Chapter 10.
(WARNING: foul mouth, profanities, offensive language, terms and themes. Mature content, religious themes.)
Lovino's P.O.V.
When I awoke, it must have been very, very early or very, very late sensing by the darkness that surrounded me. I groggily looked around the dim room that was slightly illuminated by the nightlight Antonio had put in there for me in case I needed to get up and was in danger of falling. I tried to adjust myself into a sitting position and immediately noticed the sloshing feeling between my legs and my pants sticking tight to my legs. Confused, I tried wriggling them a bit and found that the feeling had already made its way down my legs and now I could feel warm slipperiness coating my toes. I shifted my hips and the bed in response made disgusting squishy noise and revealed the puddle that had formed around me, shit.
I cursed myself a million times as I hastily removed myself from the dark stain in the beautiful sheets. The smell was now hitting me… shit! I hadn't done something like that in years! Why now!? I must have had another muscle fit in my sleep, which often resulted in me losing my bladder, damn it…
I took the sheets in my frustrated fists and began to pull off the layers. Each retold the embarrassing story of my nightly accidents. I didn't know how I was going to get away with it this time. I smelled, my sheets smelled, and we were both very obviously wet. Once I had relieved my bed of its covers (The mattress didn't lie though), I changed myself into a pair of clean boxers and laid a quilt over the grey patched mattress. With a ball of dampened blankets in arms and a blush emanating over my face, I quietly opened my door. The hall was deathly silent. Even more, it was pitch dark.
When I looked into the black and never ending hall, my mind immediately resorted to the anxiety of imagining the most horrid things that could lurk in such a mystery. My eyes feverishly shot around and saw every kind of monster possible. They watched me with wicked evil eyes that wanted nothing more than to tear me to shreds. I quickly stepped back into the room, busying myself with shushing the thought. How stupid could I be!? I couldn't still be afraid of the dark! That was for babies! I could do it, I reassured myself. It was better to face a stupid fear and get these down to the laundry room than having to confront Antonio and his mother with urine stains on their lovely sheets. With a deep breath, I shoved myself into the hall again.
My eyes deceived me again, portraying hideous pictures of evils and devils, I shut my eyes tight. I could do this! I could do this! Then…the imagines began to breath and I could feel them move. I could them bringing their scrappy bodies closer so they could breathe down my neck. Fear began to shake my body, possibilities flooded my mind, and I could see them even with my eyes closed. I quickly abandoned my mission and ran back into my safe zone.
Dammit! Dammit! I roughly wrestled tears of frustration off my face which only made them spill harder. Not only had I wet the bed, I was also still terrified of the dark and now I was turning into an uncontrollable cry baby.
Pathetic was just an understatement. I was embarrassed beyond belief as I sat on the carpet and sobbed to the stench of my own urine. It was absolutely disgusting and demeaning in every way. It was pretty fair to say that this might be the worst day of my whole life, especially because Antonio was just a few feet away and I was acting like a complete infant. I hated it. I hated myself. In a pathetic attempt to release frustration, I threw a fist at the pile of sheets but my blurry eyes corrupted my sight and I ended up scraping my knuckles against the carpet and crying harder. I could add the fact that my hand was stinging and bleeding to my list of things that destroyed any pride I had left.
I reevaluated what I considered to be the worst day ever when Antonio drowsily walked in and saw the mess I was. Yup…this was definitely was worse. All I could do was weep and weep to pity my own despair. Yes, now he was looking at me as I cried a river and buried my head in the ball I had formed. I felt so awful…
Antonio knelt by my figure as a giant hand lifted to rub my bare back. I uneasily shifted under the hand until its owner began to use a heavy Spanish voice to relax me.
"Hush, hush…it's okay Chico…you're okay…hush, it's okay, it's alright." He cooed lovingly into my ear. These chants soon calmed my body and I fell hypnotized into his arms. He cradled me softly, continuing to reassure me that everything was okay.
