Most Italicized text at the beginning will indicate that they are speaking Italian. It is like this because I don't speak Italian, nor (most likely, there are those special few) does anyone who reads this.
When they arrived at the market, it was already in full swing and people moved from shop to shop. Lovino watched the money change hands, from buyer to seller and vice versa. He knew the way money went, but this was the first time in a long time he watched as a buyer and not just a common thief. Even so, he couldn't help the urge to swipe something from every shop they past, but he knew that if he did, it would cause trouble for his brother; he would be good for now. If didn't help that he felt paranoid that someone might recognize him, know him from his habit to wander through the shops.
"Ah, here we are," Arthur said, and led them into a cozy looking shop. Dresses and suits stood in the windows and fabrics of many colors and textures hung on the walls.
He heard a gasp of awe from his little brother as he ran his hands over the rich cloth. "This is amazing," Feliciano breathed.
"Welcome," a long-haired brunet greeted them in Italian, smiling pleasantly. "Is there anything I can help you with?"
Arthur gave them a helpless look, not understanding what'd been said. He could help but roll his eyes. "He asked if he could help us."
"Oh."
He turned to the shopkeeper and said, "My brother and I need proper clothes."
"Toris! Like, I can't find the buttons!" A heavily accented voice came from behind the brunet, now known as Toris.
"Please, excuse me." Toris shot them a sheepish smile before hurrying towards the voice.
Beside him, Feliciano laughed. "I really want a dress. These are so pretty."
"No."
"I don't see why he can't have one," Arthur commented idly. "He seems to really want one."
"He's a boy!"
"So? Signorina Elizebeta use to dress like a boy, remember?" Feliciano pouted adorably.
"Argh! Do whatever the hell you want!" He threw his hands up into the air. "I don't care anymore!"
During their small chat, Toris had come back with a smaller blond, who wore a pink dress. "You would look totally great in green," the blond said, walking circles around his brother, before moving on to Lovino. "And you would look, like, wonderful in red."
"You're not getting me in a dress," he growled.
Feliciano blushed lightly and said, "Veh, grazie, signorina. I would love a dress like that."
The blond burst into laughter. "I'm a man."
"Holy shit!" Lovino had also mistaken the blond for a woman. He'd been planning to flirt with 'her' in hopes of getting cheaper prices.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" Feliciano started to fret, but the blond man just waved a hand at him.
"It's totally cool, I take it as a compliment." The blond's face lit up with a silly smile. "I'm Feliks, by the way."
"Veh, you are pretty. I'm Feliciano, this is my brother, Lovino, and that's Arthur - he doesn't speak Italian," Feliciano introduced them all.
"Nice to meet you!" Feliks latched on to Feliciano's arm, and dragged him to the back room.
"Hey! What are you doing?" He yelled after them, ready to chase down his brother.
"Don't worry about them," Toris assured him. "Feliks doesn't know many men who will wear dresses, and I'm sure he'll want your brother to model for him. I apologies for his excitement, I understand if you want me to go get him for you."
"I suppose it's fine." He sighed in resignation.
"Is there something you need?"
"Yes. I want six shirts and trousers, along with socks and underwear."
"Do you know your size?" Toris took one look at Lovino and gave him a timid smile. "I'm guessing, no. That's fine, I don't mind sizing you."
Lovino nodded, trying to control his anger at how the brunet judged him by just his clothing, but that is expected from someone who deals with people everyday. "Thanks. Be quick about it, though. I'd like to get on with our other shopping."
"Of course, sir," Toris said, not minding the gruff tone of Lovino's voice. He took out the measuring tape from his pocket and began holding it to his body. "Any particular color you would like?"
"Ask Feliciano. I don't give a shit, as long as it looks good." He watched the other man carefully, uncomfortable with someone so close to him, but he assumed Toris most likely wouldn't do anything unacceptable.
Toris took a pencil out from its place on his ear, and in a small notepad from the counter behind him, began making notes. "Alright, sir. I believe we have the number of shirts and trousers you want, and in your size, too. Will that be all?"
"You remember the socks and under things?"
"Yes."
"You should probably size Feliciano too, in case we aren't the same size; half of those clothes are for him."
Just as he said that, Feliciano flounced out of the back room, wearing a simple, but lovely green dress. "Veh, Fratellone, don't I look pretty?"
"Are we buying him a dress? I must say, he looks good in that," Arthur said from beside him, giving Lovino a curious look.
