** for -ShingekiNoAxis ' prompt where Romano takes care of fem!Spain! Thanks for the prompt~ **

Esmeralda was sick. Lovino didn't know what to do; did girls get some sort of weird girl sickness that he didn't know about?! It sort of made him uneasy. What if he made her even sicker? Was that possible? Why was he so nervous? If it was Feli he'd just make him pasta and leave him. So why was she any different?

Because you love her, a voice in his head that sounded suspiciously like his brother said. He just blushed. Oh shut up idiot.

Great, now he was talking to himself.

Well he had to check she wasn't like, fucking dead, right? So he knocked lightly on her door before opening it.

"Esme?"

She groaned and was curled up in a ball, her long hair a mess. Very out of character for her. That just made him worry a little more.

"Esme." He poked her shoulder gently. "Esmeralda, wake up. Idiota..."

She didn't listen to him. Or move at all. Only when he sat down on her bed did she begin to stir.

"Lovi...?" She said weakly, looking at him through hazy eyes. "What...?"

He froze. "Uh, just wanted to see if you were still fucking alive..."

Her head drooped, hair hanging down in front of her closed eyes. "Mm, I-I'm fine..."

"Of course you are." He scoffed, while on the inside he was seriously frowning. Since she wasn't going to talk, he stood up and shoved his hands in his pockets. And just for good measure, he planted a light kiss on her forehead.

Then he hurried out, pretty much not blushing. Goddammit, he hoped she wouldn't remember that. Knowing his luck she would.

Unbeknownst to Lovino though, Esmeralda smiled, eyes still closed.

He headed back into the kitchen to get her a glass of water. Before he left his phone rang.

"Ciao, mi fratello~" Lovino's little brother Feli chirped peppily. "Lud and I were wondering if you wanted to go out to lunch with us in half an hour? It'll be fun!"

By fun he meant cockblocking (on Lovino's part of course) and pasta. Anything to keep that creep from making a move on his innocent brother; normally Lovino would groan but agree pretty quickly. But he hesitated.

"Sorry, I can't, Feli." He said shortly. "Esmeralda is sick. No one else is here."

"Aw, that's so sweet! Lovi's taking care of her!"

"I'm going to fucking hang up on you."

"I'll leave you to it, then. We'll save you some of the good stuff, Lovi." Feli said warmly. "Give Esme our love~"

"Yeah, whatever." He put the pitcher of water back in the refrigerator. "Just make sure that you're still a virgin the next time I see you, si?" No matter what, even if he wasn't there, he'd still keep him safe--

"..."

"Feli? You hit the mute button by accident again?"

"Ah-- no. I've got to go, Lovino, I'll call you later~" he said, starting to sound a little strained.

Oh. Oh shit. "Wait what the fuck--"

"Ciao!" Click.

"That asshole!" Lovino snapped, grabbing the glass and storming into the other room. When he got his hands around his muscular neck--hell, he should've went on that luncheon thing--

But... Esme. He took a look at her lying there asleep, breathing heavy, and deep down he knew he had made the right choice.