"E-e-e poi ho d-d-detto "tesoro, sei anche un-n-na classe di pomodoro. P-p-p-posso assaggiare ? Qua e là ... non mi ricordo, ma è stato bello..." A cough interrupted Lovino's story. His conversation partner didn't bat an eye, placidly waiting for him to continue. But Lovino was done. Thus, there was a long awkward silence between the two individuals.

The young Italian wasn't really sure of how many glasses of wine he drank. Well, glasses of "grape juice" actually, but it didn't matter. It was wine, and very good wine if he could say so. Not the best, but very good. It wasn't his first time secretly drinking wine. And he could hold his drink very well! He was still very coherent right now, wasn't he? And, well, the fact that he could only speak Italian right now, that didn't count, right? He was stuttering a little, but nothing too bad. It was just a little late so he was very tired, that's all. Besides, English was fucking difficult!

He rubbed his eyes and scanned the room. Not too far, right by the buffet, he spotted his brother talking with the potato bastard. He groaned a little to show he wasn't happy but, even though he hated that fucking Aryan, he had to admit it was funny to see him turn bright red when Feliciano came a little too close to him. He turned again to his conversation partner who was still completely impassive. "Questo è il mio fratellino lì. E 'troppo carino, giusto? E 'così gay ... Si sta benissimo con che le patate bastardo mangiatore, previene. Due gay carino. Non dirlo a nessuno ho detto, va bene?"

No answer. Lovino took his neighbor's silence for a yes. He was a nice neighbor. Not very talkative but at least he wasn't pissing him off. Lovino looked again to the spot where his little brother had apparently found a good enough excuse to cling to the blond guy who held him close, red as a tomato. Lovino suddenly wanted to cry. He didn't have anybody who'd be this kind to him! He wanted someone who'd give him hugs sometimes too! Being alone sucked! If only he could find a girl… But almost all of them were already in a relationship, and there weren't many that he liked… A guy would be easier, but he didn't want to be called a faggot. If he couldn't compensate the manliness level for his brother, what would happen to them?

"Aaaah, sono stanco di essere solo!" he whined. "Infine, tu sei tu qui ma non è lo stesso, sai?" His neighbor didn't get offended, still listening calmly. "Beh, io ti amo, ma io voglio che qualcuno bene a darmi un abbraccio..."

He scanned the room again, squinting to see through all the mist. Not so far, he noticed Antonio laughing with his sexy looks. Yeah, the Spaniard was really sexy. And even if he was dumb, he was nice. Dumb, nice and sexy, that was good!

Somewhere behind the mist, he heard someone saying he must be extremely drunk to think that, but he batted the little voice away.

"Antonio, è buono. Pensi che dovrei andare a chiedere a lui? So che ha una fidanzata, ma chi se ne frega, giusto?" Another approving silence. Lovino smiled and jumped on his feet. The ground shook a little and leaned to the right so he caught himself on the bench before falling. He struggled back up and smiled at the person he was talking to. "Non si parla molto, ma io ti amo bene. Arrivederci!"

Then, he turned around and crossed the room to go meet with the sexy Spaniard that was going to give him a hug, struggling to keep his balance in spite of the floor that pitched like a boat

Behind him, the potted plant had just had the most interesting conversation in its entire life.

"Antonio, mi tieni fra le tue braccia, bastardo!"

Antonio turned around when he heard his name, just in time to catch a young Italian falling in his arms. Lovino wrapped his arms around his waist and clung to him like he was about to fall. Ah, that was it actually, he couldn't stand on his legs. "Uh… Lovi? What's going on?"

"Zitto, stronzo. Voglio che tu mi faccia un abbraccio ... E mi baci ... Non c'è nessuno che mai mi ha baciato ... Perché? Non sono da baciare?" And like he wanted to demonstrated what he meant, Lovino burst into tears for no reason, wiping his drenched cheeks with the shirt of a very confused Antonio. He couldn't speak Italian. It sounded a little like Spanish so he could make up a few theories… But even then he wasn't sure his translation was accurate because, even in his wildest dreams, he wouldn't dare imagine Lovino asking for a hug and a kiss. That was surreal.

Antonio took Lovino by the shoulder to try and make him stand straight. Lovino gave him a cloudy gaze. He looked lost, eyes still glistening with tears, lips slightly open, frowning from frustration. He was shaking like he was cold. Seeing him like this, Antonio felt his heart leap in his chest. He already thought Lovino was cute for a boy but now… There was something more that he couldn't quite understand. Even Bella never had that effect on him, even if he could claim loud and clear that his girlfriend was the most beautiful girl he knew.

