Slow Pace Wins The Race [Rome/Lovi]

Subject: Slow Pace Wins The Race [Rome/Lovi] Tue Jan 25, 2011 1:21 am

Here he was in the Courtyard again... He had just finished his salad. The vegetarian diet was going well so far, surprisingly. Anything to look young, right? Such a thought made him chuckle as he passed through the doors and into the luscious area. It was just as beautiful as always, it seemed, whether the flowers were in full bloom, the summer heat had turned everything green, the fall colors had consumed the land or even when the peace of winter fell upon them. Everything always just seemed so right out here... Perhaps he and his grandson had more in common than he realized. He had loved coming out here before they had even come to America, but he had been so consumed in his work that he only came out here for a quick smoke... but it was never anywhere else. It had always been here, and since his grandsons had arrived he had realized that this was, indeed, his favorite spot... And it seemed to be Lovino's, as well.

With that thought came a reminder: turtles. He reached into his pocket, but rather than pulling out cigarettes this time he brought out a little container of turtle food. He wasn't sure if turtles could be overfed, or how often Lovino fed them, but he doubted he could get the information from him... Though he had at least looked up some info on turtles. They were awfully cute little creatures. He couldn't blame Lovi for being so protective of them the last time.

He walked over to the tree he had been at last time, this time noticing the turtles right away. With a grin he knelt down and reached out just to gently pet one of the shells. The turtle swam away and Romulus could only blink before chuckling. "Surprisingly quick for a creature who's made fun of for his speed." He shook his head and brought out the little container, sprinkling some of the food into the pond. "Don't tell Lovi I'm doing this. It's just a snack, so I don't want him getting angry and yelling at me again."

He laughed as some of the turtles returned to nibble at the food. "I guess I should apologize, too! I didn't even know we had turtles here. I promise to keep you away from whatever crazy cooks might be working in the hospital." Again he reached out to pet one of the shells, but still they ducked underwater from his reach. "Hmm... I'm afraid you'll bite me if I stick my finger in the water." And with that he grinned, attempting to stand before groaning and just sitting down by the pond. "Jeeze... You'd think I really was old--" He coughed suddenly, clearing his throat shortly after. "Hmm... I had better not catch a cold. Not now." He smiled down at the turtles again. "I promise not to get you sick. I'll leave as soon as I know my back won't go out trying to stand." He laughed again before sighing. He really didn't want to get sick. That would mean paperwork piling up, cute doctors and nurses going on without being flirted with, and... Oh, and not being able to check in of Feliciano when he could, which was already such a rare occasion...

"Hmm... I wonder what your names are." He looked over at the turtles again with a grin. "My name's Romulus Remus Vargas, but you guys can call me Grandpa Rome~"

Subject: Re: Slow Pace Wins The Race [Rome/Lovi] Tue Jan 25, 2011 10:27 pm

The Italian looked down at the box of chocolates in his hand, a small smile gracing his lips as he headed to the courtyard. Last night he had gone to the store to get the box, hoping to use it to get Antonio to say yes to letting him stay the night. He’d been having a hard time sleeping lately, and the Spaniard always seemed to help him feel better… The chocolate was something he wanted to use to help his chances of Antonio saying yes because part of his still held the fear that maybe Antonio was going to say no. Bribing him with chocolate seemed like one of the best solutions. And if he was lucky, the Italian might even be able to steal a few when his boyfriend wasn’t paying attention. So, after talking to the Spaniard on the phone last night, they both agreed to meet in the courtyard during his lunch break.

Which was why the Italian stopped by Feliciano’s room for a quick lunch before he headed out to the courtyard, fixing his normal scowl into place as he pushed the doors open and stepped through them. He was early, but that was something he was shooting for, so it wasn’t really a problem. He had been planning to head out to the bench and sit down, trying not to look too impatient until Antonio arrived. His plans were ruined, however, when he caught sight of his grandfather by the turtles. He scowl changed into something a bit darker as he moved closer to the old man, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he glared at the CEO of the hospital.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing to my turtles?” he grumbled, nudging the older man in the back with his foot. Part of him hoped that the idiot would lose his balance and tumble into the pond, but the Italian doubted that would happen. And if it did, the turtles might get crushed and then Lovino would have been extremely frustrated. He didn’t need the old fool hurting his precious creatures… the ones that he loved so much.

“And don’t tell them to call you Grandpa Rome, jackass. They’re not your grandkids.” At least the turtles had enough sense to move away from the old man and not accept to turtle food he held in his hand. That was something that made him feel a lot better. His turtles were smart and didn’t accept anything from a stranger.

