The Greatest Man ITW ch.5

disclaimer: I own nothing

The Greatest Man In The World

Chapter Five: Sour Patch to Acid Tongue
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Antonio wakes up with Lovino clinging to him in his sleep and tenses up a little. "U-um…Lovi…" The Spaniard calls and Lovino whimpers, hugging him tighter. "Non mi sento bene…" The Italian boy whines and Antonio frowns, awkwardly placing his arm around the boy. "Mi Pobrecito chiquito…" Antonio coos and Lovino groans. "Shut up...my throat hurts…" He mumbles and Antonio tilts his chin up, seeing the boy's eyes dark and clouded. "Ohhh my! This isn't good! I will go get Matthew, or Feliciano…or…someone who is good with sickness."

Lovino goes to whimper but instead coughs. He covers himself up in the blankets and whispers. "Get me medicine." Antonio nods. "Of course, Lovi. I'll see you later." He goes and runs into, of all people, Bella. "Where is Lovino?" She asks and Antonio looks at her annoyed. "Nowhere." Bella looks at the bedroom door. "Is he in bed? Is he sick?" She looks at him angrily. "Did you do something to him?" Antonio looks at her annoyed. "Like what? " Bella glares. "You know what."

Antonio rolls his eyes and heads out. Bella looks into the room and sees Lovino looking at her sadly. "Hello Bella…" Lovino whispers hoarsely and she gasps. "Lovino! You're sick?" Bella asks and Lovino nods. "A little…" She runs over to him and feels his forehead. "Oh no! Poor Lovino!" Lovino looks at her tiredly. "Could you leave…?" Bella frowns. "Did you kick Antonio out as well?" Lovino looks at her confused. "What does that have to do with anything? He's getting me medicine…and someone more useful. Now please leave." The blonde frowns and heads out.

Soon after she leaves the room Antonio returns with the others. "Did you kick her out?" The Spaniard asks and Lovino groans, hiding under the covers again. "Shut uuup!" He whines and Antonio smiles a little. Victoriously. "Hey, Antonio, celebrate later." Matthew whispers before going up to Lovino and feeling his forehead. "Ohh man, your forehead is really hot!" He gasps and grabs his medicine. "Here Lovino." The boy takes it, eying Antonio as he walks out of the room. "Where is he going?" Lovino asks and Matthew shrugs. "Beats me."
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Antonio:

Antonio leaves the room and heads to see Ludwig in a secret tunnel. A cold and dark passage under the church where, regretfully, many men meet for illegal things. "Hello Ludwig." Ludwig sighs. "Hello captain." "It's been a month, how are things with Feliciano going?" Antonio asks and Ludwig frowns. "Antonio, I am uncomfortable doing this to Feliciano. I...I've gotten to know him and I...I think I'm…growing…fond of him." The German mumbles and Antonio looks at him shocked. "You're falling for him…you're in love with him, aren't you?" Ludwig sighs. "I...I think I am…" The Spaniard groans and leans against a column.

"I thought you of all people could do this without getting attached…" Ludwig looks at him evenly. "I'm not heartless, captain." Antonio sighs. "I know you're not…if you were Feliciano would want nothing to do with you…" He moves from against the column and sighs. "I guess there is worse things that you falling in love…and if he falls for you he will definitely be more willing to go with us." Ludwig twitches a little. "Of course…thinking of your own wishes still I see…"

Antonio looks at him for a moment before smiling. "I am happy for you in some ways…but worried in others. This is a church after all; they will never accept your feelings here. I simply joke with Lovino and I already have threats on me. I care far too much for my men to see them be hurt by such things. It is easier for me to think of it from a political standpoint. Do you understand?" Ludwig sighs and nods. "I understand, you are correct. I must be careful…"

Antonio nods and Ludwig looks at him questioningly. "But…I have a question. If I may." The Spaniard nods and Ludwig looks away awkwardly. "You have been here for two months…being close to Lovino…and yet you feel nothing for him?" Antonio shrugs. "I don't feel 'nothing' for him…to me he is now one of my crew. He is important to me the same way all the rest of you are. But I am worried about him…" Ludwig smiles a little. "You're worried because he's sick. It's strange seeing that in you." Antonio blushes and looks away. "I'm not worried…I'm weirded out because Lovino is so…calm when he's sick. I don't much like it." He sighs and looks out into the empty passage. "I wonder how the other members of the crew are doing…" Ludwig pats him on the shoulder. "They are doing fine. My brother Gilbert, and the French man Francis, are both very good at what they do."

