Romano was definitely not happy about something.
He hadn't been for a couple days. And Antonio was mystified as to what he could've done now. The list never really ended did it? The Spaniard had officially had enough of keeping away from the smaller male, He could only go so long without being able to be around him. Despite his faults (how ever many there were), Romano made him smile. He still loved him.
Romano was in the kitchen, making dinner. Antonio had just finished some extra paperwork. He sat at the island watching the smaller man cook. Romano didn't seem to pay him much mind. He only continued cooking.
"I noticed you haven't gone to Feliciano's in a while. What's up?" The Spaniard asked casually.
Romano grimaced. "I don't know. Why don't you ask him?"
Antonio was surprised by the spiteful reply. "Are you ok? Did you two fight?" He questioned.
"Why the fuck do you care if we fought or not? Technically it's none of your business!" Romano growled.
Surprise crossed the older's face. Why was Romano so upset? He had only asked if anything had happened between the two. Why was he so angry about it?
"I was just worried." Antonio replied warily. Really, this was getting to be ridiculous!
"Yeah well I don't need you to fucking worry about me!" The smaller retorted.
What was Romano's problem? Antonio had never been angry at Romano like he'd been these past few weeks. It was like everything he did pissed the other off! And that wasn't helping his own anger issues. There had to be some give in this situation. And Antonio had a feeling if he didn't give, neither of them would until it exploded. That was the last thing they needed.
"What is your problem? Your so angry lately!" Antonio asked, voice raising slightly.
At first Romano was surprised. Antonio never yelled at him. He couldn't think of one time in their past where Antonio had given him more than a stern look, that soon faded and went back to it's usual stupid grin. But he recovered, appalled that Antonio was talking to him the way he was. No one was going to yell at him!
"What's that supposed to mean?" The smaller man rebuked.
"I've had to walk on eggshells ever since I moved in with you! Every little thing sets you off!" The Spaniard yelled, set off.
"Maybe if you stopped doing things to piss me off, then we wouldn't have this problem!" Romano's blood boiled. Who did Antonio think he was?
Antonio was thinking much the same thing.
"Well that looks impossible considering that talking to you does that pretty well! I've tried everything Romano, really I have! I've tried giving you your space! I've tried leaving you alone, and you know what? It's tiring! Because it seems no matter what I do I can't please you! I just want to make you happy, but you're making it pretty damn hard!"
There. Antonio had finally let it out. For once he'd voiced his anger rather than pushing it down and ignoring it. Romano stalked over to where he was sitting and got face to face with the other. Neither of them was very pleased with the closeness. And Antonio was feeling trapped.
"Well you know what? I don't need this shit! And I don't need you!" He said finally, jabbing the older man in the chest with his finger.
Antonio glared at him. "Well neither do I!" He declared, standing up.
Romano stepped back slightly, but still stood his ground. He wasn't about to let Antonio win this one.
What the Spaniard was about to say next hurt him, but it needed to be done. For both of their sanity.
"I think we should spend some time apart." Antonio said darkly.
A look of angry shock fell over Romano's face. Disbelief shone in his eyes. Did he just... Now he was a new level of pissed!
"Fine then! If that's what you want then get the fuck out!" Romano screamed.
If the bastard didn't want to be with him, then he could get the fuck out! He wasn't needed, not now, and not ever. And Romano wasn't going to make himself look like a fool.
Antonio's anger flared more, but he wasn't going to act on it. That familiar feeling never did him good as a teen, and it sure as hell wouldn't do him any kind of good now. He was angry yes, but this was Romano. Even if they were in a screaming match, he wasn't willing to hurt the other.
He had to walk away, now.
"Fine then." The taller man walked past the other and grabbed his coat on the way to the door. After throwing it on, he turned the door knob harshly and slammed it behind him.
Romano stood in the kitchen threshold, still riled up by the fight. His blood was roiling with anger and frustration. So it didn't really sink in that Antonio was gone.
In his fit, Antonio found himself stalking towards to coffee shop. It probably wasn't the best place to go but it was the only place he could go. In the dark, he managed to get behind the building without tripping over empty boxes and wooden crates. Attached to the stone wall was a spiral staircase that served as another way into the apartment above the shop. He climbed the tall and slightly wet metal stairs that had been soaked by rain earlier that night.
At the top he knocked twice. Inside the apartment a dull crash could be heard, then Alfred's telltale whine filtered through the wood. Antonio raised his brow in bewilderment. The door was opened, revealing an obviously riled up (and displeased) Arthur. Antonio wanted to laugh so badly.
