November 21, 2010
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Dear God Why chp 5-6
Two more chapters. And to give some hope, at around 30k words (or chapter nine), there is some nice Ivan/Roddy cuddling goin’ on. If that’s any incentive or a deterrent.
And I’m not going to forget the header this time! Yay!
Title: Dear God Why is My Muse This Cliche?Fandom: HetaliaGenre: Romance, Drama, College life, AU, yaoiRating: MPairing(s): Ivan/Gilbert, Ivan/Roderich, eventual Ivan/Gilbert/Roderich (all pairings are switchable. Because I win like that.)Summary: Cliche ass get together fic. With drama. Yay.Chapter Five
Roderich was very proud of Gilbert, being able to make it home after a night out, although he did wish that the German didn’t have to pass out on the couch instead of in his own bed. Shaking head head and getting some breakfast ready with the company of Gilbert’s loud snores to keep him company, Roderich had to admit, it was peaceful. Straps of sunlight dropped onto the floor from the windows in the living area, that truthfully could use a good cleaning, but he could wait until after class for that. After all, Ivan was still asleep as well plus, to Roderich, Gilbert looked cuter asleep and than he did awake, mainly because his ego was in some sort of check.
Meandering around the kitchen, Roderich made some breakfast for the three of them, putting the plates of strudel that wasn’t his in the refrigerator, hoping that they would find it when they woke up. He did sort of like his status as the caretaker of their little trio, perhaps he did like being a sort of domestic figure due to his nanny’s persistence that he should be able to look after his own affairs and be able to keep his things clean instead of doing everything for him. He was thankful for that lesson, as it made his transition into the ‘normal’ society a bit easier. Although he did miss having a cook. That was one thing that he was sure that he would be able to use. That and perhaps a maid for Gilbert, as the man seemed to make a mess no matter where he went.
With a heavy sigh, he left the dorms, heading off to class to prepare for the rather fast approaching concert. He would have liked to stay in the quiet a little longer, mostly because it happened so rarely when the three of them were home together. Even with the tension and awkwardness that seemed to settle around when Gilbert noticed that perhaps Ivan was a little too close to him, some of which felt like hovering, he did like the quiet times the most. Maybe that was the aristocrat in him, liking the peacefulness of life rather than the chaos that the world seemed to be constantly in. That or he was truly more boring than he allowed himself to believe.
-I am the mastermind, leaving you all behind-
Elizabeta Hedervary was a respectable girl, a likeable one by those that she didn’t keep close, and those that she did, she was a raging fangirl. She preferred the term “man lover” herself, because since she was little, she idolized the other sex. They were powerful, held more sway over society, they weren’t treated like mules for bearing children or more men to fill the world with, and even more importantly, they were strong. She was supposed to be weak, looking for a man to save her from the horrors of the world and staying weak. She was supposed to do whatever the man told her do, no matter how much she disagreed.
When she was a little girl, she hoped that perhaps doing boy things would turn her into one. She refused to be dressed as a girl, enjoying the freedom pants gave and climbing trees as well as other things to try to get stronger. Prove that she didn’t need to be taken care of, that she was perfectly capable of doing that herself. After all, just because she wasn’t a boy didn’t mean that she had to be weak, her parents hoping that this whole thing was just a phase that she would grow out of, but it didn’t. The obsession went right into puberty, when she was forced into dresses and to go to boring parties instead of being outside and playing sports such as football that she enjoyed. There was also the American football that she didn’t enjoy quite as much, as she didn’t feel that it required much skill, but she would play just to prove that she could.
Her fiance was a wimp whom she would be able to control easily, not worth being a man in her opinion, but was a good person otherwise. At least until his parents came over for a visit and found her camcorder laying around and thought to see what was on it. As she grew up into a teenager, she had found out that two of her classmates were gay for each other when she accidentally walked into a classroom where they were making out, and that just made her realize that there was nothing in the world that was more hot than two guys sucking each others faces. And then soon each others dicks when she was able to look up porn on the internet that she soon grew tired of. It then became a hobby of hers to go out and try to video tape the act, or watch it live whenever possible. Sure, it made her some sort of creepy stalker, but she was sure that she would be able to see it live one day anyway. All she had to do was find a voyeur couple to become friends with, but that was what college was for.
However, it seemed that Roderich’s parents were too nosy for their own good, as they could not believe that a respectable girl such as Elizabeta would be into such vulgar things, and called off the engagement that she had been a part of since she was the tender age of three. She took the news rather well considering that now, she was free to pretty much pursue her past time, however, she wasn’t so sure about Roderich. She liked him enough as a person, sure, but she knew how much he was counting on their engagement, mostly because pretty much everything had been planned out for him. His entire life was pretty much laid out, and then the breaking of the engagement came down while he was at school no less. Where she felt bad, she also felt that this was for the best, as he needed some spontaneity in his life, and he wasn’t going to get it while having his entire life in his parent’s hands.
