Okay, so I've copied ideas in this thing from billions of places it seems…
The first few chapters are mine. I just used some current events I saw on my way home from Canada (like the riot at the 4th of July fireworks)
The scars was a mixture of hearing everyone saying that Ivan's got scars under his scarf, and just thinking about how things would be for these people in real life.
Will/Confederate America- belongs to the Blurple Mage on Deviantart
I do not own Edward McKays (duh)
History does not belong to meh.
The Choosen End on Livejournal
Stepbrothers (the movie)
The story of Resurrection Mary
Humon on deviantart
Epic Bacon by ArticNorth on Deviantart
Canadian Bakin by HinoNeko (sort of)
Several stories that had the heart kink
Yeah…I think that's everything. I'm sure some of my other ideas were already done before, but I didn't see it if so, so I thought it was my idea. Anyway.
Songs-
'Pound of Flesh' by Regina Spektor
'Room of Angel' by Akira Yamaoka
'Crazy' cover by Wakey!Wakey!
January, 1905,
"Ivan! Look, I know you're mad that you had to surrender…but you have to calm down…" Alfred pleaded.
The Russian man was pacing, his back stiff as a board and his arms folded behind his back. "Do not speak to me right now, Fredka," Ivan said calmly. There was no malice in his tone, if anything just disappointment.
Alfred closed his eyes and leaned forward in the armchair he'd occupied. They were in the Russian's living room, meeting to discuss Japan's recent aggression and Ivan's surrender. "We need to discuss this. I'm sick of you guys fighting over here all the time." Alfred said, ignoring the Russian's wish for silence.
Ivan turned stiffly. "You vould love if he kept this up and just killed me," he spat.
Alfred slammed his hands down and stood. "What the hell?" he shouted. "When did I make you think that?"
Ivan sent a dark glare and balled his fists. "It vould be easiest if someone got me out of the vay for you, da?"
Alfred's expression calmed, but he still looked impatient. "Ivan, I was only worried about your recent…aggression… If you thought I was supporting Japan because I gave him sympathy, than I'm sorry! I'm not supporting either of you, I'm trying to stop you from fighting…"
Ivan laughed, "You are a bit late for that, vouldn't you agree?" he said softly. He dropped down onto the floor by his coffee table and took a shot of vodka. "You know…vodka is made of potatoes…" he looked over at the American. "Did you know that? The German man might be interested to know that..." Ivan mused.
Alfred just stared at him. "Ivan. Don't change the subjects. What's been up with you lately?" His eyes were full of concern and sympathy. "Is something wrong?"
Ivan frowned. "Do not look at me like that. It is already humiliating enough to surrender. I could have lasted for months still…but it vas useless." He didn't like how Alfred was staring. He poured another shot and held out the bottle to the American. "I vill get him back. He is not as strong as he is trying to act…he is still new to the modern world, and I am larger and stronger."
"That's not what I meant…" Alfred said calmly. "You've been picking on the weaker countries around you, and…well…you're not doing so well yourself…what's up?"
Ivan drank down his shot. "The Tsars are falling, Alfred. There have been riots and protests…I have tried to calm them…but, the end of my system is inevitable. And…Japan is not helping at all. I have already lost almost ninety-thousand men."
Alfred frowned and lifted the bottle of vodka. It wasn't his favorite, but he needed some sort of tonic. He poured himself a small shot. "I don't think that retaliation is the answer," he said calmly. "You'll only be sacrificing more men. Japan might be small, but he doesn't give up when it comes to honor. I think the best thing would be for you two to talk it out and be reasonable…"
Ivan fell back onto the floor completely. He was tired and his joints ached. He'd lost one of his ports and he'd been cut off from Manchuria completely. "Why are you getting involved?" he demanded. "Just let us handle this."
Alfred rolled his eyes. This was sounding suspiciously familiar. 'Let the adults talk it out, Alfred'. He was tired of hearing it. It was his chance to have a place in politics. He was confident that he could prevent wars…and make his place in the world known.
"I'm preventing you eastern people from killing each other. You should be grateful. I'll mediate your talks if you just agree to them. Remember when you mediated me and Arthur? It's the same thing…" Alfred supplied, holding his shot glass up and nodding.
