Just a little announcement : I am looking for a beta ! More specifically, I am working on a fic that would take place in the 19th century (Hetalia, Spamano) but again, English isn't my native language so I find it hard to make it sound believable. If anyone has any interest in that sort of things, and is willing to help me a bit, I'd be so grateful ! It could change the quality of the thing. A lot. Oh and it'd be long-ish too. Even more surely if I get help so it looks nice enough ! Thanks for reading this c:

Antonio woke up happier that he'd felt in several days: finally, Saturday had come. The sun was barely up that he was already outside, waiting for Lovino in the street he had been told to. Unable to contain his joy, Antonio went, again, through their text conversations from the previous week. There had been small talk about the week-end they had happened to spend together, then mostly thoughts about the books they both read at the moment. Then the most unexpected had come: Lovino had asked Antonio out.

Well, he hadn't, not that frankly, but it was all the same.

"Do you wanna spend Saturday with me ?" Stated the text, simple as that.

Antonio had needed a few takes to let the words sink in.

"Of course." Was the only thing he could answer, too eager to try to hide it the slighest. He had then spent a night wondering what Lovino thought, because the Italian didn't answer until the next day.

"I've got a surprise." Was the next text, sent in the middle of the day. Antonio's heart had only beaten for these words for the rest of the week.

Never had he waited for a day more than he did that week. So finally, finally there was he, in the slowly awakening city, in the vaguely clammy street, under that golden light that dawn brings, waiting for his date.

After a while a car came to a stop in front of him. The passenger seat's window rolled down, and a still ruffled from sleep Lovino appeared, leaning to catch sight of Antonio.

"Hey handsome'. Wanna ride ?"

Antonio couldn't help but grin. "Depends."

"Got coffee." He lifted a cup from the cup holder as a proof.

"Alright." Antonio said, opening the door on his side.

Lovino didn't drive off right away. There was a moment, or Antonio could be wrong, but it seemed that time was suspended, and everything Antonio had never known he could feel was written behind Lovino's vibrant gaze. But the moment quickly passed and Lovino turned his eyes to the wheel.

"So where are we going ?" Asked Antonio after a beat.

"Can't tell won't tell." Lovino chanted. "How've you been ?"

"Well. I've been training."

"Right."

"You ?"

"Want some coffee ?" Without tearing his gaze from the road, Lovino handed one of the two cups to his passenger. "We've got quite a long ride to go."

And like this they went on unknown roads. They witnessed of the sky becoming warm and the roads filling with weary wokers with it. They put on random radio frequencies and Antonio made a fool of himself singing is lungs out to pop songs. Lovino even laughed at some point. Lovino had biscuits and chocolate in the glove box, and Antonio felt like happiness was just there. Yes, Lovino was still much of a stranger. And yes, this whole thing was crazy. But there was something in the way the Italian's eyes wrinkled at the corners of his eyes when he smiled, there was something blissful with the way his nose crinkled disapprovingly or the way his fingers absently tapped on the wheel at some points...it felt good, for once. Antonio didn't feel out of place.

One hour, then two, passed. The sun was way out when Lovino took a highway ramp and drove them accross smaller roads. Of course, he still refused to explain anything.

"Can I try and guess ?"

"Mh.."

"...Give me a hint."

"Well tried."

"Come on !"

Lovino smirked, his hands tightened their grip on the wheel. "We're almost there."

They had entered a city. Antonio had missed the signboard with the name of it. He made a terrible detective.

The city was a typical Spanish touristic town, with a nice view on a flawless blue sea and on huge, grey buildings as well. Lovino tapped an address on his GPS, followed the voice's instructions. And then Antonio understood.

They had entered the parking lot of a Sea Life Center.

Lovino pulled the handbrake and turned to Antonio, a small smile breaking on his lips. He looked embarrassed, searching for somewhere to stare at, blushing lightly. Antonio was voiceless.

"I..." He tried.

Lovino quickly removed his carkeys from the keyhole and got out of the car. He was stretching his arms when Antonio joined him outside.

