Chapter 8: A Talk
"Ludwig, where are you, dummkopf?" Gilbert entered the apartment shouting and almost kicking the door down. "Answer, bruder!" The house was dark except for a light coming from Ludwig's study. He walked in that direction and found Ludwig sitting at the desk. "Why the hell did you leave all of a sudden?"
Ludwig answered in a calm voice contrary to what Gilbert had expected, "It was too crowded so I left before-"
"Lies. I bet you didn't even talk to the boy, right, Lud?" Ludwig gasped at the statement, "I knew it! Y'know, for the first time, I thought that perhaps you would be brave enough to pursuit what you wanted! But just as always, you were afraid and ran away!"
"What do you know!" Ludwig slammed his fists on the table. He was clearly getting angry.
"You're my brother whether you like it or not. And yes, Ludwig, I do know you and you always do the same thing. You may say that's your personality but I think it has more to do with a fear of loving and being loved."
"I don't fucking know what you´re talking about, Gilbert!" Ludwig yelled.
"You do, Ludwig. You think you're not good enough for anyone. You avoid relationships cause it's too much for you and your freaking little mind." Ludwig didn't say a word. Gilbert never talked to him like this. This was one of those few times in which he actually felt like the little brother. "Seems you have nothing else to say and you're not changing your mind either. I'll go to bed now." Gilbert took a few steps and then said, "I don't know what's scaring you, Lud, but that boy clearly feels something for you. I hope this time you consider his feelings as well and not just yours."
Ludwig raised his head and his eyes widely open, Gilbert left the room. "What did he just say? His feelings?"
~OwO~
The next morning at the Vargas residence, Romano knocked at Feliciano's door. "Idiot, you're gonna be late again. What are you waiting for?" Romano didn't get an answer so he knocked again, "Feliciano! Open the door, dammit!"
A weak voice came from inside, "I'm not feeling well today, fratello. You can go without me."
"You know grandpa doesn't like me to leave you alone at home so..." Feliciano opened the door. He had teary eyes, he clearly hadn't slept at all and in his expression of pure sadness. Romano froze at the sight, "Should I call a doctor?"
"No, Romano, I'll be fine. Just go or you won't make it on time." Now he was worried how the hell was he supposed tho left his idiotic brother alone in those conditions even if he had been waiting for this day for long he just couldn't leave Feliciano like this. "Romano."
"What?"
"I know you're worried for me, fratello, but you being here won't help me at all. Also, I know you have something important to do today," explained Feliciano with a bit of a hint at the last sentence.
"How the hell did he know?" Romano thought.
"Anyways, please don't stay here because of me. I think for now, I'll be better alone. Thanks for being such a good brother but stop being worried." Romano blushed slightly.
"Do as you want, bastard. But if you feel like dying, call me and I'll be right back. I don't want grandpa to blame me for your state." Feliciano smiled and closed the door again. "That idiot talks to me as if he knew me all too well. I'll have to send him messages all day to know if he´s doing alright...damn it's late. I must go now."
~OwO~
Romano parked the car in the alotted parking for the school and started to walk towards the entrance. He kept walking until he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Feliciano, congratulations for the showcase it was-" Romano turned to face the person and growled, it was Kiku. "Oh, I'm sorry, Romano. I thought you were your brother. My apologies. Do you know where he is?"
Romano was a bit pissed off. He hated being confused with his brother. What he hated even more was being compared to him. He had always felt inferior to his brother. He knew he wasn't as talented as him but he could do other things better than him. He always thought about why didn't anyone notice this. Well, there was this person who seemed to like him more than his brother. "That idiot didn't feel okay so he didn't come to school."
"Really? I hope he's alright. I'll visit him after class. Excuse me again, Romano." The Japanese waved and continued his way accompanied by the tall Greek he always hanged with.
"Those two kind of scare me, they look far more than close friends I'll tell Feliciano not to spend too much time with them."
