Chapter 4
Alfred knew that having a home nurse would mean changes. He didn't know big those changes would be but he found out right away when he was woken up at 7:30 in the morning, hours before his usual wake up time, to start the day. He had tried to fight off Ivan, pulling the covers and burying himself into his bed, but Ivan wouldn't let up. Alfred wouldn't give in for anything until Ivan told him that he'd give him his shot right then and there and in his ass no less. Ivan didn't clearly state he'd put the needle in Alfred's ass, but it sure was implied and had the blonde popping out of bed.
Ivan found it quite amusing at seeing Alfred's reaction and rewarded him with a shot in his arm instead of his ass. Alfred had bristled at feeling Ivan's cool fingers stretch out his arm then rub the spot he'd be pushing the needle into. He bit the inside of his cheek as the needle went in and at Ivan's tender touch. He swallowed thickly once the injection as down and looked at Ivan as he rose to full height, having crouched down to give the shot. Alfred noted the man was dressed in black jeans and a grey t-shirt, which had Alfred guessing that scrubs weren't required as a home nurse. Ivan looked good in the monotone colors, and in the t-shirt. Alfred hadn't seen Ivan's arms the day before, but he could definitely tell know that they were toned and could lift anything. Alfred felt an itch to them, but kept his hands to himself as Ivan finished putting a bandaid on his arm.
"What would you like for breakfast?" Ivan asked, his smooth voice getting Alfred's attention.
"Oh, uh… I got cereal," Alfred said as he touched his arm, rubbing his fingers over the bandaid.
"I know you do, but you need more than just cereal," Ivan said simply. Alfred just shrugged his shoulders and felt a bit anxious as Ivan looked at him. He knew he was only dressed in boxers and a t-shirt, which should make him feel self-conscious but it did.
"Hey, cereal is good on its own. Just need like… two bowls and I'm good."
Ivan had a faint smile come to his face, finding Alfred's defensive tone entertaining.
"Fine, but once you've eaten we're going to the store and getting real food."
Alfred sighed but nodded his head and Ivan took his leave. He then laid back on his bed with a thump and looked at the ceiling then brought his arm up to see the bandaid. It was a simple shade of brown, which was kind of disappointing, but he let it go. He sighed again and rolled over to look at the clock then sat up and went to put on clothes.
Breakfast was a quick occasion that had Alfred eating two bowls of Reese's puffs and Ivan making a shopping list. Once dishes were cleaned and shoes put on, Ivan, holding his umbrella tightly at his side, stepped outside with Alfred and headed to the car. The trip to the store was a supposedly simple task—just getting into Alfred's car and driving a short distance to the local grocery store. Ivan held his umbrella open as they walked to the parking lot. It wasn't out of place by any Alfred knew that having a home nurse would mean changes. He didn't know how big those changes would be, but he found out right away when he was woken up at 7:30 in the morning, hours before his usual wake up time, to start the day. He had tried to fight off Ivan, pulling the covers and burying himself into his bed, but Ivan wouldn't let up. Alfred wouldn't give in for anything either, until Ivan told him that he'd give him his shot right then and there—in his ass, no less. Ivan didn't clearly state he'd put the needle in Alfred's ass, but it sure was implied and had the blonde popping out of bed.
Ivan found it quite amusing to see Alfred's reaction and rewarded him by putting the shot in his arm instead of his ass. Alfred had bristled at feeling Ivan's cool fingers stretch out his arm then rub the spot he'd be pushing the needle into. He bit the inside of his cheek as the needle went in and at Ivan's tender touch. Alfred swallowed thickly once the injection was done and looked at Ivan as he rose to full height, having crouched down to administer the shot. Alfred noted the man was dressed in black jeans and a grey t-shirt, which had Alfred assuming that scrubs weren't necessarily required as a home nurse. Ivan looked good in the monotone colors, and in the t-shirt. Alfred hadn't seen Ivan's arms the day before, but he could definitely tell now that they were toned and could lift anything. Alfred felt an itch to touch them, but kept his hands to himself as Ivan finished putting a bandaid on his arm.
"What would you like for breakfast?" Ivan asked, his smooth voice getting Alfred's attention.
"Oh, uh… I got cereal," Alfred said as he touched his arm, rubbing his fingers over the bandaid.
"I know you do, but you need more than just cereal," Ivan said simply. Alfred just shrugged his shoulders and felt a bit anxious as Ivan looked at him. He knew he was only dressed in boxers and a t-shirt, which made him feel a bit self-conscious.
"Hey, cereal is good on its own," Alfred said a bit too quickly. "Just need like… two bowls and I'm good."
Ivan had a faint smile come to his face as he said, "Fine, but once you have eaten we're going to the store and getting some real food."
Alfred sighed but nodded his head and Ivan took his leave. He then laid back on his bed with a thump and looked at the ceiling, then brought his arm up to see the bandaid. It was a plain shade of brown, but he couldn't help but smile a little at it. He sighed again as he dropped his arm and rolled over to look at the clock, then sat up and went to put on clothes.
Breakfast was a quick occasion that consisted of Alfred eating two bowls of Reese's Puffs and Ivan making a shopping list. Once dishes were cleaned and shoes put on, Ivan, holding his umbrella tightly at his side, stepped outside with Alfred and headed to the car. The trip to the store was a supposedly simple task—just getting into Alfred's car and driving a short distance to the local grocery store. Ivan held his umbrella open as they walked to the parking lot. It wasn't out of place by any means, but it seemed to gather attention nonetheless as they walked into the store.
