Hello! We are Cat and Bee from RusCanWonderland on Tumblr.
Disclaimers, Notes & Warnings:
We do not own Hetalia or any characters within.
Warnings: Witchcraft, Tarots, death, mild body horror, implied witch trials
Notes: This is mostly for us warping the perception of religious society. In this story witches have been part of polite society for centuries and certain Christian denominations of the church, instead of condemning them, protect them. Based loosely off of Practical Magic.
Samhain was the largest celebration of the year, with a bonfire and dancing and treats and games that were played in the center of the community. Faces were painted with white makeup and red paint on lips, black kohl circling bright eyes and making them seem even more vibrant and alluring.
Ivan tugged at his white ceremonial robes, his tunic white with cream embroidering along the sleeves and hems, his leggings a similar white with a black shirt beneath everything covering his arms and neck, his scarf draped over his throat and shoulders loosely. He shifted slightly as he waited outside Matthew's home, watching Fledglings in their petticoats and black robes fluttering by like a flock of bats, squealing and laughing in delight at the celebration.
"Peter! Peter you forgot your lantern!" Arthur called as he nearly tumbled out of the front door, his black robes replaced with dark green velvety drapes that swished around his form fluidly. He paused, the lantern hanging from his fingers as he spotted Ivan in front of the house.
His green eyes widened for a moment before a hidden smile twisted the corners and he was about to say something when the rambunctious little child came stomping up the steps. "Here…now be careful not to drop it," he told the boy and Peter agreed brightly before bouncing away with a bright wave towards Ivan.
"…I don't suppose you're here for Matthew?" Arthur asked with a playful glint in his eyes as he twisted his gaze up towards the lone light shining through a top window. He hummed and reached inside to grasp the handle of a well made broom. "Mind your manners," was all the older witch supplied before he stepped off the front porch and breezed past the taller male.
A few moments later, Matthew stepped downstairs, careful of the ends of his robes as Bageshri trotted at his feet. He moved briefly into the kitchen before taking a deep breath and opening the front door. His breath caught as he met Ivan's eyes and for a second, he couldn't even remember how to move. Shyly, the blonde tucked his head, the brim of a typical witch's hat blocking his face for a moment as his curls that were usually pinned up brushed his cheeks.
"Have I kept you waiting long?" he finally asked, the courage he desperately needed returning to Matthew only when he convinced himself that this was just Ivan.
Ivan stared at Matthew for a moment, his breath catching in his throat as he smiled and shook his head. "No, I just saw Arthur's plight with Peter…" The older male swallowed thickly after a moment before he spoke again. "You look…"
What word was appropriate? His robes were a dark blue that was almost black, a bodice like front laced with a white ribbon and the white petticoats beneath peeking from the thick outer skirt that hung beneath the tunic. Long, thin legs were encased in equally white tights and Ivan couldn't help but think of the pretty but poisonous mushrooms that he had seen the witches use in their potions. Something delicate, natural and beautiful, but deadly in it's own right.
Ivan shook his head. "Indescribable…"
Ducking his head with a deep blush, Matthew shook his head and moved to Ivan's side, his arm sliding against the acolyte's almost too naturally. "…thank you….I suppose," he laughed nervously, his hand tightening ever so slightly on the older male's sleeve. "You look entirely too handsome yourself…though you always do," the blonde witch hummed as he led Ivan from the fledgling house and towards the open fields where large bonfires glowed and music could be heard even from where they were.
Ivan flushed brightly and cleared his throat, his fingers tangling gently with Matthew's as he led the blonde towards the festivities. They were instantly drawn into a bonfire dance, the two separated as the witches wove together and Ivan stumbled slightly as he watched the others and tried to mimic their movements.
Round and round, exchanging partners when the the music called for it, Ivan constantly turning to gaze at the blonde and follow his progress through the dance. When the two were finally thrown together in the pattern of the dance, Ivan couldn't help but gasp in surprise, his arm instantly about Matthew's waist while his other grasped the blonde's own instinctively.
The music continued, crescendoed and Ivan was dizzy as he stared into Matthew's eyes and his smile and it felt like he was drowning in the blonde completely. When the music suddenly stopped Ivan felt himself coming to as sudden of a halt against his volition, feeling the ends of Matthew's tunic and skirts lapping at his own legs. The blonde looked so beautiful and Ivan felt breathless, so certain for a moment that this had to be a spell as he stared at the younger male, chest heaving as their fronts pressed close together.
Breathing in little pants of air, Matthew couldn't take his eyes off of Ivan's. He could practically feel the other man's heartbeat hammering against his chest and his the warmth that swelled between them nearly made the blonde witch weak in the knees. The corners of his mouth quirked up in a smile as Matthew watched the firelight dance off of Ivan's eyes and oh…oh how he wanted just to kiss him. Blinking, he smiled more and took a tiny step back, but not so much that Ivan's arm slid from his waist.
"You dance very well…," the blonde finally managed to say, cheeks flush and eyes unable to look away.
The entire coven broke apart and an elderly witch raised her hands and threw a fistful of powder into the fire. The flame burned a bright blue and exploded about the coven, licking warmly but not burning as it shot about the figures.
