OH MY GAWD I NEED TO GET BETTER AT UPDATING i KNOW I'M SO SORRY MY DEARS! Holy cow, the awesome comments/reviews/PM's I'm getting from you guys are AMAZING and I love it! You guys are so awesome! If you hadn't noticed, I actually have a cover image, drawn by the talented Rienmi. Thank you so much! And to thank you (even though I promised it anyway) here is finally the chapter you requested! I hope that it's satisfactory (even though I didn't go into full detail on all of it, I just kind of touched base on some parts).

But I hope that all of you like it. And if you do, I'm sure you're familiar with that lovely review button down at the bottom of the page~. If you have any questions, that's what it's good for too you know. Please enjoy, and I'll TRY to update sooner I swear. Don't kill me *hides behind brick wall*

~Alice

It had been an entire week of Lovino's constant silence. He hadn't had a single outburst or said a single bad thing about anyone in quite some time, and the doctor wasn't sure to be pleased or worried. Yes, Lovino didn't seem violent or unstable, but it was almost as if he had been completely switched to off mode. He didn't speak at all, let alone have any outbursts. Not only was he refusing to speak, but he refused to do anything such as eat or sleep. All he did every day sit dead center in his room. The doctor would come check on him twice a day, try to coax him into eating, but it was all in vain. They had to go to the method back in the prison, force the nutritional liquid down his throat. Only, strangely, he actually complied. He didn't refuse it or spit it out, he simply let someone pour it down his throat.

It was when the doctor noticed the man's features when he truly grew concerned. His skin had paled to a noticeable degree, and he had thinned out quite a bit too. The doctor could see the hollows of his cheeks, and a dark bruise like color painted the underside of his eyes. The doctor was sure now that he had dropped into a depression.

But why? Was it just because he missed his younger brother? Did he feel guilty about what he did? Did he miss his old life? His boyfriend? The doctor just didn't know what to do.

And so he did the only thing he could think of. This time when he unlocked the heavy door and walked in, he didn't ask the italian questions, or try to talk to him about his feelings. He simply looked down at the man who was clawing at a patch of skin on his neck and said, "Come with me." The italian's hazel eyes flicked up to meet the doctors in surprise, but he still didn't move.

"Don't worry, you're not going anywhere bad. Just trust me, and come with me." He held out a hand for Lovino to take, but he only glared at it.

"Where are we going?" He asked, his voice thin and raspy.

"I'm taking you out into the common room." Lovino gave him a look of confusion.

"The-...the what?"

"I'm going to let you see other people. But for now, I'm limiting it to only people in this institution. You need to stop this madness of not doing anything. And if letting you out is what it takes, then I'm going to let you out." Lovino looked into his dark indigo eyes for a moment, before finally reaching up to grasp his hand. The doctor pulled him off of the floor and helped the wobbly man stumble out of the dark room. Lovino's eyes squinted at the bright florescent light as the man holding him led him down a short path of hallways and into a large, open room. There were several people in this room, and it didn't look like something you would expect to see in a mental asylum. People were conversing calmly, smiling and chatting to each other. Some were playing card games on tables, some were doing strange motions with their hands at each other as if using some sort of secret language with their hands. The only thing that looked out of the ordinary was a person or two talking to an invisible being thought to be in a chair next to them. But all over, this seemed to be a peaceful environment.

The doctor sat Lovino in a chair and looked down at him. "Now I'm going to bring you back in about an hour or so. Try to talk to people, but don't be rude. Understand?" The doctor said sternly, as if he was talking to a child. But Lovino only nodded, and watched as the doctor strolled away.

He looked around him at all of the unfamiliar people, not sure what exactly the doctor was expecting him to do. He decided to sit in a nearby chair, running his hand through his brown locks. Talk to someone? Talk to who?

"'Ello, chap." A voice strong with an english accent called from beside him. Lovino's head snapped to meet eye to eye with a young blonde man, who's eyes that seemed only inches away from him greener than emeralds. Lovino jumped back, startled by the sudden closeness of the man in front of him. This only brought forth a laugh from the obviously english man. "Sorry there, friend, did I give you a scare? Haven't seen you around here, so I just thought I'd come over an say 'ello." Lovino stared at the man in wonder.

"Um... Hi." He spoke.

"Mind if I sit here next to you?" He asked politely.

"I don't see why not.." Lovino muttered. The blonde sat next to the italian, and stared at him in thought. His eyes stayed glued to him, and though Lovino was trying his best to ignore it, it was beginning to get on his nerves.

"What do you want?!" He snapped.

"Oh, I was just wondering 's you're name?" Lovino stared at the man for a few moments before responding.

"Lovino Vargas." The englishman grabbed his hand and shook it forcefully.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Arthur Kirkland." Lovino rolled his eyes, pulling his hand away from Arthur and going back to looking at his surroundings.

