Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia: Axis Powers or Black Mirror. All rights go to their creators.

Cw: Sexual Content

Chapter 17: Photo Album

Feliciano and Ludwig's engagement party was Halloween themed. It was the beginning of November so that was that. Lovino got slapped with a heavy bill for damages, which set him back a month's rent with Berwald. Arthur paid as much as he could spare, and Berwald allowed him to not have to pay the rest for November.

Berwald was also invited and Arthur was Lovino's plus one.

Berwald was wearing a flannel shirt and heavy brown hiking boots along with carrying a plastic axe. He said he was a lumberjack.

Lovino stood in front of a mirror dressed in a brown leather jacket, a brown fedora and tan cargo pants with brown penny loafers. He had rope attached to his belt to replace the whip as he was supposed to be Indiana Jones.

Arthur's costume was more elaborate than theirs which meant it was more expensive. But not having to spend money on food, allowed him to save up. He was dressed as a pirate: blood red tricorn hat, leather boots, and a red jacket with gold accents. He was also brandishing a cutlass that Lovino wasn't sure if it was plastic or real. He pulled a skeleton mask over his face, calling himself a ghost pirate.

Berwald drove them all to the art gallery that would serve as the hosting venue for the party. Of course Feli would take any opportunity to show off his work and be the center of attention.

Gilbert was the one who greeted them, he was wearing a blue fluffy onesie with spots, a spiked tail that dragged behind him, and horns on the top of his hood.

"Ooh let me guess, you're a pirate," He pointed at Arthur, "you're a lumberjack" he pointed at Berwald just behind them and "you're…um yourself?" Gilbert furrowed his eyebrows.

"No dumbass, I'm an explorer." Lovino pushed his way past Gilbert and stepped into the gallery.

"You didn't guess what the awesome me is supposed to be. It's a group costume."

"A monster?" Arthur asked him.

"Very close, exactly that, but specifically I'm Sully from Monsters Inc. And…who are you?"

There was a live classical quartet in the far corner of the room providing the musical entertainment for the event. Lovino saw his parents dressed as a mermaid and a prince as well as Stefano dressed as a vampire. They were holding wine glasses and chatting with Ludwig and Gilbert's parents. They were dressed as peanut butter and jelly.

Lovino swallowed a lump in his throat, he hadn't seen his parents in years. His feet were frozen in that spot. Lovino caught Stefano's gaze and he willed his legs to run down an adjacent corridor.

He found himself surrounded on either side by a few old abstract paintings of Feliciano's. In front of him was a portrait of Ludwig.

In this small area that was blocked off by the portrait wall, he was alone. Lovino took a breath to calm his rapidly beating heart. If he went over there now he wouldn't even know what to say.

Even his one accomplishment of moving out was soured by the fact that it was forced upon him by Feli's move-in with Ludwig. This gallery, filled with Feli's greatest works, some from Hetagram, wasn't helping either.

He should just go home, Arthur was capable enough to hand himself over to Kiku when the night was over. That would make their separation less painful, and on the bright side he wouldn't be humiliated.

"Lovino?" Lovino looked up to see Arthur and Berwald at the end of the corridor.

"I-I think I'll just catch the next train home. You both can stay, I-I uh I'm feeling kind of sick."

"You know we wouldn't abandon you if you're ill. Now what's this really about?"

"My parents."

"Oh! That's all? We could avoid them if you'd like. Let's not let them spoil the fleeting amount of time we have left together."

Arthur was definitely not doing ok either but apparently distracting himself with this party was all that was keeping him from literally falling apart.

Berwald placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him a nod.

Arthur gripped Lovino's hand, and Lovino gently rubbed his thumb across the back of the android's glove-covered hand.

"Si, you're right."

When they all went back out into the main area they were greeted by a server and a platter of hors d'oeuvres. This platter had smoked salmon, crackers, and cheese cubes.

Lovino took two of each before looking around for the liquor counter.

When he found it, he walked across the polished wooden floors and stood in line. Lovino stuffed the cheese cubes in his mouth just as Antonio and Francis walked over. Antonio was wearing a onesie just like Gilbert's except it was green and did not have a tail attached. Francis was wearing a pink t-shirt dress that seemed too short and only gave Lovino a view of his hairy legs. He had on a brunette wig pulled into pigtails.

"¡Hola Lovi! I like your explorer costume. You like mine? We're matching with Gilbert." Antonio pulled Francis close to him, hand resting on his hip.

"Bonjour Lovi." Francis gave Arthur a nod.

