Author's Note: I'm giving the other nations a break from interrupting their date (but there is a mention of England, Belgium, Austria, Hungary, and Netherlands here, referring to Antonio and Lovino's past). Awkwardness dissolves, memories flood in, and true feelings come out. A pirate's life comes to an end and a lover is born from his legacy. I might have tweaked their past a little (coz this is not exactly how things went) so don't be surprised if something unexpected comes up. XD
This chapter's a little serious but I hope you guys still like it. Enjoy!
PART 7: Love and Lingering Emotions
During the medieval times, Passieg Del Born was Barcelona's main square where thousands of people flocked to enjoy just about anything. From jousting competitions to public burnings, they had it all. Overlooking the main square was the Mercot Del Born, a huge market that not only made the district the social heart of the city, but the center of business as well. All things considered, that was the place to be during those times. Fast forward a few hundred years and you take in a completely different view. Locals no longer lusted for the scent of charred blood at a public burning, the knights have safely tucked away their armor and lances, and market trade has long since stopped. Despite the changes, Born has established itself as the home of some of Barcelona's trendiest bars, shops, and restaurants.
"This place just oozes charisma," Lovino said, brushing a stray lock of hair from his face and beaming a shy smile at the Spaniard. "Kinda like you, Tonio."
"D-Don't flatter me too much, Lovi."
"I wouldn't dream of it, bastard." He wrapped an arm around Antonio's and gently pulled him through the slender lanes. "Come on, don't just stand there like the idiot you are."
I'm on fucking fire! Antonio won't know what hit him. I just need to keep this confidence up and everything should go smoothly.
"Hey, Lovi."
"Hm?"
"Boss is so glad you're enjoying yourself! I almost never get to see you smile like this. Ah yes, a happy Lovi is a cute Lovi," Antonio chuckled, pinching the boy's flustered cheeks.
"S-Shut up and walk, dammit!" He forced a scowl to hide the large grin that was threatening to rip through his flushed face. At the corner of his eye, he could have sworn he saw Antonio blushing as well.
Dammit, you smooth-talking bastard. Don't mess up my momentum with your stupid, sweet comments...
In Born, there was no need to pay an entrance fee to a museum to see some artwork—it was everywhere. Even with one eye closed, there was no way of missing the graffiti etched into the wooden doorways and brick walls of the district's winding alleys. It might be vandalism. It might be art. The judgement ultimately lies in the eyes of the beholder, but the true work of art for Lovino was that very moment. There they were, blending in with the hodgepodge of paintings and the smorgasbord of couples making their way through the busy streets. He smiled at the thought of not standing out, of not being paranoid that people were covertly watching and criticizing them. He could cut loose and enjoy his "date" as much as he wanted. And so he did, shifting closer to the man beside him and instinctively intertwining his fingers with the Spaniard's. Antonio gave him a quick, confused glance but immediately brushed off any intention of making the boy aware of his actions. He did not mind holding hands with him like that. He might have actually liked it. When was the last time the boy had been this honest, this comfortable, with him? If memory served him right, it was the night he returned from England.
"Hey bastard, where do people go when they die?" a timid little Lovino asked, all garbed in his tiny maid outfit.
"When they... die? Why do you want to know that, my little Lovi?" Antonio picked the boy up and set him down on his lap.
"Cause... I wanna know where to look for you when that day comes," he said, his cheeks radiating a faint redness.
The Spaniard felt a flurry of emotions sweep over him. He was touched that his henchman wanted to be with him even beyond death, but felt sad at the same time as he did not want to be thinking of dying. He felt the boy lightly grazing his bandaged arm with his tiny fingers, a look of genuine concern in his innocent eyes. He never intended to cry; he never wanted the boy to see him so weak, but his words stirred up his heart so much that he felt his emotional barrier slowly falling to pieces. Antonio wrapped his arms around him, giving up the struggle and letting the tears run freely down his face. Surprisingly enough, the boy hugged him back.
"Why are you crying?" Lovino asked.
"Boss is... just... Lovino, don't ever leave me, alright? Promise me you'll always stay with Boss. I don't want to lose you like I lost your big Belgian sister and your big brother from Netherlands. And please... take care of Boss."
"Take care of you? I can barely take care of myself and you expect me to..."
"Just be there for me, Lovi. You may not know it, but Boss needs you now more than ever."
There was only silence for a little while. Then the boy took his apron and wiped away the stream of tears flowing from Antonio's eyes. He clasped his tiny hands together, slowly opened them up again, extending his arms as he did, and said:
"Fusosososo~ Fuck this, fusosososo~"
Antonio looked at him wide-eyed, and then his lips curled into a smile as he hugged the boy even tighter.
"Hey, I did that embarrassing charm, bastard, so cheer up already..."
"L-Lovi..." he mumbled, fresh tears forming in the corners of his eyes.
