Antonio

"I don't think so, Antonio Fernandez Carriedo."

Antonio inhaled audibly and bit his dry bottom lip. That voice was impossibly familiar.

"What are you going to do, Alex? Stop us?" Paradise Falls was right there. They were so close. In fact, they were just about to commence plan A. Antonio had been brainstorming some ideas with Gilbert in a hushed tone that he thought no one could hear. It was almost as if Alexandrei had known where they were going to be… which wouldn't surprise Antonio. Alex had always seemed to know everything.

"Help you, if I can," he corrected, walking closer to them.

"Is he in there?" Antonio hoped Alex knew who they were speaking of, but something told him that the suspicious informant would.

"He is."

Antonio's stomach fluttered. So Gilbert was right after all. Lovi was just behind those gates, and Alex had come out of nowhere to help them. How grand was this situation.

Gilbert interjected on the conversation. "Then kindly fuck off please! We don't need your help!"

Antonio rammed an elbow into Gil's stomach and offhandedly scolded him for being so rude. No no no no, they needed him. Antonio need to get Lovino out of there. Before it was too late and he was sold, impossible to track… well, not completely impossible, but complicated and verging on not-worth-it.

"He wants to help us, Gil!"

"No way! You remember last time, this guy is shady as hell. He's plan D. We still haven't even tried plan A."

Alexandrei re-entered the conversation. "No, really, go ahead with plan A, whatever that may be, but can I make a suggestion?"

"Yeah? What's that?" Antonio frowned. Gilbert sounded so rude.

"Push it back a day."

Antonio's frown deepened in confusion. "What? Push it back? Like delay the plan? Leave Lovi inside for another day?"

"That's what I said, yes."

"Are you muy loco? What if he's sold, or what if he's hurt, or sad-"

"Calm yourself, the boy is fine. He can survive off of stale bread for another day and a half. Besides, he's already been sold."

Antonio felt his stomach do a full 180. Alex must have seen it, because he instantly explained.

"Don't worry, he's still in there, but his new owner is coming to get him the day after tomorrow. It would be easier if you wait for the transaction to be completed before you strike, would it not?" Alexandrei's dark red eyes shot from Antonio to Gilbert and back again, and Antonio realized just how familiar they were. It's almost as if Alex hadn't changed a bit in the last seven or so years… give or take.

"Who?" Asked Gilbert, "who's coming to get him?"

"Elizabeta Héderváry," The statement had a hint of question, but only slightly. If Antonio had written it down, he wouldn't even have included a question mark.

"Sounds familiar," Gilbert explained, scratching his chin. "Should I know that name?"

Alex shook his head. "I guess not, but you might know her face. Would it help if I told you that she was sixteen when you didn't sleep with her to help a friend?"

It took Gilbert a second, but after a brief gap in the conversation, he answered calmly in his German accent. "Are you kidding me? That's sick, dude. How old are you?" Alex cracked a smile.

Antonio was so lost. These guys had enough history to have inside jokes? That wasn't fair.

"It's been a while since anyone asked of my age."

That was all he really had to say on the topic.

Antonio decided that this was a good time to drag the conversation back to familiar ground. "What makes you say that pushing back the rescue will help?"

"Just, trust me, please. If you do it now, much less will be accomplished and theres a lot more that could go wrong. Go for it if you really want, but I strongly recommend that you reschedule."

"But-"

"And wait! There's more!" His deep eyes focused on Gilbert's similarly colored ones. "There's a reason you're here, Gilbert. Convince Antonio to wait until tomorrow, okay? I know what's best."

Antonio looked to Gilbert in confusion, just in time to see his eyes widen and his pupils dilate.

"I know you know what I'm talking about. Not a day goes by that you aren't thinking about him…" Quieter, "Trust me, I know." Antonio watched with a confused gaze as Alex turned his back on the two, taking his silent leave without another word. That was weird.

"Gilbert?"

"Tonio, Let's do what he says."

Oh no. Now that Gilbert's made up his mind, Antonio knew he was beat. He's been through this a million times.

"But Lovi-"

"Alex says Lovi is fine, don't sweat it. Maybe this'll tough 'im up."

Antonio sighed, wondering what Alex meant when he made those hints at Gil. This was so confusing. Gilbert wasn't here to help him rescue Lovi? Was this about a guy? Antonio never really prided himself on being able to follow very well, and that was okay, but it also meant that he was confused 70% of the time, which was also okay. He'll just pretend he knows what's going on.

"Gil? where are we going to sleep?"

