[OMG! Thanks for all the kind words guys! Here's a second chapter in return for the support. Thank you! I hope you enjoy :)]
At dawn, God's fingers reached across the pale sky as fog settled over the city. Ivan had decided to forget about the events of the day before, and his deep sleep, not interrupted by impure dreams this time, only helped his occasionally failing memory. Ivan walked with his gloved hands in the deep pockets of his long, white coat, which was decorated with golden buttons running parallel up and down the front of it. He enjoyed the unfamiliar sights of foreign signs and famous structures and monuments as he strolled. The smell of sweet, fresh, roasting bread filled his nose as he passed a pastery shop, and he gave a grin when the taste seemed to linger on his tounge. Even the sounds of the people of France as they awoke to start their new day entertained him.
Soon, he rounded a corner, and came to a stop as a stretch of cobblestone street stretched out before him. Looking both ways, he did not spot the large center where the meeting would begin- soon.
...Eh. What do I care if I'm late? I could just enjoy the city all day, they can start without me. And he proceeded to walk, taking a right.
After a few steps, his guilty concience (usually no where to be found) seemed to wrap itself around his ankles. He sighed with a glance down to his shiny black boots. I guess I should have picked up that map at the hotel afterall... He swallowed, a bit worried he might actually be lost, or wander too far from the hotel. Could I even find my way back now-? He thought with a pivot, and bumped directly into a pair of endless, ocean blue eyes.
Germany blinked up at him and cleared his throat, "Oh, my fault Ivan. I was too busy staring at this map- If I'm not careful I'll probably walk right past the center."
Russia stared back down at the younger nation with his own strange lilac orbs. "It's okay, da? It happens," he replied, then adding, "I seem to have gotten a bit lost myself-"
Why did I just admit that. He mentally scolded himself for making himself look like a fool. However, he must have forgotten that he wasn't talking to someone like America.
"Why don't you walk with me?" Germany gave a small smile.
Russia felt a warmth fill his cheeks and ears. "...Okay."
Soon, they were walking together to the Conference Center.
The warmth still lingered in Ivan's cheeks as he swallowed in effort to clear his mind. He hadn't felt like this in a while- or had he ever felt like this? He wasn't sure. What was this feeling anyway?
Happiness?
The Russian wasn't sure if Ludwig could tell that he was a tad flustered, or if he had made him feel anything at all- but-
He liked it...
Turning his head slightly, he watched Germany analyzing the map, unaware he was beginning to stare again. He wore a childish grin, like a young boy in a candy store who was eyeballing his favorite treat. Ivan was almost unable to maintain a good view of him, he was so jittery. He remembered a few things- but especially a moment like this he had before, "back in the day."
Ivan and Ludwig had walked down the street together before- when Ivan wasn't alone. He remembered how much he enjoyed his company: the serious demeanour, intelligent conversation- and Germany didn't act afraid of him like others back then-
And he still didn't act afraid.
Heck, Ludwig had even smiled at him.
Could they have the same friendship they started years ago again...?
Ludwig paused a moment, with a relieved, "Ahhh, There it is," with a nod of his head to the good-sized building ahead of them. "Room 49 E." With that, he put the map away and cautiously crossed the street with Ivan at his side. Once inside, they rode the elevator to the fourth and top floor, and walked down the hall to the meeting room. With a glance at his black watch, Germany opened the door, thinking aloud, "Arrived with ten minutes to spare. Not too bad..."
Most of the nations had already taken their seats, and were chattering away as usual. Nothing appeared too tense yet, to everyone's relief. An invisible cloak of peace was currently covering the room. Russia wasted no time and took his seat and layed his hands in his lap, scooting up. He glanced down the table at everyone. An excellent angle, he thought, pleased that everyone who was interesting was in his sight from his seat near the end of the long, mahoghany table.
England, France and America were conversing with rude jokes, it appeared.
Japan and China remained as far from one another in the section of Asian countries, and sat quietly. Meanwhile, inbetween the two were the noisy ones.
South Korea, mainly.
Once his eyes travelled to Ukraine, his heart panged sadly in his chest, his half-hearted smile being replaced with a melancholy mask. She had caught one glance with him, and averted her eyes as quickly as possible. Maybe she just couldn't bear to look at him today...
Belarus, on the other hand, couldn't keep her eyes off of him as usual, so he reverted to Ukraine's method of selective sight.
Passing over the Baltics, he noticed the Italy brothers taking a seat beside Germany.
Italy...
He was so close to Germany- how did he do it-?
