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

Chapter 10: Summer Nights

Summer was in full swing. And there was only so much heat one could stand before they were forced to mill around in a pharmacy. Arthur had gone to purchase a carton of fags. He perused the snack aisle to look as though he'd buy more just to bask in the air conditioned space.

"I know it's last minute Lovi, but I really need the apartment tonight. Luddy's coming over."

Arthur heard what sounded like Feliciano's voice. Arthur went to the end of the aisle and peered around the corner to the next. He wasn't in that one, he peered across the aisle and saw him pursuing what looked to be cough medicine? The auburn haired man had his phone up to his ear, and picked up a box.

"No, no, this is different this time. You really don't want to be there." His voice had dropped significantly lower in pitch.

A pause, enough time to pick up another box. If Arthur squinted he could just make out the contents. Definitely not cough medicine.

"Come on, there has to be someone else you can ask."

Feliciano looked up and met his gaze, bollocks! Arthur quickly grabbed the nearest snack item he could and made his way toward the checkout counter. His shoes squeaked on the linoleum floors that looked scuffed from people digging their soles on them like he was.

Arthur felt a tug on his distressed denim vest, that little bugger is fast!

Arthur turned to meet Feliciano's shocked expression. "What a coincidence running into you here!" He said, the little bastard was feigning innocence.

"Quite." Arthur muttered.

Feliciano grinned, "I need a favor. Could you let Lovi stay with you tonight?"

"No."

"Please?" Feliciano pouted, giving him puppy dog eyes.

"Why should I? I don't do favors for free."

"I'll make you more cannoli! Please, please I need this." The man dropped to his knees and begged Arthur by grabbing his ankles.

Arthur grimaced, "Have a little self respect."

"Please, please, please, please…"

Arthur could assume from how desperate Feliciano sounded that he wanted privacy for some kind of intimate night with his boyfriend. And Lovino being there would make everything awkward. If he'd get more cannoli, fine, whatever, Lovino would be just as miserable as he was in his non air conditioned apartment.

"... please, plea–."

"I'll do it."

"You will?" Feliciano scrambled up and hugged Arthur tightly. "You're amazing! Grazie! Grazie!"

Arthur pushed him away, and dusted himself off from whatever dust Feliciano had gathered from being on the floor.

"Ok, alright, don't get too excited." Arthur placed the bag onto the counter and the presumably teenaged cashier rang up his…crisps? Arthur dug around in his pocket for the cash to buy them.

"I'll let Lovi know! Ciao!" He said as Arthur walked out of the pharmacy. He had to wait for Feliciano to leave, crouched on the other side of the building before entering again.

Later Arthur straightened up his apartment just a little, and he changed into something cooler: a pair of track shorts and a thin T-shirt. Arthur put a bag of frozen carrots down his shirt to help with the heat. Although it was only slightly cooler than earlier. The windows were already open.

He turned on an oscillating fan and propped it in front of the couch. He glanced at the clock, nearing the late evening. Lovino texted him that he would be over in about 10 minutes. He was understandably upset at this entire arrangement, and Arthur omitted not having air conditioning. On friendlier terms or not, Arthur still enjoyed bothering Lovino a little.

Arthur went downstairs to let in Lovino, feet slid into thin flip flops, wearing an oversized shirt and knee length cargo shorts. A bag was slung over his shoulder.

"Why do you look like a fucking boiled lobster?" Lovino squinted as he asked him.

"My flat doesn't have air conditioning."

"Oh fuck me! I'm gonna kick Feli's ass when I get back. This is going to be hell!" He pushed past Arthur in the doorway and mumbled something else as he climbed the stairs.

At least he got to stare at Lovino's arse while he went up the stairs.

Lovino parked himself right on the couch, kicking his feet up onto the coffee table, basking in the fan's semi-cool air. Arthur pushed his feet off as he walked past to get a frozen pack of peas.

"Gods Feliciano decides right now that he's gonna make his uptight German boyfriend lose his V-Card. Fucking bastard! He's always been garbage at planning shit out."

