"That was fun!" Alfred said cheerfully. They had just finished touring the building, and were standing by the exit, putting on their coats.
"Da, it was." Ivan said with a small smile. "Although, I could have sworn we were being followed."
Alfred scoffed. "I see you're as paranoid as usual."
"I am not being paranoid if I am right." Ivan pointed out.
"Yeah, but it's only France." Alfred said as he walked over to the umbrella stand by the doors.
"So you did notice him."
"It's not like it's hard to spot France spying on us." Alfred said, rolling his eyes. "It's kind of hard to not hear him doing that creepy laugh of his when he's that close by."
"He probably did not even realize he was doing it." Russia said with a shake of his head. "Why do you think he was following us?"
"He's been spreading a rumor that we're going out, so he's probably trying to get proof." Alfred said, rummaging through the umbrellas, a frown appearing on his face.
"That," Russia said with a grimace, "is something I never want you to say again."
"Trust me, the feeling is mutual." Alfred muttered. "Damn it! Someone stole my umbrella."
"Ah, that is most unfortunate." Ivan said, glancing at the weather outside. A slush rain was falling.
"Aw man, this sucks." Alfred said angrily. "I just bought that umbrella. Now I have to get another one!" With a huff, he spun around and stormed out the door. "Come on, let's make a run for it. I don't want to be in this weather for too long."
"How did you even know about France spreading a rumor?" Russia asked as he followed Alfred out onto the street, pulling his scarf around his face to block the cold droplets of rain from hitting his face.
"Oh, Lithuania told me." Alfred explained as he put his hood up. "He called me when you and Canada went out."
"Oh?" Russia hummed thoughtfully, glancing down at Alfred. "And what did you two talk about?"
"Mostly about the rumor." Alfred said smoothly, squinting up at Ivan through his now water speckled glasses. "He was telling me how the other nations were reacting to us rooming together."
Ivan sighed as they made their way back towards the bus station. "And how did they react?"
"About how you would think." Alfred said, rolling his eyes. "I hear that they started up a betting pool on how long we can go without killing each other."
"Do you think that they will let us join in?" Ivan asked hopefully. "We could rig it and get all of their money."
"While that's a great idea, I don't think they would let us join, and I think it would be funnier if we pretended that we didn't know anything about it." Alfred said with a chuckle. "We already promised our bosses that we aren't going to beat the living shit out of each other, and I doubt that anyone betted that we would go the whole month without killing each other. No one is going to win."
"I suppose." Ivan agreed, looking a little disappointed.
"I bet China said something about there being bad omens."
"Uh, China and his omens." Ivan groaned. "He will not stop talking about them. Every time we talk, bad omen this, bad omen that. I will cram his bad omens down his throat if he keeps bringing them up anymore."
"To be fair, a lot of bad shit goes down when you show up somewhere."
"Yes, but that is because of me, not some stupid evil spirits." Ivan pouted. "I would like credit for my work."
Alfred busted out laughing. "You're the only guy I know who wants credit for being a bad guy."
"I suppose. I wonder how England feels about the rumor." Ivan said with a chuckle. "He's rather overprotective about you."
"What are you talking about?"Alfred asked, looking up at Russia with a confused frown. "England doesn't give two shits about my love life. And what the hell does England know about love? That old fart probably thinks even looking at anything more than an ankle is a sin against nature."
"I wouldn't say that. He had a thing for that queen of his for awhile. Queen Elizabeth the first I believe. In fact, I heard a rumor that he-"
"STOP!" Alfred said, clamping his hands over his ears. "That's quite enough of that. I don't want to know about his love life! I don't need to know!"
"And you say England is a prude." Ivan said with a chuckle. "You're redder than a tomato."
"Shut up." Alfred huffed, putting his hands back into his coat pockets. "Anyways, England probably doesn't care. It's not like I've ever dated anyone before, and that's likely never going to change."
"You have never…?" Ivan asked slowly, staring at the younger nation in shock. "Not even once?"
Alfred let out a laugh. "Why are you so surprised? Have I ever shown signs of interest for anyone before? I guess you can say that my opinion of romance is the same for both the fictional world and real world. I'm just not into it. I prefer to have friends rather than romantic partners."
