Hi everyone ! How are you ?

I wanted to thank you all for the encouraging reviews, I truly appreciated it ;)

I hope you like this fourth chapter. Enjoy !

Pairings :

US x UK

Germany x Italy

Spain x Romano

I own nothing.


Arthur dipped another piece of cotton into the alcohol-filled tray then brought it up to Alfred's cheek. He tried as gently as possible to clean the angry-looking bruises. He didn't want to cause the American any further pain.

As he worked silently, Arthur could feel Alfred's eyes on him. He tried to concentrate on the task at hand yet his eyes seemed to have a mind of their own.

His eyelids lifted up and then he saw it. An unexplainable intensity shone through blue orbs, so powerful and so raw. The British's breath hitched and died in his suddenly-dry throat.

Their eyes locked for a moment, time stood still and everything seemed to disappear. Once it became too much, Arthur dropped his eyes back to the American's cheek.

" I'm sorry…" Alfred started, his voice so quiet that Arthur almost missed it.

" What for ? " Just as quietly, Arthur replied but still refused to meet Alfred's eyes again . He feared losing himself in those endless pools of blue.

" For making you go through all of this." Alfred took a deep breath " You don't deserve any of it."

Arthur stopped and glanced up. Alfred's eyes were staring at him with such sincerity that he almost couldn't bear to look away.

He gently brushed a hand against the taller blond's abused skin and sighed.

" You know, in all my life, no one has ever stood up for me the way you did." Arthur smiled, a small smile filled with melancholy and sadness.

Alfred brought up both of his hands and cupped Arthur's face.

" I'm so sorry, I …. "

Arthur cut him short with a shake of his head, the British swallowed down the lump that was starting to form in his throat.

" My parents… they do not care. To them, I'm a mistake." Alfred's chest tightened in pain as Arthur's beautiful green eyes started to suspiciously brighten.

" My parents, they never loved each other. They had had sex, my father was eighteen and my mother was barely seventeen at that time. She got pregnant, accidently." Arthur glanced away, trying to fight the tears that begged to be shed.

" Artie…" Alfred took Arthur's pale hands in his own and squeezed. " you don't have to tell-"

" No please, just let me.. I…I want to tell you."

Alfred nodded his head and offered the British an encouraging smile.

" My mother's parents were Catholics and they threatened to have my father arrested if he didn't take responsibility. So, against their will, my parents got married as soon as they graduated. After two years, they divorced. My mother remarried and so did my father. Even since, I've been living with my father and his wife. They have a daughter together; they shower her with all the love and the attention in the world, and me… I'm still as invincible as ever."

Arthur laughed; a dry laugh lacing with bitterness.

" You know, the worst of it all is that feeling, that horrible feeling of not belonging, of being stranger in your own home. When you family is not your family anymore."

Arthur bit down at his lips, trying to keep the tears bottled inside but even his self-control failed him. Fresh hot tears raced down his cheeks and soft whimpers begin to escape his trembling lips.

Arthur's heartbreaking tears cut a knife through Alfred's chest. Pain like no other clenched around his heart, he felt his own eyes water as he moved forward and engulfed the smaller blond in his arms.

Arthur's hands clenched around Alfred's jacket as he found himself cocooned in the American's comforting warmth. He buried his face against Alfred's firm chest and cried in abandon.

Alfred buried his nose in Arthur's golden hair and inhaled softly. He rubbed his hands back and forth on the green-eyed's back, soothing him.

Alfred didn't realize for how long they stayed like that, in each other arms, until the school bell rung, signaling the beginning of the first period.

Arthur slowly pulled himself out of Alfred's arms and sniffed. His eyes, nose and cheeks were covered with a soft layer of red. His blond eyelashes were still dripping with droplets of tears.

Alfred brushed one large hand against Arthur's flushed cheeks. He tenderly wiped away the remaining tears. Then, he leaned over and dropped a chaste kiss on each of Arthur's eyelids.

" Feel better? " He softly asked, his face barely inches away from Arthur's.

" Yes.. " Arthur chuckled " Surprisingly, I do…"

Alfred smiled brightly. He, playfully, brushed his nose against Arthur's who let out another soft chuckle of his. Its sound was melodic and musical to Alfred's ears.

" I like the sound of your laugh much better. You could use it more often."

Arthur blushed and glanced away.

" I never knew you were the blushing type." Alfred teased and earned himself a glare from Arthur, who tried to make it look threatening but failed.

" I'm not ! " Arthur denied with a flushed face and Alfred couldn't help but laugh louder.

Alfred rose to his feet and offered Arthur his hand.

" It's time for class, we better not be late. We wouldn't want to spend our morning at dear Olga's office. Would we ? "

Arthur's face frowned at the mention of the principal's name and Alfred snickered.

" Definitely not ."

Arthur took Alfred hand and rose. The American's hand felt big and warm against his own and Arthur smiled.

Alfred's warmth felt so good and his mere presence made Arthur feel safer, livelier. He yearned to have to the taller blond closer and closer, for always.

If only he could keep reminding himself that it was just acting. Neither of them were gay. Furthermore, The American only thought of him as a friend and nothing more.