"Go away, I don't want you here." I lied with shaky breaths. I felt him smile and respond by only rocking me to a gentle rhythm.
"I knew something was wrong, I could feel it. What's wrong, Lovi?" He asked in a melty voice, soft as satin. I didn't answer for the shame of the truth, only allowed myself to be nested against his body so closely that out heat beats intertwined into melodic drumming.
"You're scared." The Spanish voice noted. I just barely nodded. That was something I hated to admit as much as needing help but this moment didn't call for hostility.
"Everyone gets afraid, amour. Don't you think David was afraid when he was faced by Goliath? Or even Samson, a great hero, when Delilah deceived him and stole his power? Of course, everyone is afraid sometimes." My love explained and pet my head soothingly, knowing how it relaxed me.
"I hate it." I said, nerves beginning to ease.
"I love it, it's just another thing that makes you you. Now, tell me why and I'll fix it." I nervously though the proposition over before finally looking at the door and giving a quiet reply, "I hate the dark…"
I was so thankful he didn't laugh like he did sometimes when I told secrets. "That's alright; the dark is a very frightening thing." He gave a short pause and looked around my room, "Is that why your sheets are on the floor?" I had done a pretty good job of wrapping them in a way that concealed the wet patches inside.
"No…" I whispered with more shame sweeping over me. I felt his nose press against my back (I really wish he hadn't because I start to tear up again) and took a sniff. It was so embarrassing. My face flushed deeply as the tears raced over my hot cheeks without a deterrent.
"Oh Lovi…" He sadly whispered when he realized how the scent on me and the ball of sheets connected. I prayed over and over that he wouldn't be too disgusted. I prayed he wouldn't think I was a pathetic baby. I felt his silence press hard on me, a slight confusion work its way into his breath. He must be lost as to what to do or say. I sat quietly in his lap and waited with all the patience I could muster.
"Lovi…it's alright. Some boys are just piddlers." He said, trying to sooth me but I only cried worse at hearing the word 'piddle', a term used only in the context of animals.
"No, no, don't cry! It's normal…" Antonio whined and tried again to calm me again be being more abrasive in his petting.
"I peed the bed, okay!? Straight forward!" I wailed, burying my burning eyes in my hands so he couldn't see them. Dammit…why was I doing this!? It was pathetic.
"It's alright! It's okay! Calm down, calm down!" The Spaniard said and tried to pry my hands away. I didn't want him to, I hated this. I wanted him to leave! I didn't want him to be trying to reason with me like a tantruming child, which I was! I lifted a hand and smacked at the ones that were desperately trying to help he. I heard the sound of the slap followed by a silence resounding around the room.
Dammit! I was doing it again. I was getting frustrated and lashing out on poor Antonio. I wanted to run right then. The feeling protruding in my stomach was that of guilt. I started shoving at him, trying to free myself so I could escape. I didn't care if I had to run in the dark as long as I could run away. This situation was too much for me, I had to hide and yet the arms wouldn't release me. They allowed me to fight and struggle all I wanted but held me around the hips with just enough strength to keep by bottom planted in Antonio's lap.
After much fighting, accompanied by colorful words and curses aimed at the one I love, I gave up and fell limp in his lap. I had grown tired of fighting; I let myself give into pathetic retreat of being at his mercy. He hummed softly and pet my head for a long while.
"Lovino, should I sing to you?" He asked me, his crybaby boyfriend. I pouted as I watched the carpet, pretending I was dead in his lap. A soft smile played over his lips.
"Poor little Lovi was so scared one night
He scared himself to tears
He opened wide and then he cried
He cried out all his fears."
He softly sang like a nursery rhyme, quite proud of his rhyming skills. I had to admit, he could probably make a fortune writing spontaneous greeting cards,
"But since he's such a brave little boy,
He stopped his tears real soon
He stood himself up and smiled wide
For his face was as bright as the moon."
Antonio laughed at his own sing-song poem then gently pressed a kiss to my temple. My face remained in a defeated scowl.