"I suppose not." Ivan admitted, studying Alfred. "I thought you would have had someone before. Most of the other nations have."
"Nah, I don't have time for such things." Alfred said with shrug. "I just move around too much and have too much work to do to look for someone."
"I guess that makes sense." Ivan said.
"Plus…" Alfred started to say, but then he paused, frowning at the ground. Ivan noticed that he was avoiding looking at him, and he had a faraway look in his eyes that didn't look match his usual cheery expressions.
"Plus?" Ivan asked, raising an eyebrow at Alfred's hesitance.
Alfred seemed to snap out of it, and grinned up at Ivan. "It's not important. Anyways, what did you mean by over protective?"
"Oh." Ivan said, feeling a twinge of disappointment at Alfred's deflection. "When you were still living with him, he basically threatened the other nations to not come anywhere near you, and he would run a sword through anyone who looked at you wrong."
"Really?" Alfred asked with a small smile. "He never told me that."
"Well, he was like that until you told him to fuck off. Then he practically begged every nation around him to kick your ass."
"Ah, there's the England I know." America chuckled as they made it to the bus stop.
"I remember him asking me to send troops to destroy you." Ivan said with a small smirk. "I did not to piss him off."
"Sounds like something you would do.
"Da, it was very entertaining to see him get attacked by everyone at the time. I was hoping that everyone would destroy each other and that I would take over, but in the end that didn't happen."
"You're a scary dude, you know that?" Alfred said with a raised eyebrow as the bus pulled up to the station.
"I know." Ivan said cheerfully.
_Meanwhile, in Europe_
"WHAT?!" England bellowed into his cell phone. Then England curled into himself as he started to cough violently.
"My friend, you must calm down. Think about your health." France said with a sigh.
"No!" England wheezed. "What on earth do you mean he and Russia are dating?! Have you finally lost your tiny froggy mind?"
"Non, I have not." France huffed. "I have been following them all day, and it is obvious! I have not seen them fight once since I spotted them going into the museum. In fact, they looked to be having fun with each other, and I overheard America call Russia a cutie!"
"Don't be daft, America would rather eat a bar of soap than call Russia cute." England said with a shake of his head.
"I did hear America call him handsome once!"
"When was that?"
"When he first met him. I overheard him asking one of his diplomats who the tall, handsome guy was in the corner."
"Well, that doesn't count." England said with a slight sniff, reaching over to the box of tissues next to his bed and blowing his nose. "That was just America describing him."
"It still counts!" France defended.
"I doubt he even remembers saying that!" England said, rolling his eyes. "You're grasping at straws."
"Is that jealousy I overhear?" France giggled.
"You know bloody well I don't think of him like that, you arse!" England yelled. Then he started coughing again, and with a groan he leaned back against his pillows.
"I was not referring to those feelings."France tsked. "And what did I just say? You're just making your health worse by getting worked up."
"Just talking to you is killing me." England grumbled. "Figures. And no, I am not jealous of their relationship in any way."
"So you aren't going to play the part of the over protective older brother?" France asked in disbelief. "I am shocked!"
"I'm not going to do that because there is no reason to." England said in exasperation. "They aren't dating, so there's nothing to be protective about."
"So if they did start dating, would you threaten Russia?" France asked curiously.
"In the unlikely scenario that they do get together, I will put my sword up to that bastards face and threaten to take his family jewels from him." England said with a hollow laugh.
"How ungentlemanly." France commented.
"I would be getting my point across. So, are you still following them?"
"I am. I am currently in a taxi following their bus."
"You have problems. I'm sure they've noticed you by now, and if they were in a relationship they would be hiding it with you around."
"Ah, but I'm not the only one following them around! I'm just following the bus until my back up arrives!"
"I am afraid to ask, but who did you drag into your weird stalking game?"
"Funny you should ask. I met him at the museum earlier."
_Back in New York_
"Ah, warm air!" Alfred sighed happily as they walked into a small shop.
"You really cannot stand the cold weather, can you?" Ivan asked in amusement as he pulled the door closed behind them.
"Nope," Alfred said cheerfully, chuckling as his glasses fogged up. Pulling them off, he took the edge of his shirt and cleaned them. Russia watched him curiously.
"Why do you wear those?" Ivan asked. "I know for a fact you don't need them."