After some research, she found out where he was at, which dorms he was in, and even when the next break was coming up so she could go and see him. She wanted to make sure that the uptight man wasn’t dissolving under the pressure of having to make his own decisions. She was sure that he was doing well, he was stronger than he let on, and maybe he had already found out something. Or he was secluded with his piano again, she remembered when he was depressed or scared that was the first place that he would go to. Like a security blanket. A very big, heavy, and beautiful sounding security blanket.
Her parents were very disappointed in her, but they would be able to get over it eventually. Hopefully she would be able to find herself a good boyfriend that could be her equal instead of someone that tried to overpower her or one that she overpowered. That was her dream, and she wasn’t going to be giving up on it. Her parent’s could respect that, but still didn’t understand exactly why she was so excited about the breakup. Sure, she was a little sad, but she had a feeling, a good feeling, that this was for the best. Putting her camera on the list to make sure she bring, she could hopefully get some good Austrian boys making out instead of just Hungarian. One day she would like to get videos from all over the world that she was able to capture herself, but that could wait until she was done with school.
“What are you doing, darling,” her mother asked, sitting at the table, kind of wondering what Elizabeta was typing at so hard at her computer for. Hopefully not looking up more porn, mostly as that what started all this mess.
“Oh, planning a quick trip for the holidays,” she replied with a smile. “I just want to check on Roddy, because I’m not sure how he’s taking the news that we’re no longer engaged. Just because his parents are a little put off doesn’t mean that we can’t be friends still. I mean, Roddy and I used to be really good friends when we were little! I don’t want to throw that away!”
Her mother smiled warmly, getting up and patting her daughter’s head, leaving her to her work. “Just tell me if you need anything, dear.” She was actually hoping for something a little more along the lines of repairing their reputation and perhaps repairing their relationship with the Eldstiens. That would be nice, however, the fact that she cared enough about the boy to go check on him made her smile. At least she had some priorities.
Continuing with her planning, she wondered if she should tell Roddy that she was planning to visit, but then decided against it, mostly because she didn’t want him worrying about anything. Her coming, what he should make, or any of that stuff. He always did worry about the oddest of things when he found out he was going to have company. Where it was sometimes adorable, she didn’t want him worrying about her. She was already setting up a hotel and getting room service so that she would be able to eat decently without having to really go out or even rely on Roddy having something that she liked. After all, from what she heard, he was rooming with two other people, and that had to already take its toll on the man. She didn’t need to be added to that.
With a smile, she nodded when everything was booked and pretty much ready to go for the Christmas break, although she would be here for Christmas and go over at some point during the break. She smiled brightly, she was doing a good thing. And that meant that she had to even it out with something naughty, and she knew exactly where to go. Taking her camcorder, Elizabeta ran out the door, mind torn between her upcoming trip and the porn that she was hoping to capture.
-I paid for you with tears, and swallowed all my pride-
Ivan moaned, feeling more than hearing his phone ring, as it seemed to have found its way under his pillow. The muffled ring tone singing some pop song in Russian, one that his sister Katyusha liked at the time that he had been moving out of the country, on his way to Austria. With a sigh, he knew it was even earlier back in Russia than…perhaps eleven in the morning here wasn’t that early back in Russia after all. Digging out his phone, it was indeed his sister, although whatever pressing matter made her call him was making him curious. Usually she didn’t initiate the contact between them, which meant the news was really good, or really bad, hopefully not the latter. He wasn’t in the mood to comfort her this early in the morning.
“Hello,” he mumbled in sleepy Russian, perhaps he should go to bed earlier, it wasn’t like he had an excuse to stay up late anymore. Which was saddening but sort of worth it. At least it showed that Roderich has standards. “Katyusha, it is rare for you to call me and so early. Is there a problem?”
“Oh, it’s nothing much,” came the every bright and cheerful voice. “However, Natasha has been worried about you since you have not called or wrote in a while. I told her you were busy with class and she was afraid that you were with someone else other than her.”
Oh how right his younger sister was, and if he wasn’t mistaken, he was sure that Katyusha was hoping it was true as well. He wasn’t the most social person in Russia, and pretended like he had no interest in dating anyone, let alone getting any friends. Perhaps that fed Natasha’s obsession as well, which he felt bad for. Things would have been easier for his older sister if perhaps he put forth an effort and therefore stop the obsession from growing like it had. At least now he was sure that he would be able to perhaps try to tell his younger sister that he was going to be with other people, but he wasn’t sure how she would take it. Before the summer semester he would tell her for certain, but he wanted to be sure that Roderich was prepared for anything she might try.
“Well, I am sort of seeing someone right now,” Ivan yawned. He didn’t have class for another two hours, which meant he could take his time in getting ready. “However, it is nothing official yet. And I have friends here, it is easier without Natasha threatening them with bodily harm. Has she been doing well?”
“She has calmed down a little,” there was a slight downturn, he was sure that she was frowning on the other side of the line. His sister had a strong will, and she was hard to get discouraged when she had a goal in mind, however, the way she did things was perhaps a bit too extreme. Especially with the way that she treated anyone that dared to get close to her brother that wasn’t family or someone that she trusted wouldn’t “steal him away”. “However, I do not suggest telling her you have a possible interest with someone. She’s not yet… calm enough to handle that.”
