A/N: Hey, here's the update! And guys, I didn't know this until a few days ago, but two people made fan art for this fic! I couldn't believe it! I'm so happy! I never thought someone would actually take the time to draw something based on my writing again. If you have a chance please check it out!
Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia
"Ve, fratello are you sure you're going to be okay?"
Lovino rolled his eyes at his brother's question, seeing as it had been the fifth time in the last minute alone he had asked it. "Of course I am, idiota. Now go. And don't let that annoying potato doing anything stupid to you," Lovino said, waving his hands at Feliciano in a dismissive gesture.
They were standing at the airport in front of a gate, Feliciano gripping onto his bags. Ludwig was standing closer to the gate, watching them carefully while keeping his distance. It had been over a year since Antonio had been sent off to Spain, and there was a unspoken agreement among everyone that they would most likely never see him again. Lovino wasn't any happier than he had been when Antonio first left, but he was better at hiding it and had started eating tomatoes again, which was an improvemen, albeit a small one.
Feliciano had told Lovino about him and Ludwig dating a few months ago. Lovino, as predicted, swore Ludwig out and threatened to castrate him if he did anything to hurt Feliciano. Surprisingly, though, he didn't seem to mind their relationship too much. He was just happy to see his brother happy after so many years of sadness, and he knew that the potato would take care of him, as much as he hated to admit it.
Now Ludwig and Feliciano were going on vacation to some island to celebrate some stupid anniversary. Lovino thought it was a pretty fucking dramatic way of celebrating, but apparently Ludwig had been planning this ever since he and Feliciano had started being more than friends. Ludwig insisted on paying for it, much to both the Vargas brothers' annoyance. Feliciano swore to make it up to him though (how, Lovino did not want to fucking know) and that was really all they could do about it.
They would be gone for two weeks. As much as Lovino hated the idea of the two of them being alone for so long, he was glad the trip was happening. His fratello had a bad habit of breathing down his neck every fucking minute of every single day. How he managed to do this when they weren't even living together anymore, Lovino had no idea. But somehow, Feliciano managed to do it. He was like some fucking demon in a horror movie that always managed to pop up and scare the poor protagonist when they least expected it.
...well okay, maybe Feli wasn't that bad, but still. Ever since the whole Antonio thing happened Feliciano tended to constantly hang over Lovino, calling him daily, dropping by unexpectedly (usually with Ludwig) for a surprise dinner, visiting him at work, ect. And don't get Lovino wrong, he loved his brother, but he loved his fucking space, too.
So this would be good. Two weeks without having to worry about his brother hovering over him. Sure, we would miss the idiot, but a break once in a while was nice.
Feliciano smiled and nodded, shifting to kiss his brother on the cheek. "Ve, I love you fratello! I'll send you a post card, si? And don't forget, I made you some pasta and left it in the fridge!" The Italian said as he walked backwards from his brother before Ludwig placed a hand on his shoulder to keep him from bumping into the German's chest. "I love you! Bye!" Feliciano said again, blowing several kisses to a blushing Lovino before he was ushered onto the plane by his boyfriend.
Lovino sighed to himself as he watched other people starting to board the plane, and after a minute of watching he turned to leave. This will be good he repeated to himself in his mind over and over, trying to ignore the fact that he was already starting to miss his brother's presence. Whatever. He would be fine. Really, he would be. Fuck.
He sighed as he ducked his head down and headed towards the door. He would have to make lunch when he got home since he was saving Feli's pasta for dinner but he had just picked up some tomatoes so maybe he could make a salad but he would have to go out and buy some fucking lettuce if he wanted that... But then again, Francis had invited him to lunch and he didn't really feel like making anything so he could always just-
"Fuck!"
Lovino let out a shout of surprise as he suddenly crashed into someone and fell backwards onto his ass. "Hey! Watch where you're going you bast-"
"L-Lovino?"
Lovino stopped talking and looked up at the person he had actually bumped into, something he had failed to do so before because he was busy trying to get up and brush himself off. He immediately froze, his eyes going wide as he took in who exactly he had bumped into.
Tan skin, bright green eyes, loose chocolate colored curls. Antonio. It was Antonio.
Lovino blinked a few times, hard, and stepped back. "What...?" No. This had to be some kind of fucking joke. This couldn't be Antonio. Antonio was gone. He wasn't coming back. This couldn't be Antonio because Antonio could barely fucking stand up straight, let alone walk through a fucking airport carrying luggage by himself. This couldn't be Antonio because if Antonio was coming back to where he was before, he would've called. Right? He would've called Lovino because he fucking knew how much Lovino cared about him and how much Lovino had missed him and how much h-he loved him.
