If it's Love

Chapter Twelve: Daddy's home


Lovino looks to a now nervous Antonio. "Um…so…we should tread lightly." He says. "God only knows what Feliciano and Marcello have said about you…"

Antonio sighs. "Well…I should have known…he was bound to come back sooner or later…if only it wasn't after our date…"

Lovino huffs. "I don't see why that matters. It's not like you were gonna get lucky anyways."

"Hmmm…I don't know…I think my chances were pretty good for at least a kiss on the lips, to follow that one on the cheek." Antonio says, smirking a little.

"Tch, as if." Lovino grumbles, bringing the two of them back to the apartment. He opens the door and heads in with Antonio to see his father seated with his brothers on the couch.

Unlike him and his brothers, their father is muscular. Not an obnoxious muscular, simply a well-built man. He is obviously their father though, as is evident by his hair. Not only the shade but the strange curls in it that have always confused Antonio.

"Welcome home, papa." Lovino says and the man turns to see him.

"Mio Lovino! How are-?" He stops midsentence and stares at Antonio. "Who is that?" The man asks, a dark glare now on his previously carefree face.

"I'm Antonio…" Antonio mumbles and goes to say more, quickly being interrupted by Lovino.

"He is Francis' cousin who had to leave his apartment because his father and mother are getting a divorce and his father decided to stay with him, which leads to him witnessing fights between the two constantly." Lovino explains, surprising the three in the room who know the truth with his ability to lie on the spot. "Ah…but I suppose that was probably too much information…" He says in a far too realistic way.

"I see…family troubles. I'm their father Romulus. How old are you?" Romulus asks and Antonio looks at him nervously.

"Twenty…" He mumbles and Romulus nods.

"I see…and you are helping my sons with rent and food, right?" Romulus asks and Antonio nods.

"Of course! I wouldn't just come here and mooch off of them! I've been sure to help them in every way I can!" Antonio says and Romulus leans back in his chair.

"Where were you with my son just now? You know he is still just a teenager." Romulus points out, glaring at Antonio.

"We were returning from work." Antonio answers without missing a beat.

"Lovino…why did you let some stranger into the house?" Romulus asks and Lovino sighs.

"He's not a stranger…I know him well from Matthew and Francis. He's just a guy who needed help that I trusted enough to let in…and he's helping us out a lot." Lovino says, a little annoyed.

"Someone you will defend from your father? Antonio must be pretty important…" Romulus says, looking at Antonio darkly.

"Leave him alone." Lovino takes Antonio's hand and stares at his father annoyed.

Romulus sighs heavily. "My son has a crush on a grown man…I gave my boy daddy issues…"

"WHAT? I don't have daddy issues and I don't have a crush on that stupid man!" Lovino huffs, pushing Antonio's hand away for emphasis

"Uh…right…" Antonio mumbles before going up to Romulus. "I believe we should have a talk. In private from the kids." He says, both their eyes drifting towards the annoyed Lovino.

"Agreed. Come with me outside." Romulus orders and both men leave to go downstairs. Once outside, Romulus leads Antonio to the parking lot and leans against his car. "Is what Lovino said true about you?" He asks and Antonio sighs.

"It…is. I am Francis' cousin. I also assure you that there is nothing between Lovino and I." Antonio lies and Romulus stares at him.

"I don't know if I believe that…" Romulus says before sighing. "However, my son is determined to keep you. I suppose I will get to know you and you can stay. Under my conditions. Number one, you will never be alone with Lovino. Number two, you will never touch him for anything more than a handshake or maybe a pat on the back. Number three is no being around him half naked in anyway, and finally no flirting with him. Understand?"

Antonio stares at him in shock for a minute, still registering all of the commands. "I-I...do…I'll behave."

"Excellent. Because if you don't…" Romulus smiles darkly. "I have sources who will take care of you."

"…Understood…" Antonio says, suddenly realizing where Lovino gets his sketchiness from.

"Great! Let's go inside!" Romulus says, smiling at him and leading him inside.

"Ah! Dad didn't kill him!" Feliciano exclaims happily.

"Glad to see it." Marcello says, smiling at the man.

Lovino comes in from the kitchen and looks the two men over. "Oh. Hey you two." He says before turning and leaving the room.

"L-Lovi! I have to talk to you!" Antonio says and Lovino looks at him curiously.

"Oh…? Alright then…" He mumbles, leading Antonio into another room.

"Don't be looonnnng~!" Romulus coos, Antonio catching the underline threat in it that Lovino's oblivious to.

"We won't, chill out." Lovino says and Antonio internally screams until they get in the room. "So, what is it?"

"YOU'RE FATHER IS A CREEPY, SCARY MAN! HE WANTS TO KILL ME!" Antonio screams and Lovino stares at him surprised.

"H-huh?"

"He knows people who will 'take care' of me if I break his rules which include not sleeping with you, flirting with you, touching you, and a few other things!"

Lovino shrugs. "So what? He doesn't actually have people and he'll be gone in a few days."

"I-!" Antonio stops and looks at him surprised. "Wait…do you…want me to keep doing all of those things?" He asks and Lovino blushes.

"I-I didn't say that! That is just who you are, and I'm saying you can be yourself when he leaves." Lovino mumbles. "It's not like…I like when you do those things…not particularly…"

Antonio smiles. "If I wasn't so terrified of your father, I would hug you right now."

Lovino looks down shyly. "Coward…"

Antonio laughs a little. "Is that your way to provoke a hug? Well, rest assure I will give you more than enough when he leaves~!"

Lovino blushes. "F-fuck off! I don't want your damn hugs! I hope he never leaves!" He exclaims before quickly leaving the room, followed by an amused Antonio.

When they arrive back out they see Romulus and Lovino's brothers playing the wii, arguing over cheating and other childish things, Romulus doing it the most since he lost the worst.

"I just want you to know…that man throwing a hissy fit over Mario Cart is the man you are scared of." Lovino points out, smirking at Antonio. "Feel proud of yourself?" He asks and Antonio sighs.

"Your family is going to kill me." Antonio sighs sadly and Lovino shrugs.

"Dad is only going to be here for two days. You'll live." Lovino says and Antonio smiles a little.

"Thank-!"

"What are you two standing so close for? Lovino get over here and sit next to your papa!" Romulus orders and Lovino sighs, going and sitting beside him. "Good boy. We sure don't need you near some pervert."

"Whatever you say dad." Lovino groans as Antonio sits in a chair to the side.

After a long night of playing the wii, including Romulus and Antonio going against one another and Antonio subtly throwing the game, everyone heads to bed.

"Night!" Feliciano and Marcello say before heading to their rooms.

"Good night Antonio, da-" Lovino gets cut off by Romulus wrapping an arm around his neck.

"Oh no, no, Lovino~! We're going to have a sleep over tonight! It's been so long! We can make forts in your room and tell scary stories!" Romulus says and Lovino blushes at the amused look on Antonio's face.

"W-we've never done that! Shut up, dad!" Lovino whines and Antonio laughs a little.

"Well, we're off Antonio. If you try to sneak in at any point…" Romulus glares at him darkly. "You will quickly be lacking some very important appendages."

"R-right sir…" Antonio says nervously, an uneasy smile on his face as they walk away. "I think I hate their dad…"


A/N: I'm so sorry it's taken so long! I've had to catch up on work since I missed a whole week of classes from being sick and shit and now is the finals week with all the tests! DX So if this happens to be spastic and off, I'm sorry.