Ten-Faced

Chapter 11 – Internal Battle

Disclaimer: I solemnly swear I don't own any of it; I'm just in it for the Romerica ;)

Warning: MPD/DID!Lovi, male x male pairings, harsh language, and AU.

And now the battle over the spotlight. I tried to get to as many Faces as you guys requested, but had to move some scenarios to chapter 12. So if you don't see a particular Face you asked for, it will probably be in the next chapter.

On a more random note, Kiku's panda puppet was named Midori ("green" in Japanese) because Gumi (the Vocaloid who sang the song this fic is inspired/named after) has green as her character color.

Here's a list of all the Faces: 1 – Lovi, 2 – Shy, 3 - Charisma, 4 - Tsundere, 5 - Charmer, 6 - Tactician, 7 – Fighter, 8 - Adult, 9 – Sweet, 10 – Broken

oOo

"Let's cut to the chase, Kiku," The new Face smirked, slight arrogant tone to his voice. "You're not really here for some school project, are you?"

"What?" the other boy blinked, a little caught off guard. He hadn't been expecting Lovino's mood to flip so quickly after being strained for so long. Midori the panda hung limp in his hand.

"Good question," Tactician absently ran a hand through his hair, straightening out the bedhead. "What are you doing here?"

"We're just talking…" Kiku was trying to regain his foothold in the interview. "Remember? Informal assessment for school?"

"Oh?" the Face had a slightly malicious glint to his eye. "What's the overall purpose of that?"

"To…to gain a better understanding of basic human psychology…" Kiku stumbled with his answer again, trying to figure out when the tables had turned on him. He was the one who was supposed to be asking the questions, not his pseudo-patient.

"Well, go on then…" Tactician leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms loosely. "I'm certain my answers will be basic enough, even for you."

"Yes, of course," Kiku managed to find his calm, collected voice, but still felt on edge. It was as if he was only able to ask the questions because Lovino allowed it. Even though he was leading the interview again, the Italian was the one in control. A very strange feeling, indeed. "Do you have a good memory?"

"Flawless," Tactician flashed a cocky grin.

"Do you ever wake up in places without a recollection of how you got there?"

"No, Kiku. I don't do drugs."

"Have you ever been in a situation where you were listening to someone talk and realize you don't remember part or all of what the speaker said?"

"Have you ever lived with Feliciano?" he shot back.

"Do you ever find new things among your belongings that you don't remember buying?"

"Only when my Grandfather does the laundry."

"Have you ever had difficulty recognizing friends or family members?"

"If only…" the Face sighed dramatically. "It would be nice forgetting who the Bad Touch Trio are for a day or two."

"Do you hear voices in your head?" Kiku continued reading off of his questionnaire.

Tactician outright laughed at this.

"Seriously, what kind of a question is that, Kiku?" he tried to stifle his laughter.

"Then how about looking into mirrors? Do you not recognize yourself some days?"

"This coming from the guy who mistook me for Feliciano several times during his Freshman year?" the smug Face raised an eyebrow. "Maybe you're the one in need of a psychiatric evaluation, Kiku."

The Japanese boy wasn't sure what to make of this at all. This side of Lovino didn't have the irritability he'd come to associate with the little tsundere. No…this Lovino seemed almost cruel. Was this really the Lovino he once knew? Something was deeply wrong with his friend and he had to get to the bottom of it before even more damage was done.

"Is that all?" Tactician asked, haughty-tone intact.

"Yes," the black-haired boy nodded. "Thank you for your time, Lovino-kun."

The Italian stood up to leave, showing no signs of the exhaustion he had earlier. Kiku watched him walk past with cat-like grace, slightly baffled at the scene.

"You should know your place and stay out of my way, Kiku…" Tactician replied from the stairs, eyes narrowing a bit. "After all, there's no way you can beat me…"

oOo

By the end of it, Kiku's therapy had failed with Tactician at the helm. If anything, it left Kiku with more questions than answers. He assumed it would be a standard case of a teenager overwhelmed by school and social activities, but it looked like that wasn't the case. Kiku was beginning to worry that it's something much more serious, but he didn't want to worry Feliciano yet.

"So, how did it go?" the amber-eyed boy asked, helping his friend pick up his papers.

"Uh, it went well enough overall," Kiku replied. "I have to look into a few more things before we try to come up with some ways to help your brother."

"Okay!" Feli nodded. "Grazie, Kiku!"