"I don't fucking care! It's your goddamn money, if you want to buy useless shit, go ahead!"
"Can I get it? Please, Arthur," Feliciano asked, coming up to Arthur and pleading with those unstoppable puppy eyes.
"Alright. Tell the man, Lovino." Arthur fell for the same look that Feliciano used on everyone to get what he wants, he didn't know whether to feel disappointed or amused.
He sighed heavily, rubbing a hand over his face, and turned back to Toris. "Add the fucking dress to the bill." Behind him, Feliciano and Feliks cheered.
"Yes, sir," Torish chuckled softly. "He seems very happy with the purchase."
"Yeah," he said, letting a rare smile come over his face as he watched his brother chat excitedly with Arthur and Feliks, switching back and forth between Italian and English conversations. "He's always like that, no matter what," he said softly. Arthur looked up and caught his eye, he immediately forced himself to scowl.
"He seems like a very nice young man. Will money be a problem?"
"No." He looked at the cost Toris put on the receipt book in front of him, carefully sorting out the correct amount of money from the small purse he'd swiped from Arthur when they first entered the shop. Arthur noticed this and patted his pockets, glaring darkly at Lovino when he found them empty.
"Thank you for your business." Toris stashed the money away and went into them back, coming back with a bag for his clothes.
He nodded to the other man and looked through the clothes, checking them for flaws. "Red, green, and white?"
"Feliciano mentioned to Feliks that those are his favorite colors, because, I quote, 'They are the same colors in pasta.'"
He burst out laughing and Toris soon joined him in his laugh. "Yeah, that sounds like something Feliciano would say. Goodbye, we must be going."
"Bye. Thank you for coming," Toris called after him, as he herded everyone out of the shop.
"Bye bye!" Feliks waved furiously from beside Toris, and called, "Come back soon and, like, buy another dress."
Lovino shoved them out to the street before Feliciano could reply to the girly man, not caring if he came across as rude. "We don't have time to chat with dressmakers. There are things we need to get."
"Like what?" Feliciano asked, smoothing his hands down his new dress.
"Like food, idiot," he growled.
"You're still speaking in Italian. Mind switching over and telling me where we're going?" Arthur asked, following the two brothers closely so he wouldn't get lost in the crowds.
"Take Feliciano and go to the bookstore. I will be able to get things much faster without you two. I'll meet you there in an hour or so." Lovino walked away, leaving Feliciano and Arthur to themselves.
"Veh, let's go to the bookstore," Feliciano said cheerfully, not at all phased by his brother's abrupt departure, and took Arthur's hand.
"Will he be alright on his own?" He glanced behind them, but Lovino was already long gone. "I don't mean that he can't handle himself, but..."
"It's alright to worry, I'm worried too. Half the time I worry about what people might do to him and the other half of the time, I worry about what he might do to people," Feliciano confessed, griping his hand tighter as he pulled him through the crowds.
"What might he do?"
"I don't know anymore." Feliciano suddenly turned and smiled at him. "So, what are we going to do?"
"We are going to the bookstore like Lovino wanted us to," Arthur looked at the boy curiously, then asked, "How did Lovino get my wallet?"
"Oh! I thought you noticed, he took it when we walked into the tailor shop."
He grumbled, "No, I did not notice that."
"Oh, well." Feliciano laughed and pulled hims along. "You'll have to get use to it every time we go shopping."
Arthur followed, wondering if the boy even knew where they were going. "Why should I get use to it?"
"Because, Lovino likes to handle money, he really good with it and stuff like that." Feliciano let Arthur pull them towards the store when he realize the little Italian had no clue where they were or where they were going. "I don't really know how to do anything with it, other than buy things."
"Is it really acceptable for me to let him buy everything?"
"Of course! Fratello knows how to get the best for the least amount of money," Feliciano said cheerfully and pushed open the door, making the bell over the door ring.
"Benvenuto," a black-haired man of Asian decent greeted them, "Oh, it's you, Arthur-san. Welcome back."
"Hello, Kiku. I would like you to meet Feliciano..." He realized he didn't know the last name of either of the brothers; he never asked.
"Ciao!" Feliciano waved excitedly, bouncing on his toes. "Nice to meet you!"
Kiku bowed his head to the other, seemingly unphased by fact Feliciano was wearing woman's clothing. "It is a pleasure to meet you. How did you come to know Arthur-san?"
