The Duty of an Elder Son

by Reapergal08

"Lovino Vargas knew a lot about duty." His Grandfather's swollen empire puts all of his family in danger, the other gangs are massing, the police are on their tails and Lovino is given a bodyguard in one Antonio Carriedo. 1920s Mafia AU fic. Human Names. All characters play vital roles. Some pairings later on. M for lang/violence throughout.

20. A Helping Hand

This is the longest chapter yet and offically one third of the way through. Yep, there will be 60 chapters, plus a few maybe but I'll see how we go. This is a big day for me! :D *party*

Thank you for all the reviews for last chapter and for your continued support, it means a lot. Love you all. Serious guys.

I WILL BE DOING A 150TH REVIEWER ONE SHOT PRIZE. For some reason I forgot to remind you all last time :I I r a fool.

Anyway, on with the chapter. Hetalia is not mine~

oOo

Lovino slouched haphazardly across the red sofa in the sitting room, one foot dangling over the edge of the streamlined armrest. He stared up at the ceiling without really seeing it as he played his violin softly, the sound filling out the room with its peaceful chords.

The room was a large one, placed next to the dining room with an adjoining door between it, usually kept locked. The walls were a striped pale blue and cream and the floors were a shiny pale wood which caught the gleam of light streaming in through the large windows. It was a beautiful day once again but he did not quite feel like venturing outwards, merely sparing the sunlight a glance as he got ready for the day that morning.

He was not in the best of moods, he felt restless at the thought of the oncoming party the next day and what was expected of him at the event. He did not like the idea that the day was set aside for him alone and was almost thankful for once that his brother would distract most of the attention onto himself. He had been fitted into his costume before breakfast which he had hated with a passion, and completed his work afterwards robotically and without really thinking about what he was doing. By the time he had done it was almost time for Feliciano to be back from school but the hours he had to spare were draining and the silence was once again getting to his nerves. It was not helping that Antonio had for the most part of the day been busy getting fitted himself for his own suits, and had yet to return. The only time he had seen him had been that morning, where he had been silent and distant. Yelling at him must have done the job at getting him to quieten down but Lovino now found him missing the idiot's voice.

So he had done the only thing he could think of to ward off the headaches and silence: play his violin. He had escaped the confines of his room and gone into the sitting room, hating the way that the room smelt cold and unused as soon as he stepped in, the floorboards beneath him harsh on his bare feet. Lovino had briefly considered going into another room but he knew his bedroom would be too constricted, the music room too close to his Grandpa who was busy with business. The kitchen and the dining room were being used to prepare for the next day and he did not want to get in Roderich or Elizabeta's way or be reminded of the dreaded party, so he had flopped down on the seat to wait for his brother's return.

It did not take as long as he thought. The sun bad barely moved in its path across the sky before the front door opened. There was the sound of voices and Feliciano skipped in, drawn in by the music and dragging a weary looking Ludwig behind him. He had stopped at the sight of him to stare.

"Lovi, you're playing your violin!" He had seemed shocked at the sight, his eyes wide and disbelieving. It was not surprising, he did not play often for pleasure. But then his face broke into a wide trademark smile. "I'll bring my painting down here and sit with you!"

He had barely time to complain before he hurried off in the direction of the bedrooms. Ludwig pursed his lips and looked as if he was trying not to explode as he followed him and Lovino could not help but chuckle. He might not like the guy much but he had to admit it was funny to watch him try to manage his hyperactive little brother and keep a straight face. He was the only guy he had met patient enough to deal with him, he'd give him that well deserved morsel of credit.

Feliciano returned and straight away began adding paints to a palate. The chemical smell of the bright pastes was almost comforting to Lovino and reminded him of their childhood and when life had been more simple and easy. There was no stupid parties or responsibility. He plucked a few cords half heartedly and resumed his staring at the ceiling as he listened more closely to the chat between his brother and his bodyguard.

"No, no Ludwig stay there, in the light." Feliciano ordered with a chuckle. Lovino turned his head slightly to see his brother pull out his equipment from his box that was splattered with years of paint and ink. It reminded Lovino of a workman's toolbox. The younger boy loved that thing as a child and had carried it everywhere, crying when he'd had to leave it in his room for meal times. The blond huffed and shifted his position back into the beam of light that hit the red armchair the younger man had sat him in.

"Here, Mr Vargas?" He grunted. He looked distressed at the request, sat in the seat he kept the stance of some sort of lord, with his back ruler straight and his gaze even, only the turn of his mouth showed his displeasure.

"Yes, yes that's perfect!" Came the response. Feliciano squinted at his easel, a pencil in hand ready to mar the white surface of the canvas with its deadly strokes.

"What are you doing fratello?" Lovino queried, trying not to sound too curious. His little brother turned to face him with a beaming face that caught the light and made his eyes dazzle.

"I'm going to paint Ludwig! I promised I would, and he was so excited." The look on the blond's face said otherwise but he charged on regardless. Lovino rolled his eyes and turned his gaze back up to the ceiling while his brother rattled on. "One day you will have to let me paint you Lovi! It'll be so much fun, not that painting you won't be, Ludwig! Ah please smile more, you're always so severe I- Antonio!"

