Francis just happened to be in the area, walking by the small family owned Italian restaurant, it's not like he purposely came here after Antonio mentioned in class today that they were hiring. And it's not like he meant to quit his job at the shoe store in the mall just so he could work here. Nope he didn't mean for any of this to happen, he thought with a laugh.

He walked inside flaunting his golden locks and his perfect white smile. All it took for him to get hired was him to say that he knew his way around the kitchen. He tied his hair back and slid the glossy white apron on. He put on his hair net and started cooking up a storm. Antonio walked in and was cheerfully surprised when he saw his friend.

Francis waved at him with a smirk. "Francis! Buenos dias!" Antonio said and walked over to where he was.

"Bonjour Antonio, where's little Lovino today?" Francis asked noticing that his friend's crush was nowhere to be found today. Antonio rubbed the back of his neck as he shrugged his shoulders. Feliciano joined in the conversation by informing them both that his big brother was sick today, a cold from the sounds of it. Antonio's face couldn't hide the fact that he was worried. "Well maybe you could take him some soup after you get out of work."

Antonio nodded; it was a pretty good idea. Francis smiled and returned to cooking, but he wanted to ask his friend one more thing before they got too busy. "Oh Antonio I've been meaning to ask you something, it's about Lovino, I mean you talk about him so much…I just have to know." He said, almost over the top.

Antonio didn't seem to notice and he looked at his friend. "What is it Francis?" He asked wondering what his friend wanted to know. Francis mixed the sauce he was working on and looked up at him.

"Is Lovino your boyfriend? I feel foolish for asking, he has to be your lover with the way to talk about him. I mean it's enough to make me blush." He said as he pored the sauce over some steaming hot noodles.

Antonio's cheeks filled with blush. He didn't realize he talked about Lovino that much, now he had no idea how to tell Francis has hasn't built up the nerve to ask him out yet. He heard Feliciano giggle somewhere in the back ground, finally his head popped out from around the corner, where the sinks were. "He hasn't asked him out yet! I would know if he did." Feliciano jumped in, taking the plate from Francis to add the finishing touches.

Francis gasped and stared at his friend. "Please tell me you do plan on asking him out soon!" Francis would hate to see his friend dance the amazingly entertaining tango of desire and slow burning sexual tension. Oh who was he trying to fool, the only reason he got this job was to get a front row seat to this dance. He wanted to be close in order to pull the stings to move them if it came to that.

Antonio wasn't sure how to answer that question. He pictured how he would ask him out in his head all day, but in the end those where just daydreams. He didn't even know if Lovino was interested in him. And he really didn't want to risk his new job by asking out the boss' grandson, as if working with the person who rejected you wasn't enough.

Francis crossed his arms he didn't think it would take Antonio so long to answer such a simple question. It was only love they were talking about, not what color they should paint the wall or what dress to wear to homecoming. "Umm." Francis shook his head and raised his hand like a kindergarten teacher to silence Antonio.

"I don't want any of your silly excuses. I want to know if you're going to ask him out or not." Francis said sternly. He and Antonio both hail from romantic countries of heat and passion! Of amore! He would not allow Antonio to bring shame upon his nation by wimping out on something as easy as asking a person of interest to dinner. "That just won't do my friend, no it won't! You must ask if you like him enough! Or better yet use your charm to get dear little Lovi to ask you out instead."

Antonio eyes widened at the last comment. Lovino asking him out! The mental image he started to develop in his head was just too cute and sweet for words. Antonio smiled at his friend. "How could I get him to ask me out?" He asked loudly.

Francis gave a smile, he just loved giving romantic advice, he believed himself to be a pro in the ways of love. But before he could say a single word to help his dear friend the hyper little Italian joined into their conversation once again. "Touching lots of touching! Find silly reason to touch him, brush your hand along his as you reach for something he's reaching for. Compliment him, tell him he looks nice, or how pretty his eyes are!" He squeaked from over the stove.

After that he was forced to return to work. It was a slow day and everyone was thankful, especially Antonio. He spent the whole day thinking about what Francis and Feliciano had said. The thought of trying to flirt and woo Lovino got his cheeks all hot and red with blush. He cleaned the tables in a daze, he wondered how Lovino was feeling.

Antonio thought it would be nice if he paid him a visit after work, he would bring him some soup and see how he was doing. Before he left both Francis and Feliciano had one last bit of advice for him. "You need to smile at him, but not like how you always smile, it has to be a smile that says 'I want you', and you have to do it with your eyes."

Smiling with his eyes, he wasn't sure what they went by that, but he didn't really want to listen to them explain it, who knows how long that would have take. "Anything else I should know?" He asked, he honestly didn't want to mess anything up with Lovino. He really liked him and he didn't want to ruin his chances.

Francis wrapped his arm around his shoulder. "Flaunt your Spanish flair, speak to him in Spanish, just simple words so he can understand you." He told him with a happy smile. He couldn't wait to see how their relationship would go. After Antonio left, Gilbert arrived to pick Francis up.

Grandpa Varnas welcomed the albino inside. Once inside they all joked about Antonio and Lovino. They went as far as to place bets on when they would get together. Francis knew he would win; he always won these kinds of bets. Gilbert bet that they would both be too stupid and shy to ever admit to anything and that they would always be suffering sexual tension until years later when it would just snap and they would fuck each other on one of the tables.

After a good laugh Francis climbed into Gilbert's white minivan or the Man Van as he affectionately called it. They went out for a few drinks at a local drive bar. Gilbert was still laughing under his breath. His poor friend Antonio didn't know what he was getting himself into.

Once Francis decided to play cupid and aim his painful little arrows of love, you were done for. Gilbert has played victim to Francis arrows before. There was the time with Elizaveta, which was an epic failure; she's married now to his cousin who he doesn't get along with. Then there was the other time Francis tried to hook Gilbert up with his young cousin Matthew. Actually that one wasn't so bad, until Matthew dumped him for Ivan.

Francis stared at his friend and sensed his bad mood. "Now Gilly-bear don't be like that. Your grumpy face is so unattractive. I promise not to get you involved this time! I swear!" He smirked and held out his pinky. Gilbert stared at the tiny finger and rolled his eyes.

"You must think I'm stupid…if you're not going to involve me in your little love game, then why are you going to ask me to get a job there. I already have a job." He said leaning back in his chair, drinking his beer. Francis pouted his lip. Francis was so predictable, a creature of habit, like a shark.

"Aww please Gilly-bear! It'll be so much more fun with you there, besides you hate the job you have now! Pretty please Gilly come on you know you want to. It'll be tons of fun! Come on, s'il vous plait." Francis begged and pouted. He would keep pestering until he got him to cave and agree, Gilbert knew this, finishing his beer he gave a sigh.

He sat it down on the counter and the bartender got him a new one. "Fine I'll get the fucking job there. Just know that I hate you, bitch." Gilbert grumped but Francis could have sworn he saw a smirk cross his face.

….

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Next chapter should be up later this week or next week.

I got a few days off so I'm going to use them to work on this. Sorry friends.