Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

I don't own Hetalia okay? I know I should be updating some of my other stories before I create a new one but I saw a post on Tumblr and got this idea. And as us authors know when an idea bites, it won't let go. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic.

The president sighed. He knew this call was coming since they sent Alfred, aka the personification of the United States of America, to the conference, in of all the places in the country, Las Vegas, Nevada. But it was one of the many post cold war peace conferences with the states of the old Warsaw pact. And there was always trouble with Alfred and one of the old Soviet states getting too drunk and well, it became a legal issue, what with the quickie wedding chapels, there were often divorces needing done. Nations had physical needs too, ones that included food and well, more carnal feelings. And with his Puritan upbringing, it was a mess that often had him marry the person or nation and then when the hangover kicked in, he realised what he did. The phone rang and rang as the president sighed.

"Shouldn't you answer that sir?" The president's aide asked.

"No." The president sighed as he picked up the phone and placed it back down. "I know who it is and what he wants. It's Alfred, we sent him to Las Vegas to meet with some of the old Warsaw pact countries at the Nevada test site for goodwill after the collapse of the Soviet Union. And he has a thing for a lot of them. Mix that and alcohol and there's going to be a mess." He looked up at the young aide who looked concerned. "Well I am not giving him his quickie divorce and annulment this time. No matter who he married! He's over 400 years old and I'm not going to bail him out so easily." He groaned as the phone rang again.

"Sir?" The aide asked.

"Let me handle it." The President said.

Alfred looked over the sleeping form under the blanket and ring on his finger. It wasn't the first time this happened, but it did happen a lot, meeting up with other nations in Las Vegas and well, one thing usually led to another and well...it wasn't anything that a call to his boss wouldn't fix. As he held the phone to his ear, he heard it pick up, and a wave of elation flew over him. God, I won't have to worry about anything with this! My boss will bail me out! And as soon as this thought came over him, a sinking feeling came over his stomach as a click was heard. No worries, he may have dropped it, or got another call that he accidentally hit the hang up button then properly switched the line, he is old after all... He took a deep breath to calm himself and dialed again. Hearing the other end pick up, he felt elated.

"Hey boss! So I have something to ask of you..." Alfred began.

"Let me guess..." The president began. "You married another nation at the conference out there?"

"You're so smart!" Alfred said, thinking if he buttered up his boss he wouldn't get a long lecture about it later. As if this boss has any room to talk about the sanctity of marriage anyway... "So let's just get this annulment train started huh and we forget the whole thing ever happened..."

"No Alfred. You need to learn a lesson and you won't if I keep bailing you out like this." The president said.

"But...but..." Alfred began, his heart racing. "It's one of the Warsaw Pact!"

"So? The Cold War is over. It might do us some good for you to make it work with...Which one did you marry again?" The President asked.

"Ooooooh my head..." Came in a deep Russian accent, reaching for a bottle of vodka from the bedside. Ivan sat up in the bed and smiled nervously. "How you say...hair of the dog..."

"Uhhhh...Ivan...Russia..." Alfred sighed.

"It's been HOW MANY TIMES with you two now? Couldn't you have married someone different?" The President sighed.

"Hey! He was one of the few European Nations that provided support in the Civil War. And we wouldn't have Alaska without him!" Alfred said.

"So you two have a long history, this will do you good. If you keep marrying him, then he means something dear to you. So here are the rules. You two have to live together for a year as married. I am not annulling it. If you still don't make things work, file for divorce. But if it is any day before today a year from now, I will find out." The president said.

"What you gonna do about it?" Alfred challenged.

"My predecessors left me notes on things they have done." He stated. "And I would rather not use it. So, you have one year before you find you actually like the guy and work it out, or get a divorce." With this the president hung up and Alfred placed the phone down and sighed.

"What was that about?" Ivan said, placing the now empty bottle down. "My head is killing me."

"I'll brew some coffee." Alfred said. "And I think I have some Advil here somewhere. It helps the headaches..."

"Spasibo..." Ivan sighed and looked at his right hand. "We didn't, did we?" He said laying back on the bed staring at the ring on his hand. "Although I do have to thank you for putting the ring on the Russian way. You didn't get a video tape of it this time? How long until we can go our own ways like this never happened?" Ivan said, knowing this had happened between the two of them often and all Alfred had to do was call his boss and it would be annulled and they would move along like it never had happened.

"Uhhhhhhhh..." Alfred paused. He didn't know just what to say in this case. "Ummmmmm my boss was on the shitter" It just came out of his mouth and Ivan looked at him curiously as he got up and began to look for his clothes. If there was one thing a wild Vegas wedding between the two led to, it always led to a wild wedding night looked at him, as if he could see right through him.

"Fredka..." Ivan said sternly while his heart sank, dreading the truth.

"Ummmmm..." Alfred began, stomach falling, dreading having to tell Ivan the truth. "hewouldntdoit..." He said quickly hoping Ivan heard him.

"Excuse me? I thought you said, 'he wouldn't do it'?" Ivan asked. Alfred just nodded. "You're joking?" Alfred shook his head no. "You're serious?" Alfred nodded again in the affirmtive. "Okh, chert menya poberi!" Ivan said.

"Well, he wouldn't annul it now, but he said terms were we live together married for a year and if we don't like it, we can get a divorce, but not a day before this day next year." Alfred said. "And while my bosses may not be as scary as yours can be, they often send the CIA to do their dirty work..." He said, shaking his head at the bad memories of what the CIA did when Alfred had crossed his bosses. Russia nodded, understanding himself when a boss wanted to "punish" a nation, having a few ruthless ones himself.

