Romano: I fucking hate you, you bastard.

Me: Eh? Why? Coz I keep getting in the way of your romantic moments with Spain by inserting random nations into the plot?

Romano: That's right. Can't you go for a more straightforward approach with this story?

Me: If I did that, you'd die from embarrassment.

Romano: ...

Me: Don't worry your cute little head, Roma. After I'm done with you two, you're gonna be thanking me for this roundabout way of narrating.

Romano: We'll see, bastard.

Me: Indeed. (Turns to readers) This next chapter's gonna be interesting. Lovi actually ends up helping two nations come to terms with their feelings. Enjoy!


Part 6: Love and Legends

"Just a few more stops and I'll have to say it," Lovino murmured to himself. He leaned back against the bench and lazily gazed at the sky, spellbound by the misty cross between cyan and azure. He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. His heart was racing—a tempo that would otherwise be dangerous had he not become accustomed to it a long time ago. Hysteria of the heart, as he was fond of calling it, had become his emotions' theme song. That day, however, would have to be the last time he'd listen to it.

After this day, I hope this stupid organ of mine can finally take it slowly. Just three words... I just need three words to...

His thoughts were interrupted when he felt something climb on top of him. He opened his eyes and was greeted by two topaz orbs staring blankly at him. A slender white body with streaks of orange, a long whip-like tail that playfully fluttered about, tiny paws lightly grazing its head—a cat had jumped onto his lap. Lovino gently picked it up and cradled it in his arms. The feline lovingly nuzzled his head against his chest in return.

"What's a cute little cat like you doing here?" he asked, as if expecting the animal to answer. The cat merely purred in response.

Geez, what's taking Antonio so long? It's been ages since he left for the bathroom.

"Come on, little guy. Let's go look for Tonio. Knowing the idiot, he probably got himself lost."

He cautiously waded through the sea of people, making quick glances here and there in an attempt to find the Spaniard. He was too intent on finding Antonio that he failed to notice the figure coming within proximity. A loud thud could be heard and both men fell on their backs, the cat squirming as Lovino's grip impulsively tightened.

"Ow! That's the second time I ran into someone today. Hey, look..." His eyes suddenly grew wide and he was rendered speechless when a flash of white passed his face. The Italian trembled with fear at the sight of the familiar mask.

"Sorry, kid. You alright?" the masked figure said in a raspy voice, extending his gloved hand as an offer to help the boy to his feet.

"I-It's okay. I... wasn't looking where I was going. S-Sorry..." Lovino hesitantly clasped his hand and tried to get up despite his shaky knees.

The man took off his mask and gave him a confused look. His face was more mellow and indifferent than Lovino had expected it to be. "Why are you so scared, kid? I won't eat you," he teased snidely.

The cat tensed and glared at him, its fur noticeably rising. Lovino desperately tried to calm it down as he nervously chuckled at the man's comment. "It's just that... I wasn't expecting to see you in a place like this."

A small smile played on the man's lips. "I was actually going to meet up with someone, but I can't seem to find him anywhere."

Lovino winced when the cat suddenly scratched his hand and ran off. "Hey, wait! You..." He turned to guy and gave him an apologetic look. "Um, good luck with finding him. I got to go now... M-Mr. Sadik." He didn't even wait for a response and simply scrambled to chase after the animal.

Watching the frightened boy scurry away like that made the tan-skinned Turk laugh out loud. "Lovino Vargas... So you still remember me, eh? Then I guess I can't blame you for being so scared."


He wanted to focus on chasing after the cat but images from the past kept tugging at his thoughts. He could still remember it clearly. He recalled how the Turk had effortlessly captured him and how Antonio was plunged into poverty just so he would be released. That encounter had proven just how dependent he was on the Spaniard. It shattered Lovino's already fragile self-esteem.

Shit! Arthur, Gilbert, Francis, Ludwig, even Ivan or Natalya... I could've run into any of those idiots. But no, I had to run into that scary bastard. Shit!

He let out a piercing cry when he felt two large hands brusquely grabbing his shoulders and pulling him towards a proportionally large torso. The same hands callously spun him around, forcing him to look up and make eye contact with his captor.

"Calm down, kid. I'm not going to hurt you," Sadik reassured him. As proof, he released Lovino and bowed his head in apology. The confused, but still very much terrified, Italian did not know what to make of the gesture. He simply stood there, his fingers digging into the fabric of his pants.

Sensing the boy's anxiety, Sadik loosened up and flashed a smile at him. He placed his hand on the boy's head and lightly dishevelled his hair. The Turk opened his mouth to speak but suddenly froze when his eyes beheld a familiar sight.

