Ex's to Lovers

Chapter 23

In Which Alfred Misreads The Situation And Panics

Natalya hesitated, then spoke quickly, in a rushed, sharp tone.

"My brother likes flowers. Especially sunflowers. You should bring some next time." 

Alfred stared at Natalya in shock, a terrifying suspicion beginning to take root in his head. To his relief, he was saved a response by the sudden arrival of Ivan back home. Ivan froze in the doorway, still shrugging off his hoodie, clearly not expecting to see Alfred reclining at the kitchen table with his younger sister as though he'd belonged there. He was even less expecting Alfred to shoot out of the hair, and grab his wrist with a cry of

"Ivan! Thank God you're back!"

before hauling him away up the stairs. In fact, Ivan was so shocked he didn't even protest being pulled along, nor did he notice Natalya's satisfied smirk. 

By the time Ivan found himself in his own bedroom, and began to come to his senses - though he still hadn't decided if he was angry, confused, or maybe just a little bit happy, -  he turned to glare at Alfred and possibly offer him a friendly threat,  but Alfred cut him off first. 

Dude." Alfred whispered in a growing horror to Ivan, "I think your sister has a crush on me!"

Ivan looked at Alfred as though he was stupid, or crazy, or both. Sensing his rival's disbelief, Alfred hurriedly explained.

"She didn't kill me even though she thinks we broke up, she's always helping me out, and she told me to bring sunflowers next time I come!"

Ivan continued to stare at Alfred as though he had two heads, realizing the depth of Alfred's denseness for what was sadly not the first time. Ivan opened his mouth and spoke in a bewildered tone.

"You think... Natalya likes you? "

Alfred nodded seriously, on the verge of tears and Ivan stared at him in awe. He was beginning to wonder how Alfred even managed to become his rival when he was so dense. Alfred was continuing to ramble, getting more and more stressed sounding as he did.

"I don't even like Natalya! But I can't turn her down! I'm not ready to die yet! I don't even have a will! Oh my god, what do I do if that phsyco gets me?"

"Hey,"

 Ivan warned, not necessarily because he disagreed that his sister was a phsyco, but more because he was her brother and he'd be dammed if he let anyone talk about his sister that way,

"She is my little sister."

Alfred, realizing he'd crossed a line, deflated a little, muttering a half-hearted apology under his breath. Alfred, without asking Ivan's permission, threw himself on Ivan's unmade bed, still looking very concerned about Natalya's supposed new crush, and Ivan sighed deeply. Truthfully, Ivan was actually quite enjoying Alfred's panic, and if it hadn't been his sister, if his instincts weren't telling him that leaving the situation alone would definitely end badly, If Alfred didn't look like he was probably going to do something stupid... Ivan may have just let the misunderstanding be.

"My sister does not have a crush on you."

Ivan said the words with a finality that left no room to argue, although Alfred still looked somewhat inclined to, but Alfred kept his mouth shut when Ivan gave him a cold stare. For a moment, there was an awkward silence. Given the time to think, Ivan soon realized he had no idea why Alfred had been in house to start with, before he'd decided Natalya had a crush on him. Ivan posed the question to Alfred suspiciously.

"Why are you here?"

Alfred gave him a look like a deer caught in headlights, and Ivan groaned internally, knowing that wasn't a good sign.