"Because they're cool!" Alfred laughed as he put his glasses back on. "Plus, I feel like Superman when I wear them! Cause you know, I live a double life and have super-strength and all that jazz."
"Ah, your silly super heroes." Ivan said, shaking his head in amusement. "I had almost forgotten that you were obsessed with them."
"Always and forever." Alfred said with a grin. Then he pulled out a list and a pen out of his jacket pocket and walked towards the merchandise. "Anyways, I need to get started with picking up Christmas decorations and gifts. First things first, what do you want for Christmas?"
"Me?" Ivan asked in surprise.
"No, the rack of coats next to your elbow. Yes you!" Alfred said, rolling his eyes. "Do you really think that I'd let you into my house without getting you anything?"
"Yes."
"Ouch, that actually hurt my feelings."
"You haven't gotten me anything since before the cold war; forgive me for not expecting anything." Ivan pointed out.
"Well, you haven't sent me anything either." Alfred huffed as he examined a box of ordainments shaped like candy canes.
"I suppose not." Ivan sighed, glancing around at the decorations around him. Most of them were very obnoxious looking.
"You didn't answer my question, what do you want?" Alfred asked again, glancing up at Ivan from the box he was holding.
Ivan thought for a moment. "I don't usually receive gifts, except from my sisters. And I do not think I need anything. I am not sure to be honest."
"Nooo!" America groaned, running his hands down his face. "Don't do this."
"What?" Russia asked in confusion. "What am I doing?"
"You're going to be one of those difficult people to shop for aren't you?" Alfred whined.
"Well, if it is making your life more difficult, I guess that I will be."
"You'll get coal and like it with that attitude." America huffed as he shoved the box of fake candy canes in Ivan's hands. "Hold that for me, will you?"
"You are getting these?" Ivan asked in confusion. "They are rather cheap looking."
"I don't care. It's not like anyone other than us is going to see them." Alfred said with a shrug as he browsed some of the other boxes. "If you don't like them go pick something else out. But nothing that's glass."
"Why not?"
"Hero climbs into the tree every year, and knocks the ordainments out of the tree. I don't want to buy something that's just going to break and get glass in my carpet."
"The carpet would soften the fall, would it not?" Ivan asked as he scanned the shelves.
"Not always." Alfred sighed. "Just get something that's hard to break."
"Of course." Ivan said.
They spent a few minutes quietly picking out things, with Alfred handing Ivan box's of small round ordainments of different colors, and Ivan picking out fake snowflakes and icicles.
"I've been meaning to ask you something." Alfred said as he handed Ivan another box.
"Hmm?"
"This thing our boss made us do isn't going to disrupt your Christmas celebrations with your sisters, is it?"
"No, it will not." Russia said with a frown. "I do not usually celebrate until the 7th of January, so it will not ruin those plans. It did ruin my New Years plan though."
"Oh, sorry." Alfred said.
"It is not your fault." Ivan said with a shrug. "And it was only a government ball anyways. I am actually happy that I do not have to attend. They are rather dull, and everyone gets too drunk anyways."
"Well, we should go watch the ball drop." Alfred offered. "I go every year, and sometimes my bro joins me if he doesn't have any plans. I'm afraid it still has drunk people attending, but the atmosphere is much livelier."
"I wouldn't say no. But only if there is vodka involved." Ivan said with a small smirk.
"You'll have to get your vodka then." Alfred said as they made their way over to the next aisle. "Anyways, what should I get the others?" Alfred asked with a frown as he looked at his list of names.
"Who is on your list?" Ivan asked as he grabbed a nearby shopping cart and put the ordainments into it.
"I still need to get Italy, Germany, England, and Finland something."
"Get Finland a sweater."
"But he always gets sweaters!" Alfred protested. "I'm sure when he opens his closet he gets buried in them.
"But he likes them."
"And I like hoodies, but I don't need a hundred of them!"
"Heavy metal music?"
"He probably has every heavy metal band's music already."
"I highly doubt that."
"No, I'm pretty sure about that. I overheard Denmark complaining that he couldn't find any CD's Finland didn't already have."
"What about sauna supplies?"
"Oh yeah, I forgot that he likes those!" Alfred said happily, scribbling down a note next to Finland's name. "What do people bring to saunas?"
