Title: Simply
Summery: Lovino wonders if the new year really was something worth celebrating. Tomorrow, everything would still feel the same, time wouldn't just change or anything. Although, maybe an offer from a certain Spaniard can change that.
Characters: Antonio and Lovino, with mentions of Feliciano and Ludwig
Ages: Around 24-ish
"Move in with me?"
Lovino gazed lazily over the landscape shrouded in darkness, yet dotted with bright lights. If he sighed out, he could've seen a small puff of air escape his lips into the clear and chilly night sky. It was a breathless sight, but that's what you got when you lived in a big city and on the outskirts, right? Or, at least when you attended a party that took place in a double story house on the outskirts of a big city. Either way, it was still a beautiful sight. Far from the city clutter, yet still in the lethargic traffic of the suburbs. The sound of muffled dance music beat in the background and sent rhythmic vibrations through him. Some type of rapid beat, the same type that that packed the dance floor and made bodies bump, slide, and move with one another. Maybe it was too crowded inside, Lovino would rather be outside than pressed up against all those bodies. He tightly gripped at the cool, metal banister the encircled the balcony, a sneer decorating his face as he heard his brother's shrill voice cut through the music and the glass French door that separated him from the massive crowd that waited for the new year. "Ludwig! Luddy!" Yes, he'd much rather be outside enjoying the view by himself. With no one there, no idiots there, to disturb him.
Lovino slumped forward letting the railing hold his weight, lost in his own thoughts. He glanced at his watch, only a few minutes left…
"What?" A dazed Lovino asked. He paused, arm mid-air as he reached to grab his apartment keys. His fingers closed around empty air, cursing as he remembered that Feliciano had taken them having lost his own set. "You want me to…"
"Move in with me!" Antonio had said, hands shoved into his jeans shyly, but bright orbs sparkling out at him as they usually did. Smiling, Antonio shook his head making his curly mess of hair bounce. "Wouldn't you want to?"
"Er… you seriously want me to move in you?"
"Si, and Feli wouldn't have to take your key" At this he chuckled lightly, watching as Lovino turned the lock and closed the door behind him. "every time he lost his."
Lovino stayed silent as they made their way down the walkway that led to the small house. "Why the hell should I-"
"At least think about it?" They stopped outside of Antonio's black Nissan 350z. The car itself seemed to shimmer in the streetlights cast on it.
"Fine, dammit. I'll think about, but hurry up and open the doors! Feliciano will turn on the fucking water works if we're late." Lovino snapped, blushing lightly from the offer. A bright smile and a click of a lock quickly chased his last words.
"Thank you, Lovi!"
Softly, he heard the doors open and clink back shut. Lovino didn't bother turning around knowing who it was already. "What do you want, idiot?" His voice rang out loud and clear, making him mentally flinch. Behind him, he could feel the person walk forward and circle tan arms around his waist, putting pressure lightly against his back.
Lovino shivered at the sudden body heat warming him up. He had only just realized he was cold from standing outside… Damn him.
"It's a nice night," He glanced over his shoulder to be met by warm, forest green eyes -Antonio's- just as a chin was rested on his shoulder. "isn't it, Lovi?"
Letting out a low grunt of agreement, Lovino turned back to watching the scene before him. Their earlier conversation made it's way to his mind once again, he'd have give an answer eventually.
"Give me another reason why the hell I should move in with you."
"Hm?" Antonio looked over at him, a slightly confused expression crossing his face. "Isn't the 'with me' reason enough, Lovi?"
Lovino scowled lightly, turning in his seat to stare out the passenger window "I said another reason, Antonio."
"Another one? It'd be our own place." He could see Antonio's reflection in the glass, warm and open as always, but holding fondness and a little of something else.
"Why are you outside anyways? Aren't you cold?" Lovino snorted slightly, leaning back into Antonio's warm embrace. He could answer that in so many different ways.
Because I don't need to be in there? Because I want to avoid people? Because… "It's way too fucking crowded in there," he decided to mumble. As for being cold… Antonio had taken care of that.
"So you decided to come out here with only-" Antonio brought up a wrist to check his watch briefly. "five minutes left 'til the new year?"
Lovino just nodded biting back the comment at the tip of his tongue. "Is there something wrong with that?" He quickly turned around to face Antonio, arms crossing in front of his chest. The arms holding him had loosened slightly to allow the movement. "I would rather have spent the night just celebrating with you than attending this stupid party, dammit."
Antonio smiled, chuckling lowly as he rested his forehead on Lovino's. "But, we were invited. It would've been rude to say no, Feli is your brother."
"…not his house though, stupid potato's…"
"Lovi, just come back inside. Please?"
"I don't want to."
"Why not?" Antonio pulled back slightly, studying Lovino's face. "Is there a specific reason, or…"
Lovino sighed glancing out beyond the banister again, his voice, once again, carrying clearly. "…It's quieter out here, dammit… and…. I was thinking about stuff."
"Stuff?"
"Yes, stupid." Lovino's attention snapped back to Antonio's. Almost on impulse, Antonio checked his watch again: three minutes. "Will you stop checking the damn time?"
"Sorry, Lovi, I just want to know when the countdown starts." He shot a shy smile at Lovino.
Lovino rolled his eyes, wondering if the new year really was something worth celebrating. Tomorrow, everything would still feel the same, time wouldn't just change or anything. He had already fallen into a comfortable routine, one that the new year wasn't going to change at all. "Tch, you're not going to fucking force me inside, are you?"
"No, I'm not." Antonio shifted, moving Lovino's arms up to his shoulders and effectively making him blush. He licked at his lips before speaking again, looking nervous. "But, I do want to know if you want to move in with me. So, will you?"
