APH: Pancakes for Brother
Title: Pancakes for Brother
Author: grosse_averse
Character/Pairing: Canada/Ukraine, with noise from Russia (with love)
Rating: Nothing harmful, PG for mentions of removing vital regions
Summary: For the Secret Santa Exchange over at spasibodedmoroz, for taure. The prompt was: Canada making breakfast (pancakes, of course) in bed for Ukraine when Russia shows up unexpectedly to collect the gas bill (but mostly just wants to see his Big Sis). Would much appreciate an overprotective, jealous Russia feeling concerned over Ukraine's
growing relationship with Canada, and Ukraine trying to assure him she still loves him. I think that is summary enough ;)
Notes: Srozhdestvom Kristovym, my friends!
As far as Matthew Williams was concerned, up until nine o’clock this morning his life had been going pretty well.
He had arrived in Kiev last week with his boss for free trade agreement talks. He hadn’t seen much of Yekaterina’s boss - or his boss, to be honest. As soon as they were done with the formal greetings, Matthew and Yekaterina had left their bosses alone to their own devices as the two nations took care of some...unfinished business.
This “unfinished business” was why Matthew was currently standing in Yekaterina’s kitchen in boxers and a t-shirt, holding a bowl of pancake mix, waiting for the griddle to heat up. Yekaterina was up in bed, still dreaming away the rest of the morning - Matthew had kissed her ear as he got up and had promised her breakfast in bed (“You're my breakfast in bed, come back~” Yekaterina had tried wheedling sleepily but Matthew, who usually had a soft spot for the blonde woman’s demands, was firm on the subject of pancakes).
So yes, Matthew thought that things were going quite swimmingly, thank you very much. It wasn’t often he caught such a lucky break in his life - he’d had a crush on Yekaterina for ages, so to think that her asking him out for drinks after a meeting could lead to this...well, Matthew thought he was a pretty lucky son of a bitch.
Well, until he heard a key in the door and Ivan’s voice called out, “Sister? Are you home?”
Well, I'm sure Alfred will look in on my people every once in a while, Matthew thought shakily as he heard the front door slam. And at least, since people don't remember me anyways, they won't have to suffer through grieving. That's nice, isn't it?
A rustling as Ivan hung up his coat - his boots across the hardwood, drawing nearer to the kitchen.
“Sister?” Ivan’s voice was cheery. “I’m sorry for not phoning, but I was in the area so I thought I’d stop by for the gas money! That way you won’t have to come all the way...”
There was absolute silence as Ivan rounded the corner and the two northern nations locked eyes.
“Matthew.” Ivan’s voice had suddenly turned very, very cold. “What a...surprise. To see you here.”
Matthew laughed weakly, picking up the spatula in case he needed it for some sort of futile protection.
“Hi, Ivan.” he croaked. “Well, look at the time, eh? I really must be - ”
“Stay there.” If Ivan’s voice could kill, Matthew would be decimated. “I never see you anymore, Matthew. It is a bit of a surprise to find you here. In my sister’s kitchen.” Ivan’s eyes narrowed. “Where is my sister?”
“Sh-she’s upstairs, Ivan I can explain...” Matthew backed up as Ivan advanced on him.
“Oh no, there is no need to explain.” Ivan gave him a chillingly pleasant smile, heading straight for Yekaterina’s assortment of stainless steel kitchen knives. “I understand perfectly, comrade. Now, hold still, yes? I need to take care of something...”
“Shit.” Matthew cursed, ducked under Ivan’s arm as he reached for the carving knife, and sprinted the fastest he’d ever sprinted towards the front door. He tripped over his own sneakers, left there from last night, and listened with wide eyes as the sound of Ivan’s boots came, double-time, after him on the wood floor. Before Matthew could scramble to his feet Ivan was on him, hauling him up so their faces were level.
“Do not worry,” Ivan told him cheerfully. “You and I are friends, yes? So all I will do is ensure that you will not do anything to harm my sister...” he brought the carving knife to hover menacingly at Matthew’s groin. The smaller nation swallowed thickly.