Antonio sighs. "Well, let's go back up before anyone wonders where we are." Ludwig nods and follows him.
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Later:

After dinner Antonio comes back into the room to see Matthew and Lovino curled up in the bed asleep. He smiles to himself and picks up Matthew, carrying the boy to his bed before returning to his own. When he returns he comes face to face with Lovino. "Why did you take him away?" The boy asks pouting and Antonio smiles. "It's my room. He has his own." Lovino rolls his eyes. "Whatever…" He gets under the cover and pouts back up at Antonio. "Hurry up and get in bed. I'm tired and cold. Since you took away my heat…stupid pirate."

Antonio chuckles under his breath and lies down next to the teen, wrapping an arm around him and for once not getting pushed away for it. "You creep me out when you're sick, Lovi. Hurry up and get better." He teases and Lovino squirms under his arms. "I don't like it either, smart ass." "Fusososo! Lovi's a potty mouth when you are sick~!" Lovino turns to look at him annoyed. "I will kick you in the nuts if you don't shut up and let me sleep." "Ah~! There's my Lovi!" Antonio coos and presses his chin to Lovino's forehead. "Mmm, you're not too warm anymore. Good." When he pulls away he sees that Lovino is already asleep, a hand unconsciously entwining itself in Antonio's long hair.

Antonio stares at the sleeping teen and gently brushes his bags from his face. "Buenas noches, Lovi." He mumbles, feeling a strange heat form in his chest and rising to his cheeks.
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A week later:

Ludwig and Antonio wonder the halls, having been ditched by the others earlier for one reason or another. Lovino is better and off doing the priest's bidding again, Marcello is off playing with his new friend Peter, Feliciano is showing Matthew around the garden, and of course everyone else there hates them. "Ahh Ludwig, I was so worried that first night Lovi got sick!" Antonio exclaims and Ludwig looks at him confused. "About Lovino?" the Spaniard laughs. "No! I knew he would be fine! He was already quickly becoming a brat again! I was worried I was getting sick. I had this horrendous feeling in my chest and my face began to feel warm. I was so sure he had given me his fever!"

Ludwig stares at him and remains silent. "Thank god he didn't though, right Ludwig?" "Right captain." Antonio and him go by the garden and hear a familiar voice singing. They both stop and back up to the entrance into the garden they just passed and see a blonde man with shoulder length hair and stubble on his chin. "Is that…?" Antonio mumbles and Ludwig nods. Both men head into the garden, which is thankfully still a safe place, and see all of the boys sitting in the front and staring at the singing Frenchman in front of them. Even Lovino seemed impressed.

"He's always such a show off…" Antonio mumbles, annoyed, and Ludwig nods. "He keeps staring at the Vargas brothers…I don't like it." The blonde notices them and smiles. "Bonjour, mes amis!" He coos and Lovino twitches. "Of course he's one of you guys…" He mumbles and gets up, his wrist quickly being grabbed by the Frenchman. "I don't know why you guys are here…all I am asking is allow me to have this cute boy~!" Lovino cringes in his grasp and Antonio wordlessly stomps over, yanking the teen out of the other man's grasp. "YOU. CAN. NEVER. HAVE. HIM. Got it Francis?" Antonio says darkly as Lovino looks at him confused and the man, Francis, gulps nervously. "Oui, I understand captain…"

Lovino blushes a little as Antonio holds onto his wrist tightly. "A-Antonio…you're hurting me…" The Spaniard gasps and lets go of him. "L-lo siento, Lovi." A strange light comes to Francis' eyes. "Lovi? What a strange name~!" Lovino and Antonio look at him annoyed. "That's Lovino to you!" They yell in unison and Francis smirks. "Ohhh a pet name between lovers, oui? I never thought it would happen with you Antonio~!" Antonio twitches. "It hasn't, Francis. Don't be stupid." Francis looks Lovino over with a stare that makes the boy's skin crawl.

"From where I'm standing, it seems you are the one being stupid." Lovino twitches and backs away. "And here I thought you were cool for a minute…" Francis smirks. "Everyone loves my beautiful singing, mon Ami~!" As if to make Antonio's day even more difficult, Bella comes up. She glares at Antonio before looking at Francis bright eyed. "Hi~! My name is Bella, you have a beautiful voice~!" Francis smiles and kisses her hand. "You are so sweet, my dear Bella."

