Lovino was awoken that Sunday by his phone buzzing by his side. Checking it lazily, he only saw a text waiting on the screen. Frowning, he sat up a little, resting his weight on both elbows. The text was from Antonio, and conflicting emotions rushed suddenly to his mind. His chest ached, but he wasn't sure whether it was from expectation, joy, or fear. He angrily passed his right hand through his tousled hair, to push it away from his eyes, as he stared intently at the little text icon next to the name displayed on the small screen of his phone. Antonio. What could that text say, so early in the morning ?

Finally surrendering to the evidence that he could not deduce anything from that icon, he clicked the text open.

"Hi ! whatya doin today ? hope i didn't wake u up :) "

Lovino was a little disappointed by such simplicity. Antonio hadn't appeared to him as a man who liked doing things simple.

He rolled to his back, holding the phone up as he sighed. It was a little after nine. It was a little after nine, on a Sunday, and Lovino was awake. But that one little smiley at the end of the text let a window open for anything to imagine.

What was he up to ?

Lovino blinked. He definitely was weirdly intrigued by that Spaniard, something he was not used to be.

Unable to stop himself, he opened a blank text to respond.

"You did wake me up. Did you have smth in mind ?"

He sent this message before he could change his mind, and stood up, stretching his arms.

He was in the bathroom, brushing his teeth, when his phone buzzed again. After staring at it from the distance for about a minute, Lovino eventually walked back to his room, toothbrush still between his teeth, to check the answer.

"i'm gonna hafta appologize for that. would u have breakfast w/me ?"

Lovino's whole being felt like it had been trapped into sunlight, or something. Anyhow, his chest literally burned from that feeling. He would love to see that man again, so soon, and he still wasn't exactly sure why.

Why was he so appealing ?

Lovino didn't want to wait to find out. He craved his presence.

And he craved breakfast.

"sure" he typed back with trembling fingers, forcing himself not to answer "i'd love that" instead, because as charming as this man was, Lovino still couldn't dare to be that honest.

.

Antonio was decidedly very lucky these days. He could already picture Lovino's glowing eyes in his mind. Soon he would see the man in person, and that thought alone had dragged him out of bed in a jump earlier.

Antonio was happy because Lovino had accepted to meet him. There might be something between them, in the end, and whatever it was, it was a really good thing. As friendly as Antonio was with everyone always, he did feel lonely at times. He didn't know anyone beside his mates from the camp. But not anymore; now he could brag to Francis and Gilbert that he had met someone outside. They actually looked impressed, from what he had noticed.

He grabbed one his favorite shirts; a light green V-neck one, and a pair of black jeans. The bright light bathing his room so early in the morning witnessed of a very warm, if not hot, day. Antonio loved days like this. He wondered if Lovino did.

Finding out more about him promised to be as exciting as ever. In fact, Lovino appeared quite mysterious; a quality that Antonio had always admired in people. And that one was gorgeous, so there was that too...

Three times before leaving the camp, Antonio checked his phone and wanted to send something, ask something, anything, just to keep Lovino talking, just to know that he was there somewhere. But he didn't. He couldn't afford scaring the poor boy, he had to contain himself and make it right, for once. Antonio knew that he was impulsive, and that he tended to make things difficult with people sometimes. But, Lovino, he really really wanted to make him smile.

For the day to come, he had something in mind.

.

Ten o'clock. Antonio had arrived early, ordered two lattes to take away, and a handful of different pastries. He was now waiting in front of the coffee shop, unable to contain the insisting grin that owned his face.

Finally, the man he was waiting for appeared at the turn of the road. Tired eyes, ruffled hair, like he had stopped trying after a while. He was truly beautiful, and Antonio almost melted on the spot.

Instead, he greeted him as gleefully as possible.

"Hi ! I'm glad you came,"

"Yeah ?" Lovino responded with a smile too small for the mirth that Antonio read in his eyes. That was adorable.

"Yeah, that's 'cause I was about to spend the most boring day, see." Antonio shrugged. He couldn't let him be too satisfied just now.