"I think that was one of my best songs!" He declared before moving the hand petting my head down my arm to stroke my side. I gave up a weak smile. He knew what I liked, damn him. Why did he have to be so perfect?
"Thank you." I muttered stubbornly (I wasn't giving that up).
"Anything for you, mi amour." He answered simply and peppered my forehead with kisses. I don't know how he managed to still love me; it was mind boggling but hell if I was going to protest.
"You can go sleep in my bed. I'm going to take the sheets down then I'll come back and make sure you're asleep." He informed me with his usual peaceful tone.
"You don't have to, idiot. I'll do it in the morning." I objected with a pink tint to my face. I didn't want Antonio to carry my 'accident' sheets.
"But you don't want Mama to know about this, am I right?" The truth was, I didn't want anybody to know about his. I nodded.
"Then I insist. I don't mind Lovi. Go to bed." He insisted and picked me up as he stood. I stared at him accusingly, wordless asking his he was sure he didn't mind. He smiled at me with such intensity, I was left wondering if I was even deserving of such a face. I nodded since I was a bit too dazed to answer civilly.
Antonio led me by hand across the hall the two feet that separated our rooms. He flickered on the table lamp and situated me in his bed before pressing his lips to my nose and leaving with the promise of returning. I had no idea how he could manage to be so nice to me…he was crazy or stupid or something.
I snuggled onto my side (By the way, the bedding was totally as great as he said it was.) and let my body be devoured by the cushions. I sunk into the embrace of goose feather blankets. Antonio's scent had been harbored in the sheets so I buried my face in them and enjoyed the feeling of protection and comfort. The scent was trademark; I knew it was his for a fact. It was a mix of hearty garden soil, natural flower and weed aromas and coffee beans. It was the smell of Antonio, the smell that filled my lungs every time he wrapped me in his arms. It was perfect. It was sweet and filling like eating till your full and taking a siesta.
Said human walked in the door and climbed in bed beside me but not before greeting me with a smile. I blushed and rolled away from his big body, not wanting to start a cuddle fest. I shut my eyes so could tell I was ready to sleep. However I felt an arm wrap itself protectively around me and the man beside me let his breath calm till I was sure he was asleep and I felt ready to sleep myself.
When I awoke for the second time, I found myself completely draped around him as he cuddled me back, his arms latched around my waist possessively. I quickly recalled the events of the night before and immediately checked to make sure I hadn't done the same. Dry. Thank. God.
Sighing a breath of relief, I tried to pull myself up but the weight along my hips refused that idea. Antonio growled in his sleep and tightened his grip as if he were a dog and I, his bone. In annoyance, I shoved the face that has pressed against me.
"Hm!?" Antonio grunted and shot awake. He looked at me in confusion without removing his hug. I thought he might realize his position then be a reasonable person by letting go and getting up for the day. I was wrong. Antonio's face melted into a smile and he snuggled back into his previous position with a purr. Why did I even bother to think that he could be a reasonable person? I should know better by now.
"Get off, bastard. We have to work today. I know this whole responsibility thing is new to you but if you tell someone that you accept a job, you're kind of supposed to show up on the first day."
"I kind of don't want to; I want to stay like this all day." He corrected. I found that to be a pretty damn good response for someone who wants to be punched in the stomach. I did the honors. (I was gentle, okay?)
Antonio grumbled and whined. "Get up." I commanded again. He wriggled but refused, earning himself another attack causing an all-out wrestling match. We managed to wrestle our way off the bed with a thump. The rivalry ended when a certain curl was pulled and a cry was let out. Antonio tried to apologize as I stomped out of the room. I locked myself in my room, letting myself calm down then get dressed in appropriate clothes. I didn't see Antonio again till I was downstairs eating breakfast. He offered an apologetic smile but I suck my tongue out at him and gave him the silent treatment till breakfast was over.
