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.
Tilting his head, Matthew nuzzled at Ivan's neck, a breathy little sigh leaving his mouth as he curled his arms around the older male's shoulders. "I love you…I love you so much…"
Ivan smiled as he kissed at Matthew's throat and jaw, gentle and sweet as he waited for Matthew to place his spoon down before the older male stood, carrying the blonde through the small house to their bedroom, gently laying the slender frame down. Soft kisses were smoothed over Matthew's skin, the older male sucking at particularly sensitive spots he had found as his fingers cupped at the soft curve of Matthew's shoulders and spine.
Humming softly with pleasure, Matthew smoothed his hands up and down Ivan's side, his fingers teasing at the rise of the older male's shirt before one of his hands tugged playfully at silvery hair. "I think you're doing that because you know I'm ticklish…."
Ivan grinned as he kissed at Matthew's ribcage, peering up at the blonde with a playful look. "Maybe." He teased, giving a soft bite to the blonde's ribs, sucking a mark there before he moved to the curve of waist and hip.
"That isn't very nice," Matthew pouted, sticking his tongue out playfully at Ivan as he rose his legs to trail his toes along the older male's spine. The blonde shuddered lightly at the kisses to his hips, his lips parting to breathe out his lovers name needfully. "…though I guess…my reaction proves otherwise."
"You like that, huh?" Ivan grinned as he kissed along the arch of Matthew's hip, pushing the soft black shirt the slender male wore off of his torso completely before his hands began to work at the black pumpkin shorts he wore. Ivan hummed, shucking the pants off long legs before he started to kiss at the thick, soft stockings that Matthew wore, his lips trailing down over Matthew's leg to nip at thigh, knee and finally the top of Matthew's foot before he moved back upwards, small damp spots showing where Ivan had spent more time tormenting. Ivan pressed his hands along Matthew's hips, feeling the curve of them and thumbing at the elastic of Matthew's underwear, his fingers teasing over the fabric as if contemplating whether to remove them or not.
"Do you want…?" The question hung in the air, Ivan knowing that if Matthew told him to that he'd stop right there and not push.
"Do I want….you?" Matthew asked softly, his face flush as he slowly sat up so that he was practically in Ivan's lap, his fingers running over pale cheeks and into silvery, soft hair. "I love you…and I want you more than anything I could ever imagine…"
Ivan pulled soft kisses from Matthew's lips, his arms wrapped firmly around the thin waist as they remained like that for a while. It didn't take much more encouragement for Ivan to gently lower Matthew onto the bed, murmuring against his lips as he shucked his own shirt and pants as quickly as he could. "I think I fell for you the moment I saw you… I can't imagine life without you…" The older male pressed his forehead to Matthew's as his hands moved to cup Matthew's hips gently. "My heart aches for you whenever I'm gone." The soft confession held so much truth and it was frightening but at the same time Ivan knew that Matthew wouldn't hurt him. They loved each other and it was obvious.
"Do you know why?" Matthew asked softly, his fingers trembling with just the thought of what they were about to do, how they were about to feel. Making love, when two souls were so close to being almost the same as theirs were, was sometimes overwhelming and sometimes…it simply felt like coming home.
"We believe that…," the blonde whispered softly, his hand smoothing tenderly on Ivan's cheek, "…two people in love don't just have one soul…they're missing halves of each other…when I'm away from you…or when you're gone from me…we are not complete…so we ache and ache…until we're in each others arms again…," Matthew smiled, his lips brushing gently against Ivan's. "…they're so much more to love than most people ever realize…and not even I knew it fully until I saw you."
Ivan curled his arms around Matthew's form, tugging him close until their chests were pressed together and the older male could tuck their foreheads against one another, violet eyes lidded as they stared gently down into Matthew's own gaze. "When we're bonded… Will I be able to feel you even when we're apart?" The man asked gently, his knees tucking up beneath Matthew's thighs so that their hips, still separated by thin layers of fabric, could push together gently.
Matthew smiled and nodded his head, his hands smoothing lovingly down the curve of Ivan's arms. "You'll be able to feel me as if I were resting inside your chest always….you'll know when I'm angry or sad…when I'm lonesome or needing…," the blonde gently nuzzled at Ivan's nose, his hands reaching around to trail sweetly along the pale back "….and I will be able to know when you're hurt…when you're furious…when you're happy.."
Ivan pressed their lips together in a gentle kiss before he pulled back, smoothing his hand up over Matthew's chest and stomach. "I love you… So much… And I want you to be with me forever…" The older male cupped Matthew's cheek gently, stealing more kisses from soft lips before he asked gently. "Do… Do you want to wait? Madame Grace mentioned that… That witches sometimes saved themselves for their bonding ceremony… Do you want to wait or do you want…" The older male smoothed his hand over Matthew's waist gently, unable to put a word that seemed to describe what it felt like they were about to do.