Subject: Re: Slow Pace Wins The Race [Rome/Lovi] Wed Jan 26, 2011 7:08 pm

He chuckled while watching them float about, though it was cut short by a cough and then something pressing against his back. He covered the cough up with another bit of laughter as he looked up, using a hand to shield his eyes from the sun. The dark figure looked familiar, and he then immediately recognized it when the boy spoke. It was yet again his grandson Lovino Vargas. Strange how they kept meeting out here in the courtyard... But then again, he looked rather displeased with Rome again. What had he done now?

He just grinned up at Lovino as the boy spoke. He really had grown tall, hadn't he? Or was it just because he was so far down? He somehow felt a tingling sensation... One of those moments where you think, "This won't be the last time I see this image", but where would that come from? He certainly wasn't ready to croak!

"Awww, Lovino, you aren't going to make them call me great grandpa, are you? I'm too young to be at that stage, already!" He laughed again, finally standing up and brushing himself off. He paused for a moment, though, feeling slightly dizzy before looking at Lovi again. "Sorry, I was just giving them a light snack. Honest!" He held out the small container of food to the other, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. "I hope this sort is okay. The people at the pet store told me it was the best kind for any sort of turtle... Am I in trouble, again?"

Subject: Re: Slow Pace Wins The Race [Rome/Lovi] Thu Jan 27, 2011 2:46 pm

The Italian frowned as his old man looked up at him. What the hell was he doing? Didn’t he know he was creepy to stare like that? It was making Lovino feel a bit on edge, but he wasn’t going to say anything and see if the older man would stop soon. The less he had to say, the better, right? Maybe not. Lovino wasn’t really one for long awkward silences. Especially not one where someone else was staring at him like he was a specimen to be studied. That was something that Lovino was not and will never be.

A soft frustrated sigh escaped his lips. “I ought to make them call you that,” he grumbled, moving a bit closer. His eyes remained focused on Romulus for a moment before he reached out and grabbed turtle food from his grandfather, examining it for a moment before silently moving to sit down next to the old man. “The turtles don’t know who you are,” he commented, sprinkling some into his hand before leaning down to feed it to them. “I taught them not to take food from strangers.”

He turned his attention to the pond, taking a deep breath as he reached out with his other hand to pet the turtle’s head. “I’d prefer it if you stayed away from them,” he grumbled. “I don’t need you corrupting one of the best parts of my life.” He’d become attached to the turtles and considered them his children in a way; he knew he’d never have kids of his own, but… These were close enough. His best friends, his children, his confidants…

His eyes drifted over to the older man next to him, his frown still set in its place. “Are you doing anything else out here? You’re not smoking near them, damn it. Are you?”

Subject: Re: Slow Pace Wins The Race [Rome/Lovi] Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:49 am

He wrinkled his nose, still smile up at his grandson. "Don't do that~ I would really feel ancient, then." A soft bit of laughter escaped him as he watched Lovino move closer. He tensed slightly as Lovi took the turtle food, waiting for him to yell at him saying something like it wasn't the right food or how dare he feed something not organic to his turtles... But to his surprise, Lovi went down a different way. He watched the boy, slightly surprised to hear him continue the conversation without yelling at him yet... Oh, and maybe 'boy' wasn't the right word.

He grinned again. "You sound like a doting parent~ Talking like that." He thought about back in the day when his own son was just a little child. He had left a lot of the social training to his son's mother, hadn't he? Their little pride and joy was so talented at most everything he did, anyway. Romulus, at the time, had taken the easy route and had trained him in those sorts of things. He had never really taught his son true morals. At the time, he hadn't really understood what being a father was, and yet here was Lovino doing a better job than him and he didn't even have children of his own.

His grin quickly disappear with the next words that were spoken. He could feel his entire chest ache in a way it hadn't in a long time... Granted, his chest had been hurting lately, but that was probably just allergies. No, this was worse. Much worse. Someone may as well have taken his heart out, cut it up, lit it on fire and then put it back into his chest still lit. He could only manage a half-hearted grin this time and a lame chortle. "Mi dispiace," he practically whispered, perhaps not even meaning for Lovino to hear him.

He blinked as Lovi looked his way, then, caught off guard by his words. "H-Huh? N-No! I wouldn't do that out here! I didn't know you had turtles out here, before! Eheh... If I smoke, it'll be out front." He nodded, holding up his hands in defense. "Honest!"

Subject: Re: Slow Pace Wins The Race [Rome/Lovi] Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:20 am

The Italian frowned as he wiggled his fingers, running them along Damiano’s shell. It was a soothing action, something he was doing to try to make himself feel better right now. His mind was still moving a mile a minute, trying to crack the nut that was his grandfather, but…he wasn’t going to be able to do that one anytime soon. A soft sigh escaped his lips. The more Romulus talked about how he didn’t want Lovino to make them know the old man as Great Grandpa Rome. Well, since he did view them as his children in a way…it only made sense, right? His eyes moved to the turtle food again, rereading the small text on the container.

