Daylight gently filtered through the tangle of branches above. The soft contrast of shadow and brightness echoed across Alfred's cheek, dappling his pale skin. A faint, whispering breeze lapped at strands of his hair, never allowing it to settle completely.

Ivan watched, slightly perplexed, but relaxed. He liked noticing small things like that; the reflections of the forest playing across the lenses of Alfred's glasses, the way he would gently bite his lip while watching the sky.

Moments like these would be the ones he would always remember.

"You know," Ivan quietly murmured, "I'm glad you offered to bring me out here, today. Oklahoma is rather beautiful, sladkiy tsvetok."

The corners of Alfred's mouth lifted, just slightly. "Of course it is." He turned his head, casting a lazy, affectionate gaze on Ivan. He shifted closer a bit, softly pressing his head to the Russian's chest.

It was so peaceful here in their little clearing, amid the chaotic green of the woods. However, it was almost uncomfortably colourful here; back in Moscow, the landscape was vast and pale. Here, it was still breathtaking, but in a different way.

"I've missed you." Alfred suddenly whispered, not meeting Ivan's stare. "It feels like we haven't been together in… a long time."

Ivan clicked his tongue playfully. "I've missed you too, lapochka." He paused briefly, then leaned back, settling down on the ground

comfortably with Alfred's chin resting on his chest. "If anyone where to find out about this, though… we'd be in so much trouble, you hear, myshka? No one… would approve. Especially not my little sister." He shivered involuntarily.

"Nobody has to know. Not yet, at least." Alfred sat up, looking down affectionately at him. "I hope someday we'll be able to come out about all of this. D-Don't you? I mean, I think it'd be nice, being able to hold hands in public and stuff." He grinned nervously.

Ivan laughed softly. "Da, Alfred. But now isn't a good time; there's so much tension between our countries, and…"

"I know." Alfred snorted, angrily so. "Stupid old bastards, all up in the White House, so ready to nuke you guys. I'm sorry, but I can barely influence their decisions anymore." His eyes flickered shut. "I hate it."

Ivan shifted his pale violet gaze upward, past the treetops, where he could catch faint slivers of sky. "Have you ever thought it'd be possible to just… leave? Just walk away from being Russia, from being America. Imagine, the two of us. Free."

Alfred have a slow shake of his head. "We couldn't. We bare too much responsibility to do that. We owe it to our people." He leaned over Ivan, a slightly serious expression on his features. "We aren't happy, because we can't be ourselves, not in front of all of them watching. But here…" He slid a soft hand along the other's chest. "Here, we're just Alfred and Ivan."

A whimper rose from Ivan's throat. He nodded, sitting up, his arms curling gently around Alfred's sides. He pressed his forehead to his boyfriend's, sighing. "I love you."

Alfred shut his eyes softly. "I love you, too." Was his murmuring reply.

The silence that followed was comfortable; warm. They simply embraced each other, listening to the sound of their breathing mingled with the breeze. And in that small, beautiful fragment of their forever, their wary thoughts were laid to rest.

Translations

"sladkiy tsvetok" — sweet flower.

"lapochka" — honey.

"myshka" — mouse/little mouse.