I don't own Hetalia okay? I'm glad you guys are liking this story so far. I got a few other ideas I am looking to start but don't have everything quite hammered out just yet with them. But other than that enough with the A/N, on with the fic!
Ivan had finished his report and sent it to his boss, waiting for more information from him on how to proceed. Alfred had finished up his introductory course and sent back what he thought. His argument of why he was using Alfred to test the design, being a young adult out of school, was that if successful the program could also be offered to those who are affected by companies who had laid them off and left the area. It was a big project for their image and Ivan knew this. But he could not deny he did like Alfred's company. Heading out of his room and to the lobby, Ivan sighed with a smile. Everything seemed to be lining up perfectly with his job.
"Oh hey Vanya!" Alfred said as he waved from the pool area.
"Oh! Fredka!" Ivan replied startled. "I forgot you worked here too." He looked away with a slight blush as Alfred stood there, slightly wet, hair dripping. Ivan bit his lip and tried to look casual. My word…. he does work out…. He noticed the toned swimmer's body and his legs. Ivan felt his face grow red but prayed that Alfred didn't notice.
"Yeah with the new year coming in, more people coming in to stay and we do have an indoor pool." Alfred motioned. "It's kind of fun as the manager of the department doesn't mind if I use the pool when people aren't there." He wiped a towel against his hair and smiled. "It's things like this that make the job a little more bearable." Alfred looked away from Ivan slightly embarrassed, knowing how it must feel and smiled. "Hey you want to grab a bite with me? I mean my lunch break is coming up soon and I'll buy. Maybe nothing more than McDonalds but…."
"Sounds fine. You may need to change though." Ivan blushed. "I mean it is rather cold out."
"I know." Alfred laughed. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Got to clock out and change of course." He headed off to do so while Ivan bit his lip. This did not help his conflicting feelings. You cannot keep chasing him, even if he is that handsome…. Ivan normally did not have so many carnal thoughts, but with the recent infatuation he had begun feeling, this sight brought out feelings he hadn't felt in a long time. His boss hadn't told him an exact date he would be calling him back to Russia, but he knew it was at least in the middle of January last he knew. He hadn't gotten an exact date and his boss would never give him an easy response. Alfred came out of the employee break room and headed up to Ivan.
"I'm ready." Alfred said. "I hope you don't mind that my car is a little cold. The passenger side window doesn't roll up all the way."
"I'm Russian, I can take cold. Let me get my coat." Ivan went to his room, grabbed the old brown long coat and his scarf and met Alfred in the hall, following him to the old beat up car.
"I hope you don't think poorly of me for having this." Alfred sighed at the disappointment. This is something that a high school kid who saved his money from mowed yards since he was 14 would drive. He thought with a slight disappointment. And why do I care all of a sudden if Ivan cares? I'm sure the car he's been driving around here is much nicer with the money he must be pulling down…. "But I say this has gotten me through a lot and is a reliable car. Can't ask much more."
"What type of car is it?" Ivan asked.
"I don't know if you'd know much but it's a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria. Got it from a police surplus sale before I headed out to California. You see in America, it's not uncommon for kids to get their parents old cars when they are teenagers. They'll often get newer ones at that time and the kid gets the old car. Economic and you don't have to feel bad if junior wrecks it." Alfred explained as Ivan sat down in the passenger seat.
"Well the front of this thing certainly is roomy." Ivan smiled.
Alfred smiled. "Well I got my dad's old car, and poor Mattie got Papa's."
"Why is your brother the poor one in this situation?" Ivan asked curiously.
"Because Papa can't drive. He's backed into so much so it was dented badly. Dad on the other hand hits the brakes too often and I had to replace those soon after I got his. Amazingly though the only thing wrong with Mattie's was that it just looked like a shitbox."
"Shitbox?" Ivan asked.
"Sorry, it looked really bad." Alfred explained as they sat at the red light. "But I had saved up some money and heard the police department were selling off their old cars when they got some new ones in. You could hide 5 bodies in the trunk of this thing, so it was great for lots of band equipment, the engine on these things is damn near indestructible, and if you're on a long road trip, no need to get a hotel, just lay back in the back. Although mine still had the cage the police department had when I got it. When I brought it home, I took Mattie out for lunch and threw him in the back and shut the back panel so he I wouldn't hear him complain." He looked over to Ivan. "Here I am answering everything you ask about me, and I know jack shit about you other than your job and you're Russian."
"That is true Fredka." Ivan said. "Well, what do you want to know…"
"Ummm…. birthday….do you have any siblings…where you were born…. the basics. Let's start there buddy."
"Fine. Hmmmm" Ivan paused. "I was born December 30th 1986 in Saint Petersburg in Russia obviously,"
"Did you say December 30th?" Alfred asked.
