I'm so so so sooooo Sorry guys! I wanted to post this chapter several weeks ago but I kept forgetting to write, I was blocking, a convention is coming up so I'm sewing and stuff and school… I'll try to post chapters faster once I start liking the story more.
Lovino fell forward onto his knees, clutching his shirt and chest as wracking coughs began to shake him. His neck burned and pulsed as he tried to gasp for air, hardly succeeding. He was sure his neck was red. It was most likely going to be bruised and sore in the morning. He realized through his painful coughing fit that someone was standing above him. He almost jumped backward when he saw the man bend down and felt the other's hand on top of his.
His breath hitched as he was suddenly pulled up and forward, stumbling around, trying to run and keep up with the man in front of him. Everything was blurry and Lovino's head pulsed and he felt dizzy. But he blinked and eventually got a view of the back of the man's head. Fuck… He thought bitterly as he realized who it was. Antonio. The bastard.
He almost tripped over his feet when he was pulled at a sharp corner and his chest hurt from the lack of breaths he was taking. His steps were slightly uneven and he was surprised that he hadn't tripped and fallen by now. They ran into a dimly lit alleyway and paused, both men pressing their back against the wall and panting heavily. Lovino's heart drummed in his through as he sank down, dragging his back against the wall painfully and starting to cough again.
He looked up when a canteen was held in front of him and he took it, still trying to stop his coughs as he placed the bottle to his lips and drank the musty, tepid liquid that tasted like the cleanest water in the world at that moment. He swallowed a few gulps and then handed the canteen back to Antonio, still coughing, but only lightly.
"You alright?" The accented voice asked as Antonio sat down beside him.
"Uh… Maybe." He replied, rolling his eyes. His neck still pulsed painfully and burned when he held his hand up to touch it gently. A sudden fear surged through his heart and stomach hit as he realized his hand was empty and he wasn't carrying his bag. He began to glance around frantically and started to panic.
"W-Where's my bag? I had a bag…" He stammered quietly. Antonio started to chuckle lightly as Lovino's eyes went wide and began to grow again with anger.
"What? What the fuck is so funny?" He snapped in a raspy tone. He wanted to surge forward and grab the man in front of him as he started laughing harder. Antonio slowly calmed down a moment later and shook his head.
"You panic too much." He said as he placed Lovino's bag in front of him. Anger was still thriving through Lovino's veins but a hint of relief swam in when he grabbed the bag and began to ruffle through the contents of it, relaxation pulsing through him when he felt his fingers clench the pocket watch and he held still, breathing out for a moment and then pulling it out, opening and closing it to make sure it was in alright condition.
"I assume that's important to you, si?" Antonio asked, seeming intrigued. Lovino didn't take his eyes off the pocket watch, moving his fingers the cold, silver metal. Over the intricate engravings on the top. Lovino nodded in reply and snapped the watch closed, placing it in his pocket and looking up at Antonio.
"Grazie." He said in a sort of angry tone, but it was sincere.
"De nada" Antonio replied with a fucking adorable smile that Lovino decided to disregard and turn away.
"I should be getting home. My grandfather and brother are probably worried." Lovino decided, trying to stand up, but doing so in a very shaky manner. Antonio watched him with a raised eyebrow, standing up as well while Lovino swore under his breath, steadying himself with the wall.
"You're still quite shaky." Antonio said, walking out of the alleyway, Lovino following slowly.
"No shit." He snapped. "You would be too if you were nearly suffocated and mugged."
Antonio had a slightly amused, worried look on his face. "Your neck is less red now," he observed, tipping his head slightly and squinting through the dark.
"Well, that's good I guess." Lovino said, bringing his hand up to feel it. It didn't hurt as bad when he touched it and his voice wasn't as raspy as it was a few minutes ago. He hoped it was going to be easy to convince his little brother that he was okay.
"But I really have to go. My little brother is going to flip a shit if I'm too late." He explained, walking out of the alleyway.
"I'll walk you?" Lovino heard Antonio's voice behind him. He halted. He halted and he didn't know why. Why was Antonio being so nice to him? People were always obsessing over his little brother instead. Antonio had met Feliciano. Why wasn't he desperate to see Feliciano instead of Lovino? He wanted to tell Antonio to go away and that he didn't need anyone to walk him home. He was surprised when he heard what he didn't want come out of his mouth.
"Sure." He instantly rolled his eyes. He sounded so stupid. He glanced back at Antonio who had an idiotic smile on his face. Lovino pursed his lips and started walking, expecting Antonio to follow him.
"So what were you doing out this late at night?" Lovino questioned Antonio while they walked side-by-side.
"I couldn't sleep. Decided to take a walk." He replied happily.
"But you have your bag." Lovino continued, furrowing his eyebrows.
"You never know." He replied with a nonchalant shrug. "You were mugged. I had a knife. Could have come in handy, but I try to avoid violence if at all possible." He said, holding up a hand while they walked along the huge harbor his expression instantly seemed a little more sad and dark. Lovino blinked at it and few times and then went back to staring forward.
As they passed Antonio's large boat the captain didn't say anything, didn't even glance to it. He decided he would tell Lovino about it later. Maybe… But he wasn't sure yet. They had only just met 3 days ago and they were hardly strangers. Antonio bought a tomato, they talked at the beach, and Antonio saved Lovino from a crazy, homeless mugger. Hardly a friendship.
"Well, I hate to say it, but I'm glad you came around." Lovino said, biting the insides of his cheeks when he finished saying it. Antonio turned to him and smiled.
"I'm glad I did too actually! I mean, I would be really upset if you were hurt." He said with a pouting expression. Lovino raised an eyebrow and shrugged, walking onward.
"Lovino, would it bug you if I came and got a tomato again tomorrow?" Antonio asked, pursing his lips. Lovino quietly moaned.
"Yeah, I think it would. But it wouldn't bug the business…" He replied curtly. Antonio clicked his tongue.
"Alright then!" He chimed. "Are we much farther than from where you live?" Antonio asked. He really didn't want to have to walk very far and then have to walk a long distance back.
"No, not really, just a few blocks." Lovino answered, sliding his hands into his pockets. "But I think I can take it from here." He added. He really didn't want Antonio to know where he lived. He was a stranger. All he knew, he could be after something Lovino had. A lot of people were. His family wasn't exactly poor. Of course, they had other sources of money from just selling tomato's. That was just something that they took advantage of their tomato orchard.
Antonio looked kind of sad all of the sudden and nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow then~!" He chimed with a wave while Lovino rolled his eyes and walked away.