Gilbert ran a hand through his hair. "You think the old bar is still standing?"

Antonio cracked a weary smile. "Amigo, even if it wasn't, I don't think that would stop people from drinking there."

"My friend, I think I know exactly where we'll be sleeping."

Antonio's smile deepened further, and he almost let out a laugh. He felt hope and nostalgia and a bitter anxiety all at once.

So it really will be just like the good old days.

.

The musty fragrance of old food and even older wood and leather filled Antonio's nostrils as he trotted after Gilbert right into an old run-down bar. Looking around the familiar setting was like taking a bat to the stomach. He remembered the time he fell asleep on the floor next to that fireplace, the same fireplace that he saw lit only once in all of his days. He remembered the nameless girl who he almost had sex with, if it wasn't for Gilbert's big fat mouth. And he remembered another, named, girl whom he did have sex with, and he remembered finding out that heterosexual sex wasn't exactly his favorite pastime. And then he remembered her emerald eyes when he told her that they would still be friends right over at that table by the window. And he was sure, that if he went over to the counter, he would find his name carved into the smooth old wood next to two others.

It must have been 2 AM, because the moon was on the wrong side of the sky and Antonio felt dead tired. Not to mention the fact that the barkeep was dead asleep when they walked up to the the counter, where Gilbert secured them a musty old room so that they wouldn't have to sleep on the floor. Antonio dragged himself up the stairs, impressed with Gilbert's honesty and his willingness to shell out five actual caps for a room. Well, after he knocked it down from 10, that is.

There was only one bed, but it was easy enough for the both of them to snuggle up together. Sharing a bed was nothing, but it used to be a much more common occurrence than it has been in the last few years. Sleep came seemingly before he even managed to close his eyes. From kidnappings to mysterious animal attacks, it had definitely been one hell of a day.

Lovino

"Hey, kid, wake up." An unfamiliar voice shook Lovino from his dreamless, uncomfortable sleep.

What now, he thought to himself, in a tone that would have been a grumble if he had bothered to speak it.

He pushed himself off of the dry ground, slowly cracking his eyes open. The sun was just starting to appear over the horizon, giving the sky a dirty greyish blue color. Everything hurt. Lovi brought a palm up to his face to wipe loose dirt off of his skin, but there was some dirt that seemed to be permanently engraved in his skin now, and would probably never come off.

In front of him stood Aurel, who was clinging on to the ratty clothing of a much taller figure. "This is my brother, Alex!" Aurel's excitement was coming off of him in waves.

"Aurel." The single word command was obviously directed at calming the boy down.

Lovino looked around. He was still within the little chain link fence where slaves were kept, but it seems like this Alex guy just walked right in. Lovino didn't quite know how to feel about that, but he figured it was none of his business anyways.

Lovino waited for Alex to continue, malcontempt on his face.

"So I've got some good knews, kid." Alex tilted his chin up and offered the snarkiest smile. Lovino noticed-with a considerable amount of shock-the elongated canines in his pearly white mouth. Like a dog. His red eyes didn't really surprise Lovino, not after he'd seen Gilbert and Aurel. But unlike Gilbert, these guys couldn't have been albino.

"Your buddies are on their way."

Antonio. Lovino registered the news as relief. The feeling was sweet and gentle, not like the wracking realizations he's gotten used to receiving. This actually felt good.

"What's the catch?"

"Well, nothing much, really. You just have to uphold your end, but you will no matter what. Just go with the flow and everything will be fine. Also, you won't be getting out for another day or two."

Aurel butted in with his excited voice. "You're going to fulfill a prophecy!"

That comment got him a swift hit to the back of the head. "Aurel!"

Again with the prophecy talk?

"Don't listen to him, he's just a kid."

"And you're not?" Lovino lifted his eyebrow. Alex looked to be about Lovi's age.

"Well, no. It's complicated."

Lovino heard an exaggerated "Psshhhhhh" come from Aurel, followed by a pout. What even is going on around here.

"Why are you here?" So far, Alex had only told Lovino stuff he sort of already knew. Save for the part about getting rescued.

"To give you hope, mostly. And to give you a fair warning that some shit's about to go down around here. It's about time for a change at this rank old place, isn't it, Aurel?"

Aurel beamed up at his older brother. "Yeah, I'm tired of wearing this collar."

"Don't worry, you'll be out of it by tomorrow afternoon. As will you, Lovino."

