Loooong chapter...but it may be the last of its kind for a while... and I don't necessarily mean the length either. This just adds to the drama that I love so much.
I hope you guys like it~
Ugh. What a long fucking week it turned out to be after Antonio dragged Romano to those baths…not that they were bad. Not at all; they reminded the Italian of back when his grandfather was around and of the houses he constructed in Italy, with all of the different rooms that one would visit during their stay and all of the new people that they would meet. He quite enjoyed his time there, especially in the warm watered baths, where he could stretch out his legs and truly relax as the liquid wrapped around his body, tingling every pore that it could reach while soothing the pain from his muscles, even his hands. He also had the chance to repay Antonio for all of the glorious hand and shoulder massages he had given him over the month…although it had been a bit awkward on Romano's part at first, since they both were completely naked along with those idiot friends of his…apparently, the citizens of this world had no problem with being in the nude around other people and it wasn't seen as taboo. Oh well, it was still amusing to see how red Antonio's face became as Romano worked the knots out of his shoulders and back while massaging oils deep into his skin. He still had to flick the bastard in the back of the head whenever he attempted to twist his arm back and rub his hand over Romano's legs, or when he caught the bastard staring at him from across the room…which was the entire time, even when the assistant walked in and asked if they wanted to move to the next room only for the pretty lady to be shooed out of the room by that albino bastard. Later on, Romano made sure to flirt with the girl, both as an apology and to see the deliciously jealous expression that crossed Antonio's face (he wouldn't let the Italian out of his sight from that point on.) And afterwards, they got the permission for Romano to return to Arthur's home, allowing him to sleep in a bed with another warm body for the first time in several days.
The rest of the week returned to what it was before Romano had collapsed out in the snowstorm; he would aid Antonio with the yard work, though he couldn't do as much as before due to the requirement of a cane to even get around the house, then he would spend time with Arthur…meaning they would both sit in front of the fireplace and read in silence before Antonio would stumble into the room, take his spot by Romano, and promptly rest his head upon his shoulder, falling into a quick nap in the warmth of the fire and the Italian…still smelling of sweat or wherever he was while he was working…at least he kept those perverted hands of his in check, as if he didn't want Arthur to think there was anything between them…
Which there wasn't, dammit...ugh...Even if he often caught that curly haired bastard constantly staring at his wrist before scowling in concentration...as if he was thinking hard and planning something stupid...
Arthur, on the other hand, didn't feel very well all week, but he was fairing much better than he was when Romano returned on Sunday. No longer did he complain of chest pains, or shortness of breath but he still retained a sort of unpleasant feeling, as he called it, and would shuffle around the large house as if he was in a daze before remembering what he was doing…It worried Romano…both of the future of his health and the fact that he couldn't shrug off the feeling that something bad was going to happen...soon. England kept creeping back into Romano's mind whenever he had nothing to stimulate it, and he constantly worried that the tea sucking bastard would randomly pop up whenever Antonio wasn't distracted, and attempt to take him away from his ho-...current dwellings…that wouldn't set well with the much, much larger idiot, and he would probably attack England in a rage…and get his ass killed; the bush-browed nation was not one to hold back against people who got in his way, especially if they looked like Spain…even if they were human. But…thankfully, the only thing remotely resembling England was Arthur, and he was always busy sleeping or taking it easy. Unfortunately, because of his health, Arthur insisted that he couldn't make it to the festival being held six days after Romano returned…speaking of which… That was tonight…
…and Antonio was scurrying to and fro trying to prepare for it, even though Francis informed him that men only had to show up wearing a mask and the nicest suit they owned… and both he and Romano already made their masks (looking very much like the ones from the Carnival of Venice) earlier in the week when they were both lounging around in the sun room. As such, Romano sat at the dinner table with his head resting on his palm, his eyes following the frantic idiot as he stumbled around the room, placing various objects on the table before disappearing, then running back with more shit in his arms. Most of it was wrapped in cloth, and whenever Romano attempted to touch it, that bastard would gently slap his hands away, pout, then go back to his previous business…Which left Romano utterly bored out of his mind. "Bastard, what the hell are you doing?" He growled as Antonio placed a pair of dress shoes on the table, before settling in the chair across from the Italian and carefully polishing the footwear.