"Another monster? And Dora?" Lovino guessed.

"No silly, I'm Mike and Francis is Boo. ¡Oooh, un pirata!" Antonio said quickly going over to feel the lapels of Arthur's jacket. Francis sauntered his way over to Berwald, who seemed to be weary of him. They both knew he was Lovino's old boss at the cafe and they'd met him once or twice before.

"This is nice, I should have gotten a costume like this." Antonio said.

"I saved up quite a bit for this costume."

Lovino turned his attention to Francis who was asking Berwald about his costume and sipping his wine glass.

"Lovi! You dressed your robot in a costume?"

"He dressed himself, Antonio." Lovino rolled his eyes.

"I think there's a contest for the best costume. You should enter! There's a table to write your name over here. ¡Vamanos!"

Antonio grabbed his arm and pulled him over to the table that led into another room they haven't been in yet.

Soon it was Lovino's turn at the liquor counter and he asked the woman server for a glass of scotch on the rocks. This was the time to bury down his anxieties.

After getting his liquor he bumped into the person he was dreading to bump into the most second only behind his parents. Kiku was dressed in a shiny silver painted suit and wearing a silver funnel on top of his head.

"Mister Vargas, I was hoping to run into you. Let me guess, Indiana Jones?" Kiku said.

Lovino took a sip of his whiskey and felt a little buzzed, "Yeah, and you're the man I saw dancing on the street corner by my job."

The man gave him a small smile, "No not quite. I'm the Tin Man."

"That fits, you sure don't have a fucking heart."

"I see you still have a bit of hostility toward me. I haven't been able to find where you sold my android off to just yet, but apparently you tried to steal something from headquarters by pretending to deliver the thing I'm asking for? If anyone should be upset it should be me, but I'm willing to put aside our differences for tonight."

"I can't when you literally want to ruin my life."

"That is not my intention at all. You seem to want to ruin my life's work." Lovino could see the slight twitch in his brow.

"You already have the other one, what's the big fucking deal?"

"I shouldn't have to explain the principle of it all. You can't just steal what belongs to me! Theft is a crime."

"You know it isn't about that! Don't you dare act like you're above all that petty bullshit. It's because I stole the one that looks the most like–"

"Lovi! You're here! You like my costume?"

Feliciano had his nose painted to resemble a snout and whiskers. He had a lion's mane hood, and a pair of furry pants, complete with paw shoes and paw gloves. He was the cowardly lion. He'd hooked his arm around Kiku's shoulders.

"The Cowardly Lion, that fits you. It really does." Lovino took another sip of his drink.

"Kiku, Luddy, and I are matching with the Wizard of Oz theme!" And then he looked around him, "Where's Arthur, are you two wearing matching costumes too?" Feli wiggled his eyebrows.

"No, and I don't know, Antonio dragged him off somewhere to sign up for the stupid costume contest."

"You speak to Mama and Papa yet? They brought Stefano too, he said something about he thought he saw you earlier but he wasn't sure."

"I've got all night, I'll run into them eventually."

"Are you sure? They're right over there."

"I don't need you to do anything, go greet the rest of your guests."

"Ok! Have fun!" And then Feli twirled away from them both before talking to some guests dressed in hotdog costumes that were looking at his painting of pasta, he could only assume they were coworkers of Ludwig.

Lovino narrowed his eyes before he jumped at feeling something rest on his shoulder. "Didn't mean to startle you. Is this another friend of yours?" Arthur asked, gesturing to Kiku.

"Far from friends. This is Honda, I've mentioned him before."

Arthur flinched but held out his hand anyway, "Nice to finally meet you Kiku."

"Konnichiwa. Nice to meet you, would I be correct in assuming your name is Arthur?" Kiku grasped his hand to shake.

"T-that's correct. That's who I am. Lovino has only mentioned good things about you."

"On second thought we have to go talk to my parents. Boyfriend and all. Excuse us."

Lovino gripped Arthur's arm and pulled him into another hallway that led to a small room with a backless bench surrounded by couples photos of Ludwig and Feliciano.

"What the hell was that?" Lovino asked before sipping the rest of his drink.

"I was nervous. He would have no reason to suspect ill will from me. And it's quite awkward to pretend you've never met someone you vaguely remember having sex with."

Lovino pinched the bridge of his nose, "Right."

"If it makes you feel any better I got a lot of compliments on my costume, and I had to shoot a few ladies down by telling them I'm in a committed relationship."

Lovino walked over to the bench. He rolled his eyes, "I don't think you should've worn something so…" Maybe it was the alcohol going to his head as he sat down on the edge.

