It becomes startling clear to Ivan why the other's back home decided that what the human's have deemed emotions useless and invaluable. They are confusing, tricky and utterly distracting from his mission. They serve no other purpose than to create more problems than they are worth. Ivan knows this to be true when he catches Alfred smiling at him again and the ever annoying heat rises to his cheeks at the sight. He shakes his head and backs away from his control panel.

"Hey you okay?" Alfred asks him suddenly, invading his personal space in a way that makes him take another step back. He can feel his lesser heart pounding in his chest. He shakes his head again and holds up one of his hands to hopefully stop Alfred from asking more questions.

"Yes, fine, just," He closes his less sensitive eyes tight, trying to not get light headed. It's been a few months on Earth's atmosphere but certain things still get to him and make his biological systems funky for a few minutes. At least that's what he tells himself whenever he feels odd with Alfred around. The human pouts at his lack of answer.

"You've been working too hard! Let's do something else!" Alfred gestures at his control panel and the samples he has collected. Nearly 2/3 of the elements have been collected. Ivan glares at the board. He wished to have more, if not all, at this point in his trip, but sadly with the repairs and the human insisting on these 'breaks', he has not gotten as far. His robots tug at his pant legs, pushing him slightly in agreement. He sighs. They get to explore when he does indulge in Alfred's pleas.

"Where?" He knows by asking he is agreeing. Alfred gets excited, bouncing on his heels and grabbing Ivan's hand carelessly. He jerks at the contact, still somehow not used to it though Alfred has lack of care.

"Someplace new! And hopefully warm!" Alfred flashes him one of those megawatt smiles and his cheeks heat up at the sight. He hides his face in the scarf Alfred bought for him, waving slightly to N.A.T. and K.A.T as he's dragged away. This isn't the first time Alfred has distracted him and he hopes it won't be the last. He and Alfred peek around trees and corners, R.E.T. trying to help but mostly getting tangled in leaves. Alfred laughs at their antics and Ivan finds himself staring at the human.

If Alfred isn't dragging him somewhere away from his hiding spot, he's helping out, trying to talk to N.A.T. about something logical or running with the bots to find rocks and things that could help the mission. They don't, but Ivan finds himself being warmed at the thought anyway.

He swallows his uneasiness as Alfred grabs his hand once more and tugs him along. He stares at their linked fingers, only too aware of why the other's back home have denied any sort of emotion on the planet. Only in his ignorance, Ivan is curious. He wants to know why, what these emotions are, why the people of this planet let them run free, and why he feels something wild when Alfred speaks so kindly to him.

"Where are we going?" He asks suddenly, gripping Alfred's fingers to get his attention. The human turns on him quickly, stopping Ivan just a few inches from him, a new kind of warmth rising in him.

"Surprise," Alfred whispers to him with a child like glee in his eyes. Ivan can only nod and follow along with a dreamy like look on his face. He can vaguely hear the metalic sound of the robots laughing behind him. Instead of the panic his lesser heart is in, Ivan focuses on the warmth of Alfred's fingers next to his. Such a simple act and yet it feels more special like this.

Alfred stops soon after, pointing out into an open lake of water. The smile on his face is bright, waiting for a reaction from Ivan. He can only stare at the way the sun here makes the water sparkle. His more sensitive eyes almost shoot open, wanting to take in the entire picture. Part of him wishes he has his third lung working because a sight like this takes his breath away.

"It is.." He can't find the proper words. His robots are whirring beside him. He blinks hard at the water escaping his lesser eyes, he rubs at them hazardously to get rid of the liquid falling but it's hard. He feels overwhelmed with.. something. Alfred is fretting instantly at seeing him get so worked up but Ivan waves him off with a light laugh.

"It is okay Fredka, I am just.." He bites his lip trying to find the right word. He sighs and smiles at the human.

"Happy," He finishes and Alfred breathe a sigh of relief. Ivan laughs to himself only to have his throat close up at Alfred taking off his shirt.

"What are you doing?" He asks quickly backing into a tree behind him and covering his eyes, not wanting to see Alfred indecently. Alfred sputters out a giggle at him enticing Ivan to look through his fingers at the sun kissed skin of the human.

"Can't go swimming in clothes dude," Alfred says and continues to removing his body coverings. Ivan shuts his eyes firmly until he hears the water being rippled. He peeks again to find Alfred covered up to his chest in the water, smiling at Ivan and then waving his hand to signal to join him.

"Is it safe?" Ivan crouches low to the ground, feeling the water with his fingers. It's not overly cold, almost a pleasant warm. Alfred splashes the water getting Ivan's sleeve soaked. He 'eeps' and backs away, blinking wide eyed at Alfred trying to hard to not outright laugh at him.

"Come on it's safe, I promise," Alfred says and Ivan nods his head, believing in those words completely with a blind kind of trust pushing him on. He turns his back and gently removes his body coverings, glancing over at Alfred every so often when it comes closer to him actually undressing. Alfred rolls his eyes and turns his back to him, respecting his not so subtle silent asking to not be watched. He uneasily removes the rest of his clothes, smiling ever so slightly at seeing his robots covering their seeing sensors.

He taps his toe into the water, shuddering at the temperature. Breathing has become hard at the new experience. They have water on his planet, but not in abundance like this, not for this purpose. He takes another step into the water, the color making his skin seem more purple than the light lilac color it really is.

"Come on!" Alfred cheers for him, still turned around out of respect. Ivan can't help the soft wine that escapes him and walks farther in. His toes morph just slightly, giving him a more webbed footing to help his water antics. He shivers when it reaches higher, not used to such a feeling. When Alfred senses him close enough he turns around.

"See I knew you could do it!" The human says happily. Ivan wraps his arms around himself. Earth's temperature cold to him. Alfred twits his nose up and then comes closer making Ivan freeze completely.