~OwO~
The day was almost over; it was what Romano had been waiting for. He walked hurridly - it's not like he was running or something like that. Who would run to a class? - but stopped when the beautiful Belgian girl from his science class approached him. "Hey, Romano. Are you busy today? We have to do the project for next week."
Perfect, just what he needed; an obstacle. Well, it wasn't so bad. After all, that girl sure was hot and as a good italian, he couldn't turn down a lady. "Hey, Bella. You know I always have time for you."
Just then, a tall guy from out of no where and said, "What did you just say, brat?"
"Crap who's that guy?" Romano feared for his life. The guy was heaps scary.
"Brother! Don't get mad! Romano is just my partner for-" The tall man cut in to Bella's explaination.
"Bella, I've told you to stay away from these kind of guys!"
"Which kind of guys, idiot?" Why, oh, why was it that he was never able to shut his mouth when required?
"What did you call me?" The taller boy was even scarier.
"I-I..." Romano tuned to leave but the blond grabbed him.
"And where you think you're going?"
"Let me go!" Romano was panicking. He was trying another way to escape the danger. He kicked the boy in the stomach as hard as he could. It worked. He had kicked him so hard that the tall boy kneeled on the floor.
"Well, that was close," he thought.
"Romano Vargas!"
"What now?" Shit, Mr. Laurinaitis was in front of him and seemed very mad.
"I'm sending you to detention. Now." Mr. Laurinaitis sternly said, his hand clenched his clipboard.
"What? But it wasn't even my fault!" Romano protested.
"I saw you hitting the boy, Romano. Why aren´t you a little more like your brother? He doesn't get in trouble!"
Okay, now he was really mad. "Well, whatever, bastard. I'll go to detention!"
"Romano, watch your language, young man! I'll be calling your grandfather."
"Fine for me, bastard." This day was so important to him and it seemed that everybody was trying to ruin it .
~OwO~
When he arrived to detention there was just a boy half sleeping in the corner of the classroom. Even though the guy was doing nothing, he was kind of scary. "Why the hell was he wearing a mask in school? Does he have some kind of complex or what?"
Romano decided to sit at a desk by the window. He walked past trying not to disturb his slumbering companion. "Why is it that every time I want something, everything is against me? I just wanted to show that bastard the story, dammit! After all my hard work..." Some tears rolled down his cheeks. "Why am I crying? This is so embarrassing! As if I care for that bastard's opinion!"
His thoughts were interupted when the other guy in the classroom suddenly sat next to him. "Hello there, little fella. I'm Sadık Adnan.What's your name?"
Romano jumped; he wasn't expecting this."You scared me, dammit!"
"By your accent, I can tell you're one of thoseItalian brothers, right?" The masked man inquired.
"What if I am?" Romano snapped. He didn't like this guy at all. He had seen him cry.
"Calm down!A little guy like you shouldn't be so loud!" Sadik said trying to get the Italian to calm down.
"I'm not small, dammit!" Romano yelled agressively.
"Even though you´re so aggressive, you're still kind of cute, y'know." Sadik said as he caressed Romano's head.
"Don't touch me, bastard!" Romano shoved the other man's hand away.
"I see you like to play difficult, little man." He grabbed Romano's hands and pulled him out of his seat.
"What the hell do you think you're doing, asshole?Let me go now or-" Sadik cut his protests off.
"Or what?" Sadik pushed Romano down on top of the desk, practically slamming him on the desk. "I recommend you try not to scream or struggle.It would just get me more mad, you know?"
The Italian boy was totally scared but that didn't stop him from fighting. "Leave me alone, idiot!" Sadik ignored his protests and began to unzip his pants while holding Romano´s hands with just one arm.The boy was really strong for his age. Romano screamed, "Help!Somebody! Anybody!" Wrong move.
Sadik punched him in the face so hard the boy off the desk and down to the ground. Sadik didn't notice that he had used enough force to knock him out. "Now, buddy, you won't say a thing again or you'll regret it.You understand?" Sadik leaned down and reached for the boy lying on the floor but something grabbed him from behind and smacked him against the wall. "What the fu-!"
