A/N: Oh look, he FINALLY updates this fanfic. Yeah, sorry about not updating in a while. Working on chapter 9 this week, just got back from a con so I'm wiped. Anywhos, enjoy! Also, I would like to thank the lovely KamiChan50 on DA for the French translations!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Hetalia belongs to Hidekaz Himaruya.

Warnings: SWEARING AU OOC. So please if you don't like, then don't read. Do not complain that they are OOC, because I warned you TWICE.

Rages

Chapter 8: Within My Hands

"Well, I see my plan worked out," Ludwig said as he walked in on the two men.

"What do you mean?" Feliciano asked as he came up behind the younger German. He heard the Italian man gasp as he caught sight of Ivan and Gilbert.

Ludwig chuckled, "Well now, I'd hate to interrupt, but we do have business that needs attending to."

Gilbert broke off after hearing his brother's voice. "Uhh...Bruder," his voice sounded faint. He untangled his arms from the Russian man and attempted to calm himself.

"I'll be there in a moment, Ludwig," Ivan said as he began walking over to his desk to grab his briefcase. Gilbert hadn't moved, but jolted with surprise when the Russian man gave him a kiss on the cheek as he passed by to go join the others.

"What am I supposed to do about this?" Gilbert muttered as the others slipped into the next room. The German man wandered over to sit in a black leather chair; it was as comfortable as it looked. He slouched in the chair and loosened his tie; he hadn't expected Ivan to do that. He could feel his face still heated and the taste of the Russian man on his lips. He closed his eyes and sighed.

He heard the door to the office open and looked up to see Arthur and Alfred in the doorway.

"Yo, Gilbert!" The American waved. "What're you doing here?"

He smiled back at them and calmly replied, "I just came with Ludwig."

"Is this what you do in your free time?" Alfred asked.

"No, I'm a musician. Hopefully I can start a band soon."

"Dude! I could totally sing for you!" Alfred exclaimed.

Arthur sighed, "No, you git. Who the hell would pay to listen to your bloody voice?"

"Don't be like that Artie!" Alfred whined.

"I told you not to call me that!"

The American continued to pout as the two walked to meet the others.

(***)

"Gentlemen, please, calm down," Ivan said as he walked into the room.

Feliciano smiled at him. "How come you never told me that you two were dating?"

"We aren't...I mean we...I-I don't know," the Russian man sighed. "I honestly wasn't expecting myself to do that...it just happened." He took a seat in the plush leather chair and sank down into it. A silence set upon the room, none of them knowing what to say.

"Hey guys!" A voice called from the door, breaking the tense atmosphere. "How have ya'll been?"

Ivan turned to see the two men enter the room. "You're early," he commented.

"Thanks to me," Arthur laughed. "This lazy git would've never gotten out of bed." They all laughed at that.

Ivan glanced at his watch, "Well, it appears that we'll have to move to the conference room, as we do have a business meeting today."

The men made their to the conference room, Ivan staying behind. He walked over to slouching German and hugged him around his shoulders.

"Is there something wrong?" The Russian whispered.

Gilbert shook his head, "Ivan, I-I can't...I'm sorry."

"What? Gilbert?" Ivan questioned.

"I don't want to get hurt again," sadness filled his voice.

Ivan pursed his lips, "You have to trust me, I'm not like him."

"I'm sorry, but can we talk about this later? I don't want you to miss your meeting," the German sighed.

"I guess I should get going then," Ivan turned around to leave. He was disappointed with himself, but he knew if they talked, he would get through to him. He sighed and made his way out of the room.

Gilbert continued to slouch in his chair; he wanted to trust Ivan, but the fear of getting hurt again was too great. He raked a hand through his ash grey hair, he hated this feeling, and he wanted it to stop. It seemed that Matthew still controlled his life even when he wasn't in it anymore. The office door opened and in stepped another body.

"And you are?"

"Oh, I...uh...I'm Gilbert," the German half-smiled at the distraction.

"I see, well I'm Yao, Ivan's personal secretary. What are you doing here?"

"I came with my Bruder, Ludwig."

Yao sauntered over to the leather chairs and took a seat next to Gilbert, "Stay away from Ivan, he's mine. I saw him first, plus I've already slept with him."

"I'm sorry, what?" Gilbert looked at him in disbelief. The Chinese man smirked wickedly at him. He stood up and went for the door, pausing to throw Gilbert a few last words.

