Furthering

The violet eyed Russian looked up, "Oh…Matthew…sit, I don't mind…"

Matthew slid onto the seat next to Ivan, "You look kind of…upset…" he ventured, treading carefully.

"Upset…not at all. Unhappy…da."

"There's a difference?" Matthew asked blankly.

"Da there is. A small one, but one nonetheless…"

"Um…well…" Matthew trailed off, wondering how to phrase it.

"Yes, Matthew? Something's troubling you, da? It twists your expression."

"Yeah…but I don't know how to say it, y'know?"

Ivan looked into his glass, staring into it as if it contained the answers to everything. Perhaps it did, but Matthew couldn't see it for the life of him. "You'll just have to say it, da? That's all."

"But…I don't even know that I can…" Matthew sighed bitterly, hitting his head on the smooth surface of the bar. "Hell, I don't even know if it'll matter if I say it."

"You sound so bitter…" Ivan continued to twist the vodka glass back and forth, making the clear liquid swish back and forth. Not a drop spilled.

"I know…it's such a stupid thing to get bitter over too…"

"Quit dodging around it. It's not going away, da?"

Matthew jumped a little, shocked slightly. "I suppose not… I needed that…" He took another sip of whatever it was Feliciano had slid over to him.

"Well then. What is it?" Ivan genuinely sounded interested, anything that could twist the Canadian's expression that much was interesting in his book.

Said Canadian took a long, deep breath, steadying himself. "I um...kinda…um…like…someone…"

"Oh? Am I at liberty to ask who?"

Matthew nodded, "Well um of course cause um it's kinda…"

"Who? You really aren't too good at finishing your thoughts da?"

"Y-you…" Matthew covered his face, trying unsuccessfully to hide his blush.

"Me…?" was Ivan's only response. His hands restlessly twisted his glass back and forth, back and forth. The repetitive motion seemed to sooth him in a way. Matthew nodded slightly, a barely perceptible movement. It would have escaped all but the keenest eyes.

"Y-yes…" Matthew finally managed to say through his hands and the lump that seemed to have formed almost instantaneously. "I kinda don't know…what else to say…. I'm sorry…"

'Such a submissive personality…' Ivan thought. 'But I can't deny…he is pretty cute…' He stopped twisting the vodka glass, instead turning his hand to lightly touch the Canadian's shoulder. No more pressure than a moth's wing. He still jumped slightly.

"I-Ivan…" Matthew said softly, uncovering his face. His bangs had fallen into his face, partially obscuring his eyes. "You're so cold…"

Ivan smiled softly, sadly. "I know… Always cold, the two of us, da?"

"Eh? N-no…I'm not always cold… but it's still nice…"

"Perhaps not to me, da? After all…" Ivan trailed off, turning his hands to twist the vodka glass around.

"Are you troubled by something…?" Matthew asked, half wanting to reach out and grab Ivan's hand. The foot or so began to look like five , fifty, one hundred.

"No…nothing large…"

"Oh…alright then…" Matthew sighed softly. "Some birthday this is…"

"Oh? It's your birthday today?" Ivan looked over, interested. His hands slowed, finally ceasing the restless twisting of the glass. "Happy birthday then…"

"Thanks Ivan… Hardly anyone ever remembers… Maybe I'm just not noticeable." Before Ivan could respond, the room exploded with cheers. Arthur had apparently scooted over to be closer to Alfred and in doing that, Alfred had kissed him deeply. Matthew sighed, looking away.

"Uncomfortable?" Ivan asked, idly watching the two countries kiss.

"That's my brother and my father…that's just…wrong."

"Ah… I could see that…"

"You could?" Matthew's tone turned slightly bitter. "I've always been terrible at hiding things."

"Nothing wrong with that. But when you're slightly drunk that makes it harder." Ivan's voice was laced with humor, teasing a soft smile from the Canadian.

"I am not…" he replied indignantly. "Not drunk, that is."

"If you say so…it comes across as if you are."

Matthew was quiet for a while, softly watching the patrons. Alfred and Arthur had stopped kissing, exchanging that for talking. The feistier of the two Italians was still arguing with Antonio, the happier talking to Ludwig. Feliks and Toris were sitting off in a corner, with Raivis and Peter. Matthew could hear the Pole's voice float clearly across the room.

"Like what do you mean Liet!" he asked, before being shushed admonishingly by Toris. That didn't stop the bolder of the two, until the Lithuanian softly kissed him. Raivis and Peter looked away respectfully, still conversing softly.

Matthew sighed softly, turning his attention back to the clear liquid in his drink. The other happy couples in the bar interested him little; his drink was the only thing he cared to contemplate.

Well, if he was being truly honest Ivan's eyes interested him too.

Even if he could barely hold the violet gaze for a moment.

It was still intriguing.

The owner of that gaze, the one that intrigued the Canadian so, waited. Uncharacteristic, but he waited nonetheless.

Finally Matthew asked hesitantly, "So…um…how've you been?"

"Fine," Ivan answered shortly. "Not good, but not terrible." He elaborated slightly.

"That's nice…?" Not quite a question, but an unsure statement.

"Is it?"

Matthew was quiet for a while, finally saying, "If it makes you say it like that then no."

Ivan laughed bitterly, "Then I suppose not…Matthew…"

"Eh? Y-yeah?" 'His saying my name…makes my heart skip a beat…'

"Why'd you come over here?"

"B-because… I like you… Ivan…" Matthew blushed softly, looking down at the bar.

"Oh…? Now…why would you?"

"I-I…just um…do…" Matthew finished lamely. "I don't have a really good explanation."

Ivan looked over, perplexed. Matthew continued to study the grain of the bar, unable to meet Ivan's gaze. He could feel those violet eyes on him, studying him.

"Do you really…?" Ivan seemed to now be almost speaking to himself in disbelief.

"Y-yeah…" Matthew accidently took a large sip of his drink, wincing slightly as it burned his throat.

The Russian appeared to be stunned. He was quiet for a bit, turning his hands to again restlessly twist his vodka glass. Matthew looked longingly across the bar to Alfred and Arthur, then to Toris and Feliks. He could barely even look at them; his drink was a much safer thing to look at.

"They're interesting, da?"

"Huh?" Matthew asked, shocked by the sudden change in subject.

"That they can be that happy. Maybe…"

"Maybe?"

"Nothing. It's nothing."

"Doesn't seem like nothing…"

"Why do you care?"

"It just seems like you're lonely too…"

"Lone…ly…?" Ivan repeated slowly.

"Yeah… I guess I would know though…"

"You're…lonely….too?"

Matthew was quiet for a moment. Finally, he mumbled, "Well…yes."

"Well…I can fix that much at least."

Matthew blushed slightly, knowing exactly what Ivan was implying.

"Easily…" Ivan added, softly grabbing the Canadian's chin. He pulled the other's face up to his. "You look cute when you blush, da?" Ivan giggled as Matthew blushed further at his words, trying to think of a response. These futile thoughts were cut off by soft, cold lips enveloping his. His paralysis shook off, the temporary trance induced from the shock clouded his mind.

Ivan took the initiative in the kiss, naturally, gently licking at the Canadian's lips. He savored how easily he was allowed access, how Matthew seemed to melt into the kiss happily. He didn't even fight to dominate the kiss, instead he let Ivan ravage his mouth completely and utterly.

The kiss broke, leaving two sets of violet eyes to stare at each other.

"Not a bad birthday present, da…?"

(A/N) This story was on hold! I am so so so so so sorry! I will try to update more, but now, I leave you with this cliffhanger. D