"a half moon", also known as the "portvene coffeeshop au" on AO3.

Disclaimer: Hetalia Axis Powers and all its iterations don't belong to me and I make no money off of this work. Thank god, because I would hate getting the crazy fangirls and backlash because of his erm, loose depictions of national stereotypes that Himaruya gets.

Summary: It was so easy to smile in the company of the Italian man. And Afonso was about to offer him free pastries too, so he knew something wasn't adding up.

Notes: so I just got back into hetalia after 8 years (!) and after perusing portugal's tag on tumblr I came across PortVene. i'd never thought of this pairing before, but since i've written for engport and spaport already I wanted to try something new.
coffee shop AU with everything it deserves, plus cute Iberian bros because why not. set in portugal, in case you're wondering about certain specific passages. Written for PortVene week 2021, day 4: AU / free day.

.chapter I.


"Would you mind helping out a little bit?", Afonso sighs from behind the counter. His brother is lazing off, as usual.

These days Antonio entertains himself with a guitar he found in an antique fair; it's a good one, Afonso noticed when he first brought it home. The wood is solid and the craftsmanship is quality, just like they're used to.

They both love music and have a soft spot for guitars in particular (acoustic, not electric , thank you). But everything has its time and place, and while he is more than happy to practice during his breaks and days off, Antonio is so in love with his new toy that he can't be away from it for more than ten minutes at a time. Afonso loves his playing, obviously, since he is wicked talented, but seriously, it's a Friday afternoon and the cafe is brimming with clients; Antonio ought to maybe think of all the hard work his brother has to take on because of him.

"Did you hear that? Listen, listen" Antonio says with a smile, fingers in position. The soft impeccable strumming fills the kitchen for the up-tenth time that day. Afonso rolls his eyes, but can't avoid the smile forming in his lips.

"I did, brother. But seriously, I could use some help. It's too busy today", he sighs. "I'll give you a day off tomorrow if you work hard now."

"You would do that?"

"Well, you've had more days off than it's probably legal at this point…" he scratches his forehead. "But it's a promise."

"Alright!" Antonio chirps, leaving the kitchen to put down the guitar. It's too precious, it can't just stand there being poisoned by the strong kitchen fumes and the smell of oil and fried pastries.

The chime from the door echoes above the roaring conversation in the cafe. "Ah, just great" , Afonso sighs as he watches another group of tourists entering the already packed room. He makes his way to them and puts on his best five-star-customer-service face.

As he takes the orders from the nordic tourists (they're all blonde and blue eyed and incredibly tall, so he filled that blank in his head), he quickly scans the cafe for any customer that still hasn't placed an order. His eyes fall on a hunched man sitting by the window with his back to the room. There's nothing on his table except for a pencil case and what seems to be a palette of solid watercolours. He must be drawing something.

Afonso writes down the orders and excuses himself with a smile, going behind the counter to pour the tourists five beers.

"Antonio, the blondes over there ordered a tabla of tapas. Here are the beers they ordered, you can take them."

"Thank goodness, that's something I can do!" Antonio isn't too good with pouring beer and brewing coffee, but he's happy to help in whatever way he can (but he's still wistfully thinking of the guitar sitting sadly in the upstairs room waiting for him). "Leave it to me."

Now that he's freed of his duties, he can finally ask the man sitting by the window what he'd like to order.

He approaches him from behind, knowing that with all the noise in the cafe he won't hear him. The man is hunched over what seems to be a sketchbook, his artistic supplies scattered all over the tabletop. Afonso wants to get closer to see what he's drawing. The man's brown hair, glowing red in the sunlight, is like a thick curtain, hiding what he's doing. Afonso quickly looks over his shoulder to see if anyone needs the waiter, but thankfully everyone is too engrossed in conversation and appreciating their drinks to bother him.

He inches a little closer, thankful that sun is coming from the window so his shadow isn't cast over the customer, denouncing his presence, and tries to peer over the man's shoulder.

What he sees paralyzes him, and his eyes fling open like they'd been lit on fire: it's a complete sketch of the cafe, doodled in very hurried but expressive brown lines, with some parts coloured here and there. He's immediately enamoured by the sight; in all the years he's had the cafe, he'd never seen anyone choose to draw it, except for the architecture students who apparently had heard from a professor about the beautiful 1950's modernist architecture. Afonso has watched them draw on occasion, but they're more concerned with proportions and perspective than with transmitting emotion. Which is what the man is doing here.

It's breathtaking.

The man is going for the yellow in the palette now, wetting his brush in a small cup of coffee that he'd replaced with water. So he had already ordered…

But he still wants to congratulate the stranger for the delightful work he's producing. They might just gain a loyal customer (and perhaps a painting to hang on the wall amidst the old photographs).

"That's beautiful, what you're doing there." He smiles. The man is startled and looks up at him with big amber eyes. Afonso is taken aback by the rays of sunlight that illuminate his iris, bestowing his eyes with an unnatural glow.

"I hadn't noticed anyone there!" Afonso furrows his brow as something that sounds like a shriek exits the man's lips. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm just…"

"It's alright", Afonso's smile widens. He wants to put a hand on his shoulder to tell him that he's not on the defensive, but refrains, it would be inappropriate after all. "I love it, it's wonderful. You're very talented."

"T-thank you…"

"Are you an art student?" he asks, curiosity getting the best of him.

