Lovino ran as fast as he could which mind you is pretty damn fast and got to his house and slammed the door open. He hurried into the living room and placed Antonio on the sofa not caring if he got blood on it. He left the room but quickly returned with several bandages and a bottle of alcohol.

"I'm going to need you to drink this, I know it doesn't taste that good but it will reduce the stress. I need to get the bullet out of your shoulder" He said handing Antonio the bottle.

Antonio felt the bottle brush his hand. He slowly took it and drank slowly from it. He gagged on the taste as he had never been one to drink alcohol. He looked positively ill as his head fell back and his breath slowed down somewhat.

Lovino took out a cloth and pressed it to the bullet wound, "I know it hurts but try not to squirm too much okay? It will only make it worse" he muttered quietly.

"It looks like part of the bullet broke off, hell if I know how though. I'm going to have to get it out." He said quietly before removing the cloth and taking a better look. He could see a bit of silver but it was deep in.

"Here goes nothing" he mumbled before trying to dig out the rest of the bullet with only his fingers. Once he got it out he quickly applied pressure to the wound again before wrapping it in bandages and going to get a blanket due to the fact Antonio was probably still in shock and felt dreadfully cold.

"Sleep well Antonio" Romano whispered before turning the light off and locking up the house before retiring to bed himself.

A few days later

Antonio woke up and yawned as he looked around, he was confused. He didn't know where he was or what was going on. His head throbbed and his shoulder ached. He didn't see anything though, only darkness.

"So you're finally awake, did you sleep well? You were out for a few days" Lovino asked upon noticing the other was awake and looking around.

He shook his head and looked down. "Not really…. I…. I can't remember.,.. Anything…. It hurts…." He frowned some, he was scared and it all hurt. He was hurting horribly, his shoulder felt like it was on fire.

"You don't remember? Try and think back I know it might be hard but just see if you can remember anything" Lovino requested not particularly fond of the thought of having to tell Antonio of what had happened.

"i remember… being in the sewers… hearing footsteps… i can't remember… anything else…" His head ached, he probably had a slight concussion that was the cause of his memory loss..

The Collectors came to your home and you barely escaped. You had a bullet wound in your shoulder when I found you and took pity on you and took you to my house and bandaged your wound. You're lucky you survived I've never heard of someone surviving one of their missions." Lovino lied, for some reason he wanted to keep the truth away from Antonio, so thats what he was going to do.

He blinked some, confused. He smiled softly although he was confused. He looked down and bowed his head lightly. He had a headache and he didn't know why.

"You were barely conscious when I found you, all that I got out of you was your name. So uh, tell me Antonio, do you remember my name by chance? If you don't that's fine I'm pretty sure you have a concussion" Lovino asked the other wondering if the man did indeed know who he was.

Antonio blinked some and frowned slowly. "Uhm… I… I'm sorry...I can't remember…." He said softly, biting on his lip.

Lovino smiled slightly, "no that's okay. My name is Romano by the way, nice to meet you" he rejoiced, happy that the other did not remember him.

He blinked slowly and looked down still. "Oh… Hola Romano." He said softly with a sigh.

"Ciao." Lovino said curtly as he got up again. "I'm going to go make you some food while I do that you can take a bath. I can show you where the bath is, if you need any help just call me in. I already drew the bath for you so you don't have to worry about that… I can show you where everything is before hand. I know you can't see but I'm sure if you know where everything is this will be easy" Lovino rambled on trying to make sense but failing miserably. He had never been in this kind of situation after all ,everyone he had ever known had been perfectly healthy and could see just find. This is the first time he had actually talked to a undesirable.

He blinked some. "I guess… Can you show me up there…?" He asked slowly as he looked up at him in nerves. "I'm kinda bad with new places…"

"Of course" Lovino said smiling slightly, "I'm going to grab hold of your hands okay, I don't want to startle you." He said while he carefully picked up the others hands with his own and helped him up.

He felt his body move slowly and he nodded. "Thank you… I mean it…" He said softly.

"D-don't mention it" Lovino stuttered blushing slightly, no one had ever really thanked him before. He gently placed one of Antonio's hands back at his side as he used his other hand to guide him to the bathroom towards the back of his small house.

He followed him slowly, his hands nervous. He followed him silently, his body ached some. He knew he would be sore for awhile.

"You don't have to be nervous around me you know. I'm not going to hurt you" Lovino stated slightly hurt. He had after all promised to protect him, though the other most likely didn't even remember that…

He nodded slowly. "I see. Thank you… For helping me." He said softly as he heard the bathroom fan. He put his hand on the doorframe.

"You're welcome let me know when you get out so I can re-bandage your wound, you'll catch cold with wet bandages. There are some clothes that should fit you right here" Lovino said guiding Antonio's hand over to where he had placed some fresh clothes. "And next to them is a towel… D-do you need help getting into the bath?" Lovino asked blushing again at the thought of having to help him into the bath and how awkward that would be. "I don't want you to slip" he said truthfully.

