Hello again. I was in quite a hurry as I wrote this chapter, so I apologize for any mistakes. Unfortunately, I won't be able to update until Monday, as I'm going to a convention over the weekend. As always, please let me know if you have any comments and thank you for reading.

Chapter 9

Antonio did what he had to do. He was willing to give his life for Lovino. He had been from the beginning. The moment that he had first seen the boy, he had known that there was so much worth protecting. It was a shame that most others didn't see what he saw. It was a shame that Lovino didn't see what he saw.

He was certain that Lovino would probably hate him for it. A small smile showed through his pained expression at the thought of the Italian yelling at him. Even when the man raised his voice, he couldn't keep a straight face. After all, Antonio could see through the insults better than most.

His thoughts almost made it possible for him to forget where was. He opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling of his cell. The second that he had decided to fight the men, he had known that he would get captured. There was no doubt about the fate that awaited him. At least he knew that Lovino would be safe.

Upon hearing the sound of footsteps, Antonio stood up and approached the bars. It was too early for them to come for him. He was due to be hanged in the morning.

"And here I thought Gilbert had the knack for finding trouble." The man's French accent was clear, but it took Antonio a moment to realize who had actually spoken.

"Francis?" he asked. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, your little Italian friend told me that you might need some help," he said with a smile. "He was quite concerned about you. He managed to get to both me and Gilbert before we left."

"So, he made it to the ship," Antonio said letting out an unmistakable sigh of relief.

"Yes, but he insisted on coming with us. I've never seen someone so adamant about anything. Though, I don't think I was supposed to tell you that bit." Francis grinned. He paused, taking a second to look around before he slid the keys out of his pocket and unlocked the door.

Antonio was tempted to ask how he had managed to get them, but he had a feeling that he didn't really want to know. Usually, when Francis did something like this it involved a lot of flirting and a few things that would make most men blush. Actually, now that he looked closer at Francis it seemed that some poor man was without his clothes. The Frenchman was disguised as one of the guards.

"Shall we?" he asked with one of his charming smiles. Antonio returned the man's smile with a grin of his own. It had been far too long since they had done anything like this. He almost missed breaking out of the various places that they had been captured.

As they walked down the hall, they could hear guards just outside the door. There were three from the sounds of it. Unfortunately, it seemed that stealth would not work in this case. Antonio looked over at Francis and they exchanged a look of understanding. They swiftly moved through the open door and each grabbed one man. Before they could even respond, they had been locking in a choke hold. As their bodies relaxed, they were released and left unconscious on the floor.

The third man was caught by surprise, but he was quick. By the time, they had finished with the first two men, a gun was trained on Antonio. "Surrender now, or I will shoot."

"I'm sorry, mon ami, but I this has to be done," Francis said with a slight frown. "It's a shame too because you are quite handsome."

"What?" the guards said thoroughly thrown off by the Frenchman's comment. He turned his attention away from Antonio for just a moment, but that was long enough for the skilled swordsman. In one movement he took out his rapier and disarmed the man. The point of his sword found it's way to his neck and he held his hands up in surrender.

"Now," Antonio said with the serious face the he rarely ever wore. "I would kindly request that you take a seat. We don't want any bloodshed. I'm sure you have someone to return home to, so I would advise you consider your response carefully."

The man hesitated for a moment before giving in and taking a seat. Antonio kept his sword pointed at the man until Francis had slipped out and he himself had reached the door.

"A word of advice, amigo," he shouted back as with a laugh they ran towards the entrance to the building. "If you get into a fight with a pirate, don't hesitate unless you want to lose."

It wasn't until they had reached Lovino, Gilbert, and Elizabeta, that they heard the bells start chiming. Gilbert grinned. "See, you worry to much. They know what they are doing," he said to Lovino.

"You were worried about me, Lovi?" Antonio asked with a smile.

Lovino blushed and looked away. "Who said I was worried, Bastard?"

Antonio walked up and hugged him. He could feel the Italian relax some as he wrapped his arms around him. However, the moment was quickly ruined by Gilbert's loud and rather obnoxious laugh. Lovino pushed him away in embarrassment and Antonio felt himself glare briefly at the Prussian.

"We should probably leave before we're caught," Elizabeta said. Antonio nodded in agreement before grabbing Lovino's hand and leading him away. He was surprised and a little delighted as Lovino didn't pull his hands away and instead their fingers intertwined.

The five of them ran through the streets ignoring the stares of passersby. There was no way that they were going to remain unnoticed, so there was no use in attempting it. Speed was the only thing that could save them now. They barely made it to their ships before the shouts of Spanish soldiers reached their ears. Luckily, their crews were at the ready and they were already a short ways from the docks when the soldiers finally caught up.

Mon ami (French)-My friend

Amigo (Spanish)- Friend