8A/N: Hi! I'm trying to learn how to write fluff and this is the result! Tell me what you think! o(〃＾▽＾〃)o
Chapter 1: Bunny
Never in Lovino's life would he ever expect to have such a loving family. He never even expected to have a person that would love him for all his flaws and always point out to him his own perfections in the man's eyes. Last but not the least, he never expected that Antonio would be able to finally convince to proceed in the next step of their life.
Adoption.
It was no secret that Antonio adored children very much and although Lovino tried to hide his soft spot for the little ones everyone knew that the Italian could rival his husband's doting attitude towards the sweet angels that could sometime turn into naughty monsters (in Lovino's words). Still the Italian had some insecurities whenever Antonio brought the topic of adopting a child.
What if I can't be a good parent?
Antonio we're both guys, I can handle defending us from judgmental eyes but I don't know if I can defend our future child.
I don't want any child to be bullied just because his parents are both males!
Am I being a hypocrite? I am, right? See, I will never be a good parent.
The last one that Antonio didn't allowed to pass as one of Lovino's usual self-depreciating rants (which he always tried to contradict whenever it showed) was the one thing that questioned their relationship.
If you want children of your own so bad you should have married a woman! That way you can have a happy functional family and not stuck with me! I will only give you misery!
It was not a pretty fight. Antonio was so used defending their relationship especially towards Lovino himself. He knew that his Italian husband loved him so much to the point he was willing to hurt himself if it meant that Antonio would have a happy life but the same things goes for the Spaniard. They both love each other and nothing could disprove it for the two of them. Nothing at all, even the negative whispers running around Lovino's mind. Antonio would always chased those liars with his metaphorical axe.
When Lovino saw how happy their friends were after adopting twin brothers was the time that he finally agreed to Antonio in trying this adoption business.
In Lovino's words: if the tasteless eyebrows and that perverted French friend of yours can raised not one but two children then I think I can do it to!
It might be a little bit bad that Lovino first saw it as a competition, for he would never allow it to be fact that the 'Frenchie' could surpassed him when it came to raising the little ones. But Antonio was so happy that they finally were making progress in their life. Who knows, maybe a child could change their family for the better (and Antonio desperately hoped not for the worst).
The time came and Antonio could never be glad that their day started pleasantly. First, the woman that walkthrough them on the process was kind and it was not the type of kindness that says 'I'm just doing my job' no, hers was genuine and it says 'This is a serious path you are walking into and I need to know if you are already prepared for the heavy responsibilities'. So they both listened and they both asked the important question. You would not find the happy-go-lucky Spaniard or the snarky Italian, no, the only people you would find inside the room were parents determined to adopt a child and an agent concerned for the feelings of the fortunate (or unfortunate since no one knows the future) child that would be under the care of this two. Of course the part about them being two males married to each other came into the topic and Antonio was suddenly scared that Lovino would have a cold feet and leave the subject altogether, and by leaving Antonio meant that Lovino might never have the courage again to walk inside an adoption agency.
He should have known that Lovino always surprised him in moments he always least expected it to happen.
"If same sex marriage is accepted not then surely it is understandable for a child to have two fathers. I will not even mind if our future child will call me 'Mom', 'Mother', or 'Mama'. The thing is, I will not stand around and have close minded people torture my future child just because they can't let go of their own prejudices. I bet that I can even be a good, no, excellent Mother just like any woman out there."
One, Lovino just admitted that he was the 'Mother' in their relationship (although Antonio has no qualms whose role was which).
Two, Lovino already set in stone that they would really adopt someone.
Third, Lovino was already prepared for future wars when it came to defending their future child!
The agent smiled at the response she got and continued their discussions.
After numerous meetings and visits in their own home as well as the documents needed for the processing, the day finally came when they could meet the child that would determine what would be their life for the next coming years.
Antonio thought he would be the first one to dote upon the child. He should have known best that most of his predictions were wrong ever since this whole business started. Well, most of his predictions concerning his husband.
"Hello there my name is Lovino and this is my husband, Antonio." Lovino lowered himself so he could easily talked to the child. According to the papers the little German was six years old, something that was not reflected on his body. For one, the child was small and thin for his age although based on the medical records ever since the kid was placed in the foster system he was slowly regaining the much needed weight. Still, neither Lovino nor Antonio was happy to what they were seeing.
