And here is your fic, as promised, dear! This is a gift-fic for HobbyHobby (user ID /u/4276674/). It started as a birthday fic, and from there, it became this. I apologise for having taken so long getting this out and published (It's so late!), but it is here! I hope you enjoy reading this, chér.

*Lucian– Portugal

Two weeks earlier...

Lovino gently stroked the velvety head of his favourite calf, affectionately fingering the budding horns near the temples of the beast. With Feliciano away from the pastures, filling buckets with water from an old well, Lovino had a moment to indulge in quietly fondling the young bull.

The bulls were never owned as personal property, always sold once mature, and although Lovino knew better than to become sentimentally attached to any one of the calves, he never failed to develop a weakness for one calf or another.

"You're going to leave me too someday, just like the last one. But you're still better than a human." Slightly bitter, Lovino knew the smile he tried to give better resembled a grimace. "At least you can't–"

"Fratello, Grandpa says we're not allowed to touch the bulls." Dripping wet, undoubtedly from repeatedly dropping water on himself, Feliciano appeared unexpectedly and perched himself onto the rickety fence alongside Lovino. Lovino stiffened. When the hell had he come back?

With a small smile, Feliciano reached out to stroke the same bull Lovino had been petting. "Even though I don't see why we're not supposed to. They're very sweet."

"It doesn't matter what he says, as long as you don't tell him. It's stupid that we can't touch them, we feed them and do all the other work for them anyway. The least we can do is pet them if we want to." Lovino remembered with a scowl the tongue lashing he had received when he was younger for having attempted to pet the bulls.

"Lovino! What did I say about these bulls? They are dangerous, and soon they will belong to someone else! Please Lovino, just listen. Don't touch the bulls anymore, understand?"

"Besides, it's not like I'm doing something bad. So keep your mouth shut and we'll be fine."

"Lovino, it is so good to hear the way you encourage your brother to listen to directions."

Cringing under Roma's disapproving brow, Feliciano looked guilty. Lovino only shrugged. "We do all the work for the bulls, the least we can do it touch them."

"That is a discussion for another day, if that. You already know why I say not to touch the bulls, we have gone over this plenty of times." With a tone that left no room for argument, Roma paused to lick his lips before continuing.

"I came out here to tell you boys that we have an important client in Spain. He's hoping to buy at least a dozen bulls for a festival, and I told him we'd be there in two weeks to discuss payment. I expect you to be ready when the time comes to leave."

Lovino sat quietly while the information processed. "Wait, wh–"

"I expect you to be ready when the time comes to leave. Two weeks."

Roma left just as unceremoniously as he had appeared, heading back toward the house and leaving Lovino and Feliciano behind.

For several moments they sat there in docile silence, Feliciano humming under his breath and Lovino absently gazing at the older bulls Roma refused to get rid of. Then Lovino snapped.

"You would think he could fucking ask first." Lovino didn't bother masking his annoyance, swinging his legs and kicking at the nearest post of wood. "Maybe I don't want to go to fucking Spain!"

Feliciano's tone was as thoughtful as ever. "You never know Lovi, you might like it! I can't wait till we go, something fun could happen!"

"No Feliciano, I know that nothing fun will happen. He's only taking us for appearances, so shut up. And shit, I feel like this fence is going to fall..."

.

Two weeks later...

When Feliciano had suggested sight-seeing the second they had set foot in Spain, Roma had agreed with his youngest grandson without a second thought. He had also, by default, dragged Lovino with them, denying the elder brother permission to stay at the hotel. Lovino was nothing less than thoroughly pissed.

"I don't see why we had to come out here, if they wanted a bull so fucking badly they could have come to us. It's goddamn obvious that we're tourists. And it's so fucking hot."

"Watch your goddamn mouth, young man. I expect you to be polite when we meet our client, this could turn out to be regular customer. They have a festival every year and they are going to need bulls for each event. You're going to be on your best behaviour, understood?"

