LittleMissOddball

I-It's finally done! The final chapter of my Spamano fic is done. Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to sulk in my emo corner now please //*sniff sniff*// I hate myself for having to do this. ;;___;;

BUT!!!!!!!!

Here's the thing: I've got something in mind. //*cough* sequel *cough*// But I'm not sure if I should go through with it cause I'm very much satisfied with how this ended..oh dear, please excuse me. //*obnoxious nose blowing*// So tell me what you think guys! Comment or message or gimme at least 25 kudos if you think I gotta do what I'm planning.

Also, despite me saying I'm happy how this turned out, I still have much to learn and I can only learn if I receive structured comments about my work. Imagine yourself as my prof and me the lagging student in class. Critique my work as harshly as you can and I will respond to that to the best of my abilities.

To those who have read this far and to those who gave it a try and are thinking of giving my work a try, all the same, you are all beautiful beings. Don't forget that //*wink*// So much love to you all!

I think I've said enough. NOW! Onto the Chapter! <3
-Chien

“Oi!?” The loud yet muffled squeal of Lovino’s outcry made the others downstairs swivel their heads towards the direction of Lovino’s floor.

“Haha! Man, that Lovino sure can yell! Yeah! Here’s to New Year, Lovino!”
“Liz, shouldn’t we go check on them?” The Austrian turned to the Hungarian with an obvious look of concern. Elizabeth, who was engrossed in her drink, didn’t seem to mind.

“Leave them alone, Roderich. They’re probably patching things up over there.” she said before taking another sip of her beer. Roderich stared at her in question. What was there to patch about? He thought. His eyes move away from the girl and returned them to the Italian’s floor, deciding whether to go up there or not when a heavy tug from the Prussian brought him straight to the dance by the town square.

Back inside the apartment, the hallways and rooms were empty except for the two misplaced gentlemen on floor 2. “Dammit, Tonio. Have you forgotten how heavy you are?” he grunts. “This would be so much easier if you had just moved your damn garden in the ACTUAL garden.” More grunting sounds escaped the young man’s lips as he moved the Spaniard towards the end of the hallways, continuously mumbling at how the Spaniard always caused trouble for him.

The gap between their rooms had widened a little bit over the past year due to a few malfunctioning wires and drainage pipes in Antonio’s room. When the techs came over to check them out, they found field gerbils and a few eggs all over the place. All eyes turned to Antonio’s mini garden out on his balcony. While it was a mystery as to how those creatures had entered the water stream, management had decided to move Antonio to a place insusceptible to any entrance of any other creatures. As a result, the once 'two-room gap' between the two widened to an 'end of the hallway' gap and the techs changed the course of the water pipes so the water flowing to the different rooms wouldn’t have a trace of the foreign creatures. The garden stayed as it was impossible to move all that dirt to so Antonio would still be around the old room to tend to his ‘piccolovini’ or “little Lovino’s. Lovino blew a fuse after finding out why he called them that way until he just got used to the idea of round juicy red tomatoes being named after him and (in Italian no less).

They reached Antonio’s room and Lovino started feeling the former’s pockets for his room keys. When he realized it wasn’t in any of his pockets, he decided to go upstairs and grab the spare keys from the administrator’s office but stops when he sees a faint light coming from the small crack between the door and the door frame. Lovino sighed at the usual blunder of Antonio forgetting to even close the door of his own room. He pushed the door open and moved the heavy Spaniard safely inside before closing the door behind him. He grumbled first in complete disbelief at the Spaniard’s weird taste for interior decoration then shakes his head and tells himself to think about the incapacitated Spaniard at his feet.

The layout of the apartment rooms were all relatively the same for every room so it didn’t take long for Lovino to locate the bedroom where he literally just threw the Spaniard in. Even that didn’t get him to wake up. Lovino then set to prepare the things to clean Antonio up. Despite being the blunderhead he always was, he seemed prepared for emergency cases like this, which of course made it easier for Lovino to get everything done.1 While in the middle of making soup, footsteps were heard coming from the bedroom which meant the Spaniard had roused from his sleep.

“Don’t come near me, bastard. I might burn you or something.” he said, not looking up from the pot of bubbling soup.
“Is that my Lovi?” Antonio replied in a dazed tone. “Is this a dream? Lovi’s cooking for me, I’m so happy~!” Without a sound, arms engulfed the Italian from behind. Lovino paid it no heed and continued silently stirring the bright red soup. Antonio’s face fell. He held the shorter man tighter and buried his face on one of his shoulders. “Hey Lovi. Talk to me.” he said in tone already inaudible.

Silence.

“Scold me. Be annoyed with me.” the gurgling of the liquid was all he heard in return. “Please don’t be mad at me.” Antonio’s voice was quivering now. “I won’t leave tomato juice whenever I want. I’ll ask you first. I don’t like you not talking to me, Lovi. Not you.”

Lovino remained indifferent to the taller man. This Antonio felt and slowly let him go. Lovino, after a few seconds, broke the silence by telling him to go grab a seat. Antonio humbly obeyed. After a while, Lovino joined him at the table with a tray of steaming hot tomato soup and a cup of brewed coffee.

“It’s hot. You might burn your tongue so blow, okay?”
“S-si.”

Lovino hung his head and said nothing. All that was heard between them was the flow of water from the faucet and the clanking of plates and stainless steel. He took off the apron and proceeded to leave the Spaniard’s room.

“Get more sleep okay?” he said without making eye contact with Antonio. “I’ll take a picture of the fireworks or something if that’ll make you happy. See you around, bastard.”

He had already gotten a hold of the knob when another hand was on top of his. “O-Oi...” his voice quivered to a point where it was a miracle he had gotten those words out of him. Antonio’s other hand kept the door in place by pushing it outwards, making it impossible for the Italian to open the door. “What do you think you’re doing, bastard?” Lovino tried to push the Spaniard back, but it was no use. It was like the Spaniard had latched his whole weight upon the door.

“Won’t you stay, Lovi? It’s so lonely being alone on New Year’s Eve.” Antonio whimpered in a tone as if he was begging. He lowered his hands to his sides and shut his eyes while we stood in wait for the sound of the door opening and shutting at his face, forever separating him from the Italian. “I’m sorry. Don’t mind it. You can go. H-Happy...New Year.”

This isn’t going too well for me, Lovi. Leave before you see the un-Antonio side of me.

“What is this, bastard?” Lovino said in a small tone, his eyes looking down at his feet.

Antonio hesitantly raised a hand and held him by the chin, lifting Lovino’s gaze back to him.“Look at me, Lovi. You’re so cute when you’re shy.” he brought his hands to Lovino’s cheek and caressed it. One of his fingers hovered under his eye. “You have such beautiful eyes, mi amor."

“Stop calling me that.” the heat from Antonio’s touch was unbearable despite the sharp cold of December.

He rested his head on the shorter man’s shoulder.“You’re not struggling anymore, Lovi. I’m glad.” I’m glad you stayed.
“Shut up.”
“Hey, can we stay like this for a bit?”
“Can’t we at least sit on the couch? I had to carry you all the way here.”
“You could have just brought me to your room.”
“Shut up. I panicked.”
Antonio chuckled. “Okay let’s sit on the couch.”

