((The next day at band practice…))
"Where is Romano? He's never this late…" Arthur wondered aloud. The blonde haired, green eyed Brit was sitting in an office chair lazily playing a few cords. The tune echoed throughout the garage. Arthur tilted his head to look at Gilbert who was feeding his pet Gilbird. The Prussian was sitting on the tiny stairs that led to the house. Gilbert lived with his brother, Ludwig, but in the basement. It was like pulling teeth trying to convince Ludwig into letting them borrow the garage for band practice. Ludwig's main concern was his car that he used for work fitting in the garage. The band members redecorated the garage to be more comfortable, shoving an abandoned brown couch next to the stairs, perpendicular to the railing. They also had a big box they used as a coffee table and on that box sat a little huddle of blankets shaped like a nest. Gilbird was their biggest fan, after all. Then the necessities came in, they cleared a space for drums and a microphone.
"No idea… I walked him home last night." Gilbert pet the tiny bird gently as he spoke. "I know him and 'Tonio were fighting again."
A dirty blond American was sitting in one of Ludwig's favorite cars. It was parked in the garage specifically NOT to get scratched up or broken into. Alfred's feet were hanging out of the car, twitching to an unknown beat. "Maybe he's just busy and forgot or something…"
Gilbert scoffed. "Who could forget about me? I mean seriously…" Gilbird peeped in agreement.
Arthur raised his eyebrows. "Yes, you are quite annoying and hard to get rid of. I can hardly keep you off my mind."
Obnoxious laughter flowed out of the open car window. "Good one, Artie!"
Suddenly, the trio heard the door connected to the house open. Everybody stood still, and Alfred pushed himself off the seat, staring through the gap between his knees. Gilbert's heart shattered when he saw Romano standing in the doorway, covered in black and blue bruises. He limped down the stairs as three pairs of eyes stared at him in shock. Romano's eyebrows creased, intensifying his icy cold glare.
"What're you lookin' at?" He spat out angrily. There was dried blood under his lip.
Gilbert put his little birdie friend on Alfred's drumset, not wanting to crush him in anger. He couldn't believe this. Romano had come to band practice with bruises before but they were never this severe.
"Who did that to you, Romano?" The albino's tone was serious and he was getting more and more upset with every second. "Who the fuck hurt you?"
Romano stayed quiet, his silence only frustrating Gilbert more. He wanted to slaughter whoever hurt his best friend. The Prussian didn't want to believe Antonio hurt him, but he couldn't think of any other suspects. Gilbert took a deep breath and attempted to make eye contact with Romano.
"... Did Antonio hurt you?"
The two blond band members watched silently up until this point. Arthur saw Romano grit his teeth in irritation. The blond knew shit was about to go down, he stood pulling on Alfred's pant leg. "We should go." Alfred nodded in agreement and the percussionist maneuvered his way out of the car window.
"We'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, see you guys…"
The duo rushed out of the garage, leaving Gilbert and Romano to talk. Romano's fist clenched and within a blink of an eye Romano swung. Gilbert grunted in pain as a he received a hard punch to the face. The force of the blow stunned him for a moment.
"Don't talk about him like that!" The Italian was heaving with rage.
Gilbert narrowed his eyes at Romano, he tasted blood. Then the Prussian saw a tear slide down Romano's face. "Y-You don't know anything…"
"... Romano…" Gilbert sighed. "I'm your friend. You're supposed to be able to tell me anything." Gilbert moved closer to the Italian and wiped away the tear with his thumb. Romano stared up at him with big green eyes. Romano bit his lip, trying to keep from sobbing. The red head gripped onto Gilbert's shirt and leaned his head on the albino man's chest. Gilbert wrapped an arm around Romano's back, pulling him close.
"I-I'm sorry, G-Gilbert…" Romano cried into Gilbert's nearly soaked shirt.
"I know."
That night Romano slept in Gilbert's bed. The Prussian man took the couch. Romano fell asleep not too long after he arrived. The Italian slowly blinked his eyes open. A sudden rush of feelings went through him as he realised where he was. He had been here in this room so many times… Ironically because of Antonio (who was accusing him of cheating on him in the first place). His chest ached and he clenched the sheets in his fists and cried into them. They smelled like Gilbert.
"Gilbert…" Romano whispered in between sobs. He never thought his situation with Antonio would cause him so much trouble. The albino had suffered with him through it all. He must be such a burden to his best friend. Why did he even bother staying with him anymore? Romano couldn't see the benefit for him in any of this.
"I'm s-sorry…"
When Gilbert woke up, his Italian friend was gone already. Romano did leave behind a note:
"I'll come back tomorrow for practice.
I wrote a new song I want you and the band to hear.
It's almost finished.
Thanks."
The note was signed in beautiful cursive. Romano's handwriting always astonished Gilbert. He never knew a boy could write like that, or a girl for that matter… The albino scratched the back of his head and yawned. He sat on the couch he had slept on last night and turned on the TV.
Gilbert wondered what Romano was up to now…
Probably smoking his problems away.
