I'm not fit to write this anymore... somebody else take over. Stop the ride, I wanna get off!

I used a couple of amusement park references, and if any of you laugh because of your dirty, soiled minds at the wording, I will hunt you down and rip out your larynx.

With a ballpoint pen.


I'm sorry for the drop in quality; I just spent 15 hours of my day watching Star Trek and related media (no thanks to my dumb parents), came home at midnight just to write this chapter for you guys; and, what do you know, I go to the bathroom and when I come back, my ex-Catholic FATHER is reading the almost explicit male-on-male content of Chapter 9, Usted Puede Ahora Besar al Novio.

FML.

--

"Wrong, my dear. Lies don't slip," he responded silkily to Lovino's excuse, voice lowering as he spoke. "Secrets do." He leaned in closer, intent on setting the mood and pulling away, just to tease him. Spain heard Romano swallow and curse; then the most unexpected thing happened.

"Merda."

Antonio's eyes widened as the Italian's hands grabbed at his shirt and pulled him into a kiss.

--

-----

You Must Be This Tall

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It was more of a clumsy mashing of lips, but that was just fine to Antonio. It was more than enough.

It was perfect.

His arms found purchase around Lovino's waist, pulling him upward as he responded eagerly to the smaller man's advances. Antonio kept pace with Lovi, never attempting to continue on until the Italian was ready.

And Lovino was more than ready.

Spain let out a low moan of surprise as Romano's tongue lapped at his upper lip, and he opened up to allow him entrance. They continued in this pattern for a few more moments before Lovino broke for air.

Antonio gazed at Lovino in a trance, his face flushed, hair mussed, eyes dancing as he panted for breath.

"I love you." Spain didn't feel a trace of remorse as Romano visibly stiffened at the claim. This could crumble their relationship, but he was willing to risk it.

It needed to be said.

After Lovino searched Antonio's eyes for a terrifying moment, and then the Italian's posture finally relaxed. The Spaniard felt the hands on his shirt leave, replaced with arms around him.

"I know, bastard."

Lovino's lips searched out his own again, this time softer, curious. The purpose of this kiss was to explore rather than to conquer, Antonio noticed. This time, the Spanish man made the first move to deepen the kiss, running the tip of his tongue along the bottom of Lovino's upper lip; and he was permitted entrance without much resistance.

The Spaniard tilted his head slightly to accommodate, and the Italian gripped the back of his shirt, eyes closed gently. One of Antonio's hands found its way to Lovino's head, and his fingers sifted through his hair, brushing against the flyaway strand and making the other moan lightly.

"You two are so cute." The pair jumped in surprise, then turned their heads and stared. Dumbstruck.

At Feliciano.

--

After the two untangled their limbs from each other (Lovino making a huge spectacle of Antonio being unable to keep his hands to himself, of course; and Antonio simply shrugging and acting as though it was true), they settled down at the table as Feliciano chatted about everything but their blossoming relationship.

Spain sat as far away from Romano as the table would allow, and the other nation followed suit.

"So, Feliciano... I don't remember opening the door for you. How did you get in?" Spain asked, breaking the one-sided conversation about a pasta convention that Italy was holding.

"Oh, I assumed that you two probably couldn't hear me after I knocked a couple of times, so I just let myself in."

Antonio struggled to smile. "Really? That's... nice. Donde esta Ludwig?"

"He had a meeting with Japan today about something. Ve, you two seemed really intimate today. Have you done it yet?"

If Antonio wasn't such a loveable guy, he probably would have dropkicked Feliciano out into the streets, preferably to be found and harassed by Ivan. However, since he was a nice guy, he didn't. Instead, he did something which some would consider far worse.

"Actually, I heard that Japan was planning on asking Germany to go out with him soon. But you and Ludwig are official, right? I mean, Germany is pretty loyal, I guess..."

False accusations and rumors were dirty tricks, but they did their job. Romano looked up at him in wonder.

Feliciano's eyes widened and he stood up, hands on the table. "That puttana! I knew he was up to something!."

The younger Italian brother was gone in the blink of an eye.

Antonio felt Lovino rubbing against his arm; yet again, having moved over from a place where he had no contact with Spain whatsoever.

"I think this might actually work, Antonio," the Italian practically gushed, gazing up at his elder with newfound respect.

"Well, that's what I'm going for."

--

"Are these tomatoes okay, Lovi?" Spain asked.

"I trust you," Romano responded, not even looking away from the other shopkeepers.

This was definitely progress.

--

The weeks moved on, and Lovino was a roller coaster that Antonio, frankly, wasn't sure he was tall enough to ride. Some days, he'd do nothing but paint and demand utter silence. Other days he spent cursing out everybody around him; Germany, Spain, his own brother.

Then there were the few days that were peaceful. A nice siesta, a kiss, a playful nudge or mock argument.

Those were the days that kept Antonio waking up with a smile on his face, ready to bear with the next climb and descent.

--

"Hey, Lovi." The question wasn't really important, but it was bothering Antonio. It would be four weeks tomorrow, and soon Lovino would be able to break it off with him whenever he wanted to.

"Hm...?" The sleepy Italian lifted his head slightly, still resting on the couch during their siesta, as usual.

"Do you still prefer girls to guys?"

This was important, Spain reasoned with himself.

Lovino was quiet for a moment.

"I'm not really sure anymore. I think that yes, I prefer women to men."

Antonio felt a little heavier.

"But in your case, I'll make an exception."

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//End Chapter 9

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"Merda" – Italian, "shit". Thought you'd know this by now.

"Donde esta" – Spanish, "Where is ____?".

"Ve" – Unknown in origin, "Ve" is something often said by Northern Italy.

"puttana" – Italian, "whore". Whoa, Feliciano?! SRSLY?!

There wasn't much I could write about this time. I don't know, I seem to have simply lost my spark again... it could take years before I get it back. ;-;

I really liked writing this story for you guys, but I don't want to be feeding you low-quality crap, so if I have to end it here, for your sake, I will.

If this is my last A/N, thank you for staying with me this long. You mean the world to me.