Fools Like Us
28- I'd Pick the Fool Any Day
"So..." Gilbert began suddenly, barely moving from where he was stretched across Antonio's couch, "We're done, huh?"
Only silence greeted his words for a moment, but then Francis nodded slowly. "Oui, we are," he agreed, "It's been an interesting year though, hasn't it?"
The albino grinned at that, turning his head a little so he could see his blond friend, and let out a laugh that might have made more than a few people uncomfortable. Francis and Antonio were used to it though, of course. "Yeah, you can say that again."
"Did Roderich have something else going on tonight?" Antonio asked innocently, peering curiously up at Gilbert. The German snorted indignantly and shook his head.
"What, I can't hang out with my friends without being questioned? Geez, you guys suck."
The other two laughed, and Francis shook his head slightly. "You know what he meant, mon cher," the blond admonished, "But really, I wouldn't have thought the two of you would want to plan your futures together or something."
Gilbert's cheeks went pink at that, and he huffed and looked away. For a moment, insecurity flickered across his expression.
"What's to decide?" he asked stubbornly, "Roddy's got a full ride to Julliard, and I...I dunno, maybe I'll go to community college or something..."
Francis gave him a pitying look, reaching over to pat his hand lightly. Gilbert wanted to scoff at the sympathy, but really, it wasn't unwelcome. He flopped back on the couch, biting back a sigh.
"Yeah, but there's no way he'd forget you, right"?" Antonio asked, oblivious as usual, ""Maybe you could go to a community college in new York or something. I mean, if he's got a full ride he won't have to worry about tuition, and you guys can get a place together or something."
Gilbert groaned, nudging Antonio's heard with the toe of his socked foot. "You live in some kind of dream world, you know that, right?" he asked, pretending to scowl, "I couldn't make Roddy pay for me, anyway. There's no way I could ever pay him back, and there's no way in hell I'm living in debt to my boyfriend forever."
Antonio laughed and ran a hand through his hair, shrugging. "It was just a thought."
"What about you?" Francis asked suddenly, turning the attention to the Spaniard instead, "What are you and Lovino going to do."
Antonio hummed and smiled, appearing perfectly content with whatever solution he and his Italian boyfriend had come up with. Or at least, whatever he'd come up with-Antonio was too easily contented, and Francis couldn't help but think that Lovino might have to give him a push to have any kind of ambition when it came to further education.
"I thought maybe I'd just work full time and stick around here, at least until Lovi graduates," he replied, confirming Francis' suspicions, "Soon enough, maybe I can get a place of my own, and then I'll ask Lovi to move in with me."
"Hey, did you guys ever end up doing the do?" Gilbert broke in suddenly, as if that topic was much more interesting than whatever his friend's future might hold.
Even Antonio went red at that, the color clashing awkwardly with his tanned cheeks. Gil!" he whined, pouting, "Don't ask about that! You should be more concerned with your own boyfriend!"
Despite his protests, the little grin that spread over his face told the others the answer, and Francis chuckled knowingly while Gilbert smirked triumphantly. "Elizaveta so owes me twenty bucks," he crowed, "She thought you guys would at least wait until graduation."
While Antonio sputtered, Francis ignored them and reached for his cell phone. "Lovino's working tonight, non?" he asked, already halfway through dialing the number of the pizza parlor where the younger Italian worked, "Let's order something-We need to eat, and what kind of friends would we be if we didn't give you an excuse to see your cute little beau?"
Antonio seemed excited by the prospect and nodded, sitting up straight. He didn't need to tell Francis what he wanted; they ordered the same thing every time. Instead, he checked his own phone, wondering if Lovino had gotten a chance to text him while he was working. Sure enough, there was a message scolding him to make sure he ate with his friends instead of getting caught up in video games or something.
"Aw, how sweet," Gilbert teased, reading the message over his shoulder. Antonio just laughed and pushed him away, replying with a promise that they would be getting phone food soon and that he would see him soon.
Francis had finished his call before Lovino texted back. Antonio couldn't help but laugh at the message, grinning as he showed it to the others.
[TEXT] You asshole
"I think he caught on to us," the Spaniard laughed, pulling the phone back to himself to text back a sappy reply.
