The heat was over, had been for a day or so now. But you could never be quite sure, so it was common to stay close to your mates for a few days in between before attempting to go back to normal schedules with the rest of society. That was no the plan for these two, however. Usually, once heat was gone for a few hours, they would assume they could start to get up, wash up and so on. All done before reentering society to go back to work a few days later. With Antonio and Lovino though, they were taking their time. Newly bonded, deeply in love, and unbearably sore. There was no way either of them was going anywhere for a little while longer. The couple were tangled together underneath a pile of blankets and pillows almost as if under a fort. Naturally, half of the pillows and other bedding had been tossed to the floor during the week of heat but still a fort in Antonio's mind. A beautiful, warm, comforting fort all his own. The two held together still despite not having the need to fuck mindlessly again for a good while. But neither wanted to leave either. It was so calm suddenly and both seemed to be taking it in best that they could.

The pants, heavy breathing, growls, tensed bodies, all the need to simply taste each other had faded away at this point. Both simply lost in each other's eyes in quiet as they laid under what was left of the nest that had been created for the omega in mind. A wisp of a thought of a bath came to mind to Antonio, it might be good to wash up and get the layers of each other's fluids off of and deal with the small wounds that had been forgotten in the heat of the moment. Antonio had his hand cupping Lovino's, unable to think much else but him. How he had been so beautiful before, but now seemed closer to godlike. His eyes with small bits of gold mixed with the other colours of his eyes, his shoulders marked up, how he couldn't imagine life without him now. Domestic or otherwise. No way was he ever letting go of the man ever again.

Though he knew Lovino was hurt and hated the idea of him in pain, Antonio couldn't bring himself to get up and go get painkillers though they were only one room over. No, he couldn't handle not being that close to him! It wasn't something he could do. Despite the heat no longer burning in his gut, a need that made him beg over and over again not being present. This did not mean he could not need to be close to Lovino. Not need to be touching him still. He couldn't put a name to it, but he felt himself unable to do anything but gravitate towards the others body and be touching him in some way. Be it their legs being layered together, their hands wondering each other's skin looking for damage in the case of Lovino's gentle hands wondering over Antonio's body, or Antonio's hands staying firmly in their place, one under the pillow both their heads rested on and the other still cupping his face gently. Or their noses touching, nuzzling each other like they had done so many times even before the week. Antonio couldn't keep his hands off of is mate, to say the least.

It was silent in the apartment, save for the birds that chirped outside and the beating of their hearts which were synced at that moment. Antonio couldn't help but notice just how focused Lovino was at the same time, he seemed to be half dreaming. It was a complex look. At first glance, it appeared as if he was simply daydreaming but under it was worry and almost as if he was fearful. Suddenly the silence was broken and Lovino's hands stopped at a bruise on Antonio's hip causing a slight tense in his side. "I'm getting painkillers, and an ice pack too!" It was barely a warning when he sat up so suddenly, hands no longer on him, nose not on him. It felt wrong in Antonio's core like he had been denied basic love all of a sudden. Before he could ask what was wrong, the Italian had nearly ran out of the room not seeming to care for his lack of clothes. The medication was only one room over.

Only a single room. It'll be fine.

A room, with walls, and a bath where he was, just next to the bedroom. He'd be back soon.

A whole room over where Lovino wasn't touching him.

It made Antonio feel ill not to be touched, not to be breathing in the Italians musky scent and not touching him and having him ever so close. Antonio couldn't bare it for this long, and so he slowly got up, not taking it too hard on himself of course. He was covered in bruises and it was his hips that really hurt the most, sure other spots were sore but he had time to heal a little since they were not opening old wounds at this point but just letting them heal for a day. Antonio got up, taking his first step outside of the bed in three whole days. It took a minute to get used to it, one step, another, hold onto the wall. It was odd getting used to it. But by the time he did manage to get the door Lovino had come back with the medication and two glasses of water, one which he had been drinking. The Italian looked so confused when they were face to face. "What are you doing?"