"Do you mind helping.. If… I mean.. I can do it….": He didn't know if the other knew that he was blind.

"I don't mind. How did you even survive down there? B-being blind and all I mean? It must have been harder for you than everyone else down there." Lovino asked quietly. "I-I'm sorry you don't have to answer that" he said quickly regretting having of asked.

He shrugged some and looked down. "I am the outcast of outcasts…. It doesn't matter…" He looked down and sighed softly, "I barely survived… I was planning to die…" He said softly, his heart sad, his stomach rolled.

"Well you're the only one who didn't die… So uhh- D-dammit that's not what I mean it's just… Forget about what those bastards might of said you survived and they didn't, you're the winner" Lovino stuttered out awkwardly.

He stared at him with confusion, not really at him though. "I see… I still don't agree with you though." He frowned some. "I can't do anything if I am blind. I am an undesirable… Worthless." He said.

Lovino grabbed Antonio's hands in what he thought was a comforting manner, "don't say that about yourself. If anyones worthless that would be me. It's not like your soul purpose in life is to find and kill groups of people, is it? I bet you haven't even hurt a fly before but me? I've killed hundreds of people. My family won't even talk to me, say I'm a disgrace. I'm a desirable but not desired. A-and besides there are things you can do even if you're blind you're not useless… We just need to figure out what things you're good at! I bet that by the end of this week we'll have found something you can do with ease and then maybe you'll see you're not worthless." Lovino said in an encouraging manner that came out more awkward and forced than anything.

"All I ever wanted was to be useful... To have purpose... You have purpose even if it isn't best... I am nothing..." Antonio was shaking, his eyes sad.

"That's because nobody ever taught you anything or believed in you. You can't just expect to have found something to do in that cave! You had no resources, no one to teach you. B-but now you have me and I'll try and teach you what I know… You do have a meaning in this world you just have to find it first" Lovino said his voice getting more confident and not as awkward sounding as before. "N-now hurry up and strip down so I can help you get in the bath before it gets cold!" He half shouted out of embarrassment.

He blinked some and slowly stripped from his clothes. He sighed some and looked down. He hated feeling so embarrassed especially now. He didn't know why he was embarrassed but he was.

"O-okay I'm going to take your hand now and guide you over the the bath and help you get in." Lovino stuttered out his face flushing a bright red that blotched all the way down to his shoulders. Even his ears were burning a bright red.

Grabbing Antonio's hand he guided him carefully over to the bathtub and dipped his hand in the water for him, "that's not too warm is it?" he asked gently.

He blinked some. "that is what warm water feels like..." He said softly, not really answering the question.

"Yes… You guys don't get warm water down there do you? Or for that matter even fresh water?" Lovino inquired suddenly feeling guilty as he was accustomed to both things.

"Neither... Though it doesn't really matter... We didn't deserve it..." He said softly, his past was a large factor in why his personality was so poor. He kept his hand in the water, seeming to have a childish amusement.

"You're still people though. Just because my job i-is to take care of people like you-" Lovino's eyes widened as he realized he had just given away what he did when he had been trying to keep it from Antonio just a few minutes prior. "Shit. Ignore that. W-what I mean is that… Just nevermind" He finished lamely deciding he just shouldn't talk anymore.

He blinked some. "Take care of us? Are you a doctor?" He asked in confusion. He didn't get the true meaning.

"Far from it" Lovino stated grimly. "You should get in the bath though I need to make you some food! Look at you there's barely any meat on you" he said quickly trying to change the topic. "Here I'll help you in" he offered.

He blinked some and nodded. However, he still didn't understand. He was pale, but yet far from hungry. He looked ill. He still kept his hand in the water as he enjoyed the feel of it.

"Alright I'm just going to pick you up and place you in the bath alright? I don't want you to slip…" Lovino explained as he picked the other up and gently placed him in the bath before picking up the others hand again. "This is the shampoo and this is the conditioner, use them to wash your hair, okay?" He said as he guided Antonio's hand to where he kept said items. "And this bar like object is to wash your body" he explained as he placed it into Antonio's hand so he could feel it.

He nodded some, looking somewhat confused. "Okay... I think I get it..." He said softly, looking nervous that he would somehow screw something up. At the unpleasant memory, he shook his head and bit on his lip to force it away.

"Call me if you need anything. I mean it" Lovino said before walking out of the room to prepare something for lunch.

When Lovino got into the kitchen he began to get out ingredients to make his favorite pasta which was of course pasta with just a shit ton of tomatoes. He hoped Antonio wouldn't mind all of the tomatoes but he was also pretty sure the other had never had tomatoes. 'I'm sure he'll just be happy to try something new' Lovino thought to himself. After putting a pot of water on the stove to boil and began to chop of the tomatoes to be made into the sauce.