“I see. I was hoping of breaking the news to her before the summer break starts so that she will have all summer with me to remember that I am not abandoning the family, and just bringing in someone else,” Ivan frowned. “Do you think that the possibility that it is another man will help?”
“It’ll either help or make it worse,” Katyusha sighed, making Ivan wish that he was close enough to where he would be able to comfort her properly. “However I would like to meet him. Where I do have faith with your judgment of character, family should have an input as well. And I am your older sister after all.”
“Da, I’d be honored if you meet him when he is ready,” Ivan smiled, going through the kitchen and finding the strudel that Roderich had left him and Gilbert. He would always admire the fact that Roderich was like a mother to them, fussing over the cleaning, cooking, and other domestics. And he would play the piano when stressed or just wanted to wind down. “I would think you would like him, and even Natasha would if she gave him a chance. He does play the piano beautifully. I would love for the two of you to be able to hear it one day.”
“That would be delightful,” good, he had made her happy again. “I can’t wait brother! But I should let you go, Natasha will be wondering what I am doing so long on the phone. I hope that you do well in your studies and take Russia back by storm when you graduate!”
“That is still a way’s off,” Ivan laughed, setting his breakfast on the table with a side of milk. “Have a good day, Katyusha.”
“You too, Vanya,” she said, hanging up.
That was rather pleasant, Ivan hummed as he hung up himself and began to eat. It hadn’t been that long since Roderich left, the strudel was still a bit warm. He looked towards the living room, Gilbert sitting up on the couch, yawning. Admittedly, Gilbert always looked the most… molestable when he woke up and was sort of disoriented, but this was his punishment, was it not? And he was with Roderich now, although he couldn’t wait for them to become at least a little bit more physical, but that would come with time. And perhaps a little prodding.
“Breakfast is in the refrigerator,” Ivan said, turning back around. “It would seem Roderich is rewarding you for not needing help getting home.”
“Shut up,” Gilbert moaned, most likely nursing a nasty hangover. “He’s just trying to win the awesome me back. I know it.”
“Whatever you say,” Ivan smirked, continuing to eat. Yes, today was going to be a very good day.
Chapter Six
The day of the concert had finally come, Roderich straightening his suit, smoothing out any wrinkles that seemed to try to sneak their way into his pressed clothing. Straightening his jabot, he didn’t psyche himself by looking into the crowd. He had invited his roommates to this, but didn’t think Gilbert would show and he hoped that Ivan would, a slight blush on his cheeks since he shouldn’t be so hopeful. They weren’t really going out, were they? They were at least close friends, so he guessed that Ivan would at least show up for his performance, it would be too much to ask for him to stay for anyone else’s. He did provide the schedule, so hopefully he wouldn’t miss it.
When the hell did he become a teenage girl? Shaking his head, regretting it instantly and fixing it to perfection except the one strand that would always stick up no matter what he did. Not even gel could tame the unruly hair, however to him, it made him look more refined. Like the glasses that he didn’t need, but without them, he looked too plain in his opinion, plus it distracted everyone from his mole, which did add character but it also caused for people to want to touch it, which he tried to avoid at all costs.
Hearing his name called on the speaker, he stepped onto the stage and into the blinding lights of the stage that would give him proper lighting. Sitting down, not even bothering to try to see if he could make out any familiar faces as that would distract him from giving the best performance that he could, allowing all his worries, concerns, and only focused on the paper in front of him.
The first chords came easy, his confidence building with each note his hands hit, with each completed chord that hung in the air for the right moment before the piece decided it was time to move onto the next one. He made the instrument sing as best as to his ability, allowed it to fill his heart and soul, to consume him, to truly set him free more than anything else in the world could eve hope to come close to.
By the time the last chord sounded, the piece finally at rest, Roderich sighed happily. Yes, he did good this evening. Perhaps this earned him some brownie points with his instructor that he won back form all his mistakes during the past week. At least he pleased the audience as well, as he took his bow the applause warmed him. He had hoped that he was able to convey the piece to them, and it looked as if he had at least somewhat succeeded, at least enough to where they were pleased with him.
Stepping back behind the stage where everyone else had gathered, he received a bit of a glare from the next performer, and the accusation that he just made the crowd higher their expectations of him. It was something that was joked about a lot, to which Roderich laughed softly, and replied with he was just an opener for the true performance. It was like jocks smacking each other on the asses (in that oh so non-gay way), the lighthearted play before the big game, before the big moment.
Taking a deep breath, heading back to the music room to wait for the concert to end, as he didn’t want to stick around all the nervous energy that he was already filled with, he sat by a piano, not opening the case that protected the keys, but not opening it to play. Instead, Roderich wondered if Gilbert or Ivan decided to show, and if they thought he gave a good performance. Well, not so much Gilbert as that man could pretty much only tell if a video game was good and didn’t really care about music as much as he did, but Ivan surprised him with his knowledge of composers and what he thought was good and bad. Not that he was complaining, as he would need someone that understood and had a love for music like he did, and would be able to talk with him about it. He allowed a small, shy smile spread across his features, maybe he would “officially” date Ivan now, as he didn’t mind the other man, and he was so much less annoying than a certain German man.