Slightly panicked, he tried to snap out of it. Lovino wasn't feeling well, now was not the time to compare him with Bella. Slowly as to not surprise him (who knew), the Spaniard bent towards the younger boy who didn't look away, bringing their faces closer together. Lovino violently blushed but Antonio was focused on something else. The Italian kid stank of wine, he had definitely had too much to drink. Antonio thought angrily of Tim who never payed attention to who he gave drinks to or how many times, even when it came to the younger ones. He didn't seem to realize there were still children in the room!

"Baciami," Lovino muttered through the alcoholic haze. "Baciami, per favore, Antonio."

Antonio sighed. Lovino didn't realize what he was saying, he was completely drunk. Better bring him back to his room before one of the teachers noticed the mistake. They ignored the alcohol drinking at parties mostly because the trio was always able to cover the hiccups and trouble. If something happened to Lovino, the headmistresses would most probably take steps. He looked up, searching the dancefloor for his friends to help him. Gilbert was busy with his invisible boyfriend. As for Francis, he couldn't see h…

"Boo!" Antonio jumped as his French friend laughed, having jumped behind him like a ghost. He glared at him but the blond boy didn't mind, more interested instead in the short brunet who still had his arms clinging to Antonio's waist, giving him a lost and enamored gaze. "Well, mon amour de tomate, cheating on Bella, are we?" Francis smiled, ready to burst out laughing.

"Shut up, Francis, we're in deep mierda right now. We have to get him out of here, Lovino's drunk."

Francis bent forward towards the Italian boy who didn't notice him, lost in the contemplation of a button on Antonio's shirt. "Ah, yes, can't argue with that," Francis confirmed. "Can he walk?" he asked, pointing at Lovino's trembling legs.

"He should, with some help."

"It's going to be difficult, Luna's keeping the door. We need to call Gigi."

Without further ado, Francis strode onto the dancefloor, slipping between the dancers without a care in the world, grabbing the albino's shoulder on the way and pulling him to the side. Antonio watched from afar as they briefly snapped at each other, then Gilbert calmed down, sighed and nodded half-heartedly. Well that was done, now they just needed to wait for the signal.

"Antonio. Voglio un abbraccio," Lovino whined as he pressed himself a little closer to the Spaniard. Antonio hesitated a little, not really knowing what to do. Instinctively, he closed his arms around Lovino who almost started to purr. His heart started fluttering again and he had no idea why this was happening. He just held the younger boy close, hoping that he wouldn't grow agitated before they could leave without getting caught…

Mathias had been snickering for five long minutes now. Berwald really wanted to shut him up with a good kick in the ass but he didn't move. He deserved to be made fun of anyway.

Away from there, on the dancefloor, Tino was dancing alone, and obviously enjoying himself. He didn't have any particular style or talent for dancing but his smile was brighter than the spotlights, so bright it seemed to light up the entire room. He cheerfully rocked himself around, teasing Lukas and Emil who were sort of slowly swinging side by side in a corner. "Seriously, dude, you got scared?!"

Berwald clenched his fist as Mathias kept laughing. Did he really have to kick him when he was already down? He had panicked when Tino tried to pull him in the middle of the room for a dance. The reason? He didn't dance. At least, not in front of everyone. It wasn't that he couldn't dance, even he knew that. But when someone looked at him, he would just freeze. So dancing with the one he had recognized as his soulmate… He would have never had the nerve. Tino already didn't seem thrilled when they were together, if he saw him freeze in front of everyone, he would definitely think he was even more ridiculous… "C'n you shut 'p, M'thias?" he groaned, hardly standing his mockery anymore.

"But seriously, Ber'! You're the one who keeps trying to seduce him — emphasis on 'try' because honestly, with you panicking all the time…"

"M'thias…"

"I mean really! You have to tell him you're doing your best but you're just too scared whenever you try to speak!"

Berwald sighed. Why had he ever confessed anything to that idiot, again? "I c'n't…"

"You're so dumb! Tino's terrified too! You are two big dummies who can't admit you like each other! Seriously, if you spoke a little more and acted a little less like a possessive stalker, he'd be a lot happier with you. Are you trying to smother him?"

"Th'nks. B't you should keep your n'se out of m' bus'ness and in your 'wn." He was not about to follow the advice of a guy who couldn't even seduce his own Norwegian. Mathias was a dunce when it came to romance, he was sure of it.