"Have they been together long?" Arthur asked, handing him the peas.

"They just got together two years ago because Feli was finally out of his hoe phase where girls were throwing themselves at him, but have known each other ever since we moved here. We were fucking neighbors, it was inevitable. So I guess it's long overdue. Ugh they make me sick."

Arthur sat on the couch, visible space between them. Lovino placed the peas on his forehead.

"You might have to be prepared to do this sort of thing more often…if things go well." Arthur wiggled his eyebrows.

Lovino covered his face with his hands, "Fuck! Maybe that German bastard will be so bad that Feli never wants to talk to him again! I'm not gonna do this shit when it's cold!"

"Fingers crossed."

Lovino swiped his fingers down his face, letting out a groan of despair.

Arthur reached for the remote to turn on the telly.

Lovino said he wanted to watch his Spanish soap operas.

"Something you and Antonio bonded over?" Arthur tried not to sound bitter.

"No! Francis introduced them to me, Antonio helped us with the Spanish, I'm pretty fluent now from watching them." Lovino smirked, arrogance exuded from him as he met Arthur's gaze.

"Well I'm not, so we're not going to watch them."

"Come on, don't be a little bambino! I'll translate for you. It's really not that hard to follow."

Arthur pursed his lips, it couldn't hurt, he'd be partaking in an activity Lovino enjoyed.

"Alright, just this once."

Lovino filled him in on the plot of this particular soap opera.

Mario had been an admirer of Isabel for a while now, silently pinning because Isabel was with Julio. Mario is torn between waiting for Isabel and going out with Maria who is new in town. Mario knows Julio is bad for Isabel as he has a history of cheating on his previous partners, but Julio admitted his feelings to Isabel first.

Lovino started moving his hands around to explain the character dynamics. Arthur was kind of just staring at his hands, they were kind of like hairy sausages, as he passionately told Arthur about the jobs of the characters or something…Mario's mother and grandmother, Maria's dead mother… it didn't matter.

Sweat made Lovino's olive skin glisten just a bit, and Arthur had a sudden urge to want to taste it…an embarrassing thought, the heat was making him a little delirious.

But Isabel had just caught Julio in bed with her sister Elena. That was where the show left off last week.

Arthur gave Lovino a nod, lying through his teeth that he understood all of that lore he'd just dumped on him.

And so it began, Arthur didn't know what they were saying but Isabel slapped Elena and that was really all he needed. Julio slapped Isabel so forcefully that it threw her to the ground.

There was an argument and Isabel stormed out. She broke down crying. Arthur moved the carrots to his forehead, feeling his stomach was cold enough. In a half hour they wouldn't be frozen anymore. Lovino translated for him but Arthur didn't really care for the story, it seemed like a petty melodrama.

During the commercial break Lovino went to the bathroom and Arthur got a couple bottles of water from his fridge. He opened that bag of crisps he bought in a panic and poured them into a bowl. They were extremely spicy, not his favorite, Arthur couldn't stand spicy food. Maybe Lovino could though.

Lovino ate a handful of the crisps, not really paying attention and started coughing violently. He reached for the water but Arthur, seeing an opportunity, swiped it.

Lovino, not really able to say anything, except make panting noises, reached for the water again. Arthur held it out of reach, sinister giggles bubbling up in his throat. Lovino climbed over him in a desperate attempt to get either of the water bottles. Before Arthur could get lost in Lovino's musky scent, Arthur pushed him back with his foot.

He cackled gleefully at the strangled whine that left Lovino's mouth, before he felt a painful surge and dropped the bottles instantly to curl up on the couch. Lovino dropped to the floor and seized a water bottle while Arthur was curled up in agony.

Lovino had struck him below the belt, a slimy move, but all he could do was lay there until the pain subsided.

Lovino rapidly gulped down the water. "Ahhh. Sweet relief." Lovino breathed. He sat back onto his knees.

