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

Chapter 19: Memory Card

Lovino was restless, tossing and turning that night.

A lot of shit had happened.

He groaned, deciding he'd get up and get a warm glass of milk. Antonio had mentioned that it helped him fall asleep.

He wandered into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door, grabbed the milk jug and set it on the counter. The refrigerator illuminated the space somewhat, besides the small night light by the microwave.

Lovino reached into the cabinet and grabbed a glass mug. He poured in the milk. Lovino walked over to the microwave and tried to shut it as quietly as possible. Lovino frowned when the door made a loud noise upon closing it, and the two beeps that followed upon him starting it up.

Lovino walked into the hallway as the microwave whirred, Berwald hadn't opened his bedroom door at the end of the hallway. But he did see a faint greenish glow coming from the dining room entryway.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

"Fuck!" He whispered, scrambling to go over and open the microwave door to grab his warm milk.

Lovino with his mug in hand, popped his head into the dining room. Arthur sat, arms folded at the head of the table, facing him, but his eyes were listless.

"You didn't turn yourself off?" He asked, after taking a sip from his mug.

'I couldn't…" The android met his gaze "...not when my thoughts were buzzing around." His voice was quiet.

Lovino bit his bottom lip. Debating if he should sit with the android or just leave him alone.

Arthur had gone back to staring at a spot on the table cloth, not at anything in particular.

Lovino took a seat next to him, "Mhmm." And then he took a sip of warm milk. "Me neither."

"I'm sorry…you don't deserve to lose sleep over my mistakes."

Lovino shrugged, "Honda could have made that relationship shit up though. He sounds like an obsessed stalker to me." He whispered, voice low and hushed as to not wake Berwald.

Arthur buried his face into his arms. "Run away from the first signs of vulnerability and genuine connection? That sounds just like something I would've done. I've done it before with João."

Lovino could hear quiet sniffles coming from him, adding to his shaky breaths, a slight rattling breaking through the other sounds.

"I can't believe Honda had a little pity party and you fell for it." Lovino then gulped down the rest of his glass of milk.

Arthur looked up at him then, "You're the first person I've been vulnerable with. I-I was in a downward spiral–."

"OK! You were an asshole, but you didn't deserve to die!" Lovino had raised his voice a bit and frowned hoping he didn't wake Berwald. But Arthur was talking nonsense and it was getting on his nerves, Kiku murdered him and had been roaming free for 11 years now. His family had been kept in the dark about it all too.

Someone that Feliciano and even Ludwig trusted was a fucking wolf in sheep's clothing. All of that stress over stolen property, the lies, the covering up, the lawsuits. Shouldn't Arthur be pissed off? Enraged? Betrayed even?

But no, instead Arthur just looked at him with a pathetic sadness in his eyes, not even in self-pity.

"He's the reason you're dead! Why aren't you fucking angry?" Lovino spat, clenched fist around the mug.

"All I've ever done was be angry!" He slammed his fist onto the table, causing Lovino to jump, startled, as the wood began to crack.

The door to Berwald's bedroom opened, and a second or two later he was in the entryway.

"Sorry." They both said in unison.

Berwald stared at them for a moment, eyeing Lovino's mug before giving them a nod. He shuffled his way back to his room before closing it again with a slight click.

Silence had settled between them, and Lovino still didn't agree with Arthur feeling the way he did, how he could have an ounce of compassion for a murderer, and not any for everyone else he'd left behind.

But Lovino could understand that deep feeling of regret. Had he acted differently, maybe he would have gotten another outcome. Except unlike Lovino, it was too late for Arthur to change anything.

Lovino felt his eyes getting heavy, apparently the milk was working.

"I'm going to go back to sleep, this milk thing actually…," Lovino let out a yawn, "worked."

He moved to get up, but was halted by a tug on his pajama shirt sleeve.

"Thank you for staying with me."

Lovino knew in the space of what wasn't said, it held a lot of weight. For not just tonight, but for all the other times too.

Lovino let out another yawn, "Eh don't mention it."

"C-could I…share your bed?" His voice was so quiet, Lovino almost couldn't hear it.

"If you wanna be a little baby go ahead." And that got him a pinch on his arm.

