Kitty: Riiiight, so I do have reasons to the past WEEK without an update. Many of them are good ones. I don't write on Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset). I was baptized this past Sabbath! And I went to a motorcycle ministry meeting and was officially voted in! XD There was more before that… But mostly, I'll admit it, I've been procrastinating so. Darn. Hard. I have NO IDEA what to do in this chapter. Like, I do… but… *head desk* It fails so hard. Let's see what happens, shall we?
Disclaimer: No owning of the Hetalia. (Now I remember why I stopped doing this. It just hurts more every time… ;3;)
The Greatest Treasure, You Idiot
Chapter Five
Choice
Antonio was conflicted. Again. Ever since the amazing, beautiful, absolutely-mind-blowing tempest that was Lovino had entered his life, he hadn't really stopped being conflicted. The best thing that had ever happened to him, the most incredible gift he had ever received, was the contract with this golden siren whom glared and cursed and whispered Italian to him in the dark, late hours of the night.
The greatest treasure…
What exactly did that mean anyway? Antonio couldn't imagine anything like that. The journey had already been wondrous. Yes, there was that ordeal in Siracusa, but even then Antonio and Lovino had only gotten closer because of it (behind closed doors, of course). There was a hazy image of gold, of sparkling gems, of a ridiculously ornate throne (of all things), but nothing definite.
What could be more precious than what was blossoming between him and Lovi? Mi corazon- it wasn't by chance he used that endearment. And it wasn't one he used often. His heart was lost to Lovino, completely and utterly. Antonio had waited all his life to find this feeling, this love that was so hard to contain, and he regretted nothing.
But he would. He would regret the end of this journey. He would regret not having Lovino with him all his life.
What does one give to a siren though? Lovino was beautiful, a being made of gold and magic, far beyond any mortal ken. Surely Lovino could have whatever mortal he wanted, male or female, more beautiful and more powerful and wealthier than Antonio, the Spanish pirate. More than anything though, why would Lovino want Antonio the mortal at all? Yes, Antonio was a fun lover. He wasn't being immodest when he said he was a damn good one. He was a Spaniard after all. It was in his blood. However, nothing, not the best kisses in the whole world, could change the fact he was a mortal and Lovino was not.
Antonio would grow only older. He would become weaker, lined with wrinkles, grey-haired, and frail. He could lose his sight, his hearing, his dashing good looks, in just a few years- compared to Lovino's unending amount of years, that is. Soon enough, Antonio would have to retire from his life of piracy and he had always planned to buy a little plot of land in Spain, grow tomatoes, have a few cats, have a lot of children. There used to be a pretty Spanish woman with a lovely smile in this distant ideal of his, but now, he couldn't image anyone sharing his life other than Lovino. Beautiful, golden Lovino.
There'll be no other you'll want, no other to satisfy.
And didn't Antonio know it.
Of all the treasure that could ever be thought of, nothing could compare to Lovino. Antonio had already found his greatest treasure. And for the rest of his life, he'd have to live without him. What could he give Lovino to induce him to stay? To love Antonio in return? And did Antonio even want that? Did he want Lovino to see him grow old and decrepit and boring while Lovino remained young and enchanting? The very thought of Lovino's gaze becoming disgusted when he looked at Antonio gave the Spaniard chills. He had nightmares about it once, had awoken in the dim dawn light with Lovino curled against his side as he wheezed and panted and cold sweat dripped down his temples, soaking his hair and pillow. No… anything but that.
Antonio followed Lovino into the dark depths of the cavern, uncaring where they were headed or what they'd have to face, because it just meant he could spend more moments, precious time, drinking in the sight of Lovino. As if he felt Antonio's intense stare, Lovino turned, looking over his shoulder as he walked. Bright eyes glowed in the magic light, widening when their gazes locked. So much unspoken shimmered between them- like the soft shine of magic that throbbed as if it had a pulse. And then the world broke into fragments of colors and everyone gasped aloud.
The group stopped dead, all murmuring and gaping as their heads swivelled around. The passage had opened into a huge cave, the ceiling so high it was impossible to see. Before their feet uneven, slick stairs were carved into the rock leading down into a vast maze of straight and smooth walls that looked as if they were made of mutely glimmering gold. However, the truly stunning part was the cavern itself. Large, flawless gems grew down in points above their heads like stalactites, burst through the rough rock walls like flowers, bulged up from under their feet. Somehow, sunlight had found its way from the surface and shined through the gems overhead so ruby, emerald, sapphire, amethyst, diamond, and many, many more glittered so brightly they almost blinded the small group of men. They blinked rapidly, rainbow-hued spots dancing in their vision as Lovino waited, his foot tapping again. He was looking more and more agitated and the earlier moment of connection he'd shared with Antonio was gone. They all gathered around him, waiting expectantly.
