Chapter Text
Ivan didn’t have much excitement in his life. Sure, he’s the son of the head of one of the most powerful organized crime groups ever, but it’s not exactly a fun job.
Yeah, he knows 15 different martial arts, but he’s never used any of them in a real fight. Yes, he can hit a target from a half mile away, doesn't mean he’s been anywhere except a highly controlled shooting range. And having your food checked for poison? Sounds fine, until you're eating cold eggs and lukewarm coffee.
Ivan’s moms are… influential to say the least, but for mafia leaders? They are extremely overprotective. Ivan doesn't remember a time in his life where he wasn’t surrounded by more than 10 highly trained guards, and let him be the first to tell you, it gets old fast.
The guards are usually at least twice his age, but with half the training Ivan’s had. And having 3 middle aged guys watching you sleep is really weird.
So that’s why he’s in his матушка’s office right now.
As he knocks on the door her hears his матушка’s voice say “Come in!”
When he cracks open the door he sees both his mama and матушка, they don’t seem to be discussing anything to serious, seeing as his mama is sitting relaxed on the desk, cross legged.
“Ivan! I didn’t know you were coming up to visit us!” His матушка says as she stands up out of her chair to give him a hug.
Ivan quickly hugs his матушка back, “I have something I need to ask you” he says,
His матушка steps away and goes to sit back down, motioning for him to have a seat, “well then tell us” his mama says as she ruffles his hair, Ivan gives her an lightly annoyed look and covers his head with his hands.
“Well, so since I’m turning 16 next week… I think maybe 10 body guards is a little excessive” he says weakly. He knows his moms only want the best for him, but sometimes it really does feel like a bit much…
His матушка’s face gose somber at his comment, and his mama looks to his матушка for her reaction.
“No.” His матушка say’s quickly, but just as Ivan was about to argue his point his mama stepped in.
“Now hold on Anya, the boy is about to be 16. Don’t you think 10 personal guards is a bit excessive at this age?” She says
“Elise. Not now” his матушка says, clearly looking stressed. And panicked. And honestly angry.
“Ivan, me and your матушка are going to go discuss this, we’ll send someone to get you once we have an answer” his mama says,
Ivan hurries out of the room, not wanting to be in the room for the ensuing argument, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to listen. Once he leaves the room he hurries to the library, all 10 of his guards following and encircling him.
Once he gets to the library he’s able to shed all but two of the guards, good enough. He grabs a random book off the shelves and covertly sits down next to the wall that borders his parent’s study. He can just barely make out what they are saying.
“Elise! You don’t understand!”
“We’ll then tell me Anya, what do I not understand?”
“He needs to be protected! He’s still just a boy!”
“Yes, he’s an almost-16 year old boy who could probably kick my ass, all of these people “guarding him”, and is the only person I know that can put up a reasonable fight against you without embarrassing himself immediately!” His mama said,
Suddenly, his матушка breaks down crying, “I- I just don’t want to lose him!”
At this point Ivan doesn't want to hear any more, it’s pretty clear who won this argument, and he doesn’t need to hear his матушка have a mental breakdown today.
His матушка was born to his deda and babulya , his deda, Aleksandr Braginski, was the family head until he died, when Ivan was 7. His wife, Llya Braginski, didn’t want to take on the duties of family head. So the mantle was passed onto his deda and babulya’s only child, His матушка, Anya Braginski, and her wife, Elise Braginski-Jefferson.
His матушка was born and raised in Russia, she’s been a part of the “family” since she was born. His mama was a half French-half Ukrainian collage student studying in Moscow. Although his mama was the one who actually carried and birthed him, the used his матушка’s eggs. Because of this he looks almost nothing like his mama. It used to bother him as a child, but it doesn’t so much nowadays.
But he does look a lot like his матушка. They share the same strong stature, their height, and the same eyes. There are some places they differ though, where his face is more rounded, hers is sharp and defined. Where his nose is more of a button shape, hers is thin and contoured, and no ones quite sure where his platinum blond hair came from.
One thing Ivan did Inherited from his mama is her attitude. Ivan was by nature calm and collected, much more so than his матушка was when she was his age.
Contrary to what you’d expect, his mama was the calmer of the two, much more logical, she gets what she wants, and his матушка is much more emotional, especially when it comes to Ivan and his mama. Anytime the pressures on though, she’s a monster. Ivan’s seen it… unfortunately.
The way his mothers met is actually quite cliche. it’s a long, romantic story, but to cut it short, his матушка rescued his mama from some skeezy dudes who cornered her on the street, a “damsel in distress” as his матушка put it.
After that, they started dating, his mama figured out that the woman she was dating was actually the head of THE Braginski family, they got married, had Ivan, and promptly adopted 5 cats.
A knock alerts Ivan as one of the guards pops his head in, “your parents are waiting for you in their office” he says, Ivan feels butterflies in his stomach as he wonders about his parents decision.
Once he gets to the large magnolia doors to his parents office, he knocks and opens the doors, knowing they are expecting him.
When he gets inside, he’s gose ahead and takes a seat, waiting for one of his parents to speak.
His матушка’s eyes look just slightly puffy, and his mama looks a little excited.
“Ivan, we’ve taken what you said into consideration, and we’ve come up with an offer for you” his mama says, looking at him with a slight smile.
“You will be able to choose from an approved list of acceptable applicants to be your new main guard. They must be on the list we provide you OR meet our requirements, and we do have veto power. You will still have 10 undercover guards anytime you go out in public, and your normal guard will be with you. You will have 2 extra guards with you in the halls, but only your personal guard has to go into rooms with you, and as long as you allow us to add some safety features to your room, we won’t make guards take shifts watching you as if you're alone.” His матушка said.
Ivan stood up, a giant smile on his face, as he leaned over the desk and gave his матушка a squeeze, he then did the same to his mama and hurriedly said “do you have a list? Do you know your criteria?!”
His матушка gave him a soft smile, “I’ll send Alex down with a list shortly”