Chapter 1. Unanswered wishes.
WARNING! FOUL MOUTH AND PROFANITIES.
Lovino would have felt bad about hanging down a well and stealing other people's wishes, if it weren't for all the wishes he'd made that were never answered. He wished he didn't have to take money from a well in order to live a little longer. He wished he could eat more often and maybe even get fat. He wished his parents hadn't left him. He wished he had friends and people liked him. He wished he had a home or change of clothes or really just…a change of anything. He was sick of being tired, sick of being lonely, sick of being cold, sick of being hungry, and just sick of everything else!
As Lovino dipped down for a little handful of rusty silver coins, he heard a deep yell which he couldn't decipher but was sure it was aimed at him. He wriggled himself out and took a deep breath of clean air before catching a glance of his assaulter. Shit, an officer here to ruin the fun. Lovi hastily shoved the coins into his pocket and began to run which only prompted the officer to follow in pursuit.
Besides the obvious, the day had actually been tuning out quite nicely. It was cool out and for once the sun wasn't blinding the world below. Soft clouds pulled a gentle breeze in without summoning rain. Lovino snapped out of thinking about the weather and instead focused on not running into the multiple vendor carts and shoppers along the store side. Geez! Couldn't people just leave him alone? He noticed the lack of fruits or rotting ones being sold. That was to be expected, The Great War brought depression upon the whole world and no one could afford to eat meat anymore.
With panic, he looked around for a place to hide. Shops would notice him and rat him out and all the vendors already knew him as a thief. If he took shelter in a group of beggars, they'd surely turn him in for hopes of a reward. His chances were starting to wear thin as his eyes flickered in all directions. There! Finally, a tall, tan man in a nicely ironed suit turned out of a book store, holding his purchase in one arm and holding the door for an old woman with the other. Perfect. Rich, tall, kind. He could make this work.
Lovino ran up to him and sheltered himself behind the man who in return, confusedly tried to see the face of the small boy hiding in his coat tail.
"Um…hola? What are you-" He was snapped out of his thought when the raging officer ran up to him. The smaller boy tensed and held onto the Spaniard's coat tighter, letting him sense the urgency and fear.
"Oi! Get up! Leave the poor man alone and face your punishment, ya filthy crook!" Lovino stayed solid as a rock and the Spaniard tried to smile at the officer.
"I'm sure whatever he's stolen, he didn't mean it, right sir? Now there surely is a better way to resolve-"
"No, no. he's played this game before sir. Don't feel sorry for him."
"Ah- well still, you can't arrest a child."
"Nope, can't do that." He sighed. "Trust me, if I could, I'd have put him away a long time ago. No matter how much I catch him I can't seem to whack the lesson far into his thick skull." He used his club to make a hitting gesture. At this, the Spaniard reached back with one arm and held the little one against his back.
"None of that is really necessary officer, I can assure you. In fact, I plan to walk him back to his parents. There's no need to worry."
"Ain't got none." Lovino stiffened. "He's a mutt, they didn't want him." The Spanish man felt a twinge in his heart. No family? He didn't know how anyone could do that. The poor little boy had won his pity now.
"Right, well…I'm…taking him home." He said and offered his usual sunny smile. The officer looked thoroughly confused by this statement.
"Wait…like…to keep? Really sir, I know you're charitable or whatever but you don't want him. Hand him over please."
"But I just said I was keeping him." his smile never faltered.
"Put some money in the church box and you'll have done good. Just hand him over and go on your marry way, I'm sorry for disrupting your day sir."
The Spaniard's face turned stern as he pulled the boy from his back to his side. Lovino started to fear that he was actually going to hand him over but suddenly he felt warm fingers slipping into his hand and holding it. Wait…what? He looked up to the tall man who smiled down comfortingly before glaring at the officer.
"Thank you for your concern. Your services are appreciated but unless you want to drop a few ranks after I have a talk with your commanding officer, I suggest you take your duty elsewhere."