That idiot didn't even look up at Romano as he spoke. "I'm getting ready, my love~"
Romano scoffed at his response, running the tip of his finger across one of the golden curves of Antonio's mask, a flutter growing in his heart in anticipation of actually seeing the bastard in the beautiful thing; he knew the gold hues would match perfectly against the idiot's sun-kissed skin, and the black around the corner of the eye openings, and where it would gently tuck above his ears, would bring out the emerald in his eyes to the point where they would seem to glow…and the tiny amount of long feathers jutting out from the right side would match so well with his already beautiful hair. With another sigh, Romano's eyes drifted back to Antonio, his vision drifting over his strong jaw bone and the cute way his bottom lip was gently sucked into his mouth as he worked so diligently to make the shoes in his hands as shiny as possible…he was suddenly thankful that the mask would only cover the upper part of Antonio's face. "Lovi~ You should put on your mask, so I will know who to look for at the festival~" a hum came from Antonio's throat as he finished with the first shoe.
"What, we're not going together?" Romano snapped back, furrowing his brows together in both anger and confusion.
Antonio chuckled, allowing one of his unclothed feet to brush against Romano's. "No, no. We can't, Lovino. I have to leave earlier than everyone else, and it is forbidden for me to bring anyone. You'll have to wait for Francis and Gilbert to pick you up after I go."
Romano only scowled even more. "And why the hell can't I go with you?'
"Ah~ you'll just have to wait and see, darling~" Romano twitched at the name Antonio called him, before wrinkling his nose in displeasure and allowing his toes to sink painfully into the bastard's shin. "Ow-ow-ow, that hurt, Lovi." he whined with a pout, although he refused to stop polishing that stupid shoe.
"Don't call me fucking darling, you sappy bastard."
"Aw~ Why not? I think it's very fitting; you are my one and only darling after all." Antonio smiled, pausing to gently gaze up at the now blushing Italian. "If not darling, then what should I call you, hmm?"
"H-how about m-my fucking n-name!" Romano sputtered behind his snarl, refusing to meet Antonio's softening gaze, although his fingers unconsciously drew circles on the corner of the golden mask…Just like the sun… he thought to no one in particular, once again feeling those toes lovingly brush against his calf. His head snapped up with a glare attempting to burn a hole through that overly affectionate bastard, but Antonio easily countered it with the sugar-coated smile in his forest-green orbs.
"I think you like it when I call you by my lovely nicknames, my precious Lovi~"
"And why the h-hell is that!"
Antonio let out a small breathy chuckle as he reached over the table to cover Romano's hand with his own, gently rubbing his thumb over the tanned knuckles. "Because." He purred, interlacing his fingers between Romano's before giving them a light squeeze, tenderly smiling as his face darkened a few shades of red, "Your curl gives it away~"
"The hell!" Romano growled, snatching his hand away from the still grinning bastard.
"Ah, yes~ I still don't understand why, but that lovely curl of yours forms a heart whenever you adore what someone has said or done to you."
This surprised the Italian…that the idiot was able to figure that out so quickly; Spain never came to that conclusion, no matter how many times Romano caught him staring at that specific curl, fighting back the urge to reach out and twirl it in his fingers, and straighten it back out…but Romano wouldn't let this bastard be so smug about what he thought he figured out. He snarled, leaning forwards on one of his elbows. "Prove it, bitch."
Antonio sighed, leaning and reaching his hand out to cup Romano's cheek, pulling him closer until he could easily lay a kiss below his left eye, instantly making the flesh burn a dull pink. "You're so handsome, my love." He hummed, allowing his lips to dip back down and brush against Romano's, forcing the rest of his face to flush and sending a tingle across his skin to prick at his scalp. "I could kiss you all day, if you'd let me~" A thick, painful swallow made its way from Romano's throat just as his eyes flickered back down to the very, very interesting wood on the table. Dammit, he knew that the bastard already proved his point, but he just didn't stop…with all of the very flattering compliments, and loving touches that Romano craved more than food and siestas. A single finger tapped at his chin, before gently sliding under it, and lifting so his face was forced to meet Antonio's. "You would like that, no?" the brunet continued, cocking his head ever so slightly to the side, softly smiling with his eyes and his lips.
A half-hearted scoff broke from Romano, despite the fact that he knew his face was slowly drifting closer to Antonio's and burning a brilliant red. "No…bastard. I wouldn't."
