Chapter Text
Ivory white keys and ebony notes danced through the air, sliding off Lovino’s fingers like a waterfall of sorrow. His eyes were closed, listening to the voice he never had, listening to his own calls for company. He could hear people shuffling past in the hallway, most of them going home, then a far off violin sounded- Roderich.
Then peace settled on the school, and the quiet playing continued, two different songs overlapping, mixing, then rejecting each other. It was a hateful symphony of begrudging sympathy, and it fascinated Antonio as he stood in the hallway between the two musicians.
Antonio adored music, even more than he adored the way the earth felt beneath bare feet, and the freedom of an open field where he could cast his cane aside and run without fear. He adored the way emotions could move through the air, beyond the boundaries of language and the limitations of words.
But the music had to fade as Lovino stood up, packed his things and walked out. When he saw Antonio he sighed, silently. The Spanish boy was exceptionally kind, but Lovino couldn't breathe a word about it, he still couldn't speak in front of others. He was still too afraid, and likely always would be.
“Who are you?” Antonio asked, like he did every day. And like every other day there came no answer.