Ema checked her reflection, making sure her headband was in in place and her fringe wasn't doing anything stupid before entering The Red Café and skipping over to the counter.
"Hola, Ema." greeted Antonio. "You look especially pretty today. Where are you going?" he asked.
"I'm meeting a few friends and we're going to the cinema." replied Ema. "I'm just calling in to see if Feli wants to come."
Seeing the look that crossed Antonio's face, Ema sighed. "I'll be there the whole time, don't worry. I can keep an eye on him."
Antonio chuckled. "It's not me you have to convince." he said, lifting the hatch in the counter.
Ema thanked him and ducked under his arm, walking into the kitchen to find Lovino doing about thirty things at once.
"Good afternoon, Lovino." she greeted.
Lovino glanced over his shoulder. "Afternoon, Ema. Could you pass me that teaspoon, please?"
Ema glanced around before spotting aforementioned teaspoon, picking it up and handing it to Lovino.
Lovino thanked her and dipped the spoon into a mug, stirring the liquid inside.
"Why so rushed? It's not that busy right now." Ema looked through the small window into the café, finding only two tables occupied.
With a sigh, Lovino ran a hand through his hair, tossing the teaspoon into the sink. "I'm always rushed. With the café and making sure Feli takes his medicine. And today just really isn't my day." he replied.
Ema gave a sympathetic smile. "Speaking of Feli," she said. "I'm on my way to meet a few friends, we're going to the cinema. I was wondering if Feli wanted to come with us?"
Lovino was about to say no, but paused with a barely audible hum. "Actually, it might be a good idea for him to be out today, at least until about three o'clock." He looked up at the clock on the wall. An hour and a half until three. "Okay, then."
Ema smiled, giving Lovino a quick hug and thanking him before dashing up the stairs. She stopped in front of the familiar paint-splattered door, drumming her knuckles across the wood.
"Who's there?" called Feliciano from inside.
Ema opened the door and poked her head in. "Me!" she giggled.
Feliciano was sat at his desk, playing on his laptop. "Ema!" he chimed, jumping up from his seat to hug the Belgian.
"Alright, love?" she asked, hugging him back. "What are you doing?"
"Playing OFF." replied Feliciano.
Ema smiled. "I love OFF! What part are you on?"
Feliciano went back to the laptop, Ema following behind him. "I'm trying to defeat Japhet." he said, pressing a few keys.
On the screen, Japhet attacked, killing the Batter.
Feliciano huffed, folding his arms.
With a chuckle, Ema offered to help him. An offer Feliciano gladly took.
They played for a little while, before Ema noticed the time.
"Oh," she jumped up. "I almost forgot. Do you want to come to the cinema with me?" she asked. "I've already asked Lovi and he said you could."
Feliciano smiled. "Okay, then." he said.
When they finally reached the cinema, the rest of the group, plus Kiku, Ludwig and Elizabeta were waiting for them.
Feliciano's smile brightened when he saw Ludwig. He dashed forwards and literally jumped into the larger boy's arms. "I didn't know you were going to be here!" he yelled, excitedly.
"Careful, Feli!" scolded Ludwig, managing to steady both himself and Feliciano before they fell to the ground.
Feliciano pouted. "Hug me back! Hug me back!" he whined, sticking out his bottom lip.
With a sigh, Ludwig wrapped his arms around the Italian. "Alright, calm down."
Hardly a metre away, Elizabeta was observing the pair with a small smile.
"What are you thinking?" asked Kiku.
Elizabeta shrugged. "I'm just wondering how much we really need to interfere here. They seem really close." she replied, twirling a lock of brunette hair around her finger.
"Oi, it's rude to whisper!" whined Wendy.
"You guys are taking too long. We're going in without you." said Michelle, dragging Mei and Lili into the building.
"Wait for us!" cried Feliciano.
"This is to be our final transmission."
The old radio buzzed, static interrupting the voice that spoke solemnly.
"The rebels have defeated our illustrious armies. They have damaged our intention of ugly and defiant malevolence."
Italy shivered, leaning his head against Germany's arm.
Germany gave him a bittersweet smile, putting an arm around him and stroking his hair.
"All that we love and care for will sink into the abyss of a new dark age. Made more sinister and perhaps more protracted by the light of perverted science and rebellion."
They had been defeated. Of course, now they realised that they were doomed from the start, but that brought little comfort.
"The whole root and heavy core will perish in starving captivity. You will never win your freedom. You cannot escape... F.E.A.R."
The radio buzzed out, leaving only the sound of the relentless rain that soaked both nations.
