Breaking Bands 5

Chapter 5

Alfred woke to a small buzzing on the floor. Slowly, he took his hand out from under the sheets to feel the ground for the vibrating object. After going through all the pockets in his jacket on the floor he found his phone. It buzzed, showing on the screen 'Plane flight in 2 hours'.

Alfred groaned. "Shit..." He flipped back over and noticed the other body in the bed.

He jumped, startled, falling off the bed with a loud thud. What the hell? Why… why am I here? Where-WHAT HAPPENED?

"Ouch!" he hissed, sitting up on the floor.

Ivan stirred and rolled over to look down at Alfred, rather confused. "What are you doing on the floor?"

Alfred looked at him, bewildered. "Wait-what do you mean, "what am I doing on the floor?" What was I doing in YOUR bed!"

Ivan smirked. "Well….. I'm not sure you're prepared for what I am about to tell you…."

Alfred panicked, standing up. "No! We got married? I told him, I TOLD my boss coming to Vegas was a bad idea! This is just great! Oh god, oh geez—wait…that means we had sex! I mean, I am practically naked! Oh my, oh my, this is-Oh geez now I'm gonna have commie kiddies!"

Ivan laughed at Alfred's impractical reasoning, and in one swift move he wrapped his arm around Alfred and pulled him on the bed.

Alfred fell and landed on top of Ivan, flustered. "Hey!"

He was cut off by Ivan pulling his head down so Alfred's eyes were level with his. "Alfred! Calm down, nothing happened, okay? I was only picking on you, you're so gullible sometimes."

Alfred looked at him, calming down slowly. "You serious dude?"

Ivan nodded, gazing up at Alfred calmly. "You're a jerk sometimes, you know," Alfred mumbled with a small smile.

"I can be," Ivan replied, sitting up, causing Alfred to plop onto his lap.

Alfred flushed and said slowly, "We, uh, have 2 hours to get at the airport and plane and all…"

Ivan nodded. "First, though, about your bathing…."

Alfred looked at him in shock. "What? Dude! It takes an hour just to get to the airport! I won't have time!"

Ivan shook his head. "I tried to convince you last night but you wouldn't hear any of it."

Alfred pouted, which made Ivan smile at how cute he actually looked. He shoved Alfred off of him and onto the bed, standing up. He looked at the other. "You're getting in there whether you like it or not Fredka. I'll pick you up and throw you in there if I have to."

Alfred quirked an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge Russki?"

Ivan leaned down over him ."Only if you want it to be. Mind that you only have less than an hour."

Alfred considered before saying, "Then I'll just change."

Ivan sighed and scooped up Alfred, who immediately wanted to squirm and fight but his body ached. He slumped into Ivan's arms in defeat as his head began to throb.

Ivan said lazily, "Maybe next time, hmm?"

Alfred frowned but nodded as they stepped into the bathroom. Ivan put him down and walked back out. "I'll go get your things from your room, what number is it?"

Alfred was hesitant but replied, "24."

Russia nodded and went over to put on a pair of dark jeans with a button down short sleeve shirt. Wrapping his scarf around his neck, he headed out of the room.

He asked the lady at the desk for the spare hotel key and headed up to Alfred's room. To his relief, Alfred's clothes were already packed up, even though random pant legs and shirt sleeves were poking out; it was still packed. He walked back to his room to find America sitting on the bed, waist wrapped in a towel. Trickles of water slid off his hair and down his back as he contently watched cartoons on the small TV on the table.

"You could have at least dried yourself off," Russia said, throwing the suitcase on the bed behind Alfred.

Alfred shrugged. "Eh, it's not like you're sleeping here tonight." He flipped over, letting the towel slide off his body as he crawled over to his suitcase. Ivan turned, closing his suitcase before setting himself in a lounge chair across from the bed.

Alfred looked over at him. "What? You expecting a show?"

Ivan quirked an eyebrow. "That would be nice and all, but we don't have the time Alfred."

