Stray Snowfall Three - Reader x Russia

PART THREE

It was one am; your turn to take watch and Germany was the one to wake you up. You had no idea how long ago your angel had comforted you, but even if it had only been ten seconds ago, you had just slept the most peaceful sleep you had in years. You half expected to see the angel pressed against you still in the bed, but whoever it had been, they were completely gone and you were alone save for Germany, whom you knew had been on watch duty.

"You look really well rested; did you have a good dream?" Your boss questioned gently, but you just blushed a little at the idea. There was no time for you to change your clothing, it was comfortable pyjamas and you always had a gun within arm's reach if the worst came – as well as the paperwork in your handbag that Germany would force you to fill out.

"I don't really remember. I think I did, my stomach ache's gone too – I think it was just a little too rich for me." You chuckled gently and smile as Germany steps away from you to the sleeping bag placed on the floor. He slips into it and closes his eyes, his body freezing rigid in that most efficient resting manner you had seen him use before on stake-outs. How the hell could he get rest that way? It surely was not comfortable!

You stepped out into the lounge, surprised to see Sweden preparing to take his outside watch position whilst you stayed in the lounge. You were not sure how this arrangement worked, except that you were supposed to be in the lounge and bedroom during the hours Russia was supposed to be asleep. You'd only gone to bed first because of the bad stomach, but somehow Russia was wide awake and finishing a solitary game of chess.

"That how you keep warm in Russia?" You chuckled gently, making a rather pathetic movie reference but still receiving a slight snort of humour in response. Ivan packed the pieces away in a neat looking metal box, brandished with a sickle and hammer that you assumed was a left-over from his previous employment…..

"Will you tell me about your time with Italy, please?" Ivan questioned out of the blue, but his expression was not as gentle as it had been before. It seemed darker and threatening, as if he had been fighting with someone and you immediately guessed that Berwald had probably decided to inform him that he would have a mad Viking to deal with if he tried anything with you.

Why did every man in the universe want to protect you at the moment?

"Okay." You shrugged your shoulders and sat down on the opposite side of the little table he'd been using for his game. His rather strange facial expression seemed to ease, obviously you relaxed him. "We were together for just over three years actually, a long time for most people and Germany still calls me a saint from time to time over it. He used to charm and flatter all the time and was always cooking me meals or taking me out to dinner. He loved to make me feel pretty and compliment me, he loved to drag me out somewhere to dance and cuddling was just his thing too. In general, he was so happy-go-lucky that sometimes it irritated me when he naturally flirted with other girls and I would call him out on it, but he would always respond with something so cute or charming you could never stay mad at him. Of course his adorable manner did mean he could practically get me to do anything, which included hard work and I think at times I ended up like a housemaid, but he never really forced me to do anything, it was just nice to help him out. We did kiss a hell of a lot and he was very fond of public displays of affection, something that drove my brothers nuts and made Germany very embarrassed, and to be honest I didn't get along with his brother Romano because we kept arguing about who meant more to Feliciano. But I did go all the way with Feli, we were firsts for each other and well – it never seemed as important to our relationship as just communicating, smile, and cuddling!"

You seemed to be half dreaming about all those wonderful times together, yet somehow the break up had soured some of your old fondness towards irritation. You had been the one to rescue him when he did something stupid, the trip to the petting zoo for example had ended up with your wrestling a goat to get his car keys back and man did you hate how he drove! Plus, a lot of your dates had ended up in situations where Germany was invited along to make sure nothing happened to either of you, and after the incident on your holiday to Venice with Feliciano trying to do the whole romantic Gondola ride and forcing Germany to dress in the hat and stripy shirt and paddle the damn boat – well that had destroyed the romance.

You rolled your eyes with a groan – in the end you had just been the female version of Germany for Italy, and yet he'd still bought your boss along anyway!

"What ended it?" Russia questioned and you turned to look at him with a brilliant blush upon your cheeks. He smiled at you, that sweet smile that suddenly made your heart bounce. You quickly checked your chest for a second, feigning a hiccup so he would not notice your reaction so much. Did you really want to explain it?

"Well… He got bullied far too easily and I was always pulling him out of the way of trouble. But when people bullied me, like my step-brother England, he would just stand there and shake without even considering defending me. It just started getting too common and England's friends would get involved and I would end up with my other brothers and Germany standing up for me in the end whilst Feliciano hid in a corner." You sighed hard. You rolled your _____ eyes; you really needed a proper man in your life.

"Ah…. You need a true man, da?" Ivan chuckled in delight and you blushed again. He sighed a little softly. "But, you're not with Sweden or Germany? They both like you. Why not be with them?"

"Germany? Well, number one he's my boss. Number two, he's Feli's best friend so it would be just WRONG! And thirdly, a woman in his life comes second to his dogs… Efficiency is just too boring for me. And Sweden?" Well this was getting awkward and you were glad Germany was asleep, though he had probably heard all of that, and Berwald was outside so he couldn't here it. Part of you had never even thought about being with him, maybe it was a possibility – he wasn't a bad guy and you did like him a lot, but at the same time he was not exactly the most communicative person. "Uh… He's manly, yeah… But at the same time it's a work complication, he's my work-partner."

"Well… What do you think of me compared to it then?" Ivan smiled softly, though there was that same dark aura hanging around him again. You felt a little scared trying to consider the idea of being with him, it was a scam after-all to keep him from being a target so you should be honest, and it was not going to hurt you both was it?