Ivan sat up and adjusted the blanket to give himself some modesty while Alfred paced around at the coffee maker. The terms were not that unreasonable even if it was highly inconvenient. He would have to find something to tell his boss, but luckily his current boss was a drunk and likely wouldn't miss him at all. Or if he did want to speak to him, Ivan could lie and then his boss would let it go. Looking at his right hand, he sighed, knowing that it was something he had to deal with now. It was only a year after all. A year was hardly any time for Nation personifications like them.

Alfred poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down in the chair in the corner of the room, causing Ivan to blush, seeing he was still as naked as they were when they fell asleep. He took a deep drink of the coffee and smiled. It was as if the clouds of confusion began to move from his mind. "So, Vanya,what about your boss?"

"What about him?" Ivan said. "He's not going to miss me hardly any. He likes his vodka too much." Alfred nodded, recalling a recent meeting between their bosses where his boss was found in the morning drunk outside the white house in his underpants trying to get a pizza. "and if I am called away for work, your boss will not mind."

"He better not..." Alfred growled. "I mean there's plenty of times where a spouse has to go away for work for a little bit." At this he felt a rumble in his stomach. "Want to get some breakfast? I know after a long night of drinking, I need A TON of pancakes."

"Da..." Ivan said. "Let me get a shower first." Alfred nodded. "And you should too." Alfred lifted up his arm and sniffed his armpit, sticking his tongue out in disgust.

"Want to do it together hubby?" Alfred laughed, trying out the situation they were now stuck in.

"I'd rather not." Ivan rolled his eyes. "But I will join you for breakfast. I am rather hungry myself."

After they had cleaned up, they headed down to the buffet in the hotel that Alfred assured Ivan was one of the best in the town, to which Ivan rolled his eyes, after having had many hotel breakfasts where he was sent to stay for meetings let him down. However, it had appeared Alfred was not lying about this. There was a crepe station that was made to order and some of the salmon in the brunch station. He sat down and sipped his orange juice while Alfred came over with a huge stack of pancakes and bacon. He took a bite of his food, took a deep drink of his juice and looked at Alfred. "So, what do we do now Mr. Braginsky?" He smirked.

"Fuck you Mr. Jones." Alfred said back.

"Well you did so well last night." Ivan teased as Alfred quickly flipped him off. "Well that's no way to treat your spouse." Alfred rolled his eyes as he continued. "Where will we stay?"

"Uhhhhhh..." Alfred said as he thought quickly. "Likely my Virginia house. Close enough to my boss he could see we're doing the whole domestic thing like he ordered and maybe every now and again go to your place?" He said wanting to be fair.

"It is lately...how you say...shithole." Ivan said. Alfred nodded. He had been to Russia for a few meetings after the Soviet Union had collapsed and it was a mess, but he didn't want to say it himself, it would be rather rude. "So yes, that sounds nice."

"It's far enough from the city where the commute in when they want me isn't horrible but still far enough for some peace and quiet..." Alfred sighed. He frankly didn't like many of his bosses. They all seemed so disconnected from the people. Not to mention the things he had to say about "You were mistaken" when he had found the wreckage at Roswell.

"I would rather not really deal with many people until I get settled." Ivan said as Alfred nodded.

"Totally understand." Alfred burped. "I'm getting more." He said getting up.

"You do that..." Ivan sighed, looking at his hand. I swear I will never touch vodka as long as I live once I get through this... He thought.

Translation guide:

(Obtained via Google Translate)

Okh, chert menya poberi!-Russian- Oh fuck me!

So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. I got this review from a Tumblr comment and well it wouldn't leave. It's set in the late 90s early 00s, so the fall of the Soviet Union is still recent and Ivan's boss I mentioned is referencing Boris Yeltsin who indeed in the 90s wandered around DC near the White house drunk, in his underpants, wanting a pizza. So remember to read, well you just did, and review. Ciao for now,

otherrealmwriter

aka

Realm.

Chapter Text

I don't own Hetalia okay? I know it's been a little while since I updated but I am going to finish this story, even if it takes awhile. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!

Having finished breakfast, Alfred and Ivan were walking down the Strip, thinking of what to do from this point on. Ivan wiped his brow, and Alfred looked around and saw a stand with bottled water. He grabbed two bottles and handed one to him. Ivan smiled and opened the bottle. "So," Alfred said with a nervous smile. "What would you like to do today?"

"We don't fly back until tomorrow." Ivan noted. After breakfast, Ivan had swapped his ticket to be on the same flight with Alfred so he could settle in at his Virginia home in the country. "And we've already gotten ourselves into trouble in the city….."

Alfred paused. "Well we can go down to Lake Meade or go to some of the trails around here. It's pretty scenery. "Or we could go to Death Valley national park."

"I am not up for that much heat." Ivan sighed.

"It's closer than the Grand Canyon." Alfred shrugged "And it's still out of the city."

"Maybe." Ivan said as he took a swig from the bottle of water.

"There's the amusement park at Circus Circus…." Alfred thought, trying to think of things in Las Vegas that weren't too crazy. He still had a bit of a hangover from the night before, despite the heroic amount of pancakes and coffee he had, claiming to be his usual hangover cure.

"Is there a place here that's quiet?" Ivan sighed.

"I guess take a boat around the lake? Go fishing even?" Alfred suggested. Ivan looked at him skeptically. He knew it was a big spot where there would be a lot of tourists. "I know where the good fishing spots are and where the quiet secluded spots are. Despite what you may think, I sometimes want to be alone."

"I will trust you." Ivan said. "I will need to get a hat and some sunscreen though. I burn so easily."

