CHAPTER 9: Progression

Antonio quickly jogged back towards the house, mind racing with all the possibilities that could happen due to the innumerable possibilities of actions he could take. He thought of Him and Lovino happy together, living on their own farm, riding horses into the sunset, picnics on the sunny beaches, wine glasses twinkling in the light, Lovino laughing and smiling with him. He thought of Lovino waking up every morning next to him, drowsy and grumpy like he always is, trying as hard as he can to keep the covers over his head. He thought of lying with Lovino on a couch, watching some movie, totally engrossed in the plot and unaware that Antonio was admiring him. Smiling, Antonio reached the house and laid his eyes upon Grandpa Roma, watering his roses. Antonio thought of the fights that were bound to arise from him and Roma, of the harmful dagger-like words that would fly at Antonio's olive-branched heart as he tried to explain his feelings for Lovino. No longer smiling, Antonio quickly and quietly sprinted to the back of the house. Slipping in through the back door, he dashed up to his room and quickly locked the door behind him. Antonio slid down the door, head in his hands, as malignant thoughts formed cancerous rumors of anxiety in his mind,

"I totally forgot about Grandpa Roma. How could I do that, how could I work things out with him being so against that?" Antonio mumbled to himself. Rubbing his eyes, Antonio racked his brain for anything to help the situation, but no solution seemed like it would give the best outcome. Antonio groaned, and got up, pacing around the room. As he mumbled to himself, someone pounded on his bedroom door, causing Antonio to jump.

"A-aah, come in, who is it?" Antonio quickly smoothed out his hair and smiled, hoping to not seem like his world was crashing down on him. It was a bit premature, as Feliciano burst through the door, locked it behind him, and jumped into Antonio's arms, nearly knocking him over.

"Antonio, oh I'm so happy for you! You finally realized it oh gosh yay! When are you going to tell him, I have to be there to see him smile and everything?" Feliciano smiled, eyes twinkling, as Antonio struggled to comprehend what just happened. Slowly processing everything, Antonio gently pulled Feliciano off of him.

"Feli, what are you talking about? I'm afraid I don't follow..."

Feliciano giggled sheepishly, and said, "We'll I'm afraid that I was a bit of an intruder, but I heard your conversation with Gilbert about how you're totally in love with my brothe-"

Antonio quickly placed a hand over Feliciano's mouth and looked around his otherwise empty room for some sort of nonexistent listening device that could reveal his secret. Gently letting go of the surprised Feliciano, he quickly went to the door, listening for any signs of human life. Finding none, he let out a relieved breath, then whirled around to a very confused Feliciano.

"He's not going to be listening, I made sure no one was near when I came in the room. Honestly I'm not that stupid, I know my way around romance." Feliciano said, rolling his eyes.

Antonio rubbed the back of his head. "Lo siento, I sort of panicked there a bit."

"Only a bit, you say?" Feliciano laughed. "Don't worry, I promise I'll help you out with this. It's about time my brother becomes happy."

"I take it that means I have your blessing?" Antonio asked. Feliciano nodded enthusiastically, and motioned for Antonio to join him on the bed.

"Alright, so what can I do? I have your's, but Grandpa Roma's..."

Feliciano put his fingers to his lips. "Don't you worry about Grandpa Roma. I have the perfect way to change his views about everything. Actually, I kind of have to thank you, because this will help me as well!"

Antonio tilted his head to the side. "Wait, how am I helping you?"

Feliciano winked. "It's a secret! You'll find out at dinner. Just let me do the talking, and when I signal you, explain your piece. And don't worry, I won't be asking you to exclaim your feelings for Lovino right out, I'll just need your support. Can you do that?"

Antonio nodded. "You can count on me."

"Perfect. Things will turn out just fine!"

Lovino finished preparing the dinner for that evening, and, having everything set out on the dining room table, called out for everyone to get their asses down here. After ignoring the chiding note to watch his language from Grandpa Roma, he grabbed a plate of pasta and slumped down on the table. Taking his first bite, he heard the thumping of two people jogging down the stairs, and soon Antonio and Feliciano came into view. Feliciano gave Antonio a quick wink and grabbed himself a plate.

"Pasta! Praise, I haven't had good pasta in such a long time!"

