Alfred felt his nails dig into his palms as his jaw ticked from how hard he was gritting his teeth. Everything in him was screaming for him to yank that bastard away from Lovi, but at the same time…

Lovino wasn't pulling away.

The normally-confident teen was conflicted. On one hand, he didn't want Antonio near Lovino, but on the other…well, what if Antonio was right? Was it weird for friends to interfere in who their friends date?

All Alfred really wanted was for the slender brunet to be happy, and if Antonio made him happy there was nothing he could do, right?

Jaw gritted, he watched for a sign, any sign, that Lovino wanted to be away from the older teen's grip. Antonio had seemingly given up on trying to get the Italian to kiss him back, but he still held Lovino close, resting his forehead on the shorter teen's. "Lovi," he murmured. The two were so absorbed in each other that they had no idea that Alfred and Arthur were behind them, holding their breath in the silence.

Alfred tensed even more, ready for action, as Lovino moved for the first time. The Italian slowly brought one hand up and rested it, flat palmed, on Antonio's chest. Alfred still didn't move, indecisive. Was Lovino trying to push him away, or pull him closer? Push him away, right? Or was that just wishful thinking?

Arthur looked up at the taller blond in half sympathy, half mild exasperation. He could practically see the smoke coming out of the American's ears. Alfred was built for action, black and white, good versus evil. Not for waiting around in the grey area.

Suddenly, Arthur heard a soft sound, almost like a sob. He just had time to see Alfred's blue eyes widen before the blond took off.

Alfred roughly shoved Antonio away. "Lovi!" the American exclaimed, immediately taking Antonio's place in front of the brunet. "Are you okay? He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"A-Alfred?" Lovino stammered, hazel eyes wide and shiny with held back tears. "What- where did you come from?"

"Er, I was over there watching," the American admitted sheepishly. He wiped off the single tear on Lovino's cheek with the pad of his thumb. "Sorry I didn't do anything earlier, but I wasn't sure if- you know what?" Alfred shook his head, "It doesn't matter. Are you okay?"

Antonio, who had been just standing and watching the exchange in shock, finally came forward. "Lo siento," he said, smiling with steely eyes, "but we were talking. Give us a moment, si?"

Alfred's gut reaction was to tell him to fuck off, normal friendliness lost in the haze of anger that Lovi's tears had caused, but- He hesitated and turned to Lovino, still not completely sure if the other actually wanted his interference. "Lovi?" he asked cautiously.

The Italian's hazel eyes widened as they met his. He clearly had no idea what Alfred wanted from him. "What, bastardo?"

"Do you want to talk to him?" Alfred clarified, while trying not to smile at the adorable scrunch the brunet's eyebrows made when he was annoyed and confused.

Lovino was taken aback by the question. "Oh, I thought you were just going to tell him to fuck off or something."

Alfred couldn't help but laugh. "I admit, I considered it. But seriously, it's your decision. I'm not going to get in your way."

"Oh. You're- you're not?" Lovino twisted his hands in his sleeves and then glanced at Antonio and then back. Alfred almost thought that he looked like his feelings were hurt or something. But nah, that wouldn't make sense.

"Do you want to talk to him?" Alfred asked cautiously. "Because if so, then I'll back off, but if not, then I'll take care of him." The normally cheerful and friendly blond looked menacing for a moment.

Lovino hesitated, then said, "I- I want to talk to him." He tried to ignore the instantly hurt look on Alfred's face. He grabbed the blonde's sleeve before he could back away, however, and said, "Where do you think you're going, bastard?"

"Uh," Alfred blinked his blue eyes. "To give you guys some privacy?"

The hazel-eyed teen bit his lip, eyes darting to the side and blushing fiercely. "Um…could you stay?" he whispered, seemingly subconsciously shifting so that Alfred's body blocked Antonio's view. When Alfred met his eyes Lovino flushed.

"Not that- I mean, I don't need you or anything, bastard! Don't get me wrong! I just-."

Alfred blinked, and then smiled softly. "Hey, don't worry. I get it. I'm not going anywhere."

"All right," Lovino said softly. He took a deep breath, and then moved around Alfred to face Antonio, eyes narrowed in determination. He stood straight and tall, but his hand still gripped Alfred's sleeve.

Lovino's hazel eyes met Antonio's green ones determinedly. "Bastardo. We need to talk."