Two Can Keep A Secret

Chapter 10: The Continuation

"What do you mean another war crime??"

"Alfred?"

"Alfred answer me please don't just leave me on that-"

-

After that disaster of a chat, which led to Alfred out of breath, cackling and Ivan two shades paler looking like he swallowed a lemon, things eventually calmed down.

They talked long into the afternoon, laughter and conversation flowing easily throughout the hours. Sadly, all good things have to come to and end, and they made their way to the exit.

"It's still raining?"

Alfred ponders out loud, watching the droplets fall from the sky.

"It seems to have been going on for quite a while."

Ivan agrees, looking up with him. A cold breeze flows by as they step out of the door and under the canopy. Alfred shivers, gripping his blue umbrella hard. As he turns to Ivan to ask a question, he suddenly notices something.

"Ivan, wheres your umbrella?"

Ivan freezes, then looks back down to Alfred.

"It wasn't exactly raining when I first came here, Alfred. I didn't think I'd need one."

Alfred hums, watching him contently. Feeling slightly awkward, Ivan averts his gaze, hand going to tug his scarf up to cover the lower half of his face.

"No, don't do that!"

Alfred admonished, swatting his hand away insistently. This, unsurprisingly, startles the absolute shit out of Ivan, who just stares down in shock. Alfred also seemed a bit unnerved at his reaction, quickly whipping his hand away.

"Sorry, it's just.. I barely see your face in a good light enough as it is. With the scarf covering it, kinda brings down the whole point, y'know?"

Alfred awkwardly explains his half-assed answer, scratching the back of his head while leaning on his umbrella.

The silence stretches on, and Alfred starts to get nervous.

'Shit, I probably freaked him out.'

Just as Alfred looks to him to apologise, he stops.

Ivan's face is blood red, and if he concentrated, Alfred swears he could see steam coming out of his ears.

"Woah woah woah, are you okay?? I'm so sorry, was that too much?"

Alfred frets, stepping closer to Ivan with worry evident on his face. He snaps out of whatever daze Alfred's word held him in, before stuttering a response,

"N-no, it's f-fine! Just, the wind is chilly with all the rain."

Ivan inwardly winces with his terrible excuse. Alfred looks skeptical, but seems to buy it (if only for Ivans sake).

"Hey, since you forgot your umbrella, why don't you come to my place?"

Alfred suggests out of the blue.

"I don't want you getting sick, if your starting to get red just from this breeze!"

Ivan ponders his cheery suggestion, before lightly shrugging.

"Da, alright. I wasn't going to be doing anything after this anyways."

Alfred brightens, his eyes lighting up and a smile on his face. He pauses, then,

"Can you hold the umbrella, though? Despite hating having to admit it, you are taller than me."

Ivan chuckles at his small pout, before taking the umbrella out of his hands. He goes to open it, before Alfred stops him.

"Hey hey hey, do that once we step out into the rain!"

Ivan looks at him in confusion, a raised eyebrow screaming 'what for??'

"It's bad luck, remember? Never open an umbrella inside a room! That applies to roofs too!"

Ivan sighs in fond exasperation, before staying with a chuckle,

"You silly Americans, where you get that from I have no idea."

Alfred immediately starts to protest, indignantly protecting his people while Ivan just shakes his head and laughs.

Eventually, they step out into the rain, Ivan opening the umbrella over their heads. Ivan is startled when Alfred links his right arm in his left, looking down at hike curiously.

"I've gotta lead you to my house like the hero I am yeah? So, in order to not loose you, I'll direct you like this!"

He states proudly, inwardly ignoring the pink tint to his face.

'Shut up feelings, now is not the time!'

Ivan seems to relax, tension bleeding out of his shoulders. They stand there in the rain for a while, just taking in the world around them. They bask in the calm, the sound of the rain soothing.

Eventually, Alfred steps forward and starts leading Ivan to his apartment. They converse continuously on the way there, their laughs able to be heard over the rain to passer-bys.

But, during all the hours spent in the Café, Alfred forgot his phone at his home. This, sadly, would lead to unforseen consequences.

Such as:

30+ missed calls from My Child (1) & others

-

Heyooo! Sorry this is so late, I legitimately forgot if I had to update today or tomorrow lmao. Asked Darina (lifesaver) and she double checked for me. My brain has been sooo scattered lately, studying is the absolute worst. ESPECIALLY. EMS. (Economic management sciences) God, I thought maths was hard, but dealing with the CRJ and CPJ too? Absolute hell, I tell you. Anyways, Goeiemorê, aand, middag of nag!