"You're in so much trouble, Adnan!" Mr. Fernandéz had a look of pure anger, something out of character for his cheery nature. Sadik was truly scared of the elder man's face. "I'll assure you're out of school for this, you hear me, boy?" Antonio was trembling with rage.
Just then, Berwalrd and Tino entered the classroom. "Mr. Fernandéz, what happened-Oh my god!" Tino ran to aid the unconscious boy in the floor. "Berwald, help me take him to the nursery!"
"But Natalya left already," replied Berwald.
"I'll take him to the hospital then," said Antonio with a serious tone. Tino and Berwald looked at each other, seeing Mr. Fernandéz in this mood was very rare.
"Okay,Mr. Fernandéz." Antonio let go of Sadik not without pushing him one last time. "Please take care of him,Berwald."
Berwald gave a grunt of approval and stared at Sadik who was now trembling in fear. "Are you sure you can handle it by yourself?" Tino asked, still worried while Antonio took Romano delicately in his arms.
"I'll be fine, Tino.Don't worry." With that, Antonio left the room and called a cab to the school.
~OwO~
When Romano woke up, he was resting on a bed in an unfamiliar room. "What the...where am I?"
"Romano, you're awake! I'm so relieved!" Exclaimed a familiar was Antonio.
"Huh? What are you doing here, bastard?Where am I?" Romano yelled.
"Romano, what have I told you about calling me that?" Antonio scolded."I found you and Sadik." As Romano remembered what had happened, tears began forming in his eyes.He felt so ashamed,"Don't worry, Romano, I've already take care of that.That boy won't cause trouble anymore.Also, the doctor said you will be fine but did he..." Antonio took a deep breath in, "...did he do something to you?"
Normally, Romano would have screamed at this man but he could see that Antonio was very worried. "No, he didn't." Antonio released a breath didn't realise he was holding.
"Romano, why were you in detention? You promised me you won't get into trouble anymore," asked Antonio.
Romano exploded then, "Now, you're going to tell me I should be more like Feliciano!For a moment there, I thought you were actually worried about me but you're just like everybody else, dammit!" Romano hid his face and started crying. Antonio then understood that Romano felt unappreciated but never showed it.
"Romano."
"Leave me alone, bastard.This was a horrible fucking day.All I wanted was to give you my story but what for? I don't think you even care!" Romano choked through his sobs.
Antonio was perplexed.He stood up from the bed and began to look through Romano's stuff.Inside, he found a notebook a couple of sheets sticking out of it.He read some lines and was impressed by the perfectly written story in Spanish. "Romano, this is amazing!Why would you think I would not want to see this?"
"'cause I'm not that good at anything.All I do is getting in trouble because of my big mouth," Romano replied.
"Romano," Antonio sat close to him on the bed, "That's not true.You have nothing to be jealous about your brother because you're talented and amazing in your own way and I've always thought that since I first met you."
Romano blushed, "Don't say those things, idiot."
"But it's true!You're an amazing boy, Romano.Never doubt it."
Romano looked at Antonio."Argh!Him and his ridiculous cute smile."
"Romanito, are you blushing?" Antonio asked curiously.
"I'm not blushing and don´t call me that, bastard!"
"By the way, Romano, why did you write such a good story? It seems as if you had put so much effort into it! I thought you didn't like my class."
Romano looked away and started talking nervously. "W-what? Ehm, it was…I don't know!It's not as if I cared so much about it! I had some free time so...so don't you dare to think it was because of you, bastard."
Antonio gentlely took Romano's chin and lifted it up so he was facing him. "Luckily for you, Romanito, I can read you like a book so don't try to hide your feelings from anymore.Okay?"
Romano's face was bright red, "W-what are you saying?You don't know me, bastard!"
Antonio stopped the joking and was serious now.He looked Romano in the eyes and said, "I think you already know it but I fell for you since the first time I saw you. I want to know if you feel the same way.If you don't, I'll understand and never bother you again." Romano was speechless. He couldn't find the right words to say. "Okay, I guess it's clear. I'm so sorry for troubling you like this. I'll call your home to tell them you're okay." Antonio was somewhat heartbroken. He was about to leave but Romano grabbed his arm. He turned to face him as saw that Romano was looking at the floor.