The Asian boy gathered the last of his things and left the Vargas home. He didn't notice the second set of eyes watching him walk away. Tactician's cold gaze never left Kiku's back from the cracks of the storm sketches taped all over his window. Once the problem had left, he walked past his desk, casually flicking his finger against the first domino. The others began to fall while the smirk grew on Tactician's face. They curved around into spirals and pathways leading to the edge of the desk. After each piece had fallen, only one domino remained in the middle beside the cereal box superhero figurine Alfred had given him. Number 6.

oOo

Back at school the following Monday, Lovino noticed that people were ignoring him again unless he wore the right Face. Feliciano's cooking friends were only interested in Sweet and Charisma, while Adult was embraced by the Music Department. Fighter was welcomed by all the athletes, but feared by everyone else. Then there was Shy, who wanted to fit in somewhere, but was constantly overlooked by everyone. Even Charmer, who could smooth-talk his way out of nearly anything, found that he couldn't please everyone. It only served to frustrate them more that they still couldn't find the right Face for Alfred. This led to some dangerous thinking. The Faces realized that Alfred could only choose one of them, not all of them, so the battle began…

The bell rang for Algebra and Charmer took his seat besides Alfred. He had to laugh when Alfred pulled out a small tomato bouquet complete with cherry tomatoes nestled in the leafy greens tied together with red tissue paper. It was actually kind of cute, with several yellow tomato blossoms still flowering around the bright, red, juicy tomatoes.

"I take my challenges very seriously," he grinned.

"Oh, is that for me?" Charmer asked, recalling Alfred's promise to find a tomato bouquet for Adult after the Winter Showcase.

"Yes, but you seem a little different than the one I promised this to," his lips formed a smile, but his eyes looked anything but happy. "Of course, even that person is different than the person I grew up with…"

Charmer swallowed, wondering how Alfred would eventually take the knowledge of the Faces, but covered up his own unease with a smile. He was good at playing pretend and right now, Alfred needed to feel like things were just fine. The current Face could wear emotions like clothes, whether it was for someone else's benefit or his own. This time it was a little of both. Charmer picked up the tomato bouquet and rested his head gently against Alfred's shoulder.

"If I can't be your entire life, can I at least be your favorite part?"

oOo

Tsundere was walking the halls, feeling very stressed out. Everything around him felt so heavy…it was making him tense. He felt like there was so much tension built up inside him that it would cause him to snap at any minute, like a rubber band pulled to its limits. Entering his next classroom, he glared at anyone foolish enough to make eye-contact with him. He sat in his desk, silently daring anyone around him to even try to tell him to lighten up because they just know everything will turn out all smiles and rainbows for him if he could just embrace the concept of thinking positively.

Deep inside him, he could hear the other Faces demanding he switch with them if he was feeling so uneasy. Relying on his fiery nature, Tsundere kept them all in check with his temper alone.

He hated it…he hated feeling so angry all the time. Not being able to calm down…not knowing what would set him off next…it was a horrible way to spend his days, but he had no choice. His anger was all he had going for him…everything else was severed. The only times he felt better was when he was around Alfred. The only time he actually felt okay was when Alfred had hugged him.

"Dammit, hamburger bastard…Where are you…?" he sprawled out across his desk and let sleep overtake him.

Tsundere was vaguely aware of a bell ringing and footsteps shifting all around him at the end of his nap, but paid them no mind. He was much happier in his sleep world than the actual world. In dreamland, he and Alfred were together and living in a nice place just off the coast of Sicily. They had a huge tomato garden and nobody annoying ever visited, except his brother on holidays. It was heaven.

"I'm telling you, you have to kiss him!" a familiar girl's voice echoed from the far reaches of reality. "He's been out cold the entire class."

"Why didn't anybody wake him up, then?" another familiar voice asked in disbelief. For some reason, Tsundere felt warmer just by its presence. Maybe it was a side-effect of his beach-related dream?

"Because he fell asleep snarling about something," the girl said knowingly. "You know my motto…"

"Always give shipping, where shipping is due?"

"No! It's never wake a sleeping tsundere!" she protested, then seemed to consider something. "Although I like that last one…mind if I borrow it?"

"Not at all."

"Good. Now kiss this handsome prince awake so I can go to my next class."

"Thanks, Elizabeta, but I think I'll just try shaking him awake…Y'know, the normal way?"

"Your loss…" the feminine voice sighed, indicating it was also her loss.

The next thing he knew, someone was gently nudging Tsundere's shoulder. The brunette could feel himself drifting back to the real world with the person's touch.

"Lovino…Lovino…" the warm voice spoke. "Time to wake up, buddy…"

"Mmn…no…" the Face replied groggily, sleepily batting away the hand.

"You have to wake up, Lovino…" the voice like sunshine continued. "The bell already rang…your next class is starting soon…"

"Nooo…" Tsundere covered his face with his arms, to shield himself from the bright light that suddenly tried to blind him. Someone must have opened the window.

"Oh, my god!" giggled the girl's voice. "He looks like a little kitten! I'm so glad I'm recording this…"

"Wait, you're what? Elizabeta, put your phone away, already!" the hero forgot to speak in a gentle tone around his sleeping friend, and ended up startling him awake with the volume of his voice.