About 45 minutes later he had finished making the pasta and sauce and was getting ready to serve it when he went to go check on Antonio. "Antonio how are you doing?" He called out as he started making his way towards the bathroom.

Antonio had washed up but easily fell asleep in the warmth of the tub. His skin was still pale yet it had a little more colour than before. He was relaxed and his breath was light.

The scene that Lovino walked in upon was- admittedly cute but he was also worried that Antonio would fall asleep in the water and slide down and breathe in the water and choke. Moving quickly to avoid such a thing he gently shook Antonio's shoulder, "Antonio wake up it's time for lunch you need to get dressed and re-bandaged" he spoke close to his ear in a calm Atone.

Antonio startled, shooting up and nearly colliding heads with the other male. He nodded slowly and still sat in the bathtub, not knowing exactly how to get out. He wouldn't admit it out loud, however he did feel quite stupid.

"I'm going to pick you up again okay? Don't be alarmed alright?" Lovino informed the other before picking him up and putting him down in a standing position and going to get the towel to wrap around him before he would start shivering. "Use this to dry yourself. Do you remember where I said the clothes were?" Lovino asked

Antonio nodded slowly as he started trying to dry off. "I think so…" He responded softly to the question. His long brunette hair clung to him and made him look like a girl more than a boy at this point. Antonio felt the air from the fan hit him and he shivered some.

Taking Antonio's hand for what felt like the 100th time that day he showed him yet again where the clothes he had placed where, "they're over here. When you're done changing tell me and I'll show you where the dining room is so we can eat lunch" Lovino stated before walking out to get out some plates and silverware.

He nodded some, picking up certain articles of clothing and putting them on. Once he was finished he told Lovino he was done. However his shirt was on backwards due to the fact he didn't know which way was the front and which way was the back.

Lovino heard his name- or rather his middle name- being called and made his way to the restroom. When he arrived he saw a oblivious Spaniard that had his shirt on backwards, though he had no way of knowing such a thing it still caused a slight smile to form on Lovino's lips. "Hey Antonio, your shirt is on backwards it'll be more comfortable if you turn it around" he smirked.

He blinked some. "It is? Oh... Lo siento." He said, saying he was sorry in Spanish as he tended to slip into the familiar language. He tried to turn the shirt around but couldn't do too much due to the throbbing pain in his shoulder.

"You shouldn't strain your shoulder too much you'll re-open the wound, here let me help" Lovino said softly as he walked over to the Spaniard and pulled the shirt up over his head for him before turning it around for him to be able to pull back down over his torso.

Antonio blushed as the other helped him, it was odd to see color on his cheeks due to his usual pale complexion. However, due to his ancestry his skin had a slightly darker tone to it. Perhaps if he was healthier he would be more tanned like his ancestors. Antonio didn't notice though. His shoulder ached as he got his shirt on. "Is it better...?" He asked softly, seeming flustered at his mistake.

"Yeah, much. Though I suppose you could have kept in on backwards. I wouldn't have minded, it just didn't look that comfortable" Lovino said honestly before walking over and taking the others hand, "l-lets go eat lunch. I made pasta and a lot of it so don't be afraid to eat up" he informed as he led Antonio out of the room.

Antonio nodded slowly, the clothes he was given hung off him. He felt extremely embarrassed for some reason. "What if I can't eat much..." He said. He felt... odd... Like he was hungry, yet too sick to his stomach to eat.

"Then you eat as much as you feel comfortable eating. You're not used to eating a lot so your stomach won't be able to eat a whole lot of food so don't worry. We'll work on your appetite later. That and getting you out in the sun without being seen, you're too pale for a Spaniard." Lovino stated, muttering towards the end.

Antonio looked in his direction confused. Why did it matter how tan he was? He couldn't go outside without being stared at and ridiculed. His longer hair brushed against his back and his neck. He felt embarrassed still. He felt so useless. He could barely dress himself, barely eat, and couldn't go outside...

"Y'know I'm sure that if we worked on it and did practice runs we'd be able to get you past the public, if we just played you off as an overly affectionate friend for holding my hand and maybe we could get you some sunglasses to hide your eyes. That'd be fun wouldn't it? It'd be like sticking it to the City council" Lovino smirked a slight smile on his face at that thought, oh how he despised the City council…

When they arrived in the kitchen Lovino guided

Antonio into one of the seats and served him some pasta before realising the man had probably never used a fork before, so picking up his hand once again he guided it over to the fork. "I placed your fork here" he said placing his hand around Antonio's to pick it up with Antonio's hand and brought it over to the plate, "and your pasta is here" he slowly twirled the pasta around the fork as to show Antonio how to do it but, without ever saying he knew he didn't know how as to not embarrass the other. "Well dig in" Lovino said before be began to eat his own pasta.

