Okay, sorry, this is my attempt at fluff, I'm just going to have to keep practicing until I can get this 100% right. Thankyou.

"I love you!" Those words had tumbled from between Lovino's lips before he could stop them. What on earth had possessed him to do that? He knew that Femke and Feliciano thought that Antonio loved him too, but was Lovino really stupid enough to say that to the man's face? The answer to that was yes. Lovino was more than stupid enough to say that to Antonio's face, he was stupid enough to reveal it in front of the whole entire crew. There was no response from Antonio, of course there wouldn't be. Who could possibly love Lovino? No one did. Not in that way. He could barely bring himself to look at Antonio's face, that was what had got him into this mess in the first place. He should apologise, he should pretend it was a joke, anything was better than this. When words failed him his legs sure as hell didn't. He was sprinting back to his quarters before Antonio was able to form the no doubt disgusted expression on his face.

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"I love you" It was funny how three little words could make a person's heart leap and knees feel shakey. Antonio had always thought that had been an exaggeration, but no, it was like somebody had kicked the backs of his knees. He'd been planning to say those words himself of course, but Lovino always had been competative, so he supposed that maybe Lovino saying those words before he did was possible. Lovino was so cute, that blush, those eyes, the fact that he looked just as suprised as he did from the words which had just sprang from his mouth. Antonio felt his own face flush as he tried to think of the best way to reply, to make Lovino more red, to make him feel what he was. He'd been looking at his shoes and the few scattered hailstones that had almost sent his Lovi sprawling, trying to think of something, so when he looked back to where Lovino was standing he was shocked to see the Italian missing. He felt something tapping his shoulder and turned to see Francis "He ran towards his quarters, mon ami". Running again? Why did Lovino always have to run? Was he scared? He couldn't possibly think that Antonio would say no. Had Lovino even seen a mirror? The man was adorable! Antonio made the decision that if Lovino was running then that's what he should do too. And with that Antonio sprinted after him.

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Stupid stupid stupid. Why couldn't he keep his damn mouth shut. Months of lieing about his feelings, or ignoring Antonio and for what? For him to fuck up now and just spew it out? Just when he'd resigned himself to a life without ever ever telling Antonio the truth and now he was in this shit storm. Stupid. Maybe he really had slipped on those hailstones? That's right, he must've hit his head and this was all a dream...well...he could live in hope couldn't he?

Lovino slammed the door behind him and stalked into his office before realising that if he wanted to be left all alone to wallow in his feelings then he would have to lock the door, because if Femke caught wind of this then she would be in his quarters like a flash, fussing around him like a mother hen. Snarling all the curse words under the sun, Lovino rushed back to the door and locked it, just in time to hear a loud thud as someone collided with the door.

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Antonio thumped on the door "Lovino, Lovi open the door!" he exclaimed, there was no reply from behind the door. Lovino really needed to stop doing this to him, first the kiss and now this! Hidden behind a door after finally saying the words that Antonio had been waiting for. "Please!" He yelled, he could feel the eyes of the crew on him, could they not just mind their own business? Just this once. The captain would never open the door if he thought he'd be stared started to consider ways that he could get the men to go away and give them a bit of privacy. Obviously some of his thoughts had translated onto his face as most of them scuttled away. He sighed and knocked heavily on the door again. "Lovino Vargas, come out of there right now!" he ordered. He'd convinced himself that somehow his command would bring Lovino out...it didn't. Clearly plan B wasn't working, Plan A being sail off into the sunset with a cute Italian boyfriend to have cuddles and live happily ever after. It appeared that he needed a plan C, but he really just wanted to be in the room with Lovino, so that he could give him an answer, even if it wasn't the one that he wanted...although why you'd tell someone you hated that you loved them was a mystery to Antonio, if he could only get in there and hold him, he felt confident he could achieve anything. He sincerely wished that Lovino hadn't had the door to his quarters fixed earlier in the week, because then he wouldn't have had anything to slam in Antonio's face. Bitterly he contemplated getting Femke to break the door, but she'd already told him that she'd not be helping him anymore.

Perhaps he could break down the door himself? Or maybe that was more trouble than it was worth, it was all well and good breaking down a door to let a man behind it know that he was loved but what was the point if he became too angry to talk to Antonio ever again?. Was there even a way for him to get in without breaking the door. How had he got out of those bonds on the Nordic ship? If he could control that magic shift thing again, then maybe he could get in to see his Lovi. Perhaps it wasn't the intended use of the magic, but what other option did he have.