"Please don't...say anything. Let's just go." He stated, glancing at Antonio with alarmed eyes.

Antonio nodded.

He followed the Italian into the large entrance hall, where they bought tickets.

Then Antonio stepped into a dream.

.

.

Lovino walked by Antonio's side, or rather followed his hurried steps from one tank to another. After the crabs and other crustaceans near the entrance, their found a large aquarium where graceful rays evolved. Antonio stared at them for a long time.

"They're like birds." He articulated suddenly.

Lovino smiled. It only took a bunch of fishes to turn this soldier into a child at Christmas. He hadn't expected that. He was rather impressed by this ability which Antonio seemed to have; which made him able to find rapture in the smallest fact, event, being. While he marveled at fishes, seahorses and other creatures, from one aquarium to another, Lovino marveled at the expression of pure joy that blazed on his face.

The minutes passed and their feet led them to the shark park. A giant reef, imprisoned behind a window large as the room. Several species of squales swam there, ignoring each other, going nowhere but still appearing to have a determined purpose. Lovino shivered at their sight.

Benalmádena's Sea Life Center, which was the closest from Cádiz Lovino had been able to find, when he searched for aquariums at midnight in the middle of the week, not sure to have the courage to ask at that time, had the pride to offer an unique experience: there was a long tunnel under the shark tank, which allowed the visitors to actually walk into the glass cage. Lovino pointed the entrance out to Antonio, who followed him.

As they walked under the tunnel, a great silence fell. There only was a handful of people with them, and even with them around the silence was reigning on the place. It felt like being under water. The sharks swam around them, coming close to the glass, giant beasts undulating gracefully above the few persons standing there. They were so blatantly superior to them. Antonio grabbed Lovino's arm, surprising him as he was so tense.

"Lovino," he whispered. "I've discovered something."

"What is it ?" Lovino murmured, amused despite his anguish.

"I'm scared of sharks."

Lovino chukled as silently as possible. "Well."

They got out of the tunnel at last, and both took a big gulf of air, relaxing their muscles.

Antonio gazed at Lovino, and laughed suddenly. His laughter was so contagious, Lovino laughed with him.

"That was scary !" Antonio exclaimed, letting go of Lovino's arm. Lovino felt a tingle where the man's hands had been. Like a missing warmth. "Sorry about that..." Antonio added, pointing at Lovino's arm with a quick gesture.

Lovino tried a smile. "It's alright."

They went on. Tropical water plants and colorful sea life surrounded them now. The information boards in each room listed exotic names. Angelfish, Siamese Fighting fish, Dannios, Discus, Fancy Guppies, Killfish, Rainbow fish, swordtails...

The two friends made a challenge on finding the most fishes from the lists in the actual tanks. Antonio won, unsurprisingly. He practically shouted the names as he found the corresponding creatures, and Lovino looked around everytime to find amused or offended looks and glances from visitors. He tried to calm the Spaniard down, but a sly grin let him understand that he'd have to bear with the five years old he had brought back until he'd found every single fish of the list. And so he won, from only two species of difference. With time and silence, Lovino surely would've won instead.

"That's only because you were distracting me !" He pointed, just to make sure the Spaniard understood the situation.

"Oh, look ! Turtles !" He wasn't listening at all.

The turtle tank was open so that people could touch them if they decided to come near the edge. Of course, a keeper was nearby to prevent any abuse. It was a charming lady, who looked at Antonio's beaming face with an amused smile.

"Quiere darle de comer ?" She asked in a kind voice.

"Woah ! De verdad ? Clàro que quiero !" Antonio replied, or rather yelled back. "I can feed it !" He then yelled at Lovino, the largest smile on his face.

The keeper gave him lettuce and the large animal came to take it from his hand. "I think she loves me !" Antonio declared

"You're mad. She loves lettuce." Lovino answered

"You're just jealous of my attractive aura."

"If it's to attract turtles, I'm fine with not having it" Lovino shrugged. "Shall we keep going ?"

They thanked the keeper and began walking again. In absent chatter and slow steps, they ended up in a large hall where the Center's Café was situated. Only then Lovino noticed how hungry he was.

