Chapter 2

(I'm back! Yay! They don't actually work together until later, have to get through some drama fiiirrrssst! Don't you just love drama? Don't worry nobody dies! :D I could never kill anybody from Hetalia, not even Austria, and he's my least favorite X3)

The next day Lovino was cooking in his kitchen. Boiling some pasta for a casserole he started to chop onions, his mind wandering. He didn't need to worry about cutting himself; he could practically cook in his sleep.

"Add onions to bowl, mixing smoked sausage and tomato sauce in..." Doing so, Lovino's mouth began to water. He drained the pasta, mixed it into the sauce with some stuffing, or…seasoned bread really, and poured it into a dish, putting it in the oven for forty five minutes.

While the Italian waited, he straightened himself out. 'Don't get nervous dammit, it's just Antonio…' he thought to himself. He imagined the hug he would probably get when said Spaniard arrived, it made him blush.

"Cazzo…pull yourself together Vargas! You're not a blushing school girl…" he grumbled. Sitting on the couch he flicked the TV on.

Lovino wanted to move back to Italy- in fact that was his goal, the very reason he wanted the job in the UN. Living in New York was cool and all, but he missed home.

Losing interest in the TV, Lovino turned it off, opting to stand up and play some music on the radio.

"Lovi?" he heard a call from the door. Answering it, he saw Antonio.

"You could have knocked…..or rang the doorbell…"

"I know," he smiled. Lovino noticed he looked different, upset maybe.

"Stai bene?" he asked, shutting the door behind him. Antonio took off his shoes, nodding.

"Si~, what are you cooking? It smells delicious~!" And there was his blush! He took a deep breath to calm himself.

"A-A casserole, and of course it smells good i-idiot, an Italian made it after all….." he muttered. An awkward silence followed, the two just looking around, not making eye contact.

"Gracias for having me over Lovino, I can't thank you enough…" he said, enveloping the other in a hug. Face red, Lovino sat there unmoving. He could feel the Spaniard's every breath. Gaining his voice the Italian spoke, "Y-Yeah, anytime, whatever, j-just get off of me…" Smiling, Antonio released him, stepping back and chuckling quietly.

"It's good to see you again! I missed you~" he said. Rolling his eyes, Lovino led the other into the kitchen. He began to set the table, and the smooth porcelain of the plates was cold under his touch.

"I guess life just wasn't the same without you, bastard…" he replied. He handed the other a fork before putting oven mitts on to take out the casserole. He figured he could blame the oven for his red blushing face.

"Wow~, it looks delicious Lovino! Maybe I can cook for you tomorrow!"

"Maybe…" he replied, setting dinner on the table. He poured two glasses of wine and sat across from Antonio. The two men sat in silence for a while, eating and commenting on small things. 'He looks uncomfortable…' Lovino noted as he glanced up at the other. Antonio's hair fell over his eyes, his skin was a bit pale and his shoulders slumped.

"Hey, what's wrong with you? Did something happen?" Lovino asked. As the other glanced up he noted the worry in the other's eyes.

"Of course not Lovi~ I'm fine." he replied.

"You sure? You look worried or something…..idiot." Antonio just smiled, not replying. The two soon finished, and as Lovino was cleaning up he heard Antonio run out into the hallway.

"Lovino! I brought you something!" he called as he ran back into the kitchen, an idiotic smiled plastered onto his face.

"What? You didn't have to! I'm the one feeding you, not the other way around..." He scowled. The Spaniard just shrugged and help up a small plastic box.

"I wanted to thank you, mi tomate, so I made churros! It's an old recipe, but I think you'll like it." Opening it Lovino saw two churros, soft on the inside but crunchy on the outside. He picked one up and took a bite, letting the sweet taste of cinnamon sugar fill his mouth. Antonio watched happily as he saw a small smile grace the other's lips.

"Te gusta? Is it good?" Lovino nodded, he held the other out and Antonio gladly took it. He hummed as he took a bite, a genuine smile gracing his features. After finishing his, Lovino cleared his throat, noticing it was well past nine thirty.