"I do not know. I do not like them." Ivan admitted. "They are too hot for my liking."
"I guess I could get him some shower stuff and towels." Alfred said with an unsure frown. "I think you have to take a shower before you get in them, so that could be helpful." Walking down another aisle with soap products, he looked around at all the different soaps and shampoos with a helpless expression. "Uh…"
"What is the problem?" Ivan asked.
"Well, there are a lot of different scents to pick from, and I don't know what he likes. What should I get him?"
"Well, seeing it is a Christmas gift, why don't you get him some peppermint scented things?" Ivan said as he pointed at a few bottles.
"Nah, everyone's sick of peppermint stuff by the time New Year's rolls around." Alfred said with a shake of his head. "I was thinking one of those all in one bottles in green apple or strawberry."
"All in one?"
"Yeah, you know. Like its shampoo, conditioner, and body wash all in one."
"That sounds impractical." Ivan scoffed. "How can you have shampoo and conditioner in one bottle? You have to use those separately for them to work."
"No you don't." Alfred said. "I've been using two in one for ages and it's always worked well for me."
"But how do you get your hair soft?" Ivan asked in irritation. "Wouldn't the conditioner get washed out due to the shampoo?" Then Ivan leaned over and patted America's head. "As I thought, your hair is not very soft."
"It doesn't need to be soft, it just needs to be clean!" Alfred huffed, pushing Ivan's hand off his head. "And stop touching me! You've been very touch happy today, it's getting annoying."
"But you have such fun reactions. And I stand by what I said. Separate bottles are better." Ivan said with a smirk, poking Alfred's side, making Alfred jump away from Ivan with a yelp.
"Quit that!" Alfred snapped, swatting at Ivan's hand.
"Not until you agree with me." Ivan said with a grin, quickly poking Alfred's other side. Alfred ran behind the shopping cart, glowering at Ivan. Snatching one of the ordainment boxes, he held it above his head. "I swear, if you don't cut that out I will throw these snowflakes at your face."
"You are no fun." Ivan giggled as he grabbed two bottles and put them into the cart. "And you should get two separate ones."
"Whatever, just stop poking me." Alfred huffed as he threw the snowflakes back into the cart. After picking out a few more things, Alfred looked back down at his list. "Okay, I need to pick something up for England next."
"How about a cook book?"
"Good god man, are you trying to kill us all?" Alfred asked, his face going pale. "I want to live to see the next century you know."
"I was talking about a baking book." Ivan explained. "Not everything England makes is bad you know. He's good at those tea snacks of his."
"Oh yeah." America said with a frown. "It's been awhile since he's invited me over, and he never takes his tea with me around, so I forgot. I think he's afraid it's going to offend me or something."
"Don't you like sweet tea?" Ivan asked. "Why doesn't he make you that?"
"He never makes it right." Alfred said with a scowl. "For a known tea lover, he sure sucks at understanding that you need to let sugar dissolve before you chill it. The sweet tea he makes is like drinking pure sugar. It's gross."
"Why don't you drink hot tea?"
"I mean…" Alfred said, glancing around them unsurely, "It's not terrible, but everyone just assumes that I don't like it because of that whole Boston tea party thing. I actually do like tea, it's just no one offers me any and anytime I do try to make it everyone overreacts. Just don't tell anyone, or else they'll lose their minds and England will start crying."
"Why would England start crying?" Russia asked with a confused frown.
"Because it used to be my favorite drink before the revolution. Especially the tea he made." Alfred said with a sigh. "I would never tell him now, but I kind of miss it sometimes. But like I said, he hasn't offered me a cup of tea in years, unless you count the times he's poured it over my head."
"Why not buy him some tea with the cook book then. You could ask him to make you a cup then."
"NO!" Alfred yelled in a panic, his eyes filling with terror. He heard nearby people go quiet and turning to stare at them, and he quietly grabbed Ivan's sleeve and dragged him to the closest empty isle. "No." Alfred said more calmly, but Ivan noticed that his hands were shaking slightly. "No, that wouldn't work. Just… can we stop talking about this?"
"Da…" Ivan agreed, studying the younger nation with a slightly concerned frown.