"You hungry ? I pay this round. It's your prize for the fishes." Lovino smiled.

"I'll accept only if I can pay it back to you next week."

Lovino considered Antonio, surprised. The guy had just casually stated that he wanted to see him again. Lovino felt his face was way too hot; he was actually burning from the inside of his cheeks. He cleared his throat, quickly turned away. "Alright. What do you want ?"

"Whatever." Antonio giggled. "Get me a sandwich."

"Don't laugh, asshole ! Go find a table, this place's crowded." Lovino exclaimed, pushing his friend away.

As Antonio laughed his way to a free table, Lovino took place in the queue. When he got back to the table with a tray full of food, Antonio was in deep concentration on the small flyer they'd been given at the entrance. When he noticed Lovino, he asked.

"What time is it ? See, they say you can feed otters !"

Lovino frowned and took the paper from Antonio's hand. Antonio grabbed his phone for the time. "It's half past two. Wow time sure does fly."

"Yeah..." Lovino answered absently as he read. "It's at three, right ? Gosh, I feel like a mother planning her kid's trip."

"You put yourself into it. Can't blame me." Antonio shrugged, biting down his sandwich.

At three they were nicely in front of the otter park's doors, like the good kids they were. A woman opened the doors and invited them inside.

"They're hungry !" She said. "I'll show you how I do it, then you can try if you want !"

She took a bucket of small fishes and shrimps, and walked to the small animals already gathering around her. They squeaked and rolled around, and when she crouched to their level some of them jumped on her lap. She handed them fish, and let them serve themselves in the bucket.

"They're adorable.." Lovino marveled.

When authorized, both Antonio and him came to sit by the Lady's side, and started feeding the little things. They were incredibly friendly; sniffing the humans' clothes and catching food from their hands.

"They're used to it." The woman stated simply. The feeling still was awesome.

The last step of the trip was a pirate themed minigolf. Lovino would have walked through it and out, but Antonio insisted on visiting every room of the center.

They ended up playing the game. Another competition imposed itself between them. This time, Lovino was obviously better, Antonio being unable to focus long enough to calculate the ball's course. But what Antonio did was drop everything to interrupt a child's game and help him get a good position. Under Lovino's stunned gaze, he patiently explained tricks and cheats to the ravished ten years old. After a good fifteen minutes, Antonio left him and his father with whom he'd chatted as well.

"Did you just create a diversion just so we wouldn't finish our game, just because I was winning ?" Lovino inquired, on the verge to laugh.

"Now why would I do that ?" Antonio answered, walking toward the exit.

And like this they were back in Lovino's car.

"...Can I speak, now ?" Antonio asked carefully.

Lovino looked at him.

"I couldn't have imagined such a crazy trip. You are...you're amazing."

Lovino snorted. "I'm really not."

"No, please, let me do this." Antonio interrupted. "You're amazing." He repeated. "Thank you."

His hand moved as if to rest on Lovino's, but it just brushed it before awkwardly going back to Antonio's knee. Lovino achingly remembered every moment during the day where their hands had brushed, their shoulders bumped, their eyes connected. This was ridiculous. It was all ridiculous. Lovino couldn't possibly be feeling so moved by that man he'd just met, that ridiculous man who compared rays to birds and taught kids to cheat their way into winning games. This man whose smile was so warm and eyes so distant...

"I'll...I'll find something to surprise you in return."

"You don't have to...that was already pay back."

Antonio blinked. "For what ?"

Lovino smiled gratefully, memories flashing back to his mind. "For the book wonderland."

Antonio burst into bright laughter. "Alright. And that was for the first book. We'll never get out of it !"

The way back was rather silent. The radio broadcasted some news program from which Lovino only catched one word out of two. Spaniards talked way too fast for his liking, though Antonio protested that Italians were worst when he pointed it out. They couldn't find a common ground on the subject.

From time to time Antonio commented on something the announcer had said, in English for Lovino or in Spanish and under his teeth for himself.

