Two Can Keep A Secret

Chapter 20: A Kitchen filled with Sound

Taking in a deep breath, Alfred turns the knob, and steps inside.

-

It's silent when the door creaks closed, which doesn't surprise Alfred. Ivan always made very little sound, it being one of the reasons he creeped out the other nations.

Alfred hesitantly walks down the hallway, through he tries not to let it show.

'Damn, I am going to have a hard time hiding this. Just play it cool Alfred, you'll be fine.'

He sighs as he enters the kitchen, pointedly ignoring the empty chair where Ivan should be. Although it worries him, he knows Ivan will hear him busy and come calling.

Slowly, Alfred prepares the kitchen, bringing out eggs and buttering the pan. Cracking open the eggs over the pan, he grabs a spatula. Once he's scrambled them, he starts to fry the bacon on a different pan. It takes a few minutes or so, but eventually Alfred manages to prepare a plate of breakfast for Ivan (and maybe some extra pieces of bacon for him).

"Hey Ivan! Come to the kitchen, I've got something for you!"

Alfred calls out, setting out two glasses of orange juice on the table. He perks up as he hears Ivan's heavy footsteps approaching, a giddy smile growing on his face.

He quickly clears his throat as Ivan enters the kitchen, tall frame blocking the light from the hallway. Alfred's gaze follows him as he sits down, and locks eyes with him. Alfred notes his face has a slight redness to it, which wasn't there before.

"All this for me, Fredka?"

Ivan chuckles, and Alfred is entranced by the sound. Shaking himself out of it, he sits down next to him as he sips his drink.

"Anything for a friend! I can't just let you leave my house hungry, can I?"

That reminds him. Ivan will have to leave soon, if only to go back to his country for a week until the next meeting. That line of thought quickly put a damper on his mood, though he tried not to let it show.

"About that.."

Ivan hesitates, and instantly Alfred is put on guard. He places a hand on his shoulder, and when he doesn't notice any resistance, squeezes it lightly. Ivan seems to relax, while Alfred's thoughts are like that of a hurricanes.

'Shit is everything alright? I haven't heard anything from my government about war, nor anything about Russia in particular. I hope it isn't serious.'

"Would it be alright if I stay longer?"

Alfreds mind screeched to a halt.

'...Huh?'

Taking Alfred's silence as rejection, Ivan quickly hurries on to explain himself,

"My flight back has been cancelled, I just got the call. They say a storms coming in, and I won't be able to rebook for the next week."

As Alfred continues to not respond, Ivan gives a sad sigh.

"I can leave now, if you are uncomfortable-"

"NO!"

They both sit and stare at the other in shock, not expecting the outburst. Alfred clears his throat awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck with a blush creeping up his neck.

"I'd actually like it a lot more if you stayed. Please?"

Alfred askes with an awkward smile on his face, big blue eyes wide open. The sadness leaks out of Ivan, and he chuckles softly.

"Thank you, Alfred."

'AHHHH OH MY GOD HES STAYING IN MY HOUSE FOR LONGER FUCK YEAHHHH!!!'

Ofcourse, Alfred kept that to himself, and schooled his voice to keep the overwhelming joy from leaking out.

"Not a problem-o dude! Can't wait to see what mischief we can get up to!"

Alfred giggles, leaning on Ivan's side. He tenses up, but slowly relaxed.

'SCORE! Hes okay with this!'

They proceed to chat for an hour or so, while Ivan finishes up breakfast. His face has a permanent blush on it, no matter how small. Alfred, being the oblivious fuck that he is, does not notice that. How he can initiate physical contact yet not notice the affect it has on said person, is just plain baffling.

Eventually, it came to an end, and Ivan stood up to put his dishes away. While he did that, Alfred pulled out his phone to check his messages.

He winces at the amount of texts on the Tired Dad™ + 50 Small Fuckers groupchat, and he can only sigh in annoyance.

"Are you okay, Fredka?"

Alfred startles at the voice behind him, fumbling for his phone as it drops out of his hands. Ivans hand whips out, catching and handing it to him.

Alfred stares wide eyed, amazed at those quick reflexs.

'That was hot..'

This American is so goddamn down bad it's making ME cringe.

"T-thanks, Ivan."

Ivan raises an eyebrow to the stuttered response, but shrugs and nods. Alfred clutches his phone as he types response after response to his children, before pocketing his phone and turning to Ivan.

"I'm gonna clean up the kitchen (again), mind if I put the radio on?"

"I don't mind."

Ivan settles back on the stool, leaning on the table as he watches Alfred clean the kitchen, occasionally humming and dancing with the beat. Eventually, a song comes on that makes both of them stop in shock.

"It takes a certain kind of man with a certain reputation,"

Both Alfred and Ivan burst into laughter, Alfred folding over clutching his stomach as he cackles. Ivan hides his face I'm his scarf, snorts escaping him.

Alfred manages to reel his laughter in, before grabbing Ivans hand and pulling him up.

"Cmon, dance with me!"

Ivan agrees with a laugh, both dancing around the kitchen as the song progresses.

"Party like a russian!"

They sing out in glee, smiles mirroring the others. Alfreds voice overpowers Ivan's, but he can still hear it in the undertones. They continue to flit across the kitchen, laughter ringing through the house. For the duration of the song, their eyes had never left eachother, as if lost in the wide expanse of colour.

They stood, out of breath, but feeling better than they had in centuries as the song and dance-off came to a close.

"I have to admit, you were good, but I was obviously the better dancer!"

Alfred brags, dragging a hand through his now sweaty hair. Ivan chuckles, equally as warm, while rolling his eyes.

"If you say so, little American."

Alfred's nose scrunches up, eyes narrowing in a playful glare.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"

Ivan just smiles, and walks away to the living room. Alfred follows him, voice increasing in volume,

"Answer me Ivan!"

"And what's with 'little american'? I am NOT little!"

"Ivaaannn!"

-

Heyooo! Exciting news, this story is #1 on the rusame tag! WTF. I literally could not believe it holy hell. Couldn't have done it without you guys <3. Thanks for 3k+ reads!!! Damn, y'all are the best frfr. Anyways, thanks for reading today's chapter, see y'all on Wednesday (my time)
Goeiemorê, middag, aand of nag!