His joyous exclamation lifted the room and made Lovino's head snap to the door where sure enough the Spaniard was stood looking in, checking for Lovino's presence with searching eyes. When he caught sight of him lounging on the sofa he smiled and made his way into the room, where he was immediately accosted by Feliciano waving a paintbrush dangerously.

"'Toni, where have you been? Have you been for your suit fitting?" Lovino faintly wondered how his brother breathed through all the words that jumbled out of his mouth. "Is it nice? Does it look good? I haven't tried mine yet, I was just going to paint Ludwig. Would you like me to paint you one day too? You have a beautiful smile-"

Something in Lovino snapped. It was as though his brother's words had been flicking against his heart not unlike how he was plucking the chords of the violin. He slapped it down on the seat next to him with too much force so that it made a painful grinding sound that attracted everyone's attention.

"Feli, leave the man alone." He snarled feeling his anger rise red in his face. He flipped onto his back and flung his hand over his face so that he didn't have to look at them and they could not see the redness of his cheeks. "I have a headache coming on and I could do with some silence please."

The lie worked better than he thought, through the crack in his fingers he saw his brother's eyes widening in apology as he returned dejectedly to his work, chatting to Ludwig in a much lower tone so that he could hardly hear the words. Lovino felt a twinge of guilt at the sight and regretted taking his frustration out on his brother, he knew he should not let his irritation get to him or come out in an outburst. It was not the sign of a leader, and he chided himself internally because he should be able to keep a steady strain of thought and not mess things up with emotions as he normally did.

Antonio, freed from his brother's clutches, walked dutifully over to the sofa to stand silently by his side. Their argument had placed an invisible barrier between the two of them that was poignant and deadly in the air. Lovino had thought he would prefer it, and part of himself kept telling him he did, but he could not lie to himself either; the cold front of ice was horrible. He wanted the bubbly and annoying Antonio back. He stared up at the tall figure through the cracks in his fingers, an apology forming in his mouth before he even realised its existence.

"I'm sorry."

Antonio flinched and looked down at him. He could tell he was trying to keep his face straight and professional but he ruined it a little by raising his eyebrows in disbelief. "Pardon?"

"I said I'm sorry, damn it." He snapped, his tone rising dangerously before he lowered it again. Feliciano did not need to hear his pathetic excuse for an apology. "For yelling at you. It was uncalled for."

The Spaniard's lips twitched in a small smile and the hard lines of his face smoothed out. The sight made a weight he had barely noticed lift from Lovino's chest.

"There is nothing to be sorry for."

Lovino snorted as if he didn't care and turned so that he was facing the back of the settee, curling his legs up slightly so that the bodyguard could sit down. He did not tell him too but the message was taken and Antonio seated himself beside him, grinning widely like a puppy getting a treat. The idiot was happy again though and it pleased him to see him like that rather than glum. If they were going to be together for a long time, he dreaded to think how long, then he could not put up with someone like Viktor or Ludwig. He needed someone to help him forget what it was he was doing and as long as he was always oblivious and cheerful he would do that. Feliciano had been that place before but now he was growing up, granted he was still a bit of a big kid but how long could that last now? Antonio would have to take that position now.

His thoughts inevitably trailed back onto the party with unease and he shuffled his position on the sofa to one that he could doze more comfortably in. The day was meant to be his but the thought of stepping before all those people made him anxious, not because he was afraid of crowds, he usually faded into the background anyway. It was because of what people would think. He had seen the look on Scipio's face when he had been at church. The memory made him feel rotten inside. The look of pure disgust was hard to rid himself of, he knew all too well that the people his Grandfather would be inviting would be probably people that 'worked' for him in some way. The term was loose and meant very little; worked could mean they literally went on jobs for him or that he owned them. It was these people he feared the most, men and women who were not part of the empire but drawn into it. He was afraid he would sympathise with them. He was afraid they would judge him when he himself was in a similar position to them.

He must have fallen into a light slumber because the next thing he knew there was a great knock on the main door of the apartment from a person demanding entry. Lovino jumped and looked up at the noise, bleary eyed and confused.

"What's that?" He grumbled to the room in general. Feliciano was still painting Ludwig and had got a good way into the portrait, he must have been out for a while. Antonio shrugged.

"I think it was the front door." He said simply. Lovino looked at him and realised with horror that his feet were resting on something and it was not a footrest, in his sleep he had stretched out and put his feet up on the Spaniard's knees without realising. What a freak? Why hadn't he moved them? He snatched them back and sat up suddenly, his face heating up in embarrassment but Antonio didn't seem to notice. His gaze was fixed on the door and his ears perked at the sound of Roderich greeting someone behind it. He opened his mouth to swear at him for letting him shame himself like that but was silenced by approaching footsteps as Roderich stepped through the door bringing a stranger with him.

He had pale skin and incredibly dark hair that covered his head like a tailored cap. His eyes were even darker colour, like ink, and took in the room with one sweeping gaze that seemed to calculate all that sat in it. Lovino felt like he was being analysed in some way by the boy and he didn't like it, instinctively drawing up his feet to his chest. Beside him, Antonio stood up on guard with his eyes narrowed in the stranger's direction. Roderich seemed more irritable than usual and had his lips pursed disdainfully.