Arthur reached down and grabbed Lovino's throat, squeezing it tightly. Lovino grabbed at his hands. "Ack! Ack! Ok! I'm sorry!" He rasped.

Arthur squeezed a little harder before letting go. Lovino took in a few deep breaths, lightly rubbing his neck.

"I admit I might've pushed you a bit too far. I'm not a fan of spicy crisps either."

"Well then why did you buy them then bastard?"

"Your brother cornered me at the pharmacy."

"He's one persistent bastard, especially when it comes to getting his way." Lovino crossed his arms.

"Hmm I've noticed. But at the very least he doesn't physically overpower you to get what he wants."

"You've got an annoying younger brother too?"

"I have three older brothers."

"Right…You did say something like that before." Lovino smirked at him, "That explains a lot."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Arthur asked as Lovino rejoined him on the couch. Arthur reached down to grab the water bottle that had been left untouched on the floor.

"I said what I said." And with that he returned to watching the soap opera.

They had missed a good portion of it. But Arthur was barely paying attention.

Arthur had work in the morning so he said he'd be retiring for the night. He told Lovino to keep the telly down if he was going to stay up a bit longer.

Arthur threw a pillow at him and a spare blanket he had for especially chilly nights before closing his bedroom door. He laid down on his bed and managed to drift into sleep.

Arthur was suddenly at home, they were all sitting around eating dinner. He was sitting at the head of the table across from his father. Dylan handed him a knife to cut his ham.

"Do you want me to help you cut it, son?" His father asked, now behind his chair. Arthur grabbed the hand that reached for his plate and flipped his father onto the table and spilled over their glasses.

And then he plunged the knife deep into his father's chest, blood coated his hands with each repeated stab. He stopped, taking in the blank stares of his brothers before the reality of what he'd just done set it. He broke down into sobs as blood poured into the room, spilling down the walls, and pooling around his shoes. He stumbled back, looking up again.

Arthur screamed as blood covered his brothers' faces and they grabbed him with blood covered hands. "No, No! Get away!"

….

Arthur felt something hit his face before he blinked his eyes open, and illuminated under his bedside lamp was Lovino, standing over the side of his bed.

"What kind of fucking nightmare were you having?"

Arthur sat up, staring at his hands, turning them over and finding no blood. He wasn't at home, it was only a stupid dream.

"Did I bother you?"

"Duh! Dumbass! Why else would I have woken you up? I thought something was going on when I heard screaming." That explains the sharp pain on his left cheek.

"I should be fine now, apologies."

Lovino seemed to give him a look, a blatant challenging stare before furrowing his eyebrows. "If you wake me up again I'll–!"

"You'll what?" Arthur raised an eyebrow.

Lovino flailed his arms a bit, "Not wake you up!" And then Lovino walked out of Arthur's bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

Arthur flopped back down onto his pillow, ears burning.

How embarrassing.

00000

Arthur was treated to Feliciano humming as he came into the cafe with Lovino a couple of days later. Lovino looked about two seconds from wanting to rip out his brother's tongue.

Feliciano placed a plastic container on the counter in front of him.

"Here they are, just as I promised!" Feliciano said, positively glowing.

"I assume everything went well?"

Feliciano nodded as Lovino pretended to vomit.

"They weren't even finished when I came back!"

"I thought you would've come back later." Feliciano rolled his eyes, shit eating grin on his lips.

Lili furrowed her eyebrows, as Arthur rushed to cover her ears.

"Azzuro works the morning shift idiota! Who fucks for that long? Seriously!"

"Straight through? No. If you take breaks, it's possible."

Lili started pulling at his wrists, how old was Lili again? She's just so…innocent looking, Arthur felt like she shouldn't be hearing this.

"Eww, I had to bleach my eyeballs, and I blessed the couch."

Arthur cleared his throat, "Thank you for the cannoli."

"We'll all have to do this again, dolls, now that I know Lovi has a place to stay for a little while. Ciao!" Feliciano winked at him before twirling around. He walked out with flourish and a slight skip in his step.

