Chapter 1: Gilbert

Lovino Vargas gripped his sketchpad to his chest as he waited for his class to start, a nervous habit he had retained since high school. It made him seem like he was using the pages as a protective shield against whatever the school had to offer him, which was a silly notion considering how much his grandfather was paying to send him here. It wasn't like he was not used to it though. It was his second semester at art school and he was used to the atmosphere and the student body and the staff almost a little too intimately for someone who'd only been there for four months or so.

But here he sat, the rest of the new art students in their first life drawing class with actual naked people. Lovino had only seen one person naked before in his life and that was his younger twin brother Feliciano, and it didn't really count considering they looked pretty much exactly the same. But the voices of the class around him were a dull roar as he mused over his thoughts, wondering if he'd get as embarrassed drawing a naked person as he did the first time he tried to kiss a girl or if he'd simply drop the class after the first day.

The door opened and the students grew silence as who Lovino assumed was their teacher strolled in. He had long, curly blond hair that brushed his shoulders and the start of a beard on his chin, trailing along his jawline. His eyes were blue, his cheekbones and chin chiseled like a Grecian statue, long tapered fingers and graceful limbs. But he carried himself in such a pompous way that Lovino was wary of him, despite a few of the girls around him giggling at the man.

He turned around, with a sweater tied loosely around his shoulders, and wrote on the white board Professor Bonnefoy in swirling letters in a blue marker with a gratuitous amount of flourish. "Bonjour mes amis!" he greeted them with a wink and grin, making the same girls nearly swoon in their seats. His accent was strong and French, and it drove a migraine into Lovino's head. He always preferred the dancing, melodious language of his grandfather, of his people. Anything else sounded harsh. "My name is Francis Bonnefoy and I will be your instructor in your life drawing classes for this semester." He stared right at Lovino and winked again, making an uncomfortable swelling fill the pit of his stomach.

He hated this guy already.

"I trust you won't be insulted if we get started right away?" he asked, pulling up his chair and leaning back in it. "I will pass out my rules and standards in the next class, for today I would like to see how well you are each along and how much instruction you will each need."

A girl behind him whispered, "I'll let him instruct me as much as he wants." Lovino couldn't help but roll his eyes as he tossed his sketchpad on his easel, waiting for the professor to finish his speech and finally get the class started. "Are we drawing you?" the same girl asked, half joking and half serious judging by the look on her face. Lovino thought his eye might pop out of his skull if he rolled them any higher to the ceiling. The Frenchman seemed almost comically touched and flattered by her statement, and he laughed obnoxiously at the sentiment.

He said in a teasing tone, "Not today, ma cherie, but maybe soon if you're a good girl." So many winks, it was driving Lovino crazy. As he tuned out the girls' enamored giggling, he watched Professor Bonnefoy pull out a small stage towards the center of the floor where they were all sitting. He checked it from various angles to make sure it was evenly distanced from all the students. Finally finished, he turned away from them and around the backside of a curtain off to the side of the room. "Gilbert, you're up first!"

"Yeah! Fuck yeah!" a voice cheered and the person darted around the curtain and startled the entire class. He had silver hair and eyes that were a deep maroon color. But the most startling thing was his alabaster skin, white as snow and Lovino couldn't look away in his shock even if he tried. The man met his eyes and grinned widely, putting his hands on his bare hips as he did so. He refused to look down, he refused, even as Gilbert strutted over to the platform. Francis took a seat at his desk as the students began to take out their charcoal and start to sketch the albino man.

Lovino's hand shook as he started, trying to keep from flushing in embarrassment as he did so because Gilbert did not take his eyes from him. He didn't know why. He couldn't think of a single reason. So he focused on his drawing, pretending the man wasn't staring him down. He had to admit after the initial shock of the man's condition, he could tell he was pretty good looking, all things considered. He was in great shape, muscular and handsome, and Lovino finally met his eyes, feeling both annoyed with the attention and a teensy bit flattered.

"All right, one more minute and then Gil get your pants back on," Francis laughed and gave Gilbert a questioning glance before turning his attention out into the students. Lovino realized he was trying to figure out who Gilbert was staring at and quickly refocused his attention back on his drawing. It was a decent approximation of the top half of Gil's body, though not particularly detailed except for his face. There was something about that face... Francis tossed Gilbert's pants back at him without warning and laughed as the man nearly toppled from the stand.