"Sirs," He nodded respectfully noting that both brothers were in the room but his gave soon fixed on Lovino with intensity. "This man is here to see your Grandfather, Master Lovino, but he asked to be taken to see you first."

"Me?" He repeated feeling confused. What would anyone want with me?

Antonio manoeuvred so that he was in an ideal position between him and the other boy but he needn't have bothered. Feliciano quickly stepped in and eased the tension in his usual way, by being an idiot.

"You have a guest, Lovi!" He sang, putting down his art materials and rushing to the small, dark haired boy with unmeasured glee while Ludwig watched on hopelessly, trying to get to his feet quick enough to stop him. He wasn't quick enough and Feli had already managed to shake the boy's hand before he had even stood up. Lovino was happy to see the stranger look a little put off by his enthusiasm. "It's so nice to see you. I'm Feliciano, Lovi's younger brother. What is your name?"

"Apologies." The boy muttered in an unusually soft and measured voice. He bowed slightly from the waist in a formal manner. "My name is Kiku Honda. It is an honour to meet you. I have come to offer a deal between the Wang Organisation and your own and I beg you to hear out my offer, if it would not disrupt your afternoon."

Lovino's heart dropped to his shoes and all forms of response left him. He was not even officially part of the family yet and he was already being asked to do business? The sane part of his mind told him roughly that it was only a deal, nothing serious but the other part started to panic a little and his hands shook slightly.

"Lovi?" Antonio asked, looking concerned as he struggled to find words. Roderich slid out seeing he was no longer needed. Feliciano watched him struggle with wide eyes and a curious expression on his face before he turned around brightly to face the other boy with one of his winning smiles.

"I don't think my fratello is feeling well today, perhaps you could talk to me instead?" He said with ease. It was an offhand statement but it fired a spark in his head. He could not allow his brother to be involved in this. It was his problem and he would deal with it. The reminder was all it took for him to get a grip and sit up straighter with his game-face on ready for whatever this guy could throw at him.

"No Feli, it's fine." He motioned for the Kiku to come closer with one hand and he moved his feet to the floor. "I'll talk to him now, it is no problem."

Feliciano looked worried, and for a second he thought he would argue but then he nodded and returned to his painting, crying out that Ludwig had moved and sending his blushing bodyguard back to his position. Antonio moved aside for the man to pass, Kiku looking incredibly small next to his bulky frame, he allowed the man to sit down but only after he had glared in warning at him. Lovino found the whole experience embarrassing and scowled at the bodyguard before turning to the task at hand.

"What is it that you want?" He asked, trying to keep as polite as possible but still guarded. It was odd that someone would go directly to see his when he wasn't even in charge, what impact he could have on this he did not see but it did not hurt to be civil with a client.

"My boss has a very delicate shipment he wishes to be rid of." He said. His voice was oddly even and his back incredibly straight for someone his age, he could be no older than Feliciano. "It was a bulk order and it is my belief it would be perfect for a large establishment, one that I am told your grandfather owns."

Lovino was seeing less and less what this had to do with him. He was very aware of Antonio's intimidating figure at his shoulder and the way that Feliciano seemed to be listening in to their conversation, making is brush strokes smoother and less noisy than before. Or maybe he was just being paranoid.

"Now, seeing as we wish to get it off of our hands we are willing to sell it for a cheap price." Kiku sounded eager. "It would be more use to your grandfather than us. I hope you will consider the implications of the deal and perhaps put in a good word with your Grandfather for us."

Now he saw what he was needed for, he was to present him with the idea and save this other man of getting in the firing line by using himself as a shield. Instant dislike swelled in his stomach but he reluctantly did as the man asked. He knew from dealing with the book keeping that they were well into the black books so had the money to spare, but did they need it? Surely the shipment they had received the other day would suffice for a while, on a small establishment.

"How much are we talking here?" He asked. Kiku's eyes flashed as he considered the figures.

"It is a good sized shipment in these difficult times. Approximately fifty gallons of alcohol, give or take." Kiku said decisively. "More than enough to run an establishment on for a many days."

It was, it was a good sized shipment for one of the clubs and speakeasys he knew his Grandfather owned. He wasn't sure of the exact amount but he knew there was a good number of places he owned that sold the illegal drinks to the public. It would be a good investment to buy into, that way they did not have to split up what they already had and could give each place more. More booze, more money right? It all fit together in his head pretty neatly. And it would make his Grandpa pleased he was taking an interest for once.

As if the thoughts of the man summoned him, there was suddenly a very familiar booming voice on the staircase as his Grandfather emerged from his office. There was a mumbled reply from other people, most likely something to do with the party the next day as he had been busy in his office all morning sorting last minute preparations out.

"Wait here," Lovino ordered, grabbing the bull by the horns and deciding he would talk to the older man. What harm could it possibly do to ask? "Feliciano will you entertain Mr Honda here for a few minutes while I have a word with Nonno?"

