Two Can Keep A Secret

Chapter 26: A Fathers Plight

"We're killing him. Objections?"

"None."

"Just what I like to hear."

-

Arthur sighed as he placed his phone down on the table, contemplating whether or not he'd gone insane.

It had been an average day. He woke up, drank some tea, read the news. Ate lunch, paperwork, then drank some more tea.

Eventually, he had picked up his phone, irritated by the amount of loud 'pings!' disturbing his quiet time. When he finally opened the source of the noise and laid his eyes upon the picture posted, he spat out his tea in shock.

So now here he sat, head in his hands, rooibos down his shirt and wondering where, excatly, he went wrong.

It's not to say he wasn't happy for Alfred. He was! It's just... He's really questioning Alfred's taste in men. It's no secret that Russia scares the absolute fuck out of Arthur. So to see his son, the personification of the United States of America, hold hands on a date with Russia?

It unsettled him.

But not so much as it frustrated him.

Despite not wanting to, Arthur remembers the revolution. And he could recall just how close they were during that time period. Thus, when he saw the photo, his first thought wasn't to deny its truth.

Instead, his first thought was,

'How in the hell am I supposed to shovel talk Russia of all nations??'

-

"Vanya?"

Alfred asks, slowly opening his eyes to peer up at Ivan. They now lay on the couch, Alfred resting on Ivan's chest. He marveled silently at it's softness, and Alfred could tell by his red face he didn't mind.

"Da, my Sunflower?"

Ivan replies, an eyebrow raised. Both were content to stay in each others arms, lazing about in the post confession bliss. Alas, things had to be done.

"You do know my children are on that groupchat? Just hidden?"

Alfred giggles childishly at the look of confusion on Ivan's face. After a few minutes, he sees understanding dawn on him. He goes a few shades paler too, but who's to say that wasn't a trick of the light?

"Oh."

Alfred full on laughs at this, and Ivan groans as he playfully pushes his face away from him.

"Do not laugh at me. Not only do I have to deal with 50 plus murderous children coming after me, I also have to deal with your brother. I am in peril, I say. PERIL, Fredka!"

Alfred just continues to wheeze, leaning his head on Ivan's shoulder as he shakes in laughter. Ivan sighs, but can't help it and places a tentative kiss on Alfred's forehead. Alfreds chuckles have calmed down now, and he just hums into Ivans chest.

They lay in silence for a few minutes longer, enjoying the warmth.

"Mattie isn't really that bad you know."

"Da. And I wasn't threatened to have a hockey stick shoved up my-"

"Okay okay! He.. might be slightly unhinged."

"That's an understatement."

"Very unhinged?"

"When it comes to you."

"Like you, Vanya?"

A fond sigh.

"Very much so, darling."

Alfred chuckles lightly, a soft blush on his face. He still wasn't used to all the loving nicknames, but they were slowly growing on him.

Suddenly, he lets out a groan. Ivan eyes him with concern as he basically tries to suffocate himself in his chest.

"Something wrong?"

"I'm going to have to do so much paperwork when keeping you away from the states."

Alfred mutters, voice muffled from the fabric of his Ivan's shirt. In response, Ivan hesitantly asks,

"Why is that, exactly?"

Alfred drags his head up, giving Ivan a deadpanned look.

"Half of my work is caused by them blowing up buildings, lighting each other on fire, fist fighting politicians and throwing people out of windows. Can you imagine what they'll do if they get a hold of you?"

Ivan's silence speaks volumes.

"Yep. My awesome heroicness will not be enough to save you from their wrath, I'm afraid."

Ivan groans, and Alfred gives an uplifting smile.

"Hey, it's not all that bad. We've still got a few days until the next meeting, and the states have theirs pretty soon, so they'll be pretty busy."

Ivan can hear the excitement in Alfred's voice, and he can feel himself start to grin at the infectious energy.

"Which means?"

"I'm taking you out on a date!"

-

In a building many miles away, a pale lady grips her phone with a frighteningly tight hold, eventually cracking the screen. The broken pieces fall to the floor, clattering in the silence.

She grits her teeth as she seethes, rage boiling off of her in waves. Her screams of pure, unfiltered anger is heard all across Europe.

-

Heyyoo. Bit earlier post than usual, I've got a busy day tmr. My friends coming over for a sleepover!! Honestly I can't wait to skinder with her about stuff. Yoh it's been awhile. Anyways, that's it for now. Hope you enjoyed! Goeiemorê, middag, aand of nag!