He officer was honestly shocked but nodded and walked off after mumbling, "Suit yourself."
Lovino looked at his savior, still not believing the numbing conversation that just went on.
"Wait…uh…what?" The tall man smiled brighter and happier than anyone the Italian had ever seen.
"Hola, my name is Antonio. Yours?" he said. Lovino was frozen by the smiling green eyes that happily settled against his own. He snapped himself out of it and looked away to hide his prominent blush.
"Fuck off." He answered sternly. Antonio almost squealed at the adorable boy. He was so cute! His cheeks puffed but still looked to soft that he had to retain himself from grabbing and squishing him. He wasn't a pervert! He just…liked the soft olive skin and spit-fire Italian accent.
"Come on now, I told you mine, right?" he pointed to his own face. "I'm Antonio Fernandez Carriedo." He repeated.
"Bastard." Lovino replied. Antonio chuckled and ducked a few inches so they were the same height and moved their faces close.
"Just whisper it, it can be a secret." He offered. Lovino moved away and scowled.
"Look, what you did was real nice and all but now you can just leave me alone. I'm a very busy person."
"I was serious when I said I was keeping you." He patted the smaller one's head who swatted at the hand.
"Fuck off, okay!? I don't want your pity, asshole!"
"Common chico, it's alright."
"I'm not afraid, idiot. I can take care of myself." He began to walk away but Antonio pulled him back by the hand he was still holding.
"Chico, please! I only want to help you." Antonio whined. The Italian looked back to him with hatred swelling over with golden honey eyes.
"Help!? You think I need help from some fat cat like you?! I don't need anyone! Every single person has given up on me but I'm doing just fine and if you think I'd kiss ass to you then you're dead wrong! Let go of me." He jerked his arm, letting his irritability get the better of him again.
"And who the hell said you could call me "Chico"?" Are you some kind of pervert!? If so, I'm not as little as I look so you're out of luck. Fuck off!"
Antonio pulled the fuming Italian into a tight embrace. Poor thing had never been loved before. He could feel the little one struggle against the hug and hiss profanities but he only smiled and supported the little body against his. "Its okay" he whispered softly against the Italian's ears.
The warm voice shocked Lovino's muscles into relaxing. He wasn't sure how he had done it but he suddenly felt safe, like the arms around him could repel any fear or anxiety. Lovino gently let out the breath in his lungs and murmured "Alright, whatever." Antonio released and grinned.
"Look how sweet you are." Antonio cooed. Heat rushed to the Italian's face and he became tomato red. Antonio began to laugh which earned him a good four knuckles in his stomach.
"Idiot, I better have my own fucking room. There's no way in hell I'm staying with you." Lovino began to walk away and Antonio happily totted beside him.
"Of course! And…how do you know where I live?"
"Because this is the side of town were fat-so's like you live." He pointed ahead, " Are you new or just stupid?"
"Um, well I am new but a lot of people have told me I'm not that bright."
"So you are rich."
"How do you conclude that?"
"Only rich people tell each other they're "not that bright" instead of "really fucking stupid.""
Antonio laughed. "See, that is where you're wrong amigo. I haven't much more than a penny to my name."
Lovino looked confused. "Wait but…then what about the nice clothes and expensive house?"
"My parents are head of a big corporation. Technically I should be off on my own by now but I'm not real good at running things and they're not really pushing it." Antonio nervously ruffled his hair.
"How old are you anyways? You look like a child molester."
He sighed. "ha ha, well…twenty four?"
Lovino snickered. "Mama's boy!"
"At least you don't have to worry about me molesting you." Toni retorted.
"Hey, I'm not a child! I'm nineteen! Don't treat me like a baby, you whore!" He hissed. He didn't know how he managed to feel so relaxed with this man he had never met before. Somehow, he didn't feel judged. He looked around at the shops they were passing and smiled the tiniest bit when he noticed the fat Italian man standing outside a café. "Leo!" He called, gaining the man's attention.