"Da, why?" Ivan said.
"You've lost track of the days then." Alfred laughed. "Whatever you get I'm getting you a Mcflurry too birthday boy."
"You don't have to do that Fredka." Ivan blushed. He was not one to be reminded he was getting older.
"Yes I do. No one should have to work on their birthday and not have something from it." Alfred insisted.
"So when was yours if we are on that subject?" Ivan asked back.
"Born on the fourth of July baby." Alfred smiled. His smile is so wide…. Ivan thought. "Back in Massachusetts. Don't know much about mine and Mattie's birthmother other than for some reason she was in labor for days. Mattie is technically older."
"Really?" Ivan asked. "You seem to act more like an older sibling."
"He was born July first. I don't count 3 days as much as we are still technically twins. Fraternal but still twins." Alfred said. "But Dad and Papa are the only parents we know. We were adopted pretty much at birth."
"Did you ever want to look for your birth mother?" Ivan asked.
"Nah. She gave me up, why should I care?" He said darkly. "I have no memories of her, and it was Arthur Kirkland and Francis Bonnefoy who raised us. Parents are who raise you not who gives birth to you."
"I'm sorry if I touched a sore spot there." Ivan said.
"You didn't know." Alfred dismissed. "So, same question to you. Siblings?"
"Two sisters." Ivan said.
"Older…younger…?" Alfred prodded.
"One older, one younger. And they both can be a handful. My older sister is a big crybaby pushover target and my younger sister scares me." Ivan said as Alfred turned off the car and headed into the McDonalds' motioning for Ivan to follow him. The lunch rush was going on, so Alfred stood towards the back and held onto Ivan beside him. Ivan felt his heart race at this touch as he looked at the menu full of fried, fatty goodness. "This is much different than the ones they have back in Russia."
"They have McDonalds in Russia?" Alfred asked.
"Yes." Ivan curtly replied. "Since 1991."
"Sorry dude." Alfred said. "Just surprised is all."
"It's alright," He sighed. Nothing seemed really all that appealing to him as he looked at the menu. Even back in Russia he did not frequent fast food restaurants a lot, preferring to make his own dinners, even if it was often just him and the cat. I hope big sister is holding everything down well, especially since I don't know when I am heading back. Ivan thought as he then turned to Alfred. "What do you recommend?"
"I usually get the Big Mac if I don't know what else I want." Alfred shrugged.
"Well I guess I'll get that if you say it is good." Ivan smiled.
"You actually trust my suggestion?" Alfred asked.
"Is that such a surprising thing?" Ivan replied.
"Lately? Yes." Alfred said as the cashier called for who was next. "Okay I guess two Big Mac meals and an Oreo McFlurry for here."
"Okay that will be 10.54." The cashier said as Alfred paid and she handed them cups. "You can get your drinks over there." Alfred took Ivan's cup and filled it up for him. By the time he had finished, the order was ready. Feeling like he was the host on this little lunch outing, he took the tray and found the seat he loved in the corner empty, so he sat and motioned for Ivan to sit across from him.
Ivan sat and looked at the unhealthy meal nervously. Apparently, as much as he loved horrible things Alfred was a bit of an athlete so it kind of canceled it out. However, Ivan did not have as much time lately at the gym as he used to. Fredka did say the hotel has a gym and a pool. With a very attractive lifeguard….no! Stop it Ivan! Long distance relationships never work out. He's a friend, only a friend. He kept telling himself. Last thing he wanted to do was have thousands of miles between them be the catalyst for Alfred to have his heart broken. By him. Not wanting to offend Alfred, he took a bite of the burger and chewed it.
"Well how is it Vanya?" Alfred smiled.
"Not as bad as I was expecting it to be." Ivan smiled at him.
"You didn't trust my judgement." Alfred pouted.
"Nyet. It's not that I didn't trust your judgement," Ivan quickly replied. He apparently really likes this place. "It is simply that I do not often get fast food, even back home in Russia. After work I often make myself a small meal and head to bed."
"You don't have anyone back in Russia other than your coworkers or sisters?" Alfred looked on, his face falling.
Ivan looked down as Alfred pointed out the uncomfortable truth. "Da." He sighed. "Most people find me scary."
"Well most people suck." Alfred said as he lift up Ivan's face and smiled at him. "You're nice. You're interesting and honestly, kind of a looker yourself with a hot accent." He blushed realizing what he had let slip and stuffed his mouth full of French fries. Ivan smiled at this. Quickly chewing the massive amount of fried potatoes, Alfred swallowed them and looked on at him. "Okay Ruski, what's so funny?"
"Nothing. You tend to get overexcited at times. It's extremely cute." Ivan laughed.
