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

Chapter 16: Ramping Up

Everything moved as it did, as though he had never left a week ago. Things had slowed to a screeching halt when he was back home, but New York City never slept. But really it was a matter of perspective.

And something just clicked, the sort of stasis he and Lovino found themselves in, Arthur decided he was going to rip the bandage off. If he was rejected like he thought he was going to be, so be it.

Arthur was going to do it today. He'd traveled all the way to the Library to print out paper copies of the tickets he'd purchased.

Lovino was at his locker gathering his things to leave at the end of his shift. He and Lovino traded shifts because Lovino had something to do this afternoon and wanted to get off earlier.

Alondra had already left.

Arthur squared his shoulders and stalked up to Lovino, slamming his locker door shut to lean against it.

Loving flinched, "What the fuck Arturo? My fingers could have been crunched in there!"

Arthur felt his ears burn, "U-uh I wanted to ask you a question."

"You could have asked from the doorway!" Loving gestured to it before placing his hands on his hips.

Arthur felt his palms slick with sweat and his heart was beating against his ribcage so hard it was actually a bit painful. He was going for cool, calm, and collected, but he messed that up already.

He fumbled with getting the tickets out of his pocket.

"Unlike you, I've got a train to catch. So I don't have all fucking day. You think this could have been a text?" Lovino frowned.

"W-would you uh–there's this play I've wanted to see. Would you want to go with me?"

"You couldn't get any of your friends to tag along huh?" Lovino clicked his teeth, "I guess it was about time you'd do that to me too."

Arthur blinked as Lovino seemed to visibly ponder it.

Arthur grit his teeth, apparently he'd have to be even more straightforward. And it was already a struggle to do this much.

"No, I'm only–I haven't asked anyone else." Arthur felt blood rush to his cheeks, clenching the tickets in his fist.

"Damn, don't tell me I'm like your best friend."

Arthur took in a strangled breath. "Are you being obtuse on purpose or are you actually an idiot?"

Loving furrowed his eyebrows, glancing away from him, "Hey it's kind of hard to tell where we stand. I mean you wanted to knock my teeth in when we first met. I uh…didn't have any money to give that day…and I kind of put my foot in my mouth when you singled me out. I wouldn't have come back if I didn't actually like your music."

Arthur furrowed his eyebrows, pushed off of the locker and gripped Lovino's arms. He let a breath out of his nose as Lovino looked at him with wide eyes, visible confusion and alarm on his face.

"I'm asking you out on a date."

Lovino's cheeks were dusted pink, "What!?"

"Come on, let's get this rejection over with. You've got a train to catch, and I've got tickets to get refunded." Arthur pursed his lips and rolled his eyes.

"N-no! You can't just spring this on me! I thought you didn't even like guys."

Arthur raised an eyebrow, "Oh? I guess it never really came up."

Lovino had glanced at the wall clock in the locker room. "Ugh! Yes. We can go on a fucking date." He pulled out of Arthur's hold, and rushed out of the room, presumably to get to the subway.

Arthur had dropped the tickets, and bent down to pick them up, a smile twitching onto his face.

Arthur went back out there, flattening his lips into a hard line to continue working.

"You seem to be in a good mood." Lili said to him while he was putting a heart in a customer's latte. He'd been working for about an hour at this point.

Arthur flinched, "W-what..don't be ridiculous." Arthur let out a nervous chuckle. Sure he was thinking about picking Lovino up for their date and texting him the details. And what he was planning to wear. But that wasn't something noticeable.

"I've never seen you smile this much." Lili tilted her head.

"I haven't been, y-you need to get your eyes checked." He felt heat on his cheeks.

Lili let out a giggle, "You don't have to be embarrassed. I saw Lovino leave in a hurry, but his face was red as a tomato." Lili gave him a look and Arthur rushed to correct whatever dots she was connecting in her head.

"I just asked him out on a date!"

"Oh! You know, I had a feeling you liked him." Lili wouldn't stop grinning at him and Arthur felt like crawling into a hole to die as his ears burned.

The rest of the work day went smoothly, Lili told Valeriu, who also said he had a feeling that Arthur liked Lovino. Berwald overheard and agreed. Arthur wondered how it was obvious to all of them.

000000

Arthur bought a nice button up and a pair of trousers. He slipped into a pair of loafers, and checked the time on his watch. Lovino's favorite play was the Italian version of Notre Dame de Paris, according to his brother. The English version had come back around on Broadway and that's what Arthur bought tickets for.

Arthur hadn't seen the play, but watched a few old movie retellings. Arthur hoped they would enjoy themselves.

Arthur took the subway to Lovino's flat, feeling butterflies in his stomach, roiling his nerves.

It was silly, he's hung out with Lovino before, but usually in casual settings or with others present. And Arthur knew that he would be self conscious of how he was being perceived. He would have Lovino's attention in a way he's never had before.

Arthur shook himself out and pursed his lips. Fear would get him nowhere.

Arthur stepped off the train, determined, and he took that determination with him all the way to the lift. Someone held the doors open for him downstairs and he just thought What the bloody hell, why not and went inside.

Arthur knocked, a mixture of timid and rapid upon regaining his nerves.

He was met with surprised honey brown eyes and a Cheshire cat grin.

"You're kind of early. Lovi's still getting ready. I've never seen him so nervous!"

"Who the hell are you talking to Feli? Stop telling your damn boyfriend everything! Dammit I'm going on one dat–!" Lovino popped his head out of his bedroom door before letting out a high pitched yelp and slamming the doors back shut.

"Feli what time is it? I told you to remind me if I was running late!"

"I did! He's early!"

Feliciano gestured for him to sit down on their cream colored couch. Arthur obliged, feeling a bit uncomfortable for coming off as eager once again, he twiddled his thumbs as Feliciano took a seat on the arm of the couch. He was looking more and more feline-like in a sort of off putting way.

"Are you going to tell me you knew I had feelings for your brother a while ago?"

"What? No! I was going to tell you I knew he liked you a while ago!"

Arthur rolled his eyes, "Did you miss where he kissed Antonio during New Year's?"

Feliciano waved him off, "You can have feelings for more than one person at the same time." Feliciano leaned close to him, voice quieter,"You're letting him stay the night right?"

Arthur scrambled away from him, back against the opposite arm rest, "W-what? No! This is a first date!"

Feliciano pouted, "But I already invited Luddy over."

"You're sick!"

"What? I just assumed you would have such a great time that you wouldn't have wanted it to end!" Feliciano's cheery demeanor unnerved him majority of the time and this was definitely one of those times.

And really for as much of an idiot Lovino said that his brother was…sometimes Arthur got the feeling the little bugger knew exactly what he was doing most of the time.

"I- I mean I-" Feliciano grinned, all teeth, and Arthur wished Lovino would hurry up so they could leave. Arthur checked his watch, it had only been a few minutes. "I don't don't want to move too fast."

Feliciano's expression flattened out and he tilted his head, "Ok!"

Lovino wore a grey waistcoat over a button up, a pair of brown loafers and grey trousers. It was plain and simple, and Arthur found his gaze lingering on the brunet, but not long enough for Lovino to have noticed.

Lovino slipped on a peacoat and a fedora, and then they were out the door. They were probably going to be late.

"My brother said he invited that German bastard over, and that means I can't come back?" Lovino asked, as they sat on the train, knees touching as they swayed to and fro while it chugged along the rails. "Yeah that sounds about right, that selfish bastard."

Arthur stuffed his hands into his pockets as they settled into a brief moment of silence.

"I've never seen the English version, I'm not hopeful it will be better than the Italian one…but I haven't seen it in a few years so," Lovino shrugged.

"I haven't seen it at all, so I'll have to trust your judgement on if it's good."

"This isn't some sort of prank is it?" Lovino asked and Arthur met his gaze.

Mouth in a frown, "Of course not. That would be a lot of effort to go through for a laugh." Arthur let his statement linger a moment, the tightness in Lovino's jaw loosening up a bit, "Did you agree on some kind of a bet?" Arthur didn't truly think that was the case, but he's seen enough rom-coms to at least be aware that was possible.

"I may be short on cash, but I'm not gonna do no shit like that." Lovino waved him off, "I just thought this was in line with the kind of shit you used to pull…and you know you just kind of sprung it on me."

Arthur bit the inside of his cheek, "I admit I wasn't the best…behaved. But I-I was kind of jealous…it's not particularly encouraging to hear about perfect Antonio all the time."

Lovino cheeks were flushed pink, "So… the dance classes?"

"You know, briefly I thought you were asking me on a date then."

"Ugh…maybe if you were a little nicer–" Lovino looked like he connected some dots, blush creeped up his neck.

Arthur furrowed his eyebrows, "I should have been kinder…I'm sorry." Arthur knew that sometimes Lovino had been nicer than he deserved, and sometimes Arthur didn't really show his gratitude. And teasing was kind of all he knew, not ready to be mature about things, as though João had taken his maturity with him. Or maybe he never had any to begin with.

Arthur was saddled with his thoughts as Lovino seemed to be unable to start a conversation with him. Which was odd to say the least.

They went through the metal detectors, complained how expensive the snacks and water were, but they gladly paid for wine.

The theatre was well lit, grandiose in scale, and they were the last of the stragglers coming in, the play was just about to begin.

Lovino seemed to be invested, and Arthur mentally patted himself on the back for thinking to ask Feliciano what Lovino liked.

And by the intermission they took a bathroom break. And upon finding their seats, it was pretty empty, Arthur asked Lovino how he liked the play so far.

Lovino said he couldn't shake the feeling of how strange it was hearing it all in English. The way certain things were interpreted, he said it wasn't bad, just different.

And by the end Arthur felt the pangs of hunger from having not eaten anything since lunch, and after an embarrassingly loud growl, Lovino snickered.

"Did you not eat anything before?"

Arthur felt his cheeks burn, "I-I didn't have time. I thought I could grab something here…that was reasonable."

"I know a pretty cheap diner that's open all night, it's like… 20 minutes from here though." Lovino pulled out his phone to look up the place.

"What's twenty more minutes?"

And so they walked back to the subway station, waited for the train, and took a few stops to get off.

"Ten minutes? Fuck me!" Lovino said as they made their way to the diner by foot, the rest of the way.

"That's not a lot."

"It's more than five! It feels like forever!" Arthur's stomach at that moment made another audible growl. "Seems like someone else agrees." Lovino said.

"This is nothing, I've skipped meals and forgotten to eat plenty of times before."

"That's nothing to be proud of! That's why you're so goddam irritated all the time."

"If so, what about you? What's your excuse?"

"You…sometimes Francis, sometimes Feli."

Arthur pursed his lips, hands in his pockets and hunched his shoulders.

"Except when you ate something I made. Which just proves my point."

"Well you said I don't have any taste."

"You don't…" Lovino glanced in his direction, "But people aren't scrambling to eat something I made…" Lovino hunched his shoulders to fight off a gust of wind that Arthur grit his teeth at, "and the only reason I brought food to Lili's party was because she said she invited you. Although I wasn't fucking sure you'd actually show up."

Arthur felt a smile twitch on the corner of his lips, "Do you want to be a chef?"

Lovino shrugged, "I don't know. I used to cook with mi mama a lot growing up, well until Feli started doing it too." Lovino frowned and he didn't say anything else.

By then they made it to the restaurant, and Arthur held the door for Lovino. The brunet strolled in and picked a booth by the window.

Lovino got Penne alla Vodka, something that Arthur hadn't noticed was on the menu. Arthur got a Black Angus Grilled Roast Beef panini.

While they waited on their orders, Lovino mentioned that he came here a few times with his family back when he and Feli were tweens, and his Papa used to get Penne alla Vodka all the time.

"But enough about me, how was your brother's wedding?"

"A mixed bag really." Arthur could feel Lovino staring at him, waiting for him to elaborate. Arthur sipped from his glass of water.

"Ok! What the fuck does that mean?" Lovino's eyebrows were up to his hairline.

"I expected it to be a terrible experience for me and it wasn't…for the most part."

"What, did your brother marry the love of your life or something? You're giving me nothing here!" Lovino gripped his glass in both of his hands.

Arthur met Lovino's gaze, having started tapping his fork against the table. "I saw my ex there with his new boyfriend."

The waiter arrived with their plates, setting them down in front of them.

Lovino sucked in a breath through his teeth,"Yeah you're fucking right, mixed bag."

Then there was silence, only filled with the sounds of scraping silverware and chewing.

"So you like your new sister-in-law?"

Arthur swallowed a bite of the sandwich he was currently eating, "She seems nice. My brother is fond of her, and says they found each other by fate of taking the same wine tasting class." Arthur shrugged, "I probably won't see them much, being over here and all."

"Wine tasting? Like for fun?"

"Or to be a Sommelier. Connor was considering it at one point, I don't think he was really serious about it."

"You can get paid for tasting wine? That sounds like the easiest gig in the world."

"I think it's a little more involved than that."

"I could do that in my sleep. Maybe I should become one."

Arthur saw the arrogant look on Lovino's face and decided he should let him be delusional. He'd find out the hard way that the classes aren't easy, they couldn't be if you had to take a class to taste wine and give suggestions.

But it was also just nice to see him somewhat happy.

00000

When Arthur opened the door to his flat, Lovino parked his arse on his couch and feet onto his cocktail table as though he actually lived here.

Arthur cleared his throat and Lovino looked at him briefly before he grumbled and put his feet down from off the cocktail table.

Arthur shrugged off his coat and hung it up. He grabbed another hanger and walked back over to Lovino, holding out his hand for his hat and coat.

Lovino shrugged off his coat and hat before handing him said items. As Arthur put them away, he could feel Lovino's eyes on him, even when he sat down on the couch beside him, just enough space where they weren't touching at all.

Lovino's gaze left him briefly for the television, and Arthur felt the atmosphere thicken. He swallowed a lump in his throat and gripped the fabric of his trousers.

Lovino patted his knees, "So…you want to watch a movie or something? They're probably playing Spaghetti Westerns right now."

Lovino glanced at him, and Arthur met his gaze, "U-uh whatever works, I'm definitely not tired."

"M-me neither." Arthur's gaze wandered to Lovino's lips.

"Was your brother right?" Arthur's gaze flickered back to his eyes.

"U-uh? Wha—?"

"Did you have a good time?" Somehow they were mere millimeters away from each other.

Lovino's eyebrows furrowed, the glow of the telly just barely illuminated his face, and all the feelings Arthur had about Lovino came flooding in.

He wondered just how far he could go to tip things over just a little, or would they be stuck in the same place even still.

Lovino seemed to be contemplating the question he asked. Before the brunet bridged the gap between them, warm hands cupping Arthur's face. And Arthur briefly wondered how he decided that at one point in time he would have found this situation horrible.

Heart pounding in his chest, his hands slid down the front of Lovino's chest before they found the buttons of Lovino's waist coat. But before he could undo more than two, Lovino's hands seized his wrists, and their lips separated with an audible smack.

He was shocked out of whatever gaze he'd been under.

"Hold your damn horses! We've only been on one date!" Arthur felt his ears burn, as Lovino furrowed his eyebrows, "I mean this isn't a casual hookup is it? Damnit maybe I read too much into things and you wanted it to be."

"Well we should have discussed boundaries but you kissed me just now, unprompted."

"N-no I- you were looking at me, don't turn this on me!"

"You didn't ask, and I didn't either. B-but no I hadn't asked with the intent of us just being casual." Arthur averted his gaze, mouth in a bit of a pout.

Arthur felt Lovino's grip on his wrists loosen before he brushed one of his palms against his own and interlaced their fingers.

"How is it possible for you to be cute?" Lovino looked bothered by it, as though it were a real question he could answer.

"I don't think I could answer that because I don't think that's ever what I'm going for."

"Exactly my point. Maybe I'm using the wrong word, it's like you get all sad, and I want to help. Even if you're a major asshole, cause you get this look on your face."

"What a strange way to say you don't like seeing me sad. You're empathetic? I'm pathetic?" Arthur couldn't help but chuckle at that, Lovino always found a way to insult him even when he was trying to compliment him. And sure it pissed him off usually but, he didn't know Lovino was actually trying to be genuine before. It was really all the more ironic that Lovino of all people felt this way considering he was quite pathetic himself.

"Ugh! Whatever. If you're pathetic then I'm even more pathetic for giving in." Lovino laid his head back dramatically onto the couch.

Arthur grinned, "Well I'll admit you do end up making me feel better. So your efforts were never in vain."

Lovino didn't say anything else, merely rolled his eyes, but he didn't look too upset

A/N: I looked up Italian plays and apparently the Italian version of Notre dame de Paris is pretty good. I haven't seen the English version of the play either, only the Disney movie, so I tried not to get too descriptive.

I'm gonna try and write a relationship for these two, but whooo I got them to kiss finally.

Thank you for reading! Constructive criticism welcome.