Antonio said goodbye to his mother and we left in the car. Five minutes later we arrived at Mikro Meros ("Crazy Town" but Antonio insists that it really does translate to "Little Place"). Outside, a piece of cardboard was leaned against the wall that read 'Knew Employment'…well; it was obvious we weren't working with a genius. At least there was some sort of welcome for us and we were considered management. That was a good start I guess.
"kalo̱sórisma (welcome)." The burley brunet man called when he noticed us walk in. Kiku was the first to stand and approach us…specifically me. He approached ME with a frilly white cloth in tow. I grimaced, imagining what it might be. He gave me a bow that I awkwardly returned.
"Konnichiwa." He greeted in a mellow, flat voice. Jesus Christ, did no one ever speak English here!? I guessed it was a custom or something so I of course followed suit.
"C-Ciao." I answered and regained the posture of a European. The little Asian man seemed to accept my response because the next thing he did was took the linen off his arm and held it out to show me.
…
Crazy town was a pretty good name for this place.
It was an apron. A white, frilly, apron with a heart-shaped chest cloth and a big bow that tried behind the neck along with one that tied right on the small of my back. Toni flashed me an excited bush. Kiku looked nervously between me and the half dress.
Uh-uh. Nope. No.
"I sewed it myself…I thought it might protect your clothes while cooking." He told me and blushed. When I opened my mouth to protest, of course Toni was there to interject.
"He made it himself Lovi…for you~." He reminded me and nudged me forward, hinting that I should accept. I turned around and shot him a quick glare then shifted my attention back to the anxious man who nervously offered me his present.
"Thank you…I love it." I answered and used all the muscle in my face to hold the sides of my mouth up. I hoped it sounded sincere. He smiled and excitedly pushed it towards me where I took it and gave an accepting nod. Okay, so I accepted it but I didn't plan on actually wearing it.
"Here, Lovi~ I'll tie it for you!" My so-called-boyfriend offered. If I could kill have him with purely the heated anger in my eyes, I would have taken his life thirty times over. I'd have raped his ability to die.
"I really wouldn't want to ruin it, it's so nice." I answered with a sweetie voice, a 'Take-that- up-the-butt, Toni' voice.
"Oh, I should make you a few more? Then you won't have to worry about ruining one." Kiku offered.
"No! This one is great! I love it, I'll use this one." I shoved the apron at Antonio so he could gear me up. Last thing I needed was six different colored aprons that really belonged on a little girl's doll. Dear god…this was Antonio's fault. Before I knew him, I would have flipped the Asian off and maybe even try to fight him for trying to get me in an apron. He was the one who turned me into a prissy-priss. Dammit, I was going to kick him right in the manhood later so he knew what it felt like to take away mine.
Antonio was perfectly happy to tie the apron onto me. The sad part was, it was made for a girl yet it was too big on me. All that 'not eating' shit was really catching up to me. I grumbled a curse at him and went back to the kitchen. There weren't any customers so I made myself familiar with the kitchen. It was filthy. The red brick tiles looked more like the beach I visited with Antonio and his family. Better yet, I couldn't find a broom so I was left kicking the filth around with the side of my foot. Finally, Kiku found me doing this and showed me the little hand broom commonly used from quickly cleaning small messes. I set Antonio to work with that since there were no customers to wait on. By the time he had finished, he was swearing that he was going to invest on a real broom with his first paycheck. I wiped the counters and pretty much every other surface in that room with a hot rag.
I spent the next hour cleaning out the stove while the Spaniard and Greek unloaded boxes of rice. Antonio was sent to ask Belle if he could borrow her moving dolly so they could get the rice into the store-room. Soon after he left, I heard Kiku ringing the door-hop bell like crazy. We must have a customer. I pulled the pans off the fall and began to heat up the stove. After a few minutes of preparation, Hercules appeared in the doorway and read off a little note pad.
"One order of 'whatever the chef recommends'." He informed me and left without another word. I was already liking this customer. With a bit of a smile, I began to cook the familiar dish of Ziti. As the cook, I was justified in snacking on it as I went and it was pretty damn good. Hercules arrived and took the plate from me, giving me time to sit on a little chair in the corner and let myself start to nap.