Lovino chose not to answer. Turning away from his grandfather's narrowed gaze, Lovino instead fixed his glare on the rustic fountain in the centre of the town square. "So, what are they going to do with the bulls anyways?"

Roma either genuinely did not hear, or made the point of purposely ignoring Lovino's question. Feliciano, interest abruptly piqued and drawn away from a mural, immediately parroted the question.

"What are they going to do to the bulls?"

"They're going to be used for a festival, in a fighting event–"

Lovino felt his teeth grind. He had asked first.

"–Matadors fight with the bulls and eventually kill them."

Feliciano's expression was the portrait of horror. Lovino was in disbelief.

"You're going to let them do that to the bulls?"

Lovino's stomach lurched painfully. He had cared for each and every bull they sold, had spent tedious, countless hours cleaning and feeding them, taking them out to the pastures... Lovino felt physically ill.

"We c-"

"Grandpa we can't do that! Just think about the bulls, they're going to hurt and be sad and then they're going to die all alone! And some of them are so sweet, how could somebody do that to a poor bull? It's not very nice and I don't like it, a-and..." Feliciano interrupted himself with a loud wail and wiped his watering eyes. "I don't think I like Spain very much anymore, not of they do that here every year..."

Roma gave a booming laugh and clapped a large hand on both Lovino's shoulder and Feliciano's.

"Do not worry about the bulls, they will be fine. They survive half the time anyways. What is important now is making it to the meeting on time, so we have to hurry. We're off to a bistro, and then to the arena!"

Lovino rolled his eyes. In the mind of his grandfather, his empty stomach would come before the business meeting that would decide the fate of their bulls. In Lovino's mind however, it did not.

"So, where are we supposed to meet these people? I'm pretty sure there are several arenas, just look around."

Roma frowned slightly. "It said the arena near the city fountain, and there is only one fountain."

Feliciano asked the next question before Lovino could.

"Who are the people we are going to meet?"

"According to the invoice, the event planners are an Antonio Carriedo and a Lucian Rivera."

"Can't fucking wait."

.

Antonio fidgeted and twitched beneath the tailor's talented hands, despite already having gone through the process of measuring several times. A new traje de luces was to be made for the next event and measurements were to be taken, despite his insistence on wearing the one he had used the year before. Antonio winced. A pin had broken skin, he could feel it.

Even worse than his discomfort was the fact that he was sweating. A vigorous training for festivities had left him feeling dirty with sweat, an unpleasant feeling only made worse by prodding hands and pins.

Antonio stole a glance at the clock and found a chance for escape. "Es una pena, pero ya me tengo que ír! I have a meeting and I really cannot be late. It is a meeting with Italians, and you know how they are. They are a tricky people." Antonio gave a casual shrug, happening to leave out the little fact that his meeting was not scheduled until a half hour later. That half hour could prove to become valuable time, and Antonio waited anxiously for the pins and stiffly embroidered fabric to be removed before bolting from the room and excusing himself with only the briefest of farewells.

The first task to undergo was taking a shower. From there, he would enjoy the sights of his own city, the decorations that would hang from the trees and ribbons that would surround the fountains. Then would come the meeting with the Italians. Antonio gave a slight grimace. He hadn't been lying before; the Italians were a tricky people, hard to charm on the first encounter. Antonio was less than eager to meet with the potential business partners, nearly dreading the rendezvous.

Antonio didn't realise he had been standing in the middle of the street, until an angry, accented voice shouted at him. "Fucking move, idiot!"

Antonio sprang to life and ducked away, shouting an apology into the air. The voice had come from seemingly out of nowhere, but regardless, Antonio threw out his apology before turning to the matter at hand. The accent had been strong, but it was reminiscent of a Mediterranean country, not Spanish. It distinctly reminded Antonio of the Italians he had yet to meet, and it was with a sigh that he set off toward the arena where they had arranged to meet.