“Listen, Ivan...” he began weakly, and almost cried when he heard Yekaterina’s voice floating down from upstairs.
“Matthew?” she called sweetly. “Where are you? I’m lonely!”
Ivan froze, violet eyes boring into Matthew’s. Matthew opened and closed his mouth several times before replying, “Uh, Kat, you might want to come downstairs. There’s someone here to see you.”
Ivan didn’t release his hold on Matthew’s collar, but he did remove his knife from the vicinity of Matthew’s vital regions. Matthew breathed a sigh of relief.
Yekaterina came down the stairs slowly, hesitantly, wearing Matthew’s red hoodie over her negligee. When she saw Ivan her face flashed from surprise to happiness to apprehension.
“Vanya,” she said slowly. “Good morning.”
Ivan slowly unclenched his fingers, allowing Matthew to slip from his grasp. “Good morning!” he said, keeping the knife by his side. “How are you, sister?”
“I - I’m fine!” Yekaterina replied, glancing nervously at Matthew as if asking if he was all right. Matthew gave her a weak smile. “What are you doing here? And so early in the morning, too! Matthew, why don’t you continue making breakfast while Vanya and I talk?”
Matthew, grateful for the escape, edged past Ivan, who gave him an icy stare. The younger nation even dared to touch Yekaterina’s arm softly as he passed, to which the woman gave him a warm smile.
“I’ll be right there.” she promised.
As soon as Matthew was out of earshot, Yekaterina reached over and took her kitchen knife from her brother’s hand. “Put that down!” she chided. “Vanya, what are you doing here?”
“I came for the gas bill!” Ivan smiled, holding out his now empty hand. Yekaterina shot him a dubious look, obligingly taking his hand, lacing their fingers together the way they always did, comfortable and affectionate.
“It’s nine in the morning.” she told him. “I told you that I would get it to you by the end of today.”
“I know!” Ivan assured her. “But I thought I would come see you instead! You never visit very much anymore. I’ve missed you.”
Yekaterina gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “Well, Vanya,” she began delicately. “Sometimes...Big Sister would appreciate if you called beforehand.”
Ivan’s gaze hardened. “I can’t come see my sister when I feel like it?” he asked airily. Yekaterina flinched.
“No, it’s not that.” she assured him. “It’s just that, sometimes I’m doing other things and I’d prefer to have a little warning.”
“I see,” Ivan studied her. “And Matthew is why I must call beforehand?”
Yekaterina flushed. “Well, I mean, you do intimidate people,” she admitted, waving the knife for emphasis. “I keep telling you, if you take this one more time without my permission I am going to have to hide these.”
Ivan tried to look forlorn, and failed. “I missed you.” he repeated.
“You know I miss you too.” Yekaterina tried to look stern. “But I have been my own country for a while, now, and you know I get busy.”
“You are busy enough to have Matthew over?” Ivan asked with a sad tone to his voice.
“Matthew and I...are involved.” Yekaterina told him gently, “But that is not the only reason. As much as I love seeing you, you cannot just come into my house whenever you feel like it. I have business to look after. What if I was having a meeting?”
Ivan looked put out. “Well, you were.” he pointed out. “But not the kind I approve of.”
“Well, why not?” Yekaterina demanded. “You like Matthew, don’t you? He’s a sweet boy and he’s very nice to me. Haven’t you had good relations, in the past?”
“Yes.” Ivan agreed pleasantly. “But that does not stop me from wanting to relieve him of his genitals.”
“No one will be removing anyone's genitals.” Yekaterina told her brother firmly - it was amazing, really, how many times she had had to tell her brother this over the years.
“Come into the kitchen, Vanya. We will all have breakfast together and we will be nice and happy, and we will stay away from the kitchen knives.”
Matthew was cooking in silence when they entered, flitting nervously from stove to countertop, wearing the expression he often did when he desperately wanted his invisibility to kick in. Yekaterina squeezed his shoulder softly, until he looked over at her and gave a small smile. Ivan loomed over the both of them, like some disapproving parent. Matthew felt suffocated after a few seconds. He wondered how Yekaterina had put up with it for longer.