Without letting go of his hand, Antonio went into the kitchen and took out a wine bottle. Lovino stared at the Spaniard who was clumsily cutting the cheese with only one hand. He breathed a deep sigh. “Let me go.”

“What? But you said...!”
“I won’t run away. So cut the cheese with both hands, will you? I’ll pour the wine for us.”
Antonio looked at him, conflicted at what to do. “You promise you won’t run away?”
“I promise.”

Antonio let him go in surrender. Only after his hand was released did he realize how tight Antonio had held him.

“Lovi?”
He snapped out of his reverie and came into contact with those dazzling emerald eyes. “Right. The wine.” he moved to the cupboard and grabbed the nearest wine glasses he could find. While he worked, he could feel the Spaniard’s eyes follow him making him red to the tip of his ears.
“...you’re not leaving?”
“Do you want me to?” He had meant it as a joke but at this, Antonio was quick to grab him again, making Lovino nearly spill the wine over the counter.

“Oh what the--”
“Please don’t! Don’t go Lovi!”

All desire to tell off the Spaniard vanished just like that. He relaxed in the hold then patted the other's arms. “Relax, bastard. I won’t. Now get back to the cheese. Go on.”

“O-okay. Gracias, Lovi.” he said with a smile. Lovino tried to return it with even just the sliver of a smile, but for some reason, it just wouldn’t come to him. He just went back to preparing.

After getting their snacks ready, they moved the couch to a spot near the window to an angle that would give them the best view of the fireworks then they sat in silence while ‘cuddling’ which was just Lovino wrapped around one arm of Antonio as they sipped from the wine and cheese.

Lights played outside the window and the loud boom of the speakers was loud enough to break the windows. However, the silence that enveloped the room was more than enough to drown out the sounds from the outside. One could just hear everything as an individual sound. The giggles of the children, beeping horns and obnoxious singing. The sound of two heartbeats; they all came together as if one melody to create the perfect New Year orchestra. It wasn’t all as muddled as it used to be compared to the time when Lovino would be alone in his own room, mulling over whether he should go visit the family then deciding to leave it for another year when he was brave enough to face them. Back then, it was a chaotic silence. Silent, yes, but very chaotic, as if the voices in his head would break the silence every now and then, causing him to retreat further into a world he thought would keep him away from it. When it started, he could not tell. Looking back, it was most probably the reason why he ran away or at least he thought it would end if he ran away.

But we can never run away from the silence that devours us all. Pushing it aside seemed like a more viable option but running? Futile.

The sudden movement of Antonio caused him to return to the real world. He looked at the Spaniard whose face was painted with a huge grin directed at him. “Wh-what the hell are you looking at, bastardo?”
Antonio huffed. “Nothing.” He held Lovino closer and rested his head on the smaller man. “I just thought I’d finally gotten to you.”

“The fuck is that?”
“D’awww. Don’t say that, Lovi. I had to go through great pains just to have you like this. Don’t ruin the moment for me.”

Lovino smirked. “Yeah okay. Whatever.” he said then returned to looking outside the window where he could see the others still out drinking at the far left, just a few steps away from the doorstep. He took his glass and took a sip.

“They’re having fun, why did you---”
“Lo siento, mi amor.”
“What’s this now?”
“You’ve heard something you should not have.”

It didn’t take him long to realize what he was talking about. Lovino wisely said nothing and continued sipping from his wine glass and munching on a few cheese bits.

“Liz told me to explain to you. But now I don’t know how to start. Funny, even though I had always been the talkative one between the two of us, suddenly I’m the one at a loss for words.” Antonio gave out a small huff.

For someone Lovino had always seen as an easy-going person and seemed not to have a single care in the world, to see this side of Antonio in the quiet boom of the night, it seemed like he neither knew this person or was simply floating in a dream. Lovino still wouldn’t say anything, so Antonio continued.

“I’ve been dreading that call, you know. I knew it would come, and it wouldn’t come at a moment’s notice. And when it would, I’d have readied my bags and left. Even before a second call could come in. Sorry, the air got a little heavier. Say something, Lovi. The usual.”

“You’re making me sound like the bad guy here.” Lovi said sulkily. Antonio chuckled at the response.

“Au contraire, mi amor.”
“Only a cold-hearted beast would put Spanish and French in one sentence.”
“Then warm me up, Lovi?”
“Continue already.”
“Alright. Now where was I? Oh yes.” he held the Italian closer and buried his cheek in the brown ruffled hair of the smaller man then sighed. “Things don’t always go as planned for me. I was supposed to run my family. I was to marry big-chested Ukrainian. Or was she Belgian? I saw her picture you know. Blondie. Your type, Lovi. I’d like you to meet her someday. Anyway, things were supposed to go that way. Then I’d hold the vineyard in the palm of my hands. Have healthy kids. And die with a heck load of money in the bank, I could feed the world’s homeless and even build a home for each one. However, aside from feeding the homeless, I wanted none of that. So I ran. I moved from place to place, and every time I was found I’d run again. Until I came here. Luckily, Liz was someone I knew from childhood and had been closer to her than anyone in my family. So she offered to put me up here and with Roderich, she created this homely place. Hey Lovi, ask me what Liz was to me.”

“What was she to you?”
“A childhood friend. A supposed fiancee who, like me, had enough of that scene and ran. But unlike me, she was brave enough to stand against what was expected of her. And she just vanished from their lives. Roderich was someone she was seeing at the time. But things got a little weird. But that’s a different story altogether.”

“Well, this explains a lot.” Lovino had had a third glass and was starting to feel drowsy. His head tilted a bit to the side and Antonio had caught it. “Sorry. Keep going.”

“Just a little bit more, mi amor." he gave him a mischievious wink before continuing. "Well, she said I could hang here for a bit and she made sure to keep my family’s dogs away from me. Can you believe it? Even after renouncing her family, she kept hold of the benefits it gave her and used it to hide me. It’s been going on for the past 3? 4? It’s been so long, I can hardly tell anymore. But the same condition couldn’t stay for too long could it? And I knew I had to leave sooner or later so I made it a pact to myself never to involve myself in things that would keep me from leaving. Like, maybe...” he slid a hand to Lovino’s chin and with great care locked their eyes together. Antonio gently smiled, his emerald eyes filled with the same sadness Lovino always heard from his playing that cold November night. “...falling in love with someone.”

Lovino’s cheeks reddened all the way to the tip of his ears. Antonio gave a small laugh as he pushed some hair away from the Italian’s amber eyes. “I miscalculated Lovi when I saw you coming home from work one day. You know those Spanish soaps with all the ‘I should have stayed away’ kind of plot? I thought it would never happen in real life because really, what connection does reality have with something out of the imagination? So when you opened your door to me that day, something imagined had become real. You were always something out of a painting for me, Lovi. Even when you felt like nobody wanted you, it took all my willpower to keep me from pushing you down and taking you then and there.”