“You did good,” came the heavy accent from the doorway, Ivan dressed in a suit like most of the attendees. “I was very pleased with your performance, Roderich. Gilbert made it as well, but I don’t think he appreciated it as much as the rest of us there did.”
“That git wouldn’t be able to appreciate it if Mozart himself came down from Heaven and smacked him upside the head with his own grand piano,” Roderich hissed. Although the thought made an amusing mental image, if it really did happen, he might of died from the sheer shock of it. “I’m actually surprised that he came at all.”
“Da, so am I,” Ivan smiled, a true one, one that he rarely showed to anyone but his sisters. He was very pleased when Roderich invited him, even more pleased with himself, as he knew exactly where Roderich ran off to after the performance. Perhaps this whole dating thing would work out better than he thought. “I am also surprised that he… dressed up as they say, for the occasion.”
Roderich gave Ivan a look that said he didn’t believe him. “Gilbert actually owns a suit? I don’t believe you.”
“Da, he does,” Ivan laughed. “He just doesn’t use it I guess. Something about it being too stuffy or something like that. I ignore him when he gets like that.”
“Understandably,” Roderich nodded. “He had most of us fooled. We all thought he only had those damn messy ass clothes that he leaves all over the floor.”
“Yes, it is rather amazing,” Ivan nodded, inviting himself in the music room, Roderich making room for his bulking figure on the piano bench he was occupying. “I did not believe he would make it on time either, but he did. He is full of… how do you pronounce it… surprises.”
Neither one of them knew how to bring up the conversation that would allow them to become official, nor if the other would appreciate their agreement becoming something with a little more meaning other than to get back at Gilbert who liked to take advantage of them both, and their kindness. The silence was long and awkward, Roderich fidgeting while Ivan stared at anywhere else in the room except for the man sitting next to him.
Ivan was the first to get his nerves back together, sure that even if this didn’t work out, Gilbert would be more than happy for emotional rebound sex. Not that he didn’t believe that Roderich would agree, but it was always good to have a backup plan of some sort, especially for this sort of thing. Plus, his sister would be pleased to know that he took the initiative with someone and didn’t wait around for them! Plus, he was so sure of it this morning, it was no use in psyching himself out over it. Taking a deep breath, he prepared to put his well protected feelings on the line, something that he was not used to and wasn’t sure he ever would be.
“I would like to become something deeper,” he said, cutting the tension, and getting the hard part over with first. “I believe that we are… what is the word… compatible? Yes, I believe that’s the one. And I think it would be nice to have a steady boyfriend.”
“I have no objections to that,” Roderich said, taking off his glasses and pretended to clean them with a cloth that he had tucked away. It was something that he only did when he was nervous. “Although we cannot let my parents know for awhile. They are under the impression that they will find me another bride in enough time it takes to graduate and I do not want to drop this bomb so soon after… well… after so soon as the dissolution of my other engagement.”
“Understandable,” Ivan smiled, playing with his own fingers. He did not have the structure to play such a delicate instrument that Roderich did, but he could act, which he guessed the Austrian had a hard time with. He wondered if he could at least learn a little, as that was what couples did right? Learn at least a little of what the other person enjoyed in hopes of perhaps becoming closer? “I have my own family problems, however parents are not one of them. It is hard for them to be when they’re dead, but it is instead my younger sister. She has a sort of… complex with me. It was hard for me to even make friends in Russia because of it. Do not allow her to scare you off though, when you do meet her. She is a very sweet girl, just… a bit misguided.”
That didn’t sound too good, Roderich not pursuing the issue with the parents as he was sure that they had plenty of time to learn more about each other other than these few mere moments. He smiled reassuringly up at Ivan, wondering when he was going to find out that his glasses were fake, that he was more boring, that he’d rather be the domestic one, that he was a wimp when it came to things he wasn’t passionate about… There was just so much for Ivan to learn, he wondered how long it was going to last until he got tired of him. Shoving down the insecurities, he pat Ivan’s back.
“I’m sure that she isn’t as bad as you make her out to be,” Roderich said. “I’m sure that she has calmed at least a bit since you’ve come here.” Plus, he added silently, he wasn’t going to lose to Ivan’s little sister. That would be too humiliating as well as make a rather large gash in his ego that he just couldn’t have.
“You do not know her,” Ivan said, something akin to fear in his voice. “She will try to kill you, sabotage anything we try to do together that she thinks will threaten her standing which will be anything… Do not speak of her as if you know her, Roderich. She can be terrifying as the harshest winter in Siberia!”
He did not realize that he was talking in Russian now, eyes far away, remembering what happened the last time that he tried to make friends, and the way they were treated by his younger sister. The way she broke their hands, put bear traps on the lawn, even threw knives at them on one occasion as they walked home from school all because she believed that they would eventually take her place. She did end up throwing a few knives from a tree one day, all because he was talking with a girl and Natasha did not like that fact one bit. Even if it was only over a class project that they were assigned to work on. From then on, he tried to always warn his partners, who wouldn’t believe him until they met his sister, but this was more important than just someone from school. This was his boyfriend he was protecting from her! He just had to do a good job of it!
