Unbreakable Promise ch.7

Unbreakable Promise

Chapter Seven: Ivan
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Lovino watches as Antonio and his crew celebrate their escape, not to mention the recent finds of rich cloths and plates. As the men down their beer and wine, Lovino sees Raivis in the corner sipping at some water. The kid is pretty much the embodiment of purity, everything god teaches us to be. He speaks no ill towards anyone, does not drink, fight, lie, cheat, steal, the list goes on. No doubt this kid is his ticket to freedom. Of course he's known it for a while, but he hasn't been able to bring himself to say anything.

Honestly he's no longer sure he wants to leave. More than anything, everything, else that should be on his mind right now he just can't stop thinking about Antonio and his crew. Mostly Antonio though. It annoys him how much he cares about the idiot.

"Lovi, what are you doing over here?" Antonio asks, sitting next to the teen as he dangles his feet in the ocean from a dock.

"Just thinking…" Lovino mutters and Antonio raises a brow.

"And what might you be thinking about might I ask?"

"I killed a man, Antonio…"

"Everyone does eventually." Antonio points out, receiving a glare from the teen.

"No, Antonio, they don't." Lovino sighs, "Besides, that's not even the worst part. The worst part is that it didn't even click at first. It did not click until after I knew the crew was okay…and mainly…that you were okay…"

Green eyes widen a little. "That I was okay?" Antonio asks, leaning forward to look at him curiously. "So I'm really important?"

"Well…I mean…you're so kind to me, even breaking your rule of not interfering with a place…" Lovino looks at him shyly. "I guess I really…like…you."

Antonio blushes brightly and quickly turns away to hide his face in embarrassment. "O-Oh god…I wasn't expecting that…I'm not emotionally ready for an affectionate Lovi…" He mumbles before turning to look back at a very flustered Lovino. "But…I really like you too." His hand comes up to cup Lovino's face. "Really, really like you."

Lovino blushes and looks away. "I-I know that, I'm not stupid." He mumbles, squeezing his eyes shut. "And…and I wouldn't…say I liked you if it wasn't the same way you…like me."

Antonio laughs a little. "You know, there are easier ways to say 'Captain, I'm falling for you'. You should try one out sometime." He teases and Lovino stays silent for a moment before looking to Antonio.

"Captain, I'm falling for you." The teen repeats, practically sending Antonio into shock. "…Antonio…? Um…Antonio are you okay…?" He asks as the man hunches over.

"You're too damned cute…I wanna kiss you…" Antonio groans and Lovino blushes.

"W-well…then…i-if it's so important to you…than do it…" He mumbles, making Antonio quickly perk up and cup his face.

"Alright, I'm gonna do it!" Antonio says before they sit there for a minute unmoving.

"Than do it."

"I-I will…just…give me a second…"

"For the captain of a ruthless pirate crew you are being pretty pathetic right now." Lovino points out and Antonio glares at him.

"Don't be a brat."

"Don't be a coward."

Antonio finally snaps and crashes their lips together, deepening the kiss as soon as Lovino kisses back. It's passionate, slightly sloppy, and undeniably perfect to the both of them. They don't want to pull away, and don't intend to, until a whistle followed by cheering is heard from where the others are.

"Your crew is annoying." Lovino grumbles.

"You shouldn't say that, you're a member of the crew as well." Antonio teases, wrapping an arm around him. "Don't think I haven't noticed the lack of you bringing Raivis up as an excuse to leave. I was fully prepared to let you, too."

"Well…it's hard to believe there is someone so pure out there." Lovino mumbles and Antonio laughs a little.

"Well, for now he is. I'm fairly certain Abel has some impure plans for that boy and intends to act on them soon." Antonio says, making Lovino gasp.

"No! Raivis wouldn't-!"

"Yes he would."

Lovino groans, "What is wrong with these people? Men loving men…"

"You're one to talk." Antonio teases, receiving a harsh punch from the teen.