" Do you have a car?" he asked.

"Hm? A car? Haha! No, I walked here!" He smiled. Lovino's eyes widened.

"You walked!? All fifteen miles!?"

"Mhm! Si, I left right after work at four!"

The Italian just stood there, mouth agape.

"W-Well, why don't you stay the night h-here then? Instead of walking all fifteen miles again like an idiot." Lovino knew he could of offered to drive him home, but something made him reject the idea. Blinking, Antonio stared at the other, perplexed as to why his childhood friend was suddenly being so nice, aside from the occasional 'idiot' or 'moron'.

"But….wouldn't your girlfriend be a little upset? With a random man in the house and all..hehe…."

"Who the hell told you I have a girlfriend?"

"….I just figured you did, you're so good looking and everything, it's impossible for some girl not to be fawning over you~" Lovino blushed but snickered soon after.

"Girlfriend? What girlfriend? I'm still single, Toni~" He chuckled.

"O-Oh, well me too. Are you sure it's okay, Lovi...?" Antonio blushed at the thought, Lovino was still single!

"Si, I already said you could, go take a shower and I'll wash your clothes…" Nodding Antonio gave the other a quick hug, slipping a kiss on the cheek as he pulled away. Hoping he hadn't noticed it, the Spaniard dashed up the stairs, calling out a heartfelt "Gracias!" as he went.

Lovino on the other hand just stood there, face red and cheek tingling. 'He…..He kissed my cheek…w-what the fuck!?' He was honestly confused. Why had he kissed his cheek? He lifted a hand, gently touching the tingling patch of skin as if it would shatter like glass. As he heard the shower water staring he let out a deep breath he didn't know he was holding.

"…..gah….get a hold of yourself Vargas! I'm sure he didn't mean to…j-just a slip of his lips…maybe?...s-si.." But deep down, for some reason, Lovino knew that Antonio had done it on purpose.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TOMATO~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Standing in the hot water Antonio rubbed his head.

"Ay…why did I do that? Lovino probably noticed!" He sighed, starting to wash his hair. He stared at the tile wall, starting to think of excuses.

"Um…I felt like it? No, no, he'd get angry. I did it because it's the Italian thing to do? Nope, that sounds cliché….." Antonio face met the tile wall.

"Because I still love you and have since we were twelve years old and I'll always keep trying to earn your affection? Yeah, that would go over well…" Sighing, Antonio sat up and started rinsing the shampoo out of his hair, the blush on his face not leaving. 'Try to keep calm, don't think about Lovino anymore, just relax si~?' Just then he heard the bathroom door open slightly. The glass door was fogged up from steam so he felt a little secure.

"L-Lovi?"

"Si, I'm going to wash your clothes…there are some of my clothes on the bed, they probably don't fit you but oh well."

"Si! Gracias mi tomate~"

"Fucking tomate…I'm not your tomato…" With that he shut the door. Antonio took in a deep breath. 'His voice sound a little shaky….I wonder if it was because of me?...I'll ask him later.' Quickly finishing his shower, the Spaniard stepped out, wrapping himself in a towel he left the bathroom. There was a large T-Shirt and some boxers on the bed, along with some sweat pants.

"Hm, he really is sweet…." He murmured, he got dressed and rubbed his hair dry with a towel. Checking the time, (ten thirty seven at night,) he decided to go downstairs- maybe if he could, he'd get up early tomorrow and make breakfast.

"Antonio?" Lovino's voice snapped him out of his little trance.

"Hola~" he cooed.

"What the fuck are you doing? You were staring off into space."

Antonio chuckled. "Was I? I didn't notice~"

Lovino gave him an unbelieving look. "Come with me okay? We need to talk." Having no choice but to follow, Antonio was led into the living room, he sat next to Lovino on the brown couch, looking at anything but the Italian next to him.

"Alright, what's going on? You're pale, jumpy, cut off from your parent's money, and not looking at me. This isn't the Antonio I knew two years ago dammit." He looked angry, but also concerned. But how could the Spaniard possibly say it? Lovino would surely kick him out.