“Ivan,” Roderich tried, voice soft, concerned, and a tad bit confused. He didn’t understand a word that came out of his mouth other than ‘you do not know her’. He was speaking so rapidly, literally shaking at the thought of his younger sister. Maybe she was a horrible monster after all, although he would do the gentleman thing and reserve judgment until he actually met her. As it would be much more polite than to just say that she was a horrible person and leave it at that. “Ivan… I’m sorry but I don’t speak Russian…”
That seemed to make Ivan jump from his thoughts, literally jumping a bit when Roderich’s hand touched his shoulder. He didn’t need to be jumpy yet, he was safe in Austria and Natasha was being held captive in Russia by Katyusha. Roderich was safe here with him, they didn’t have to worry about knives flying from a corner of the room, his sister clawing at the doors trying to break them open, or a number of horrible things that she had done in the past. He smiled a little, one that did not fully reach his eyes, but it was meant to be more reassuring than sincere, at least he hoped it was reassuring.
“I’m sure that everything will work out for the best,” Roderich continued, trying to put on a reassuring smile of his own, much better at the gesture than the Russian. “After all, I don’t think my parents will like the idea at all, since it means I won’t produce a heir. One connected by blood anyway, and that’s even if we chose to adopt or even if we make it that far.”
“That’s what people date, da,” Ivan asked, calming a little, happy to be off the subject of his sister for awhile. At least long enough for him to relax and not having to think about it until he was in his room and he remembered. Sometimes, he did miss the company, but he knew better than to rush things with Roderich. Nothing good would come of it. “Besides, that is still a long way off, da? We still have to graduate.”
“And find jobs,” Roderich sighed. Where he was most likely going to take over his mother’s company, he didn’t like the fact that his music would have to move to the back burner of his life, mostly because of the fact that he would be mostly dealing with the business parts of things instead of the actual instruments themselves. Sometimes he wondered if he would just take the lifestyle change and live as one of the venders, surrounded by instruments, adding to stock, selling some to others, and being able to play whenever he wanted to fill the air with something other than the drone that would pour out of the speakers. That would truly be the life, and with someone by his side? Even better.
“Da, those too,” Ivan nodded, not really planning for his life after graduating other than moving back to Russia, maybe, and perhaps starting his acting career there. However, that part was left in the air for good reason, as he wasn’t sure exactly how Austria would change his perspective on his life, and he liked the way it looked so far. Mostly since Roderich was much more mild mannered, but he would like to keep Gilbert as perhaps a friend, if the other man knew how to keep the boundary between them clear, Ivan willing to do so if he had to. After all, he was dating, and one just didn’t screw their old lover when they had a potential new one that they were trying to court. It was just in bad taste.
Roderich nodded, unsure exactly where to go with this, and just opted with putting his fake glasses back on, and perhaps lean in a little so that their arms touched. It wasn’t that he never fantasized about this sort of thing, it was just that he always envisioned it would be with Elizabeta, and rarely a man that he found… attractive? He did find Ivan visually and mentally stimulating, he just hoped that this would be able to work without too many kinks in the wheels. He didn’t like many problems, but if he knew a certain German man, he would most likely make a bunch of problems for them, mostly since they were now going to be officially dating.
Ivan looked down at the smaller man, well, smaller in comparison to him, but then again, he did tower above most people anyway. With a shy smile, he pressed a chaste kiss to the top of Roderich’s head, that had him blushing at the contact, Ivan nuzzling the soft hair for a little longer than a moment before pulling away. He liked the way Roderich smelled, or at least the shampoo he used. He would have to ask the next time he remembered. For now, he had a feeling that they should be getting back before Gilbert found them in here, and ruin their moment for them.
“Come, the reception must be starting by now, and we don’t want to leave Gilbert to his own devices,” Ivan said, offering a hand to Roderich to help him up. “Knowing him, he’s looking for us, most likely hoping to catch us doing… ah, something indecent.”
“yes, we don’t want him near the instruments,” Roderich agreed, taking the offered hand, feeling a bit off at being treated like a girl. “However I do have one request. That you don’t sleep with him anymore. If you are going to bed someone, try to convince me.”
“Is that a challenge,” Ivan asked, wicked grin on his face.
“It wouldn’t be fun otherwise,” Roderich responded. True, he was still a virgin, but it didn’t mean that he had to play it up like that. Plus, he wasn’t going to ‘give it up’ to just anything nice Ivan did for him, he was going to have to work for it. It was best to put that out there right now than have the impossible expectations later and therefore hurt feelings. Best to just get this stuff out of the way first. Communication was important, and he wasn’t going to jeopardize something over the lack of it.
