~Valentine's Day~

Date: February 14
Time: 9:12 (am)

Valentine's Day. It's a day for love, a day for happiness, and a day for chocolates. To Lovino, that was, to put it bluntly, a piece of shit. No, what Valentine was really about was broken hearts, depression, and chocolates. February the fourteenth, was after all, the day you are meant to confess your undying love for someone. Then they had to try to reject you in the kindest way possible. Seems simple enough; and it really is very simple, to break someone's heart.

Yet, countless numbers of people continue to celebrate this useless holiday. And Francis, being who he is, decided to throw a party of the day of l'amour, threatening everyone if they said they weren't coming. Francis had secret information on everyone, even Lovino. So, of course he had to go. Or risk an embarrassing secret to slip out of Francis' mouth by accident.

Really, the arrangement of Bonnefoy's home was exactly as Lovino had pictured it. There was stylish, expensive furniture, the walls were a bright red for the special occasion, and chocolates were everywhere. It looked like Cupid got, as some would say, wasted and threw up on everything. Disgusting, but true.

The food was lavish, not like Lovino would expect less, Francis was a professional after all. The drinks, they were international: Sake from Japan, Tequila from Mexico, Vodka from Russia, Gin from the Netherlands, and the list went on, endless. Francis lives to serve and make people pleased, everyone knew that.

"If he wants to please people so much, damn man should have been a fucking butler." Lovino mumbled as he continued around the home. "Or be slutty... sluttier."

The maroon walls were beginning to hurt his eyes and the home was so big, Lovino could scarcely get around. He managed to stumble into the kitchen, which was thankfully a pale blue colour, and saw Francis finishing up the foods, which were scattered all around the kitchen. Around five plates total.

Francis looked up from his three tier chocolate cake and smiled. "Lovino! You have culinary skills, right? Think you can help me add the finishing touches on some of the food?"

"What do I get out of it?" Lovino asked skeptically.

"First piece?" Francis pointed on the cake he was working on, his shoulders raising in a shrug.

"... Deal." Lovino mumbled in slight embarrassment. He was working for food after all. "What the hell do you want me to do first?"

"How about you finish up the bayou chicken pasta? Don't eat it, though, I worked rather hard on it." Francis pointed to a dish on the counter.

"I'm not my brother, and pasta isn't really my style. I'm more of a pizza person."Lovino's eyes narrowed and he neared the dish. Yup, it smelled extravagant. "Damn, that shit looks good."

"I know, I did make it after all." Francis smirked before getting back to his attention demanding cake. "The recipe is in that cookbook on page forty-six. And remind me not to let you next to the pizza in the oven."

"Whatever, it's not like I need a damn recipe to make this shit taste good. Relax, I won't take your fucking pizza until it's ready." Lovino turned the page, and got to work.

"So you've made it before?" Francis asked skeptically.

Lovino stayed silent for some seconds. "No."

Date: February 14
Time: 9:46 (am)

"I am here guys, and I brought Feliciano with me." Antonio burst through the kitchen door, disrupting both men from their cooking. He walking inside and Feliciano happily followed right behind the Spaniard.

"You could have fucking messed me up!" Lovino scowled, looking back down at the plate, which now held cupcakes he was icing with pink and red.

"Lovi?" Antonio blinked. 'When did you get here? I thought you were still at home, sleeping."

"He got here about half an hour ago." Francis explained, setting down some treats he had completed. "He's been helping me cook. Fantastic, no?"

Antonio nodded happily.

"What are you doing, brother?" Feliciano asked curiously, standing behind Lovino.

"Hurting my eyes with so much fucking red, that's what." Lovino answered, still focused on a cupcake. He straightened up to his full height. "I was finishing the damn cupcakes."

"Oh." Feliciano said with a small giggle. "By the way Lovi, Ludwig said he was coming early so he and Gil could help out. Isn't that great?"

"No." Lovino spoke bluntly, but the shade of red on his tan cheeks was undeniable. Okay, so what if he was a bit excited? It was no big deal to anticipate things, right? "When is he getting here?" the question was mumble, meant for Feliciano, and only heard by Feliciano.

"In half an hour." Feliciano answered, a cheeky smile upon his face.

"Oh sweet fucking joy." Lovino muttered to himself, holding his head as he thought. Valentine's Day, a day for romance. Valentine's Day, a day for undying love. Valentine's day, a day for happiness. Valentine's Day, a day for heart break. 'Focus Vargas, this fucking day is getting to you. It's about sadness, not happiness.'

"It'll be fine, Lovino. I know it will all work itself out. Plus, he told me," the younger Italian leaned closer to his brother, whispering in his ear. "that it made him upset him that you hate him. He said he didn't understand why you hated him. That he did nothing wrong."

