Hello there! I have only four more days until I return to school :'( One moment of silence for all the poor souls that are already in school or are going to return soon.

In this chapter I concentrated more in the relationship between Lovino and Antonio, so please bear with me for a little bit until I write the next part :D I hope that everyone had had enjoyed their vacations (no matter how long they were)!

Danise Nowak

Ch. 21 Recovery

I was currently being hugged by a crazy Spaniard.

Seconds after I finished with my history he threw himself to me and I was trapped between his arms. I could not escape. I tried to silence that little part of my brain that told me this was not bad, but my body betrayed my intentions and didn't move against the Spaniard's affection.

I sighed defeated and closed my eyes. It was incredible how Antonio's heat could warm me up in seconds. I blushed immediately after thinking that and moved to try to push Antonio away, but I failed. Antonio's grip became tighter and I was left with no option but lean into his hug.

I took a deep breath and then my thinking process stopped. Antonio's scent flooded my nose and I could only let a stupid smile curve my lips. I knew it was creepy but Antonio's scent calmed my heart. It was one of the few things that I didn't mind of him, when he was hugging me of course. It was my guilty pleasure.

I felt how Antonio loosened his arms and separated our bodies just a little bit. Now he was only centimeters apart from my face, with his arms still around my waist, and with deep emerald eyes observing me.

There were few things that could make me more nervous than when someone stayed watching my face. It made me wonder what they were seeing. It made me feel self-conscious. I didn't like the sensation so I averted my eyes and frowned.

"What are you watching bastard?"

He just laughed.

"Are you mockin…?"

I didn't finish my sentence because his lips didn't allow me. My eyes widened for a moment, but then I leaned into the kiss and closed them. I felt his hands going up until they were in my hair. As we moved our lips, he explored every single corner of my face. His warm fingers roamed through my cheekbones, then to my eyebrows, and finally caressing softly my cheeks. He bit my lip softly to distract me from his hands and licked it. I opened my mouth letting his tongue pass through. I felt how he smiled and a warm feeling started to form in my chest. The feeling of his tongue touching my teeth and then inciting my own to move was still strange but completely amazing at the same time. I raised my hands slowly until I touched his cheeks. I had never touched his face, so why not take this chance when he couldn't see my embarrassed face? My fingers started to trace a path through his face with painful slowness, but I could feel that I was going to do a mess if hurried them. His skin was soft and warm under my touch. My fingers traveled to his nose and I felt timidly the straight bone and then I continued with his hair. Silky brown curls were entangled between my fingers as I pressed Antonio's head to deepen the kiss.

And then, in a little pause we made to breathe, I saw something moving outside of the blurry white door. Antonio followed my gaze with confused eyes. There was only one person capable of spying.

"Feliciano stop hiding and get the fuck inside." I growled.

I waited in complete silence with Antonio's eyes fixed in me. He wanted to continue what I had interrupted but I could not do that knowing there was someone watching. After some seconds, where the frown that had appeared in my forehead deepened, the knob of the door moved. Feliciano entered the room with his a red face and closed the door behind him.

At least he had the decency of looking ashamed.

"Spying is not good Feli." Antonio said with a smile. He took my hand and squeezed it to catch my attention. The look he sent me told me we were not over with the previous action.

"I am so sorry!" Feliciano said immediately, but when he looked at me, a knowing smile appeared in his lips. That fucking….! He had planned it! "I just wanted to make sure everything was okay, because I heard screams and then…." His smile fell.

It hit me then that he had listened to everything I had told.

"How much did you listen?" I asked.

He looked at me with sad eyes. Light brown eyes that shinned with unshed tears. He threw his arms around my neck and I felt him shaking.

"I am sorry." He murmured in my ear. I could feel he was not just apologizing for spying. "I was so blind. I didn't see how my own brother was suffering."

I covered his mouth with my hand because I knew he was not going to stop talking if I didn't stop him. I didn't want to hear words that expressed thoughts I already knew. He was my brother. I knew how he thought.

"You were little Feli. There was nothing you could do."

"That's not true" He said with a sad smile. "Being little is not an excuse because you also were young fratello. Ignorance is not an excuse, only a sin. I didn't saw what was happening because I was comfortable with my life as it was. I was just being selfish."

