31 Day OTP Challenge - SpaMano

Chapter 14: During a Storm

This chapter is dedicated to the friend who helped me through each storm until the day he died. May he rest in peace.

WARNING: Mild child abuse.

Chapter 14: During a Storm

16 Years Earlier...

The thunder clouds were rolling high in the night sky. Lightning flashed not long after each thunder. The storm that had ravaged the Southern part of Italy was moving North. It was moving closer. It was the first time that during a storm, Lovino didn't have his mother. It was the first time since the day he was born she hadn't been there to comfort him, to talk him through the frightening noises outside.

"Don't worry, Lovi," she had always whispered as she held him tightly in her arms. He was her baby. He loved her unconditionally, and she loved him. She protected him. "I'll teach you how to be brave. I promise."

Lovino was ashamed that she had to hold him during the stormy weather, but she never pointed this out. She simply made it her duty to care for him. She never pointed out that Lovino was weak compared to his younger brother who looked at such storms with interest.

Not like his father. His father yelled at him, told him he was a failure, a coward. If Feliciano could smile bravely through a storm, then so should he. He shouldn't cry because the thunder was loud and scary. He shouldn't cry because his mother wasn't there to hold him. One day his mother wouldn't be there. One day he'd grow older and leave home, and she'd be unable to go with him.

Lovino never knew that that day would come so fast.

His mother died only days before that terrible storm. She died too soon. She was too young.

Now the terrible storm was upon him, and he sat curled up under his bed, his blankets shrouding him. He was terrified. Silent tears rolled down his cheeks. He just wanted his mother. He wanted her warm embrace.

She died too soon. She died before she could teach him to be brave. She died, and with that, she had broken her promise.

Tuesday, November 3, 2016

Just as Lovino was leaving for his Tuesday night art class, the power went out. From the doorway where he stood, he could see the light in the main campus build just across the way from their flat flickering out. The storm had probably knocked out the power for the entire town. This was seriously one hell of a storm. He could only remember one that was worse, and he was for sure not going back out into it. Lovino looked out the open from door in dismay. He had been hoping to get out of the house. He wanted to use his art to distract himself. Instead, he was staying home.

Antonio was already lighting candles in the kitchen when Lovino entered. He smiled vaguely at Lovino while he concentrated.

"No class?" he asked after a moment.

"Main building is out, too. I can't do art in the dark. I'd fuck up all of the colors."

Antonio nodded. "You can just stay home with me. We can tell ghost stories and-"

Lovino cut him off and shrugged. "I'll be up in my room if you need me."

Antonio nodded briefly, and Lovino walked away. He was glad the Spaniard hadn't fought to get him to stay. In the darkness, Antonio didn't notice that he was shaking. He couldn't see the tears in the corners of Lovino's eyes. The Italian was truly glad that Antonio hadn't realized how truly terrified he was. On the other hand, part of him ached for the Spaniard to notice.