"Sure dude." Alfred said as they headed back to the garage where he was parked. "I drove here to this thing." He said as they headed back to their hotel's parking garage. "So yeah I drove this one as I didn't want a rental and it's been nice lately. Drove it from my garage to Chicago down the Mother road.

"Mother road?" Ivan asked.

"Route 66." Alfred said. Or what's left of it." Alfred said, " And it's not like it's the first time this baby's done that trip or a similar one." He pressed the button on the elevator and hit the top floor. "I love the top in places like this, overlook the city and the mountains. It's a great view."The elevator door opened and Ivan looked around. He had to agree with Alfred, the view of the mountains in the west were actually pretty beautiful. "There she is." Alfred said as he headed to the car, a red convertible 1955 For Thunderbird.

"That's the car you mentioned?" Ivan asked.

"Yup." Alfred said proudly. "Back in the 50's I would hook a small camper up to this thing and drive the Mother road all the time." He sighed. It was almost like after the civil war when he would hide from the government in the southwest living as an outlaw. But in the 1950's it was to get away from the Cold War drama, even if a lot of the work on the atomic weaponry was in this region. He had driven Route 66 many times, but always there was something new to see or he could have captivated the children with his tales from the wild west that he swore were true. Many from his own adventures with some embellishments. It was his way of getting away from it all and enjoying the natural beauty of his land. "I am leaving the top down, you mind?"

"No. It would be nice to feel the breeze along the roadway." Ivan smiled.

"You're the boss hubby." Alfred laughed as Ivan rolled his eyes.

"Just remember who had you begging for more last night." He teased back as Alfred narrowed his eyes in annoyance.

"Let's just get to the lake." Alfred sighed. Turning on the radio, they headed out of the city, and down towards the lake. Ivan looked out at the scenery on the side of the road, looking for the desert passing him by and the ring on his hand. It hasn't been the first time they had gotten drunk in Las Vegas and married, nor was he Alfred's only paramour in that matter. He couldn't decide which one was the one matter that bugged him the most about this arrangement. "Oh that's Railroad Pass Casino, one of the oldest casinos in Nevada still running." Alfred commented as they passed it.

"That's interesting." Ivan said.

"The steakhouse is pretty good. A lot like the Old Vegas style." Alfred said. "Remember the ones we went to in all those goodwill meetings?"

"Yes. It was quite something I had not been used to for a long time." Ivan said.

"I really liked the stroganoff you make." Alfred said breaking the tension.

"Really?" Ivan asked.

"Yes." Alfred admit. "And when we get back to my place, would you make it more often?" He said volume decreasing so it was hard to hear as they drove with the wind blowing by and radio turned up.

"I am sorry, I did not hear you…." Ivan said.

"I like your stroganoff, you do it better than I do, and can you make it when we get back home and have to play married or whatever it is…." Alfred blushed and laughed off. "All we got to do is act like we're happy matrimonied and then we'll be free men again."

"Yes." Ivan sighed. "Free men." He looked up at the road as the lake drew closer. "Can't wait."

Alfred pulled up to the boat dock and turned off the car. "Let's head inside big guy." He said as he opened the door, and Ivan followed suit. Squinting as he looked around, Ivan knew he had to get sunscreen, knowing how easy he burned, slightly envying how easy Alfred tanned. It was something that had entranced him about Alfred was that. He had wondered if it was the mixing of native blood with the European colonists in the founding of the nation, but it was not something he had wanted to dwell too much on. All he knew was that seeing Alfred tan was something he absolutely loved. More like seeing the tan lines and knowing that he got to see Alfred's usual skin tone once he was stripped down. These thoughts overtook Ivan as he looked at Alfred who was talking to the clerk, renting a boat, getting the permits and equipment. "Hey Vanya!" Alfred yelled. "We're ready to go." He said handing Ivan a fishing pole. "We're all set up. Got us a boat rented for the day and all the bait and tackle we will need."

"What about sunscreen?" Ivan asked.

"Right here dude." Alfred said digging a tube out of a shopping bag hanging off of his wrist. "Take these to the car, I need to load up the cooler."

"I have seen what you call fishing. Men here will drink cheap beer while catching nothing." Ivan said.

"I'm driving Barbara here, I am not about to get wasted and risk wrecking her. My boss would flip out if I get a DUI and you know how much work I have put into her to keep her looking so good?" Alfred said. "And no, I am not letting you drive her. I'm the one who put in the work, she's mine and mine alone to handle."

"Alright. Alright." Ivan rolled his eyes. "You named this car Barbara?"

"Yeah, what of it? It was a popular name back in the day." Alfred said.

"Fine." Ivan sighed as they drove from the shop to the deck where the boat they had rented was sitting. Alfred parked his car and got out, grabbing the cooler and tackle box. Ivan stepped out, put on a layer of sunscreen and adjust a large brimmed hat and looked over at Alfred.

"Can you get the rods?" He pointed to the fishing poles in the back. Ivan nodded and took those poles with him as they headed to the boat and Alfred started it up and headed to a spot he knew of that would keep them out of the way and keep things private. Once he found a spot that would be further than most would go to, he shut off the motor and smiled. "So, here it is, the best spot I know of that you can still catch something. Just catch and release this time."

"Understood." Ivan nodded as he grabbed a rod and opened the tackle box and baited his hook as Alfred did the same. They sat in silence as the bobbers waved back and forth. Alfred sighed as Ivan looked over at him. "So….nice weather…." Ivan began.

"Yep." Alfred said. "So, about our arrangement…." He said knowing they should best smooth out any issues they knew of up front before they found themselves at Alfred's Virginia manor. "We should work some things out before we get back home, just so you know, we did it. Jet lag and all….." Alfred laughed nervously.

