FBR5
That night…was the worst thing that had ever happened to Ivan. In the beginning, he imagined it was actually Ukraine behind him, which wasn't so bad. When they were all just small children, the three of them had slept together on the same bed to keep warm- him, Ukraine and Belarus…before she developed a mild case of brother complex.
Just that, compared to Ukraine, Yunxin wasn't quite as…voluptuous (What a word to describe his own sister)….One thought led to another and before he knew it, Yunxin reminded him of Natalia. He didn't even want to think about how he knew Yunxin's chest was about the approximate size of Belarus'. Suffice to say, what was suppose to be a lovely dream turned into a complete nightmare.
Instead of prancing in a field of green and gold with Yao, he was stranded alone in a dark, dank swamp. When he tried to run, he found himself sinking into the thick mud at his feet. He clawed at the liquidated ground, but the more he struggled, the faster he sank. His chest felt like it was being crushed by the falling heavy sand and dirt. But the worst part was yet to come. Like a cursed demon rising from the depths of hell, Belarus' head emerged from the ground right in front of him. She sank her nails into his shoulders, shaking them as she pressed her face closer and closer; her voice rasping out the accursed words….
"GET UP!" Yao yelled, sitting astride the still sleeping man's chest, bouncing up and down in an effort to wake him. He had tried everything: from gentle prodding, taking away the covers, and slapping his face and still nothing. No reaction. Ivan simply kept tossing and turning his head, whimpering in his sleep. Yao blew out a frustrated breath. He was getting tired of this. If he knew it was going to be this hard to wake the grown man, he would've made Yunxin stay rather than let her go back to her family yurt.
Staring down as the nation beneath him, Yao drummed his fingers along his jaw line deep in thought. Suddenly- crying out in a soft flowing language- Ivan sat up, effectively knocking him over onto the floor. Yao fell backwards with an undignified grunt.
"Yiwan!" Yao rubbed the back of his head where his hair ornament pricked him, "You're such a nuisance! I'm never going to wake you up by myself again! Next time you can ju-"
The slightly whining voice of the child, snapped Ivan from his terror induced nightmare. He stared teary eyed at the boy frowning up at him and promptly launched himself against the other's chest.
Tears were for girls. Men don't cry. He was the embodiment of what it was to be a man…. He buried his face deeper, hugged Yao tighter and cried openly. To reduce him to tears without shame…it says something about Belarus. Death had no gender.
Yao felt the tips of his ears growing hot as he pulled on the ash-blond hair. "Y-you! Let go!"
Ivan shook his head, his muffled 'no' vibrated against Yao's chest. Even if this wasn't the same Yao that fought a staring contest with his half-crazed sister and emerged unscathed, Ivan didn't mind. Just his presence, of what he'll grow up to be, comforted him. To him, Yao was sometimes a mix between a fussy wife and a mother hen. One minute he would stubbornly ask Ivan to teach him Russian meals and the next minute force the blond to learn how to cook Chinese cuisine. Ivan didn't understand it at first and just went along with the flow; he liked how Yao paid close attention to his every words and movement when it was his turn to teach. Finally though, after three months of switching back and forth- each mastering 3-4 dishes at least- Ivan asked why the sudden Spartan training.
"Because," Yao answered without hesitation, "eating a home cooked meal together is the first step to building a strong, happy family."
Ivan smiled. Yao was such a smooth talker, spouting romantic things without even trying.
"You know what else makes a 'strong, happy family?" Ivan asked, grabbing onto the corner of Yao's sleeve- not hard, but it was enough for the other to turn and face him.
Yao quirked his brow, silently waiting for the answer as he usually did.
"If the 'parents' kiss a lot," Ivan teased. He bent his head to capture the disapproving mouth with his. Yao might not like to publicly kiss, but sometimes there were exceptions. Right now…Ivan felt the soft lips beneath his curve into a smile.
Perhaps it was nostalgia or perhaps it was a conditioned reflex from when they both served under the Mongolian Empire, but he always felt his body become lax around the Chinese nation. Among the numerous nations and people that lived in Mongolia's house, somehow he and Yao miraculously bonded together despite their language barrier. From then and until now, the slender man always knew the right words, the correct actions to make him feel better. He always knew how to make the fear (of Belarus) go away. Just as Yao felt safe and secure in his arms, he felt warm and protected when he was close to the ebony-haired man.
Yao gave up struggling and flopped down onto the ground; his arms spread wide about him. Taking it as a sign of invitation, Ivan snuggled closer- still sniffling. Yao heaved a big sigh, knowing further resistance was futile. He patted the big man's head as a mother would to her child, mumbling half-heartedly comforting words.
"Are you done with being scared yet?"
Ivan mutely nodded his head yet continued to half lie over the small boy; his hold tight as ever. Yao gazed up at the yurt's roof. Next time, he definitely was going to get Yunxin to wake him. He closed his eyes. Since he couldn't get up, might as well save his strength. "What was in your dream that could possible scare a big man such as yourself silly?" The child asked conversationally.
"My sister," Ivan's smothered reply against his chest, rang loud in Yao's ears.
His eyes snapped opened. "You have siblings? Nations can have siblings?"
Watery lilac eyes peeked up at him. "Yes?"
"Really?" Yao was strung tight from exhilaration and curiosity, "How many? How do nations get siblings? Where are the mother and father? Does it happen like regular humans? Does that mean I can get siblings, too, if I ask Sheng Long nicely, Yiwan?"