Kiku's eyes blazed with thanks in his direction as Lovino stood up and made his way to the door, Antonio a breaths distance behind him. His brother was already chatting away to the other boy and he knew he would be leaving him in capable hands, he was a natural host and much more welcoming than he ever could be. They were already talking about art. He might have laughed if it were another kind of situation.

The entrance hall was empty when he stepped out but his Grandfather soon came into view on the staircase, two pretty women with him, one on each arm. Viktor ghosted behind him like a silent shadow. The other three were in rapt conversation but stopped at the sight of him.

"Lovino, is something wrong?" Roma hurried towards him. He had dressed up for the visitors, wearing one of his favourite velvet suits of a rich burgundy that went well with his warm complexion.

"No, everything is fine." He assured him as Roma reached him, planting two kisses on his grandson's cheeks before smiling at his affirmation and turning back to the waiting women, who had been looking curiously over his shoulder, with a charming grin.

"Ladies, might I introduce my grandson? Lovino, this is Racquel and Alisha." The women were very beautiful and dressed up in modern fashionable clothes, although their hair was quite long for the times. The blond girl reached no taller than Roma's elbow but seemed to be the most forward of the two and scrutinised Lovino through large wire glasses that perched on the edge of her nose. She didn't seem impressed with what she saw. The other girl was of a darker complexion and had her hair in pigtails under a cloche hat. She stared openly at him but pleasantly.

"Racquel is managing tomorrow's entertainment," he said eagerly, wrapping his arm around his slim frame and leading his closer. The blond mentioned barely flinched at his address and instead reached into her handbag, drawing out a long cigarette and holder which she lit while he spoke. "The music and such, I thought a band would be a nice idea. Then we can have dancing. Alisha here is going to be helping with the service with a few people from her restaurant, aren't you dear?"

"Oh, yes Mr Vargas." She beamed, her brown eyes wide and innocent. "It is going to be a great honour to help you and repay you for all the help you gave me when my father was sick."

Roma chuckled lightly and waved his hand to brush away her thanks. "Think nothing of it. I was merely doing what any good citizen would by helping you manage the place."

Lovino highly doubted that his Grandfather would ever do anything so selfless without personal gain, he was not the sort of man to think far away from the family. Racquel seemed to be on the same lines as him as her eyes were narrowed in the other woman's direction as if considering her stupidity as she sucked greedily at the cigarette between her fingers.

"Erm, actually Grandpa there was something I wanted to talk to you about," he said tentatively. The arms around him tightened briefly and then relaxed as the older man smiled patiently.

"Girls, will you go and discuss the details for tomorrow with my staff?" He asked, loosening his hold to take their hands one by one and press them to his mouth in a kiss. Alisha giggled. "They should be in the kitchen right now, it's over there."

Racquel followed the finger pointing in the direction of the room and nodded, taking the other girl with her they sauntered off. Only the darker girl waved goodbye and Lovino found himself blushing as he returned the gesture, feeling a little off put when Antonio coughed behind him to hold back a snigger.

Roma turned back to him as soon as the women had disappeared out of sight, his gaze heavy. He lifted a hand and played with his hair distractedly as he spoke, running his fingers through the fine hairs and lifting the strands like a summer breeze. "What is this about Lovi?"

"A man asked to see me," he explained quickly. "He said he wanted to discuss business with me, before he went to you."

"And did you?"

"Sì, he's with Feli and Ludwig now." He pointed to the sitting room door which was slightly ajar and let the sound of chatter ring out into the hallway. His Grandfather did not look but kept his eyes firmly fixed onto his features in rapt attention. "He said he was from the Wang Organisation and they had a shipment to sell to us."

A look of confusion flickered across his features. "Wang, really?"

He nodded. "They've sent a young man. He's offering us about fifty gallons of imported alcohol Grandpa, enough so that we could bump together this lot and the other we got to make a bigger amount. That way we could distribute more to all the institutions instead of just one." He faltered as he finished his suggestion.

Roma froze in his hair stroking and looked to be considering the proposition. Lovino's heart beat widely in his chest as he worried that his Grandpa would get mad. He might be seen as interfering in the business well before his time perhaps. The older man had never had someone else to tell him what to do and he looked to be struggling on how to take it.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Roderich leave the confines of the kitchen, look briefly in their direction and hurry down into the basement. Viktor too watched him go with narrowed eyes,

probably mad that he was slacking off from his work or something. Antonio was very quiet next to him.

Roma's face cracked into a sudden, large grin and he leant forward to kiss Lovino on the head with enthusiasm. "Molto bene, Lovi! I will see this man and talk numbers. I am pleased you are finally getting interested with this, I am very proud of you. You'll become a fine businessman yet!"

"Grazie." He mumbled, feeling embarrassed at the show of affection he blushed and looked down as Roma continued to rub his hair fondly like a favourite dog. Eventually with one final kiss he broke away.

"I'll see him now." Roma said decisively and headed straight to the sitting room, leaving Antonio and Lovino alone as Viktor followed Roma. There was a gaping silence after he had gone where the only sound was that of Lovino's own heavy breathing as though he had been running a marathon rather than talking business. His heart beat in his chest as he watched the retreating figure of his Grandfather a strange feeling of anxiety spreading across his chest.

