Ivan stared down at their hands. A warm feeling rose up in him, making it hard to breathe for a second. What was this? "Ah..." He blinked and looked at the sign to reorient himself because he forgot where they were. "What did you say?" He didn't bother reading the sign although he normally loved learning new things. It was just a little wooden frame plane anyway.

Alfred thought for a moment. "I said it was a pretty big building... You asked how they could fit everything in here." He told him. He finished reading the sign before moving to the next one, wanting to take all the information in. He didn't even notice Ivan's distraction.

Alfred really didn't seem to notice just what distracted Ivan. It was him, always him. Why didn't he notice that. Ivan forced himself to breathe as he followed dutifully behind the other. "Yes, very much. I didn't think you'd be the sort to read the signs though. Could it be that you're actually smarter than you look?" he asked. None of Alfred's hobbies seemed to indicate this.

"Are you saying you don't think I can read? Cause that's really rude." Alfred said, not sure if that was what Ivan meant. Though it's what it sounded like to him. "Why are people always surprised whenever I do something smart? I'm not an idiot after all, despite what people might think."

"I don't think that's what I said at all," Ivan said with a frown. Alfred shouldn't be unhappy while on a date with him. "America has a fairly good education system. You need to read to play your video games yes? I just think you seem the type to rush through a museum only looking at the objects and visual aids. This is nice though. I like to be wrong."

It was true that you needed to be able to read to play video games. Alfred's annoyance went away instantly. At least Ivan wasn't calling him dumb. "I'd probably be doing that if we had gone to the planetarium." he admitted. It's what he had always done on school trips, after all. "But I've always been interested in planes and flying. I sometimes dream about it."

"Really? You haven't said much about what you're doing now. What you plan to do. You're not even in school right?" Ivan asked. "I didn't imagine you would dream of flying. Why not still dream it?" If you had dreams, you should not give up on that. He always believed that even if he dreamed nothing deep for himself. "Ah...but if you like the sky, why not like the stars too? They are...so beautiful..."

"I'm not really doing anything much right now.. I don't know what I want to go to school for. That's why I haven't gone to college yet." Alfred said. "The stars are beautiful, yeah." He agreed. He was silent for a moment. "My grandfather was a fighter pilot, back in WWII. This jacket is actually his." he said, indicating the jacket he was wearing. "When I was younger, he always told me stories about the war. Not about the violence part. But about flying. I had always wanted to be just like him. He died a few years back, heart attack. When he died, it felt like that dream of flying died with him.."

Ivan had wondered about the jacket and the story made him smile Alfred had such good connections with his family, very healthy. He pulled Alfred closer by his hand so that their shoulders bumped. "I'm very glad I thought to come to this place then. Look," he said as he pointed across the wide open space in the middle. "There's an American bomber plane from WWII. Maybe if I toss you hard enough, you can land in there? Then you can live your dream of flying!" Or falling, but that wasn't the point. "Your grandfather sounds like a good person. I'm sure you can find a way to honor that dream."

Alfred didn't mind when Ivan pulled him closer. He liked being close to people. Though he wasn't on board on his plan to throw him into the exhibit. That would probably get them kicked out. "He was a great person. A real American hero. I've always wanted to be just like him growing up. I want to do something with my life to honor him and my dream, but I'm not sure what."

Ivan chuckled as he gave the plane another look. One elbow leaned against the railing as he kept hold of Alfred's hand. "Why not join the Air Force? Be a pilot like him? That would be the obvious way." Although he wasn't sure he wanted to suggest this course of action to Alfred because then he would have to go and Ivan didn't want that. He wanted to keep the other boy close to him forever.

"I've thought about joining a lot growing up. But something was always holding me back. I know it isn't a fear of flying or heights. I've been on plenty of flights. I think it's probably that I don't want to leave my family.. But that's not really an excuse anymore. My parents are busy with their jobs, though we meet up as often as we can and Mattie is in college..." Alfred was silent for a moment. "But you're right.. Joining is the best way to honor him and my dream. I'm going to do it."

