I said I'd have the next chapter up soon, so here it is! One of the longest chapters so far, hopefully you'll enjoy it.
This chapter has lots of Arthur and Ivan fighting over Alfred's attention and a Canadian older brother finally snaps at how freaking crazy Arthur is being to his twin, have fun reading~
"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind." - William Shakespeare
As soon as Arthur spotted the beloved pizza place in their town, he furrowed his eyebrows in annoyance wondering how quickly he could get the cheerful blonde next to him to eat so they could leave early.
"God, Artie, I'm so hungry!"
Arthur sighed, looked like that plan was out the window, who knew such a fit guy like Alfred could have a bottomless stomach and not gain a single pound. It was just so strange and inhumanly possible but Alfred did like to be different, Arthur supposed.
Alfred excitedly opened the door to the restaurant, holding it open for Arthur like a perfect gentleman making Arthur despite his bad feelings about coming to this place blush with adoration. Alfred really did have his moments of manners sometimes.
Alfred grinned as he spotted the silver haired Russian in the back of the room before waving his tanned arms around in a odd exuberant greeting.
"Hey, Ivan! We're here!" Alfred exclaimed making people sitting down already at their tables chuckle at the boy's enthusiasm.
Ivan just smiled and motioned for him to come over.
As soon as Alfred and Arthur got close to the table they were going to eat at, Arthur and Ivan locked eyes in a feral battle of competition.
Bright green and soft lavender looking on dangerously while a pair of ocean blues just sat down happily not sensing the tension.
"Hiya' Ivan!" Alfred said again as he took a seat right in the middle making Arthur internally groan wondering why he didn't sit there first in order to make sure Ivan wouldn't be placing hands where his stupid grabby hands should not be.
Arthur sat down next to the oblivious blonde and forced a cold smile over to Ivan.
Alfred glanced over at Arthur and smiled as he patted the British man's shoulder happily.
"Remember this guy, Ivan? This is Arthur, he's the class president and my best friend!" Alfred said proudly making Arthur raise a eyebrow over towards Ivan with a winning smirk hoping he'd notice the closeness between the two and would finally take a hint.
Ivan smiled back at Arthur in a similar fashion.
"Oh da, I do remember him. We fought a lot back when when we were small." Ivan replied with a chuckle although remembering the memory with fondness even though Arthur caught that edge of annoyance in his voice.
Alfred didn't sense anything and just laughed along.
"Yeah! You guys were violent, man, but now we can all be friends again, like we used to remember?" Alfred said with a thoughtful smile that made the two men sitting next to him smile back fondly.
They both hated one another but they both could understand why the other wanted Alfred, the kid really was too precious.
Arthur however hoped the 'friends' thing wouldn't last long, Alfred and himself have been friends since as long as he could remember, Ivan had left Alfred as soon as high school hit so he figured he had seniority over this whole thing.
Ivan nodded forcefully. "Of course, Fredka. We're all friends again, da, Arthur?" Ivan asked sending a look of competition towards Arthur.
Arthur resisted the urge to snarl at the stupid looking Russian and instead smiled a grin too big for his face. "Yes, Ivan. Friends." Arthur said his green eyes taking a look of intensity.
Ivan just smiled in amusement.
Alfred was much to happy to sense any hostility as he grinned. "This is so awesome! I'm so glad you guys are getting along so well!" Alfred exclaimed completely not reading the atmosphere as usual.
After they ordered their pizza and drinks, Arthur and Ivan remained quiet as they listened to Alfred ramble on about different topics as he slurped his coke and munched on his food like a child.
"-and then, guess what?! He totally chickened out last minute and the prank totally back fired and messed up his locker!" Alfred exclaimed ending in a burst of laughter making Arthur and Ivan both smile in amusement before noticing the other's similar look of love and sent the other rival a look of masked hatred.