Once all the food was on the table, Matthew made to sit down at the table - Ivan grabbed him by the shoulders and steered him easily into the seat farthest from Yekaterina.
“Look, you get to look out the window!” Ivan informed him, before sitting himself into the chair right beside Yekaterina.
She gave a high, unnaturally loud laugh. “Well, isn’t this nice?” she asked, almost desperately. “What a treat, having both of you here! H-h-have some juice, Matthew! Vanya!”
As the girl fussed over the food, Ivan and Matthew exchanged a glance across the table.
“Do you two eat together often?” he spoke up, pausing Yekaterina in her frantic primping. “With Nataliya, as a family?”
Yekaterina’s face brightened fondly. “When we were younger, yes.” she explained. “Almost every Sunday, we’d make a big meal and eat together, just the three of us.”
Ivan looked smug. “Yes, it would be just us.” he repeated meaningfully. “We never needed anyone else, did we, Sister? Because we had each other.”
Yekaterina laughed again, reluctant reminiscence tinged with oh no Ivan please don't say those things when we have company.
“But then you and Nataliya grew up.” she pointed out with a nostalgic half-smile, spreading butter over her pancakes. “And we didn’t have time for those dinners anymore.”
“You started trying to make friends elsewhere.” Ivan pointed out, a little icily this time, and Yekaterina met his gaze.
“Then I am sure you remember the time when you were also making friends,” Yekaterina shot back with gentle sternness, “There were times that you missed a week’s worth of dinners.”
“You are just unhappy that you made mlyntsi and I wasn’t there.” Ivan said with a patient, almost patronly tone.
“No,” was Yekaterina’s reply, “I was unhappy because you did not think it important enough to grace us with your presence at dinners.”
Matthew stood, suddenly, babbling something about the bathroom or his glasses needing cleaning or the upstairs window that was open, and he was gone from the kitchen before Yekaterina could fix the situation. The two siblings were left in icy silence. Yekaterina picked up the teapot and poured herself another cup - the porcelain was scorching against her skin and when she set it down she clicked her tongue and brought her finger to her mouth to soothe it.
Ivan caught her wrist, gently, and smoothed the pad of his finger over the red spot on her finger.
“Every time I had to work late,” Ivan said quietly, in the stillness of the kitchen, “Every time I saw that it was dark outside, the first thing I thought of was how sad I was that I was going to miss your dinners.”
Yekaterina didn’t look at him, face tilted away, eyes closed tight in remorse, though moisture gathered under her eyelids.
“I made a lot of mistakes, and no matter how tightly I tried to hang onto you and Nataliya, I couldn’t keep you. I don’t want to lose you again.” Ivan’s violet eyes were fierce with emotion, when Yekaterina finally looked at him.
“You never lost me.” she replied softly, curling her fingers ‘round Ivan’s and squeezing, gently. “Never, Vanya, because we are family and unfortunately you are stuck with your horrible, weepy sister forever.” she gave him a wet smile. “So you don’t need to worry that you are losing me because you never will. Okay?”
Ivan gave back her hand in favor of cupping her cheek. “Okay.” he agreed. “You promise?”
“I promise.” Yekaterina nodded. “We’re siblings, Vanya. There will always be a place in my heart for you, and Matthew and I getting together won’t change that.”
“Mmm.” Ivan made a contented noise, rubbing his thumb over the bridge of her nose. “I am glad to hear that. But,” here he put on his cutest face, “I can still have some fun with Matthew, yes?”
Yekaterina couldn’t hide her fond smile with a frown anymore. “No kitchen knives.” she told him. Ivan nodded obediently.
“No kitchen knives.”
--
Matthew let out a shaky breath when he heard the front door close, signaling Ivan’s exit. He let the warm dishwater lap at his hands as he finished up the breakfast dishes. Yekaterina slipped up behind him and curled her arms around his waist, squeezing him gently.
“You were very brave.” she told him frankly and Matthew laughed, reaching up with a wet hand to push his glasses further onto his nose. Yekaterina stopped him in favor of doing it herself, fingers warm against his skin.
