Sorry I haven't updated in a while, I had family shit to deal with.
"Hello comrade" said Ivan.
In this sort of a situation, Arthur usually wouldn't be scared. Usually. But something about Ivan made him feel uneasy.
"W-what are you d-doing?" stammered Arthur. Ivan had wrapped his hands around Arthur's waist again so Arthur couldn't escape.
"Hug." said Ivan cheerfully
"We barely talk, why are you hugging me?"
"So we can be friends. Hugs make friends, da?"
"You could hug me anytime, why did you drag me away from my… um… friends?"
"Why are you scared? I promise I won't hurt you. Unless you disappoint me" Ivan's smile was gone. Clearly, Arthur wasn't doing a very good job of masking his fear.
"That doesn't help. Answer my question"
"Arthur should not tell me what to do" Ivan's body heat suddenly dropped at an alarming rate. It was if Arthur was being crushed by a big pile of snow. He shivered.
"I'm sorry Arthur, am I cold? Too bad" Began Ivan "Oh! I remember what I wanted! I want to show you something good. I'll show it to you first because you're weak and won't tell anyone about it." Arthur realised he was being threatened by an eleven year old. He also realised that he would probably end up severely hurt if he told anyone about this 'something' before Ivan.
"Yeah, fine, whatever" said Arthur, just wanting out of this psychopaths hold.
"Good! Let us go!" When Ivan smiled the room began to heat up again.
"Go? Where is this 'something' you wish to share?"
"Down the road and around corner" Said Ivan as he got up and opened the door so they could leave.
As uncharacteristic it may seem, Arthur wasn't wearing shoes, he figured Ivan wouldn't let him go back to his room to fetch them, so he just decided to go without them, he'd just have to keep an eye out for things that could injure him. The two boys walked through the house, passing no one (save for Lovino and Feliciano, who were hiding under a table quite conspicuously).
When they'd left the building and started down the dirt road, Arthur could see Ralph glaring at Ivan through one of the open windows of the main house. Arthur just gave him a smile and a wave and went to see this 'something'. Whether or not he'd come back from seeing 'something' was another matter.
As Ivan had said this something was grand. It was a field of big, happy sunflowers. Arthur was flabbergasted at how many there were.
"It's rather Impressive. Why are there so many here anyway?" asked Arthur. He was significantly more impressed than he let on.
"I planted them." Replied Ivan
"Wow. It must've taken a long time"
"Yup, two years"
"Really?! How long have you been here?"
"About that long"
"Do you like it here?"
"It's not my home, but it's… liveable."
The conversation didn't continue much longer as Ivan had gone into the field to get some nice sunflowers to bring home for himself. Arthur just sat on the grass and waited for Ivan to finish. He looked up at the clouds and just thought about things. His leg still hurt him, but the bruise was healing, he just tripped every now and again and that could just be general clumsiness.
"It's time to go" said Ivan. He had one arm full of sunflowers.
"Okay." Said Arthur
Ivan and Arthur walked back rather slowly in a comfortable silence until Arthur's leg gave out. Arthur fell flat on his face, scraping his cheek and cutting his hand on a sharp rock in the process.
Ivan poked Arthur as he lay on the ground "Are you okay?" Ivan asked not at all worried.
"I can't say I didn't see something like this coming." Mumbled Arthur "I'm fine thank you" he got up and began walking the rest of the way home.
"You get hurt a lot, da?" said Ivan
"Yes. More so since I got here" replied Arthur
"I'll carry you." Said Ivan rather unexpectedly
"Wha-" Arthur didn't have much time to react; he was already being carried bridal style.
"If you fall again you'll get hurt again. I don't like it when people get hurt by things that aren't me" Ivan poked Arthur's injured face and smiled darkly when Arthur winced.
'He changes personalities rather quickly, doesn't he?' thought Arthur.
Before long, they had arrived back at the house where Ralph was waiting at the gate to snatch Arthur away from Ivan, which he did. Before Arthur really knew what was happening, the eight year old was running away from Ivan, dragging Arthur behind him. Ivan just smiled and waved.
'I should start paying more attention to what's happening around me next time'
Ralph and Arthur were now in the kitchen. Arthur sat as Ralph searched for some Band-Aids.
"Are you sure this is where they keep the medical supplies?" asked Arthur
"Yup, the kitchen is closest to the garden, where everyone falls over and hurts themselves. Also, Alvise told me." Said Ralph. He rummaged through the cupboard for a few more seconds before pulling out a wicker box that contained disinfectant, Band-Aids and the like.
Ralph picked up a band aid and put one on top of a cut on the bridge of his nose.
"How did you get that?" asked Arthur
"A tree nicked me. How'd you get those?" Ralph gestured to Arthur's injuries as he looked through the box for some cotton.
"I fell."
"Bullshit"
"No really! The rocks on the road are sharp!"
Ralph, having found some cotton and other things to help Arthur, picked up the disinfectant and brought it all over to the kitchen table.
"I'll go get Ludwig. He's better at this sort of thing than I am" said Ralph
"You are terrible at it." Arthur said jokingly
"Shut your face" Ralph replied, not being in a particularly good mood.
Ralph retrieved Ludwig and, feeling he had better things to do, left Arthur with Ludwig.
"I'm sorry" said Ludwig as he applied disinfectant to Arthur's face.
"For what? It's not your fault Ivan's scary."
"But you ended up getting hurt"
"Yes, but that's my fault, I fell over. It's fine."
Ludwig just grunted. He still felt guilty for letting Arthur get dragged away by someone who was probably insane.
Arthur just smiled at Ludwig after he was done dressing his injuries.
"Thank you, Ludwig" said Arthur, still smiling.
A blush dusted the German's cheeks "You're welcome" he said, glancing away at nothing in particular.
Arthur packed away all the supplies and left Ludwig to his thoughts.
I really like reviews. Tell me who you want to win or no one will (kidding, but I'm going to have a tough time deciding…).