Escape was highly necessary in the dangerous game Romano was forced to play. Escaping Sadiq was the only way to get back to the world Romano once knew: his favorite little Italian Lovino, the snuggly idiot known as Spain, and even the cheerful Spaniard Antonio. Soon, if Toma and Romano's crazed plan worked out as it was supposed to, the four would be reunited again. But they would be together after Toma found a stable home. The feline had not forgotten his promise.
As Romano hadn't noticed, about one and a half seasons, the seasons being winter and part of spring, had passed without his awareness. So whenever Sadiq let his pets outdoors, Romano had to gain back some of his depression due to his love of spring. He had missed part of it; what else had he missed because of his prison? Right about now, he'd think often, Lovino would be harvesting his tomatoes in the backyard. Antonio would be directly across from him, kneeling down and pulling the red fruit from the vine. Hm…Spain would be curled around me like he did every year during harvesting. Tail and tail, fuzzy sides placed perfectly together. Purrs melted together like butter on popcorn. Hm…so warm and pleasant…
"Romano~!" Toma barked, as he jumped playfully on the daydreaming feline.
Romano hissed before regaining his posture. "Toma. Now that we've said each other's names, can you get the heck off of me?"
"Sorry, sorry! Please, can we go over the plan one last time? Please, oh please?" Toma whispered, not wanting anyone else to overhear their conversation.
"Fine! OK, first, Sadiq has to leave the house…."
"Honhonhon, Antonio, what are you so angry about? You never minded my…exploring…before!" Francis, the owner of France the Persian, whimpered.
"That was before I figured out was molesting was. Now leave me alone. Can't you see I'm trying to burn a hole in the ceiling with my eyes?" Antonio grumbled before turning back to the ceiling above.
Francis and Gilbert were standing over their other best friend. They had come over after Antonio had stopped answering his cell phone. Gilbert frowned with concern and Francis pouted while stroking his tiny blonde beard.
"C'mon, at least go to a bar or drink a little wine, buddy! Whenever you're sad Fran and the awesome me usually have to drag your ass out of bed you're so drunk!" Gilbert pointed out, poking Antonio's tanned cheeks.
"I don't want any wine," Antonio muttered, rolling over.
"Antonio doesn't want any…? Dear God, it's the apocalypse!" Gilbert cried before running from the room.
"Dramatic. Antonio, dear, how do you expect to feel any better if you don't fulfill your destiny of marrying your little Lovino?" Francis asked, stroking Antonio's curly brown locks.
"Maybe if Lovino apologized then maybe I'd feel better. But he hasn't so I'm going to feel like crap for the rest of my life. And can I be honest with you, Fran?" Antonio mumbled as his French friend nodded, listening. Then Antonio sighed and turned back into his usual loving self. "I wanted to break down in front of Lovi and beg him to marry me right then and there on that day we had our breakup. But I got so angry, he was being so selfish. But I know he kept the two cats I bought him; I hear America all the time. The Scottish Fold I see outside with Lovi a lot since he just follows him around all of the time. Oh Fran, I really wanted to get married to my Lovi! I needed to take him off the market! (Gilbert: "How in the hell do you hear America? Don't we live in America?" Francis smacked him to be quiet.)
"It's stressful when you have a lover as handsome as my Lovi. Or had, that is. Anyway, girls flirted with him and he forgot about me sometimes when we were on our date! And even boys whistled at him or winked. Then I'd be angry and Lovi doesn't like me when I'm angry. But even when we were angry at each other we always got right back together. My past secretary asked me who the cute boy in the picture on my desk was. When I said 'Oh he's my boyfriend Lovino!' she wondered if we were going to break up anytime soon. I don't care if she meant it to be a joke; I fired her on the spot. My next one knew better than to bother me for anything other than work.
"But then a lot of my co-workers were talking about their new wife or getting engaged to their special someone. I figured Lovi was my special someone so I called you up to help me decide how to ask him. But I never found time to ask him; we were looking for Romano, going on dates, and other stuff. Then I tried to use my cat idea but first I had to make him aware I'd bought the cats. He got so angry," Antonio stopped suddenly, bottom lip quivering. After that, the Spanish man wailed in full force. "I want my Lovi, damn it!"
"Alright, geez, we'll get your Italian, just give us a moment!" Francis soothed, grabbing Gilbert and dragging him next door.
When the doorbell rang in the Vargas household, Lovino was not in the mood for interruptions. He was sitting on the porch swing on his back porch. Iggy was sleeping against his knee with Lovino's hand slowly stroking his back. Lovino happened to be reading his favorite book and was getting to the good part when the freaking doorbell decided to be a jerk and ring! What the flying frick?
"Come on! Five seconds of relaxation is all I ask, dear God!" Lovino muttered before stomping to the wooden gate and swinging it open to the best friends of his ex.
"Ah, Lovino, there you are! Gilbert, grab him!" Francis commanded the German.
Lovino found himself being put over Gilbert's shoulder and being hauled over to Antonio's house next door. No, it never occurred to Francis or Gilbert that they could have just explained the situation and Lovino may have agreed. Maybe he would have understood and…pft. Never mind, I forgot this was Lovino we were talking about. Anyway, Lovino was carried into the Spaniard's house screaming curses in Italian. Antonio, his natural instinct to protect activating, rushed to the front room, where Gilbert was struggling to keep a hold on the now grounded Lovino.
"Will you hold still?" Gilbert yelled as he was elbowed sharply by Lovino.
"What are you idiots doing? I asked to go get him, not forcibly drag him here! My God, are you guys just trying to make my life even worse?" Antonio shouted, silencing everyone.
"…Sorry," Francis and Gilbert said in unison.
"Yeah, you'd better be. Lovi, did they hurt you? Don't worry; I'll kill them later," Antonio asked, suddenly shy around Lovino. "I'm sorry, Lovi. I asked them to go and get you. I should have just talked to you myself…" With that, Antonio looked at the smooth wood covering the floor.
"…Or you could kill them now," Lovino said, cocking his head a little.
Looking up in surprise, Antonio's mouth turned up just a tad. "I'm sure I could, Lovi! Or Lovino…which one am I supposed to call you now? I guess 'Lovi' is reserved for your boyfriend or whatever…"
"Don't have one anymore. It seems like almost every man in this crappy country is an idiot," Lovino commented.
"…Almost? You're one of the very few smart ones, but what other ones?" Antonio asked, stepping closer to Lovino.
Lovino smirked, which was a really rare thing for the Italian. He took a few steps until he was in front of the Spaniard. Then he looked Antonio up and down, his arms crossed. Finally, Lovino spoke:
"You, possibly. And it's Lovi, you idiot."