"Da." Ivan said. They both paused and looked around. "You go first, you are the host after all. It is only good manners."

"I mean I don't want you to feel like you're just some house guest. You're living and working there too. And there's plenty of space…..We could have it so we hardly even see each other if you want."

"No, I don't want that." Ivan said as Alfred looked slightly dejected. "I am not meaning I don't want to see you at all. I am just meaning, there are times I would like some privacy. Back at my house, there is plenty of places I could go if I wanted to get away from it all. Russia is the biggest country on Earth after all."

"I know that…." Alfred moaned, "And well, there's times too I just want to be by myself. So well starting the ground rules, my storage room, off limits." Ivan looked on curiously. "It's full of mementos I can't bear to part with and I find that kind of private. I hate that some Congressmen got in there back when I threw a Christmas party in 1976. Boss fell down the stairs and everything. Total disaster and it was MY BOSS'S idea I throw it."

Ivan laughed as Alfred looked at him crossly. "I will respect your privacy. I know our bosses had us trying to find each other's weaknesses to destroy each other, but that is as you called it, ancient history."

"I was so tired of that bullshit." Alfred said. "You still have those Levi's I got you back in 1991?"

"Of course." Ivan smiled.

"Good." Alfred said. "Wear them more often." He blushed and Ivan looked on curiously. "You'll fit in better, it's one of the latest fashion trends after all….."

"You sure about that?" Ivan prodded.

"Yes." Alfred said with his teeth clenched.

"I am sure you are hiding a real reason. We are married now, there should be no secrets between us. I think it is because you like me in them." Ivan prodded.

"ithinkyouhaveahotassinthosejeans….." Alfred mumbled under his breath.

"I am sorry, I must have misheard you." Ivan prodded. He knew quite well what Alfred said, but he loved getting him to say it loudly and annoying him, even if the Cold war was long over.

"I said, 'I THINK YOU HAVE A HOT ASS IN THOSE JEANS!' HAPPY NOW?" Alfred yelled then quickly covered his mouth, looking around, hoping none of the other boaters heard him yell out that proclamation.

"Mostly." Ivan said with his usual innocent but deadly smile. "But that outburst may have scared the fish."

"No it didn't…." Alfred said.

"Go check." Ivan said pushing Alfred in the water.

Swimming back to the boat, soaking, Alfred climbed back in and scooped up Ivan, who was stunned. He had forgotten just how strong the younger nation was. He recalled Arthur's stories of Alfred swinging buffalo around in his childhood. "Your turn." Alfred said throwing Ivan in before he realized what was happening.

"You started it. I just finished it." Alfred said as Ivan swam back into the boat.

"You know, we should work on behaving better as a married couple. Wouldn't want to get your boss upset." Ivan sighed as he grabbed a towel nearby and dried himself off.

Flashbacks of what previous bosses did came into his mind. "You got a point Vanya….." Alfred looked down with shame. "Sorry dude."

"Apology accepted." Ivan smiled. "But I will be honest, it was kind of fun when you threw me in the water. I always forget how strong you are Fredka." With this Alfred blushed. "And it looks like I got a bite." He said as he reeled in a fish.

"And it looks like a big one." Alfred smiled. "I got a funsaver camera," Alfred said as he dug it out of his box. "Say cheese." He said as he took the picture. "There, one honeymoon photo down. If the bossman asks. I will only show him the PG stuff. Nothing more. If he can't respect that, well….I don't know…."

"I'll deal with him for you." Ivan said darkly.

"Dude, I LOVE the enthusiasm, but I don't think that would work too well….." Alfred said.

"Trust me Fredka." Ivan smirked as he threw the fish back in the water. "I have done it on some of my own bosses. And you know how evil some of them can be."

"If you want to dude. I'm not stopping you." Alfred said. "Now, I need to re-bait my hook. No way are you going to be the only one to land the big one."

"I'd say you did last night." Ivan said as Alfred blushed.

"You have the sense of humor of a 12 year old." Alfred replied.

"So do you." Ivan said.

"I guess we're a perfect match then." Alfred said as he cast his rod out.

So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. I don't have much else really to say here, I did mention some of the ideas like the 76 Christmas party and the jeans Alfred got Ivan in 1991 from my oneshot All I Want For Christmas. While these aren't related I do like working with some elements. Anyway, remember to read, well you just did, and review. Ciao for now,

otherrealmwriter

aka

Realm.

Chapter Text

I don’t own Hetalia okay? I honestly don’t have much else to say here, so enough of this A/N, on with the fic!

The day passed on and Alfred looked at this watch and sighed. “I think we need to head back. I have to return this boat.”

“That’s fine.” Ivan said as he wiped his forehead. “I think despite my best efforts, I do have a sunburn.”

“I think they had some aloe after sun in the rental place.” Alfred said. As he headed to the dock, he sighed looking longingly at the sunset. “It’s so beautiful out here.” Ivan looked on curiously. Alfred, sensing this kept going. “This was my favorite thing when I was out here back in the day.”

“I can see why it is indeed beautiful.” Ivan said as they headed up to the dock. Following Alfred in, he looked around for the after-sun cream when he saw there was a small corner with camping supplies. Why would he have all this out here? Ivan pondered to himself briefly but then reminded himself it was the Las Vegas area and tourists could be very impulsive. Looking at the ring on his and then back at Alfred’s hands where his ring was still there, despite them both getting bored and pushing the other one off or daring the other to swim from the boat to one rock and back, he realized they had little room to talk about ‘impulsive’.

Alfred had come back to see Ivan looking at the camping equipment. “Hey big guy, whatcha lookin’ at?” He asked noticing Ivan looking at the camping equipment. “I got you some after sun aloe and the boat is returned.”

