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.
The village was a close knit community…and everyone tended to know everything about everyone else. There was no gossip, just quiet knowledge, and that was one of the factors that the witches prided themselves on in how it separated them from the common humans.
That next morning, however, as Peter dutifully went to let out the house pets that watched over their sleeping witches, the little fledgling ended up stomping through the home and shouting to wake everyone up. His urgency was so great, that Arthur was certain something was wrong.
"You've just gotta come see!" Peter declared, pulling Arthur by hand and out into the street, even in his housecoat, even while the older witch grumbled.
"See what…Peter, it is sinfully early even for us," the blonde groaned as he was led to the front of the little cottage. "Honestly, if this is to show me something that you and Lili thought would be funny-..Oh.."
The cottage that Ivan and Matthew had resided in since their trial began had always appeared to be quaint, but plain, with rich soil even in the coldest of months, as if it were just waiting for the opportunity to blossom.
Overnight, the barren garden of the house had blossomed, the entire space filled with sunflowers of different sizes. But what was most unusual, was that up the sides of the cottage and curling around the roof of the porch were blossoming moonflowers.
Ivan was already awake, cutting down one of the sunflowers and smiling as he carried it inside to where Matthew was still asleep, pressing a soft kiss to the blonde's temple before he laid the bloom on his own pillow, his eyes sweeping over Matthew's face before the acolyte turned and left. He was not necessarily amazed by the sudden blooms…. More humbled by it than anything else. It showed a force of nature, something powerful and wonderful that had blessed their little home. He'd certainly ask Matthew about the blooms and their meaning later.
He was, however, delighted that the garden was now filled with his favorite flower…
Matthew had been most surprised when he discovered the sunflower on Ivan's pillow, but nothing prepared him for what waited outside. Eyes wide and hands cupping his mouth, the blonde witch had stared wide eyed and silent until the reality hit him.
Their love was pure and unbridled, blossoming and growing as real as the flowers now consuming their garden. It was not so strange to see a singular blossom that represented a couple begin to grow, but for two?
"That's only happened once before, you know…," Arthur called from the other side of the gate. Matthew turned to look at him, eyes softening as he regarded the only parental figure he really had ever known.
"But…do you really think…?" Matthew asked, voice breathless as he tried not to smile too excitedly.
"I don't have to think to know, Matthew. I think we all did the moment he came to us." The older witch regarded the fledgling with a knowing smile.
Ivan had a habit that he had developed over the winter of working through the morning, returning for lunch and possibly a light nap if it was too cold out, and then running his remaining errands in the evening. The older male smiled as he heard the sound of soft singing, walking carefully into the kitchen where the afternoon sun was streaming in and he could see Matthew standing with a bowl in hand, reading a recipe off of Ivan's laptop. He had his headphones from his ipod in and as Ivan approached he slowly reached out an unhooked one of the earbuds, leaning over to whisper along with the music the blonde was humming.
"I have seen the most beautiful light… In your eyes, in your eyes, in your eyes…" Ivan's voice was low and gentle, slightly tinted by his accent as he pressed his lips to the blonde's cheek and continued to hum with the song.
Pausing, the blonde witch's fingers knuckle deep in kneading the fragrant dough he had been working at all day. His cheeks lit up only slightly as he tilted his head, eyes closing as he paused and relished in Ivan's sweet kisses.
Turning his head even more, Matthew managed to kiss Ivan's lips, silencing his gentle singing in favor of showing him affection. He pressed their foreheads together, eyes opening to peer at Ivan's face. "Welcome back~"
Ivan smiled as he pressed his forehead back against Matthew's, stealing another gentle kiss. "This is the perfect afternoon for a nap." Not like they'd get any sleeping done. They'd most likely just curl together and murmur soft conversation between kisses. That didn't mean that Ivan didn't enjoy that any less. "What are you making?" He asked, peering at the dough and resting his chin on Matthew's shoulder, his arms curled around the thin waist gently.
"Maple nut bread….," Matthew hummed softly as he continued to knead at the bread dough until it was at a consistency he liked, before he moved to wash his hands. "It'll take awhile for it to bake properly…why don't you lay down to rest?" the blonde asked with a hidden little smile, knowing that if they did lay down together all they'd do is talk
Ivan smiled as he pressed a playful kiss to Matthew's jaw. "Why don't you come with me?" He asked as he gave the thin waist a sqeeze. "You ruined me, I can't rest without you with me."
