Now, several weeks following Romano being taken to the shelter, Antonio realized the feline was missing. Due to his good nature the Spanish man searched for clues about the cat's whereabouts for he feared his lover may be worrying. After four or five days he finally came to this conclusion. It was rather ingenious for Antonio. In fact, he was quite proud of himself and his new found knowledge. Thus, after spending three days thinking of a way to tell his clever termination to his boyfriend, Antonio said this to Lovino:

"Lovi, where's Romano?"

Yes, that counted as 'ingenious' for our favorite Spaniard. Go ahead, make your forehead become friends with the desk, it is appropriate. Lovino felt like doing the same thing as his boyfriend asked the question from the couch across the large study where Lovino was writing a paper for work. He turned from the computer to look at the confused man athwart from him. Innocent olive eyes stared back at him, waiting for an answer. Golden ones rolled in their sockets.

"Antonio, where do you think he is?" Lovino asked dryly, leaning his head on his propped up hand.

"With your brother, Feliciano?" Antonio guessed, full of hope.

"Try again. Let me give you a hint: all of his things are gone and his fur isn't clinging to my shirt."

"Let me think….um….Lovi~! This is too hard! Just tell me!" Spaniard cried to Italian.

"You are an idiot. I felt like you needed to know that."

"But I'm your idiot, right Lovi~?"

"Yea, whatever. Moving on, I got rid of him. He was useless anyways," Lovino said before turning back to his work.

Antonio blinked. Why had Lovino gotten rid of Romano? Sure, the cat attacked the man's boyfriend, but does that mean he was worth getting rid of? Deep down—we're talking kidneys here—Antonio felt like Romano liked him a bit. He definitely loved Lovino, but maybe he felt like he owed Antonio for taking good care of Lovi, even if they weren't married (yet).

The rusty gears in Antonio head started to turn at a slow pace, but gained speed as the Spaniard realized something. Lovino had gotten rid of his beloved cat he had had for quite a few years after the feline brought harm to another loved one. So what if Antonio accidentally did something to Lovino or someone the Italian cared about; would Antonio be 'useless' to the man? Antonio already knew what it felt like to have Lovino taken away from him and he was sure as tomatoes were red he wasn't going through that depression again. However, he couldn't help but think about how unloved Romano had to be feeling. Thinking about it for a moment, Antonio came up with another question:

"Lovi, do you think Romano is mad you gave him up?" Antonio questioned his Lovi.

"He was a brat of a cat with a cruel attitude," Lovino muttered, not turning from typing. "He deserved to be given another chance to be taken. Maybe he'd ruin someone else's relationship." The last sentence was so low Antonio almost didn't hear it.

"So what if I screwed up again or hurt you? Would you leave me for someone else to take?"

This question had silenced Lovino. His fingers stopped flying over keys on the keyboard. Stillness claimed the room. He wanted to ask why the relationship with the cat had to do with their romantic one, but could not bring himself to do so. Antonio had always been one to ask questions like these. It was one of the very few things Lovino wanted to strangle him over.

"Lovino Vargas, tell me if you would," Antonio was now growing panicked.

"It depends on what you did. Why the hell would you care if I left anyways? You already went a week or so without me. How hard could it of been?" Lovino sighed, getting sick of this subject.

"Lovino, my life was pure hell without you. I wanted to jump out every open window in my house, but I felt like you'd come back for me, which you did. Lovi, my dear, I feel like we're not on the same page sometimes. You want me to go drown in a tub and I want you to stay over. I need you to take Spain to the vet because I have a meeting that's too important to miss, yet you say my cat's appointment is when siesta time is. Thus I have to take him myself or get another appointment. It's pretty obvious you don't want to be equal in this relationship. Look, Lovi, I care about you very much, but if you can't forgive someone for a mistake I don't think this will last any longer," Antonio finished, looking at the carpet.