A Rose of Passion

Off to Portugal

"Antonio! I'm leaving you behind if you don't hurry up!"

"Si! I'm coming!"

Antonio rushed to the passport control gate where Arthur was already queuing. They had finally arrived in Portugal. During the entire flight, Antonio had gazed at a sleeping Arthur. He really was adorable when asleep! Now, both of them were getting their passport controlled before getting their luggage. They exited the airport shortly and Antonio called a taxi to take them to the hotel they had reserved. Arthur was excited by the new country he was visiting. He kept looking around, taking in as much information as he could. He had trouble with the language since it wasn't exactly like Spanish and Antonio couldn't help but laugh at his pupil's eager curiosity.

They arrived at the hotel and got to their rooms. They got a suite that contained in fact two separate rooms with a bed in each and a door linking the two rooms. Both went into Antonio's room to discuss. Antonio jumped on his bed and bounced on it laughing like a child.

"It's a bed, you know. Not a trampoline." Arthur smiled. Antonio was such a child!

"Si! I know! But it's so bouncy! Come and try!"

"No thanks, I … aaaaahh!"

Antonio had pulled Arthur on the bed with him and they both fell over on the mattress. Arthur looked at his irresponsible teacher with scolding eyes but the innocent grin Antonio sent him softens his look and he ends up laughing with the Spaniard.

"Now that we're settled, we should maybe try and organise our visit to your brother's." Arthur suggested once they had calmed down. Antonio's face darkened with anxiety.

"Si … maybe …"

"Don't worry yourself! I'm sure you can sort this out. I'll help you in any way I can."

"Grazias Arthur. I … I'm really thankful that you came with me … I'm not as lonely as I thought I'd be for Christmas. You're text was really thoughtful!"

"Oh! Well, I just thought that you might need to be cheered up on Christmas. I … didn't want you to feel too lonely."

"Grazias."

"You're welcome! Besides, after our visit, you'll be able to spend New Year with your brother!"

"Maybe …"

Antonio received a cushion on his face and he looked up at a grinning Arthur.

"No 'maybes'! Be more optimistic like you usually are!"

Antonio smirked and sent flying his cushion back to Arthur who avoided it laughing.

"I'll try!"

They had a wild pillow fight until both fell asleep on the bed from exhaustion due to their flight, the fact that it was the middle of the night and their fight. They didn't even realise that they were still wearing their clothes or that they both fell asleep on Antonio's bed.

Antonio woke up, blinking his eyes open from the morning sun. He had forgotten to close the curtains. It took him a few minutes to notice that he wasn't in his room but in a hotel room. Oh, yeah! He was in Portugal now! With …

Antonio felt someone's breathing close to him. He shifted his head and came face to face with a sleeping, blond, English teenager. Antonio's pulse accelerated. He saw his arms were tied around Arthur who had his own arms around his waist. This situation was … quite stressful. It wasn't unpleasant at all, quite the contrary but Antonio felt it was wrong. Not only that, he was getting aroused pretty fast! Nothing had happened! They had just fallen asleep due to their fatigue from the flight. There was nothing wrong with the fact that Arthur was holding him while sleeping like an angel … no, nothing wrong! He looked so peaceful … so cute … so …

Antonio fidgeted around, trying really hard not to kiss his sleeping neighbour. That would be improper and especially for a teacher! He had fidgeted so much that it had woken Arthur up. The blond seemed a bit confused to see Antonio in bed with him, arms in arms and a deep blush covered his face as he pushed himself away from the Spaniard, cursing in his breath. Antonio found him just irresistible when he blushed like that.

"So … sorry. I guess … I must have fallen asleep on your bed last night …" Arthur mumbled.

"I'm sorry too. I didn't realise either … um … I … I'll go and take a shower …" Antonio said embarrassed as he got up an undressed. Arthur looked at him in shock before throwing his pillow at him. Antonio looked at his pupil in confusion.

"Dammit Antonio! I'm still here! Wait until I'm gone before undressing!"

And with that, Arthur rushed to his room with a beetroot red face. Antonio giggled at his embarrassment before finishing undressing and headed in the shower.

They both took breakfast in the hotel's restaurant and drove to Antonio's brother's house in a taxi. The morning incident seemed to have passed but Arthur still acted a bit more distant and annoyed than usual. It only made Antonio giggle more. He really loved how cute Arthur was!