“Oi, you two down here,” Gilbert shouted down the hall, making Ivan and Roderich sort of flinch, the silence of the hallway shattered with the albino’s voice. He was kinda pissed at being forced to come with Ivan and then being abandoned all but right after Roderich’s performance. He wanted to congratulate the other man too, he was his friend after all. Sorta. As much of friends that he could be with a stuck up aristocrat. “Don’t tell me you both went back to the dorms already!”
“No, we are here,” Ivan replied, stepping out of the room, Roderich in tow, looking annoyed as ever. “You are just lucky that no one else is down here. Or else I am sure that you’d be in trouble again, da?”
“Yeah yeah,” Gilbert muttered, ignoring the Russian’s words for the most part. Instead, he slung an arm over Roderich’s shoulders with a Cheshire cat grin. “Congrats on your performance Roddy, you really knocked the socks off that audience! Although it would have been more awesome if you played the guitar or something like that instead of the piano. But not everyone can be as awesome as I am!”
“Your ego tends to just get let loose everywhere, doesn’t it,” Roderich muttered, but took the compliment. Hopefully his instructor was impressed as well, he did not like disappointing people, and the way he had been acting the past couple of weeks was unacceptable. Even by his standards. He just hoped that everything was going to be somewhat smoothed out now. “However I guess I’ll take your compliment, Gilbert.”
“Of course you will because it’s my compliment,” Gilbert exclaimed with a laugh, glad that not everything had to be strained with the three of them, even if perhaps he was going to become sort of a third wheel. Until he got his plan moving, well, after he worked out some of the finer details. This would be so awesome if it worked! He would have to brag to his brother if it did, sure that the uptight man would be jealous of his awesomeness! “Besides, because I was good the entire time, you’ll have to make me my favorite dinner!”
“You’re going to make me preform and then cook for you,” Roderich frowned, feigning surprise. “How crude of you, Gilbert. And here I was, thinking that I finally was being a good influence on you!”
Ivan shook his head at the two as he began to walk away, towards the dorms. When Gilbert got like this, keeping him out in public wasn’t something that Ivan liked to do, and perhaps Roderich would agree with him. The German man often found more trouble that way, dragging whoever he was with into it. Truthfully, he could keep those friends that he had around campus in that hole, he wasn’t going to be dragged into it and he wouldn’t let his new boyfriend get suckered in either. That just wouldn’t be good. It’d be like throwing him tied up and gagged at Natasha’s feet and then telling her that was the man he was going to go out with. Things would just get messy rather quickly.
“Come, I will cook something as a reward,” Ivan replied, still walking away. “You will have to help, Gilbert. I do not know how to cook good German food.”
Gilbert went from hanging all over a Roderich that was trying to push him away anyway to bounding next to Ivan, talking excitedly over all the things that he wanted. Roderich just shook his head, wondering how such an infuriating man became his roommate and friend. It had to be slowly, because the other could still piss him off like no one else could yet still be able to hang around him. He smiled at that fact, knowing that he would still keep in touch with Gilbert after graduation, maybe. If the other man ever learned how to tone down his ego enough to be able to talk about something other than being so awesome all the damn time.
-gimme more, gimme more, pretty please, prescription-
Back in their room, Ivan started cooking pretty much right away, commanding Gilbert around the kitchen like only Roderich had watched himself do. It was interesting, how much less of a fight that Gilbert put up with, sort of made him jealous of Ivan. He would have to deal with insults, whining, and other annoying things if he ever asked Gilbert to help him in the kitchen, but Ivan just commanded and Gilbert hopped to do whatever task was needed. Perhaps it was because of their previous relationship? Or perhaps even because Ivan had that weird vibe that sometimes went off when he became angry that made everyone in the same vicinity want to run and hide in the nearest dark corner.
“It is almost done,” he heard from the kitchen in Ivan’s voice, Roderich looking up from the book that he was reading. He was just relaxing, mostly because of Ivan’s insistence on making the dinner, and dragging Gilbert into it as well. What Ivan didn’t know was that he was observing them, but he guessed that would just be his little secret.
“How much longer,” Roderich asked, flipping the page to keep up appearances. It was what he had become good at after all. He didn’t want them to know that he had been spying on them, but just sitting here reading, quelling the jealously that was growing in him that perhaps Ivan was thinking about going back to Gilbert. It was irrational but there, perhaps it would fade the closer he and Ivan became. Hopefully anyway.
“Not much,”Ivan replied, being cut off by Gilbert.
“About five minutes Specs so don’t you dare try to leave! We worked really hard on this!”
“No, I did. You just did the little things,” Ivan replied, Roderich could hear the smile in his voice more than Ivan let show on his face. “Now, set the table, da? Be a good boy and maybe you’ll get dessert.”
“I’m not a child and I helped out a lot,” Gilbert shot back, getting the dishes anyway and beginning to lay them out on the table that was for once, devoid of any homework or books. “Besides, without my awesome help, you wouldn’t have been able to make any of the desserts!”
Ivan seemed to think a bit on that, before grinning at Gilbert again. Roderich was always a bit scared on how well Ivan was able to put on such a face, and how easily that he could switch in and out of such moods. Perhaps it was something that all Russians were able to do? Or perhaps that was a tad too stereotypical profiling on his part. He was sure that other Russians were just like the people in his country, if just a bit odd to observe. Different cultures and all that.
