Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia: Axis Powers or Black Mirror. All rights go to their creators.
Chapter 8: Mixer
Lovino, in the space between the upcoming business trip and Alfred's little mixer, researched London. Or really he bought a lot of Union Jack themed things he didn't tell Arthur about.
He watched some episodes of Dr. Who because apparently that show was popular, and Sherlock the BBC version. As if Lovino would be caught dead reading Sherlock Holmes novels when he could watch movies. He'd watched all the movies made in the past decade or so as well. Lovino was amazed he'd done so much in that month, even more so since he'd cut out his soaps.
Feli teased him, but drowning him out was easy when he could just turn up the volume on the television.
He'd gotten on the Iggy Two app less frequently, he had to focus on watching through Dr. Who, he was behind, and he hadn't started the classic episodes either. He had to know something of pop culture relevance if he was going to have an actual shot; he was at a disadvantage because he wasn't British already.
With Feliciano not being a main source of competition, even more insecurities started eating at him.
What if Real Arthur is already in a relationship?
What if Real Arthur isn't interested in men? What if Real Arthur thinks I'm a creepy fucking weirdo?
And if that happened he would have to delete Arthur and truly be alone, because it wouldn't be right to keep the little bot hostage because he was a piece of shit.
Lovino laid back onto his bed, with Union Jack themed pillows, and comforters. His room was now adorned with posters of old English pop bands, Union Jack themed banners, and pictures of places he's never been to: Big Ben, Windsor Castle, Victoria Fountain, some castle in Edinburgh, Buckingham palace, and stonehenge.
There was a light knock on his bedroom door.
"Come in Feli, What the hell do you–!"
Lovino stopped short upon seeing Antonio pop his head in between the crack of the door.
"¡Hola Lovi! It's been a while. I…" Antonio was still talking but Lovino didn't hear anything he was saying. He was too shocked to be embarrassed by all of the Union Jack memorabilia. What the hell was Antonio doing here?
Lovino sat up on his bed and made his way to the door, "Tell me about it outside, bastard! Out of my room!" Lovino pushed him out and shut the door. Lovino gave himself a moment to breathe before he joined Antonio outside of his room.
"I know this is sudden, but you don't call me anymore!" Antonio had his hands on his hips, and he was frowning, a rare sight in itself.
"And you couldn't have called me?"
"Well I could have, but you wouldn't have picked up. I was trying to give you your space and now I hear through Gilbert that you're going to London!" Antonio waved his hands around, in a flabbergasted expression.
Lovino crossed his arms, "What do you care, anyhow? Aren't you busy sucking face with that French bastard, Francis?"
Antonio raised an eyebrow, confusion written over his face, "Lovi, I thought we were still amigos. I thought we weren't going to let this come between us. You said–"
"I know what I fucking said! I lied ok? I didn't want you to feel bad."
"But Lovi, why don't you want to talk to me anymore? I thought we were close."
Antonio had that sad kicked puppy look on his face, and Lovino felt kind of bad because Antonio had misread their friendship from the start.
"I-I've moved on and I don't need you anymore!"
"¿Que? All these years of friendship– I don't understand." Antonio looked at him, his eyes becoming glossy, and wet.
It was true, Lovino had replaced him with Real Arthur. Antonio didn't like him romantically and Francis was technically Lovino's replacement anyway, so what did he need him for?
"You've still got Feli and Francis and Gilbert so It's not like you're losing anything." Lovino waved him off.
"¡Lovi, por favor!" Antonio grabbed his arm, green eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"What the hell are you crying about? I know you'd rather not have me around. Feli's more–"
Lovino felt eyes on him, and turned to see Feliciano, half stepped out of the doorway to the kitchen area before he shrunk back into the kitchen unseen again.
Lovino felt Antonio wrap his arms around him and cry, Antonio started speaking in Spanish, asking him to reconsider and that he would try even harder if that's what Lovino wanted. It was really pathetic and Lovino didn't want to deal with it anymore.