"Well you know what's not cute?" Alfred returned. "The birthday boy not eating the ice cream that I so generously bought him with my hard earned money."
Ivan rolled his eyes. "Fine. If it will make you happy." He picked up the frozen treat and put the spoon in his mouth and ate it. It was simple vanilla ice cream with crushed up Oreo cookies, something that Ivan liked as he had a sweet tooth and anything sweet he couldn't say no to. Alfred smiled, seeing the satisfaction that grew over Ivan's face. "You shouldn't mope so much Fredka. You're too handsome to let the frown ruin your face."
"What's Russia like?" Alfred asked curiously.
"Well, the cities are all the same pretty much. Cold, grey and the buildings are nearly identical. However, if you go into the countryside, the forests are beautiful and magical. And despite what many think, unless you are in certain parts of Siberia over the Arctic circle it isn't that cold and snowy all the time. Summers in Moscow usually are in the mid-20s…"
"That's cold!" Alfred said.
"Sorry, that's in Celsius. That would be…." He did a few motions in his head to get a quick estimate. "About mid 70s in Fahrenheit."
"Oh that's not that bad actually." Alfred said. "I think I'd like to see it. Sounds lovely. Do you really have those dome churches?"
"You are thinking of Saint Basil's cathedral and yes, they are around." Ivan smiled.
"You think you could show me around one of these days?" Alfred asked.
"I don't see why not." Ivan looked at his watch. "We must be heading back if you don't want to get in trouble for being late."
"Oh crap! You're right dude!" Alfred panicked. He quickly grabbed the tray with their garbage and Ivan's mostly eaten McFlurry and dumped it in the trash and them came back and grabbed Ivan's hand. Feeling his heart race again, Ivan got up and followed Alfred to his car and smiled as the young man started it up to head back to his job. He liked Alfred, could tell he was smart, even if he was a little spacy or hyper at times and for some reason all he wanted was to hold the young man close and never let him go. As the radio played quietly, he heard Alfred quietly sing along.
"I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies. This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday" Alfred sang as he drove back to the hotel so that Ivan and Alfred could get back to their respective jobs. Ivan paused just listening to the voice. He had known that Alfred had almost made it big. Gilbert told him that his band was somewhat popular before they tried their luck in Hollywood. But to his ears, this was like an angel from heaven singing above. The lyrics he had read from the notebook when he had first met Alfred popped into his mind. As the rest of the Green Day song played and Alfred continued to sing at what he thought was a level Ivan couldn't hear, Ivan just stared in wonder. As the song ended and an obnoxious commercial for a local flooring company began to play, Ivan stared. "What? Do I have some of that Big Mac still on my face?" Alfred asked as he pulled into the parking lot.
"I have never heard you sing Fredka. That was Holiday by Green Day correct?" Ivan said.
"Yeah. It's one of my favorite songs. I wasn't going to let the fact my own music career failed remove my love of what inspired me to chase that dream in the first place. It wasn't Green Day's fault I had a lousy producer." Alfred shrugged. "Why?"
"Because. Your voice suited it perfectly. And was one of the best I had ever heard. It is a shame that the world would be denied such a perfect tone." Ivan said.
"Oh now you're being too nice." Alfred blushed. "I mean I know it's not bad. At least way better than when my Dad sings Anarchy in the UK too loud in the shower…"
"Nyet. I would never do such low flattery." Ivan said. "I think I am in love with you- "he began to say before he recovered as to not sound like he was coming onto Alfred just yet. "-your voice. It's just wonderful."
Alfred paused and looked at Ivan with a tear coming down his face. He had trusted Ivan's judgement so much in the past few days and saw him as a mentor, guide and even thought he was starting to fall in love with him. It was a slight crush he was trying to deny, knowing eventually that Ivan would have to go back to Russia and his luck with long distance relationships wasn't that great when he dated a man from Nevada when he was back in California. That was only a few hundred miles let alone thousands and 8 hours' time difference. He hugged Ivan close in a bear hug that nearly strangled the large man "Thank you so much Vanya."
"You're very welcome Fredka. It is only the truth." Ivan replied.
"Still. Thanks." Alfred said as he wiped his eyes. "But I got to go. Don't want to be late." He said as he ran to quickly clock in from his lunch.
So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. And yes, Crown Victoria's can or at least used to be able to be bought at police surplus auctions. Their engines are very durable and you can sleep in the back of them (Or a Mercury Grand Marquis or Lincoln Town car of the same era as they are built on the same frame just have different interior features.) comfortably. I have done it. So if you are looking for a car to take cross country trips in, think of one of those, just make sure to do your routine maintenance and it will run forever. But anyway, remember to read (well you just did) and to review. Ciao for now,
Otherrealmwriter
Aka
Realm.