“I hope you got everything settled all right?” he asked - after he’d come back down to the kitchen table the siblings had been in a better mood. Yekaterina smiled and nestled her chin on his shoulder.
“Yes, thank you. Don’t let him get to you, he seems intimidating but really he’s a big sweetie nowadays.”
Sure, Matthew could believe that. He dabbed his hands dry with the dishcloth and turned, so he could cup Yekaterina’s lovely hips with his palms.
“Are you okay?” he asked. Yekaterina smiled.
“I’m fine.” she said sincerely. “I’m better than fine. That was a lovely breakfast. You cook very well.”
Matthew flushed under her praise, and Yekaterina took the time to loop her arms more securely around his shoulders.
“Anything for you.” he muttered. Yekaterina laughed at his little boy shyness.
“Such a sweetie.” she cooed, and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. Matthew returned the gesture eagerly, lips warm and sweet against hers. After a few seconds, Matthew opened his eyes to gaze past Yekaterina’s head. Behind her, framed in the kitchen window, Ivan stood with his arms crossed across his broad chest. Matthew felt his heart stop.
Take care of her, or else, Ivan mouthed against the glass, then turned and lumbered away, towards Yekaterina’s hedges.
“Matthew?” Yekaterina asked when they parted, studying him with worried blue eyes. “Is something wrong?”
“Oh, no!” Matthew replied, voice one tone higher than usual. “Let’s...let’s go upstairs! Where there are drapes.”
“...Drapes...?” Yekaterina repeated blankly, and then let out an exclamation as Matthew swept her up into his arms, already carrying her towards the stairs.
“I promised you breakfast in bed,” Matthew reminded her, nuzzling into the warm juncture of her neck. “I don’t want to break my promise.”
Yekaterina laughed. “Surely not!” she agreed.
When they were upstairs, Matthew made sure that all the blinds were down and all the windows were locked.
--
END
--
Note: Mlyntsi is a type of pancake, in case you were wondering :) Hope you enjoyed!
Author: grosse_averse
Character/Pairing: Canada/Ukraine, with noise from Russia (with love)
Rating: Nothing harmful, PG for mentions of removing vital regions
Summary: For the Secret Santa Exchange over at spasibodedmoroz, for taure. The prompt was: Canada making breakfast (pancakes, of course) in bed for Ukraine when Russia shows up unexpectedly to collect the gas bill (but mostly just wants to see his Big Sis). Would much appreciate an overprotective, jealous Russia feeling concerned over Ukraine's
growing relationship with Canada, and Ukraine trying to assure him she still loves him. I think that is summary enough ;)
Notes: Srozhdestvom Kristovym, my friends!
As far as Matthew Williams was concerned, up until nine o’clock this morning his life had been going pretty well.
He had arrived in Kiev last week with his boss for free trade agreement talks. He hadn’t seen much of Yekaterina’s boss - or his boss, to be honest. As soon as they were done with the formal greetings, Matthew and Yekaterina had left their bosses alone to their own devices as the two nations took care of some...unfinished business.
This “unfinished business” was why Matthew was currently standing in Yekaterina’s kitchen in boxers and a t-shirt, holding a bowl of pancake mix, waiting for the griddle to heat up. Yekaterina was up in bed, still dreaming away the rest of the morning - Matthew had kissed her ear as he got up and had promised her breakfast in bed (“You're my breakfast in bed, come back~” Yekaterina had tried wheedling sleepily but Matthew, who usually had a soft spot for the blonde woman’s demands, was firm on the subject of pancakes).
So yes, Matthew thought that things were going quite swimmingly, thank you very much. It wasn’t often he caught such a lucky break in his life - he’d had a crush on Yekaterina for ages, so to think that her asking him out for drinks after a meeting could lead to this...well, Matthew thought he was a pretty lucky son of a bitch.
Well, until he heard a key in the door and Ivan’s voice called out, “Sister? Are you home?”
