Sorry this is late. A lot of things came up. I didn't get a chance to proofread, but I'll do it in the morning. I'm too exhausted to do it tonight. Enjoy!


Lovino rolled his eyes at yet another stupid text from that crazy Spaniard as a small smile played on his lips. He replied before going back to his studying. His phone buzzed a few minutes later with an unfamiliar number. He sighed. He hated getting random calls. He declined the call and went back to work. Again the phone started to buzz, the same number popping up. Maybe it was someone from school?

"Hello?" Lovino answered, slightly annoyed.

"Lovi?" Feliciano's voice shook on the other line, almost desperate.

"Feli, what's wrong?" Lovino sat up suddenly.

"Nothing. I...I just feel sick. I need you to pick me up. I can't sign myself out and Papa won't call me out because if I don't stay here, I don't get to eat."

Lovino chewed his lip as he turned and walked toward his car. He'd been fearing this. Feliciano calling him knowing how far away he lived meant it was serious. His brother, for as whiny as he could be, never asked for Lovino to travel so far because he was sick. Something more was going on.

"Yeah, of course. I'm already on my way. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Okay. Grazie, fratellone!"

"Prego."

Lovino hung up his phone as he pulled on to the highway. He hoped and prayed the Feliciano hadn't gotten. He couldn't take an illness. Any bug he caught if his white counts were too low could be the nail in his untimely coffin. Lovino brushed a tear from his cheek. Feliciano had sounded so scared. He didn't sound sick.

His phone rang suddenly pulling him from his thoughts. He glanced down and saw that it was Antonio. The bastard never had better timing. Lovino answered.

"Pronto," he said softly.

"Lovi! Okay, so I was thinking that I can come over tonight and-"

"Feli's sick," Lovino cut him off with a hollow voice.

"Yeah. I know. Is there something else?" Antonio's voice was laced iwth concern.

"Um, I-I don't know. He just called me and he sounded so scared. I'm going to pick him up from school."

"What happened?"

"I don't fucking know! That's what's worrying me. He does this thing when things are particularly bad where he's crying and you know he's crying, but he's acting all cheerful. It scares me, Tonio. He says he's sick, but like I don't know!" Lovino took a deep breath as he willed himself not to cry.

"Oh…" Antonio hummed.

"Yeah," Lovino snapped. "Fuck! I just...I want him to be okay."

"He will be. Lovi, you can't get yourself so worked up over something you know nothing about. You're making up scenarios in your head and making yourself sick. Take a deep breath. It'll be okay. For all you know he just got embarrassed or something. He's what, fifteen?"

"Sixteen."

"He's sixteen. That's a terrible age. You remember it, don't you? I mean, you're so insecure. Add being ill on top of that and you have a major melt down on your hands. You said he hates that people acknowledge that he's sick, right? Perhaps he's got too much attention and he feels awkward. Just pick him up, don't let yourself worry, and enjoy time with your brother. You've been really emotional lately."

"Shut up! I am not emotional!" Lovino snapped.

"Fine, you're hanging your moods like a fashion model at a show. I'm just saying you need to calm down."

"Whatever…" Lovino glared at the road in front of him. "I have to go."

"I hope everything is okay with your brother, Lovi. Let me know if I can come over even if it's just to comfort you, okay? Like we don't have to do anything. We an just lay on the couch and pig out on ice cream if it makes you feel better."

"Yeah, okay. Ciao."

Lovino hung up as he pulled into the parking lot of the Feliciano's high school. He was shaking as he stepped out of his car and headed inside. He signed his brother out in the office and waited for Feliciano outside the office. His phone buzzed in his pocket. Antonio again.

Don't you worry your pretty little head! Feli will be great!

Lovino smiled and rolled his eyes. Antonio was still trying to cheer him up. What was it with this guy? Lovino replied with a smiley face and leaned against the wall, closing his eyes. What had he done to deserve such a caring person loving him?

I already bought the ice cream!

...Okay, no I didn't. I'm lying and I feel bad. :( I'll bring you some though.

OMG, FELICHANO CAN COME OVER AND I CAN MEET HIM!

Lovino couldn't help but smile. Antonio really was the sweetest. He found it endearing the way he was so eager to please. He would never admit it, except to maybe Feli, but he was falling for this man harder than he ever thought possible.

It's Feliciano. I think it's too early for that.