"What's that ?" Lovino nodded to the food in Antonio's hands.

"Breakfast !" He answered, raising it in a short gesture to support his point.

Lovino frowned, his head leaning a little to the side. Still adorable. Antonio grinned.

"Thought we'd better enjoy that lovely sun, am I wrong ?"

"Oh."

"Let's go on the beach !"

Without discussing much more, Lovino followed him down the few streets leading to the beach. To Antonio's disappointment, the place was quite crowded that morning, more than he had thought.

"Damn summer." He snapped desperatly when they approached the low walls that limited the beach entrance from the street.

"It's alright," Lovino tried hopefully. "We'll find a spot."

Antonio appreciated Lovino's enthusiasm, but, still, it wasn't exactly the date he had imagined.

He surprised himself deep in thought. Was it a date at all ?

.

They sat in the sand, still rather up the beach, far from the shore. Antonio looked very sorry about all the people already there, which was kind of cute. Lovino seriously didn't recognize his own reactions at all. Why did it feel so easy, and frighteningly not-scary to look at Antonio's face, and find beauty there ? That was so, so weird.

Right now, Lovino wanted to make him feel better. But he wasn't sure how to show him that he was okay, and that it still was the only place he would want to be at ten in the morning, even before his bed - which told a lot. He tried small talk, but he wasn't that good with things like that. He even tried smiling, shyly, alright, but hoping that Antonio would notice the effort. He did, kind of, because he smiled back, apologetically still, but a little less closed at least.

"That wasn't how I imagined the thing."

"And how did you imagine it, exactly ?" Lovino said, rising an eyebrow.

"Well," The word clattered dramatically in the salty air. "easier to talk, I suppose ?"

Lovino laughed softly. The poor guy really was mortified that his plans would fail like that. After a while during which they both just sipped down their beverages, he continued.

"...I was supposed to make it worth your early waking up..." He mumbled, pouting down his cup.

"Well then I guess you'll have to keep me busy a little more." Lovino said in a teasing voice, but he actually hoped to stay with him longer.

Antonio looked at him, with a whole lot of questions in his eyes. "Alright, then, I don't have a choice." He smirked.

"Guess you don't...what's in the bag ?"

Antonio reached to unwrap the paper bag he had put between them earlier.

"Pick one !"

Lovino's spirit rose immediatly. Finally, food !

.

Antonio had noticed one thing by now. When he was with Lovino, time didn't seem to work as usual. They always seemed to talk for way longer than intended, simply content to be around each other. Lovino's eyes were fascinating, and so was his mouth, when he spoke, when he smiled, and even when he was trying not to smile. If Antonio tended to stare a his lips a little too much, it was only because he had this bad habit of biting down the lower one when he searched for his words - which happened a lot.

So Antonio wasn't too surprised when he noticed that it was almost noon, and they were still sitting on the exact same spot, perfectly comfortable not to do anything else than talking.

"Should we go now ?" he offered when a break came in the conversation.

"Where ?"

"Ah, I prefer not to tell you." Antonio smiled brightly, a little proud of the effect he was about to bring - or so he hoped he was about to bring.

Lovino was clearly in an open mood because, other than raising an eyebrow, he didn't react much. He just got up, and waited for Antonio to follow.

"Aren't you gonna argue ?"

"Can I really ?" Lovino stated flatly, his hands resting on his hips.

"Nah." Antonio chirped happily. Follow me.

They walked in the maze of coiling, narrow streets of the town until they arrived to the open place where Antonio had been leading them to. It was a rather large square, overlooked by a gorgeous catholic church of beige stone, and framed by a line of old buildings of the same material. From the cobblestoned ground rose, randomly scattered around the place, several old-fashioned lamps, with detailed curly decorations from which hanged two round bulbs on each. The square was completely enclosed between the buildings, so that nobody could tell before emerging from the street leading to it that it would actually be there. The surprise worked well for Lovino, whose eyes widened in delighted astonishment the moment he stepped in the entrance, to Antonio's sheer happiness.

"Where are we ? It's beautiful !" The young man let out, most certainly without thinking.