It didn't take long for Lovino to reach them. Personally, Antonio suspected he had bumped their order to the top of his list, though he knew Lovino would deny it if asked.
"Hey," the Spaniard greeted cheerfully, taking the box from his boyfriend's hands and slipping an arm around him instead. Lovino protested weakly, something about how his boss would yell at him if he took too long and let the other pizza's get cold, but it didn't take much for him to be convinced to lean comfortably into Antonio's embrace. Gilbert slipped past them to see that Elizaveta and Roderich were already out on their porch, but Lovino and Antonio barely took note of him except to shift slightly out of his way and Francis', since the Frenchman was close on his heels.
"Have you been busy tonight?" Antonio asked after a moment, gently tilting Lovino's face up toward him and admiring the way the mixture of moonlight and light from the streetlights lit up the different planes of his aristocratic face.
"It's the first weeks after graduation, what do you think?" Lovino snorted in reply, though he sounded less fiery than when Antonio had first taken notice of him. He smiled at the thought, his grip tightening slightly as he realized-not for the first time-how happy he was to be able to hold Lovino in his arms now.
The Italian noticed that chance and let out an embarrassed noise that Antonio wanted to squeak over for a moment. He resisted the urge, of course; that would only make Lovino leave sooner.
"What's up with you?" Lovino asked, his voice barely more than a mumble. Without looking, Antonio could tell the younger brunette was blushing.
"Just thinking," Antonio replied vaguely, accompanying the words with a nonchalant hum.
"That's always dangerous," Lovino snorted, but he didn't push the matter. After a moment, he reluctantly pulled back, glancing around for any excuse to stay a bit longer.
"Anyway, "I should probably get going...You still need to pay me though..."
Antonio laughed and nodded, disappearing into the house, w. While he was gone, Lovino glanced around, taking in the group his sort of felt like a part of now.
Gilbert and Roderich had met between the two houses, and the brunet was obviously trying to give his lover an earful. Gilbert, on the other hand, didn't seem to be listening, more concerned with trying to distract Roderich from his tirade by planting little kisses across Roderich's face and neck. "Lovino had to admit, the guy was persistent. Both were, really, because Roderich was still ranting every moment his lips weren't claimed by Gilbert's.
His eyes caught Francis', which glowed knowingly in the dark, and for a moment he let himself share in a moment of amused acknowledgement with his cousin. When Antonio returned, the connection broke, and Francis turned away with a small chuckle.
All Francis had ever really wanted in his life was love. He'd had a taste of it, or something like it, but now that it was gone, he didn't feel as deprived as he had expected himself to feel. Still a little numb, maybe, but that was as bad as it got. He liked seeing his friends in love though.
Gilbert and Roderich were likely to have a messy relationship, but if they were both committed to it, he was sure they could make things work. Gilbert seemed like a scatterbrained idiot sometimes, but he was clean and usually knew what he was doing. From Elizaveta, Francis had learned that Roderich tended to be quick to tire and borderline lazy. Francis suspected that Gilbert would end up cleaning up after Roderich while the Austrian focused on his music.
Despite Lovino's difficult personality, Francis thought they might have an easier time of things. Lovino was hard on himself, but with Antonio's support, he would be able to do anything he set his mind to. Antonio would probably stick to something simple, but even if neither of them were particularly ambitious, they would have a good life.
Francis leaned back against the railing, letting his eyes wander up to the sky. The stars sparkled against the velvety black backdrop, looking a little closer than they did at the apartment Francis' family lived in. He let out a pleased sigh, an unfamiliar sense of relaxation spreading through him.
"I'll be alright," he promised, his voice so soft that no one would be able to hear him. He expected Jeanne would be about to hear him. He felt better saying it, like it would be truer. Slowly, a smile spread over his lips.
Finally Lovino left, and Roderich went back inside with Elizaveta. Francis and Gilbert followed Antonio back into his house, the albino and brunet arguing about what game they should play already.
A/N: This isn't edited/revised nearly as much as I would like, but I figured I should get it out since I've been working on the next fic already anyway. If anyone wants to beta a smutty historical Turkmano fic, I'll love you forever!
Thanks for sticking with me~
~Saya
