Here's the next chapter!
Quick question: Would people prefer PruCan or PruHun? That gives you a hint of who's going to make an appearance.
~X~
"Better?" Lovino asked, once Feliciano had dried his face and rested for a bit. His brother nodded and looked up. His lovely amber eyes bored into Lovino's green ones.
"Yes…" he said softly, hugging his brother around the waist tightly. Lovino brushed Feliciano's hair down gently and laid his lips to rest on the top of his head. When Feliciano broke away he made for the swing, dragging Lovino with him. He clamored on to it and scooted to the far edge. Lovino climbed next to him, they were both able to fit upon it, as it had once held Grandpa Roma as well.
Feliciano kicked his legs slowly back and forth, as they hovered far from the ground once he had sat. He grasped the ropes of the swing firmly in one hand; the other found Lovino's fingers and laced his own though them.
No one had come looking for them, but Lovino knew it was only a matter of time.
"What can we do….?" Lovino muttered ever so quietly to no one in particular. The only answer was the rattling of a woodpecker far in the distance.
"…Switzerland, Lovino…." Feliciano breathed, "Switzerland."
"What are you talking about?" Lovino asked, worried that his brother had lost it.
"We could call up Vash, he could help us." Feliciano said excitably. Vash was their friend from Switzerland. Barely eighteen, Vash was still rather young. But he did have experience caring for younger people. His adopted sister was a few years younger than him, and he had practically raised her.
Vash was great when it came to weapons and stuff like that, but Lovino wasn't sure if he would help here. But Switzerland was really close to where they were. But it was also close to Austria.
"I don't think he would help, he can't come get us, and we can't walk there." Lovino said quietly.
"Francis?" Feliciano asked.
"The Frenchman? He visited only twice Feliciano, and both times he ended up drunk and passed out on the floor."
Francis was a rather interesting character. He cared for the twins, but had the oddest way of showing it.
"What about….ah…." Feliciano mumbled, trying to think of anyone else they knew that would help them. "What about Wang, remember him?" he asked suddenly.
"But….he lives in China, and that's a long, long way away."
"How far?"
"Real far."
"Oh…."
There was a silence in which both boys tried to think of people they could go to. They never got out much, so they had no friends other than each other.
"Wait! I know!" Feliciano exclaimed suddenly. "You know Alfred, the weapons guy that Grandpa hired a month ago or so?" he asked.
"Yeah…?" Lovino asked, wondering what his brother was trying to get at.
"He's going back to America in a few weeks, he told us, remember?" Feliciano asked, his eyes lighting up.
"That's right! We can ask him, and he can take us with him. That way we'll be safe, but in America! And we can send postcards and letters to Grandpa and everyone!" Lovino said brightly, thinking splendidly of the idea.
'Let's go!" Feliciano said, jumping down and nearly falling. Lovino slid off more carefully and hurried after his brother as he took off toward the house. They passed the red rose as they left, for it had fallen upon the grass.
Somewhere inside Lovino knew the plan had major flaws, but in their desperation there was nothing else they could think of. Lovino saw the flowers along the way that Feliciano had placed there earlier.
"Wait." Lovino said suddenly, grabbing Feliciano's arm tightly. They stopped and Lovino made a 'shh' gesture with his finger. They listened.
As if from far away they could hear voices calling their names. It sounded like the adults, all of them. They both slunk towards the nearest tree and hid behind it.
"Are they looking for us?" Feliciano asked, grasping Lovino's arm in his own.
"For you more likely." Lovino said grumpily. He wouldn't let them touch his brother though, no one would.
"Boys?" asked a sudden voice from their left. Both of them jumped, but their voices caught in their throats and neither yelled. Feliciano tumbled to the ground in an attempt to stumble away.
Looking down at them was Arthur; his blonde hair looked untidy and ruffled. He didn't call for the others right away, but bent down out of sight of anyone and talked quietly.
"Arthur! Don't tell them we're here!" Lovino pleaded. His eyes shone brightly with a tense sort of alertness. He was ready for make a dash for it.
"What were you thinking? Don't run away like that." He scolded, pulling Feliciano to his feet and brushing leaves off his shoulder. His shirt at the shoulder had torn. Lovino's vest had a large rip down the side.
"They want to take Feli away!" Lovino hissed, wrapping his arms around Feliciano from behind and hugging him.
"Boys…." Arthur said quietly.
"You….you knew, didn't you?" Feliciano asked quietly, drooping his head, "You were a bit out of it earlier, you knew that Roderich wants me to go to Austria, didn't you?"
"I…yes, I knew. Everyone did." Arthur admitted, "You have to go." He added.