"Really?" Ivan asked, a little bit stunned to witness this important decision making process. And it lasted only a few seconds too. "Although I think it's good for you, we've not even known each other that long. And now you wish to leave?" Ivan knew he shouldn't have suggested such a thing because he wasn't close to Alfred like family and therefore not worth staying for.

"You make it sound like I'm abandoning you." Alfred said, looking at Ivan. "It's not like I'm going to be gone forever. I'll be back." He was completely confident about this. Sure, he'd have to leave for a while for the training. Then he may or may not be immediately deployed. If not, he could probably come home for a bit. At least, he thought so.

Ivan was not so confident though. It struck him then just how often people left him. He frowned and finally let go of Alfred's hand for the first time since they left the car. "But what if you do? What if you enjoy everything out there more than here? You will be like my friends and my tutor, my sister and my father. You will leave me." He turned away, staring at the planes with blank and unseeing eyes. Although he'd managed to raise his voice loud enough to draw a few eyes, he didn't notice.

Alfred pouted slightly when Ivan let go of his hand. He had been enjoying that. He was silent for a moment before he reached out and turned the other's head to face him, forcing him to look at him. "Listen to me. I will come back. I doubt I'll find anything interesting enough to keep me away from the great city we live in. My family is here. My friends are here. And you're here. Why would I stay away?" he asked, his voice low and calm.

Ivan stared at Alfred, his eyes finally focusing on the other's face. He blinked slow before he reached out to touch Alfred's face, his fingers just brushing against his jaw. "I really do like you. I hope you know that. Even if you think I show that strangely, it's just because you're so cute. I'd be very sad if you were not here with me." He'd finally managed to get close to someone who returned his desire to be near. It was an addicting thing and it would hurt more to be lonely again even if just for a little while.

"I like you too. Otherwise I wouldn't have agreed to go out with you. But you can't encourage me to follow my dream then take it back the moment I agree to. That doesn't work both ways." Alfred said. He reached up and grabbed the hand touching his face, holding it carefully. "I need you to trust that I would come back."

Ivan found himself nodding. He couldn't really say why, but he did know he acted unreasonable. He wanted to be that good sort of friend or lover, like the ones you read about in stories. He never acted that part well before. Maybe he could now? "I am trying not to be selfish. That is the right thing to do right? You should want the people you like to be happy. I think...this is the first time I've really wanted that."

"Following my dream will make me happy." Alfred told him. Not that he wasn't already happy. But he had always felt like something was missing from his life and he knew that this was what he needed to do to fill it. "Trust me. I'll call you every chance I get and when I come back, I go see you first before anybody else. Even my brother."

"Thank you, Alfred," Ivan whispered as he pulled Alfred in for a quick hug. Then, before he could think too deeply about it, he kissed him on his lips. It lasted only a second before he remembered they were in public and as much as Ivan liked to think he didn't care, he did and he wasn't sure if Alfred did. "But you really should see your brother first. If I had a sibling I could be close with, then I would always try to be near as possible." He did appreciate the sentiment though.

Alfred had to admit, he hadn't been expecting the sudden kiss. Not that he was complaining about it. Though he knew how some people reacted to two guys kissing in public and didn't want to start a scene. He sighed quietly. "Fine.. I'll go see Matthew first. Then I'll go see you!" he exclaimed, happy that was sorted out.

When Ivan pulled away, a couple onlookers quickly hurried off like they tried too hard to look innocent, but he just tilted his head. What could those people be thinking? Turning back to Alfred, he offered a smile. "Good. Shall we keep exploring the museum?" He held out his hand, ready for Alfred to take it again.

Alfred didn't notice the bystanders himself. His attention was completely focused on Ivan. Which really was a first for him, since his mind tended to wander all the time. He grinned at him and took the other's hand. "Yep! Let's go!" he exclaimed, turning and heading off, pulling the other behind him.

Ivan let himself be pulled along as they walked around the entire top story of the hanger. They saw everything from early flight like a hot air balloon, to an entire Air France concord jet. Finally, Ivan stopped in front of the sleek black plane called the Blackbird that flew faster than any other plane with a jet propulsed engine in the world. It seemed popular with Alfred. "Shall we take a picture together here?"