"What the hell, Alfred?!" Tsundere woke up flustered and disoriented. "I was trying to sleep, dammit! Any reason you decided screaming into my ear was the best way to wake me up?!"

"Well, that's my cue…" the yaoi fangirl waved and made a quick exit, leaving Alfred to deal with waking the dragon.

Sometimes it just didn't pay to be the Hero.

oOo

In gym class, Fighter was doing an awesome job of running laps around the other students. Three of the classes had combined today to practice endurance running on the field. Fighter had taken it as an open invitation to show off and make good use of his speed.

"What's wrong, can't keep up, bastards?" he grinned wildly.

Several guys stared at him in jealousy and annoyance. Lovino Vargas never used to be this arrogant. Whatever happened to make him go from being irritable, but quick to a superior sprinting machine with a big head must have been extreme. Normally the few students in his class that were also his former soccer teammates would have said something to cut him down, but their recent experience with Lovino Vargas, Soccer Demon had made them wiser.

Fighter kept up his pace, watching other winded students wheezing at the sidelines and others still struggle to keep up with him. They were all so weak. He couldn't believe he used to let them push him around and belittle him.

Look at them now, out of breath after only a few dozen laps...pathetic.

Fighter was able to take some consolation in the fact that Alfred's class was practicing on the field next to theirs. The faster Lovino was able to run across the track and back on the field, the more often he was able to see Alfred. He carefully watched the blonde stretch and begin jogging with some friends. The blonde's class was working on hurdles and short distance track events. It was a treat to watch Alfred compete, since he normally didn't get to see the American's class. Fighter licked his lips hungrily.

He continued dominating until Shy flashed into being for an instant. That was all it took for the sneaky Face to cause them to fall by purposely tripping himself. All of the attention the competitive Face was gathering had made Shy incredibly anxious. He couldn't deal with that kind of pressure, so he had to remove Fighter from it somehow. As they tumbled towards the brick building, Fighter snapped back into being in time to catch himself and not slam into the wall.

From a distance, Matthew watched on, realizing it looked intentional. He couldn't figure out why though…that was really dangerous. The blonde watched his brother jog over, asking Lovino if he was okay.

"Yeah, I'm fine!" Fighter laughed it off. "I tripped over a goddamned crater or something! What a shitty mowing job by the maintenance crew, am I right?"

oOo

Sometimes to Adult, it felt like he was the only one who paid any attention at all to the world going on outside their head. All of the other Faces were so obsessed with winning over Alfred and being accepted by their friends and family, they didn't see how damaged their own body was becoming.

Adult finished tuning his violin and rested it under his chin. Soft notes escaped his instrument as his bow touched the strings. Fighter was easily one of the worst. Had Broken not spent last period napping, Adult wouldn't even have the strength to stand right now. Each note echoed throughout the music room. Slow at first, then faster and faster… They only had so much energy to share, Fighter and some of the others didn't realize how dangerous it was to expend it all on some pointless action to show off. It wasn't working; none of this was working. Alfred still didn't care about any of them in the way they so desperately sought. In the end, none of them cared…

At the memory of blood, broken glass, and pain, Adult's violin fell silent for a moment. The monster called Death was upon him again. As he felt flames lick at his feet, he began playing a slow elegy again. It felt like he and the others were burning alive. They only had so much time to play the game before they were all turned to ash.

At the sound of sniffles and crying, Adult looked up. Several music students were staring at him, tears pouring out of their eyes, tissues clutched in their hands. Confused, Adult set down his violin. He hadn't even noticed he was playing. Edelstein had given them several minutes to warm up, so he tuned his violin and lost himself in his thoughts…typically, he just played whatever notes came to mind, so he couldn't understand why people were crowding around him in tears.

"How long ago did you start composing?" Edelstein asked him, his expression a mix of shock and wonder.

"Composing?" Adult asked. "No, I was simply playing whatever notes came to mind…nothing special about them."

"But that was so beautiful, Lovino!" a girl exclaimed. "Very professionally done!"

"Yeah, it sounded so good, but so tragic!" another added. "I couldn't help but start crying…"

"Well, I didn't!" a taller boy protested, not so secretly wiping his eyes. "…It was pretty good, though."

"It was like a story!" a younger girl added, dreamily. "Everything was so happy and peaceful until a great terror spread, someone died…then the survivors were grieving and mourning their loss…"

"Omigawd!" the final fangirl exclaimed. "Did you compose it about your paren—"

"I believe we have a class to be getting back to," Adult interrupted, catching Edelstein's eye. "Right, professor?"

