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Ch 3: A Thief in the Tomato Patch

"Fratello! We need to pick some tomatoes for the pasta!"

"You don't think I know that idiota!"

"Romano, I don't think that was necessary,"

"Shut up tomato bastard!"

Spain, or Antonio, sighed at the ill tempered Italian. The brothers had decided to visit the happy-go-lucky country for whatever reason. Obviously it was Italy's idea since Romano wanted nothing to do with his former boss. Suddenly, Antonio caught sight off something. A bare tomato plant he had not touched.

"That's strange. Maybe Romano did this one already,"

"Damn it!"

the green eyed spaniard immediately turned his head towards Romano.

"Something wrong Lovi?"

"First off, DON'T CALL ME THAT! And yeah something's wrong! I left a basket of tomatoes here and now they're gone!"

"Easy Romano, I'm sure we'll find them later,"

Romano, however, zoned out of these because something had caught his eye: a tuff of brownish-red hair. Romano did what was natural form.

"HEY YOU BASTARD! HOLD IT!"

Romano's suspicions were confirmed as the tuff bolted in the opposite direction at top speeds.

"GET BACK HERE!"

Romano charged at the figure. The thief suddenly began to run in zig-zags, evading Romano with excellent skill. the angry country soon began to tire from the tactics of the thief, giving him the opportunity to escape. Unfortunately, they hadn't counted on a certain spaniard joining the fray. Antonio quickly grabbed hold of what he knew was a young boy. The young thief began to thrash violently.

"Easy niño! We don't wanna hurt you! "

"Let me go! Put me down,"

Antonio only tightened his grip as the young boy, most likely 5 or 6, began to thrash wildly. Eventually he grew to tired to fight and gave in. Spain put him down in order to get a better look at him. The boy's hair was reddish and messy, not unlike a certain alter-ego of his. He had a pair of molten gold eyes, well tanned skin, and skeleton like figure. It was obvious he hadn't eaten anything in quite sometime. Romano finally caught up to them.

"Finally you do something right! Alright you little bastard, now you'll see where stealing gets you!" Romano was just about ready to beat the kid into a pulp, Antonio stepped between.

"Easy Romano, he's obviously hungry. I don't think he should be punished," the spaniard ignored the profanities and arguments from the it's,I a and knelt down to eye level of the boy.

"Hola niño, I'm Antonio and this is Lovino or Romano. What's your name?"

"Alex,"

"Well Alex, you look hungry,"

"I am,"

"When was the last time you ate?"

"A few days ago,"

"Tell you what, why don't we go inside and have Feliciano make us some pasta?"

"Okay,"

Antonio held out his hand, to which Alex timidly took, following close behind him with Romano cursing all the way. Once they entered the kitchen after picking up the other tomatoes, they were met by the cheerful Italian.

"VE! There you two are! The pasta is ready and I need some tomatoes. Oh, who's this?"

"This is Alex. Alex, this is Romano's brother Feliciano,"

"Call me Feli or Italy if you want!"

"Okay,"

"Alex here hasn't had a good meal for a few days,"

"VE!? How awful! Sit down, pasta is almost ready!" Sitting at the lavished table, Spain sat between Lovino and Alex, who was nervously rubbing his thumbs together. Italy soon came out and served the pasta. Alex stomach roared in hunger at the smell of pasta. Unable to resist, Alex gobbled the pasta at an alarming rate, for once in a long time satisfied.

"That was really good! Thank Mr. Feli!"

"Ve, have some more if you want Alex, we've got plenty," The young boy went through 3 more bowls before finally being satisfied. Antonio began to clean off the dishes when he decided to try and take Alex home, as he knew the boy's parents would worry.

"Say Alex, why don't I clean up and take you back home after this," Alex went stiff at this. Feli walked up to him.

"VE? Alex?"

"NO! YOU CAN'T MAKE GO BACK TO THAT AWFUL PLACE! YOU CAN'T!" Spain immediately ran to Alex, trying to calm him down.

"Take it easy Alex,"

"YOU CAN'T SEND ME BACK TO THAT HORRIBLE ORPHANAGE! I'LL JUST RUN AWAY AGAIN!"

Antonio froze at his words. He forced Alex to look him in the eye.

"Alex, you're an orphan?"

"My parents died in an accident a few years ago and I've been living in that prison ever since. I got so tired off the beatings and always being starved that I ran away. Please Antonio! Don't take me back there!" Alex began to cry and buried his face into the spaniard's shirt. Spain was shocked to say the least, but still gently wrapped his arm around the crying boy.

"Well then I guess we have no other choice: You'll just have to live here from now on,"

Alex stopped his crying and raised his head to see if had heard correctly. The stupid grin on Antonio's face confirmed it.

"You want me to stay?"

"What!? You can't be serious! No way in hell am I taking care of a thieving bastard!"

"Better a thieving bastard than a whining cry baby! I heard all of your complaints when I was hiding in that field!"

"Why you little!" Italy covered his brother's mouth and tried to make him see it their way.

"Don't be like that fratello! We have a new baby brother to hang with now!" Romano remained unamused as Antonio hoisted Alex onto his shoulder.

" For now, I think the niño should live with me. It gets kinda lonely here and I do like the idea of a child in the house again. So what do you say Alex?"

"…I guess I'm home,"