Loved by the Island, Smitten by the Boot

Ch 2

"Look at that." Lovino yawned out, stretching his arms. "We got through our first day pretty good, eh Feliciano?" Feli nodded, a grin on his face.

"Ve, we're kicking ass at this host thing!" He fist pumped the air and Lovino laughed, patting his brother on the back. Ludwig and Kiku quickly joined the two to tell Feliciano how proud and impressed they were and by now Lovino had made his new sour mood known so he stomped off to find Antonio, also known as Spain, leaving the three alone.

"So, where shall we go for our late lunch." Kiku asked as the three walked out of the conference center.

"Whaaat we're not going anywhere!" The Italian spun himself around and began walking backwards much to Ludwig's dismay. "I'm gonna cook for you guys! It's your first day here I'm gonna make you feel welcome in my home!"

"Stop walking backwards you idiot. Besides we've been here plenty of times, you don't need to cook for us like it's our first. Don't you usually go crazy with the meals too?"

"It's nothing! A little pasta, some meat, some fruit, and Lovino bought a yummy cake the other day so we can have some of that for dessert." Feliciano flagged down his driver, opening the car door for his friends when it pulled close. With a big grin he gave them a thumbs up and spoke, "Lunch is going to be molto buono!" The two sighed and very quickly succumbed to their friend's offer, piling into the car. Just as Feliciano was about to climb in, the feeling from before screamed at him to look up, so he did. Looking around he tilted his head and saw nothing but other countries walking out or standing around waiting for their rides. Oh well. Feliciano shrugged and got in the car, excited to spend the rest of his day with his two best bros.

Throughout the car ride back to his house, Feliciano couldn't help but wonder what he was supposed to look up at.

~

Lunch at Feli's house went great. The three of them hung out in the kitchen as Feli made them exactly what he said he would: some pasta (risotto alla Milanese ), some meat (Cotechino with lentils), some fruit (specifically berries), and some nice, light cake. All the while the Italian was chattering about the usual: what crazy thing his boss wants him to do, how many pretty people he's seen, how many kitties he's pet, what he's eaten, what he and and his brother have been up to, but most importantly he talked about the recent feeling he's been getting deep in his gut.

"Most likely just nerves for your first day as host in years." Ludwig said through a gulp of wine. "It's your first time putting so much real effort into your work you're bound to be nervous showing it off to the ever judging eyes of your fellow nations."

"Ahhh, yeah, probably not that." Feliciano said with a simple shrug. "It's a nice feeling, like a happy little voice in my head. Like uhhh..."

"Like the kind you get when you know you're about to go home with a lucky someone." Kiku hummed.

"Esattamente!"

"Feliciano stop telling Kiku about your sexual escapades!!"

~

Back at the conference center, hours in the past.

The meeting had just ended and Arthur couldn't move. His eyes were locked onto Italy, watching him pack his things up and skip around the room to say his goodbyes. He could hear his sing-song voice ring out and his heart ached for it. In his head a fantasy flashed, simple and pathetic: Italy skips over, tells him goodbye, hugs him tightly and—

"And what are you staring at mon ami?" Arthur immediately snapped out of it and grabbed his papers, shoving them into his briefcase as if nothing had happened.