Gentle chuckles rolled off of his tongue at the Italian's response. "You reject it, yet your curl is still shaped into a heart, darling~"
There just wasn't any point in denying it…just from the pleasant tingle in his scalp, he knew it was true…he constantly failed to remain immune to that bastard's sweet words and caresses, and always was left just wanting more and more…but when would it stop? When would a simple hug not be enough to satisfy the feelings building up in his heart day after day? Romano stared into the eyes gazing back into his, emeralds upon amber, before the space between them was kicked into oblivion, and their lips met; sweet…chaste…yet still dripping with a layer of unmistakable want that had strengthened immensely over the past eleven days, despite how much Romano hated it... he…he could no longer decide if he truly wanted to keep Antonio pushed so far away from his heart…to keep his love reserved for a man who would never be able to return the love that he yearn for, so goddamn much…but day…after fucking day… that resolve cracked, and who was the one who picked up those pieces, melding them and reforming them to benefit himself? Well…it really wasn't hard to guess…and…and Romano felt so dirty for feeling this way…after only a month, but…it still felt like he knew the man, caressing his cheeks with his warm, soothing breath, for his entire life… He hated himself for it…but… he just knew what he wanted to be all lies…just fucking lies that he could brush into a bin and throw away, forgetting about them forever…dammit…why did this shit always have to happen to him…but now…sadly...he knew how his brother felt when he constantly cried for that Holy Rome bastard, and yet, still loved Germany with every breath that he could muster. Loving someone so similar...yet completely different.
...It was painful, wasn't it Feliciano?
The kiss only lasted a few seconds; no matter much Romano's mind tricked him into thinking it lasted hours. Antonio pulled away, not before pecking him once more though, and leaned back in his chair with a calm, yet contented expression radiating from his face. Romano, on the other hand, scowled and leant back as well, narrowing his eyes to seem more threatening than he really was. "What the hell was that kiss for, bastard?" he growled, tucking his feet under the chair so Antonio wouldn't be able to reach them with his own...although he could still reach the other male's knees, much to his dismay.
"Because I love you." Antonio simply replied, smiling that tender smile that he knew Romano loved more than tomatoes and pasta. The Italian gave a grunt for a response, crossing his arms over each other and shifting his gaze out the back door, admiring the fantastic view of the sun sinking over the horizon, and into the world below the ring of mountains that surrounded the western border of the country. Sure, he may have watched Antonio finish polishing his shoes from the corner of his eye...and sure, he may have allowed his legs to stretch back out and gently stroke those larger feet with his own...but he never would've admitted it...
Nor would he admit to the faint smile that emerged on his lips when he noticed that Antonio paused, and sweetly grinned at him.
Despite it being well after the sunset, and cold as fuck outside, the festival still turned out to be...rather pleasant so far. There was an abundance of lights, colours, sounds, aromas... everything you could imagine from a cultural festival; Men wore their best suits, just as Francis had said, and intricate, homemade masks adorned their faces, preventing their identity to easily be revealed to anyone they spoke to, while women dressed in thick, brightly coloured dresses that complimented their figures and matched the masks they also wore. It was as if Romano was lost in a masquerade, fascinated by all of the people that he would meet, yet never truly know if he'd ever see them again...although, thankfully he added after initially arriving, Francis, Gilbert and Ludwig never separated from him. Antonio, on the other hand, was still nowhere to be seen...but at least they knew what each other's mask looked like, so it would be easier to find him later on.
But it still pissed him off that they couldn't come together.
"Where the fuck is that bastard!" Romano shouted out above a particularly noisy crowd of patrons, amazed that Francis could even hear him over the blare of the music and roar of the excited voices.
"You'll have to find him yourself~ He didn't tell us anything about not being able to come with you, mon cher." The blond replied, re-tying his crimson mask to his head after Gilbert pulled it off only moments before.
"Yeah! We're just as in the dark as you are!" Gilbert added, his entire face hidden behind his hooked mask, making him look like a Plague Doctor from Romano's home world, and his pure black suit didn't help him seem less...well...creepy. "So come on! Let's enjoy his while we still can, right West?"
Ludwig, who was nestled in Gilbert's arms, smiled from behind his own mask. "Right, right!" he giggled, wrapping his arms around his brother's neck, snuggling into the side of his face. "Let's have fun!" His brother allowed him to touch the ground, and those two scampered off into the crowd to have their adventures, leaving Francis and Romano behind.
"Well, well, Lovino. It's just you and I now~" the blond purred, although his words fell upon deaf ears as Romano continued to scan the crowd for that idiot bastard...but after a few moments, he huffed and finally allowed his amber eyes to drift towards Francis...as much as he'd rather look at anything else but the bearded freak; a scowl buried darkened his brows, and his lips curled up to reveal his teeth.