Arthur grimaced and met Lovino's gaze.

"I'll make you cannoli if you say no to him."

00000

It was another hot summer night, and Lovino was forced to find solace in his flat because his brother was having his boyfriend over again. Gilbert apparently was being kept in the dark about all of this, but was busy trying to cheer Antonio up, who had seen Francis's Hetagram. Apparently he posted some pictures with a new partner and Antonio was taking it kind of hard.

Lovino filled him in on this while they watched another episode of Lovino's favorite Spanish soap opera. Mario had visited Isabel and was enraged to find out Julio slapped her. He was talking about how he was going to go fight him while Isabel tried to calm him down.

Lovino was upset because his other brother's birthday was in a couple of days and Antonio was supposed to perform for it. Antonio said he couldn't, something about stage fright, something he's never had before. But apparently that incident with Francis made him nervous on stage.

"And just when I finally convinced my parents to let someone other than Feli provide entertainment for Stefano's birthday! Feli's been doing it for the past six years, and my parents have a tendency to be pretty religious, but I know Stefano's bored with this shit by now."

Arthur let out a disinterested "hmm." He munched on a cannolo, he tried to say no when Feliciano asked, but relented because he really really liked these cannoli. Lovino said he also tried to say no but Ludwig came over anyway, and Feliciano was being loud on purpose.

Arthur laid an arm over the back of the couch, grabbing another cannolo to eat as the soap opera went on a commercial break.

"I should knock that French fucker's nose in,"

Lovino was curled up against the opposite arm of the couch, letting out a disgruntled breath. "Why hasn't Antonio gotten over this yet? It's been six months, that idiota."

"That's relatively a short turnaround when getting out of a long-term relationship."

"What the hell do you know, bastard? You've been in one?"

Would it be more embarrassing to deny or confirm? He could be vague, but then Lovino would ask him questions and then he'd have to explain. The mere thought of talking about João to someone else made him flustered.

Let's just tell a half lie.

"Not personally, I've seen my brothers go through this sort of thing. It usually takes about a year or longer for them to really get back out there, dating or otherwise…although sleeping around isn't off the table."

Lovino made a humming noise, "Well it's fucking up my plans. Where am I going to find someone to replace him on such short notice? Antonio has so much likeability that my parents would trip over themselves. But at this point it doesn't matter."

Arthur wasn't sure if Lovino was actually an idiot or if he was playing coy. So he didn't say anything, and turned back to the telly.

"Hey you're a musician, aren't you?" Arthur felt Lovino poke him on the side of his head.

"Am I? I hadn't noticed."

"Ok smartass, I've got a proposition for you. You wanna make some easy money?"

"I'm not going to be whored out to a bunch of children."

"Why would you say it like that? And my brother's not a little bambino. He's a fucking teenager, I'm pretty sure his friends are into whatever aesthetic it is you've got going on."

Arthur made a humming noise to pretend he was giving it some thought.

This was perfect. Literally the most perfect opportunity to fall into his lap. He'd be picking up "perfectly charismatic" Antonio's slack. Personal vendetta aside, if he did well he might get hired by one of those brats' parents or become internet famous…which could land him a record deal.

"How much would I be getting paid?

"$350."

"Alright, fine, but I want half before. Is there something you don't want me to do?"

"No swearing, Mama would have a heart attack if you did."

Arthur sucked in a breath, "That takes out about half of my setlist…I'll see if I can work around it."

"You got Hetelle?"

Arthur generally liked to deal with physical money, but got one just so he could send his brothers and father money on their birthdays. It was quite a small amount, but the least he could do since he missed celebrating with them.

And so they exchanged account information. Lovino sent him $175.

The programme soon ended, and Arthur retired for the night.

Arthur was buzzing with so many ideas that night he could hardly get any sleep. He was going over what covers he could do, and what songs of his he could sing. What order to do them in. Arthur would have to practice a bit of the cords for those covers as well. What was he going to wear? What would be appropriate?

