Hetalia One-Shots

The Other Side *Russia*

Many considered Ivan to be a monster. He was said to be cruel, harsh, a bully to those weaker than him- and, that included most people, for Ivan was tall and strong just on his own. Heck, you would've agreed to these rumors if you had never seen that other side to him. Yes, even someone believed to be spawn of a demon had those private moments were they seem so fragile, so soft and lost.

As an active member of your town's community, you of course volunteered to set up flyers for the upcoming Music Festival. It was indeed to be a fun time filled with music everyone could enjoy, from rock to classical, country to jazz. At this event, people could by all kinds of instruments, and even, if they wished, preform live themselves! Nobody would care if you're good or not. Seeing as it would be such an amazing event, you wanted to help spread the word the best you could. Meaning, get up at seven o'clock on a Saturday morning to go around town and ask store managers if you could post the flyers in their shops and just put them randomly in common-looked spots.

You had a game plan: start with the big-key places so you could get your flyers out there before most people had already started shopping, then move to the smaller, less populated joints so when people go in they could see them. After all, the more people to come to this event the better. Being a music lover yourself, you wanted to see this festival come back for many more years.

First, you hit the local supermarket, and posted about thirty around the store, before moving to that store, to that. Mentally, you crossed off the list in your head. Soon, you were down to your last big hitter, the ice skating rink. Their public skating was coming up soon, so you knew many people of all ages would be coming; this place is a gold mine. You step inside, welcoming the cool breeze the ice gave the place. After running around so much, you were awfully hot. You went to head to the manager's desk, when something- no, someone- caught your eye. You approached the rink silently, as to not disturb the solo skater. They went around the rink with such grace and flexibility that your jaw went slack and your grip on the flyers loosened. He was beautiful. This man, was Ivan Braginski.

You knew Ivan from school, but had never paid much attention to him before. After all, he was a grade above you and, despite what everyone said, he had personally never done anything to you. However, though you did not hate the man, if the rumors were true, then you did have slight indifference towards him. Though, seeing him on the ice, all of that faded away. He looked so peaceful, the way he shifted back and fourth, his silvery hair swaying in the breeze created by his own movements. He didn't seem daunted by the cool of the ice. He made the twirls look effortless, even more so with his violet eyes constantly closing, as though he was preforming in his sleep. The trance this man put you in soon faded, as Ivan went to the center of the ice and bowed to no one, and lifted a finger to wipe an eye. You wondered if he was shedding a tear, but composed yourself and gathered your belongings without asking questions. You left the premisses without hanging up your flyers- they seemed unimportant now. All you knew, is that you had seen an unknown side to a man considered to be a bully, but your views changed, and you knew that the next time someone remarked Ivan, you would defend him, for there is a whole other side just waiting to be discovered.

------

"I heard, he continued to beat him up, even though he was down."

"Really? Ivan's horrible. He should go back to Russia."

You sighed as- once again- you heard more whispers about your new found obsession, the tall, quiet, intimidating Russian called Ivan. Of course, you knew that the rumor of, "Ivan basically killed Gilbert because, Gil like, stepped on his precious scarf! It was totally uncalled for,' (in Feliks Łukasiewicz's own words) weren't true. Unless it happened at school yesterday, there was no other time Ivan could have done such a thing. Only you knew that, because you had watched him skate from the second school ended to about nine o'clock. Maybe he could have done it after, but he looked tired after a hard skate, and headed in the same general direction he always went after he left. You sighed, mind distracted momentarily at the disappointment you had for a moment of not being able to watch Ivan skate today, but alas, you have a life as well.

"(Name)! There you are! You heard the rumor right?" Disappointment gone, only to be replaced with a twinge of anger as your friend Bella walked up to you. She didn't know she struck a nerve, so you tried your best to bite your tongue.

"Yeah, I've heard it. I don't believe in any of it, but I heard it."

Bella smiled softly, as if she knew of your secret feelings for the Russian. "I don't either. I just knew you would agree. Ivan may be protective of his scarf, but I doubt he would do such a thing, right?"

You can't help but smile back. It was good to have someone else take Ivan's side. "Exactly!" Blushing slightly from your little outburst, you tighten your hold on the paper lunch you were holding and started walking off. "Come on, let's head to lunch. I'm starving."

Even though you couldn't see it, Bella's smile grew at your embarrassment. For one always so hyper and shameless, your cheeks sure were red.

-0-0-0-

Once in the cafeteria, you take a good look around, trying to find your regular lunch table, when someone else catches your eye. It was him, the man of your current desires. Ivan was sitting alone. He didn't look troubled by it, but you felt a pang of sorrow fill your heart. No one deserves to sit alone. You quickly turn to Bella, who was still searching the crowd for the table, and wave goodbye to her before dashing away towards the Russian's table.

"Can I sit here?" Gosh, you hadn't meant to startle him so much. "S-sorry. Can I?" You try again, pointing to the empty seat across from him.

Ivan continues to stare at you, before a small innocent smile graces his features. "You are not scared of me?" You shake your head no and take the seat. As soon as you do, Ivan leans close to you; you can feel his cold breath fan your face, your (e/c) eyes grow wide. "I recognize you. You hang around the ice skating rink, but you never actually skate. How odd." He leans away from you, eyes boring into your eyes with a satisfying look at your blushing face but what is hidden behind the stare? A slight glimmer of fear?

However, you're one for pride. He obviously expects you to leave, to laugh and go make more fun of him. You want to prove him wrong. "You're a beautiful ice skater." And you take a bite of your sandwich.

Eyes wide, Ivan accepts the compliment with silence, returning to his own lunch, realizing he won't be eating alone again.