"No wonder Eros was so edgy. It would take someone like you to scare my friend that much," a male voice spoke.

Lovino spun on his heels and saw a rather disgruntled Heracles, cradling the same white and orange cat in his arms. His teal shirt and khaki pants hugged the outline of his physique and a brown jacket was draped around his waist. His cavalier boots and steel-accented cap glimmered in the sunlight.

"So you did come after all," Sadik commented.

"It was the only way to get you to stop flooding my phone with messages," the Greek retorted in an uncharacteristically irate tone.

"Come now, don't be so fickle, you brat."

"I'll stop being fickle when you stop being ugly! Do us both a favor and put the mask back on."

"Not before I cut out that rude tongue of yours!"

"I'm sure you didn't get me to come all the way here just so you can start another fight. What do you want?"

The Turk went red in the face and made a futile attempt to hide his embarrassment behind his mask. Giving up on the idea, he hesitantly met Heracles' gaze and cleared his throat. "Well... I just... wanted to see you, brat."

"You... wanted to see me?"

All of a sudden, the sound of Lovino's laughter filled the air. "Oh, come on! That's... the lamest excuse I've ever heard."

Sadik glared daggers at the Italian, but the boy was too busy laughing to even pay attention to him. Heracles' expression changed from annoyed to confused almost instantly.

"To think I was so fucking scared of you," Lovino continued, "but it turns out you're just a lovesick loser like me! Wait, that sounded better in my head..."

"What are you talking about?" Sadik snapped.

"Just come clean, old man. You totally have the hots for this lazy, cat-loving bastard. It's written all over your blushing face!"

"If you know what's good for you, you'll stop talking." The Turk's aura had become noticeably darker.

"What happened to the whole 'I won't hurt you' bit?"

"That was before you started acting like an immature..."

"Actually, the immature ones are you two," Lovino sternly declared. "It's obvious that you're just trying to cover up your feelings with your stupid bickering. Seriously, lovers' quarrels are cute and everything, but don't you think you guys are a little too old for that?"

Heracles snorted and shot a menacing look at Lovi. "Are you implying that I like him?"

"Sure am, Cat Boy. I've been in Europe long enough to know about the two of you. You guys are always arguing, but I think you're just using that as an excuse to spend time with each other."

The Greek was about to deny it when he was cut off by Sadik's hearty chuckle. "Well, isn't this a surprise? You actually saw through that?"

"Anyone with eyes can see through that pathetic display," Lovino sneered.

Heracles fell quiet, refusing to make eye contact with the Turk. The cat, the one he referred to as Eros, wriggled out of his arms and slowly made his way towards Sadik. The older man bent over and affectionately stroked the back of its head, eliciting a deep purr.

"Nice cat you got here," Sadik remarked.

"T-Thanks," Heracles shyly replied.

"I'm going to leave you two alone now. Hey Cat Boy, you might wanna trim your friend's nails. They fucking hurt."

"Eros scratched you?"

"You bet he did. I got the marks to prove them." Lovino held out his hand to show the cat-lover where Eros had lashed him.

"I guess he likes you. You just received the God of Love's blessing, Lovino."


Lovino eventually found Antonio near the entrance, his face clearly marked with worry. Upon seeing the approaching Italian, he quickly went for a tackle and trapped the boy in a tight hug.

"Lovi, where have you been? Boss was worried that you got lost."

"Normally I would say 'Dammit, I should be the one saying that' but I'll let it pass this time. Let's go, Tonio."

Antonio broke the hug and took a few steps back, puzzled by the boy's unusually positive mood. Lovino grabbed his hand and pulled him into a sprint towards the car.

"L-Lovi, slow down! Why are you suddenly so... energetic?"

"Let's just say I've been blessed by the God of Love, bastard."

"Huh?"

"Just hurry up already or I'm going to El Born district without you."

If it's one thing I learned from this visit to Parc Guell, it's that there's no point in hiding. They may treat you like a sissy princess, chase you around with a camera, or annoy the hell out of you with corny insults... but in the end, the person you love is still the person you love. So I won't even waste my time denying or running away anymore. By the end of this day, Antonio will have finally known how I truly feel.

TO BE CONTINUED...


*Eros (or more popularly known by his Roman name Cupid) is the God of Love in Greek Mythology.


Author's Note: Yeah, I just wanted to try a different intro for this chapter. Excuse the randomness. XD

I hope everyone wasn't too OOC in this part. I know Greece is supposed to be more easy-going, and I just know that Turkey's not supposed to act all flustered like that, but their fights tend to show a different side of them (or at least in my head canon they do). I don't really know their characters too much so... Yeah.