That moment you've all been waiting for~

Prepare for some angst

NekoRoma

Chapter Fifteen: Roderich

Feliciano was bouncing around his cage, excitedly. He knew Ludwig was coming back today. Lovino kicked his legs, sitting on the edge of the desk, like he did everyday.

The doors opened and Ludwig walked in, "Sorry I'm a bit late, traffic was hell. How was Feliciano?" he peered into the carrier at the cat, whom was trying desperately to get out.

Ludwig open the carrier door and happily took the cat into his arms. For a dog person, he really did have a soft spot for his cat.

"He was actually really well behaved … kind of depressed, though~" Antonio smiled.

The German man nodded, "Like I said, he's attached to me … if it isn't me taking care of him, he's not happy."

He grabbed the carrier and took Feliciano with him to his office.

"Are you going to miss him?" Antonio grinned, "If he becomes human, Ludwig might be too freaked out to let him out in public."

"I'll just call over there. You have their number. I'll be able to talk on the phone." Lovino muttered, scooting over on the desk a bit, to be closer to Antonio. His cheeks dusted pink with his own thoughts, but he shook his head and leaned back.

"Oh, Lovino-san, Carriedo-san, I'm glad you're here today … Herakles-kun wanted me to ask you if you remembered anything about the night of your transformation, yet …" Kiku walked up.

Lovino shook his head, "No … but …" he paused, unsure of how to ask, "does Herakles … does he have nightmares?"

Kiku raised his brow, "Not anything out of the ordinary, why?"

Lovino frowned, "No reason." why was it just him, then? Why was he the one suffering those horrible images?

"Well, if there's nothing else, I must get back to Ludwig-san. He's helping me teach Pochi new tricks until his next appointment." Kiku bowed his head and left the lobby.

"Such a weird little man …" Lovino muttered.

"Lovi~! That was mean!"

"Shut up, Antonio!" Lovino hissed, his cheeks flaring red and being scolded.

Antonio's smiled grew huge, "This is the second time you've called me by my name, Lovi~! And look at that, your cheeks are getting red~! You look just like a tomato~! So cute~!"

"Antonio?" both Lovino and Antonio snapped their attention to the doors. Roderich stood, glaring, "I came to bring you lunch and I find you with some other man?"

Lovino raised his brow. What was so bad about Lovino being at the animal training/ vet building?

"Roderich? I wasn't expecting you~!" Antonio smiled and Lovino's heart skipped a beat, painfully. Why didn't he ever smile like that to Lovino?

"This is why you've been screening my calls? Won't let me come over? Won't go out with me? You're cheating on me?"

There's that word again, Lovino thought. He had to find out why people thought Antonio was cheating at anything since Lovino had shown up.

"I'm thirsty, bastard … give me a dollar …" Antonio handed over a few dollars to Lovino and turned back to Roderich.

"I'm not cheating on you with him … he's a friend from Italy … he's staying over for a little while until he finds a way to make it on his own here."

Lovino slipped around the corner but continued watching. Roderich's eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms, despite the bag in his hands, "Oh? And you couldn't tell me about him? Is your cat even sick? Or was that another lie so you could sleep with that slut with out me coming around?"

Lovino frowned. More words he didn't know … why did it matter if he and Antonio slept together? Feliciano slept in Ludwig's bed and he'd been sleeping in Antonio's bed before, too …

"I told you it's not like that, Roderich … Romano is just a friend …" he walked around the desk to try and embrace Roderich, but the man shoved him away.

"I don't want to hear any more lies!" he glared, dropping the food on the floor, "We're done! For good this time! I hope your happy with your slut." he spit the words out like they were a vile tasting poison.

Roderich turned on his heel and left the building in anger.

The Italian man but his lip and walked to the break room to buy that soda he'd wanted in the first place. Why did he feel slightly guilty about the whole thing? He'd only seen Antonio that torn up once before … when he thought he'd lost Roderich that one time.

His heart skipped a beat again and he bit his lip, punching in the button for the soda. It fell and he waited a minute for it to cool down before popping the tab. Lovino took a long sip from the can and leaned against the vending machine. His heart was racing and hurt.

The door opened and Antonio walked in, looking pained. He tossed the bag Roderich had dropped in the trash and sat down, "I'm taking the rest of the day off, okay Lovino? Ludwig said it was okay … so let's just … go home …"

Lovino winced at the usage of his full name. While he hated (okay, not really hated, but maybe got annoyed) when Antonio called him 'Lovi', at least he knew Antonio was happy and cheerful. When he used his full name … bad things happened or were going to happen.

The two made their way home and Lovino bounced his leg, nervously. He didn't like the unusual silence that enveloped the car. And even when they walked inside, Antonio, whom hadn't eaten a thing all day, just walked to his room and shut the door behind him.

Lovino felt his heart constrict again and walked to the kitchen. He'd watched Antonio enough to know how to make tomato salad at least. He finally found every thing he was going to need and began carefully throwing the meal together. It may not have been his all time favorite, but maybe Antonio would appreciate it and it might even make him happier.

He finished putting the salad together, and smiled. It wasn't perfect but if Antonio didn't like it, tough.

Lovino carried the two bowls to the bed room and frowned, not having thought of how he was going to open the door. He set his bowl down and opened the door before picking it up again. The Italian made his way into the room and bit his lip, walking up to the bed. Antonio was curled up, clutching the picture of him and Roderich.

A tears stained face looked up at Lovino. Lovino looked away, "Um … here … I made you something to eat … A-Antonio …"

The man sat up and smiled softly, "Oh Lovi …" he grabbed the bowl and took a bite, "This is really good~!"

Lovino perked up, "Really?" his heart raced happily. He looked down at his bowl and slowly took a bite. It wasn't terrible, really. He liked the tomato the best, "I'm sure yours is better …" Lovino blushed, "Maybe you can make it sometime soon? I promise I won't spit it out this time."

Antonio set his bowl down, grabbed Lovino's and set it down before pulling Lovino into his arms in a tight hug.

"Thank you … for being here … I know I wasn't the best owner in the world and have probably been a pretty shitty friend … but … thank you Lovi …" he muttered, making the former cat blush a deep red. He hugged Antonio back, loving the feeling of being embraced like this.

He rested his head on Antonio's shoulder and closed his eyes.

Antonio put the picture away in the drawer and the two finished their salads while watching some show on Animal Planet. They joked and laughed and Lovino was just glad to see his jerk smiling and happy again.

The Spaniard got up around dinner time and made them some random microwave food he had, just in case he was depressed and didn't want to cook or would rather sit up and watch some comedies with Lovino.

Lovino was sitting on the bed, waiting for Antonio to come back with their dinners. He watched the characters of the movie running around, talking and blah, blah, blah, until something one of the women said caught his attention.

Her and her fiance had just broken up and her friends were out at some sleazy bar, trying to cheer her up. She began talking to the guy, but her friend dragged her away and began scolding her about being 'on the rebound'. Lovino tilted his head and leaned forward. The friend said the only reason she was flirting with him was because she was just upset about losing the relationship and that she needed to get back out there and be a strong independent woman!

He licked his lips and Antonio walked in with the microwaved food, "Sorry if it's bad, I don't usually eat microwave meals …" he handed a plate to Lovino. He looked down at the dinosaur shaped breaded things and the yellow, gooey noddles.

Trusting Antonio, the Italian began eating the food. It was awful to say the least, but he ate it to appease Antonio in his weakened emotional state. Had it been any other day, he told himself, he would have spit it all over Antonio.

He pushed the plate aside and got up to throw his hat and shirt and pants to the floor. Now that he had eaten, the former cat was beginning to feel sleepy. Lovino climbed back into the bed and yawned softly.

Antonio was already curled up and rubbing his eyes. As Lovino rested his head on his pillow, Antonio wrapped his arms around him and pulled him close, "Such a good kitty …" he muttered in his half dazed sleep. Lovino's heart skipped a beat sadly. He hated his human body … but … it hurt to know Antonio still thought of him as a cat … why couldn't the man see him as a human now?

He shook his head. Why did it matter it Antonio saw him as a human or not? It didn't matter! He was only here to make sure Antonio wasn't lonely between break ups. It would pass. Roderich would call or Antonio would call him and they'd be back together again in no time.

So why did it hurt Lovino so much to know that? Why did it kill him inside to know Antonio was going to eventually take Roderich into his arms and kiss him and love him and … be Roderich's mate? His heart constricted tighter and tighter until it squeezed the tears out of him. He'd only been human for about a week, but …

"I love you … bastard …" Lovino whispered, pressing his nose into Antonio's cheek. He stopped and sighed softly. That wasn't how humans kissed … he pressed his lips to Antonio's cheek and buried his face in the man's chest. "I shouldn't … but I love you …"

Well? was it what you were expecting? More? Less?

~Lady Pyrien

PS, the Poll for the Kismet story is closed now, and USUK won, which makes for a great story since RusAme won second place and gave me the perfect idea with what I'd already written in Kismet~ Thank you all for your input!