Lovino smirked, having lightened the mood. He discarded the mug into the sink before he led the way to his bedroom, and got under the covers. He made room for Arthur to slide in next to him.

He wrapped his arms around the android, and made little cooing noises until Arthur lightly kicked him in the shin.

Lovino did manage to mutter goodnight as he was on the edge of sleep. He heard Arthur quietly whisper the same, before pressing his lips to the back of Lovino's hand, too tired to really care about the cold.

00000

Lovino and Arthur were at the library once again, and they'd just finished looking at the memory card Kiku handed to him and the last video was of Kiku pulling the lever to overload the machine.

Arthur said he thought it was kind of surreal seeing himself on screen, but it wasn't technically himself.

And with that confirmed, they went to the NYPD police station, to reopen the case. Of course he had to convince them first that there was a case in the first place for murder, but the detective he talked to seemed to be interested and open to pursuing prosecution. Lovino also gave him the pictures he took in Lionessolutions Headquarters of the sealed off room.

It wasn't until months later when Arthur and Lovino were watching the news that Kiku was being arrested and detained for an investigation.

Feliciano invited him and Arthur along to have a meal at the diner Stefano cooked at in Hudson, New York. Ludwig would be coming along as well.

Lovino almost slept past it, having taken a mid afternoon siesta. Arthur had come in from work and shook him awake, chastising him for not being ready when he said he would be.

They were a few minutes late, evidenced upon seeing Ludwig and Feli sitting down near the door.

Feli sprung up and ran over to both of them, trapping them both in a tight hug.

"Mmmm! Lovi! Arthur! I'm glad you're both here!"

"Apologies upon keeping you both waiting, it wasn't too long was it?"

"No! Of course not, Luddy is always so punctual, he wanted to come early! It's only been a few minutes."

When Feli pulled away the host showed them to their table. Lovino gave Ludwig a nod in acknowledgement. Ludwig gave a glance to Arthur.

Lovino sat across from Feli and Ludwig stayed standing, holding his hand out for Arthur to shake, he did, firm and rigid just like Ludwig himself.

"It's nice to officially meet you, Ludwig. Apologies upon not being introduced at your engagement."

"Likewise." Ludwig continued to stare at him as they took their seats.

Lovino looked over the menu, and decided to get a hamburger with mushrooms.

"What are you gonna have Luddy?" Feliciano asked Ludwig, who looked startled.

Ludwig set his menu down, his gaze flickered to Arthur first before looking back to Feli. Arthur's gaze was on Ludwig, a pointed stare.

Ludwig said he'd get a pork sausage meal. Ludwig fidgeted a little under Arthur's continued gaze. Feliciano said that he was having a hard time figuring out what to get.

The waitress came over and they took their orders, Arthur just got coffee.

"You got something to say, Ludwig?" Lovino asked Ludwig.

Said man cleared his throat, "Is this a suitable arrangement for your companion? I'm under the assumption he can't eat, correct? I assumed you'd bring Berwald."

Lovino met Arthur's gaze, "U-uh fuck that's right. I just–."

"Or are you just uncomfortable with me?"

Ludwig gave Arthur a look, icy blue eyes focused on the android's emerald green.

"No, you seem…functional. I just wouldn't want you to feel uncomfortable watching us eat and not be able to do much else."

"H-how considerate of you, but I'm used to it." Arthur avoided the man's pointed gaze.

Feliciano started drumming his knuckles onto the table, "Stefano mentioned something about you wanting to start a tomato farm Lovi? You didn't tell me!"

"Damn I was going to surprise you!" Lovino fished around in his pockets for his phone. "I'm going to start a tomato farm here in Hudson, maybe even sell at the local market." Lovino scrolled to the pictures of the home he'd gone out to visit. He was working on seeing if he could get a loan from the Mortgage company. "And that way we won't be encroaching on Berwald." He continued, showing them to Feli.

"That's great Lovi! I'll be sure to feature your tomatoes at my next showing! I'm working on some pieces for the gallery."

Feli then reached over and gripped Arthur's hands, "I want to make my showcase about you."

"Are you out of your mind?" Lovino yelled, causing Feli to turn to him, eyebrows furrowed.

"What? You would be in it too! I find his story to be so moving with how you two got together!"

Lovino pinched the bridge of his nose, "Not like his image is being used for anything else right now, minchione."