“How good is Barbara in the desert?” Ivan asked.

“Not bad….” Alfred asked eyeing Ivan skeptically. “Why? You do know there is gullies, canyons and such that won’t do good on her.”

“Well, what time do we have to check out tomorrow?” Ivan asked.

“Checkout is 11. Although if we overstay and get charged, I can use that as an argument for my boss to say we were living as married….” Alfred laughed.

“And our flight?” Ivan asked.

“5pm local time.” He replied. “We won’t get to my house until like 2 or 3 am. I live like an hour from the airport.” Alfred explained about his Virginia manor home. “There’s an IHOP along the way that I like to stop at as well when heading back from late flights if you’re hungry.”

“Well I was thinking we get this tent.” Ivan pointed at the camping supplies. “Some food and sleeping bags and we can see the stars tonight. If it is anything like the Kyzylkum desert back home, then it would be beautiful.”

Alfred took a few minutes to remember exactly where the Kyzylkum desert was. Despite what people thought, he was decent with geography, especially in places he cared about. He knew the Canadian wilderness well, from the many times he had explored it with his brother, and he knew Japan well from the times he and Kiku had went to see the various features the countryside there had. Having to act like he had an obsessive hate on Ivan and the Soviet Union for 45 years, he came to remember where a lot of the major features were geographically. “I mean I am sure the stargazing there is better than here in the Mojave, but a lot of the camp sites in the area still are pretty decent. And hey, we can come out here at a later date too and head into the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. It’s very good there. Or if you want something more tropical there Arecibo in Puerto Rico. There’s a reason I suggested there for the SETI telescope.” He said. It was actually Tony who helped design it, but because he couldn’t reveal Tony to the general public.

“You’re rambling.” Ivan said. “I’ll get the supplies and ask for a good campground.” Ivan said as he pulled supplies from the wall and took them to the counter. He looked over at Alfred as he looked at the supplies and back to Ivan with a smirk. This would get them further away from people and from prying eyes and they could spend time together sober. The times they did have together, they always bonded over looking at the sky, even all the way back to just after Alfred had gained his independence. He even recalled when they signed the Alaska Purchase and they were both there for the ceremony and after all the politicians and ambassadors had headed off to congratulate themselves, they had headed to a secluded spot in the wilderness and just watched the sky talking about what they had going on and their people. As the night wore on, Ivan remembered the look Alfred had when he saw the aurora.

“It’s beautiful.” He said. “And it isn’t tainted by fields of the dead…..” Alfred stared off in a 1000 yard stare. The Civil War was still very recent for him, having ended only 2 years before. There were times Alfred was grateful for the strict Victorian modesty that was the fashion coming out of England because it hid his still healing, slightly infected wounds well.

“That’s over.” Ivan said. “You’re healing.”

“I fear I may never completely…..” Alfred sighed. “I thought that the aurora was the souls of dead on both sides at Fredericksburg moving on to the other side.”

“How is that railroad your people are working on coming?” Ivan said, wanting to move the topic to a more hopeful one.

“The Union Pacific is working through Wyoming and the Central Pacific is back to work through the Sierras. God that was rough. I tried to get a hold of Yao to see how to help break the strike. He said ‘Pay them more idiot.’” Ivan smirked. “What?”

“That’s Yao’s style.” Ivan smiled. “I may try to talk my boss into something similar through Siberia if this proves to work.”

“Really?” Alfred said. “You think he’d listen to you?” Having had to go through a few decades of his bosses ignoring him, Alfred had a disdain for them.

“Possibly. Especially if I can give him good precedence to go off of. And I would like it to be from your example.” Ivan smiled holding onto to Alfred who perked up. “Are you alright.”

“No...no...it’s okay….brushed up against a healing war wound….” Alfred said laughing off how he really felt.”

“Oh well, I will be more careful then.” Ivan said. “Let’s just enjoy the beautiful sky the lord has given us.”

“Let’s.” Alfred said. “Come on dude, we have to get to the car and find a spot before it gets dark. I fucking hate setting up camp in the dark.”

“Huh?” Ivan said as he turned around from the clerk who was packing Ivan’s purchases into a bag.

“You heard me dude.” Alfred said, “I want to get to the campsite before it gets too dark. Oh and I got us some hot dogs and buns for dinner and stuff for smores. Oh and wood for a campfire. We are camping after all. And enough cans of coke for a lifetime.”

“Oh of course.” Ivan said as he took the bags and headed to the car where Alfred had jumped in.

“You got a reservation?” Alfred asked to make sure he understood.

“Yes, the clerk also runs a campground and got us a spot here. He wrote down the directions.” Ivan said had he handed a brochure to Alfred.

Alfred took the brochure an examined it, reading it a few times until he knew just where it was. “Alright dude, I got this.” He said as he put the car into reverse and headed down to the campground where their spot was reserved. Ivan looked at Alfred and sighed, thinking back to his memory of the transfer of Alaska You weren’t so vulgar in your language then. Still kind of loud, despite recovering from a civil war….His mind wandered and then looked back at the ring on his finger. This wasn’t the first time they had a drunken Vegas marriage, just the first one that Alfred’s boss refused to annul and act like nothing happened. Maybe this won’t be so bad. It’s only a year after all. For our kind, that is hardly any time at all. Ivan pondered as he saw the desert winds blowing through Alfred’s hair as they drove the winding road to the campground and their campsite. It fits him so perfectly He thought as he looked at Alfred along the desert scenery. “Which lot was it?” Alfred asked, pulling Ivan out of his daze.

“Lot 18.” He said as Alfred drove along, looking for the lot labeled 18 with a small sign on a post that had a simple 18 painted on a wooden square. Alfred parked the car and opened the door to the backseat where Ivan had stashed the camping goods.

