AN: I am back again! I'm going to try to update this every week or so... Enjoy! And if any of you guys have any suggestions for anything, just drop them in the review box below!
After almost an hour of measurement-taking and outfit-describing, Antonio readied to leave when a thought tickled the back of his mind. He twisted sharply around to face Roma, who was busy sketching the design of his current project.
"I have one last question for you." Roma's head shot up quickly, not expecting Antonio to still be in the shop. "What was the name of that boy, your... grandson I believe?" Roma sighed, expecting to hear another complaint about his vile-mouthed grandchild.
"His name is Lovino. I am truly sorry if he offended or insulted you in any-"
"He did not offend or insult me," Antonio interrupted, "He intrigued me is all." With those final words, Antonio swiftly left the tailor and began walking back to his manor. Roma heaved a relieved sigh.
"I swear," Roma muttered under his breath, "if that boy causes me to lose any more patrons..." He picked up his current sketch and worked slowly up the stairs, his old bones whining and creaking along with the ancient wooden steps.
Greeting him with his usual dazed smile was Feliciano, arms reaching to help support his elder.
"Ve~ Lunch is ready, Grandpa Roma," Feliciano smiled, the strange tic his voice produced causing a twitch in Lovino's eye. With a frown, he grabbed a small, well-used chair, sitting with an annoyed sigh. Slinging one are over the back rest of the chair and crossing one leg over the other, he turned to face Feliciano.
"Feli! Are you daft? Get over here so we can eat," Lovino expressed loudly. At this, Feliciano bounced quickly to his equally dilapidated seat murmuring quiet 've's with each bound. After saying a small, silent prayer, Lovino dug into his food savagely. Roma, eating more slowly, decided to confront his eldest grandchild about his usual rude behavior.
"Lovino," at the mention of his name, his head snapped up, a chunk of bread hanging from his lips and his eyes spread wide, "you really need to work on your people skills. If that foul mouth of yours repels any more of our customers, I will fire you." Feliciano stifled a delighted giggle behind his hand at his brother's berating.
"What? You can't fire me," Lovino all but yelled, slamming his hands down, the table shaking dangerously. Feliciano jumped and the loudness of his brother's voice, a small whimper escaping his throat.
"I've only put up with it for this long because you are family," said Roma, his old eyes stabbing into Lovino's sharply. Lovino glared in return, leaning back in his chair with a grunt. Not uttering another word the entire meal, Lovino resumed eating his food with less ardor, refusing to listen to Roma and his brother's undoubtedly stupid conversation.
-What a wonderful line I am-
"Antonio! My friend," Francis stated joyously, wrapping an affectionate arm around Antonio's shoulders. Antonio smiled widely and slung an arm around his friend's shoulder in return.
"Hello, Francis! How are you?" The happy grin on Francis's face turned into a sly smirk. "I am doing just great, Antonio. Even better knowing that there are going to be many beautiful young ladies at my party." He sat down in a plush chair, one covered in fine red velvet and trimmed with golden tassels. Across from him sat Antonio, booted feet propped up on a small ottoman.
"Many young ladies? Oh, Francis, I thought your parents knew you better," Antonio teased with a cluck of his tongue. Francis chuckled, absentmindedly sweeping a few of his golden locks behind an ear. Ever since Francis was old enough to care about love and sex (which was much earlier than most, much earlier), he held an interest for not only the ladies, but the men as well, claiming that, 'Love is Love, no matter what gender, my friends!'
"Oh, trust me, there will be plenty of young men there," Francis smiled, "and even Gilbert has promised to come!" Antonio's ears perk at the mention of his friend, one that he had not seen in multiple years.
"It seems as though our little trio will be crashing your party, Francis," the green-eyed man stated, an excited playfulness lacing his tone. Francis lidded his eyes and leaned his face against his knuckles, a blithe smile tracing his features.
"And I wouldn't mind at all."
-I'm the best line ever-
Lovino sighed, plopping his head down on his pillow with a soft thump. Behind him on their shared bed sat Feliciano, busily adding details to the sketch he was working on. Feeling as though something was missing from the hand he was drawing he asked his brother for a favor.
"Lovi, ve. Can I see your arm?" Without raising his face from the pillow, he awkwardly lifted the arm closest to Feliciano. Using the end of his pencil, Feliciano moved each of Lovino's fingers into the correct positions.
"Big brother has such a pretty hand, ve," Feliciano said with an impish smile gracing his lips. Lovino frowned into the pillow and growled.
"Shut up, stupid."
"No," the golden eyed brother replied, his usual bemused tone lost to the chilling one that replaced it. An uncomfortable chill traced its long fingers down his spine as Lovino turned his head towards his brother, cracking one hazel eye open warily. The countenance he was met with was not his brother's usual one.
This one was much darker and one Lovino was sadly used to seeing. He narrowed his open eye at the caliginous expression on his kin's face.
"You're a manipulative bastard," he mumbled. Feliciano grinned and ran a small hand through his brother's chocolate shaded hair. Lovino grumbled and smacked away his hand.
"Say, Lovi," Feliciano said, removing his hand from Lovino's hair and placing it on his chin, "What do you think of Mr. Carriedo?" A small blush erupted on the older boy's face at the mention of the noble, though it was hidden by the pillow Lovino used to cover his face.
"He's a bastard, like you," he mumbled. 'A stupid, cute bastard,' Lovino thought to himself, the blush staining his cheeks growing warmer and brighter.
'I hope I never see him again...'