The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Lovino fought his way through the crowds and reluctantly made his way to the room by the stairs. Bits and pieces of his short conversation with Antonio bounced around in his mind like pinballs the entire time. Really, he couldn't remember the last time someone had given him his undivided attention- no, wait, he did. It was last Sunday, and that person was Antonio. Lovino groaned. He supposed taking to the bastard was better than sitting through the rest of that sermon. Maybe.

Only about two minutes passed between the time Lovino arrived at the room and the time the rest of their group began to flood into it. The two to enter first were Alfred and Mathew, followed rather promptly by Feliciano and Ludwig and finally Antonio. Everyone took the same seats they did the previous Sunday, Feliciano talking Ludwig's ear off the entire way to their seats. Lovino swore that Antonio pulled his chair just slightly closer to the couch he was sitting on in one tiny, subtle movement before he sat down.

"Oh, there you are! I think I lost you back there!" Feliciano said the moment he saw him. "Hey, Lovi? Before that sermon was over…did you leave?" He asked, his voice as innocent as a voice could get.

Shit. So he had noticed. "I went to the restroom." Lovino lied.

Feliciano narrowed his eyes in confusion. "But, you didn't come back the entire time-"

Lovino shot him a warning glace. Surprisingly enough, Feliciano actually did stop talking and instead dropped his gaze to the floor. Taken aback, Lovino did his best to study his brother's face. He appeared to be visibly shaken and almost exhausted, presumably from what he had just been forced to listen to. Lovino felt a twinge of sympathy for Feliciano. The kid was so innocent; he shouldn't have to have images of fire and brimstone burned into his mind. No one should, really.

Lovino stopped looking at him when he heard another voice. "Feliciano, how about you finish telling me about that dream you had last night?" He realized the voice belonged to Ludwig.

Feliciano's frown snapped into an eager smile. He turned away from his brother and launched into an incredibly detailed description of a dream he'd apparently had- something about a cat and a rocket ship- without a trace of trepidation in his voice or in his eyes. Ludwig nodded in understanding, not breaking eye contact with Feliciano once no matter how long his little story dragged on for. Lovino felt a pang of what was almost jealousy. Feliciano hadn't mentioned a thing about this dream to him.

"Alright, everyone!" Antonio's words broke Lovino out of his thoughts and finally stopped Feliciano's chatter. "I suppose we should start now. It looks like the topic for today is…uh…" He paused to look inside the folder he was holding. When he did, his bright smile was replaced with a frown. "Apparently, they want us to have a discussion about the homosexual agenda." He said the phrase with just a trace of sarcasm.

The room fell completely silent. Lovino scanned the room and took in everyone's reactions. Alfred was scowling. Mathew kept a poker face, but his posture was so rigid it looked terribly uncomfortable. Ludwig's eyes had darkened and his brow furrowed slightly, but he showed very little emotion otherwise. However, something about him told Lovino that wasn't exclusive to the situation. Finally, he looked at Feliciano. His lips were parted slightly and he had wound his hands together again, so tightly his knuckles were turning white. The tension was so thick it was nearly visible.

Antonio's voice shattered the silence into a million pieces. "You know what? I don't think I want to talk about that. No, actually, I'm positive I do not want to talk about that." Antonio was nearly yelling by the time he finished. His calm, carefree demeanor was completely gone. He sighed heavily and shook his head, composing himself. "I have a better idea. How about we just talk? You may talk about anything. But please, I am begging you, nothing about any agendas." Antonio spat the word. "In fact, the word agenda is officially banned in this class."

For almost an entire minute, no one said a thing. Lovino was quite sure that no one was breathing, either. He had never expected Antonio to be this upset; he had begun to think that he wasn't capable of being upset. His usually warm green eyes were narrowed in a fiery glare and his arms were crossed tightly over his chest. After the minute of tension filled silence was over, Antonio's eyes softened as though nothing had happened.

He smiled gently and uncrossed his arms. "I do apologize. I'm very tired, that's all." His eyes flickered and his smile faltered for a split second. He suddenly changed the subject. "How are all of you this evening?" He spoke as though he had never been angry.

Lovino was sure that he already knew the answer. After a moment there was a mumbling of half-hearted, most likely dishonest responses from the group members. Feliciano, as expected, was the first one to say something that held any weight.

"Antonio, do you really go to hell if you're gay?"

Antonio's face contorted in shock and discomfort. His wavering grin fell from his face yet again. Lovino kicked Feliciano's foot. "What the hell kind of question is that?" His words came out in the whisper, but he sounded as if he should be shouting. That sermon was over and done with. He wanted to trick himself into thinking it never happened, that it was all a nightmare.