Well, I'm sure Alfred will look in on my people every once in a while, Matthew thought shakily as he heard the front door slam. And at least, since people don't remember me anyways, they won't have to suffer through grieving. That's nice, isn't it?
A rustling as Ivan hung up his coat - his boots across the hardwood, drawing nearer to the kitchen.
“Sister?” Ivan’s voice was cheery. “I’m sorry for not phoning, but I was in the area so I thought I’d stop by for the gas money! That way you won’t have to come all the way...”
There was absolute silence as Ivan rounded the corner and the two northern nations locked eyes.
“Matthew.” Ivan’s voice had suddenly turned very, very cold. “What a...surprise. To see you here.”
Matthew laughed weakly, picking up the spatula in case he needed it for some sort of futile protection.
“Hi, Ivan.” he croaked. “Well, look at the time, eh? I really must be - ”
“Stay there.” If Ivan’s voice could kill, Matthew would be decimated. “I never see you anymore, Matthew. It is a bit of a surprise to find you here. In my sister’s kitchen.” Ivan’s eyes narrowed. “Where is my sister?”
“Sh-she’s upstairs, Ivan I can explain...” Matthew backed up as Ivan advanced on him.
“Oh no, there is no need to explain.” Ivan gave him a chillingly pleasant smile, heading straight for Yekaterina’s assortment of stainless steel kitchen knives. “I understand perfectly, comrade. Now, hold still, yes? I need to take care of something...”
“Shit.” Matthew cursed, ducked under Ivan’s arm as he reached for the carving knife, and sprinted the fastest he’d ever sprinted towards the front door. He tripped over his own sneakers, left there from last night, and listened with wide eyes as the sound of Ivan’s boots came, double-time, after him on the wood floor. Before Matthew could scramble to his feet Ivan was on him, hauling him up so their faces were level.
“Do not worry,” Ivan told him cheerfully. “You and I are friends, yes? So all I will do is ensure that you will not do anything to harm my sister...” he brought the carving knife to hover menacingly at Matthew’s groin. The smaller nation swallowed thickly.
“Listen, Ivan...” he began weakly, and almost cried when he heard Yekaterina’s voice floating down from upstairs.
“Matthew?” she called sweetly. “Where are you? I’m lonely!”
Ivan froze, violet eyes boring into Matthew’s. Matthew opened and closed his mouth several times before replying, “Uh, Kat, you might want to come downstairs. There’s someone here to see you.”
Ivan didn’t release his hold on Matthew’s collar, but he did remove his knife from the vicinity of Matthew’s vital regions. Matthew breathed a sigh of relief.
Yekaterina came down the stairs slowly, hesitantly, wearing Matthew’s red hoodie over her negligee. When she saw Ivan her face flashed from surprise to happiness to apprehension.
“Vanya,” she said slowly. “Good morning.”
Ivan slowly unclenched his fingers, allowing Matthew to slip from his grasp. “Good morning!” he said, keeping the knife by his side. “How are you, sister?”
“I - I’m fine!” Yekaterina replied, glancing nervously at Matthew as if asking if he was all right. Matthew gave her a weak smile. “What are you doing here? And so early in the morning, too! Matthew, why don’t you continue making breakfast while Vanya and I talk?”
Matthew, grateful for the escape, edged past Ivan, who gave him an icy stare. The younger nation even dared to touch Yekaterina’s arm softly as he passed, to which the woman gave him a warm smile.
“I’ll be right there.” she promised.
As soon as Matthew was out of earshot, Yekaterina reached over and took her kitchen knife from her brother’s hand. “Put that down!” she chided. “Vanya, what are you doing here?”
“I came for the gas bill!” Ivan smiled, holding out his now empty hand. Yekaterina shot him a dubious look, obligingly taking his hand, lacing their fingers together the way they always did, comfortable and affectionate.
“It’s nine in the morning.” she told him. “I told you that I would get it to you by the end of today.”
“I know!” Ivan assured her. “But I thought I would come see you instead! You never visit very much anymore. I’ve missed you.”
Yekaterina gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “Well, Vanya,” she began delicately. “Sometimes...Big Sister would appreciate if you called beforehand.”