"Poco grintoso uno! E'bello vederti in giro!" (little feisty one! It's nice seeing you around!) The man answered. Antonio looked between the two with confusion, he hadn't been in the country long enough to catch onto the language.
"What did he say?" he asked the little Italian who answered with, "He thinks you look stupid" then started chatting away with the man in jumbled Italian. Next thing he knew, Lovino was being handed a chunk of bread, thanking the man, and returning to the Spaniard. Lovino excitedly held out his prize. The bread was growing light fuzz but regardless, Lovino dug a chunk out with his teeth and chewed.
"Chico! You can't eat that! You'll get sick!" Antonio fretted, watching with worry. Lovino gave him the ya gotta be kidding me face.
"Loosen your corset, oh gracious queen." Lovino said sarcastically and swallowed his squishy lump of food.
"Does that man even work there?" Antonio gestured towards Leo.
"I don't think so but he seems pretty content to do what he does." He was about to take another bite when it was unexpectedly swatted out of his hands and into a muddy puddle by the gutter. Lovino viciously pinned Antonio against the store front with only his deadly glare.
"What…the…hell." He spat with poison coursing his voice. Antonio flinched at the sudden evil.
"I-it was molding! Bad! Gross! Old!" Antonio shuddered in his defense.
Lovino retrieved his soggy bread and rubbed the muddy side against his already dark brown pants.
"Go away. You deserve crepes and wine anyways, your majesty" He chomped on the bread.
"I'm really sorry but you still you can't eat that!" Antonio held himself back from trying to dispose of it again and making the flustered Italian even angrier.
"Don't tell me what to do! I already told you, I don't need you. I can take care of myself!" Lovino always hated having a boss. That's why he didn't make friends, didn't keep jobs, and didn't seek refuge in a god like everyone else seemed to.
"I have lots of bread at my house! Just stop eating that!" The Spaniard protested. Lovino considered it, examining his watery sponge.
"But…it'll go to waste." He answered, knowing how important conservation was in the current state of depression. This bread could bring warmth to the belly of a starving child or life to another. Knowing both those positions, he couldn't toss it to the rats (though rats are good for eating too).
"Here, give it to me." Antonio held out a hand and received a soggy mush pile. He dug holes around the roots of five plants and pushed the bread into each before recovering them.
"I do this with my garden at home. The nutrients in the bread will feed these plants that will grow healthy fruits. Nothing wasted!"
Lovino looked at the older boy with wide eyes. He was…really cool. No! Stop that Lovino! Get your mind out of the gutter! He shook loose those thoughts then turned away like he didn't care.
"Do you… Do you grow tomatoes?" He murmured, trying not to lead on that he was interested. The big, green, Spanish eyes widened with excitement.
"Of course! Those are my favorite!"
"Me too!" The Italian chirped happily before realizing what he said and blushed furiously.
"How cute! You look like a tomato!" Antonio exclaimed and pinched a cheek. Lovino angrily shoved his hand away and walked away quickly, curl bobbing with his steps.
"Hey Chico! What's that hair thing?" Antonio asked curiously and he followed like a puppy at the Italian's heels.
"Hair. It's just not an ugly rat's nest like yours." Lovino answered bitterly.
"No, I mean that one that out. I like it! It's unique!" Toni cooed.
That certainly didn't help the blush fade quickly as Lovino had been hoping.
"Hair! Just leave it alone! Bastard. Now, which one is your house?"
Antonio inspected the district of large houses. All they were at least two stories tall with groomed lawns and paved walk ways.
"Um…I think it's more towards the back." Antonio stood on his toes as if he could see better. They continued to walk.
"So you really are pretty new." Lovino commented.
"Yeah, I guess. I lived in Spain my whole life but my parents wanted a change in pace. Italy is really nice." Antonio inspected the sky.
