Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia: Axis Powers. All rights go to its creator.

A/N: I've been running out of steam writing this story, but I finally got this chapter to end in a place where it feels right to lead into the next.

Chapter 11: Standby

Michelle was leaving, she'd graduated in May and had stayed at the cafe over the summer. Summer was at its end, and today was her last day.

They pitched in and gave her a money filled card. Berwald brought her some homemade cinnamon rolls. And she had landed a research internship at the University.

"I'm going to miss you all. Maybe I will stop by for some treats."

"They'd be on the house if you do, probably." Lovino slung his arm around Michelle's neck.

They'd expressed more or less the same sentiment back to Michelle with hugs thrown in, except for Arthur…and Berwald: he didn't usually say much anyway, but he'd given a curt nod and Michelle hugged him. Apparently that was enough.

Arthur leaned back against the front of the counter, and Michelle stood in front of him, hands on her hips, expectant. Arthur rolled his eyes.

If he just had to say something, "I'll have to get used to working with someone else, how selfish of you to leave."

Michelle made a grunting noise, as though she was upset with him. Had she taken what he said literally?

"Michelle, he's messing with you." Alondra shook the girl's shoulders, "You're going to miss her, right Arturo?"

"I wouldn't go that far…it would be an adjustment, just like anything else. One that I'm not particularly fond of doing on such short notice."

Michelle blinked owlishly at him.

Arthur grimaced, "My mornings are a bit more pleasant due to your influence, and I'm going to miss that, alright? Is that clear enough?" Arthur crossed his arms, Fucking hell you people are abhorrent.

But Michelle smiled, and Arthur couldn't help the small smile that twitched on his lips.

"I'm glad you don't completely dislike me at least." Michelle said, having wrapped her arms around him to give him a quick hug.

She stepped back, clasping her hands behind her back, "Muffin says I can be a lot sometimes."

00000

It was around October, orange pumpkin shaped cookies that Arthur made himself were being sold. Berwald had introduced pumpkin bread to the menu as well. Alondra was off this week and Arthur was allowed to pick up her shifts. Tagumpay picked up a bit of overtime doing Arthur's barista job with Lili.

Alondra said she was helping with plans for her little cousin Catalina's quinceañera. She didn't have to explain, but she mentioned it when he stopped by her townhouse to smoke cigars the week before. She was saying how important it was to get the choreography right for the final dance. So they'd be practicing all week.

"This party sounds like a really big deal." Arthur had said.

Alondra wiped her free hand against her jeans, "It is. Lina's my favorite cousin and I want her quince to be perfect." Alondra had let out a puff, her gaze up at the stars above.

Arthur swiped a spider from off of his shoulder, "I'm sure you'll do fine," he absentmindedly muttered, before he glanced back at her, cigar to his lips.

She had switched to biting a hangnail, letting out a disinterested hum, gaze on the light from a window in her neighbor's flat.

Arthur looked too, seeing an older woman inside, swaying as she swept whatever room they were peering into. A soft tune in Spanish playing from a radio inside.

……

Arthur shook his head as Tagumpay entered the kitchen and told Arthur a customer ordered a chicken sandwich.

Arthur usually picked up afternoon shifts but since he'd picked up Alondra's shifts this week he didn't get to see Lovino at all really.

They hadn't talked much or at all since Lovino gave him the rest of the money for his brother's birthday party. Apparently cramming for midterms meant Feliciano was less hornier than usual so he wasn't forcing Lovino out either.

It wasn't as though he and Lovino were close in any meaningful way, they were merely acquaintances, people who worked in close quarters occasionally. So of course they weren't seeking each other out if it wasn't necessary.

The slight smell of something burning reminded him of the sandwich and he rushed to get it from the toaster oven. It wasn't too bad, not burnt to a crisp.

Arthur wrapped it up and wrote "Cindy" on it before bringing it out to Tagumpay.

The rest of the shift went by smoothly, and soon it was time for Arthur to leave.

Arthur shrugged on his leather jacket in the locker room before grabbing his amp. His guitar was strapped to his back, he'd gotten it from Berwald's office.

"Hey uh bastard you busy this Saturday?"

He turned to see Lovino leaning against the locker to his right. For a split second he thought he was being asked out on a date before he chastised himself for being an idiot. Because that would be insane and completely unrealistic.

"I don't know, depends on what it is and what I'd be getting in return."

"Antonio was my dancing partner, but he busted his ankle. Feli dragged me along for these dumb ballroom dancing lessons cause he can't dance for shit. I agreed cause I could impress the chicks with my new moves." Lovino clicked his teeth, smirking.

"Well why don't you ask one of them to be your dance partner?"