Aw, okay. :( I miss you, mi amor. I hope your brother is okay and I can see that tight little ass again. ;)

Lovino's cheek burned bright red as he read Antonio's text, a smile played on his lips. He was about to pocket his phone when a small bump against the side of his body pulled him back to reality. He found Feliciano stood next to him with a playful smile, his amber eyes twinkling as he looked at him from under the blue hood he had pulled over his head.

"What are you smiling about?" Feliciano asked.

"Nobody," Lovino muttered.

"The same nobody you're always texting? The same nobody that screws you almost every night?"

Lovino stared at his brother. Feliciano had always been so innocent. Of course he was sixteen and most sixteen year olds knew what sex was. He just wasn't used to his baby brother making such crude comments. It seemed almost wrong coming from his mouth. He didn't know how to respond. How did Feliciano know how often he was seeing Antonio? Lovino hadn't said anything to him about it.

"God, Feliciano, do not talk like that," Lovino snapped.

"What? You talk like that," Feliciano said putting his hands in his pockets as he hummed softly.

"Just...I don't like you talking that that way. It isn't you."

"Lovi, just because you're not used to it doesn't mean it's not me. I'm sixteen and I'm not a baby!" Feli pouted as he and Lovino walked toward the exit.

"Nobody said you were. Hey, what's wrong, huh? You had me worried sick, you little asshole. You're fine," Lovino shot his brother an annoyed glance.

"Um...I...I'll tell you later. I just want to leave. I don't feel well."

All signs of playfulness left the boy. He seemed defeated now. Lovino was suspicious as his brother stared at the ground as they walked side by side in unison. His head hung as he scuffed his feet against the tile every now and then. Lovino sighed. Feliciano was not a secretive person. Whatever this was, it was bad.

"Okay," Lovino said softly, rubbing his stomach slightly.

He was started to feel a bit nauseous. He wanted to hurry up and get to the car. He had water there. Perhaps all he needed to do was hydrate. Feliciano suddenly stopped walking, catching Lovino's attention. Lovino stopped and glanced at him.

"Are you okay?"

Feliciano grabbed Lovino in a tight hug, burying his face in the man's chest. Lovino froze for a moment before reluctantly hugging his brother back. Feli was sick even if this wasn't a safe place for him to show affection to him. What could they do to him? Feliciano wasn't going to face any trouble from it.

Just as quickly as their hug began, it ended. Feliciano pulled away, his hands once again in his hoodie pockets. He strolled toward Lovino's old black Kia and looked back at Lovino to queue him to unlock the doors. Lovino sighed, confused and worried as he pressed the button on his keychain.

"So where are we going, Feli? Our house? My apartment? Lunch? The park?" Lovino asked as he slammed his door closed and pulled his seatbelt on.

"Can we go to the store? Like one that sales clothing and hair stuff? I want to get some things," Feliciano smiled.

"Okay, but I really want to know what's going on. You keep saying you don't feel well, but you don't seem ill."

"I never feel well anymore, Lovi. I just...it's different today. I'll tell you when we get to the store, okay? I just don't want to talk right now. I'm tired."

Feliciano pulled his feet up to rest on the dashboard before hugging his hood around him, closing his eyes and facing toward the window. It was so strange. If Lovino didn't know any better, he'd say Feliciano was skipping school and he was helping. Part of him loved the idea, while another part felt a sick, sinking feeling.

They drove with Lovino's music playing. Feliciano slept the entire way there. Lovino pulled into a parking spot and nudged his little brother. Feli jumped and gave a sleepy smile before he straightened up in his seat.

"We're here already? Wow…" Feli laughed gently and pulled on his sleeves shifting slightly.

"So what's up? You told you'd tell me what's making you feel badly when we go here and we're here now, so what's going on?" Lovino asked resting his chin in his hand. He was feeling a bit more nauseous now and the fatigue that had seized his body a few weeks ago just a few days after he'd first had that slight cramping start.

"Um...okay. I knew, um…" Feliciano trailed off, his body suddenly tense as he fidgeted in his seat before he slowly ran a hand over his head and held it out to his brother.

Lovino stared in shock at the chunk of auburn hair in his brother's hand. His eyes widened and he paled a shade lighter. He slowly raised his eyes to meet Feliciano's. Tears were already in those large amber eyes. Lovino slowly shook his head as tears welled in his eyes.

"Shit…" he whispered before quickly grabbing his brother into a hug.