Lovino was thankful for that knowledge, at least. This collar killed his neck every time he turned his head, tearing up the smooth skin. Last night, he could swear he felt some blood and raw skin when he felt of his neck with a finger. He didn't think he could stand the thing for much longer.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I might have some business elsewhere," Alexandrei stated.

"Might?"

"Yes, might."

Aurel's obvious disappointment formed a question. "Can I please go with you this time? I mean, we're practically done here."

"No, Aurel, I need you to stay here, okay? Just for another day or two? It'll be suspicious if there's a slave missing." Alexandrei's tone sounded uncharacteristically gentle.

"Mkay, fine. You promise it'll work out?"

"Of course, am I ever wrong?"

Aurel didn't have an answer for that. He seemed to think about it for a while, ultimately coming up with nothing.

"Well... Bye then." The young boy frowned, and Alex patted his head gently.

"See you two soon," he gave a nonchalant wave before turning his back on Lovino, who was still sitting on the dirty ground.

Lovi had figured that Alex came through the front gate. If he had, then he certainly wasn't leaving that way. Alex effortlessly hoisted himself up onto the roof of the small shelter, and tossed himself over the top of the fence in a matter of seconds. Within a few heartbeats of his farewell, he was gone.

Aurel flashed Lovi a white smile, displaying canines like Alexandrei's. "Isn't he great?"

Lovino looked away, his eyes falling on the empty clearing where the Denmark and his gang were drinking just hours ago.

His throat was dry and his mouth ached with thirst, but he found it in him to hoarsely whisper out a reply anyways.

"Yeah."

Antonio

With the rescue rescheduled, Gilbert and Antonio now had an entire day to waste before it was time to commence operation Awesome Kick-some-slaver-ass Rescue, as Gilbert had taken so predictably to calling it. Antonio stretched his arms over his head. It was noon or so,and patrons of the bar were filing in and out, going about their business like Antonio had always remembered. It wasn't long before he spotted a familiar face coming through those wooden doors.

Antonio's eyebrows almost hit the ceiling and a monster of a smile spead across his face.

"Emma?!" He called the beautiful girl's name, praying that she would remember him. Who was he kidding, she would probably never forget him.

She looked around for a moment, confused, before she spotted Antonio. Once she registered the face, her emerald eyes lit up and her kitten-like grin widened into a gasp. She immediately skipped over.

Behind the pretty blonde girl, her stoic brother was just walking through the doors. Ned was his name, and Antonio winced at the last encounter he had with the scary man. He must have been 6'7", with spikey blond hair and a face that meant business. His unbuttoned gray trenchcoat had a collar that went up to his ears, and a lit cigarette hung from his lips. All and all, Antonio really liked Ned, but not in the same way he liked Emma. Their relationship was more professional than his and Emma's friendship.

"Antonio!" She vaulted right into Antonio, who stood up from his seat at the bar to catch her. Emma wrapped her arms around his neck in one of the biggest hugs he'd gotten in a while. He returned the embrace with strong arms around her midsection.

"What are you doing here?" She asked excitedly and loudly, pulling away from Antonio's arms. Ned walked up to stand beside his sister, shooting Antonio a sideways glance. Gilbert gave him a fist bump and asked him 'What's up?', but Antonio didn't bother to listen for Ned's answer.

"I could ask the same of you!" He went with instead.

"Ned and I are just passing through, and thought we'd stop by for old times sake," she laughed, "and I'm glad we did!"

"So you won't be staying long?"

She bit her lip. "It's not like we have anywhere to be, not soon, anyways. We're heading to New York, City if we can. Heard there's a ship out that ways that'll take us to Europe."

"Europe?" Why?" Antonio bit back sadness. If they were heading to Europe, there was a good chance that he would never see them again.

"Just to scope out the scene. See what's left over there. Besides," she paused, "it's our heritage. Yours too, if I remember correctly. It would be like going home. You could always... Come with us, if you like." She smiled her kitten smile, hopeful of Antonio's answer.

Antonio thought. What a great offer. He would do it in a heartbeat, if he didn't already have a life here. A life with Gilbert and Francis and even Arthur and Ludwig. And Lovino.

"Sorry Emma, but I can't." Sadness chipped at his voice. Oh, how he'd love to take off with her. "I'm on a rescue mission right now."

"Oh?" And who might you be rescuing?" There was a hint of familiar playfulness emitting from her.

Antonio smiled warmly. "His name is Lovino, and he's priced at three thousand caps from what I hear. But he was never up for sale. Someone just didn't get the memo."

"Omg, are you serious? He's a slave? What's he too you? And by the way, that was the cheesiest thing I've ever heard you say."

The Spaniard chuckled. "Don't get jealous now, Emma."

"I am not jealous! I got over you years ago!"

Antonio was faintly aware of a conversation going on between Ned and Gilbert beside them. He paid them no mind and instead, listened to Emma's shocked reply.

"No but really, three thousand caps? What is he, collector's edition?" Her eyes suddenly went wide when she realized what she'd said. "Wait a minute, are the rumors true? I heard that some idiot raided a vault and took someone out, was that you?"

Antonio beamed. He could hardly believe that such rumors reached all the way to Emma.

"Yep, that was me!"

Emma looked speechless. "Get outa here, Antonio, you haven't changed a bit."

She turned to her brother, prodding his waist. "Ned, are you hearing this? This guy did the thing and the vault dweller and the-" she waved her hands around in the air. "Antonio's the guy they're talking about on the radio!"

Gilbert chimed in. "And me! I was there two!"

"And Francis, no doubt?"

Antonio nodded in response to Emma's question. He couldn't believe that they had made the radio.

Emma was dumbfounded. "You guys are famous!" She finally exclaimed.

"It's about damn time," Gilbert replied, almost before Emma could finish her statement.

Famous. Wow. Antonio hardly even grasped the concept.

"So what are the details? Tell me what's going down."

The four of them situated themselves in a booth, old friends reunited, and Antonio and Gilbert explained everything that had happened and what they planned to do about it. They included the part where Alexandrei came to them and persuaded the duo to postpone the rescue mission.

"You mean, Alex is around here, too?"

"Yep," Antonio replied. Emma winced.

One thing to know about Alexandrei was that he was one of the stranger specimens on the wastes. Right down to the way he moved was weird. He was quiet, like a cat, so when he appeared right next to them at the booth, everyone but Ned nearly jumped out of their skin.

"I heard my name?"

"Ehi! Ey, muchacho, I wasn't expecting you here hehehe," Antonio's eyebrows formed uncertain arches and he rubbed the back of his head.

"I don't see why not. Hey, Emma, Lars, long time no see."

"It's Ned," the blond raider corrected.

"Whoops, all of the timelines run together these days, my bad. At least I didn't call you Netherlands."

Emma tilted her head. "That doesn't even make sense?"

"Just, forget it," Alex waved it off as if he hadn't just said something completely batshit crazy.

"So are you guys in, or what?"

"You mean the rescue?" Ned took a final drag on his cigarette and put it out on the table.

"Gee, I haven't even considered it," Emma replied, putting a finger to her bottom lip. "Sounds dangerous. Ned, you feeling a little risky?"

"I'm up for it." He lifted his chin and crossed his arms, leaning back into the booth. Antonio noticed that he looked like he was having trouble moving. It never occurred to him that Ned might be kind of old. He didn't really look like he was more that thirty.

"Alright then, I guess we'd love to help!"

"No no no, that's nonsense, we can take care of thi-"

"Great! I knew you wouldn't be able to resist!" Alexandrei interrupted Antonio's protest.

"Now wait just one freaking second," Gilbert started, "don't you think you've interfered enough?"

"Pipe down, do you want that boy or not?"

Gilbert immediately quieted.

"So do we have a plan?"

Antonio started formulating ways to tell Alex to stay the fuck out of his business, but he figured that would be rude. Nonetheless, there was something really fishy going on around here.

"Yep! We're good, please go now." Antonio figured that he was being as polite as he could be with that one.

Alex gave him a bright smile. Sure! Okay, alright. I'll get out of your hair. The rest is up to you guys, make me proud! Oh, and Gilbert?" His red eyes shifted to the albino. "His name is Roderich."

Antonio watched Gilbert look on in astonishment as he mouth Roderich's name on his lips.

That didn't make sense. Nothing that guy said ever made sense. Antonio shook his head as Alex padded off quietly.

So the rest was up to them, hmm? Okay, cool. Good. He could deal with that. What he couldn't deal with, however, was an insane vampiric informant breathing down his neck while he was trying to take back what was his, as much as he appreciated all of the help he could get. Doing things on your own is hard.

But hopefully Alex would keep to his word and stay out of this from now on.

Antonio put his head to the table. There was still a lot of time to kill, but at least now he had some old friends by his side to kill it with.

A/N: I don't update for months on end and when I finally show up, I tear apart the fic for the third time and leave you with this short ass chapter. You're welcome.

Aurel = Maldova

Alexandrei = Romania

Please please please leave a review. I like attention.