Title: When In Rome, Do As The Romans Do

Rating: M

Talking: Uh, I have a feeling we're about halfway through this, but maybe less... I don't have nearly as rigid a plot outline on this one. So it'll be 20-30 chapters, probably.

Poor Lovino. Also, yes, he is religious (just look at Italian history), but "Lord above" is usually used in an only slightly religious way, not as an actual prayer.

Disclaimer: I do not hold or claim to hold any sort of ownership or rights over the characters in this story; they belong to Hetalia/Hidekaz Himaruya.

Italy Romano - Lovino Vargas

Spain - Antonio Fernandez-Carriedo

Austria - Rodreich Edelstein

Roman Empire - Romulus Vargas

Germania - Gauthier Beilschmidt

When In Rome, Do As The Romans Do: Ten

Lovino Vargas's POV

Did he really just call me cute?

I don't think... I don't think anyone's called me cute for years. Not since I was three or four years old, at least (it's not my age that stopped it-it was Feliciano's age, a newborn, and a year later Romeo's. Since they were born, I don't think I've ever been called cute).

Over a decade... That's a long time.

I slide down again, wrapping my blanket tightly around myself. Does he really believe that? Or is this some cruel joke? No, that's not Antonio... I need to think. I need to think and maybe, eventually, understand.

Antonio called me cute.

Lord above.

•time skip brought to you by "PASTA!"

It's been days since the "cute" incident. It's our third week with all the campers here. I'm not sure if that's good or bad, but it's true.

"Lovi~" Feliciano calls. "Lovi, guess what!"

I turn slowly, a small frown on my lips, "What?"

"Grandpa Roma says he found some things for Antonio!" Feliciano bursts out, waving his hands every which way. I duck to avoid one, my mind racing. They found proof for the trial against Antonio's mother? I've seen what she's done to him. This... This is amazing.

"Why do I care?" I practically growl. He pauses, hands dropping to his sides.

"A-aren't you and Antonio... Like... Together?" he wonders.

"No!" I protest, cheeks heated. "No, we are not!"

Feliciano observes me, a tiny pout on his lips. "You would be really cute together, though..."

I pause, stunned. There's that word again. Did he really just say that? And... Why is that word always paired with Antonio?

Oblivious, Feliciano just shoots me a grin, then turns and skips back to an exasperated Ludwig's side to talk his ear off for a change. (I don't understand how Ludwig can deal with it...)

I scowl fiercely, and turn away.

•time skip brought to you by "Man up or I'll beat you with my peace prize!"

"Listen here, you bastard," I say. Antonio jumps and turns, relaxing once he sees who it is. I scowl up at him. "Why are you always so distracted? And don't you dare just ignore it this time!"

"Silly Lovi, I didn't ignore it last time," Antonio chuckles. He leans down so we're face-to-face. My scowl deepens. "I'm just a little tired, and you know my anxiety stuff," he explains.

"One of the symptoms of anxiety is hyper-vigilance, idiot," I say. "And you can't have been going through fatigue, because I've been keeping an eye on you, and yours is only mild anyway."

He pauses, eyes widening slightly, "How do you know all this stuff, Lovi? ¡Tú eres muy inteligente!"

I glare. "Feli and I are the damn doctors here, and you know what this place is like! It's practically a madhouse!" I wave my hand around. "I have to know this stuff, stupid."

He nods, seemingly unfazed by the insults scattered throughout. "Madhouse is a mean term, Lovi... Still, you have to be smart to know this stuff. So you're both smart and cute!" He smiles brightly.

I flush, shifting my weight uncomfortably as I protest, "I'm not cute!"

Antonio leans forward. He's only a few inches away from me. "You're always cute to me."

"W-wha-what, Antonio?" I ask. "What are you saying?"

He grins mischievously. "You're pretty cute, Lovi. Deal with it." Then he leans forward to kiss me.

I freeze. His lips are chapped and bit at, probably a habit when he's nervous. It lasts for only a second, but I'm left staring at him as he runs off laughing. A thousand thoughts are left racing through my mind at the same time. I blink, watching his now-solemn form slip into our cabin (I think he just realized what he did, and realized I didn't respond), and my thoughts all come together into one.

Goddammit, Antonio. You didn't give me time to kiss back.

Translations:

Spanish-English

¡Tú eres muy inteligente!-You're really smart! (basically)