Here's the last chapter~ thank you all for being so wonderful to me and loving my story
NekoRoma
Chapter Twenty: Make a Wish
Once they were cleaned up and dressed, Lovino found himself sitting on the living room floor with Antonio, learning to read again.
"Okay, L, O, V, E … What does that spell?" Antonio asked, writing the word down.
Lovino looked over it and sounded it out, "L-Lo-Love … Love?"
"Yes, as in 'I love my Lovi~!'"
Lovino blushed a dark red and turned away. Antonio kissed his shoulder.
"Antonio, I have a question … what does … 'on the rebound' mean?" Lovino frowned, recalling that movie he'd watched.
Antonio looked confused and slightly hurt, "Wh-why would you ask that?"
"Because Jen said Ally only went out with Ricky because she was 'on the rebound' from just breaking up with Alan and that she wasn't really interested in Ricky, she was just feeling lonely … you're not … 'on the rebound' with me, are you?"
"No! No … no no no no no! Don't you even for a moment think that I'm only with you because of my break up with Roderich!" he kissed Lovino's cheek, "Me and him … we weren't working out to begin with … I knew it hadn't been … but I kept on trying.
"I thought I loved him, but when he said such awful things about you and assumed I would even sink so low as to cheat … I learned I wasn't … in love with him, that is …" Lovino turned to look at him again, "At that time … I was already struggling with my growing feelings for you and my doubts that us being together was natural …
"When you ran off … oh god, those were the worst days of my life. That's when I realized how much I loved you, despite my feeling of weirdness for being in love with someone who barely a month ago purred and used a little box … Kiku gave me advice on finally being able to accept how I felt about you … allowing me to love you without any regrets … but … I do regret not loving you like this sooner …" he nuzzled his lips into the crook of Lovino's shoulder and pressed soft, sad kissed in the spot.
Lovino blushed deeply and crossed his arms, "Good … because I was going to have to kick your ass if you were just using me!"
Antonio smiled and kissed Lovino's lips tenderly. Lovino kissed him back and they continued working on Lovino's reading.
A knock at the door interrupted them and Antonio frowned, standing up to answer the door. He opened it and Feliciano ran inside, passed Antonio, to tackle Lovino, who hissed him pain at the sudden sharp jolt that went up his backside.
"Damn it, Feli!" Lovino yelped. Feliciano hugged onto him tightly and began sobbing. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I. Don't. Want. You. To. Die!" he sobbed loudly onto Lovino's chest. The older brother pushed Feliciano up enough for them both to be up sitting.
Antonio invited Ludwig in.
"Who the fuck told Feliciano?" Lovino glared at Ludwig and Antonio. Ludwig frowned, "East let it slip and he got it from Mike … or Mark … or Melvin? Doesn't matter, Feliciano wanted to see his brother, so I decided to bring him by after work."
Feliciano was still sobbing, clutching onto Lovino tightly. Lovino finally managed to pry Feliciano off and crawl up onto the couch, "Just … stop, Feli … I'm fine. I'm going to be fine. Mattie gave me medicine, okay?"
The younger brother nodded, getting happy again, "Ve~! I'm so glad! Guess what? Toni helped me get an identity, too! I'm Feliciano Vargas now!"
Lovino smiled, "Cool." he leaned on his brother and closed his eyes. Antonio watched, his heart skipping a beat sadly.
"He lied, didn't he?" Ludwig asked, quietly.
Antonio looked at him, "The medicine is only supposed to slow down the process … it won't go away … Lovi … he's going to …"
Ludwig frowned, "Nothing can be done?"
"No …"
A few hours passed and Antonio ended up making dinner for everyone. After the food was eaten and the kitchen cleaned, Feliciano bid them all good bye and the two of them left Antonio and Lovino alone again. Antonio cleaned up the reading lessons and put them away, "Time for bed Lovi …" in all honesty, Antonio didn't want to go to bed if it meant Lovino was going to be one step closer to death.
He helped his love change into a tank top and boxers to sleep in. Antonio put a bowl and glass of water beside the table and crawled under the blanket he was sharing with Lovino.
"I love you …"
"I love you, too … I'll be fine. Don't worry …" Lovino curled up against Antonio's chest and kissed him. Antonio nodded, rubbing his back, "If you say so."
He hadn't been. Lovino woke up, screaming and kicking in his sleep. The second his eyes flew open, he began his habitual coughing.
Antonio grabbed the bowl and let Lovino cough over it, flinching every time a new spray of blood landed in the bowl. He rubbed Lovino's back and grabbed a wet cloth to clean his mouth with. Lovino groaned in pain and leaned back against the pillows, breathing heavily. Antonio set the bowl down and pressed his hand to Lovino's forehead.
"You're burning up, love …" he kissed his cheek, "Get some sleep, okay?"
Lovino fell asleep quickly. Antonio remained awake, worried about Lovino's heavy breathing. It was never like this.