"For the purpose of this job… Well, you're a tall guy, you've got gorgeous eyes, and you're not a little stick, so you're a proper man." You closed your eyes and flapped your hand around blindly so you did not have to see his reaction, just so you did not embarrass yourself or him by your words. Then you continued with what you'd noticed today. "You're very sweet I think, you have been very polite to me, you're oddly relaxing and calming to be around and I like it. You saved me this morning from getting squashed and you stood up to Allistor who's got the most violent temper you could imagine! And apart from all that, and this is from knowing you just one day… There's something so strangely…. Well, almost, attractive about you that makes me want to curl up with my head on your laps and bat at your face like a kitten!"

You realised with a sudden amount of shock slapping you in the face, that you'd not only told him there was something attractive about him, but that you wanted to be like a kitten? DAMN GREECE! You used to adore playing with the cats that hung around the alley by the police station until he told you that they were all his and you had to ask permission. Damn it, he'd walk around with them following him and they'd ignore you….

Why did the kittens not love you when Greece was around?

"You're very sweet to say that." Russia spoke, trying to imitate the words you had used to make you feel more comfortable. Before you could blush and say sorry, he gripped your hand firmly and kissed it softly. His lips were fearfully cool and you were surprised, but then, while still stunned, he stood up and walked toward the bedroom. Before you could ask a question Sweden came back in and you switched positions.

* * * * *

Time passed slowly but you were lucky to have turned your work brain on rather then your real mind. The work mind was observant and checked everyone that came up the stairs, a hand pressed softly beside a concealed weapon because Belarus was dangerous, and the other casually turning pages of a book you were pretending to read. No one bothered you, you did not read the book, and instead you kept your eyes sharp and focused on anyone turning up a little too often in the hall, even the staff.

The rest of your mind was already trying to play out the situation with Russia. If he was trying to make you feel more at ease about doing this job, he'd certainly achieved it, and he was well working his way toward acting like a gentleman… Which in some ways was what you wanted, but more then anything else you head was screaming about it all being part of the job.

You had been getting a little too eager to talk, to compliment, and to feel his warm smile focused on you back there. You needed to remember to keep it a façade, a shield for him and indeed yourself. But part of wondered secretly if this mission was even real. Part of you hoped it was, because another part of you was jumping up and down at the thought of Berwald and Ludwig having organised this because Ivan had a secret crush on you or something…

Could Sweden and Germany doing something for Russia like that?

Answer, nope.

* * * * *

When Ludwig came to relieve you from the post at six am, you were surprised how concerned he was. Though you'd been watching all night and made no hesitation in eyeing down possible troublemakers, nothing had happened. Upon returning to the lounge and talking with Berwald the three of you agreed that it had been an uneventful night, but as you discussed the people you had seen – the same lithe brown haired description kept trotting into your conversations. Perhaps it was just the cleaner, it had been dressed like one and been cleaning all the halls and the stairways whilst no one was using them, but something about him had screamed familiarity and fear. Someone was watching where you guys were, and hopefully it had not seen Russia enter the room earlier – to leave anywhere today, you were going to have to be very careful and take some ridiculous route!

But Germany and Sweden, though both well-rested, felt a little unsure about how you were feeling and how you could work. Your ____ eyes seemed to have lost their sparkle, though you blushed when Berwald mentioned it in that monotone of his. With a little hesitation you agreed to go back and sleep until Ivan was fully awake and with a groan you turned to the bedroom and opened the door.

Ivan's back was toward you and he was not even snoring, with a sigh you got onto the spare bed and settled down for a nap. It was not as comfortable as the bed, but at least it was not sitting on a hard chair staring at a boring grey hotel hall! Even so, part of you wanted to turn around and see what Ivan was doing, you were a little worried about who might know where he was, and you did not really know the full story of why you had to protect him from his sister. Had he done something wrong?

No! You couldn't see Ivan doing anything wrong, he was just too damn adorable!

With a few blinks and a low sigh of relief you settled back, shuffling a little to get warm, and drifted away. Once again you felt a warm arm cuddling around you and gentle breath against your face. It was a heavenly feeling that you were beginning to understand was obviously some sign from above that things were going to turn around for the better. Perhaps it was all because, for the first time in a long time, you were starting to talk about yourself and not guard against your stupid brother.

After a while the feeling seemed to fade, you could not bring yourself to open your eyes yet and continued to sleep. But then you felt something strange, a hand pressing against your chest and you wanted to jolt awake and scream – was it another nightmare of England being a lecherous wanker again? No… This hand went straight to the top of your torso and seemed to sit above your heart as it beat rapidly. You felt warmth again, instead of that growing dread, and you relaxed to the hand. Then the hand left you and cool lips pressed against your cheek. For a moment you wanted to open your eyes and see who it was, but the feel of the lips, feel of words beign spoken to you, urged you to remain.

The soft tenderness remained for a moment, light and barely a brushing of the skin. There was no sloppy moist sensation or quick peck from someone trying to get up without knocking you about – it was just a soft little sensation as gentle and endearing as if someone had just embraced you all over again.

The sensation was gone, the warmth was gone, but you remained sleeping for a little longer, no sound greeting your ears and once again you muttered a question to the air, only today it was not given an answer. The angel did not want to respond today, but still you could smell something around you that your long gone mother had often said was associated to angels visiting – baby powder!

There was a sudden alertness as you heard a sound like a knock on the door. You sat up and checked the bed around you – Ivan was up and it was nine! You'd been asleep three hours? Why hadn't they woken you up? As you sat upward and rubbed your eyes, you failed to notice the clothing scattered untidily across the floor as you made your way to the bathroom. You did not notice the sound of the shower before, and you certainly did not notice as it turned off and you opened the door to see much more of Russia's landscape then you had ever hoped to see….

"Uh… Morning Miss ______. Did you want bathroom?"

* * * * *

COMING SOON PART FOUR