"You must not touch anything! Whatever you see in that maze, whatever you hear, whatever you so much as smell, it is not yours. I will lead you to the heart, but you must trust me, as you promised. The true treasure lies in the heart," Lovino told them sternly.
Antonio's breath caught in his throat at Lovino's choice of words. But Lovino did not turn his way or make any indication that his words were meant for Antonio in some special way.
They made their way down the steps carefully, their smooth soled boots lending them little traction on the damp rock. They entered the maze after a few, dangerously tottering minutes later, their chins to their knees and eyes bugging out from their sockets. The walls, more than a foot thick, were made of solid gold. Their footsteps echoed weirdly, refracting back with a sound as if a thousand more feet were shuffling with them. They gaped as they passed the walls, breath caught in their throats. On the walls around them strange shapes were carved, covered by a sheer, golden lacquer. The shapes twisted and deformed, becoming grotesque and yet mesmerizing. More than one man stopped dead, eyes glued to the cavorting figures with limbs and wings and animal heads all writhing and dancing and reaching out, until another seaman pulled the entranced man away. Lovino moved through the maze without hesitation, merely scowling at the gross engravings. As he turned left, another branching opened to the right and the gentle sound of waves lapping on a shore was brought to their hearing.
"Lovino, come, bring your men over here to play."
"How selfish to keep such handsome men all to yourself."
Silky, seductive voices sang from the open corridor, teasing, mocking, taunting. Antonio glanced towards the voices, startled that others were down here, women by the sound of it, too. Startled, also, by the sound of the sea on a beach. Every footstep halted before Antonio could even process the scene in front of him. A large group of naked, beautiful women, with scales like Lovino's in every gem's shade glittering up and down their bodies lounged on golden couches heaped with satin-wrapped pillows. Long, shining hair slid over lithe, smooth limbs, hiding yet attracting the men's eyes to the secret places of a woman's body. The women sirens smiled at them, bright jewel eyes hot and intense, long lashes fluttering flirtatiously. Fine, white sand was spread out beneath them, ending where crystal blue water foamed just beyond the legs of their couches. The water of the lagoon in which they waited began at the group of seamen's feet, the sandy bottom seen clearly, showing it at barely knee-depth. The siren's giggled and crooned, beckoning with their hands for them to come.
"Come play with us. We're a lot more fun than cranky old Lovino," teased one with black hair that fell like a waterfall of ink over her pale shoulders. Lovino snapped at her in Italian, making them all laugh, their voices like the chiming of bells.
Francis groaned under his breath and Antonio quickly grabbed his shoulder. Gilbert also had to smack a couple of the seamen on the back of the head to bring them out of their stupors.
"Let's go," Antonio murmured to Gilbert. They succeeded in dragging the hypnotized men away with just a little difficulty and a lot of curse words.
Lovino waited for them, scowling. "Keep your eyes on me. You're lucky nothing worse happened, you fucking idiots."
"You'll have to excuse our weaknesses as men, sirène. Unlike some, we had not a steady diet of romance these past months," Francis replied wryly, shaking the wooziness from his brain.
Lovino blushed brightly, then spun on his heel and stormed away. Chuckling, Antonio led his men after him. They left the siren women behind and it became slightly easier going. Glimpses of mouth-watering feasts, wild dances and strains of throbbing music, hallways and rooms filled with treasures flashing temptingly just beyond their peripheral vision; but they did not turn aside. The closest call was the returning of voices what seemed like hours later, though most likely they had only been beneath the surface less than sixty minutes. These voices, though, were very unlike the tantalizing summons of the sirens.
As they crossed an intersection of corridors, light dimmed to a dull, pulsing red. The glimmers from the gem-studded cavern ceiling broke through the gloom occasionally, the dancing lights startling and blinding in their penetrating beauty before whisking away a mere heart beat later. Then, the disturbing sound of distant crying and begging and howls of pain. At first, they were ignored, only goosebumps travelling down each man's spine any indication that they even heard the distressing sounds. Then, Gilbert stopped, his shoulders high and tense. One man, Chale, cried out in surprise and fear and the remaining three men paled considerably. Voices that each man recognized intimately were calling for help.
"Lizzie, Friedrich," Gilbert moaned.