“So there is a bathroom with running water at the end of the camping lots, which is a fair bit of a walk but there are a few long drop outhouses closer to our lot.” Ivan said as he looked at the map he was given.

“Gotcha.” Alfred said. “Although if it’s bad enough, I will just drain the lizard behind a bush.” Ivan rolled his eyes and unzipped the case the tent was in and started to put it up. Alfred proved to be a decent help. “Mattie and I go camping together a lot. He’s my brother after all.”

“You just reminded me….” Ivan sighed. “How will I explain this to my sisters?”

“Ooooooof….” Alfred said. “I mean Katyusha might be understanding with it. But Natalya….”

“I fear for us both when it comes to telling Natalya.” Ivan shuddered.

“Well this is only for a year. That might make her less creepy about you…..” Alfred offered feebly.

“Yes….maybe. Then again it is Natalya.” Ivan said as he took a corner of the tent and hammered in the stake. And would I even want to end this in a year….Ivan thought as he pulled on the strap of the corner of the tent making sure it was tight.

“We can always test run on Mattie.” Alfred said.

“Your brother?” Ivan said as Alfred nodded.

“Yup. My brother.” Alfred said. “Don’t cross him though. Gilbert doesn’t trust cans of corned beef from him and he called the Geneva Convention the Geneva Suggestions when we were getting ready to storm Normandy.”

“Oh.” Ivan said. “I never got that impression from him.”

“He’s real ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ in war. In the War of 1812 it was him that burned the White House down. Not Arthur. HIM.” Alfred said. “Mind you he was following Arthur’s commands but still…”

“You’re rambling.” Ivan reminded him as he put down another stake. “Sometimes you don’t need to overly explain everything.” Taking a good look at the tent, he went to the car and got the sleeping bags. “These can also attach if you want.”

“You want?” Alfred asked.

“Only if you want….” Ivan blushed.

“Maybe. It can get cold at the night in the desert.” Alfred blushed looking away. “We’ll see.”

“Not so frisky sober?” Ivan teased.

“Guess not.” Alfred said as he rolled out his sleeping bag and then got the wood from the car and started a campfire. “So to the west is Vegas, north is I-15 so the south and east is the best we got.” Alfred dug in his jacket pocket and pulled out a compass.

“You have a compass?” Ivan asked.

“Always prepared.” Alfred smiled. “If I am out west, I tend to like to roam around and I need to find my way back to some sort of civilization sometimes.”

“You are such a boy scout.” Ivan rolled his eyes.

“Yao said the same thing when we were marooned on an island once.” Alfred smirked. “Can you hand me some of that wood? I’m going to get this fire going and we’ll roast weenies and make smores before it gets dark.”

Ivan handed the wood as Alfred got a fire going, with rather surprising ease, something that he had attributed to all the times he’s had to take care of himself or was all alone out in the wilds. He then dug a pack of hot dogs out of the cooler, put two on a fork for him and Ivan, handing him one and holding it over the fire with a smile. Once he had decided his was done enough, he put them on a bun each and took a big bite.

“You eat like a pig sometimes.” Ivan rolled his eyes.

“Maybe but the sunset is beautiful.” Alfred pointed out.

“Da.” Ivan nodded.

“Once we finish dinner, I’ll get the marshmallows for smores for dessert and we can stare up at the sky here in the desert.” Alfred said finishing the last bite of his first hot dog and starting on his second. “I also have more hot dogs if you want one too.”

“Maybe.” Ivan said with a slight smile.

Once all the hot dogs were eaten between the two of them, they made smores as the sun faded over the west and the night sky came into view. Ivan and Alfred were sitting on a log in front of the fire pointing out the constellations, planets and going over their space race days, what each of them had worked on in their own agencies. Since the Cold war was over, neither one felt the need to hide the secrets, some of which their own spy agencies knew anyway. As time went on, Alfred yawned and set his head on Ivan’s lap. Taking this as his cue for them to go to bed, Ivan took the bucket of water nearby and put out the fire for the night and scooped up Alfred and laid him carefully in his sleeping bag.

“He can sleep through anything if he is tired.” Ivan smiled as he got into his own bag and settled in, rolling over in his sleep, placing an arm around Alfred.

So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. I do have a headcannon that while he is quiet and overlooked, in a fight Matthew can become quite fierce. I based this on the Canadian military’s deeds in WW1. One famous one being them tossing the Germans canned goods, and when the Germans asked for more, they tossed grenades in. Thus the part where Gilbert is scared of Matthew when he has a can of corned beef. Anyway, remember to read, well you just did and review. Ciao for now,

otherrealmwriter

aka

Realm.

Chapter Text

I don’t own Hetalia okay? I want to thank all of you who have read this and liked it. It really means a lot to me. I do hope to be better on updating that I have been. Life sucks sometimes and drains your creative soul. Nuff said. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!

Alfred stirred as the sunlight from the dawn rose over the valley and broke into the tent. Ivan and him had talked about stargazing but after munching on hot dogs and smores he had fallen asleep by the fire, most likely from the fishing and the slight hangover from the night before they were working through that day. With Alfred, it had really depended on the state he was in on his tolerance. States and regions more infamous for their drinking often were where he had a stronger tolerance. However, he had never been able to drink Ivan under the table and he had suspected that since he had lived off vodka it seemed, Ivan hardly ever had hangovers, or he knew how to handle them much better than he did. Alfred stirred, only to find Ivan holding onto him tightly and almost instinctively pulling Alfred into a tighter hug. “Ostan'sya so mnoy, moy malen'kiy krolik, lyubimyy. Ty mne nuzhen. Mne tak odinoko.” Ivan moaned in his sleep. Rolling his eyes, and not feeling like getting up just quite yet, and knowing it was only the break of dawn, he smiled slightly to himself and curled up in Ivan’s chest. Hope his heart doesn’t fall out again….Alfred thought as he yawned and fell back asleep.