"Lovino…?" A tired voice woke me up. I opened an eye lazily to see Hercules again in the door frame.
"Yeah?" My voice came out a bit groggy and pissy. It didn't betray me; I was groggy and pissy after being interrupted in the middle of a nap.
"The customer is very unsatisfied with the meal and he requests you remake his plate."
I don't know if it's natural, but I was pretty sure I was developing a twitch in my eye. "Oh really? Tell the son of a bitch that he can eat my foot! There was nothing wrong with it!"
"I don't think I can say that…"
"Fine, then I will." I growled and pulled off the apron. I stomped out past Hercules and into the dining room, searching for the little bastard who I was about to give a taste of my fist to. Of course, it was one of the last people I wanted it to be. When I saw him sitting cross-legged in the booth like a little prissy bitch, I didn't even have to look at the atrociously bleached hair to identify him. That bastard Vito looked up at me. His frown switched to a smirk the moment our eyes met.
"Ah, Amico! (Friend)" He called and waved an excited arm at me. I gave him a scowl far more hateful than my angry scowl.
"Get the fuck out of here." I said in a menacing tone, flashing teeth for a snarl that had no effect on him.
"I wouldn't talk that way to a friend. Now, where's that hotsy totsy boyfriend of yours?" He asked and gave the room a quick survey to prove the point that he wasn't around to protect me.
"He's not my boyfriend! He's my cousin!" I corrected. I could never publicly admit my love for Antonio. Homosexuals were executed…and not in the 'nice' way.
"You don't have to lie to me. I won't tattle on you just because you're a ball sucker." He smirked with the comment. I could lunge at his head and claw out his eyes, in fact, I really wanted to. No, I could hold myself back! I was better than that now. I was better than street shit like him. I was the love of Antonio Fernandez Carriedo and I would not do something as demeaning as lowering myself to his level. I wasn't Lovino, the scrappy, anxious, feisty homeless boy anymore. I was better than him now so I straightened my posture and acted like it.
"I'm leaving." I told Hercules as I walked to the door and got my hand around the handle. I was doing so well. Antonio would be proud with me! If only that little fucker didn't have to go and wither my already thin patience.
"Yeah, try not to suck too much dick in the parking lot!" I heard him call and make his way to his feet. Fuck him...fuck him patience. Lovino was put on this earth as a scrappy, feisty, pissy boy and that wasn't dying anytime soon.
"Okay, fuck face." I addressed him and turned around. "The day I need a friend like you, I'll have myself a little squat and shit one out." I scoffed.
Feeling brave, Vito took a few steps forward which I had no trouble putting an end to. "Sit your five dollar ass down before I decide to make change." I growled at him.
"Wanna talk about ass!? Is that were you got that meal from!? It was shit! You suck! If fact, it would take three promotions for you to suck! Even then, saying you suck is an insult to people who suck! I would rank you 'scum sucking faggot'!"
"You're gonna have a hell of a time trying to eat shit when I knock every tooth out of your damn head! I'll hit you so hard, the impact will kill your whole family and you'll wish you had died as a child!"
"I already do after swallowing a bite of your Poison Pasta!"
"Y'know what!? I will personally drag you into the kitchen by your tiny wiener, cut you up, and make you the special ingredient in our Road Kill Soup! People will come from everywhere to have a taste and they'll all ask me what my secret is and you know what I'll tell them!? I'll say it's the power of friendship, Amico!"
"You wanna play that way!? Well, I'm no spoil sport. Let's have ourselves a game then~" He growled and dug a hand into his coat pocket. Dammit, street freaks like these were always packing hidden dangers.
"What your reaching for better be a sandwich cause I'm going to make you eat it!" I screeched, worrying for my life but trying to sound menacing. My verbal attacks did me no good. He laughed mockingly at me and began to pull his hand up. I was so focused on him and my fear that I didn't noticed the black haired boy holding a stir-fry pan and slowly inching toward Vito until it was too late and the metal met roughly with his head. Kiku looked at the figure on the floor and shook horribly with adrenalin.