Alfred stood and walked over to the Russian, plopping himself onto the other's lap, straddling Ivan's legs. "Well, last I remember I got dragged out of the club…So I think I probably still owe you the rest of a lap dance…"

"Most lap dances don't involve the dancer being naked…"

"So? It's still a dance dude."

"We don't have time."

"We can catch the next flight."

"Alfred….."

Alfred rolled his eyes. "Party pooper….Can you at least take me back to the bed then?"

Ivan sighed but held Alfred as he stood, and then plopped him on the bed. Alfred crawled back over to the suitcase and rummaged through his clothes.

Ivan sat on the bed next to him as he slid on his clothes messily. Once Alfred was fully dressed he looked at Ivan and shut his suitcase. "Ready to go man?"

Ivan nodded. "Da, I have been waiting thanks to someone…"

Alfred stuck his tongue out at him and stood up, grabbing his suitcase. Ivan followed and they headed out and off to a Taxi waiting for them.

After an hour of snatching breakfast, checking onto the plane and the agonizing 4 hour plane ride, they finally landed in D.C. Grabbing their things, they headed out to a limo this time, and that took them to Alfred's place. Alfred had many houses and pads; D.C. was where he was most though, mainly so he wasn't too far out of the boss's watch.

Alfred stretched as he got out of the limo and yawned. "Finally home!"

Ivan looked at the house. It wasn't the first time he had been there, but long enough that he forgot how it looked. The house was a good sized home, pretty big, but not ridiculous, and it had a long driveway. Alfred skipped up to the door, unlocking it. He threw his suitcase on the floor and flopped on the couch. "Oh how I've missed you so!" he swooned.

A cat jumped out of the bushes and stood next to Ivan, staring at Alfred then up at him. Ivan rolled his eyes at Alfred and walked in. He set his suitcase down by the door like how a more civil person would step into a home and leaned over to scoop up the cat in his arms, stroking him. "I've missed you," he said, smiling at the purring cat in his arms.

Alfred looked over at the fluffy cat and scowled. "Hey! He's not your guest Hero!, he's mine!"

Ivan looked up and smirked at Alfred, saying teasingly, "There's no need to be jealous, Alfred, I'll come over and pet you in a second."

Alfred flushed. "I am not jealous! That cat is just spoiled, man."

Ivan chuckled and sat the cat down, walking over to Alfred. "And you're not?"

Alfred smiled and shook his head back and forth, knowing the words were full of shit. Ivan sat on the couch next to Alfred, pretending that the other wasn't there, and instead watched the cat mosey around the living room. Alfred huffed, realizing Ivan's attention was still focused on the cat. He crawled over and flopped his stomach on Ivan's lap, staring at him with a disgruntled expression. Ivan looked down at him and chuckled at how childish he was being, all because of a cat. It was adorable to him all the same, so he ran a hand through Alfred's golden locks.

Alfred imitated a purr, which amused Ivan greatly. He added, "You feel better now?"

Alfred nodded and sat up, smirking, and padded off into the kitchen. "Man, I forgot I was thirsty."

Ivan followed and did what he usually did at Alfred's house every time he came over: began peeking into the cabinets.

"I always wonder how you survive, Alfred, for there is no real food in here," Ivan said.

"What? Of course there is! There are chips and, uh, those fruit snacks with Batman on them! It says FRUIT."

Ivan mentally face palmed. "Alfred….it's fruit flavored."

Alfred muttered under his breath, took out a bottle of coke from the fridge, and began drinking it.

Ivan went into the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water, and looked to see what was in there as well. He stated flatly, "We're going shopping tomorrow."

Alfred nodded and added happily, "Okay! We also have to Halloween shop too cause dude, I need killer new stuff! And it wouldn't hurt to get some new clothes, I mean like fashions and fads change all the time!"

Ivan nodded and, flushed lightly, added, "Also, we have to consider the notes France, Prussia and Spain gave us since it's under contract."

