Author's Note: Hello! This is my second Hetalia fan fic, and I apologize if this chapter seems a bit boring. I wanted to write something cute and sweet for a friend, and as always, this started out as a one shot. But of course I had to over complicate things in the plot so it turned out to be a bit longer than a few chapters. It will be shorter, so I'm sorry if it seems like I'm rushing the story at times. I just don't want the plot to drag. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the first chapter! Reviews and critiques are welcomed and very much appreciated!

Lovino knew he wasn't special. He rarely smiled or laughed, swore too much for his grandfather's tastes and was lazy half the day. Compared to his creative, cheerful and smart (yet naïve) younger brother, Lovino always felt that he was worthless. Being older, life had bit him too many times in the ass making his outlook on life turn sour.

However, despite his bitterness, Lovino cared for his baby brother very much. So when it came time for Feliciano to leave for art school, Lovino tagged along with him, just to make sure there was a roof over his head. He rented a flat that was in walking distance of Feliciano's university, and began applying to several jobs in the area.

That was when he me Antonio for the first time.

He didn't know why the small market reached out to him; typically, he would turn his nose away from such a place. Sure, it looked nice and friendly, but it looked fairly new and on the brink of falling apart. Yet, the young Italian still stepped into the place, snatching the 'HELP WANTED' sign out of the window. Lovino roamed around the vacant store, looking at all of the baskets of fruits and vegetables sitting around and a few aisles with preserves and jellies. He stopped when he saw a man eagerly stacking plump, red tomatoes carefully. "Excuse me," Lovino said, clearing his throat. The man turned, gently cradling a tomato in his palm and flashed a grin.

"Hola!" he greeted. "Welcome to Carriedo's Markets! How may I help you?" Lovino simply held up the poster, not bothering to smile or reply back. "Ah, I see. You want to apply for the job. Follow me." As the cheerful owner walked past, Lovino glared at the box filled with tomatoes before following behind.

"Aren't you going to put that tomato down?" Lovino asked, lazily trailing behind. The manager stopped, glanced and tossed the tomato in the air.

"Nope," he answered. "It's kind of cute, don't you think?" He pulled out his keys and unlocked the office door.

"It's a tomato." Lovino mumbled. He chuckled.

"But look how round it is!" he added, opening the door and stepping aside. Rolling his eyes, Lovino walked into the office, the manager not too far behind, and stood in front of the desk. The desk was covered with all kinds of papers and envelopes, even notices threatening to close the shop for good. He watched the man walk around the desk, Lovino questioned what he was getting himself into. "The name's Antonio." The man finally introduced. Antonio carefully set the tomato at the front of the desk, gently patting it before pulling out an application form. "Here you go," he said, handing the piece of paper to the potential employee. Lovino tugged the sheet out of the Spaniard's hands, scanning over it. "This may seem a little awkward to ask, but I'm a little low on employees." Lovino shot him a glare before snatching a pen out of the coffee mug. "I'll have to ask you to work a little extra around the shop. Is that okay?"

"As long as I get money, I don't care what the hell you have me do." Lovino muttered. Antonio chuckled nervously.

"G-great." He said, clapping his hands together. "I'll have your name tag ready by tomorrow. The shop opens at eight, but I like to be here by seven o clock."

"I don't wake up until nine thirty." Lovino blurted, waving the signed form in Antonio's face. Antonio's lip twitched with slight irritation before smiling.

"That's alright, you can come in later if you'd like." he reassured. "How about seven thirty?"

"I just told you I don't wake up until nine thirty." Lovino snapped.

"Okay, how about eight?" Antonio bargained.

"Still sleeping."

"Eight thirty?"

"Sleeping."

"Look, I am now your boss, so you have to listen to me. I want you here by eight thirty every morning." Antonio demanded.

"Do you want me to work here or do you want to continue working by yourself and admiring tomatoes all day?" Lovino hissed. Antonio mumbled in Spanish under his breath, relenting.

"Nine o clock; that's my final offer." he said. Lovino sighed.

"Fine." he grumbled. "My little brother is usually up by then, singing as he's making breakfast before going to class anyway."

"Fatástico!" Antonio cheered. "I'll see you then tomorrow." He hurried around the desk, snatching the tomato and led Lovino to the exit. "Have a nice day, Lovino." He held out the tomato, grinning.

"Are you giving me your stupid tomato?" he asked, perturbed.

"It's a cute tomato," Antonio remarked, chuckling. "You reminded me of it when I saw you." Lovino blushed slightly as he grabbed the tomato and smashed it on the floor.

"Don't compare me to your damn tomatoes!" he yelled, stomping off. He heard the Spaniard laughing as he walked away. He shook his head as he turned the corner to his apartment. "What a weirdo."