Hi, this is Samstar1990's beta, mystmoon92, uploading for her as she's been without internet for the past few weeks:
This chapter is dedicated to foREVerhauntingme for inboxing me with a lovely email
So there he was; Antonio found himself really trying to not fling himself at the younger male. His boss was also in fits of joy wondering if the Italian was about to cry or explode in anger.
"Ah! Mirror, you look so cute!" Antonio finally shouted, throwing his arms in the air. Mirror went bright red and growled, tugging at the outfit he had been given.
He was wearing a short red dress that stopped just above the knee with a small waist tied apron on top, there was a red ribbon tied around his neck in a small bow and black buckled shoes. He was not impressed.
"Why am I in a dress?" he cried, tail twitching wildly in anger. Boss was laughing, openly winking at him.
"But Mirror… this way we can pretend your ears and tail are a part of your costume" she purred almost seductively. He shot her a glance and growled.
"But what about him?" he yelled, pointing an accusing finger at Antonio. The Spaniard was dressed in black trousers, white shirt and black waistcoat, he also had a red ribbon tied around the collar as a tie in a slack bow and had black dress shoes on. He decided to do a spin and laughed.
"He just wouldn't suit a dress Mirror" she laughed then stopped suddenly changing the subject "there is something I want to ask…"
The two boys looked at her and she smiled "We can't call you Mirror; it's… a little weird…"
"Well it's not like I chose it" he grumbled, folding his arms and looking away. She nodded sympathetically.
"Do you mind if we call you Romano?" she asked and Antonio instantly began to think of pet names.
"Why?"
"It means man of Rome, Rome is in Italy and you're Italian…come on…it would just be for a little while" she explained. He grumbled again but it seemed that the Spaniard had decided it was perfect.
"Awwwww Roma! It's such a cute name for such a cute person!" he declared embracing the kicking teen to his chest.
"Fine! But only if you call me by the full name Romano! So no shortened bull! You hear me, bastard?"
"OK my little Romanito!" he declared and, grabbing Romano's hand, dragged him out of the kitchen to the front to meet his new clients.
An hour or two passed when Antonio approached Romano again. He found it sweet how, despite the fact the boy would constantly protest and put up such a defensive front, when left on his own in a foreign environment he became very shy and quiet. Placing his hand carefully on the boy's shoulder he felt his nervousness as he jumped and spun round, going bright red feeling a little embarrassed.
"It's ok Romano, just breathe and relax, its fine, if you relax you'll enjoy this more!" he offered as words of encouragement, and to his surprise all he got in return was a curt nod that made the curl bob gently.
"Grazie…I guess" he mumbled as he scurried off to another table nearby. He stopped at first, looking over the customers in the booth. They were a group of thugs, dressed up in chains and leather; they gave off an incredibly hostile aura which caused the Italian to hesitate before moving over to stand by the table edge feeling their eyes look him over judging him. He suddenly hated what he was wearing more than he had done at the beginning of his shift. He stuttered slightly as he whispered.
"W-what can I get you?"
The man nearest to him licked his lips as he eyed up the dressed male.
"You sure do look lovely…" he started as he began to relay his order to Romano.
"G-grazie…" he swallowed trying to sound as calm as he could noting down the order. Antonio watched them and couldn't help but feel a fire inside him burning, his tail twitched, ears drooped and eyes narrowed. Boss reached over and adjusted the air condition on.
It was when Romano started to bring the drinks out on the tray the Spaniard couldn't help but keep his eye on the table. The first thug rose from his chair and wondered over to another table and poked at the napkins. As the Italian leant over and placed the tray on the table the second thug grabbed the outstretched arm, drawing the boy in the shock sent him into a panic which wasn't helped as a napkin was stuffed over his mouth. Romano flailed and kicked but the first thug returned trapping the helpless teen in the booth and pinned his legs down.
"Let's see how pretty you are" the first whispered sliding a hand up the Italian's leg as he whimpered and tears pricked his eyes "I feel bloomers…" he chuckled and the other three joined in as Romano continued to struggle, feeling said bloomers being pulled from his body, completely in tears and screaming best he could through the make-shift gag.
Suddenly the first thug was dragged backwards by his hair and then his face slammed into the tray on the table, hot coffee splashing over the third and fourth thug as they cried out looking up to be met by two sharp emerald eyes.
"You abuse the staff…you get no service now get out!" Antonio hissed dragging the first by his hair and throwing him onto the street. The other three were up and rushing at the Spaniard that had dared to stand against them forgetting the Italian on the table. Romano dragged the paper from his mouth and coughed at the dry feeling that stayed on his tongue and around his mouth.