"You had pasta two days ago for lunch Feli," Grandpa Roma said, appearing from the front door. Wiping his brow of the sweat from rigorous garden work, he fell into his seat at the head of the table. "Pass the pasta, please. I'm so hungry I could eat a donkey!"

Feliciano laughed, and passed the bowl over. Meanwhile, Lovino was wondering why in the world Antonio looked like he was about to either explode or vomit or both.

"Antonio, you doing okay? You look like shit," Lovino asked, still shoveling food into his mouth to seem casual when really Lovino was worried Antonio was dying. Antonio looked up at Lovino and smiled, an incredibly genuine smile of appreciation for the concern that Lovino showed that Lovino couldn't stop the blood rushing to his cheeks, of which he was very painfully aware, and he continued to stuff his face with pasta. Antonio lightly giggled, and Lovino noticed a bit of normal color return to his face and felt relived. Feliciano stifled a cough, and Lovino could have sworn he heard him mutter "lovebirds" so he shot him a glare just in case.

"So, Roma. How is the garden doing? Are all the plants ready and planted?" Antonio shifted into his conversation mode easily and effortlessly.

"Oh everything's going well, I just accidentally bought two sick flowers, so I'll probably have to go back to the store tomorrow. It's sad, because they were such beautiful flowers, such a waste."

"Oh that's so terrible Grandpa! Dying flowers are such a sad sight," Feliciano pouted, then pushed the thought behind him and slurped up a strand of pasta. Unfortunately, he didn't coordinate well, and the strand flew up and landed in his hair, defying any laws of physics. The sight sent a round of laughter around the table, and everyone's mood lifted. Then dessert came.

"Lovino, could you go get the cakes out from the refrigerator? I hid them in an old Tupperware bin, in the fruit section," Feliciano asked his brother. Lovino raised his eyebrows, noticing the distinct lilt in his brother's voice that meant something was up, that something was going to happen soon and Feliciano was ready but too entirely nervous, but he got up anyways without question and walked to the kitchen. He grabbed the box of mini cakes and opened the lid. Walking around the table he placed a cake on everyone's plate, except Antonio, who's cake he took a big bite out of before giving it to the shocked and upset Spaniard. Grandpa Roma laughed and switched cakes with Antonio, cheering up his mood indefinitely, while Lovino rolled his eyes, giving himself a cake.

"When did you make these Feli, I thought you were hanging out with Ludwig all day," Antonio asked through a mouthful of pastry. "These are delicious by the way."

Feliciano grinned. "Thank you! Actually I made these with Ludwig. He actually is a fantastic pastry chef. Don't tell him I told you, but he loves baking cakes in his spare time. It's rather adorable." Feliciano stared off into space for a bit, till a cough from Grandpa snapped him out of his reverie. Feliciano jumped a bit, then laughed at himself.

"Sorry, thinking about Ludwig gets me sort of distracted. It's a bit funny actually. The things Ludwig does to my mi-,"

"Could you pass the whipped cream Lovino?" Grandpa said, his voice changing into one of complete disregard and anger at the direction this conversation was going. Lovino slowly handed over the whipped cream, staring at Feliciano.

Brother, what in the world are you saying? Lovino thought. Grandpa isn't happy about this at all, you obviously can see that right?

Feliciano, of course, had no telepathic ability, and could not read the warning embedded in his brother's thoughts, so he carried on.

"It's incredibly funny. He's constantly on my mind and his presence makes me so happy, and the little things he does are so incredibly human. He makes me feel human, so so human. And the one thing humans do best is lo-"

Grandpa Roma slammed his fork down on the table and stared at Feliciano. "Feli I don't know why you don't have a girlfriend at this age? You're such a handsome young man, you definitely should have at least one woman in your life?"

Feliciano stood up and stared right back, holding the chair for support. Lovino noticed that his hands were shaking, so much that the chair started to wobble. "No Grandpa I don't. Also, I would appreciate you not interrupting me while I explain that I'm in love with Ludwig Beilschmidt."

Silence fell around the room as the shock waves of the bomb that was just dropped settled inside each person at the table. Grandpa Roma hissed in a breath and gripped the table, staring at Feliciano with eyes growing darker and darker. Feliciano's stance did not waver, and he controlled his shaking hands and continued.

"I am in love with Ludwig Beilschmidt, our neighbor, a man. He is in love with me too. We have expressed our feelings for each other, and have decided to enter a relationship. Will you give us your blessing?"

