Red Roses, Aster, and Peonies

28

Ivan stalled, looking out the window. He was only wearing a pair of sweatpants, even though Alfred was already dressed, looking at him confused.

"You... coming?" he asked, tilting his head out of the way.

"Alfred... you remember I am leaving today? Back to Russia?" Ivan asked, turning around. Alfred's face fell and his eyes went wide. He obviously hadn't remembered, "My plane leaves at two in the morning then I'll be gone for a week until I come back for the meeting. It is being held at your house, remember?"

"Yes," he said sadly, gulping before holding his head, "I'll drive you tonight."

"What? No, it's too early for you," Ivan tried to say.

"No, my husband, my problem," he sighed, before walking forward, grabbing his hand and touching the ring gently, "please don't take this off."

"I'll try not to, my co-workers aren't..."

"Promise me you won't."

"I... I can't promise you anything."

"Promise me," his voice cracked, and he let out a light cough, looking to the side of the room. He stared at the corner like it was the most interesting thing. The only interesting thing.

Ivan's lips fell into a frown, "I promise, kitten."

"Thank you, honey," Alfred said, looking up to him. He noticed Ivan started to lean down and went on his tip-toes, getting a kiss on the lips. His eyes were closed before and after, and he didn't feel like opening them.

The Blessing had mellowed him out since the... transformation into his third form. After that, he had felt angry and scared and... aggressive. And not his normal, protective aggressive. The 'I'm going to rip off your head because I feel like it' aggressive. The uncontrollable rage and the urge to hunt. Hunt what? Didn't matter.

Ivan patted his shoulder and he opened his eyes.

"If I changed my pants, would it be acceptable to not wear a shirt?" he chuckled, obviously joking.

"If you want," Alfred shrugged, "I sure as hell wouldn't mind. Shit, my siblings do it all the time."

"Mom!" someone yelled banging on the door, "North is being a bitch!"

"Virginia, Carolina, or Columbia?" Alfred muttered to himself, Ivan starting to snicker, "Come in!"

Carolina walked in, her blonde hair flying in every direction and her blue eyes wild, "she pushed me down the fucking stairs!"

She was tall and long, with tan skin. Red spots covered her body, like they covered Conners, and for a moment he wondered if she was related to him instead of Alfred- but those blue eyes were too familiar. Her hands had white claws, that sheathed and unsheathed maniacally, and when she growled he realized she had fangs, long and sharp. She was wearing a black bathing suit and brown two-inch platform heels.

"Where's North?" Alfred said, trying to look over her but couldn't because she was taller.

"Motherfucker! Where are you?! You were right behind me!" she screamed, starting to sound less human and more banshee.

There was laughter from down the hall and Carolina ran off, running like Catwoman in fucking heels, Ivan giving a disappointed look to Alfred when he saw she was wearing a thong bathing suit. Alfred didn't seem to care. He looked like he was about to bang his head on the wall.

"They're almost just as bad as Kansas and Missouri..." he muttered, "or Texas and Alaska, god damn those two hate each other..."

"Why Texas and Alaska? I don't know anything about Kansas or Missouri but... Texas and Alaska aren't even near each other. Why would they hate each other?"