While he talked, Antonio cupped Lovino’s face with his free hand ever so gently, caressing the sides of his face every now and then as if to leave a mark of his touch on the Italian as well as impart on himself the feel of what it was like to hold his face. “Eyes are the mirror to our souls, right Lovi? But for me, it was like and endless guesswork of what you saw with these eyes. I wanted you to see me, but I didn’t want you to see all of what made me. Otherwise, I...”

Antonio’s hands fell to the couch, their eyes no longer in contact. Lovino squirmed in his seat at the sudden loss of contact, as if he had grown accustomed to the touch. He gazed at Antonio drinking from his glass, eyes glowing with a different light. “...Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to leave me?”

Antonio turned to him slowly, the look in his eyes making the answer ever so clear. For the first time that night, in the darkness that surrounded them, Lovino truly saw him as what he had always tried to hide: Defenseless, unsure, and afraid. Who was this Antonio in front of him? Hey tomato bastard, don’t give me that look, he thought. What’s with all the drama? I bet you’re gonna go all ‘Got you again, Lovi~! Now let’s drink the night away!’ You’re not the helpless one here. I am. Unconsciously, Lovino raised his hand, touching the Spaniard’s left cheek. Antonio held Lovino’s hand and buried himself into it, kissing the palm in short intervals.

“Te amo, mi Lovinito. Mi amor. Mi corazon. Te amo.” He was silently crying and yet the smile he always wore never left his face. Lovino held his head in the palm of his hands and moved closer, pressing their foreheads together. “Idiota. This night was supposed to be fun.”

“You saw what was coming, don’t lie.”
“Can’t say I couldn’t.”
“See?”

Silence followed but not one broke the hold, like each other needed the sensation of another human being. “Listen, you’re not wrong for wanting to leave so go.”

“But...! Antonio’s head jerked upwards.
“I’m not leaving. I promised you, didn’t I? Italians, we keep our promises. That’s why...”

Lovino gently caressed the Spaniard’s face. As how Antonio had moved a few hair strands from his eyes, Lovino did too to reveal the beautiful emerald green eyes. On impulse, Lovino slowly brought his lips towards the Spaniard’s, locking them both in a kiss. When the Spaniard returned the kiss, it wasn’t forceful or anything, Lovino thought. It was rather gentle, childish if he were to describe it. There was no tongue, no biting. Nothing. Just that, it was a little sad, like a child feeling love for the first time as if he had been deprived of it all his life but was now sharing a sort of love he never knew he had exactly because. Little by little, Lovino melted into it. He closed his eyes to the world and felt his arms wound themselves around the Spaniard’s neck. The faint bittersweet taste of the soup was still there along with the lingering aftertaste of what was supposedly alcohol. The strong scent of earth enveloped them both. Antonio broke the kiss, heavily breathing and in need for air. Their eyes are on each other, lust growing steadily in them. Lovino broke the eye contact and looked away, his ears red to the tips.

“Damn it, Lovi. This makes it even harder to leave.” the Spanish said in between breaths.
“Show me, Antonio. What do you see with your eyes?”
“Are you sure?” Antonio’s thumb hovers over the Italian’s bottom lip.
“Yes.”

Outside, the fireworks had begun to fly to the air, coloring the night sky. People yelled with glee, horns honked even louder and beer mugs clanked with one another.
Lovino and Antonio remained inside the apartment, with each other, letting the wine do its work.

The next morning, the sun was out to greet the first day of the New Year. Lovino opened his eyes to familiar surroundings. It must’ve have been 10 in the morning from the feel of the heat of the sun shining on him. He looked around. It was his room. It was the same bed. It was the same window and view he looked out from every day. Next to him, on his nightstand was a tray with a single glass bottle of red liquid, flashing as bright as a ruby in the late morning light.

He took it from the tray held it in his hands just as tears started dripping onto the transparent glass. He held it close to him, quivering as if to contain the sudden overflow of emotion.

No, it just wasn’t the same anymore. Nothing would be.

Alone in a room he was not supposed to be in, he shed his first New Year’s tears while calling out a name that seemed to come from a distant past.



Your face
Lovely as the rose in your hair
The passion in your eyes
Fills me with the songs of love

So tell me when will I know.
How can you tell?
When love is near
For I love you so
Un baile del corazon.

OMIGASH I AM BACK. About time too. ;__; Shifting to a new degree can be tiring and the consequences drain you mentally. But then it can't be all work and no play SO! I bring you the third part of my chaptered Spamano fanfic <3 <3 So kudos and comment! I love a good comment and sound structural critiques :) Love lots~ <3
-Chien
Hetalia is unfortunately not mine but all to the mighty Hima-papa
PS.
Herman is the name I used for big brother Portugal. Herman is the name of the cousin I'm very close to since he acts like he big brother I never had. He is all the way in Portugal since he's working there. AND! He's also the one who introduced me to Hetalia. In other words, he dragged me down to hell with him. HAHA Just kidding. So anyway I'm using this as a gift since his birthday's comin' up soon~

{One week to New Year’s}

I’m having a serious case of deja vu here, Lovino thought as he blankly stared at Antonio who was quivering in one corner of his apartment room. His attention turns to the loud tapping of the door and loud British curses of “gourmet cowardly lot!” Lovino simply sighs and opens the door to the unsurprisingly sweaty Briton.

“I know he’s in there.”

“He is.”

“Bring him out, then.”

He looks inside for a bit as if pretending to talk to Antonio who had fled the kitchen for the bathroom. He then turns back to the Brit. “He says he doesn’t want to die yet. Not in the hands of your cooking at least.” he teased complete with a giant smirk through his face.

“What did you say, wanker!? I’ll have you know I am Arthur Kirkland of the Great British Empire! You should be honored I bring you my very own cooking!”

“Yeah. And I’m Lovino Vargas, the Italian who lives in 221B Baker Street.”

“Benedict Cumberbatch is a hot down to earth Briton. He most certainly is not of the likes of you, you bloody impostor!” Loud footsteps came from the end of the hallway. Towards them, blond hair gracefully whisked in the air as Francis ran towards their direction with Roderich falling behind.

“Really, mon amour, you must stop this game of hide and seek with me. It’s getting tiring trying to get out of bed with my little son dangling between my legs while you make a mess in the kitchen then just run off like that.” Francis said between breaths. “Ah bonjour, mon cher. I am truly sorry for this early morning ruckus. I did not expect mon amour to have this sudden burst of...erm...inspiration. I will see to it that he gives a warning before knocking on anybody else’s doors.”

From behind Lovino, Antonio’s head popped out, all smiles to the French and the heavily panting landlord. His face twists into fright at the sight of the little (haha) Briton glaring at him while he held the casserole bowl in his hands. One second after, all hell breaks loose and before Lovino could even do anything, his whole room became a labyrinth of fallen pots, pans and overturned chairs and tables. He gaped at the horrific scene of the Spaniard and the Briton’s game of cat and mouse, Antonio grabbing on anything to swing to and Arthur, miraculously being given spider abilities to counter those.

