It wasn't like there was anything special about that night. The sky was nearly gray, hazed over with an unusually heavy evening fog, and the towns' locals strode past in every direction.
Then why, Lovino wondered, did he feel so alone?
In a matter of minutes, twenty at most, he was to arrive on the porch of a familiar Spanish man's home.
Antonio Fernañdez Carriedo's home, to be precise. The man responsible for that disgusting, disturbing, and oh-so incredibly annoying feeling in Lovino's chest that seemed to flare up with even the slightest of glances towards the handsome Spaniard.
It wasn't like the Italian had meant to fall in love with him. Hell, he hadn't even wanted to. But life seems to be full of surprises, and now that the strong emotion was present, it wasn't going away.
It was a pointless effort, anyway. At least that's what Lovino had decided. It seemed so impossible that a man like Antonio would even consider loving him back. But, even as a rather dignified Italian man, Lovino was as clueless as a sleeping deer in the sights of a wolf.
It wasn't long before the brunette's thoughts cleared, his mind finally plummeting back into the present reality once his shoes seemed to guide themselves right up to Antonio's front door.
A deep breath, a shuffling of feet, and finally, a knock on the wood of the door. This was it. Now, at the fine time of 5:36 on this casual Tuesday night, a confession would be made. Two, if he was lucky. But of course, even the idea alone of such a possibility seemed way beyond Lovino's expectations.
If all went as planned, he decided, Antonio would listen to the most pathetic, yet oddly straightforward confession, gently refuse the Italian's feelings, and carry on with his evening.
After a near thirty seconds of waiting, the lock on the door clicked, and a grinning Spaniard waited at the now-opened front entrance.
"Ah, Lovi! How nice of you to stop by! Is there something you needed? You usually call before coming over.. Is everything alright?" He asked, his voice quickly transitioning from overly ecstatic to slightly concerned within a mere matter of seconds.
Lovino sighed, his gaze lowering from Antonio to the floor.
"I'm.. I'm fine. Idiot, you shouldn't worry so much."
He stated, his eyes traveling up to the Spaniard's once again.
"Can I come in..? It's kind of important."
At those words, the door was immediately flung the rest of the way open, an ever-grinning Antonio gesturing inside.
"Of course, of course! Come on in, I've just been experimenting with a few things on my old guitar~"
Lovino entered the home, not forgetting to remove his shoes and drop them in the sturdy little basket Antonio had placed near the door on the inside.
"Aha- Gracias, Lovino. You're the only one who's remembered to do that for months!"
Antonio chuckled, before walking away; a few steps towards his smooth, taupe couch.
"Come have a seat, Lovinito~ And then maybe you could tell Dr. 'Tonio what's on your mind, hm?" He joked, earning an eye-roll from the Italian.
"Shut up, you aren't a fucking therapist." Lovino stated, moving over to the couch and immediately plopping down on one side. "Like you'd be able to study hard enough to get those credentials, anyway."
The other male chuckled, taking his seat next to Lovino.
"Aw, Lovi. So mean~"
He chuckled, half-expecting the soft punch he received to his arm.
"You're only proving my point further, you know~"
Another punch.
"Aha- but honestly, Lovino.. What's troubling you? Something's getting to you, I can tell." Antonio stated, concern coating every last syllable that flew from his lips.
The Italian only shook his head in response. So much for being courageous and just telling him.
"I, uh..."
He started, the rest of his intended words refusing to make themselves heard.
"Really, Lovi.. You're worrying me. Come on, you can tell me. If you're honestly so hesitant, I promise whatever it is will stay between us."
Antonio assured, smiling softly towards the other.
Lovino finally dared to look back at the Spaniard, but quickly averted his gaze again when he met the other's eyes.
"You know what..? Fine. I'm just going to tell you." He sighed, his heartbeat picking up speed.
This was it. This was his confession. The time for him to finally admit to all of those odd feelings that had haunted him for so long.
He took in a deep breath, exhaled, and took another.
"You know those fairytales... Where everyone just seems to have a.. a true love, I guess you could call it?"