Ivan took up a cart and Alfred followed as they went through Ivan's list. As they walked Alfred took notice of some people looking a bit too hard in his direction and found it odd. He quickly realized that it wasn't exactly him that the stares were directed at and had a frown tugging at his lips as he looked up at a passive Ivan. Ivan seemed to be unaware as they wandered through aisle after aisle, gathering various foods and checking them off the list one by one. Alfred however, wasn't, and it bugged him at home many times people seemed to act like they were an immovable object when Ivan needed to get something, or how they "brushed" passed Ivan, or snuck in whispered insults.
Alfred had had enough when he caught wind of those insults and had grabbed the cart forcefully. He pulled on it to make Ivan walk over to the clothing section of the store to be away from prying eyes.
"What is wrong?" Ivan asked eyeing Alfred critically in-case his illness was affecting him.
"What's wrong? How can you even say that?" Alfred asked in a harsh whisper. "Are you blind to the insults and assholery going on around you?" Ivan just looked at him with an impassive look and Alfred grit his teeth. "Dude, people have been insulting you and being dicks to you since we got here! I know some people won't forgive and forget, but this is ridiculous! The war was ages ago," Alfred said, his voice raising slightly, but he quickly corrected it as he went on. "You gotta at least stand up to them."
Ivan raised his eyebrows in stunned silence as he heard Alfred. He hadn't heard anyone get upset over him in years and it was quite a refreshing surprise. It made a smile come to his face and Alfred looked at him expectantly, waiting for an answer.
"Alfred, if I was really angry at them then I could just eat them," Ivan said jokingly, and Alfred just rolled his eyes, although it did ease him a bit. "But if I did that I wouldn't be able to live the life I have now if I was caught."
Alfred seemed to take this as an honest answer, but then said, "You could still tell them to back off at least, buncha racists."
"I've dealt with this for many years Alfred, but I can say this is the mildest reaction to my person in years."
Alfred let out a huff and folded his arms over his chest.
"I'd bite their heads off I was you."
Ivan smiled at hearing that then held out his shopping list to Alfred.
"Come on, let's finish up and head home."
Alfred sighed but took the list and the two went back to their shopping. Alfred tried to ignore the people around him like Ivan was, but it was really testing his tolerance. Ivan did his best to distract him, asking his opinion on foods, what to have for dinner, and the like. Eventually Alfred lightened up and even tried to sneak in a good amount of junk food into the cart but Ivan weeded it out, but left one box of snack cakes when Alfred begged him to.
They managed to get out of the store without incident and headed home. They put away the groceries, and during that moment Alfred couldn't help but look at Ivan occasionally. He couldn't believe that Ivan had been so calm about what happened in the store. He knew he would have at least snapped at someone, but he didn't want to cause Ivan trouble. It still irritated him that after so many years people still accept how things were. Sure, Taint could have had a direct effect on them or someone they loved, but that still didn't mean they had to hold a grudge. Alfred knew he sure as hell didn't.
"Are you alright?" Ivan asked, his voice bringing Alfred from his thoughts.
The blonde focused on Ivan's face, realizing he had still been staring. He gave a sigh and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"I'm fine, just a little irritated about those people in the store," Alfred said. "I know you said it was fine, but I still—"
"I know Alfred," Ivan said as he leaned back against the refrigerator. "After a 100 years things like disrespect don't really bother me, especially now. Although, I am happy that you want to defend me after just meeting."
The way Ivan said that last part had Alfred feeling a bit embarrassed. It sounded like he was defending a boyfriend, which he wasn't, but the thought wouldn't leave him alone.
"Well you're gonna be living with me and stuff… you're like a cool new friend, ya know?" Alfred said a bit nervously and Ivan just gave his usual small smile.
"I suppose so, but I'm your nurse first." Alfred nodded his head in understanding and Ivan went on to say, "And because I am your nurse, it's time for lunch so you can take your medicine."
Alfred gave a sullen, "Aw" then a pout, but Ivan just smiled a little wider and went to get out cookware. Alfred gave a defeated sigh then and moved to be beside Ivan to give his assistance.
"So what we cookin'?"
"What would you like?"
"Burgers?"
Ivan paused for a moment to think it over then nodded his head. Alfred beamed a smile that had Ivan smiling to in return. Ivan watched Alfred get the ingredients and move around the kitchen. He had a feeling that Alfred wasn't going to be like his normal charges and a part of him was pleased about that. His last charge hadn't been so kind so it was nice to have Alfred in his care. However, it was just a part of him that was pleased.
"Alfred, I think you forgot the vegetables," Ivan pointed out as he noticed the meat and cheese on the table. Alfred gave a sly smirk but went back into the fridge to get the remaining ingredients. They spent half an hour cooking and chopping before settling down to eat. Ivan had a baggy of blood while Alfred ate his burger and fries with a side of pills. Ivan was finished first and took to cleaning up while Alfred continued to eat. The blonde was nearly done when his phone went off, the unmistakable ringtone set for his twin brother played from it.
"Yes, oh brother of mine?" Alfred greeted
Ivan perked up at hearing that, but didn't look back. He kept cleaning as Alfred talked to his brother, though he was honestly surprised that Alfred had a sibling.
"Sure, I got nothin' to do," Alfred said into the phone.
"Alright, be there at one," Matthew replied and Alfred hung up then.
Ivan then placed the dishrag in the sink and said, "You have a brother?"
Alfred gave a hum to this for he had just taken a few fries into his mouth. Ivan watched him curiously as he chewed and nodded his head.
"Yeah, Matthew," Alfred replied once he swallowed. "He's coming over tomorrow to hang out and, uh, met you… if you're okay with that."
"I don't mind," Ivan said as he nodded his head and Alfred smiled at him.
*So... updates are gonna be slow :T My motivation for this thing is dead, but I'm trying! Thanks for the comments so far, they really help to get this story moving!*