Antonio meets Lovino.
Work was brutal today, and all I really wanted to do was to go home and take a nice siesta, however, I had forgotten about one thing. Well really two things..people really. Francis and Gilbert were waiting for me as soon as I opened my front door. Francis looked a bit annoyed and Gilbert had made himself at home on my couch. They were both dressed in formal attire.
"ANTONIO, why aren't you ready mon ami? We are going to be laaaaate," France cried.
"Hola Francis,"' I said dryly, I really wasn't in the mood to be pulled out on one of their shenanigans tonight. "Tell me, what are we going to be late for?"
I looked over to Gilbert for some sort of clue. He shrugged and raised an eyebrow as if to say France had done the same thing to him.
" I told you earlier. We are going out to dinner tonight, and you are not going to cause us to miss these reservations; they cost me an arm and a leg!"
" Amigo, I am tired..." I started before I saw the dark look my friend was giving me.
In a tone that was dripping with acid he replied, "I will strip you myself if it means we will get out of here faster."
Needless to say, less than five minutes later I was dressed fancily, and we were en route to this mysterious restaurant. It was deep within the city and France only seemed to get more and more annoyed as the minutes ticked by. Gilbert chattered on about this and that before suddenly shutting up. I looked back at the sudden loss of white noise to see that he was staring wide-eyed out the window.
" Is that where we're eating tonight," he asked in a surprised tone.
"Oui," Francis replied obviously distracted as he desperately searched for a spot in the narrow city streets. "It is very exclusive and the owners are very mysterious. You have to have connections to get in. Why Gilbert?"
"No reason, kesesese but reservations would have been much easier to get if you had told me we were going here."
Francis didn't reply as he had just found a space near the restaurant. I, on the other hand,was curious as to what Gilbert had meant but figured I would find out soon enough.
As we entered the dim restaurant I couldn't help to notice how good it smelled. The main room was mostly candlelit and the room itself was colored a nice caramel color. In the corner there was a large bar. Creme colored drapery covered the place, fresh flowers were on all of the tables, and hints of Italy were all over. Over all it felt very romantic. The tables themselves were all full of chattering people, and piano music filled the air. Everything was perfect. We were led to a booth by a young waitress who spoke familiarly with Gilbert. We sat down and were handed menus. I looked at the prices and gasped. This place must have been rated five-stars or something. However after looking over it all again everything looked really good. I was hungry, but how could I afford all of this good food? Uggh. Maybe I could just get some churros.
Just as I looked up a waiter came to the table, setting down a stein of beer for Gilbert, which was strange since we hadn't ordered anything yet.
"Lovino, you remembered! I'm so flattered," Gilbert chirped happily!
A red blush made its way across the young waiters face.
"Of course I remembered you bastard! You ordered 15 the other night when Roderich was pms-ing over his piano," he said in a thick Italian accent.
The poor guy looked flustered as he tried to ignore the sound of Gilbert teasing him for being a girl. Straightening his back a bit he looked over to me and looked me straight in the eyes. His eyes were striking. They were covered by thick lashes, and they were an olive color with golden flakes spreading outwards from the inside. They held something to them though, past the obvious irritation, there was happiness for seeing his "friend", but past that there was something more. A sort of sorrow. I was quickly snapped out of it when his annoyed voice got louder.
"I SAID, would you like anything to drink sir?"
"Oh yes , umm," I glanced down at the wine menu, "I'll take this,"I said pointing at the first red wine.
"Good, and you," he asked motioning half-hearted at Francis.
I looked at him more closely, the waiter had reddish brown hair at a side part and one odd curl sticking out to the side. It was strange but at the same time adorable. He was skinny too, but not overly thin. Francis seemed to be enjoying the view.
"I'll take you," he said while wriggling his eyebrows. Oh dios why must I be here with him. However this waiter, Lovino, didn't seem fazed. He merely raised the menu he was holding, and brought it down on Francis' head.
"Whoops," he smirked , " Sorry sir but we don't carry that item on the menu, might I interest you in the white wine?"
"Ouch, my my aren't you a feisty one, Lovino. I'd love to see you in bed." He winked at the now-furiously-blushing waiter.
Just then another younger Italian man came forward and whispered something into Lovino's ear. He spun around to see a young blond enter the bar. Her hair was tied back with a green ribbon and a taller spiky-haired man stood next to her. Lovino ran over and gave her a hug while the younger Italian stayed at the table. We watched for a second, as the "bitter waiter" Lovino kissed the girl on both cheeks and laughed with her.
"Who's that," I said, surprised at my own bitter tone.
"That's Lovino's friend from Belgium," The young boy laughed. " She was supposed to come a few weeks ago but she got caught up, and was only able to come now. Lovino's just really happy to see her and her brother."
" Is he dating her," I inquired with a sort of dissapointed tone.
A dark look came over his face, " Oh no, not since Antonia umm , I don't...umm," his voice faded.
Gilbert, in an effort to lift the mood, started to chat with the new younger Italian. " So has West been in to see you yet, Feliciano ?"
"No, but he said he was coming later to see me! Isn't that great? So what would you like?"
This kid was like a puppy. He looked similar to Lovino, but instead of a scowl he wore a smile. Were they related? And who was Antonia? This night out wasn't looking so boring after all. I glanced back at Lovino, but he had stopped what he was doing and was now glaring at the table a few feet away from us. He excused himself from the girl and her brother. I watched the table now, curious as to what had offended him. I watched as a man started to shout at his girlfriend, obviously drunk. His voice started to escalate and I watched in horror as he raised his hand to strike the girl. At that moment a pitcher of cold ice water rained down on the man's head.
"Oops," Lovino's sarcastic voice rang out.
"WHY YOU LITTLE...! Get me your manager, no get me the owner of this place. I'm going to have your stupid little ass fired!" The man cried.
"No problem, OI FELI ," he called out, "Can you get me the owner?"
"One second fratello."
He calmly walked over to Lovino and the two turned as if to walk off, and then turned back around instantaneously.
" Here is the owner, sir," Feliciano said motioning to Lovino with a not-so-innocent smile on his face.
" Is there a problem sir?" Lovino asked calmly.
" WHAT KIND OF SHAM IS THIS? You two are merely waiters! There is NO way you punks own this place!"
"Sir, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave," Lovino hissed at him.
The man stood up and towered over Lovino. He smiled as if he had some sort of advantage and then swung his fist directed at Lovino's face. Lovino ducked and then stood up again. This time however, he delivered a swift blow to the man's gut which sent the man straight to the floor, holding his stomach. Lovino snapped three times and a HUGE bouncer came in and "escorted" the drunk man out doors. Feliciano, who had been tending to the sobbing girl stepped aside as Lovino knelt down and spoke to the girl in a softer, kinder tone.
" You deserve better than him bella," he said softly, " Much better."
She sniffed and he stayed with her for a minute before he made his way back to our table. By this time everyone was looking at him and he just sighed.
Feliciano made a formal apology for the disruption and promised everyone free dessert, which was followed by a lot of cheers. Gilbert on the other hand motioned for Lovino to sit down which he did. He looked exhausted and embarrassed by the whole ordeal.
" You looked so cool there Lovino, almost awesome like me," he began, but Lovino just sighed. With a more serious tone he said," Insomnia been bad lately, huh?"
"Mmm-hmm," came the response.
"Do you want a drink," I asked suddenly without thinking.
He looked at me with his sparkling eyes again.
" You know what, I do."