"Fucking l-liar." Lovino's breath had hitched. 'He's lying, trying to make me feel better. No way he would wonder why I hate him. B-but, it's not like I hate him... I actually...' the Italian roughly shook his head. "I can't believe you."

Feliciano stood straight and smiled kindly at his brother. "It's okay if you don't. You'll find out on your own."

"Feli, can I get your help unloading some things off the van?" Antonio asked, heading for the door.

"Sure!" Feliciano chirped and skipped away after the Spaniard.

The worlds of his younger brother rang in Lovino's ears. He sounded so mature, so grown-up. Since when did Lovino become the innocent one? When did he turn into that shy boy who barely knew a thing about love? It wasn't very fair, and it angered him. He was angry at Ludwig for being who he was. He was angry at Feliciano for trying to pull him towards a path Lovino wasn't ready to take. But most of all, he was mad at himself for feeling the way he did.

Date: February 14
Time: 9:54 (am)

Think about him. Get frustrated. Drink. Pass out. Get cleaned up. Repeat. For about a week after that New Year's party, that was Ludwig's daily routine. Tt was all he would be able to do, minus bathing, eating, and the calls of nature. Lovino plagued Ludwig's mind. Filled the German with happy thoughts of a smile. The Ludwig would snap back to reality, and confusion would set in.

The week after, the schedule had been altered. Think about him. Get frustrated. Worry Gilbert. Calm Gilbert down. Repeat. For the whole last week, Gilbert had been wondering what it was that kept his younger brother in such a confuse state.

"West?" Gilbert asked, his eyes trained on the rode. "Can I ask you something?"

Ludwig sighed, already knowing what was coming up. He had been asking the same thing for the whole week without rest, and it would always start with the same thing. The thing he had just said. "Sure brother. What is it you wanted to talk about?"

"Nothing much." Gilbert shrugged. "Anything you want to tell me though? I'm all ears, you know. Anything on your mind you wanna talk about?" Gilbert was trying the 'Kind Big Brother' approach.

Ludwig thought for a moment. What would be the point in telling his brother? He was just in shock after all. Ludwig had never seen such an innocent smile on the Italian's face, and it caught him off guard. Yes, that was it. Plus, Gilbert would make fun of him and start spewing nonsense about how the two would get married and other, more perverted things. "No, I'm fine."

Gilbert sighed and shrugged. "Fine, don't let your awesome brother help you out with whatever the hell is wrong with you."

The rest of the drive - which was a bit short - was spent in silence. The expensive car halted and the German brother's stepped out. Gilbert went straight for the house, screaming out Francis and Antonio's names. Ludwig strayed and took his time.

"Gilbert!" Feliciano's voice rang through the open door. "Where is Ludwig?"

"Outside." the albino's voice called back.

In a matter of seconds, Feliciano materialized at the entrance, pulling his not so happy older brother along with him. He smiled and waved at Ludwig, calling out to him. "Ludwig! Lovi and I wanted to say hi! Come on Lovi, say hi!"

Lovino who was trying to catch his breath, glared at his younger brother before turning that piecing gaze at Ludwig. "Fuck you damn potato eater! If you want a hello, by idiot brother would happily say it."

Ludwig sighed. Yes, that smile was a one time thing. Now they would go back to their regular routine of Lovino hating the hell out of him and Ludwig not understanding why. The German walked up the stairs of Francis wonderfully large home and up to the brothers.

"Don't mind him, he's upset." Feliciano pouted, his lower lip sticking out.

"You would think I'd be used to your rude way of talking, but I am not." Ludwig spoke casually to Lovino, who growled back.

"Watch it, bastard." Olive eyes narrowed at Ludwig.

'I hate this man.' Lovino said to himself, and part of him agreed. 'No, you love him.' said the other half of his mind to him. Inside of his heart, Ludwig was in a raging battle. Where would he end up? Would he be fight his way in? Would Lovino push him out? The Italian seriously hoped for the latter, but it was obvious, he was loosing the battle.

Date: February 14
Time 22:12 (10:12 pm)

As soon as the moon came up, the party really began. People arrived by the dozens, and there was barely any place to be where you wouldn't be forced to be rubbed up against some stranger. Some stranger who was drunk and sweating. It was disgusting.

Ludwig had also heard that some people were being dragged away, and when they came back, there was something interesting about them. Some had new hairstyles (not good ones) and others wore makeup. He simply hoped he wasn't the next one to be carried away and wake up in the morning with no hair. The German instinctively reached up and patted his blond hair he adored to have atop his head.

Ludwig had been contemplating going outside, but the weather was freezing and he had lost his jacket in all the rusks of the party. He was instead forced into the kitchen, the least crowded room in the house. Only a dozen people stood in the kitchen, and Ludwig knew most of them.