"You're a real ass, Ber'," Mathias pretended to snap. However, he added with a malicious smile: "If I prove to you that I'm not as bad as you when it comes to love, will you tell me if I have my chances with Lukas?"

"Told you. I don't r'veal that, to 'nyone." Mathias regularly harassed him to know if Lukas was his soulmate but Berwald had always refused to tell him. Firstly because it was against his principles to force destiny, secondly because he liked to mess with his oldest friend by letting him doubt. Mathias would know sooner or later anyway, no need to tell him anything.

"Ok." Berwald almost jumped at the short and neutral answer. Had he not seen Mathias's lips move, he would have sworn that the idiot who never leave the last word to anyone wouldn't ever let it go so easily.

After that short answer, Mathias strode away, leaving his friend to his surprise. His malicious smile hadn't left his face. It was time for the King of the Nordics to do his weekly good deed! Plugging his ears with his fingers, he walked up to the DJ to ask Ling something. He agreed. Then he went back to the dancefloor, dancing as he moved, and arrived next to Tino the moment the rhythm was slowing down into a waltz-like slow. Several students left the floor, giving the couples the spotlight.

"Come on, let's dance," he told Tino who blinked at him, surprised. He didn't give him time to answer and pulled him close, spinning him around to the music. Lukas and Emil who had moved to the side when the music changed shared a look. Lukas gave his arm to his brother who shrugged but took it anyway. They walked back onto the floor and started dancing awkwardly, just stepping in synch. Mathias took a look at them and felt his heart swell with joy when he noticed Lukas was glancing his way frequently.

The big fish now.

He looked the other way. From the other side of the room, Berwald was staring at them with a stunned face slowly giving way to anger and jealousy. But it didn't seem to be enough yet. Mathias turned to a silent Tino, imprisoned in the Danish arms. He obviously had no idea what was going on all of a sudden. Good.

Mathias held him tighter, pressing the Finnish boy even closer. He felt him trying to pull away but held on. Another glance informed him that Berwald was fuming now. Good, one more strike would break the camel's back. He leaned slowly towards a very confused Tino and apologized. Tino didn't have the time to ask him what for before he pressed a quick kiss on his lips.

Tino pushed him away more firmly this time. His chestnut eyes were mixed with anger and confusion. Oh, he'd get it, Berwald had just decided to get his ass in motion and was now powerwalking towards them. With a smile, Mathias pushed Tino his way so that, when Tino lost his balance, Berwald was right behind to catch him. In the same motion, Mathias slipped between Lukas and Emil and stole the eldest.

There was a short moment of awkward silence between Berwald and Tino. Neither of them dared to move of talk. After a while, Berwald eventually helped Tino on his feet. They faced each other, looking away. Then Berwald offered his hand to the younger boy. "Wann' d'nce?"

Damn it, why did he always make even less sense when he was nervous? Tino stayed still for a while, like he was weighting the pros and cons. Then he shrugged, smiled and took Berwald's hand. He panicked for a second, not daring to move, even less to dance. Tino noticed and couldn't help but laugh a little. And in the end, he was the one to lead the slow dance.

Berwald had the most neutral expression ever but, internally, he was screaming from joy. He had to admit Mathias was not that bad in the end…

Six feet away, a Danish boy was being strangled by a Norwegian after his little brother had tripped because of a sudden separation.

Okay. He wasn't that bad, except with Lukas.

Tino was gazing at him with his adorable hazel eyes, a smile on his lips, cheeks slightly pink as he guided the dance. Berwald couldn't help but think it was the cutest think in the world. On top of that, his aura of golden yellow mixed with discreet pink around his heart was the brightest in the room. His soul was so beautiful…

Berwald choked back a sigh. If only Tino could see how identical their vibe frequencies were, how their mixed and completed each other as they were so close. If only he knew how much his heart was swollen with sincerity, if he knew how much he already loved him. If only he could tell him, then maybe that spot of fear he could often see would fade away and he'd realize he loved him too. They were soulmates after all.

In the meantime, he didn't know if it was because of the changing mood but the Finnish boy seemed particularly at ease. Maybe… Maybe he'd try telling him? He felt a ball of nerve rise in his throat and forced it back down. Calm down. Start with the important stuff. He shouldn't be afraid. And speak slowly and clearly, to be sure he'll understand. Come on, Ber'! Go!