He chose to ignore it and follow his Grandpa into the sitting room.

oOo

Roderich took advantage of the household's preoccupation to creep down into the basement. The underground rooms were dingy in comparison the rest of the house, bare concrete walls lined the hallway that lead to the boiler room lit by a single bare bulb. On his immediate right was Heracles' bedroom, which he barely spent any time, preferring instead to sit outside in the garden with the neighbourhood cats. Beside that was the storage cupboard for the linen and extra tableware. Elizabeta's and his own room was on the left and the boiler room dead ahead. There was no need for heating in the lower rooms as the boiler and the exposed pipes kept them unusually warm all year round. He could remember as a child hating living in the small, cramped room with his father because he had loathed the rattle the old thing made against his bedroom walls. These days he found it almost comforting.

Without hesitation he opened the door leading to his bedroom. Elizabeta had tried to make the place homely but there was only so much you could do when the walls were concrete and bare. She had been saving up for wallpaper to put up, but with the news of the baby she had started putting away the few spare coins for it instead. They made do with a simple double bed, covered with a hand-me-down patchwork quilt from her mother and a carpet that had once covered Roderich's father's room. It was stained slightly from all the times the old man had entered the room without wiping his feet, dark scuffed marks forever marking its surface. Small ornaments littered the rest of the room, their bright colours only serving to emphasise the way the room was so dreary and dull.

As a butler Roderich had seen the rest of the house and knew all too well the lavish lifestyle that the Vargas family lived. Silently he seethed that the bodyguards were allowed the special privilege of housing in the lavish upstairs rooms while he and his wife suffocated in the heat of the boiler, surrounded by inherited odds and ends and trapped in grey walls. He was no better than a pet dog, yet even a pet would be allowed to sleep by his master. Instead he slept under the floorboards like nothing more than a rat.

Roderich walked purposefully into the room, making sure the door was locked behind him as he did so. The deep unsettled anger he had harboured from childhood directed itself inwards, shame and self loathing burned his throat as his lack of power in his home. He knew sometimes when he looked at the Vargas boys he should hate them, but he couldn't, they were innocent to their grandfather's evil. Even now they were coming more of age and getting involved, he pitied them more than anything. And this pity made him feel weak. He should hate them both, but he couldn't. It was the one thing that had held him back all these years, that and the fear of what would happen if he was discovered. Elizabeta, his beautiful Lizzie, her pregnancy had changed things; he could no longer care for children that weren't his own, he should look after what he had.

The phone was the only object in the room that was new. Mr Vargas had had a line fitted into both their room and Heracles' so that he could summon them whenever he liked to do his bidding, but they could also call out on his request. It was easier than calling from the stairwell where sometimes people could walk in and hear a delicate conversation. It made Roderich squirm to remember how many times he had called suspicious characters up to convey a message, after all sometimes the boss' voice was worth its weight in gold and it was much easier to use a servant in most cases. As his hand grasped the cool metal he felt a surge of irony in that the phone installed to help Roma could possibly bring down his empire to its knees.

Roderich had memorised the number on the card and then burnt it in the oven while helping Elizabeta make the morning tea. The numbers came forth from his memory with ease and he typed them out onto the dial quickly, the rattle of the dial so very loud in the silence of the room. It rang twice and then was answered.

"Hold it," The familiar voice demanded before he could open his mouth. There was the murmur of voices and then a faint click, and he realised he was being recorded. "Go on, what is it?"

"There's going to be a party, tomorrow night." He was unsure how he was meant to approach the police with the details but he reasoned they would want him to go straight to the juicy stuff. "Roma has it planned so that Lovino will get to meet all of his business partners. He's inviting work friends and people he's got under his thumb, to show them who they'll have listen to next."

"Any deals taking place?" Vash demanded on the other end.

Roderich shook his head, even though he knew he could not see the movement. "Not that I know of, although a boy came about a shipment today. He said he's from the Wang Organisation, might be an alias but you never know."

Vash repeated the name and there was a rustling sound as someone wrote it down. Roderich's heart beat in his chest widely as the seconds ticked down. He wondered if his presence was missed yet.

"And this shipment? Did you hear what it was about?"

"I only heard a mention of gallons. The boy spoke to Master Vargas first-"

"Why would he speak to the boy?" He heard someone mutter in the background and faintly wondered how many people he was heard by. He felt fine with Vash, he was a little gruff but he knew him, but he did not know the other man and it made him hesitate a little before answering.

"I can only assume the group he is with Wang and has previous dealings with Roma," He replied thoughtfully. He heard a pounding noise and thinking it was footsteps stopped short, but it was only an air bubble rattling inside the boiler next door. Roderich released a heavy breath. "They probably assumed that Lovino would be easier to talk to. They were right, Lovino and Roma were discussing the books only a moment ago. They're using him to seal a deal."

He heard a small victorious cheer. "Proof he's dealing, this is gold!"

"Back to the party," Vash said, his voice close to his ear and making his frayed nerves snap. He jumped. "Could you get us in?"