Grandpa Roma let out a very dark chuckle, and Feliciano's skin paled. "My blessing. You want my blessing, for that? For something so entirely unholy as love between two men? You make me laugh Feliciano, what a good joke. Sit back done and finish your cake.

"Grandpa this isn't a joke. I honestly and truly love him. I am entirely serious!"

Grandpa stood up and marched over to Feliciano and pressed him up against the wall, causing the younger one to shriek and cower. Antonio sprang up out of his seat and quickly tried to pull of the angered man, but he was easily shoved aside.

"Don't interfere with this Antonio!" Grandpa Roma yelled, turning back to Feliciano, who had started crying. "Feliciano don't you cry on me. I'm trying to help you, what you are feeling it, it isn't natural! It's not right, don't you want to go to heaven?" The words coming out of Grandpa Roma's mouth had the connotative meaning of good natured-ness from a concerned father, but his voice had the weight of a soldier condemning a traitor.

Feliciano took a moment to gather his strength, placing a hand on the one holding him against his will. "Of course I do. But that doesn't mean I won't go through hell to be with him."

Grandpa Roma's eye faltered, and he looked down at his grandson whom he had pinned against the wall. He noticed that he caused his grandson to cry, and he noticed how Antonio was very prepared to use force to pry him off of Feliciano, and he stopped. He slowly backed off, and slowly sat down, head in his hands, and he slowly thought.

"Get out," he mumbled. Feliciano began to plead for some sign of love from his Grandfather, but they were drowned out by shouts of "Get out!"

And so they all left. First Feliciano, guided by Antonio, and followed by a shell-shocked Lovino. The three walked sullenly up the stairs and into Antonio's room, where Feliciano slowly fell onto the bed and collapsed inwardly on himself. Antonio quickly tried to coax and comfort him, but Feliciano brushed him off.

"I'm fine, thank you Toni. I was pretty much ready for this. I'm actually surprised with the end, I thought it would be much worse!" Feliciano let out a weak giggle, that awoke Lovino from his state of shock.

"What the hell Feli. What in the world were you thinking my god! The Potato Bastard, really?" Lovino began shouting, entirely too confused at the recent events. "What good could you have possibly fathomed would come out of fucking that, honestly?"

"I thought I could change his mind! I thought I could help him realize love is love and it's not something you should hide! I thought I could help you realize it Lovi!" Feliciano shouted right back.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Lovino looked at his brother in utter confusion, and Antonio, stepped in between the two.

"Alright stop it. Lovino, I need you to calm down, now. Feliciano needs you to calm down. Feliciano needs you, what you are saying now isn't helping at all. Feliciano I need you to calm down as well, we don't need any more arguments."

Lovino looked between the two, and felt his heart slowly settle down, along with everything that had happened. He focused on breathing for a good moment, then slowly sat down next to his brother, and reached out to hold his hand. Feliciano let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, and moved Lovino's hand out-of-the-way and held his brother tight. Lovino blinked and slowly wrapped his arms around his brother and squeezed.

"I'm sorry, that was really shitty of me. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so, so sorry." Lovino squeezed harder and harder, till Feliciano let out a squeak of pain.

"Big brother, you're hurting me, ow," he gasped, and Lovino slowly let go.

"Sorry. You're too fucking fragile it's stupid. Speaking of which!"

Lovino quickly sprang up from the bed and pointed a finger at the general direction of the Beilschmidt's farm. "If that Potato bastard ever hurts you, you come tell me and I'll kick his ass, you hear? Otherwise..." Lovino paused and shuffled his feet, "stay safe and happy with him or some sappy shit. And don't you hug me no I've had enough you've got your hug."

Feliciano stared up at his brother in awe and slowly began laughing, tears forming in his eyes.

"I love you too brother!" And he hugged him anyways.

Antonio smiled at the two incredibly different brothers as they struggled in an incredibly awkward but touching way, and he silently prayed to whatever God was out there to protect them and give them the strength they needed to push through this.

(AN: I am alive

sort of

I promise. i haven't given up on this yet. sorry.

Also sorry about grandpa roma. not so good things happening there. This story has a happy ending I promise

reviews are welcomed! please let me know if there's anything i can do to make this story better.)