You can thank TheTwistedEssie for getting me off of my lazy butt to write this chapter. Enjoy~ chapters will get longer after this one, I promise.
There were so many reasons why Francis had fallen so helplessly, head over heels in love with his Spaniard friend. So many reasons that he could not possibly name them all. For one, there was his almost omnipresent smile and the sparkle that it would light in his eyes every time it spread across his tanned features. His smile was always genuine, sincere from the heart and it was one of the things that had lead to Francis inevitably falling for Antonio. That smile was also the sole reason why he now found himself staring in concern at his long time friend who was now sitting next to him on the love seat. Most people wouldn't see the problem. Antonio was still smiling, as per usual, however something wasn't right. There was no sparkle in his eyes and occasionally, when he thought nobody was watching, his smile would slip completely off his face, if only for a moment. France couldn't help but frown at this though Prussia hadn't seemed to notice a thing.
He placed a hand on Antonio's shoulder, causing all eyes to fall on him. "Mon ami, is everything alright?" He asked carefully.
"What is it Tonio? There is something on your mind, you can hide that sad look from me." Francis pursued out of genuine worry, only to gain a soft chuckle from his friend.
"Ah, you know me too well amigo." Antonio observed, again trying to be cheerful.
Francis studied his features momentarily, trying to determine what the problem is but finding no evident clues. "Well, then tell us what is troubling you, you don't have to smile if you don't feel like it."
With that the smile seemed to slip away, a frown marring his appearance. It wasn't often that Spain was like this. There had only been rare occasions in which he ever stopped smiling, let alone frowned. At this Prussia seemed to become more concerned about the Spaniard, knowing full well something must be wrong for this to take place.
"If you were this upset you could have said something before..." Gilbert said uncomfortably, "so, you know, me and Francis could come prepared for some hardcore cheering up." Though the Prussian was trying to lift the mood his words came off as a mixture of concerned and awkwardly uncomfortable in the currant situation.
"I wasn't sad until I came back, if I had of been I probably would have postponed so I didn't ruin our meet up..." Antonio looked down a bit, looking slightly guilty. "And it's really no big deal so we can still have fun!" He didn't seem to be able to muster his usual cheer this time around.
Francis sighed at the response and lifted a hand to Antonio's tanned cheek, guiding the others face to face his own. Antonio looked surprised but said nothing as the Frenchman gave a soft smile. "Don't me silly, mon cher, we are your friends! We wouldn't be so close if all we cared about was drinking and messing around instead of caring about each other, now, tell us, did something happen while you were out?" He spoke fluidly, hoping to get more information this time.
"You're going to think its stupid but okay..." Antonio replied hesitantly. "It's just, I saw Romanito while I was shopping earlier..."
That was all Francis needed to hear to make him both insanely jealous and extremely angry. It seemed for years all that kid could do was cause Antonio strife, yet he somehow managed to wrap the Spaniard around his little finger and have him constantly at his heels like a helpless puppy. It took all Francis had not to go and set Romano straight.
"Not that boy again. What has he done now?" Francis all but growled.
"He didn't really do anything wrong... He was just flirting with this girl...which I guess he's allowed to do! I mean, for a while I kind of did think we were a couple but he made it pretty clear that we weren't so I suppose he's allowed to flirt with whoever he wants but I got so jealous and apparently I scared her away by glaring too much so Roma yelled at me a lot and stormed off... I didn't mean to make him mad but now he must really want nothing to do with me..."
France had to stop himself from yelling for Antonio to just forget about him. Francis hated watching how Romano so easily walked all over the Spaniard without a second thought. It made him sick to his stomach. He found himself silently gritting his teeth and he didn't notice that he hadn't said anything until Gilbert spoke up.
"That guy has no idea what he's missing out on, it's so un-awesome!" He said seriously. "You should move on, seriously, there's other people who are just waiting in line for a chance with you. Isn't that right, France?" he threw Francis a look that screamed 'this is your chance'.
"Well, he's right about people lining up for you, Tonio," he admitted but didn't say anything else.
Antonio smiled and laughed a bit before speaking. "Gracias but I don't think so, and even if anyone was 'lining up for me' it wouldn't matter... I really love Romanito, and even if he hates me I can't just move on for the next person who comes along..." Pink spread across the Spaniards cheeks and he looked away uncomfortably.
Francis felt his heart sink inside his chest. As much as it hurt, he knew Antonio felt strongly for the feisty Italian. Despite how much that boy did to hurt him, Antonio could still say without a doubt that he was in love with Romano. There was nothing Francis could do to change it and the very thought drove daggers into the Frenchman's chest.
France swallowed thickly "Don't give up just yet, mon ami." Francis forced himself to leave his own feelings behind. "You can win him over yet, he just needs some proper romancing."
"That's the problem" Spain sighed. "I've tried being romantic but I always mess everything up..."
"Not to fear, that's where I come in."