A slap of a clipboard on the head of the table unglued his eyes from the Italians and German. America stood at the head of the table, a wooden clip board which held onto his selected topics held in his hand. "I'm starting this meeting, alright? If someone's not here- it's their loss, not hearing my heroic words and knowledgeable opinions." He winked, and England gave a rough sigh.
"Will you just get on with it?"said the British man, crossing his arms.
America simply replied, "I would if you'd hop off me," then giving that usual snot-nosed grin.
-9:31 P.M.; Conference Center-
Ivan's backside felt terribly stiff from sitting in the same chair for hours- literally. He was even beginning to fall into the depths of boredom and inevitable drowsiness until now.
The meeting was supposed to end earlier- but things ended up getting extremely heated. Everyone felt uneasy, and some even a bit nauseous, even Russia.
America was leaning into the table, returning Germany's searing glare. Ivan could tell by the look in both of their eyes, a hurricane was brewing behind their usually calm ocean irises.
"Mind saying that again, Alfred?" growled Ludwig, using all his strength to remain in his seat. His fist was clenched tightly, resting on the glossy table near Alfred's.
Ivan didn't even remember what they were arguing about, he had been so out of it.
Then, the line was crossed- but it definitely wasn't just a line.
It was a massive threshold.
And Alfred had tracked his muddy boots across it.
He laughed, and replied with a dirty smirk on his face, "I don't repeat myself to Nazi scum like you-"
Ludwig's expression changed drastically as he inhaled sharply, and Ivan was sure he could even see tears brimming in his eyes. Every country had something they wanted to leave behind, and "Nazi" was the one word Germany never seemed to be able to escape. Who knew how many nightmares Ludwig had about those days. If Ivan had this much trouble with his own past- God knew how hard it was for Germany to go day to day without cracking. Putting on a new uniform- walking around town- attending meetings like this one- people's eyes- his own thoughts- his dreams- even looking at his brother every day-
England leapt up, his voice straining to keep calm- although the tension had already been cut loose to bleed. "A-ALFRED YOU-"
"Have no right to speak to him like that," Ivan said, occupying the space between America and Germany with his usual blank smile in the blink of an eye, "And you know it." He pushed the American back with one hand, gently, but enough to make him move, making the gap less cramped and uncomfortable.
Alfred snap his eyes to Ivan now, gritting his teeth. "Oh, so you're going to take up for him, not me, huh? I thought maybe you'd changed, but I guess you're still as much of a Soviet as he is a-"
"Shut up." Ivan gripped his cheeks with an iron hand, smile fading fast. A lilac flame burned furiously in his eyes. Alfred grabbed his wrist and flung his hand away as quickly as he had been grabbed, and stuck a firm finger in Ivan's face.
"Keep your digusting, blood-covered hands off of me- Oh yeah, I know. Katy told me EVERYTHING about YO-!"
Ivan found himself holding America by the collar against the wall in a near choking grip, nose nearly pressed against his as he growled in his blind fury. Alfred only stared back into Ivan's unwavering gaze, gripping his wrists in his hands once again. No one within the meeting room dared to move, let alone breathe. It was eerily silent, and the only thing Ivan could hear was a slight ringing in his ears, and his own deep, ragged breathing.
After a few un-nerving minutes, Ivan released his hold on America, and slowly looked over his shoulder at his older sister.
Ukraine could do nothing but sit there.
Tears had long since left her eyes where she sat, leaving long, wet streaks on her cheeks as she tried not to wail.
Her eyes seemed to be empty, except for the words-
"I'm sorry."
...but it was too late, Ivan had had enough.
He bolted for the door, slamming it behind himself as he made his escape.
Ivan didn't stop there, even for the voice that was calling his name behind him. He didn't want to see anyone- not even himself.
He flew down the stairs in his adrenaline-crazed race out the door and ended up outside on the side walk and ran into the street without a second thought, becoming blinded by a blaring light.
"IVAN!"
A forceful push from behind placed him on the other sidewalk.
After pulling himself together mentally, he glanced down with a concerned look on his face at the pair of arms still wrapped tight around his torso.
Who-?
Glancing to his left, he found Germany's subtle blue eyes again, but they were still filled with uncalm seas. Ludwig was panting, and gave a hard swallow. "Ivan- please, dont run."
Don't run?
Ivan felt warm again.
Please-
A blurry mass of small black dots obscured his vision.
Don't leave-
He felt sick to his stomach.
Ivan are you okay-?
He couldn't hear any longer as a dead ringing filled his ears.
Black.