Antonio and Francis glanced at each other in confusion. Neither could pick out a distinct voice like the other men could. Francis, an orphan like Antonio, had no family and no true lover, just many flings. Antonio was standing next to the people he held dearest. Thus, the magic hadn't worked on either of them. Both could only hear, albeit chilling, sounds of unfamiliar voices wailing in terror and pain. Gilbert turned to the pitch black path, sword gleaming red, as if already soaked in blood.
"That's Lizze and Freddy," he exclaimed, eyes wild and pupils dilated with panic and fear-induced rage.
"Gilbert! Chale! All of you- Ay Dios mio, you will hold!" Antonio bellow, pushing past the men to grasp Gilbert's sword arm.
His voice rang clear and resonant against the golden, palpitating walls. The men halted, turning to him with wide, desperate eyes. Gil's mouth was curled into a mutinous snarl.
"I have to go, Tony. Maybe you don't know what it's like to love someone more than you love yourself, but I do. That's my wife and son!"
No one noticed Lovino's sharp wince, but Antonio glared back at Gilbert, his face blanching.
"Gil… why would Isa and Rico be here?" he whispered, shaking Gil's arm and using the names he'd dubbed Gilbert's family with as a joke long ago. "All of you, how could your loved ones be here? It's just a magic trick," a slight, confused hesitation followed his words and Gil's snarl faded. "You swore to trust me," he reminded them with a smile to each man. Slowly, the men relaxed.
Gil shook his head and then chuckled, finally sheathing his weapon. "Magic is a pain in the ass."
Lovino's sharp laughter rang out. It was nothing like the shy chuckle, or the bright, deep laugh Antonio had so seldom coaxed out of him. It cut like knife through the air. "You have no idea." He jerked his head over his shoulder. "Hurry the hell up. We're almost to the heart," he told them.
Once again they trooped after him. Antonio frowned and clutched his shirt over his chest. I don't want this to end.
And suddenly it was like sunshine. Around them was dazzling, yellow light. They stepped out of the maze into a large open area. The maze dissolved as Gilbert stepped out last, vanishing into nothing as if it had never been. A dark, narrow corridor was at Gilbert's back, and the light from the beach outside spilled into the open-roofed cavern. If it could be called a cavern.
Drapes of raw silk hung from silver hooks drilled deep into the rock face. They swayed in a soft breeze and harps and chimes and bells were played softly by the gentle caressing fingers of the sea wind whistling faintly within the cavern. Beautifully woven rugs and tapestries were spread over the rock or hung among the off-white drapes. Beds and couches of fragrant woods and worked metals carved and twisted into ornate designs were spread out over the room. Chests lay open everywhere, so full their contents were spilling out the top- gems as big as a grown man's fist, doubloons of gold and silver, jewelry of particularly fine craftsmanship, craftsmanship that could not have been made by human's hand, scrolls and leather bound books filled with arcane knowledge and maps to worlds previously undiscovered or hidden by time or space, and garments of every rich, brilliantly colored fabric. Piles and heaps of gold bars and coins and figurines of every precious metal, ivory, glossy woods, even cut from flawless, shining gems lay scattered like precious sand, glittering and sparkling wherever they turned their eye. Weapons lay on racks and wooden tables: intricately wrought pistols of wood and brass or silver, pikes and spears, cutlasses and Eastern scimitars, long daggers and boot daggers, halberds and axes, sheathes of finely tooled leather, some encrusted with gems and expensive metals. In the very middle sat a high throne made of cedar wood so polished and oiled that it shone as smooth as silk. The back and seat were fitted with over stuffed cushions of impossibly bright crimson, and Antonio laughed out loud to see it, an odd, grating sound to his laughter.
"Wh-what is all this?" Gilbert gasped.
"This is the treasure?" Natal choked out, unable to believe it.
"Mon Dieu," Francis breathed.
Lovino stepped into the huge room and turned to them. His face was blank, completely unreadable even to Antonio, and he spread his arms out wide.
"Congratulations, men of the Buscador Dorado. You are the first to actually make it to the end of the journey. No one had made it this far. You can take however much you can carry to the ship. When you pass through the passage behind you, you will walk onto the beach. You can only pass through once, but all the men you left behind may come here and take their share as well. Choose your bounty wisely. If you are too greedy, you will sink beneath the cavern floor, buried with your gold and jewels for all eternity."
Each man shuddered at the gruesome punishment, but their anxiety fled almost immediately moments later as they stepped cautiously into the room.
"We will make sure the other men know the rule. Thank you, sirène," Francis said with a low, elaborate bow. Lovino snarled at him and stepped to the side.