"Captain!" Matthew calls, coming over to the two. "Ivan has sent someone to escort us to him." He explains, motioning over to a man with shoulder-length brown hair. "His name is Toris."

"I see, well let's go then." Antonio says, grabbing Lovino's hand and dragging him along.

They reach a large building surrounded by men, making Francis laugh a little. "Well this is welcoming!"

"Perhaps this guy is creepier than the other…" Matthew mumbles and their guide, Toris, gasps.

"No, no, no!" Toris exclaims. "He's a bit awkward but everything he does is meant for the best of everyone."

Lovino laughs. "So he's the opposite of his brother; scary but thoughtful."

"W-well…pretty much. Please keep that in mind when you meet him."

They reach the doors to the meeting room which slowly open to reveal a giant of a man with a dark smile. Despite the assurances from Toris, Lovino quickly finds himself hiding behind Antonio.

"Welcome! I'm Ivan!" The man says, ushering everyone inside. "Raivis says you all want to help get rid of my brother?"

Antonio laughs, "A man who gets right to the point, I like that!"

"A man who helps me and my people, I like that." Ivan says, smiling at him. "It seems this will be a very good alliance, Captain Antonio."

Antonio grins, "Just so long as you don't hand me over for piracy when it's done!"

Ivan frowns. "Oh I would never do that, however I advise that you don't stay long after this is over. Take what you want from his household, but leave immediately. This will be our deal."

Antonio nods, patting him on the back. "That, my good friend, is a very agreeable deal."

Lovino watches in awe as the two men set out a plan; arrangement of men, weapons, dates. That is impressive in itself, but what impresses Lovino most is how Antonio is the only person in the room who does not show one sign of fear or discomfort around Ivan. All the threatening looks, bone chilling smiles, and blood curdling laughs have no effect on him even though he's seen people with as much power as Francis cringe or jump at the man's movement.

"So in a week we will cause the uprising." Ivan says, looking to the others in the room who quickly jump and nod in agreement. "Your men will sneak inside…"

"And your men will come an hour after we leave to attack from the outside. We will have it covered on all fronts." Antonio adds, "So, what do you want to do with your brother?"

"Do not kill him." Ivan pleads, looking at the man with a harsh glare that seems to contradict his tone.

"I will simply capture him and throw him in the….?"

"Give him to me after. Alive. Wounds do not matter, though."

Antonio grins. "Understood, I will rough him up and send him to you!"

Ivan nods and looks over to Lovino hiding behind Antonio. "This one seems relatively weak, perhaps he should stay here with Raivis during this plan?" He asks, making Antonio laugh.

"This one killed one of your brother's guards with a…spoon, right?" Antonio asks Lovino, who nods silently. "Yes! A spoon! He is impressive!"

"Hmm…so scrawny….he seems like a church mouse." Ivan says and Lovino looks at him surprised. "Were you a church mouse?"

"Y-yes!" Lovino squeaks, making Ivan laugh.

"I see! A church mouse and a pirate captain, such a strange combination." Ivan leans closer to Lovino, making the boy more nervous. "I assume it was you who wanted to help these good people?" He asks and Lovino nods. "Well then, I truly thank you."

Lovino looks at the man surprised for a second before awkwardly smiling back. "I-it's the right thing to do."

"As thanks, let me offer you dinner!" Ivan says and Antonio wraps an arm around Lovino, pulling him to his side.

"Excellent! I hope you can feed all of us, my crew is pretty big."

The tall man nods. "I have a chef all the way from China who is excellent at making large meals." Ivan's expression softens to one of fondness at the thought of the man, the first expression he has had all day that hasn't scared Lovino in some way. "He will be eating with us as well."

"Excellent! I have always been a fan of Chinese cuisine since we stopped there a few years back." Antonio says, patting Ivan on the back again. "Let us celebrate our upcoming success with a large feast, since we cannot celebrate after the fact!"

Ivan nods. "That is a very excellent point, Antonio. Yes, it will be the feast of champions."
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A/N: Sorry it took so long, funeral home is keeping me busy.