Ahaha, I love how Ivan just says whatever he wants around Alfred. He doesn't wear that mask like he did in the show. I figure that they've been through so much that they can be themselves around each other by now.
Songs-
'Off Track' by The Features
'Your Song' by Elton John- covered by Ellie Goulding
'It's about time' by Barcelona
After a taxi ride from the airport, the pair found themselves standing at the intersection between JFK Boulevard and Fifteenth Street. Ivan was quite shocked at how quiet the city was for being such a large metropolitan place.
There were tall, pretty Victorian-style buildings and clean, modern sky-scrapers with tinted blue windows and white framing. Traffic was light and there were a few pedestrians and cyclers.
Ivan admired the architecture as they walked. Many of the scrapers flew American flags off their roof. They passed corner cafes and pizza grills.
Alfred was wearing a thin tee shirt and some khaki shorts which he had his hands stuffed in the pockets of, he skipped happily on the balls of his feet while he walked. "We gotta pass through Love Park, dude…" the American said casually.
Ivan sent him a confused stare. "Vhat are you talking about now?" he demanded, blood rushing to his face.
Alfred pointed a thumb to the square of grass and trees nestled in the urban area. There was a large fountain in the middle with a huge statue that read the word 'LOVE'. "Love Park," he repeated. "It's nice this time of year since they've got the fountain going. We should cut through it just cause it's easier than fighting to cross traffic."
"Vhere exactly is our destination anyvay?" Ivan asked. He was growing tired of carrying the bag with his luggage in it.
"Dude, we've gotta go to Bubby's and Bugsy's! Their hot dogs are epic!"
"Oh…food again…"
Alfred grabbed the Russian's hand to get him to move faster. "For dinner, we've got to go to Tony Luke's and have a roast pork sandwich or somethin. They're really popular around here, and it's near my condo anyway. We should find a good hoagie place too since we're in Philly…and we've got to have some Philly cheese steak!"
Ivan was trying to ignore everything the American was doing. He was being unusually happy and very abrasive. It was difficult not to think about it when there were college students and business people staring at them like they were a couple or something. Ivan tried to shake his hand free, but Alfred hardly even noticed his motion.
Ivan just stopped walking completely. He rooted his feet into the ground defiantly.
Alfred finally noticed and turned around. "What?" he demanded.
Ivan looked down at their hands then over at the fountain then back at their hands.
"What?" the American repeated.
"You are having me walk vith you in Love Park while holding my hand. Imagine how dis must look," Ivan said rationally.
Alfred's face flushed and he pulled his hand away. He turned on his heel. "R-right then…um…hot dogs! That's what I was doing!"
He ran down the street and into the small shop sandwiched between a laundry-matt and a government building. He held up two fingers to the kid at the register and was handed two dogs.
Ivan just found himself a seat on a bench under a tree. He usually liked the warmth, but obviously Alfred was going through a heat wave. It couldn't be below ninety degrees and it wasn't even noon yet.
Alfred trotted back with his hands full of food again, a goofy grin plastered on his face. "I got hot dogs~!"
"I can see that," Ivan managed as the questionable meat product was placed in his lap. "Did you get anything cold by chance? It is much too warm in your land…"
"Ah, here!" Alfred said, handing the Russian the cup of Coke he'd already drank half of. Ivan slipped the straw in his mouth and drank down the rest. He really didn't care much if Alfred's mouth had already been on it. Because well, damnit it was hot outside!
The American just chuckled and brought his feet up onto the bench to sit Indian-style. He took a monstrous bite out of his hot dog and started talking. "meyah ey mwemeber dat!"
Ivan rolled his eyes. "Speak after you swallow," he chided, stealing a pickle off the American's tray.
Alfred laughed, gulping down his food. "I remember when you first tried coke!"
Ivan sighed. "Da. Vhen vas dat? Seventy-nine? Eighty?"
Alfred rolled his eyes and took the cup back, popping off the lid and draining whatever might be left into his mouth. He chomped on a piece of ice. "Like I remember the date," he cracked. "But you thought I was tryin to poison you or something."
"Vell, da. It vas at the Olympics and I vas sure you would slip me something to help yourself compete vith me. If you have forgotten, we vere still at war…sort of."
