Yes hello I am back and actually posting content! I know I should be trying to write War Story, but I just have no idea how to progress the story line, so I'm going to leave it be for now. I actually have high hopes for this story as I actually have an outline for the plot! Yay for planning! The story is probably going to be short, though. Regardless, thank you for your time!

When Lovino was little, a family of four (much similar to his own) lived in the house across the street. They were from Germany, and their light hair and blue eyes were the telling evidence. Lovino always questioned why a German family would have come to Italy, but his fratellino, Feliciano, had no such reserves, and he quickly went about befriending the youngest son.
Lovino remembered watching Feli and the little boy play in either yard; most likely the neighbors' three dogs would be with them. He might of been jealous of their friendship, but he wasn't ever very lonely, for he spent his time cooking with his mamma or listening to his papà tell stories.
But, despite all his time spend with his parents, he never felt like the favorite, or even particularly loved. It wasn't him who was doted over when he tracked in mud, praised when he sang his loudest off-key or applauded when he smeared paint over a canvas. It wasn't him who was the promising prodigy of the family. Lovino didn't hate his fratello for this, of course, but he did become bitter. Never mind trying his hardest when it would never be as good as Feliciano.
Lovino had become reclusive in his home until one day while his parents were out a knock came at the door. Feli must have been out playing, or else he would have rushed to answer the call. Knowing what he must do, Lovino quickly threw away the half finished half-finished drawing he was working on and crept into the living room. After a moment of bracing himself before the door, he pulled it open.
On the other side of the threshold stood a boy not too much older than he: about seven. What was startling about this boy was first and foremost his eyes. Bright crimson that sharply contrasted his pale skin and near-white hair which was shaved almost to the scalp.
Lovino couldn't find himself able to form words, but he was saved from the awkward silence by the boy asking a question.
"My mutter is having a fancy birthday party and wants to know if your mutter and vater wanted to come."
Lovino sputtered out a response. "I- I don't know... what's a mutter?" He added with embarrassment gracing his cheeks. He recognized this boy now: he was the oldest son of the German family across the street. He had seen him around before, but never close enough to see his eyes, which Lovino now saw were quite intimidating.
"Ha! Mutter means mamma, duh. Anyway, can they? My mutter will not be happy if I come back without an answer."
At this point Lovino's initial nervousness had melted away and been replaced by his usual irritation at this boy's audacity. Never mind the scary eyes, how was he supposed to answer that?
"Heck if I know. They're not here. I don't know when they'll be back, so there's no point in continuing to bother me. Bye." Lovino made to shut the door in his face and be done with the encounter, but the boy quickly pushed through the door into the threshold.
"Alright, if you don't know then I'll just wait until your parents get here." He didn't seem at all deterred by Lovino's evident annoyance. "Oh! I know: we can get to know each other while we wait!"
"There's no way I'm doing that. Get out."
'Haha! You're funny."
Lovino sighed at how powerless he was. He never had much control over anything, anyway.
"Okay!" The boy practically yelled as he plopped himself down in one of the living room chairs. "First things first, my name is Gilbert the Awesome. Now, what's yours?"
Lovino didn't answer nor sit down with him, and instead he planted himself firmly where he was and crossed his arms over his chest, feigning authority.
Gilbert frowned, but he had an ace up his sleeve.
"Alright, if you won't tell me then I'll just snoop around until I find something good."
He promptly lunged for a loose sheet of crumbled paper sitting on the ground, which Lovino realized too late was the drawing he tried to throw in the trash earlier. With a sort of strangled screech, he tried to wrestle the paper from Gilbert's grasp, but he found himself both too short and too weak.
"Woah! This is good, dude! Did you draw this?"
Lovino's frantic energy quickly melted away and he drew beck into himself. "N- no. Feliciano drew it."
Gilbert looked slightly disappointed for a second and turned his gaze back to the paper. However, something he found on the paper sparked his interest.
"Nuh-uh! It has a different name right here!" Gilbert turned the drawing towards him and pointed to the corner where Lovino had been practicing his signature. A blush grew on his cheeks as he stuttered, "I mean- I was just- I-"
"Why would you lie about this? It's super cool, Lovino!"
Gilbert threw his arm around Lovino's hunched shoulders and proclaimed, "Vino, you're pretty awesome! Therefore, I now declare you my friend!"

From that point on, it wasn't unusual for Gilbert to walk his brother over to their neighbors' house. Lovino often acted annoyed when Gilbert came around, but something inside him stopped being so bitter and jealous.
Gilbert constantly encouraged Vino to draw and sing, dragged him outside, and even brought other friends of his over. Basically, he made Lovino more active and social than ever before.
And despite how much they would deny it, Lovino helped Gilbert too. Gil had an ego problem, and Vino, being as he is, refused to let Gil have all authoritative power to himself, especially after Lovino found out just how scrawny and prone to pouting Gil was.

The German family from across the street moved away the next year, and neither Lovino nor Gilbert gave the other a thought for a very long time.