"Why are you crying again? Hey, Tonio... Tonio..."
"Tonio... Hey, Tonio! Bastard, snap out of it!"
Antonio spiralled back to reality and found himself standing in front of a vintage-looking doorway, several people looking their way. Lovino's fingers dug into shoulders, and his eyes had the sullen sheen of concern in them. The Italian's features slowly sunk in, one by one. He was all grown up now—no longer the innocent child from his flashback.
"Antonio... Tell me you're okay, dammit..." he heard him plead, his voice shaky and lined with fear.
"I'm... fine, Lovi. I was just thinking of something," he said, a nervous chuckle following shortly after.
"And just what were you thinking of, hm?"
"I was thinking of... Arthur! That's right, Arthur..."
"W-What?" Lovino's eyes flared up with confusion and he pointed a finger at him in disbelief. "You were thinking about that... pair of eyebrows turned human?"
"I guess so..."
"You guess so? Why, dammit, why? Why in the world would you be thinking about him when you're with..."
"Calm down, Lovi. You're acting like a jealous lover."
"Am not! I don't care about you or that scone-loving freak of nature."
Antonio brushed away the stray strands of the Italian's hair and let his fingers trail down his cheek. "You... don't care about me, Lovi? That kinda... hurts, you know."
Lovino froze, his face relaxing into an expression of guilt. He saw the unusual glint of sadness in the Spaniard's eyes, the unsettling way his lips were formed into a frown. He took it all in for a moment before mustering up the courage to speak.
"I didn't mean that, and both of us know it. What's wrong, Tonio? You're not usually the dramatic type."
"I'm sorry, Lovi. Like I said, I was just thinking of... Arthur."
Lovino had been with Antonio long enough to know that the name Arthur Kirkland was nothing more than a euphemism for his days as a feared pirate. He had been but a mere child when Antonio would often leave the house to go and pillage other nations. His "boss" would return, drenched in the foul scent of blood, and act like nothing happened. He knew what the man had been doing, but he was in no position to object. So he went along with Antonio's ruse, pretending to live out happy days, until one night when he did not return.
"Go to bed, Lovino, and he'll be back when you wake up," Antonio's Belgian lackey had said.
Not wanting to argue with the woman, Lovino did as she told. But Antonio did not return the following morning. He did not return for months. One by one, the servants in Antonio's house started disappearing. Thinking that Antonio had abandoned all of them, he actually considered running away and moving in with his younger brother Feliciano, who was then under the care of Roderich and Elizaveta. But he did not. He was helpless on his own, and leaving the house would only get him in trouble—much like how Sadik had captured him when he foolishly tried to go back to Italy on his own.
"That bastard will return. He promised he'd always take care of me. I don't care how long it takes; I'll wait for him," he told himself.
Somehow, he managed to learn how to cook, do the laundry, clean the house, and a myriad of other chores he previously failed in. The unspoken wish of seeing the Spaniard walk through that door again kept him going. And he did. One day, as he was preparing another lonely breakfast—all the other servants by that time had already left—a bloody and battered Antonio came barging through the door and collapsed shortly after. One could only imagine the muddle of happiness, horror, and sorrow that welled up in the boy's heart. Somehow, he had bandaged his wounds and helped him into a chair. He acted completely out of character when the man woke up. Instead of lashing out at him with expletives and accusations, he had asked a naive question.
"Where do people go when they die?"
And the rest was a blur.
"Lo siento... Boss has gone and wiped that beautiful smile off your face."
"Don't sweat it, bastard. And besides... if it wasn't for that damn Arthur, you wouldn't be the lovable goofball you are now. So I guess I should thank him for beating the crap out of you."
"Lovi, that's so mean..."
"Uh, yeah... That one came out wrong, didn't it? Whatever, you know what I mean."
Antonio answered with a simple nod and a sheepish smile. He had no idea why the past suddenly decided to show itself again, but he figured it probably wanted him to realize something. Something important, no doubt.
Promise me you'll always stay with Boss...
"We've been standing in front of this shop for a while now. Don't you think we should head inside?" the Spaniard suggested.
I don't care how long it takes; I'll wait for him...
"Sure. Let's see if we can find something for Feliciano and that macho potato boyfriend of his."
"How sweet of you, Lovi. Looks like you and Ludwig are finally going to get along."
"Shut the fuck up, idiot! It's the least we can do for them after they agreed to watch over the house while we're gone."
TO BE CONTINUED...
* Lo siento means I'm sorry. And to those who are confused: Spain was once an extremely powerful nation and it colonized several other countries (my own country, the Philippines, was one of them). However, there came a time (during the Elizabethan era, I think) when England and Spain engaged each other in war and Spain's armada ultimately lost. Some fans depict that as Arthur locking Antonio up after his defeat and exposing him to all kinds of torture. I actually forgot why Spain was eventually released, but whatever. XD