.

Lovino had to admit Lucian Rivera wasn't too bad, or as big an idiot as he had expected. Antonio Fernandez Carriedo, on the other hand...

Lovino despised him the second they met, for several reasons. His smile, so bright and never-fading, was annoying. It never went away, despite how long the introductions had dwindled. His accent was annoying too; rising, trilling, and dropping unnecessarily to make every word sound like it was intended to be sung. And lastly, nobody could possibly be as friendly as Antonio was, without an ulterior motive. He had laughed when Lovino first called him a bastard, had caught his wrist and teased him for his balance when he had stumbled over an uneven tile, and had showed up with a bottle of fine Moscato wine for Roma. He was a kiss-ass, and Lovino greatly resented the fact.

Feliciano immediately liked the Spaniard, and the feeling seemed to be reciprocated. Lovino had not expected anything less, Feliciano being the way he was. Open, kind-hearted, free of worries... He had greeted the Spaniard with a spontaneous hug, as though greeting an old friend as opposed to greeting a freshly-met business acquaintance...

Lovino didn't realise that he had lost track of the conversation while thinking of Antonio's flaws, or realise he was repeatedly being asked a question until Roma gave him a sharp kick from beneath the table. Blinking his stupor away, Lovino found a set of disturbingly green eyes gazing at him. "Huh?"

Antonio laughed, showing off a perfectly brilliant set of teeth. The partner beside him looked vaguely uninterested. "I asked if you would be interested in attending our festivities next week. Your Grandpa Roma tells me that you're worried about what will happen to the bulls! If you go, you can see what happens to your bulls. And of course, you can also see me in action. So what do you say?"

Lovino felt his stomach twist. Brown, hazel, blue, and bright green eyes were all staring at him, waiting intently for his answer. The wink Antonio gave did not help the flush fighting its way to his face. Lovino brought a hand up to rub the nape of his neck and to hide his scorching cheeks. "Uh, I guess... I don't see why not," he mumbled, cursing his damnable cheeks for heating so easily.

"Perfecto!" Antonio finally turned his gaze away from Lovino, instead turning to address Roma. "You can pick up the arena tickets at the front door, I will tell Bella that they are not to be charged!"

Lovino felt his cheeks flush the second that gaze turned back to him. Damn.

"I will see you very soon Lovino, and I eagerly await the date!" Antonio beamed, and Lovino's stomach dropped.

Roma's heavy hand was abruptly on his shoulder once more, in a protective gesture. "Now now Signore Carriedo, bulls are left best uncastrated, as are men. So I suggest that you watch that tongue around my grandson. I have owned and castrated many bulls in my lifetime, and I'm very talented with the knives."

Lovino's face reddened instantly, even as Antonio's paled.

"Yes, of course Señor Vargas. I didn't mean anything like–"

"–No, of course not! It was just a joke, Carriedo." Roma began to laugh heartily, Antonio nervously joining in a moment later. "Although seriously." Roma abruptly stopped laughing and gave a narrow-eyed glare. "Watch your tongue."

Antonio nodded fervently and offered Lovino a hand to shake. Lovino shook it with disinterest, glowering at the wall and looking everywhere but Antonio's face.

Then Antonio turned to Feliciano. "Goodbye, Feliciano! Oh, so cute!" he exclaimed, hugging the smaller Italian brother who had leapt into his arms for a hug goodbye. Lovino scowled from behind Roma and stepped outside the room, observing from the hallway.

Words were exchanged between Roma and Antonio for another minute, before Roma turned to speak with the other man, and Antonio left the room and stepped into the hallway. Antonio immediately caught him watching, a slow grin creeping onto the corners of his lips.

"You wouldn't make a great spy, if that's what you were trying to do," Antonio teased, much to Lovino's annoyance. "I'll see you sometime, Lovi. It was really great meeting you."

