How can something so wonderful be so wrong? How can something so wrong feel so right? Human AU.

This story centers about the love between a 27-year old man and a 15-year old boy, and the things that pulls them apart. Divided in three parts.

I own nothing.


Chapter One - Lightyears

(Lovino's POV)

"Just stop with the whining Alfred, you look like an overgrown baby," Matthew said quietly to his eternally huffing brother. The three of them together with Romano are walking to the station together.

"It's not that easy, Mattie, Iggy's really harsh this morning," he complained. Matthew realized that the American was indeed depressed or else he wouldn't have noticed his presence. "I mean, there should have been a less hard way to tell me to stop eating in classes."

"Uhm, no... there's none really..."

"I hate you..."

The Canadian sighed and turned to the Italian, mouthing, 'Help me with this.'

Lovino scratched his head thoughtfully. Then he said, "Just let him cool down a bit."

But then, Alfred snapped, "Must be nice to have a mature boyfriend,"his bitterness apparent. Lovino frowned at him, but he didn't speak.

They just don't understand.

Suddenly, it started to rain.

"Aww, crap!"

The three of them made a run for it. Luckily, they found an almost run-down shed before the downpour worsened. But it was certain that they were trapped in there until the rain stops. Unless they have an umbrella...

"Actually, I've brought two umbrellas," Matthew mumbled. "Since Alfred never brings one so..."

"YOU'RE THE BEST, MATTIE!" the American literally thrown himself over the Canadian. When the more quiet blond freed himself from his brother, he glanced awkwardly to Lovino who is currently reading a text message.

"Uhm... Lovino?"

"Oh, don't mind me," the Italian said dismissively. "You go ahead."

From the faint blush on his face, Matthew realized that Lovino would just be fine. So the blond brothers just waved goodbye.


From: Antonio

Sub: It rained so suddenly!

Message: You have an umbrella, right?

Wait for boss in the usual

place, okay?


From: Lovino

Sub: Re: It rained so suddenly!

Message: Yeah. Okay.


The bastard probably forgot to bring his umbrella again, Lovino thought. Probably thought it was a hassle.

It all started a year ago.

Lovino met his boyfriend, Antonio, as a teacher in his former middle school. When the Spanish language professor retired, a burly looking young man took his place. Lovino never expected the Spanish professor to suddenly resign and had already signed up for the said language course, thus trapping him with Antonio. It wasn't like the Italian really liked to learn Spanish. Their grandfather just wanted his grandsons to have something productive to do that summer and Feliciano decided to take German. Despite his desire not to be separated from his brother, Lovino would never let anything German touch his tongue. So he searched for other courses.

Well, French doesn't sound too bad (besides, Matthew's there) if only the teacher wasn't that hairy and perverted. Russian and Greek were out of the question, really, as well as the Asian languages with thousands of alphabets. Which left Spanish on the list. It also helps that the professor looks as if he wouldn't notice you sleeping through his class and that Spanish is close to Italian. So it was a good choice, he supposed. But then, the professor just had to leave. Many other students believed that the Spanish department would temporarily be suspended and they transferred to other departments. Only Lovino didn't budge until the last minute, making him the only Spanish student, and Antonio Fernandez Carriedo's first and only student for that semester.

At first, Lovino thought that the class would be just a joke and a waste of time and facility. However, SeƱor Carriedo was too enthusiastic in the summer heat.

"Right, so Lovi, repeat after me," Antonio talked to Lovino like a first-grader. "Da-me un be-so."

"What's that mean, bastard?" It's already getting on Lovino's nerves how the man coos at him like he's a three year old or something.

"Hmm, in Italian it would be," he paused thoughtfully. "That will be, 'Dammi un bacio.'"

How lovely. He just landed himself on another pervert.

Everything was just so plain and boring.

The days just come and go without any difference in routine. In the morning, he will wake up, eat breakfast and go to school. In school, he will meet some friends who always talk about things that Lovino couldn't be bothered to understand. After an early lunch, he would drag himself to the Spanish department classroom and spend two hours of nonsense with the ever cheery Spaniard. And then at dismissal, he would walk his way home (sometimes with his brother or Matthew), the same path that he walks for the past ten years of his life.

Maybe, for some people, this kind life would be that of the contented. But for me, the repeatitive cycle of life makes me doubt if I am still alive.

Lovino hated summer and its always unbearable heat. Even parasols are useless when you are walking home while the sun is still in its glory. But since school is already done, he has nothing left to do but to go home.