"Because messing up in front of them would be fucking embarrassing and Lili and Alondra are both busy." Lovino crossed his arms, "So you busy Saturday night or what?"

Funny that Lovino mentioned fucking up, Arthur could only really waltz, otherwise he was a terrible dancer. Did he really want to embarrass himself in a room full of strangers?

"I don't think–"

"I'll make you lasagna as payment." Arthur gave Lovino a hard stare, right in his eyes. The other man's frown wavered, "Please?"

Please. Arthur liked the sound of that.

"Fine, I'll go. Since you begged." He smirked.

Lovino rolled his eyes, "Sure, whatever. I'll text you the details." Lovino waved him off.

Arthur grinned as he walked past him and out the door.

He stopped to say goodbye to Lili and she gave him a frantic wave in response.

00000

It was Saturday afternoon, Arthur was replacing the second string on his guitar, it had snapped clean in half while playing a couple of days ago.

He was sitting on his couch when there was a ping on his phone. He picked it up to see a text from Alondra, saying she was outside. She hadn't told him she was coming, and Lovino had sent the directions, so he wasn't expecting visitors. He placed down the phone and guitar, and went out of his flat.

He walked downstairs and opened the door for Alondra.

She was biting a hangnail on her thumb, "A-ah sorry for dropping in so suddenly, but I need your help." Arthur stepped aside and let her in.

Alondra started pacing,"I-I didn't realize my dress was a bit too tight and I need a tailor. I was so busy making sure everyone else's suits and dresses were in order that I forgot about mine." Thump, thump, thump against the wooden floors. It was a good thing they were on the first floor.

"And you thought I could fix it?"

"I know it's a longshot, but I saw your Halloween costume and I thought we were friends and I panicked." She started wiping her hands into her jeans, her skin taking on a slight glistening sheen. She was bundled in a coat, pacing, and it was warm from the radiator heaters scattered throughout the building.

She threw up her arms, and started speaking in hurried Spanish, her eyes becoming a bit wet.

Arthur gripped her shoulders, halting her in place, "Take a deep breath and calm down. I didn't say I wouldn't help." Arthur pursed his lips.

She took a breath, and visibly looked a bit calmer, her chestnut brown eyes met his, "I ripped the fabric being stubborn because I thought I could make it fit."

"Well I'm sure if you have a sweater, I have some fabric I could add to it, although the color and material wouldn't match, we could make it work."

"Really?" Her eyes were wide.

"Don't get your hopes up, I have to see where the tear is. And I was in the middle of something when you decided to drop by. You're lucky I feel bad for you." Arthur motioned with a jerk of his head, "Otherwise, I would've pushed you right back out that door."

Arthur let go of her before he led the way toward the stairs and up to his apartment.

"You wouldn't have done that, Arturo."

"I would have!"

"No you wouldn't.~" She said in a sing-song voice.

"Yes I would have!"

"Alright, whatever you say." She said, in lighter spirits as he let her in.

Arthur rolled his eyes, and took her coat. Alondra took a seat on his couch, Arthur moved his guitar and then sat down beside her. She handed him the dress out of a plastic bag she was carrying. It was navy blue with pink flowers across the top off-the-shoulder neckline and along the bottom skirt of the dress.

There was a decently sized rip in the side seam, "Hmm well lucky for you, I've got some pink fabric." Arthur had one pink shirt he wore in the summer occasionally to exercise in. Other than that his wardrobe was of darker colors, more Gothic than pastels.

Arthur went into his bedroom to shuffle through his chest of drawers to find said shirt.

"It's pretty bare bones in here."

Arthur stopped his rummaging to see Alondra leaning against the doorframe.

"You could wait in the other room."

"I think it's only fair."

Arthur rolled his eyes and moved aside the black T-shirt Lovino more or less gave him, it hadn't made its way to the trash yet. Here was the pink shirt he was looking for.

"Buy me a painting if you care so much."

"How about a little house plant?"

"If you're buying it, I don't care."

Arthur asked her to try on the dress, he'd have to see how much fabric was needed to give.

"No peeking," she said before slipping into his bathroom and closing the door. That comment didn't even make sense, the door locked, what kind of bathroom didn't? He couldn't go in if he wanted to.

Everything felt kind of off with her when they weren't smoking at her house. Granted they didn't talk much then, was it Arthur or was it her? She was just trying to lighten the mood, maybe Arthur shouldn't look into it too much.

But then he understood when he had to zip up the rest of the dress. It was a rather flattering dress on her, although her expression was not pleasant. She turned to the side to show him the tear. "It's horrible!" She bemoaned.

"It won't be that noticeable with a sweater."

"¡Oh míos dios!"