When noon rolled around and Lovino still had not woken up, Antonio began to grow worried. "Lovi? Lovi … wake up … you need to eat or drink or … something …" the man remained unresponsive. Antonio gently shook him, tears threatening to spill over, "Lovi … this can't be … please wake up … please! God, Lovi, I'm begging you, please wake up!"
Lovino's breathing remained ragged, and he remained unconscious.
Antonio shook his head, "No … you have to wake up … please …" he whispered. Was there anything he could do? His mind raced for answers, but nothing came to mind … except for one thing: Arthur. The so called, wish granting angel. Everyone got one wish, right?
"Um … Arthur … please … I wish that Lovino would get better … please … please … let him get better …" he kissed Lovino's hand, tears falling from his eyes.
"What the hell happened to him?" Antonio jumped, hearing a British accent cut through the silence.
He turned and looked at the shirt haired blond with monstrous eyebrows, "Well? Is this Lovino?" the winged blonde asked, leaning over the bed to look at Lovino.
Antonio nodded, dumbstruck, "Y-yeah … can you save him?" Arthur looked over Lovino and frowned, "Of course I can help him, but why the bloody hell is this feline in mid transformation?"
"Wait … everyone said you did this to him …" the Spaniard frowned.
Arthur glared, "What rubbish! I've never left an animal or person in the middle of their transformations or healings! No wonder he's sick! His DNA it literally ripping itself apart trying to become one or the other! Damn that brat! Peter Kirkland!"
Antonio watched in confusion as another angel showed up, "What is it, you British jerk of jerks?"
"Did you grant this cat's wish to become human with out my permission?"
Peter looked at Lovino and smiled, "Sure did! Though … I didn't have enough power to fully transform him, so I left him like this! Isn't it cute that way?"
"You're killing him …"Antonio whispered, "It's killing him …"
Peter paled, "I didn't mean to hurt him … I was just trying be recognized as a full angel by Arthur!"
Arthur sighed, "We'll talk about this later. You. You should leave the room. I have to talk to Lovino alone."
Antonio frowned, but kissed Lovino's forehead, "Okay …" He walked out, worried about the outcomes.
The British angel looked over Lovino, "Now do you see why I don't let young angels do missions on their own unless accompanied by an angel able to lend energy?" Peter nodded.
"Now wake up, Lovino." he snapped his fingers.
The Italian opened his eyes and looked up. Pain racked his body and he shivered feeling feverish, "What?"
"Your dumbass lover made his wish for you to get better. I'm going to make this real short: your body is in mid-transformation to becoming human. I can reverse or push the process, either changing you back to a cat, or making you fully human. Whatever you choose is permanent and can not be undone."
Lovino rubbed his throbbing head. He hated, hated, hated his human body. It was constantly leaking, hurting, getting in his way. As a cat, he'd be able to live his life in the lap of luxury.
As a human … he'd be able to be with Antonio. He'd be with his brother.
As a cat … he'd have his mama and the rest of his family.
He looked up at Arthur, "I know what I want …"
"Are you sure. Like I said, I can't change you again. You'll be stuck like that for the rest of your bloody life." Arthur held up his star wand.
"I'm sure …"
Arthur nodded, "Okay then." he muttered ancient words and a light began to surround Lovino. He hissed in pain, but smiled as his mind finally calmed down. He'd fallen off the wall to safety.
Antonio leaned against the wall and bit his lip nervously. What was going on, was Lovino okay? Was he all better? Was he … dead? Had it been too late to save him?
A yelp of pain caused Antonio to jump and press himself to the door, "Lovino!"
Silence engulfed the apartment and he waited for a moment. The door unlocked and he shoved his way into the room. Arthur and Peter were gone, but his eyes fell on the curled up form on the bed.
"What happened to you, Lovi?" he slowly approached as hazel eyes looked up at him, "How are you feeling?" he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Lovino's head, running his hand down his side. His love had changed, but he seemed better for it. Had this made Lovino better? Had this transformation brought Lovino back from the brink of death?
His eyes traveled up Lovino's body and met the warm hazel eyes, full of mystery and hints of love and admiration. Antonio's heart skipped a beat and he licked his lips.
Lovino stretched himself and yawned, "I'm fine bastard … Arthur pushed the process through … I'm forever stuck as a human. A full human. No more nightmares, no more coughing, I'm perfectly normal."
Antonio gently caressed Lovino's human ears and smiled, "You're still gorgeous~!"
"I know bastard, now either hold me or go away." Antonio laughed and laid down in the bed beside Lovino and pulled him closely against his chest.
~Fin~
~J'ai Fini~
But don't worry ... there's a crack filled epilogue for this story ... so cracky in fact, I'm really not sure I should upload because of the pure absurdity of my wishes XD I'm such a weirdo ... oh well~
I sincerely hope you've all enjoyed this story! I've loved the reviews, the alerters, the favoriters, and the people who took the time to talk to me and love the story. I thank you all for the fanart i was given and all that! i love all of you ^_^
~Lady Pyrien