"My big brother brought me to him to help make me better," Feliciano said, bouncing closer to the other man. "I was really sick, but I'm getting better now."
"That is unfortunate too hear, I'm glad you're getting better, though. How did your brother meet Arthur?"
"Special circumstances," he cut in, causing the Asian man to give him a penetrating stare.
"A letter came for you," Kiku said calmly, changing the topic for him, "Although I don't know why you don't have them delivered to you estate."
Arthur took the envelope held out to him. "Because then I won't have to read them immediately. I can wait for my once a week visit to get any news that might be upsetting," he said and tore open the letter.
Dearest Eyebrows,
It has been a while since I last saw you, nearly four months, if I remember correctly. I hope you have not killed yourself with your cooking yet, or anyone else, for that matter; I know it would be months before anyone found your dead body. It occurred to me that you might be in need of some edible food, because I doubt you can survive on those things you call scones, that is if they don't eat you first. And you're most likely in need of a drinking partner, non? Perhaps, after we're good and drunk, we can fall into the lusty embrace of l'amour. You know you miss me in your arms, mon lapin. But you won't have to wait long, I will arrive at your manor in a month after I send this letter. I hope this finds you soon, if not, then surprise.
With love,
Francis.
It took everything in him not to tear the innocent paper into tiny pieces. That bloody frog dared to insult his cooking once again! He will pay for those comments. At least, he gave him some notice to his arrival this time. He looked at the date on the letter to find that it had nearly been two weeks already.
"Bollocks..."
"Veh, what's wrong? You keep making scary faces at the letter." Feliciano tried to read over his shoulder.
"Someone I know, though I wish I didn't, will be coming to see me," he grumbled, slowly folding the letter back up and stowing it away in his coat. "Would you like to choose a book? Kiku would gladly help you."
Feliciano bounced to the bookkeeper, smiling widely at the man. "Do you have any music books? My brother loves music."
"I have some, but they're quite expensive." Kiku frowned at the cheerful boy.
"Oh, I don't want to buy them, just look at them."
"I suppose that is fine. Wait for a moment, please." Kiku disappeared behind a curtain into the back room.
"It's alright if we buy the book, money isn't a problem for me," Arthur commented.
"We don't need to buy it." Feliciano waved a hand carelessly at him.
"What do you mean?" He asked, frowning slightly at Feliciano.
"Nothing." The boy ginned and turned back to Kiku when he came back with a few thin books. Feliciano flipped through the books, humming tunelessly.
Arthur watched the Italian curiously, but soon got distracted by the many books around him and soon he began browsing through the shelves. When the bell over the door rang, he didn't look up until an irritated voice spoke up in Italian and Feliciano squeaked happily. He peeked through the books at Lovino, who was being hugged by Feliciano. They spoke in quick-fire Italian for a moment before he heard his name mentioned in the whirl of words, and began to look around for him. He ducked behind a shelf when Lovino's sharp eyes ghosted over his hiding spot, not that he was hiding.
"Where did that bastard go? He was here, right?" Lovino glanced around a shelf, glaring in disdain at everything his gaze fell on, and shoved a bag into Feliciano's hands.
"I'm sure he was here, maybe he's hiding. I bet you scared him off with your mean words," Feliciano teased, poking his brother in the side.
Lovino growled at him brother, pouting moodily. This was the most expressive Arthur had ever seen Lovino, that wasn't a frown or a glare. He idly wondered what the Italian would look like if he just smiled. Not a grin, nor a smirk. A real smile. He made a determined resolve help Lovino begin to smile again.
"Arthur! I'm tired of this bullshit, come out now!" Lovino walked closer to the shelf that hid him, unknowing of the Arthur's new decision.
"I'm right here, no need to yell." He stepped out suddenly from behind the bookcase.
Lovino whirled to face him, panicked for a second before realizing it was just him. "Bastard! Don't act like a fucking sneak!"
"Don't act so spooked. You'd think I was someone bad," he teased. Although from the Lovino's persistent distrust in him, maybe he was.
"Shut up. Let's go, now," Lovino ordered and grabbed his arm, pulling him towards the door. "Feliciano, we're leaving."
"Awh, fine." Feliciano pouted and joined his brother at the door. "Ciao, Kiku! I hope I get to see you again soon."
"Until then," the Asian man said simply, and nodded to Arthur, who returned the gesture.