00000

Arthur checked his phone again to see if he had the right address. Arthur was wearing a crop t-shirt, plaid capri pants, a chain attached to his belt loops, and his boots. His guitar was strapped to his back.

Arthur stepped up to the brownstone townhouse. Arthur rang the doorbell, tapping his foot as he waited for someone to answer the door.

The door opened to Lovino whose eyebrows raised upon seeing him. "Why the hell are you wearing that? Papa's gonna have an aneurysm!"

"What? You didn't tell me what I could wear!"

"Come on, I have another shirt and you gotta take off that lipstick."

Arthur crossed his arms and stayed put.

"You wanna get paid, don't you?"

Arthur let a breath out of his nose and let Lovino drag him inside. Lovino had a grip on his arm, Lovino's nails dug into his slightly clammy skin.

They walked down a hallway, passing what looked like family pictures before taking a sharp right and into a bedroom. A cross hung above the headboard.

Lovino searched through a chest of drawers, and Arthur was slightly flustered at the risqué posters of models on the wall adjacent to him, along with a few luxury sports cars.

A shirt was tossed his way, "See if you can fit that."

Arthur saw that it was a plain black T-shirt with the words "Good Vibes" printed on it, but it looked quite large. Arthur took off his guitar and leaned it against a wall. He pulled it over his head, over his crop top, and saw that it swallowed him up.

"I think it's too big."

"Damnit I'll have to go pick out one of Feli's."

That means this has to be one of Lovino's shirts.

"It's fine really. Let's not waste more time already."

Lovino murmured something he couldn't catch before leaving the room. He returned momentarily with a wet rag.

Arthur took a step back. "No, it stays."

"Either you do it or I will."

"We're not seriously going to fight over this, are we?"

Lovino reached for the chain attached to his belt and Arthur caught his wrist. Arthur spun him around before kicking him in the arse. Not harshly, more reminiscent of a shove. Lovino stumbled forward, flailing his arms so as to not fall onto the floor.

"Alright, fine." Lovino left the room briefly before returning shortly and leading Arthur through the house to the small backyard. They passed someone in the kitchen, back to them, preparing to bring out a few aluminum containers.

A singular table was set out and chairs were scattered around. A group of around 20 teenagers, presumably 14 - 18, were sitting around on their phones, showing each other videos. Arthur had no idea which one was the birthday boy. But he could feel a few stares as they walked past, and Lovino led him to a small space where a microphone was set up to what looked like a karaoke speaker. Feliciano had what looked like a violin, he was wiping it down.

"Feli I told you, you don't need that!"

Feliciano jumped, startled, and turned around. "Mama said to bring it out just in case."

"In case of what?" Lovino asked.

Feliciano shrugged. In case I fail spectacularly.

Feliciano looked at Arthur's guitar, and then the display before scurrying into the house.

Lovino grabbed the microphone, "Attention you little brats!" That caused them to fall into silence.

There was no microphone stand so Arthur wasn't sure if he was even going to be able to use it.

"The live entertainment I promised is here." Lovino gestured to him, "His name's Arthur and he has a Hetagram you can follow if you like his performance or whatever."

And he received a few sparse, not unanimous, claps in response. What an enthusiastic crowd.

Arthur grabbed the microphone as Lovino went to stand behind a redheaded teenager's chair. He had a little stray curl that stuck out from the side of his head as well. Arthur could guess that he was Lovino's brother Stefano.

Arthur gave out his socials, "I won't stand here and waffle on. But I've got six songs I'm going to sing this afternoon."

Feliciano rushed toward him with what looked like a floor lamp and some duct tape. He snatched the microphone from him to wrap around the lamp stand as a makeshift microphone stand.

Feliciano scurried behind the row of teenagers in chairs who were giggling amongst themselves, before giving him a thumbs up.