Now if only he would know why that single thought made his chest tighten and his smile fade away ?

Just, Why ?


Opening his locker, Feliciano gathered whatever books he needed for the first period and shut it close.

He checked to make sure he had the right books when he noticed his history book. He opened it and flipped through its pages until he found the letter nested within.

It's the love letter he wrote for Ludwig last night. He wanted to give it the German this morning but because of the fight that took place in the hall, he kept it.

He though he'd give it to him during the lunch break.

Feliciano's hands clenched around the letter and he started to wonder if he truly had the courage to confess at all.

He knew it was simple. Go to Ludwig's lunch table, ask for a word with him, give him the letter and then go back to his business but easier said than done.

His hands still shook with nervousness and uncertainty whenever he thought of the simple idea of talking to Ludwig.

God, he couldn't even look the blond in the eye let alone speak to him !

" Come on , we're going to be late ! " Feliciano flinched, taking off guard.

He turned around to find his twin brother's eyes looking back at him, irritation lurking in deep pools of chocolate-brown.

" Are done yet ? " Lovino raised one perfectly-arched brown eyebrow at him, hands settled atop of his hips.

Feliciano sighed. It was just Lovino being his usually grumpy self.

" yup, " Feli tried to offer his brother a cheerful smile only to have Lovino frown back at him. Not working, as always, Might as well give it up.

" Let's go then."

The Italian twins strode toward their classroom in silence until Lovino reluctantly decided to break it.

" I met that Spanish bastard yesterday."

Feliciano noticed the way Lovino's face slightly flushed but he wasn't sure if it was out of anger, annoyance or maybe, something else.

" Who ?" the younger of the two furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

" You know the bastard who moved next door to ours, two weeks ago. " Lovino clarified with an almost bitter tone.

An image of a tall, tan, green-eyed teen flashed through Feliciano's mind.

" Ah ! You mean Antonio ?"

" Whatever." Lovino's eyes glimmered with something akin to anger " How come you know his name ? I take it you two are well acquainted then ?"

Feliciano didn't like the way his brother was addressing him. Lovino's tone sounded unpleasantly accusing.

" He is a nice guy. He took care of Mila when she injured her leg. " Feliciano replied referring to their one-month old kitten.

" He didn't take care of Mila ! He stole her !" Lovino's voice rose heatedly drawing some of the students' attention to them.

" Don't yell." Feliciano whispered, Lovino snorted in contempt.

" First of all, Antonio didn't steal Mila or anything. She was wandering around in his parents' garden and fell off the apple tree. She injured her leg and he bandaged it for her. He gave her some milk and fish and then handed her back to mom."

" So, now it's me who comes off as the bad guy, huh ?" Lovino hissed.

Feliciano's eyes widened as he stared back at his older twin. He felt his own jaws as they began to clench in aggravation.

" Jesus Lovino, You know what ? Forget it … just drop it, OK ? "

Feliciano sped up his steps, trying to get away from his brother so he could cool off.

Lovino caught up with him in no time.

" I'm sorry, ok ! " Feli stopped and glanced back at his twin. Lovino averted his eyes away, avoiding eye-contact. " That was uncalled for…"

Feli sighed defeatedly. He knew he couldn't stay mad at Lovino, no matter what.

" Want to tell me something then ?" He encouraged his twin knowing well that Lovino had more to say.

" It's just… I don't like him." Lovino admitted quietly " He pisses me off, something about him makes my blood boil. He always manages to make me feel so….so….."

" So… ?" Feliciano cajoled softly.

" Bothered ? I don't know. Really Feli, I just… I don't know !" Lovino's flushed face turned a shade darker, his eyes were restless as they tried to look at anything but at Feliciano.

Feliciano smiled gently. He took his brother's hands in his and squeezed.

" It's okay, Lovi. Maybe once you get to know Antonio, you will come to like him. Just give him a chance ,OK ? He's really nice, you could be friends."

Lovino's eyes slowly lifted up and met Feli's. The older twin sighed.

" Okay, I will try."

" Great ! " Feliciano smiled brightly then reached for Lovino's wrist, urging him to walk faster. " Let's hurry or else, we'll end up in Olga's office and believe me, that's the last thing you'd ever want ."

" Please, don't even say it !"

Feliciano just laughed.

As they were about to enter the classroom, Lovino squeezed his younger brother's hand tighter and offered Feli one of his rare smiles.

" I'm sorry about what I said before." Feliciano wanted to ask for a clarification when Lovino added hastily. " About Ludwig. You should confess, you don't know. Maybe he will agree to go out with you."

Feliciano smiled sadly and looked away.

" I don't think so."

Lovino leaned closer, patting his younger's twin shoulder.

" It doesn't hurt to hope. You never know."

Feli gazed back at dark brow eyes and for the first time, he saw understanting and compassion shining brightly through them.

He inched closer and gave Lovino a brief hug.

" Thank you, Lovi."

He felt it as Lovino hugged him back, almost tentatively at first then more openly.

" You're always welcome, fratellino."


How was it ? I hope you liked it ! more to come soon.

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