More running and Lovino decided to leave the room and visit Liz’s room while the two settle their “differences”. He headed for the fourth floor. Upon climbing the stairs, he could hear sounds in the hallway distinctly female, and definitely Liz’s.

Perfect timing, he thought. He could ask the landlady to let him chill for a bit in the admin’s office. But who was she talking to? Her voice was all he heard so she was probably on the phone. He took a few more steps, stopping somewhat close to the top of the stairs and leaned back on the wall to wait until Liz finished her phone call. The call was taking longer than he expected and his feet were starting to feel sore from all the standing and he figured the phone call was going to last a lot longer when the tone of her voice suddenly rose.

Thinking he should just crash in Kiku’s room for a bit, he turned to leave when he heard Liz mention Antonio.

Could he have just been imagining it?

He crept a little closer to get a better hearing. “But Herman, why does it have to be him? He made it very clear that he wants nothing to do with his grandfather or the Ville. I intend to honor Tonio’s wishes and Roderich thinks so too.”

His grandfather? What’s with his grandfather?

“Herman. You can’t let him do something he doesn’t want to do. He will keep on running away and you will bring out money to find him and you find him and he’ll keep running away. Don’t you think it’s better to let him be rather than letting him carry the burden he feels to be the Carriedo blood?”

Carriedo? Is that his last name? What’s with Carriedo? Come to think of it, all he knew Antonio by was Antonio and, as the idiot would always insist, plain Toni. From the beginning, that was how Antonio had introduced himself, and Lovino had thought nothing of it before so he had not bothered to even ask. He'd known he was from Spain, but that country was a bit too big. He knew he likes tomatoes and plays the guitar, but know nothing of how he learned. He doesn't know even know what the Spanish does for a living. In other words, he was friends with yet a total stranger.

But now it egged him: Who was Antonio?

“I get it. I’ll talk it over with Roderich...no...he has to know. He took up the responsibility for watching over him as his own had failed to do so.” another silence ensued. Lovino was only listening, but he could tell her voice was anxious, if anything concerned besides outraged. “I won’t take no for an answer, Herman. You know very well out of everyone in your family what your little brother is, and I am sure you are not in much agreement as you are claiming.”

A small beep followed by a sigh echoed through the corridor which told Lovino the call had just ended. He waited as the footsteps seemed to be getting farther and farther away until the slam of the door was all that was left and the sound of heavy breathing. He then bounded down the stairs to his floor and headed for Kiku’s room instead.



{4 Days to New Year’s Eve}



"Lovino, dear! Please pass the salt. Lovino?”

“Huh? What? Oh right, the salt. Uhmmm...”

“In your hand.” Lovino's cheeks redden as he handed her the salt shaker then returned to mincing. It’s four days to New Year’s Eve and Liz had decided to hold a party to celebrate it. They decided just like for Christmas to each bring their own dishes, which was what Lovino and Liz were just busying themselves with. They were whipping up something of a mix of Hungarian and Italian in the administration’s office, or as it was, Liz and Roderich’s home kitchen, as a joint effort on their part since. Lovino had offered the idea to Liz one afternoon during his precious and rare day-off. He had meant for it to be like a ‘thank you’ gesture after she and Roderich had so patiently dealt with him this whole time as well as to get his mind off things: about Toni, how frustrated he was at knowing only next to nothing about the Spanish and because he needed some excuse to get some air away from his “friend”. And since Roderich was sure to be busy drinking with Gilbert that night, fact at which Lovino nearly choked his own drink, Liz gleefully took him up on his offer.

“WHAT? YOU’RE NOT REALLY MARRIED?!”

“He never put the ring on. No one would try investing in an apartment where the landlord was bisexual, right? That’s society nowadays. And the circumstances were a little complicated, but that’s another story altogether.”

“If you put it that way...”

“Shall we get preparing for our dish?”

“Of course.”

Which brings us back to the present situation.

After a while of preparation and mincing and everything in between, Lovino’s mind began to wander off again, of course thinking about Antonio and his incompetence at making friends with him. He tried to whip up a cheerful conversation with Liz but it would always revert to talking about how annoying Antonio on one particular day. Each time he would start to speak his name, Lovino would go silent. He’d go back to cutting every once and a while he would look up to glance out the window of the fourth floor office which overlooked the garden of the compound where he saw some of the boarders getting some sun. On one side was Antonio with Francis and Gilbert laughing and talking. There would be a clenching pain so Lovino would go back to working. He’d wondered not once but more times than he could count why he was so affected. To be worried about something so petty was so unlike him. So what if he knew little about Antonio? It’s not as if they were l-l-lo...PARTNERS. They weren’t partners...or anything like that.

So. Why?

“Lovino! Lovino!”

Lovino snapped out of his reverie and his eyes catch on a burning meat on a pan. “CAZZO!” he cursed as he tried to quickly put out the flames by grabbing the nearest fire extinguisher. After the flame had gone, he threw the extinguisher to the floor. “Fuck! What is wrong with me today!?”

“Lovino, dear. You’ve been acting strange since you got here.”

“Look at this horrible excuse for Italian cuisine. I put shame to the Italian race.” he threw the pan and the burnt meat in the sink then slumped on the floor. “This is all his fault.” he muttered in voice audible only to him. He then quickly stood up, taking off his apron an placing it on the nearest flat surface.

“Lovino?! Where are you going?”

“Sorry Liz, I don’t feel so well.” he strode out the door, closing it with a bang. He headed downstairs, his face contorted in anger. He was glad not a lot of people were out of their rooms as they were too busy dealing with their own dishes. He was not noticing the heavenly smells coming from the small slits of the rooms he passed through. All he wanted was just to get back to his room. Along the other end of the hallway, Antonio was just going back to his room after playing a bit too much with the the young Alfred when he spotted Lovino walking towards him in a rather striding manner. His face lit up and raised his hand to give the Italian a wave but hesitated when he detected something other than the usual grouch of the younger male.

“Lovi?” Without stopping, if anything frowning, Lovino swept past the older male towards his room. Antonio’s eyes followed the Italian until he entered the room, still wondering what had happened to his Lovi when he hears the sounds of footsteps echoed from the other end of the hall.

“Hey Lizzie~”

“...Antonio.”

“What’s wrong, Eliza?” Lovino slept through the day until nighttime when it brought along the chilly cold of December. He blinked a few times to make sense of where he was and why it was cold. It took a few seconds for him to realize that his window had been opened and the fire burned out by the patches of snow that entered through the open window. Quickly he threw back the covers and proceeded to putting on the fire then closing the window.



“For I love you so.”



The sweet sound of a Spanish serenade sounded from outside which made Lovino stop and for a while forget the cold still creeping inside his bedroom, slowly putting out the fire. As if he was hypnotized, Lovino slowly moved his feet forward and out in the open, when the strong gush of cold wind stopped him in his tracks, simultaneously closing the window shutters, once again letting the dark envelop the Italian.



“Un baile del corazon.”



Enough. You don’t know what you’re saying.

Lovino held his head in his hands and for the first time in a long time, cold tears fell from his eyes.