Arthur was not happy to see him.
The short blonde's hair was fussed, sticking up in multiple directions, and his emerald eyes shone with a frustrated glare. The rumpled shirt he wore was obviously Alfred's, and obviously put on in a hurry. His cheeks were bright red.
"What are you doing here?" The British man scalded.
"Yeah dude, you're being a total cock block." Alfred stated, standing shirtless in the living room behind Arthur.
He was obviously wasn't as concerned about the situation as his lover was. And it was fucking hilarious.
Arthur turned around to glare at his boyfriend. "Put a damn shirt on!"
"Well, I would but you kinda took it." The other blonde deadpanned.
"Then go find another one! Stop being a twit!" Was the angry reply.
"Yeah yeah." Alfred sighed and lazily ventured off in search for a new shirt.
"You realize you have the worst timing in the world right?" Arthur hissed, finally turning back to an amused Antonio.
"Sorry. But I have a favor to ask you." Antonio told him.
Arthur had a feeling he knew what this was about. And it wasn't a good feeling. There was only one reason Antonio would be standing outside his apartment in weather that was damn near freezing.
Romano.
"Get in." The blonde relented.
Antonio smiled and made his way inside. He shrugged his coat off and Arthur took it from him.
"So, Romano kicked you out I take it?" The British man commented dryly; hanging the coat up on the rack next to the door.
Antonio sighed, then flopped down on the couch. "Yeah."
The Spaniard didn't see it, but his friend shot him a worried glance. How long could he take it? All he did was try and make Romano happy, that's it. Antonio didn't ask for much. Ever. So was it that hard for Romano to give a little back? It was killing Arthur to see his friend in this shape all the time, and none of his words got through.
"Antonio..." The blonde trailed off, then sat himself in the chair across from the other.
"I'm not saying this because I don't care. I'm saying this for your own sanity. Romano isn't good for you! You're the sweetest person I've ever met, and you just let yourself get kicked around. You can't let that happen in a relationship. You're giving the best you can. But I don't think Romano can give anything to anyone."
He knew that. Antonio knew how Romano was. But he really did think the other would change. And he wanted to be the one to do that. The worst part was the fact he believed, just a little bit, that he deserved the treatment he got. If he didn't do his job right he was punished. If he couldn't make Romano happy then he deserved it. The fight between the two was the first time he didn't feel guilty about his own emotions. It was twisted. And maybe a little masochistic.
Antonio covered his face with his hands. "I am so fucked up."
"It's not you. I keep telling you that." Arthur commented.
"No. Not that. I just..." The Spaniard started. "I feel like... Like maybe I deserve it. When things go wrong, no matter whose fault it is, I feel like I should shoulder the blame. I should feel bad. Because...Fuck. I don't know why. I just do."
Antonio wanted to die right there. There had never been a time in his life where he'd felt so miserable. He was insane! Despite how stupid it sounded that's what he was! The more Romano hurt him, the more he wanted to come crawling back. He'd do so willingly, and with a smile. Because that's just how he was.
Arthur couldn't believe this! Did he really think that? Who deserved to feel at fault for everything? It broke his heart. How much did his friend uneedingly carry?
"And even though Romano isn't exactly the most loving person, I just want to make him happy." Antonio said, voice breaking.
Arthur had heard enough.
"Are you retarded?" The Brit was angry now. "He's done nothing but hurt you! My god! Do you have any love for yourself? If Romano loved you at all, he'd feel the same way!"
The other was silent for a moment. He moved his arms to cover his eyes, but Arthur clearly saw the tears making their way down Antonio's cheeks.
"I just love him so much."
The blonde got up and sat next to his friend, pulling him into a hug. "I know. And it might take forever, but Romano is going to realize what
he has. But it might only be after he's lost it for good I'm afraid."
"I told him we should be apart for a while. Is it o-" Antonio began.
"You don't even have to ask. Despite your amazingly perfected "cock blocking" abilities, you're welcome here anytime." Arthur cut in.
This was going to be a bumpy ride.
Author's note:
Ok, I'm not too partial to this chapter, and my other one's are probably much better, but this little interaction between Arthur, Antonio, and Alfred is seriously the brand for this story for me and my friends. Seriously, this is pretty much the most memorable interaction so far! But it seems like I've been getting a lot of reviews about Romano being kind of, well, a dickdouche. And as hard as it is to believe it, it's really all part of the plan. Romano has some serious turning points ahead, and they all change his personality and understanding of things in some way. Believe me, the ending is going to be worth it. I know I'm looking forward to the last chapter!
Reviews are love~!