It was a straight road from school to their house and over the years, Lovino has memorized the look of the place even every change of season. The green spring, yellow summer, orange autumn and white winter. He has never wandered off the path. Before, he was afraid that he might get lost. Now, he just can't be bothered. However, the immensity of boredome that has fallen upon him made him take that right turn.

It was just a moment's impulse. He feels so sticky and thirsty, and he was hoping that the path on the other side would have some tree shades. He got more than what he wished for.

The road has taken Lovino to a strange and different world.

Flowers of colors aside from yellow blooms beautifully overhead, while greenery vines crawled over the archway, giving the sun just enough spots to lighten the way. For a moment, the Italian was breathless over the beauty in front of him. As he walks further, it got harder to refrain himself from dancing about the pretty garden.

Then he bumped into someone.

"Lovino?"

There, at the end of the archway was Antonio, looking tired but refreshed as he handpicks tomato from the huge backyard garden that was alongside the archway. Antonio notice how Lovino eyed the juicy red fruits hungrily.

"Do you want some iced tomato juice? Come with me inside then," he invited the young lad to his huge mansion.

"Woah, you're this filthy rich?" Lovino asked in no one in particular as the Spaniard already excused himself to the kitchen. His house looks so modern and tidy and comfortable. "It must be tiring to clean something this big."

"Well, it sure does, but I love things neat," Antonio remarked casually as he sets down the juice on the table. Lovino happily gulped from his glass.

"This is good," he said before he stopped himself.

"I'm glad you liked it," Antonio smiled at him. The little Italian blushed.

From then on, Lovino would always stop by Antonio's house after class. They would always talk freely. Sometimes, Lovino would even help with the tomatoes. Throughout their bondings, Lovino found out that Antonio was actually a doctor in the morning (which explains why he is so rich), with a shift of 5am to 1pm, and goes to teach part time in their middle school after a referral from Mr. Bonnefoy, the French language professor. Apparaently, they are bestfriends. It made Lovino guilty a bit since he was the only student so it was a great hassle for the Spaniard. And to think that it was the elder man who was ever enthusiastic about the lessons...

"But it's alright, Lovi. I enjoy teaching you~"

Bastard, it doesn't make me feel happy one bit.

After knowing Antonio's straight shift, Lovino decided that perhaps, they should have siesta.

"That's a great idea," Antonio said and he fixed some blankets under the shade of his field maple tree. And there they took a nap.

Somehow, this feels nice.

Antonio's house is just a few blocks away from Lovino's house. So he can come over anytime. Sometimes, even during weekends, Lovino would show up in Antonio's doorstep.

Lovino wonders why he was very drawn to that place. Was it the flowers? Was it the tomatoes? He wasn't sure. All he cares about is how his plain and boring afternoons become something to look forward to. It seems that there is always something new to discover, something different to do. Antonio's house is full of many things that intrigues Lovino. His guitar, his turtle bowl, his tomato field. Everything is so bright and full of colors.

"You seem so happy nowadays, fratello," Feliciano commented one morning.

"What are you talking about?" he asked.

"You just seem, less bored than before..."

That's true. Lovino was less bored than before. And it's all thanks to the beautiful house on the other side of the road.

Funny. Whenever I think about the house, Antonio is always in the picture in my head.

He brushed those thoughts away and went to class. Despite his new- found closeness to his teacher, Lovino is still as hard-headed as ever in learning Spanish. Sure, the language was easy to learn but he finds it amusing to act uninterested. The Spaniard doesn't mind though (or doesn't show that he actually minds), because he was also lax during the lessons. It seems, both of them quietly awaits for the dismissal so they can walk to the house together.

One particular afternoon though, it rained. They were caught unprepared so they run to the near run-down shed.

"Damn this rain," Lovino cursed. He took an umbrella from his bag.

"Wow, you're so prepared, Lovi," Antonio cooed.

"Wha- What about you, bastard? Don't you have any protection or something?"

"It's a hassle to bring one so no."

"Idiot, so what are you gonna do when these things happen?"

"Well, I usually wait for it to stop..."

Lovino glanced at the dark gray sky. "This doesn't look like it's gonna stop soon."

"Yeah," the Spaniard agreed. "Hey, hey Lovi, do you know why it's raining?"

"Watercycle and all those crap thingie?"

"That's true. But it also means one thing," Antonio said solemnly.

"What?"

"Summer's ending soon," he answered casually.

Somehow, that sentence had a larger impact to the Italian. It makes him think of the flowers, the tree and a certain tomato garden. He felt his heart sink a little.

He opened his umbrella, Antonio watching him.

