The Nightmares

Chapter 8: The Dinner

xoxo

Everyone was in the dining room, sitting in their groups on the separate tables. Ivan, Alfred, Matthew and Prussia were sat on one table, with two spare seats for Francis and Arthur, if they planned to show up that is.

Ukraine had quickly prepared the soup, and with Belgium and The Netherlands help, everyone had received their meal. Francis and Arthur still hadn't arrived, and nobody had the courage to speak up about it so everyone just assumed they were either sleeping or banging.

Alfred was thinking about whether or not he should go find them to give them their food, - Ukraine had made them some too along with extra for the others - when Ivan let out a large sigh besides him. Alfred glanced up at him. Russia was putting some soup into his mouth with a content smile on his lips, for once his smile wasn't creepy.

"I love her solyanka." He mumbled to himself, not thinking America had heard him.

"I can tell." Alfred chuckled, and dug into his own soup. When he had his mouthful, he was able to quickly understand exactly why Ivan loved it. The flavours went perfectly together and the texture soothed your tongue after the slight burn from the heat. "Wow." Russia laughed and sat his chair back on four legs again.

"It's amazing isn't it?" He questioned, smiling at his new friend.

"Yeah," Alfred took another mouthful, "How does she make it so well?" Ivan's eyes saddened a little.

"It was the only thing Katyusha could afford to eat for a while." He spoke quietly, looking back at his soup. He had suddenly lost his appetite and the soup didn't look very appealing to him anymore. The sudden change in atmosphere shook Alfred a little bit.

"Well, it's absolutely delicious so enjoy it big guy." Alfred was quick to flip the atmosphere again, for a depressed Russia made him feel slightly uncomfortable. Ivan hummed back at America and started eating his meal again.

That's when France and England entered the room.

Both of them had flustered faces, but had somehow managed to sort out their hair before coming into the dining room. Francis' buttons weren't in the right holes, and his shirt wasn't tucked into his trousers. Arthur's tie was loose, his collar was undone and his shoelaces were left untied, forgotten about. They both looked a complete state, which was most definitely a shock when it came to the French nation.

Everyone immediately knew what had occurred and looked away from them, the memories of the laptop coming back. Alfred shivered a little and Ivan laughed nervously at him, taking another spoonful. Russia hid his face (once again) in his scarf and avoided looking at the two that just ran through the door.

Arthur regained his composure and tightened his tie, then wandered towards Alfred and Ivan. "Ah, dinners already been served?" He queried, placing his hand on the back of Alfred's chair. Alfred still couldn't meet Arthur's eyes so he took to keeping his concentration on his solyanka. England's confusion turned into suspicion due to the young nation's behaviour and he frowned down at Alfred.

"Ah! You two! I have your meals right here, and there is more to spare in one of the pots, please take a seat!" Ukraine bounced back into the room when she noticed France and England standing there. Francis gladly smiled at her, and joined Arthur who had rested in the seat at the head of the table, making it so that Francis was opposite Alfred and sat next to Prussia who was opposite Ivan and Matthew at the other head of the table.. Ukraine gently set the two bowls down and they eagerly dug in, sighing happily. When they looked up, they were met with the sight of the other four nations staring at Arthur.

The two of them had failed to realize the quite obvious hickeys that littered Arthur's neck.

Prussia snickered at him and quickly started whispering with Canada, who laughed at everything he said.

"What?" England asked, his eyes narrowing at the others.

America was lost in his own thoughts, thinking and asking about what exactly Francis and Arthur were. Were they lovers? Were they hidden partners? Or were they just fucking around? This is the first time he had come to know about what the two were doing, but apparently Matthew had known long before today. How long had they been doing this, and why didn't they tell him? Maybe they were partners, they just didn't want it to be known. But why date someone if you didn't want anyone else to know about the love you have for one another? All the questions he was asking himself began to confuse the American and he turned to Russia for a distraction.