He grumbled and walked behind the curtain, getting dressed as he went and Francis collected their drawings carefully as he walked around the class. For some reason he looked at Lovino's a little longer than most before heading back to the desk. "We had one more model but we're nearly out of time, so we'll have to—"

"Ah really? I wanted to go!" a Spanish lilting voice sounded from behind the curtain and a mop of brown hair poked around the edge. "C'mon Francis!" he whined, pouting out his bottom lip at the teacher. The Frenchman seemed incredibly amused and then shrugged, motioning his consent to the idea.

"Go on then, Antonio, you crazy bastard," he said with a roll of his eyes.

"Yes!" Antonio bounced towards the stand and stood there, making Lovino flinch back in surprise. He was the exact opposite of Gilbert, dark curly hair and olive skin, bright green eyes and a huge smile that made Lovino's heart skip a beat. Shit, he'd never been so easily affected by another person before, let along two in the same day. Sure they were attractive and naked but damn it he needed to be more professional! He was an artist for God's sake!

His hand flew across te page though as he drew Antonio, more so than when Gil was there. He drew every muscle and sinew carefully and accurately, this time a full body portrait with no shame. He didn't notice the others leaving little by little around him until he was the only one left.

"Almost done, mon amour?" Francis's deep voice sounded into his ear, the tone amused and Lovino jumped, turning around to see Gilbert and Francis watching him draw carefully. He met Gilbert's eyes and flushed, stooping down for a moment to pick up the charcoal that he dropped in his fright. God, he was embarrassing himself pretty well today, and Feliciano wasn't even around to help.

"What the hell are you doing?" he asked angrily, starting to pack up his things as if he knew what he was doing. Gilbert laughed and that made him feel angrier, wondering why they decided to give him such a hard time. "What's so damn funny?"

He seemed taken aback by the venom in his tone and answered bemusedly, "Just how intensely you were drawing Tony's left bicep was pretty crazy." Lovino rolled his eyes and glanced back to the piece of art, suddenly quiet. It was the best thing he had ever drawn, hands down. The lines were organic and the proportions correct. Everything was shaded well and the care and details were astounding. "Hey Antonio come look at this."

"Okay!" The man bounded over, still naked as the day he was born and leaned over Lovino's shoulder to get a closer look at the drawing. His chest was warm and the hand he placed on Lovino's other shoulder gave him goosebumps. "Wow! That looks just like me! I'm impressed, I should do this naked modeling thing more often." At his breaking point, Lovino shrugged Antonio off of him and scurried away from the bench he had been sitting on, ready to get going to his next class even though it didn't start for another hour and a half.

"The fuck is wrong with you three?" Lovino asked with a frown, gripping his bag and snatching his sketch pad from the easel while avoiding the three of them at all costs. He turned on heel and hurried from the room, feeling the heat of embarrassment against the back of his neck. He really needed to drop that class and not just because of his embarrassment. That teacher was absolutely insane.

The rest of his day was incredibly boring, especially in comparison to what had occurred in that art room. He ate lunch in the food court on campus alone, glaring at the picture he had sketched of Antonio angrily. Professor Bonnefoy hadn't collected it from him and he didn't ask for it afterward, so he figured he could hang onto it for a while. Not that he wanted to for any particular reason other than the fact that it was his greatest creation to date. He flipped the page open and looked at it again, wondering how he even managed that.

"Can't get enough of my face?" a voice behind him asked. He dropped the sketchpad and twisted around in his seat to see Gilbert standing before him, fully clothed this time, grinning from ear to ear. He flopped down in the chair next to Lovino and leaned over by him, meeting his eyes easily. God this was going to get annoying wasn't it?

Lovino scoffed loudly. "Are you fucking stupid? The French guy collected those from us remember?" He glared at Gilbert, hoping the man would get the hint and leave him the fuck along. He leaned away from him, hoping he could try to get away as covertly as possible. This was the last thing that he was looking for right now, especially when he was trying to enjoy his lunch and not hurl it up in the next possible moment.

"Oh shit, you're right," he said with a laugh, leaning his arm across the back of Lovino's chair. He wanted to shoot a snide comment at Gilbert in hopes to get him off his back, but he didn't have time to before the asshole opened his mouth yet again to speak. "So, what's your name?"