As the sun kept rising, the tent started to heat up, causing Ivan to stir awake when he saw Alfred staring at him with a smile. “AH!” He said jumping up.

“Scare you huh?” Alfred laughed.

“How long have you been awake?” Ivan said rubbing his eyes, sitting up looking at Alfred.

“Awhile.” Alfred shrugged. “It was too cute.”

“Ugggghhhh…..” Ivan said.

“What I can’t admire my big teddy bear of a husband?” Alfred teased.

“Let’s get dressed.” Ivan rolled his eyes, shoving Alfred off. “We got a long flight ahead of us.”

“You’re right.” Alfred said as he looked around for his shirt. Ivan looked at Alfred’s toned body, while he did have what Ivan called extra fluff on certain areas, it was part of what accentuated Alfred’s jock physique. Rolling over, wincing from the now peeling sunburn he reached for the aloe and squirted some into his hand. Alfred turned to face him, shirt slightly over his face said something to him muffled.

“Excuse me?” Ivan said.

Alfred pulled his t shirt down. “I was asking if you wanted me to help you with that. I’m sure that I could get some areas you can’t reach.”

Ivan paused. “Sure.” He quickly rubbed what he had in his hands into his shoulders as Alfred crawled over and took the bottle and squired some into his hand and rubbed it into the areas that Ivan couldn’t quite reach himself. Ivan smiled at this. They said “in vino veritas” and well, that the alcohol they both had and trouble they had gotten themselves into. He winced as Alfred rubbed too hard. “Watch it.” He said.

“Well I got where you can’t reach anyway.” Alfred said. He thumped Ivan in the middle of the back, away from where he had his sunburn, with a playful look that Ivan looked angerly at. “Hey I avoided where you were burnt.” He teased. Ivan rolled his eyes and got out of the tent and helped Alfred to take down camp and head back to the highway into Las Vegas. Alfred looked at his watch. “We might actually make the checkout time.”

“I never pictured you for an early riser.” Ivan said.

“Well how else am I going to get a run in?” Alfred said.

“I guess you have a point.” Ivan said. He looked to the east and saw the sun rising over the valley. “And if I recall, we did not leave the room in the best of conditions….”

Alfred blushed red at this memory. “Oh fuck.” He said as he opened the trunk and threw some of the camping supplies in haphazardly. “I do not want to put some poor hotel maid through cleaning that up.”

“Yes, that would be rather unbecoming.” Ivan said as he finished pulling up the stakes and put the tent in the truck after Alfred. After taking a quick walk over the site to make sure there was nothing left, Alfred then ran over to the car and started it up, heading back up the road to their hotel, “Not to mention there is some of my stuff that I had left there. Especially my magic metal pipe of pain.”

“That might be where this one bruise on my back came from then.” Alfred said.

“Uggghh….” Ivan said, “I do not remember everything from that night. Although knowing you, it could have.” Alfred looked at him annoyed. “What you are the type to do anything you are dared to so you don’t seem like a chicken.”

“Shut up.” Alfred said as Ivan looked out the window with a proud smirk. He knew that if Alfred said shut up like that and got quiet, he struck a nerve and was likely right about his observation. Alfred didn’t have much to say as they drove back to the hotel’s parking garage and headed back to their room. Digging in his pocket, he found the key and opened the room. “Awwwwwwwww fuck.” Alfred moaned. “How in the hell did that get up there?”

“Cyka blyat….” Ivan said. “I did not remember us making such a mess….”

“Neither did I…..” Alfred said as he pulled a chair from the corner and reached up, scraping a piece of pizza off the ceiling and tossing it into the trash can. “At least from here it looks like nothing is broken.” Ivan took the remote from beside the toilet and then turned on the television and flipped through the channels.

“Seems like the television is still working.” Ivan said.

“And the phone?” Alfred asked as Ivan dialed a number.

“Zdravstvuyte? Yao segodnya tam? Kakiye u nas spetspredlozheniya? Peredayte yemu, chto Ivan ishchet khorosheye mesto, chtoby plotno poobedat' pered dolgim perelotom. Da? On tam? Khorosho, ya privedu Al'freda na obed. Spasibo. Do svidaniya.” Ivan said as he hung up the phone. Alfred looked at him confused. “Oh I know of a good resturant here in Las Vegas I wanted to make sure the chef was in.”

“Whatever dude.” Alfred sighed.

“You said yourself our flight is at 5pm and we won’t be home until it is the early morning hours back in Virginia.” Ivan explained. “So I figured we get a good meal before we have to leave.”

“Okay, sounds good.” Alfred said as he stretched over to the ceiling fan and brushed off a soda and vodka bottle that each had somehow gotten on top of the blades. Ivan looked in the drawers and saw they had not left much of anything there. He then bent over and picked up the tossed aside clothing and packed them in the bag that Alfred had.

“I do have to go to my room too.” Ivan said. “I did leave my bags there.”

“It’s likely in better shape….” Alfred said as he got off the chair and picked up the towels they had somehow used in their wedding night escapades. “Meet me back here and then we’ll go get some lunch dude.”

Ivan came back and knocked on the door to find the room suprisingly in much better shape than they had found it. Alfred had put the dirty clothes into his luggage and taken the dirty bedding and towels and placed them in piles in the corner of the room. “What?” Alfred asked.

