Two Can Keep A Secret

Chapter 8: The Quaint Café

'Maybe this will distract me from my impending doom.'

Spoiler alert, it didn't.

-

Alfred groans, his head slamming into the table. He'd been sitting in the workroom for what seems like days, despite it being only a few hours. He glances at the clock, the ticking sound mocking his existence with how slowly the hand moves.

As he rubs his aching temple, he looses himself in his thoughts. Mainly, regarding that of a certain russian.
Alfred, despite the long hours of paperwork, could not get his mind off of him. Especially regarding the fact he told Alfred his name.

Not even in the time before, when the cold war was but a whisper in the air and their alliance held strong. When their friendship was lasting, no thoughts of betrayal even dreamt of.

Alfred shakes his head.

'Best not to go too far back.'

He sighs, the rustling of paper disturbing his remembrance. He glances down to the loosely held pen in his hand, grimacing at his continuously worsening handwriting. Alfred looks mournfully at the stack of paperwork left, almost going past his head.

'This is getting me nowhere. Seriously, all this thinking of Ru-.. Ivan.. has clouded my mind.'

Frustrated, he picks up the nearest piece of likely important government work and angrily crumples it, throwing it towards the door. It falls pathetically to the floor.

'So what if he revealed his name to me? He probably does that for every country he's tried to be friends with!'

He makes sure to push down the small thought in the back of his head that says,'But even his sisters call him by his country name, so what does that mean for me?'

'So what if his stupid little smile always gets my attention, it's likely a ploy to get me to like him better!'

But when fighting with himself and this thought comes across his mind, he stops. Guiltily, he admits,

'No, that's not it. Ivan, he..'

He sighs.

'He's actually making the effort to get to know me, my states.'

And despite their decades long differences, Alfred can't help but commend him for that. Even after all the time that's passed between them, all the fights, he still seeks a way to mend their friendship.

Alfred, deep down, knows he's missed him. He was, despite not wanting to admit it, lonely, without Ivan.

'He was my closest friend for years, it's no surprise I missed him..'

He grumbles to himself,

'Not like I have many friends either.'

And it was true. Despite popular belief, America considers everyone his friend. But Alfred, only a select few. His brother, Canada, being one of them.

Alfred rapidly pales as he thinks of Matthew.

'Ooohhhh shit. What's Mattie gonna do when he finds out? He was there when our friendship broke, and that look promised murder..'

He grimaces, his brothers not-so-innocent face flashing across his mind.

'Yep, best to keep it on the downlow before Mr war-crime committer finds him.'

Alfred stands from his chair, stretching his arms above his head and cracking his back with a relieved sigh. He walks towards the door, making multiple plans to prevent Ivan's inevitable run in with Matthew. If he isn't there when he does, well.. Alfred can only pray for him at that point.

A quiet ding of notification came from his phone, and he opens it to see who it was.

A simple message from Ivan, always one to be punctual, says,

Ivan:

Coffee near your place?

Quickly tapping a reply, he sends him a location of a quaint café near his house with a huff of amusement. Quickly, he rushes to get dressed into something neater and worthy of being seen in.

He doesn't even realise, in all his excitement, that he'd been smiling the whole way through.

-

Ivan's pov:

Ivan glances at his outfit in the mirror, nitpicking any detail he finds unsatisfactory.

He grumbles to himself, tugging his scarf over his mouth again to hide the slight tint of pink. Who knew the great and scary Russia would be worried about something as simple as his outfit?

Glancing at the clock on the hotel room wall, he dusts himself off before leaving the building. On his way to the Café, he can't help but worry.

'What if I mess things up? I've been lonely for so long, I don't think I can bear it for another few decades..

His thoughts are cut off as he arrives at the coffee shop, pushing open the door and hearing the small bell jingle. He looks around, not yet spotting Amer-.. Alfred. Not yet spotting Alfred, he finds himself a seat in the comfy café, tension melting out of his shoulders with the calm atmosphere.

It was small, able to fit only a few tables and chairs, the miniature kitchen and food display taking up about a third of the available space.

As Ivan continues to observe the quaint café, he almost misses the bell ringing, announcing the arrival of a new person. He perks up, turning towards the door. His breath catches in his throat. Standing in the doorway, shaking off his umbrella (when had it started raining?) was Alfred.

The drops of water made his hair shine like gold in the cafés lighting, his storm blue eyes gazing around the room until they landed on Ivan.

Alfred seemed to light up, and Ivan's fears disappeared. As Alfred rushed over to his table, a massive smile on his face, all Ivan could think was,

'I can't wait to get to know you again, Sunflower.'

-

Heyooo! As an apology for the longer absence, you get a longer chapter! Yoh, writers block really hits hard when you want to write long. Anyways, a special thanks to one of my best friends, Darina, who's been not only supporting my writing, but also sorta beta-ing it? She's one of the main reason I continue writing, with how excitedly she waits for another chapter lol. Aaanywho, Goeie môre, middag, aand of nag!