But the man looked just like Antonio. And the way he was smiling right now was just like the smile the Spaniard used to give Lovino everyday back in the hospital.
"D-dios mios, Lovino it is you!" The man exclaimed with wide eyes. "It's me, Antonio! You remember me, sí?" The man asked, his tone a mixture of excitement and desperation. "I know it's been a long time and I-I was going to let you know I was coming back but I just-" Antonio's nervous ramble was suddenly cut off by a sharp slap to his cheek. He blinked a few times, wide eyed, his mouth falling open. "L-lovi...?"
Lovino glared at him with a hurt expression, his eyes watering as tears threatened to spill out. How could Antonio do this to him? Why wouldn't he have called? Did he not fucking care about Lovino? Did he think that he could just casually walk back into his life like it was no big deal? Did he really mean that little to Antonio? How could he be so stupid as to think he meant more to him?
It felt like there were a million questions going through his head. Hell, there probably were. But the one thing that Lovino could feel clearly was how hurt he was.
"L-lovino, what's wrong...?" Antonio took a step forwards and his expression was so fucking caring and confused and innocent that it pissed Lovino off more.
Of course Antonio didn't know any thing was wrong. Lovino must have just read too much into it. Antonio must have not really fucking cared for him, right?
"Lovino?" Antonio tried again, his voice small and nervous sounding.
Lovino's gaze snapped back to him and he took a deep breath and opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. What could he say? That he thought Antonio would actually call to check up on him? That he had been worried sick? That he obviously cared way more for the stupid Spanish bastard than Antonio did for him?
Of course, he couldn't say that. Antonio had probably only ever seen him as his crabby nurse and was back to visit his actual friends and was wondering why the hell said pissy nurse was slapping him in the face at the airport.
Because if Antonio really cared about Lovino, why did he just show up without warning after all this time?
Lovino promptly shut his mouth to keep himself from saying anything stupid (not to mention he was about to full out fucking cry any second now and if he talked he knew his voice would break) and instead did what the people of his nationality are known best for doing.
He ran.
Yup, he hightailed it out of there, leaving a very hurt and very confused Antonio behind with a red cheek. What else could he do though? He has just fucking embarrassed himself. The man he had been fucking moping about for over a year now because he kind of maybe sort of loved him obviously didn't think anything more of Lovino than some worker in a hospital. How could Lovino be so stupid? He must have read too much into the things Antonio had done when he was his patient. Of fucking course. The only time Lovino had ever fallen in love the person he loved didn't even love him back.
Confused, pissed, hurt, and crying at this point, Lovino could only determine one thing: he needed a drink.
And he knew just where to get it, too.
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:- Time Skip -:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
Antonio let out another sob and clung onto Francis tighter. "A-and then... And then..." He sniffled loudly, rubbing his runny nose on the Frenchman's shirt which caused the blonde to cringe inwardly. "And t-then he slapped m-me and ran a-away! What am I-I gonna do?" Antonio cried.
Francis let out a soft sigh and ran his fingers through Antonio's hair in hopes of soothing him. He had been ecstatic to hear from his friend a few months ago, but this was certainly not what he had planned on happening when Antonio returned.
Gilbert rolled his eyes at his friend's crying and snapped his gum loudly. "Oh, p-please, stop with this bitchy crying," he said, ignoring Francis' death glare. The albino was much better at talking now. He only had the occasional stutter, which was hardly noticeable. Matthew really had worked hard with him.
"You gotta be a m-man!" He went on dramatically. "Go out there and claim your little Italian!" He exclaimed with a fist pump to emphasize his point.
"Oh, do shut up, mom ami," Francis sighed as he patted Antonio's shoulders as he felt the Spaniard's sobs die down.
Like Gilbert, Antonio had recovered amazingly. He had to use a cane for long distances and stuttered when he talked, but other than that he could manage fine, which was remarkable for some one who had been stuck in the hospital for as long as he had.
Francis had first heard about this good news when he got an excited phone call from a hospital in Spain from his ex-patient. At the time Antonio had told him he would be released soon, he just needed to sign some paperwork and see what had become of his belongings and home. Then he was planning on moving to America.
"B-but I want it to be a surprise! Please d-don't tell Lovino," Antonio had said quietly, sounding nervous. And he had been nervous. He was doing all of this to see his love again, b-but a lot of things could go wrong. Antonio had merely assumed that Lovino loved him back the whole time he was in the hospital, but now that he was faced with the chance of seeing him again doubts were creeping in.
