A Rose of Passion

Heartbreak and Confession

"You're an idiot."

"Si … I know."

Francis and Gilbert stared at their (once again) depressed friend with exasperated, scolding expressions. Really! After all that hard work in seducing Arthur, the kid's the one who confessed and Antonio completely missed the coach on that one!

"Tonio, you need to solve zis."

"I know but how?"

The Frenchman shrugged. He was out of ideas now. Why did Antonio always mess things up like that? Gilbert was now tapping his feet nervously and his face showed that he was pretty pissed off.

"There's only one thing to do! You will go and confess to him back! You will apologise for your unawesome stupidity and you will explain everything to him! That's what you'll do!"

"What? But … but …"

"No buts! That's an order!"

Antonio shied back under Gilbert's angry glare. Francis sighted as he put a calming hand on the German's shoulder.

"Relax, Gilbert. I'm sure Antonio will sort zis out, right?"

"He'd better! I wasted my awesomeness and awesome time to help him!"

"Lo siento …"

"Don't apologise, Tonio. You made a mistake, now you 'ave to fix it … somehow."

Antonio nodded. Francis was right. He had to fix this and the best way to do it was to confess like Gilbert suggested.

It has been a week since Arthur confessed but Antonio hadn't been able to sum up the courage to talk to him. Not only that, but their relationship had gotten colder. They barely talked and when they did, it was only about the lesson. Arthur avoided him most of the time, and Antonio had no idea of what he should do now.

As he was walking across the school grounds, he noticed Arthur and Belle walking towards the back of the gym building. They were holding hands and Belle was leading Arthur. Antonio knew that it didn't concern him and that he should probably ignore this. It wasn't his business. But …

Antonio discreetly followed them and saw them standing in a quiet, deserted area, face to face. This was way too cliché and it brought back to his mind Arthur's confession to him. This looked like a very similar scene. Antonio watched. He could only see Arthur's back and focused on what Belle was saying.

"Arthur … I've been meaning to tell you this on Valentine's day but you were away with someone. Uh … I was surprised to hear that you had a date. I didn't know you had a girlfriend."

"I don't have a girlfriend." Arthur's voice didn't shake. It was as smooth as always.

Belle's expression immediately lightened up and a faint blush covered her cheeks.

"O-oh! That's good … I mean … it's not good … uh … no, I mean … ah … …"

"Belle, what did you want to tell me? And why come here?"

Belle's face was now bright red and she avoided eye contact with Arthur.

"You don't have a girlfriend?"

"No, I don't."

"Then … would you want one?"

Arthur didn't answer. Antonio couldn't see his face and started worrying. What was Arthur thinking right now? Was he going to accept Belle's offer? But Belle didn't wait for an answer. She leaned closer to Arthur, on her tiptoes, she lifted her head up and kissed him. Antonio refrained the shout that nearly escaped his mouth.

"I love you, Arthur. I've always loved you ever since you came here. Will you … will you go out with me? Please?"

Antonio felt his anger and jealous level grow out of control. He waited for Arthur to decline, to say that he already had him, to say that Belle should just give up! But he didn't. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear. Belle buried her face in his shoulder. And they stayed like this.

Antonio was dumfounded. He felt tears roll down his cheeks. No way. Arthur … had accepted? No way! But what about his confession on Valentine's day? Had he already given up? Had he already forgotten him? Antonio ran away silently. He couldn't bear to see them together like that.

He rushed passed Lovino, without noticing him.

The Italian frowned but continued towards Arthur's direction.

Antonio locked himself in the nurse's office and skipped all his classes of the day. Mr Edelstein advised him to go home but Antonio couldn't face Francis and Gilbert just yet so he stayed. He lay in one of the empty beds and let silent tears trail down his cheeks.

Miss Lili Zwingly, the nurse and sister of Vash Zwingly, was calmly taking care of her own work. But as the day stretched out, she decided to check on the heartbroken teacher. She noticed his puffed eyes, the tear stains on his cheeks and the slight flush on his face. She felt so sad and pity for him. Taking seat next to Antonio, she tried to appease him.

"Mr Carriedo? Will you please tell me what is troubling you? I want to help."

Antonio never stopped staring at the clean, white ceiling and answered in a dull, defeated voice.

"Chica … You're a nurse, aren't you? So, you heal people?"

"Yes. That is my job. To heal and help others." She smiled encouragingly at him. But her face fell apart when she heard his next request.

