Two Can Keep A Secret

Chapter 33: A Very Pissed Off Father

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?"

-

The temperature in the room drops drastically, all the states freezing and turning to the door. Standing with his arms crossed over his chest, still in his underwear, was their very pissed off father.

His glare could melt ice, and most states tried to subtly hide their weapons behind or inside their clothing.

"Drop them. Now."

Alfred growled out, teeth gritted. Immediately, the teens drop all items on instinct, the noises filling the room. Once the room had returned to awkward silence, all the states avoiding eye contact, Alfred spoke.

"Now. Just what in high hell is going on here?"

He says, slightly more calm after he took a few deep breaths. That didn't stop the irritated twitch of his brow, though. Ivan, still sitting tied to the chair, watched all of this with an amused smile.

"Um. Well, we were just.."

Mississippi stutters, sweating. He looks around for help from his siblings, to no avail. Ivan almost laughs at the look of betrayal he sends them.

"I'm waiting."

Alfred taps his bare foot on the tiled floor, sounding like a clock ticking down. All the states start to hurry to answer, some louder and filled with more truth than others.

"We just wanted to welcome him!"

"We were just saying hi!"

"Giving him advice?"

"Making sure he was happy!"

"We were threatening him."

Everyone goes quiet at Hawaii's admission. They all send her subtle glares, but are cowed back into submission by their father. Currently, Ivan is enjoying this show way too much to be normal.

"Thank you, for your honesty Hawaii."

Alfred grits out, his grip on his arms tightening to the point it'll bruise. Hawaii nods, though as she's also guilty backs away quickly.

Noticing his quickly darkening arms, Ivan speaks up softly,

"Sunflower, if your grip gets any tighter, your arms just might fall off."

Alfred jumps, as if just registering that Ivan was there. Quickly walking over to him, he rips the ropes apart with ease, helping Ivan to a stand.

Alfred can't help but chuckle, loosening the tense atmosphere. Ivan raises an eyebrow, wondering what exactly brought that on.

"Sorry, sorry, it's just.. I just realised we're both still in our underwear."

Ivan cracks a small smile. In all honesty, he'd been eyeing Alfred's body the whole time, so he didn't have a problem with it. Distantly, he could feel the intense glares of teens in front of him.

"Well, it is not like either of us expected to be woken in the middle of the night, Fredka."

Alfred sighs at this, sending an annoyed glare to his children cowering in the corner. Now that Ivan thinks about it, where even are they?

"Alfred?"

"Yes, Ivan?"

"Where are we?"

"The basement, of course!"

"...the basement."

"Yep!"

A sigh.

"That is all I am going to get, am I?"

"Hey, I don't know why this apartment building has an eerie basement either! Blame the kids!"

Alfred whips around, startling his children and Ivan.

"Speaking of which.."

Alfred then proceeds to chew his kids out for the better half of an hour, half naked, in his underwear, with an arm around his equally half naked russian boyfriend. Said boyfriend watches from the sidelines, astonished at the tone Alfred takes on with his kids. It's the, 'I'm not mad, just disappointed', that makes even Ivan cringe.

Eventually, after a while, and seeing that Alfred wouldn't be stopping, Ivan steps up.

"Fredka, it is okay. I think they have had enough."

Alfred breathes in deeply, once, twice, before he sighs. The kids all sag in satisfaction, happy to no longer be facing their father's wrath.

"Now, before we rightfully go back to bed."

The states tense in anticipation.

"I want you all to apologise to Ivan."

"Wait, Fredka."

Alfred looks at him, surprised. Ivan sighs, but says,

"They do not need to apologise. I know they were only doing it out of fear and protection of you."

The states look shocked at the prospect of Ivan of all people defending them. They, who had discussed killing and threatening him. Even Alfred looks startled, stunned into silence with a gaping mouth.

"Huh. Well, that's fine then. But, you all have to promise me one thing."

Alfred finally responds, gripping Ivan's hand tightly. The states perk up, ready to make it up to their father.

"At least try to warm up to Ivan? I actually love him, yknow, and it would be nice to have my children get along with the person I love."

Hesitantly, the states nod, glancing at Ivan. Obviously, it'll take getting used to, but who's to say they can't be civil?

"Now, we're going back to bed. For the first time, I really hope I don't see you kids in the morning."

-

Heyoo, shorter chapter but oh well. Anyways, did you know South African people were voted most friendly in the world? Honestly, if you're in the right places, I can see why. As long as you don't piss off the Boers, you won't have an angry Afrikaner calling you a doos lmao. Anyways, Goeiemorê, middag, aand of nag!