Laughing softly, Matthew nodded his head and wiped off his hands on a small towel. "Alright….but you have to rest. It's cold out there…," he berated with a smile, before gently taking Ivan's hand and leading him through their small house to the bedroom. The bed was not so very wide, but big enough for the two of them with its hand stitched blankets and quilts. He waited until Ivan had removed his shoes before he gently pulled the acolyte under the covers and snuggled against him. "Your toes are even cold, you poor thing…"
Ivan grinned and shoved his feet against Matthew's warm legs, holding the blonde in place with chilled fingers beneath his shirt and on his stomach as he pressed his cold nose to Matthew's jugular playfully, making sure that his love felt every extremely cold part of him. "That's why I have you to warm them up." Ivan murmured, playfully mouthing at Matthew's cheek as he smiled and laughed at the blonde.
Ivan smiled as he pressed a kiss to Matthew's cheek. "The garden bloomed last night…"
"I know…it's stunningly beautiful," Matthew hummed as a little shiver crept up his spine from all of the little cold spots Ivan made sure to press against him. "I kept the sunflower you left with me…it was a beautiful gift," the blonde smiled as he pressed a kiss to Ivan's forehead and ran his fingers, gentle and soothing up and down the acolyte's back.
Ivan smiled. "The white flowers remind me of you…" Ivan tilted his head and kissed the blonde. "They're just as pale as you…" Pale Matthew… In a pale set of robes… Their bonding day was close and Ivan had been told that Matthew would look beautiful in white… He was excited to see the blonde waiting for him, for the day they'd be joined together.
"They're called moon flowers….the symbol of the Goddess is the moon," Matthew hummed, reaching a hand into the front of his outfit to pull out a necklace with the triple moon pendant on it. "See? And the sun is the God," Matthew smiled, tilting his head to peer at Ivan, noses brushing. "They are two sides of the same coin…light and life and time and constant…and so entirely in love…," Matthew kissed Ivan's nose, his arms curling over the older males ribs. "Every one pines for a love like that."
"I'm lucky, then, that I found you." The older male smiled and kissed the blonde gently, pressing his forehead to Matthew's. "When is our bonding ceremony? Is there a specific date for tradition?"
Matthew smiled and laughed a little , his lips pressing to Ivan's once again. "Litha…but you would know it as the Summer Solstice," the blonde kissed at Ivan's nose playfully "…it's in June…when all the other people in the world are thinking about weddings, too…"
"June… You know… Women say that if they marry in June that they're a bride all their life." The older male smiled. "Will you be my bride all your life? I'll treat you like one."
Matthew tilted his head and laughed softly. "The honeymoon will never be over?" Matthew smiled, kissing Ivan's mouth and running his fingers through his silvery hair."But of course…I'll always be your bride."
Ivan smiled and pressed his lips to Matthew's and rolled the blonde onto his back, his nose pressed to the smaller male's for a moment before he grinned and stroked his fingers over soft curls and cheeks. "I love you." He murmured softly, pressing his forehead to Matthew's gently. "So much."
"And I love you too….so much," Matthew smiled, curling his arms around Ivan's neck to tug him closer for a kiss. It was difficult to try and wait for the proper time to make love to Ivan…all Matthew wanted to do was press the older male close and never let him go.
Ivan gently curled his fingers against Matthew's head and pulled long kisses from his mouth, feeling warm and breathless by the time their kisses ended and gently stroked his finger over the curve of Matthew's nose. "You're precious."
"So are you..," Matthew smiled, lips parted to pull in a little breath as he parted his thighs to bring Ivan closer, his nose brushing against Ivan's. "You're wonderful…you're everything."
Ivan smiled and pressed his forehead to Matthew's gently, his lips mouthing at the blonde's gently. "When will we start the bonding?" He asked, trying not to sound too eager. He knew that he wasn't going to come from the process unscathed. Matthew had explained that it was painful, but he wanted this. He wanted his soul to be bound to Matthew's, wanted to be with him forever, to live out Matthew's lifespan as his lover and husband and mate.
"We already have…but I don't think it's the type of bonding you're thinking of," Matthew teased , trailing a finger down Ivan's neck.
"I'm thinking of the one that will connect me to you." Ivan whispered. "Forever… You… You don't know just how much I wanted this."
"I think I have an idea…," Matthew mumbled softly, his nose brushing Ivan's as his hand rose to press to the older males chest. "I know how badly you want me settled here in your heart, in your soul, in your veins," Matthew sighed happily, lips brushing Ivan's sweetly, invitingly.
Ivan covered Matthew's hand with his own, his lips warm and inviting as they pulled long kisses from soft lips until they were both pressed so closely to the bed that the warmth of their breaths was stifling. "I want to always have a piece of you with me." He murmured gently, tender and so gentle with Matthew, add if he would break the smaller male with his enormous hands.
Matthew smiled softly, fondly, his head tilting in order to brush their noses and foreheads together. "Perhaps I'll make you something to wear…something where everyone will see that you are mine…though, Ivan, I'm certain not one person would be brave enough to approach you now," the blonde murmured, a knee sliding possessively up the taller male's side.