"I-I do," he said in the softest voice he could manage.
Antonio's smile returned to his face, "Romano, really?"
"Can't you hear because you're old or is it you're just too stup-"Antonio planted a soft kiss on Romano's lips.Surprisingly, the Italian didn't pull away.
When they separated, Antonio said, "You won't regret this, Romano." Antonio hugged the boy.
Romano rested his face on the other man's shoulder and said, "Te amo, Antonio."
Antonio gasped at these words and faced Romanowho was smiling. This was a shock to him because he had never seen the boy smile before.He was astonished. "Yo también te amo, Romano." They kissed sweetly again.
~OwO~
"Are you sure you're alright, Romano?" Arsenuis asked to his elder son.
"I told you I am, dammit!" Arsenius asked not because of what happened to his grandson - it seemed the nice spanish teacher who took care of him had arranged everything - but because his boy looked rather happy when he picked him up at the hospital.That scared him because Romano was rarely like this.
"Perhaps you hit your head too hard?" Arsenuis re-assured.
"Or perhaps it was you who hit his head too hard!" Romano snapped back,"The one you should take care of is Feliciano.He wasn't feeling good today."
"Feli?What's wrong with him?" Arsenius asked worriedly.
"I asked him but he won't tell me. He looks pretty bad too," explained Romano.
"Okay, Romano, I'll go check on him.Please go have a rest," replied Arsenius,"Perhaps you shouldn't go to school tomorrow."
"No! I'm okay! I'll go to bed now." Romano ran up the stairs.
"With that swinging mood,it'll be hard for my boy to find someone who understands him." Arsenius muttered after Romano was out of sight. He left his suitcase and coat in the hall before leading to Feliciano's room.
~OwO~
"Feli, may I come in?" Arsenius stood at the door of Feliciano's room.
"Hello, grandpa!How was your day?" Even though he was behaving normally, Arsenius could see his grandson wasn't himself today.
"Feli, I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your showcase.You must have been amazing!" Arsenius exclaimed. He truely did want to see Feliciano's performance.
"It's okay, grandpa. I knew you had to go on that trip."
"I heard you weren't feeling alright today.You look I call a doctor?"
"No, grandpa.It's not necessary."
"But you can't be like this, Feli."
"I'm not sick grandpa I'm just...sad."
"Why is that?"
"Well, I...I'm..."
"You can tell my anything son." Arsenius was always that kind of person to his grandchildren.
"I like somebody," he managed to finally say.
"Oh, is that so?And what's the problem?"
"I think this person doesn't like me."
"Did she tell you so?"
"Crap!What would grandpa think if he knew I'm in love with a man who happens to be my maths teacher?Well, it's not like he's the one to talk about how relationships should be.He thinks we don't notice when he brings ladies to our place.Who would think a man of his age would do such a thing." Feliciano thought. "No, but-"
Arsenius cut him off, "Then why do you think she doesn't like you?You know, Feli, one of the worst mistakes humans do is thinking for others."
"Huh?" 'Thinking for others'? What did that mean?
"We assume thingsand stop ourselves pursuing our goal because we think we know the sum it up, we take things for granted and lose opportunities.Don't let that happen to you.I think that, before thinking of these thoughts that depress you, you should at least ask her how she feels.Don't you think?"
Feliciano reasoned with himself for a while.He finally decided that what his grandpa was said was true. Elizabeta had told him something similar.He won't be afraid, he decided, he would tell Ludwig how he felt. "You're right, as always, grandpa.Thanks for talking to me!" Feli hugged the elder man.
"Besides, you do inherit the Vargas charm. I don't see why she should reject you." Then Arsenius' moment of clarity disappeared but Feliciano's decision didn't.It was going to be hard and he was afraid of being rejected but he rather than being miserable with a platonic love.