Smiling gently at Ivan's gentle touches, the blonde curled his hand around Ivan's fingers before he hooked his ankles behind the older male's back. "…Ivan…you're the only one I'll ever want…the only one I'll ever be with. Tonight, tomorrow…the night we are bonded or a million years after that…each will feel like the first time for me….saving myself means nothing now…our bond could only grow stronger no matter what we chose."
Ivan smiled as he kissed Matthew gently, pulling the smaller frame closer before he pushed down the blonde's underwear, managing to wrangle the fabric off of Matthew's legs. It wasn't a strictly sexy dance they performed, smiling and kissing and laughing on occasion when one or the other would get tangled in fabric or limbs. Eventually they were laid down on their sides, Ivan's face pressed to Matthew's shoulder as he kissed along the blade of it, nipping at the soft skin while one hand stroked along his lover's length. The other hand was more occupied with working Matthew open with careful prodding.
It felt so wonderful to be so close, to be able to touch and kiss and just hold his love against his chest. Ivan smoothed his hands over Matthew's hips as he adjusted himself, freezing when there was a knock at the door, the older male blinking quietly before he slowly pulled back. "Um… Should I…?"
Matthew all but wilted and sighed quietly, his head bobbing in a little nod. "Yes…it would be improper to ignore it….they know we're in here," the blonde murmured as he sat up and leaned against the worn headboard, head tilting to give Ivan an apologetic look.
Ivan moved to go open the door, blinking when he saw that no one was there. He frowned and turned back to go inside, moving to sit beside Matthew. "No one was there." He murmured curiously before he tilted his head to kiss Matthew. "Oh well." He murmured, gently pushing the blonde down onto the bed.
The larger male was suddenly thrown backwards by a solid, insistent force, landing against the back wall of the bedroom, at least having the presence of mind to land on his feet. He stumbled for a minute, dazed and confused, as he looked around, staring at Matthew.
"What the hell was that?"
"Remember when I said they knew we were here?" Matthew asked nervously as he flung off the covers and shifted to adjust his clothes before going to make sure Ivan was alright. "…well…they also knew what we were doing in here…"
Ivan paused before he started laughing, leaning forward to kiss Matthew gently. "Are you telling me that whether we like it or not we're staying chaste?"
"Unless of course you'd like to find out what would happen if we looked but didn't touch?" Matthew smiled, a little embarrassed at his "family's" strict rules. The blonde curled his arms around Ivan's waist and nuzzled at his neck, a happy sigh leaving his mouth as he relaxed against the older male's form. "I guess it really doesn't matter….does it? We're together, that's enough."
Ivan nodded and curled his arms around Matthew, nuzzling at the did so. "It's enough. And spring is soon… We'll be together then." His fingers reached up to lace with Matthew's gently. "Forever."
—
Spring had arrived and with that came various repairs needed to compensate for what the winter had dealt to the buildings. There was a window on the children's dormitory that needed to be repaired, there was a roof that needed to be tarred again in a section. Ivan repaired several fences, checked in on various elderly witches, chopped more fire for hearths and checked the fence that contained the perimeter of the coven's community.
The entire day he was buzzing with excitement, rushing through his jobs and chattering about how there wasn't enough time to finish everything, he needed to get home, tonight was his bonding ceremony.
Ivan was racing through the front of his door, smiling as he peered at the blonde that was already in the kitchen, preparing herbs and bandages and various other supplies needed.
"I made you some lunch," Matthew smiled, his hair dotted in little purple and yellow flowers as he peered over his shoulder at Ivan as he came in. "You're going to hurt yourself if you keep rushing around," the blonde teased, a smile lighting up his face as he packed the little healing herbs into a basket that Bageshri was guarding lazily.
Ivan smiled and kissed the blonde gently. "I'm excited, so sue me." The older male stroked his hands over Matthew's waist. "So you and I start at sundown… And then at dawn we go to complete the bonding?" It wasn't as if they hadn't gone over and over this, planning and preparing for weeks on end. They'd do the bonding in their garden, among the great stalks of sunflowers and the soft white blooms of moonflowers. They had already cut aside and cleared a space for them to do so and there was a soft blanket prepared.
"Mhm…," Matthew smiled as he turned to gather what he had made Ivan for lunch. "In a little while..I'll go and see Arthur…and he'll help me get ready." the blonde hummed as he leaned to nuzzle Ivan's temple. "I can't wait, Ivan….I'm so excited to finally be with you…"
Ivan smiled as he kissed Matthew's lips gently. "I'll be waiting."