Alfred excitedly kept talking about another prank story he pulled last week, Arthur as school president should have punished him for (although he never would, Alfred could have burnt down the entire school building and Arthur would have made a excuse for the lad) when the clumsy American accidentally spilled his drink on the table.
Thankfully the drink barely had anything left and only made a tiny mess, Alfred reddened but laughed it off.
"Oops?"
Arthur sighed but in a fond way as he grabbed some napkins and cleaned up the mess like a parent.
"Seriously, Alfred, you need to learn to control yourself sometimes, you could hurt yourse-" Arthur stopped his maternal scolding as his eyes widen in shock as he saw Ivan holding Alfred's hand and wiping them off with a napkin smiling this tender, loving smile as he helped Alfred clean soda off his hands.
Arthur saw red, and his eyes narrowed in this look of extreme hatred as he selfishly snatched the oblivious American's hands away from Ivan's.
Alfred looked at him confused as Ivan looked at Arthur in this smiley yet just as hateful look the Brit was giving him.
"Arthur, why would you take Alfred's hands like that?" Ivan asked sounding childish wanting the annoying green eyed blond to get questioned for his actions.
Arthur felt his eyes glare over at Ivan in irritation before pulling his own napkin and started to gently rubbed Alfred's hands like Ivan was.
"You were being to rough with Alfred, you'll make his hands itch and turn red. I'll do it." Arthur responded quickly as he continued to clean Alfred up like a mother would to her child.
Ivan giggled dangerously and pulled Alfred's hands back to his own side of the table.
"Thank you for telling me, I'll make sure to do it right this time." Ivan replied his eyes glinting in annoyance at having his blond taken away like that.
Alfred looked at the two in complete confusion smiling in a awkward way of complete naivety.
"Um, okay? Dudes, I think my hands are clean now." Alfred said laughing nervously as the two teens fought over his hands like children trying to snatch a toy from another.
Arthur and Ivan immediately let go of Alfred's hands and looked sheepish.
"I'm sorry, Alfred, I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Arthur responded before sending a glare towards Ivan that Alfred didn't catch.
Ivan nodded sending a glare back towards Arthur without the other blond noticing it.
"I'm sorry too, котёнок." Ivan replied making Arthur snap his head towards Ivan in annoyance wondering what on earth this stupid good for nothing Russian was saying to his Alfred.
Alfred just chuckled.
"You guys are like my mom I swear! I'm fine!" Alfred insisted showing his perfectly clean hands now towards his best friends like they were insane.
Arthur and Ivan both nodded both feeling slightly guilty over making Alfred feel nervous. Arthur blamed it completely on Ivan though, if that damn Russian could keep his grubby hands off of Alfred for one moment, none of this would have happened.
They finished their pizza as Alfred kept telling stories and jokes while Arthur and Ivan both tried to out do one another with keeping Alfred's attention on themselves.
Every time, Ivan had managed to have Alfred listen to what he was saying, Arthur would interrupt and complain that he needed something like more napkins or salt and Alfred being the 'hero' that he was would go on a quest to find some like a good friend would causing Ivan to glare coldly over at the smug Brit.
When Arthur held on to Alfred's attention too long, Ivan would intervene and ask Alfred to talk about his sport wins or how he pulled off a prank and Alfred would gladly agree to spout some cute story about how he scored and won for his team somehow, Arthur wasn't very much into sports, wells besides football (European football, mind you) so he didn't really understand what the two athletes were talking about causing him to get frustrated.
Alfred was just totally happy as he watched his two childhood best friends get along so well with each other.
Later they were all walking back towards their houses, Arthur had no clue why Ivan was following them considering he lived on the opposite side of town but the wanker wanted to be chivalrous or something and walk Alfred home as if they were on some sort of date, which they were certainly not, not if Arthur had anything to do with it.
Alfred was walking in the middle between the two silently fuming teens, his golden hair shining in the bright sun casting a almost angelic air around him making Arthur stare in awe, Arthur could not even begin to understand how someone could be so beautiful and perfect, it was just unnatural.