"No!" Lovino exclaimed, "Arthur, please! Take us to Alfred, you know, the American, we're going to escape with him!" he burst out.
"Alfred won't h-" he was cut off as a voice called.
"Arthur? Arthur!? Where the hell have you gone to man!?" Then a blonde had burst through a large bush behind them. It was Alfred. Lovino and Feliciano looked at him for a moment, blinking.
"Alfred!" Feliciano exclaimed, running over and grabbing his legs tightly. Alfred looked down at him in surprise, nearly falling.
"Whoa, little dude, what are you doing?" he asked. Feliciano looked up at him, his large eyes watering.
"Please take us back to America with you! I don't want to go to Austria!" Feliciano pleaded, tugging at the weapons specialists' pants.
"I…Feliciano, Lovino, you know I can't." he said quietly.
Feliciano backed away like he had received a shock. His expression of hurt and disbelief was antagonizing and made Alfred wince. He kneeled down, facing the boys and Arthur.
"I'm sorry, but I can't take you back, because I'm not going back." He clarified.
"What?!" exclaimed Lovino. Their hope had vanished, they had to get away though, run away if they had to.
"Why are you staying?!" wailed Feliciano, dropping down to his knees and thumping a hand against the ground softly, repeatedly. Alfred blinked and didn't answer right away, then spoke slowly.
"I found…a reason to." He said. For a moment the twin's concerns for themselves vanished, to be replaced by curiosity.
"I didn't know you were staying. Why didn't you bloody tell me!?" Arthur exclaimed. He rolled his eyes, then sighed and shook his head.
"Shut it British dude!" Alfred said, clenching a fist and shaking it. Yet he had a smile on his face.
"Honestly Alfred, why?" Arthur asked, looking at him with a questioning look in his eyes. Lovino slowly began to tug Feliciano away from the scene.
"Just cuz." Alfred muttered simply, shrugging.
"Well I think-Hey you two! Don't leave!" he exclaimed, seeing the twins inch away slowly. Lovino shook his head and took off running, hearing Feliciano right behind him. There was the sound of groans, then larger feet padding after them.
"Where are we going!?" Feliciano asked, gasping for breath as they ran. Lovino didn't answer, for he didn't know.
~X~
Before they knew it they were back at their house. They burst into the backyard, gasping for breath still. Feliciano nearly collapsed with his exhaustion, his little legs shaking as he held himself us. Lovino panted, but looked, horrified, at the people in front of him.
"Lovino! Feliciano!" roared Roman, who just happened to be in the yard when they burst into it. He swooped down upon the brothers and pulled them both into a great hug. He held them close together and tightly. Feliciano refused to hug his grandpa back, which was a first in his life, and Lovino looked away from his guardian.
"Roma! You found them, good!" exclaimed a voice, "I was worried!" It was Elizaveta; she hurried over, hitching her dress over her ankles and dashing forwards. She grabbed Feliciano into a great bear hug and rocked him side to side.
"Let go!" Feliciano cried, "Please!" Well, no one could say that he wasn't polite, even while kicking his small feet against the soft dress of the Hungarian. He closed his eyes tightly and froze. Roma set Lovino down, but grasped his vest in one hand so he wouldn't leave.
Elizaveta stood up, carrying Feliciano like a small child. Upon seeing how far down it was Feliciano grabbed her sleeves tightly. He was scared of heights.
"Roderich! Arthur, Alfred!" Roman called, looking around. "Where did everyone get to?" he wondered.
Lovino's mind was in a state of horror. They had to get away. If they stayed the adults would certainly tear them apart. That wasn't going to happen ever of course, nothing could.
Then from behind them stumbled Arthur and Alfred, both men panting, their eyes going wild as they looked for the siblings they had been chasing.
"Oh….he's found them." Arthur said helpfully.
"I would have never noticed. Thank you for pointing that out." Alfred said sarcastically. "Sorry, Sir, we had them, but they got away…I guess you have it handled now?" he asked.
"Quite, thank you. You may return inside if you wish, and if you see Roderich tell him to get here quickly." Roma instructed.
"Right, thank you sir." Alfred said respectfully, and then bounced away inside. Arthur trailed slowly after him, casting gazes at the small boys. Lovino and Feliciano sent him the most heartbreaking betrayed looks. The man had almost been a father figure to them, he had been in the house for three years, and had cared for them. Yet he hadn't helped them when they needed it.
"Boys, don't, I repeat, do not, run off like that!" Roma scolded. He grabbed Lovino's upper arm tightly and crouched down next to him, "Why did you go?" he asked.
Lovino tried to get free, tried to break away.
