Monday Afternoon

"It won't last more than a week," a scornful voice rung out in Lovino's room, one that belonged to neither Lovino nor Antonio, and did not seem to originate from a precise point in the room.

"I know, now shut up!" Lovino spat at it as he examined the room he had been given. It had been a guest room previously, so it was rather plain and barely furnished. There was a single bed with soft, white sheets, a small closet and a little desk in the corner. Even though it was simple, it was light and soothing. Plus, the bed was so comfortable that Lovino almost fell asleep right then and there.

Antonio had dropped Lovino off at his apartment after lunch. He had realized that his phone had gone off while they had been eating, and his mood dropped the moment he heard the message left on it.

"One of the children fell and hurt himself, so one of my co-workers had to accompany him to the hospital. The other is alone with the other children, so I have to go help her. You're old enough to be alright alone, right?" Antonio had asked and Lovino nodded. Before leaving, Antonio gave him the spare key in case he wanted to go for a walk, told him to lock the door and left him the number for the day care as well as his cell number.

Lovino stared at the aforementioned key, contemplating going for a walk. They never let him go for walks at the orphanage, and it would probably do him some good…

"You still have hope that this might actually work out, don't you?" The Voice mocked. "'Can we come back here'? You're so pathe-"

Lovino interrupted the Voice by slamming the door.

He was going for a walk. That was that.

Upon his return, Lovino passed by the kitchen. A basket caught his eye and he stopped to look at it.
Oh wow.

There was a basket.

Full of tomatoes.

Well, then.

Greedily, Lovino took the basket and slumped down on the couch, turning on the television. He searched through the channels for something decent to watch as he ate the tomatoes.

And he was very happy with this. He had tomatoes, he had television, and he was being lazy. Win.

"I don't appreciate you cutting me off like that." The voice said. Lovino had forgotten its existence for a moment in his good mood. He was, simply put, appalled by its return.

"Yeah well, I don't appreciate you mocking me, so shut up." Lovino retorted. The voice yawned in boredom.

"You can't do anything about it." It replied. At that moment, Antonio returned, but Lovino did not hear the door open.

"I said shut up, so shut up. I swear, one of these days, I'll-"

"Who are you talking to, Lovi?" Antonio asked from the doorway, interrupting the Italian.

"What? No one! I wasn't talking!" Lovino shouted, startled. "And don't call me Lovi!"

"Liar!" The Voice said with a chuckle.

"Shut up! He'll hear you, stupid!" Lovino urged quietly. But it was too late, and Antonio was standing beside Lovino, staring at the other who stared back, blushing in embarrassment.

Great.

Antonio must think he was absolutely insane.

Instead of making a comment on it, however, Antonio stared at the empty basket of tomatoes.

"Did you eat all of those?" He asked, his face unreadable. Wonderful. Lovino thought to himself. He was in more trouble! This must be the record of how long someone stayed in a house before being kicked out!

Still, he nodded at the question. Antonio chuckled.

"You sure have an appetite! I'm glad you like tomatoes. I was a bit worried that you might not. I guess I'll never have to worry about them going to waste!" He replied and sat beside the Italian cheerfully, placing a box (How had Lovino not noticed he was holding a box?) on the coffee table in front of them.
Lovino also noticed the tomato plants out on the balcony.

Well then.

He felt very unobservant. And each thing he observed made this place seem so much nicer.

"Oh, I got you this!" Antonio exclaimed suddenly, passing him the box. He opened it, not really certain what to expect.

There was a chocolate cake inside, with the words "Welcome Home, Lovi!" written on it. Lovino glared at Antonio who smiled in return.

"You're really convinced that I'll be staying, aren't you?" He asked in anger, simply to hide the pain.

The word 'home' struck him. He would never have a home.

"Yes, I am." Antonio replied decidedly, proud that he had not been reprimanded for writing 'Lovi' on the cake. The Voice chuckled for only Lovino to hear,

"Here, I'll cut it for you, and you can have a piece." Antonio offered, taking the box from the Italian's hands gently.

"What about supper?" Lovino asked the retreating Spaniard. Antonio stopped to wink at him.

" I'm sure we can make an exception just this once! Plus, you ate all the tomatoes!" He replied, and brought back a piece of cake, one for him and one for Lovino. They sat beside each other, watching the television in a silence only interrupted by a few laughs here and there caused by the programs they watched.

Tomatoes and cake for supper. A kind and cheerful big brother. This place was nice, and he was the happiest he had been in years.

It'd be such a shame when he had to leave.