"Then please … heal my heart. Make it stop breaking."

Antonio turned pleading desperate eyes and the emotion she could see in them only brought more sadness to her own heart. She shook her head in defeat.

"There is only so much I can heal. I wish I could heal your heart, Mr Carriedo. But that will always remain impossible to me. Only the one who broke it can mend it."

Antonio smiled. A knowing smile. A defeated smile. He had known the answer all along and yet it hurt even more when hearing it voiced. His focused his gaze back onto the ceiling.

"I know chica. Thank you. Thank you for your kindness."

The nurse nodded as she stood up and bid him farewell. Before she left however, she thought of one more consoling advice.

"I believe that … if this person truly means so much to you and if you mean just as much to her. That person … will definitely come back to you. And will definitely heal your heart."

Antonio chuckled but didn't reply.

Soon he found himself left alone in this white, empty room. He drifted to sleep and wish he hadn't for he could only experience nightmares.

Arthur was worried. They had been told that Antonio was feeling sick and was resting at the infirmary. When Arthur tried to visit him … Oh! What a surprise! Half of the girls of the entire school were waiting at the door.

"Well fuck. What now?" Arthur mumbled.

"We could always come back later." Lovino pointed out.

"Maybe Arthur should come back alone." Belle suggested. Her eyes were red but her face showed no remain from her previous sadness.

She hooked her arm around Lovino's and started to drag him away.

"Hey! Belle! What the fuck? Where are you taking me?" He was blushing bright red and sent a silent plea for help to his blond friend.

Arthur smirked and mouthed: "It's your chance. Good luck."

Lovino's eyes widened in understanding. He mumbled something but Arthur had stopped paying attention to them. He sat in a corner and waited. He didn't go to class for the rest of the day. He kept watching the endless crowd of people waiting at the infirmary's door. People coming, people going. He waited. Eventually, the girls started leaving when it got late.

Once they were all gone, Arthur finally got up and entered the infirmary. He quickly spotted his sleeping teacher. Antonio was just lying there, completely defenceless. His cute face looked so peaceful and a small droll slipped out of his tempting lips. Arthur walked to him and leaned gently towards the sleeping man's face. His emerald gaze scrutinising every bit of the man.

Fuck! He's just too hot! And his sleeping face is adorable!

Arthur's fingers brushed a few of the man's dark curls away from his face. The blond unconsciously leaned closer until their faces were inches apart. He smelled so nice: a mixture of tomato and spices. Maybe he liked tomatoes? Arthur smiled at the thought of his teacher cultivating a field of tomatoes. The picture was so funny but so cute he could help a small chuckle.

Antonio stirred in his sleep and Arthur's breathing stop instantly. His eyes sharpened like those of a cat and his whole body froze. But the dark man didn't wake up. Arthur slowly let out a breath of relief and in this movement, his head accidentally moved forward and their foreheads touched.

Arthur felt his face grow warm and he knew that he was probably as red as those tomatoes he just imagined. His breathing accelerated and his body was growing impatient.

The sane part of his mind was yelling at him to immediately move away. This was a compromising situation in which he was also involving Mr Carriedo. Not only that, if his teacher woke up, Arthur was worried of his reaction. Clearly the man had already been shocked by his confession, there was no need to freak him out anymore. But Arthur couldn't help it. He had never felt this strongly attracted to someone like this before.

Yes, he had loved Yao. A lot. An awful lot. But Yao's feelings towards him were little more than a passing crush. And Arthur himself knew that his feelings for Yao, despite being strong, never were as strong as what he was feeling now for Antonio. The small time he had spent in the presence of this man had been enough to completely infatuate him. Arthur felt a bit sorry for Belle. But he knew that she only felt a simple crush towards him and would get over it easily. He knew because of the way she interacted with Lovino. There was no need to worry about them. The only thing that mattered, right now, in his mind, the only thing present was …

"… I love you … … so much." He whispered so very softly it barely sounded at all.

"… So do I."

Arthur jumped when he heard the rolling voice and felt the warm breath on his face. His forehead still against Antonio's, he stared into the spring green eyes of his teacher. Antonio's eyes showed no confusion or hesitation, in fact, they were determined and wistful. Arthur lost his voice and kept opening and closing his mouth, utterly shocked and embarrassed. He jumped away but remained stoned next to the bed.

