Yes, Matthias. I do. I don't know why, but I do.
Gilbert knew that they were screwed. No amount of smooth talking nor lie making would fool this detective. They were in too deep to get out now.
Francis smiled at the detective. "Now, why would you think that, good sir?"
Gilbert had a feeling that Francis could talk his way out of this. He could talk his way out of nearly anything. There was one time that the two broke into an actual art gallery. The police had caught them and an hour later they were sent on their way with a few paintings tucked under Francis's arm.
Basilio looked at the sculptures. "Michelangelo's works are hard to find. To have been able to get so many of them... and some of these haven't even been revealed to the public."
Francis chuckled softly. "I can see your concern, sir. But, as great as your logic is... We happen to know Michelangelo himself."
"Sure you do. Why would Michelangelo know nobodies like you two?"
"Nobodies? I'm offended!" Francis harrumphed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Why, I could introduce you to him right now!"
"Then go get him."
"Gilbert, go." Francis knew it would be best for him to stay and talk to the detective.
Gilbert went and got Michelangelo for the detective. He whispered to him their situation and how dire it was for him to act like he knew the two.
"Is that all you need?"
"Ja. We'll pay you extra for your troubles, sir."
Michelangelo took one look at the detective and scowled. "Great. Him."
Basilio raised an eyebrow at Francis. "When is your friend going to come back with Michelangelo? Or did he leave you here to take the blame?"
"No, he didn't. There he is right now."
Gilbert walked in with Michelangelo right beside him. Basilio frowned.
"Well, I'll be damned... They weren't lying."
"I haven't seen you in a while, Mr. Arata."
Gilbert looked at Francis. "They know each other?"
"Apparently."
"Mr. Arata was an assistant of mine. He quit not too long after he started."
"I see everything's in order, then. I shall be taking my leave." Basilio went to leave when he saw someone familiar.
"Lovino Vargas. I never would have thought that you'd be the kind of person to come to an art gallery."
Lovino looked towards the voice. "...oh... yes. I'm a sculptor myself. They came to me and asked if they could buy a piece from me."
"Who is this?" Basilio pointed toward the man that was standing by Lovino. He seemed to be hanging onto every word that they were saying and it kind of freaked him out.
"This is a friend of mine. Antonio, meet Basilio Arata. He knows my grandfather. Basilio, meet Antonio... Carriedo."
Antonio's face went pale. "Lovi, he knows your grandfather. What if he goes and tells him that you've been hanging around me?" He whispered, not loud enough for the detective to hear.
"If we don't give him a reason to, then he won't." Lovino gave Basilio the benefit of the doubt on this one. Basilio was a spur-of-the-moment kind of guy.
"It's been awhile since I've spoken to your grandfather. Maybe I should stop by and talk to him a bit. See you later." Basilio left.
Lovino clenched his fists. "Fuck. We should leave." He went up to Francis. "Listen, thank you for having us here. We need to go. You know where I live, if you want to get ahold of me about that piece."
"Are you sure you can't stay?"
"I'm quite certain." Lovino and Antonio left, leaving Francis and Gilbert wondering whether they should ask Lovino about the piece sooner or later. They chose later.
Over the course of the next week, a few things happened.
One: Antonio got body hair. It began to grow on his legs, making him feel itchy. Then a stubble began to form on his face. His armpits were next, and last was his chest. He didn't know what to do, but he didn't want to ask Lovino about it because he was embarrassed.
Two: Lovino turned nineteen. He celebrated his birthday with a bottle of wine (stolen from Romulus's storage) and a lot of sleeping. He celebrated the day after by having a hangover.
Three: Francis and Gilbert got ahold of him for a sculpture. They sent him requirements- the sculpture couldn't be over 7 feet, it couldn't be more than 5 feet wide and it had to have roses all over it. And it had to be a naked lady.
Lovino didn't have a lot of practice with sculpting bare women, but he figured he could give it a try. He just needed something to work off of...
"Antonio, stay in that room. Don't come out until morning, got it?"
"Yes, sir." Antonio retreated into the room Lovino was talking about. Lovino put something in front of the door after Antonio shut it to make sure that he couldn't get out, then got a bit of extra cash. He waited for someone that he knew would be there. Well, he didn't know the person exactly but he knew what kind of person would be there.
"Hey there, hot stuff." Right on time.
He turned towards the voice. He saw a young woman with wide hips, big breasts and a thin waist. Perfect.
"Ciao, bella." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I'll offer you a deal. Come with me and you get..." He pulled out the money he had with him. "All of this. Okay?"
The woman smirked. "Sure."
He led her back to his shack. She eyed it warily. She was beginning to get a bit scared- he could have been a murderer for all she knew.
He closed the door behind him, then pulled up a chair. "Strip."
"Ex...cuse me?"
"You heard me. Or are you too embarrassed to do so?"
The woman took off her clothing, then put it on the floor beside her. Lovino lit a candle.
"Sit on the chair."
The woman did. Lovino positioned her the way he wanted.
"Now stay there."
The woman was so confused, but she did as she was told.
Lovino pulled out a chisel and drug over a huge block of stone. He began to chip away at it. He only got a rough outline of the woman before the sun came up. "Listen. I'll give you the same amount tomorrow night if you come back."
The woman got dressed. "...alright..." She left.
That night, Lovino locked Antonio in the room. He left him a book and a ball to play with- he knew that those items would keep him entertained for hours.
The woman came back that night. And the night after that. That continued for nearly a week before Lovino was in no need of her anymore.
"You don't need to come back tomorrow. I'm nearly finished. All I need to add are a few details that you don't need to be here for me to put."
The woman didn't come back that night.
Antonio was allowed to stay out.
"Was that what you were working on while I was locked in the room?" Lovino nodded. "Oh, cool! Is that for Francis and Gilbert?"
Lovino nodded. "We'll be able to get it to them tomorrow. Can you lift this?"
Antonio tried and succeeded to lift up the statue.
"Good. You'll have to carry it tomorrow. Go get some rest."
When Antonio woke, the statue was finished. Lovino put his name on the statue's base, along with its' name. 'Maria.'
Lovino opened up their door to find Gilbert and Francis locking lips. Antonio nearly dropped the statue.
Francis and Gilbert stopped and looked at the two men looking in their door.
"...oh... you finished it..." Francis rubbed the back of his neck.
"...two men can be together?" Antonio asked.
"Of course they can." Francis smiled at the two. "Now, come in. We'll find a place to put that statue and I'll give you the money."
Lukas here. I would love it if we could get a few more reviews- Matthias gets really cranky if we don't.