Sam-Chan: Hello to everyone who's reading this fanfic! I am extremely sorry I haven't been posting chapters for it. I've been busy with some things, but please continue to "bear with me", okay? Just want to let you guys know that there's a time-skip in this chapter, a big one, but not too big, I think..?

I want to thank mighty penguin for their awesome review! And yes, more people do need to see how awesome Ivan is!

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia, and I'm broke, so no one try and sue me...

Over the past few months, —at least, that's what they thought, though it could have been longer— Ivan and Arthur got along rather well. If one counted the fact that most of the time, they either walked, or laid, or thought, in an almost everlasting silence.

And when one of them did speak, they only talked in short, to the point sentences.

Or at least, it was like that, until today.

"Ivan," Arthur said, looking to see if the taller male was paying attention. "Do, you think, we'll ever leave this building?" he asked, waiting for Ivan's response.

"No," the taller male answered, quickly adding, "I d-don't know, okay." trying not to make his first 'companion' in years, sad.

"I guess you're right." Arthur agreed, letting silence overtake the atmosphere once more. In the silence, guilt started to work on Ivan, causing him to feel bad for what he said.

"I m-mean, if you want, we can try to leave the building, but it'll have to be in the night, okay?"

"Okay. Fine by me." Arthur replied, trying to hide the excitement that was bubbling up in his chest. It sounded dangerous and wonderful all at once. To the point that even Ivan couldn't help but grin a half second to the thought.

Actually going outside? Ivan shook his head to keep himself from smiling any wider. I must be going crazy.

"A good crazy, then."

"H-huh? How did you..?"

"You sometimes voice your inner thought aloud, y'know," Arthur explained, to which Ivan found himself blushing to. "But that's okay. It's rather cute when you do it."

"U-uh?" Ivan's brain was now frozen from his comrade's words. Him? Cute? The only person who called him that was his mom, and she was just teasing him. Maybe it's what friends do? He didn't know, but now he knew not to be too shy of it. He guessed.

"Why do you do that?"

"What?"

"Over-analyze things?"

"Um," he didn't actually know. He just...did. "I, uh, habit."

"Oh." the acid-green eyed male rubbed the back of the his neck sheepishly. Why hadn't he thought of that being the answer to his question?

"That's okay," the taller of the two smiled. "But, since we are going out at night, I suggest that we take turns being on watch while one of us sleeps. I have a feeling it will be a long night."

"You're right." Arthur agreed. He offered to take up the first watch —he knew that secretly Ivan never slept when he was taking the night watch— for the first few minutes of it, he stared at Ivan, who flush a pale pink every once in a while when their eyes met. It was weird for the taller male to have something watching over him, actually trying to make sure that he slept, let alone have someone live with him. But, before he knew it, his eyes began to droop, and minutes later he was fast asleep.

What seemed like ages later, the teen was awakened by a slight nudge from his companion, and bolted up immediately, thinking something must have gone wrong, though Arthur only beckoned him to put on his shoes and a light jacket, just in case.

"Something wrong?"

"H-huh? Нет, I just...Um. Nothing."

Arthur laughed softly. "Okay, Ivan. When you're ready to tell me it's "something", I'll be waiting."

Ivan's face became pink once more, and Arthur smiled, equipped, and already ready to head out. Ivan, now fully awake, quickly put on his ages old shoes, and headed directly towards the door with Arthur —Ivan, being Ivan, was almost cold all the time, and always slept in his giant winter coat given to him by he now pasted Uncle, General Winter, and his pale and almost faded pink scarf, given to him by his sister— taking a deep and shaky breathe as he touched the lock.

"The first time." he breathed out, his heart pounding violently inside his chest.

"Second." Arthur said, trying to restore courage to his friend. "To open the door."

"Да," Ivan agreed. Though Arthur could barely hear him, and the sound of the knob now turning wasn't helping him either. It did send shivers of both terror and glee down his spine. Finally coming out this place, but not knowing the dangers that lied in wait outside, one in their position would swear to themselves, was probably the only excitement they would need for a long while.

Though, it seemed to both the teens that this certainly wasn't about to be their "last time" outside this door. No indeed.

It was dark outside the door, and the only light they could see looked rather distant or none whatsoever. Even as they continued walking down the dark halls they immediately decided it to be night, which, in its own way, could be a blessing and a curse all at once. They crept along, as silent as ever, not trusting the dark-covered building for a second. Nor the things that could be lurking inside it.

Halfway through the dark building, Arthur placed his hand on his companion's shoulder as they began to turn around the corner. "Ivan, are you okay?"

"Да, I believe so." Ivan whispered, his heart threatening to burst out his chest, but his looks as calm as looks could get.

"I-If you ever get...uncomfortable, just say something and we can turn back." Arthur remarked, not giving up on any possibility.

Ivan smiled softly. "I am okay, comrade. But, I will take your word on the offer, да?"

"Deal." Arthur replied. Soon, they were at the very front of the building, about to open the door which would lead them back to the world they once did know. Both took deep breaths. It was now or never.

So, they opened the doors and walked outside.

It was cold. Ivan mused as the sharp, icy wind hit his face. He turned to Arthur, who he found was looking right at him as he was to him. They both grinned at this factor and still carefully and quietly, continued on out of the area, stopping at any sign of noise —altogether, they didn't have to stop much, seeing that Guanet was almost completely abandoned of life, with animals as well as humans included— that crossed their way. It seemed like forever that they were in the cool air, walking. Ivan counted it as three hours and twenty minutes to himself.