Ivan set down his glass with a muffled 'tap'. "I vill not discuss peace meetings vhen I am the one losing. It sounds like pleading for mercy. I am not that weak."
"What is it with you and having to be stronger than everyone?" Alfred demanded. "Kiku's the same frickin way! 'Perusing peace show weakness'" he said in his best Asian accent. "Deciding that you don't wanna fight isn't cowardly or weak. It's smart and mature."
Ivan laughed. "You're lecturing about maturity?" the Russian teased lightly.
Alfred rolled his eyes and grinned. "Yep!" he said brightly. "And I'll tell you this. I'm not going to stop you if you try to get even, but…if you do…it won't work…" his smile faded. "And when you fail. Please come to me for help."
Ivan stared at him. Their relationship was becoming strained over the past two years. They didn't speak as often and Ivan was often distracted by the Russo-Japanese war. Alfred still came over to visit, but usually it was just to convince Ivan not to fight.
The Russian knew he was doing the same thing with the Japanese man. He didn't like to think about Alfred visiting other people; especially with the way that most of their meetings went after the discussions were over. But, he trusted Alfred not to cheat.
Ivan tried one last time to defeat Japan by sailing his Baltic ship to the country, but it was systematically destroyed by the Japanese.
Five months after Alfred had visited, Ivan finally took him up on his offer. Kiku agreed as well and the three countries and their leaders sat down to talk it out. The rest of the world was shocked that America could get the two stubborn bulls to even sit in the same room.
Alfred's boss, Roosevelt, suggested that the two countries split Korea and the other land they were fighting over. Japan dropped his demand for payment gave Russia the north part of the Sakhalin Islands. Ivan gave up the south part of the Manchurian Railroad and Liaotung Peninsula.
The final treaty was signed in September, the Treaty of Portsmouth. Alfred stood with a hand on both countries' shoulders and grinned as their leaders signed off on the agreement.
But, the agreement wasn't perfect and neither country was completely satisfied. Revolts and outcries continued, but at least the war had ceased. The Russian revolution followed soon afterwards, and Ivan had to cut all ties to Alfred for a few years until he could try and get things to settle a bit.
Kiku didn't know what was going on between those two, even now, he hardly understood their relationship, but he didn't like it. Alfred was his friend and Ivan was no good…for anyone.
Ivan was still as vindictive as ever. The Cold War had been the reason why he and Alfred had completely fallen apart, and that was caused by the spreading of communism, which was begun in Russia by Lenin during the Russian Revolutions- that were directly begun by the loss of the Russo-Japanese war. If Kiku had never attacked Russia, things may have turned out differently…
In essence, Ivan blamed Kiku for everything.
He didn't like that Alfred and the Japanese man were so close, but if he wanted to get along with Alfred for the good of his country, he would have to tolerate the Asian.
So, they were standing down in the lower levels of the White House while Alfred raided a large industrial-sized refrigerator for the proper midnight-snack-food. Kiku stood tensely next to the tall Russian. Why did he have to tower over him like that?
Alfred returned from the kitchen with some cookie dough and an ice cream scooper. "Kay…you guys could've gone to bed, y'know…" he said. He was still shaking slightly and there was a twitchy paranoia to his step. He looked around every corner before walking and was always watching his back.
"And leave you down here alone in this condition?" Kiku says, putting a hand on Alfred's shoulder.
The American just grins. "I'm fine, really!" he says, but there's a tapping noise behind him and he turns. He wasn't wearing his glasses, so it could just be his eyes, but Alfred swore he saw something scamper behind one of the walls. The American's heartbeat accelerated a bit and he clenched his fist around the bucket of cookie dough.
"…ясно" Ivan muttered, turning and walking down the hall to the main staircase.
Alfred watched his back, swearing he heard giggling echo down the hallway. He held the tub off cookie dough closer like it could protect him.
"Are you okay, Alfred-san?" Kiku said, concerned. Alfred was being especially jumpy.
"Y-yeah…" the American said, giving a grin. His brain always went crazy when he was paranoid. He started imagining things. His heart was racing, but he couldn't let the others know how terrified he was of the dark staircase they were coming to. He ran ahead of Ivan, skipping every other stair to get in the front. Being the last person on a staircase was nerve-wracking.