"Touch me, you die." Was the only warning that he gave the bastard before he neared him. Francis could only let out a loud chortle.
"Non, non! I don't want to face the wrath of a love-struck Antonio~" He smiled at the scowling Italian, a smirk soon forming on his lips. "Do you miss him already?"
"What! No!" Romano retorted, glad that the mask would be hiding the red burning away at his cheeks from the drawn-out laughs of the blond. He didn't miss the fucker...he just didn't want to be stuck with Francis for too long since that albino bastard just had to run off with his brother, leaving him with the perverted freak. "What the hell is there to do around here?"
"Ah~ well it a bit into the night, but everything is still directed more for the children. In a moment, adults get to have all the fun~"
"Fun?"
"You'll see." Another purring laugh escaped Francis, and he gently grabbed the Italian by his wrist as an indication for him to follow. Romano did follow him, after giving him another harsh glare, and they traversed the thick crowd, going west until they came to the edge of both the city and the festival. Here, a large number of people were standing around a barren platform surrounded by candle lit lanterns of gold and red, giving the entire area a warm, welcoming aura, but the two didn't stand among the patrons. No, they ventured off to the side and sat at the empty tables; while they still had a perfect view of the platform, there was plenty of room for people to cram their little asses in there and block off their sight. Francis leaned back in the chair that he occupied, rolling his shoulders before tossing a glance at Romano. "I wonder who will do the dance this year~" he hummed, glancing down as he flicked some loose dirt off his shoe.
"No idea what you're rambling about." Romano droned, crossing his arms and staring off at nothing in particular. Maybe, since that bastard wasn't there to get jealous, he should flirt with some of the women and get to know more people who lived in the region.
A short chuckle left those perverted lips, and he leaned on the table, boring those icy blue eyes deep into Romano's skull, who merely shot a glare back at the blond. "The Dance of Lust~" He hummed, grinning even wider at the confused peak in the Italian's brows. "It marks the beginning of the adult portion, at least in this part of the city."
"Is that so..." He was getting bored with this shit... This was more of a social event, and Romano just wasn't one to talk to random people...Antonio knew that very, very well, yet he still practically begged for the brunet to come only to leave him early, and leave him with his perverted friends. That idiot was going to get it when Romano found him.
"Thankfully, they reserve this honour for those who are currently trying to court a potential mate; there is a legend that goes along with the dance." Francis continued, smiling as Romano rolled his eyes, before shifting them towards the blond, as if he would only listen because there was nothing else for him to do at the moment. "The dancer will choose someone out of the audience, and if they can keep up with him or her, they will be happily married until they die."
Romano scoffed, picking at the candle in the centre of the table with his middle finger. "That's utter bullshit. Legends are nothing but over-exaggerated lies."
"Say that to the past dancers." Romano scowled at the smirking blond, knowing that the bastard was just trying to trick him. A dance bonding two people in marriage forever? What crap...even Feliciano could come up with better shit than that...while completely hammered...and high...on fucking pot, courtesy of Holland of course. Ugh. That idiot Antonio had better get off his lazy ass, wherever he was, and entertain Romano, or else he was just going to leave and scamper his butt back to bed where he would sleep until morning came, and then yell at the bastard until he cowered before him.
Just as Romano was about to open his mouth and complain some more to the bearded freak, all of the lanterns illuminating the platform before them faded, leaving the crowd in darkness, save for the dull candles scattered around the tables. "Oooh~ The dancer has arrived~" Francis practically purred, a sense of lust underlying the flick of his tongue, yet Romano only huffed.
She'd better be hot.
A sound echoed throughout the silence of the crowd; a lone cord plucked from an acoustic guitar, quickly followed by three more strums before they were left to drift among the ears of the listeners, caressing their ears with the soothing notes. More complementing notes were played, followed by a soft chord as a single light lit up in the centre of the podium; a match, by the looks of it, but it failed to illuminate the holder's face, only their long, sinewy fingers, and the edge of their white shirt. The dancer raised the match well above their head, effectively lighting the lantern before moving to the others. Once by one, the lanterns once again began to emit their glow in tune with the slow strums of the guitar, illuminating the floor below them with a soft radiance that captured Romano's mind, though not as much as the dancer himself. Such a brilliant white shirt that the man adorned, sticking and rolling with the man's smooth movements as if it was a second skin, and it flashed those delicious, tanned collar bones with every movement of his broad shoulders. And those black pants...oh god how they clung to his legs and hips, making them seem longer and sexier than they already were, flattering his body in every way imaginable while still leaving him with an elegant aura that usually failed to even float around the bastard. Off to Romano's side, Francis sighed, seeming disappointed before mumbling to himself. "No wonder he seemed so happy last month."
