Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia or Killing Stalking, just the story.

"'Come to the bar with us!' He said. 'You won't regret it!' He said. 'Promise!'" Romano grumbles as he stands outside a bar with flashing neon signs in the windows. It's a grill place, a sports bar perfect for the idiot who asked to hangout this night. Glancing at his phone for the time, Romano sighs. "Stupid Alfred. This better be worth it."

When entering the establishment, Romano steps aside from the door and scans the inside for two possibly three familiar faces. He spots them easily after hearing a loud cheering laugh. Without needing to be near them, a headache starts to form. He secretly wishes that Arthur would be here for his own sake, but on second thought, the Brit would probably decline. The natural ashen-blond likes to go drinking but not in groups.

The instinct to flee and text Alfred an apology comes over him but he's too slow in acting upon it. "Oi, Lovino!" Gilbert is the first to see him since he got up for a refill of beer. The platinum blond grins at the Italian. "Didn't think you'd actually come. Damn. I owe Alfred a beer."

"Of course you ass-holes bet on me." Romano shakes his head. "I'm not here to get piss drunk with you idiots."

"Then why are you here?" The German nods thanks to the barista that gives him three full pints of beer. "That's the reason Alfred wanted you to come. Says you're too uptight like his cousin and need to loosen up some. I'm in agreement."

"Bastards. All of you."

"Lighten up, Lovi. Come on. Join us for at least one round."

He doesn't want to but relents. "I'll be there in a sec." He goes to the bar, ignoring the wide grin on Gilbert's face. "Hey bella, could I get a negroni? Stirred, not shaken, and on the rocks." He flashes her a grin that she easily overlooks. She prepares his drink expertly and in no time he has it in his hand. "Grazie." He nods, frowning as he walks over to the table with the three annoyances.

"Glad you could make it, Lovino." Alfred smiles at him.

"Yeah, yeah." Romano takes the free seat next to Matthias. "Why did you want me here?" He sips his beverage.

"Can't friends just wanna hangout with friends?" The American's smile turns sheepish. "If you really didn't want to come, you wouldn't be here."

He can't deny that but he'll still complain. "Whatever. Like I care."

"Don't let him be like that, Al." Gilbert nudges the golden-blond next to him. "We wanted to hangout, yes, but we also wanted to celebrate passing the semester. Just three more to go and I'm free!"

"Lucky," Mat laughs, "I still have five to go."

"Same here," Al agrees.

"That's because you losers can't get ahead like me," Gil boasts as he chugs his beer down.

"You mean that you're older which means you're further along in your time being here than we are." Romano grins as the German chokes on his drink. "It's not like you're that smart."

"I am too smart!" He glares as the other two laugh. "I really am! You guys just don't know it!"

The Italian snorts. "People who boast and brag tend to compensate for something."

"Damn, Lovino," Alfred snickers. "You're full of burns tonight."

"Ah, Lukas would like you a lot."

"I have enough friends as it is that I can tolerate. I don't need more."

"Mat's right, though. He's quiet and tends to crack a smile when people get roasted. He doesn't show much emotion unless Mat gets him riled up," Alfred states.

"Yeah, it's fun messing with him." The Dane grins as he sips his beer. "Even when he tries choking me with a ribbon."

Romano takes that in as he stares wide eyed at Matthias. "Okay, maybe I do want to meet him."

"Sure, all the violent guys want to be friends," Gilbert mumbles.

"Arthur isn't that violent. If anything, he can verbally hurt people easily."

The three start bickering about their friends who tend to violently react one way or another. Romano grins, silently sipping his drink as he listens. He won't admit it but he's enjoying this moment. Stupid talk about stupid shit. Guys hanging out just because they want to even if nothing is really planned. Maybe Alfred really is on to something with this. He won't make promises but once in a while he won't mind just being around people like this.

"We should play a drinking game!" Alfred suddenly suggests. "With shots. What kind of shots should we have?"

"Definitely tequila for me," Romano says, not intending to join.

"I'm sticking with my beer. You guys can do shots." Gilbert shurgs.

"What, too chicken to join us?" The Italian pokes at the other. "Or you afraid what kind of game we'll do with our shots?"

Gilbert glares at the challenge. "Fine. Tequila for me, too."

"Tequila all around then," Matthias confirms. He raises his hand to get a waiter's attention and orders quickly. "So, what should we drink to?"

"We should do 'Never have I ever'," Alfred suggests.

"I'm down."

"Such a stupid game."

"Now who's the chicken?" Gilbert goads with a grin.

"I didn't say I'm not playing." Now he's got to play. "Who's going first?"

"Since you asked, why don't you go?"

Gilbert has it out for him now. They wait for their drinks, receiving at least five shots of tequila each. They'll resort to their main drinks after these five are gone. Romano takes one shot glass in his hand, spinning it around as he thinks of something he has never done before but the others have. When everyone stares at him, he nods.