He furrowed his brow. "Wouldn't you like to know?" he grumbled sarcastically, finishing up his pizza as quickly as he could to get out of there as soon as possible. This is not what he signed up for at all. "Fuck off and leave me alone." Gilbert seemed surprised at the aggressive reaction and seemed at a loss for words and he glanced around himself, almost trying to find someone to help him. A pang of regret hit Lovino's heart but he really wasn't interested in making friends with this guy or anyone he associated with, like Professor Bonnefoy or Antonio. He was here to learn, not to make friends.

"Lovino!" a chipper voice called and he turned around in his seat just as his brother threw his arms around Lovino's neck with a laugh. "Hello big brother, how are you?" Feliciano and he shared many of the same features, from facial structure to eye color, from height to body structure. His hair was a darker shade of auburn than his brother's, and he styled it differently to make sure people could tell them apart. Lovino shrugged his brother off and Feliciano took a seat across from him at the little table, his smile wide and accommodating at Gilbert. "Who is your friend?"

He scoffed. "That is not my friend, he's bothering me."

"Ah, twins?" Gilbert said with a drop of his jaw, glancing between the two in awe.

"No shit, Sherlock."

Feliciano ignored his brother's remark and nodded happily. "I'm Feliciano Vargas and this is my brother Lovino!" he motioned between the two of them to make sure Gilbert could remember who was who. When they were younger Feli didn't care that no one but their grandfather could tell them apart, but he knew how much it bothered Lovino, so he always made it a point to make sure that people knew. Secretly, Lovino was grateful towards his brother. Though not at this particular moment, considering he was trying to make Gilbert go away rather than give him his name, albeit unwittingly.

Gilbert nodded appreciatively towards Feliciano and had the other brother stay on his other side. "It's nice to meet you two. Lovino is in my friend's life drawing class so that's how we met." Lovino was fuming, feeling the burn on his cheeks. It made it sound like he was enjoying Gilbert's unsolicited friendship advances, like he invited this irritating man to harass him, unwarranted. Feliciano sat closely to Gilbert, his smile bright as he chatted away like they had known each other for years. Lovino was silent, not wanting any part of the conversation at all as he tried to tune the two out, completely miserable.

"Ah, Lovi." Suddenly his attention was drawn over to Gilbert, who was unleashing the full effect of that smug grin and his oddly colored eyes on him, and Lovino would be lying if he said that he wasn't falling just a tiny bit under his spell. He hated every second of it though, and it didn't help his mood. "What are you doing later? Wanna go do something?"

Whatever he had been expecting from Gilbert, it certainly wans't that. He stared at the man in surprise and realized Feliciano wasn't nearby anymore, just talking to someone off to the side that he couldn't quite make out past Gilbert. "What?" was all he could muster in his surprise.

"You know," Gilbert said, finally starting to lose some of his bravado at Lovino's lack of interest. "Like dinner? Movie? Something?" Lovino stared at him, dumbfounded. No one had ever asked him about before, man or woman or anyone really. Did he just have some sort of gay vibe around him or was Gilbert really that confident? He narrowed his eyes slightly at Gil, who finally lost all of his certainty in his endeavor and was completely silent. Finally, he was exactly how Lovino wanted him to be.

He snapped, "Dinner? Movie? Most over used ideas ever. But thanks anyway." It wasn't a no, Lovino realized as he stood up to pick up his things, and start moving towards his next class. He had wasted enough time on this, that was for sure. He left Gilbert with his mouth hanging open slightly in surprise as he turned away. Thank God to be away from that idiot though. But Lovino couldn't help but feel a little flustered, maybe even touched, that someone had even thought to ask him on a date anywhere. It was flattering and Gilbert was pretty attractive despite being overwhelming as a person. Why did he say no?

Lovino wasn't really sure. He kind of wished he said yes.

But the next day and the day after that, Gilbert found him again and asked him again. Laser tag? Picnic? Minigolf? Coffee? He said no again and again like he was getting paid for it, and the entire time he couldn't even think of a viable reason why. But after a week of not ever saying a word but no to Gilbert, he finally decided it was probably time to give it a try.