This is another of my song fanfics. This time, I bring you Un Baile del Corazon or Dance of the Heart by Stephen Bishop, played by Spain x Romano. I've always said we interpret songs in some different ways and when I heard te lyrics of the song, I felt great pain. Which brought me to write about my muses once again. So, while readng do have Un Baile del Corazon playing on the radio. I suggest a good glass of wine, some cheese and biscuits, low lights preferably a candelabra and the music on a low and soothing volume. Enjoy! Love lots!
-Remi

Night. . .falling from heaven above the sound of a guitar.
Drifting through the moonlit sky
Your face
Lovely as the rose in your hair
The passion in your eyes Fills me with the songs of love.

Monday night. The cold crisp of the Italian November bit his skin underneath the Armani down jacket and striped cotton scarf. While walking home from the station, Lovino cursed to himself as he thought of his warm gloves sitting on his cubicle desk. He had been in too much of a hurry to rearrange his desk and somehow must have dropped them while he furiously scanned his messy workplace for his bag. He wheezed from the cold and quickly rubbed his hands together to gather at least a little heat then put them in the side pockets of his jacket.

He turns right leading to a narrow road lined with tall buildings, most of them apartments with a few cars parked in front of them and a few small-scale restaurants. He waves to a few women with regard to his flirtatious nature and turns another right entering another narrow space and located his tall, orange 4-storey apartment. No one was walking around much save for an old man and his dog standing by a car. In the middle of all the cold, there was much warmth from inside the buildings from the fireplace. Lovino walked faster, desperate as well for the warmth of his own fireplace. He stopped at the main door and started searching for his keys. He finds them in the pocket of his faded jeans then he inserts the key in the keyhole. The knob turns and he starts to step in when a soft sound of strumming was heard from above him.

Lovino’s eyes catches a figure sitting out in the open balcony on what seemed to be a wooden rocking chair in just a white over-sized t-shirt, brown khaki pants and slippers. He was singing a soft melody that fit well with the strumming on his guitar Int the cold, dark moonlit night, Lovino felt a sense of warmth and safety, yet a sense of sadness and longing. He lingered for a bit longer outside his apartment, building, silently listening to the stranger’s rich voice and wistful playing until the cold once again bites on his fingertips, numbing them, telling him to save the listening for some other time.

Once inside his apartment room, Lovino could still hear the music playing as if it were closer than he thought. Leaning outside his window, he sees the same figure about two windows from his own. The playing stopped as the head swivels to his direction. Lovino quickly withdraws from the window, his heart beating faster than it normally did. He set up the fireplace after a hot bath and sits on his reclining chair with a book and hot choco in hand, while he listened more to the soulful music that cold November night.

So tell me when will I know
How can you tell
When love is near
Oh I love you so.
Un baile del corazon

Saturdays are always Lovino’s leisure times wherein he could forget work for a while or at least for half a day before he goes back to work at 11 which is simply preparing for Sunday chores. Today’s Saturday starts off the usual. He wakes up at 6 half naked at the top. He would locate his robe then stride towards the kitchen and would brew for himself hot coffee then he whips up his usual Italian breakfast: Lasagna and garlic bread with a side of tomatoes. While that’s cooking, the doorbell would sound and he would open it to greet Ms. Hedevary, his landlord’s wife, a good morning and retrieve from her the usual morning newspaper. He sets the paper down on the circular dining table and along with his coffee and reads while basking himself in the little sunshine that passes through his window. The oven rings telling Lovino his baked lasagna is done and ready to invade his taste buds. He quickly retrieves the lasagna bowl and a few utensils and resumes reading the paper while he munched on glorious Italian food. Of course, it’s not as good as the lasagna is brother used to make but he was pretty much satisfied that it tasted nearly as good.

Yes. Today was as good as any Saturday.
Then his thoughts fly to that cold Monday night.

He hasn’t heard him play for a while. It’s been two weeks since then and he’s only ever heard him, aside from that Monday, was Thursday of that same week but only briefly when the gurgling sound of French resounded from the other building, halting his playing. Just when Lovino was starting to feel it.

Other than that, it seemed as if he had ceased to play altogether.
Not that he was disappointed or anything. It just that maybe someone else was also listening and would like to hear something that sweet yet lonesome. Maybe someone else felt loved and not alone whenever he played that tune, even if it was the same tune over and over again. And maybe someone else would be knocking on his door.

Wait what?

Lovino returns to the present and hears the shuffling of feet from outside his door. He glanced at his wall clock which hung over the wooden drawers. It read 8:00 am. Strange. Not a lot of people woke up at 8:00 let alone be out of their rooms and scurrying like rats. The sounds ceased and there was loud thumping at his door. The day just got stranger and stranger. He put down his newspaper and cautiously peaked through the peephole and what he saw surprised him

It’s that guitar guy. What’s he doing here?

“Hello? Is anyone here? Please help me! He’s after me! He’s after all of us!” the voice from the other side of the door sounded a lot more different from when he was the guitarist at night. It had a cheerful edge but at them moment, it had that sort of panicked and urgent side. It made Lovino think twice of letting him in. What if he was running from someone? Did he do something wrong? Is he a fugitive? Danger must be his name, or something and the last thing he needed was his face with a mask among a clout of reports on the tabloid.

Then again, aren’t I also running away?

Before he could think twice, his hand moved on his own and unlocked his door sending a sweating man running inside and hiding someplace near the kitchen. The scurrying of the feet grew louder and Lovino knew better than to stand by the door and watch as he faces his doom. He shuts it quick and turns to leave only to be stopped by more knocking on the door, a small squeal sounding from the end of the room. Lovino scanned for anything he could use as a weapon and picks up a shoe. Raising it up, Lovino opens up and prepares to strike when a casserole plate was shoved in his face and in front of his stood a panting and sweating blond with thick eyebrows above his blue aquamarine eyes.

“I-Is the Spanish wanker inside?” he said with a deep and strong British accent.

This is what he’s hiding from?

He stared at the abomination spread on the casserole plate and choked back a laugh. “Excuse me? Who?”

“The Spanish wanker! The tall tan man from Spain, Antonio, the one with green eyes and smells like he just got out of the barn! I saw him run in this direction then disappeared. Is he inside?”

“What makes you think he’s in here, Eyebrows?”
“What!?”
“And if he is running from you, I think I know why.” He let his eyes move towards the casserole plate, provoking the Briton. Red immediately spread on the gentleman’s cheeks and as he began thrashing about, a tall flashy man with long blond wavy hair tied to a ponytail. He spoke to Lovino with a heavily accented French English. He apologized and moved the Briton away, whom Lovino found out to be the famous Arthur Kirkland, the horror cook of the apartment who lived with his French boyfriend, Francis Bonnefoy, the flashy man with long hair. Arthur consents to leaving after being promised by Francis he’d eat the leftovers and that they’ll get him some other time.

May he find happiness in Heaven.


Out of sight, out of mind, Lovino shuts the door and turns only to be tackled to the ground by a heavy object, a body to be exact and is drowned in hugs and words of thanks and simultaneous shouts to his ear of ‘My saviour!’ ‘My hero!’ Flustered and unsure of what to do, Lovino pushes him off a bit too roughly.