Alfred practically ran back to the room and plopped back down on the couch in the mass of blankets that he'd been previously buried in. He opened the cookie dough and dug in his spoon. "So, I'm thinkin we should just stay up all night since it's already four…" Alfred said.
Kiku winced. He did not want to pull an all-nighter to have 'fun'. Alfred did this the last time he'd been over in the seventies to watch horror films. He was probably afraid to go to sleep because that would mean turning all the lights out. Last time, Alfred had crawled into the Asian's bed and put pillows around himself.
"No, Alfred."
Kiku jumped, startled when Ivan spoke so sharply right next to him. Alfred was glaring at the Russian with a dozy expression.
"I am leaving tomorrow morning and you vill be getting back to vork. You will go to sleep," Ivan demanded, taking care to actually pronounce his 'w' on 'will'.
Alfred sighed. "Fine…but only cause I owe you money."
Ivan sighed; the American would never give up on that…he'd pay him back on his death bed if he had to. Which, with his economy, that might be the case. But, he was too stubborn, and Ivan would have to humor him.
So, the three set up two cots with the heavy blankets as extra cushion to make it more comfortable. Ivan had planned to sleep on one, but it was about five inches too short and his feet hung over the back.
Alfred took his glasses off and put them on the bedside table. He glanced over at Ivan who's feet were hanging over the back of the cot. "You can just have the spare bed…" he supplied, getting up. Normally he wouldn't give up the comfortable bed, but he was afraid that if he didn't sleep between Ivan and Kiku, they might start another war.
The lights went out.
Alfred pulled his blanket up higher over his head, but his brain was going crazy. He kept imagining the girl from grudge crawling out of the television, a demon possessing him and breaking his arms and legs in half, looking in a mirror and having his reflection kill him when he turns his back, something scampering across the floor to bite him and infect him, or a ghost stealing him from his bed while he slept to take his body to use to live again.
Every shadow looked like a threat, every chair or shirt on the floor looked like a demon. Alfred burrowed himself deeper into the comforter on the cot.
It wasn't long until Kiku's breathing had become gentle on the cot next to him. Alfred peeked his head up across the room to see if Ivan was asleep yet. He didn't stir and his side was rising and falling slowly, so it was quite possible.
Alfred sat up. He was the only one awake?
Oh God…
Ivan slept like a bear, so he would be no protection if he was asleep. And Kiku wasn't exactly strong after he was stripped of a military in the forties. If something happened, Alfred would be the only one there…and as horror movies often proved, even a strong protagonist can easily be killed by the supernatural.
Alfred couldn't technically 'die', but he could be killed. It would hurt like hell and he'd have to heal again. He didn't want to be possessed either…what if he killed his first family…? He could do a lot of harm with his strength…
The American didn't even realize that he was trembling. A wave of cold air washed over him and he jolted up off his cot. He looked up. The air conditioner had just kicked on…
The floor creaked. Alfred held his arms in a fighting position before he realized what had happened. He calmed down slowly. He couldn't sleep like this…maybe he could make it to morning?
There was a quiet tapping at the door.
No, he wasn't going to make it. He leaned over the side of the cot to check the floor before putting his feet down. He then looked up to check his back and both sides. He even chanced a glance at the ceiling. Once his feet touched the wood floor, he scampered across the room.
He was startled several times by something moving right next to him, but it was just the outline of his hair in the dark. He was shaking so bad right now…
He peeled the covers back and crawled under them, gripping a pillow and staring at the wall.
"Vhat are you doing?" came a harsh whisper.
Alfred covered his mouth so he wouldn't scream. He rolled over slowly to meet two light purple-blue eyes staring at him intensely. The small amount of light that shone in through the hall was reflecting off Ivan's face to make it seem even darker where the shadows stretched across it.
"I can't sleep," Alfred hissed back.
Ivan's glare didn't lighten. "Vhat do you expect I can do for you?" he demanded in a hushed voice.