"Stop complaining, hold still." Arthur had a few pins, to note where he'd have to add fabric, and patch up the tear. And to do the same on the other side.

When he finished that, he turned on the electric kettle.

After she changed back and she'd given him the dress, Arthur sat back on the couch, threading the needle. Tea cups were in front of them and Arthur turned on the telly for her to watch while he sewed.

Alondra was on the other side of the couch, hunched over, ankles crossed. Visible space in between them.

She turned to a cooking show that doubled as an advertisement for a toaster oven. She sounded enthralled, letting out Oohs and Aahs. Arthur glanced over to see her bring the cup to her lips without taking her eyes off the screen.

"I've got to get one of those."

Arthur let out a snort, but she paid him no mind.

When he finished, "That's the best I can do," he'd said, she hugged him so tight he almost couldn't breathe.

"Gracias! Gracias, muchas gracias!"

"It's not something to write home about either. Quite shoddy needle work. I'd rather you say you did it instead." He grimaced.

"Ok, alright, you're selfish and mean. I've got it." She zipped her lips.

"No, I just don't want to be associated with shite needlework."

To which she rolled her eyes and gathered her things to leave, slipping on her coat. She said goodbye to him and she would tell him how the quinceañera turned out when she showed up to work on Monday.

He was always rather weak willed when it came to a woman in need. He should have asked her to pay him.

00000

Arthur arrived on the Heta U campus just in time for the ballroom dancing class to start that evening. They were held in a hall that doubled as an event space.

Arthur was surprised to see that the class was filled with a seemingly older crowd. People were clustered along the wall and outer edges of the dance floor. Feliciano saw him before Lovino did, and the man rushed out of his boyfriend's hold to greet him.

"You're Antonio's replacement!"

"So I've been told."

"Damnit Feli do you have to yell?" Lovino smacked his brother on the arm.

"Sorry! I was surprised." He frowned.

"Go back over there with your damn boyfriend."

Lovino pointed to the muscular blond who was standing where Feliciano had left him, a curious glance toward their direction briefly before looking away and shifting foot to foot.

"Don't worry about messing up. This is a beginners class. Have fun!" Feliciano winked at him before waving and walking back over to the other blond.

Lovino grimaced, "If you don't look at them it makes the class easier to get through. Feli's always stepping on Ludwig's toes and the fucking doormat doesn't even say shit about it. Just lets him."

"Maybe it's a kink."

"Why would you say that? Fuck. Feli said that bastard was into some weird shit, but ugh!"

"You really are an idiot aren't you?"

"I'm not well versed in those types of things. How could you tell Ludwig was a kinky fuck already?"

Arthur furrowed his eyebrows, "Don't strain yourself ok? I was taking the piss out on you. Sarcasm." But apparently he now knew Feliciano's boyfriend was into unconventional sex methods.

Lovino frowned and shoved him, "I don't care if you're a fucking comedian don't step on my damn toes."

Arthur frowned too, clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes. They were in public, and Arthur really didn't want to knock Lovino into the pavement while his brother was right there. This was a sophisticated atmosphere, he'd be polite for now.

The instructor, a man dressed in loafers and suit trousers along with a half unbuttoned shirt, addressed the class then.

They were instructed, shown by demonstration of his partner, a woman in a dress, to do the foxtrot. They had just finished tango lessons. They would cover this over about four dance sessions.

They got into pairs and spread across the dance floor.

It looked fairly simple enough but of course when in practice it would be another story. First was deciding who would lead, Arthur wasn't sure of Antonio and Lovino's dynamics, he could assume Antonio led because he was taller.

"I'll lead." They said in unison.

Arthur furrowed his eyebrows and Lovino matched his expression.

"I've been in the class longer! You don't know what you're doing!"

"This is a new dance for everyone so I don't see how that matters. I'm taller."

"What does height have to do with it? The more experienced partner leads."

"Traditionally, men lead, and most men are typically taller than women."

"That's stupid! We're both men! That doesn't apply to us."

"Did you give Antonio this much grief?"

"We agreed on what I just said! He led, he was more experienced. He knew how to keep time."

"Fine, whatever, lead then if you're going to whine about it."

They split up, across from each other. Arthur was surprised to see the blond,presumably named Ludwig, a couple of people down on his side. He was following? He…well despite looking like he could grind Arthur into paste, the man seemed to follow the more extraverted and outgoing Feliciano around. So maybe it was about personality and willingness to follow than it was about physical stature.

The instructors split up and the man showed the leads their movements first while the woman who was wearing flats and a flowing dress showed the followers theirs. They'd go backwards starting with their right foot before going to the side to turn and go forward two steps and turning in the opposite direction. They followed along, turning 90 degrees.

They did it multiple times.