"Am I really that frightening?" Ivan asked with a soft laugh, his fingers sliding up beneath Matthew's sweater to feel at the ridges of his spine gently. His hands were warm now, but Matthew's skin was warmer and he savoured the heat of the smaller male, feeling the pit of his stomach burn as he pulled a soft kiss from Matthew's lips.
"You have it wrong, Darling," Matthew cooed softly, his fingers threading in silvery hair gentle and loving, his lips parting to let out a sigh of happiness at feeling Ivan's hands on his skin. He wanted to feel Ivan's hands anywhere…everywhere..it was hard to fathom the idea of waiting. Matthew was unsure what they were waiting for….there was no doubt in his mind that Ivan was the one. "…it's not you they should be afraid of, it's me."
Ivan smiled and pressed his lips to the smaller male's. "Oh, well, in that case, continue." The older male rolled their bodies until Matthew was pinned beneath his own bulk, large hands gentle over his shoulders as he pressed his mouth along Matthew's own.
Matthew laughed softly, the small width of the bed making it easier for him to shift his knees apart in just the right way to press Ivan as close as he could possibly get him. "…Don't worry, Ivan..I think it's plain for anyone to see that you're mine and no one elses," the blonde purred, his fingers teasingly dipping along Ivan's spine.
Ivan smirked as he dragged his mouth over the smaller male's jaw and throat. "All yours." He murmured softly, mouthing at the thin chain around the boy's throat that contained a small engraving. Ivan knew that it was the god that Matthew had devoted himself too, but little else. Mouthing over the blond's collarbone the older male hummed against the bone gently. "What is your god the patron of?"
Tilting his head back, Matthew smiled and closed his eyes, his hands shifting up to curl into Ivan's hair as he sighed happily against his ear. "…the longer version is much prettier I assure you, but…it's safe to say he is the patron of sex and fertility," the blonde purred, lips brushing the shell of Ivan's ear.
Ivan chuckled at that and raised an eyebrow as he peered up at the blonde. "And here I was being told that you were just the sweetest, most innocent little fledgling in the entire village." The older male teased as he gave another kiss to Matthew's collarbone, trailing his lips up the blond's neck gently. "Why did you choose him?"
Matthew laughed softly and curled his arms around Ivan's neck, his head tilting to nuzzle sweetly at the older male's nose. "…It was more like…he chose me, really. He governs over children..which is something important in Arthur's house..but..sex..love making," Matthew sighed, almost dreamily but not quite, "…we have Sabbats that encourage sex and love..because it's beautiful and emotional and raw…people crave for love, die and fight for love…live for it..," Matthew tilted his head, his forehead gently pressing to Ivan's. "…there is nothing more beautiful than love…and that is all that he represents; that fire and desire…that longing and intense desperation you feel when you're parted from the one you love. I never felt any of that truly until the night you left my tent and now here you are…," the blonde sighed with a smile, his nose nuzzling gently at Ivan's.
Ivan smiled as he listened to Matthew, enjoying the passion in his voice as he spoke about his god. Ivan himself had never felt anywhere near passionate about the Christian god and to see such enthusiasm in Matthew made his heart swell even more for the blonde. "Then you're well suited to him as a follower." The older male pressed a soft kiss to Matthew's lips gently. "I love hearing you talk about your beliefs."
Matthew laughed softly, his head tilting in order to press a kiss to the center of Ivan's forehead. "My devotion has clearly rewarded me well…I have you now to shower with love and loyalty and passion…," the blonde smiled, his hands sliding forward to gently trace at Ivan's cheeks. "One day, Ivan…you'll wish I didn't speak as much," Matthew teased, running a finger down the line of Ivan's nose.
"I don't think I'll ever wish you didn't speak as much." Ivan teased, nipping at the tip of Matthew's finger. He groaned when an alarm went off from the phone in his pocket, dropping his forehead to rest on Matthew's shoulder. "I don't want to go."
Smiling softly, Matthew tilted his head to kiss Ivan's temple. "….just think..the faster you go the faster you'll return…and I may even have a surprise waiting for you," the blonde murmured sweetly, pressing kisses across pale cheeks.
Ivan pouted but the expression didn't last too long as his lips curled into a smile, untangling their limbs as he pulled one last kiss from Matthew's lips. "Easy for you to say, you don't have to herd kittens for the ceremony this evening."
"Ivan….are you complaining about kittens?" Matthew smiled, sitting up as Ivan did, his fingers still reaching to brush any part of the other male that he could reach. "It could be worse….it could be spiders."
"I'm not complaining about the kittens themselves. Just the fact that I have to herd about thirty of them into a basket and then make sure that they don't get out for a half an hour while the children are herded into the church." Ivan rolled his eyes before grasping Matthew's hand and pressing a firm kiss to the palm, breathing in the scent of the blonde before he smiled and pulled back. "I'll see you in a bit." He murmured before leaving the room to get on with his duties.