Work Text:
Antonio pulled Lovino behind him, hands clasped together as he moved from store to store. Usually it was the Italian who took the lead on shopping adventures, but Antonio proclaimed he ‘had a vision’ and here they were.
It was a chillier day than either of the mediterranean nations were used to, thus are the joys of World Meetings in New York, so the two brunets were bundled up. Antonio wore a stupid hat that covered his ears and was lined with fur- one that Alfred saw and exclaimed “Hey, nice lumberjack hat!” So obviously it had to be dumb. He also had a puffy jacket on, one that in the past would’ve made him look like a marshmallow, but modern fashion sleeked it down.
Lovino on the other hand wore a parka- not a traditional one, evidently, but a parka. Wrapped around his neck was a red scarf with a singular yellow stripe that ran down the middle of it. He wasn’t exactly sure where it came from, but it was woolen and did the job it was assigned, so there were minimal complaints from the nation.
The couple was in some shopping district near the World Meeting venue, having been let out an hour ago, give or take. Antonio had been window shopping the entire time, never entering the stores; whenever the other nation began to ask what they were looking for, he was hushed.
“That’s a cute shirt!”
“Hm?” Lovino looked up, only to be greeted by a mannequin of a thrift shop adorned with a knitted sweater that mimicked Spain’s flag. “It… is not.”
“Lovi!” Cried Antonio. “Why would you say that about me?”
The Italian blinked, processing the question. “You-? Bastard, it’s a pullover.”
“I feel kinship with it.”
“Yeah, you fucking would. Old, cheap…”
The taller nation laughed, and pulled his partner into the store. “I need it.”
The thrift store was not one of those chain ones that had a large staff and separate staff to decide what would be kept and entertain customers- instead it was messy. It was charming in a way only a small business could be, with a smell of patchouli incense wafting over the two brunets as they entered.
“Welcome, welcome!” Said a voice, from the eye of the storm. It took a few moments, but an older person showed themselves. They had short hair, peppered with grey, and kind eyes that showed years of smiling and happiness. “I’m glad you popped in, welcome to Junk and Disorderly! My name’s Que. Give me a holler if you need me!” And with that they disappeared again.
Antonio wandered away to the window to wrestle away the sweater, leaving Lovino to look around from where they entered. One corner drew his attention, pulling him away from where he stood to a beautiful selection of necklaces, but it was one that lost its luster that made him excited.
The Spanish man was happy when he finally got the jumper off its plastic prison, grinning to himself triumphantly. It was about his size, thank whatever karma he recently amassed, and was in fine shape- there was no room for complaints.
There was a shelf to the left of Antonio, lined against a wall where he noticed something. Something someone had been looking for vigilantly for the last year. Maybe a surprise was in order.
It was when the two got back to their hotel room that Antonio decided it was time to reveal his gift for the Italian. Lovino was laying on the bed, his jacket folded over a chair and his shirt discarded.
“Lov i no,” Antonio sang, drawing out the vowel. “Close your eyes, mi rey.”
As if put upon, Lovino sighed and did as told. “If you put your fucking finger in my ear again it will be broken off and we won’t go to the hospital,” he warned.
“I’m sure you would,” Antonio agreed, pulling out his purchase from his front pocket. “Put your hand out!”
Once again he did, and the green-eyed man put the device in his hand. Opening his eyes, Lovino gasped. “Holy shit, you didn’t! Where did you find this? You didn’t spend a fuckton of money on it, right?”
In his hand was a 35mm film camera in... seemingly good condition. It was the exact make that he’d been searching for since getting into photography however many years ago.
Antonio chuckled and shook his head. “Junk and Disorderly.”
“Woah,” Lovino muttered. When Antonio sat down on the bed, he basically launched himself at the Spaniard in a hug that may have caused some embarrassment. Fuck off.
Antonio laughed and returned the embrace, wrapping his arms around the younger. “I’m glad you like it.”
After a few moments he wormed his way out, telling his partner to close his eyes and stay put. Antonio complied, leaning back on his hands as he did so.
So off went Lovino, grabbing his own present from the pocket of his jacket. When he got close enough he gave up trying to plop it in Antonio’s hands, instead thrusting his own out, cheeks flushed. “Here- or… whatever.”
When green eyes opened, they were shocked. “Lovi- is that…”
“Probably not the original,” he paused, “but, uh… close enough I hope.”
On a chain that dangled from Lovino’s fingers was an iron necklace. It wasn’t conventionally beautiful or anything like that, but it didn’t need to be. It was the same, or almost at least, as the one that Antonio lost during the civil war. An iron crucifix that had been handmade. The original was bought or stolen or something from a merchant during his pirate years gifted to him by Gilbert, and the loss was one that affected him for a few decades, having held sentimental values. The fact Lovino remembered it well enough to find a close copy, almost a replica, meant so much to the Spaniard.
“Lovi- thank you so much!” He exclaimed, gently grabbing the necklace and putting it around his neck before pulling his partner into his arms again. “Truly so kind, Lovi.”