His hair was out of hand, falling on his face even as he frequently rushed a hand through tangled curls. His gaze was lost. Sometimes outside, but mostly in some vague place between the glove box and his feet. His dark skin glowed in the late sun's gleam. Lovino had to force himself to watch the road. His chest hurt with a burning desire to touch Antonio. His skin, the apprehension of its feel mixed with the aching memory of too brief chances, his lips and his scent...he was just so close that Lovino couldn't shake his head out of its insistent reverie.

It all had been so weird, in fact. They'd met and then they'd happened to be all around each other, so suddenly. Lovino had no idea of what Antonio thought of him. He had even lesser understanding of his own actions, like that decision to jump into his car and drive that silly guy he barely knew to the nearest aquarium, just because he'd mentioned he'd like to visit one.

Lovino kept twirling and confusing the thoughts in his head until, before he knew it, he arrived to Cádiz. By now night had fallen on the city and the hour was late. Lovino took the direction of the barracks.

When he parked outside of the main building, Antonio didn't move.

"I don't want to get back." He murmured with a pouty expression.

"You do know it's past midnight ?"

"Yeah but...I'm sure you don't live very far do you ?"

It took Lovino a moment to weight the meaning of Antonio's words. He turned to him with a puzzled face.

"Have you decided to crash at my place ?"

Antonio grinned defiantly. "I have."

"But-"

"It's Sunday tomorrow..."

"I..."

"Please, Lovino, I don't want to get back..." Lovino now stared at an actual puppy face. "Not just yet..."

Lovino sighed and turned the engine on. "Fine."

He was secretly beaming with joy.

.

.

Lovino unlocked his appartment's door and opened it. He then stepped back to let Antonio inside first. Lovino's place. Antonio hadn't been able to imagine what it looked like. Now that he saw it, he decided that it was perfect. It was small, mostly white; white walls, white furniture, white curtains with some hints of chocolate with the wooden floor and a few chocolate coloured things. A large window probably brought great light during the day. The window almost reached the floor; it stopped just in time for a large step to be used as a seat. There were cushions and a blanket, and a few books left messily around.

"It's my reading nest." Lovino's small, embarrassed voice interrupted Antonio's thinking.

"Reading nest." Antonio repeated slowly. The Italian blushed under the dim light which a single lamp provided. Lovino most of the time seemed to come from another world than Antonio's. He had reading nests and looked too fondly at the clouds, like he knew some secret unknown to common people. He decided over night to drive six hours go and back on a Saturday just to see sharks and turtles, he wore large jumpers over tight jeans and his eyes were always a little red and Antonio wasn't sure whether it was from tears or late night reading, or perhaps was it from both.

Antonio forced himself to look away, to focus on something else than Lovino's lonely gaze. On the opposite of the room from the window was a large bed, with white sheets and comfy looking white covers. Another window, smaller than the nest's one, overlooked that part of the room.

Between both sides of the room was a small kitchen where throned fruits and tomatoes in a basket, on a counter in front of which two high stools let understand that the counter was also the table. Finally, a bookcase completed the canvas. It was quite simple, yet so full of books that a lot of its content was actually lying around its base, in the lack of more storage space.

"It's lovely here."

"Thank you. You hungry ?" Lovino asked as he walked to the fridge.

"Uh yeah, kind of."

"Do you like tomatoes ? I need to finish these...we could make a salad or something, you know, that's quick."

Antonio took seat on one of the stools. "Sure, love tomatoes."

Lovino turned and eyed him. "You love tomatoes ?"

"What ?" Antonio defended himself.

"You're a strange person." Lovino said, shaking his head as he started chopping the fruits.

"Can I help ?"

"Uhm...yeah, here." He placed on the counter a cutting board on which was posed a red pepper and a knife. "Show your skills, soldier."

Antonio's chest jolted at the playful tone.

After eating, both awkwardly came to the decision that they'd share the bed. Antonio was second to the bathroom. When he finished his - very welcome shower, he joined Lovino under the blankets, his stomach fluttering with emotion.