Lovino and Antonio roll their eyes as Bella giggles. "I'm not sweet~!" She coos and Antonio nods. "For once I agree with the little-!" Lovino quickly leans over and covers his mouth. "You're in the church! And she's a woman!" Antonio twitches, mumbles against Lovino's hand. "That's debatable…" "Antonio…" Lovino warns and the Spaniard rolls his eyes, removing the teen's hand. "I will behave…"

He walks over and grabs Francis' arm, dragging him away from everyone with Ludwig. Once they are out of earshot from the group of people Antonio brings them behind a column. "Why the hell are you here?" He hisses and Francis laughs. "Ohonhonhon! I thought you would be happy to see your dear friend~!" Antonio groans. "Not when you should be taking care of our men!" Francis frowns. "Our men…has come to consist only of a few men. Gilbert, me, that man from the Netherlands named Abel, Heracles, Sadiq, Roderich, and Vash…All of them but Gilbert are already in a safe place and won't be coming here unless called." Antonio stares at him shocked. "You lie! This is unfair! We had such a large crew!" He punches the column beside him. "GOD DAMNIT!"

Ludwig frowns and pats him on the shoulder. "It is alright. We will gather more men as we always do." A strange smirk comes over Antonio's face. "Yes…we will have a ship full of church treasures." Francis looks at him amused. "Ahhh, you are planning on stealing men from the church. You never cease to impress me captain. I assume those adorable Italian boys will be coming~?" He coos and Antonio and Ludwig look at him darkly. "Yes. But NO. TOUCHING." Antonio warns and Francis laughs a little. "Of course, of course. I shall behave~! …With those three. That adorable blonde next to Lovino is free game though, si?" Ludwig and Antonio shrug. "If you can get him. Good luck with that." The Spaniard says and Francis sighs. "On second thought…if he will be on our ship with us…I will pass. Perhaps the lovely blonde girl-!" "YES! YES! GO AFTER HER! GET HER THE FUCK AWAY FROM LOVI!" Antonio exclaims, freaking out both Francis and Ludwig.

"Uh…huh…if you say so, mon Ami…" Francis says, eying Antonio curiously. The Spaniard smiles and grabs his shoulders. "Perfect! Now she will get out of my hair!" Ludwig rolls his eyes and looks at Francis. "Be careful of the priest…" Francis smiles at him curiously. "Ohh? The priest? What was his name~?" "Benedetto…that smug son of a bitch." Antonio says darkly and Francis looks at him amused. "And what is he doing to make you so disgusted?" "He beats my Lovi-er…Lovino…and…his brothers…and makes Lovi do horrid things for him. Which he has now blackmailed me into doing. Whatever you do, don't tell him who you are to us." The Spaniard says and Francis smirks. "Interesting…by horrid things you mean murder I presume? Since any other act towards you would have ended in you killing him." "Oh, I'm still going to be killing him. However, it will take time and I will make sure it can't be linked to me." Antonio says darkly and Francis laughs. "Of course! Anyone else you plan on killing?"

"Any of them who get between me and my goal. The only ones safe from any punishment from me are the Vargas brothers and their two orphan friends." Francis looks out to the boys in the garden and notices Bella all over Lovino. "And her?" She can either be a minor inconvenience…or the biggest bock to my plan. It all depends on how much Lovino cares for her. Once I find that out I will act accordingly. However, I can't kill her…myself. I will have to get her killed in a way Lovi can't trace back to me." Antonio says and Francis raises a brow. "Ohh? So that one only needs to be unknown by the oldest Italian brother? I assume they are close…and that you have some plans already, oui?" The Spaniard looks over to the girl trying to pull Lovino away from the garden and everyone in it. "Yes, I have a few ideas…"
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A/N:Non mi sento bene=I don't feel good. Mi pobrecito chiquito= My poor little boy.(he was using it mockingly btw lD)

I find it so funny that i dont make a chapter of this for a week and i get a bunch of people asking me to update ASAP.(so much love~!) And all my others i might get one...after two weeks. People even thought I was done working on this one. I WILL NEVER BE DONE WORKING ON THIS ONE!!! I LOVE THIS ONE!!! *cough* Anyways...I'm sorry if this one seems scattered...I wrote most of it while i was at my worst with this DAMN SICKNESSS! *cough* But anyways...yeah...I had no idea how i was going to bring Francis in...then I realized...he's FRANCIS. He could just walk in and no one would question it because he's...well...FRANCIS. Anyone who questioned him he'd just sleep with and shut them up. So yeah, he came in singing...because I am loving on the French singer from Eurovision. So french singing is SUPER HOT right now.*shot* And most of Antonio's crew wont be coming into the story. At least not for big parts. Arthur's crew will be coming in soon too...eventually...probably...PRUCAN WILL BE COMING NEXT CHAPTER!