"Never have I ever failed a class."

It was the first one to come to mind. Matthias is quick to take a shot, chuckling with a shake of his head. Gilbert scowls, also taking a shot. Alfred doesn't and neither does Romano.

"Bull-shit, Al."

"I don't like showing off my smarts." He shrugs. "Okay, my turn." He stares into his drink, humming. "Never have I ever kissed the same sex."

The other three drink and Gilbert gives the American a look. "Really? I would think you have."

"Hey, I may be bi but I've never dated a guy before. It's always been women."

"Whatever. Geez, you guys are no fun in this." The German shakes his head. "Never have I ever gone skinny dipping." He grins as Mat and Al begrudgingly take a shot. "That was a fun night."

"For you, maybe. We almost got hypothermia because of that incident," Matthias shakes his head.

"I do not want to know," Romano mumbles. When he sees Gilbert open his mouth to enlighten him with details, he glares. "No. Keep that mouth shut."

He pouts but shrugs. "Okay, Mat. Give us what you don't got."

"Never have I ever broken into a store."

Al and Gil both take a shot and Romano balks at them. "I hope Arthur doesn't know about that."

"Trust me, he doesn't." Alfred laughs meekly.

The Italian shakes his head. Back to Romano again, he keeps it safe. "Never have I ever cheated on a test."

As the other three take a shot, more comments fly between them. The game goes on for several more rounds and Romano is so far the winner. He still has one shot left before needing to switch to his drink. They comment about him having a sheltered life and not being any fun. He merely rolls his eyes, not caring what they think. Some of the rounds are vile but not horrible. At least they keep away from more sexual stuff. It's more stupid stunts that the three has done and want to out. This is a good game for reminiscing.

After the alcohol starts affecting them all, the rounds steer toward the area Romano would prefer not to participate in. Not every suggestion makes him drink, but of course Alfred has to go and say something he can't really lie about.

"Never have I eveeeerrrr….lost my virginity." He hiccups with a giggle.

"Lairrrrr!" Gilbert shouts. "There's no way you haven't slept with someone."

"It's true though!"

"Yeah, right."

Romano stares at his drink, mind in a haze but not too far gone. He knows Matthias has taken a drink already. Gilbert is too busy arguing with Alfred to take his own, if he really has been laid before. He doesn't need to take a drink. They don't need to know. Yet he doesn't want to be called a cheater at a stupid game. While the others are distracted, he takes a swig of his negroni. Of course, when he wants to go unnoticed, he doesn't.

"Whoa, waaait… You've b'n fucked before, Lovi?"

"No way! Who's the l'cky guy? Was it Tonio?" Gil smirks. "You guys sure m've fast."

"It wasn't that bastard," he spits out. His eyes stay glued to his drink, ignoring the other reason why his cheeks are warm. "I'm done with this game." He chugs the little left in his glass and stands. "I hope you bastards get hit hard with hangovers in the morning."

"Come on, Lovi, we just wanna know more about you." Gilbert grabs for Romano's wrist as he lays down some bills. "We don't know a lot about you."

"And it's going to stay that way." He wrenches his hand free. "Fuck off."

"Lovino, we'll drop it if it's uncomfortable to talk about," Alfred offers, wanting him to stay a little longer. "Not everyone's experiences are the best."

"Like you would know, virgin." He glares at the American who shrinks away. "None of you know the shit I went through in my life and you're never going to know." Before he can regret slipping up and spouting nonsense, he heads for the door.

As he's about to leave, a hand grabs his wrist again while an arm wraps around him to the front. He tenses, instinctively pushing himself away and punching the person behind him. Gilbert steps backward and falls to the ground, holding his nose as it bleeds. Alfred goes to his side and Matthias stands at the bar to make sure no one calls the police. They're leaving anyway but Romano doesn't care about that.

Sobered up a little, the German glares. "The fuck, Lovino?"

He stares, realizing what he's done. Of course he'd be the one to ruin the fun. He shouldn't have come here. Romano backs away, scowling back. "Don't touch me," he mutters. "Don't ever grab me like that. You understand?" He doesn't wait for a reply as he turns and exits the bar.

Stuffing his hands in his coat, he hunches over for warmth as the nights are now colder. He doesn't pay attention to the noise behind him but he can imagine the three leaving the bar. They stare at his back, Gilbert mad as hell, Alfred confused, and Matthias calling whoever to help them get home since they're piss drunk. Romano shakes his head, fighting the stinging sensation behind his eyes. He was having a good time until that game started. They probably won't want to be around him anymore. Good riddance, he thinks, but he knows that's not how he truly feels.

"Fuck," he whispers, sniffing. "Good job, Lovino. What a good fucking job you did."

