A Product of War [Hetalia]

Chapter 3.

Two Months Later
Russia🇷🇺: Good morning, Matthew.

Canada shot Ivan a smile and waved back. Having made sure nobody could hear or see.

Canada🇨🇦: M—morning, Ivan.

The two nations had managed to keep in touch the two months after the first conference. And they were afraid to admit how often they would unintentionally stay up late calling or writing letters to one another.

By this point Matthew's head injury had healed. But the two nations kept finding some excuse to keep talking. Matthew would find an excuse by asking Ivan how he was doing, since he learned the previous month that USSR's creation caused Ivan to start suffering heart problems. Ivan's excuse was that he wanted to make sure Matthew wasn't stressing himself out too much, or that he wasn't getting hurt during the conferences.

Normally they'd chalk it up to them being lonely—which was a noticeable factor. But after they started talking on a daily basis, they started to get the feeling there was something else going on.

They were able to sneak away during the conference, knowing of an area nobody went to, and hid themselves in one of the rooms to talk more in depth.

Russia🇷🇺: How is everything back at your home?

Canada looked away. He hadn't been back to Canada in a while because Britain wanted to keep Matthew close because of the war.

Matthew brought this up with Ivan the previous month.

Canada🇨🇦: Um... It's, okay. I've at least been able to spend more time with Peter.

Ivan narrowed his eyes a bit, trying to recognize the name off the top of his head. He always felt bad for forgetting people, which was part of the reason why he remembered Canada as easily as he did.

Russia🇷🇺: That's Sealand, right?

Matthew nodded. That wasn't a lie. Matthew didn't mind at all, Peter got attached to Matthew quickly, and looked forward to spending time with him. Especially as Matthew started teaching him another language.

Canada🇨🇦: Yeah, since I'm living in England at the moment, Britain's had me watch Peter whenever he's busy. Which is pretty much every day of the week excluding the conferences. I don't mind, and I also get to spend more time with my uncles, but it's harder for me to talk to papa or Alfred. Papa because Arthur doesn't like him, Alfred because of the time zone issue.

Ivan tilted his head.

Russia🇷🇺: Is it possible for you to ask Britain to visit your home again, at least for a day to check in with your government? You don't normally hear about governments allowing their personifications to leave for such a long time without a call or anything...

Canada🇨🇦: I could ask, but depending on what Arthur's reasoning is for having me say here, he might not want me to go. I'm really not sure if it's because he's actually worried about me, or if it's just because...

Matthew trailed off, going quiet as he felt a chill run up his spine. He wished he wasn't so paranoid about being cold. He already felt like an embarrassment for lacking his immunity to his natural cold climate, despite how often his family promised him that it wasn't his fault.

Matthew knew that it at least partly wasn't his fault. But he could never forget the anger and disappointment on Britain's face when he looked at him after pulling a five year-old Matthew out of the river. Before giving him to his caretaker, Margret Mayberry.

Matthew didn't know why he remembered her name as well as he did. He did remember liking her name as a child, thinking it sounded pretty. Perhaps he remembered it so well because of how she treated him, while Arthur turned a blind eye to it all.

Matthew felt someone hug him, and he blinked.

Russia🇷🇺: Or because he only wants to keep you for the land and resources? To keep his empire expanded and powerful?

Matthew could only nod. Deciding to make a small joke about it.

Canada🇨🇦: I mean, if that was his intention by keeping me around... he must have been really desperate for more territory... Because I seem to be the last person he would ever trust to so much as monitor a single troop. We both know I'm definitely not strong enough to be a huge help in regards to military and defense. And, to be quite frank, he doesn't like that I talk to Alfred and Francis...

Ivan frowned.

Russia🇷🇺: You didn't seem to be useless by any definition of the word... In the very least you helped in every way you could, as much as you could. And it's not like your country is some barren wasteland, I look forward to every conference I go to that is held in Canada, because I can never seem to be able to take in the beauty of all the landscapes. I'd like to think that all countries have some beauty attributed to the land. But to me at least, the forests, the mountains, the lakes, especially with the snow and ice, nothing could compare to that.

Matthew blushed, especially as Ivan gently tilted his head up so that they made eye-contact. Ivan looked unsure for a moment as to whether or not he should continue. But he untimely followed through.

Russia🇷🇺: And, you know something I've noticed? It's that beautiful landscapes in countries seem to reflect on the appearance of that country's personification, giving them at last one or multiple characteristics that make them very attractive. I think one of the best examples of that, is you.

Matthew's heart began to pound rapidly in his chest, he had no idea how to respond to such a compliment.

Suddenly, Matthew knew what was going on with him. Why he wanted to keep talking to Ivan. Why he kept making excuses to put himself at risk of being called a traitor. Why he enjoyed Ivan's company as much as he did.

Ivan had understood for a while.

Matthew shut his eyes tight, before leaning his head up so he would have been looking the Russian in the eye.

Canada🇨🇦: I—I—Is it okay if I do something stupid...?!

Ivan tilted his head in slight confusion.

Russia🇷🇺: I mean, I guess so...? But, what do you mean by—?

Ivan was cut off, as he felt Matthew's lips on his own. It was over quickly, but it took much longer for Ivan's heartbeat to slow down to a decent speed.

The two of them looked at each other for a second, before Matthew's face went red and he hid his face in his hands.

Canada🇨🇦: I—I'm sorry...! I—

Ivan gently tilted Matthew's head up.

Russia🇷🇺: It's alright, Matthew... I didn't mind... In fact, I wouldn't mind doing it again...

Matthew and Ivan blushed, before leaning in, and allowing their lips to meet for the second time.

They lost track of how long they'd been kissing, every few seconds they'd break away to see if anyone was around, but nothing. Then they saw the clock.

Canada🇨🇦: Oh no! We're late!

Ivan smiled a bit.

Russia🇷🇺: Well... we have a few minutes, we can sneak in during lunch break. Why don't we enjoy this moment a little longer?

Matthew melted a bit and nodded, pulling Ivan down, the two of them warm in an embrace with their lips locked. And true to their promise, they snuck into the conference during lunch.