Another sigh escaped from Lovino's lips. "…Does it really matter that much if I move in with you? We've been dating for a long time, I don't see how it-"
"Matters? It does to me…Wouldn't it be nice to live together~?"
"How the hell would it be nice? And I know I've asked something similar."
Antonio smiled brightly, his eyes gleaming as they gazed into Lovino's own pair. "I'd be able to see you all day and talk when one of us can't sleep, or just cuddle together on the couch after we eat or whenever we want to really."
"Idiot, more like whenever you want…"
"So…? Will you move in with me?" He was hugged closer, his nose pressing lightly into Antonio's and his previous comment forgotten.
"I'll move in with you, dammit." Antonio's smile grew bigger at hearing Lovino say that. Happily, he squeezed the Italian tighter. "O-oi! Don't try to fucking break me!"
Laughing, Antonio did as told and relaxed his hold. The look of content on his face clearly matched his tone of voice. "Sorry, I'm just happy to hear that!"
"Yeah, whatever… but if you want me to move in then help me fucking move my stuff tomorrow."
"To-tomorrow?" Lovino watched him stutter and check his watch again. "Of course! But, so soon?"
"It's a new year, isn't it?" They fell quiet for a minute, knowing it was true. Why not start living together on the first day of the year? It seemed like a good idea, start a new year, start a new way of living. And maybe, Lovino might start liking the first day of the year. It'd actually be different this year.
"Ten! Nine!"
Antonio blinked, hearing the sudden lack of music and their friends shouting out, loud enough to hear through the walls. "The countdown started… are you sure you don't want to be inside?"
"Eight! Seven! Six!"
"I'm sure, did you not hear the first time?"
"Five! Four! Three!"
Antonio smiled at him, leaning closer to him and tilting his chin up with one hand. It was the normal tradition any couple would have, kiss just as the clock hit midnight, but it was different on so many levels. This one kiss would seal the agreement of living together and opening up a new chapter of life's little adventures for them to share. Well, maybe that's what Antonio was thinking… Lovino's only thought was that the kiss was only proof of how long they had been together, and still felt the same about the other… or the simple passing of a milestone. The latter sounded more accurate.
"Two! One!"
Lovino met Antonio halfway right as they heard everyone inside happily yell "Zero! Happy New Year!" Their lips molded together almost instantly, eyes closing as they enjoyed celebrating the new year with the other and alone in the night. It was a simple kiss, long and sweet, lasting, but not more than it needed to be. In other words, their first kiss of the year was perfect, making both of them content. They pulled apart after a moment, maybe a minute, they'd lost track.
Inside, the party raged on with a new fire, but neither Lovino nor Antonio took much notice -they were too focused on the other. The party could have gone to hell for all it mattered to Lovino.
"Feliz Año Nuevo, Lovi…"
"Buon Anno Nuovo, Antonio." In the second right after the final vowel of Antonio's name had escaped his lips, firework lit up the sky behind them as if on cue. He frowned slightly at how clichéd it seemed, but Lovino turned to look at them anyways, a sincere smile playing across his features. Albeit a small one, Antonio couldn't help but watch Lovino, lit up by the explosion of colors in the sky and the soft yellow lighting behind them. Lovino glanced sideways, eyes tracing Antonio's features before returning to watch the fireworks. If anyone had been paying attention, they would have seen the knowing in his eyes. "What are you staring at, idiot?"
Antonio chuckled. "You, caramelo." A blush lit up Lovino's face at the pet name, old memories bubbling up in the back of his mind. So old, he hadn't remembered they happened, a dream maybe, but not that… Even though his proof was standing in front of him. He had expected the answer, yes, but it was still surprising no matter the situation.
"You…"
"Hm?"
Lovino sighed, a faux annoyed expression painted carefully on his face. "Never mind." Quickly, he stepped away from the embrace, walking back towards the French doors. Dammit, it really was cold out there. He stopped at the doors, shivering as his hand came in contact with the metallic surface. Had he really become colder in a few minutes, or was it the lack of Antonio's body heat?
"Where are you going?"
"Back inside, why?" He smirked back at the slightly older man, caught between pulling Lovino back for a hug or following. "Isn't that what you came out here to do? Bring me back inside the party?"
"Eh, si!"
"Then hurry the fuck up!"
Antonio hurried forward, swinging an arm around Lovino's waist as they entered back into the warm house. He pulled Lovino close to him, smiling widely. Loud cheering floated up from the bottom floor. "Ah, Lovi, wait a sec." He stopped Lovino as they reached the top of the stairs, the flat of his foot on the step below so they were at about the same eye level, hazel colored eyes meeting green.
"What?"
Lovino was attacked by the other's lips sloppily landing on his in a chaste kiss. Gradually, the sound of catcalls and whistles made them pull away; embarrassment was evident on their faces in the form of dark blushes.
"Heh, I guess we're the center of attention…"
"You idiotic bastard." All bite in the comment was lost. He was smiling at Antonio, something that wasn't too usual an occurrence although it had happened more after their first year together.
Antonio smiled back, pressing a kiss to Lovino's cheek. He chuckled at the blush and slight shove he was given. "I know, Lovi."
Translations:
Feliz Año Nuevo- Happy New Year (Spanish)
Buon Anno Nuovo- Happy New Year (Italian)
caramelo- sweetheart (Spanish, literally means 'caramel')
Ciao~ So, I decided to post something that wasn't... so depressing or with a dead Lovino. Most of my headcanons are in this AU actually... Anyways, please read and review! I don't own Hetalia and please enjoy!