Alfred was starting to get a bit creeped out by the Russian himself, but the tapping at the door started again and Alfred burrowed deeper under the covers and nearly into the Russian's chest for his protection.
Ivan glanced across the room. What was that noise anyway? It almost sounded like a small animal was clawing at the door. It was quite possible that was the case. Ivan had met the family's little poodle earlier that day on his 'tour'.
Alfred was currently trying to hide under the sheet, putting his head under the pillows. Ivan looked at him sympathetically. It wasn't like the Russian was without fear. He just didn't fear the same things.
He couldn't believe he was doing this… "Alright…you can sleep here," he gave in. "But, stay closest to de vall, and do not move dis pillow." The Russian took one of the pillows he'd had his head on and placed it between them.
Alfred smiled shyly and crawled over to the other side of the bed. He would feel safest close to the wall and behind a six-foot giant. He piled pillows around him and between him and the wall.
He'd wanted Ivan to stay awake until he fell asleep, but the Russian was already out again. So…he was alone.
Alfred stared at the ceiling. He really should be worrying about the debt he was drowning in. But, he couldn't be afraid of falling under at the moment when there were scarier things like ghosts and demons crawling around the room.
He glanced over at the Russian. His back was turned and he was breathing evenly. Across the room, Kiku was lying on his back sleeping calmly. How did those movies not scare them at all?
Alfred tried to sink further under the sheets, but when he did that, it felt like something would grab his feet, so he brought them up and curled into a ball.
He was starting to calm down and feel the grips of fatigue starting to pull him under when he made a horrifying discovery.
He needed to pee...
He sat up and looked around the room. There was no way he was going into the bathroom where there were mirrors everywhere…
"Ivan!" he whispered frantically. The Russian didn't respond. He must really be asleep- or just ignoring Alfred. The American shoved him roughly. "Ivan!" he whispered, leaning over.
The Russian tensed but still tried to ignore him. Alfred was just scared, that was all. But, he'd have to deal with it eventually. After another shove, Ivan turned angrily. "Vhat?"
"I've gotta pee…" Alfred muttered.
Ivan just stared at him. "Really?" he said, exasperated. "You know vhere de bathroom is. Do not wake me up for useless things." With that, he rolled over again and pulled the sheets up.
Alfred poked him again. "Don't be such a bear…" he whispered.
"I'm not going to the bathroom vith you," Ivan growled.
"Will you go check the mirror at least? I…"
Ivan closed he eyes and took a deep breath. He rolled back over to face the American. Alfred was sitting up and clutching the blanket. He seemed terrified by the prospect of looking into a mirror. Ivan frowned and let out a sigh. "Alfred…it vas just a movie. Besides…has anything like vhat happened in the movie ever happened to you before?"
Alfred shook his head.
"Then vhy vould it now?" he reasoned.
The American bit his lip. He didn't have to use the bathroom that bad, but it had already been thought about. He wouldn't be able to sleep now.
"I-" Alfred didn't want to straightforward say that he was afraid, but he figured it was pretty obvious by now. "I'm scared…okay. It's not rational. It's a phobia."
Ivan gave him an impatient look, "Of mirrors? I highly doubt that considering how self-centered you are…"
Alfred glared at him. "No…of ghosts…I don't know. I- You can't fight a ghost. If I could-"
Ivan kicked his feet over the side of the bed. "Fine."
"Really?" Alfred perked up.
The Russian just nodded. Hopefully this would get him to shut up. "I'll go look at your mirror if it makes you feel better," he said patiently. "But after this…you must go to sleep."
Alfred nodded, "I promise!"
He scrambled after Ivan who was already on his way out the door. The ghosts seemed afraid of the Russian because Alfred didn't feel like he was being followed anymore. He walked directly into the bathroom, but Alfred hung back by the door.
"So?" he asked. "What's your reflection doing?"
Ivan turned and looked at the American. "It is looking at you."
"R-really?" Alfred said, peeping his head through the door and glancing at the mirror. He ducked back when he saw his reflection. His heart was pounding again. He hated being such a paranoid little kid…
Ivan held out a hand. He had deep bags under his eyes from being tired. "Come here. Stop being such a kid, I vant to go to sleep."