"I'm flattered. An entire showcase is a bit much…but one piece…maybe a portrait?"

Feli squeezed his hands and bounced in his seat, "Oooh I've got the perfect idea!"

The waitress brought their meals, and Stefano came out for a few minutes saying it was his break. Feliciano showered Stefano with praise after eating and taking from Ludwig's too.

Stefano said he'd watched the news and that Lovino lucked up because they arrested the guy who made Iggy Two, so they're probably not gonna make any more androids.

Lovino decided not to correct him and neither did anyone else. As the mood had been brought down considerably.

"What's done is done. We have to move forward." Ludwig said. It wouldn't be hard to guess his stance on the entire situation. Erzsébet, her assistant Jansens, and Gilbert were being investigated as well for their part in covering everything up.

But Ludwig was a man of strong morals so Lovino assumed he had no pity for anyone…not even his own brother.

00000

Lovino had just finished signing the house in his name and put about $5,000 down on a down payment on the property.

Berwald had offered to help Lovino move out, more specifically to drive his Heta-Haul. Winter was coming to an end, and his birthday was coming up soon. It would be the last year before he was officially old…if you'd call being out of your twenties old. Starting a new life path at 29 didn't seem bad to him either.

Arthur hadn't decided how old he was going to be, or if he wanted to celebrate his birthday. Lovino wasn't going to make the decision for him either…because it seemed complicated.

A few weeks later Lovino was on the road again with Berwald, filled with silence and nothing but his thoughts to mull over. If you had told him two years ago if he'd be starting a tomato farm with an android, he would have called you insane.

That he would have gotten out of Feliciano's sphere of influence and was foraging his own path, would have been a misplaced dream.

Lovino found himself begrudgingly helping to unpack, after turning Arthur back on to help as well. Berwald helped too and when they were finished Berwald said goodbye with a single nod.

Lovino found himself pulling the taller man into a tight hug, the first and only one he's given the man he's known for a decade at this point.

Berwald seemed stunned, hesitant to return the gesture, but Lovino saw his flushed cheeks and knew he'd appreciated it. He was just rather reserved and shy, as per usual.

"If you need anything, call." Berwald said.

Lovino gave him a nod, and then he was out the way he came.

"Well that's that." Arthur said, and Lovino turned to see him holding his collection of Doctor Who DVDs.

"Damn you H-heh found my birthday present for you. It's not a surprise anymore." Lovino went to snatch them from him but he jerked them out of reach.

"Ah yes and the Union Jack themed pillows, comforters, and posters of random London landmarks are for me too?"

Lovino felt his ears burn, "O-of course! I didn't want you to feel homesick." Lovino's voice must have raised an octave as he reached for the DVDs again.

"You're still a terrible liar, love." Arthur smirked at him.

"Don't stroke your fucking ego ok? I went through a phase. A phase that's over now!"

Lovino reached for the DVDs and Arthur placed them behind his back.

"I don't know about that. You seem to want these back."

"I paid good money for those! Don't mess them up!"

Arthur pressed a kiss onto Lovino's cheek. "I'm not. You should have told me. We could watch them together if you'd like." Lovino felt his cheeks warm with blush. "Or…have them on in the background."

Lovino's cheeks were probably a dark scarlet hue at the moment as Arthur placed the DVDs in his hands.

00000

Lovino noticed of course their home was bare. With what few items he had, and no couch, Lovino knew it didn't fill up the space.

Arthur said he wasn't into decorating, so he reluctantly called Feliciano to help him.

They were at a furniture store currently, and Feliciano was bouncing on the display sofa. He had a lamp in his hands that they were planning to buy.

Lovino was cradling a few decorative pillows. And Feliciano had managed to talk the seller down on the price of the sofa, using his typical tactics of crying and his whiny baby voice. He met the man's auburn eyes, his burning resentment simmering just beneath his skin.

"Do you know you're the fucking favorite?"

Feliciano furrowed his eyebrows and cocked his head to the side, "Hmm?"

"Don't play dumb. You have to know, right? Mama and Papa always talk about you."

"Lovi, where is this coming from?"

Lovino frowned, pursing his lips, "You know."

Feli let out a soft sigh, before patting a space next to him on the sofa. Technically it would be Lovino's sofa.