"No, no, nothing like that. I just like to doodle in my free time! I'm not very good, but I have fun!", the man smiles but he sounds apologetic; too apologetic for Afonso's taste. He likes to think he knows talent when he sees it.

"None of that not very good shit", Afonso says. "You're amazing. Give yourself credit." His smile softens.

The man nods, looking like he's furrowing deeper into his shoulders. He looks a little embarrassed. Afonso stands there looking at him; his amber eyes that look up at the Portuguese seem as breathtaking as his artwork. The man gives a small smile in response, they both don't know what to say.

He clears his throat. "Would you like to order something?"

The man seems intimidated; Afonso thinks it's best to correct himself, so he doesn't come off as one of those grumpy cafe owners that will practically bully their non-paying customers.

"Oh it's fine if you don't, don't worry. You can stay as long as you want."

The man's smile widens and he nods his head. "I… I would like an espresso and... one of those things that look like fried half-moons."

Afonso laughs. "You mean the rissoles?"

"Maybe?" The man gives a yellow smile. Afonso raises his eyebrow: could the man be a foreigner? The cafe is a popular hotspot for tourists, after all. And it would explain why he'd never seen him there before.

"You're not from around here, are you?" Afonso chuckles. The man's face is tinted a soft shade of red.

"Sorry, no" he blinks. "I'm Italian."

"Welcome to Portugal, ah…"

"Feliciano!" he chirps.

"...Feliciano. We're happy to have you. I hope you like it." Afonso can't help but smile again at the man's naïve personality. It fills his heart with warmth. (That, and he's got a beautiful musical voice. He thinks Antonio would like him.)

"Oh yes, it's a very beautiful country! I've just come to Lisbon with my brother because we need to sign some papers for Nonno's business. Some of our suppliers are Portuguese and they requested a meeting. But we're also having a little holiday, since the beaches here are so nice."

Afonso wonders why the man is so eager to engage in conversation. Why he volunteers more information than would be necessary. It's interesting to him because he's so different. Well, he supposes it makes some sense. A tourist is always happy to indulge, and Afonso really is too closed-off. At least that's what Antonio usually tells him.

"Well, Feliciano, I'll leave you to your muses." He excuses himself with a small pat on Feliciano's shoulders, who really didn't seem to mind it after all. "Be right back."

Afonso smiles all the way to the counter, his mouth stretching in a way he's not used to lately. The blood rushes to his head as he makes the espresso and he fumbles a bit with the coffee machine.

"Damn it", he curses. He had been too flustered to keep his mind on making the perfect espresso which he prides himself of. He tosses out the coffee and makes another; thankfully this one is better.

"There you go", he sets the cup and plate with the "fried half moon" down on the table (remembering the peculiar wording makes him smile a little bit).

"Thank you, thank you. What is this, by the way?" Feliciano asks pointing at the the rissole.

"Well, it's very basic. It's just a flour paste that you roll over, flatten and fill with meat or shrimp. Vegetables too, but that's more recent. Then you add some breadcrumbs and fry it. Pretty easy, you can do it at home no problem. This one is meat since it's usually what we have on demand… Crap, you're not vegetarian, are you?"

"Oh no, it's fine! Let's try it." Feliciano says with a bright smile. Afonso watches expectantly as he takes a bite. "Vee, it's so good! Wow!"

Afonso scratches his head, a little flustered, closing his eyes. "Ah, I'm happy you like it", he smiles again. "You can take some if you want."

It was so easy to smile in the company of the Italian man.

And he was about to offer him free pastries too, so he knew something wasn't adding up. Could it be…?

Afonso shakes his head to brush off the daydream. He looks around at the cafe, noticing that two other tables are waiting for someone to come take their order. He frowns as he scans the room and doesn't find Antonio anywhere in sight.

"That little shit", he utters. "Enjoy your snack, Feliciano. I have more customers and my brother decided to sneak out again just in time for happy hour."

Feliciano nods happily and thanks him for the service. Afonso wonders if he'll still be there when he's done with the customers. Work always comes first. At least it has to, for someone .

"Antonio!" he calls, flunging the doors open. "Where did you go? It's happy hour, you good-for-nothing lazy shit!"

"He's in the bathroom, Afonso" one of the kitchen staff replies, hoping his boss isn't too mad.

"Oh", Afonso did not expect that. His raised hands fall to the sides of his body as he hears the sound of the toilet flushing. Antonio comes out of the door with his sleeves rolled back, patting his wet hands on his trousers.

"Were you looking for me?" Antonio grins. "I'm not giving up the chance of a day off today! I'll toil like I've never toiled before! You'll bear witness to the most hard-working day in the history of Antonio Carriedo! "

"Then explain why there are two tables waiting for service, idiot." Afonso glares at him. Antonio puts his hands up.

"Oh I saw you there, so I thought you'd take care of them" he explains. His brother is acting a bit aloof today, Antonio notices. "But worry not, my brother, I'll get them!"

"No, it's fine. I was distracted" Afonso sighs. "You take one and I'll take the other."

"You, distracted? Did I hear that right?" Antonio gives him a suspicious once-over, a daring smile in his lips.

"Get to work."


heyyy reader, don't leave just yet! would you be so kind to leave me a comment? i know times are tough, but it's little things like your comments that keep me going. thanks for taking the time to read. 💖 also, what do you think of this pairing? they seem cute but elusive to me, still trying to understand them... would love to hear your feedback! xoxo