From there, it took some time to get over the border, crossing first into Poland before making their way down into the Ukraine. Alfred hid behind Ivan and Natalya as they weaseled their flimsy passports past the border guards, but managed to keep their food supplies well managed as they traveled. The news reports died down as they left the former Soviet Union, but more than once their little group attracted some strange glances. Ivan relayed the full danger of their situation to Alfred as they caught the news reports, but for the most part Alfred preferred to remain unaware of exactly how many policemen were after them.

"We simply have to wait for the fuss to die down." Ivan repeated again and again, annoying both Alfred and Natalya whenever he answered their questions with the phrase. "A few months, maybe a year, and we can return to America. Natalya can go back home."

When time permitted, Alfred and Natalya managed to steal intimate moments together, waiting for Ivan to leave or simply ducking into the bathroom. Their unions were brief, but satisfactory-Alfred even termed it 'business-like' as they abandoned one of their many hotels. Natalya said nothing, but silently agreed, appreciating the physical aspect of the relationship while disdaining the emotional.

Ivan kept his peace about the situation, but leapt at any chance to go hunting, instigating it far more often than Alfred was accustomed to. Natalya tried to reason against it, but the blood lust wasn't easy to deny, and in the heat of the moment the siblings could destroy a man in a matter of moments. Alfred began to worry for his own safety, especially as his own desire for the hunt waned, but reassured himself. Everything would be fine once they got home. When they crossed this border, once they got through Europe-

Everything would be fine.

O

Arthur grew irritated easily. Francis was used to that. But this case tended to irritate him more than most.

"Bloody ear of Judas, Francis, how could these two-these three!-make it across? Are the Russians bigger fools than I imagined, or am I asking too much?"

"Tone, Arthur." Francis cautioned, comparing a stack of files to a single folder. "We are on foreign soil-"

"They can bloody well hear me, I don't care! Did you hear that, bastards? I don't care!" Arthur ranted at the ceiling for a moment, then sighed. "What's taking you so long?"

"They don't have the technology we have, Arthur, I must do this by sight."

"Another bloody hold up."

"If you stopped cursing and helped me, it might go faster."

"We have interns for this!"

"Back in Paris, Arthur, back in Paris."

Arthur grumbled, putting a finger to his temple to massage it lightly. After a while, he sat across from Francis, taking a file to scan it. "After all, what's one more desk job?"

O

"Ivan-Ivan, please-"

"Alfred is right, we must leave him!"

"Do you know how long you have denied me? If we must be stuck together, the two of you rutting like pigs when you think I can't hear, then at least let me have my fun!" Ivan struggled away from their grasp, folding the small knife to slide it into his pocket. "It isn't so bad. They will blame the wolves, there are a great many of them out here-"

"It is an unnecessary risk, Vanya!"

"Do not call me Vanya!"

From there, the two siblings launched into furious Russian, leaving Alfred to clean up the…former hobo they had run into. He supposed Ivan had a point-unable to hunt properly left them stifled. And he and Natalya had found better ways of utilizing their energy.

Was Ivan still angry at him for that?

No, no, of course he wasn't, they had gone over this in Moscow. Ivan wasn't the type to hold grudges. It was just sex, after all. Harmless fun.

Still, being cooped up on trains and in various rental cars probably didn't help the situation. But then Ivan had to lash out and do something….something like this-it was so unlike him! To attack at will, with no thought to the danger or the risk! Always, Ivan had held Alfred back, had prevented him from exposing their activities, but now Natalya had to redirect her own brother. Alfred wasn't sure how much longer they could last.

He might even come to accept that incarceration would be better than having to contain Ivan by himself.