He had been away for a while. Lovino could've forgotten about him. Or he could've found a new patient. Or maybe he had never loved Antonio like that in the first place?
But when he had voiced his worries to Francis the doctor had quickly waved them off.
"Mon ami, he has been a wreck without you," he confessed, knowing full well that Lovino would've killed him if he knew what he was telling the Spaniard.
"R-really?" Antonio had asked, hating himself for feeling happy about that. No! He should be wishing Lovino happiness! But still... That meant that Lovino did care for him.
At Francis' confirmation Antonio hesitantly admitted his love for the Italian nurse, earning several loud squeals from the doctor.
"I-I want to do s-something special for him w-when I get back," Antonio said. "That's w-why I want it to be a s-surprise... But I don't know w-what to do for him!"
Francis, of course, quickly offered his help to the Spaniard.
There plan had been simple. Francis would pick Antonio up from the airport and let him stay with him for a few days (much to Arthur's disdain) until he found an apartment or hotel he could settle in a little more permanently. When asked how Antonio planned to pay for all of this Antonio had let out a nervous chuckle.
"Ah... Mis padres w-were very successful in their jobs," he explained shortly.
Francis soon found out that this meant that Antonio was filthy rich.
"I-it's not a big deal t-though!" Antonio said with a small laugh after he had explained further to Francis. "I've k-kept most of it in s-savings anyways."
After that surprising point, they had gone on with the plan. Antonio would get settled, then Francis would get Arthur or Matthew (both of whom had become close friends with Lovino over the course of the past year) to take Lovino out to dinner for some fake celebration, but when he got there...
"...you will be the one sitting there at their table!" Francis exclaimed in a dramatic voice. "You'll be wearing a suit and have a rose in your hand and when he comes up to you you'll both feel the need to have hot, romantic love on the rose petal covered table..."
Antonio decided not to go with that plan. It wasn't a bad one, but he knew Lovino wouldn't appreciate a public display like that. Instead of going out to a restaurant Antonio suggested simply having one of them make a meal at their house and then having Lovino over, only for him to find Antonio, who would then finally confess his love to the Italian.
Francis said it wasn't dramatic enough, but he gave Antonio points for making the new plan in a setting with access to bedrooms. "Trust me, having sex on a table hurts more than you would think," he had grumbled over the phone. He would know- Arthur had complained about his sore back for a week after it had happened.
It was a simple plan. Antonio and Lovino would be together again and happy and then everything would just start to get better. Nothing could possibly go wrong.
Except for Lovino seeing Antonio at the airport.
"The kid has a right to be m-mad, I guess," Gilbert mused. "If Mattie had gone away for a long time then just showed up at the airport one day without telling me or even a-acting like he was planning to see me, I-I'd be pretty pissed."
Antonio let out a pathetic sniffle at the comment and wiped his eyes.
"B-but I couldn't tell him I-I was coming! T-then it wouldn't h-have been a romantic s-surprise!" He whined while twisting the bracelet Lovino had gotten him on his wrist, a nervous habit he had started up while in Spain. He had never taken the bracelet off. It was a constant reminder of Lovino, the person he needed to keep him going through all the tests and therapy the hospital had put him through.
Francis nodded and shushed him as he finally succeeded in getting the Spaniard off of his now ruined shirt. Oh well. At least now he knew Antonio could pay to replace it.
"It's okay. We just need a new plan, oui? It can't be that hard. Three heads are better than one, after all!" Francis exclaimed.
"Ja!" Gilbert agreed while sitting up. "I'll go get the beer!"
Antonio hesitantly smiled at his two friends and wiped his eyes. Maybe this would turn out okay.
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:- Time Skip -:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
"Lovino, maybe you've had enough..." Matthew said warily as he looked at his friend. He had never seen Lovino so wrecked before, save for the first time Antonio had left. The Italian had come to him in a puddle of tears going on about something that happened at the airport.
After one or two or three (Matthew hadn't really started counting until he realized Lovino was close to finishing the whole bottle) glasses of wine the Canadian had finally gotten the idea of what had happened.
Antonio had shown up at the airport, acted like his usual oblivious self, and Lovino had gotten hurt and ran out. Those two were so ridiculous. Honestly.
The blonde sighed as he watched the Italian shakily turn to glare at him. "W-what? No fuckin' way. I'm fine," he slurred out as he squinted at Matthew.