Antonio was almost overjoyed. "You'll never guess the name of this place."

Lovino looked at him quizzically. "Plaza San Antonio." He stated in a calm, provoking voice.

Antonio's jaw dropped open. "Seriously ?" He winced. "How did you know ?"

"It's written right there, you idiot." Lovino chuckled, pointing to a nameplate plastered on the building that cornered the street where they came from.

Antonio pouted, pulling the most puppy-ish look he could manage - he had mastered the look by trying to convince Francis to cover him when he went on evening walks around the camp. It usually worked.

"You killed it for me..." He grumbled.

"Anyway," Lovino answered, perfectly untroubled, "I can guess why you like it."

Antonio's smile came back against his will. Lovino just looked too pleased to stay angry. "I found it by pure accident. I was lost some day, when I was still new here."

"When was that ?"

"When did I arrive in Cádiz ?"

Lovino nodded.

"Couple months. The training for the legion is almost always here. I'll be gone in two other months..." Suddenly regret hit him, like a punch in the guts. Soon he would have to leave again.

Never, ever, had Antonio felt the need to stay at some place. Never had he felt the need to be around someone. He had never understood, in fact, that feeling he had heard of so many times. I'll never be like that, he'd repeat himself.

But now that Lovino stared at him so earnestly, with such compassion in his eyes, Antonio felt like nothing else had ever mattered all his life. Antonio knew that Lovino had just understood what he was thinking, and he also knew that a word from the Italian would be enough for him to drop everything, that minute.

"Let's move on." He cut abruptly. "I haven't showed you my surprise yet." He said, excitedly. He could only imagine the face he would make. He had awaited all morning to see that face.

"Really ?" Lovino said, looking honestly surprised.

"Nope," Antonio answered with a playful wink. "We're close, though."

Antonio led his guest to one of the buildings, on the other side of the place.

"Ready ?"

"Sure." Lovino said, but in fact unsurely.

"Here we are !" Antonio exclaimed as they entered the building.

.

Lovino was speechless. He stopped and looked around, mesmerized.

They were in a wide room, like a continuity of the square. Two large entrances led to it, one where they came from, and the other, in front of them, apparently opening on a street. The walls were made of the same stone that was everywhere; a typical material in the south of Spain. The ceiling was wonderfully detailed; curved and sculpted and not very high but overwhelmingly wide. The air under this roof was pretty cool, and not much light filtered through the doors. And in the center of this beautiful hall were spread out dozens of little stalls, in ranks with walking space between each, and around these stalls fluttered dozens of people, all interested in the hundreds of books that covered the tables. The whole space smelt of dust and sun and old pages, and Lovino thought he might faint. He peered at Antonio, who was standing by his side, smiling silently.

"Whoa."

"Ah, you like it then ?"

"Antonio that's..." Incredible. Beautiful.

Lovino walked to one of the stalls. Several books were lined up on a table. At both sides of the table were boxes, where more books were stacked up. On each sides of the table were large shelves, and on each shelf were settled a good number of other books. That was crazy. So many books, and it was only the beginning of one of the lines. Lovino spent a fair amount of time flicking pages and reading covers. Actually, he lost track of time, going from one table to another, his eye caught by one cover or another title. After what seemed like ten minutes, but was actually more like an hour, he came back to himself, and looked around for Antonio.

"shit." he muttered to himself, before rushing to him.

Antonio didn't notice him at first, because he was himself looking around. When Lovino found him, he was focused on one stall, staring intently at the books there. Lovino wasn't sure if disturbing him was okay.

Focused as he was, a little bent over the table, with one hand in his jeans pocket and the other touching the cover of a book with only the tips of the fingers, and his eyes looking down so his lashes seemed infinitely long, and his wild brown curls falling forward; Lovino wasn't sure if he didn't want to disturb him because he was focused, or because of how incredibly handsome he was because of that focus. Hum. Disturbing thoughts.

"Antonio !" He called.

Antonio looked up slowly. His green eyes met Lovino's. "Oh, you're here."

"Yeah. Sorry, I kind of lost track."