Under the warmth of the sheets and the safe feeling of Lovino's body resting near his, Antonio slowly eased up, melting into the mattress. So much emotion had exhausted him.

"Good night, Lovino." He whispered.

" 'Night..."

"...Thank you for today." He added, slowly slipping into a delightful slumber.

.

.

Lovino was woken up by sunlight and needed a moment to process the fact that Antonio was lying by his side. They were turned opposite to each other. Lovino didn't dare to move. He could feel Antonio's hip against his own; warm and soft spot of skin. Lovino's whole body suddenly lived only to feel it. By the window Lovino observed the treetops, young branches and baby leaves moving slowly with the wind, with Antonio's peaceful breathing.

He didn't move for a long time, gathering strength to move, gathering as much as he could of that odd, tingly feeling, making sure he would remember it always. And then he got up. Slowly, making sure he didn't disturb the sleeping man in his bed. He went to the bathroom and took a shower, more as an excuse to isolate himself for a while than to actually have a shower.

When he got back to the main room Antonio hadn't moved a bit. He slept on his stomach, his head turned to his right, an arm poking out of the sheets, dangling down. Lovino went to the kitchen and turned the coffee machine on.

The coffee was soon ready and Lovino wondered if the Spaniard would ever wake up at all. Decided to move things up a little, he grabbed his laptop and put on some background music, not too loud, but just enough to reach Antonio's dreams.

Results showed quickly . The man stirred slowly, letting out a small groan.

"D'you plan on sleeping all day ?" Lovino asked from behind his screen where he checked his emails.

A terribly mussed face now faced him. " 'time is it ?" Antonio asked, his eyes not so open yet.

"Eleven. I've made coffee." Lovino tried not to chuckle. Not a morning person, he thought. Interesting.

It took Antonio another ten minutes to pull his tall body out of the bed and come to take place on one of the stools, facing Lovino. The Italian handed him a steaming cup. "I've got bread." He added, pushing the food closer to him.

Then they fell silent. They drank from their cups and Lovino wasn't sure of what to do after that. He was witnessing of Antonio's slow emerging to the world, but he tried not to stare too much.

"D...did you sleep well ?" He asked at some point, just to break the growingly uncomfortable silence.

"Mh kinda cold. You kept the blanket all for you." Antonio smirked.

"Oh I'm sorry, if I'd known you wouldn't put on these pants I lent you.." Lovino retorted snarkily.

"That's not the point, you still stole the blanket," The Spaniard cut him.

"Speaking of which," Lovino continued uninterrupted, "do you soldiers always sleep naked with the others around ?"

"I'm not naked ! Boxers are okay, it's the rule...besides, I kept my t-shirt. I think you're overreacting." Antonio pointed very flatly, and took a sip of his coffee just to appear even more detached.

Lovino opened his mouth exaggeratedly, playing offended.

"Plus," Antonio added, "That's completely different. We soldiers don't share a bed." The bastard was clearly enjoying himself a little too much, and Lovino couldn't find anything to throw back at him, which made him really, really mad, considering how adorable the guy looked with this bright grin lighting up his stupid face, that still sleepy gaze he kept steady from behind his cup, and these completely wild locks of hair that didn't help the whole thing either.

"I'm not the one who insisted you'd sleep with me." Lovino noted, kind of regreting his choice of words.

"No, that part was...fine..." Antonio replied in a soft voice and a dreamy smile, catching Lovino off guard.

So there they were. Lovino could only stare at the man in front of him, stunned. No matter how much his mind had wanted to ignore it, there was no possible mistake now about Antonio's feelings. The way he looked at Lovino could melt him on the spot. His eyes said so much. Admiration. Desire. Lust.

Lovino put his cup down on the counter, walked around it, and kissed him. There was a moment where Antonio didn't react, but then he did, and Lovino couldn't have dreamt of such perfection. He held Antonio's face between both hands, making sure he wouldn't go anywhere now that they'd crossed that one line. Antonio was a little awkward at first, not too sure of where to touch him, his hands went from holding his shoulders, to grabbing his forearms, to cupping his back. Then he rested both hands on his hips, and Lovino lost his mind.

