there after the G8 meeting is at a close. You will be there today Alfred." His boss pressed.
"Yeah yeah, I'll start getting ready for the meeting. Great, the countries were going to probably demand where Russia was, then he'd say he'd been totally heroic and sent the other back to Russia and arguments would break out and then nothing would get done. Again. Joy, "Thanks boss man!" His boss grumbled.
"The plane ticket and information will be sent to you and should be there tomorrow." After saying goodbye and thanking the other again, he hung up before he hummed happily, going into the kitchen to start some coffee before he went into the shower, then something hit him, and he stopped completely, eyes furrowing. He was actually excited to see Ivan aka Russia, his former enemy. He had thought he agreed to himself that it was a good idea not to see the other again considering...well what happened, he didn't want to do that to Ivan again, taking advantage of him and everything.
Still, even with that in mind Alfred knew that he would still be getting on that plane and going to Russia. Not because of the government or what his boss thought best, but because he wanted to, in some twisted way. He wanted to go even though he knew he shouldn't, for Ivan's sake as well as his own, and he was going to ignore that. And that's what really worried him. But as long as he kept his hormones under control everything should be fine.