Antonio smiled softly. "I brought you here knowing the risks."

And Lovino could only smile back. But, out of embarrassement, he looked down suddenly.

"Having fun, then ?" Antonio continued.

"This place is amazing. I never knew there was such a thing here."

"I'm glad," Antonio answered, and Lovino met his eyes again. "I was afraid you might know it already. That would have been a complete failure."

Lovino chuckled. "Good thing I didn't then."

"Have you found anything ? I didn't tell you, but it's actually a book fair. You can buy the books. You can sell some of yours, too."

"That's great. I did find a few interesting things. You ?"

Antonio looked back down at the book still in his hands.

"Ah, I'm not sure, maybe this one."

"Can I see ?" Lovino asked, reaching to take the precious object.

When Antonio handed it to him, their fingers briefly brushed, and Lovino had to try very hard not to look him in the eyes.

"...Y-yeah, that one looks great." He said finally, after having inspected the cover and first few pages.

"Yeah ?" Antonio answered, flashing a bright teethy smile as he took the book back from Lovino.

"Have you finished the one I lent you yet ?"

"Not yet. It's a fat one." Antonio laughed. "I'm working on it, but today I felt like going out rather than staying locked up in my room reading." He winked again. Lovino had noticed he did that a lot.

"Are you hungry ?" The Spaniard asked.

"Uh, sure."

"Let's pay for this and go find a place to eat, yeah ?"

And the way he asked, it was impossible for Lovino to refuse.

.

"Is there any place you wish to visit, Lovino ?" Antonio asked as they walked down the beach-bordering street in late afternoon. The air was finally a little cooler, a little less suffocating, under the pink-ish sky.

"A place I wish to visit ? Ehm...I don't know...I don't think there is one, actually. I mean there was Spain..."

"Oh, I see. You're already there."

"Yeah, I guess. What about you ?" Lovino asked, looking up at him with a little head tilt that Antonio could barely stand.

"I do have one dream place."

"What is it ?"

"Will you laugh ?"

Lovino played offended. "Seriously ?! Aw, man ! Of course I wouldn't !"

"It's that it's a little ridiculous I think..."

"I won't. I'd like to know, I swear." Lovino's voice was incredibly calm and soothing sometimes.

"Well, alright then. I'd wish to visit..." Antonio took a deep breath. "an aquarium."

Lovino's face changed to surprise, but not to mockery.

"An aquarium ?"

"Someday..."

There was a silence.

"That's lovely." Lovino whispered, finally.

Antonio shivered - perhaps it was the cooling air.

"I've never been to one."

"Never ever ?"

"Nah, never. Since I was a kid, I...I always thought that must be a wonderful place to see."

"That's a truly beautiful dream, actually." Lovino looked in deep thought. "To tell you the truth, I've never, even when I was a kid, I've never known really what I wanted."

Antonio laughed.

"Maybe I'd be happier if I was as determined as you are."

"Aw, Lovino...no, I'm glad you aren't. Look, if you were any different, I might not have the chance to be here with you today."

Lovino looked at him, with some sort of sad softness in his eyes. "That's a good point."

Their hands brushed between them as they came to a stop at the corner of the street. Lovino was going to turn right and Antonio was to go left. Their fingers lingered just the slightest bit against each other, but neither of them was bold enough to actually go for the touch. They eyes were still locked as they turned to face each other. Lovino's gaze turned to frank sadness.

"Well, goodnight, then." Antonio murmured.

"Yeah."

"I'm not allowed out much during the week..."

Lovino nodded.

"I'll...I'll text you."

Another nod. Antonio waved awkwardly, before turning and walking away.

"Antonio," Lovino called suddenly.

Antonio stopped and looked back.

"Thanks. For today." He said. He was smiling.

That meant everything to Antonio.

Already, he wished the week would go fast so that he could see that smile again as soon as possible.

A/N

Fun fact, I have no idea if a place like this exists in Cádiz, but it does exist in the city where I have lived and studied this year. It's stunning, really. I could spend hours there. Well, that one doesn't smell much of sun, being in the North of France, haha.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter !