ѕυrvιvιɴɢ dιғғιcυlт [т ι м e ѕ] αɴd cнαlleɴɢιɴɢ αdverѕιтy. ♥

[∂яινє му ωσℓƒ ωιℓ∂ ♥]

{ lacey only pls. ♡ }

It was, perhaps, the most lonely time of the year. It was Spring, this part of the earth was getting warmer, and yet he still felt frozen. It had been several months since he had last seen Alexsander, and yet it felt like millenia. Did he still love him? Did he still care for him? Did he want to break up when they saw each other again? Did he even remember him?

He sighed and wrapped his arms around himself, currently sitting on his couch falling in self-pity with a hurting heart.

That was, until his friend came back in with a large bottle of tequila and two shot glasses.

Maybe he could drink away his sorrows.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Busy, busy, busy. Who knew that running a country would take so much work? For the most part, the Royal Advisory could take care of Russia and its problems. But occasionally, Alexsander was called in to take control. It was cumbersome, but he had taken the throne after his parents passed away, so it was duty.

Combined with making sure that Luca had made it to New York safely, Alex hadn't even realized how much time had passed until he had a little free time. It had been months since he'd seen Ashley! The Russian king wanted to smack himself in the face. In all the commotion, he'd even forgotten to phone him once or twice a week.

Which is why he now stood in front of Ashley's place, a huge bouquet of flowers in hand. He was prepared to beg for forgiveness if he had to. It was crappy, the whole situation. He took a deep breath and knocked loudly.

[∂яινє му ωσℓƒ ωιℓ∂ ♥]

The friend stood from the computer and walked over to the door, steps a little wobbly. He hadn't taken a nap to get over his drunkenness like Ashley did. He opened the door and looked up at the man blearily. "Who are you?" He asked in a slur.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Um, my name is Alexsander," He shifted from foot to foot, observing the friend, "Is Ashley home?"

[∂яινє му ωσℓƒ ωιℓ∂ ♥]

The friend grunted. "He's asleep." He shuffled away, back to the computer, the door left wide open.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Oh," Alex stepped in and looked around, "How long has he been sleeping?"

[∂яινє му ωσℓƒ ωιℓ∂ ♥]

"An hour or so..."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

He set the flowers on the table and sighed, "I see. Well..it would be rude to wake him up. Can you at least tell him that Alexsander Sarcoski stopped by? I want to talk with him whenever he can.."

[∂яινє му ωσℓƒ ωιℓ∂ ♥]

He nodded, focused on the computer screen. "I don't think he'll want to talk to you, though. I mentioned a Sarcoski and he threw a bottle at my window. Shattered it."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Alex winced, "Yeah..I can imagine him doing that. I guess I deserve it, though."

[∂яινє му ωσℓƒ ωιℓ∂ ♥]

"He's not in a very happy place. Drinks himself to sleep half of the time." He stood, clapping his hands. "But you're not here to feel guilty over your ex-boyfriend, are you? Is this all you came here for?" He gestured to the flowers. "I can make you something to eat or something- it's almost dinner time."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Well, I came here to apologize to Ashley," Alex rubbed the back of his neck, "Things have been rough- I've been busy. I didn't mean to just disappear. But I don't know if me staying for dinner is something he'd want.."

[∂яινє му ωσℓƒ ωιℓ∂ ♥]

He hummed in agreement, nodding his head. More than likely Ashley would just try to chew Alexsander's head off.

"Alright, go in peace." He gave a small, wavering smile, and escorted him to the door with a gentle hand. "I don't know you or anything, and you kind of smell like vodka, but I understand not feeling right in a relationship. Especially with long distance ones. I'm not even really sure why Ashley stays in California, with how everyone treats him. Even though gay rights are being approved and marriage is allowed, I feel that he's still harassed because of his sexuality and appearance… It's really taken an effect on him."

He leaned against the door, speaking from the frame and refusing to look at the Russian.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"How long has he been treated like that?" Alex took a step out the door, but looked back over his shoulder at the male, "He seemed alright when I was around. Before I went back to Russia."

[∂яινє му ωσℓƒ ωιℓ∂ ♥]

He nodded. "I think, in some ways, though it sounds weird, you were his guardian. No one wanted to get near him to harass because you were around- kind of like a dark protective shroud. But since you've been gone a lot more recently, things have been happening. They haven't turned physical yet, but he's become somewhat of a recluse. He doesn't like going outside, and sends others on errands to the store and such."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"боже правый," Alex murmured, narrowing his blue eyes slightly. He turned to the young man, facing him fully, "Please tell him I stopped by and that I really want to talk with him. I know he probably hates me, but I'm not going to give up on him that easily. And, if things don't work out, please take care of him."

[∂яινє му ωσℓƒ ωιℓ∂ ♥]

He blinked, taken aback by the sudden mood change, and he nodded, a warmth rising in his stomach. Somehow he knew that what the Russian said was true- that he wouldn't give up on his blonde friend no matter what. He gestured for the Russian to leave the room with a gentle motion before he closed the door after him. It would be interesting telling Ashley that his ex had returned… More than likely one of his best guitars would be destroyed on the tiling again. He winced. He'd need to find a different place to put those...

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Alexsander took a deep breath and pulled out his cell phone. Time to make reservations at a local hotel so he could stay close by. He had time to try and mend things with Ashley. Everything was stable back home, so he could focus solely on earning forgiveness.

He'd missed him terribly- but he'd been so distracted he could barely dwell on his feelings. Now that he had time, all the loneliness and frustration came rushing back.

[∂яινє му ωσℓƒ ωιℓ∂ ♥]

~ T I M E S K I P ~

A few hours later and Ashley was shuffling from his bedroom, oversized sweater hanging off one shoulder and the tips of his fingers clutching to the end of it as he rubbed at an eye. He yawned quietly, looking like an adorably fluffy puppy, and his friend looked up from the couch, currently playing a soccer game on the Xbox, and he grinned a bit, though nervousness swelled in his stomach.

"Someone came by and left you those." He gestured to the flowers now arranged in the vase and moderately watered, even though they were already dead and have already started wilting considering they were cut.

Ashley looked at the flowers in confusion, manicured eyebrows pulled down in a bewildered expression. "Who?" He asked in a tired voice, lowering his sweater-covered hand.

"Um… Well…" He winced, swallowing. He slowly began to shy away, grabbing a pillow and hiding behind it. "Alex… Sarcoski…"

Ashley stiffened and stared at the flowers with a hard expression.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Said person was already checked into a hotel and was currently lying back on the poor excuse for a bed. He probably could have gotten himself a better room, but Alex didn't dip into the family funds unless it was for business. He sighed and stared at the ceiling, wondering whether Ashley had woken up or not.