He sat in the food court at the same table as before and waited for him to show his face, tapping his fingers nervously against his knee. He hadn't seen Gil since the last class session as he didn't show up today, and he wondered if today of all days he'd decided to call it quits. That would have been an incredible disappointment, he thought morosely, picking at his pizza with a frown. He had such high fucking standards for a person that no one was every interested in, and Gilbert fit probably all of them and yet he still said no. He was feeling down and put his hands against his face, angry with himself. Like that would ever happen again.

"Lovi!" He jumped in his seat as Gil sat down next to him, holding a small flier in his face. "I just got a VIP pre-opening invite to a new Italian restaurant downtown and I was wondering if you'd like to join me for it?" He opened his mouth to demand why he kept trying, when all he ever did was deny any request Gilbert sent his way. Boy did this guy hate to give up.

"When?" he asked quietly, avoiding Gil's gaze and focusing on the flier instead.

"Uh," he started, thrown by the question. "Tomorrow night if that's all right. If you're free?" Lovino did a mental inventory of any possible plans he may have had, but he was kidding himself if he actually thought he had something to do. As far as he was aware, he did not, big surprise. He looked from the sheet to Gilbert, finally deciding to be a man and do what he wanted to from the first day Gilbert talked to him.

Lovino said, "Yeah, I am."

"Really?" Gilbert didn't seem like that was the answer he was expecting, and for the first time since they met he was really at a loss for words. "Ah well it starts at seven, so I'll pick you up around six thirty?" Lovino watched him for a moment, knowing that this is his last chance to make or break this.

Lovino sighed. "Sure." He pulled Gilbert's phone from his shirt pocket and programmed his number into it. His actual number. What had gotten into him?

"Sweet, Lovi! It's going to be awesome!" Gilbert gave Lovino his number and the two parted ways, and Lovino couldn't help but feel a little pleased with himself as he saved the number into his phone. A face appeared close to his and he turned with a start to see what was there, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Ah Lovi!" Feliciano greeted, putting his arms around his brother's neck and staring at the contact information in his phone, still showing on the screen. "You got Gil's number? Are you seeing him soon?" He flushed and pushed his brother from his shoulders in embarrassment, hiding his phone in his pocket. Feliciano whined and took the seat next to him at the table, resting his chin in his palms. He stared at Lovino with big eyes, trying his best to see like a little puppy dog begging for a treat. Lovino glared at him before sighing, giving in like he always did to his brother. He couldn't keep anything away from him for long.

Begrudgingly, he answered, "Yeah I did. He's taking me to dinner tomorrow night, I guess." Feliciano's eyes got even larger and rounder at the mention of the date, his face breaking into a huge smile. "Don't get too excited Feli, it doesn't mean anything," he snapped, crossing his arms over his chest in frustration. "I said yes to get him off my back."

Feliciano frowned. "That's not very nice Lovi. I think Gil really likes you." He rolled his eyes. Little did his brother know, he thought to himself guiltily, looking at his hands. He kind of liked Gil already, too. No one had ever shown any sort of interest in him and it made him feel, against his better judgment and self assessment, special. He wrung his hands out for a moment as hie brother continued to watch him with that same little lost dog look.

"What Feliciano?" he snapped. "I gave him a chance, isn't that good enough?" He stood up in a fit from his brother and stalked away, feeling his phone vibrate in his hand as he walked. He looked down at the screen, noting Gil's name lighting it up.

Hey, I just wanted to be sure you had my number.

He felt his heart skip a beat and with some difficulty avoided hitting himself in the face. How embarrassing, he thought to himself as he exited out of the message.

The next day went by quickly as he could think of nothing else but his date with Gilbert. It was a weird feeling to be excited for something he'd never experienced before, he realized as he fixed his shirt and duly ignored the curl of hair in his bangs tha the knew would never lie flat. He had always been a snappy dresser if given the opportunity to show it off, but just going to school or work was never an apt reason to wear his best clothing.

But this was a very obvious exception. He had on a black button up shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, a pair of black slacks and one his best pairs of Italian dress shoes that his grandfather gave him one Christmas. He stared at himself in the full length mirror behind his dorm room's door, making sure he looked absolutely perfect. Lovino sighed and checked his watch, nothing it was nearing six thirty and began to get ready to leave, his nerves starting to get the best of him as his stomach started doing backflips to his throat. What was he? A teenage girl?