"Tino…" The blond boy nodded in acknowledgement. Berwald felt his heart do a triple loop for those round, innocent eyes waiting for him to speak. He tried to stay calm and to remember to speak clearly. "I w'nt to tell you I…"

A long shrill startled him. Everyone in the room panicked when they saw, bursting into the room… A white tiger.

Ah, that was just Gilbert and his untasteful jokes. He was probably trying to scare the first years, once more. Luna left her station by the door to run after the tiger who was having a blast growling at impressionable students. Tino was scared at first, but soon understood who the animal was and kept watching the show, laughing to his heart's content. Berwald sighed. He really would never be able to confess…

Luna had just left her station. It was time. Grabbing Lovino's shoulders, Antonio ran outside with the young Italian and slipped into a corner that was unseen from inside the room. Francis joined them after a few moments as everybody calmed down and as the music started again. Gilbert had done his part. Now, all they had to do was bring Lovino back to his room and they could go back to the party.

Antonio stood on Lovino's right, Francis on his left, each grabbed an arm and they left as quickly as possible, almost carrying the boy who went from laughter to tears and back without any obvious logic. When they finally arrived in the student's dorms corridor, Antonio thanked god that Lovino hadn't vomited on the way there.

"What's his room again?" he asked hesitatingly.

Francis shrugged, visibly irritated. Lovino wasn't that light and he didn't like sweating.

"Probably around twenty-something."

"That's going to get us far…"

"Hey! I helped you get him out and carry him so now you better put in a little more effort!"

"Geeze, calm down!"

"I AM calm!"

They looked at each other in the eye for a few seconds. Then they heard a weird noise and looked down. Lovino was blowing bubbles with his mouth. Like a newborn baby. They shared another glance and started giggling nervously.

"Okay, check his pockets for his room's key. He might have it."

Francis nodded and struggled a little to reach the Italian's pocket with his right hand.

"Cici, dude, I said his POCKET! Where are you putting your hand?"

"Oh, come on, he might have hid it in here…"

Antonio glared at him as Francis laughed at his own joke and Lovino looked at his own crotch like he was very seriously wondering what it was exactly.

"Leave it, I'll do it."

Antonio, in turn, managed to free his right hand and sneaked it into one of Lovino's pants pockets. The younger boy jumped and went a deep shape of red, to the point where Antonio actually worried that he couldn't breathe.

"C-c-c-cosa vuoi, bastardo?!"

"Everything is going to be alright, okay Lovi?"

"Eh?"

Antonio let out a tired sigh and quickly searched the pocket, then the other, and had a tiny cry of joy when he found the key adorned with a plastic tag marked 24. The two friends pulled Lovino to the right door and opened, taking in instantly the beautiful mess that was the Italian brothers' room. They carried Lovino to one of the beds and pulled his shoes off before tucking him as well as they could under the sheets. Lovino stay perfectly silent and still during the whole process. But when Antonio pulled away, he thrashed about weakly, making high pitched sad noises and kicking the covers off. Francis winced.

"Make him shut up, Nini. There are still people in their rooms, he's going to alert the entire building!"

"What do you want me to do?!"

"I don't know but hurry! There are some that will definitely not notice anything, but Arthur's room isn't very far and you know he's a real snitch!"

Antonio grumbled and walked back to Lovino's bed. The Italian gave him a pleading look that Antonio, despite the circumstances, couldn't help but find irresistible. He seemed terrified of being alone, which seemed quite strange to the Spaniard. Lovino had never seemed particularly fearful, as opposed to his brother who would constantly seek protection from others. That one was aggressive, rude and seemed to really hate physical contact, so why would alcohol turn him into a scared child? He kneeled next to him and could make out some Italian words he didn't understand. Lovino's hand reached out and grabbed his sleeve, shaking. Antonio's heart started thrumming a little louder.

"Do you want me to stay?"

Lovino stared at him for a few moments before nodding frenetically. Antonio sighed and turned to Francis who was watching them with an unfathomable expression.

"Tell Bella I'll be late. I'm going to stay with him until he falls asleep, and then I'll come back. Don't wait for me for the finale, okay?"

"Got it, Nini. Don't do anything you might regret," Francis added with a little smile Antonio couldn't decipher.

The French boy closed the door and the room was drowned in darkness. Lovino started shaking and held Antonio's sleeve tighter. Antonio smiled at him in the dark and ran a soothing hand though his hair. Lovino started pulling on the Spaniard's sleeve and Antonio got the message easily. He took his shoes and jacket off and slipped beneath the covers next to Lovino who snuggled up to him.