I opened my mouth to protest. Why was he thinking that? The only reason why he couldn't see what was happening was because I maintained everything in the darkness; far, far away from him. Just as I had done with him, he covered my mouth with his hand. From the corner of my eye I could see a little smile in Antonio's lips when Feliciano did that.

"Stop it fratello. Stop carrying all over your shoulders. Everyone played a part, not only you. I will not accept any allegation to this. You understand what I am saying?"

His eyes looked at me expectantly. There was no doubt in those eyes. There was no space for my stupid excuses because I knew he was right, but I didn't want to accept it. I couldn't just do the opposite thing I had always done. But his eyes were staring at me with so much force as if he could see my doubts that I gave up. In the moment that I thought that, I felt how a heavy weight was pulled off me.

"Yes"

My words were barely audible, but he smiled when he heard them. The next thing he did shocked me completely. Feliciano took my hand with one hand and then Antonio's hand with the other and proceeded to join them. Antonio's fingers immediately curled around mine. Feliciano held our hands with a little smile in his lips and then he spoke.

"I was blind Lovino and couldn't help you. I am glad that you found someone that saw what was tormenting you and didn't run away. Take care of him fratello, because there are few like him."

After that he released our hands and walked to the door with multiple little jumps. Before going out he turned to me and flashed me a smile.

"Get better soon fratello."

The door closed with a soft click leaving a shocked me inside. I felt how Antonio's arms surrounded my waist. He didn't say a word and I appreciated it. I raised my hand and placed it on his cheek. His green emerald eyes focused on my face at my gesture.

"He was not disgusted." I murmured. "He actually gave us his approval. He…."

"Of course he was not disgusted Lovi. Es tu hermano. He loves you." Antonio interrupted me.

"I thought he…" I squeezed his hand when words failed me.

"I haven't met someone that loves his brother as much as Feliciano." He said placing a kiss on my cheek.

I let a sigh pass through my lips and leaned to his touch.

"I'm so glad I met you Antonio" I muttered. "I'm so fucking glad."

I fell asleep after some minutes, but before Antonio made me promise that I was going to cooperate with the doctor. The last thing I saw were his eyes looking at me with tenderness. When I saw nothing but the darkness that always awaited me behind my closed eyelids, I prayed to whatever God that wanted to hear me to make real all that happened. I knew I wouldn't resist if I woke up and everything turned to be something my mind had made up.

It took all my courage to open my eyes when I woke up. I had been lying in the bed for like ten minutes with my eyes closed hoping to hear that deep voice that always made my heart beat faster, but I didn't. The first thing I saw-and shoot me because I couldn't believe I had expected otherwise-was the whiteness of the ceiling. I chuckled bitterly at my stupidity and sat on the bed. I looked around and saw no one. My heart fell and I shook my head slowly. I stopped when I noticed the small red cup that was on the white, seriously why the obsession with the colour, stand beside the bed. The dark brown liquid that was inside sent a shiver through my back.

I reached for the cup with trembling hands and took a little sip of the content. The sweet taste of chocolate flooded my mouth. Hot chocolate. Only one person had given me hot chocolate. The door opened and the stupid, because he was not there when I woke up, Antonio came in with a brown bag in his hand.

"I brought churros!" He exclaimed in the happiest tone I have ever listened. "You do remember them, verdad?" He asked when he saw my blank expression. I nodded and a big smile appeared in his lips.

He practically jumped to my bed and sat in front of me making me bend my legs to make him some space. He opened the bag and offered me one of the delicious-I was not going to deny it- churros. I took it immediately and bit it delighted to have that soft dough in my mouth one more time. He chuckled and I kicked him.

"Ah vamos Lovi." He said between chuckles. "You must admit you love them."

"When did I say I didn´t?" I muttered. "I was just annoyed by your stupid smile."

"Lies! You love my smile."

"I don't!"

"Then you love my lips!"

"I d…."

His lips crushed softly with mine to silence me. He licked the reminders of sugar I had in them and chuckled. My face was completely red, of that I was sure.

"If you hate them, why don't you push me away when I kiss you?"

"Y….you….bastard!"

"I see you are in high spirits today Lovino" said a new voice.

Oh great, now the stupid Dr. Moser was there to bother me again. I cursed under my breath. Antonio squeezed my hand to remind me of the promise I had made with him. I looked at him for a little bit frowning but then I nodded knowing I was defeated.