He allowed Feliciano to sob into his chest for a moment as he rubbed his back. Lovino felt his stomach turning. Both boys had always taken a certain amount of pride in their appearance. He couldn't imagine being sixteen and having no control over how dramatically your appearance changes. The chemo was already doing it's damage on the boy's body.

Lovino remembered high school so clearly. If you didn't have the right look, you could lose friends and not be invited to certain things. Lovino had never cared much about his social status, but he knew Feliciano loved being the center of attention and his high social standing seemed to be make him happy. Lovino had never understood the allure of being popular and going to parties. He couldn't help but wonder what the impact would be on Feliciano.

Feliciano pulled away, wiping the tears from his eyes. He offered a smile. "It happened in the middle of class when I woke up. Everyone was staring and whispering and I didn't know why until finally someone told me it was okay to put my hood on. I want to shave it all off now. I can't stand for it to fall out slowly."

"Yeah, of course. We'll get you a few beanies and you'll look so nice," Lovino comforted.

They got out of the car and made their way to the store. Feliciano picked a few beanies and got supplies to shave his head. They made their way home when Lovino couldn't take his craving anymore, despite how disgusted with himself. He pulled off the highway and into a burger place's parking lot. Feliciano glanced at him.

"Um, Lovi, why are we here?" Feli asked.

"I really, really want a burger," Lovino mumbled.

"Why?" Feliciano said slowly, scrunching his face.

"I just do! I don't….I don't know. I've been feeling strange lately. It's Antonio's fault. I don't know what he did, but he did something and now I just feel weird. I don't know why," Lovino informed his younger brother as he pulled into the drive-thru. "You want something?"

"Ew!" Feliciano scrunched his face.

"You need to eat something."

"Fine. Um. maybe a vanilla shake. I'm not really hungry."

Lovino ordered the food before driving home. Lovino scarfed his meal down as though he hadn't eaten in years. Feli watched with a horrified look as he sipped on his shake. He threw up most of what he ingested, resulting in Feliciano crying about never being able to keep anything down.

They set up a chair on the back porch. Feliciano sat down, taking a few deep breaths before removing his hoodie and shirt. Lovino buzzed the semi-long hair off the boy's head before proceeding to shave the remaining stubble. He handed his brother a mirror.

"You have a nice head, fortunately for you.," Lovino smiled.

"I look good," Feli forced a smile and hugged Lovino. "Thank you for helping me, fratellone! I love you!"

"Yeah, I love you too."

"I hope the birds can use my old hair in their nests for their babies. Did you know they do that?" Feli asked as he followed his brother inside.

"Yeah.." Lovino muttered. He felt unbelievably tired. They went to their room and fell asleep.


Feliciano and Lovino were laying in their bed laughing and joking around when the sounds of their father coming home filled the house. Feliciano's smiled dropped. He had yet to put on beanie. He liked the feeling of the hair on his skin. He wanted to let it breath for a while. He wanted to get used to it. It was likely going to be at least a few years before he had hair again. He hadn't warned their father.

"Lovi, can you tell him? I don't want to shock him," Feli asked, his voice scared.

"Yeah, sure."

Lovino stood up to let his father know what was going on when the door opened. Roma's face fell when his eyes fell on Feliciano's hairless head. The brown paper bag from the store he was holding fell from his arms and them an fell against the wall.

"Papa, are you okay?" Lovino asked rushing to him.

"I'm fine. Feliciano…"

Roma stood up and pushed past his older son to the younger. He took him in a tight hug and sobbed. He, like Lovino, had known that the boy was sick, but seeing him with the dramatic effect of the chemotherapy made it all too real, too terrifying.

"It's okay, Papa!" Feli said cheerfully hugging the man back. "Don't cry. I know I'm just so pretty."

Roma laughed through his tears and kissed his son's cheek. "Lovino, come here." Roma pulled his other son into a tight hug and kissed him. "We're family. We'll get through this. I love you both more than anything in the world. Nothing will make me stop loving you. I want you both to know that."

"Yes, Papa," Lovino promised.

"I know!" Feli smiled.

Roma went to the bags and pulled out a chocolate bar for each of his sons. The boys took it generously. As Lovino nibbled on his chocolate, he wondered what would happen if he came out to his father right there. Did he know? Why else would he had said that he wouldn't ever stop loving them? He decided against it. Roma was too upset over Feli. Feli needed the attention, not him.


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