Never Leave Me - Chapter 1

Sometimes, all we can ask of our loved ones in our most difficult times is that they not leave us. But how difficult is too difficult? And can Antonio and Lovino's love survive the trials they will face? Rated M for later chapters.

The bar was mostly empty, save for the few final denizens who, despite being told off, refused to leave. The barkeeper, of course, could do nothing about it...especially not about the one drunkard who was sitting directly at the barstool, drinking beer after beer and becoming hopelessly drunk. "That bastard," Romano spat, his words slurring as he glared at the counter. "He said I could come over to his house, and when I get there he has that...that...that /jerk/ over!" Lovino slammed his fist into the counter and glared at the barkeeper. "Another beer. Please."

That was when he heard the door slam open. He refused to look in his direction, refused to let him sweet-talk him, refused to even give him the time of day! He didn't deserve it, that bastard.

"Lovi!"

Just let him go away, Lovino prayed silently, anger still festering in his brain from before. Still, his prayers weren't answered, and Antonio came running to his side as he always did. "Lovi, I've been looking all over for you! Dios, don't run away like that, you know how much that-" His lover paused, and Lovino knew he was noticing something else – his drunkenness. Anger continued to build inside him, but why should he let Antonio know? That would only encourage him to keep trying, the bastard… "Are…are you drunk?"

And that was the last straw.

"You ba…you bastard!" Lovino managed, barely able to keep his head up. He was dizzy, and it was getting harder to remember what had made him so angry as he took another swig of beer. Maybe if he drank enough, he wouldn't have to feel anything, and he could just…just curl into his lover's arms at the end of the day…what was he saying? That bastard didn't deserve his embrace!" What are you…what are you doing here?" he slurred with substantially less anger in his voice.

"I'm looking for you, of course!" Antonio grabbed the bottle out of Lovino's hands, and set it forcefully onto the bar as his other hand reached for Lovino's. "Come on, we have to get you home before you do something reckless again…" He pulled on Lovino's hand gently, urging him to stand up, but Lovino stayed put. Why should he go?

"No!" he spat suddenly, sudden clarity appearing in his voice as he tried to pull his hand back. "You had that asshole over at your house when you called me over! I'm not going anywhere with you!" Regardless of what he had said however, Lovino stood slowly, steadying himself against the bar when he began to tilt. "I'm leaving. But I'm only leaving because I don't want to wake up on the floor tomorrow," he grumbled unintelligibly, before tilting against as he tried to walk. This landed him on a table, and he looked over at Antonio like a helpless puppy. "Help?" he said, hiccuping softly as he said it.

He couldn't help but blush as Antonio laughed, scooping him up bridal style and beginning to carry him through the maze of tables. "Oh, my little Lovino, you never change!" He exclaimed as he carried his lover to the door. "I don't care how much you protest, you're staying at my house tonight. You're definitely way too drunk to go home, and you know you'll upset Feliciano if he sees you like this. We can discuss your hatred for Francis in the morning."

Lovino lay sprawled out on the couch, waiting for Antonio to come back into the room with his water. He still felt lightheaded and drunken, but he was sure that in the morning it would turn into a hangover. Still, his mind was racing. Antonio was always so kind to him, even when he got drunk and had his fits and such…it wasn't fair. He wanted to be good to his lover in return, but he always did things like this. He was sure that, in the morning, he'd feel terrible about what he'd done and get grumpy and angry and such…but right now, he simply felt lightheaded. Giddy, even. Maybe because he was at Antonio's house? Cautiously, he rolled over onto the couch and…began to sniff one of the pillows – it smelled just like his lover's hair. He continued to smell it, getting even drunker off of his lover's scent. "Mm…Antonio…" he mumbled softly, his common sense quickly leaving him now that he was in a safer place than the bar.

"What is it, mi amor?"

Lovino flushed, leaping up and scrambling to the other side of the couch, clearly in a panic as a blush spread over his cheeks. Antonio smiled slightly. "I, um…brought you your water."

"Augh!" Lovino cried, grabbing a pillow at random and throwing it in the general direction of Antonio. Being drunk, of course, he missed horribly, but the intent was clear. "Don't scare me like that, you bastard! It's not like I was smelling your pillow because I like the way you smell or anything! I…" Realizing what he'd said, Lovino bowed his head, incredibly embarrassed. "…that water would be nice," he finally managed after a moment of silence. He stood slowly, attempting to shuffle towards Antonio…

"Lovi, don't–" his lover began, but it was too late – Lovino stumbled over the rug and fell straight at Antonio. The other man dropped the glass he was holding and extended his arms to aid the falling Italian, pulling him into an embrace as he caught him.

Guilt swept over Lovino as he tried and failed to steady himself in the other man's arms. "Antonio," he murmured into his lover's shirt. "Oh, Antonio…" He tilted his head up slightly, knowing in some small, insignificant corner of his mind that he was drunk, that his reasoning was all but gone…he gently kissed Antonio's lips. "I love you," he whispered to him. "I'm just…I'm just jealous 'cause you had Francis over…" Tears sprouted in his eyes as he tried, and failed, to explain himself. "I just…I just love you so much, and I hate it when you…when you see other people like that because…because I know you and he…"

Antonio wrapped his arms gently around Lovino's waist suddenly, suddenly leaning in and touching his forehead to the other man's. He was probably surprised about Lovino being so honest; he was so rarely open about his feelings…it might have been the alcohol though. "Listen to me, Lovino," he began, making eye contact with the Italian. "Francis and I have known each other for a very long time. We've been neighbors our whole lives, and he is one of my closest friends." He paused for a moment, and Lovino raised one eyebrow as if to say 'and your point is'? "However," he continued suddenly, his face becoming more serious. "You are the only person I will ever love. I even fought France for you when you were a child – remember? You have a special place in my heart that nobody will ever replace, be it your brother or Francis or Gilbert, no matter how hard they try…you'll always be the person in the world I love the most, and don't you ever forget that." He carefully wiped the tears from Lovino's eyes before pulling him into a tight embrace, tangling his fingers in his hair. "Don't cry, mi amor. I love you."

Lovino smiled, leaning in to kiss Antonio again…

Without warning, the door burst open, and a man stepped inside. He wore a finely tailored suit and polished shoes, his jaw square and firm and his eyes somewhat squinted, as though analyzing his surroundings. A cold smirk spread across his face as he saw Lovino standing there with Antonio. He let out a cruel chuckle and arched an eyebrow.

"Lovino," the man said coolly, not even giving a glance to Antonio. "I see you have company. I'm sorry if now is a bad time…but I'm afraid it's time to repay your debt." Suddenly, the man pulled out a gun and smirked. "Come along. We haven't got time to wait."

Lovino stared in horror at the man, glancing back and forth from him to Antonio. "A-Antonio…" he whispered, all traces of drunkenness vanishing from his face as he became a mask of horror. "I…I didn't realize today would…I…oh, God…Antonio, I–"

"What?" The man laughed again, beckoning Lovino with his gun. "The Mafia waits for no one, Lovino. Not even your precious lover."

(AN: Hi everyone! This is going to be my first multi-chapter fic for this fandom, so I really hope not to disappoint! And many thanks to my best friend, who essentially wrote half of this story xD Alright, that's all. Oh! Before I go - I just learned how to make horizontal lines! I'm so excited! Okay, bye!

-BNG)