Lovino hustled them out to the street, constantly sneaking glances over his shoulder. The action didn't go unnoticed by Arthur, although Feliciano remained oblivious to his brother's nervous behavior. Behind them, he heard someone yell out a cry about a thief, and when he glanced to Lovino, the last thing he saw was Lovino back-end sprinting down the nearest alley with a man hot on his trail.
"Bloody hell!"
"Oh no," Feliciano gasped and gripped his arm. "They recognized him!"
"What? From where?"
"Arthur, you have to help him! If he gets caught, they'll beat him to death!" The younger boy look up at him pleadingly, tears on the edge of spilling from his beautiful honey eyes.
"I don't know if I can... If he stole from that man, he won't be—"
"Please! I can't lose him!" Feliciano's English became less and less understandable, until it was nothing more than broken Italian with a few English words throw in.
"Calm down! I'll help, but first, let's get you to the carriage—"
"No! Go after him!" Feliciano began pushing him down the alleyway Lovino went. "Hurry! Please!"
With a few more pushes from Feliciano, he relented and ran after Lovino, the voice of the man chasing him still echoing for Arthur to follow. He wondered why Feliciano seemed so worried. Was Lovino really in that much trouble? The he began to remember all the stories of thieves getting their hands cut off, or branded with the mark of a thief, sometimes, even beaten to death like Feliciano said. The realization added speed to his legs, causing him to fly over the ground. Arthur hoped he would make it to Lovino in time.
The sight he found at the end of the alley made his blood boil with rage. A tall man pinned Lovino's arms over his head, quickly unfastening his breeches and grinning madly. Lovino's eyes were shut tightly, his own trousers already pooled around his ankles and his shirt torn open, leaving him exposed to the eyes of the man assulting him. He didn't beg or cry; he didn't make a single sound. Simply waited for what he knew would come.
Arthur threw himself on the man, throwing his fists into anything he could reach. Face, stomach, groin; he especially made sure to pumble the man's groin. Finally, when he had his fill of striking the man, he leaned very close and growled, "If I ever see you anywhere near him again, I will kill you."
"I'd like to see you try." The man chuckled breathlessly, and he realized he knew this man. It was the same one that caught Lovino when he tried to run off with his book. Same mask and everything.
"Stay away from him," he said finally, glaring dangerously at the man and got up.
The man seemed unphased by his attack, and stood up, standing nearly a head taller than Arthur. "Be careful who you defend, foreigner. That boy is bad new for you. It'd be better if you just let me take him," he sneered at Arthur.
"Get out of here!"
He just laughed at the Brit's anger and strolled away like nothing happened.
"Are you alright, Lovino?" He looked over at the Italian. Lovino hadn't moved, not even to cover himself. He just stared at Arthur, his eyes cold and unfeeling. "Lovino?"
"I didn't need help."
"What? He was going to rape you!" He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You can't expect me to just let him do that to you!"
"I knew what I was doing."
"And what was that? Let him have his way with you?" Arthur clenched his fists at his side, glaring at the other man.
Lovino bent down and pulled up his trousers, examining the new tears in his shirt. "At first, yes. After he let his guard down, I would have torn out his jugular."
He gawked at Lovino. The brunet had just talked about killing a man far larger than him so easily. "With what?"
"I have teeth, don't I? It's not too hard to do if you know how," Lovino said nonchalantly, and retrieved his knife, that laid several feet away. "Don't act so stunned. I've dealt with scum like that guy before. I'm fine."
Was he really fine? After what nearly happened? Arthur stared at Lovino, and finally saw what he'd missed. Lovino's hands trembled and he seemed to take deeper breaths than normal. He's definitely not fine. "You're safe now," he said softly.
Hazel eyes met his in surprise and held his gaze. Lovino didn't know what to do. He couldn't understand why those words suddenly made him feel so much lighter, like they had lifted a weight from his shoulders. He felt weak. Only moments ago, he'd been strong, immune to any sick torture the world threw at him; he could handle it. Now, he's falling apart inside, his barrier crumbling around him.
He barely felt Arthur wrap his arms around him, too caught up in the turmoil of emotions clashing and pushing against each other. His breathing sped out of control, he's falling faster than he could handle. Then he heard those words again, whispered gently in his ear.
"You're safe now."
He clung to Arthur, his breathing slow returning to normal. The other man felt so solid and calming. It was like he'd been drowning and Arthur just reached in and pulled him out of the black waters, black emotions. He felt himself relax, leaning into Arthur's arms. When was the last time he felt so comfortable, so safe? Then he wondered, if he had ever felt like this at all before. "Thank you," the words slipped out without his notice.
