Thanks again for all of the encouragement! I've also been receiving some constructive criticism, which is really helping a lot. I can only hope that my fic is up to par. Please enjoy!

Romano had gone to the Café du Monde so many times now that the staff began to take interest in him.

"What's your name, cher?" Francis Bonnefoy, the establishment's proprietor, asked him one day. He glared.

"Romano." Francis gasped.

"You wouldn't happen to be the Romano, the co-creator of Veneroma, would you?"

"So what if I am?"

"Oh!" The man smiled seductively. "I am a big fan of your line. The contours of the clothing suit me well, don't you think?" He opened his jacket, revealing a shirt that showed a bit too much of his chest. Romano didn't take the bait.

"We try to make our clothing compatible with any body form," he explained, looking at Francis with poorly concealed distaste.

"Then I would say that your clothing and I are very similar. I too am compatible with any body form." Was it his imagination or did Francis just inch closer? Frowning, Romano said,

"I'd like to order now."

"Of course. What can I get you?" After telling Francis his choice, he inquired nonchalantly,

"Where is Antonio?"

"He said he couldn't make it today." The other man smiled slyly. "Do you know each other?"

"…A little."

"Is that so?" Romano could see the implication in Francis' eyes but said nothing. He did not want to be banned by the café's proprietor for slapping him, especially not before he himself died. Anyway, he was not close to Antonio at all, not one bit. Not. One. Bit. So Romano waited for Francis to return with his food. Upon the blond man's arrival he asked,

"You and Antonio are friends, right?"

"Indeed. How do you know?"

"He told me. Does he live around here?"

"Yes, actually. Do you need an address?"

"No way! I just wanted to know if he was a local."

"Are you sure? It's no trouble, really. And I'm sure Antonio would appreciate it. He talks about you all the time." Romano was thrown off guard.

"What?"

"You've made quite an impression on him." At this, the designer became wary. This had not been included in his plans. All he wanted was a nice, clean break from the world. Antonio would ruin everything! But all he said was "Hmph" and proceeded to finish his lunch. Francis looked on.

"Can I get you anything else? Antonio's number, perhaps?"

"No." Romano's cold answer startled Francis. The man stood up and left, leaving the due amount on the table without meeting anyone's eyes. He had to fortify his resolve. Developing a bond with someone now was much too risky. The repercussions could be horrific. Therefore, it was with a sort of steely determination that he went off.

Meanwhile, Francis had made his way to the small office at the back of his café. Romano's behavior was abrupt but not unusual. Francis had seen tons of people in denial about love before. And he would be damned if he let Antonio's chance at romance slip away. He picked up his phone and dialed in a number. Then he waited.

"Hello, Antonio? How are you feeling? Listen, Romano came in and asked for you today…"

On the day after the next, Romano entered the Café du Monde in the hopes that Antonio would not be there. He was disappointed.

"Romano! I'm sorry I wasn't here the day before yesterday. Francis said you were looking for me," Antonio burst out upon seeing him. He looked genuinely repentant. Romano, in the meantime, tried to locate said proprietor of the café so he could kill him slowly and painfully. What did that bastard think he was doing? Was he trying to set him up with Antonio? The server saw the scowl on his face and cried,

"Don't be mad at me!" The raw emotion in his piteous voice made Romano bluster,

"I'm not mad at you, idiot!"

"Oh, good!" Antonio grinned with relief. "Friends should never be mad at each other. Shall I bring you to a table now?" WHAT? Romano screamed in his head. WHAT? When did they become friends? He didn't need that from anybody, especially not Antonio! Before he could quash the notion of their friendship, he was ushered to a seat and forced down. This led to a good five minutes of him berating his server about courtesy and personal space (with Antonio grinning the whole time). He forgot about the matter.

It was only until later, when Antonio brushed against his hand accidentally while setting down the food, that Romano remembered. He frowned.

"Hey, don't get any ideas about us being friends or anything."

"What was that?" Antonio yelled, as the din around the café started to crescendo.

"I said, don't get any ideas about us being friends!" The other man shook his head and cupped his ear. Romano fumed. "I'm not your friend!"

"Silly Romano, of course you are! Don't worry. You'll always be my friend!" He was astounded. Somehow, Antonio had managed to bungle up the meaning of his words and turn them around. Furthermore, he continued, "By the way, do you want to hang out with my friends and me tomorrow?" At Romano's stunned silence, he wheedled, "It'll be fun…"

"…Check, please," was all the designer could say. After handing him the check, Antonio smiled reassuringly.

"Just think about it. I'll go find you tomorrow, okay?" Then he flounced away with the check, leaving Romano in open-mouthed astonishment. The man took a moment to get his bearings. Briefly, he debated shouting after the server but decided against it. After all, how would Antonio find him? With this though in mind, he left smugly.

Perhaps everything would go as planned after all.

Was this chapter okay? Please review and share your thoughts!

*Updated and mistakes fixed! Thanks for the correction, Hi Kitsune!