Ludwig was leaning against the counter, eating a piece of chocolate, when Kiku and Elizaveta approached him. Elizaveta was the first one to speak up. "Hello Ludwig. How are you tonight?" Her voice was sweet, but Ludwig knew how crazy the girl could get.

"I've been better." Ludwig answered.

"Ludwig-san, perhaps you would like to join us for a walk?" Kiku asked, blinking his seemingly innocent brown eyes. Really, that boy was just as bad as Elizaveta.

"I don't really have a jacket to use at the moment, though." Ludwig spoke. He was becoming a bit weary of the pair. Anytime the two were with each other, something happens. Like waking up next to Roderich...

Kiku looked at Elizaveta. Elizaveta looked back. They smirked. The pair turned to look at Ludwig, their faces still holding smirks. "Get him."

It happened so quick, Ludwig had no time to respond. Someone tackled him from behind, and he was pulled down to the ground. He felt many hands pulling at his arms and legs. but could see nothing because of the blindfold pulled in front of his icy blues.

He heard giggling and talking, but couldn't place the voice's owners. Then he heard a door slam and he was seated into a seat and bound by his arms, legs and chest. It felt like he was in a horror movie and was about to be torture to death. Then the blindfold was pulled off.

The first thing that men his sight was a pair of green eyes. Then light brown hair and a Cheshire grin. Elizaveta! The next thing he saw was Kiku and Francis hunched over something. Lastly, he saw his brother's piercing red eyes. If those four had gathered, then this could not be good.

They were in a dim bedroom, so Ludwig couldn't see much of anything, except for the four moving about in the room.

"What do we do with him? Gilbert asked, his arms crossed.

"Well we can't cut that lovely hair of this." Francis spoke up.

"Make-up?" Kiku suggested.

"Too feminine. Plus, he could just wipe it off. We need something more in the spirit of the holiday, something that will stamp the mark that we were here." Elizaveta thoughtfully looked at Ludwig's face, which was awkward. "Hand me the permanent face paint."

"You wouldn't dare, Elizaveta." Ludwig warned, his glare intense.

That made her smirk. "Watch me."

Date: February 14
Time: 22:24 (10:34 pm)

Ludwig was pushed out of the room, disoriented and confused. The brush had tickled. He was in that chair for so long his back became stiff, and it hurt. He had no clue what the hell was painted on his face, but it made his skin tingle, and it smelled horrid. He did the same thing any sane person would do, he covered his face and went to go find a bathroom to take a look at the damage done to his face.

Luckily, he found it without being spotted. He lucked out when Lovino came out and got a perfectly clear view of his face. For a second, the boy's face was full of shock. Then it twisted in a look of utter disbelief. Finally, the most surprising moment, he doubled over laughing. Frowning, Ludwig pulled Lovino into the bathroom with him and shut the door. The Italian was still laughing, trying to catch his breath.

"Be quiet." Ludwig hissed.

"You look like a fucking pansy!" Lovino said in between laughs

"I said be quiet." Ludwig snapped, but the Italian ignored to order. Ludwig sighed and opted to see what was the damage that had been done. It was bad. He wore a black mustache and his cheeks were covered in pink and red hearts and his lips were red. Ludwig tried and tried to wash the paint off, but it was all in vain.

"Don't bother, that shit is good. It comes off on it's own." Lovino said, standing up. He was still giggling. "Unless you have-"

"So, then what am I supposed to do?" Ludwig asked in annoyance.

"Let me finish dammit! It won't come off unless you have some rubbing alcohol on you." Lovino rolled his eyes. "And we are in a fucking bathroom, so there has to be some around here somewhere."

"Right." Ludwig nodded.

Lovino looked at him and blinked before bursting out with laughter. Ludwig deadpanned at the Italian and began looking through the drawers. Then it dawned on his: Lovino had been laughing, really laughing. His laugh was cute. Shaking his head, Ludwig continued his search.

"I found it!" He cried out, holding up the bottle.

"Good, now I'm going to get my ass out of here because it's fucking awkward to hang out with you in the bathroom." Lovino stood and headed towards the door but abruptly stopped. "Whose the one with the mustache now?"

He ran out of the bathroom, leaving Ludwig a bit confused. Then he remembered, that around the time he first met him, when Lovino held up that mustache to his face. Now that he thought back at it, he looked adorable doing that. Adorable. Adorable? Yes, Lovino was adorable.

A/N - Excuse mistakes, I was so excited to post this up I mostly skimmed for errors, so yeah. Early update because it's Lovi's birthday (And Feli too) and I love him. You know, even though the birthday chapter doesn't come out until about next week.

By the way, in the last chapter, Al was dancing to Rasputin. So you were correct kurai Ikari!

See you next week!~ (Hopefully)