"I know–"

"So you've been doing all that attention hogging bullshit on purpose!" Lovino yelled, smacking Feli with a pillow and causing him to fall backward against the armrest of the couch.

"I-I don't…not on purpose!"

"Everything is so fucking easy for you, it just happens naturally huh?"

Feli's face twisted and scrunched as though he was going to cry.

"No! I just don't want to let anyone down! I-I've always had to prove myself to be as special as everyone wanted me to be."

Lovino frowned and hit Feli again with the pillow. "What about me huh? I let everyone down, all the time. You just wanted to make yourself look better in comparison."

Feli grabbed the pillow clutching it to his chest, "You've never let me down."

"Seriously or are you just saying that? Because I was the one who pushed you into traffic and you broke your arm when we were bambinos."

"But you were also the one to carry me into the house after. You also paid most of the rent because I was scared my art wasn't good enough."

"That's….fucking true."

"I hope I didn't let you down." Feli said, mouth in a pout.

"You did, all the damn time."

Feli smiled at him, and Lovino felt a lopsided grin tug at his lips.

Their parents being the way they were affected them both in fucked up ways, apparently. And although Feliciano was still an attention seeking bastard, he finally decided he could let that resentment go because being the favorite was stressful.

Then someone else wanted to demo the couch so they had to get up.

"And uh…I think Ludwig's good for you. I still don't fucking like him, but if you get married to anybody, it should be him."

Feliciano let out a few stifled giggles, and Lovino wanted to punch him.

"I knew you didn't hate him as much as you say you do."

"No! No, I said he was good for you! I still hate his guts. I'd curse his entire bloodline if I could."

Feliciano plucked a few packs of curtains from the rack, shit eating grin still on his face.

"Whatever you say Lovi."

000000

It had been a couple of months when Feliciano invited himself and Arthur to his art showcase. Lovino didn't really know what to expect aside from the initial concept he had for making it entirely about Arthur. But he said he'd scrapped that plan to make it just one piece.

They were now on the subway to the gallery. The hustle and bustle of New York City never got any more comforting. They were standing next to each other, holding onto the above hand grips.

Arthur glanced at Lovino, before looking above him at the glowing electric sign reading the stops. He met Lovino's gaze briefly.

Lovino could never really tell what Arthur was thinking with his lack of expression.

Nothing was said until they were right at the doors to the gallery. "How many people do you think showed up to this…showing?"

"Probably a lot. Feli's really good, remember? They like to see his shit."

"A-ah right."

Lovino led the way inside, now aware that Arthur seemed nervous for some reason.

There was barely space to move around with how many people were packed into this small space. Lovino managed to maneuver to a less crowded space, body parts being the theme apparently. Lovino grimaced at the realistic painting of a hand with the fingers peeled to the bone.

He'd managed to lose Arthur somehow. He went in the opposite direction and passed by a few paintings of broken wrists, and some kind of fingerless gloves. He circled back around to the main area but not before spotting Ludwig and by extension his parents. Ludwig had of course picked up some Italian, having dated Feli so long, although it didn't correlate the other way around. Feli knew maybe a handful of random German phrases and often bullshit his way through talking with Ludwig's parents, until they essentially just all spoke in English.

They were talking about wedding plans and had suddenly switched topics to Gilbert being interrogated. Lovino's parents were worried about them both possibly losing their jobs. Ludwig was telling them that they had something to fall back on, Ludwig was more worried about Gilbert getting prison time for just being around the murder.

And then Mama noticed him, "Lovino!"

Lovino had hoped to slink back the way he came after eavesdropping on their conversation a little.

Ludwig turned to face him and Papa regarded him with a frown.

Ludwig gave him a stiff nod. "Lovino, Feli has been wondering when you would arrive."

"I haven't run into him yet." Lovino put his hands into his pockets casting glances between the three of them.

"He should be around here somewhere. I'll go see if I can find him. I know he's been wanting to hear how you've been adjusting to your new home. Mi scusi, per favore."

Ludwig excused himself and walked off in search of Feli.

Papa raised his eyebrows in surprise and Mama asked him if he had really bought a house.

Lovino nodded and told them it was out in Hudson. He also mentioned he started a tomato farm.