Lovino didn't bother looking at Antonio. "Ciao."

With a small wave, Antonio started down the corridor before stopping at mid-length.

"Are you and Feliciano related in any way?"

"He's my stupid little brother. You're an idiot if you couldn't tell that," Lovino muttered, wary irritation beginning to sink in again. It would only take a minute until...

"He is just so cute, you are so lucky to have him as a little brother!"

There it was.

It could have been the way Antonio had managed to catch him off guard countless times in a matter of hours. It could have been the fact that he was still uneasy about letting his bulls be slaughtered in the arena. It could have been the fact that Antonio had just said what he had heard all his life. Whatever it was, it was Lovino's breaking point.

Lovino stormed down the hallway and past Antonio with a scowl that sent frightened looks his way. It was the fact that Antonio had said something he had heard all his life. Feliciano is so cute...You are so lucky to have him as a little brother...What a dear! It wasn't that Lovino didn't think Feliciano was...It was that he deserved to be liked too. But no, Feliciano was always the sweet brother, the talented brother, the brother that everybody liked. It only made sense that Antonio, that idiot, liked him as well.

Then there was Antonio.

Everything about Antonio was stupid, from his stupid invitations and stupid face and dopey grin, to his sparkly eyes and stupid accent...

"Lovino! Wait!"

Lovino didn't look back, but allowed himself a tight lipped smile of satisfaction. Antonio sounded shocked. Good.

"Lovino, wait!"

Lovino did the opposite and didn't wait, instead sharply turning a corner and stepping onto a remote veranda, certain that he had lost the bothersome Spaniard. From where he stood, Lovino could see the sun setting over the old city, and had to admit the sight was beautiful. It was almost enough to sink his frustration, almost enough to settle him down. The distant sounds of city life were soothing, enough for Lovino to relax his shoulders and lean against the rail with ease...

Until without warning a warm hand ghosted over his. Lovino had to catch himself before flinching from the unexpected touch. Without having to turn, Lovino knew who it had to be. "Don't do stuff like that, you freak! And how did you find me?"

"Easy, you left the slide door open."

"...Shit."

Antonio ignored the curse and looked overly considerate, approaching the same handrail Lovino was leaning on. Lovino shifted once Antonio was uncomfortably close, close enough for their arms to graze.

"You know, Lovi..."

"Don't call me th–"

Lovino turned to snap his protest over being called a pet name, prior anger exhausted, but fell short. Stunning, quizzical green eyes cut off his train of thought, and Lovino momentarily forgot how to breathe.

"But why not? It's short and sweet, like I'm sure you really are..."

"I'm not sweet, you idiot. And you just insulted my height."

Antonio's laugh was full of life. "I did not mean for it to sound that way. If it helps, I like your height. It is adorable!"

When Antonio leaned in even closer, eyelids falling half-mast over captivating green eyes, Lovino's chest constricted impossibly.

"Shut up! I am not adorable, y-you...moron.

"You're right. You're absolutely beautiful."

Antonio was close enough for his warm breath to just barely brush over Lovino's lips, lips mere centimetres away from his own, standing close enough for Lovino's body to tremble with an unknown, unfamiliar feeling, but...

Lovino drew back and abruptly stomped on Antonio's foot as hard as he could.

"GIRLS ARE BEAUTIFUL, YOU IDIOT! AND YOU ARE NOT GETTING A KISS THAT EASILY!" Lovino shouted, throwing his hands into the air and stalking away in a fit of anger, pretending that he couldn't hear Antonio's laughter behind him and denying both everything and anything. No, his heart was not thudding painfully in his ribcage, no, his cheeks were not flushed a burning shade of crimson, and most importantly, no, he did not in the slightest way wish that he had stayed out on the veranda with Antonio.

To be continued...

For something that took so long to write, it was despicable. So I do apologise, but I do hope you enjoyed it at least a bit... Reviews are always greatly appreciated.