"Moser" I said as a greeting. The doctor, already used to my attitude, only sighed.

"I talked too soon, didn't I?"

I smirked gaining a pinch in the arm from Antonio as a scold.

"Now, we must check your status." Dr. Moser said walking to a little machine that was on one side of the bed. "The serum must be replaced." He wrote something in the paper he had on the little tablet he always carried and then turned to me. "The latest results from your blood analysis are ready." He suddenly stopped finally realizing that Antonio was still there. "I think visit hours are not until 10."

"Who cares" I muttered tightening my hand around Antonio's.

The doctor's eyes traveled from my red face to our hands and finally to the Spaniard that had a goofy smile in his face. Something seemed to make click in his mind because he suddenly opened his mouth to form a perfect "O" with his lips.

"I see." He said with a knowing smile. I had to contain myself from hitting his stupid face to erase that expression. "Well then, I will continue. I know this is old info but you are lacking of several nutriments and that caused you a little case of anemia. I highly suggest you mister…" He said looking to Antonio. "To insist your friend to eat. He is such a rebellious patient, but I am sure you can handle him, right?"

I am sure I saw two red horns in his head. He was such a sly doctor! How unprofessional. How could he involve someone that is not even related to me? How dare he to use Antonio as my fucking babysitter? But of course, the dumb Spaniard only laughed and assured the doctor he would do it. From that on, I remained in complete silence whilst the doctor told Antonio all the little mishaps I had caused. The idiot only laughed sending me occasionally an amused look.

"Enough already!" I exclaimed when the doctor arrived to the incident with the needle.

"I am finished then" Dr. Moser said, the smile never leaving his lips and that pissed me off. "I'll return later."

The door closed and it didn't take Antonio two seconds to start laughing hysterically.

"I can't believe you did all that."

"Shut up!"

The door opened again and I looked annoyed at the person that was standing at the door. Couldn't the visits end? Too many persons had entered my room today. The old man ignored me to my annoyance and entered.

"I hope you are feeling better Lovino."

"Yes" I said.

I had still not forgotten the little break down he had in front of me and I was afraid. I was so fucking afraid of what he would think of my relationship with Antonio. It was sad to admit, but I didn't know him enough to have the slightest idea of how he could react. I was stepping in unknown land. Antonio seemed to think the same because he let go of my hand and separated a little bit his body from mine.

The old man's eyes traveled to Antonio scrutinizing him for a while before returning to my face. I couldn't read in his face what he was thinking after observing Antonio and that made me feel nervous.

"Feliciano told me you are not going to obstruct anymore Dr. Moser's work. I am glad." He turned to Antonio and raised an eyebrow. "Who are you young man? I am afraid no one has presented us."

"He is Antonio, a friend of mine." I said quickly. "He is also in the FC Royal team."

"Another football player?" He said raising an eyebrow.

"Yes sir." Antonio said with a smile. In these kinds of moments I really admire Antonio's capacity to produce smiles. "It's an honor to meet you."

"He is a good kid Lovino, and polite." The old man said with a laugh. "Maybe you could teach Lovino to let go all those sailor words that leave his mouth."

"I am afraid that is a little bit impossible. Lovino is really stubborn."

"Indeed." The old man nodded with an approving expression in his face. "Lovino, I am going with Feliciano to the house for a moment. Anything you would like me to bring?"

"No"

"Fine, then we will return in a few hours."

I released a low growl full of frustration when the door closed and I let my body fall back. I put my hands over my eyes and took a deep breath.

"Your grandfather is a nice man."

"Sure."

"Es en serio Lovi. He cares about you."

"He really shows it." I said with sarcasm.

"Give him some credit. After all it seems that the difficulty of expressing feelings is in the family"

"You…." I started but then I thought in his words. "…are so damn right. Who could have thought that you were smart?"

"Hey!" Antonio said faking being insulted. "But now that I think about it-and yes Lovi, I do think-how did you finish with your grandfather?"

"That's a really curious history." I murmured. "How did I indeed?"

Translations

Spanish

Es tu hermano He is your brother.

verdad? Right?

Ah vamos Lovi Come on Lovi

Es en serio Lovi. I am serious Lovi

I think I don't have to put again churros right? :)