One month.
That was exactly how long they had been together. One whole month.
And not once did it even feel any different than before that month.
Romano still called him stupid, and Antonio still just smiled, because he knew Romano didn't mean it. The Spaniard had practically begged to live with the grouchy Italian. He gave in eventually, but it was one hell of a ride to get to that point.
And sometimes, Antonio forgot just how mean Romano could be.
Mornings for them were always the same. Romano got up early, and Antonio would eventually be woken up with a pillow to the face. Everything had been normal that day. Nothing new or out of place. Romano still made a breakfast that somehow included Tomatoes. But somewhere along the way Antonio tipped the scales a bit too much. It could've been when he wrapped his arms around Romano's waist while he cooked, or when he kissed the others' neck affectionately. In all honesty Antonio was just being himself. There was no ulterior motive to what he was doing. It wasn't even sexual. But somehow he ended up on the floor. Now fully awake, he looked up at an infuriated Romano.
"What was that?" He asked confusedly.
""What was that?" What the fuck was that? What makes you think you can just feel me up like that whenever you want?" The smaller demanded.
Antonio was at a loss for an explanation. "I...I was just trying to-"
"I don't care! Don't try anything!" Romano ground out then turned around to resume cooking.
Antonio would be lying if he said he didn't have a temper. Yes, he could put up with quite a lot. But eventually everyone reaches their limit. And unfortunately, it was a side of him he knew he never wanted Romano to see.
"I'm going out." He said plainly, getting up.
The taller grabbed his coat and quickly threw it on.
"Whatever." The Italian mumbled and continued to push his food around the frying pan.
The sound of the door opening and closing made Romano flinch. The other didn't know it, but the sudden emptiness in the room made him feel lonely.
And now, he was out in the pre-winter air, walking to god knows where. Antonio didn't particularly want to go to the coffee shop. Arthur would be there to chew his ear off. Everything was just too confusing for him to try and listen to Arthur rant about rights and wrongs. And God damn, what the hell happened? Didn't Romano want this? He could've said no to begin with, but he didn't! So what was his angle? No one agrees to date someone and then lets them move in for no reason.
Thinking only made the Spaniard's head hurt more, so he pulled his coat tighter around him and kept walking. He passed the usual streets and alleyways. After being in this place for so long he'd basically memorized it to the last detail. Antonio ventured into a part of the city he knew, but didn't voyage to very often. People walked past him happily. The sky was clear despite oncoming snow in a few weeks. The air was cold and the flower shops were starting to get shipments of flowers outside of the city from places where it was warm all year long. A Chocolate Lab barked at him in friendly greeting as he passed.
At first Antonio spared the dog a small smile, but he heard a whine as he got farther away. He stopped, then turned around. The dog wagged its tail.
"Poor dog. Who just ties their dog to a fence while they get something to eat?" Antonio thought.
He trailed back to the dog and scratched it's head. The animal seemed happy enough.
"Who left you out here? Your owner must be pretty cold hearted, huh?" He commented.
"Cold hearted eh?" A deep voice said beside him.
Antonio shot up and looked to whoever addressed him. When he saw a familiar pair of blue eyes, and the same long blonde hair, he smiled widely. He'd know them anywhere.
"Well if it isn't Bonnefoy!"
Francis smiled back, clearly happy to see his old friend.
"How've you been? I don't think we've talked for at least a year!" The blonde commented.
Antonio wanted to say how he'd really been, but Francis probably didn't need to hear about his problems. "Good. You?"
At this the Frenchman grinned. He seem genuinely happy. "Amazing! In fact, I'm engaged."
Wow. The brunette was honestly surprised. Francis moved to the side to reveal a shorter blonde behind him.
"This is Matthew, my Fiancée'."
The smaller man had hair much like Francis', with deep violet eyes hidden behind glasses.
"I'm Antonio." The Spaniard introduced himself, holding out his hand in a friendly manner. "I knew Francis in High School."
Matthew reluctantly took his hand.
"So when are you guys getting married?" Antonio questioned.
The shorter blonde smiled slightly. "In Spring." He replied with a quiet voice.
"And my beautiful Matthew here will be wearing the best dress money can buy!" Francis exclaimed and wrapped and arm around the shorter's shoulders.
"Francis! I'm not a girl!" Matthew complained.
Francis laughed. Antonio watched the two interact.
They seemed so happy.
Nothing about them was strained or held back. They were just there, together, without restraints. They seemed to genuinely love each other and they knew how the other felt.
And it would be an understatement to say the Spaniard wanted that.
He wanted to be able to hold Romano's hand when they went for walks. He wanted to hug Romano without being pushed to the floor. For once in their relationship Antonio wanted to feel loved. Even if he couldn't hold Romano's hand, or hug him, or kiss him, he wanted to know his feelings for the other were returned.
At this point he was really starting to doubt they were.
Francis turned back to his old friend and noted the look in his eyes.
"Matthew, do you mind going to the store without me? I'll take the dog. I'd like to catch up with Antonio here." Francis questioned his fiancée'.
Matthew nodded, "It's ok. Hopefully I'll be home when you get back."
Francis smiled, and then leaned down to kiss the shorter quickly.
When Matthew was gone the Frenchman turned to his friend. "What is it?"
Antonio looked at him with a bewildered expression.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"Walk with me." Francis said, then untied the dog from the post.
"What was with that look? You looked a bit sad." Francis wondered.
Antonio sighed. There was no use hiding it. Francis used to be a master at reading people. He knew things about someone without them having at say anything about it. It was one of the reasons he used to (and probably still was) popular with both men and women.
"It's just you and your fiancée' seem so happy." He answered truthfully.
"Problems with your own lover?" The blonde asked.
"Don't say lover." The Spaniard told him, "It sounds weird."
Francis laughed.
"You remember the Vargas brothers' right?" Antonio asked.
The other nodded silently in response.
"Well, the older one Romano, is my boyfriend... I think." He continued.
"What do you mean "I think"?" Francis asked, clearly confused.
The brunette sighed. "Well, it's been a month. And nothing's changed. I hugged him this morning and...well... It didn't turn out well."
"Always was a spitfire wasn't he? Looks like it never wore off. Even worse now that it's carried into his relationships." The blonde commented lazily.
Antonio scoffed.
"Well, I'm probably not being any help by saying it, but no matter how much you love Romano, I don't think he knows how to love someone else." The Frenchman sighed, glancing at him.
He didn't want to believe it. But it was probably true. Still, Antonio wanted to be with Romano. The problem was how.
Author's Note:
Grah I still feel like this story isn't quite good enough!
Thank you though for all the subscriptions and the reviews! They really do make me fell good about this~!
I hope this chapter is up to standard. And yes, I know, bad things going on in the third chapter, but believe me, things go up and down so many times it's nuts. And it's only 12 chapters!
But it ends happily! And I'll have a blast writing the last chapter!
Reviews are love~!