"Ow! Lovino, why did you do that, it was just a question, the priest kept talking about and I want to know!" Feliciano said just a little too loudly. His voice grew softer. "It seems a little silly to me."

Lovino glared at him. "That doesn't mean you have to go and ask-"

"It's quite alright, Lovi. He's only going off on what he was told." Antonio said, interrupting him and possibly preventing a falling-out. His gentle smile was back, yet it didn't carry to his eyes.

Lovino felt his ears grow hot upon hearing him use that nickname in front of everyone. He could only pray that no one noticed… how ironic. "Might as well answer him, then." He muttered.

Antonio pursed his lips into a tight white line before answering. "I personally do not think so, Feliciano." His voice dipped when he continued. "However, in the end it is entirely up to God."

Alfred spoke for the first time since he entered the room, even though he looked like he was dying to say something for quite some time. His hands were tightened into fists and balled up atop his knees. "Well, I think that's bullshit!" He looked and sounded as if he was about to explode.

Mathew looked at him with wild eyes. "Language, Alfred! We're in a church!"

"Do you think I care? If that guy can stand up there and tell people they're going to burn forever, I can say whatever I want!" He shouted back at him.

It was Ludwig who spoke next. "I do have to agree it was a rather aggressive approach."

Antonio's eyes flicked back and forth between his group members with a helpless and bewildered expression. "If everyone would just relax-"

Alfred suddenly leapt to his feet, his cheeks flushed an angry scarlet. "You know what? Screw this! I'm leaving!"

Mathew grabbed the hem of his shirt. "Alfred, please-"

He only twisted away from Mathew's grip, stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind him. Mathew sat there for a moment, staring at the door with his mouth hanging open in disbelief and a blush appearing on his face. Then he got up, muttered a nearly inaudible apology to Antonio and exited the room; presumably to make sure Alfred didn't kill anyone.

Antonio stared at the door for a long moment after Mathew shut it. His face was vacant of any emotion for about thirty seconds. After a moment, he broke out of his stupor, mumbled something in incoherent Spanish and rested his face in his hands with a heavy sigh of defeat. "I'm sorry, guys." He said. "Causing anger really is not my intention."

Feliciano hung his head until his chin nearly touched his chest. "I'm sorry I asked." He spoke in a voice that no one could be mad at for long. "I didn't mean to make Alfred angry. I was really just wondering, since the priest at my other church never says things like that."

Lovino felt a sudden lightness. At least his head wasn't being filled with those kinds of things from more than one source. Then Ludwig gently touched Feliciano's shoulder, causing him to turn and face him. "It was not your fault, Feli."

What, so they were on a nickname basis now? Whatever. It wasn't like he cared. Let his brother fill someone else's head with meaningless chatter. That was fine by him; so he couldn't for the life of him figure out what this sinking feeling in his chest was. After a failed attempt to rid himself of it, he ignored it.

He was given a much-needed distraction when Antonio clapped his hands together. "I think that's quite enough for today, yes?" Lovino looked at him as he spoke and the sinking feeling instantly intensified. There were tears in his usually cheerful green eyes. Antonio looked as if to be clinging desperately to carefree demeanor. The sight was so strange that Lovino was sure he was imagining it; but the longer he looked at Antonio, the harder it became to ignore the wateriness. Lovino refused to acknowledge the slight sympathetic ache in his stomach. Could his cheerfulness be a façade? Surely not…

"I'll try my hardest to make next week a better experience." Antonio continued. His voice caught ever so slightly in the middle of his sentence. "You are all free to go. Have a pleasant week."

"Thank you, Antonio!" said Feliciano. He smiled as if he didn't even notice his mood or he'd forgotten the blowout. "See you in a week!" He grabbed Ludwig by the sleeve and walked out, not skipping a beat before he started talking to him again. Lovino slowly stood and started to follow them.

"Lovino, can you wait a moment?"

The sound of Antonio's hushed voice stopped him dead in his tracks. Even though he had only met him recently, he wasn't used to hearing him that quiet. Lovino separated himself from the whooshing feeling in his chest and rolled his eyes. "What for?"

"I just want to talk to you." Antonio's voice held no evidence of ulterior motives.

Lovino sighed in resignation, leaned out the door and called out to his brother. "Give me a minute, Feliciano. Do not leave without me."