Antonio blinked some and frowned, he looked nervous about screwing up in front of the other. He felt like such a fool any more. "Gracias..." He said softly, he slowly pulled the fork up towards his mouth and he nibbled on the pasta that was there. He had forgotten what food tasted like to be honest.

"You know you don't have to be shy around me. I understand there are some things you won't understand. If you have any questions feel free to ask me" Lovino said and he meant it, he would help the other every step along the way to recovering from that hell hole. He wasn't sure why, but he would.

Antonio nodded slowly. "I just… I don't understand why you are helping someone like me… You will get in trouble or get hurt by helping me… No one, has ever been even a fraction as kind to me as you have even though we haven't known each other for too long...

"I guess you could say it's to make up for my past deeds. Though that's kind of bullshit considering-" Lovino cut off mid sentence but that didn't stop him from saying it in his head 'considering that means saving one live is equivalent the the deaths of hundreds.' "Besides you kind of remind me of my brother." He blurted out though he wasn't too sure why.

Antonio blinked some again, his head tilted some as he continued to nibble at the new fork full of pasta. "Is your hermano nice?" He asked, he didn't know why he was asking this. He just felt like it for some reason. Antonio had a younger sister. She wasn't doing so well and was likely dead… But she was kind, and had such a large heart for all that had happened to her. He put his fork down, the memories of the past making him lose his appetite as well as his ability to think straight.

"Yeah he's nice. He's kind of a cry baby though, he'd probably sob his eyes out if he found out about you. And then make you so much pasta you'd explode from eating it all." Lovino said grimly, he loved his brother, but he wasn't fond of talking about him.

Antonio smiled some, although it was a broken smile. "You are lucky, mi amigo… To have a brother who cares about you so much. And who you care for. I can just tell." He said softly as he sighed, he looked down, feeling his stomach pitch and roll in his body. He was more nauseous than anything.

"I guess… But lets not talk about that… You're probably still tired, sí? If you're tired you can sleep in my room, sleeping on a couch isn't going to help with you shoulder. Plus I have to go out for a bit and there isn't much to do here besides sleep" Lovino asked wondering how the other would respond to being told they'd be left alone for a few hours.

Antonio nodded slowly. "Okay… I'll go upstairs so you can leave…" He said, he slowly stood up and shut his eyes, allowing his other senses to take over. He slowly walked towards the living room, his hands by his sides allowing him to feel where walls or furniture was. He slowly made it from the living room to the stairs. However he had issues with the stairs. He knew when he wasn't… exactly wanted… So he would do as told and keep out of the way…

Lovino realized that he had forgotten to tell the Spaniard which room was his and not wanting him to wander into rooms at random he ran after the Spaniard. When he caught up to him he found him half way up the stairs. "Y'know I never told you which room was mine, that might be an important part in trying to find it," he said feeling slightly guilty because of the mistake he had made.

Antonio blinked some. "I would have found it on my own eventually… It couldn't be that hard. There can't be that many rooms, si?" He said, trying to lighten up the mood,even though he felt like useless trash at this point. He couldn't do much if anything on his own…. And the other would always need to to do things without him. While most of the time Antonio would need someone to help him.

"Yes but there are some rooms I'd rather you not go in" Lovino replied putting slight edge into his voice as if to say 'and don't ask about those rooms either.' So Lovino walked with Antonio towards the second door on the right before guiding him inside and to a door that was on the far left wall, "this door leads to the bathroom, just in case you need to use it. I'll be back in a bit to make dinner I just have some stuff to do for work it shouldn't take me too long" Lovino said but in all honesty he had no idea how long it would take him, some missions were shorter than others only taking an hour or two but sometimes things could go wrong and the could last up to five hours.

Antonio nodded slowly, feeling his way over to the bed and laying down. He doubted he would sleep or do much of anything, however he had to try and pretend that everything would be okay. "Okay… Be safe…" He said with a sigh as he laid on his stomach, resting on the soft material of the bed. His body still ached and he felt exhausted to the point he was wired tighter than a jackrabbit.

"I will, don't worry. Sleep well" Lovino mumbled before heading out. He had no idea if he'd be able to follow what the Spaniard said, he'd never been harmed on a raid before but there was no telling what could go wrong during one. You might just find a Spaniard about to be shot and take him into your own home despite that being a death penalty and against every single thing you've done for the past 6 years of your life.

Antonio doubted he could follow Lovino's advice about sleeping well. He laid in the bed, shifting positions every so often in some attempt to get comfortable. His chest rose and fell with a heavy sigh as he rubbed his shoulder with his good hand. It was protesting horribly. As if someone dumped a can of gasoline over it and lit it up with a match. It burned like hell.