Italy shook even harder, pulling his jacket further around himself. He hid his face in Germany's chest, trying to cover up his soft sobs.
With a sigh, Germany pulled him closer. "Italy..." he whispered.
"Feliciano!"
Feliciano opened his eyes. "Huh?"
Elizabeta chuckled. "You fell asleep half way through the movie, sweetie." she said.
Feliciano made a face, rubbing his eyes.
"What's wrong?" asked Ludwig.
"Nothing." replied Feliciano. "I just had a really weird dream..."
"We should go." said Elizabeta. "The others left already."
The three got up from their seats. Feliciano, still being half asleep, leant against Ludwig and put his thumb in his mouth.
"Don't go back to sleep on me!" scolded Ludwig, half-heartedly as he lifted the lethargic Italian anyway.
Elizabeta watched with a small smile as Feliciano inevitably fell straight back to sleep with his head on Ludwig's shoulder. These two were undoubtedly the cutest soon-to-be couple she'd seen in a long time.
By the time they were half way to the café, Feliciano was awake enough to walk. But he still kept a thumb in his mouth and a firm hold on Ludwig's arm.
"Aren't you a little old to still suck your thumb?" asked Ludwig with a raised eyebrow.
Feliciano shrugged. "I don't care how old I am." he replied around his thumb. "It's a comfort thing. Everyone has a comfort thing." He pulled his thumb out of his mouth and began counting on his fingers. "I suck my thumb. Lovino likes to curl up on the sofa. Antonio said that Lovino is his comfort thing. I don't think I want to know what he really meant by that, but I have a good clue, since the walls at the café are kind of thin and—"
"Feliciano!" Ludwig yelled, suddenly, frightening the life out of poor Feli. "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to stop you there."
They walked the rest of the way in silence, Feliciano going back to hugging Ludwig's arm and sucking his thumb.
Eventually, they reached the café. Feliciano opened the door and stepped inside, turning back to face Ludwig. "Do you wanna...?"
"I-I should probably..."
The two glanced at each other and shared an awkward chuckle.
"Well," said Ludwig. "See you at school."
Feliciano nodded, watching as Ludwig walked up the street towards his own home.
Once he was out of sight, Feliciano closed the door and leant against it. Was it his imagination, or did that feel like the end of a date?
With a sigh, he walked through the café, ignoring the customers as he ducked under the hatch, which was left open for some reason. Odd.
"I'm ho—"
Before he could finish, he found himself glomped to the ground. "Feli!" cried an excitable voice.
Feliciano looked down to see his younger brother wrapped around his waist. "M-Marcy?" He smiled as he returned the boy's hug. "What are you doing here?"
"I missed you and Lovi, so I convinced Nonno to let me come and stay here."
"That's amazing!"
"Will you two shut up!" yelled Lovino, picking them both up off the floor, then going about his business.
"Sorry, Lovi." said the two boys, in unison. They moved into the living room, where they wouldn't be under their brother's feet.
"So," Marcello said, throwing himself down on the sofa. "What's her name?"
Feliciano raised an eyebrow. "Who's name?" he asked.
"The girl you were with today."
"Oh," Feliciano smiled. "Well, there was Elizabeta, Ema, Michelle, Mei, Wendy and Lili." he replied.
Marcello looked up in amazement. "You were with that many girls at once? Lucky!"
Feliciano's face burned bright red as he suddenly realised what Marcello had actually meant. "N-No! It wasn't like that! They're just my friends! Kiku and Ludwig were there too!" he rambled, shaking his head.
The look of amusement faded from Marcello's face. "Who's Ludwig? I've heard you talk about Kiku before, but not Ludwig."
"He's my best friend! He moved here about a week ago."
"You've known him for a week and he's your best friend?" Marcello dead panned. "I wish I had your friend-making skills."
End Note: Ugh, I hate this chapter! It was such a pain in the arse to write and a lot of it is dialogue. I am so sorry, followers. I'm such a failure~ *dramatic tears* Feel free to bitch and moan that it is really bad, because it is and I am sorry.
Remember last chapter I said I had a surprise for you? SURPRISE, I MEANT MARCELLO! I love Marcy! I wish I had put him in some of my other fics, but oh, well. He's here now! (in case anyone doesn't know, Marcello is Seborga.)
The speech on the radio in Feliciano's dream is F.E.A.R: Final Transmission from Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones (and Legion of the Black). If anyone already knew that, you are an awesome individual!
About the rating going up, most of you seemed to want it, a few weren't bothered and one of you really didn't want it. I think it will go up, but it won't be until the very end, so you can skip over it, if you want. See, aren't I nice?
~Lolly xXx