Ivan sat up, wiping away the corner of his eyes a little. "Uh…too many questions at once. I'll answer them another time okay?"
Yao narrowed his eyes from having his questions -his important questions- ignored. One day, he'll get all of the answers out of him. Until then, he had to make sure the other nation didn't leave.
"Fine. We have to get ready anyway." Yao reached behind him and threw the clothes he had Yunxin prepare at the larger man. "Change into that."
Ivan flinched a bit when the clothes landed on his face. As they slowly slipped off his head, he looked at the plain colored fabric. "Eh…why?"
"You'll stand out less if your wear the clothes my people wear."
"I think…," Ivan began hesitantly, touching his hair, "I'll still stand out even with the change of clothes."
"Just wear it!" Yao scowled.
"If you say so," Ivan exhaled loudly, gathering the clothes in his arms and got up.
He wasn't unaccustomed to wearing traditional Chinese clothes. Once in a while he would wear them to please his southern neighbor. Yao would beam at him, showering him with compliments. In those instances, Ivan had an inkling of a feeling that Yao was trying to turn him into a trophy wife….
Ivan picked up the white inner layer. He eyed the multiple sets of garments he would have to wear above the one he was holding. Yao usually made him wear the Manchu style of clothing. It was much simpler; less layers and more buttons. It's not like he didn't know how the more traditional Hanfu worked. He's seen Yao wear them many times to know the basics. Luckily for him, the more intricate designs and many adornments weren't introduced yet during the Xia dynasty. Setting the white shirt back down, Ivan sighed, thinking what an unnecessary bother it was. He began to unbutton the side buttons of his coat when he realized belatedly little Yao was still in the room, staring at him with an uncanny determination.
"…Little Yao…I'm changing?"
"I can see that." Yao didn't get the hint. He stood where he was, still staring at the other nation with unblinking eyes.
Ivan shook his head. If little Yao wanted to see him naked, then he'll let him. It wasn't as if he was self conscious of his own body around the Chinese. Yao saw his bare body enough times to know every scratch and scar. He, himself, also memorized every detail of Yao's body like the back of his own hand. There was nothing to be embarrassed about.
Ivan dropped his coat to the floor, letting it pool at his feet. Returning the challenging gaze of the child, he began working on his white collared shirt. He wasn't an exhibitionist like France was, but he did enjoy undressing in front of his Yao. He liked seeing the many faces his funny, little lover showed him. He never grew tired of seeing Yao looking away with a blush to only peek back at him with tenderness. His body trembled when he saw the intense amber eyes burn with longing and hungry passion for him. Soft, delicate hands ran over his skin in admiration; kisses danced on his body in pleasure.
He finished unbuttoning his shirt; his entire torso exposed to the little boy…who only patiently waited for him to begin on his pants.
In the end, Ivan lost to embarrassment as the pair of golden orbs kept observing him with undying interest. "Um…could you leave for a moment so I can change?"
"Why?" Yao asked, showing no signs to accommodate, "We're both men. I have what you have. Hurry up and change already."
Ivan shot little Yao with daggers in his eyes. He turned his back on the boy and dropped his pants. It was one thing to strip in front of a lover, but a completely different thing to be seen by an uncaring party. Little Yao didn't see him with lust; he only viewed him as an oddity to be studied and learned from. He angrily thrust one leg into the cotton trousers provided for him. How mortifying and frustrating. If he ever wanted to make the boy fall for him, he'll half to at least-
A cold hand skimmed over his lower back.
"Wah hah hah," An odd noise escaped from Ivan's lips from the sudden freezing contact. Blushing, he covered his mouth and turned to glare at the culprit.
"Ah, sorry. I just wanted to compare our complexions," Yao slipped his hands into his long sleeves in an attempt to hide the evidence. "You're skin is just so white and fair, I…," He trailed off as he noticed he was eye level with Ivan's waist. He cocked his head to the side and stared at Ivan in silence.
"Wh-what?" Ivan asked, fighting the urge to squirm beneath the child's quiet gaze
"When I grow up, how do I get to be as big as you, Yiwan?" Yao directed his question not to Ivan's face, but to another part of his body.
Hurriedly, Ivan tugged the rest of the pants on and tied the strings tightly around his hips. The interesting spectacle over and covered, Yao finally lifted his face to meet the other nation. He tried to hide a smile with his sleeves when he noticed the crimson color of Ivan's face.
Yao wasn't quite successfully. Ivan saw the smile. He clenched his fists, thinking the little pervert purposely wanted him to squirm and fidget. He'll never be able to change peacefully if the boy remained here.
"H-hey, what are you doing?" Yao cried out when Ivan picked him up by the waist, carrying him towards the yurt's entrance.
Ivan ignored him. The brat didn't even deserve an explanation. Ivan simply opened the yurt's flap, deposited Yao right outside the tent, and returned back inside to finish changing.
So much fluff, my cavity hurts. I don't know, but embarrassed Ivan is cute. Reminds of the strip where he blushed when his heart fell out lol.
Surprisingly (or not) this chapter will also be split into Morning and Day as well. That's just how it worked out XD.
If people didn't figure it out already, I'm changing their characteristics a bit. It's very similar to 'if Ivan was courting Yao, but going about it the wrong way' kind of innocence and Yao...is just completely oblivious because he just doesn't see Ivan in that way.
EDIT: Too many ppl have asked me for the link where Ivan's heart fell out. So here it is: community(.) livejournal (.) com/hetalia/4193035 (.) html Take out the () and spaces for the link.