** for Konigreich_Pruessen 😽 and I'll tag Probably_Aph_Spain too!

OFFICIAL: the ones that I publish next will be the last ones I can, because apparently there are too many parts of my story. If I haven't done your request, then I'll do it in the next book, I promise! Please read that too, friends ❤️ **

Prompt: Person A and Person B are with a mutual friend. Person A happens to do something awesome and the friend turns to Person B and asks, "Are you in love with them?" Person B blushes but says no, and the friend asks, "Why not?!"

Francis had dragged them to another bar night. Gil had to admit, he didn't mind going out for drinks with him (even if he did tend to get distracted by everyone he met, much to the horror of Arthur Kirkland). And then there was Antonio.

Dear lord in heaven, Antonio.

Antonio was... He was really something, to say the least. And he was awesome. Almost as awesome as Gilbert himself!

The two of them -- well, truthfully the three of them had been friends since they were in diapers. They had been through everything together. But lately Gil had been having some different feelings for Antonio in particular. Some strong feelings.

But he didn't even know if he liked him back like that! He didn't even know if he was interested in dating people...

Urgh! So complicated! So unawesome!

"Gilbert," Francis interrupted from his elbow, against the side of the bar. They were waiting for Antonio, coincidentally, to get the drinks for them. "What are you thinking of, mon ami?"

"Huh?" Oh shit, oh shit! Francis, the guy who knew everything in existence about love, was looking at him weirdly! "Nothin'."

"Hm..." He looked at him like he didn't believe him. ...and he probably didn't.

"Here we are, amigos!" A warm, accented voice called to the pair. And Gilbert was a little unprepared to see the bright green eyes he was met with. He was so lovely...

Dammit, he was so in love with him.

"Merci, Toni." Francis said, taking one of the drinks. He tried to catch Gil's eye; Gil skillfully looked away.

"I'm going to go take shots!" Toni announced cheerfully, much to the complete shock of the others.

"What? Why?" Gilbert asked. He momentarily forgot whatever else he was thinking because of this.

Toni paused, before shrugging. "Dunno. Someone said it'd be fun. Don't worry, I won't do it too far~" And the way he looked at Gilbert made him get chills. "Be right back!"

Gil watched him go thoughtfully.

And Francis watched Gil. Not in a creepy way of course, but still -- Gil was self conscious about the fact that he knew he was blushing. Even more so when his friend spoke.

"So, are you in love with him?"

He turned around so fast he almost fell off the bar stool, ruby eyes wide. "W-what? Pfft, no! What're you talking about, Frannie?"

Francis raised one sculpted eyebrow. "Non?" Then he turned forwards again, gesturing with another smile. "Whyever not, Gilbert?"

Gilbert looked ahead of him too. Antonio was drinking, chatting up some bar tender (completely oblivious too of course). But he was laughing, and his cheeks were flushed pink from the alcohol.

"Mmmmmmmm hm." Francis said. "Not in love with him. Sure."

"Okay, fine." Gilbert scoffed, setting down his drink loudly. "Maybe a little... But you can't tell him, I mean it!"

Francis frowned. "I wouldn't. That's for you to do." Then he paused. "But Gil, it's Antonio. He's such a sweetheart, you know that."

Gil chewed his lip; nervous habit. "It's Antonio," he repeated. "I don't wanna ruin anything between us."

"You won't." Francis said wisely. "Just talk to him, oui?"

Gilbert looked thoughtfully at his best friend, before looking back at the guy he was definitely in love with. "Okay." He said finally, a little more confidently. He was good now. He was going to do this.

And it was going to work out.