"Not a chance in hell." Roderich scoffed, running his hand through his hair. Were they mad or something? "The guest list is set in stone, I couldn't get you in even if you were invisible. There's going to be men at every entrance not to mention the Vargas family bodyguards. But I can be your eyes for the night."

Vash hummed in response. "That's the best we can hope for I suppose. Report back as soon as you can." The recorder clicked off but Vash remained on the line. "And Roderich, keep an eye out for yourself."

There was the sound of shoes against concrete and this time he could not mistake the patter of feet coming to expose his hiding place. His palms were sweaty and he fumbled to put down the receiver.

"I'll try." He breathed into it before dropping it down with a small, fumbling clatter. The handle on the door shook as someone tried to get in, with a quick adjustment of his hair and his glasses Roderich moved to open the door. He could only pray that he did not look as flushed as he felt.

He half expected it to be Roma himself at the door, using his powerful thoughts to detect him out. But it wasn't. He almost passed out when pretty green eyes met his own, and a confused pout on large lips.

"Roderich!" Elizabeta scolded, her skirt bottoms bustling indignantly as she stepped forwards. "Why did you have the door locked?"

She didn't seem to notice the false nature of his smile and the way his eyes darted to the shadows behind her as if expecting demons to pop out of them.

Flushed, he answered."I was calling the florists for the centrepieces the master wanted on the tables. Thought I'd save you a job," he lied. She raised one eyebrow at his thoughtfulness, but then looked suddenly worried.

"You did tell them a time, right?" She asked doubtfully. He made a mock show of looking upset, smacking himself briefly on the side of the head in dismay.

"Ah no," he cried. "I'm sorry darling. I'll ring them back right now." Or actually call them to begin with. Elizabeta looked more closely at him, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in his worried features. His hands shook and he felt a bead of sweat slide from his hairline and snake down his back. He swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry.

But then her features cleared and she smiled patiently, reaching up on tiptoe to plant a chaste kiss on his lips, one hand on the side of his face.

"You're overworking yourself." She said decisively, leaving her fingers closed around his cheek. In the dim light of the corridor she looked incredibly beautiful. He would have forsaken even God for her. "Call the florists and then come upstairs, yeah? Master Vargas is seeing the young man that has come to visit and the boys are in the sitting room. The ladies have gone too, it's quiet now. You can relax."

He doubted he would ever be able to relax again but he smiled and touched his hand on her warm one that still rested on his face.

"Yes darling, whatever you say."

oOo

The sound of the crash ripped though the air, taking with it the oxygen and leaving him with it only the sound of the screams. It was so sudden that he was thrown forward and into the mountain of ash that was flung up in the explosion. Smoke clouded the air and Lovino was choked by its heaviness, blinded into darkness. He cried out in fear, in pain and confusion. He struggled to be free of the bond of the fog that kept him immobile and frozen, squeezing him tightly and tightening his already clogged throat.

There was sudden silence and he struggled harder. He was aware of people, somewhere out in the mists that moved forward. They only made motions to touch him, not to help him. Their caresses lingered on his skin and through his hair, igniting his skin like matches to paper. With each burn he flinched and cried out struggling to get away but the faces remained impassive, yet familiar. It was like he had seen them somewhere before, but they moved so quickly they blurred before he could figure out their features, and then the next one moved in and attacked. He was trapped in a seated position and try as he could, he couldn't free himself to stand, or even crawl away. They were like a pack of wolves tearing at him while he struggled blindly, all their faces the same. Backwards and forwards he burned and soon it was over him, the faces forming into one; jaws so wide that when they opened he was looking into a cavern and a bottomless maw. It rained down on him, the air left and-

He shot up screaming, sweat dripping through his hair and onto his face. The blanket had wrapped itself around his body like a python and, half suffocated, he pushed it off. He panted and stared blindly into the darkness of the room, the faces retreating back into the shadows from where they came as his eyes adjusted. In the cold aftermath of his scream there was nothing but a deadly silence and the chill of the air brushed against his feverish skin. It took him a good long moment to realise where he was and what was going on but it did not stop the pounding in his heart and the shake of his hands as he rubbed them across his face, wiping the sweat drops before they got into his eyes.

There was the rushing sound of footsteps and his door crashed open and Antonio charged in, his hair askew and in a state of undress, his shirt thrown on loosely over a pair of pyjama bottoms. He held a gun aloft ready to fight whatever intruder he thought was in his room only to lower it confused at the sight of Lovino alone and shivering with cold sweat in his bed.

"Lovino?" He quizzed, squinting at him through the dimness of the room. Lovino opened his mouth to respond, to tell him to leave him alone but all that came out was a unbridled whimper and he had to bury his head into the duvet to stifle his own shaky breaths.

"Oh Lovi," Antonio padded across to sit beside him, the bed dipping slightly with his weight as he placed a calming hand onto his quivering back. The gun was placed on the bedside table and forgotten. His voice was soft. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No." He managed to mumble after a moment to compose. Already he was starting to feel ashamed of the state he had allowed himself to get into and he was worried that Feliciano would come in to check on him. He must have shouted loud enough to wake the dead, and he did not need both of them here.

