Author's Notes:

So in the previous chapter my brain noped and I said that Yao's parents weren't home, and I meant to say parent or dad, sorry. Anyway, enjoy the chapter! ~mmbazb

I heard the door open beside me and looked to see Yao poking his head out.

"You can come in now."

I nodded and opened the door to his room.

Inside beheld a comfy looking room with deep red walls and a large bed in the middle (red sheets of course) and a dresser to the right. A few panda plushies were scattered around the room.

I looked at Yao. "Nice room."

He smiled and sat down on his bed. "Okay, I'm so absolutely dying to see those paintings. Show me!"

He grinned and patted the spot next to him. I blinked and went to sit next to the excited teen. I set the bag down and kneeled in front of it and started pulling out multiple canvases and spreading them across the bed.

Yao just sat there, awestruck.

I pulled out the last painting, a painting of a family iceskating on a frozen lake, and looked at Yao.

He was staring at all the canvases. "These are amazing..." He murmured and touched a painting of a field of sunflowers. Many of my paintings contained sunflowers and Yao noticed. "You like sunflowers?"

I looked away and blushed. "Y-yeah."

He smiled and picked a small painting of my little sister.

"Who is this?" He asked curiously.

"That's Natalia. She's my younger sister. That was a few years ago, on her first day of grade school." He smiled and ran his fingers over all of them, awed. He touched my sketch from the other day and picked it up.

"What's this?" He asked.

I glanced at it and explained, "I started that right before we met. While I was in detention."

He laughed and nodded. "What were you going to draw?"

I bit my lip. "I-I was going to have it be like someone handing me a sunflower. I never finished it because I didn't know who it would be."

He tilted his head then nodded. "I see. These paintings are incredible, Ivan. You really have a gift."

I smiled and blushed a bit. I noticed Yao's eyes change for a split second, but the emotion was quickly repressed.

I frowned.

Wonder...

"Where'd you learn how to paint so well?" Yao pulled me from my thoughts.

"My mom used to. She taught me before she died. I taught myself the rest."

Yao looked at me with amazement.

I swore I heard him mumble something about 'handsome', but he shook his head and looked at the paintings again. He picked up an unfinished painting of a person.

I widened my eyes and quickly took it from his hands. "Uh, sorry I didn't realized I put this one in there."

Yao pouted and tried to look at the picture again but I shoved it into the bag. He can't see that. I think I'd die of embarrassment.

Yao's pout deepened and he crossed his arms. "Why can't I see it?"

I bit my bottom lip. "W-well b-because... it's...it's..." Yao raised an eyebrow.

I huffed. "It's you..."

Yao processed this, then blushed and smiled a bit.

I bit my lip. "I-I'm sorry that must be kind of creepy, but-"

"That's so sweet, Ivan. I don't see why you don't already have a boyfriend..."

I stared at the floor. 'But I hope to change that one day...'

I hope he meant that.

I handed him the painting and he looked at it with awe still plastered on his face. He rubbed his thumb on the side of the canvas. He looked at me, and I figured out what had been in his eyes.

Lust.

I suppressed and smile and looked at my paintings on his bed. I picked up my favourite painting, a painting of a big blue rose.

Yao poked his head over the top of the painting, trying to get a glimpse of what I was looking at. I turned it around and Yao gasped.

"Oh, Ivan that's amazing! When did you draw that?" He asked curiously.

I smiled. "A couple days after I moved here. Did I ever tell you that I moved here from Russia a month ago?"

Yao cocked his head to the side. "No, I don't think you ever did. What inspired you to draw it?"

I looked into the distance, trying to remember that day.

"My older sister took me and Natalia to the park and there was a small bush of blue roses. I unpacked my painting supplies the very next day and went back out to draw it."

Yao smiled and touched my nose. "You're so incredible. Even if you're gay. Which I don't mind at all, by the way."

I pulled my eyebrows together. "Why doesn't it matter to you, anyway?"

Yao snorted. "First of all, there is not a single thing wrong with us. We are just like left-handed people, just more rare. We-"

"Wait, wait, are you saying you're gay too?" I asked incrediously.

Yao nodded. "Yes. And I'm currently raging about homophobics. Can I continue?"

I looked down and nodded.