Antonio took a sad expression and his eyes seemed to be holding back tears. Arthur frowned and immediately worried.

"An-Antonio? What's wrong? What happened? Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

A fake laugh escaped the Spaniard's lips.

"Hurt? Yes. I'm very hurt."

The tone of his voice sounded like a fatality on which he had given up.

"W-what do you mean? Who hurt you? I swear I'll kill them!" Arthur's anger level rose instantly.

He didn't care about appearances anymore. If someone dared to hurt Antonio, he'd kill that person without hesitation!

Antonio kept a sad face and when he turned to face Arthur, his eyes showed betrayal and agony.

"You did."

It was a plain statement but it completely crushed Arthur's world when he heard it.

"… I … I hurt … you …?"

Antonio turned his head away to hide his tears. But Arthur wasn't about to let him get away with such a statement before he explained everything.

The blond climbed on the bed and on top of Antonio, forced his teacher to look at him straight in the eyes by holding a tight grip on his jaw and his gripping his shirt's collar. With a panicked but angry expression, Arthur leaned closer.

"I … hurt you? What on earth did I do? As soon as I heard you were sick, I came rushing to the infirmary! I spent the whole bloody day waiting to get to see you! I was worried! And how could you say that I hurt you? I didn't do anything! I even avoided bothering you after … No … you're … Are you angry because …"

Arthur suddenly got struck by a thought. Half confused and half shocked, he let go of his sick teacher and kept staring into nothing with a blank expression. Was it because of that? Was Antonio angry at him? Did he really hurt him by confessing? Arthur's expression changed from utter shock to dark depression.

"… Did it hurt you that much?"

Antonio frowned in confusion but Arthur didn't give him time to think.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I just …"

Arthur gritted his teeth, holding back his tears as he clenched his fists, his entire body trembling. Antonio's eyes suddenly shone in realisation and he grabbed Arthur's arm before the blond could get away.

"No!" He breathed out of panic. "That's not … It's not what you think!"

Arthur suddenly felt a massive weight lift itself from his body and he stared at Antonio's panicked face in confusion. If it wasn't the declaration then … what else? What could he have done that could have made Antonio this hurt? Was it because he had avoided him? But Arthur only thought it would help him not upset him! He thought Antonio wouldn't want to see him because of that confession.

"Is it because I kept avoiding you? I didn't mean to upset you! I thought you wouldn't want to see me! I just didn't want to make you … hate me …"

"I don't hate you."

Antonio's voice was soft but with a slight shake to it. Arthur breathed in relief. Somehow knowing that this person did not hate him had cleared out all his worries and his pain away.

"Then why …?"

He was silenced by Antonio's finger pressed against his lips.

"I don't hate you. Quite the opposite. I … I …"

Antonio seemed to struggle but managed to let out a soft mumble.

"Te amo."

Arthur's heart started pounding harder as he heard the two words. He still stayed frozen still with Antonio's finger silencing him and waited for his teacher to continue.

"Te amo … for such a long time. I was surprised the other day because … it all seemed like a dream. I didn't register that it was all … real. I … I really … truly … love you … Arthur. I wanted to tell you but … but you didn't seem interested in me … and I'm your teacher … it's not proper … I shouldn't be in love but … but I can't help it! I loved you since you first came! That's why I … I wanted to apologise today for my behaviour on Valentine's but I saw you with Belle and … and …"

Tears were pouring out of Antonio's grass green eyes and he hid his face in his palms, sobbing softly. It hurt. It hurt so much. Being in love … hurts.

Arthur knew that feeling. He knew how much it hurts to love someone and suddenly being rejected by that person. He knew all too well. And he hated himself for letting Antonio believe that he was going out with Belle. He hated being the cause of Antonio's pain. Without thinking, he grabbed Antonio's wrists and pinned his arms down onto the bed, forcing the tanned man to look at him. Their green eyes locked: the teary, agonising spring green ones and the determined, apologising emerald ones. Arthur felt his breathing accelerate and his throat go dry.

"I … I'm not going out with Belle. I don't love her."

Antonio's expression changed in a flash. From painful and sad, it became an expression of relief and joy. Tears were still flowing but they weren't bitter anymore. They were …

"Sweet." Arthur whispered as he licked Antonio's tears off the man's cheeks. Antonio's face was bright red and growing more intense shades by the second.