Ivan’s gaze hardened. “I can’t come see my sister when I feel like it?” he asked airily. Yekaterina flinched.
“No, it’s not that.” she assured him. “It’s just that, sometimes I’m doing other things and I’d prefer to have a little warning.”
“I see,” Ivan studied her. “And Matthew is why I must call beforehand?”
Yekaterina flushed. “Well, I mean, you do intimidate people,” she admitted, waving the knife for emphasis. “I keep telling you, if you take this one more time without my permission I am going to have to hide these.”
Ivan tried to look forlorn, and failed. “I missed you.” he repeated.
“You know I miss you too.” Yekaterina tried to look stern. “But I have been my own country for a while, now, and you know I get busy.”
“You are busy enough to have Matthew over?” Ivan asked with a sad tone to his voice.
“Matthew and I...are involved.” Yekaterina told him gently, “But that is not the only reason. As much as I love seeing you, you cannot just come into my house whenever you feel like it. I have business to look after. What if I was having a meeting?”
Ivan looked put out. “Well, you were.” he pointed out. “But not the kind I approve of.”
“Well, why not?” Yekaterina demanded. “You like Matthew, don’t you? He’s a sweet boy and he’s very nice to me. Haven’t you had good relations, in the past?”
“Yes.” Ivan agreed pleasantly. “But that does not stop me from wanting to relieve him of his genitals.”
“No one will be removing anyone's genitals.” Yekaterina told her brother firmly - it was amazing, really, how many times she had had to tell her brother this over the years.
“Come into the kitchen, Vanya. We will all have breakfast together and we will be nice and happy, and we will stay away from the kitchen knives.”
Matthew was cooking in silence when they entered, flitting nervously from stove to countertop, wearing the expression he often did when he desperately wanted his invisibility to kick in. Yekaterina squeezed his shoulder softly, until he looked over at her and gave a small smile. Ivan loomed over the both of them, like some disapproving parent. Matthew felt suffocated after a few seconds. He wondered how Yekaterina had put up with it for longer.
Once all the food was on the table, Matthew made to sit down at the table - Ivan grabbed him by the shoulders and steered him easily into the seat farthest from Yekaterina.
“Look, you get to look out the window!” Ivan informed him, before sitting himself into the chair right beside Yekaterina.
She gave a high, unnaturally loud laugh. “Well, isn’t this nice?” she asked, almost desperately. “What a treat, having both of you here! H-h-have some juice, Matthew! Vanya!”
As the girl fussed over the food, Ivan and Matthew exchanged a glance across the table.
“Do you two eat together often?” he spoke up, pausing Yekaterina in her frantic primping. “With Nataliya, as a family?”
Yekaterina’s face brightened fondly. “When we were younger, yes.” she explained. “Almost every Sunday, we’d make a big meal and eat together, just the three of us.”
Ivan looked smug. “Yes, it would be just us.” he repeated meaningfully. “We never needed anyone else, did we, Sister? Because we had each other.”
Yekaterina laughed again, reluctant reminiscence tinged with oh no Ivan please don't say those things when we have company.
“But then you and Nataliya grew up.” she pointed out with a nostalgic half-smile, spreading butter over her pancakes. “And we didn’t have time for those dinners anymore.”
“You started trying to make friends elsewhere.” Ivan pointed out, a little icily this time, and Yekaterina met his gaze.
“Then I am sure you remember the time when you were also making friends,” Yekaterina shot back with gentle sternness, “There were times that you missed a week’s worth of dinners.”
“You are just unhappy that you made mlyntsi and I wasn’t there.” Ivan said with a patient, almost patronly tone.
“No,” was Yekaterina’s reply, “I was unhappy because you did not think it important enough to grace us with your presence at dinners.”
Matthew stood, suddenly, babbling something about the bathroom or his glasses needing cleaning or the upstairs window that was open, and he was gone from the kitchen before Yekaterina could fix the situation. The two siblings were left in icy silence. Yekaterina picked up the teapot and poured herself another cup - the porcelain was scorching against her skin and when she set it down she clicked her tongue and brought her finger to her mouth to soothe it.