Mama smiled and told him that was great, she was happy to see he was turning his life around. Maybe there's hope for him yet to find himself a nice girl.

Papa gave him a nod but also mentioned the fact that Lovino might be costing Ludwig his job. What was he doing sticking his nose in a ten year old murder case anyhow? Didn't he tell him to mind his own business and keep his head down? What if all of this falls back on them, on Feli? Didn't he ever think about anyone but himself?

Lovino had shrunk back as Papa had approached him with each question. At the last question Lovino grit his teeth.

Lovino yelled at Papa to shut his mouth, complete with the hand gesture of flicking his hand under his chin, and that he didn't want to hear that anymore.

Papa blinked at him before telling him he can't talk like that to him.

He continued saying that nothing he does would be good enough so he's done trying to do what they want him to. Lovino spun on his heels, yelling that if he never saw them again it would be too soon.

How dare they! Anything that stood in the way of their perfect image of Feli, their status as his parents, ugh! I'd done everything right this time and it didn't even fucking matter.

Lovino was fuming so much that he didn't register bumping into Arthur who had been heading in his direction.

He felt a grip on his forearms, "Lovino are you alright?" Lovino looked into the android's emerald green eyes.

He let out a breath to calm himself, "My parents."

"They're here?" Arthur shook his head, "Of course they're here, do you want me to talk to them on your behalf?"

"No, I've said enough already. Did you find this mysterious portrait my idiota of a brother made of you?"

"That's what I was looking for. No such luck yet, I was going to check this room."

They were in an open room that had four walls and two door shaped entryways to enter and pass through. On the wall adjacent to them was a painting. It looked sort of like a diagram of a human body from the chest up, on theme with the other realistically gross imagery.

Lungs, heart and intestines were visible although the outside was metallic and translucent. Although there was something familiar about this robot's face.

"Why would Feli paint you like that? It's fucking gross." Lovino said, although Arthur hadn't responded to his question yet.

He stood wordlessly staring at the painting.

Then he approached the painting, nose to nose.

"Lovi!" Lovino turned to see Feli in the entryway to their right. "I was looking for you! Oh! I see you've found it already!"

"What the hell is this all about Feli?" Feli bounced into the room.

"It's not really that complicated." Feli said as though he was stupid for not getting, a sly grin on his lips.

Lovino rolled his eyes but Feli grabbed his arm and walked up to Arthur, who turned to him startled.

"A-ah Lovino was right about you. This is–"

Feli placed Lovino's hand flat to the android's chest, placing it where his heart would be located before grabbing Arthur's hand to do the same to Lovino.

"Feli you never shut up sometimes but you decide now you're not gonna talk?"

Feli giggled in response, "You're no fun! He's got all the mushy stuff you do in here."

Lovino pursed his lips and slapped Feli's hands away from them.

"I'm glad you like it Arthur." Feli clapped rapidly, "And apparently you said something that upset Papa. Ludwig's trying to calm him down, what did you say?" Feli turned back to him and cocked his head to the side.

"Something I should've said nine years ago. Can you believe Papa cares more about Ludwig's job than admitting I'd done something good for once?"

Feli frowned, "Maybe he didn't mean it like that. What did he say?"

"That I'm a selfish bastard for having gotten involved with the murder case because Ludwig could lose his precious job."

"Maybe he was just worried about you, worried that you could've gotten hurt." Feli placed a hand on Lovino's shoulder.

"Or maybe your father's just a right twat." Feli blanched and Arthur shrugged, "Lovino is one of the most selfless people I know, and if Lovino told him to piss off I don't blame him."

Lovino felt his cheeks warm with blush, he cleared his throat and clasped Feli on the back.

"Yeah I think we're going to head out. I don't want to ruin the rest of your showing, having soured the mood. It's nice, I'm proud you got back into it."

Feli held a bit of sadness in his eyes but gave him a nod as though he understood.

And with that Lovino led the way out with Athur in tow, only being able to breathe once he was outside. And in a sense he finally felt calm. Lovino felt Arthur's hand brush against his before grabbing it to hold as they walked back to the train station.

A/N: I honestly should have made Romano yell at his parents the first time. Oh well, better late than never.

Thank you for reading!

Translation curtesy of Google Translate:

Mi scusi, per favore-excuse me please