"Yeah, yeah…I know how competitive we were throughout that whole thing. It was just so funny to watch your expressions."
Ivan's face heated slightly more than necessary. "Vell, it is good. Probably the best you have ever made, looking at it from an international trading standpoint."
Alfred fished in the cup for a piece of ice and slipped it into the Russian's shirt. "Don't be so technical," he chided.
Ivan was still wearing a high collar and long sleeves. The ice hardly affected him. It actually felt quite nice in the heat. He took the cup and fished out a piece of ice to suck on. He casually held another to the back of Alfred's neck. The American jumped, but tried to brush it off by changing seating positions.
"So…you're leaving tonight then?" the American asked, ignoring the ice slowly melting down his neck.
"If you vant me to," Ivan replied, speaking like a politician.
Alfred glared at him. Why would that Russian bastard put the decision on him? Neither of them wanted to give anything away. "It would help me put off going to hear about healthcare…" he muttered, hoping that it came off blasé enough.
Ivan stared at him, taking the ice off Alfred's neck and popping it in his mouth. The American gave him a quick look of disgust. Ivan smirked, "Are you sure you don't vant me to stay, just to visit?"
Alfred sent him another glare. "When's the last time you came to North America just to visit?"
Ivan thought for a moment.
The last time he had visited North America had been a few months ago for a hockey match with Matvey. He hadn't been there to see Alfred, but he'd seen him anyway…
The Russian walked in to a strange scene. Matthew was seated calmly on the couch, watching Canadian Pickers on television. It was just a day after they'd finished their game and Matthew had won.
Alfred -for once in his life- was ignoring the screen in favor of dancing…in his boxers…with no other clothing on…very close to his brother's lap.
Ivan didn't quite understand why that made him so angry. He turned and looked down at the Canadian as Alfred swirled his hips around with his arms behind his head. "Enjoying the show?" he ground out.
Matthew, not exactly reading the mood –the brothers had to have something in common- looked up at the Russian. "Do you know why he's dancing in his underwear?" he said in a quiet, calm voice.
Ivan glanced at the American. Alfred's eyes were closed and he was swaying to some unheard music. All his scars were exposed; in fact, he was flaunting them. Ivan shrugged. "I thought he vas trying to seduce you…"
The Canadian laughed. "Yeah, right. I found this in the laundry…" Matthew said, leaning over the side of the couch and pulling up a blood-soaked Navy Seals uniform to show the Russian. Alfred threw his head back, grinning and moving his arms.
Ivan stared at the soiled uniform suspiciously. "Amerika, vhat have you been doing?"
Alfred smiled, eyes still closed. "All the usual…"
Matthew took a sip from a glass of wine he had sitting on a table next to the couch. "He came over to celebrate killing Bin Laden."
"Ding dong Bin Laden's dead~!" Alfred sang happily.
"Oh…" Ivan said.
…
"A few months ago actually…" Ivan said to answer Alfred's previous question.
Alfred thought back. "Oh…yeah, I remember that now," he laughed. "Good times…"
"So your war vith Iraq is almost over, da?" Ivan said innocently.
Alfred's smile faded. "I…I don't know, really." He ate a pickle. "But, I'm fucking tired of hearing about it…They call me over sometimes to dog fight in an F-39."
Ivan went silent. He watched the pedestrians passing by on their daily routines. Their lives seemed so small, but without them, the countries would have no human representatives and none of them would exist. Did they really understand how small and unimportant all their tiny troubles were in the big picture?
"I think I vill stay…but only tonight. I vill leave in the morning…" he said after some hesitation. They both should really get back to their own responsibilities.
Alfred's grin faded and he leaned into the back of the bench, not realizing how much his posture had fallen. He didn't want Ivan to leave yet. He was supposed to be making friends with him again. Somehow it felt like that had already been done because…now he was actually enjoying himself.
It almost felt like 1890 again and he and Ivan were the best of friends. Those were the days.
He kinda wanted the Russian to stay to watch horror movies with him and Japan. But, he'd made it quite clear that he didn't want Ivan seen in America by other countries. So it seemed like he would need to leave tonight anyway.
Ivan noticed the darkening mood of the American. Was Alfred really that inclined to procrastinate? They ate in silence. Alfred watched the people in the park.
Wait…
"Oh my GOD! SWEET!"