He locked the door to his dorm and headed down the stairs, ignoring a few of the curious glances from a few of the others that shared his floor. There was a silver car already waiting outside of the building and Lovino approached it cautiously. What if it was a psycho and he was trying to kidnap an unwitting stranger that was walking up to him? The passenger side window rolled down as he slowly approached, and he saw Gilbert's amused grin as he leaned over to see Lovino. "Enjoying the view?" he asked with a laugh and revved his engine as Lovino climbed in.

"I'm not really a car person," he admitted, sliding comfortably into the leather seat and looking at the lit up dash board.

Gil chuckled. "It's okay. This baby is German made, best car engineers in the world." He put the vehicle into drive and smoothly pulled away from the curb, easily maneuvering the vehcle with one hand, the other resting on the edge of the door below the window. "So, Lovi, I assume you like Italian food? Was that what finally changed your mind? Free dinner while getting to talk to the awesome me all night?" Lovino flushed in embarrassment and started to get defensive, his mouth skewing into a grimace and his brows furrowing. Did Gilbert really think that lowly of him?

But he stopped with his easy laugh filled the car again and became confused as the robust noise reverberated in his ears. "Ah, Lovi! You're so angry sometimes, you need to learn to lighten up. I was just kidding." The bright grin that never seemed to leave Gil's face was nice, nice to know that someone smiled at him that way.

"You almost really pissed me off, you damn jerk," he replied with a frown, though just barely suppressing a smile, finally relaxing enough to lean his shoulders against the seat back and letting himself unwind a little bit. He was comfortable, he realized. He'd been on edge for so long that it was a welcome relief to finally calm down around someone.

"I'm sure that would've been fun to watch," he continued to tease and he turned into the parking lot of a vibrantly decorated building. Lovino scoffed and climbed out as they parked, waiting for Gilbert to meet him on the sidewalk. He took Lovino's arm and led him to the door of a location called Valentino's, handing his voucher to the man at the door. The two of the entered, and were met with boisterous talking and soft, instrumental music.

"Cousin Lovi?" He turned to get a better look at the man at the host stand, startled, and then realized he actually recognized him. He had hair like his and the color of Feliciano's, the same bone structure and build, and the same eyes that almost everyone on his grandfather's side of the family shared.

"Cousin Valentino?" Valentino gripped Lovino in a tight hug, nearly crushing him and seemed to get incredibly emotional, also a trait that many people in their family shared. "Is this your place? Your restaurant?" He caught Gilbert's bemused expression as he glanced at them and wrung out his hands for a moment. "Also this is Gilbert. Gil, my cousin Valentino Vargas."

Valentino grinned and gave Gilbert a wink. "Pleasure to meet you Gil!" He hugged him when Gilbert stuck out his hand for a shake, though just went along with the flow with a loud laugh. "Let me get you two a table okay?" he seated the two of them and gave them menus before leaning over to Lovino and whispering, "Nice catch, fratello, I'm proud." He felt his face burn as Valentino laughed gleefully and made his way back to the kitchen. The only thing keeping Lovino in his seat was the fact that he was on a date.

A date. Oh shit. He forgot.

He turned to Gilbert and the burn was worse, spreading to the back of his neck and sending tears to his eyes. Damn his family for being so emotional. "I'm so sorry," he managed to say, mortified at the way he was behaving, his hands against his mouth. But Gil's face wasn't one of irritation or anger, but of what appeared to be softness. He was watching Lovino with such an enamored look that he couldn't help but feel a little bit less anxious. He really liked him, Lovino could see that easily written on Gilbert's face.

The rest of the night went by in a blur, but Lovino remembered the important bits, the bits that really mattered. He remember how Gilbert held his hand on the table, the way his white skin contrasted with Lovino's so beautifully. Lovino remembered the warmth of Gilbert's fingers between his own as he pulled away from the restaurant when they were finished eating, ignoring the sly look from his cousin as they left.

He remembered the way Gilbert kissed him goodnight, one hand on his waist and the other pressed against his cheek, the tips of his fingers tangled slightly in his hair. For the first time in his life he felt the butterflies in this stomach, felt the erratic beat of his heart as Gil's mouth pulled away from his own. They watched each other for a moment afterward, still seated in Gil's car, and the both of them at a loss for words.

"Can I see you tomorrow?"

"Yes." The word left Lovino's mouth before Gilbert had even finished speaking, and the saw the man's face light up enough to brighten an entire stadium.