"Please leave." He choked out, turning away so he could not see the bodyguard's worried expression. "Get out."

"No way am I leaving you like this." Antonio argued, sounding affronted at the mere idea. He stroked his back but Lovino shrugged him off. There was a pause. "Do you want me to fetch your brother?"

He was beginning to worry where he was, usually he came running when he called out but perhaps this time he had slept through it. It did not happen often but he was unfortunately a deep sleeper and sometimes he missed him shouting. He didn't want Antonio to stay, not by a long shot, but it was starting to look like he would have to. He would never get back to sleep now after the nightmare. He needed someone to stay with him until he dropped back off or he would not sleep, and he needed sleep with the party soon approaching.

"Fine you can stay, just keep quiet." He grunted, laying back into the covers and glaring as the other man grinned in the half-light. "Don't get any ideas, you're sitting on the floor until I fall back to sleep."

The Spaniard nodded and did as he was told, removing himself from the bed and sitting on the floor beside it, like a child waiting for him to tell a story. The bed creaked as he moved and went back to its original position, making a flash of loneliness flare up briefly in his heart but he ignored it and turned over. He tried to stop shaking but his limbs didn't seem to want to respond and he quivered pitifully against his covers, feeling suddenly very small. Lovino closed his eyes, aware of the presence at his head and tried to fall back to sleep.

Almost as soon as he'd closed his eyes though there was the dreaded feeling of an iron like grasp around his throat and the ghostly memory of a haunting smile. He jumped up again blearily, not screaming this time round, but groaning slightly as he realised the dream was not going to leave him for today. Antonio did not comment on his behaviour, only standing up silently and sitting back on the bed. He did not touch him this time and Lovino hated to admit to himself that the presence was comforting in a way, the heat of another's body warding off the shadows for a little while. In the dark of the room the bodyguard's smile could easily be made out and his eyes, lacking their usual green, were fixed patiently on his face as if awaiting orders.

"Sit on the bed instead." He ordered Antonio, keeping the pleading note out of his voice. He did not need him to know that his presence was vital. He was already feeling a little better and he spared a thankful thought to his brother, who was too old to share a bed with him but did so anyway, maybe for his own benefit.

"Sure." Antonio replied and then laid down next to him, facing the other way so that his feet were by his face and tucking himself under the duvet. Lovino stared opened mouthed, blushing profusely. There was a line between sitting on a bed and sharing it with another man, it was not right. He kicked him in the side to get him to move but he might as well have kicked a wall for all the good it did.

"Ouch, not cute Lovi." Antonio chuckled. His humour bated his anger; how dare he fine this funny?

"Bastard!" He hissed, kicking him again. "What on earth do you think you are doing? I said sit, not lay down! Get your lazy ass up!"

"But I can't sit there all night." He complained in playful whine. "I'd hurt my back."

It was true, he could not ask him to sit up for the rest of the night, some untold hours, without a back support. He was a servant but he was still a person and he could not expect him to do that. He could always lean against the bed but that would be no good either, and he needed someone next to him to sleep. Lovino could feel the heavy weight of tiredness in his eyes and grumbled under his breath, "Damn it why did this have to happen to me?"

"You couldn't lend me a pillow could you?"

He growled, and seizing the pillow aimed for the other man's face, pleased when he heard a satisfying intake of breath that told him he'd hit his mark. Smirking, he flipped over and laid back down. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and his body felt tense at the strange presence of the other man on his bed. He was used to sharing with Feliciano but this was different, this was a near enough stranger. But he was solid and real and human, his warmth was enough to keep the nightmares at bay for a while. Grudgingly he would allow him to stay. Grudgingly.

Long minutes passed and Lovino found to his dismay he could not sleep. Whether it was the nightmare or the fact he had been awake too long, sleep evaded him, coming so close he could almost feel it's soft embrace but then he lost it again to the dark and silence. His shuffles and irritated sighs alerted Antonio to his restlessness.

"Can't sleep?"

"No, I'm practising for a dance- of course I can't sleep." He was irritated and the sarcasm flew out before he could stop it. He was grouchy when tired. "Idiot. What are you doing still awake?"

"I'm not going to sleep until you do." He said cheerfully, oblivious to the sarcasm. Lovino instantly felt bad, he shouldn't be so rude to the guy that was sitting up with him because he was such a big pansy and had a nightmare. Jeez, it was not part of his job description he was sure of that. "Anything I can do to help? I can get off the bed if you like."

"No!" He protested, wincing at how quick he responded. Damn it he sounded like some needy girl or something. "Just talk to me, about anything. I usually drop off when I have Feli talking in my ear. You're about as inane so it might work."

"Talk to you?" Antonio chuckled and was silent, for a minute Lovino thought he wasn't going to respond. "So what was your nightmare about?"

He flinched at being made to recall the event but now her thought about it, some parts were horribly familiar. He sighed. "I was dreaming about the car crash that killed my parents," he admitted.

Antonio gasped lightly through the darkness. "You were there?"

"Feli and I were both were but I don't think he remembers," He turned a little so that he was on his back and looking up at the ceiling. He wasn't sure why he was telling Antonio this of all people, but it felt right to let him know. "We were on a family trip and the brakes failed. Some people had been close by and saw us crash. They got me and my brother out, went back to get my parents and my other little brother but then the car went up in flames."

