If It's Love Ch.6

If it's Love

Chapter Six: How not to stalk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It has been a week since Antonio started working at the restaurant and as soon as he started Lovino has started up a new habit. Every day after school, or around three on the weekends, he will go to a café across the street from the restaurant. It's not that he is stalking, of course, it's simply observing the surrounding area that just so happens to be near Antonio's work while enjoying a nice drink. With a hat and shades on. For fashion. Not a disguise. Because he isn't stalking.

"Ah! Stalking today as well I see!" Matthew teases and Lovino glares at him.

"I'm enjoying a drink! Who would I be stalking?"

"A certain good looking, and quite popular, Spaniard in the restaurant across the street. So tell me, how are the cooking lessons going with him?" He asks and Lovino looks at him confused.

"Cooking? What do you mean?" Lovino asks and Matthew looks at him surprised.

"He hasn't asked you yet? Antonio needs to learn to cook for that place…you're supposed to teach him." Matthew explains and Lovino sighs.

"That idiot! Just because it was during school doesn't mean I couldn't have helped…" Lovino mumbles and Matthew laughs.

"You two are so interesting! Hey, I'm hungry so let's go eat. I know a nice restaurant you seem to have your eye on." Matthew teases and Lovino glares.

"I'm simply watching to make sure he doesn't mess up!"

"You're worried about him? He would be so happy!"

Lovino blushes. "It's not like that! I just need the money he's bringing in!"

"Uhuh, ok, whatever you say." Matthew says before grabbing his sleeve and yanking him up to stand. "Let's go over now."

"Wh-what? Wait! No! hold on!" Lovino whines, his complaints going unheard as he's dragged into the restaurant.

"Lovi!" Antonio coos, running over to the boy as Lovino hastily tosses his hat and shades outside. "Can I seat you two?"

"F-fine whatever." Lovino grumbles and Matthew smiles at Antonio.

"Could we have my normal spot?" He asks and Antonio nods.

"Of course!" Antonio leads them to a booth near the window. "Would you like anything to drink while you read the menus?" He asks as he hands them both the thick menus.

"You know what I like!" Matthew says and Antonio nods.

"Um…soda." Lovino says, looking at them suspiciously before Antonio leaves. "How the hell does he 'know what you like'? And why do you have a specific seat?" He asks and Matthew laughs a little.

"Because unlike you I'm not some coward who has to watch those I care about from far away. I've been monitoring Antonio's performance as well, and also, of course, seeing Gilbert!" Matthew answers and Lovino pouts.

"I'm not a coward. Shut up." Lovino says and Matthew simply laughs again.

"Hm? Who is this with Matthew?" A man with long brown hair tied back asks Antonio in the kitchen.

"He's Lovi, the boy I am living with. Off limits to any and all Daniel." Antonio says and Daniel laughs.

"Like I care if he is or not, you know my heart belongs to sweet little Liu~!" He coos, petting a shorter boy with short dark brown hair and a long curl falling to the side.

"C-cut that out!" Liu huffs and pushes him away. "We're at work, be professional."

"Mmm…I am being professional." Daniel says with a smirk on his face and Antonio laughs a little.

"I think you're sexually harassing your boyfriend."

"Only slightly." Daniel says and smiles at Antonio. "But I understand what you meant. I will be sure to pass it along. Not that there are many single people working here anyways…but still."

Antonio smiles back. "Thank you!" He says before going back out to Lovino and Matthew with their drinks. "Have you made up your minds?" He asks and both boys nod, giving their orders. "Alright! Be right back!"

As Antonio leaves, Lovino watches him a little more relaxed. Not only is he professional and friendly, but he's so graceful and looks perfect in the uniform. It's like he was meant for this kind of job. Hopefully he will be great at cooking as well and be able to make more money. "I guess I didn't have to worry…" He mumbles and Matthew nods.

"Nope, he will be fine. Although I'm very tempted to tell him you were worried. It would make him quite happy." Matthew teases and Lovino glares.

"Tell him and I kill you." He warns and Matthew just laughs at him. The two stay there for a few more hours, waiting for Gilbert and Antonio to end their shifts. Once they finish Antonio and Gilbert come up to them and Gilbert takes Matthew's hand, leaving in his car.

"Ready to go home, Lovi?" Antonio asks and Lovino sighs, nodding. "Great!" He says, smiling as he places a hand on Lovino's head. "Hm…so much hat hair…I sure hope you didn't lose that hat. It was cute. Of course…it would be better without the shades." Antonio teases and Lovino goes bright red.

"H-how did you know?" Lovino asks in shock.