"Alright! Alright! Get off me you damn tomato eating bastard! We'll talk about this another time! Maybe somewhere more private." Lovino pushed him off, still eyeing where Feli was trying to keep himself hidden.
"Seriously? You're not ending our friendship?" Antonio gasped.
"For now, we'll talk about it. Now get out."
Lovino pushed him towards the door.
Antonio apologized for not reciprocating his feelings but that he did love him like a brother before Lovino slammed the door in his face.
"Why didn't you tell me you invited him over?" Lovino asked, leaning back against the door.
"I don't like what you're doing Lovi." Feliciano said, stepping out of the kitchen and into their living room. He looked angry at him too. What day was it, 'Be pissed off at Lovino day?'
"What? Trying to get rid of him? He wasn't really my friend," Lovino crossed his arms.
"How can you say that?" Feliciano looked at him in disbelief.
"Oh don't act like you don't know, cretino."
"No, I really don't, Lovi." Feli furrowed his eyebrows, still an air of anger emanating from him.
It was rare in itself that Feliciano was angry, and even more so that it was at himself. Lovino didn't know if he should push Feli, but then he realized that this was the only time he was going to get some emotion out of him. Something real, not the performative bullshit he always did to sway his opponent toward his side.
Lovino pushed himself off of the door and walked towards him. "Oh so you want me to believe you don't know that everything revolves around you, huh? That Antonio only tolerated me because he liked being around you?"
He had stopped just a few meters from Feli.
"That is not true! Antonio is your friend, and I didn't want you to ruin that because o-of some guy you met online!" Feli waved his arms around. Feli paused before he sighed, "That's why I invited him over."
Lovino narrowed his eyes, "Oh you think you're looking out for me? This is new! For once you think about me?"
"I usually don't get involved in your affairs because it makes you upset." Feli bit his lip and after a pause, "But I-I can't stand back and watch you get rid of a good friendship." His gaze flickered downward.
"Oh fuck off! You're only trying to make yourself feel less guilty about leaving–" Lovino cut himself off, his heart beating frantically in his chest.
Feli pursed his lips, before he gasped. He stalked over towards Lovino, and Lovino backed up until he hit the door.
Feli stared him in the eyes, "I don't want you to be alone…and you don't either."
"Why are you so close? Could you back up? Give me some space coglione!"
"Lovi, mi dispiace. I didn't know my leaving was making us both upset. I'm worried about you, tell me you'll be alright." Feliciano cupped his cheeks, Feli's eyes were on the brink of tears, effective in trapping Lovino there.
He wanted to lie and tell Feliciano to fuck off. But there was no space to run, even if he wanted to.
"I-I can't." He closed his eyes tight, so he wouldn't have to look at Feli anymore. His eyes burned behind his eyelids.
There was so much uncertainty. With his lackluster abilities at forming genuine connections, he didn't think he'd be able to find a place to live on his own without Feli. For how much he envied him, Feliciano made Lovino's life a bit easier.
"Oh Lovi," Feli pressed their foreheads together, "We'll do this together, ok?"
All Lovino could do was nod, breathe out a large sigh, and hope Feli wouldn't comment on his tear stained cheeks.
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It was the day before Alfred's mixer, the past week seemed to fly by. After crying in front of Feli and him not commenting on it, they agreed to house hunt together after Alfred's mixer. Feli suggested asking Antonio if he had a spare room because as far as he knew, Francis wasn't living with Antonio. Lovino immediately shut that down. Feli suggested that he ask one of his co-workers at the mixer, if all else failed they would house hunt together.
As a result of talking with Feli about him feeling abandoned by Feli moving out(well Feli had gleaned that from his all consuming obsession with seeing Real Arthur, they hadn't actually talked about it), Lovino toned down on trying to "prepare" for this upcoming business trip. He was able to focus on work and pay attention like Alfred said he wanted him to.
Lovino felt a buzz, slight tingles down his spine, anticipation for this stupid business trip. He shook it off before heading into work that day though.
Vladimir had just brought out a batch of cupcakes decorated with tulips, daisies and roses made of frosting. "These are definitely like Alondra's right? I came in during her shift to study them."
Alondra was a plus-sized Cuban-American baker that worked the morning shift. It was noticeable between her and Vladimir when they started decorating flowers on cupcakes to fit the Spring theme Alfred wanted for the cafe. Oh and don't think he didn't want Lovino to do the same in the foam of the hot lattes.
"They look just like them to me." Tolys said, eyeing the one with the frosted rose on top.
"Eh people are still going to know yours is a cheap imitation." Lovino spoke up then.
Vladimir raised an eyebrow.
"God damnit it's a fucking art thing. Feli's always talking about how much of the devil incarnate copying art is. Don't mind me, I'm around him too much." Lovino shook his head.
"No, no. I kind of feel bad now. Alfred was saying our treats need to seem seamless between shifts, but I kind of liked putting my own spin on things."
"Screw Alfred. I thought you were just jealous because customers would comment that they liked morning shift's cupcakes better."
"Oh no! I respect Alondra's decorations and wanted to give my shift more of the same. But I'm just going to do my own designs for the next batch."
"But don't you think Alfred is going to be upset if you do it differently?" Tolys asked.
"Don't worry Tolys, I'm not scared of Alfred. I take everything he says as a suggestion." Vladimir grinned, placing a hand on the young man's shoulder. But it didn't erase his expression of unease.
Lovino wasn't sure if this was a light thing Alfred wasn't going to give a shit about because he often made it seem like everything was optional when in fact they were not. For as much shit Lovino gave Alfred, there was something off about him, so he did put flowers in the foam even though he didn't want to.
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Lovino stood just outside of the door to Alfred's brick townhouse. He'd texted Vladimir to ask for Alfred's address, it was a surprise to him that his number still worked. They'd exchanged numbers way back when Lovino first started working at the cafe, at Vladimir's instance if he needed anything. Lovino never took him up on it though, until now.
Lovino's hands were a bit clammy, Feli wasn't here as a scapegoat, and he'd be genuinely trying to get to know his co-workers better. He let out a breath and rang the doorbell.
He could just faintly hear the music from outside. A honk from a car probably a few streets over made him jump a little. The low mummer of pedestrians filling up the sidewalk this afternoon wasn't helping his nerves either.
But soon enough the door swung open and he met Alfred's wide ocean blue eyes.
"Lovino! Dude! I didn't think you'd show."
Alfred pulled him inside, to where the music could be heard almost bumping off the walls.
"I'm only here for the food." He muttered.
Alfred shut the door behind him and grinned. "You're like the last one! I hope it's ok I invited my gaming buddies too. I know they're not employees, but our staff is so small so I thought why not combine 'em!" Alfred said, pushing him into the living area that was past the kitchen, and bathroom.
Lovino locked eyes with Alondra who was eating a slice of pizza before he was shoved into a room with 5 other people.
Alfred slung his arm around Lovino, squeezing him a bit too tight around the shoulders in a sort of side hug. "Lovino's here everyone! Now it's time to get this party started!" Alfred was loud and the music was loud, really there was less than 10 people here, it didn't need to be eardrum bursting.
"Hi everyone," Lovino said as unenthusiastically as he could, because being next to Alfred was bothering him already.
"Huh?" He could see the faint confusion on everyone's faces as they tried to make out what exactly he'd said.
"Can you turn down the damn music?" He practically yelled at Alfred, he hadn't heard him ask the first time.
"Sorry Dude, forgot your ears are sensitive, Grandpa!" Alfred did turn the music down, with a remote to the stereo sound system pushed to the far end of the room.
Alfred said that he had beers in the cooler in the kitchen, which was right down the hall. He'd bought chicken wings, french fries and pizza. He made his own burgers, spaghetti, and little deli sandwiches. They were all in aluminum containers on his countertop and stove top in a buffet style lineup.
"After everyone's full I have some party games we can play, so let's eat!" Alfred clapped his hands together.