"I'm sorry..." Antonio sounded upset that he had asked. Lovino found his throat restricted but the Spaniard quickly picked up the conversation on a lighter note. "You know, this reminds me of laying with my brother back home. We would lay for hours in the hay loft and look out of a crack in the roof tiles at the stars. We'd talk all night and my mother would find us there in the morning, sound asleep. Such a scolding we got." He let out a chuckle at the memory.

"You have a brother?" He would have never guessed. The way Antonio spoke about his past it was if he was an only child, although they had only talked about his previous jobs, never his family.

"Sí, my hermano Thiago." He said. There was a light fondness in his voice as the subject went onto his brother. "He is two years older than me. He stayed on the farm with my parents back in Spain, he was the one set to inherit it so it did not matter as much when I left to get another job."

"Why did you leave?" Lovino could never imagine leaving his family to go and live alone. The freedom would be nice but who would be there for him when he needed them? Feliciano was his little brother and it was his job to protect him, he had to be there to do that. And his Grandpa would miss him too. It seemed pretty selfish of Antonio to leave, but he knew that he was anything but selfish so there must have been a reason behind it all.

The bodyguard shrugged, making the bed shake a little. "Because if I'd have stayed then my brother and I would have killed each other."

"What?"

The Spaniard laughed lightly at the panic in his voice but it lacked his usual enthusiasm. "You see Lovi, Spain was in political turmoil when I left. My brother and I fell on different beliefs and often clashed over them. My father was on my brother's side and told me one day that if I wanted to keep living in his house I would have to believe what they did, so I refused and left. My mother was very upset."

There was a long thoughtful pause. Lovino hardly dared to breathe.

"She is a beautiful woman my mother." He continued fondly, his voice low in the darkness. "My father's income on the farm was not enough to sustain us so she took a job in a local school teaching English. She taught my brother and I when were very young. She was a soft and gentle soul, much too good for my father."

"Do you hate him?" There was another pause as Antonio considered the question

"No, I do not hate him." He sounded shocked by his own response. "He is a man who sticks to his morals and lives a good and honest life. He is a bit brutish but that is the fault of his own father, not him. All things pass onto the sons. I inherited my mother's disposition, my brother my father's. It was natural that we would fight in the end. I do miss them sometimes."

"Do they know where you are?" Lovino was surprised at his own eagerness to hear Antonio's story. It might have had something to do with diverting the attention from his own past. It was almost like opening a book and finding another hidden inside, layer upon layer. He had always assumed that because of Antonio's patient and cheerful disposition that he was an oddball, or had a screw loose somewhere. Now Lovino saw he was wrong. Antonio had just as many troubles he did.

"The last time I sent them a letter was before getting the ship here," he admitted. He sounded guilty at his own negligence. "I had met a man and he had promised me a job, but I turned it down. I wanted to make my own way. I was going to send a letter when I was settled down but then never really got settled down. I suppose I should now."

Lovino imagined if Feliciano went away and did not get in contact for months, the worry and anxiety he would go through thinking about all the bad things that could have happened. He would wait every day for the post and keep an eye on the news just to make sure nothing serious had happened to cause the lack of correspondence. His brother was his life. To think that Antonio could have abused his own brother so badly made him annoyed and he kicked out with his feet, connecting with the bodyguards shoulder.

"What was that for?" He asked shocked. The blanket moved as he rubbed his arm.

"For being a moron." He snapped. "Your family are probably worried sick. Send them a letter tomorrow or I'll make you clean out the toilets."

It was an empty threat and they both knew it. Antonio stifled a chuckle into his hand and once again silence fell between them as they both thought of their families. Lovino felt lucky he was on such good terms with his own, sure he and Feli had argued as children like any normal kids, he was a pretty annoying person but he wouldn't trade him for the world. He loved him enough to keep him from his Grandfather's business. He would even die for him if he had to. No second thoughts or doubts about it.

Eventually Antonio carried on talking, recounting tales of farm life back in Spain. The lively parties, the excitement of the bullrings, the farm life washed out in a colourful stream and Lovino was surrounded by its warmth and friendly air. The presence of the other body in the bed kept the shadows from attacking again. And with that he soon found his head nodding and himself slipping back into a deep sleep.

oOo

Translations:
molto bene: very good
Hermano: brother

Racquel is Monaco.
Alisha is Seychelles (I don't like Michelle as a name for her, sorry for confusion!)
Thiago is Portugal and therefore Spain's brother. he won't appear in the fic but he's officially mentioned and exists in this AU universe.

Rome, looking all dapper in his suit with his women :') I really have too much fun planning his outfits in my head. You have no idea... He wasn't meant to be in this chapter but he kind of 'creeped' in. I am worried for my brain...

I know you've all been craving the spamano, here is your fix :') The party scene will be split over the next two chapters.
My essays really need doing but meh, this was more interesting and fun to do. Might have to do those soon though Q _Q cruel cruel world...

Anyway, reviews are golden :D Thank you~