Romano was finally, finally home. He was more than overjoyed to lay on the plush cushions of Lovino's couch, chase spring butterflies in the blooming backyard, and, most importantly, stuff his furry cheeks with flavorsome food again. Due to past events, Lovino only let Romano outside if someone was watching him. Besides, Romano had no desire to climb trees or adventure into the sweet smelling carnations Antonio had planted; he only wanted to be around his loved ones while he could. His many injuries had turned into disappearing scars and simple cuts. Though the horrors he'd endured would never quite leave him, Romano could ignore the images of bleeding dogs and laughing Turkish men long enough to enjoy his missed pleasures.
Yet, he felt as if something, or someone, was missing. Every time he pondered about this for even a moment, something took his attention away, such as a new incredibly squeaky toy or the slight 'ping' sound of his filled plate being set on the kitchen floor. But the most common distraction was a fairly pleasure one: Lovino and Antonio. After the recovery of Romano, the couple was even closer. Before all of this drama, Romano would have sliced off Antonio's toes for simply looking at Lovino. But now he was pleased to see Antonio wrap his arms around Lovino's waist when he cooked, Lovino kissing Antonio on the lips when the Spanish man came home from work, and often the two were relaxing on the couch, merely enjoying the sound of the other's breathing. It was the same love of two newlyweds yet this seemed to renew itself every day, getting stronger and more pampered.
Hey, wait! We're missing a cat, aren't we? Last time we left Spain, he was falling off Antonio's roof when no one was home. As we've been taught, cats land on their feet. This is only true for cats who think about saving their own lives rather than taking it. Spain had plummeted into, thankfully, one of the many red carnation bushes surrounding Antonio's house. And there, lost in a mess of leaves and bright fireflies, Spain lay still. Dead was he not but inside his soul and heart had stopped working in the way they previously had. Spain stayed on one side, only his green eyes flickering back and forth between the decision of entering his house or dying underneath this green bush. Antonio passed his body every day when he went to the driveway to drive to work or pick up Lovino for a date. Prussy and France had looked vigorously for him and had mourned directly outside the bush Spain had fallen into. He thought about informing his friends about his loss but instead watching them with cruel eyes. If they truly cared about me then they'd quit crying and keep looking, Spain angrily thought.
He thought the worst of Antonio. Every time the man passed by Spain wondered horrid things about him, from having never loved him to as ridiculous as saying Antonio picked up the wrong kitten at the shelter: he probably meant to grab the fluffy orange female next to Spain but just missed. As the days passed, Spain walked into his house at night, only to procure the food Antonio still sat out. Antonio, in his oblivious gaze, thought Spain was out and about thus he didn't worry about him. Even so he couldn't help but worry: why wasn't Spain following him around the house or 'accidently' eating random beetles from the garden? Though he was greatly concerned about his cat, Antonio was much too busy with his re-kindled romance with Lovino. The topic of marriage would also have to reappear but that could wait. All he wanted was to see his Lovi happy and with cheeks blushing with pink from laughter, love, and care. Speaking of love, it was Antonio and Lovino's anniversary thus Antonio was off in his truck to find the perfect present.
Toma had a plan: to end the life of Romano, just as Balsan's life had swiftly ended. After the death of his older brother, Toma realized he had to get away, but still get revenge on Romano. He longed to see the inside of Romano's severed skull on the reddened pavement or hear the cat scream as an eighteen wheeler crushed his feeble bones like twigs. God, how he wanted to watch everyone suffer: Sadiq, Dadaş, Romano—every single bastard who was foolish enough to mess with his life! The very second Sadiq left that afternoon to bury Balsan's body, Toma tore out of the unlocked back door. Instead of playing with the furry rabbits that scattered a nearby field, Toma ripped the skin off ten babies. When the mother tried to defend her children, she passed on in a streak of red as well. Fury bubbled as Toma made his way towards the main road. Cars sped by, not one paying him a second of pure thought. Jerks, he thought, all of them. One day, Toma would have a car and run over every last one of them. Humans were disgraceful things; always rushing, never stopping to love or cherish. Toma bravely stepped in the street, only to nearly be run over—again—by an unnecessarily large, tomato red truck.