Ivan looked over at the American curiously. Alfred was staring at two people lying flat across the top of the Love statue. "Vhat are they doing?" Ivan wondered aloud.
"They're planking!" Alfred cried excitedly. "It's been like two years since I've seen people doing this!"
Ivan sighed. He remembered the strange fad that the American tourists had taken to. They'd done the same thing in his country. Whole groups of them had flooded St. Basil's Cathedral and laid on their stomachs in the most odd and uncomfortable places they could find.
"You wanna go?" Alfred said excitedly, grabbing the Russian's hand again.
"Nyet," the Russian refused, giving Alfred a sweet smile.
"Aww…come on! It's fun! One time, I climbed the pole of a McDonald's sign and I planked on top of the arches…it was epic. People started taking pictures from their cars!"
"Somehow this does not surprise me," Ivan muttered, his smile wavering. "Sit down."
Alfred frowned and settled back into the seat. "It's good exercise you know…" he said defeated. "Builds your core if you do it properly…"
"Da, and apparently it gets you attention as well. I can see why you love it," Ivan said, smiling brightly.
The American laughed and punched Ivan in the arm. "You're funny you know that?"
"I vas not jok-"
"Gah! We need to find something cool to do," Alfred cut him off. "This is Philly! I mean, this is like the birthplace of 'Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness'!"
Ivan rolled his eyes. "Vhat do you suggest then?"
Alfred pushed his glasses up on his nose and thought. "Well, we could go to the National Constitution Center, or Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell is here…that's kinda interesting. There's some cool history stuff in there…" he glanced over at the Russian. "Ah…but that might not really interest you, I guess."
Ivan just blinked.
"Okay, then we should go to the Philadelphia Museum of Art!" Alfred suggested. He's seen that big bell a billion times before. There was some cool artwork he was sure he hadn't seen though, and that seemed like something Ivan would like- or at least like something he wouldn't complain about.
"How far is that?"
Alfred thought for a few minutes. "I'll call a cab…"
…
They dropped off Ivan's things at Alfred's condo overlooking Starr Garden Park. When they'd arrived at the museum, Alfred stepped out of the cab first and threw his arms up. "Isn't it pretty?"
Ivan stared at the sheer size of the museum. It was at least five stories tall and had huge white columns supporting the front. There were carved statues all over the manicured lawn that stretched out on both sides of the wide staircase to the entrance. Ivan decided that it was pretty. "Da," he replied.
Alfred grinned and started climbing the stairs. "We could spend all day in here- trust me. But, we'll look at whatever ya want, okay?"
Ivan walked after him, watching him closely. This was suspicious behavior. Alfred was about as cultural as…he didn't even think anyone would level out with him. America was the melting pot of nationalities, but somehow, most of the time, he showed about as much culture as grass.
So then…why were they here?
Did he think that this would interest Ivan?
Well…it sort of did. He was more into literature and music, but artwork was nice too. It was definitely better than constantly eating…
But why was the American being like this? Ivan was starting to get suspicious of this whole situation. He shrugged it off as nothing.
So, Alfred lead Ivan through the American art on the first floor and they both roamed through the rest of the museum at will. There were paintings, tapestries, pottery, sculptures, fountains, carvings, china, and all sorts of other artifacts.
Alfred would comment on each exhibit.
"The Medieval Cloister! This is so cool!" America cried, running through the old Romanesque pillars and into the exhibit.
"Don't touch anything," Ivan reminded him.
Alfred sent him a glare and they moved on. "Whoa! Look at this armor!" the American was saying next. "I wish I was around when they used this stuff…it's so cool!"
"It vas not exactly comfortable…" Ivan muttered.
Alfred turned to him, grinning. He was trying to imagine the Russian wearing armor and chain mail. "I bet you looked awesome…like a medieval hero or something."
Ivan rolled his eyes and walked away to look at the 'European Decorative Arts' gallery. He looked through all the pompously adorned plates and tea cups.
He'd always had mixed emotions towards the European culture. One of his favorite rulers, Catherine the Great, had worked hard to try and Europeanize him, constantly chiding him to use a napkin and keep his elbows off the table and such.
"Russia? Mon ami, vhat are you doing in dis place?" came a familiarly French voice from behind Ivan. He cringed. What was he doing here?
