lost ~completed~

chapter 12

Spain was so much like his old self that Romano almost forgot it wasn't. Of course, it was Antonio but it wasn't the same when he had no memories. Of course, Romano filled him in as much as he could. He had decided against hiding things from him so he told him what happened at the pool.

Antonio never stopped smiling. It was as if everything Romano told him went in one ear and out the other. It frustrated the Italian to no end.

"Why do you keep smiling, bastardo?" Romano snapped harshly. It came out crueler then he had meant it but it was already said. Too late to take it back.

"You're so adorable, Lovi~" Antonio said happily. Romano sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He looked up desperately at the clock.

"I should be going." Romano declared. He stood up from the chair beside the Spaniards bed. Antonio pouted.

"You don't have to go now, Lovi." he said. Romano sighed.

"Visiting hours are almost over," he said then quickly added,"and I have somewhere I need to be."

It was a lie but he couldn't be in the room much longer. He turned on his heels going towards the door.

"See you later, Antonio." Romano said without looking back.

"Bye." Antonio said, his tone a little sadder. Romano quickly walked away. He couldn't stand being in the room for too long. Antonio was acting as if everything was ok when in fact, nothing was right. He couldn't stand the deception he felt. The Spaniard made him feel as though everything was normal and that he had nothing to worry about. After leaving the hospital reality would crash down harder then it ever did.

Ever worse, Romano lost both people closest to him. Feliciano was not his sweet, innocent fratello any more and Antonio didn't even remember him.

Yet Romano did not break down. He could not allow himself to when people needed him. A change was blowing in the breeze. Roles were switching. Antonio was relying on Romano as Romano used to rely on him and Feliciano used to be victim but now he was forcing everyone else to kneel as victims to his cruelty.

In the privacy of his car, Romano finally let out an elongated sigh of pent up emotions. He turned on the car and let the engine run. He found the low purr and soft rumble to be comforting to his ears.

The ring of his cell phone shattered the calm moment. Romano jumped in his seat; a manly scream escaping his lips as he fumbled to answer the device.

"Ciao?" he breathed into the phone.

"Ciao fratello." Feliciano's voice said from the other end of the phone.

"Veniziano?" Romano asked in disbelief. After all the fear of thinking his brother had been dead, he was glad to hear his voice even if it was uncharacteristically calm and collected.

"Why ?" Romano asked quietly.

"Why what, fratello?" Feliciano asked in mock innocence.

"Don't play coy with me!" Romano snapped. "Why did you push Antonio into the pool?"

There was a pause before Feliciano spoke again. "I didn't do that, fratello."

"Yes you did, you liar!" Romano accused.

"I may have changed, Romano but I would never lie to you." Feliciano said in a heart felt manor. Romano felt even more confused but he didn't want to drive Feliciano away. He wanted to get him to come to his mind.

"Why did you call me?" Romano asked stotically.

"Don't sound so much like Ludwig." Feliciano said, spitting out the Germans name like it was poison. "I called to ask you to join me."