"So…what?" Arthur walked over to him, before standing over him.

"U-uh? That? You know?" Lovino vaguely gestured around him.

"It's the costume that covers me up the most."

"Right…"

Arthur leaned down, placing his hands on either side of Lovino's hips, pushing him onto his back and crawling up onto the bench to meet him nose to nose.

"I think it's the confidence, really. Who's more confident than a pirate that can take anything he pleases?" He continued, voice gravely and lower in volume from being so close to him.

Lovino's heart was thumping in his ribcage, blush warmed his cheeks. "Y-yeah no I-I got it."

"You want me to take you right here?" Arthur's tone was gruff, and the alcohol had his head swimming. He knew what was going on, this probably wasn't the best place to have a first time, but it was the last time to do so ever.

Lovino in one swift motion took off Arthur's mask and pulled his mouth down to meet his own. It was odd, Arthur didn't have a tongue from what he could feel, but he did have teeth. Probably for presentation purposes. They sure didn't taste like teeth, they tasted like plastic.

"We'll have to do this quickly, you don't want to be missed, hmm?" Arthur said, after pulling away, only to start leaving open mouth kisses down his neck.

Lovino felt his skin heating up like the surface of a boiler. He pulled at the fabric of Arthur's jacket, trying to pull him down.

Arthur's fingers were gliding under his shirt and over his stomach, still somehow cold, and pulling it up. More kisses followed a trail down to his navel before he stopped and met Lovino's eyes again.

"Not to be a mood killer or anything, but I don't exactly have genitals." His tone was just above a whisper.

"What?"

"I couldn't find an appropriate time to tell you. I honestly didn't think we'd get this far."

Lovino couldn't really get his thoughts together, as his skin was still burning, and heat pooled below his hips. What was he supposed to do with that information?

"Screw it." Arthur muttered.

And then there was friction, and Lovino pulled the android as close as he could as they essentially rutted up against each other like two dogs in heat. This was just as good as literally anything else, because they were doing it together…or Lovino was just too horny to care.

Arthur covered his mouth at some point because he was making sounds and there was still a party going on outside this little open room.

"You're beautiful like this." Arthur's voice was light and airy. He brushed a delicate finger down one of his flushed cheeks.

"Shut up." Lovino looked away from his gaze briefly.

Lovino squeezed his eyes shut, as there was an increasing tension coiling around his lower abdomen, winding up until it soon snapped, and pleasure rolled off him in waves.

He was pretty sure his underwear was stained. The high had faded and the realization of what they'd just done sobered him up quite a bit.

"Fuck…" Arthur removed his hand from Lovino's mouth as he caught his breath.

"You're probably going to have to change your underwear, lucky for you I'm wearing some."

"All of my friends and family are outside…" Embarrassment washed over him then.

"There are worse places, but I would say having your brother and his fiance staring down at us in picture form is its own special hell."

Lovino let out a groan, focusing now on the pictures, there was something off about them, too performative, packaged and pretty for Mama and Papa.

Everything was for them, huh?

Lovino let out a sigh, he couldn't be mad at the pictures themselves anymore. Lovino sat up and Arthur sat back onto his knees.

Lovino pulled Arthur's head down, pressing their foreheads together. "I think my original point about you not wearing that costume still stands."

To which Arthur chuckled, and soon after, he did too.

00000

Back in the main room Feli and Ludwig were getting everyone's attention by tapping glasses with spoons. They were going to change up the atmosphere and liven it up. They wanted everyone to join in for square dancing.

Ludwig apparently was Dorothy, wearing a blue plaid dress, red shoes, and a brunette wig in pigtails. It was a bit ridiculous seeing such a burly man wearing such a feminine outfit. But Ludwig does anything Feli asks him to if he begs hard enough.

The violinist had switched to fiddling. Lovino noticed Berwald standing in a corner, holding a cup close to himself. Lovino felt a little bad for essentially abandoning him.

"Come on, let's dance." Arthur pulled him into the room from the bathroom.

"Wait, give me a moment ok?" Lovino said before stalking over to the usually quiet man.

"Hey, sorry for leaving you by yourself. You wanna get in on this?"

Berwald looked between himself and the clapping people on the makeshift dance floor. Then Berwald set down his drink and Lovino took that as his cue to lead them onto the floor.

Lovino found Antonio and Francis next to Arthur. Antonio grinned at him and Francis gave him a knowing look that made Lovino want to throw up because he fucking hoped Francis didn't hear any of that in the other room.