"Francis?" Ivan said carefully, turning around to see France wearing a maroon vest over a white button shirt. His pants were long and black, but also slick.
"Hey, Ruski! I found this really cool snuff bottle from China! It's upstairs, you gotta see-!" Alfred paused, dead in his tracks. "France?"
"Bonjour," the Frenchman greeted, nodding his head to Alfred.
"Why the hell are you here?" the American demanded.
"I am setting back ze clock dat I gave you in 1795…" Francis said, motioning to the glass case he had opened and the pocket watch and stand inside it.
"And you chose today to do this?" Alfred snapped.
"I didn't know there vas a reason vhy I should not?" France said innocently. "But I see now that you are entertaining…" he grinned crookedly. "Am I smelling a reawakened romance~?"
"Ack! Hell no!" Alfred denied immediately. He turned to Ivan to see what his response was.
Ivan just stared at them both. How could Francis even suggest such a thing? And why was he hesitating? Their stares had become piercing. Now, even if he denied it, neither of them would believe him…he'd waited too long. He was silently cursing the world in his head. He was pretty sure his expression had become menacing.
"Schlop~"
"Ah, SICK!"
"Mon Dieu!"
Ivan glanced down. His heart had slipped down out of his shirt. He gave the others a reassuring smile. "It's alright…I did not feel a thing!"
"Well, don't just leave it there!" Alfred cried, leaning forward and scooping up the organ. "Goddamnit…that's gonna stain! Francis, get the janitor!"
He stood up to see Ivan's face completely red and the Russian staring at him intensely. "What?" he demanded.
Ivan opened his mouth to say something, but he bit it back.
Alfred just shook his head and looked down at the beating organ in his hand. "Ah…there's a piece of dirt on it…we should go clean it off…" he suggested, walking down the hall with Ivan following him obediently. Alfred threw the bathroom door open heroically.
"Anybody who's in here get the fuck out!" he shouted. There was no response anyway. "Cool…" he muttered and he went to the sink, turning on the water. He dipped the organ under it, and the sink went red.
Ivan choked and fell against a stall. "Take it out!"
Alfred turned around. "What?"
"Too cold!"
"Ah!" Alfred jumped, and turned the water to warm. He carefully rubbed the side of the organ clean.
Behind him, Ivan was trying to concentrate on anything but the feeling of the American caressing his heart like that. Even when it wasn't in his body, Ivan could still feel it beating. He tried to slow it down before Alfred realized how quickly his heart was racing. No one had ever handled the sensitive organ that gently…
"How do you put it back in?" Alfred asked, turning around with the muscle in hand.
Ivan's head was spinning; not from blood-loss or anything. He never lost much when his heart fell out…somehow. "I don't want it back…" the Russian decided suddenly.
"What are you talking about? That's crazy," Alfred said, stepping forward and unbuttoning the top of Ivan's shirt.
The Russian grabbed his wrist so that Alfred had to grip tighter to the organ to keep from dropping it. "I don't vant it back right now! It has been taken too many times." Alfred stared at him. His eyes were intense. Ivan gently closed Alfred's hand around the muscle. "You…just keep it safe for me…"
Alfred stared down at his hand. He wasn't covered in any blood or anything, and even if he was, it wouldn't really gross him out that bad. He'd seen Ivan's blood before. Hell, he'd been covered in it before.
The organ was a wiring mesh of pink flesh and blue and red veins. The heart was a bit bigger than a soft ball, Alfred decided. It was beating pretty fast in his hand. "You're…sure you want me to keep this?" he clarified anxiously.
"You are strong enough to protect it…da?" Ivan had his heart kept away from him by too many of his bosses. They'd taken control of him too easily once it was in their possession. There was nothing to say that it would happen again, but Ivan knew that peace was a fleeting thing. Eventually he would get another horrible boss. And, if he wasn't going to be the one to actually keep it, then he wanted his heart to be somewhere safe.
Ivan trusted America again. He knew that Alfred had matured quite a bit. He was one of the most reasonable people Ivan knew...just in a different way. Alfred wasn't power-hungry or overly-ambitious. But, most of all, Alfred was powerful right now. His economy might be in the gutter, but it would pass. And, Ivan had faith that he could come back for what was his anytime.
