"You know, they're gonna try and find us."

"I know."

He rolls a pebble under his fingers.

"Lovino."

The pebble is thrown. "Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

A sigh and the sound of bitter laughter- from Lovino.

"Don't be. I didn't want to be a part of that shitty system anyways."

Lovino's words catch Antonio by surprise. He had been expecting to be reprimanded at the very least- he did wake Lovino up before the wake up call to get them out- so he assumed he would be pissy about it. He wipes away some of the blood on his fingers onto the fabric of his pants.

"Lovi?"

"Yeah?"

"It'll be alright."

Lovino looks at Antonio with a sharp glass glare. "I know. What makes you think I'm worried, h-huh!?"

Antonio just smiles and threads his hand through Lovino's. "I can tell. It's in your eyes."

He looks away, but keeps his fingers twined with Antonio's. He knows that when they pull apart, he'll see the blood of the guards he killed.

The lake beneath them- he thinks that's what it's called- shows their reflection. They're messy and sour. Both of them have burns across their arms from climbing through the laser fence and small, itchy bites from mosquitoes. He turns when Antonio squeezes his hand.

"I've always wanted to see the ocean."

"I thought it was a lake."

Antonio laughs and inches closer to him.

"Nah. It's an ocean."

They sit in silence for a couple moments before Antonio bites his lip and stutters a bit.

"A-ah, Lovi."

"Yeah?"

He swallows.

"I love you."

Lovino's eyes widen and it looks like he would say something if he could speak.

"I just…I want to tell you now. Just in case we…"

Antonio strokes Lovino's jaw with his thumb, and rests it on his lips.

"Can I kiss you?"

Lovino nods very softly and his cheeks erupt with shades of red and pink.

Antonio smiles and leans forward, placing his hand to cup Lovino's face, and he kisses him. It's his first kiss- romance is only allowed in The Area once you're twenty one and have your specific mate chosen. Love doesn't exist there. Only compatibility- and fertility.

And if you're not interested in a mate of the opposite sex?

Well, they send you to a school. But it's more like a despair house.

But this. This is what Antonio's always wanted. Lovino's lips are soft and they taste like hope and candy.

Lovino's mouth plies apart easily when Antonio pushes at the part of his lips with his tongue- and it feels like nothing he's ever felt before. They separate too soon for his liking.

Antonio smiles, and it turns into a mischievous smirk as he leans down to Lovino's neck.

"W-What are you dooohhh…" His eyes flutter, long lashes brushing his cheeks. "Nn…oh…"

Antonio kisses and sucks at the soft flesh of his neck. He tickles at his skin with his teeth- and then he bites down.

"Oh!"

And Lovino's a mess, his head falling back as he pants. The feeling is too much. Antonio kisses back up his jaw before placing a final kiss on his lips.

They both are surprised with the new feelings- in a good way- and Antonio smiles at Lovino's heavy flush. He pulls him into his lap and wraps his arms around his waist, brushing his lips over the back of his neck.

"I love you."

"I-I love you, Antonio."

And that's when Lovino knew the world wasn't loveless.