Being thrown around during do-si-do, quite literally, was a nightmare. Berwald seemed to be enjoying himself as they locked arms during the dance. He locked arms and held hands with the people in his circle that thankfully didn't include his parents during the song. And on that last turn he locked eyes with Stefano, being thrown to him by Antonio, they were supposed to stay within their circle but Antonio messed up and took them into another circle.

Stefano grinned, hooking their arms and turning them around as Lovino was forced to go along.

"Ciao! I knew I saw you! You've been avoiding me all night." The redhead grinned, he was taller than him now, shit it had been a long time.

Stefano was 13 when Lovino left for college, now he's 23 having graduated from culinary school earlier last year. He pretended not to go to his graduation, but he sat as far from his parents as possible, leaving after Feli and getting back early. So he hadn't had a chance to talk to him, but he did see him.

"Not on purpose. I must have missed you."

"Yeah! But it's fine. I could show you my graduation photos. I'm supposed to be starting my new job next month at a diner in Hudson. I'm a chef now!" He grinned.

"Congratulations." Lovino gave him a nod.

"I'm so happy to see you here Lovi, you just don't know."

"I'm happy to see you too, Stefano."

"Cause it felt like even at my graduation Mama and Papa were gushing over Feli, asking when he'd be submitting something to the gallery or when he and Ludwig were going to get married." Stefano let out a chuckle, "They don't change huh?"

"What? Stefano, don't you feel bad?"

Stefano shook his head, "Nah, I just do my own thing. I can't be mad at Feli for being the favorite."

Lovino had always assumed it was just him who was always in Feli's shadow, but it was both of them. Then the song ended and people in the room were applauding and cheering.

"What are you up to now?" Stefano asked him.

"I moved. I'm renting a room out in Connecticut. I want to get into tomato farming."

"Ooh maybe I could ask to have you supply our tomatoes whenever you get that started. Family discount huh?" Stefano nudged him in the ribs with his elbow.

Lovino gave him a smirk, "Maybe, if my profits aren't in the toilet."

"That's great to hear. I'm hoping all this cooking will get me in good with the chicks, chicks like food."

"That they do." Lovino nodded, and he caught his mother's gaze, she gave him a smile, before heading in their direction. She pulled Papa away from talking with Ludwig.

"Fuck!"

"Hmm?"

"Mama she's coming over!" Lovino gripped Stefano's arm.

"They've been wanting to talk to you too. You don't call anymore…Mama said." He hadn't talked to them since he dropped out of college eight years ago.

Stefano was pulled away by Feli who wanted to introduce him to Kiku.

A server walked past with pigs in a blanket and mini sandwiches. He hurriedly grabbed two of each and started stuffing them in his mouth as his Mama came over to scoop him up in a hug.

"Lovino mio bambino." Lovino felt like he couldn't breathe mostly because she just forced him to swallow down those appetizers.

"M-mama, P-papa long time no see." Lovino said before remembering to say something close to it in Italian.

Mama lightly hit him on the shoulder after letting him go, saying in Italian that it had been too long and mostly his fault. Why didn't he come visit with Feli during the holidays?

Lovino shrugged, saying he was busy with work.

Papa asked him what he could have been doing that was more important.

When he weakly mentioned that he worked in a cafe, Papa rolled his eyes saying that he should have expected that Lovino was too embarrassed to show his face because of how much of an utter failure he was. Dropping out of college was the most damaging of his continued non-stop train of terrible decisions.

Lovino felt his heart drop into the pit of his stomach.

Papa went on to say how he was glad Lovino wasn't able to mooch off of Feli anymore and that he was finally able to get away from him. Lovino couldn't even get the words out that most of the time he was paying their rent.

Mama chimed in to say that at least he found somewhere else to live. It must have been hard for him to do so. Mama asked if he was seeing anyone, a nice girl, maybe so she could have some grandchildren.

Lovino was going to answer the question but Papa interrupted him.

Papa said that no nice girl would want to date a loser, why was she even entertaining the thought?

Mama said that she was just being courteous, she figured the answer was no because otherwise he would have introduced her to them. Papa said that Feli would be able to support a surrogate and have a bunch of grandchildren with how successful he and his partner were. So she didn't have to worry about Lovino not performing.

Mama seemed delighted to hear about this, she hadn't known about surrogate mothers.

Lovino wanted the fucking ground to open up and swallow him whole.

"Lovino I'm sorry to interrupt but Antonio needs your help with something." Arthur said, grabbing his arm.