He asked, wincing when he heard his own words. So much for being direct.
Antonio nodded in response, though his expression showed that he wasn't exactly catching on. Of course not.
"I think.. You know what, screw that. Forget the fairytale thing, I'm getting off-topic."
Lovino huffed, finally looking up at the other.
"I love you, okay? Ti amo. I know it's stupid, and you're probably disgusted by it. I'll get out of your hair now, I just thought you deserved to know."
With that, the Italian stood from the couch and started walking towards the door he'd come from, leaving a visibly shocked Spaniard behind him.
"W-Wait, Lovi!"
He cried, scrambling to his feet and rushing to Lovino.
"I don't think it's disgusting. Not at all! You don't understand something, mi tomate." He chuckled, and the Italian finally turned to face him.
"And what's that..?"
He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Are you something worse than disgusted? Tch, I bet that's it. Too bad. I'm not listening to this shit."
He huffed, turning again, but was stopped when a firm hand grabbed hold of his wrist and spun him back around.
"No, no, honestly, it isn't anything like that..!"
"Then what is it?"
"I- hehe, wow, this is harder than I thought.. It's a shame you weren't expecting this, really. But I suppose it's better this way. After all, maybe it'll mean more to you when I tell you 'te amo', huh?"
Lovino's eyes were wide, and he wasn't sure exactly what he was feeling at that moment.
Shock, happiness, relief? Maybe all three.
"You... Shut up, you're messing with me. Asshole, you shouldn't tease people like that." He sighed, trying to pull his arm away from the other's grip.
"Come on, I'm leaving. You don't have to pretend anything."
"No, I meant it! Please, Lovi, I'm being honest!"
Antonio stated desperately, trying to convince Lovino as quickly as possible.
"What will it take to prove this to you?"
He asked, willing to do anything in the world if it meant his Lovi would finally understand.
"I... You know what? Kiss me, if you're so sure of yourself. That's the only way I'm believing your shit. You wouldn't dare do anything like that if you weren't being.. Honest... Why are you coming closer? Y-You're being serious?!"
With that, the room fell silent, the only noise emitted from the wild beating of two hearts.
"I told you once, and I'll tell you as many times as I need to until you know I'm being completely honest.
Te amo, Lovino."
Another short, silent pause, before everything shifted all at once.
Their lips were touching. Much to Lovino's surprise, they were kissing.
Or rather, Antonio was kissing someone. The Italian was so incredibly baffled that he'd forgotten to return the affection.
It didn't last long. Not for more than a few seconds, but it seemed like it lasted for at least an hour.
"I- haha, there's your proof. Sorry you weren't expecting it."
Antonio smiled warmly, his bright eyes shamelessly gazing into Lovino's averted hazel ones.
When the Italian didn't respond, his smile faltered slightly, a more worried look on his face by now.
"Lovino..? What's wrong?"
"I should get going. It's probably late."
"Lovi, really! What is it? Did I do something?"
Antonio asked, almost desperately awaiting an answer.
"I said I'm going!"
Lovino snapped, finally yanking his wrist free. Just as assured, he turned and headed for the door again, a scowl on his quite flustered face.
"Will you at least let me walk you home? It's dark out. It's dangerous, Lovi."
The Italian turned around yet again to face him.
"Dangerous? Are you kidding me? I'm a grown man, stupid. It isn't dangerous."
"Lovi, please-"
"I'm not listening to this. Honestly, Antonio. You worry too much. I'll be fine."
"Can I walk you halfway...?"
"I...fine. Halfway. That's it. One step further, and you're in trouble."
And with that, the two made their way to the front door, which was politely opened for Lovino.
It was much darker than either of them had anticipated. Stars were already visible in the most shadowed spaces of the sky.
"It must be late, huh..?"
"Almost eight."
"Almost eight..?! What the hell? How did I manage to spend two and a half hours at your house?!"
"Well, maybe you were enjoying that kiss a little too mu-"
"SHUT UP, ALREADY!"