Alfred looked at the muscle in his hand. Ivan wanted him to protect it? Was he strong enough? "Well, yeah…but…"
"Then I'll trust you…" Ivan said quietly. He tilted the American's jaw up so that he could pierce his gaze. "I can trust you…right?" he breathed. They were so…close. Ivan could almost feel the American's breath against his lip.
Alfred was trying to adjust his eyes to keep contact with Ivan's, but they were too close, so he gave up and closed them.
Ivan's heart beat a little faster. Why was Alfred closing his eyes? Did he think that Ivan was going to kiss him? Should he?
"I ave ze janitor cleaning up ze blood splo-!"
Alfred dropped down onto his heels. He hadn't realized he was leaning forward.
"Ohonhon…"
"Quiet, Frenchie!" Ivan snapped, giving an ominous grin.
Francis raised his hands in immediate surrender. "I vont make it anything you zay it iz not," he swore. "I just came to tell you dat I have ze janitor cleaning ze mess."
Alfred nodded, discretely wrapping the heart in a paper towel. He didn't have anything to carry it in, so he just held onto it.
France waved his hand elegantly. "I vanted to know if you two vould like to join me. I ave reservations at Le Bec Fin. It ez just ze few blocks ehway."
Alfred considered the prospect of French food…decorative plates with tiny portions. It would cost a ton, and knowing Francis, he'd probably end up paying for his own meal anyway. He would have to refuse this. "Ah…I don't know, I mean-" A hand cut him off.
"We vould love to," Ivan consented.
Alfred sent him a glare. He guessed Tony Luke's was out of the picture then. If he was being forced to go…he was not paying for his food. And he would eat his heart out. That would teach them...
"Ah joie~! Ve can take my car zen!" the Frenchman said happily as he trotted through the last exhibits to the massive parking lot outside. "I zought I vas going to be dining alone tonight!"
"Really?" Alfred said skeptically. "You'd probably sweet-talk one of my girls to have dinner with you then coerce them into having sex with you," he finished angrily, folding his arms over his chest.
"Ah, American girls are very easy~!" France cooed lightly teasing.
Alfred's fists balled. Ivan winced when one of them clenched around his heart a bit too tightly. "You take that back! No American girl would go out with some guy she didn't know unless it was just for the food!"
"He is only teasing, Alfred. He is joking," Ivan said, putting a hand on the American's shoulder. "But really? The food again?"
Alfred's rage died down and he fell back like an angry dog, hesitant and still growling.
"I apologize, mon ami~!" Francis said, ruffling Alfred hair. "I only pursue American women if they are hard to get as most of zem are. Those are ze most fun, yes?" he said, tapping the American's nose.
Alfred ignored the opportunity to make a rude comment to that.
"Can I use your phone, Alfred?" Ivan said calmly as they walked through the parking lot. "I vill call my plane to come get me…"
Alfred sent him a glare. "No."
Ivan closed his eyes patiently. "Vhy? I vould think you vould rather not have me around now that you have Francis to be your company."
"Well, now that France is here, there's no reason for you to leave!" Alfred countered. "You were just going home tonight because of that movie thing with Japan. But now, everyone will know you were here anyway since France can't keep a secret worth shit…"
"Are you asking me to stay?" Ivan said calmly. He would stay if Alfred just asked for it.
The American quirked a skeptic eyebrow. "Really? I'm not asking. You think I'd let you leave before the awesome horror movie-fest I've got planned with Kiku? No way in hell, Ruski! It's for your own good!"
"After seeing you dis morning vith Mary, why vould I vant to watch you have a panic attack again?"
"Cause it amuses you?" Alfred said hopefully.
Ivan snorted, "Hardly."
"Then stay because you want to."
"Ask me to and I vill," Ivan countered
"I shouldn't have to ask. I know you don't wanna leave. America's too awesome to wanna leave!"
"I have no reason to stay. I vill not believe that I am not a burden if you do not ask me to stay."
Alfred rolled his eyes and jogged to catch up to Francis. They were going to play this game next, huh?
French translations-
Joie- Delightful
Mon dieu- my God.
Yep. So close. I'm just teasin you guyz.
Yeah…France has to have an epic accent too. It's fun to write his dialect. But, it's easiest to just write Alfred.
Let's see who cracks first. XD