"Move around, it'll warm you up," Alfred explains and takes one of his hands gently to pull him farther into the lake. Ivan swims next to the human, exhilaration flooding through him at the new sensation. There are so many new sounds and feelings on Earth and they are going to be worthwhile to miss when he has to go back home. A sudden pang of sadness hits him at the thought of going home. He doesn't want to leave yet, and he can feel it that when it comes time, he might not want to leave at all.

His sad thoughts are interrupted when a wave of water hits his head. His gills shudder, knowing what to do but not knowing fully how. They are used to the vaccum of space to filter in air not this water the Earth has. He blinks up at Alfred who is trying his best to look like he didn't do anything. Ivan smirks at splashes back at him. He's not sure what kind of game it is, but trying to get the human wet provides to be fun, making him laugh and distracting him from his negative thoughts. He gets close enough for Alfred to latch onto him, sputtering just a little at losing his swimming rhythm.

"Are you alright?" Ivan asks quickly, not wanting his human to be hurt. Alfred coughs and nods his head a new smile on his face. Ivan sighs then his face properly heats up at the close proximity. He's not sure what to do so he keeps hold of Alfred. The human laughs at his face and almost pulls away but Ivan doesn't let go.

"Fredka," He says, wincing to himself at the accidental use of Alfred's name in a way that signifies something more. Luckily the human doesn't know this but it doesn't help his position.

"Can you tell me about emotions?" Ivan blinks at him curiously and Alfred twists up his nose in thought. The human makes little thinking noises as he shifts to wrap his arms more comfortably around Ivan's shoulders, their legs bumping every so often underneath the water to keep them both afloat.

"They're pretty cool? Things that you feel deep inside you and can sometimes explain? I don't know words are hard," Alfred laughs gently. Ivan scrunches up his nose.

"Can you tell me about love?" He tilts his head to the side when Alfred's face puffs up in a shade of pink. Despite the pain it may cause, his sensitive eyes open to see the true picture of Alfred's face.

"Wha- well, I mean- you," Alfred fumbles over his words. Ivan shifts to hold Alfred differently, wrapping an arm more snuggly around the human swishing them back close to shore so they don't have to exert as much energy. He finds a spot where they can stand easily but still have most of their bodies covered by water.

"Well there are different kinds?" Alfred offers eventually. Ivan keeps tight hold of him, blinking down curiously at the human as he tries to make sense. He can feel the human moving their hands behind his neck, rubbing every so slightly against his gills as he works on making proper sentences.

"Like love for family, and then love for friends and then love for-" Alfred turns his head up suddenly, putting them nose to nose. Ivan goes wide eyed at the startled expression on the human's face. He feels uneasy at being so close to Alfred like this, but excited by it too. He doesn't want to move from this spot, but Alfred does, just not in a way that he expects.

It's something entirely new when the human pushes his lips up to meet his. Ivan inhales sharply at the act, not moving an inch. His lesser heart has lost all control and is beating without rhyme or reason. Alfred pulls back suddenly at feeling him freeze up, waving his hands back and forth to begin to apologize. Ivan hears none of it though, his mind stuck on the new feeling. He gains control of his thoughts soon, gently raising his hands to hold Alfred's face between them, silencing the human rather well. Slowly and experimentally Ivan touches their lips together again, something never heard of before on his planet but a sensation he doesn't dislike. He pulls back gently, keeping close to the human, not bothered by the cold anymore.

"What was that?" He asks in a whisper. Alfred makes a small pouting noise, moving a hand to place it over Ivan's on his cheek.

"It's.. It's called kissing," He mumbles out embarrassed. Ivan narrows his eyes at the word, not really knowing it. He places his lips on Alfred's once more quickly.

"That?" He asks breathlessly. Alfred nods. At the positive reaction Ivan does it again.

"What does it mean?" His voice is husky from feelings curling up inside him. Alfred shrugs non nonchalant but his face is red.

"That you like someone, mostly," He peeks up at Ivan hopefully. The alien stares down at the human, processing the words he says.

"Is it okay?" Ivan moves his hands from Alfred's face to his back, pulling him closer and pressing them together. Alfred nods his head quickly and Ivan captures his lips one more time, that turns into a few more times. His breath comes out in short bursts between the 'kisses', Alfred only too eager to give more. He jumps a little to get closer to Ivan causing them to slip. Ivan sputter a little, his gills functioning in the water now being used to it. He breathes easily, laughing lightly at Alfred with his cheeks puffed up. The human sticks his tongue out and makes to go to the surface when Ivan grabs his hand to jerk him down.

Alfred makes a bubbled noise, but Ivan silences him with a kiss, giving him air through the contact. They float back to the top, popping above the water with a pouty human. Alfred splashes him and Ivan laughs, following him up to the edge of the water. They sit out of the water, back to back to dry off, Ivan suddenly shy at being openly exposed. Alfred isn't bothered by his request. With a few teasing remarks and the sun going down they get dressed. On the walk back to the barn Alfred refuses to let go of his hand.

"Alfred!" They both jerk at the call of the human's name. Alfred whispers out an swear, kissing Ivan quickly one more time and running off. Ivan watches him disappear through the trees. The little robots buzz and chirp at his feet, pushing him back towards the barn. He enters the clearing, seeing N.A.T. leaning casually against the barn door.

"Feelings?" The technician questions darkly when he gets closer. Ivan hides his face in his scarf. Now knowing what it is, he can't deny them. He nods his head and the robot rolls their eyes.

"Mission," they say coldly and walk into the barn. Ivan winces at the comment. He knows the mission comes first, that he should be paying more attention to his duty. He glances over to the direction he knows Alfred ran off in. He's not sure how much longer his mission will be the only thing keeping him on earth.