To say Antonio was angry was an understatement, he couldn't explain it, but seeing them touch little Roma like that… it made him see red, it made him want to burn them alive and make them suffer. Sub consciously the air around him became heated, he backed away and glanced over into the kitchen where he could see the cookers and then back to the three men approaching him. He didn't know why but his rose his right hand in instinct and focusing on the small gas flame, brought his hand across in a quick horizontal arc. The flame responded to the silent command and jumped from the cooker and in the blink of an eye was across the floor and settled on the thug's well greased hair. With new fuel supply the fire sprung to life and the café was soon filled with the screams as the men panicked. Antonio grabbed them one at a time threw them onto the street where their friend stood surprised. The door had barely closed when the boss appeared with the mop bucket and dumped the dirty floor water onto the fires dousing them. She growled,
"Next time we phone the police"
And with that they were gone.
Antonio raced over to the table where Romano was sat with his knees to his chest staring at the floor.
"Roma?" he asked leaning forward "they're gone…"
The Italian looked up with red tired eyes and to Antonio's surprise he dived into the teen's chest and nuzzled into his chest.
"I w-wasn't scared…" he cried a little.
"I know Roma…but don't worry… I will never let anyone hurt you or touch you ever again, you hear me?"
"You better…" he grumbled as Antonio shuffled in to sit down on the chair and held Romano protectively to his chest. Boss watched him a while before returning to her place behind the counter sighing. Hopefully not every day would be that eventful.
~~Unlocked Potentials~~
Back at the flat, now with the knowledge that the home they were staying in was in fact Antonio's, the rest of the subjects had become able to relax a lot more. Amazonia and Flora had decided as a way of thanking Antonio for letting them stay in his home (even if at the time they were convinced it was breaking and entering) by cleaning the house from top to bottom, Brother was helping too but mostly followed his younger sister and assisted her when she required leverage to reach above bookcases and cupboards.
Reflect was sleeping on the sofa with Beast who was currently in the form of a small white cat that lay across his stomach raising and falling with the slow relaxed breathing accompanied by the soft Ve sound the boy made. Harmonic was sat with his back to the sofa looking at the two of them every now and again and then back to the television where Atomic had turned on some nameless superhero film. He had little interest in it and eventually he rose and decided to help out the girls by cleaning the kitchen, although everyone had to admit the boy was a little OCD in his work and when he was finished, they became afraid of using the room as it looked like a shop display model and messing it would be the worst thing in the world.
Glacier was sat quietly in the study reading the books from the bookcase one by one, a lot of them were in Spanish so he had to skip them but a few were written in English. It seemed the Spaniard enjoyed his love stories and many were romantic novels of women riding white horses on the beach while a half dressed man watched from a distance without being considered a stalker. When Briar caught wind of this he began to read the books aloud while replacing the female with Summon and the man with himself exaggerating on the details whenever possible. Summon tried to silence him but in the end blocked himself in the bedroom where the French man decided to stand at the other side and read as loudly as he could.
Suddenly the door flew open and Antonio walked in and blinked at the loud French accented voice that was filling his apartment.
"Briar, what are you doing?" he asked peering into the living area.
"Ah mon ami!" he cried "I am just putting le petit lapin in this story, you really have interesting tastes" to this the Spaniard went red, a little embarrassed. The front door closed and Mirror entered eyes to the floor and as if sensing his brother Reflect shot up, throwing a startled Albino cat to the floor.
"Ve~ Fratello, you're back! I heard you had a job! I am so jealous, Fratello is always so awesome!" he cried rushing over and hugging the other. Mirror faked a smile and began to relay the events of the day to his brother (skipping over the near rape experience) while they entered the kitchen and began to cook while chattering away in Italian to one another while a blond haired German watched in horror as all his work was quickly undone in a cloud of flour.
"Is Mirror ok?" Glacier asked, holding Beast who was shaking a little from being throkwn across the room.
"Si, si…just a bad first day that's all" Antonio replied happily trying to dismiss the topic quickly when Atomic perked up.
"Dude I am hungry!" he growled, his head rolling back as he groaned "When will dinner be?"
"As soon as we make it, just be patient bastard!" Mirror cried into the living area, a feel of annoyance seemed to accompany the words. Antonio laughed a little, happy to see his little Roma back to his old self. Now all he needed to do was convince Mirror to wear the maid dress more often, the image was so nice the teen thought he would pass out from the cuteness.
Accessing subject file...
Feliciano and Lovino Vargas- Reflect and Mirror
The abilities to heal and to destroy. When in contact with each other they can switch between powers at will. However once disconnected they can only use the side of the power that were in procession off before the disconnection. Subject Reflect tends to have to be reminded of which power he has, Nearly resulted in one of the other subjects losing a limb.
Both Subjects are extremely skilled in both powers. A joining is considered however it is undetermined how this will affect the boys mentally.
Subject Reflect will chat happily with anyone who will listen and is overly affectionate
Subject Mirror has violent mood swings and has been known to attack staff that show hostility toward Subject Reflect
Subject Reflect spends a lot of time around Subject Harmonic. It is believed he has feelings towards him however this is undetermined as Subject Reflect shows the same behaviour to everyone.
Subject Mirror has been showing signs of affection towards Subject Solaris, however he appears to be in flux, and surveillance has been requested but not accepted thus far.
~~There be action in the next chapter~~