The duo hadn't even taken twenty steps into the city, but Antonio was already chatting away, more to himself than anyone. Lovino was almost entirely tuning him out. Almost.

He had to make sure the idiot wasn't announcing any personal information to the world around them, after all.

". . .Aha, so cute! And that face you made when I came this close to your face was just so handsome, my Lovi~ And who in their right mind could forget about that wonderful color in your cheeks! I swear, everything's just so... irresistible~!"

...Okay. It was time to put an end to the strictly one-sided conversation.

"Oi, stupid,"

Lovino muttered, elbowing the other in the side a little harshly.

"Everyone's going to hear all of that bullshit, you know. Knock it off."

"Ah, but Lovi-"

"But Lovi nothing. I said enough."

With that, a short silence followed. It seemed so ridiculous to the Spaniard.

Why spend the time in silence when the time was being spent with Lovino?

"Hey... Lovi..?"

He asked, suddenly seeming much quieter than before. The guy could really switch his personality at the drop of a hat.

"Can I.. Hold your hand?"

The question hung in the air for what seemed like forever, until the tense atmosphere was interrupted by Lovino's sigh.

Since there wasn't any other answer, Antonio could only assume one thing: Lovino had indirectly agreed!

With a triumphant grin, the Spaniard snatched the other's hand, almost immediately entwining their fingers.

Never had anything felt so very right.

"Aha, gracias, Lovino~ Oh.. Oh wow, your hand is so cold! My poor Lovi, you must be freezing!"

"What?! I'm fine, what are you-"

"This just won't do! Come here, come here.. I'll fix this right away."

Before the Italian could say another word in protest, he had been pulled closer to the other, a sudden weight soon falling over his shoulders.

"Stupid, it's not that cold out. I don't need your jacket."

"But Lovi! Your hand was as cold as ice!"

"Then you should've kept holding onto it!"

"Ah, you're right! I've made such an awful mistake by letting go!"

Lovino rolled his eyes at the chuckle in the Spaniard's voice. What an idiot. Not another second had gone by before their hands were joined again, Antonio absentmindedly making the move to re-entwine their fingers.

"Any warmer?"

"Shut up."

"I'm serious..! Is this helping?"

"I said shut up."

"..Are we dating now?"

"I... What..?!"

That certainly wasn't the reaction that Antonio had anticipated. With a little hesitance clear in his voice, he spoke again.

"Aha- Well.. I just wanted to clarify. Because we did confess our feelings to each other... And we kissed... And now we're holding hands, so.. Are we?"

There was a long pause. Lovino must be thinking, he decided. Hopefully considering things for the better.

"I...Fine. We're dating. But if anyone, and I do mean anyone, finds out..."

He ended there, deciding that his words were warning enough.

"I understand. I won't tell a soul~"

Antonio swore, placing his free hand on his heart dramatically.

"So.. Maybe I could even call you.. Mi novio?"

"Idiot, I don't even know what that mea-"

"My boyfriend?"

"I- oh.. Y-You could.. I suppose. Another thing that you're keeping entirely between us, though."

"Of course~ You're agreeing to so much, I'm surprised! I'm afraid I might burst from all of the joy you've caused me~"

"Ooh, explosions. How romantic."

"Ah, no, Lovi, it's just an expression-"

"I know. Ever heard of sarcasm?"

"Aha- right~"

A few minutes passed by without too much conversation between them. They were already about three-fourths of the way to Lovino's, and not one of them had even bothered to notice. The rule of "only halfway" was long forgotten by now.

In the silence, something quite unexpected happened. Antonio stiffened a bit when he felt the Italian's head rest against his shoulder.

He was being.. Affectionate?! How rare! How.. How cute~!

Antonio grinned, and gently squeezed the Italian's hand. He'd fallen for that stubborn, defensive, and outright impossible side of Lovino, but this was nothing short of the best possible bonus in existence! And all of his friends dared to tell him that the sour-faced Italian wouldn't be worth it. Oh, he just couldn't wait to rub it in their faces that they'd been so completely and entirely wrong-

Ah, but he couldn't. He'd made a promise, after all. Perhaps some other day~

Sadly, all at once, the weight from his shoulder was lifted, and a familiar voice was trying to draw his attention back to reality.

"Antonio."

"Ah, sí, Lovi? Sorry, I was thinking a little too much, I suppose~"

"Shut up and listen to me. I think we're being followed."

"Followed..? Are you sure? This neighborhood is pretty populated, I'm sure someone's just walking nearby.."

"I'm sure. It isn't that. Someone's following us.. I think maybe more than one person. I.. W-What do we do?"

"Shh, it's alright. Don't be scared, we'll be alright. I promise you. Just walk faster, okay? And don't stop."

Lovino nodded and picked up his pace a little, eventually grabbing onto Antonio's arm in fear.

As the two sped up, so did the footsteps behind them. Now was the time to worry.

"Lovino."

"S-Sì..?"

"Listen to me.. No matter what happens, Te amo. Promise me you won't forget that."

"...I promise. And the same goes for you, got it?"

"Got it, Lovi. I've got it."

Another desperate attempt to walk faster, but it was no use. The approaching group of people was growing ever closer.

It wasn't long before strong arms were wrapped around Antonio's waist, yanking him back and away from Lovino. Within seconds, another man had snatched the Italian by the arms, holding him in place.

A terrifyingly unfamiliar voice managed to hover over both Antonio and Lovino's noises of protest.

"Well, well, well... What do we have here? A couple of love bugs walking the town, eh?"