"What's Spain like?" Lovino asked as he looked at the big houses they passed. He never went into this area. He could make up lots of excuses like it was too far or too boring but the real reason was that he didn't belong. His clothes were out grown, dirty, and ripped. He didn't wear shoes because the souls were starting to rip their way free and they slowed him down when he ran. Being smelly must just be a cherry on top because he bathed in a river. Flat out, he didn't belong there.
"Spain was….mmmm." He smiled wide and hummed sweetly to the memory.
"It was always sunny, always warm; and the people were always friendly. We had a really big farm and if you woke up early enough you could watch the sun rise over the hill side….just…really magic." Antonio looked over to the smaller boy walking beside him.
"Hey! You're smiling!" The giddy Spaniard noted before Lovino turned deep red again and ripped the smile from his face, replacing it with a comfortable scowl.
"It was a face seizure. Don't make fun of me." Lovino huffed and walked a little faster.
"I wouldn't make fun of you! It looked nice on you!" Antonio defended.
"Yeah, whatever. Go die in a ditch!" Lovino hissed.
"Oh, mi tomata, don't be so snappy." Antonio pouted.
"MI TOMATA!? THE HELL?" Lovino attacked the laughing Spaniard with a fury of fists; making it know that he was a force to be reckoned with.
"But you won't tell me your name! is there something you'd prefer to be called?" Lovino thought about the question for a good five minutes.
"How about….the really cool, super strong and brave, manly man."
This response erected a loud laugh from Antonio who was gripping his gut and fighting to remain on two legs.
"I don't get what the hell's so funny!" Lovino growled and jabbed his foot into the older's leg, causing him to stumble.
"Y-you…you sound like Gil!" He answered before breaking out into more heart filled gags of laughter.
"Who the fuck is Gil?" Lovino was sure he was much cooler than said Gil.
Antonio wiped the tears from the side of his eyes and regained his posture, still chuckling under his breath.
"Gilbert was one of my closest friends in Spain. He was always going off about how awesome he was."
Lovino frowned a little bit. "Do you miss your friends?"
Antonio looked at him with a soft smile.
"Of course I do. I'll still talk to them and visit them but they were and still a huge part of my life. What about you? Who're your friends?"
Lovino took a moment to think that over. None popped to mind to he started scratching the bottom of the bowl.
"Um…well Leo I guess…uh…I used to hang out with a cat…the nuns.."
"What kind of nuns? Hot, sexy nuns?" Antonio grinned.
"Old saggy nuns." Lovino retorted, smiling maybe just the tiniest little bit.
"Why the nuns? You into that sorta stuff?" He kicked a rock along.
"No! Gross! Idiot, I lived with them the first eleven years of my life. Ew, gross Toni." he growled, not noticing the nickname.
"Why?" He asked, smiling wider at the friendly name.
"What the hell is with you and the questions!?" He kicked Toni's rock away.
"Just curious." The Spaniard stated simply.
Lovino had no idea how the Spaniard managed to just draw information out of him! It made him extremely angry with himself but…for some reason…not angry with the Spaniard.
"I had muscle fits a lot when I was younger. So my parents reasoned that I was possessed and left me at the church so I could either die at the hands of God or be cleansed."
"What!? But lots of babies seizure!" the explanation sounded ridiculous to him. He may be an idiot but even he knew such information.
Lovino sighed. "My family has always been poor. No education and no doctor's visits. The only thing that kept us alive was a strong faith which…didn't always provide the best explanations. Alright? Happy?"
Antonio thought (my, that is dangerous), ignoring the question Lovino asked.
"So…didn't they come for you once they saw that the fits were gone?"
"The fits didn't stop till I was eleven. But by then I had no idea were they were and neither did anyone else. Whole lot of good that did me though. I just went from one bad rep to another." Lovino suddenly found his feet very interesting. Antonio watched with concern.
"What reps?" Antonio asked softly.
Oh no, oh shit here it comes. Lovino tried to push away the memories banging at the sides of his head. He kept telling himself to not think about it, it wasn't his fault. Forget. Forget. Forget. Forge-
A gentle hand was placed on his shoulder and he looked up at Toni's weary smile.