So he walks home, deciding to spend the rest of the weekend alone. Unless Feliciano wants to spend time with him, he's not welcoming anyone else in his home.

The day before Christmas Eve Romano gets a phone call. He's still in bed, sulking about his stupid actions at the bar still. When the phone keeps buzzing next to him, he groans. It stops and he's thankful, but then it vibrates again and he moans. He blindly reaches for it, missing several times before finally grabbing it. Turning over, he checks the name, frowning.

Before it could go to voicemail again, he picks up. "What do you want?"

"Well, good morning to you to, Romano."

"Don't, Arthur. I'm having a bad weekend and I can't with that name right now." He sighs, lying on his side and closing his eyes. "What is it?"

He hears his friend breathing but no reply comes. Opening his eyes, he thinks how Arthur doesn't deserve this treatment. He's about to apologize but the Brit finally speaks. "Alfred told me what happened a few nights ago."

Romano expels a long sigh. "I'm sure he did."

"He's been sulking at my apartment since I picked his arse up from the curb. Do you know how horrible a sob he is when drunk?"

A small smile itches on his face. "I can imagine."

"I've got a recording if you don't believe me."

"No you don't."

"From a past experience of when he went through a bad break-up. Yes, I do. He's ridiculous." Romano doesn't need to see Arthur to know he's rolling his eyes. "Anyway, he's been complaining about ruining your friendship with him because of what happened."

"It's not his fault. He may have suggested the game and it was his round when shit hit the fan…" he trails off. "Okay, yeah, he's partially at fault, but I'm the one who's suffering from a bruised hand."

Arthur chuckles. "Gilbert's still pissed about that. Why do you hate him so much?"

"I don't hate him, he's just annoying. Like majority of everyone else." He turns on his back again, staring at the ceiling. "Did he tell you which round I flipped out on?"

"Yes, he did." A sigh comes from the other end of the receiver. "I immediately understood why you went bonkers when he told me, but I didn't tell him anything."

"Good. It's not your place to share, anyway."

"Got that right."

"I'm not telling him. I'm not telling anyone else about it. It's enough that three of you know the truth." Romano sits up in his bed. "Are all three of them at your place?"

"No, just Alfred. Ludwig picked Gilbert up last night. Lukas also came for Matthias. I think you would've enjoyed seeing how he scolded the Dane."

Romano chuckles as he gets up. "Shame I missed it." Humming, he pulls out some clean clothes to change into after showering. "Can you tell Alfred I'm not mad at him? He's an idiot but we're still friends. He just needs to be careful and considerate about others."

"You should tell him that yourself. You've got his number, right?"

"Yeah. Hold on." He pulls his phone away from his ear, keeping the call on while going to his text messaging app. He finds Alfred near the top and opens up his thread. After sending a small message, he puts the phone back to his ear. "Tell me his reaction."

"Pardon?" Arthur's confusion is obvious until he gets distracted. Romano can hear Alfred clamber into whatever room Arthur's in and hurriedly speak to him. "Wait, wait, wait, slow down, Alfred. Now repeat yourself." A grin slowly inches on Romano's face as he heads to the bathroom. Arthur snorts with a laugh. "I can't believe you sent him that, Lovino."

"Well, now he knows we're okay."

"Does he ever." Arthur chuckles, humming in thought. "Say, remember our plans for clubbing?"

"I'm not up for it tonight."

"No, no. I was going to ask about tomorrow night."

"Christmas Eve, huh?" Romano starts the water as he presses the phone between his ear and shoulder. "You do realize how busy it'll be, right?"

"Yeah, but you won't need to focus on strangers. It's just for fun. Drinking and dancing."

"As long as we don't play that stupid game, I guess I can go." He grins, feeling the water to make sure it's warm enough for him.

Arthur snorts. "I'll text you the address. If Feliciano wants to come, he can."

"Sure, sure. I'll ask."

"See you tomorrow, twat."

"Whatever you say, bastard."

They hang up and Romano sets his phone down. After he strips down, he hops into the shower and washes away the past few days of grime. When he's done, he comes out fresher than he was before and heads downstairs. He joins his family for lunch to their glee. He speaks to Feli about his plans with Arthur and it's no surprise when his brother says he'll go too. He immediately texts Ludwig to invite him and Gilbert and Romano cringes. He'll have to apologize to Gilbert if he comes. That'll be an interesting scene. Sighing, he gives up on changing any plans and figures he'll just deal with what comes. 'Cause no one ever knows what kind of shit will go down at any location.

Note: Don't ask what Romano sent to Alfred. Just let that be an imaginative thing for the reader to decide. BDc

This is not beta-ed so there might be mistakes.

Ciao: I hope you enjoyed the update, dearies! Thanks for reading! R&R.