Alfred giggled. "Those bastards! The're tricky! But yeah I do as well."

Ivan headed out the doorway. "Well, I'm heading off to bed, I'm exhausted….the guest room is next to yours, right?"

Alfred looked to the floor, sudden thoughts coming to him. Usually every time Ivan came over he ended up crashing on the couch with him or sleeping with him, in his own bed.

"I—uh, yeah you're right, see ya tomorrow I guess," Alfred answered, expressionless.

Ivan stalked off to the other room. Alfred waited till he heard Ivan in the other room before he sighed heavily. He ran his fingers through his hair, wondering why that was causing him to be bothered suddenly.

He walked back into the living room, plopping onto the couch. Rolling current and older thoughts together in his head he realized the new turn of events had caused more emotional turmoil in his head than he wanted. Sure, it was reasonable that their bosses wanted them to be friends again but it was never easy.

Alfred thought, It's never just been just friendship, complications have always been added in that territory with him. Alfred pondered in silent frustration; he flushed thinking about the other and decided to turn on his gaming system.

He vented through the game, creating bigger explosions and harder kills. The thoughts of the jelly bracelets around his wrist only made him play harder. Alfred wondered if Ivan was playing him just to do something or if he wanted to be seriously intimate with him again. He even questioned what he wanted. He was missing him, he admitted to himself, but was he willing to do the meanings of the bracelet out of feelings or was it just to have fun?

He sighed, realizing the mess he created for himself, and set the controller down. Allowing the game to change to the mission "failed taunts," he sat there vacantly. He just let it play and play again as he himself played out his options in his head. He definitely didn't want to be taken advantage of, he wanted Ivan to care about him. Even if it was just a little bit, so he didn't seem like some toy.

"Fuck it," he said, standing up and shutting the game off. He stalked down the hallway, intruding thoughts of the red bracelet jabbing into his head. He knew if he didn't get to where he wanted he was going to be bothered. He ignored the doorway to where Ivan was as he passed. He sighed and walked into his room, changing into superman boxer shorts and a black tank top. He sat on his bed, hoping to somehow magically get tired but that didn't work as well as he hoped. He groaned loudly, looking over at the clock on his bed stand. "12:00."

He stood back up, reasoning with himself. Well I'd be a suck ass host if I didn't check on my guest right?

He stood back up and silently walked over to Ivan's doorway, not entering yet. He gazed at the man with his sheets covering his lower half. He was reading; eyes flicked left to right quickly with interest. Alfred laid his head on the frame, longing to be in there, to hop onto the bed and ask curiously what the other was up to, even though he already knew the answer. Instead he just observed knowing he couldn't. It wasn't that way anymore.

Ivan raised his head up finally, taking notice that someone else was with him. "Da, Alfred, what is it?"

Alfred shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing, just checking up on you, to see if you were alright and comfortable and all that stuff."

Ivan chuckled, setting the book down. "Did Arthur give you another hard lecture on mannerisms? I'm impressed."

Alfred crossed his arms. "No! This is all on my own accord, dude, my choice!"

"Ah, that means you want something, " Ivan stated.

Alfred glared, walking over to the bed swiftly. Picking up a pillow, he hit Ivan with it. "That is so not true!"

Ivan laughed lightly and covered his head with his hands. Alfred crawled onto the bed, still swinging the pillow. Ivan grabbed the pillow, shoving it in Alfred's chest until he fell onto his back. Ivan lay on top of him, chin resting on the pillow, as he said simply, "Pinned you."

Alfred stared at him for a moment, wondering if he was quoting that from the Lion King, or if it was just irony. He smiled. "I see that."

Ivan smirked, sighing. "So, what are you really over here for?"

Alfred looked at him lazily. "What if it was just to see you, hmm? What if-"

Ivan cut him off. "What if! What if! Alfred, it's always "what if" when it comes to you, it's never because I wanted to or I chose to."

