Maple Syrup and Vodka

Story Time with Ivan Braginski

Taking a seat in a newly placed chair right next to Ivan's, Matthew couldn't help but smile at the flickering of the fire.

Yes, before, when he didn't know who it was, he as completely afraid, but now, now that he knew it was the big lovable bear that was Ivan, Matthew found himself completely relaxed and comfortable. 

For the longest time, Matthew had a piqued interest in the mysterious russian man and his history. After doing some research, Matthew had realised Ivan had the hardest out of all the nations. Expecially since everyone was terrified of him. All it seemed was that Ivan wanted a friend. After all, his history wasn't the greatest, expecially the whole ordeal with the Romanov's and Gregori Rasputin. 

No wonder Ivan goes into a rage when Alfred calls him Rasputin. 

Blinking, as he realised Ivan was staring at him, he suddenly felt his cheeks heat up as he swallowed. Ivan had asked him something, and he was in a daze, staring into the fireplace.

" E-Er- Pardon?,,," Matthew asked, completely embarressed that he hadn't been paying attention. Smiling and letting out a giggle, Ivan repeated himself.

" I asked what you thought of the vodka."

Vodka? What was Ivan talking about?

Then it hit Matthew. At the meeting. Oh gosh, what had happened? Had someone found him and freaked out? What had happened after Matthew passed out? 

Seeing Matthew's confusion, Ivan smiled, and sat back in his chair. Continueing to knit, he explained.

" As everyone was arriving, and getting ready to start, I noticed you were absent. You were always early, and never skipped or missed a meeting. I then noticed your bear, and something seemed wrong.  So, I asked your bear where you had went." Matthew nodded, listening. So Ivan was the one who found him.

" So, after he told me you had gone to the kitchen, I headed on in to look for you. Seeing that you weren't in there, I went to the next best place to search. The alcahol storage. And there you were, passed out, surrounded by the vodka bottles. " Matthew looked down sheepishly, embaressed at the fact.

" But, then... I noticed something. You had tried the french vodkas, the american ones, even the ones from Italy... but, you had indulged in all the russian vodkas. Pretty much drinking the place out of the russian reserve of vodkas." This, had Matthew curious. Why was he more into the russian vodkas?.... Were they just that good?

" A-And y-your p-point?..." Matthew asked, stuttering softly. 

"..... Nothing. It was just an observation." Ivan replied, turning his head away, hiding his pink tinted cheeks. 

" Ah... I-I see." Matthew replied, looking down into his lap.

The next hour or so passed in silence. Ivan, knitting contently, had really nothing to say. Even if he did, he just stuck to his thoughts. 

Matthew, though, had gotten up after awhile to browse some of the books. There were plenty of old books and such, containing plenty of russian books that Matthew couldn't make heads or tails of.  That was until he came to a whole bookshelf dedicated to old english authors and poets. Some books that he recognized were some by Edgar Allen Poe, Mary Shelley, heck, there was even a old dusty copy of Moby Dick in the collection. 

Smiling, Mattew pulled off a copy of the Raven, by Edgar Allen Poe.  Edgar was a great poet, expecially when it came to horror. Every Halloween, Matthew would make a point of turning off all the lights in his home, and sitting in his bedroom to read a few copies of the books by candlelight.

Going back over and sitting back in his chair, he opened the book, only to be dissapointed that the volume was in pure russian. 

Sighing in dissapointment, Matthew closed the book and set it on the small table inbetween the two of them. 

Seeing Matthew's dissapointment, Ivan put off his knitting, and picked up the book.

" You like Edgar Allen Poe?" Ivan asked, and Matthew looked up suddenly. Nodding, he smiled softly. 

" O-Oui. I've always admired his work."  If Matthew had liked the works of Edgar so much, then why had he stuck it on the table?

Looking at the book, Ivan opened it, and realised why Matthew had put it there. It was all in russian, and Matthew couldn't read russian. Ivan didn't have a english copy of it, or at least from his knowledge.

That's when he got an idea. 

" How about I read it to you?"

" H-Huh?...." Matthew asked, looking up once more to the russian. Had he heard Ivan right? Did he really just offer to read it to Matthew?

" Do you want me to read it to you?" Ivan repeated, staring the canadian deep in the eyes.  

Matthew realised he shouldn't deny the offer. Number one, because he truely wanted to read the book, and Ivan had offered to read it to him. Number two, Ivan usually only read books to his sisters. No one else. Zip, zippo, zilch for anyone else. And, number three... who wouldn't want Ivan to read them a book? After all, at any of the meetings, when Ivan began  a speech or something long, he had the clearest of voices and tones, and had enough feeling when reading. Matthew enjoyed that. 

Nodding, Matthew smiled. " I would enjoy that." 

Smiling softly, Ivan got up from his chair, and went to sit on the carpet infront of the fireplace with the book. Getting up, Matthew followed. Getting down on his knees, Matthew sat next to Ivan. Ivan, looked to Matthew, and frowned softly. 

" Wrong spot, silly!" Ivan commented, and before Matthew knew it, Ivan's strong capable arms were wrapped around him, and Matthew was pulled into Ivan's lap. Ivan, sitting criss-cross, had Matthew in his lap, and his arms around the canadian. Opening the book, Ivan rested his chin on Matthew's shoulder, and cleared his throat.

Matthew, now, was wearing a deep crimson blush, sat uncomfortably in Ivan's lap. He felt that it'd be awkward if he got too comfortable and fell asleep or something. But, as Ivan began to read, Matthew found himself unwillingly get lulled into a relaxed state at the droning of Ivan's voice. Head tilted to the side and resting against Ivan's own head, Matthew began to doze off. The flickering of the fireplace, the comfortable position in Ivan's lap, and the addictive drone of Ivan's words as he read on... Matthew couldn't stop himself. Going limp in Ivan's arm, Matthew let out a soft snore as he now slept in Ivan's big strong arms.

Smiling softly, Ivan set the book aside, and wrapped his arms around Matthew, leaning in and gently whispering to him.

" Goodnight Mattvey~" He hummed, before gently kissing Matthew's cheek.