Alfred led the way into the kitchen, and Lovino grabbed a paper plate, a napkin,a fork and started grabbing a slice of pizza. Alondra had slipped out, but not before purposefully pushing past Alfred, still holding a plate of food.
Lovino had grabbed a scoop of spaghetti and meatballs and a burger, before grabbing a beer from the cooler. He joined Alondra who was sitting at the card table Alfred had set up to accommodate his guests.
"I thought you couldn't stand being near Alfred after work." Lovino said upon sitting down.
She momentarily looked up from her food. "That's true, but I can't say no to Matt when he gives me puppy dog eyes. What about you? Last time I checked you weren't his biggest fan either." She popped open a can of beer.
"Free food." He said after swallowing a bite of pizza.
"Your brother still not paying his half of the rent?"
"It's not actually him this time. I may have spent a little over my budget preparing for this trip."
Those volumes of classic Dr. Who weren't fucking cheap you know.
"You're going out of town? Look at you, Mister Fancy man."
"Are you guys talking about Lovino's trip to London?" Vladimir said upon sitting down, and Matthew sat across from him.
"So apparently it's an afternoon shift thing."
"Oh no, Alfred saw Lovino's brother's Hetagram post talking about it." Matthew spoke up then.
"Why didn't you tell me about it then?"
"You were there when Alfred announced it."
"You know I only hear static when that gringo speaks!" To which Matthew placed his hands on top of hers, to calm her down.
"I'm sorry, I'll be sure to repeat Alfred's announcements to you next time."
Lovino popped open his can of beer, and turned his attention to Vladimir as it seemed that now Matthew and Alondra were focused on each other. They had begun Eskimo kissing, which wasn't making out persay but let him know they were officially out of the conversation.
"So uh, yeah we were."
Vladimir had just finished slurping up a spaghetti noodle.
"That must be so exciting, even if it is for business. I've heard you can explore castles and I think Stonehenge is there…or close to it."
"Yeah, I guess if history is your thing. I mean why not learn something while I'm there if I have to." Lovino swirled his fork around in his spaghetti, gaze averted to the couch where Alfred was talking to his "gaming buddies."
"Well if you do, I'd like to hear all about it, and see some pictures too." Vladimir grinned.
Lovino leaned closer to Vladimir and lowered his voice, "Hey Vladimir could you do me a favor before I leave?"
Vladimir blinked, mouth agape, "Uh sure! What do you need?"
"Could you give me one of those card reading things you do? I-I uh…there's something important that I want to do and I want to make sure things go ok..."
Vladimir furrowed his eyes briefly but gave him a nod.
"Of course, we can set up a time whenever you're free after work, just text me."
Lovino swallowed, and gave the man a nod. Not the question he needed to ask, but one nonetheless. They continued to eat in relative silence, Lovino listened mostly as Alondra and Vladimir debated on which shift had the toughest crowd to deal with.
When everyone was just about finished eating, Alfred had them play this stupid game called "Never Have I Ever" which was supposed to be an "ice breaker" or some shit. But it ended up becoming a bit awkward when Alfred said something to get Matthew to put his finger down. Something like "Never have I ever been mistaken for my brother," (Which Lovino had to put a finger down for too, he and Feli weren't even fucking twins). And then it became a sabotaging contest between them until all 10 of their fingers were down.
"Alright well how about we end the game here. I'm going to get my consol started up and we can get a rotation going for some racing games." Alfred said, his smile seemed forced.
Alfred went over to the television. They were all still standing in a circle from during the game. Lovino shoved his hands in his pocket as he was standing next to a blond who was wearing his hair in a "Bob" style haircut. The blond was tapping on his phone, looking quite uninterested.
Then a woman of East Asian descent came over, she smiled at him and extended her hand. She was wearing a flower in her hair, her hair almost reached to her ankles, and a pink dress.
"Hello, my name is Mei!" Not one to disappoint nice women, Lovino grasped her hand to shake in enthusiasm.
"Ciao bella, you may call me Lovino."
"It must be so fun to work for Alfred!"
Lovino snorted, "He's a lot different at work than on those little games you guys play. Always demanding we smile, do silly decorations for the customers, and be pleasant."