Running, for your life would render it "no time at all" until you finally stopped and took a break. Ivan mused.

"And how true that is," Arthur agreed with Ivan, who shot him a puzzled look. "You were voicing your thoughts aloud again, I suppose."

"Yeah," Ivan said. "Probably."

The two, now freezing-to-death, teens spotted a most extraordinary light in the distance, and slowed down their pace, keep more to the left than just staying straight in the middle. The light grew as they came closer, and showed itself to be not just one, but many lights, all of different colors, shapes and sizes, merging together with looked at from afar. Though it was night, many were outside. Laughing, talking, singing, dancing, none having a care in the world. All feeling merry and safe within the beautiful city, as if nothing could go wrong.

Tríco.

It was...beautiful, and the two were in awe at the bright, exotic, lights of the city, having not seen anything of the sort for a long while. They were lighten a bit in their hearts and minds when they saw how cheerful the city's people were. And it very much tempted them to come out the dark streets and narrow alleys they hid in while observing the light parts of the city. But, they knew.

It hurt Ivan much to think of it, but it was just a lie. A big, beautiful lie covered by the splendor of the city, and the well-being of the people. Bad things still lurked in the shadows, but here, they as well lurked out in the open, in many forms, being the people you called "family", or "friend", "spouse", "teacher". Anyone. But, you wouldn't know. Not until it was too late, of course.

"Ivan."

"Hmm?"

"Are, you okay?"

"Yes. I...I just, can't help think how lucky we were, to find out before it was too late." his facial expression was serious, and it told Arthur all he needed to know. He too, realized how close they were to...

To what?

"Yeah."

"What about you?"

"Oh, I'm okay," he blushed. "I was just worried about you."

"Well, I'm fine, so, we can continue, да?"

"Of course." Arthur agreed. Though, now his own mind was churning. What exactly did they escape? He knew they escaped a horrible fate. His friends' "speech" against Ms. Lilli told him that very clearly. But, what could be so evil? Whatever it was, he trusted his decision. And, he trusted Ivan. Even if they couldn't set things right in the end, at least they could help each other, and maybe others who become lucky as well. Their silent observant journey was halted and they entered a less lit up part of the city, one that was also much quieter. Or at least, was.

"S-stop!" someone cried out. It startled both males, who though, were "safe" in the shadows, they could help but shiver at the pure fear in the voice.

"Sorry, but it's orders," another voice replied. "You know this as well as I do. Now sir, please move out the way."

"N-No! Y-you can't!" the man sobbed.

"You know as well as I do, that I have too, so move." the guff voice commanded.

"I'll go! I'll take his place! J-just —Don't!"

"Mr. Tino, please, move."

"No! I love these children like my own! You will not take anyone of them! Never!" the man cried, trying desperately to make the other person listen to his plead. By this time, the two teens were able to see what was going on while still being hidden from view. They saw two men, one in a uniform, and the other in a large, light-gray tee-shirt and plaid, blue pajama bottoms. The man is the uniform was trying to get past the man called Tino, who was blocking the doorway to his house. Arthur felt terrible for the 'night-clothes' wearing male. Ivan did too, but he also felt anger against the cruel man trying to force his way into that house. He couldn't just sit back and watch as something horrible happened!

"I-Ivan?" Arthur stammered in shock. Though, Ivan couldn't hear him, his anger blocking out any sense of reason as he silently crept towards the two men, and in a flash he came up behind the man clad in uniform and punched him hard, making the man redirect his attention to Ivan.

"W-what-" was all the man was able to say before another punch was delivered, and yet another, until he was knocked out.

Tino looked at the teen in fear. "W-who are you?"

"Nobody." was the answer given. Ivan began to drag the body to another area, when Tino laid a hand on the tall teen's shoulder, slightly making Ivan tense.

"T-thank you," the man stuttered. "But, it's okay, I can take care of him myself."

Ivan nodded understandingly, and Arthur, who had stayed in the shadows all this time, worrying, finally ran out to where Ivan was and...and he, "scolded" him. Much to Ivan and Tino's surprise.

"Bloody hell, Ivan! I mean, did you see what you just did there? We could've gotten caught! We could've been surrounded! You better be grateful that other man isn't sounding any alarm! I'm serious, Ivan, I really am! You didn't have to risk everything: getting caught, and captured, and tortured!"

"Arthur," Ivan smiled.

"Yes?"

"But, we haven't."

Arthur flushed pink. "W-well, yeah. We haven't. And yes, it was pretty cool when you beat the shite out of that guy."

"Да, but, you are right as well. And because of that, we must leave. Now."

"Wait! W-what about...you know." he gestured to Tino.

"He has seen what I can do, so I'm sure he will be glad we are not foes, hmm?"

"Y-yes," Tino stuttered. "Of course!"

"Well then, let's go, Arthur."

And the two went off. Going in and out the passages and alleys, staying hidden from the people as before, and carefully leaving the beautiful city, both feeling as if something was accomplished.

It was actually much later than they thought when they arrived 'home'. Though, they were both too excited and gleeful in a sense, too be tired. So, they both stayed up, smiling quietly in the darkness. And neither disliked this darkness.

For it was one of peace.

Sam-Chan: Updates may not come up fast, 'cause I'm sorta juggling between eight other stories that I have to update. I'm also hoping that y'all enjoyed this chapter, and if y'all don't mind, leave a review :3

Translations:

Russian:

Да (Yes)

Нет (No)