Ivan was having the same thoughts watching the blue eyed teenager who seemed unaware of the obvious staring as he continued to ramble on about something.
"There's my house." Alfred said pointing over towards the humble two story home where Arthur could see, Alfred's twin, Matthew sitting on the porch reading a book.
Alfred beamed. "Mattie! You're home!" He exclaimed making the shy boy jump at the sudden sound. Alfred ran ahead of his company and practically tackled his brother into a hug.
Arthur felt a sense of jealousy creep into his skin watching Alfred hug Matthew like that, sure they were brothers but it still irritated Arthur that Alfred was so close to someone other than him.
Arthur and Ivan walked up the stairs and onto the porch, Alfred finally letting go of Matthew when he heard a set of lungs crushing and almost death.
"This is my twin, Matthew, Ivan. You remember him." Alfred said throwing his arm over his twin's shoulder who smiled politely in greeting.
Ivan nodded and smiled. "Da, I remember him. He won every game of hide and seek at school." Ivan said sounding amused.
Matthew chuckled sheepishly at that fact. "Yes, It's easy to win that game when no one tries to find you." He replied with a sheepish laugh.
Alfred pouted. "I tried to find you." Alfred said nuzzling closer to his twin lovingly causing Matthew to sigh but smile used of his twin's affectionate behavior.
Arthur felt himself start to glare at Matthew angered at how close his boy was with Matthew.
Matthew glanced up and raised a blond eyebrow at the British man not looking the least bit perturbed causing Arthur to raise his eyebrows in confusion.
Normally, Matthew was pretty scared of Arthur and would try to pry Alfred off of him in order to keep the British man at bay but the Canadian seemed to almost encourage Alfred to keep hugging him as he placed a hand on his brother's knee looking at Arthur expectantly.
Arthur felt himself scowl at Matthew's smug attitude.
Was everyone trying to piss him off today?
Ivan seemed to notice something was off because he perked up and seemed to appear happier at this occurrence.
Alfred jumped up and opened the front door yelling something about having to refill the cat dish before his mom killed him for slacking off his chores. When the door finally closed their was uncomfortable silence.
Arthur's glare got more angry as soon as Alfred left.
"What the bloody hell is going on with you two?!" Arthur asked Matthew and Ivan sounding pissed at this complete lack of disobedience for his clear set rules when it came to people touching Alfred.
Matthew glared back causing Arthur to sputter in confusion, the blond boy has never once tried to to fight back.
"What the hell is wrong with you? You're trying to tear Alfred away from his own brother, if you don't think that's sick then you're more insane than we already think you are." Matthew retorted standing up to glare his violet eyes looking deathly.
Arthur felt his mouth drop in shock but quickly his expression went back to one full of rage as he heard Ivan giggle in the background.
"Look, Matthew why are you being so rebellious right now? If you'd just listen to the rules I set-"
Matthew cut off Arthur's speech looking completely enraged.
"Their shouldn't be any rules when it comes to me being with my twin brother, in case you haven't realized yet, Arthur. I've been with Alfred his whole life, much longer than you have ever been. You can't just expect me to push my own brother away when he hugs me or talks to me! Stop being such a obsessive psychopath for once in your life!" Matthew exclaimed pointing angrily at Arthur in a threatening way.
Arthur frowned and felt a knot of envy twist itself into his core at being reminded of the fact Matthew has known Alfred since birth.
Ivan nodded and smiled looking completely pleased at this turn of events.
"Da, I agree." Ivan replied sounding amused over this whole argument.
Arthur flashed him a look of pure hatred.
"Shut up, this isn't about you right now, Braginski. Matthew, you're making it sound like you can't interact with Alfred, you can, just not like that. My Alfred is-"
Matthew cut off Arthur again looking insane with anger as he stepped froward and pointed a finger in Arthur's chest.