Antonio felt slightly embarrassed at first, but eventually passed his arms around Lovino's waist, and the younger boy moaned contently. He had a little smile. Antonio liked to make people feel better, even if he went around playing pranks with his two best friends. Lovino seemed so afraid earlier, he would have never been able to just leave him. He was still shaking in his arms, his face buried in his shirt, whispering words that were too low and fast for him to understand. Antonio wrinkled his nose at the smell of wine and made a mental note that he should go yell at Tim as soon as he could. What if he had given some to Peter or Lily?!

Lovino wasn't calming down and Antonio started to wonder if he was simply scared of the dark. He closed his eyes briefly and summoned his second power, the one he had only found out about recently. Slowly, the darkness of the room faded to a soft and comforting dimness. It was a difficult exercise because it had him make light out of nothing, contrary to what he usually did. When he helped Luna scaring kids with his light tricks, all he had to do was block or filter the light coming from the windows, not a big deal for someone able to create force fields. Making sure his light was stable, he opened his eyes again. Lovino was looking around with an adorably surprised expression. He had stopped trembling and Antonio patted himself on the back for his deed.

"You better not throw up on me," he joked in a whisper.

Lovino chuckled and Antonio raised an eyebrow, less surprised by the fact that he could still understand English than by him thinking his joke was funny. The younger boy looked up and stared at him, the remains of his smile dying on his lips. Antonio stared as well, still holding the light. He examined his skin, cheeks, nose, brow, the curve of his jaw, the shape of his round, slightly opened lips… From so up close, he could only admit Lovino was a very pretty boy. He had already noticed before but right now, he could admire to his heart's content this beauty so typically Italian it seemed to have jumped out of a renaissance painting. The light started to fluctuate and he tried his best to stabilize it again. Antonio felt his heart beat a lot louder than usual. His head was spinning and he was way too conscious of the body he was wrapped around.

Lovino suddenly looked away shyly and wiggled a little. Antonio opened his mouth to ask what was wrong but the younger boy was faster. Softly, he wiggled his way up to his face and touched the Spaniard's lips with his own, tasting like alcohol and grape. The light went out abruptly. Antonio was too surprised to react or focus on anything. He just squinted at the Italian who seemed to enjoy the experience. There was nothing sensual, nothing erotic, they just stayed like that, lips touching, feeling the other's breath on their face. And yet it was strangely soft and sweet, like laced with tenderness.

Lovino broke the kiss and, like he had been waiting for nothing else, closed his eyes and fell asleep in the Spaniard's arms. Antonio didn't move, his eyes round with surprise, blinking like an owl in headlights.

Lovino had kissed him. Ok, fine, he could understand that. He was so drunk he probably had no idea of what was going on and who he was. But there was one detail. A tiny and very annoying detail.

He had liked it.

Not even just a little. He had felt the same thing he felt when Bella kissed him. To the power three. At least. And it had only been a tiny peck on the lips. He wouldn't dare imagine what he would have felt if the Italian had added tongue, had snuggled closer, had wrapped his arms around his neck, whining as he would have kissed him back with his Spanish expertise… Wait, what was he thinking right now? What was wrong with him? He was with Bella, damn it! And he had never really felt anything for men! Why was he reacting this way to Lovino? Okay, the Italian boy was handsome, that was undeniable, anyone could say the same. And yes, he thought his brooding personality was absolutely adorable, but who didn't like shyness? And okay, he would think about him a lot, but that was only because he was moving, not having any friends, and Antonio wanted to comfort him and hug him and… Ok, he wasn't even believable anymore.

He shook his head. No, no, no, no, there had to be an explanation. He was in love with Bella, his Bella! He only wanted to be friends with Lovino, nothing more. It wasn't a crime to think a friend is cute, right? If he had enjoyed that kiss so much it was because… He was tired! Yes, that was it! He was overworking these days, that was a given, and it was late. His body just confused Lovino and Bella. There. That was it. Nothing more.

Nothing. More.

Lovino moved in his arms into a more comfortable position. Antonio looked down at him in the dark. Then he let out another sigh, smiled a little and relaxed. There was no need for such worries. All he had to do was get some rest and he would see things more clearly. He found a more comfortable position as well and closed his eyes. He was going to sleep for a few minutes. Just a few minutes. Then he would go back to the party and dance with Bella and forget anything happened.

"Sorry, Bella," he whispered right before dozing off.

He wasn't sure himself of why he was apologizing.