"So whatever did you do to get yourself put in here, mm?" Arthur asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

"None of your fucking business, that's what!" Lovino growled, slowly growing annoyed with the englishman. Arthur grinned, leaning in to his ear.

"I'm in here 'cause they think I'm crazy. But I'm not crazy, you see. I just see things." This intrigued the italian, causing him to finally glance over to the brit.

"Oh really? Doesn't 'seeing things' make you crazy?" He asked. Another one of these weirdos. Great. He thought to himself.

"To be honest I'm not sure..." The blonde mumbled, offering a shrug.

"Well... What do you see?" Lovino asked out of curiosity. The smirk dancing across his lips instantly fell, and Arthur's entire demeanor seemed to change.

"I-... I don't want to talk about it." He mumbled. Lovino frowned.

"Is it that bad? I mean, it's just a hallucination, righ-"

"No!" Arthur snapped, his green orbs darkening with anger. "It's not a hallucination! It... it's real... It... " He rambled, and began to talk so low that Lovino could no longer understand his words. He let out a sigh, and rested a hand on his shoulder. God damn his curiosity that always got the better of him...

"Just tell me." Arthur looked up into his hazel eyes, and Lovino could say he was surprised when he noticed small tears gathering in the brit's eyes. Oh yeah, he was definitely bi-polar. He seemed so happy and cheerful just seconds ago. He seemed so.. Normal. But now...

"If you tell me what you did first." He ordered.

"You don't want to know. You'll have nightmares for weeks." Lovino growled, averting his gaze away from the emeralds.

"I already have them. Try me." A smirk grew on Lovino's lips, daring to glace back at him.

"You sure?" When Arthur nodded, he leaned in to his ear.

"I raped my own brother over and over and used his body to get money, sort of like a prostitute. But I like to take my anger out on him with sex. Last time I did it I almost killed him. Hell, I probably did, I don't know. But I cut him real bad... whipped him... Made him bleed so much. And why I did it? Who knows. He just pissed me off." Arthur's eyes widened as he slowly leaned away from the italian.

"O-oh.."

"See? I told you it would scare you." Lovino grumbled rolling his eyes. He was beginning to think that Arthur would leave when hearing the news, and he was almost hoping he would. He really wasn't appreciating the occasional fearful stares, and when Lovino would meet his gaze Arthur would turn his head away. Yup, I scared the shit out of him. After a few minutes of silence, Arthur finally glanced back at him.

"I see my mother being killed."

"What?"

"What I see. I used to see it every day. Makes me scream, it scares me so bad. They'd have to come in and sedate me so I wouldn't scream anymore. But I'd see it. Everyday. I'd see my Papa stab her... Like he did when I was a young lad... " He began to ramble again, his saddened expression taking over again. Lovino stared at the brit, raising an eyebrow. When Arthur finally calmed back down, he sighed and wiped the remains of the tears that threatened to stream down his face away with the back of his hand.

"You're a crazy motherfucker, ya know that?" Lovino muttered. Arthur snorted, seeming to go back to himself.

"Yeah? Well at least I'm not the fucker who rapes his own family when he's pissed off!" He shot back. Lovino was taken back by his sudden boldness. Nobody had ever talked back to him like that while he was here... Nobody ever snapped back at him like that ever. But he... He sort of liked it. Arthur didn't back down from him like the others did. Arthur seemed... Different. A smirk grew on his lips.

"I guess you're right. We're both crazy motherfuckers, aren't we?" Arthur chuckled.

"I guess."

"Hey Arthur?"

"Mm?"

"You're the first person I've actually gotten to talk to since I've been here. And.. Thanks. For not totally freaking out when I told you whats wrong with me." Arthur shrugged.

"There's always something wrong with everyone, that's my motto." Lovino rolled his eyes.

"That's a really weird motto." He grumbled, and Arthur chuckled.

"Well, it's not wrong is it?" After some thought, the italian shrugged.

"I guess not." Arthur let out another chuckle, finally wiping the last of his tears away.

"'Course it's not wrong. I said so."

"Whatever you say, weirdo." Lovino could almost swear he felt a smile dare try to sneak on to his face. But him? Smile? In a situation like this? No, it wasn't possible. He covered it with his usual scowl whilst the englishman continue to chuckle and giggle to himself.

"How how long have you been in here?" Arthur asked, trying to keep the conversation going. Lovino could only shrug.

"I dunno, a few weeks maybe? What about you?"

"I lost track after a year." Lovino's eyes widened, his mouth gaping open.

"A-... You've been in here for more than a year?" He asked in utter shock. Arthur nodded.

"Yeah, maybe a few years... I lost track. I've been in here since I was... Um, let me think. Fifteen? Sixteen?" Lovino gaped at the man. Arthur looked young, but not any younger than twenty. To Lovino, he looked to be around his age. But if he had been in here since he was he was in his mid-teens...

"Yeah, I've been here for quite some time." Arthur grumbled. "All of the years that I've been here, and I haven't gotten any better."