"Antonio, there is one more task for you," he said as the other men rushed past into the room. Lovino gazed at Antonio curiously as he spoke, his head tilting to one side. He had expected Antonio to be excited, exuberantly so, but Antonio had not said a word since he entered the cavern and laughed. Instead, he stood there, hands hanging uselessly at his side, as bright green eyes stared at the treasures spread out before him. "Antonio! You fucking bastard, pay attention!" Lovino snapped.
Antonio started, then laughed again, more truly this time. He approached Lovino, and leaned over him, kissing his creased forehead. "Excuse me, Lovi. I was… amazed to speechless." Lovino squinted at him, his frown darkening further.
"Speechlessness."
"How very British of you. You spent too much time with that gringo, mi corazon," Antonio joked. Lovino punched him in the gut, making him gasp.
"I said I had something to say to you, damn it! Shut the hell up!"
"I'm listening! I'm listening, mi corazon," Antonio wheezed both in pain and laughing.
"You have one more task. In all this room there is only one treasure for you. The greatest treasure in the world. A treasure that was worth your journey. You must find it and claim it as yours," Lovino told him, that strange emotion flickering in the bright, golden depths of his eyes.
"And… and if I choose wrong?" Antonio asked, his eyes searching Lovino's, desperately wishing he could know what that emotion was, wishing he could say what he truly wanted.
"You will… you will lose it forever," Lovino muttered, his voice breaking slightly. He stepped back, his eyelids falling to cover his sight. "Choose wisely, Antonio Fernandez Carriedo."
Antonio stared at his downturned face wordlessly. He slowly raising his hand to stroke Lovino's soft, dark brown hair, but he clenched his fingers into a fist before rapidly striding away.
.
It had been hours. Or maybe it had been minutes. Antonio really had no idea. He had gone through every damn piece of treasure in this cavern but none of it was worth more than his time with Lovino. None of it was comparable to the feelings he had been trying to bury deep into his heart, unspoken for the rest of his life. How could anything replace these days? He couldn't pick something! He couldn't end it at last! His heart was already breaking thinking about how soon he would lose his beloved Lovino forever.
He had long since given up and was sitting on a carpet so blue it put the deep sea to shame. He was bent over, his knees drawn around his ears, his fingers tangled into the thick thatch of his hair, twisting tightly. He was probably pulling his hair out by the roots, and it was also probably rather painful, but Antonio didn't even notice. He was staring at the thick wool carpet beneath his boots, too focused on wondering just what he was supposed to do. He needed to find the treasure. He couldn't stay here, indecisive, dragging on the inevitable, while his men, men whom depended on him, waited.
How could he choose one thing which would mean the end of what was most precious to him?
Francis walked up to him and knelt, his hand on Antonio's shoulder. "Antonio, mon ami, I know this is hard for you, but you must choose soon. The last of the men has left, and only you, Gilbert, and myself remain here… with Lovino, of course," Francis looked up to where Lovino sat on the outskirts of the cavern, his back against the rough rock wall, as silk billowed around him.
Antonio's shoulders tensed at Lovino's name, but he didn't look up.
"Ah, mon ami, you must let him go." A soft sound, almost like a pained groan escaped Anotnio before he managed to bite it down. "He is a siren. This was always going to be the end. You cannot have a happy ending with an immortal."
"But what is worth more than…" Antonio broke off, shuddering, before covering his face with his hand. "There's nothing I can choose."
"Hey, Franfran, Tony, we gotta get going!" Gilbert called as he stuffed just one more pretty pistol in his pocket for Lizzie and eyed a miniature ship in a large, clear bottle. He shrugged and shoved it under his arm to take.
"Oui, just one more moment!" Francis called back. He turned back to Antonio and stroked his hair, smiling sadly. "There's not much advice I can give you. I have yet to love someone… not the way Gilbert loves his Lizzie, or the way you love your siren. But, Antonio, stop comparing your feelings to gold and treasures. There isn't anything worth more than those feelings. Maybe you should just realize that memories are important. You will never forget the way you feel, and would you ever want to, as much as it hurts?"
"N-No… I'll never forget…" Antonio muttered, finally raising his head. He smiled at Francis, his eyes shining wetly. "Thanks, Francis."
"Any time, mon ami," Francis replied, kissing his temple gently. "Now, make your decision. Remember, you have at least another three months to make more memories with him." The blond got to his feet and walked away, picking up the silk bag he'd filled with what he wanted- mostly clothes and fabrics. "We'll wait for you by the passageway," he told Antonio with a cheerful wave over his shoulder.