“You got this taken care of faster than I thought….” Ivan said.

“Well like you said, it’d be rude to leave it the disaster we had it…..” He shrugged. “But let’s get these rooms checked out and let’s go get lunch at where you were talking about. I would have taken the shampoos and soaps but we used them apparently….”

“Do I even want to remember everything of what we did?” Ivan asked.

“Look if me taking the pipe to the back in a dare and then we gave each other a bath is the worst of it, I’ll take it.” Alfred said. “Just I don’t want to get that wild again for a little bit thank you very much.” Alfred said as he pressed the button to the lobby on the elevator and looked up at the ceiling tapping his foot as it went down. They then checked out and headed back to the parking garage and put their suitcase in the back, after moving around the hasitly stashed camping gear and got in, Alfred jumping over the door and into the driver’s seat while Ivan rolled his eyes and simply got into the car.

“This is the address.” Ivan said. “I have been here a few times before and I know the chef well.”

“Okay….” Alfred said, looking at the address….Is this where I think it is? I mean Yao has a house in nearly every city in the world so of course…...but god I do not want to hear him find out about this….. “I mean I had never been here before but it looks like it’s in Chinatown….”

“Yes, it is one of Yao’s many resturants. He has one in every one of his houses.” Ivan said.

“Fuck…..” Alfred said as he placed his head onto the steering wheel, causing the horn to go off at the red light causing the driver in front of him to yell at him.

“It’s still red pendejo!” The driver yelled.

“Sorry dude!” Alfred yelled. “Just don’t tell him about what happened okay?” He asked Ivan.

“Of course not.” Ivan agreed. “I mean we haven’t told our families yet.”

“Dude, I am nervous about telling Mattie and he’s just my brother.” Alfred said.

“And god forbid I do the same with my sister.” Ivan sighed. “They both scare me at times.” Alfred giggled a little “And I want you to help me tell them.” He added crossly. “I think it would be easier for us if we did it together.”

“Well I think that Katyusha might be happy you have someone to be a friend, even if it is your husband….”Alfred laughed. “But it’s Natalya I am scared of.”

“You and me both.” Ivan said. “There it is.” He pointed.

“Yep, it looks like something Yao would have.” Alfred said as he pulled in and parked the car, heading into the resturant.”

“Aiyah!” A voice from the kitchen said. “I have just started cooking! Panda can you get that?” Yao said as Panda came out and waved at Ivan.

“Hello Panda. Is Yao around?” Panda shook his head and pointed to the kitchen.

“Okay, tell him Ivan is here and brought a guest. I have a long flight ahead of me and won’t get home until the wee hours of the morning, so I was thinking we would have a good meal before we have to deal with the plane ride.” Ivan explained. Panda nodded and took some silverware and motioned for Ivan and Alfred to follow him to a table. Alfred smelled the food that was already placed out and his mouth began to water. Panda motioned to their table, and then headed to the kitchen while Alfred and Ivan sat down.

“So, this is Yao’s resturant?” Alfred asked.

“Da,” Ivan said. “He has a resturant he runs in every one of his Chinatowns and he works at every one of them when he is visting one. Which with the meeting we had recently, he would be in town. Otherwise he has locals work there.”

“Aiyaah…..” Yao said as he came out. “Ivan, Alfred…..” Yao said. “What you want to drink?”

“You know what I like.” Ivan said as Yao wrote it down.

“Uhhhh a Coke?” Alfred asked.

“No Coke, Pesi!” Yao said. “And you will have to learn to use chopsticks.” He said taking Alfred’s silverware. I will bring two pairs for you two.” He looked over to Ivan. “Why you bring him?”

“I offered to take him to one of the best resturants I know of in the town. He took me to many of the classic Vegas steakhouses, and since you were in town, I knew the food would be better than any other time of year.” Ivan said flattering Yao who narrowed his eyes at him. He had wanted to be mad at the both of them but when Ivan flattered his cooking, he couldn’t say anything about it. Also with the image of Alfred having to struggle with chopsticks made him smile a little. “Go get your food and I’ll get your drinks.”

“You are one of the best chefs.” Ivan said as he got up and Alfred followed him. Yao looked back and noticed a ring on Alfred’s left hand and Ivan’s right hand.

What happened between you two…..I have always said that the Cold war was nothing but unresolved sexual tension between you two….don’t tell me you didn’t…..Yao thought as he noticed Alfred greedily piling sweet and sour chicken on his plate next to a large pile of fried rice. Well he’s going to have fun with the rice and chopsticks. That American pig-dog cannot use those them to save his life. He thought.

Translation Guide.

(Obtained via Google Translate)

Ostan'sya so mnoy, moy malen'kiy krolik, lyubimyy. Ty mne nuzhen. Mne tak odinoko.
-Russian- Stay with me my little rabbit love. I need you. I am so lonely.

Cyka blyat….-Russian-Fucking bitch

Zdravstvuyte? Yao segodnya tam? Kakiye u nas spetspredlozheniya? Peredayte yemu, chto Ivan ishchet khorosheye mesto, chtoby plotno poobedat' pered dolgim perelotom. Da? On tam? Khorosho, ya privedu Al'freda na obed. Spasibo. Do svidaniya. -Russian- Hello? Is Yao there today? What is the specials? Let him know Ivan is looking for a good place to have a filling lunch before a long flight. Yes? He's there? Okay, I will bring Alfred for lunch. Thank you. Goodbye.

So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. I want to thank all of you who have liked this story, followed it and reviewed and left comments. It shows me that you like my work and it gives me motivation. I don’t have much else to say here so remember to read, well you just did, and review. Ciao for now,

otherrealmwriter

aka

Realm.