Alfred stepped back into the bathroom and looked at his reflection. He stood perfectly still and waited for it to move. When nothing happened, he turned to Ivan. "Will you do 'Bloody Mary'…?" he pleaded. This would be the ultimate test to prove that there was nothing to be afraid of. If this didn't work, Alfred could be sure he was just paranoid…
Ivan just stared at him, "Vhat is 'Bloody Mary'? I thought that vas an alcoholic drink…"
Alfred quirked an eyebrow. "Well…yeah it's that too, but it's also a little legend we've got…if you say 'Bloody Mary' three times in a dark room in front of a mirror, she's supposed to come through it and claw out your eyes and take your soul into the mirror…"
"And this is to prove a point…isn't it?" Ivan deadpanned. Alfred probably wasn't going to go to sleep if he still felt paranoid. And if the American didn't fall asleep, he would keep Ivan up. There was no helping it. "Alright, turn out the light."
Alfred stepped out of the room and turned the light off. He watched intently as the Russian turned to the mirror.
"Bloody Mary," he began, his accent making it sound a bit off. "Bloody Mary." Alfred flinched and knotted his fingers together in anticipation. "Bloody Mary," the Russian finished.
Alfred had his eyes closed and his hands knotted in his hair. If Ivan really got killed he'd feel totally responsible…
But nothing happened, and the American looked up in shock. Ivan was just grinning vindictively. "Oh…um…thanks I guess?" Alfred said awkwardly.
There was a loud cracking noise and glass suddenly shattered across the room, spraying the two in thick shards that cut across their faces. Alfred screamed and fell over. In the panic there was another shout and a plea for help.
The American couldn't ignore someone in trouble, he was the hero after all. He sat up in the wreckage and found is bearings. The mirror was perfectly intact, besides a chip or two. It was the window that had broken. Then he saw her.
She had long blonde hair and was covered in cuts and bruises. She was wearing a long dress with lace. It was torn up in places. Her expression was terrifying, desperate and threatening at the same time. And the worst part: she was trying to carry Ivan out the window at knife-point.
Alfred fought off the urge to faint right then and there. Mary was real?
Ivan started screaming and cursing in Russian as he struggled. Alfred got to his feet, ripping a shard of glass out of his cheek. "Goddamnit…" he muttered, noting how it bled. He was really going to try and kill Mary? "This is madness…" he muttered through clenched teeth.
Ivan was crying now, shaking his head and pleading in Russian. The woman whispered back, her voice creaking like a rusty door hinge. She nuzzled her face into Ivan's neck affectionately. Ivan just screamed in fear.
Alfred swallowed his anger and fear and charged forward, clutching the bathroom counter and jumping into the air. "No…THIS IS SPARTA!" he shouted, and his foot made contact with Mary's face.
She lost her grip on Ivan and was thrown back through the window. Her scream was heard until a quiet thump signaled that she'd hit the ground a few stories below.
"Natalia!" Ivan shouted, rushing to the window and making to jump.
Alfred grabbed his wrist, pulling him back and grabbing his waist. "Dude!"
"Dat is my sister!" Ivan replied heatedly.
"What the hell is going on in here?" a deep voice shouted.
Both men turned. Alfred dropped his grip on Ivan's waist awkwardly. The first family was awake, along with Kiku and several White House employees. The president had spoken up.
"Alfred…you're bleeding…" Obama noted carefully.
"Why is this Sparta?" Sasha asked curiously.
"W-well…Bloody Mary jumped through the window…and-…" Alfred didn't even know how to explain what had just happened…
I had waaayyy too much fun with that. It was for my own enjoyment really. But…that's pretty much how I react after watching horror films at midnight…
I've got complaints about the accents so I'm thinking about just giving up on them, but I probably won't. I only use them to help differentiate between speakers a bit better, but apparently people are over-thinking it and getting confused. I'm not gonna change all of Ivan's 'w's to 'v's. It would be even harder to understand.
Also, I've been asked what my name is on Deviantart, but I didn't wanna give it out since I didn't want people to see my crappy pictures. But, I put up some more and it's not…-as- bad. So, if anyone is actually wondering. I'm Cynicide78.
Please Review. I'd love your feedback!