America didn't think this would ever happen. And really, letting his best kept secret out to Russia, of all nations? America thinks this has to be one of his dumbest moments yet.
Will Russia and America's newly built Friendship survive the hardship...
What neither notice, however, is the multiple pairs of eyes peering through the window.
-
Ivan wakes slowly, but not to Alfred's warmth next to him. No, be wakes to whispers, murmers, and rough rope digging into his sides. Instantly, he's put on alert, though he tries to not let it show.
He breathes deeply, trying to mimic the state of sleep. While he does so, he strains his ears trying to listen to the voices around him.
"..can't let him-"
"-ouldve killed when we had-"
"..dad.."
"..wake him?"
"No choice-"
Ivan is in serious trouble. From the sounds of things, these people meant trouble. Discussing murder and killing right in front of him?
Does not matter. Ivan is Russia, and he easily has the strength to rip himself out of these ropes.
Just as he flexes his hands, a voice speaks directly to him.
"We're gonna have to stop you right there, commie."
...commie? Alfred? No, Alfred stopped calling him that long time ago. He opens his eyes, wincing slightly at the bright lights shining directly into his face. Once his vision focuses, Ivan notes with slight amusement and horror that he's surrounded. By 50 teenagers, almost all emitting an aura similar to Alfred's during ww2.
'Hm. So these are the rest of his states. They look much different in person.'
He's brought out of his musing when a boy steps forward, cracking his knuckles. Ivan almost lets the shock show on his face when he realises who, excatly, this state is.
"Mhm, recognise me do you?"
Alaska growls under his breath. Ivan nods, trying to act uncaring and unbothered. He can tell they see through him, a hundred eyes on him. He won't let them get to him.
"Da."
Alaska quirks a brow, though the irritated look stays. He siblings are quiet behind him.
"And do you know why you're here?"
Ivan chuckles, resisting the urge to kol-kol as he knows it won't work on them.
"Nyet, I do not know why I have been kidnapped."
Ivan feigns ignorance with a smile. This, evidently, irritates the shit out of Alaska and he's only just able to hold back from punching him. Instead, he grabs him by the scarf, pulling him up face to face. We'll, as good as one can be when tied to a chair.
"Now you listen here fucker. We were... fine with you being 'friends' with our dad, if a bit sceptical. But now?"
He brings Ivan closer, snarling,
"When we find out you're dating our father?"
Ivan feels cold wash over him from all directions, the intensity of 50 murderous glares upon him in seconds. He stares at Alaska, not backing down. In the back of his mind, he knows he has to keep his cool, lest he lose his chance with Alfred.
"We refuse to stand and watch."
A chorus of voices, all differing in pitches and tones, echo back to him. Alaska steps back with a nasty grin, giving him a once over.
"You know, dad'll probably notice if we hurt you physically. He said nothing about speaking our thoughts."
Alaska fades back into the crowd, returning to silence. Minute by minute, a state steps forward and says what they think about Ivan.
"You're not good enough for him."
"You'll just end up hurting him."
"You should've stayed in the meeting that day."
"Hurt pops again, and I'm coming for your dick. Not in the good way."
"Step foot on my land and I'm feeding you to the tornados."
"Get within breathing distance of us and father together and consider your wig snatched."
"You must leave us alone. We were happier when you weren't in our life."
Ivan let's them talk, getting their feelings and warnings and death threats off of their chests. In all honesty, it does hurt. It does strike him deep in his heart. But he's used to it, and won't let it show. And once they finish, some heaving with breath, Ivan speaks,
"Was he really happier?"
His question silences the room. N. Carolina scoffs,
"What do ya mean?"
Ivan hums.
"Before we got together, or even before we were friends once again. Was he really, truly happy with just you all?"
Instantly, the states began to rise up in indignation, but one states voice cuts through them all.
"No."
Rhode Island has her head hung low, as if she couldn't believe it herself.
"No, no he wasn't."
The children around him seem to deflate in on themselves, the frigid aura dissipating.
"Then why is it so hard to believe I really, truly love him?"
Ivan's soft voice cuts through the tense atmosphere. He's smiling again, but this time it's something sad, not like his usual ones.
Washington opens his mouth, as if to respond, before a door slams open and light floods the darkened room.
"What. The fuck. Is going on here?"
-
Heyoo. So, we're approaching end chapters soon. Dunno how many more, but we'll see. Anyways, interesting thing about Z.A (Zuid Afrika) is that we take respecting our elders or those above us as children very seriously. If we do not know the surname of an adult, we call them Mr/Ms or Mevrou of meneer. We don't even say our teachers surname, for example, Mevrou Van der Merve. We just say ma'am or sir. Saying their last name like that is considered taboo and sometimes disrespectful (for us teens). Anyways, here's some VERY rough countryhumans art I did.
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Oops, almost forgot. Goeiemorê, middag, aand of nag!
