Disclaimer:...still don't own anything D:

Lovino readjusted his grip on Feliciano's cloaked shoulders. "C'mon Feli, just a little further. We're almost home." Lovino helped Feliciano down onto the low wall in front of their house and began fussing over him as only Lovino could: by rapping his knuckles hard against the side of Feliciano's forehead.

"Have you got fucking pasta for brains? Going off on your own looking for me like a fucking idiot!"

Feliciano giggled. "Ve~. Fratello was worried about me~!"

Lovino scowled and looked away, folding his arms. "You'd collapsed in the middle of the fucking forest. I'm allowed to worry, dammit!"

Feliciano pulled Lovino down onto the wall, enveloping Lovino in his arms. "I'm glad to see you too, Fratello. But how did you get out?"

Lovino moved back slightly. "I didn't. He let me go."

Feliciano's jaw nearly hit the ground. "He let you go? That big, mean scary monster?"

"He's not a monster! I know he looks like one, but underneath... he isn't. Or at least not anymore. I see him differently now." Lovino's eyes raked over the familiar surroundings of their front garden. "I see everything differently now."

"Sounds like fratello's in love~!"

Lovino gave Feliciano's shoulder a shove.

"S-shut up!"

"Aw, you're blushing~!"

"I FUCKING SAID SHUT IT!"

They both turned as the front door slammed open to reveal Romulus, who seemed to have aged more in a matter of days than hen had in all the years Lovino had known him, and Ludwig. (Lovino shuddered inwardly at the thought of the potato bastard in their house.)

"Ve~! Luddy! Nonno! Look who I've got!"

Romulus ran across the grass to them and wrapped them in a warm hug, sobbing his relief at having both his grandsons safe with him once again.

Feliciano wiggled his way free of Romulus' grasp and glomped his beloved Luddy. Romulus released his eldest grandson and placed his hands on Lovino's shoulders.

"I'm sorry. For leaving you there, for abandoning you, for not being there for you when you needed me. I'm so sorry."

Romulus held out his hand. Lovino stared at it for a moment then took it and shook it. The handshake then morphed into a 'man-hug'.

"Good evening comrades."

Romulus froze and, over his shoulder, Lovino could see Ludwig inching himself in front of Feliciano, trying to conceal him with his potato macho-ness.

Lovino turned slowly to see Stelios and Ivan Braginski, the owner of the local asylum, with a large torch-and-pitchfork bearing mob behind them.

"I've come to take the little one and the old man, da?" Mr Braginski smiled.

"We were just about to warn you, Kiku warned me about this earlier." Ludwig whispered to Feliciano.

"They're not fucking crazy!" Lovino shouted back.

"They were raving like lunatics." Screeched a toothless old crone near the front of the rabble. The rest of the crowd roared their assent.

"So tell us again then, just how big was this 'beast'?" Stelios jeered.

Ludwig gripped Feliciano's hand, silently warning him not to say a word. Romulus however stepped out and began describing Antonio, embroidering on the details slightly.

"He was enormous! He was eight... no, more like ten feet time!"

The crowd laughed sinisterly. "Can't get much crazier than that!"

At a signal from Ivan, an assortment of henchmen moved forward to grab Feliciano and Romulus. Sadik stepped to the forefront of the crowd and waved at the heavies to wait.

"Poor Lovi, such a shame about your family."

Lovino clenched his shaking fists. "Sadik, you fucking know they're not crazy!"

Sadik swaggered over to Lovino. "You know, I know a way fix everything. To make everything better."

Lovino eyed him suspiciously. "How?"

Sadik smirked. "If you marry me."

Lovino took a step back in horror. "NEVER!"

Sadik grabbed him and kissed him roughly on the lips. Lovino struggled then slapped him in the face with a kick to the shin for good measure. Sadik released him and staggered backwards.

Sadik's face hardened. "Have it your way then." He turned back to the mob. "Take them!"

"NO!" screamed Lovino. "I can prove they're not crazy." He rummaged around in his pocket and pulled out the mirror. "Show me Antonio!"

He held the mirror aloft for everyone to see. Screams erupted from the gathered crowd while Romulus shouted, "That's him! That's him!"

"Is he dangerous?" Asked one woman.

"No," yelled Lovino. "He wouldn't hurt a fucking fly. I know he looks scary and he's a tomato bastard to boot, but he's actually pretty gentle and kind."

"If I didn't know any better," Sadik said, half-mockingly, half suspiciously. "I'd say you have feelings for this monster."

"He's not the monster, Sadik, you are!" snapped Lovino

A gasp rippled through the crowd. Sadik turned to them and began bellowing

"He's as crazy as the other two! He says this creature's 'gentle and kind? Well, I've hunted wild beasts and I've seen what they can do." Sadik began rousing the rabble.

"The beast will make off with your children. He'll come after them in the night."

"HE WOULD NEVER FUCKING DO THAT!"

Sadik continued, not even acknowledging Lovino. "Forget these loonies; I say we kill the beast!"

The crowd cheered in agreement and began marching the direction of the castle. Lovino dashed forward and beat his fists against Sadik's back. "I won't fucking let you do this!"

Sadik flung his arm back, knocking Lovino off his feet. "Try and stop us pipsqueak."

Lovino stumbled backwards into his grandfather's arms. He stared in despair at the retreating mob. "This is all my fault. I have to go back and warn him." Feliciano grabbed his hand. "We're coming with you."

"But..."

Feliciano's face was filled with unusual stubborn determination. "I lost my fratello once. I'm not going to lose you again." Lovino hesitated then nodded. "Then we better hurry."

Le page break

The crowd marched through the woods en masse, ready to kill Antonio. The castle loomed above them, silrently watching.

"Oi, you lot!" Sadik shouted at a group of villagers. "Cut down a tree, and make it a big one! We're going to batter down the castle doors. Take whatever booty you can find. But remember, the beast is MINE!"

Once the tree was felled, they carried it to the huge intimidating castle doors. They swung the tree and began battering down the doors.

After three strong blows, the doors buckled enough for the mob to pass through into the silent antechamber. Sadik smirked to himself, it was beast-killing time.

A/n: When I first wrote the last sentence, I got such a chill down my spine. It still kinda surprises me that Gaston, who at the start of the movie/play was such a comic villian suddenly morphs into ...*makes noise and flails*

OH! I've started writing a new fic (which I'll put up once I've finished writing this). it's a Titanic (but not the movie) oneand I'm considering genderflipping on of the Italies (not gonna say which one yet) but I'm not sure.

What do ye think?

Ja!

-Animerockchic