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"Have you seen Toni?"
Gilbert glanced up from his lunch, the conversation he'd been sharing with Matt dying as he frowned, trying to think. Romano stood above him, arms crossed and scowling as he leaned against the wall of the lobby of the hotel.
"No actually," Gil realized, "Not since yesterday."
Romano sighed, "We were having drinks last night and I haven't seen him since."
"Did you check with Francis?"
"Yes, of course I checked with Francis!" Romano snapped.
Gilbert looked between his sandwich and Matt, who sat frowning awkwardly as he listened to a conversation he wasn't really meant to be a part of.
"If you don't find him in at least an hour come find me." Gilbert decided, internally cringing a bit as Romano looked between the two nations before rolling his eyes and storming away. Matthew had an eyebrow raised, a dry smirk prevalent.
"What?" Gilbert cried.
"I can wait until you find Spain." Matt said, "Even better, it would have given us an excuse to reschedule for dinner."
"Why not eat now and at dinner?" Gilbert asked.
"Because your friend is missing Gil!"
"Toni'll be fine, the two probably had a fight or something." Gilbert shrugged, "Toni's probably just trying to let Romano cool off-and only making things worse in the process."
Matthew sighed, rolling his eyes before leaning forward so his face was over the Styrofoam container holding his pancakes, "If you're sure."
"It's Antonio, I doubt it's anything serious."
The hotel room was dark and quiet, two bodies still draped across the mattress and curled under the thick hotel bed sheets. The room itself looked pretty trashed, chairs and trash bins overturned with their contents spilling across the floor. A set of luggage was hanging open, clothes scattered around it. The desk was pulled flush to the foot of the bed, a small black bag lying across it with a broken vial's shards dripping with a long forgotten liquid. A small wooden trinket with a green silk ribbon lay half-hanging out of the bag, a Celtic design carved into the front. Everything was covered in darkness, the large thick curtains being drawn to block out the early afternoon light.
Somewhere in the darkness, a phone began to buzz and light up. The larger of the two bodies jerked awake, looking around in disorientation as he tried to figure out what the noise was. He frowned at the phone, processing it wasn't his as the buzzing continued.
There was a name flashing across the screen.
Lovi 3
Ivan frowned, reaching across his bedmate to grip the phone in his large hand. The thought of crushing it crossed his mind but in the end he simply let the phone go to voicemail before turning it off. Beside him, the other nation slept on, seemingly dead to the world. Ivan chuckled as he looked down at the head full of wild dark curls, his fingers trailing through them.
Soon… soon he would understand.
Ivan debated on whether he could go back to sleep, a quick glance at his own phone revealing it was nearing a quarter after one. The official meetings didn't start until tomorrow; most nations were still arriving today although many had made it to the hotel last night. Today was a free day, a godsend before the stressful hell of meetings began.
He could definitely sleep the day away, but would it be worth it? Maybe the two of them could do something together. Although Ivan was tired enough that sleep was sounding better and better the longer he lay there in the darkness.
The decision was ultimately taken out of his hands however when the body beside him stirred with a groan. Slowly, as if they were in pain, the second nation sat up, blinking blearily in the darkness. He then became aware of Ivan's presence, jerking back in surprise and banging their head on the wall. Ivan chuckled as curses rang through the air, getting up to open the heavy curtains.
"Good morning comrade!" He grinned, looking back to his bedmate, "Don't worry, nothing happened last night. Just some drinking, and then I passed out here!" Ivan slowly crossed the room to the bed, kneeling across the mattress as he sat eye level to the other nation.
"I think it would be fun to hang out today before the meetings start, what do you say?"
Antonio frowned, like he was considering the option, blinking bleary dull green eyes and rubbing them with his knuckles. When he happened to move directly into the path of the sunlight streaming into the room a ring of gold glittered around his faded green irises.
Then a slow, stupid smile stretching across his sun kissed face. Antonio reached out to take Ivan's pale hand and nodded.
"Sí, I think that's an excellent idea."
Romano was about ready to break something.
Probably Antonio.
What right did that bastard have to make him worry like this? What if he was hurt or lost or… just where was he? What could have possibly happened between drinks together at the hotel restaurant and this morning when the idiot didn't show for breakfast?
The phone went to voicemail again and Romano shoved his mobile in his pocket furiously. Gilbert hadn't seen him, France hadn't seen him… no one had seen Antonio, and Romano was about ready to start a search party.
Romano was so angry he nearly ran over someone as he stormed his way to the elevator.
"Watch it pal!" America snapped angrily, dodging out of Romano's path barely in the nick of time, "Don't take Spain's new boytoy out on the rest of us!"
Romano whirled around, fire in his eyes to glare at America who only arched an annoyed eyebrow in response before a smirk took its place. Beside him, Japan was staring at Romano with a look of pity.
