World Academy Experience (Hetalia x Reader)

Fire in the City - Lovino

When Feliciano had come into the dorm earlier that day, he had all but collapsed on the bed, sighing and groaning and rubbing his face.

"What's got you all worked up?" Lovino had asked, sitting up in his desk chair, words flowing easily as he spoke to his brother in their native tongue. 

Feliciano huffed. "This masquerade. I swear, it's going to be the end of me!"

"Oh, that's tonight, isn't it?" Lovino said. Feliciano balked at him.

"What do you mean?" the younger of the two squeaked. "You're going, right?"

Lovino shrugged, turning back around to flip through his Quattroruote magazine, which had just gotten delivered earlier that day. "I didn't plan on it."

Feliciano shot up, scrambling over to where his brother sat. "You're not serious. You have to come. It's a party! With free food!"

"I'm sure it's great and all, but really, I think I'll be okay."

Feliciano snatched the magazine out of Lovino's hands, making the latter squawk in surprise. "You really plan on staying holed up in your room, looking at cars all night, when you could be out dancing and having fun?" Feliciano said. "What is up with you? I thought you loved big parties like this."

Lovino grit his teeth, swiping back his car magazine from his brother's hold, and slamming it down on the other side of the desk. 

"I'm fine," he growled. "I just don't feel like dancing today."

Feliciano sunk into his bed, pouting. After a moment, he spoke up again. "Is it because you don't have a date?"

Lovino stiffened. "Wh-what?! No, it has nothing to do with that."

"You're lying."

"Am not!"

In actuality, it wasn't necessarily because he didn't have a date, but rather the reason he didn't have a date. A reasoned that happened to be called (Name) (Surname). 

He fancied her, sure, but so did half of the other guys in the school. He wasn't blind. And he never liked to be lost in the crowd, and didn't want to be another passing pretty face to her. And so, rather than asking her to the dance, he decided to try his luck with one of her friends, Lien. 

Was he planning to use Lien as a way to get closer to (Name)? Well, technically, yes, and Lovino realized what a terrible person he sounded like. But to him, it had been a good idea at the time, and Lien was cute enough and seemed cool, so what's the harm? 

The girl had given him a sound rejection. Even if she wasn't really the one he was after, it still hurt, but luckily, she agreed to keep it on the down-low. It had been...embarrassing for him, to say the least.

"Listen, Lovino," Feli said. "I'm sure we can find you any pretty girl there! You know the ladies can't resist our Italian charm."

You mean your Italian charm, he couldn't help but think. Ah, yes, the other reason he didn't want to go to the masquerade; his little brother. No doubt he would be outshined by him at the masquerade, as per usual. He didn't really know if he could take that blow to his self-confidence.

He loved Feliciano. He really did. But he was just so bright, so pure, and everyone gravitated towards him like planets to the sun. And there, standing in his shadow, was Lovino. If Feliciano was the sun, then Lovino was Pluto. Always on the outskirts, maybe a bit odd, and most definitely didn't have anyone gravitating towards him. He was cold, standoffish to others. He didn't always quite fit in right, and when he was next to his brother, that fact only amplified.