E-Explain (Neighbors:: Romano x Reader)

    Lovino waited for his father to laugh and tell him to stop being ridiculous, that it was impossible to fall in love with someone he had just met. He waited for his father to tell him exactly what he wanted to hear. Instead, his father began to tear up.

    “Il mio bambino, he is finally growing up!” Romulus set the bowl aside and pulled his son to him. Lovino grumbled but made no other move to escape his father's embrace. “I am so happy!”

    “I only said I might be,” Lovino finally said as his father let him go. “But she is so beautiful. And so nice! And--” He cut himself off, blushing.

    “That is exactly how I felt when I first met your mamma. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever met. And she was so nice! I asked her to marry me on the second date, but of course she said no. So I…. Mhmm. And then we…. Oh, yes…. And…. mmhmm, then….”

    Lovino fell silent. There was an odd feeling forming in his gut as he allowed his father to continue his silent reverie before coming back to reality. Once he had returned to the present Lovino began to speak. “What did you do?”

    “What do you mean?” Romulus looked at his son before reaching out and brushing a stray lock of hair away from his face. Lovino waved his hand away and set his usual scowl back on his face, secretly pleased with the gentle touch.

    “What did you do to make her fall in love with you, too?”

    “I did not have to do a thing! She fell in love with my charm and good looks, obviously.”  He flashed a large smile and laughed. “But there is nothing to worry about. Papa will teach you all about wooing a woman.”

    “Hey, Papa?”

    “Si?”

    “Can I have that gelato, now?”

~*~*~*~*~

    An hour and a half later Lovino’s head was spinning with everything his father knew about attracting and keeping a woman: Compliment her often, take note of the things she does, surprise her with gift that are unique to her interests. Do not take no for an answer when she says she doesn’t want to smile. Take an interest in her interests and her family. Don’t be afraid to flirt, no matter how long you had been together. “But the most important part of all? Make sure you work your Vargas charm.”

    Lovino was sure that for him it was going to take much more than good looks and charm, neither of which he suspected he had. As soon as he was alone again he located his cellphone and checked for any missed calls or messages. Nothing. Throwing the device back to the foot of the bed he snatched up the previously discarded plush and pressed it to his face.

    “Vargas charm,” he muttered. It had made sense when his father said it, but coming from his own mouth it sounded ridiculous. Anger and resentment began to rise in the pit of his stomach again. Tossing the toy aside, he decided it was time to tell his father just what he thought of the Vargas charm.

    Lovino found his father sitting at the foot of his bed, only half dressed to turn in for the night. The closet door was hanging open and there was a large box on the floor. Romulus was looking at something in his lap, his head down. Lovino hesitated in the doorway, feeling like an intruder. He was ready to retreat to his room when he saw his father wipe a tear off his face.

    “What are you crying about?”

    Romulus opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead he blinked and wiped off the tear that began to roll down his cheek. He gestured for his son to come forward and sit. In his hands was a framed photograph that Lovino hadn’t seen in years.

    The photo showed a much younger Romulus with his arm around a beautiful young woman, both of them holding out a glass in a toast towards the camera. She was looking away from the camera, to the Italian man beside her with so much love it hurt. But Lovino didn’t need to see her face to know who she was.

    “Mamma.” A lump formed in his throat and tears stung his eyes. He blinked rapidly and looked away. “Why….”

    “The way you talked about ___ earlier…. It reminded me of your mother. How I used to talk about her.” Romulus fell unusually silent, still gazing at his late wife’s picture. “I wasn’t much older than you when we married.”

    “You just got lucky,” Lovino said, not sure if he even believed himself.

    “Are you afraid to fall in love, Romano?”

    “No! I just do not believe it is possible to fall in love that quick.”

    “I see.”

    Lovino was still staring at the picture, not really listening to his father. It had been seven years since he had seen the photograph. It had remained on the mantel piece in Italy for two years after her death, then it just disappeared.

    “Romano?”

    “Hmm?”

    “I was asking you if you wanted it.” Romulus held the frame out to his son with a shaking hand. Lovino took it and nodded.

    “Grazie, Papa.”

    “Di niente, Romano.”