Romano marched in even steps to stand chest-to-chest against America, reaching out to grip the bomber jacket the young blonde was so fond of. His hold on the material threatened to rip the thing, it was ancient, and so America had no choice but to lower himself to eye level with the Italian when Romano yanked it forward.
"What did you say?" Romano hissed.
Romano was pretty sure he could hear his heart snap in half when he rushed through the door of the hotel restaurant to see Antonio sitting far too close to Russia than anyone calling themselves "just friends" would have done.
Antonio was laughing; something Russia had said setting him off. The large pale man was sitting amused, his hand inching over to cover sun brushed fingers and twirl around them.
"Well damn." Gilbert seemed to appear out of nowhere, leaning against Romano as he watched his best friend flirt with the Motherland, "This can't be good for anyone."
"Mon dieu!" Francis exclaimed as he made his way to stand beside the other two, looking in and finding Antonio just as he reached out to ruffle Russia's hair, something the Russian didn't seem to be expecting but was no less unwelcome anyways.
"Think he lost a bet?" Gilbert proposed.
"Perhaps he hit his head last night?" Francis wondered, turning to Romano, "Maybe he thinks he's eating with you."
Romano was silent, a lead weight settling over his chest. It felt like someone had connected a vacuum hose to his mouth and pressed "suck", the air in his lungs was quickly evaporating. Something cracked inside and his chest had actually started to hurt.
"Romano?" Francis frowned, reaching out to place a hand on the shorter nation's shoulder but Romano jerked away.
Without so much as a word to the other two Romano turned and speed walked away, losing his balance as he neared the corner and crashing against the wall before he disappeared towards the elevators. Francis and Gilbert looked to each other, a solemn expression shared between the two.
"Perhaps we should see that Romano makes it to his room?" Francis suggested.
"Screw that, I need some answers." Gilbert growled his expression darkening as he stormed past the host and headed for the small corner table. Spain never saw them coming, continuing to enjoy his lunch with Russia, who did see them. He frowned as the two approached; a look shared by Gilbert as he flopped heavily across the table and rested his chin in his hands.
"Ah! Buenos Días guys!" Antonio grinned.
Gilbert smiled patronizingly at Antonio, "Hallo Toni."
"Mon cher," Francis looked between Antonio and Russia worriedly, "Where have you been? We've been tearing the hotel apart looking for you."
"Oh, you have?" Antonio grinned sheepishly, "Lo siento… I was distracted-"
"Distracted?" Gilbert chuckled, his tone insincere, "By what?"
Antonio glanced guiltily to Russia, who smirked as if he knew some giant secret Francis and Gilbert weren't privy to. Francis' nose crinkled in disgust and Gilbert's plastic smile grew wider as rage colored his eyes.
"So, my dearest, closest friend," Gilbert sighed, reaching out to straighten Antonio's bangs, "You mean to tell me that while we've been worried sick about you disappearing on us, you've been schmoozing it up in here with none other than Russia?"
"Well-"
"When did the two of you hook up? Last night? Were you planning that or did this cold hearted bastard catch your eye while you were drinking with Romano and you thought, 'What the hell?' Might as well get it while it's good right?"
"What?" Antonio frowned, "Wait-"
The fingers in Antonio's hair twisted painfully, pulling the head forward as Gilbert snarled, "You idiot! We were all worried sick! Romano especially! We thought maybe you'd decided sleep in or something but he's been up all day trying to find you!"
Antonio was trying to carefully pry the pale fingers twisting his hair open, "I said I was sorry! I meant to text you, I swear!"
"And Romano? You and Vodka-breath over here were so busy you stood him up?"
"Stood him up?" Antonio frowned, "For what?"
"Weren't you planning to eat breakfast with the poor thing?" Francis asked, crossing his arms, "I must say Toni, this is a new low. I'd never expect this sort of behavior from you."
Antonio finally managed to pull his hair free, sliding closer to Russia as if for protection, "I've ditched people before, this shouldn't be that big a surprise."
"But to Romano?" Francis wondered.
"What makes him so different?"
The group was silent as the words sunk in, even Russia looking mildly surprised before he grinned wide like a Cheshire cat and slipped an arm around Antonio's shoulders. Gilbert's snarl grew in ferocity while Francis looked disgusted.
"I think it's best if you two leave now, da?" Russia asked, "I don't mean to be rude but we are eating here."
"Yeah… I think it's best you guys go. I'll talk to you later." Antonio grumbled, picking up his fork and dancing the tines along his plate.
Gilbert stood, dusting himself off as if he was trying to remove any trace of Spain or Russia and quirked an eyebrow in their direction.
"Are you sure about that?" He smirked, "Or do I have to tear the hotel apart myself next time?"
"Go." Spain snapped, "Now."
"Nothing would make me happier."