Chapter 35: A Meeting of Peril.

                                    

                                          
Alfred nervously fiddles with his tie, watching the ticking clock. It annoyed him, as it felt like it was counting down to his doom. 
"Fredka, if you keep playing with your tie, it will end up much more matted than that hair of yours."
Ivan's amused voice startles him, and Alfred whips around to glare playfully at him.
"I'll have you know there's nothing wrong with my hair, snow white!"
Ivan gasps, placing a hand on his heart in mock hurt.
"Such an insult! Does little American think he can hurt the great Russia with his tiny words?"
Alfred scoffs, but a smile tugs at his lips. A week ago, that sentence would have sent him into a frenzy, rearing for a fight. Yet now, he just punches Ivan softly in the shoulder, shaking his head.
"Come on, Ivan. We don't want to be late now do we?"
Ivan cringes, and Alfred can only sigh. It's obvious they both don't want to go, but the longer they waited, the more suspicious they got. After all, everyone wants to see how this will play out. Like a bunch of hungry crows, flying above and waiting for their prey to tire.
Alfred takes Ivan's hand into his, looking him deep into his eyes. The fear and uncertainty is mirrored between them. 
"C'mon, Vanya. We'll be fine. We're superpowers after all, right? Nothing can hurt us!"
Alfred's reassurance seems to help lower Ivan's guard, if only a little. For the first time, it seems he looks to Alfred for guidance. 
Despite being many years older than Alfred, his experience in relationships wasn't that much broader. Going through life, he learned that fear made people listen. Fear made people talk. 
But not with Alfred. Never with him. So for now, just this once, he looks to his lover for guidance. 
"Alright. Let us go, then."
Ivan sighs, a smile tugging at his lips. Alfred grins back, dragging him through the door.
If only they knew what awaited them.
-
Oh these two.
How they've grown to know each other.
How they've grown to love each other.
How they've grown..
To..
Mourn
Each other..
Do you see how much they need the other? How much they now depend on each other? How they always have?
Such a pity, isn't it?
Oh well. 
They should have learned, by now. 
Nothing ever lasts.
-
There was silence in the car. It was tense, but not uncomfortable. It was the sort of silence when you knew something was going to happen, and that you couldn't stop it.
Alfred's hand on the steering wheel tightens drastically, to the point where Ivan has to lean over and pat his arm softly to loosen his grip. There is a very noticeable finger shaped dent now present. He sighs. Guess superhuman strength is both a blessing and a curse.
Once they stop outside the building, they sit inside the car for what feels like a millennium.
"Can't believe we're actually going to a meeting where the only thing that happens is us being interrogated about our relationship."