He continued, "They think we're so different, and that scares them. We like the same gender, so what?" Yao stood up and started pacing the room. "The damned Christians all think that we are so impure and horrible. I hate it so much, aiyah!" He balled up his fists and squeezed his eyes shut. "It's not fair! You're being hated by almost the whole school and you're obviously suffering." I saw a fat tear roll down his cheek. "It's not fair..."

Yao walked over to me and sat next to me.

He looked at me. What I saw on his face was incredibly heartbreaking.

His mouth was crumpled in different ways and tears were streaming down his face at a rapid pace.

He sobbed, "You shouldn't h-have t go thro-ough this and I-I'm going to help you. I-I don't ca-are weather or not you want i-it."

I wrapped my arms around his small body and he pressed his head against my chest. "I'm okay, Yao. Please don't cry anymore..."

I had already started to feel my shirt get wet with his tears. He ceased to sob, but he kept sniffling. I rubbed his back and accidentally started to trace random pattern into his back. He either didn't notice, or didn't mind.

He sighed after a while and pulled away. "I'm sorry. I feel like I can be really open whenever I'm around you."

I shook my head. "Doesn't bother me. Makes me feel special, actually." I smiled.

He giggled and poked my stomach. "Silly."

I touched his hair. I don't remember deciding to do that.

Oh well.

It was silky and soft. His short bangs fluttered in the air conditioning that didn't really help with his growing blush.

He looked at me and I retracted my hand. "S-sorry. I didn't realize-"

"You apologize way too damn much. I'm hungry. Wanna go make something?" I frowned and glanced at my watch.

Oh. It was after six PM.

"Won't your dad be home soon though?" I asked nervously.

Yao shook his head. "No. He went on a business trip. Kiku is with his boyfriend, Herakles. We're alone."

He smiled. "So what do you want to make? It can be anything. We have tons of food."

I thought for a minute. Well...

"Do you know how to make beef stragonoff?"

Yao's eyes lit up. "Yes, I do actually. Can you help me make it?"

I nodded. "Da. Are you sure you have all the ingredients?"

Yao tapped his chin then nodded. "From what I remember from a beef stragonoff recipe, yes, I do believe we have all the ingredients."

I smiled. "Let's do it then."

By the time we finished, there were extra vegetables all over the counters and floors and beef fat was dotted all over the stovetop. Ivan kept cutting the vegetables too thick so I would grab his wrist and guide his hand, as a demonstration. But I kept forgetting to mix the beef so the meat was a bit crispy, but it was still nice to try to make some authentic Russian food.

We spooned some food from the warm pots into our bowls and sat down to try it. Ivan made me have the first bite.

"You need to have it first. I've lived in Russia most of my life, so I know what it tastes like. So you get to try first."

I glared at him but shoved a spoonful into my mouth anyway. My eyes widened and I nodded excitedly.

"It tastes so good!" I said through a mouthful of food. "Try it!"

He smiled and put a spoonful into his mouth and nodded. "S' good." He said.

I smiled and continued eating my meal happily.

"So did you come here from China?" Ivan asked curiously.

I swallowed and smiled while nodding. "Yeah. I was only five when we moved here though." I smiled again. "I loved China. I miss it."

Suddenly, Ivan's eyes lit up. He smiled and looked at his plate and continued eating.

I frowned. "What's got you so excited?"

He smiled wider and shook his head. "It's a surprise."

I pouted and glared at him. He laughed and continued eating his food.

I sighed and continued eating as well.

I laid down on the couch and stretched my arms and legs.

"So what do you wanna do next?" I asked happily.

Ivan shrugged and sat down at the end of my feet. Then his eyes lit up again. "Do you have an unused canvas?"

I squinted. "Kiku might have one. Why?"

He just smiled. "Just wanna start on that surprise." He winked and I felt a blush creep over my face.

"H-here I'll show you to his room..." I got back up from the couch and led him towards my little brother's room.

He followed and I opened the curtains (yes, curtains) to his room and walked over to his desk to rummage around. I eventually found an 8x10 inch canvas and handed it to him.

"Am I allowed to watch?"

He shook his head. "Nope. Gotta pencil?"

I turned back around and grabbed a pencil from a can to hand to him.

He smiled. "Thanks."

