Disclaimer: I OWN HETALIA! No, just kidding.

A/n: Man, I planned to have Francis show up in this chapter, but instead, I only got a very corny and clichéd chapter of Lovi and Tonio kissing and beating around the bush… ugh. Now you know why this chapter's called 'The Delay'. OTL

A/n 2: But next chapter will be told from the wonderful POV of our favorite Frenchman, so YAY!

This Dance: The Delay

Antonio:

It was kind of funny, the way Lovi looked at me in pure horror. Almost like he didn't want to kiss me, ahahahaha…

But I had noticed the faint blush spreading across his face. Right now, it wasn't so faint anymore. His face was practically glowing. It could easily guide lost ships into save harbors.

Ah… I bet the Italian would make an adorable lighthouse… he'd sure lead me into his save harbor, ahahaha…

…haha… ha…

Ah.

Oh, I digressed.

'W-what?' Lovino hissed under his breath, quickly leaning away from me as far as he could – and almost tumbling off his chair in the process, '…y-you fucking bastard, I'm not going to kiss you!'

I pouted. 'No?'

'No!'

I stared at him dumbfounded, still not moving the slightest bit from my current position.

'But why not?'

'B-because I say so!'

He pushed himself further away from the table, but didn't stand up from his seat. He could have made this easier for himself, really. He could have fled out of the room a long time ago already, he could have punched me in the stomach, he could have told me to back the fuck off, but he hadn't done all those actions.

Well, sure, he had told me he wasn't going to kiss me. But that was just a hint.

Ooh. So, it was a hint?

I grinned happily and closed the weird distance between me and Lovino some more, grabbing his hands and pulling his flustered figure off of his chair. He gasped and tried to free himself, but I could be fairly strong if I wanted something.

He knew that. So he didn't struggle for long.

The moment I felt he was giving in, I pulled him against me and sighted.

'Ah, why didn't you tell me earlier, Lovi!~'

'D-d-didn't tell you what, you asshole!' he stammered. I didn't feel like answering him and only smiled. Lovino shivered a bit when I softly moved his face up with a free hand, just to be able to look him in his quiet, awaiting eyes.

So cute, so very cute…

I flushed and cupped his face. 'Ah, well… you should have told me if you wanted me to kiss you rather than the other way around, Lovi…'

'T-the hell? I don't remember saying that!' he sputtered, not breaking away from my gaze.

'You didn't say it…' I caressed his cheeks with my thumbs, carefully, gently, '…that's why I'm saying you should have said it.'

Lovino opened his eyes wide and I saw he wanted to open that wonderful, but also very destructive yap of his, so before he could say anything, I quickly pressed my lips on his.

All forms of protest were suddenly halted. I watched his frowning and shocked face slowly melting into a softer expression, his eyes first half-lidded, then completely shut. I could have followed his example and close my eyes, too, but Lovi's face, all red and shy, was too beautiful.

I didn't want to miss a thing of it.

I wanted to see him enjoy it. And he seemed to do, so much. I mean, he was gripping the front of my shirt really tightly, squeezing the fabric, keeping me close. I felt, rather than heard, his moaning. I felt him answering me with some kind of hopeful hesitation. I felt the heat that came off his face. I felt the longing, the fear, the unknown.

And it felt nice.

As much as I wanted to deepen the kiss, I decided not to take this any further: Lovi's heartbeat was bouncing rapidly and painfully hard against my chest and it made me worried. The fact that he was breathing in short, quick, squeaky puffs didn't make it any healthier. My God, I'd kill him if I had the nerve to invade his (no doubt warm, tasty) mouth!

So after a while, I just broke off the kiss and looked at him lovingly while he was trying to recover his breath.

'F-fucking son of a… h-how dare you, kissing me like t-that, so early in the morning…' he growled darkly, pushing me away and avoiding my eyes.

I shrugged. 'I don't know, I thought it would be nice.'

'Bastard…'

'But you liked it, right?'

Lovino winced at that, was quiet for a moment and then started to fidget, plucking his shirt like there was some tomato sauce on it that wouldn't come off.

'…I don't know. Idiot.'

'Ah, how harsh…' I friendly patted his head, my hand maybe getting a bit too close to his cute little 'PULL ME, PULL ME HARD' -shouting hair curl, '…don't lie to me, Lovi. I think you liked it.'

'S-shut up.'

He didn't try to prevent me or my hand from 'accidentally' brushing his strand of hair, though. My, Lovi must have been in one of his rare good moods.

Well, I know to take an opportunity when I see one!

'You know what else I think?' I softly muttered, stroking his face again and delighted to see his willing gaze.

Lovino slowly shook his head.

I took a deep breath. 'I think… I think…'

He stared at me expectantly. 'Yes?...'

'I think you're kind of a sissy, Lovi!~' I chuckled.

'…what?'

I really should have realized I said something strange when Lovino's face fell and his usual scowl came back with full force and I really should have done something to save the sweet atmosphere from falling apart, but… well, I didn't.

'Look at you, all blushy and flushy!' I tittered, poking his hot cheeks, '…and I didn't even kiss you for real yet! Ahahahahaha!'

'What?' Lovino repeated, getting angry.

'Really, I don't know if I should ever kiss you deeply – I don't think you can handle it! Ahahaha… I mean, sure, if the kisses I gave to you were your first ones ever, I could understand, but…'

I stopped talking when I noticed Lovi's alarmed and ashamed expression.

Oh. Oh.

'…Lovi? Ah… are they… don't tell me I…'

He gritted his teeth. 'F-fuck you, b-bastard! Piss off!'

He turned around and bolted out of the room, cursing and shouting words at me he must have made up right on that moment – they were very confusing and nasty and made me squeeze my legs together tightly. Some of them even made me shrink a bit, what also could have been a side-effect of the disappointed tone of Lovino's voice.

Something told me I screwed up big time. Something also told me I should kick myself really, really hard in the nuts. Too bad I wasn't bendy like that. Aww.

That's it. I've had enough of this situation. It was surprisingly tiresome.

I was going to Francis right now, before any more of these… these strange happenings could take place. I sure didn't want Lovi to be mad at me anymore, so… it was important I didn't give him any more reasons to be mad at me. I could do that. Of course I could.

Oh! Maybe he wanted to come along with me to Francis!~

'I HOPE YOU BURN IN HELL!' came down from upstairs when I asked.

I grimaced nervously.

…or maybe I should just go. Ahahahaha…