They were now both standing on the porch, in front of the wooden door. Antonio was fidgeting nervously and Arthur rolled his eyes before pressing the doorbell.

A man that looked very much like Antonio if not for his long hair tied in a loose ponytail and his grouchy face appeared. He eyed the blond man on his porch with a questioning look.

"Si?"

Arthur decided to speak Spanish since he didn't know Portuguese.

"Good day, my name is Arthur Kirkland and I am here about your brother."

"My brother?" João eyed Arthur suspiciously. The boy seemed younger than him or his brother … probably still at school. He was quite good – looking … had nice eyes. How the hell did he know his brother? And why did he come here to bother him?

"Yes. I'm one of his pupils and we're good friends. He … he came here with me to talk to you. Antonio! Will you stop hiding already? You won't solve anything like that!" Arthur shouted angrily at his hiding friend behind the closest tree.

Antonio peeked out but was hesitant to approach his brother. João noticed him and his eyes widened in shock. What in the world was his useless brother doing here? He looked back at the blond boy. Despite that he spoke Spanish quite fluently (probably thanks to Antonio) he clearly had an English accent that remained. What was that about a pupil?

Arthur was now dragging Antonio out of his hiding place and brought him to his brother. The two twins stared at each other until Antonio fell into tears and hugged João crying countless apologies. João was at lost for words and just stood still, holding his crying and apologising brother. Arthur step back a bit to give them some privacy. Eventually, João invited them in but Arthur said he'd go for a walk in town and leave them alone to make up. Arthur walked away with a satisfied grin. He was glad that things seemed to be working out for Antonio. The two brothers headed inside without a word.

"So, who's your boyfriend?" João finally asked after a tensed silence.

"He … he's not my boyfriend! He's … my pupil."

"You're pupil? You bring your pupil with you to apologise to me for what you did?"

"No … yes … it's complicated …"

"No kidding, genius!"

"João … I really mean it … I'm sorry. I know there's no way for me to repair my mistake but I …"

"I get it! I got the point after you're thousand letters!"

"Really?"

"Yeah … I just wasn't ready to forgive you yet …"

"Can you forgive me now?"

"… Maybe … I don't know."

"I … see. I understand. I'm at least glad I could see you and talk to you. I missed you a lot!"

"Yeah … I missed you too … but I still hate you!"

"I know!" Antonio grinned. This wasn't going so bad after all.

"So … why did you bring your so called pupil with you?" João asked with curiosity.

Antonio's face became red and João was surprised to see his brother struggle for words. That was new! Antonio is such a talkative person it's rare for him to be at loss for words.

"He … I … we were talking and … I mentioned our issue and he … he offered to accompany me to see you because I … I was afraid to go alone … I was scared you wouldn't listen to me …"

"You talked about family business to your pupil? Are you kidding me?"

"No I … Yes but … he's not like the others!"

João's eyebrows raised themselves in surprise. What was Antonio suggesting?

"Not like the others? How so?"

"He … he's kind and caring. He's strong and … he can dance the Argentine tango and … he has brothers … three and a sister and he lives with two of his brothers … they hold a bar … he was born in Scotland and then lived in London and he came to my school and he's one of my final year pupils … and he's loyal and brave and sweet and strong and kind and funny and smart and he's so good at Spanish and everything he does! He …"

"Antonio … have you … fallen for him?"

Antonio's face was deep crimson and he looked away from his brother's stare while nodding softly.

"Yes … I love him."

João's eyes widened in shock. Antonio? Antonio loved someone? Well, sure he had had relationships but nothing that lasted! Still suspicious, he asked:

"How long?"

"About four months."

João whistled in his breath. Four months? That was a record! It usually never lasts more than a week or maybe two at most. He must really love that English boy.

"And he's your pupil?"

"And he's my pupil."

"You're seriously messed up."

"I know."

They both stayed silent for a moment. Neither knowing what to say.

"He's not bad …" João finally said with a thoughtful expression.

"Yes! He's cute and hot and sexy and …"

"He has nice eyes."

"Yes! Like shining emeralds! And a smooth white skin! And silky golden hair and …"

"You really like him."

"Yes … more than I thought. At first, I hated him but … that was because I didn't want to admit my true feelings. I love him."

João looked at his grinning brother and an evil idea popped in his mind. Maybe this was cruel but he still held a grudge and this was the best way to get rid of it.