Job Hunting~
WHO: Antonio, Romano. Kim
WHEN: Saturday 29th, around 10am
WHERE: Antonio's apartment to begin with
WHAT: Toni needs a new job, Romano thinks he's retarded.
[ooc: Kimmy feel free to jump in as wel :3]
( They say love is blind, but this is a god damn crime! )
WHEN: Saturday 29th, around 10am
WHERE: Antonio's apartment to begin with
WHAT: Toni needs a new job, Romano thinks he's retarded.
[ooc: Kimmy feel free to jump in as wel :3]
( They say love is blind, but this is a god damn crime! )
The spanish man promptly dropped his food back onto his plate and rose to his feet to quickly fallow after the Italian. By the time he caught up, Romano was already outside and Antonio had to go outside to catch up. Finally, he snatched the younger man's arm and forced him to stop. A small part of the spanish man felt a pang of guilt for leaving Kim inside, but he couldn't help it. This was something he had to do.
"Bullshit? You say what I'm doing is bullshit? I'm only doing it to make you happy" He said, running his hand through his hair and keeping his other around Lovi's wrist.
"I try to act normal, you get mad. I actually act how I feel, you get mad. I do anything and you get mad at me. What am I supposed to do?" Antonio half demanded, giving up on trying to act normally. His voice was still level somehow and he kept his gaze on the other mans face.
Honestly, the spaniard hadn't realized how much this looked like a lovers fight to a third party.
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Someone grabbed his arm and Romano snapped, spinning around with fist raised, ready to punch whoever had dared stop him. Sudden recognition meant nothing, and he would've punched Antonio anyway had the other not spoken first.
Romano faltered and stumbled, arm still raised in a faux-threat, as if he'd forgotten to lower it. It would've made sense too..his mind, his body, everything felt blank.
Antonio had never talked back to him before, had never challenged one of the Italian's verbal attacks or interrogated him like this. Usually he'd sigh and smile and Lo siento Lovi~ I didn't mean it and they'd go back to normal as if nothing had ever happened. Because Antonio would forgive him and...was that all part of the facade too?
He didn't know how to respond. He hadn't prepared for this, at least he hadn't prepared an excuse or an insult or a lie to get him out of it.
"And Lying and fucking off to Spain is meant to make me happy?"
He jerked his hands down, not to intentionally shake the Spaniard off, but in another wild gesture. Romano swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the lump in his throat before it even properly formed.
Pure emotion...how he hated it.
Antonio continued over his shouting and every defense, every uncivil mean of isolating himself, was knocked down. The Spanish man had never been so direct before... and when he was, Romano was left speechless. He'd never had
a preferred way for Antonio to act, because he'd never really had a problem with any of them. But he was far from admitting that to himself, let alone the other man.
Just don't leave me. The thought had come before he had time to suppress it, and Romano was left in a state much different to that he'd left the restaurant in. Hands hanging limply by his sides he stared distantly at the ground, as if the disheveled carpark gravel held all the answers he needed.
It wasn't until then, in a delay that no human mind should be capable of, that he realised; he'd said all that he had to.
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"No. I don't have a choice. Going to Spain isn't my decision but it's not like I can stay here while my mother is in a hospital back in Madrid" He said slowly, his gaze finally falling to the hold he had on the other mans wrist. It took him a moment to realize it himself, but he hadn't called Spain his home like he had done for so many years after he moved to America.
Maybe that was why it would hurt so much to have to move back. His home was here. In this country.
"I-I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt you" He whispered to himself as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. After sitting in silence and running over just what Romano had said in his head a couple of times did he finally realize what it meant and the implications it could have.
He felt a nervous knot form in his stomach as a thought entered his head. One that would probably end up with the spaniard being punched in the face.
Before he could loose his nerve, the Spanish man put his free hand to the side of Romano's face and turned his head so they were facing each other. He attempted to meet the Italians eyes for a split second before leaning in and brushing their lips together.
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Romano didn't bother arguing his defense, and settled for pouting at the ground. How could he object to that? He knew how important family was {especially when he was so lacking in such a department) and- as stubborn as Romano was- what right did he have to prioritise himself over Antonio's hospitalized mother.
A prolonged silence fell between them, and Romano began to pray that the other had not heard his protest. He hadn't meant to shout out..especially not something like that, something that he wasn't even convinced of himself.
He was still staring at the ground when the rough, calloused hand cupped his chin and guided his eyes upward. Emerald hues met his own, a smile he'd never seen before.
