Curiosity killed the cat

Series: Axis Powers Hetalia / World Series Hetalia
Main Characters: Russia (Ivan Braginsky), England (Arthur Kirkland)
Minor Characters: None
Pairings: Russia/England
Description:
Spy!Arthur has gotten a mission to infiltrate Russia, to get to know more about Ivan. What he doesn't know is that Ivan might have had some of his own spies running around Arthur's place for a while...


NOTE: If you find any spelling or grammar errors, feel free to correct us, since our native language is Swedish (and only partly English).

Arthur Kirkland

The Russian winter was harsh against the ones not being used to it and also against the ones who were. The brutal cold wind passed through Moscow like a sharp blade, bitter and uncaring towards the citizens.
But the proud Russians roaming the streets didn't even seem to notice the howling wind, protected from it as they were with their thick fur coats and warm hats. The death threats from the blizzard got ignored by the stern faces of the people.

Arthur Kirkland however, was not used to it at all.

He was currently sitting there, inside a common bar while the wind was continuing with its ruthless howling and even though he was indoors in the warmth, he could feel the frosty chills move up his spine. It was as a cruel sensation, it could be compared with the sinister finger movements of a mysterious creature whom could take place in his beliefs, whom wanted nothing more than to give him a slow numbness, cursing him with all its might for even regarding coming to this frozen surface of land.
A more forceful shudder travelled across his body when the door slammed open, inviting another guest who searched for warmth and would receive it. Arthur tried his hardest not to scowl at the, what he regarded, intrusion on the only place that harbored humanity.
He could feel his brows furrow and he let out a sigh, knowing he was being defeated by his own treacherous expressions. Gently he started to tap his calloused fingers across the smooth surface of the table, and decided to go against it with reading the menu instead that was located in front of him. The tap on the table, which was a habit of his, was not the brightest thing to do when trying to avoid unwanted attention. It was enough with that his Russian had earned some attention, but thankfully the owner of the pub disregarded it.

Green eyes started to scan the menu, sometimes he wrinkled his nose a tad bit at the details of some meals, if he could translate it. Engrossed at his task on trying to understand the menu with the few Cyrillic letters he had managed to learn before his travel, he was completely unaware of a certain cold presence nearby.

Ivan Braginsky

The weather was cruel, as usual during this time of year. Ivan was strategically covered from top to toe with warm clothing, like most other Russians. Only his eyes were visible through the small gap between his pulled up scarf and the ushanka. Although, as he stepped through the door into the warmth of his favorite bar, he pulled the scarf down just a little to not die from perspiration instead. He really needed a pause like this from all the paperwork that came with being the head of the Union. As he closed the door behind him, cutting of the blizzard which reached its sharp claws to get a hold of the people taking cover inside, Ivan let his eyes wander briefly around the room.

For a spy, Arthur was surprisingly inattentive. Ivan had of course noticed him almost right away, with his messy blond hair and incredibly prominent eyebrows. Ivan had found the blond man sitting by the bar, distracted by the content of one of the small and food-stained menus. Noticeably irritated, considering his constant tapping upon the polished surface of the bar desk.

Ivan soundlessly sneaked up behind the Englishman, observing him for a minute or two. Then he spoke quietly in his characteristically, heavy accented English, trying to not attract too much attention from the surrounding guests.
"I suppose I am the one you are looking for, no?"

Arthur Kirkland

Bewildered at hearing butchered English, Arthur tore his eyes from the piece off paper in his hand towards the deep voice. His eyes met the man he was supposed to spy on from a distance. He was definitively not prepared for meeting the Russian so soon, let alone meeting him at all.
The violet orbs seemed to mockingly laugh towards him, but only for a moment. Arthur felt his throat going dry as he tried to form an excuse or anything, as long as it didn’t sound disbelieving in the ears of the fellow country he was facing. It seemed as if Ivan already knew his intentions with being in that frozen excuse of a capital. He had to divert him from that suspicion at any cost. Although it felt like an unsuccessful mission to be honest but it was certainly worth a try. For the sake of his duty!

He took a deep breath in order to prepare himself for the lie, and steadily faced the Soviet nation with as much English pride he allowed himself to harbour. Idly he cast a quick glance at the neighbouring guests. A perfect British accent perhaps weren’t the best thing to show off in a time like this, with the disagreements between the communistic and capitalistic views hanging in the air. Certain that he wouldn’t attract any attention, he started on the façade in order to trick the taller man.

“Ivan, I wasn’t prepared in seeing you.” He began with, not entirely a lie though. A new shiver was sent through his spine when those mysterious violets were searching his face for answers. But his thoughts were currently working on why that sensation felt so... alien out of sudden, comparing to the ones before. It was sort of exciting, in a very disturbing way indeed.
Arthur felt his cheek starting to hurt a bit from his tiny smile. Even if it was small he decided that it wasn’t worth the torture one bit. Hopefully Ivan wouldn’t take that as a fake smile.

Ivan Braginsky

"So it seems." he replied, a slightly ruminative undertone to it. Of course he already knew why, he knew perfectly well why Arthur was here. He had been catching and questioned heaps of spies already, most of them from Great Britain. Ivan was only waiting for said nation himself to come for a visit. It was now only before him to decide what action should be the most appropriate.
For a split second (or was it less?), a glint appeared in his eye, but so briefly it might as well have never existed. When he spoke again it was with cheerful friendliness.
"But I suppose you were to meet someone here, no?" He threw a very quick glance around the room.
"Someone who hasn't yet appeared. And judging by your unnerving behavior," At this point Ivan's eyes briefly wandered to the hand on the bar desk and back again. "This person is also late, is that correct?"

He didn't wait for an answer as leaned against the bar next to the foreign man, in a seemingly relaxed and carefree way.
"What about I invite you home to my house? It's warm and we can keep up this conversation all night if you wish." A short pause to share an inviting smile. "Also, you don't have to worry about staying at an expensive hotel. You can sleep at my place for free, there's plenty of room."

Arthur Kirkland

While openly frowning at his Russian companion, Arthur realized even more that his next move was critical for the rest of the conversation held between the two nations. As he worked on his task on forming a reliable answer, his head was spinning with questions at the same time.
How on earth did Ivan know that he was supposed to meet his contact man in Moscow?
Forcing to repress a shudder, he concluded that the Russian perhaps already knew everything. Indeed did Arthur already know that some of the British spies from MI6 had under their missions in the Soviet Union disappeared. Only to not be returning back.

That had disturbed him greatly.

And he had already failed in his own mission by getting spotted by a certain Ivan Braginsky, the man he was supposed to spy on secretly. The British man cursed at himself inwardly for his stupidity. Not even a half hour in the sodding bar and everything was ruined!

Or was it?

Green eyes gleamed with an idea, and he had to stop himself from giving away the light smirk threatening to form on his lips. Braginsky did after all invite him into his home, did he not? The larger man was practically giving away a great opportunity for Arthur to continue his espionage on a level he wouldn’t have been able to do, in another circumstance. Perhaps he wouldn’t leave this frozen land empty handed after all?

“Yes I have been waiting for someone, actually the British Ambassador.” He answered, faking irritation in his voice “But it seems like he have found something else of importance and succeeded to forget our appointment.”

It was indeed a lie, but the Russian wouldn’t know about that matter, that was certain.
He raised his head and looked into the cold violet eyes, waiting for the man to answer. After all, a small conversation didn’t hurt.