That need to touch. That need to feel Antonio closer to his chest.

"The bed." He pleaded between their lips, and Antonio looked at him, stunned. But he quickly got up and they walked up to the bed, and they crashed on it, Antonio on top.

"You sure ?" The Spaniard asked, his eyes soft and clear.

Lovino nodded. "Yes. You sure ?"

Antonio ran two fingers down his jaw. "I'm sure."

They both took their shirts off. When Antonio touched him again, Lovino startled, bending a little under the fingers.

"What, did I...?" Antonio panicked, removing his hand quickly.

Lovino giggled. "No, I'm...that tickled..."

Antonio eased up. "Oh." He said, then he ran a finger down Lovino's stomach, onto his hip.

"N...no, you bastard !" Lovino tried not to chuckle, twisting awkwardly on the bed.

"Good to know." Antonio smirked.

"I'm gonna punch you !" Lovino pushed him, sitting up, then he grasped his shoulders, and crushed their mouths together.

Antonio smiled against Lovino's lips, wrapping his arms tightly around his lower back, bringing him closer to him.

And once again their lips couldn't split, a single second to catch their breath feeling like dying. Antonio's skin, his hair, his strong arms, his incredibly good looking self. Lovino parted their lips and kissed his way down his neck, sucking at the base of his throat.

He then noticed the goosebumps on Antonio's skin. He looked up at him. "Are you cold ?"

Antonio severly redened. "That's, uh, I...I'm kinda sensitive to cold air, I..."

Lovino had to bite his lower lip not to smile too much. He couldn't give that idiot too much confidence.

"Now that's why all the fuss about being cold tonight !"

"Hey !" Antonio bitched out.

"Good thing I've got a blanket just there." Lovino continued, gesturing to the bed before he could whine about it.

"Ok, uh, let's..." Antonio stammered, forgetting about Lovino's offense and burrying himself under the sheets.

"Shall I...uhm...get a condom ?" Lovino asked him, nervous, still sitting on the bed.

Antonio's eyes answered for himself.

When Lovino joined him, they just laid facing each other for a moment, with goofy happy looks on their faces. Then Antonio put a hand behind Lovino's head, and kissed his nose, then he kissed his lips, and when Lovino kissed him in return, they lost track of themselves into each other's embrace for a very long time.

.

"Your eyelashes are stupidly long." Antonio said absently as he brushed one finger to Lovino's cheekbone.

"You're stupid." Lovino responded, feeling his face heating up again.

He felt so content. So very happy to be so close, in such a simple way, to Antonio. Everything had happened so fast, but Lovino wasn't freaking out yet. He knew that part would come later, when he was alone in his empty appartment, when he would have to go back to his dull life and dull job. But at the moment, Lovino just felt content. The way Antonio had touched him - his caresses still lingered onto his skin, still tingled inside his chest.

"I'll be whathever you want." Antonio smirked, well knowing of the effect his words would have on Lovino's poor face.

"You bastard." Lovino whined, hiding behind his hands. Antonio's laugh was so soft and heart-warming, Lovino could barely stand the feelings that rose in his heart.

They let the afternoon slip away like nothing mattered but each other's eyes, watching movies on Lovino's laptop, not even bothering to dress up again - though staying under the warmth of the covers, mostly for Antonio's delicate sake.

When the evening drew really late, they were forced to stop delaying and admit the week-end was over. On the doorway, Antonio took Lovino's hand and kissed its palm, then he put a hand behind his neck and kissed his mouth. His gestures were so gentle Lovino thought he might melt with sorrow just where he stood. "Goodbye," he managed to articulate. Antonio chuckled, because his voice had been so ridiculously small and tight.

"Get off !" Lovino snarled, pushing the guy outside.

Antonio took one last moment to gaze upon him, a bright smile glued on his face, before he left.

Lovino was alone again.

A/N wow that is a long chapter.

I've checked the previous chapters and it's tYPO LAND I'M SO SORRY ?