Antonio grinned, waved back, and finally got to his own feet. He patted off his breeches automatically, his eyes searching, and quickly finding, the mostly hidden form of Lovino. The siren had one arm propped up on his knee, the other leg stretched out over the carpet in front of him. His head was tilted back, eyes closed, his slender neck looking so tempting even from this distance. If only Antonio could capture him, capture the memories of them and hold them in place for eternity. But more than that, he wanted that moment, distilled in time, to remain with Lovino throughout his whole existence. He wanted Lovino to remember Antonio, as he was now, even after Antonio was dead and dust. That was truly the greatest treasure, to be remembered by Lovino forever.
Antonio's eyes lit up.
He knew exactly what he would get.
.
Lovino's eyes fluttered open as footsteps raced towards him. Breath catching in his chest, he directed his gaze towards the brightly grinning Spaniard that skidded over woolen and fur carpets to stop in front of him.
"I chose!" Antonio gasped out, bending forward and clasping his knees as he panted. "I found it, the greatest treasure."
Lovino stared at him, eyes wide. As hard as he looked, he did not see any treasure on Antonio, no chest held in his hand, no stupid, silly crown on his head, nothing. He swallowed nervously, his hands damp, as hope burgeoned in his heart.
"What… did you choose, capitano?" Lovino asked, forcing his tone to sound neutral.
"Memories," Antonio said, with a grin. "I don't ever want to forget what happened. No gold or silver could compare to this journey with you. But more than that, I don't want you to forget me. You're immortal, and when you leave me, you'll forget me after a while. And… And I won't be able to remind you. I want you to carry me with you, forever. That's the greatest treasure to me," he said, holding out his hand. On his palm lay a golden chain, a ruby pendant shaped into a heart hanging from it. As he let the chain drop, dangling from his fingers, the ruby heart fell open to reveal it was the facing on a golden locket, the inside lined with black silk.
"Do you think you can fit a portrait of us in here? I'm sure we can find a painter in Siracusa and commission one for you before we return you to your brother!" Antonio told him, grinning.
Lovino stared at the locket, then, slowly, his gaze travelled up to Antonio's face.
"You stupid… you… you stupid bastard!" Lovino snapped. He jumped to his feet, making Antonio fall back.
"Wh-what? What did I-"
"What did you do? What did you do? How about what you didn't fucking do, you idiot! You bastard! You were so damn close!" Lovino screamed as the drapes snapped and flailed around them, the wind suddenly a surging gale. Francis and Gilbert were already running towards them, shouting, but their voices were lost in the wind that pushed and shoved them, slowing them down.
"Lovi, I don't understand," Antonio shouted as he clasped Lovino's shoulder. His eyes widened, moisture pulled from his tear ducts as the wind whipped at his face. Tears, not from the wind, were streaming down Lovino's cheeks as he glared fiercely.
"You fucking coward! You could have chosen… you could have chosen more than memories! You could have had so much fucking more! And now you'll never see me again. Remember our contract, Antonio, because now you are stuck, alone and pathetic for rest of your sorry fucking life, with your precious fucking memories of what you almost had! Damn you, Antonio, damn you! Damn all mortals for not understanding that it's the heart that truly matters, fuck the consequences."
"Wait, Lovino, please, you don- Lovino?" Antonio gasped as the siren's body began to glow.
"I'm leaving, Antonio. You chose wrong, and so your treasure will be lost to you forever," Lovino whispered, shaking under Antonio's hands. "How could you have fucked up? I trusted you, Antonio. I was so sure… I was so sure it would be you."
And he was gone.
Antonio stared at his empty hands as the wind died. Suddenly, the three men were standing in a bare cave, dripping sea water onto their heads. Gilbert and Francis drew up level with Antonio, both wide-eyed and confused.
"What the hell happened?" Gilbert choked out, clutching the ship-filled bottle in his hand. The treasure each men held hadn't disappeared, only that which had been left unclaimed.
From Antonio's hand hung the chain and locket. Useless. Empty of the memories he had chosen and lost.
"L-Lovino… what have I done?" Antonio croaked as he fell to his knees. He clasped his head, fingers digging into his scalp. "How could I know? How could I know he was a choice? What have I done, Lovi?" He pressed his forehead to the stone floor and let his tears fall, his teeth gritted so hard they squeaked, as his shoulders shook.
Gilbert and Francis stood to the side, unspeaking and uncomfortable, letting Antonio sob silently. There was nothing anyone could do now. And the repercussions of Antonio's choice hadn't even yet fully sunk in.
.
Kitty: THIS IS NOT OVER! IT WILL NOT BE COMPLETE UNTIL I CHANGE THE STATUS TO COMPLETE! *goes off to wail and crey* Whyyyy, Antonio, whyyyy?