Alfred noticed he was still holding Ivan's sleeve, and he retracted his hand from it like he had been burned. "Sorry." Alfred said with a shaky laugh. "Hey, why don't we focus on Italy now? I'll go get England a cookbook later."
"How about pasta?" Ivan asked.
"I'm sure he would like that, but that's too predictable." Alfred said with a slight shake of his head. "I really wanted to get him and his brother a couple of bottles of California wine, but I'm too young to buy it."
"I could buy it for you." Ivan offered.
"You would walk into a liquor store to buy wine and not vodka?" Alfred said with an amused scoff. "Yeah, that wouldn't stir up some panic. China might start telling the rest of the world that we're all doomed."
"I never said that I would not be buying vodka as well." Ivan said with a chuckle.
"Normally, I would say that would work, but Italy and Romano don't like cheaper wine, and it would it insult them if I got them anything but my best stock. And we can't buy the wine in this store anyways." Alfred said with a small smirk. "Have you ever heard of Screaming Eagle Winery?"
"I have not, but I do think the name suits you."
"Let's just say that they make some of the most expensive and arguably best wine in my country. Not to mention that you have to sign up on a waiting list for about a decade before you can even buy it. Luckily, I did sign up years ago, and it should be shipped to me before my Christmas party. Unluckily for me, it's being sent to my California house. So it's most likely going to be stuck there until after New Years."
"But this is New York. Surely you can buy it somewhere?" Ivan asked.
"Yeah, about that." Alfred said with a slight grimace. "The problem is that the only way to get that brand is to either go to eat at one of the most expensive restaurants in the city, or somehow find someone who would willingly sell it to you at a raised price. And by raised price I mean 'Holy shit that costs more than my soul' kind of raised price."
"Why not get the brothers something slightly cheaper and easier to get?"
"Didn't you hear me?" Alfred asked with a huff, walking over to a display of fake Christmas trees. "They want nothing but my best. Not to mention that I'm a new comer to the wine thing. It's only been a few decades since my wine has gotten any kind of recognition from the world, and the Italian brothers have been involved in the process for hundreds of years. Ever since that wine tasting thing in 1976 all of Europe has expected me to serve them nothing but the best. Hell, France tried to take my head for my wine winning over his, he was so mad. It would be kind of embarrassing to offer them anything less now."
"I see." Ivan said with a nod. "When did you want to get the wine?"
"As soon as possible." America said, studying the price tags in front of him. "I need to get it before it's sold out. It doesn't take long for collectors to get their hands on the bottles, and they usually make good Christmas presents for the rich."
"And do you know a good restaurant that serves it?" Ivan asked thoughtfully.
"Yeah, a few. Why?" Alfred asked.
"Why don't we go out to dinner tonight? We could order two bottles and have a nice meal at the same time." Ivan suggested. Alfred whipped around and looked at Ivan like he had two heads.
"What?!" Alfred asked, his mouth hanging open. "Do you have any freaking idea how hard it is to get into those kind of restaurants?! I don't own anything nice enough to wear to a dinner like that! Not to mention that I would be dropping thousands of dollars by doing that, and may I remind you I'm not old enough to order alcohol?!"
"I would order the wine." Ivan said with a slight shrug. "And I have connections here, I could get us in tonight."
"Connections in New York?!" Alfred asked in disbelief. "With who, may I ask?"
"The Russian mafia. I am sure they could pull some strings for me. They owe me a few favors anyway."
"Of course you would have connections to them." Alfred said with a slight eye twitch. "And of course they would. You know what? I don't even want to know. Sure, why not!" He said, throwing his hands up in defeat. "What could go wrong? Might as well get them to drive us there as well while you're at it."
"I can arrange that."
"I was being sarcastic!" Alfred shouted, throwing a box of ordainments at Ivan's head, which he dodged easily. "No way in hell you're inviting them to my front door! If my government ever caught wind of what we are talking about right now they'd probably have a heart attack."
"I was only trying to be helpful." Ivan said defensively as he picked up the thrown box. "And keep your voice down."
"Yeah, yeah." Alfred grumbled. "But that still doesn't mean I own a nice suit."
"You do not have an appropriate suit?" Ivan asked.
"I don't exactly like suits. The only time I wear something nice is when I go to the world conference, and that's a work suit. I don't have anything fancy to wear to dinner with me right now! I wasn't expecting us to go to dinner like that." Alfred argued. "Do you even have a suit ready for an expensive dinner?
