I'm sure that most people have noticed that I strayed a bit drastically from Russia's usual attitude. Honestly I wasn't expecting it, but I like the effect quite a bit…

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BANG!

Matthew gave a small cry staggering and pressed his arm across his stomach, hand cupping his hip as he winced painfully. Red blood seeped from under his hand, red blossomed on his shirt like the bloodiest rose, the pure color dripping onto his pants.

Alfred stared silently, eyes wide with shock as Matthew sunk down, one hand pressed against the wall next to Ivan's shoulder, almost protective. "M-Matthew?" Alfred flinched back, the silent glare of his brothers steel blue eyes more shocking than his previous violent language.

"Get. Out."

"B-but-"

"But nothing! I want you out! Ivan-!" the taller man immediately shifted as if in preparation to take action to get rid of this annoyance, his eyes as blank and hard as amethyst crystal, his fists clenched and an aura of anger rolling off of him in waves.

"Kolkolkolkolkol…" Without further argument Alfred backed down, slinking out of the room with an ashamed look over his shoulder as he left.

Matthew's anger vanished, leaving him shaking and spent from the effort of keeping it up for so long.

"I-Ivan…" there was no response from man, shaking and still exuding a thick wall of anger, pure rage that could be felt boring into Matthew's skin like tiny ice shards.

"I-Ivan… veuillez être calme mon ami, votre colère me blesse." He relaxed and sighed deeply, turning, and abruptly scooping Matthew into his arms.

"Wha-!" Matthew yelped at the sudden movement, wincing lightly as Ivan's hand brushed along his hip, coming away stained red. He clung to Ivan's neck as he was carried bridal style out the door after Alfred who stood watching from the end of the hall, scowling worriedly, but was held back effectively by a single look from Ivan's violet eyes.

There he stayed, fuming silently as his little brother was carried away down the hall.

::::

Matthew blushed, gulping lightly as he was cradled in Ivan's arms.

"W-what… I-Ivan, what are you doing?"

"Do not worry." He mumbled softly, as if embarrassed by what he was doing. "The floor is cold… and you are bleeding…and I will just…carry you. Da." Matthew turned bright red and went silent, his grip around Ivan's neck loosening a bit.

"I- I can walk…"

"No." Ivan's voice was firm and clearer than before as his destination became clear.

He sat Matthew gently on the edge of the huge whirlpool tub and began to turn knobs in the shower, turning a bit red as he remembered Matthew's nude form on the other side of this glass. Steam immediately began to fog up the mirrors. Moving his attention to Matthew he reached out, and without asking began to undo the buttons on his bloodied shirt. Matthew didn't object much though he turned a bright fire engine red.

Ivan turned away and moved a bit towards the door as soon as the shirt was off and he could see that the wound was not in a vital area.

Without thinking about the implication of the action Matthew reached out and caught the end of Ivan's scarf.

"W-wait… w-where are you going?" he asked surprising himself but unable to stop himself.

Ivan looked back at him, surprised and red-faced,

"I was going to..." he gave a vague gesture at the door.

Matthew was unsure of what was going on, and most of all about where this boldness had come from, but he knew one thing. He didn't want Ivan to leave.

"P-please… don't leave me…"

Ivan stared down at him, surprised by the word choice; Matthew couldn't know what those words meant to him. How could he deny him when he had just voiced his own greatest fear? He gave a hesitantly firm nod and began to unbutton his own shirt, even taking his scarf off after a moment's hesitation.

Matthew stood shakily and winced, grimacing and staggering, catching himself on Ivan's arm.

"What is wrong?"

"T-the bullet… " Matthew groaned, he had felt this before, it was still there. Ivan frowned and tugged Matthew into the shower, pulling the door closed behind them and pressing him against the wall.

Without warning he dropped to his knees in front of Matthew and pressed his lips firmly to his skin, tugging the waist of his pants out of the way.

"H-hey! W-what?" Matthew exclaimed indignantly surprised by the sudden—and not entirely descent, though not necessarily unwanted either—action. Ivan pulled away, looking up at him with dark eyes, the corner of his mouth stained red with blood. H-had he been sucking on his wound?

"Hold still, this will hurt." Ivan said blankly, his eyes carefully blank and emotionless, replacing his lips. Suddenly pain seared up Matthew's spine, making his back arch as he screamed out an agonized shriek of pain.

He could feel the torturous progress of the mass moving through his flesh, slowly making its way to the surface. Then with a last whimper inducing blossoming stab of torment, it ended and Ivan pulled away, spitting a lump of metal to the side with a clink. Matthew gasped for breath, flinching a little as Ivan's forehead fell against his stomach.

"I am sorry for that Matvey…" Ivan sighed sadly, as the warm water poured down on them, dousing their hair. Matthew's skin sealed shut, now free of the obstruction, and the aching faded.

For what seemed like the hundredth time Matthew sunk down in front of Ivan, shivering as he buried a hand in his hair, pulling him in close once again.

Ivan buried his face in Matthew's bare shoulder, —he smelled like rosehips—running his fingers through Matthew's hair—god it was soft, soft as silk. His hands were spread wide on his shoulders, warm.

Matthew tilted his head into the torrent, closing his eyes, feeling Ivan's breath on his shoulder. Every touch seared his skin…he wanted more. He was supposed to be afraid of this man…but…

Why wasn't he afraid of him?

Why had he sung him a love song when he should have been trying to escape?

Why was he willing—for indeed he was—to forgive anything this man did?

Why had he thrown himself in front of a bullet for him?

These were the actions of someone from a cheesy American film. The actions of someone stupidly in love...love… he couldn't be… could he?

His eyes flew open and he gasped quietly in Ivan's ear:

"I-I-Iv-Ivan, I-I-I-…" Ivan pulled away, looking questioningly into Matthews face afraid that maybe he had gone to far. He had never heard him stutter this bad since he had come here, even when he had been scared witless…

Matthew took a long deep breath, stealing himself before saying it:

"Je t'aime Ivan."

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Sigh….. (Blushes like a demented cherry) was that another cliffhanger courtesy of little old moi? Oh yes it was~ isn't it cute~? (Tickles lil' cliffy under chin) anywho, rant all you like, I welcome the input! ,

Translation notes:

Veuillez être calme mon ami, votre colère me blesse. —Please be calm, my friend, your anger is hurting me.

Je t'aime Ivan—I love you Ivan.

Thankee very much! Please review!