“What the fuck’s your problem, idiot! Don’t just pin people to the ground, especially not when you’re intruding in their privacy just to escape their own problems! And you’re a fucking man, running from ruined food which definitely I think is a nuclear weapon.”

Lovinos paused in need of air and the Spanish man kneeling in front of him just gaping. Suddenly, he let out a small laugh which eventually became a guffaw. Even his small chuckles were like music. Lovino sort of wondered if all Spanish had that good a voice, even their laugh sounds angelic.

At the thought, Lovino blushed a million shades of red.

“Wh-what’s so funny, bastard!? Don’t just laugh at shit and leave people out of it. It’s fucking rude!”

“Oh. Lo siento, mi amigo! It’s just that you read exactly what was on my mind the first day I met that British gentleman. He’s very nice, you know? Just not a very good cook though. His boyfriend, Francis? He could probably turn rocks into gourmet!”

“Okay one. I did not need to know that. Two, I think my apartment has served as your hiding place for far too long. I think it’s time for you to go.” Lovino stood but a hand took him by the arm and pulled him back down on the floor, sending him crashing.

“What the fuck, bastard! Is it a hobby to pull people down with you!?”
“I’m Antonio! Toni’s good. I’m Spanish, by the way. Hey, did you realize that almost everyone in this apartment is from a different country? Like this one on third floor, he’s from---”

“Would you shut up for a second?”
“Oh. Okay. Have I been talking too much? People always tell me I talk too much. I have this friend. His name’s Gilbert. He says he---”

Lovino snaps and slaps him on the head, hopefully shutting him up.
“That hurts...um...I didn’t quite get your name right, neighbor.”
“That’s because you talk too much.”
“Oh. Well, what’s your name? And country if applicable.” He chuckles a bit at his pun. Lovino snorts.

“I’m Lovino. Lovino Vargas. I’m Italian.”
“OH! An Italian! That makes us compadres then!” He says with a cheerful tone and slings an arm over Lovino’s shoulder. Lovino’s eyes darken and shrugs him off then stands up.He walks to the kitchen while Antonio’s eyes follow him.

“We are not friends. I don’t need the friendship. Now if you think you’re safe to go out, then just go. Or rather. Leave now and go hide in the basement or something.” He doesn’t turn around, fully focused on heating his lasagna that he doesn’t realize his unwanted guests was standing behind him, watching curiously as he moved the pan around and around.

“I see Francis has a rival!”
Lovino jumps, dropping the pan by mistake onto the stove. “AH! I said stop it! Great.” the stove goes off and he swivels 180 degrees to be greeted by a Spanish tanned man sitting comfortably on his only dining table seat, holding up a fork and apparenly, he had helped himself to some of the plates. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Getting ready for food?”
“No you’re not. Get out.”
“Oh come on, Lovi!”
“No! And don’t call me Lovi!
“But it’s cute!”
“Yeah well I’m a man. Don’t call me cute.”
“You’re cute because you’re cute!”
“No!”
“So I shouldn’t call you cute?”
“Yes!”
“I should stop?”
“Yes!
“Are you going to give me lasagna?”
“Yes!”
“Hurray!”
“Wait, what!? You tricked me!”
“Did I?”
“Shut up. Just. You know what? Go ahead. I’m full anyway.”

“Oh Lovi, don’t be like that. Join me for breakfast. I interrupted you during breakfast didn’t I?”

Lovino stopped. Something in his voice made him turn around and actually reconsider.

“Please?”
“No.”
“I’ll even throw in a few tomatoes I grew myself as a thank you for the food AND for hiding me from that nuclear weapon.” Lovino chuckles a bit and strides toward the table, taking the seat the Spanish offers him and munches on his leftover lasagna. “Don’t call me ‘Lovi’ either, tomato bastard. It’s Lovino.” shrugging him off.

“’Tomato Bastard? That’s not something I hear everyday. “
“I call you whatever you want, as you barged in my room and then partake of my blessings Don’t you think it’s a fair trade, tomato bastard?” he said smirking.
“Touche.”
“Bon apetito.”

March 17:

Lovino sat at the far end of the couch hugging a throw pillow, his head against the window pane as he stared blankly outside and watched as passerby’s traversed the cold brightly lit sidewalk of his two floor apartment home. Every now and then he would silently scowl with much disdain towards those who would be walking, linked arms with their lovers or those with brightly wrapped packages as they excitedly talked on their phones while stubbornly telling himself to amuse himself with something else around the house rather than sit and sulk and scowl all evening. He’s surprised his face muscles survived the entire day since the moment he had woken up, his face was etched with lines of disappointment. It was bad enough he had woken up alone with a sore bottom and aching muscles from last night’s play, he had to find out that for the entire day, he would be alone as the stupid Tomato Bastard had to run back to Spain to finish a few things in his House and would not be home until late at night. In effect, Lovino remained alone in his House with silence enveloping his every being. And it had to be today, on March 17, of all days. While he had always been invulnerable to any kind of loneliness and the feeling of being number two even in his own family, today was that one day where all his defense would be down, making his physical and emotional body vulnerable to any kind of attack. He would repeatedly tell himself to start getting used it. More often than not, he would remind himself that this was not the first time he was rejected still on the day of his own birth. Well, who can blame them? He was just another Italy. In fact, he’s not even allowed to carry the name; he was simply Romano. Just Romano, while his brother Feliciano would always carry with pride the Italian name. At one point, while everyone would be out talking with Feliciano, he would be in his room, flipping through his aging books and escorting himself into a world where he would be more or less be happy.

This kind of treatment was something he was used to at the same time hated the fact that he had gotten so used to it. And Toni was no exception.. For all he knew he could have told him that he would be at the House taking care of his stupid, failing and undeveloped economy when in fact, he is at the Potato Bastard’s home where Feliciano was temporarily staying permanently (Yes it means what it means. And no, I did not allow it. He just came out of the blue telling me he was at “Luddy’s” place. ) along with the other personifications that got along well with Feliciano. His lie was too transparent since he’d always heard the same lie over and over again. Promising they would be with Lovino on his birthday then calling him up saying they had changed their plans and were at Feliciano’s then would offer him to come over. Of course Lovi would decline, no matter how much he wanted to go. After all, no one would be left to eat the dinner he had (un)excitedly made nor drink the wine he had painstakingly stole from his grandfather’s basement. He knew Toni is the same. No matter how much he said he loved Lovi; or how tight his hold around him would be while Toni thrusts slowly in and out of him, whispering and moaning Lovi’s name softly in his ear as he brings Lovi to the peak. Even just the idea of being held by him after one of the nightly sessions seemed like an illusion Antonio had created in order for Lovino to trust the Spaniard while the latter tried to latch himself on the other brother.