“If the child doesn’t eat the rest of his dinner, he doesn’t get a treat, da? I am sure that is something all mothers teach children,” Ivan replied, stirring the stew. He didn’t have the ingredients to make some borscht, but he was sure that he would be able to make it for them one day, however a more German dinner wouldn’t kill them and with an Austrian dessert to finish it? Yes, this was going to be very good indeed. “So be a good child, Gilbert.”
“I’m not a child you damn bear,” Gilbert replied with a shout, hands balling up into fists.
“Ah ah ah,” Ivan tisked, actually tisked to Roderich’s amusement. “Your behavior is also a factor. Now sit and be quiet, little Gilbert.”
Roderich really thought that the German was going to hit Ivan, but a cold glare set him straight for the table, muttering something about him being ‘unawesome’ and therefore not awesome enough to know the feel of his fist in his big assed nose. Closing his book, he took himself to the table, sitting across form Gilbert who was still pouting at Ivan, who didn’t seem to be noticing or caring for that matter. He had to admire that about Ivan, the man knew how to tick Gilbert off like no one else could, Roderich hoped that he could perhaps learn the ways of the master, so that he would be able to live his life in peace and still get what he wanted from the German when he needed it. He could be devious if he needed to be, it was just most of the time, he hid that part of himself for it wasn’t proper for a gentleman to think such things out loud.
“You do seem to have a way with children,” Roderich snickered, earning himself a glare from Gilbert, that he brushed off like he had the thousands he had before. “Although I wonder if your methods will work on this one. He does seem a bit wild.”
“No one likes children who behave badly,” Ivan grinned, a little creepily that both Roderich and Gilbert had agreed on. “So he will just have to learn.”
“Not going to lie, Ivan, do don’t that again. That was a tad off putting,” Roderich said, trying to suppress a bit of a shiver that seemed to want to crawl down his spine. He didn’t like that grin at all, it spoke of something dark and twisted that he wasn’t sure he was ever supposed to know about, or if he should even acknowledge its existence.
“Ah, I only joke,” Ivan replied, returning to much of a normal that the Russian ever became. “Besides, Gilbert was very good at the recital. He didn’t even shout anything obscene.”
“Have more faith in the awesome me,” Gilbert laughed, looking at the strew that seemed to have come out very nicely. “You even put a lot of potatoes in it! Awesome!”
“Of course,” Ivan replied. “You were good da? And you like potatoes.”
“Eat the other stuff in it too,” Roderich said, waiting for his turn at the ladle that Gilbert was hogging. “You’re always complaining about being hungry but your diet could use some refining to where you’d eat other things too.”
Gilbert pouted, and released the ladle, finally, and just ate in silence, still trying to pick out the vegetables. Roderich just sighed and ate his own soup, liking it enough although it didn’t have enough spices for his own taste, but couldn’t really be mad at Ivan over it. He had tried his best and didn’t really making German or Austrian dishes enough to really know how to spice them well yet. He was sure that after a little more practice the man would be very good at cooking it, although he was sure that his Russian dishes were to die for if this was his first try at a German one. Ivan himself enjoyed the strew, it was much better than he thought it would turn out, very pleased by that fact, and just watched the other two bicker. This was really nice, almost like a family that made him miss his sisters a bit, but he would see them soon away.
After dinner and dessert, Gilbert headed off to bed, not wanting to be around the other two. To him, it was jealousy induing just watching the two make eyes at each other if they caught each others gaze, especially when he was the only one there without anyone to do that with. Was this what Roderich felt when he and Ivan would do that? Perhaps, but soon, he told himself as he shut his door, soon, he would have both of them. He wouldn’t have to choose over which one he liked better, and neither would they. They would all be together like that, and happy. He had a feeling Ivan wouldn’t object, although he would like to see Roderich’s reaction when he finally asked them about it after a little prodding in the right direction. After all, he was taking this whole having a boyfriend rather well, much better than he thought he would.
And there was Roderich’s fiance thing to worry about, but he guessed since he was dating Ivan now, it wasn’t that much of an issue or not even an issue at all. Wasn’t their relationship arranged anyway? Maybe the girl had her own lover on the side and therefore Roderich was allowed to have his own then? Gilbert grinned widely at that, mainly because it would be his goal to make that chick jealous as hell as Roderich would have two if he was able to get this plan rolling. Francis, an old friend from his high school days that he kept in contact with over the internet, was giving him some good ideas. This might be easier than he thought. Maybe.
-have a meanwhile since that’s basically what’s going down-
Ivan felt bad, perhaps he had more of an attachment to Gilbert than he wanted to admit, feeling his heart sink when the other excused himself, leaving him and Roderich alone. He wasn’t sure what to do now, as he never really been in a conventional relationship and only had that half fling with Gilbert as the closest thing that he had to one. Perhaps he should have explain that to Roderich but he doubted that would have helped since the other was only part of an arranged engagement for most likely many more years that it was legal to be dating other people. With a sigh, he returned to his dessert, becoming very shy in the atmosphere very fast, and not sure exactly how to break the ice.