Once Matthew had left the man moved to stand at the threshold of their property, his feet planted firmly as he waited in the robes that were pure white and would be stained with his own blood. It was an hour before the sun set and Matthew returned, Ivan smiling as he watched the slender figure moving towards him.
Matthew's face broke out into a bright smile, his own robes matching Ivan's with shocks of gold around his waist and on his sleeves as he moved towards the older male, his hands extending to gently grasp Ivan's sweetly. "Are you nervous?" the blonde asked softly as he peered up at Ivan.
Ivan smiled as he nodded. "I'm excited as well." He murmured gently, leaning forward to kiss Matthew's lips. "I have the blanket set out… With everything needed." The larger male led Matthew through the towering stalks of the sunflowers to the circle they had shorn into the garden. Ivan sat down, smiling as he peered at the blonde. His own robes were much simpler than Matthew's, as the blonde would be cutting through them to his flesh.
The blonde tilted his head towards Ivan in what he hoped was reassuring as he slowly drew a pouch of salt from the small basket of supplies and pulled out his athame, the slim white opal handle fitting in his palm perfectly.
Matthew closed his eyes and took in a deep breath before he slowly and carefully cast a circle that would protect the two of them from any prying or mischievous spirits. The blonde turned and knelt in front of Ivan, a gentle smile on his face as he placed his own athame in the older male's lap and exchanged it for the small dagger already there.
"Are you still sure you want to do this?" Matthew asked softly, his eyes tilted up to meet Ivan's.
"My mind hasn't been changed in months, Matthew, it won't change now." The older male leaned forward to kiss the blonde's lips gently, the athame being moved from Ivan's lap before the man laid down on his stomach, tilting his head to smile at the blonde. "I'm ready."
"It will hurt," Matthew warned softly, for what seemed like the millionth time as he shifted to kneel beside Ivan. It worried Matthew, to willingly harm Ivan, but he had practice over and over on how to do this safely and swiftly, so that the pain would be over with before the older male could realize it.
Placing a kiss to Ivan's shoulder, the blonde took a deep breath before he shifted to begin tracing the small dagger's blade over Ivan's back in an intricate pattern that was his own personal seal. There was a crescent moon on top and the circular frame around the rest that held the image of an egg, surrounded in flowers and little mushrooms.
For every wound and cut Matthew made, he covered with salve and herbal band aids, and by the time he had finished, the entire scar covered most of Ivan's back. Matthew's fingers were bloody as he pulled back and let out a shuddering breath, his hands moving to smooth the last of the salve and bandages over Ivan's skin.
Ivan grunted and bit his tongue through the process, his eyes squeezed tightly shut as he waited. When the final cut was made and his back throbbed with the pain the older man released a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. His eyes opened and his tensed shoulders relaxed as he tilted his head to look at Matthew. "Is it done?" He asked with a deep breath, smiling shakily and looking paler than usual as he recovered.
"Yes," Matthew looked entirely apologetic as he shifted to run his fingers through Ivan's hair after he made sure to wipe them off. "The herbs will help it heal…but you have to take it easy," the blonde smiled, his shoulders slumping. "No more rushing…not for a little while."
Ivan smiled and nuzzled at Matthew's palm. "We have a honeymoon coming up." The older male smiled as he stroked Matthew's leg with his own hand. "You won't have to let me go for some two weeks, right?" The man closed his eyes. "We rest now?"
"Yes, Ivan…," the blonde smiled gently, shifting until he could curl beside the older male. It wasn't safe just yet to move Ivan, the wounds were still too fresh and sensitive. "Just rest…and soon this'll all be over with.."
They slept the night and right before dawn they woke. Ivan stood in his tattered robes, smiling as he collected Matthew. He cut aside some sunflowers and formed a quick wreath for the blonde's soft curls, tucking moonflowers between larger golden blooms. They left the property and soon a procession of men and women and children followed, singing brief songs and blessings as they moved out of the community to the nearby cliffside to overlook the ocean.
The road was empty and Ivan as always made sure that others passed safely before he moved to kiss Matthew and cross himself.
Peter and Lili were giggling and pulling at one another's hair and giggling. There was a roar of an engine about the bend and Ivan's eyes widened as he raced forward.
His torso covered the two smaller frames, pushing them forward to the other side of the road just as the car's horn blared through the air.
The group of witches hadn't realized what happened as all of a sudden there was laughter and music and dancing and the next a startling horrible silence after the ringing blare of a horn.