"You were going to take Feli form me!" he wailed, hitting his grandfathers' arm with all the strength he could muster.
"It's not for forever; it'll be over before you know it." Roma soothed. "I'm sure you'll get over It." he added. That wasn't comforting, but Roma had never been the best at comforting.
"Please…" Feliciano said quietly form Elizaveta's arms, "Don't make me…"
His small voice was so quiet, so desperate that doubt flickered in both adults' eyes.
"You have to go, Feli." Roma said, looking away.
"WHY!?" Feliciano screamed suddenly, thrashing his arms violently and almost hitting Elizaveta in the face.
"Because, you will…you'll understand when you're older." Roman sighed.
"Roma! You found them!" yelled a voice. They all looked to see Roderich striding towards them briskly. He smiled slightly at Feliciano, and then scowled at Lovino, who stuck his tongue out.
"Yes, yes." Roma said offhandedly.
"Good, then we need to discuss when we'll leave." Roderich said.
"No! You're not listening!" Lovino cried, hitting his grandpa's chest now, "Why don't you hear me out!?" he wailed, "Please!"
They ignored him, Roma simply stood up and picked the small child up tightly, crushing Lovino to his chest.
"Let's get inside." He said, and the other two nodded. Roderich led the way back inside, holding the door open for Roma and Elizaveta. They returned to the same room. Antonio was lounging on the couch, looking quite bored.
'Oh…you found them!"
~X~
"When do you leave for Austria then?" Roma asked once everyone had calmed down. Arthur had brought them all some tea. Lovino pointedly threw his down, spilling it, and Feliciano ignored his.
"Tomorrow, or the day after. Depends on if we have anything we need to discuss before we leave." Roderich said.
"Tomorrow?" Elizaveta asked. "Isn't that too soon? We should give the boys time with each other." She offered. Feliciano cast her a thankful look, but a tear slid form his eye.
"They won't need that much time, they're young, and they bounce back quickly." Roderich said, feeling no sympathy.
"We're right HERE!" Lovino growled, baring his teeth.
"Calm down Lovi!" Antonio exclaimed heartily. Lovino stood on the couch and looked the Spaniard in the eyes.
"Don't. Call me. Lovi!" he hissed, throwing himself at Antonio and hitting him with all his might. Antonio laughed and grabbed Lovino under the arms, holding him away. Lovino's fingers didn't even get close to Antonio's nose when he tried to lash out.
"Let him go!" Feliciano cried, hopping up and tugging at Lovino's legs. Antonio set him back down as Roma cleared his throat.
"I think it's best if we don't wait this out, it will only be harder." Roderich said as if nothing had happened.
"That….that's right." Roma said, his voice tight.
'If you're so sad about it, then why are you letting this happen old man!?" Lovino yelled, glaring at Roma. Their grandpa looked surprised at Lovino's suddenly harsh voice.
"It has to be done." He said simply. "There's nothing you can do about it. Boys, go upstairs and get changed, your clothes are torn. Elizaveta, if you could go with them, make sure they don't' run off?" he asked.
"Of course." The kind lady said, getting up and walked over to Feliciano, taking his hand and pulling him down. She offered a hand to Lovino, who refused it and followed her. He didn't want to follow her, but she had his brother and he felt as if he had to.
They were silent as she led them to Feliciano's room first. Someone, probably Arthur, had already set out a new set of clothes. Elizaveta closed the door lightly behind Lovino and smiled slightly at them as they gazed upon her.
"Come now, don't give me the sad eyes." she scolded gently, leaning down and shaking her head.
"You're mean." Lovino said under hiss breath. Apparently she heard him though.
"Don't be like that now." She said, blinking in her surprise. She grabbed the clothes from the bed and pulled Feliciano up on the mattress, unbuttoning his vest. "I know you're both very, very upset." She started, "But this is something that has to be done. Consider yourself lucky actually, for if Roderich had his way he would have brought you to Austria three years ago. Maybe even more." She said, "You don't' know why now of course, but when you are older all will be clear." She finished.
She slid the vest off Feliciano's shoulders, and then removed his now stained shirt. Feliciano didn't ever meet her eyes and looking down. He was shivering slightly. Feliciano didn't' move as she finished dressing him, now in a set of robes to wear around the house on a casual day.
"Say something dear Feliciano." Elizaveta said softly. Feliciano looked her right in the eyes; he slid down to the bed and walked over to Lovino. Sliding an arm through his brother's he gave her a defeated look and spoke.
"I hate you."
~X~
Feli hates Elizaveta!? *Gasp* no way! Anyway, thanks for sticking with me. I still hope this story it alright, and that people with Review/Fav!