"Alfred does not belong to you. He is his own person. Alfred can't see what a monster you are but everyone else does, what do you think is going to happen if you two ever did start dating? He's going to go insane when you act like you own him and then break up with your pompous ass!" Matthew all but yelled at the scowling blond.
Arthur frowned and furrowed his large eyebrows, looking more calm than he actually was.
"Alfred is mine though." Arthur replied sounding completely collected as his green eyes darkened over at Matthew.
Matthew blinked before looking the way he did after losing a hockey game before completely throwing himself at the British man yelling obscenities.
Ivan had pulled Matthew away from Arthur before any damage could be done, not that he would have minded if Arthur had gotten a black eye.
"As much as I approve of this fight, Alfred would not. Fredka hates fights, he'd probably not talk to any of us for awhile if I let this happen." Ivan said using his strength to keep the two apart, both ready to completely attack the other.
"I don't care! He's completely insane, I've waited a long to finally do this!" Matthew argued trying to pry himself from the Russian's grip.
Arthur was scratching and punching at either two bodies he could land a hand on.
"Let me go, you stupid oaf! I don't want you touching me!" Arthur exclaimed sounding furious trying to hit both parties at the same time.
The door opened and Alfred popped out carrying four glasses of drinks grinning happily.
"I'm back, I brought drinks and stuff! I'm awesome, righ-?" Alfred stopped and stared at the scene in complete confusion his blue eyes looking lost at this strange scene in front of him.
They all turned around and looked at the shocked American equally surprised before all breaking out into awkward smiles too big for their faces. Ivan let go of each boy and chuckled nervously.
Ivan coughed. "We can explain, Fredka, see...?" He trailed off wondering what to say.
Matthew knew nothing would happen if he tried to explain what really happened, Matthew had tried telling his twin about how crazy Arthur was, hinting at his obsessive behavior but Alfred always laughed and told him he was crazy to think like that.
Arthur looked at Alfred almost desperately hoping he wouldn't get angry or upset with him, he needed Alfred to be happy with him. He couldn't bare the thought of his love being mad at him, especially when he was just trying to get these two imbeciles to realize their place.
Alfred blinked before bursting out into laughter.
"Oh! I get it! You guys are reenacting that scene from that one movie I love! The one where the family fights and the mom comes and totally kicks their butts for being brats!" Alfred said laughing thinking it was hilarious.
Arthur, Ivan and Matthew all looked at each other although they hated one another they could all agree on the fact Alfred was as oblivious of a two week old puppy dog.
They laughed awkwardly going with Alfred's thought of their fight being fake.
Alfred stopped laughing before pouting.
"Wait, does that make me the mom then? Aw, man, why'd I get stuck being that?" Alfred whined like a toddler at his lame role in this skit.
Causing Matthew and Ivan to mentally face palm at how completely unaware Alfred was to the angry tension in the air while Arthur just smiled like some sort of doting house wife at how cute Alfred was.
котёнок- Kitten (Ivan likes to give pet names to Alfred in Russian because he knows no one will understand him so he can get away with it ;)
Yep, Alfred is basically as oblivious as a doorknob, but he's so cute you just can't really get angry at him~
Matthew isn't as big of a push-over as he seems, he's a over protective twin, after bottling up his anger towards Arthur for so long, finally seeing someone take a stand against him (Ivan) made him finally stand up for himself and for his brother. (and no, if you're wondering this will not turn out to be CanAme/AmeCan, although I'm totally for that pairing, in this fic, it's just brotherly love, so don't go making up any assumptions, haha.)
If you're wondering why Matthew and Ivan didn't explain why they were actually fighting with Arthur, like I said in the chapter, Matthew had already dropped hints about how crazy he thought Arthur was but Alfred just doesn't believe his best friend could be like that. As for Ivan he just cares about Alfred's happiness and didn't want to hurt Alfred by telling him they all basically hated each other because he knew Alfred would get upset.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, feel free to review and follow, it means the world to me! (: