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

Chapter 12: The Instigator

Arthur had gone to that dance class for four weeks straight and was a bit saddened when he learned Antonio's ankle had healed. He didn't tell Lovino that mind you.

"He's been walking on it more so he'll be back next week." Lovino said. Arthur found his hand comfortably resting on Lovino's back, and Lovino's hand fit in his like it was made for him to hold.

"I had been starting to get the impression you made that excuse up just to get me to join you. I'm glad to know this nightmare will end." He'd tightened his grip on Lovino's hand slightly.

"I didn't even step on your feet once this time, stop exaggerating. Che as if I'd make that up. His stupid ankle couldn't heal fast enough."

"You haven't stepped on them yet." Arthur guided him into a right sided turn.

Lovino rolled his eyes. They were going at a faster pace this time around. And Arthur tried not to stare at Lovino longer than he needed to. His eyes searched for Feliciano to distract himself, said man was trying not to step on Ludwig's toes and failing miserably.

Lovino stepped on his foot, reminding Arthur that he had to pay attention to the rhythm. "Spoke too soon."

Lovino let out a frustrated growl, "You weren't giving me the right cues!"

That was true, Arthur's focus often drifted to things he wasn't supposed to be thinking about like Lovino's earthly cologne, which he could smell by the way since they were so close.

And dancing was at most an intimate practice between two people, allowing them to form a stronger connection without the need for words. And maybe the romantic in Arthur; the one who believed in fate, nonverbal signs, and soulmates; who had been tucked away for a while now, hoped that Lovino felt that spark between them too.

But Arthur wasn't going to entertain the thought unless he was absolutely sure. Besides, Antonio's ankle was healed and the pragmatic pessimist in him shut all of that brief flowery romantic hope down again. It was just a few classes, they danced together, and now it was over.

Lovino said he could come over to his and Feliciano's flat to get his lasagna, but he hadn't actually made it yet. Arthur, deciding that he would rather bum around in someone else's flat than his own, did just that. And possibly to get more cannoli, but who's really to say.

He followed Feliciano and Lovino back to the direction of their flat. They were all currently waiting for the train down in the subway.

"I can't wait to show off my moves at Ms. Hedervary's New Year's Eve party!"

Lovino rolled his eyes, "Don't embarrass me ok? You're old enough to legally drink in this hell hole so act like a damn adult for once in your life."

So the dancing lessons are for some type of gala.

"I won't Lovi! This is so exciting! And to think you're only going because Francis and Antonio broke up!"

"Why are you telling me that like I don't already fucking know?"

Feliciano turned to Arthur with a pout on his lips, "It's invitation only. It's really exclusive. If we could invite you we would." He was giving Arthur his pathetic little puppy dog eyes.

"What the hell are you talking about? We?"

"Don't you want your friend to come?" Feliciano grabbed Arthur's arm, and his skin started crawling. Feliciano's voice had raised like an octave, shrill and squeaky like nails on a chalkboard.

"For the last time, we're not friends!" Lovino said. The train pulled up to the station and they got on, finding three seats. Feliciano still had his arm so he was forced to sit next to him. Lovino was in the chair behind them.

"Seriously Lovi what do you want to call it then?" Feliciano twisted himself around to face Lovino.

"Will you let go of me? I don't even want to go to this stupid party anyway!" But the two brothers seemed to ignore him.

"What about you huh? You're always so damn excited to see this bastard and now you're all over him! Don't you have a damn boyfriend?"

"Lovi! Don't imply that I'd cheat on Luddy with your friend!"

"There you go again, I just told you–"

"Enough! I would like some quiet for the rest of the ride." Arthur wrenched himself from Feliciano's grip.

Surprisingly that worked. Lovino mumbled something under his breath but otherwise they were silent while the train chugged along.

00000

Feliciano had some sort of Paper-Mache project for his art class that he waited until the very last minute to do. Arthur believed the little bastard waited for him specifically to do the damn thing. Arthur was sitting on a stool at the island in their kitchen, back facing the stove.

"I could do a bowl, but I wanted to do a mask. We're supposed to pick a culture we want to express through our piece." And so he sat there with paper against his face, eyes closed for him to trace out a mask. "The Day of the Dead always interested me, despite us not celebrating it personally."

Arthur opened his eyes to Feliciano, cutting out the mask and the eye holes. He grabbed a bowl of a soupy grey texture, a sheet of mesh, and some newspaper.

Looking back, Lovino turned on the oven and was dropping the sheet noodles into a pot of boiling water. "You don't have to help this idiota do his project." Lovino met his gaze.

"I want my lasagna, if this is what I have to do to get it, so be it."

Lovino let out a dry chuckle, "At this point you should just ask your Mama to cook for you. I'm sure she'd send something, right?" Lovino turned back to stir the noodles so they wouldn't stick.

Arthur turned back toward Feliciano and tried to school his expression. He met the auburn haired man's gaze. Feliciano held the mask and mesh sheet, readying it to place over his face, and frowned.

"Wait, you can't ship food like that…I don't think. So, sucks to be you I guess." Lovino said.

Arthur felt his face warm, and he shook away the feeling of dread.

"Right… she wouldn't be able to." Arthur answered him.

Feliciano bit his lip before putting the paper mask over him, with a string around his head to keep it in place. The mesh was placed over it and Arthur closed his eyes. He wouldn't cry, he could keep it together.

"I'm going to cover up your mouth ok?"

Arthur hummed to let him know he'd heard him.

And so Feliciano went through the process of covering his face with wet newspaper strips, as was needed for paper mache. It was kind of hard to breathe, but Feliciano had made some holes for his nose.

He could take it off after this first layer dried.

"You know what I take it back, unable to speak, and we can't see your face, it's perfect for you." Lovino said, sounding closer to him.

A few minutes later Arthur could hear the sizzle of a skillet and the smell something being fried. Some kind of seasoned meat. It was making his stomach growl, a low rumble that he heard Feliciano giggle at.

"I've never seen you put this much effort when you make something for me, Lovi."

"Because you're fucking picky! As soon as I make something, you're like," Lovino pitched his voice higher, 'You didn't cook the noodles long enough,' before going back to his normal tone, "Make your own fucking food, Mister Gourmet Chef."

Arthur could feel his cheeks heat up slightly.

Suddenly there was a light ping and Feliciano let out a little squeal. "Miss Hedervery's looking for someone to replace her bass player for the New Years Eve party. He's got a wedding to go to."

"What are you telling me for? You want me to ask Antonio?"

"He plays bass?"

"I don't know, probably. How did you even find that out?"

"I asked Gilbert." He felt the vibration of something tapping the mask. "Do you play bass?" Feliciano asked him.

Arthur hasn't played bass guitar in a while, but he could pick it back up. New Year's was in what, a little over a month? He could if he practiced. They were probably providing live music for the gala, which seemed like a good opportunity to make some money.

"Oh! Silly me! It's probably done now." Feliciano pulled the mask off of his slightly perspiring face, and Arthur could finally take a proper breath.

"I can, how much would I be getting paid?"

"I don't know, but I'll ask Gilbert, and her assistant will probably call you with more details! What's your number?"

"Feli what's all this about, huh?" Lovino put his hands on his hips.

"I can't help your friend Lovi?"

Lovino narrowed his eyes and gave his brother a hard stare.

"Don't twist your face like that, you'll get wrinkles." Feliciano turned to him, "You'll get to go to the party now, si?"

Lovino might not have understood, but Arthur did. He was a bit envious now, his brothers wouldn't have done anything like that for him. And just so he and Lovino could be at the same party. Did Feliciano know something about Lovino's feelings toward him? At the very least that must mean there was hope for him.

Lovino made a low rumbling noise but didn't say anything else.

He gave Feliciano his number to give to Gilbert who was apparently close with the host.

Soon the lasagna was done, and Feliciano was finishing up the final layer of his mask. Lovino packaged the lasagna for him, after letting it cool for a few moments, and Arthur was sent on his way.

00000

The Christmas holiday season was back around again. But it was not quite Christmas yet. Lili asked him if he had any plans for Christmas this year. Of course he didn't want to go back home so he told her he was just staying in.

Lili wouldn't have that and invited him to dinner at her flat, they'd be exchanging gifts after the holidays like usual. She'd just gotten it this past fall and would be inviting her brother from Switzerland, Michelle, Drifa, and her other friend Ximena. It would be a small party where it was mandatory to bring a dish.

Everyone else had plans, Berwald was traveling to Finland for the holidays to meet with his family, Alondra was flying back to Florida, Valeriu was going to Romania. Lovino was…well he didn't really know or care to ask. Probably with his family.

Arthur had gone to Alondra's townhouse to smoke cigars. Alondra told him how well the quinceanera went while she baked some cookies. He'd seen her pull a roll of dough out of the refrigerator, unwrap it, and start slicing it up.

Arthur had to take the subway to get to his flat from Alondra's townhouse, the time of day was Saturday afternoon so there were a lot of people on the subway. Arthur managed to grab a seat, but was glared at by a man who apparently had been eyeing that same seat. He'd gotten to it first, and sent a glare right back to the man.

Apparently his performance at Lovino's brother's birthday party had gotten him a few Hetagram followers and had been shared a few more times. It wasn't anything to write home about but eyeballs were eyeballs.

Arthur replied to a few comments on the post while the train continued on. Then Arthur felt the sensation as though someone was staring at him. He glanced over to see a raven haired man, who dropped his gaze down to a book, a colorful book with Japanese written characters and cartoon illustrations on the cover.

Arthur furrowed his eyebrows and wrinkled his nose, a sense of disdain for the man for his choice to read something so strange in public and have the gal to stare at him for precisely the same reason.

Arthur shook his head, the man hadn't even said anything, no use thinking about him anymore. Although he caught the man staring again as he made his way off of the train, eyes wide and cheeks red before he looked back down at his book. Arthur thought that was weird.

When Arthur got back into his flat, he'd grabbed the mail.

"You're cordially invited to the union of Connor Kirkland and Irunya Braginsky? Who is that?" Arthur asked his brother Dylan, his phone propped against an upside down cup on the counter near him. He was currently mixing the batter to a recipe Alondra gave him.

Said wedding invitation sat tore open and discarded on the cocktail table in the living room. It arrived just yesterday.

Last time Arthur checked, Connor was…trying to become a professional wine taster so he could drink free wine. It involved dicking around a bit in France and Italy as a result. He wasn't really serious about it, just something to get Alistair off his back.

Alistair was already married when he left, presumably there was mention of another baby on the way. And Dylan, while not in a relationship, worked with animals as a veterinarian.

But a mention of a girlfriend let alone a wife was completely a surprise.

"Irunya is Connor's fiancé, they've been engaged for a year now. If you'd come to Christmas dinner you would've known that."

"I miss dinner once and I'll never live it down."

"You've been gone for, what, going on five years now? You've missed four dinners, Arthur." Dylan said.

Four? Really?

"A quick text would've done the fucking trick. 'Hey knobhead, I'm engaged, might be getting married soon, see you next Christmas." Arthur added the flour, baking powder, and lime juice he'd measured to the bowl.

"Why bother, it's not like you would have replied."

"I would have! We're going to be part of someone else's family. Are they off kilter?" Arthur started mixing it again. It was a bit tough, but he was able to form a dough like the recipe said it would.

"They're a bit eccentric to say the least, Irunya is the most…"

"Normal? They're two steps away from the loony bin is what you're saying." Arthur tried to transfer the dough right onto a pan, it stuck to his hands. He rushed to grab flour and throw it into the bowl.

"No! No. I didn't say that! It's an adjustment with all of the wedding planning, everyone is a bit stressed. If you were here you'd understand." He coughed and grabbed the dough and placed it into plastic wrap. He tried to shape it into a log.

"Well I'll have to be if I'm apart of the fucking wedding party." He placed the lump into the refrigerator.

"Try to be on your best behavior." Dylan's tone was a warning one. He rarely used one, although when he did, Arthur knew it was serious.

Arthur washed his hands, "Yeah, yeah." Arthur would have to get a flight out in February. The invitation was for Valentine's Day.

"You'll be missing Christmas dinner again won't you?"

"I'll see what I can do. No promises but I'll try to make it this time."

Arthur could hear Dylan sigh over the phone, "Ok Artie."

Arthur could hear the softer, sadder cadence in his voice. Which was a bit of a shock to him, "Dylan?" Arthur was met with the beep of the call ending.

They were going to become Cuban shortbread cookies, Arthur thought adding limes was an odd choice, but Alondra assured him they were good. Surprisingly he could barely taste the lime juice she said she squeezed in there when he ate hers. If these turned out terrible, he bought some chocolate chip cookies from the store he could take to Lili's Christmas Party.

Arthur would have to wait two hours for the dough to harden before he could bake the cookies.

Arthur went over to the window, checking the soil of his spider plant before going over to the tap to fill up an empty water bottle. Alondra had bought him the medium sized Peace Lily plant to spruce up the flat, her words, not his.

Arthur watered the plant, and turned it around to distribute the sunlight.

"You're growing aren't you, darling?" Arthur had a fondness for plants, having helped his mother with her garden back home when he was younger. "That's great."

At one point he even wanted a garden of his own some day. He kind of let this little passion of his fizzle out upon her passing. It seemed less and less important to take care of anything else when he could barely take care of himself.

00000

Arthur rang the buzzer to Lili's flat, having read her name on the intercom.

"Hallo, Lili speaking. Who is this?"

"Lili, it's me Arthur."

"Oh! You're a bit early, but I'll buzz you up."

Arthur felt his cheeks burn. Had he come off as eager? He really wanted to make a good impression, Lili had invited him, and her brother who she'd spoken highly of, would be there. He didn't want to disappoint Lili either.

The buzzer rang through the small closet like space and Arthur stepped through the door. He stood in the lobby, and waited in the empty space with mailboxes to his right. Various names were listed under their flat door numbers. He held the aluminum container of cookies in his arms, coming out darker than he'd liked. Burnt around the edges, but he already knew they were fucking terrible so someone telling him wouldn't be a surprise.

Arthur heard the thumps of approaching footfalls, and craned his neck toward the doorway that led to the stairway. Out of it stepped Lili in overalls over a purple wool sweater. She had on a reindeer antler headband.

"It's only Basch and I here now." The girls shouldn't be too long." Lili tapped her chin, "But I'm not sure when Lovino's getting here."

Arthur blinked, "You invited him too?"

"Yeah! He said he didn't have any plans this year. His brother was going to spend time with his boyfriend's family for Christmas." Lili then gasped, "Ah! You brought something homemade! Arthur, that's wunderbar!"

"Don't get your hopes up."

"Too late." Lili led him up to her apartment, going over to the elevator and pushing the button.

Arthur followed her up to her apartment door, decorated with festive stockings, and glittery stickers.

Lili opened the door and a short blond haired man with blunt chopped bangs popped out from behind the kitchen in a pink apron.

"Lili since one of your guests is here already. He can help with the decorations." The man looked from Lili to Arthur, "I'm Basch, Lili's brother." Then he went on to stir a pot on the stove.

"Lili's told me so much about you. I'm Arthur, glad to finally meet you." Arthur shifted the container to one of his arms. He managed a smile and offered an outstretched hand.

The man looked at it briefly, "As long as you don't cause any trouble for Lili, you're alright with me." He grasped his hand to shake.

"You mean that in a friendship sort of way right?"

The man stared at him, eyes narrowed, "What other way is there?"

"I'll take your coat Arthur, set your meal down onto the counter."

Arthur shrugged off his coat for her to take. He thanked her and walked past the rather small kitchen to place the container down on the counter. There were seven chairs around the counter that looked more like a dining table except it was connected to the sink in an "L" shape.

Lili had a few lights she needed help hanging around her window. Arthur readily obliged.

"I have games, and tea, and I tried to make scones. Don't judge me too harshly if they don't taste like what you have at home." Her voice was quieter and a bit sullen, she was standing on a ladder.

"You d-didn't do that because I was coming, did you?"

"Oh! Oh no, Basch likes having scones around Christmas time when we're at home. B-but we usually just buy them."

Ah what a relief, Arthur would have died of embarrassment otherwise.

"I won't be too hard on you because you're a beginner." Although Arthur wouldn't be hard on her at all. Lili looked back at him after taping a corner and gave him a nod.

Arthur brought out a speaker and Lili connected it to her phone to play Christmas music. Apparently Basch was making Fondue Chinoise which Lili explained as thinly sliced meat cooked in bouillon. Lili also had some kind of meat pastry in the oven. Her oven mitts were pink with flowers on it, and Arthur thought it was kind of cute that they matched the apron Basch was wearing.

Michelle and Drifa showed up shortly after, having brought a fish dish, along with a type of Icelandic wine.

Michelle hugged him which was quite a surprise, but Arthur could make an exception because of the season. And mostly Arthur was barely listening as Michelle told them about her research internship as a marine biologist at Heta U. They were all sitting on Lili's couch, All of them having cups of the tea Lili made, and soon the timer dinged. Basch took out the meat pastry.

Lili's other friend Ximena had just arrived. Arthur volunteered himself to bring her up, after an hour of listening to Michelle he needed a smoke break.

Ximena, the girl Lovino had been flirting with during Lili's ballet recital, said she knew her way to Lili's apartment. She had been over once before and said he could continue to smoke a little longer. She winked at him and Arthur furrowed his eyebrows but shrugged as she walked past him.

The food had smelled good at least, hopefully Lili would start serving it soon. Arthur took another drag of his fag, as he leaned inside the doorway, still partially warmed by the inside.

The snowfall was quite heavy now compared to the light dusting he had seen when he'd first arrived. Large globs of snow splattered onto the pavement, cutting through the air. He was happy to be shielded from the cold, in the little entryway, he probably wasn't supposed to be smoking inside but he wasn't going to freeze his arse off outside either. This was a nice compromise.

A little while later a shorter person huddled in a scarf and shrunk down into their coat, cut through the sheet of snow. Their coat was dusted in a layer of snow and they held onto an aluminum tray rather tightly.

Arthur stepped aside and said person pulled down their scarf, "Ah fuck! I didn't think you'd actually show up." Lovino said to him, disbelief written all over his face.

"Neither did I."

"You decided not to be a lonely bastard this year, huh? No need to feel sorry for you anymore."

Lovino walked over to the buzzer, before he glanced over at him, "What's the point of wearing a sweater if it's got holes in it?"

Arthur glanced down at his open knit sweater, he was wearing a green one, with a white t-shirt underneath.

Arthur rolled his eyes, "I didn't expect you to be here either."

"Feliciano's gonna announce that Ludwig is his boyfriend at dinner. I didn't want to be around for that shit show, my Catholic parents are going to have a stroke, Ludwig's parents…I don't know what they're gonna do."

Lovino buzzed Lili's apartment and she buzzed him up, saying that Arthur could show him up. He was just in time to eat.

Arthur flicked the cigarette butt out the door and watched as it got covered in snow. Arthur didn't know what to comment on what he'd just heard. Lovino didn't at least want to be there to support Feliciano coming out? He'd just throw him to the wolves?

Maybe he was just a coward, who's to say he would have defended Feliciano if things went wrong. And really who was Arthur to comment at all.

Arthur led the way up to Lili's apartment. "You're gonna say I should've gone with him." Lovino filled the tiny space in the lift with that sentence. Arthur glanced at Lovino who was staring at the opposite wall.

"They don't wanna see me. Not after this summer," He muttered, letting a breath out of his nose."I told them right after you left, you know, that I dropped out." Lovino shrugged, "It's fine, I hate spending time with Ludwig's family anyway."

Arthur wondered why in quiet moments like these Lovino decided to…be sincere with him. Arthur was just a co-worker…Arthur could never imagine opening up in this way to Lovino at all. Why not nice, kind, supportive, Antonio?

Arthur chanced another glance at Lovino who briefly met his gaze, and there was something in his eyes that made him look so small and unsure with that aluminum tray resting on his hip.

Arthur suddenly felt the lift was too small, that the air was too thick for such a tight space. Arthur knew he only had a few more floors and then they would be back into a more monitored space. One where he could be judged by the eyes of his peers.

He could stay quiet or he could deflect and make light of the situation as he often did.

"I think that was rather brave. And if space from them is what you need… I think your brother would understand." Maybe Arthur had stayed away from home long enough, he could always retreat back into the little hole he'd made for himself here after he told them he'd changed his plans.

"Feli will have Ludwig there anyway, so I'm not worried about him, he's built like a wall."

The lift rattled a little while coming to a halt before it dinged to let them out. Arthur walked out first and stopped the door from closing as Lovino struggled with the tray for a moment.

"Don't you dare eat all of the Ziti I made. It's supposed to be for Lili and her guests, I didn't make enough for you. If I'd known you were coming I would've made extra."

Arthur rolled his eyes, "I'm not a glutton, arsehole."

The rest of the party went on smoothly. Lili was overjoyed at seeing Lovino's dish and they were finally allowed to eat. Arthur sampled everything, all of the different flavors, spices, aromas, came together unexpectedly. All of it was good, although the scones were a bit too dry but Arthur couldn't tell Lili that. They ate his cookies and Michelle didn't sugar coat that they were "kind of bland."

They broke out the Icelandic wine, and they had a toast to Lili. They danced to the music, more upbeat tunes, and Michelle and Drifa did a bit of karaoke. Lili managed to beat them all in Poker. Lovino seemed to have a bit too much wine by how he was slurring his words by the end. Arthur watched, nursing his glass as Lovino slow danced with Ximena, it was silly but her laugh irritated him. Drifa kissed Michelle under the middle toe, and Lili helped Basch put away their plates.

Arthur made a move to get up, and went to the closet to get his coat. He mentioned to Lili that he was leaving. He didn't want to disrupt the others enjoying themselves. He told Basch it was nice to meet him, and the man gave him a nod.

"Let me at least walk you out!" Lili scrambled to take off her yellow rubber gloves, previously dunked in dish water.

Arthur stood outside her flat door and waited for her to join him.

"Did you have a good time?" Lili wrung her hands together.

"It killed more time than if I'd stayed home." Arthur stuffed his hands into the pockets of his coat.

"Oh…well did you enjoy the food?"

"I did." Arthur gave her a nod.

"I know you worked really hard on those cookies. Don't feel bad, you're just starting out right?"

Arthur cut his gaze to the florescent lights of the ceiling.

"Anyway I'm glad you came. You're welcome to visit again if you'd like. I know it's not like spending time with your family, but…it's something." Lili shrugged, brushing her hair behind her ear.

"I appreciate your generosity, I really do, Lili."

The elevator dinged and Arthur stepped out. He wished her a nice evening and stepped out into a slushy mess of wet snowfall.

It had truthfully been better than if he'd stayed in his apartment alone.

A/N: Would Italy wingman this hard for Romano? I think he would, someone has to.

I just like galas and parties, they get everyone in the same room. Buckle up, things are about to go down in the next chapter.

Thank you for reading!

Constructive Criticism Welcome.