But the Italian ignored what the blond grumbled; he was far too busy gawking at the tanned man who was still holding that stupid little match, that is, until it burned down to the tip of his finger and was extinguished by the calloused flesh. His arms reached towards the flawless night sky, fingers grasping at the stars and at the chords that rung out in the air before they gracefully lowered, sliding over his chest in a way that made Romano's mouth go dry. That bastard grinned, closing his emerald eyes and turning his head slightly to the side as those fingers brushed over his sides, arms crossing over his stomach and hips swiveling in time with the slow strums of the guitar. He made a slow twirl, allowing his hands to snake back up his body, rake through his chocolate curls and extend towards the skies once more, earning a few shouts from the watchers, women and men alike.
A strange growl purred in Romano's throat, matching the way that his eyes hungrily gazed at the swaying man, and he fought back the urge to punch those howling bastards in the face for even looking at the male before him. Those delicious hips rolled into each slow movement the brunet made, matching the elegant sways and twists he created on the large platform, forming what could be called a one-manned Ballroom Samba, all while eating away at Romano by not even opening those eyes to scan the crowd...no...they remained closed, hidden to the audience, as if he was too shy to meet their lustful gazes...And Romano finally understood what this was...he literally was selling himself with his movements, with his dexterity and flexibility...for the one most worthy of his body...and it was tearing away at Romano's mind, doing everything it could to lure him up to the stage...for that idiotic bastard to claim him as his own. It was small, but the grin that stretched across the dancer's lips elicited an unfamiliar tingle to break over Romano's skin, only to unfurl against his tongue as it smoothly jutted out to gently graze the outside of his own lips.
What was wrong with him...getting so turned on by just watching the man fucking dance with those soft rolls of his hips around every slow spin...around every melodious twang of the strings... around every flick of his wrist...God, Romano had never yearn for something so bad in his life, and sinking his nails into the skin of his legs really didn't lessen it as much as he would've liked. Then the music slightly quickened, and those licentious emeralds opened to gaze down at him, beckoning him to dance with the man.
Never before had such human emotions coursed through his body.
Antonio's POV
Antonio could feel the sweat trickle at the edge of his hairline, feeling unbearably hot despite the frigidness of the air around him, and when his eyes finally opened, falling on his sweet little Lovino glaring at him with those absolutely pleasurable amber behind that silver and onyx mask, oh he almost lost it. He grinned, snapping his hips to the music while his arms smoothly twirled in the air; flawless, if the visible swallow Lovino took was anything to go by. Gliding across the small stage, he flaunted his body around, rolling and grinding his hips into the air as his legs gracefully carried him into his steps before he paused in the centre, taking a small breath before continuing in his dance. His eyes never left Lovino, using his expressions to judge the effectiveness of his body; doing everything he could to lure the man with him on the stage, craving to have that delicate skin pressed against his own, moving against him in a dance that would seal them together for eternity...as if the metal nestled in his pocket wouldn't be enough.
A fire was raging inside of him, and he very well knew it, even if it wasn't exactly time for those types of feelings to emerge from their holds, and he half wondered when Lovino would experience the same thing as he made another twirl among the jagged steps that were added into his dance. Another twitch vibrated off of the lovely man sitting only a few feet away, forcing a deeper smile onto Antonio's lips and he copied the step once more, earning another shutter from the smaller male. Ah~ Lovely Lovi was responding very well to the irresistible call of his body and if everything went according to the careful planning he had made over the week, it wouldn't be long...not long at all, and Antonio didn't know how much longer he could wait for it...it had been almost a full year since the last time, and that wasn't out of love...no...not at all. Only built up frustration had fuelled the action every single time in the past. He flicked his wrists, enjoying the way that Lovino's eyes darkened as the music once again slowed, allowing him to saunter over to the sitting male with that mask blocking his beautiful face. It had to be tossed, blocking those eyes and cheeks from his view, and he did just that when he reached Lovino; gently sliding it off of his porcelain skin before allowing his hands to graze over the newly exposed flesh.
Lovino shuddered, although a deep growl groaned from his throat as he stood. Antonio couldn't help but to chuckle, tracing the male's jaw with his fingers, faintly noticing how Lovino's eyes now were set only an inch below his as he backed away with his arm remaining stretched out, beckoning the scowling man to pursue him.
And he took the bait.
With such grace and exuberance that Antonio had never seen radiate from the man, Lovino followed him, slightly matching his steps as the guitar somewhere behind them in the darkness chimed another note, and then once more when they reached the wooden platform. Another guitar joined the original, strumming out slow chords as the two men met in the centre of the stage, circling around each other with their eyes never leaving the other's. Lovi growled low at Antonio, so low that he could hardly hear the words flicking off of his tongue. "You're not wearing your mask... and you made me come here just for this shit?"
The now just slightly taller man softly giggled, allowing his hands to trail over those gorgeous hips clothed in an equally gorgeous black suit that made his precious Lovino look so dashingly handsome. "Yes, my love~" he purred, trailing those fingers of his right hand up Lovino's side, stopping only to grasp the lighter hand into his own. "The mask would only get in the way...Think you can keep up?" Lovino scoffed, raising his free hand to lightly touch Antonio's shoulder, before pulling him close; so close that he could feel the male's scalding breath upon his lips.
"You don't know who you're dealing with, bastard."
~Short time later~
Antonio had never wanted to get home so quickly in his entire life. He glanced back at the man he was dragging by his wrist behind him, fighting every urge to just jump the man in the middle of the forest...god, he could already see the candles flickering in the windows of his house, yet it did nothing to calm the cravings his body screamed at him; Lovino had been able to keep up with his pace, moving as if he had danced his entire life and driving Antonio insane with every single brush of his hips against his own...and now he really, really, really wanted to be alone with the grumbling man, so he tugged a tiny bit harder, earning a scowl but also a quickened pace in return. Cold air bit at his face and skin, and he slightly cursed himself for not thinking hard enough to bring a coat with him...but in the end, not having it would make things run a bit smoothly...that is, if Lovino complied with what his current wishes... He did understand what that whole dance was for...right? And...and...and those looks he was giving him during the entire thing; those looks of hunger and desire...Antonio wasn't imagining them, was he? No...impossible. It had to be...Lovino never would've danced with him if he didn't want to...to...
"Hey, bastard. Walk any further and you'll hit the fucking door."
Oh...when did he reach the house? A nervous chuckle rumbled in his throat, and his hand only tightened around Lovino's wrist, nearly to the point where the man flinched in pain...He...he couldn't back out now...no...not after he had waited eight years for this moment... he couldn't back out now...the last time he did that...Lovino disappeared for so..so-so-so long, leaving Antonio heartbroken every single moment of those long, excruciating years. Lovi didn't even call him by his old nickname anymore... but... He had to do it now...and he was so sure that he would be...accepted.
"Lovino..." he spoke, keeping his eyes low as he forced the man to stand before him with his back slightly pressed against the door. Lovino glared at him, not even trying to escape from his hold, even when Antonio released his hand, only to press his palms against those warm, and oh so very lovely hips. "Lovino..." he practically groaned, pressing his body against Lovino's. He did nothing in response to Antonio...he only stared, his frown wavering, and cracking to reveal a side that seldom showed itself to anyone. Their lips were only centimetres apart...their breath washing against the other's, meeting in the middle and swirling down to the earth as a hot mist before evaporating into the chilly night air...It...was perfect...everything. The lack of snow...lack of clouds, exposing the twinkling stars as specks against the inky canvas called the sky, and the warmth of the man against him, warming him in the chill of the winter air... "Lovi..." Antonio whispered, allowing one hand to slide from Lovino's waist to grasp his hand in his willowy fingers. "Marry me."
Oh...oh that was not the look he wanted...so shocked...so...mortified...and...Were those tears building up in his eyes...oh no...no-no-no...this was not what he wanted. "B-bastard..." Lovino choked out, and so many expressions flashed across his face...pain...guilt...horror...oh god, what the hell was Antonio thinking...he just knew something like this would happen...it was simply too early...too damn early...and it broke his heart.
"I-I-I'm sorry..." Antonio murmured, allowing Lovino's hand to fall from his own and his head to shrink into his shoulders. "I sh-shouldn't had asked...such..such a-"
"Idiot!" Lovino shouted with such a deep red spreading across his face, even though his eyes refused to meet Antonio's. "I-I n-n-never said...n-n-no..." he whispered, so faintly that it was difficult for the larger male to understand him.