Ivan caught her wrist, gently, and smoothed the pad of his finger over the red spot on her finger.
“Every time I had to work late,” Ivan said quietly, in the stillness of the kitchen, “Every time I saw that it was dark outside, the first thing I thought of was how sad I was that I was going to miss your dinners.”
Yekaterina didn’t look at him, face tilted away, eyes closed tight in remorse, though moisture gathered under her eyelids.
“I made a lot of mistakes, and no matter how tightly I tried to hang onto you and Nataliya, I couldn’t keep you. I don’t want to lose you again.” Ivan’s violet eyes were fierce with emotion, when Yekaterina finally looked at him.
“You never lost me.” she replied softly, curling her fingers ‘round Ivan’s and squeezing, gently. “Never, Vanya, because we are family and unfortunately you are stuck with your horrible, weepy sister forever.” she gave him a wet smile. “So you don’t need to worry that you are losing me because you never will. Okay?”
Ivan gave back her hand in favor of cupping her cheek. “Okay.” he agreed. “You promise?”
“I promise.” Yekaterina nodded. “We’re siblings, Vanya. There will always be a place in my heart for you, and Matthew and I getting together won’t change that.”
“Mmm.” Ivan made a contented noise, rubbing his thumb over the bridge of her nose. “I am glad to hear that. But,” here he put on his cutest face, “I can still have some fun with Matthew, yes?”
Yekaterina couldn’t hide her fond smile with a frown anymore. “No kitchen knives.” she told him. Ivan nodded obediently.
“No kitchen knives.”
--
Matthew let out a shaky breath when he heard the front door close, signaling Ivan’s exit. He let the warm dishwater lap at his hands as he finished up the breakfast dishes. Yekaterina slipped up behind him and curled her arms around his waist, squeezing him gently.
“You were very brave.” she told him frankly and Matthew laughed, reaching up with a wet hand to push his glasses further onto his nose. Yekaterina stopped him in favor of doing it herself, fingers warm against his skin.
“I hope you got everything settled all right?” he asked - after he’d come back down to the kitchen table the siblings had been in a better mood. Yekaterina smiled and nestled her chin on his shoulder.
“Yes, thank you. Don’t let him get to you, he seems intimidating but really he’s a big sweetie nowadays.”
Sure, Matthew could believe that. He dabbed his hands dry with the dishcloth and turned, so he could cup Yekaterina’s lovely hips with his palms.
“Are you okay?” he asked. Yekaterina smiled.
“I’m fine.” she said sincerely. “I’m better than fine. That was a lovely breakfast. You cook very well.”
Matthew flushed under her praise, and Yekaterina took the time to loop her arms more securely around his shoulders.
“Anything for you.” he muttered. Yekaterina laughed at his little boy shyness.
“Such a sweetie.” she cooed, and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. Matthew returned the gesture eagerly, lips warm and sweet against hers. After a few seconds, Matthew opened his eyes to gaze past Yekaterina’s head. Behind her, framed in the kitchen window, Ivan stood with his arms crossed across his broad chest. Matthew felt his heart stop.
Take care of her, or else, Ivan mouthed against the glass, then turned and lumbered away, towards Yekaterina’s hedges.
“Matthew?” Yekaterina asked when they parted, studying him with worried blue eyes. “Is something wrong?”
“Oh, no!” Matthew replied, voice one tone higher than usual. “Let’s...let’s go upstairs! Where there are drapes.”
“...Drapes...?” Yekaterina repeated blankly, and then let out an exclamation as Matthew swept her up into his arms, already carrying her towards the stairs.
“I promised you breakfast in bed,” Matthew reminded her, nuzzling into the warm juncture of her neck. “I don’t want to break my promise.”
Yekaterina laughed. “Surely not!” she agreed.
When they were upstairs, Matthew made sure that all the blinds were down and all the windows were locked.
--
END
--
Note: Mlyntsi is a type of pancake, in case you were wondering :) Hope you enjoyed!