"Da, I do."
"Why?" Alfred asked in disbelief.
"You can never be too prepared." Ivan said with a shrug.
"Okay, you know what? Fine. Why not, I have nothing planned for tonight. We'll have to stop by a suit shop after we're done here, but why not?! This won't come back to bite us in the ass in any way! But don't come crying to me when my government swoops in and chews us out because of this crazy plan. If they even get a whiff of what we're up too we're both going to be in trouble. The only reason I'm doing this is because Italy has been hinting about that wine for years now, and I really want those bottles."
"Excellent." Ivan said with a large smile. "Have you picked out a tree yet?"
"No, because I've been arguing with you for the last few minutes!" Alfred took a deep breath, and turned back to face the trees. "You know what, that one will do." Alfred said as he pointed at the nearest box. "If you grab that one, we can go. I don't even want to be here anymore. If I keep talking to you, you're going to make me want to blow up the moon again."
"You were so close too." Ivan said with a disappointed sigh, picking up the box and following the steaming American to the check out. "Such a shame."
As they walked down the aisle arguing, Japan came out from behind one of the shelves with a frown. He hadn't expected America to agree to dinner with Russia so quickly. Although, if America had really wanted those bottles so bad it made sense. He narrowed his eyes as he watched Russia poke America again, making the younger nation yell at him. He was sure Russia was up to something, but he didn't know what just yet. But Russia never did anything without a reason, and he was sure his friend was going to suffer for it. No, this would not do. Not at all.
Japan pulled out his cell phone and shot France a quick text about what was going on, and then slipped out a side door, pulling his hood over his head and covering his face with a scarf. He was confident he hadn't been spotted yet, but he couldn't take the front door just in case they spotted him. He didn't want to be spotted by America just yet. However, he did want to confront Russia. He would wait until Russia was alone before reveling himself, get the answers he wanted, and let Russia know that he had his eyes on him. All he had to do was wait.
_LineBreak_
"Oh, Japan has texted me!" France said excitedly, pulling out his phone and reading over the text message eagerly.
"What's he said?" Canada asked curiously from the other end of the couch, where he had been reading. They were currently in France's hotel room.
"He says that Russia has asked America out to dinner at a fancy restaurant and that America has agreed!" France exclaimed, jumping up from the chair he had been sitting in and giggling madly. "This is it! This is when I get my proof! They are going on a date!" As France ran out of the room and towards his bedroom, Canada sighed. Oh dear, France was at it again.
"Did he actually say it was a date?" Canada yelled over the banging in France's room.
"Non, but what else could it be?!" France asked with a huff, sticking his head out his doorway. "A friendly meal?! Non! If that were the case, America would have taken him to one of his favorite diners!"
"How will you even follow them?" Canada asked in exasperation as France's head was pulled back into the bedroom. "If it is an expensive place to eat it would hard for you to get in."
"Silly boy! I am Francis Bonnefoy! I am a well know critic! Any restaurant in New York would let me eat there in a heartbeat!" France said with a smirk as he walked out of his room holding a small camera and a dress suit.
"And if they spot you they'll probably get annoyed." Canada said with a shake of his head.
"Personal safety means nothing if it means I get the evidence I need!" France practically sung. "I will prove everyone wrong, just you see!"
"Do you even know which restaurant they're going to?"
"Japan is working on that!" France said with a wave of hand.
"Did you tell England yet?" Canada asked curiously.
"I have not! But he said I was wrong, so he most likely wouldn't believe me if I told him. Non, I will wait until I have my proof." France said with a wide grin.
"Good luck with that." Canada said with a shake of his head, and went back to reading his book.
Just then, France's phone binged. Looking down at his text, France gasped. "Oh my! America and Russia are heading to a suit shop! This is getting serious!"
"Really?" Canada asked in a bored tone.
"I must get ready immediately! I have to be ready at a moment's notice!" And with that, France raced back into his room.
A/N: Things are starting to pick up! And I'll be adding more and more nations as they world meeting date approaches. What will Japan do?! What will France do?! What will happen with Russia and America?! What is the rest of the world thinking?! Find out next chapter! Comments welcome!