Roderich was floored. Not only was his most difficult student revealing a new side of himself (with a real gift for musical composition, no less!), but he was actually asking Roderich to begin class. Lovino, his most foul-mouthed, complicated, and moody music student was actually showing interest in music lessons for a change.

oOo

Throughout the day, the 10 Faces kept spiraling and stewing in the back of Lovino's subconscious. Each struggled for their own turn in the spotlight. If Alfred's affections could only be given to one Face, they were each determined to make themselves the winner. By lunchtime, Charisma had taken his turn at the helm, entertaining everyone at the table with a story of his family's vacation to Milan last summer.

"And that's why we were never allowed back in La Scala," he finished his tale with flourish.

"But what about the pirates?" Alfred asked. Only Lovino could find a way to make a boring opera house story exciting. He had never even heard of Il Pirata before his friend told him about it, but now had the strangest urge to see it.

"Yeah, and the swordfight you and your grandpa ended up in!" added Gilbert, also amazed he sat through an entire conversation about both historical operas and museums.

"Well, we won, obviously...Although I think we got more death threats from the other guests than the pirates did in the opera's story." laughed Charisma. He had always enjoyed his time in the limelight. His phone buzzed in his pocket, so he took it out to check his text messages.

"Ve~! That's the bracelet I made you in Art class!" Feliciano's eyes brightened upon recognizing it, as his brother scrolled through his messages. He had made it shortly after finishing the Harry Potter series, so he fashioned a handmade Deathly Hallows charm to it as well as carved runes on each metal bead. "…Wait. I thought you said you didn't like it."

"Are you kidding?" his older brother smiled. "I know how much effort you put into it. For you to fight off being hyper long enough to make something so cool is worth it."

Feliciano squealed with delight. He knew his fratello had liked it, even if he did say it was childish and stupid when he'd given the bracelet to him last year for Christmas. Charisma smiled once more for his younger brother and went back to replying to Antonio's text on his phone. Lunch had been going well, so the outgoing Face was pleased…or at least he was until Fighter took over for the briefest second. That was all it took to quickly stab a blueberry from someone else's tray. The others were too distracted by the chatter to notice it. Fighter relinquished his control and Charisma took over again without even noticing the change. As he was about to eat the berry on his fork, Feli quickly swatted his hand away, surprising the others.

"Fratello! Wait!" he exclaimed, sending the fork flying across the table.

"Geez, are you still upset that I didn't finish the dishes with you the other day?" Charisma chuckled, leading the others to join in.

"L-Lovi…you know we're allergic to blueberries…" Feliciano replied in a serious voice.

"Huh?" the brunette glanced at the fork Feli had sent sailing, seeing some berries on it.

"Why did you take blueberries…?" Kiku asked carefully, still a little wary of the Italian since their interview over the weekend.

"I didn't, they make Feli and I sick…" Charisma gestured to his blueberry-less tray.

"Then how'd they get there?" asked Alfred, looking around in a joking manner. "Alright, who's trying to poison my friend, here?"

"It wasn't me…" Ludwig defended himself, noting the blueberries on his own tray.

"Bullshit!" Lovino's Tsundere Face snapped in. "You're the only one here with blueberries! What the fuck, potato bastard?!"

"I-I'm sure it wasn't Ludwig! You know he'd never—" insisted Feliciano.

"Like hell he wouldn't!" the hostile Face seized his tray and stood up angrily. "Keep an eye on him or you'll be next, Feli."

"F-Fratello!"

"I'm out of here!" Tsundere stormed off.

Lovino ended up skipping the rest of school and went home to deal with another splitting headache. They had been happening more and more often as of late. With every step he took, it felt like bolt of lighting scorched its way up his spine and short-circuited his brain. He had barely managed to get home before his vision began to swim in front of him and he collapsed into the living room couch.

All he could think of was how his friends didn't care about him, despite everything. All the hard work he was doing for them by managing his Faces seemed pointless now. And Alfred...he had only wanted to make him happy and be accepted for a change, but it wasn't meant to be. Lovino never realized how alone he felt, despite having ten Faces inside him. Even they seem to be turning on him. Now he truly had no one left – not even himself.

oOo

A/N

Oh, man. So. Much. Drama. Only two chapters left…I still feel like I have so much to cover, so the final two chapters will probably be on the long side…hopefully you guys don't mind too much.

And I don't know if tomato bouquets actually exist or not, but it would be kind of nice (and tasty!) if they did.

-Rajikka

Translations:

Grazie – Thanks (It.)

Tsundere – A tsundere is a type of character seen in anime or manga known for appearing cold or hostile, but having a hidden sweet side. "Tsun Tsun" is the aloof or irritable side, while "Dere Dere" is the lovey dovey side. (Jp.)

Fratello – Brother (It.)

Midori – Green (Jp.)

La Scala – Short for Teatro alla Scala, a famous opera house and museum located in Milan, Italy.