"Lovi, wake up," Antonio frowned slightly at the lack of response."You're going to be late and then miss your classes, then how will you be able to study for exams or become a–"

A dull thump came from the next room. "Yeah, yeah bastard. You don't need to tell me what'll happen if I fail my exams. Believe me, I get enough shit from Roma about it," a sharp intake of breath, "ugh, ow."

"Oi, be more respectful to your grandpa. And please, stop pulling all-nighters, I'm worried about you."

The boy stumbled out, pulling a sweater over his head. His normally tan skin had become worryingly pale as of late, and purple shadows were developing under his eyes. "It's not like I do it by choice, taking care of you is a full-time job." It seemed that Lovino still had enough energy to poke fun at Antonio.

"But Lovi- I made coffee," Antonio lifted up a mug proudly. "Milk and sugar, just the way you like it!"

Lovino eyed the mug. "Hand it over."

"Not until you say sorry," Antonio sang, holding the mug high above his head.

"Damnit bastard, are you serious?" Lovino's eyes flashed, his voice laughing.

"Am I ever not?" Leaning back from the Italian's grasping hands, he giggled at the shorter boy's attempts. "If you want your coffee, you need to say sorry..."

Lovino smirked and pulled a leg up onto the counter, plucking the cup deftly from Antonio's hands. He shook his head. "You should know Tonio, you really are no match for me. Too bad, try harder next time."

Antonio mock growled but eased back with a laugh. "C'mon, get out of here. You'll be late."

Antonio strolled across campus, humming under his breath. He hadn't met up with Gilbert in a while, the German had been busy with his 'friend', Roderich. Although, along with Francis, they were best friends, majoring in different subjects made it difficult to see each other. He was trying to make the most out the last few weeks of the semester before the break started.

"Yo, Toni!" Antonio looked up and picked up his pace. Gilbert waved and smiled.

"Hola, Gil!"He gratefully received the coffee from the other man's hands as they began to walk. He blew on his coffee as they began to walk, waiting for the other man to start a conversation as he normally would.

Nothing came.

"Gil."

"Yeah?"

Antonio waited a beat before realising the normally obnoxiously loud man truly had nothing to say. He wasn't waiting for Antonio to ask about his latest escapade or his new drinking buddy. "Are you okay? I mean," he backtracked quickly, "you seem a little… quiet is all."

Gilbert smiled but quickly looked away. "Just thinking, is all."

Antonio looked down. He had never been good at this sort of thing, being sensitive, reading the mood. "Uh… how's Roderich going?" He meant to engage his friend but Gilbert flinched away as soon as the name left Antonio's mouth.

Gilbert quickly recovered, pasting on a smile. "Good! Yeah, good, it's going awesome. It's great!"

Antonio fixed him with a stare. His friend was acting strangely. Normally, 'Roddy' was his favourite topic. Whether it was laughing and calling him a priss along with a story of his roommate, or drunken 3 am calls about how he was 'totally not in love but he was maybe a little gay for the princess'.

"Seriously, what's up? You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"

Gilbert huffed in tired amusement. Only now did Antonio notice his bloodshot eyes and cursed himself for being such a bad friend. How could he not have noticed?

"I'm fine, really. Just tired from studying, that's all."

Antonio stared at him, incredulous. His friend was one of those people who only had had to read over his notes before memorising it all. He was constantly laughing at people who had to study through the night (namely Antonio).

"Studying, Gil? What happened to 'I'm way too awesome to study like you idiots'?"

Gilbert stiffened. "Yeah, I was studying last night! I'm not a genius, I'm not like my brother, I do need to study to keep up with my classes like everyone else, okay!?" He was out of breath, his red eyes flashing more desperate than angry.

"Eh, ah," the Spaniard stumbled over his words slightly. "Lo siento, Gil. I-I didn't upset you, did I?"

The other man turned away. "Doesn't matter, Antonio. It's fine. Anyway, sorry for calling you out here. You probably have a class or something, right? I won't keep you any longer."

Antonio silently cursed his inability to read the mood once again. He wasn't all that perceptive, but even he could tell when someone was blowing him off. "Gil, you can talk to me! …I'm one of your best friends– right?"

"Yeah, you are, but I told you, nothing's wrong! So please, just…" He shook his head and lifted his hand in farewell as he walked away, leaving Antonio in the middle of the street, holding an already cold cup of coffee.

He didn't have any classes today, actually.

He had planned to spend the afternoon with his best friend.

A/N:

So, I have revised and edited this chapter a little because after rereading it, it was definitely not up to the standard I wanted it at… I'm not sure it is even now ahah but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

As always, concrit is appreciated as well as any corrections. ( ´ ▽ ˋ )ノ