Window Games

Chapter 8

A/N: I am so sorry this took so long! Work and school have been steamrolling me for the past few months, and then I accidentally edited the wrong chapter first (which means that 9 is ready to go, so yay!). This one is just about done, and I have so many ideas for the next that I don't even know where to start! I really want to do something that people like next time, so maybe I can get some input here or on tumblr? I have a whole list of ideas that I should probably get around to putting up somewhere...

As always, thanks to my betas! You guys are the best and I'd be even more of a mess without you.

~Saya

~*~

By Monday afternoon, Gilbert's head had fallen onto the table again. There was an open bottle near his head, but his hand had slipped from it into his lap. Golden sunlight creeped into the room through the blinds, falling in thin stripes across the apartment.

When the knock first came at the door, it was barely enough to rouse him. His head was pounding, and at first, he thought it was that sensitivity magnifying a sound from one of the other apartments. It wasn't until the knock came again that he got up, his curiosity getting the better of him. He didn't bother to check the peephole before he answered the door, so opening it to find Lovino standing in front of him was a shock.

"Huh?" he slurred. Apparently, that was the most eloquent answer he could manage. Well damn, that was definitely the impression he wanted to make when his crush finally came to his door.

Lovino rolled his eyes. Even now, Gilbert couldn't help but notice the color of his eyes-a beautiful, even mixture of vibrant greens and soft golden brown. It reminded him a bit of a sunlit forest, and he was about to say so when Lovino gently pushed him back and followed him into the apartment.

"Wha...?" he blurted out, still struggling to come up with full sentences or even words.

Instead of answering just yet, Lovino kicked the door shut behind them and guided him to a seat at the table. He stared at the beer bottle for a moment as if considering taking it away, but decided against it after a moment's hesitation. If Gilbert wasn't so confused, he might have been grateful. Lovino glanced around the dark room once more, then finally spoke.

"Herakles passed on your...message," he commented finally, letting his gaze wander back to Gilbert's face. The German was still staring up at him, his eyes wide and clueless. Lovino snorted softly and mumbled something that sounded like "I can't believe you hit my best friend." It could have been "boyfriend," but Gilbert preferred to believe the alternative.

"He was in my way," he mumbled finally. It was a lame excuse, but it was the best he could come up with. Suddenly, he was ashamed to admit that he'd hit someone over his unrequited feelings.

Lovino turned away to look through the fridge. Gilbert wondered if he should be offended, but it was hard to think about that when he couldn't stop himself from admiring the Italian's backside. He didn't think this would ever happen again, so he might as well enjoy it while he could.

"God, this is pathetic. What do you even eat?" he snorted after a moment, pulling his head out of the fridge and looking back at Gilbert. The latter quickly jerked his gaze upward, but the knowing smirk on the brunet's lips said he knew exactly what had just happened. Gilbert's cheeks flushed immediately in response.

"Um..." The words still weren't coming easily for him. Lovino waited a moment for a coherent response, but when it wasn't forthcoming, he just shook his head and reached for Gilbert's keys. Gilbert didn't even think to stop him.

"I'll be back soon. Just...don't wander off or something."

With that, he was gone. Gilbert stared at the closed door for a moment, wondering if he even believed what had just happened. His keys were still gone, so that was probably proof. He was a tidy person, so he always put them back in the same place. Still, last time he'd been so drunk, he'd barely gotten his shoes on the right feet.