AN: Hey, guys.

Here's the new chapter. Still storming pretty bad here on my end. So...

To those who reviewed:

ThatRandomReview: I'm glad you like it! I think the reason I can write that relationship between Toni and Lovi so well is because I'm a lot like Lovi in the fact that I don't trust people enough to let them close to me. Lovi..he's just not the kind to ask for help from anyone. Not unless it was his brother or someone who was in trouble. Never for himself. The Vargas brothers are done with the Mafia by choice. By force? Maybe, maybe not. You'll just have to wait and see.

Spamano4ever: Indeed he is.

The following morning, Lovino was up and showered and halfway dressed before he ran into an issue. His back brace. He didn't have any clue how he was supposed to do that and the guaze on his own without hurting himself further. He cursed. He grabbed said items, a scowl firmly in place as he grabbed his button down tee as well, and headed into the living room. "Feli, help."

Feliciano looked up from where he was eating his breakfast. He immediately got up and took the guaze and brace from his brother before he snatched the shirt and tossed it to Antonio, who caught it easily so it was out of the way.

It didn't take long for Feliciano to be done with the guaze, but even the younger italian hesitated when he started with the brace. "I don't know how to do this part, Lovi.."he admitted. He'd never been the one to help his brother with the brace.

Antonio chuckled, taking over from Feliciano and letting him go back to his breakfast. He gently put the brace on Lovino, who winced slightly at first contact, but said nothing. As soon as Antonio had the brace fastened tight enough that it would stay put but not cut off Lovino's breathing, he pulled the Italian's shirt off his shoulder and helped him put it on. "It's odd, seeing you so dependent on someone else."he admitted.

Lovino turned to look at Antonio after he buttoned his shirt up. "That's because I hate it. I like doing things on my own."

Antonio raised an eyebrow. "I know,"he murmured, kissing the Italian lightly and half smiling. "Go finish getting ready. Before Gil gets back and starts wrecking havoc again."

Lovino nodded and set about finishing getting ready for the day.

Gilbert had showed up just as soon as Lovino finished getting ready, pausing to give Matthew a quick kiss before he disappeared into the kitchen.

Lovino raised an eyebrow. "Do I want to know what that idiot's up to now?"he asked.

Matthew shook his head. "No. You don't. Come on, we have to go. He'll be along in a bit,"

As soon as the group walked into the school, Vash, who was normally stoic and didn't express affection to others, swept Lovino into a tight hug, elicting a pained yelp from the Italian.

"I can't breathe, bastard, let go."

Vash let go and backed away, his eyes scanning Lovino's face. "Feli called yesterday. What the fuck were you thinking, getting involved with people like that?!"

Lovino blinked. He'd never seen Vash lose his cool like this before. "I'm fine, let it go. Since when do you care, anyway?"

"I always have."Vash countered. "Feli and you are like little brothers to me."

Lovino sighed. "Well..I would at least appreciate you not injuring me further, at least."he snapped.

Vash nodded, walking with Lovino to where the others had seated themselves to let the two talk. "You're at least done with those guys, right?"

Lovino nodded once. "Yeah. Saturday was the last day I had to show up and I got the fuck beat out of me for showing up 'cause I was late,"he grumbled.

Vash examined the Italian before he sighed. "At least keep me updated on how things are going for you and Feli, Lovino."

Lovino nodded and rejoined the group while Vash went off to find Roderich. He huffed and plopped down beside Antonio carefully.

Feliciano gave him a look. "Are you okay..?"he asked.

"..that fucking trigger-happy Swiss is a lot stronger than he looks. He just about cracked a rib. Through the brace."Lovino responded.

Feliciano gave a faint smile. "He does it because he cares."

Antonio walked with Lovino to his first block and he paused before he let go of the Italian's hand. "If you don't feel like staying..."he said. "Just let me know.."

Lovino nodded that he understood, leaning up to kiss the Spaniard before he disappeared into his class. His mood had fallen quickly throught the morning's activity. After Vash's greeting that morning, he'd caught hell from some of the other students.

Nothing really got to him as much as a note handed to him on his way to the cafeteria alone by someone he didn't know. He readd it as he entered the cafeteria. He stopped dead in his tracks at one point, finishing the note before his expression fell.

He joined the others, but met no one's eyes.

Gilbert frowned at how the Italian was acting. It wasn't like him. "What's going on?"

Lovino shook his head, re-reading the note in shock.

Antonio came up to them then with a bright smile showing. He sat down and moved to kiss Lovino's cheek only to be pushed away. He frowned. "What's the matter?"he asked.

Lovino held the note up before he handed it to Antonio.

The Spaniard frowned, but took it and skimmed it before he blinked. He tilted his head. "What..?"

Antonio shook his head and read through it again, paying closer attention to what was said.

After that, Antonio looked back up at Lovino. "You know I didn't write this, right?"

Lovino nodded once.

"Then why are you mad at me?"Antonio asked softly.

"I'm not."

Antonio tilted his head. "Then what's going on?"

Lovino shook his head again, signalling he didn't want to talk about it.

Antonio sighed. He could tell that Lovino had reached his breaking point by the way the Italian was shaking. "Te amo,"he said softly, taking one of Lovino's hands. "Just try to calm down, okay?"

Lovino rested against Antonio for a moment before he spoke. "Toni..we need to talk,"he whispered, looking up at the Spaniard, who nodded and got up, leading Lovino out of hearing range so they could talk.

Feliciano noticed that Antonio had left the note laying on the table and grabbed it, reading through it curiously. He sighed.

Everyone could tell that Lovino had reached his breaking point when they saw Antonio wipe tears away. He led the Italian back to the table and let Lovino curl up against him.

Francis frowned. This just wasn't..it wasn't like Lovino. Today must have been brutal so far.

Here. I gotta go to bed now..

Auf wiedersehen!