What was this..
The world seemed to slow and stop, the incessant chatter of the restaurant and drifting tyres against the road all put on mute, as if his own body was trying to convince him that yes, he was alive and yes, that was his heart beating...rapidly fast.
And then he kissed him. And Romano swore, for that moment, the world did stop. His cheeks flushed and eyes widened, trying to comprehend in an instance the surge of mixed emotions that his body had taken on board.
No..no...this was wrong...wrong. He was wrong.
Romano stumbled back, wetting his lips and confirming that no it wasn't a dream and what the hell was he doing?
Not knowing what else to do, he raised his arm again and drove it hard into the Spaniard's stomach. Inhaling deeply when he realised that the past few seconds had passed without remembering to do so.
"W-what...what the hell do you think you're doing, bastard!?"
And he turned, and walked back into the restaurant, not wanting to forfeit a paid-for meal.
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What hurt even worse though was what the Italian had said right after the punch. Being him, Antonio took those words at face value and now believed that Romano hated him for what he had done. Something he had been trying to avoid for the entire time he realized that he had feelings for him.
Now all that careful avoidance had been ruined by one rash move. Half of him wanted to change his flight so that he would leave tonight instead but knew he had to stay for Kim's birthday.
"Ow" The Spanish man let out the noise a little late as he rubbed his stomach lightly and leaned against the door to head back inside. He would have to go back inside and pretend like nothing was wrong like usual. He untucked the white shirt and rubbed his stomach beneath his shirt.
FInally, after about two minutes of stalling, the Spanish man forced a wide smile on his face, even though that was the last thing he wanted to do, and headed back inside. Without a word, he returned to his seat as if nothing had happened and began to eat his food once more.
Though, after finishing his first quesadilla it sunk in that he actually kissed Romano and was still sitting in his company and a real smile took the fake ones place.
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Everything had happened so quickly that Romano hadn't had a chance to think about it...not until now.
Antonio had kissed him. Antonio...the man who'd crawled into bed with him and always had these little quirks and odd displays of affection...had kissed him.
Antonio was gay.
The sudden insight had come at a terribly bad time, and Romano reeled and hacked on the food in his mouth. The Spaniard came back inside and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat, pre-empting the awkward air that was bound to accompany such a return.
Antonio preferred men...no he preferred Lovi-...and how did the Italian feel about this?
He still had no idea. He didn't want to think about it.
Despite everything he'd argued, and everything he really felt, Romano was somewhat glad that Antonio would be away for a week.
As long as he came back eventually.
[ooc: sorry Kimmy XD we couldn't help ourselves]
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Well.... That was a tiny step in the right direction. But was the punch really necessary? Throwing Romano a small glance, a part of her wanted to kick him in the leg for being such an ass, but it probably wouldn't be a good idea, so she shoved the thought away, and looked back in her soup.
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Antonio smiled up at Kim, pretending like nothing had happened and began to speak once more.
"So do you two want to do anything specific after this?" He asked with a small head tilt, his voice even and his facade perfect once more. Thankfully the smile came much more easily than before and so didn't appear as odd as it had previously. He finished his meal quickly after that and put the money to cover his meal on the table.
He didn't have any idea what they should do once they finished with their meal but he figured that at least Kim would be able to come up with something. That and Romano probably wanted to bolt asap.
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Romano tensed at the sudden contact, as even the simplicity of a pat on the back stirred up feelings of uncomfortable irritation. Everything the Spaniard did had new (exaggerated) meaning, and the Italian doubted he could take much more of it. He pushed his finished plate into the middle of the table and placed the money beside it, suddenly anxious to get the hell out of there.
When Antonio smiled he kept his eyes low, not even bothering to consider the idea of doing anything else. Did the man really expect just to slip back into the usual routine as if nothing had ever happened? Romano wasn't going to forget it that easily, and he certainly wasn't going to spend any more time than he had to in their presence either.
The Italian scoffed in response.
Bastard
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Toni's question was the first thing to break the awkward silence, and Kim almost wanted to hug him for it. What to do next..... What should they do now? Go home? " Let's.... go for a walk." she said, putting money for her food down and standing up. If Romano complained, she honestly wouldn't give a shit. Right now a good walk was everything she wanted.
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"Any particular place you would like to walk to?" Antonio asked, running a hand through his hair and unbuttoning the top button on his white shirt. He wasn't worried about looking nice any more especially since he didn't need too.