A whiff of a cold draft of wind entered a small slit on the window pane, softly hitting the side of Lovi’s face that was leaning on the window. But he didn’t mind. Instead, he let the cold run through his body, down to his spine and deeper into the layer of his skin, willing it to freeze the tears threatening to fall. He removed his eyes away from the sight outside and directed them to the clock, reading it as 10pm. He sighed as he returned to staring but then decided it was no use moping around as waiting up for the bastard would only grant him Chanel under his eyes. He puts the throw pillows in order and locates his slippers then moves towards the stairs when the sound of a telephone ringing in the far corner of the room stops him in his tracks. Lovino contemplated on not answering but figured it was important so instead he takes a detour to take the call.

“Hello. Lovino Vargas here. “
“Lovi, mon amour~!”
He knew that voice.

“Just my luck. It’s Fuckface Francis. What do you want? Make it quick because I was about to go upstairs and sleep.”
“What?!” The tone on the other voice sounded surprised and panicky at the same panicky, Lovi noted as Francis murmured something on the other side. He coughed and returned to the call.

“Listen, I am not in a mood to listen to anything you say, Francis. I just want some sleep. Tell me what you want in the morning when Toni gets back. At least I won’t be alone in breathing the same air as you.” Lovi remarks annoyed and begins to put it down when Francis shouts in the other line surprising the former.

“Wait! You’d regret it if you do that.”
“And why would I regret going to sleep?”
“Just stay up for 20 minutes, oui?"
“Are you crazy?!”
“...do it for Antoine.”
“...”

The things I do...

“Shit. Fine. 20 minutes. Once it’s gone past 20 minutes, I’m hitting the hay.”

“Oh, I don’t think you’ll have to wait 20 minutes, love.” A voice from behind caused Lovino to drop the telephone and turn around only to have his lips taken by someone else’s. For some reason the lips felt so familiar and in not time he found myself drowning in the familiar kiss, not too passionate, heck there wasn’t even a tongue. But the kiss was gentle, warm, and loving. It was the kind of kiss only HE could give. Slowly the other lips released Lovi’s and he found myself staring at emerald green eyes and inhaling the faint and sweet smell of freshly picked tomatoes. Lovino’s breath hitched as he realized it was Antonio and his arms holding him up.

“What the heck was that, idiot?”
“Am I not allowed kiss you, love?”
“This is fucking unfair.”
“I never play fair, love. Especially not with you.”
“Shut up already.” I might get the urge to kiss you again.

He simply chuckled at me. I was trying my best not to look unaffected but my face is too uncooperative.

“I thought I wouldn’t see you tonight.”
“I got finished early~!” Toni flashed him a smile then gave him a quick peck on the lip. And another. And another.

“Can you not tease me with all these sorry excuses for kisses and give me an actual one? Not that I’m waiting for it.”
“Oh, Lovi. If I didn’t have anything planned for tonight I would have taken you right here right now.”

Lovino blinked for a few times, trying to digest what is lo---partner had just said

“What?”
“But I have something planned. So,” Toni moved a little from Lovi and took his hand in his, their eyes never leaving each others. “Come with me.” he said with a smile.

Butterflies a-flutter in his heart and in his stomach, he gripped Toni’s hands tighter, muttering some cuss word unsuccessfully trying to cover up the ecstasy swimming in his head. How could they not? How do you react to someone who had gone so far as to turn his entire House into a tomato themed patch all for the sake of making silly old Romano Italy happy? It was never the nature of someone who, for so many centuries had once thought him to be a nuisance. Of someone who once was one of the people who had chosen his little brother over him. It just doesn’t happen very often. And it certainly doesn’t happen to Lovino. That’s why the moment Antonio opened the white marble doors to his House, he found himself, crying and laughing at the same time. Cursing Antonio while unnaturally saying sweet things to the Spaniard, was something rarely seen by anyone.And although Lovino would never admit it, he was glad for the extra noise the other two members of the Bad Touch Trio and the rest of the personifications. He let the potato bastards in because 1) Gil is Toni’s friend and the tomato bastard had earned his fair share of a good reward and 2) It was also Feli’s birthday and because he was a fucking awesome big bro, he gave the floor tonight for Feli despite the fact that he had always been treated as...okay enough with the depressive mood.

And the best part?

He turned to one end of the room by the glow of the fireplace with emerald eyes gleaming, stood a tall and tan Spaniard in his red pirate clothes, red boot and feathered pirate cap. Toni looked his way and smiled. Lovi quickly turns away Again. Lovi found himself stuttering and panicky as he feels Antonio move to his direction. He braces himself as Antonio takes him by the arm and whispers close to his ears.

“I think it’s about time for the main event, love?”

Lovino simply smiled. “Spoiling me tonight, I see?”
Antonio smiles back and gives Lovino a peck to the forehead. “For you love, anything.”

“Hey Toni?”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
“Happy birthday, Lovi. I love you too.” Antonio cups Lovino’s face and stares into the latter’s almond eyes slowly making his way to his lips. The kiss was gentle at first, and going to the slow rhythm of the jazzy music playing over the dining hall until it became hotter and more needy. They broke the kiss reluctantly, both panting. Lovino takes Antonio by the collar and whispers in his ears.

“I want my present, Toni.”
“As you wish, love.”

Hand in hand they move silently out the door leaving their guests to themselves. Away from the party and the loud music, all to themselves and with no one else. Basking in each others warmth, feeling the others heartbeat next to theirs. Screaming each others name and then waking up feeling sore yet satisfied.

“I’m hungry, bastard. Let me go.”
“I can’t let you go, Lovi. I never will.”

Lovi let a small smile pass. “You better fucking be sure of that.”
“I know I am.”

“Lovi~!” Strong hands suddenly took me from behind while walking through the hallway, nearly making me drop my cupcake. I turned to the perpetrator who had nearly committed the atrocious crime but found that the guts to tell this person off had completely dissipated when I see the tomato bastard looking at me questioningly. Inwardly, I hated myself for going soft at the sight of him in front of me. I’m so pathetic.

“Lovi?” I bumped the back of my hand on his chest.

“Stupid tomato bastard, you nearly made me drop my lunch.”

“Oh sorry, Lovi. It’s just that I didn’t do so well in the exam yesterday and I wanted to cry on your shoulders, but you had gone home and I couldn’t find you and you wouldn’t answer my calls.” He quickly let go and took hold of my bag, probably hoping to allow me to eat my cupcake with ease. Damn it, Toni.

“Yeah we’re in the same boat, idiot. Now stop clinging onto me early in the morning. It’s weird.” I swatted his hand away and he just grinned at me and continued walking beside me and supposedly amusing me with his small talk and gestures, making me once again feel comfortable. While walking on the way to our next class, we bump into another one of our block mates. A tall buff blonde American dressed in green military jacket and brown khaki pants. His eyes coated with black framed reading glasses. Our block leader, Alfred Jones.

“Hey dudes! You’re pretty lucky to be running into the hero this early in the morning!” He walked towards us, his green military jacket fluttering in his wake.

“Where? I don’t see a hero. All I see is a chubby kid walking around campus, cradling baby burgers.” I remarked at the pile of McDonald’s burgers he cradled with his right arm. In his left hand, he held a McDonald’s paper cup. He took a sip from the paper cup an proceeded to taking a huge bite from one of the burgers.