He sat down with his back to the door "Okay, Lovino. You have a choice, let me in, or I'm coming in anyway!" He reasoned. Silence, and a bit of snuffling. Antonio felt cold, was Lovino crying or just cold? Had he done something wrong? Was this his fault? He needed to get in that room even more desperately now. He couldn't leave Lovino like that. Why was he crying? Why why why why! And suddenly he was facing the wooden door of Lovino's quarters. He hadn't turned around to face it, he was on the other side of the door. SUCCESS!

He stood up and walked along the small corridor which housed Lovino's untidy hammock. This must mean that Lovino was in his office. Antonio poked his head around the door and saw that Lovino was crouched next to his desk with his head resting on his kees and his arms draped around his legs. Antonio walked over to him as quietly as possible and knelt in front of him. "Lovino"

The effect was immediate, Lovino jolted away from Antonio in shock and screeched in a loud and extremely un-manly way. "How did you get in here?" Lovino squeeked.

"The power of true love?" Antonio offered cheerfully. He studied Lovino's face carefully, it didn't look like he'd been crying but judging by how shiny his eyes were, he was pretty close.

"Don't" Lovino scoffed, turning his body away to the side so that Antonio couldn't see his face anymore.

Antonio sighed and plopped down next to Lovino on the side facing away from him. "You have to stop this"

"Stop what?" Lovino sniffed, curling further into himself. "I can't help what I'm feeling, so you can just fuck off to the crows nest" What? Oh, Lovi really did think he was here to refuse him

Antonio groaned and threw a lazy arm around Lovino's shoulders to pull the man closer until he was pinned against Antonio's side. "No, I mean running away when you give me even a little hope" he mumbled as he rested his head on the back of Lovino's, his hair was still a little wet from the rain, but Antonio didn't care.

"I don't!" Lovino protested.

"You do, you kiss me you run, you tell me you love me you run," Antonio mumbled "Can you just stay still with me?"

There was a pause, but then Antonio felt Lovino nod his head slowly. Warmth raced to his heart and he smiled as he tried to pull Lovino even closer, if it was at all possible. He felt Lovino slowly soften and lean into him. He leaned towards Lovino's ear "Can I tell you something?" Antonio whispered conspiratorially

Lovino batted his hand away but nodded.

"I love you too" he grinned, throwing both of his arms around Lovino's shoulders.

He didn't have to see his face to know that Lovino was blushing, Antonio was a bit red as well. It had taken him a long time to get those words out, and now he was going to make sure he said them every single day.

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Lovino couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was Antonio a complete idiot? Did he not know what Lovino was like? He could feel the blood rushing to his face, he couldn't even bring himself to complain about Antonio's weird as fuck magic. He wanted to kiss him, but maybe it was too soon for that. It was too embarassing anyway. What if Antonio laughed at him? Or didn't like the way he kissed. Lovino considered hugging him instead, but that would just be embarassing too, besides, if he sat any closer to Antonio he'd be in his lap, so that wasn't happening. Antonio nuzzled into Lovino's hair. "Lovi?"

"What?" Lovino asked much more sharply than he'd meant to. He'd been startled by the question.

"I love you a lot. A lot a lot. So could you please turn around?"

That caught him off guard. If he were to turn around then he'd see Antonio's face and then it'd all be a bit too real. Not that he objected to seeing him, of course. It'd just mean that if he did, Lovino would have to come to terms with all the mortifying things he'd said. But then again, he would be able to see Antonio's face and that would be quite nice.

He realised that a long period of time had gone past with him saying nothing to the other man. He also noticed that Antonio had been holding his breath. Slowly, Lovino turned around and leaned into Antonio's shoulder. He felt him let out a sigh of relief as he wrapped his arms tightly around Lovino's shoulders and beamed. This was much more comfortable. Lovino might even be able to get used to this.

"Does this mean we're going out?" Antonio asked

Lovino didn't understand what that meant, it was probably more of Antonio's futuristic nonsense. "I don't know what that means" Lovino mumured.

"Going out, like the bit before getting married, before fiances and stuff. Like you're in love with someone and they love you back" Antonio was rambling, but Lovino had already caught the gist of what he was saying.

"Yes" he muttered, making himself more comfortable by leaning heavily on Antonio.

"Good" Antonio whispered happily.