"What are you waiting for, bastard, let's get going!" Lovino snarled not-so-angrily, gesturing the Spaniard to get moving.

"Awww, Lovi, you're so kind, sharing your umbrella with boss..."

"Who are you calling boss? I'm just doing this because y-you m-might be uhhh l-lonely to go home alone, dammit!"

Antonio snatched the umbrella from him.

"H-Hey...!"

"Let me hold this, it's the least I can do to repay your kindness," Antonio grinned at him.

"Stop talking like it's a big deal," Lovino murmured. He noticed how Antonio lets half of his body get wet so as Lovino would stay dry.

Aren't you the kind one?

Lately, Lovino was seeing the world in bright colors. Then, there was that thumping in his heart and the breathlessness. If he had been a bit more naive, he wouldn't have know what these feelings meant. But he does know. And he kinda likes what he knows.

When they reached Antonio's home, they realized that they can't take a siesta outside as usual. Antonio served hot chocolate and they silently watched the rain outside. It must have been the gentle taps on the roof, or the milk in their drink that made Lovino fall asleep quite quickly on the couch. When Antonio saw him curled up, the Spaniard cooed how cute he was and settled himself to sleep beside the Italian.

Lovino woke up later than usual. Usually, he would go home right after the nap (it would be like, six o'clock) but judging the darkness outside, it must have been later than seven already. Sure enough, when he glanced at his watch it shows 10:35. Great.

"Antonio, thanks for the nap, I'm going home!" he called.

"But, Lovi, it's past the curfew already. And you still haven't eaten dinner," Antonio answered from the kitchen.

"Nonno'd be looking for me. He'll be mad," Lovino explained as he searches for Antonio.

"That's alright, I already called your grandfather and told him that you'll be spending the night here." When Lovino reached the kitchen, he saw the Spaniard has prepared some spaghetti. He gave the Italian a big serving.

Lovino helped himself to the pasta, fearing the worst. But it never came."Wow, this is good, you're really perfect, aren't you?" Lovino muttered as he munches the meal.

"You flatter me, or is that your sleepiness talking?"

"It is my sleepiness. But be grateful."

"Si," the Spaniard chuckled.

"Hey, Lovi, want to go stargazing with me? I doubt you could fall asleep now after that long nap, and the sky is cleared off the clouds after the rain."

"Okay..."

In no time, Lovino found himself listening to the Spaniard's explanation of stars and constellations.

"That, Lovi is the Canis Major or the Greater dog. It is considered as one of the dogs that follows Orion in his hunt. Remember Orion? See those three stars aligned? That's his belt, and you can trace him from those three stars. Now you can always find the Canis Major easily since the brightest star in the earth night sky, the Sirius, is part of it. That's why Sirius is also known as the 'dog star'."

"Woah, that star, I can almost reach it!"

Antonio chuckled.

"What!"

"Nothing, you remind me of myself when I was young. I also think of it that way. But stars, no matter how near they seem, they are still of great distances away from us. They're just impossible to reach," his voice housed a sadness that Lovino does not want to hear. The Italian gulped.

"That's stupid, Antonio! Of course we could reach the stars! All we have to do is extend our hands further, because they're just always there... waiting for that someone to reach them," the Italian ended his speech in a whisper. But then he added loudly, "That's the problem of grown ups, they become despairing and hopeless," Lovino snided. He glanced at the Spaniard for his reaction.

"Ahh, Lovi's such a smart child..." Antonio proclaimed dramatically and wrapped Lovino in a strangling hug.

"Hey, gerofff!" Lovino tried to push him away.

"But isn't it more comfortable this way?"

The Italian stopped struggling.

"The sky reminds me of Spain, the night sky there is darker, so we can see more stars at night," Antonio said nostalgically.

"Even more than those?" Lovino asked incredously. Why, he can't even count the stars here!

"Yes, even more than those..." Antonio murmured. "I know! Once you passed the Spanish exam, I'll take you to Spain with me!"

"Really? I can?"

"Yeah! So learn Spanish quicker, okay? There's a festival there on the first week of July, I'm sure you won't want to miss it!"

"Okay! You have to keep your words, bastard!"

They stayed in the position for a while, sitting by the huge glass window, wrapped in a thick blanket, Lovino between Antonio's arms.

It was altogether warm and soft.

"Hey Antonio," Lovino mumbled sleepily after some time.

"Hmm?" Antonio hummed as sleepily.

"I think I'm in love with you, is that okay?" and Lovino fell into deep slumber.

Antonio's drowse seemed to have left him all of a sudden.