Lovino blinked. "Oh…Uh ok." Lovino quickly excused himself saying that Antonio is an idiot and often gets into messes that Lovino has to help him out of. He might've ripped his costume.

His parents gave him a nod, Mama saying she hoped that Antonio was ok.

"What did he get himself into? Did he knock down a painting or rip his costume?" Lovino furrowed his eyebrows, pursing his lips.

"Nothing, you just looked absolutely miserable. I don't know Italian, but I know what disappointment sounds like."

"Grazie, I needed that." Lovino felt his cheeks warm with blush.

"Of course."

"I couldn't even defend myself. It was like they drained all of my energy."

"Well the costume contest is starting soon and then the night will be over. You won't have to see them again until the wedding."

000000

Feliciano hosted the costume contest. Arthur was given the number 13 and had to stand in a row with 12 other people on the musician stage which was raised so everyone could see.

They had to scan a code and vote for their favorite costume. The winner turned out to be a woman who was wearing an olive costume that worked under Ludwig. Confetti rained down on her and she got a plastic trophy and a gift card to a fancy French restaurant. Feliciano and Ludwig then thanked everyone for coming.

Arthur, Francis, Antonio, Gilbert and himself were pulled into a group photo with the couple's parents. Feli and Ludwig were in the middle. Lovino put on a fake smile for the camera and was happy when they were free to leave.

As guests filed out to leave, Lovino walked up to Kiku who was talking with Ludwig. They both looked over at him.

Ludwig let out a sigh, "Lovino has something to tell you Kiku." Then Lovino excused them from the main room to give them some privacy. They were in another closed off hallway that had Feliciano's portrait of Ivan on the wall that closed off the hallway. On one side was a portrait of Kiku and the other was another abstract painting.

"I've had your android the entire time."

"Is this some kind of prank? Did you find enjoyment in seeing me stressed for months on end?"

Kiku took a step closer to him.

"No! Who do I fucking look like doing something stupid like that? I didn't want to give him back to you, so I didn't tell you I had him. But then Ludwig forced me to come clean."

"Why? Why would you do this to me?"

Lovino paused for a moment. It was now or never. Maybe Feliciano was right and Kiku wasn't a heartless monster.

"Because I love him! Isn't it obvious? I didn't want you to reset him." Lovino felt his cheeks burning.

Kiku stared at him for a beat, blinking a few times.

"Mister Vargas parasocial relationship aside–"

"Did you really mean that?" Lovino turned to see Arthur at the end of the hallway.

"I-I probably should have told you first but y-yeah…Ti amo."

Arthur walked over to him and pulled him into a tight hug, "It feels nice to hear you say it."

Lovino squeezed him back even harder if possible; if this really was the last time, it had to count.

"Can I be brought up to speed on what is going on right now?"

In response Arthur took off his mask and Kiku pressed himself flat against the adjacent wall, knocking down a painting. It landed with a smack right onto the floor.

"Y-you, y-you're–!" His eyes were wide in fear.

"Do I remind you of an old acquaintance Kiku?" Arthur let go of him, turning to face Kiku.

"H-how did you get in my android? I got rid of you."

"Did you now? Or did you just bury me under lines of code?"

"You're a mistake. Mister Vargas, I'm very sorry that this happened. He manipulated you somehow, I'll take care of it in a moment."

Kiku's hands were shaking and Lovino felt a little bad for him.

"See that's what I was talking about. You were gonna try and reset him." Lovino let go of Arthur and took a step toward Kiku, "Hey Honda, look at me for a second. He's not gonna hurt you."

Kiku did not, and kept his eyes on Arthur, wide as though Arthur were some kind of predator who would eat him. Arthur wasn't anywhere near him.

"I didn't manipulate Lovino into doing anything. I'm not trying to rehash any bad blood between us, I'll get out of your hair if you just let me stay with him, memories intact and all."

Kiku lunged to get at Arthur, presumably to turn him off. Lovino held him back, trying to keep him against the wall.

"Mister Vargas, you don't understand! He'll ruin your life! I have to reset him!" He wiggled and squirmed.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but Arthur's not like that. You need to calm down." Lovino held him tight, keeping himself as a barricade between Kiku and Arthur.

"You have to believe me. You have to believe I did the right thing." The usually stoic man broke down into sobs.

"What?" Lovino asked as the man folded in on himself, not responding at all.

AN: There are more romantic places for a first time, but I could not get the buildup right, so the engagement party, it was.

Thank you for reading! Constructive Criticism welcome.