"You were there every day, Lovi! Of course I knew!" Antonio says and blushes a little. "So…where you worried about me?" He asks and Lovino looks away.

"I-I couldn't have you fuck it up and lose the job! B-but after today I won't be anymore…" Lovino mumbles and Antonio frowns.

"Why not?" He asks sadly and Lovino huffs.

"Because I know there is nothing to worry about and don't want to waste anymore of my time!" Lovino answers and Antonio grins.

"Te amo, Lovi." He whispers so that only Lovino can hear it in the crowded restraint.

"…J-just because you say it in a different language doesn't make it ok!" Lovino hisses, turning and heading out.

"Haha! Wait up Lovi~!" Antonio calls, following the boy out. "So! What are your brothers doing for dinner?" He asks and Lovino huffs.

"Isn't it obvious? We're cooking for them!" Lovino answers, walking faster ahead of Antonio to hide his embarrassment.

"W-we're cooking…? Together?" He asks and Lovino nods.

"How else will you learn for work?" Lovino asks and Antonio sighs.

"So Matthew told you today, huh?"

"Of course he did! Although it was your place to tell me a WEEK ago! Damnit, why couldn't you just ask me? I wouldn't mind…"

Antonio frowns. "You were busy with school…I didn't want to bother you."

"I was making dinner anyways! It wouldn't be that hard to teach you as I did so!" Lovino huffs as they reach their apartment building. "Alright, tonight we will make something Spanish since I know that is what Roderich wants you to excel in." He says and Antonio looks at him surprised.

"You know Roderich?"

"He is friends with Feliciano…kind of. So yes, I know him." Lovino answers as they head up to their apartment. "So what would you like to learn?"

"Paella!" Antonio answers excitedly and Lovino nods.

"Alright I guess. It'll be the seafood version." Lovino says and pulls out the pans and ingredients needed. "Alright, you need to cut this stuff up." He orders, placing the things in front of Antonio. "Be careful not to hurt yourself. When you get the stuff cut up bring it to me so I can put it in the mix." Lovino says as he tosses the oil and chicken into the frying pan.

As Lovino works on that Antonio beings to dice the vegetables. When he gets to the end of the onion a hand swoops down and grabs his wrist. "Hm? Lovi?" Antonio asks and Lovino sighs.

"You were about to cut your finger, idiot. When it gets that short hold it like this." Lovino says, taking Antonio's hands and turning the onion in them to be verticle. "When it gets too small, lie it down and cut it after that. When you get done with the vegetables I'll show you how to handle the seafood."

Antonio smiles at him and nods, making quick work of the vegetables that Lovino then tosses into the pan. "Alright! Time for the seafood!" He says and Lovino nods, showing him how to peel and devein the shrimp before teaching him how to clean and half the lobsters. After a while they finally get it all in the pan and cover it to simmer. "That was fun!"

"Mm. You're pretty good at cooking." Lovino says and Antonio stares at him starry eyed.

"D-did you…just…compliment me?" He asks excitedly and Lovino blushes.

"Sh-shut up! Stop being stupid!" Lovino huffs and Antonio grins, moving closer.

"Lovi, I love you~!" He coos, hugging the boy.

"G-get the hell off of me!" Lovino hisses and Antonio ignores him, hugging him closer.

"You're the best!"

"You're smothering me!"

Antonio pulls away and smirks. "Says the boy who has been stalking me for a week."

"It wasn't stalking! I like the café, damnit!" Lovino lies and Antonio laughs.

"Fusososo~! Nobody believes you~! You can't imagine how many people were so jealous that I had an admirer so quickly!" Antonio teases and Lovino glares.

"Like you could have an admirer! Idiot!"

"I love you too~!"

Lovino glares. "How does that translate to an 'I-'…that thing!"

"It just-!" Antonio gets cut off by Marcello cutting in.

"Are you two just gonna stand here flirting or are we going to eat?" Marcello asks and Lovino blushes.

"R-right…it should be done by now…" Lovino says and turns off the stove, having Antonio set the table and pass out the food.

The brothers all take a bite and Feliciano's face beams.

"This is delicious Antonio! Good job!" Feliciano exclaims and Antonio smiles.

"Thank you!"

"Mm…it is good." Marcello says, smirking at Lovino. "You two work so well together."

"Shut your damn mouth." Lovino grumbles and Antonio stares at Marcello starry eyed.

"You really think so? I do too!" Antonio says happily before looking at Lovino. "What do you think, Lovi?" He asks and Lovino looks away, mumbling.

"You did really good…for an idiot."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: The last one sucked so...so very much. So I made this one to try and make it better...I don't know if I succeeded...probably not...but I'd like to think this one is a little bit better...? Maybe...? I don't know.