Roderich began to meticulously tune the strings of the violin. It wasn't that bad for something over four hundred years old. He was surprised the strings hadn't snapped from the seasons, or room temperature. He checked the case for spare strings and made a mental note to get a few extra for later. The G-string snapped.
'Thought too soon,' Roderich thought setting it back down in the case and close it.
"Anton, where did you put my suitcase?" Roderich asked walking over to Antonio sitting at his computer.
"Uh…You don't want to go searching all over my house for your suitcase. After I'm done I'll move it to my bedroom, if you're okay with it, bueno?" Antonio asked typing furiously.
"Ja, that would be acceptable," Roderich blushed.
Antonio smiled to himself and kept working. It was more boring stuff about the economy. Wow, his bosses were so idiotic. Even by his standards! Roderich wrapped his around Antonio's neck. Antonio smiled more and leaned into his chest.
"I hate that kind of paper work," Roderich commented.
"I know. I do too."
"You want me to leave you alone while you work?"
"You don't have to." Antonio nuzzled into Roderichs' chest.
"I feel I'm distracting you."
"You are," Antonio purred. "I don't mind though."
"I'd rather you be done sooner rather than later…I guess I'll watch television then." Roderich removed his arms from Antonios' neck. Antonio quickly caught his wrist and kissed it. Roderich smiled briefly and turned on his heel. Again, he felt like it was too hot for his normal dress. He really didn't bring anything casual either.
"Anton, can I burrow some of your clothes?"
"If they fit, go for it."
Roderich quickly kissed his cheek and made his way back upstairs to Antonios' bedroom. The room was nice, though it was slightly warmer than the rest of the house. It was slightly darker than he expected. Antonio went to a chest of drawers and began searching. He found shorts immediately then went to the next drawer and found a black t-shirt. It wasn't his style at all, but it did seem cooler.
He pulled his clothes off and folded them neatly on the bed. Another look at the clothes he had found made him rethink dressing cooler.
'I'd rather go out in public in my Unterhose (1),' Roderich thought as he pulled the shirt over his head. He looked at himself in a mirror. The shirt actually made whatever bicep muscles he had more pronounced. He looked back at the shorts and begrudgingly put them on. Khaki color and cut off at his knees, they didn't look that bad on him either. He looked like a tourist, but a handsome tourist at least.
The folded clothes started to vibrate on his bed. Roderich facepalm'd and took his phone out of his pocket.
"Roderich Edelstein," He said answering his phone.
"Dude! Specs, have you seen Lili? Is she at your house?" Maria asked frantically.
"Nein, I'm not even at my house right now. What's wrong?"
"She's not at Vashs' house or hers! We're freaking out over here Specs!"
"Well she went home with Vash last night. Is it possible she's just taking an afternoon walk through Valduz (2) with her dog?"
"She's not answering her phone! She always answers her phone Specs!"
"She's a grown country Maria. She doesn't need to answer to you or Vash ," Roderich replied coolly. "You didn't answer my question either."
"She's not like that Specs. She'd answer if we called unless it was an emergency. No one has seen her, and we've been searching for an hour or two now! This is so unawesome!"
"Maria, first, pull yourself together! For the love of all that is holy, please! You sound like one of the Italian brothers!"
"I don't! I'm worried for her! She's so small!"
"Next," Roderich cut in before he got a lecture about how Lili was unable to defend herself. "I know you're worried about her but you and Vash might be blowing things out of proportion."
"What if she was kidnapped by Ivan or something?" Maria was hysteric. She was on one of her 'Ivan is out to get me and everything I hold dear' rants again. This normally happened at World Meetings when Ludwig was sick, and Roderich certainly wasn't expecting right now, when a former ward was possibly missing/ not answering her phone. He thought all of that therapy she had gone through since the wall came down helped her with that. And those 'Ivan is out to get me and everything I hold dear' rants were getting rarer as of late. "I don't want her to go through what I did Specs."
"Maria, bitte, I implore you, if Lili doesn't respond in twenty four hours, go to the police. However, I highly doubt that Ivan would kidnap her. That would cause an international incident and we'd all gang up on him for taking Lili. And I highly doubt—" He heard a small beep.
"Sorry Specs! That could be her! TTYL keseses," Maria said hanging up. Roderich rolled his eyes a little. It was almost refreshing seeing Vashs' paranoia rubbing off on someone finally. He'd never expected it to be Maria of all people. That was for sure.
Roderich went back down the stairs and saw Antonio lying on his couch watching TV.
"Did you finish your paper work?" Roderich asked bringing attention to himself.
"Si. There wasn't that much to do." Antonio looked over at Roderich. "You look pretty good."
"Danke. Maria might call me."
"Porque? (3)"
"She thinks Lili was kidnapped," Roderich sat down on the couch as Antonio stood up and gasped.
"She was kidnapped?"
"Wahrscheinlich nicht. (4)"
"Why does she think that then?"
"Lili isn't answering her phone," Roderich replied simply. "She's just being a bit paranoid."
"Oh. She doesn't realize the Chiquita (5) has a beau of her own?"
"I guess not," Roderich thought about it for a moment. "She has a boyfriend?"
Antonio shrugged. "That's why I wouldn't answer my phone."
. As if on cue Roderichs' phone started to vibrate again.
"Roderich Edelstein," He said urging Antonio to sit down.
"H-Hallo Mr. E-Edelstein…do you have M-Mr. Zwinglis' number?" A very shaky Raivis asked.
"Ja," Roderich proceeded to recite the number. "Why do you need it?"
"L-Lilis' phone d-doesn't have s-service."
Roderich smirked for a moment then looked at Antonio. Antonio had his eyes glued to him.
"Where is Lili? I just got a phone call from Ms. Beilschmidt saying they were worried sick about her."
"O-oh! She's with me and my brothers! She drove all the way over to our house this morning! I was surprised to see her, but I haven't seen her in a while so…,"
"Are you dating her?"
"N-No Mr.E-Edelstein…I wouldn't do that without Mr. Zwinglis' permission first. B-but we've been thinking about it."
"Alles Klar. (6) You might want to get back to them sooner rather than later…lest your head be shot off."
"Y-Yes S-sir! T-Thank you sir!" Ravis hung up quickly.
"Who was that?' Antonio asked with a curiously gleam in his eyes.
"Raivis," Roderich said simply. He smirked a little. "I guess it wasn't kidnapping after all. But the good news is there still might be an international incident if Vash gets his hands on him."
(1) Underpants
(2) Capital of Liechtenstein
(3) Why?
(4) Probably not.
(5) Little one
(6) All clear (is like 'I understand')