A flutter shot through Antonio's heart at the soft voice, and he glanced back at Lovino's eyes, so desperately wanting to see them...and the real, kind, loving Lovino he knew existed behind that wall he created the moment he met him under that tree, after so many years of missing him dearly. "Y-y-ou mean..." He stuttered, feeling his fingers twitch in anticipation. Lovino slightly pouted, but he finally allowed his eyes to gaze into Antonio's...and how beautiful they were with the moon glimmering off of them like water trickling over glass.
"How long...will it take t-to...to be...w-well..." he stammered, nervously brushing his fingers against the low collar of Antonio's shirt, before trailing them across the silver chain he had made earlier.
"To be considered...a...a... legal c-couple?" Antonio replied, slowly pressing his body against Lovino's once more...just where it belonged. The blushing male nodded, watching with curious eyes as Antonio dipped his fingers into his pocket, pulling out a pair of identical metal bracelets. With the gentlest touch he could muster, Antonio slipped his hand around Lovino's left wrist, bringing it down so his forearm would be parallel to the ground below them. "With our k-kind..." he whispered, watching Lovino's expressions as he carefully wrapped one of the intricately carved strips around the wrist so much thinner than his own, admiring how the gold glimmered against the sun-kissed skin and how snugly it fit, allowing him to move his wrist comfortably without worry of it sliding off or snagging on clothing. One could easily mistake the bracelet as some kind of shining tattoo. "This is the only thing we need..."
Lovino brought the bracelet closer to his eyes, before shifting his gaze to the metal remaining in Antonio's hand...and then something must've clicked inside his head because within seconds, he snatched the larger wrist into his hand and gently took the jewellery...no...marriage band from Antonio's fingers...and wrapped it around the flesh... and then...stared at it...comparing Antonio's band to his. "H-husband..." he muttered, permitting his fingers to graze against the darker, rougher flesh...and it sparked something inside of Antonio...Lovino...technically was his...but...but it just wasn't enough...no... His body desired more... something to prove to himself that his sweet little Roma would always be his...
Without any kind of warning, Antonio grasped Lovino tightly to his body and pressed his lips against the smaller, softer ones...and with a moan, that sweet little mouth opened...no... ravished his with the cherry tongue hidden inside. Hands clung to his shoulders, hips rocked up to meet his with delicious moans and pants that rolled from his throat like waves. Oh, Roma was so...so...perfect...so perfect that Antonio's couldn't even think properly when he trailed his darkened hands down that faultless back clothed in too much clothing and roughly grasped the wonderful ass that waited for him. Lovi gasped into his mouth at the touch, moaning his name under his breath as his back arched forward and his arms wrapped around his shoulders, craving every last drop of the attention that he was receiving. Shamelessly, their hips ground against each others, further fueling the arousal and passion the grew inside their bodies, constantly wanting more, and more each passing second, and pushing away any rational thought that may have skipped across their minds. Antonio shifted his precious Roma in his arms, growling into their frantic kisses as he felt legs wrapping around his waist and fingers tugging at his hair. He wanted Lovino... He wanted that body wrapped tighter around him...he wanted to feel him from every possible angle...to completely ravish that body with so much pleasure until he screamed out his name in complete ecstasy. He wanted his mate, and he wanted him now.
Between gasps and slurred moans, Antonio shifted his weight so he could grasp for the handle to the door, and within a few tries, he succeeded in tearing the door open, not even caring how hard it slammed into the wall. Light engulfed what little sight he could make out from the lustful haze blinding him, along with a few shouts that sounded a bit like Arthur...but he really didn't give a damn at the moment. Leaving the door wide open, he quickly made his way up the stairs, careful to not drop Lovino in the process while the lighter man continued to weakly buck against him, moaning his name as their lips and tongues slid over each other. The next thing he knew, that body was writhing under him as he flopped onto the soft covers on his mattress, still desperately grinding his arousal into Lovino's equally hard manhood. "I love you." Antonio groaned when Lovino parted from him, to depart with his jacket and the shirt under it. "I love you, Roma." He gasped as kiss-swollen lips grazed against his neck before rough fingers tore at his shirt in an attempt to get it off. Another moan left his throat as he dove back down, mashing that flesh against his own. So good...so-so-so good~ ah, how absolutely wonderful Lovino's skin felt against his chest, rubbing and slipping against the small amount of sweat that began to coat their bodies.