“Well he certainly left in a flourish,” Roderich commented, taking another bite of his own. “One of his friends most likely came online again or his brother did. Knowing that idiot he’s been blogging too.”
“You know a lot about him for hating him so,” Ivan replied, curious on how Roderich came to know Gilbert’s habits so well while he barely seemed to find out anything. Maybe he and Gilbert weren’t as close as he thought and that hurt a bit. Maybe now they would be able to become actual friends instead of just acquaintances that seemed to fuck when the time was right. He really did want to make friends with other people, and perhaps this was just the little shove to show him that he was going about it maybe the wrong way. If this succeeded with making Gilbert his friend, then maybe he would try it out with other people and get the desired result.
“If I didn’t, I’m sure that he would find some excuse or another exactly why I should know or something along those lines,” Roderich sighed, trying hard not to think of the possibilities. “And I don’t hate him as a person, just his damn attitude. I don’t know what caused his ego to inflame like this, but I’ll be damned if I let it keep going at this rate.”
Ivan chuckled at that, trying to think of Roderich reprimanding Gilbert as an instructor to a child about manners. Although he doubted that Gilbert would ever do the right thing just to see his instructor pissed off, Ivan himself thought that such a game could be fun and entertaining for awhile. Perhaps some of Gilbert’s personality rubbed off on him. He needed to calm his own ego down before it became as large as the other man’s, as he was sure that Roderich would have no problem trying to correct it. Then again, he wasn’t a child, so the correcting could be kind of fun.
He needed to stop thinking such kinky thoughts at the dinner table, especially when he knew that he wouldn’t be able to bed Roderich for awhile yet. The conversation in the music room playing over in his head, had his gears grinding out a way to make the other man fall for him more quickly. He couldn’t say that he didn’t like this, as that would be an outright lie. He liked to figure out puzzles, and he was sure that he would be able to learn little things about his boyfriend along the way which was always a plus in relationships. He really needed to stop thinking about such things at the dinner table, mostly because he was sure that he was turning at least a bit red now by his thoughts.
“A…ah. I didn’t know that you felt that way,” Ivan said, trying to cover up the fact that his mind had wandered to dangerous territory. “He just interests me in his quirks. They seem to be rather different than other people I have met here. Then again, he is from Germany, da? Perhaps they are just odd in general.”
“Yes, well, his brother is at least sane. I’ve met him on a few occasions and actually held nice conversation. You’d hardly believe that Gilbert is the older one with how he acts half the time,” Roderich replied, sipping his tea. Yes, this had been a rather good day all in all. He was rather pleased with the way things turned out, despite the initial awkwardness. He couldn’t wait for that to finally go away, and sort of wondered if it ever would. “I do believe that Gilbert is just in a league of his own no matter where he goes or even what he does.”
Ivan chuckled at that, thinking that perhaps Roderich was onto something with that. Perhaps Gilbert was just Gilbert and that was just all there was to it. He did still find it odd that they were talking about Gilbert, but that was most likely due to that he was a safe subject. Someone they both know that didn’t hurt their standing with each other, but even increasing the understanding about the person in question. Ivan thought that they needed to get a better subject to be discussing other the fact that Gilbert should have been put under social study and perhaps learn something about each other. However, he had no idea how to exactly change the conversation back onto them. He needed to get better at this.
“I do believe that we each have our quirks, da,” Ivan said, hiding his unease behind his own cup of tea, wishing he had some vodka to spike it a bit. He doubted it would taste very good, but it would be less suspicious of his nervous habit to drink he stuff when he was well, nervous. Maybe he should get a different security blanket that wouldn’t ruin his liver by the time he was thirty. Eventually. “If everyone was sane, the world would be boring.”
“That’s very true,” Roderich sighed, wondering what had Ivan so nervous. Surely he wasn’t that hard to talk to, or at least he liked to think that he wasn’t. Maybe that was his own ego deciding to show up again? It could be a possibility. Wasn’t like the thing didn’t like to flare up. “However, we have a long time to figure out each others.”
Bingo. Ivan did a little dance inside of his head at being able to change the subject, Roderich noticing the light of his eyes lifting, glad he made the right choice of words. “Da, and I would like to find out yours one day.”
“You will, just as I yours,” Roderich replied, standing up with a small, kind smile. “However, I do think I am going to turn in for the night. It’s been a long day and I would like to be somewhat rested for class tomorrow.”
“Da, rest will be good,” Ivan said, getting up as well, passing Roderich and on the way, kissing the other man lightly on the cheek. “Goodnight, {my little pianist}.”
Roderich didn’t know what sort of endearment that Ivan used, but blushed heavily no matter. At least he figured that it was an endearment, or maybe another congratulations for his piano playing being able to impress so many people? He didn’t think to ask right then, as Ivan was already heading for his room. Roderich snapped out of his surprised state before heading off to his own room, still blushing like a madman. This was going to be a very long week, he could already feel it in his bones.