Antonio gulped quick, though it was just because he was embarrassed to explain why he was so needy for Lovino. He never thought that he would be in this situation, never have an alpha to care about him and see him more than something to spend a week with before dumping him. Sure, it was against most social codes to have casual sex but it seemed the British had never gotten that memo. It had not been Antonio's first time with another during the week, but they hadn't bonded. It had been in high school, the first heat of his life. He just wanted the awful feeling to go away and so he had ended up with someone and the man's face was forever scorched into his brain. But the second the week was up, the second the alpha had gotten his rut out of the way he had run off. A stupid Brit, with lovely green eyes. He hadn't been able to deal with it. And so, Antonio swore that he would never do it again. Never allow himself to get so needy to let such a thing happen again. But how do you explain you were paranoid that someone who spent a whole day and a half with you in bed, someone who had gotten you medication so that you two could have a bath together that he was scared that he would be left alone?

But it was true, he was terrified.

Terrified that Lovino was just like the one before, pack his bags any second without warning leaving Antonio with a hole in his heart that could never be mended. But here they were, face to face again and with what Lovino had promised. "Ah, sorry." He laughed, trying to brush it aside going back to the bed, it a lot easier to go back to bed than it was to get out of it. "No, seriously. Toni, what's wrong?" He questioned again, worry now in his voice. He was going to make him say it, wasn't he? Antonio took the medication, cringing as he felt the pill go down his throat but it was not the only lump that was there. As Lovino asked over and over, he sighed and leant back on the bed. Looking at it. "I'm just... Worried you'll leave." He mumbled but then smiled towards Lovino. "But you won't, right?"

The question seemed to have gotten Lovino off guard by his delayed answer, at least that was what they both seemed to hope as Lovino sat down next to the Spaniard. The way his eyes seemed to be even more concerned. It was an unspoken tension, but it was felt by both of them as if the air had gone stale. "Don't pull that cheery shit on me, bastard." Lovino huffed his way and he reached for Antonio's hand, it was a relief that washed through Antonio as he did this little gesture. Someone who saw right through that, that was something he never wanted to give up. Ever. "What happened to make you think I would leave you, you idiota? I just spent an extra week in Spain for you, I am spending another month here at least!" The month, Antonio felt in his gut was to make sure he wasn't carrying, but the last part brought him hope, and that was all he needed for the time being to be put to ease. Though he was sure that it would come up again, he could breathe for the moment. He heard a huff from the other as he smiled at the sight of their hands. "I mean... I would have to figure out after that we're to live. But... I am not leaving you. I love you. We bonded." He took a breath. "I-I thought we were at least..." The others voice was shaking now as he thought about it. It was Antonio's turn to comfort, he figured, and he let his hand go to pull him into a hug. "We did," Antonio said happily, a small song in his voice. Lovino's ease didn't come as easily as Antonio's had. But Antonio's worry was from not touching or being close to Lovino so the fact that he was there in his arms was half of the issue. They could find comfort in each other's arms

"We did Lovino, I just am a little paranoid. How could I have someone so wonderful and artistic and so foul mouthed as you? It just seems to good to be true." He explained and sighed after a moment, refusing to let his arms go from around him though Lovino put his head on Antonio's shoulder. It was fine. They would be fine. He sighed happily after a while. The last part of what Antonio said caused a small laugh to be felt on his shoulder as Lovino seemed to almost be hiding at this point "I shouldn't be so worried, it's just that last Alpha I was with... He left so, I am little worried." He explained and laughed at himself once he said it out-loud. "Granted, we were in high school at the time, so it wasn't too surprising that I never heard from him again." He laughed and shook his head a little bit, rubbing Lovino's back as he laughed at himself. He heard a mumbled not too long after his own laughter died down. Something that sounded like 'What an asshole' but Antonio couldn't quite hear it. He was happy with what he thought he heard. They stayed like that for a while, in each other's arms for the rest of the day. The sun setting before they got up to eat again. This time leaving the room hand in hand, and with clothes on this time.