Feliciano was still with Ludwig. His steady stream of rambling sentences gave no suggestion that he was going to leave him be anytime soon, and he paused for only a brief moment to answer. "Okay, Lovi!"

Lovino pivoted on his foot and leaned against the inside wall. "So what do you want?"

"I want to apologize. I said I would try and make this a positive experience for you, and I seem to have failed." Antonio looked at his feet and frowned sheepishly, and he suddenly looked much younger than he was. Lovino became painfully aware of how close in age they really were. Antonio didn't really feel like a teacher, he felt like an acquaintance. Lovino denied the word 'friend' the right to enter his mind.

The whole situation began to feel uncomfortable. Antonio was supposedly the authority figure here, why was he apologizing to him? "You're a little self important, aren't you?" He said finally.

Antonio's head snapped up. He looked confused. "I beg your pardon?"

"Why are you apologizing? It isn't your fault that guy said all of those things. You act as if have control over everything that happens, or something." Lovino didn't know why he was still talking. It wasn't like he wanted to comfort him.

"I suppose you're right, Lovino. Thank you." When his smile returned, Lovino felt his breath catch in his throat in spite of himself. "You seem to be wise beyond your years."

This was the first time he'd heard anything like that said about him. Usually, his grandfather accused him of being immature. "What do you mean?" He said, trying desperately to stop the blush threatening to appear on his cheeks.

Antonio shrugged. "You have a certain wisdom about you."

That was definitely something he had never heard before. Surely, he was only trying to embarrass him. Just like everyone else. Lovino rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Sure. Whatever, bastard."

Antonio chuckled in amusement. "Well, I suppose I should let you get back to your brother."

Lovino told himself he was grateful to be leaving. Why was his stomach still sinking? "Yeah." He mumbled. He started to turn towards the door when he was interrupted yet again.

"Lovino?"

He exhaled sharply in annoyance. "What is it now?"

Antonio smiled gently. "I know you told me to mind my boundaries, but would it be alright if I hugged you?"

The blush Lovino had been fighting won out as his heart frustratingly skipped a beat. Certainly he had heard him wrong. "What?" He managed to say, taking a step back for good measure.

Antonio threw his hands up as if to claim innocence. "Say no if you wish. The last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable."

Lovino grit his teeth as his heartbeat refused to slow down. He didn't care, dammit! Why did his body not seem to understand that? Hugging Antonio would be exactly like when some distant relative hugged him at a family reunion. It would be nothing more, so why was his skin warm? More importantly, why was he not leaving? Why was he not saying no?

He didn't realize what he was saying until he was finished. "Do what you want. I don't care." It took all he had to keep his voice from wavering.

Antonio smiled, nodded, and took a few steps closer to him. Lovino bit down on his lip to suppress an uninvited gasp as he felt his warm arms embrace him. He immediately angered himself when he noticed the way he smelled like freshly cut grass and fallen leaves. "I had a lovely time speaking with you today, Lovino. Have a nice week." His words fell softly against Lovino's ears and he felt his face grow even warmer.

Lovino just stood there for a moment; his arms tense and straight by his sides as he tried to keep his breathing steady. Antonio tightened his grip for a split second, dropped his arms and then it was over. Lovino wondered why he suddenly felt so much colder.

"Yeah. Whatever. I'm going to leave now." He said through the strange twist of emotions running through his blood. He looked at the floor to hide his flushed face.

Antonio smiled at him again. "Take care, Lovi."

Lovino nearly ran out of the room, pretending he didn't hear Antonio's quiet chuckling behind him. It took him mere seconds to reach the lobby, where Feliciano was still talking to that strange emotionless German. Well, it was more like he was talking at him. Lovino puffed his cheeks out in annoyance.

"For God's sakes, Feliciano. Let the poor kid go." He said.

Ludwig came the closest he did to smiling since Lovino first saw him. "I do not mind. I have nowhere important to be."

Lovino nodded though he couldn't understand his patience. "Right. Well, we have to go now. Say goodbye to your friend, Feliciano."

Feliciano stuck out his bottom lip in a pout. "Aw, you're no fun. Fine." He said. He swung around to face Ludwig again and threw his arms around him. "Bye, Ludwig! I gave you my number so you can call me now, so make sure to call, okay? We can hang out and everything!" He said it all in one breath.

Ludwig hugged him back with far more hesitance. "Alright. See you later." He let go after a brief moment and started to walk away, waving goodbye as he went.