"Decorations? You mean the little flowers on the cupcakes? I love those!" Mei bounced on her toes, and saw his look of confusion, "I came in on the morning shift last week, I told Alfred to give my compliments to the chef."
"Mei there's nothing fun about customer service." The blonde who was tapping on his phone said to her.
"He's got the right idea." Lovino said, giving a nod.
"Feliks uses they/ them pronouns." Mei spoke up then, before turning to Feliks, "And that's not true! The workplace can be fun with the right attitude and the right boss." Mei threw her arms in the air.
Alfred turned off a lamp to make the room darker as he started up the racing game. His other gaming friend who looked to be Korean, Matthew, and Alondra went over to play the game.
Feliks rolled their eyes, before their gaze landed on Lovino, "I heard you're going on a business trip to talk with the heads of Lionessolutions."
"I'm not going to be talking to any of those tech people. I'm just tagging along with my idiota of a brother." Lovino crossed his arms.
"Well, anyhow I've got word that they're on their way out again if they don't do something big."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm saying there's competition. There's this new app that has all the same features, but it's more inclusive. You can customize the way your digital lover looks, their pronouns, it's got voice functions, and they're even into mature territory but that's like paywall stuff."
"Damn, so they might take it off the market soon?"
Feliks nodded, "Do you have any intel on like what they're going to do to try to save their sinking ship?"
Lovino shook his head, he wasn't sure if it was any of their business that Kiku was trying to make androids for both Iggies. Especially since it wasn't a "company project."
"My cousin said they should expand the market to the older generation." Mei spoke up.
Feliks and Lovino furrowed their eyebrows.
Mei shrugged, "At least she thought they were going to do that when she participated in the study. I agree with her, there's an untapped market for that, older people get lonely too."
Lovino was going to respond when the word "study" marinated in his thoughts for a bit.
Feliks tapped their chin in thought, "You're right about that Mei. But I don't think it'll be enough." Feliks laughed, "Up in flames it goes then."
"Study? What study?" Lovino asked Mei.
"Oh no, I'm going to have to leave. That's Mai's talking point," Feliks excused themself and wandered back over to the couch to replace Alfred in the racing game.
Mei grinned, "My cousin participated in the study that launched Iggy Two."
"Does your cousin remember anyone else who participated in the study?"
Mei shook her head, "By name? Probably not, but it's a really fun conversation starter at parties. Like did you know there were five prototypes made before they decided none of them were the right fit?"
Lovino was shaking; someone else who was in the study, and wasn't likely to have him arrested for asking questions.
"Do you think I could talk to your cousin…uh my friend, he's a journalist and is doing a story on the origins of the app."
Mei pursed her lips, "I don't know, what TV station does your friend work for?"
Lovino told her about Francis and the recent profile he did on the company's CEO.
"Alright, I'll give you her number! Tell her I referred her to him. She's gonna love being in a magazine!"
Lovino nodded, and pulled out his phone to hand to Mei. She typed in presumably her cousin's number, "And mine too, don't be a stranger."
Lovino, under other circumstances would have been happy to get this woman's number, but considering he was lying to her, less contact was better.
Liên Kim Nguyễn was the woman's name, Mei had also mentioned the woman was Vietnamese and lived in N.Y.C.
Lovino was reluctantly pulled in to race against Mei, Matthew, and Vladimir in the video game. Lovino tried his best but those damn computers were too fast. He ended up in 6th place for his efforts.
And so the rest of the night went on with them dancing to the music, drinking more beers, and congratulating Alfred on a year well done for the café. At least their profits weren't in the toilet.
Lovino got in at a pretty late hour and was too tired to do anything except go straight to bed for a surprisingly dreamless night.
N/A: I just realized that until now it seemed like Alfred's café employed no female or poc employees, so here is Nyo! Cuba a.k.a. Alondra.
Coglione and cretino are other ways to call someone an idiot in Italian. I saw them used in another story, so why not throw them in here.
Thank you for reading! Constructive criticism welcome.