Stunned? Absolutely. I looked between the sleeping gangster and the frozen Asian. I didn't expect that from Kiku, not in a hundred years. He dropped the pan and it clattered the floor loudly just as he started to sway.
"I…I need to sit down…" He said with a bit more anxiety than his usual nonchalant tone. Hercules took him by the shoulders and walked him into the back room so I was left with the unconscious boy. I sat in the booth and waited for Toni since he was too heavy for me to drag out on my own.
Antonio's P.O.V.
I arrived within the next ten minutes; dolly hooked around one arm and the other pushing open the stubborn door. I looked around, noticing Lovino sitting at a booth towards the back over the top of the cluttered desk that Kiku usually at.
"Hola, Lovi! Where is everyone?" I asked and wrestled with the large metal dolly so I could shimmy it through the door. It took me a minute but I managed then began to wheel it in only to stop when an unusual sight met me. There was a dead man crumpled on the ground at Lovi's feet.
"We had a customer." He informed me since he knew I was going to ask.
"So I see…but why is he dead?" I didn't take my eyes off the body as I stood the dolly up against the eggshell colored walls.
"He's not dead, Idiota. Kiku hit him with a pan."
"Why would he- wait…hey, it's that guy from town!" My tone took and abrupt shift from curious to angry. "Was he giving you shit, Lovi!?" I was going to kill that sick bastard. I could kind of turn into a psychopath when I wanted to. (Who wants to turn into a psychopath?)
"Yeah but I gave him hell till Kiku went crazy ninja kid on him. Just drag him out, okay?" He ordered before standing up and walking off to the kitchen. I abandoned the dolly and made my new task to sling his limb body over my shoulder and carry him out the back way, into the alley. I wasn't far from just setting him down and beating the living shit out of him. Alas, I was classy. I wouldn't hit someone who was unarmed; it was the lowest of low. I carried him down the alley for a block or two then found a nice smelly dumpster to leave the trash in.
Upon returning to the restaurant, I swept the floors, beat the rugs and whipped the tables. Since there were no other customers, I was allowed to leave with Lovino.
"Fun, si!?" I asked and looked to Lovino who was seated in the passenger seat of the car and looking out the window at the passing scenery.
"Yup, a real blast." Sarcasm practically dripped from his mouth. I chuckled a bit.
"Besides the sucky part." I clarified.
"You mean the whole day?"
"The whole day didn't suck Lovi~"
"First, I was forced to wear a girly apron then I had to cook good food for someone I absolutely hate, which in return, cussed me out and almost killed me. Oh, you're right Toni. My day was actually great." He said. He didn't use his usual venomous voice and instead used his 'pip-pip-cheerio-fuck-you' voice. I had learned his language and that voice meant he was secretly in a good mood and would probably be up for cuddling later tonight. Lucky me!
"Well I'm sorry you didn't have fun. I'm sure tomorrow will be better." I offered. He snorted humorously and watched the world move quickly by us until we arrived home.
As I predicted, Lovino was in a good mood all night. He made me dinner and let me choose the meal. Of course, I asked for stuffed tomatoes. I read Oliver Twist to him for an hour and he sat in my lap all on his own! I didn't have to grab him or plea! Then, he kissed me for a while and we went to our separate rooms after bathing (but Lovino had already showered in the morning after his accident). I missed sleeping with Lovi, he was such a cuddle bug! He was so sweet! I hugged my pillows but the feeling wasn't even close. Maybe when we got our own house we could sleep in the same bed as long as Mama didn't find out. Even if she did I would anyways. I loved Lovino and I wasn't going to give up holding him all night.
I couldn't wait to wake up and see Lovino again in the morning. As I fell asleep, I imagined the little Italian cuddling into my arms how he had last night. Love makes a person crazy. Crazy enough to hallucinate a human were a pillow was, yes. It was actually pretty scary.
(I'll be updating this weekend, see you then~)