"And tonight on our night, we cast aside our worries and woes and celebrate our own freedom!" The older woman grinned and turned. "And now, children, for our game of Trick or Treat."
Children flooded towards the elder witches, who held bowls of candy and money and other little temptations, before the children and adolescents circled around Ivan and Pastor Lars, the two looking around, Lars with a familiar laugh and Ivan with a confused, but willing smile.
"Trick or treat, nice and sweet, you look good enough to eat!" The children chanted, before they flooded forward and past the two, Ivan laughing as he turned and stared after the little ones, blinking when he noticed that his scarf was gone.
"Go get it Ivan!" Lars laughed. "But don't let them tempt you or you lose the game!"
The children and older adolescents giggled as they rushed into the line of trees, all sparse of leaves, as they drew their hoods up and guided themselves with lanterns extended. It was a traditional game that lasted for generations; if the priest or acolyte caught a smaller fledgling, the children would give them little pieces of candy or trinkets…but if the priest or acolyte were tempted into little kisses or metal coins by the older fledglings, the humans instantly lost.
With hoods pulled up and darkness as a second cover, it was quite difficult to tell who was who, which fledgling was safe to grab and which was not. Peter raced with Ivan's scarf dangling from his little fingers, his giggles lacing with Lili's as they rushed over the piles of leaves and wove in and out of barren oaks.
Matthew was not far behind him, his eyes constantly darting behind him in search of his beloved acolyte.
"Mattie! Mattie take this!" Peter called, the little blonde fledgling secretly passing the scarf into Matthew's hands before taking off in the opposite direction.
The blonde smiled to himself and held the scarf close to his chest before he slid behind a rather large thicket of bushes to wait, his only light from the steadily burning glow of the lantern and the cool blue moonlight casting shadows from above.
Ivan laughed as he followed flittering little lanterns, his white clothing distinguishing him from the darkness around him. He had captured a small fledgling, who had giggled and given him a piece of toffee before racing off. He jumped in surprise at a whoosh of air before him and bright red curls, the older fledgling trying to give a kiss, Ivan pulling back with a frown and racing off, searching for his fledgling more so than his scarf.
Ivan turned and tried to find another lantern, circling a thicket as he hazily turned and smiled, trying to find the blonde little witch.
Spying Ivan through the gnarled limbs of the thick briar, Matthew's heart leaped into his throat as he moved as quietly as he could, the ends of the man's scarf in each hand. He shot it forward, the middle of it curling around Ivan's chest and successfully pinning both arms to his sides so he couldn't move.
Coyly, Matthew moved around the acolyte and smiled up at him through the darkness, his head shaking gently to get his hood to slide down off of his head.
"Trick or treat?"
Ivan blinked down at Matthew before he leaned forward. "Trick." He murmured, pressing his fingers to Matthew's waist and pull the blonde to his chest, bending his head down to kiss the red painted lips, hands cupping thin waist and blonde curls.
Matthew's hold on the ends of the scarf slowly slid out of his hands as his eyes widened and for a moment, he almost stepped back to ask Ivan if this was alright, but he just couldn't bring himself to do so. Instead, he relaxed into Ivan's hands and kissed the acolyte in return, Matthew's hands moving up to gently grip at the front of the pristine white tunic.
He could hear the younger fledglings giggling and romping through the woods as the priest caught them specifically to engage in his not so hidden sweet tooth, but he only seemed to want to pull Ivan closer.
The acolyte's arms tightened around Matthew as their kiss became lighter, the two pulling back slowly before Ivan pressed another kiss to full lips, smearing the red paint in his eagerness for another. His chest swelled with warmth as he held the blonde close, uncaring of the fact that he was jeopardizing his position by doing so.
Matthew giggled softly into the kiss as he tilted his head back and lifted up his fingers to gently swipe at Ivan's mouth. "I think…that was more of a treat," the blonde hummed, his playful expression faltering for a moment as the tips of his thumbs finished swiping the red paint from the acolyte's face.
Ivan reached up with one hand, cupping the pale digits of one of Matthew's and kissing the soft thumb, turning his head to press his mouth to the palm and just breathe in the scent of the young witch, scent of something sugary sweet and clean and fresh. "I only want them from you, though." The older male murmured hazily, the drug inhaled from earlier still coursing through his system, loosening his shy tongue as he murmured soft endearments against the pale skin.
"Oh Ivan….I don't think you realize just how badly I have thought about the same thing," Matthew mumbled softly as he stepped closer, his head coming to rest on the acolyte's collar. "You may not believe in fate….but I have wished every night since I was small for someone like you," the blonde admitted, breathing in Ivan's scent and trying to memorize it entirely.
"I… I need you, Matthew…" The older male murmured. "I can't stop thinking about you… I just… I want you to be happy all the time and I want to be the reason you're happy… I want to make you laugh and smile…" Ivan tangled his fingers with Matthew's, his other hand pressing their fronts together once more as he ducked his head to press his forehead to the blonde's in an instinctive gesture, his nose brushing at the smaller one as his breath and voice ghosted over Matthew's lips. "I just… I just want you… Forever and always…"