"I-I'm a little sick..." he said shakily.

"Bull shit, no you're not, we've known each other since we were children! We don't see each other for two years and you're acting as if I'm a stranger almost! Don't you trust me?..." His voice sounded a little heartbroken, defeated. Guilt started to rise in Antonio's chest, making it tight and difficult to breathe.

"Of course I trust you Lovino! I-It's just hard to talk about, your grandfather was very religious, the subject might be a little sensitive. I just don't want for you to hate me…" he confessed. Lovino's eyes widened slightly, almost as if he understood.

"Nonno might have been religious, be he still had his flaws, although to Feli and I, Nonno was perfect. I'm not the perfect Catholic. God, you're an idiot to think I'd ever hate you…" Sighing, he turned away, Antonio guessed he was hiding the hurt in his eyes. It worried him.

"…My parents cut me off because I told them the truth." he said softly.

"I know it's been two years, but a lot has changed, Lovino. I'm sorry I rarely texted or called you, I was scared. People can change a lot in two years. I wasn't sure anymore." Lovino glanced at him, his eyes hiding the curiosity he held.

"Sure about what bastard? That I was your friend? Of course I was…I have changed just not like you think. I still curse, I still love tomatoes, my face fucking flushes red at times. I'm still the same Lovino Vargas dammit…." Staring at him, Antonio sighed.

"Partnership requires trust si?"

"Of course it does idiot…"

"Then, promise me you won't hate me after I tell you this?" Lovino took deep breath, nodding slowly.

"I promise, now fucking tell me. I want the old Antonio back, a-alright?" His face flushed red, making Antonio feel relieved.

"Lovino, you know how religious my family is, they were pressuring me about finding a wife, and I kept telling them I wasn't ready. We did this for a long time, I was hiding the truth from them, because I thought they would understand eventually, but I was wrong. Lovino, they cut me off because….because I like men, not women." He was glad to finally get it off his chest, it felt as if a big weight had been lifted off him. Fear then settled, what if the small Italian was uncomfortable around him now? Looking away Antonio swallowed, trying to stay calm.

"You mean, you're homosexual?"

"S-Si…"

"And I would give a shit why?"

He looked back at the other in surprise, "Q-Que?"

"Antonio I don't care. Well I care that your family is full of dicks, but I am too alright? Antonio sat there, mouth agape.

"W-Well kind of, my brother still talks to me, but my parents hate me, they forbade me to see you, eventually I decided to ignore them and try contacting you."

"Your parents don't hate you, it's impossible-"

"No Lovino…they told me to my face they hated me…." Lovino felt a sudden anger surge through him. How could someone hate him? Antonio was nothing but nice to the world, and this is how they repay him? He gets disowned?

"Antonio…." he took a deep breath. "Antonio, my family is here for you, okay?"

The Spaniard nodded, "Okay…gracias Lovino, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable…."

Lovino hated that his friend could sense his discomfort that easily. 'I'm always uncomfortable around you, bastard,' he thought. Sadly, he always felt lightheaded and feverish around Antonio, his heart beat faster and he always had the urge to be in those arms.

"It's fine, Tomato Bastard, let's just forget about it and relax, no more stress alright?" Nodding, Antonio could feel some happiness seeping back into him. He now actually had a chance with Lovino! Facing the TV, Antonio smiled, but one thought ran through his head:

'How do I get Lovi to see me more than a friend?'

(YAY CHAPTER TWOOOO! Thank you soo much for all the reviews! I love them so much and I'm glad you all think this story is worth reading! Don't forget to give credit to the wonderful AnYtHiNgBuTtYpIcAl who beta'd this. I go to school with her and she is absolutely amazing! {This is the beta saying I love you too! :3 } Love her lots! So enjoy this and keep a watch out for chapter three! Btw Antonio never got his clothes back, he forgot them…so Lovino is just going to keep them until he remembers XD)

By the waaay

AnYtHiNgBuTtYpIcAl is also my Germany soooo on that nooote;

VEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEST! *glomps* you'll probably see a random conversation thing at the end of these author notes soon XD