Rolling his eyes, Matthew walked over and plucked the half full glass of wine from his friend's grasp, only earning a weak whine in response. Gilbert, thank goodness, was out, although Matthew had no idea where. The Canadian was sure that the albino would've complicated things if he had been here, though. Gilbert was always very over dramatic.
Although honestly, Lovino was acting over dramatic too. Matthew knew it wasn't just seeing Antonio again that was making him act this way, though. Lovino had a lot of pent up feelings he had started to keep in from over a year ago when Antonio left, and the Canadian was currently watching all those emotions come out.
"Come on," the blonde said softly. "We should get you to bed." Of course of all the times Feliciano had to choose to go on vacation he picked this time. Matthew was sure that the other Italian would know what to do with a drunk Lovino than he himself did. "You're a mess," Matthew murmured.
"I'm not a mess, you're a fucking mess," Lovino retorted back clumsily before quickly biting his lip. "W-wait no, you're not a mess," he whined after. "I'm sorry Mattie. You're amazing," he slurred out before reaching to give his friend a hug and nearly falling face first in the process.
Matthew laughed quietly as he quickly grabbed Lovino under the arms to keep him upright. "Alright, defiantly time for bed," he said as he shifted so he could carry the Italian bridal style. He knew if Lovino was sober Matthew would be dead right now, but for now the disoriented Italian just snuggled against the blonde's chest before starting to drift off.
The Canadian sighed softly as Lovino finally fell asleep, slumping against his chest. Lovino really was a mess. He had been getting better too, or at least Matthew thought he had been, and now...
Shaking his head, Matthew shifted the surprisingly light Italian so he had a better grip on him and headed towards his guest room while thinking over the situation.
So Antonio was back. And, according to Lovino, he hadn't even bothered to contact the Italian. In fact, he had seed surprised when he saw Lovino, then greeted him like a distant friend, which was not, of course, what Lovino had been expected. But it just didn't add up to Matthew. The way Antonio had acted around Lovino at the hospital... It wasn't like the way a friend would act around another friend. It was more intimate, more... Loving.
So why had Antonio just shown up without warning? And why did he act the way he did?
Matthew frowned to himself as he looked down at his friend. This really was a mess.
It was right after Matthew had placed the passed out Italian in bed and was walking out that he heard Gilbert burst through the door. Making sure Lovino was still asleep, he let out an annoyed huff as he closed the guest room door before going towards where he heard the most noise, which meant Gilbert was there.
"Mattie!" The albino cried when he saw his boyfriend. "G-guess what! Toni's back!"
Matthew raised an unimpressed eyebrow and placed a finger over his lips. "I heard," he said dryly, in a much quieter voice than Gilbert's.
"You heard? But how did you..." Gilbert's eyes widened. "Is Lovino h-here?" He whispered shouted.
Matthew shushed him again before nodding. "He's here, in the guest room. And he's sleeping," he said, placing emphasis on the last word while giving him a meaningful look.
Gilbert got the hint and quickly nodded, all too aware of what Matthew could do with a hockey with a hockey stick when he got mad. His eyes slid around Matthew suddenly and he scrunched up his face in confusion.
"H-have you been drinking?" He asked.
Matthew blinked in confusion before turning around and shaking his head. "No, Lovino has... He was really upset when he came here," he muttered as he walked over to the glasses and started to clean up. "I hope Antonio has a really good explanation."
Gilbert let out a nervous laugh and rubbed the back of his neck. "He does... He j-just..." Looking around to make sure that Lovino wasn't listening for some reason he quickly dragged Matthew down on the couch, ignoring the blonde's protest, and leaned in close.
"He wanted t-to surprise him, you know? He was gonna do t-this whole big thing with dinner and confessing but he accidentally b-bumped into him at the airport and didn't know how to react..." Gilbert sighed and slumped against his boyfriend dramatically. "And he came to me and F-Francis crying about it and us, b-being the awesome people that we are, helped him!"
Matthew had to admit, he felt relieved at the explanation, but the last part of Gilbert's speech worried him. "Help him? What did you guys do?"
"I-it's not what we did, it's what we're going to do," Gilbert said in his best mysterious voice. "Just keep the kid from going crazy and w-we'll take care of the rest." He grinned and kissed Matthew's cheek before standing up. "Well, I'm going to bed. It's g-gonna be an awesome day tomorrow. Night!" He called, leaving Matthew behind on the couch.
Matthew slowly stood up, taking the nearly empty bottle of wine with him. If Gilbert said tomorrow was going to be an awesome day, then it really did mean it was going to be big.