"I'm sorry I asked. Let's talk about something else, okay?" He offered. Lovino just nodded and looked back down at his dirty feet.
"Um…so you like tomatoes? I've got some really good ones growing right now. You can eat them whenever you want!" He cupped the imaginary fruit in his hands, smiling as if it were really there.
"I'm not staying long." Lovino interrupted the Spaniard' tomato-filled daydream.
"What? But you said-"
"I didn't say anything. I'll go back for some bread and tomatoes but I take care of myself. I also seriously doubt your family wants me there".
Antonio frowned, an expression that really didn't suit him at all.
"They'll like you, I know it!"
"Still, I don't need to feed off other people. I'm happier being self-sufficient." Lovino watched the houses again.
"But!" Antonio squeaked. "You can stay just a little while, right? Give me a chance to be hospitable and finally use a guest room. Just a little while?"
He gave Lovino a puppy dog face, his emerald orbs practically begging him. The Italian flushed and was quiet for a few moments.
"I dunno…." was his final answer.
Antonio smiled widely, taking that as, "I'll give it a chance!'' which he already knew the Italian would never say.
"Maybe when my friends come to visit, you could meet them! You guys would get along. Just remember to spend time with me cause you were my friend first!"
"We're friends?" Lovino hesitated, hearing those words for the first time and not sure how he was supposed to respond to the overly affectionate Spaniard. Damn him! He made Lovino weaker, like putty to him.
"Well aren't we?" Antonio curiously peeked into the beautiful hazel orbs studying the ground. Did he just think beautiful? …oh well. They were.
There was a long, contemplating silence.
…
"I guess we are." Lovino merely breathed out.
The overly excited Spaniard began blabbing obnoxiously fast as Lovino watched the ground. He tried to piece together what he'd just said and what it meant for the two of them.
"And I bet I could teach you how to juggle. I'm not very good myself but we can practice together and be like a circus act! Oh! I have a guitar and I could teach you that! I bet you be really good if-"
"-ino" the Italian suddenly cut him off without listening to a word of it.
"What?"
"Lovino. That's my name…you can call me that." He didn't have a last name to offer but it was his only identity.
"That's…a really beautiful name…" Antonio said lightly, as if his words might break the light air between them.
"No, it's just a normal name." he corrected.
"No! it is the name that makes you you. I like it!" An ever shiny smile played across Lovino's lips. Lovino almost passed out from how much he was blushing and how much his brain was trying to process. Liked him? Did he hear wrong? No…he could have sworn…he likes Lovino…he couldn't manage to fully consume the thought.
"We're here." Antonio felt a little bad for breaking the train of thought that seemed to be really interesting the young boy. Lovino looked up at the incredibly huge manor. Dozens of windows, extensions popping out from every angle and more gables than he could count.
He couldn't go in. nope. No way. He stood like a statue as Antonio continued forward.
"We enter up at the front door, Lovi." He explained in case maybe this was confusing Lovino. Antonio was always happy to share his vast knowledge. Lovino let the nickname slip as he fell prisoner to the tower's mighty gaze. No, he should leave now. He had a nice box waiting for him along the river. This was too much.
"Lovino…are you coming in?" He nodded his head towards the house.
The little Italian just shook his head.
"I don't belong here…" He mumbled. Antonio looked utterly confused.
"What? Of course you do." He took his hand and tugged.
"No, I don't." Lovino said sternly, resisting the tug. "I'm not the kind of person who lives in a place like this. I don't belong here or even on this side of town."
"Lovi…" he took both of the small, frail hands in his own.
"But you belong with me…after all, we're friends. You said so yourself. Common, standing at the front gate is rude." This time he pulled and succeeded to bring the stumbling Italian with him.
He… he belonged with Antonio… that was right… it felt right... felt safe… it had to be right…
He belonged with Antonio.
[Thank you immensely for reading my story. I'd love for you to comment]