Alfred flushed, suddenly having the urge to leave, but he couldn't. Ivan waited patiently for an answer, gazing at the blonde vacant faced.

Alfred sighed. "Okay, fine, I came to see you because…." He hesitated, not wanting to say "because I've missed you."

He replaced itwith,"…Because I wanted to."

Ivan lifted his head, knowing by the other's hesitation that he wanted to say something else, but he let it slide as he lifted a hand to stroke Alfred's hair. Deep blue eyes stared up at him in contentment; he smiled down at them warmly, wanting to kiss the man beneath him. He knew he couldn't. What they had at the moment was far too delicate and could shatter at any mistake. He didn't want that, not again.

Ivan scanned Alfred's wrist lazily, trying to remember which bracelet was the one he wanted. He gave up and plucked out one that was purple, small silver sparkles embedded in it. "What does this one mean?" he murmured.

Alfred looked at it then gazed back up at Ivan, smiling. "I can't tell you, that's a part of the rules. But it's nothing over the top, I can say that, man."

Ivan snapped it, looking at Alfred expectantly. Alfred smiled, relieved for once that Ivan actually did snap it. He lifted his hands, placing them on the back of Ivan's neck, on top of the soft fabric of his scarf. He gently pulled the Russian's head down to meet his. Ivan shifted his arm so his elbows propped him up as his head was guided downwards.

Alfred stopped when Ivan's lips just hovered over his. He decided he wanted to test this. He wanted to see if Ivan cared; if he wanted it. He moved his hands under Ivan's scarf to trace the sensitive muscle underneath. Trust, it took years of trust to be able to touch them. Alfred would never dare tell Ivan but he found them beautiful in every way, shiny pink scars against smooth porcelain skin. It took his breath away every time he saw them completely unveiled.

Ivan shivered at the delicate touches under his scarf. He gazed at Alfred calmly, waiting for permission. Alfred lightly nuzzled him, giving a small smile. Ivan took that as a sign to start and lowered himself, catching the American's lips. Alfred clutched onto him, not wanting to let him go now that he had him. He pulled Ivan down more, melding their lips together as they gently and tenderly slid over one another's in order to explore.

Alfred opened his mouth slightly to lick Ivan's lips. Ivan responded by opening his jaw a bit to allow Alfred to slip his tongue in. Alfred did so, exploring the places he missed. Sure he did this to Ivan a day or two ago, but this time he could savor it; even take as long as he wanted because he knew this time it was with meaning and not for the game they were playing. He turned his head slightly to deepen the kiss as he wrapped his arms around the Russian's neck.

He felt Ivan's hands sneak into his hair and under his head, as if he were to cradle him. As the kiss deepened, so did the dominance over one another's mouth. Tongues slid against one another in smooth, twirling moves to taste and feel, making sure that it was real; that what they were doing was real. Ivan parted, lips hovering as he looked into the blue eyes staring back at him. They were clear, beautiful as the skies. He smiled and lifted his head up to press a gentle kiss on the American's forehead, breathing him in as he did so.

Alfred smiled and sighed. Ivan looked back down at the other and said in a low whisper, "I think you should get some sleep, Alik. It's getting quite late."

Alfred nodded and said in a murmur, "Only if I can sleep in here tonight."

Ivan looked at him in surprise but nodded all the same. Alfred grinned and hugged him quickly before crawling under the covers. Ivan flipped the blankets over them and settled down. Alfred smirked and cuddled up to the other, relieved Ivan actually agreed to this.

Ivan in turn sputtered at first at the sudden intimacy the American was showing. After regaining himself he wrapped his arms around the other, taking his presence in, enjoying the warmth radiating from Alfred.

Alfred nestled himself into Ivan, thinking about all the things he had to do tomorrow. As he did so his eyelids began to sink. He yawned tiredly and closed his eyes, hoping this time when he woke up, it wouldn't be a shock to him, sleeping with Ivan, but a realization and comfort instead.