Or at least he was reading it up until the point where Romulus opened his big mouth and made the comment about him sounding like a doting parent. His cheeks turned a lovely shade of red and he threw the container of turtle food at the old man with a huff. “Sh-shut up,” he stuttered, fidgeting awkwardly. He moved to pick Damiano up from the edge of the water, wanting a living creature close enough to give him some comfort. He wasn’t acting too much like a parent, right? It was something he was going to think about every time he went out to the courtyard to visit. Goddamn it. Why the hell was he so self-conscious?

“D-don’t apologize,” he murmured softly, hearing the tail end of the other’s whispered words, trying to figure out the sudden change in the man’s attitude. His smile and laugh seemed forced and Lovino wasn’t sure if he liked it. But a moment later, it seemed like it was coming back and the grandfather he did know was shining through. “Good,” he murmured softly, his eyes moving down to the green creature in his lap. “Though you shouldn’t be smoking either. I don’t need you ending up in the hospital along with Feliciano.”

That thought hurt. It was bad having one family member in the hospital, but having all his living relative in the hospital would be ten times worse. He had no idea what he was going to do. Thankfully, the thought was only hypothetical and he knew it would never happen.

Subject: Re: Slow Pace Wins The Race [Rome/Lovi] Wed Feb 02, 2011 8:55 pm

Romulus laughed as his grandson's face lit up, even when he had the container thrown at him. He just shoved it into his pocket for the time being. The boy was so cute-- ah, there he went again. He always thought of Lovino as his little grandbaby, and yet he had already made the note of him acting like a parent... Rome might even go as far as to think that Lovi did a better job than him, and likely would if he ever decided to have children. He really hoped he did, though, despite the fact that it really would turn him into great grandpa Rome.

He had heard Romano's whispered response to his own light words, but still the pain was there for a moment... But he was quickly thrown off by the next words that came from Lovino's mouth. It... It sounded like his grandson really was... worried! Not that Rome thought of him as heartless. Actually, Rome figured that Lovi was probably more complex than he could imagine which would make building a relationship where he could actually get the other to smile extremely difficult, especially after all the damage he had already done.

Then again, Rome wasn't about to give up any time soon. Unless he died tomorrow or any time before he could accomplish this, he wasn't going to quit.

He just grinned. "I'm already almost never allowed to leave the hospital. I may as well make one of the rooms by bedroom, but you know me!" He pounded a fist to his chest, giving a bellowing laugh. "I'm too strong to get--" He covered his mouth, coughing with a bit of laughter in between. "Sorry. But like I said, there's no way I'd end up in my own hospital as a patient! Who would do the mountains of paperwork, then?" He reached over to ruffle Lovino's hair. "Besides, I've got two grandsons I need to watch over. There's no way I'm going to leave you boys alone."

Subject: Re: Slow Pace Wins The Race [Rome/Lovi] Mon Feb 07, 2011 2:20 am

The Italian watched his grandfather carefully, trying to figure out what was going on in his mind. Goddamn it. Why the hell was that man so hard to read sometimes? He went from one emotion to the other pretty quickly and… maybe Lovino needed to spend more time around him before he’d be able to read the older man better. It was worth a try; after all, the Italian managed to become decent at reading people over the years. It was almost impossible for Feliciano to keep a secret from him. He could see when something was bothering Antonio. There were certain signs to look for when Heracles’ moods changed…

Yet, the man in front of him was hard to read. Lovino wasn’t sure why; his mind kept coming up with excuses and he didn’t really want to accept them. It would be easier to just write off an excise and sweep the incident from his mind, but damn it. Why the hell couldn’t he do it? Lovino frowned and huffed as he listened to his grandfather’s words.

Why the hell was he talking about staying in the hospital too often? It hurt the Italian to hear his grandfather talk about it, but damn it… Did he have to keep bringing it up? It really wasn’t fair. Lovino didn’t want to listen to it. He didn’t want to think about what would happen if his only other relative had to go to the hospital. It was something that really was beginning to depress him, not matter how much he tried not to think about it. So when Romulus began to cough, the Italian’s heart skipped a beat and he moved closer to the old man. Was there something wrong with him? The Italian certainly hoped there wasn’t.

…What the hell was he going to do if he didn’t have anyone to really turn to? The thought made him freeze and his blood run cold. Damn it. He didn’t want to be alone.

“Don’t apologize,” Lovino huffed, swatting his grandfather’s hand away, trying not to sound too shaken up over the CEO’s sudden coughing fit. It was probably just some sort of cold, right? He was going to be fine in a few days if even, so there was no point in worrying.

“You don’t need to watch over us,” the Italian grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. His eyes fluttered over to his turtles before turning back to his grandfather. “We’re not five anymore. We’re growing up. We can make mistakes on our own without having you there to fix it.”

» Lovi's going away~
» This Will Not End Well...[Gil, Lovi and whoever else is tagging along]
» lonesome when you're around ; LOVI
» Wheelchair race!