"You're welcome."
He slowly felt his cheeks grow warm, embarrassed by letting himself be held, but he didn't want to move from Arthur's arms. Finally, he pulled away, putting on a brave face, and said, "Where'd you leave Feliciano?"
"By the alley entrance, although I have no clue where that is now. Are you oaky?"
"Come on, I know how to get there," he said gruffly, not answering his question.
"Lovino. Are you oaky?"
"Yes, stubborn idiot. We need to get back before Feliciano drives himself crazy with worry."
Arthur didn't say anything more and followed him back to where his brother waited for them. After reassuring Feliciano many times that he's fine, they made it back to the carriage and rode back to Arthur's home. Lovino could tell from Feliciano's strained face that today's outing had tired him, and he made a light dinner, sending Feliciano straight to bed after he took his medicine.
"Lovino, I would like to speak to you," Arthur's voice stopped him before he could escape after his brother.
"What do you want?" He asked, not turning to look at him.
"Don't act so tense, it's nothing bad."
He didn't relax. "Hurry up and talk, I'm tired."
"It's about—"
"I get it if you want us to leave," he cut in before Arthur could say the words he knew were coming, "but please, keep my brother. We're - I'm a lot of trouble, but my brother is good. Don't let him go back to the streets, he doesn't deserve—"
"And what about you? You deserve to be here as much as your brother," Arthur growled fiercely, spinning him around to face him. "Why would you even think I'd abandon you to the streets after what happen today?"
Lovino stared at him in surprise, he'd been expecting to get booted out as soon as trouble showed. He and his brother had found many families willing to take them in over the years, each and every one of them told them to leave as soon as Lovino proved to cause too much trouble or insulted someone important. Of course, they'd always tell Feliciano he'd be welcome to stay, but his brother always refused. His loyalty made Lovino feel better, but also terribly guilty. He knew how wonderful Feliciano's life would be if he'd chosen to stay with just one of those families.
"Why are you surprised?"
"Lady Fate is finally turning our way," he mumbled to himself. "Don't worry about it, bastard. What did you want?"
Arthur watched him carefully and held out a cup of brown liquid. "Would you like to have a cup of tea with me?"
"I've never really had tea, but sure. I wouldn't want you to get lonely," he said half-heartedly, taking a seat across from Arthur.
"Do you have any family left?" Arthur asked softly.
"There's a few distant cousins, but I can't contact them," Lovino answered, the hesitation obvious in his voice.
"Do you not know where they are, because I could help you find them?"
He settled Arthur with a cold stare, already wary of where this conversation was going. "I know where they are, and if I could contact them, I would have a long time ago."
"Is this about the danger you and your brother might be in? I doubt anyone would kill you after all these years," Arthur said calmly.
He set his untouched cup on the table with a loud clink, and stood up. "Don't be a fucking moron, I know you're not stupid for the most part. There are things you don't know about our situation, things I haven't talked to Feliciano about, which is where I'm guessing you heard about the chance we could be killed."
"I only want to help you. Doing things by yourself won't get you anywhere." Arthur frowned at him.
"Yes, you're a prime example of this; hiding out in Italy from your family, stuck here all alone, because you couldn't face your problem alone," he growled, hoping Arthur would take the bait and he'd go free without any further questioning.
He did. Arthur's eyes darkened dangerously and he said in a low, controlled voice, "Goodnight, Lovino."
"Goodnight, bastard." Lovino fled without another word.
As soon as the Italian left the room, it occurred to him, Lovino had just provoked him to distract him from asking more questions. He didn't know what frustrated him more, the fact that he'd let Lovino manipulate him or that Lovino still didn't trust him enough to let him help. Arthur sighed heavily and let his shoulders sag under the weight of his worries. What made Lovino so unwilling to allow him anywhere near him? The other man confused him to no end; at times, Lovino let him comfort and hold him, then turn right around and shove him away. This was just too much for one day. He needed to sleep and maybe think about it again in the morning.
Super long chapter. I did it again, happy beginning then sad ending. By the way, the masked man is Turkey, if you didn't know. I apologize if Arthur or Lovino is a bit out of character. My school is flooding us with homework, maybe it will get better, but I barely got enough time to type this chapter up. Oh, and if you didn't read the top, any Italicized text is Italian conversation. Thank you for reading and reviewing.
-Windy