"Bad things might happen if you get too close to him."

The German stood up, his blood boiling, "Is that a fucking threat? I'm not in the mood to play your stupid games."

"Oh, tis not a threat, but a promise," Yao continued to smirk, thinking he had won this round.

"Whatever, fuck you," Gilbert turned to look out the windows, still fuming. He heard the door click and he was alone once again. He pinched the bridge of his nose, he usually didn't go off on people like that, but that man just deserved it.

(***)

As the men entered the conference room, they noticed the Frenchman already sitting in one of the leather armchairs.

"Bonjour tout le monde," Francis greeted them.

"Francis, dude! It's been a while since we last saw each other!" Alfred beamed.

Francis nodded in response, then turning his head to Arthur, "My, my, your beauty blinds me fair maiden!"

"Shut up, bloody frog! Who's a damn maiden?" The Englishman shouted.

"Now, now gentlemen," Ivan chuckled. "Please, let's take our seats." He walked to the head of the table and sat down, beginning to sift through papers.

The meeting went well, as they usually did, but Ivan kept thinking about Gilbert, he was worried about him. He began to put the papers back in his briefcase when Francis approached him. He didn't have to guess what this was going to be about.

"So, a little birdie has told me something very interesting."

Ivan smiled to him, "Really now? Whatever could it be?"

"Don't play coy with me, tell me everything," Francis looked on with anticipation.

The Russian went from looking at Francis, to suddenly becoming engrossed in organizing the papers. "Well, you see, there's nothing going on. I mean we just kissed, but I don't know what he's feeling."

"Oh ami, let me tell you all about love! I know all there is to know!" Francis exclaimed.

"Oh dear god, no, I'm not listening to this," Arthur said horrified.

"It's alright, we can have a one-on-one session," the Frenchman winked at him.

Arthur glared at him, "Sorry frog, but I'm taken."

"The more the merrier!"

"That's it, we're going," grabbing Alfred's arm, he lead him to the door.

Alfred had been laughing at the two, "Come on Artie, take a joke."

"I told you not to call me that!" Arthur huffed.

"Well, I think it's time we end this before it goes too far," Ivan spoke, the other nodded in agreement and they made their way out of the room, saying goodbyes to each other as they walked away.

Ivan made his way back to his office to see Yao walking out, a smirk on his face.

"Yao, what were you doing in my office?"

The Chinese man looked at him. "I was just tiding up your sitting area."

Ivan smiled and thanked the man as he entered his office. He saw Gilbert standing but the windows that overlooked the city. He walked over to him and put a hand on the German's shoulder.

"Beautiful view isn't it?" Ivan smiled. He didn't get a response. "Gilbert, is everything okay? You know you can talk to me."

"I'm sorry, it's not your fault," Gilbert looked into the Russian's violet eyes and felt a calm wash over him. He turned his gaze to the city. "Well, I suppose it's a nice view."

"Did Yao say something to you?" Ivan moved in front of Gilbert, grabbing his shoulders and looking into his red eyes.

"It was nothing," Gilbert averted his eyes.

"Whatever he said, I'm sorry, but just ignore him."

The German nodded and went to hug Ivan. "I'm sorry for all this; I can't escape from my past. I still feel like Matthew is controlling my life and I'm so scared. He did things to me, things I'll never forget."

Ivan wrapped his arms around Gilbert. "It's going to be okay. He can't hurt you anymore, not while I'm here," he felt the German man pull him closer. They stood in silence, holding each other when Gilbert's stomach rumbled, lightening the mood. "How about we go get some lunch?"

"Am I paying?" Gilbert half-smiled.

"Well I suppose you can," he smiled back.

They broke apart from each other and walked to the office door, taking the private elevator down to the next floor where he was greeted by his smirking secretary. They walked passed him and to the elevator, before stepping in Ivan turned to the longhaired man.

"Yao, grab some lunch. We'll be back in a bit," the Chinese man only nodded in response as he watched the two disappear behind the elevator doors. He warned the German man, he really did, but it looks like he hadn't taken him seriously. Yao shuffled some papers on his desk. He knew what he had to do, and after all, it was for the person he loved.

~chapter~

A/N: Well, I hope you enjoyed another installment in Rages! I'm kicking my arse in gear and will try to update more often from now on! Now I'm off to start writing chapter 9! Remember to review!

Until then,

Maxx