I nodded and went back out to the livingroom. I laid back down on the couch and Ivan sat on the floor in front of me and started scribbling something on the Royal and Langnickel canvas. I didn't have a clue what he was trying to draw so I grabbed the remote and flicked on the TV.

Immediately, an anime show popped up. I'd last been on Netflix, and the show I was watching was still up.

Ouran Highschool Host Club.

I thought of the pros and cons of letting Ivan see such a gay-filled anime and decided to play it, mostly because he wasn't paying much attention to anything but the canvas.

The Hitachiin twins immediately started talking in their fluent language of Japanese. I had to hold back a fanboy scream. They were so cute.

Not as cute as the large man in front of me...

I shoved the thought away and continued watching the anime. Ivan only glanced up a couple times to check on me, but continued scribbling indecipherable lines.

I decided to tell Kiku that I was letting Ivan have his canvas.

I grabbed my phone, which was on the side table.

I pulled up Kiku's contact and texted him, Hey Kiku?

It was another minute or two when I got a message back.

Not right now.

I frowned and texted him back hastily.

What do you mean, not now aru?

There was an immidiate respose this time.

Because I'm TRYING to orgasm here!

My face reddened up and I texted back.

Jeez, sorry to interrupt... Just wanted to tell u that Ivan's using ur 8x10 canvas...

I saw a shadow cross my phone. I looked over my shoulder to see Ivan looking at the messages. I quickly snapped my phone shut.

"I was just telling Kiku that you were using his canvas. Nothing to worry about."

Ivan looked at my face. "Then why is your face red?"

I pouted and turned away. "B-because apparently, Kiku is doing something."

Ivan shook his head and went back to sit down. "I'm not even gonna ask..."

I smiled and continued watching my anime.

"Okay, text me when you get home please, Ivan." Yao said worriedly.

I laughed and nodded. "Of course, of course. But I'll be fine. I'll see you later."

He smiled and waved as I exited the door.

"Bye." He said.

I waved and wrapped my scarf tighter around my neck. "Bye." I turned and headed off towards my apartment.

It was 8:00 at night and I hadn't gotten any frantic calls from Yekatrina or Natalia, so that was definitely good.

When I arrived at the shitty apartment I call home, I didn't hear yelling or crying, and I let out a sigh of relief. When I opened the door, no chaos was to be seen.

As I headed to my room, duffle bag over my shoulder, Kat exited her room, a look of exhaustion on her face.

She looked at me and smiled. "Hi brother. Did you have fun at Yao's?"

I nodded happily. "Da. Thank you for letting me go over. We made beef stragonoff. It was so good."

Kat's face lit up and she nodded. "Oh, that's amazing! Did it taste at all like Mom's?"

I nodded. "A little. So did Dad give you any shit?" I asked nervously.

She shook her head, thankfully. "No, I got him drunk as hell as soon as he walked in the door. He's passed out in his room as we speak. Go to bed, brother. It's late."

I suddenly felt the lull of sleep overwhelm me and I nodded.

Then I remembered something. "Oh, I saved you some beef stragonoff. Here."

I reached into my bag and pulled out a plastic container full of the authentic Russian food.

Yekatrina's eyes widened and I handed her the container. Her lip wobbled and she said, her voice cracking, "Oh, Ivan... Thank you. This is really sweet."

I smiled. "I'd noticed you haven't been eating as much so Nat and I could have more. I figured you needed something real."

Kat nodded and hugged me. "Thank you."

She said softly. "You're welcome."

I pulled away and went into my room, leaving Yekatrina to heat up the lefetovers.

When I got into my room, I dumped the contents of my bag onto my bed. I grabbed the two unfinished paintings and put them in a safe place. The rest were carefully put under my bed, in a cardboard box. I threw the empty bag into my closet and then flopped onto my bed.

I carefully unwrapped the precious scarf from my neck and stood up to look in the mirror.

Scars.

Scars everywhere.

And I know exactly what caused them.

Me.

Author's Notes:

Okaaaay so this is really long... Lol. Anyway, beef stragonoff. It's an actual Russian cusine that's very good. And Royal and Langnickel. That is an actual company that has really good art supplies, and I recommend it to all artists. Well, thanks everybody and have a nice day! ~mmbazb