As the Canadian walked by the guest room one last time that night on his way to his own bed, he couldn't help but peek in to look at his friend.
"Oh Lovino... You better be prepared. Something big is going to happen tomorrow," he said quietly to his friend.
He wasn't sure what it was or where it would happen or who would be there, but all details aside, he was worried for his friend.
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:- Time Skip -:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
It wasn't Matthew who woke up Lovino the next day, surprisingly. It was Gilbert.
"R-rise and shine, sunshine!" He crowed as he flung the door open and strutted into the room, heading towards the curtains and tugging them open so sunlight could fill the room.
Lovino let out a groan that Gilbert couldn't tell if was out of pain or annoyance. Knowing Lovino, it was probably a mix of both.
Grinning, the albino made his way over and sat on the bed, a glass of water in one hand and a bottle of pills tucked under his arm. After placing them on the safe area of the bed side table he quickly got to work peeling back the blankets from the Italian's face.
"Noooo," Lovino whined, weakly batting Gilbert's hands away. "Go 'way."
Gilbert laughed at this, easily dodging the other's attempts and quickly pulling the blanket back all the way. "Come on! U-up and at 'em! You're going to be meeting A-Antonio today," he said, causing Lovino to immediately stiffen.
The Italian's memories of last night were hazy, at best, but he could remember the airport with painful clarity. "W-what? No! Fuck off, bastard, I'm not meeting anyone today!" Lovino said loudly, regretting it quickly after since he had a terrible headache.
As if he read his mind, Gilbert helped him sit up before handing him the bottle of pills and the glass of water.
"Ja, you are. You two n-need to talk," he said as he watched Lovino toss some pills into his mouth before downing the glass of water.
Gilbert really was concerned for Lovino. He and Antonio both deserved to be happy. Why did they both have to screw up around each other all the time? It wasn't awesome at all.
Lovino glared at him as he placed down the glass of water, just now noticing the smell of pancakes in the air. Matthew must be cooking breakfast, then. It was a good thing he didn't have a weak stomach, otherwise the smell would've left him heaving over the toilet. For now he just tried to ignore his slightly unsettled stomach and instead focused on Gilbert.
"I don't want to see Antonio," he muttered after a moment, looking down at his lap. He was still wearing his clothes from yesterday, he realized. He must look disgusting.
Gilbert rolled his eyes and ruffled Lovino's hair, causing the Italian to look back up at him angrily. The albino snickered at that. "You look like an a-angry kitten," he said with a smirk before setting his face into a more serious expression. "But for real. You and Tonio need t-to talk."
Lovino shook his head. "Why the hell should we? He obviously doesn't give a shit about me. I'm just some nurse that took care of him," he grumbled.
"No!" Gilbert said loudly, causing lock not to jump and wince. "You're not! T-Tonio cares about you, yesterday he just... Panicked," he finished lamely. "I-I shouldn't say any more. He wants to explain it himself," he added after when he saw Lovino open his mouth, no doubt to ask him why the hell Antonio would be panicking at the sight of him.
Lovino frowned for a moment, looking thoughtful. Why would Antonio panic when he saw Lovino? Why the hell was Gilbert insisting that Antonio and him met? Did Antonio care about him?
Ugh. Too many fucking questions too early in the morning.
"Is there food?" He said, deciding to go off the topic. Gilbert looked like he wanted to push the whole meeting Antonio thing but when his own stomach grumbled he shrugged with a grin.
"O-of course! Mattie made some of his awesome p-pancakes," he said as he stood up. "He also left some clothes out for y-you. Get showered and changed, you reek," he teased, laughing when he ducked just in time to miss a pillow being thrown at his head. As he got to the door and stepped out he turned around one last time.
"Lovino?"
Lovino looked up from getting out of the bed, his head tilted.
"Antonio r-really did miss you. At least think a-about meeting with him today. Please," he said, his face unusually serious.
Lovino slowly nodded, causing Gilbert too flash him a grin before leaving and shutting the door behind him.
Standing in the shower a few minutes later, Lovino did think about it. He was still mad and emotional and fucking sad, but still. He loved Antonio, he really couldn't deny it. Even after yesterday's meeting, even after getting drunk over him, even after not seeing him for over a year. He loved him.
So he would meet with him. He wasn't sure what he should be expecting, or what Antonio would be expecting, but he would meet with him.
Because he really did love Antonio. And he could only pray that the Spaniard felt the same way.