"Antonio~" Lovi whispered, desperately gripping at the dark curls on Antonio's head. "A-ah, Anto-tonio..." a groan this time, matching the kisses the sloppily mashed against the other male's mouth. "I f-fucking l-love you-ahmmmmmmm..."
That was all Antonio needed to hear to rip the remaining clothes off of their bodies, as if they were made of poisonous material and tossed them across the room. Touches... kisses... groans...oh they littered the air with their blissful sounds, only growing louder as Antonio rocked his body into Lovino's, drawing out more moans and pants with every thrust of his hips. He didn't care how loud they were... or even if Arthur heard them...no. He wanted every single one of those sounds to be heard by everyone, for them to know that he claimed his childhood love as his own... for them to know that he was the only one who could make those beautiful noises to purr from Lovino's mouth...from his husband's mouth. It was all just so... just so...
Perfect.
And as they lay in each other arms, basking in the soft radiance washing off of their sweat and love drenched skin... oh, it was like no other feeling Antonio could ever imagine. Lovino smiled at him with such a gaze that had never crossed his eyes before, and then lightly kissed him on the lips with a soft sigh. "I love you, my beautiful Roma." Antonio hummed, snuggling closer to his love, though he doubted that Lovi actually heard what he had said, for he was already drifting away into the realm of dreams. Grazing his hands through the strands of chocolate hair matted down with sweat, Antonio smiled, wrapping his arms around Lovino's torso before allowing his eyes to flutter shut in an attempt to fall asleep himself...
That is...
If that fucking bastard from downstairs didn't burst through his door only a minute later. He was very, oh so very lucky that Lovino didn't wake up from that jarring, and oddly desperate sounding voice that roared though his room. "Antonio! Antonio, get your bloody arse up!"
"No. Go away." Antonio groaned, snuggling his head closer to Lovino's.
"Antonio, this is important! Get. Your. Arse. Up."
With a sigh, Antonio propped himself up, slightly amused how his precious Roma whined and attempted to cuddle closer to him, then he glared at the blond...oh...what was that on his hands and shirt...blood? Hmm... did he chop off his penis or something? That would be wonderful~
"Get him up too. This will involve both of you."
Antonio frowned. "His name is Lovino. Call him that."
Arthur visibly shuddered, frantically glancing down the stairs before glaring at Antonio once more. "Whatever, just hurry up." And with that, he scampered back out the door, leaving Antonio wondering why he seemed so... strange. Nothing ever shook Arthur up like that...
Might as well see what it was.
So with a soft nudge, Antonio attempted to wake up Lovino, chuckling when his hands were swatted away shortly before those amber eyes pried themselves open. "What the hell..." he slurred, sitting up and rubbing at his eyes. "Did I even sleep for five fucking minutes? Why the hell did you wake me up?" he groaned, throwing a weak glare at Antonio.
"Arthur has something he's freaking out about downstairs...apparently it will involve both of us." He sighed, amused how Lovino rolled his eyes and slid himself out of bed...though the wince that broke his face tugged at Antonio's heart. "I didn't hurt you... did I?" he nervously asked, his brows creating wrinkles against his forehead.
"I've been worse." Lovino sighed, searching for a pair of pants...which inspired Antonio to do the same thing. Soon enough, they were able to find clothing that weren't crumpled up..well except for Lovino's shirt, but he probably didn't really care; all he wanted to do was go back to sleep, and cuddle with his new husband...at least that was what Antonio assumed from the glare he shot down the stairs. "Let's get this shit over with." With a brisk nod, Antonio took the initiative to go down first, just in case Lovino's legs decided to give out on him...with the obvious limp in his stride... Perhaps...just maybe, Antonio had been a little too rough with him...
Arthur stood at the base of the stairs, his arms crossed and still spotted with blood...that also stained the floor from the entryway... Antonio's ever so curious eyes followed the streak of red, over the couch...that had a brown haired child laying on it, sound asleep...who was that? He had blood on him too, but it was not nearly as bad as the horrid amount that had spilled on the floor, pooling up around a pair of shoes coming into his view...followed by long legs and...and... Antonio's eyes widened, his jaw slacking at the man lying before him, beside the edge of the couch...who noticed him as he stopped on the stairs...and smiled through blood splattered lips.
"Tona..."