“Boy, you must really have bad eyesight? How many fingers am I holding up?!”

“Fuck you, American dick.I have 20-20 vision!”

“Language, Lovi. I could do with a good morning, you know?"

Antonio popped out from behind me and flashed a smile of glee at the blond. “Good morning. Alfred. Funny. You’re not with Arthur today.”

“There, see? Toni understands! Oh yeah. Speaking with Arthur, have you seen him anywhere? I’ve been looking for him since I got here. I’m scared he might be talking to his imaginary friends again.”

Arthur Kirkland. The resident tea slurping scone munching Brit. Unlike Alfred, Arthur was a little shorter in stature but the hue in his hair resembled that of Alfred’s. One prominent figure about him is the uncanny thickness of his brows. I mean, look at them. Those aren’t eyebrows. Those are forests! Anyway, Al and Artie were pretty close even if the latter isn’t as affectionate as the former is. They would usually be seen together 24/7 not to mention they are roommates in the college dorm so one can only imagine what activities occur one they’re alone.

“You should put a leash around the poor kid or he might run away.” I irked sarcastically. From behind us came a calm collected voice.

“Who’s running away?” Alfred’s eyes lit up and sprinted right past us, struggling with the load of burgers he held like a baby. Toni and
I turned to their direction to see a blonde gentleman in a midnight blue cashmere sweater with checkered sleeves and collars popping out which he wore with brown skinny jeans and a simple pair of sneakers.

“Hey Artie!”

“What in the bloody hell is that atrocity you’re carrying?”

“Hm? Oh this! Burgers! I bought enough for both of us.”

“I don’t eat that garbage.”

“Are you sure you mean this and not your cooking?”

“Sh-shut up you blood twat!” The American guffawed at the annoyed expression on the shorter male’s face and just proceeded to drape his arms on Artie’s shoulders. He leaned in, stopping to whisper something to his ears at which Arthur blushes and starts to pound on Al’s chest. He stops as he notices me and Toni just standing, watching them in their mini-love quarrels.

“Hey Lovi. Are you sure I should be the one with the leash?”

“Huh?”

“’Cuz you’re one to talk. “

“What the hell was that, tea bastard!? I’m not the tea bag in love with a fat assed burger freak here!”

“Just say---ooph!” Before he could say another word, Al shoves into his mouth a piece of burger with glee.

“Come now, Arthur. Cheer up with this McCoy’s burger. It works everytime.” At this the Brit literally spit the perfectly well done burger on the floor and stepped on it.

“You bloody twat!” The two proceeded to their everyday fights while obnoxious crowds of people come to watch them make a spectacle of themselves.

And then there’s me. Still standing beside Antonio. Antonio with his ridiculous laugh that sends my insides reeling. I had gone ahead and denied my feelings for Antonio with the main subject of my affection and our two wonderful, and I mean that sarcastically, friends as witnesses. Around this time, I was probably hitting myself 2000 times in 200 ways in just two seconds. In my attempt to play the uncaring and unloving yet good friend to Antonio, I denied my feelings for him completely. Arthur nearly caught me back there and I’m glad I was able to evade the topic.

At least for a little while.
----------------------------------

Lunch time has always been my favorite time of the day and eating at my favorite shop with my favorite person are just welcome bonuses.

While waiting for my companion and my order, I remained seated on one of the colored stools in the cafe fiddling with my phone and scanning through the notes I took pictures of during the lecture when my gaze landed on a human figure just by the edge of my screen. Even with the blurred picture I could tell who it was from the way he stood and by the adorable curl sticking out from one side of his head. His amber eyes remained clear as day even with the distortion and his beauty remained as is. Ah, Lovino truly is a work of art in the body of a 16 year old boy. I could look at him all day. Such thoughts would earn me a kick instead of a kiss.

But I can’t help it.

To others he might be a loud putty mouthed college teen but to me he is as precious as every tomato in the world. To be seen more than just a friend is a miracle I still hang onto. Nevertheless, being with him is satisfying enough. This might sound weird from an adolescent male, but thinking things like this is meant to be serious. And to me, anything related to Lovi is serious business.

I snap out of my reverie as the sounds of china clashing together echoed at my side. I turn to me right where I see Lovino settle down with a tray of his and my food.

“Idiot, you’re in a daze again. Stop that.”

“Oh, sorry Lovi. I was a little caught up with studying the notes for today.” I explained as he handed me my plate which I gratefully
take, deliberately brushing our hands together. For second however, I thought I felt him shudder. He must not have liked it when I did that so I made a mental note not to do it again.

“Ah sorry. Thank you. What did Al say by the way?” He took a spoonful of his chicken fillet and after gulped it straight down without even chewing.

“They said they’ll catch up. They just gotta run to the dorm and grab a few things. Elizaveta and Roderich were supposed to be here too, but they got caught up with all that model biz. So it’s just you me and the idiots in love.”

Looking back on it now, would Lovi and I be like Alfred and Arthur if ever there becomes an ‘us’? No. That wouldn’t be fun at all. Regardless of how much Artie’s attitude resembled Lovi’s, I want our romance to be special. So special even the two of them would die of jealousy. The mere thought let a chuckle slip from me.

“What’s so funny, bastard? You’re not planning on taking away my tomatoes, are you?”

I beamed at him. “I wouldn’t think of it, Lovi~!” “Good.”

“But I could.” With my fork at the ready, I sneakily swiped the lone tomato sitting atop Lovino’s rice serving sending him into a harrow fit, hitting me everywhere as I gulped down the bright red cherry vegetable. I was saved from more of his violent attacks when our companions finally arrived and Lovino’s attention were all concentrated on making fun of Alfred and Arthur. All while Lovi and the couple would converse and I’d be saying nothing but munch on my food, I would constantly glance up to my seatmate and notice faint hints of a grin or a smile. For some reason unknown to even myself, these subtle acts would make my heart flutter and the world would suddenly become a hue brighter.

I have yet to discover why.

Prologue

I sat at the back of the car staring whist-fully out the window My earphones playing out on maximum to drown out the sounds of the outside world. Beside me, I could feel the leather move to the direction of two of my companions horsing around and making fun of the otherwise sweet and sappy scene playing before them. In the driver’s seat was Antonio Fernandez Carriedo busily tugging and playing with my Feliciano’s tiny hands while being busy with the maneuver. Even as I put my attention out the window, watching the houses and trees blur as we pass by or to the ridiculous duo of the Bad Touch Trio being themselves, I could literally feel one of Toni’s arms draped over my fratellino’s shoulders. Occasionally, I would jive in with Francis’s and Gil’s shenanigans. Teasing, making snide remarks and linking them together; I would do that with a huge grin of mischief plastered all over my face. I’d make weird gestures along with the other two, all the while avoiding the scene and keeping my eyes on something else.

I would do that. I did that every day like it was no big deal. And much to nobody’s surprise, everyone joins in as we have always hinted there was something more between them than being just friends. I’d have Matthew, my other close friend helping them get together per Toni’s request.

But, to be honest. It hurts. It fucking hurts. Seeing that sight made me realize one thing: I always have been and always will be number two.