Ivan doesn't know why, but he feels like Alfred really doesn't like him. Occasionally he'll catch Alfred glaring at him from across the room.
One time he tried asking Arthur about it, but before he could, Alfred appeared out of nowhere and dragged Arthur to the side, whispering urgently in his ear.
Okay then. Strange.
Yao slept well that night, after a cup of tea or two.
He woke late, though, and rushed through a shower, dressed quickly, and sat down to eat his breakfast as fast as he could manage. Yao didn't live too close to the library, and he didn't like having to speed walk in order to get there by noon. He liked to take his time and watch people.
Kiku sat down across from him at the table. Yao looked over at him with toast in his mouth. "Aren't you supposed to be at work by now?"
Kiku started at him blankly for ten seconds before replying, "What? No, we're having a family lunch today, remember?"
Shit. "What."
"Yao, we have been planning this for three weeks," Kiku sighed, exasperated.
"But I thought it was supposed to be dinner!"
"We changed that plan two weeks ago to lunch." Kiku was not impressed.
"No, but…"
"We are meeting Mei in twenty minutes down along the piers. I assumed you were getting ready to go. That is, until you started eating. Come on, go brush your hair, we have to go soon. If you insist on keeping your hair long, you must also keep it presentable."
Yao scowled as his little brother sat back, crossing his legs and opening the Japanese newspaper that was on the table.
But, Ivan…
"Well? Hurry up, we're leaving soon."
Yao grumbled as he made his way to the bathroom to comb his hair and tie it back. Like Kiku's mop looks any better.
Damn, but what was he going to do? It was a half hour to noon now, whch was when Ivan would likely be expecting him to arrive.
Shit, shit, shit.
Ivan arrived fifteen minutes after twelve. He had expected Yao to be there before him, but when he wasn't Ivan wasn't too concerned. He sat down and started reading a Russian translation of the Iliad.
He was three chapters in the next time he checked the time. It was on 'o' clock. Where was Yao?
There was a waiting list at the restaurant.
"Well, that is annoying," Kiku said, taking a seat in the waiting area.
"Yeah." Yao sat beside his brother and checked his clock. It was twelve twenty now. How long would Ivan wait for him at the library?
"Oh, Mei's here."
"Huh, sorry I'm late you two. You would not believe the crowds in West Lake this morning!" Kiku and Yao stood to give her a hug.
Maybe something had come up that morning and Yao was running late? It's not like this was a date anyway, with such loose parameters. Really, why did Ivan even feel the need to assure himself of that? Of course it wasn't a date. What did it matter?
Yao decided quickly on his order. Mei, as always, ordered the house salad, whatever it may be.
And Kiku, as per usual, took ten minutes to peruse the entire menu, the little shit.
"Uh… maybe, hmm, no. Perhaps, umm…"
Yao was ready to rip his hair out.
Ivan was on chapter five now. He checked his watch. '1:45.' This was very unusual, for Yao to arrive so late.
Yao ate his food uncharacteristically fast today, to the incredulous stares of his younger sibilngs. His younger siblings who, of course, were taking all the time in the world to eat their dishes.
He just wanted to tell to cut the chit chat and hurry up for god's sake, but he knew that it would do no good. Not with these two.
"So how have you been lately, Kiku?"
"Oh, well enough I guess. We just got this new project at work…"
Oh my gooood.
Maybe Yao just forgot?
The waiter came to collect the plates and asked if they were interested in dessert.
"No thank-" Yao started to say.
"Actually, could I see the menu?"
Oh my god. This is it. Yao was going to die here. He was never going to be able to leave. He was forever trapped in this restaurant.
Or… maybe he changed his mind?
Kiku ordered a fucking cake. A whole cake. For three people.
What the fuck, Kiku.
Well, it wouldn't matter too much to Ivan if he hadchanged his mind, right? Whatever.
He went back to his book, stubbornly ignoring the pain in his chest.
"How would you like the check split?"
"Two ways, please," Mei said, pulling her purse onto her lap.
"Oh, no, let me. I'll have the check," Kiku offered, putting up a hand to Mei.
"Oh, thank you Kiku. That's very kind of you." Mei beamed. "And it would be oh so nice if you could give Yao and I a ride to the library, also, seeing as we have cut so inconsiderately into Yao's 'library time'." At this, Mei winked at Yao, and Yao knew he was blushing.
"What?" Kiku asked as he handed his card to the waiter, looking between Mei and Yao. "What does that mean?"
"Aiyah! Nothing!" Yao cried, glaring at Mei. Mei, the jerk, just giggled.
Just then, an obnoxious ringing emanated from Kiku's pocket. He sighed and excused himself to answer the call.
"That's why you've been so fidgety today, huh? You got a hot date to get to?" Mei asked quietly, leaning over the table and wiggling her eyebrows.
"What-no! What do you mean by that?" Yao sputtered indignantly.
"You liiike him don't you?" Mei asked in a mocking, sing song voice, smirking mischieviously.
"I do not!"
"You doo not what?" Kiku asked as he returned.
"What was tat call about?" Mei asked, diverting the subject of conversation.
"It was Herakles so, you know, the usual."
"Is he staying on the couch again tonight, then?"
"Yeah?"
Yao sighed. Herakles was a fine guy, but when he got into philosophy (which was nearly every time he came to their place), Yao found himself at odds with him over everything. And that's not to mention religion and politics…
But he could worry about that later. Right now he had to get to the library!
Ivan had just picked up his books and was heading downstairs when Yao appeared, running up the stair case. He was so focused on quickly ascending the stairs that he nearly ran right past Ivan.
"Yao?" Ivan asked, surprised to see him, since he had convinced himself that Yao wasn't going to show up.
"Ai! Ivan! Oh, thank goodness, I thought you would've left by now!" Yao was panting. He had only run up one flight of stairs: he must not be in very good shape.
"Are you okay? What happened?" Ivan asked the double-bent Yao.
"Yeah… I'm fine… Just give me a second. You still up for coffee then?" he asked as soon as he caught his breath.
Ivan smiled (totally not relieved. Completely nonchalant about everything), and nodded. "Yeah, I think so."
A/N: so it's come to my attention that none of my page breaks have been translating into the online version of the story, which is really unfortunate. I don't really have the time to go back and fix that all, but the corrected version can be found on AO3, if you want.
also, my tumblr is singingasongofanchormen (. ). just saying