Then they were told to meet in the middle and join their partners. Lovino demonstrated his point by grabbing Arthur's hand and pulling him close, the other hand just behind his shoulder blade. They were so close, their chests were touching, Arthur swore he could feel Lovino breathing, uneven, shaky inhales and exhales while Arthur's lungs were being squeezed like a balloon ready to pop. Arthur was forced to place his other hand on Lovino's shoulder. He was forced to look into those determined hazel eyes. And Arthur couldn't tell whose hands were more clammy, his or Lovino's.

For someone who was dragged into taking this class, he seemed to take it seriously. Lovino seemed to always push the self imposed boundaries Arthur had built up for them. Dancing with your not quite acquaintance, who you barely talked to outside of work, who you're not quite sure wants to see you suffer, is not something one typically does.

Arthur couldn't think about it more because they were starting up. Without any music it was easy, just back away when Lovino advanced, turn and go forward, turn and go backward again. They were dismissed for a five minute break before they would start the music up.

"Luddy, I'm sorry about stepping on your feet again. I get mixed up on the direction of the turns."

"I know, we are practicing, it is to be expected." Ludwig said, opening a bottle of water to drink.

"But it looks like it hurts though."

"I'm fine."

Arthur stepped outside to smoke, you couldn't smoke on campus, but he doesn't even go here, so who cares.

"Well at least you didn't step on my toes." Lovino said, having walked outside to hand him one of the water bottles they were giving out.

"As much as I would have enjoyed that, the steps are far too simple." He took it, but didn't open it.

Lovino drank his water, gulping it down rapidly. "They say it's about compatibility or whatever, but that's dumb, it's about talent."

"Are you saying that I'm a natural?" Arthur felt his ears burn as he met Lovino's gaze.

"What? No, I'm talking about me! I'm a natural leader so it's easy for you to follow." Lovino clicked his teeth, although there was a slight pastel pink coloring to his cheeks.

Right. Arthur took another drag of his fag. Hopeful for what? Was he completely delusional? He'd gotten lucky with João, this wasn't the same thing at all.

They'd settled into silence before the door was opened, "The break's over. You guys can come back inside!" A brunette popped her head out with a smile before going back in.

Arthur snuffed out his cigarette. Lovino walked in without holding the door for him.

Once they got back into position and the music started, that's where the mistakes began. Arthur had memorized the steps but had not paid attention to the tempo of the music. He was going too slow, and wasn't paying attention to Lovino's movements.

Step, step, step, pain. Right on his foot. Fuck. He shook it off, but it happened a second time, "Watch it!"

"Pay attention!"

It happened a third time on a wrong turn, and when it was Arthur's turn to go forward he took the opportunity to step on Lovino's foot, he looked visibly upset, having bit his lip, but didn't say anything.

They continued on, and Lovino led him into a spin or at least tried to, but jerked him around too fast. Arthur didn't have his arm in the right position so his arm got pulled back. His shoulder was now throbbing with a sharp pain.

By the end Arthur was tired and his shoulder was sore. Maybe Lovino was the reason Antonio was out of commission.

They all were let out, and Arthur made his way across the quad. He didn't bother waiting on Lovino or Feliciano; they'd be going in a different direction anyway.

"Hey! Uhh…ankles don't heal overnight." Arthur slowed down for Lovino to catch up. Lovino got

in front of him and turned to face him, forcing Arthur to stop.

"What makes you think I'd want to go through that again?"

"You can lead next time."

"No thanks." Arthur moved past him. It wasn't really worth all of that trouble.

"You're not the first replacement I've had." Lovino caught his arm. Arthur turned back toward him. "No one in class wants to dance with me." He muttered, gaze not on him but somewhere off to the side

A brief moment of silence passed between them, Arthur spotted pastel pink blush creeping up the other man's neck.

Arthur chortled at him, not a full laugh. But as the frown on Lovino's face morphed into an angry scowl, it became an even stronger bout of laughter.

"Fuck you!" Lovino let go of him.

And then Arthur received a string of words in Italian that he could assume were curses while he calmed down.

"I'll continue to be your dance partner." Lovino stopped, eyebrows raised. "Because you need me. You poor thing." Arthur mocked him, smug expression on his face.

"Shut up you bastard! Fuck off! I don't even want you to be my partner anymore! I'll just not show up!"

"See you next week, idiot." He said, a gentle lilt to his voice. Arthur turned back and continued on to the corner of the sidewalk.

Maybe if Lovino hadn't said anything he would've showed up anyway. He hadn't needed convincing, he just wanted an apology for getting his feet stepped on. But Lovino telling him how pathetic he was, was a nice substitute.

A/N: I researched ballroom dances for this.

Thank you for reading!