"I only comforted her. She started crying after I rejected her. She's my friend, Antonio. Only my friend. You're … you're much more precious to me." Arthur whispered in the older man's ear.

He felt Antonio's body shiver under him and a sudden impulse made him press his lips against the other man's tanned neck. Antonio's breathing grew rush and uneven. Arthur smiled as he trailed kisses and hickeys all the way down the man's neck and collar bone.

"A-Arthur … we're … still at school …" Antonio groaned half-heartedly.

Arthur didn't even have to debate on his answer.

"So? I don't care. Do you?"

He heard a soft sigh that sounded very strongly like a "No" and smirked. Neither of them cared anymore. School or anywhere else. The teacher and pupil crap they'd usually worry about. The possible interruption and the consequences. Nothing of all that mattered anymore. Both of them had to restrain themselves and hide their feelings for so long now that it became unbearable. It didn't matter. All that mattered was …

"I love you …"

"Mm … Te … amo … te amo … te amo …"

And that is all that mattered.

Miss Zwingly walked back towards the infirmary. It was late but she had forgotten a few notes and wanted to work on them back home. She must hurry before her brother worries and comes to look for her. As she reaches for the door handle, she hears soft moans coming from inside her infirmary. A sudden, embarrassed blush covers her face and she turns back with a small, satisfied smile. Maybe her notes could wait until tomorrow. It's best if Mr Carriedo received his medicine without interruption. She giggled as she skipped joyfully out of the school.

Antonio felt Arthur's hands trail down his naked body. He himself kept tracing the teen's fit muscles with his fingertips in a dazed fascination. Their mouths locked together again and their tongues fought for dominance, none of them giving in. Antonio always managed to overcome Arthur's tongue eventually, with his experience and skill. But he didn't stop Arthur from covering him in bite-marks and hickeys. He moaned as Arthur nibbled on his nipple and heard the blonde's rushed voice.

"I … don't have … any lube." Arthur panted softly before kissing the other in a passionate kiss.

They broke apart to breathe and Antonio took Arthur's hand and started licking his fingers like lollypops. Arthur's face changed drastically to one of a hungry wolf as he stared in fascination at his teacher. Antonio too was staring. His eyes trained on his pupil's heavy breathing, the tensing of his muscles, the smoothness and the sweat of his skin, the desiring look in his emerald eyes, the curves of his lips, the … He didn't have time to finish contemplating, Arthur was already out of patience. Antonio chuckled but was silenced with a fierce kiss. He moaned when he felt a thin, long finger enter him soon followed by a second one. Arthur started to scissor him, being cautious not to hurt him. Antonio realised that if Arthur lacked patience, he was still very careful in preparing him so that there would be as little pain as possible. In all truth, Antonio knew he should be thankful and he was but … but God! Now he felt impatient! He wasn't satisfied at all and only wished for Arthur to stop being so careful! He wanted more! So much more! And quick!

Arthur's fingers moved out and Antonio let out an unsatisfied growl making his pupil smirk. The blond kissed the other's forehead before whispering.

"You're quite horny, aren't you?"

"Hurry up! Fuck me already!" Antonio hissed back in annoyance.

Arthur immediately obliged. Antonio let out a loud moan as he felt Arthur's length enter him. He cried out the blonde's name, hurrying him to move but Arthur ignored him. He waited until he was sure the Spaniard felt comfortable, despite the cursing he received. Antonio's body relaxed and Arthur smiled before starting to pump. First slowly, chuckling at Antonio's pleas to accelerate, then at a steadier pace where he couldn't control himself anymore and where Antonio stopped complaining. Antonio suddenly felt a beat much more blissful than the others and his moan became louder. Arthur noticed and kept hitting in that same spot, rejoicing in Antonio's cries and moans.

"More …" Antonio cried desperately and he jolted in pleasure when he felt Arthur's hand on his erection. After a few more thrusts, Antonio's back arched and he came, yelling Arthur's name. Arthur came only seconds after him.

They both fell on the bed, exhausted and panting loudly.

"That … wow …" Arthur managed to articulate with a smile.

Antonio smiled back and brought the other closer to him, resting his head on the blonde's shoulder.

"Si … wow." He whispered back, kissing him lightly on the chest … then another kiss … and another …

"Aren't you satisfied yet?" Arthur laughed.

Antonio took a minute to consider before grinning wildly.

"Not yet. You?"

Arthur only laughed before kissing him back.