As Feliciano waved goodbye in an excited frenzy, Lovino watched in perplexity. It was funny how Feliciano could just go around hugging people without thinking about while the extremely awkward hug with Antonio felt like a huge event. He thought about it for a second too long and started to feel silly. How childish to get so flustered over a little hug. He shook his head as if to clear it, silently demanding that his mind stop fixating on it.

"Lovi?"

Lovino snapped out of his daze. "What is it, Feliciano?"

He tilted his head to the side. "What were you doing back there?"

So much for forgetting about what happened. "Antonio wanted to talk to me."

Feliciano's smile instantly widened. "Oh yeah! I forgot you're the favorite!" He said. "Do you believe me now?"

"I am not his favorite, Feliciano! God, why are you so hung up on that?" said Lovino. He could feel his face getting warm again. Perfect.

Feliciano's smile finally dissipated. "Why do you always get so upset when I say that? Do you not want to be his favorite?" He paused. "Do you not like Antonio?"

If only he understood what a loaded question that was. Lovino opened his mouth, fully prepared to say he absolutely didn't like Antonio, that he was annoying, that he wished he would leave him alone already, but he felt the words get stuck in his throat and refuse to come out. The realization hit him like a falling brick- he wasn't sure. He had never met someone that treated him like his own person, like he was important and not 'just there,' which many people had told him in the past. He had waited for something like this all his life, but he wasn't sure how to handle it now that it was seemingly right in front of his face. What on earth was he supposed to say? 'Fine, I admit it; I want to be the favorite because I've never gotten to be anyone's favorite'?

Lovino started to walk towards the door. "We need to get home, Feliciano."

Feliciano, seemingly caught off guard, ran back to his side. "Hey! You didn't answer my question! Oh no, Lovi, are you mad at me? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you angry, oh gosh, I made Alfred angry too, I'm so sorry!"

Lovino sighed and shook his head. This wasn't worth fighting over. His eyes softened and he slowed his pace. "No, Feli. I'm not mad at you and neither is Alfred. Alfred was mad at that priest." Lovino was hit with the priest's words as soon as he mentioned him. The sinful will be met with a lake of fire and burning winds! He bit his lip and tried to concentrate on the birds singing now that they were outside.

"Oh…ok…" Feliciano said. There was a long, slightly uncomfortable pause. "Lovi…do you think I'm going to hell?"

Shock shot through Lovino's heart like a poison-dipped arrow. He stopped dead in his tracks, right in the middle of the sidewalk. Hearing that question on Feliciano's lips, his voice quiet and quivering, it was nothing short of heart stopping. "No. Feli, no." He shook his head, half as an answer and half out of confusion. "Where did that come from?" Lovino already knew the answer, but he asked anyway.

"Well, I mean, I've lied to grandpa a few times, like last week I said I cleaned my room but I really didn't, and sometimes I get mad and talk back to him, and I stole a piece of candy from the store once when I was seven-"

Lovino waved his hands in front of himself to stop him. "Wait. Wait a minute." He said. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Lovino simply couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Do you think any of that merits a fucking eternity of punishment?"

Feliciano bit down on his lip, worry coursing through his eyes. "That's another thing. I think you should stop swearing, Lovino. Father O'Brian said swearing is a sin."

Lovino ignored the first part of his response. "Who in the hell is Father O'Brian?"

Feliciano cringed at his cursing but quickly regained his composure. "Weren't you listening?" He asked in disbelief. "He's the priest that's been giving the sermons since we started going there."

So he did have a name. Lovino grimaced. He already knew he would grow to hate that name- no, he was sure he already did. "Feliciano, listen to me." He gripped his brother's shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes. "You have done nothing wrong. You are not going to hell. Do you understand?"

Lovino could barely finish those three sentences through the growing anger that rushed beneath his skin. How dare that man scare his baby brother like that? At the same time, it was painful to hear the same doubts he had for years vocalized in a way he never had the courage to. The memories he had of late nights spent in jittery uncertainty were far too vivid for his liking.

"But Lovi, I-"

He shook his head. "I promise, Feliciano." He said firmly.

Feliciano opened his mouth but quickly shut it. He nodded slowly even though he looked far from convinced. "Okay." He said in a small voice. He glanced down the sidewalk. "I think we should just go home."

Lovino nodded and started walking again. He stole an occasional glance at Feliciano as they retreated back home in silence. His honey-colored eyes were deep in contemplation and looked just the slightest bit too damp. Faint traces of anger continued to run through Lovino's blood, but he quickly realized he felt another emotion along with it, an emotion that he managed to suppress in the time he stopped coming to church.

Fear.

To be continued...