"Hey, a puppy!" a voice soaked in a Spanish accent yelled as the sound of pounding feet came closer to Toma's ears.
Naturally Antonio doesn't even think the dog may have an illness or owner. He simply sees a lone pup on the road and has to take it home, much like when a young child finds any living baby animal, may it be a bumblebee or hawk. Toma was too scared to growl or bark thus Antonio started to pat the dog on the head. Having never truly been loved, Toma was shocked to find that this touch felt rather nice. Another strange thing occurred: his tail began to wag on its own. How weird, this rushing feeling wiping over his body. Yet it felt great; even better as Toma flipped onto his belly to receive even more rubbing.
"Well aren't you a sweetie~? You know, after Lovi and I got married I was looking into getting a dog, but…" Antonio started before forgetting all reasoning. "Ah, hell! You're just too cute~! You must be so lost~! Poor baby…I know! I'll take you home, feed you, and see what Lovi thinks! He doesn't live with me, but we are in the other's house a lot, plus we're going to be living together soon anyways, but I'm sure you'll be fine with me! Come on!"
Toma wondered why the man had stopped but followed him anyway, hoping to procure more tail wag inducing pats. Hopping into the truck's passenger seat, Toma sat down on the soft material. Antonio slammed the door shut and climbed in the truck himself. Driving along, Toma was surprised to find rushing wind quite refreshing. He even hung his pink tongue to taste the sweet air but it went by too fast. Sooner than noticed, the truck had stopped in front of a pale green house with a white gate all around the sides.
"Lovi~! I'm home~! Look what I got!" Antonio cried as he leapt from the unmoving car. "Puppy, you stay here, I'll come get you soon!"
Lovino had been tending to the garden in Antonio's backyard; his own garden was taken care of. Thus, out of goodness of his heart and a bit of begging from Antonio, Lovino decided to help weed, feed, and water Antonio's flourishing tomato plants, apple trees, grape vines that swirled up the house, and other plants. Romano was drifting off into a peaceful cat nap when Antonio came charging into the backyard. The other male threw his arms around Lovino with a big smile on his face, which Lovino returned.
"What are you so happy about? Francis finally agreed not to rape you in your sleep?" Lovino sarcastically asked.
"Nope~! OK, so you know how I've always wanted a dog, right? Well, I found one on the side of a road, all alone and sad. So I picked him up and now he's in my car~!" Antonio proudly exclaimed.
"…So picked up a random dog off the side of the highway?" Lovino questioned, also inquiring about his boyfriend's brain functions.
"Uh…maybe," Antonio laughed, kissing Lovino on the cheek.
While the men talked, Toma had left the car and was wondering who this other man was. Sadiq cursed every man who was with another man soon after his husband broke up with him for a tiny Japanese woman. He yipped, to make himself noticed. The second Lovino saw his pale blue eyes and white blaze, he love him. Toma was immediately drawn in by the amber curl and gentle eyes. No one told him humans could be beautiful….
"Hey, I told you to wait~! Oh well; Lovi, this is my puppy!" Antonio said with a sweep of his hand.
"Ahh~. Maybe he's kind of cute. But only a little," Lovino said, basically agreeing. "Wait, what if he's an ass around cats? Oi, Antonio, will get Romano and see how he acts?"
Wait, Romano lived here?
Yep, that's where he lives, Toma-Roma~! Oh wait...I just noticed how Romano's nickname and Toma's name rhyme. Oh... I did not see that. Eh, whatever. Anyways, sorry this took so long but I've been so sick I've given a new definition to the word. It should be defined "coughy-sneezy-spewy-snottingy-allergy thingy". Yeah, I quite like that. Darn you, springtime! Anyways, next time: Spain and Toma and Roma~! Read and Review, if you may.