"But Antonio," Lovi insisted, "What if he like... really likes these other people? And those other people really like him? And those other people really like each other? Shouldn't they be allowed to be together?"

Antonio grimaced. Discussing politics was Lovino's round about way of discussing his own personal conflicts. "It depends. You're saying persons— or, uh, people— A through D all like each other? Okay... Okay."

Lovino nodded. "Yeah, okay." He pouted as he lifted his coffee mug to his lips. This wasn't going well.

What was the underlying issue? Antonio scoffed softly. He had known about it for a while. Antonio was about to be a junior in college, ready to move off campus and live with his other friends in an apartment. The problem was, Lovino (a soon-to-be sophomore) wanted to come with him. But...

But.

The Spaniard could feel the sexual tension between his boyfriend and his other friends. And Antonio wasn't willing to share. And he loved his friends, but not like that. At least, not for the moment. They'd attempted relationships with each other before— first Gil and Antonio, then Antonio and Francis, and finally Gil and Francis— it had all happened by accident. They'd even tried all three of them together, as equals... This was where the problem came in. He had never really broken it off with them, and they'd never broken it off with him, and they'd all had significant others at the same time... It was like a truly complex case of friends with benefits. And awkwardly enough, he had never told Lovino about this complicated relationship of theirs. Lovino just thought they were all really good friends. And he was happy to keep it that way.

"So, then, Lovi... What happens if, say, Person C decides they still like persons A and B, but not Person D. But Person D still likes everyone, and Persons A and B do too? What then?"

Lovino groaned in frustration. "Then they talk about it. It's not all that different from a traditional couple, Antonio. They can still be together... Maybe Person C just needs to take a little break from Person D. That's expected, that's okay."

"Is it, though?"

"Yes!"

"Okay. Okay. So, what happens when, say, Person A and D start being with each other exclusively? And not spending as much time with persons B and C? Wouldn't Persons C and B be like, really hurt by that? Sí?"

Lovi shook his head. Goddamn it, it couldn't be this complicated. Not in reality. "Why wouldn't Persons C and B use that time to be together too? And when things calm down, they can all talk together about it if they want, and choose how to proceed from there?"

Antonio shook his head. "No, I don't think so. What happens when Person C becomes desired by A, B, and D, but A, B, and D don't want to be with each other, just with C? Huh?"

"It sounds to me like Person D has some personal problems," he said bitingly with a roll of his eyes.

"There is nothing wrong with Person D!" he exclaimed.

It was then that Antonio remembered where they were, exactly. The café was quieting around them, and they were getting quite a few irritated looks. He took a sip of his latte and tried not to be obviously pissed. "It sounds to me like Person C is just greedy and looking for more opportunities to get away with being with other people."

Now it was Lovino's turn to yell. "It isn't like that!"

"Shhh!"

He turned to glare, but couldn't find the person so bold as to shush at him. "Has it occurred to you that maybe Person C is just attracted to and maybe even a little in love with Persons A, B, and D, and is more hurt by trying to be with all three of them on his own when they could all four just love and be with each other?"

Antonio grunted into his coffee.

"Toni..." he said softly, eyes wide. "You... love me, don't you?"

He looked at sharply. "Yes! Of course I do. You shouldn't have to ask that..."

"And... You love Francis and Gil?"

Ah, there it goes. Antonio was right on the money again. Lovino had something he wanted.

"Well, y-yeah."

"Then can't we just try? Let's just try, Toni. It could be fun. We could all live together... And just think... Think of all the things we could try." Lovino slowly grinned when he saw Antonio disappear into his mind's eye, no doubt imagining the possibilities. He reached across the table, setting his hands atop Antonio's around his coffee cup. "And if it doesn't work... Then I'll move out, and it can just be you and me again."

Antonio sighed. Lovino Vargas was relentless.

"Besides... It's not like you three aren't already kind of together, you know?"

He paled first, but it quickly evaporated into a blush. "Something like that."

"Then we're gonna do this."