"Really?" Lovino felt his heart begin to sink when he began to realize something. Arthur had been in for years and hadn't gotten any better... That meant that they would let him out until he did. And if he hadn't gotten any better in years, who was to say he would ever get better? That would mean he would never leave this god damned place...

What if they never helped Lovino get any better...

"Ello?" Arthur asked, waving a hand in front of the italian's face. Lovino blinked a few times before finally coming back to reality.

"Mm?"

"You alright there, chap?"

"Y-yeah... I'm fine." Lovino looked down into his lap, trying to push the thoughts out of his head. "So how long have you been allowed to walk around and talk to people?" Lovino asked.

"Only about two weeks... maybe less.. I honestly don't know. Something around that time."

"Only two weeks? And you've been in here for years? And you've only been able to talk to people for two. Weeks?!"

"Well this isn't the first time I've been let out to talk you see. If I have what they deem is 'good behavior', then I'm allowed to roam the asylum all I want. Within limits of course, but you know what I mean. But if they think I have bad behavior, then back to the padded cell for me." Lovino was shocked. Even he wasn't in a padded cell... And he seemed so much more unstable and violent than Arthur did. But he guessed you could never tell by looking at an insane person.

"What to they deem is 'bad behavior'." Lovino wanted to make sure he wouldn't end up in a padded cell while he was here. Ever.

"Well, common sense really-,"

"Are you calling me stupid?" Lovino growled, interrupting the brit. Deciding to tease the italian a little, a smirk grew on Arthur's lips.

"I will if you don't let me finish." Lovino scowled, but rolled his eyes.

"Just tell me already. I don't want to do whatever it is you're doing that makes them think you're so crazy." He shot back.

"Well as I was saying, it's really anything that can make them think you've gone completely insane. Like screaming and howling about someone who 'isn't there' in my case, or becoming so enraged that you attack someone for a reason they think doesn't exist." Lovino froze. When he... attacked the doctor a while ago. Did that count as "no reason"? But the doctor hadn't ever tried to take him anywhere different, so he guessed that was a relief.

"You definitely don't ever want to end up in that place, I'll tell you that much. They put you in a straight-jacket and just toss you in there for days, and they literally watch Everything. You. Do." Arthur explained. "Even in the bathroom. It's horrible."

"I can imagine." Lovino muttered with a sigh. He was sort of glad though that the brit had warned him of this fate. Now he knew to really make sure he watched his actions.

What the hell was he thinking? Watching his actions. Tch. He wasn't some kid in grade school being threatened with going to the principle's office. He was a grown ass man and would act whatever way he fucking wanted to.

Just... As long as he didn't end up in a padded cell and back in a straight-jacket.

"Ey, Lovino?" Arthur's voice broke through his thoughts once more.

"Mm?" His eyes shifted back over to the blondes, eying at his smile. The look on Arthur's face... For some reason, it brought back a familiar face in his mind. That warm smile, those soft features, those bright green eyes...

Green eyes...

"I just wanted to say that I've really enjoyed talking to you. Nobody here really ever wants to talk to me, so thank you for at least putting up with me." Arthur said softly. Lovino's could hear Arthur's words, but none of them seemed to register in his mind. He was too busy trying to come with the sudden feeling of emptiness in his chest. Those eyes.. They brought back a face he hadn't wanted to remember. The person's face who was one of the reason's he was in here. The one who, though he wasn't involved, took in upon himself to become involved. The one he used to love.. The one that used to love him...

Antonio...

"Alright, well friend, I think I'll be taking my leave now. I'll see you some other time I hope, friend. Farewell." Arthur waved, and soon fled from the italian's vision. But Lovino payed no attention to the leaving brit, nor could he focus his vision on him anyway. Tears had begun to swell in his eyes, blurring his vision as they threatened to spill over. He did his best to keep them from rolling down his cheeks, but the more he thought of Antonio, the more the invisible wall holding the salty tears back threatened to break.

Why did he have to put me in this goddamned place?! Why couldn't he just take my side, understand that I was frustrated, stick with me, something! Instead he put me in this hell... Why?! I thought that he loved me! I thought I had actually found someone who loved me! If he really loved me, he wouldn't have done this to me, would he? Does that mean.. He doesn't love me? No.. He doesn't. He doesn't love me. He never loved me. He... He just made me think he loved me. Good for nothing asshole! You fucking bastard! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!

Lovino had gotten so lost in thought that he had never realized the tears had begun to fall from his eyes. He rested his eyes in the bottom of his palms, sniffing as he wiped the river of tears streaming from his eyes. His mind had begun to twist his thoughts past where he even intended, his thoughts becoming darker and darker.

I swear, Antonio. If I ever see you again I'm going to kill you for what you did to me...

CLIFFHANGER BECAUSE IT'S LATE AND I NEED SLEEP SO SORRY! Bum bum BUUUUM Oh noes, Lovi why you think such things of toni?! What do you think is going to happen next?

You know what to do.