Arthur leaned down a bit, "Happy Birthday Stefano, I hope you enjoy." Lovino shook the redheaded teenager by his shoulders from behind.

Arthur awkwardly had to lean down to sing into the microphone but it wasn't too bad. The previously uninterested teens perked up when he decided to do a guitar solo during his second song. His third song was a cover of "Monster" by Skillet.

He even had a little call and response for the last verse, and the crowd of teens, despite a little hesitancy in the beginning, were shouting "Feel like a Monster!" by the end.

He got a round of applause, and took a bow, he said he'd take a brief intermission as he was being waved down by Lovino.

Arthur spotted Lovino next to a middle aged couple, the man was around Lovino's height and the woman was short and petite. Presumably Lovino's parents.

Lovino introduced him to them in Italian, and Arthur offered an awkwardly dry "Ciao," in response. The resemblance they all had to each other was quite uncanny, down to the stray curls each of them had.

They did not look pleased, and Arthur could assume it wasn't from the lackluster greeting. Mrs. Vargas started yelling at Lovino in rapid Italian, gesturing between the two of them. Lovino's cheeks were flushed scarlet, and he seemed to deny whatever she was accusing him of, shrinking back from her angered demeanor.

Mr. Vargas called over Feliciano and said something to him in Italian. Feliciano went over to the makeshift microphone stand and announced that Arthur's set was over early, something about a prior engagement. But not to fear, Feliciano would be playing his violin in the meantime.

Arthur stood mouth agape as he was then being shooed out toward the back gate by Mr. Vargas. "Time to go." He said, "Grazie for your services."

They really didn't like his performance, Lovino better pay him for this even so. Arthur didn't make a fuss and simply left out the gate; he wasn't going to disrespect Lovino's parents although they were acting like giant twats.

Arthur stood against the railing at the bottom of the porch stairs. A few minutes later Lovino appeared in the doorway, holding a bottle of water, looking absolutely defeated.

"I can never do anything right, damnit." Lovino handed him the water bottle. Arthur walked up a step to grab it.

"Am I still getting paid the rest?"

"You only did three songs."

"I would've done more had your parents not kicked me out!"

Lovino let out a disgruntled breath, "I could cook you something, how does that sound?"

"Or you could pay me the full amount."

Lovino pursed his lips as they stared each other down for what seemed like agonizingly long minutes.

The faint sounds of the violin wafted through the air causing an air of elegance to permeate through the sounds of light disorganized chatter. A stark contrast to the mood he'd left them with.

"Fine. But before you leave, can I get a cigarette off you?"

Arthur tucked the bottle under his arm, dug into his pocket and handed him one from the carton. "Six years came early, yeah?"

"My parents are the reason I smoked six years ago. I think I'm allowed one more."

Arthur flicked his lighter, and Lovino handed him a dollar before putting the fag in his mouth. Arthur refused to take the dollar, held up the lighter, and watched as Lovino took a long drag.

"Your brother Stefano and his mates seemed to enjoy my performance, short lived as it was. That counts for something right?"

Lovino let out a guttural sound, "I guess."

Arthur slipped his lighter back into his pocket and went down the stairs.

"See you at work."

"If I don't die of boredom listening to Monteverdi first." Arthur doesn't know who that is, but could assume it was a jab at Feliciano somehow.

"Do you want this shirt back?" He held out the bottom.

"Nah, it's one I never really liked. I don't give a shit if you burn it."

He could feel blush warm his cheeks at the thought of owning something Lovino had worn. You're acting like a schoolgirl with a crush, stop that! Burn the damn shirt, throw it out.

Arthur looked back at Lovino, whose gaze was out on the busy street just beyond Arthur, as he stood in the doorway. His hazel eyes were despondent as he took another languid drag.

With that Arthur turned and made his way toward the subway, trying to ignore the feeling of something squeezing his heart like a lemon.

A/N: Thank you for reading!

I'm not really a rock music fan so I only know like a few songs. The one I chose is a reference to an old Hetalia amv, lol.