"And Lovi, I know you probably don't want to be here any more so you can leave" He said, not bothering to look at the other man. It hurt the Spanish man to say it but he knew it had to be said. Antonio then promptly turned his back on him, knowing if he looked he wouldn't be able to walk away.
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Romano wasn’t sure which would be worse.
As the waiter came to take their money, he followed the other two (almost reluctantly) outside. He would have just slipped away and gone home too, had Antonio not confronted him first.
“Hmph. Of course I’m going home, bastard.” It was as if Antonio were treating the whole ordeal like a damn injection. I know you’re not happy with me but it had to be done and it’s all over now so we can go on with our lives. Something to that effect, and it annoyed the hell out of him.
Because as much as he'd have liked to, it wasn't something he was just going to forget, and he couldn't just 'go on with his life' like it hadn't happened.
But when Antonio turned his back on him, and Romano fumed. It was one thing to reject and walk off on the Spaniard, but when the other excluded him first..
Romano was left to decide then and there whether he wanted to stay or not. And while it really wasn't that much of a decision, walking away on a turned back wasn't something even he was willing to do.
N-No. The bastard *should* be ashamed! He violated me,dammit! But alas, self-conviction was a wonderful thing, especially when it was coupled with denial in it's purest form.
And with that final thought in mind, Romano turned and walked away.
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And now he was leaving. A part of Kim wanted him to just get the hell out, but another part wanted him to come back. And that part of her was winning. ' Dammit...' she thought to herself.
" Romano, wait. Don't leave." she said. Almost tempted to call him Lovi, but she didn't. She wasn't really in the mood to tease him or anything.
What was that hair sticking out? It hadn't bothered her, but he didn't seem to be bothered by it either, and never made an attempt to straighten it. Maybe....
" I said wait." she said, and suddenly grabbed it, standing next to him. She didn't pull hard, but enough so he wouldn't have a choice but to stop. And he wasn't that much taller than her either.
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Before he could object Kim's hand had shot wrapped around his curl, and tightened and pulled and- Oh god!
He stuttered, stumbled and gasped as colour flushed to his cheeks and his body was rendered helpless to the overwhelming feeling- no, need- for another. Unfortunately, all that stumbling succeeded in doing was pulling the curl harder.. "Ss..ahh.." words were grasped for and lost, his mind a desperate mess. Nothing made sense anymore, nothing needed to make sense...all he cared for was this sudden sensation, how it had ravished through his body and straight to his groin.
His legs buckled and he fell [which only succeeded in pulling the curl yet again], to collide hard against the ground. But that didn't matter either.
He had a surface to curl up against, trembling and blushing, breathing heavily in and out, in and out, and wondering how the hell he was going to get out of this one.
And dammit it was hot too. Instinctively, fingers curled around his collar, pulling at it in a feeble attempt to relieve himself from the heat that really, wasn't there at all.
"Nngh...D-dammit..."
God this was embarrassing.
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" Romano?" she looked at him, curling up on the ground. He wasn't hurt, was he? Wait... What was he doing? Was he blushing? That didn't make sense. You didn't blush if you were hurt, did you?
Maybe it would be a good idea to go home. But right now, leaving Romano didn't seem like a good idea. No matter the tense awkwardness between him and Toni, she'd never really been the type to just leave someone. Especially in a state like this. So... She did the only thing that made sense. At least now. Which was to pick him up by his arm ( Wow, he wasn't that heavy after all) and looked at Toni, quietly telling him they should head back to the apartment. Honestly, she hoped Lovi wasn't sick, cause it seemed like it now.
In some way, she actually managed to haul him up on her back. Sure, she wasn't weak, but it did help a bit that he wasn't very heavy as well. " Don't wriggle. I don't wanna fall over." she said, before walking home.
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He felt himself being lifted from the ground, body mass going from dead weight to dead weight supported by Kim. Shit. Kim. The last thing he needed was to be leaning on a female body [even if he still had no interest in her, his interests had little influence on him now. If they did, he certainly wouldn't have allowed himself to be carried by an 18 year old- wait...what the hell was he doing?]
"Put me.....down...godammit.." He breathed into her ear, holding on even though every fiber of his being wanted to let go.
If he'd thought the earlier collapse was embarrassing, this was a complete nightmare. Hell there were people from that restaurant that had seen him yell, run out, get kissed by Toni, come back in, collapse and now being piggy-backed home by an 18 year old girl. People might very well remember him.
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