"Hallo! I am Gilbert." Antonio immediately knew that the child was trying his best to keep his enthusiasm in minimum which was disheartening. Children were supposed to be energetic to the point of annoying their elders! They were children after all and they were allowed to explore the world as much as they want and in terms that they were safe while doing their life exploration.
"Hola, Gilberto! I hope you will have a good time with me and my husband!" still, Antonio tried to convey his message towards the child. He knew that being an orphan was never a cake walk for anyone. Maybe Gilbert thought that his new parents might be annoyed to him and decided in the end that he was not worth their time, money, and effort. Antonio knew those thoughts, both he and Lovino knew it very well. From the way his Italian lover looked at Gilbert, Antonio knew that the same thing was running inside his mind.
"My name is Gilbert! Not Gilberto! Gilbert is an awesome name!" tantrums were normal. Lovino might have a heart attack if his child would be too polite to throw a fit. Seeing Gilbert defending his name and being irritated for being called in its different version was something that added in Lovino's conviction raising the child under his wings. Yes, he was very well accustomed at the fire he saw in Gilbert's eyes for that was the very same one he had when he wanted to prove to the world that he could be worth something as long as he would tried his best and no one could stop except his own insecurities.
"Si, Antonio, his name is Gilbert and not your stupid altered version. While we are on the topic of names, my name is Lovino not Lovi."
"B-but, Lovi! Mi Amor! You love my names for you, right?" Antonio clutched the cloth covering his chest, an action of mock hurt as Lovino learned to interpret.
"Hm…" Lovino tapped his chin with a finger before winking at Gilbert, "Oh, I don't know, how about you Gilbert? Do you like the way Antonio give nicknames or do you find it annoying?"
Red eyes stared at him in surprise for being playful and not calling him out from his initial outburst. When Gilbert realized that he was still in a safe territory he giggled and clapped his hand in joy before answering, "Annoying!"
"See, even mio figlio agreed with me." Lovino nodded and grasped Gilbert in a one arm hug. The child was pressed on his chest in a position that they were both looking up at the Spaniard who was now threatening to cry because his husband and son were teaming up against him, "Antonio your nicknames are annoying."
"Mi hijo! Help me!"
"Um…" Gilbert stopped the playful banter between his foster parents, "What's m-mi-o fi-li-o…and…um mi hiho means?" the two could not help the smile showed on their face when they realized that Gilbert was trying to pronounced the words of their mother tongue.
"Mio figlio is the Italian word for 'my child'." Lovino explained as he carried Gilbert on his arms, red eyes still staring at him with surprised.
"And! Mi hijo is the Spanish word for 'my son'!" Antonio added as he tried to get Gilbert from his husband but Lovino playfully dodged his advancements with a smirk that left Antonio pouting.
"…'my child'? 'my son'?" Gilbert repeated the translations of words, testing it in his childish pronunciation, "You're really going to adopt me?"
"Of course we do. That is why we are here, right?" Lovino raised an eyebrow and shifted Gilbert in a much more comfortable position.
"B-but…I'm not normal…"
"What do you mean, mi hijo?"
"Well…I have red eyes, and…and white skin! People say I'm a…I'm an um…" Gilbert frowned as he tried to remember the words from his not so pleasant memory but having a hard time due to his distressed, "Ah! An abomination!" his emotion lifted up for getting the right word. The kid had some case of mood swings.
"What and who?" both of the older males said with dark seriousness and Gilbert didn't know if he had said something wrong to make them angry.
"Um…sorry?"
Lovino tried to calm himself down. Who were the idiots that said that to his son? For goodness sake, the child has albinism! Of course his appearance would appear in pale skin and red eyes! Why were there so many conceited people in the world? This was the reason why world peace and equality was a far off dream.
"Listen, mio figlio, there is nothing wrong with you and I don't want to hear that 'A' word again from your mouth."
"Si, you're not weird, you're unique! And we are lucky to have such a cute son like you!"
It was just a few words but words of comfort nonetheless. It was rare for Gilbert to be showered with such attention and love so he took it in like a sponge and smiled. His previous doubt was already forgotten like the child he was with a short attention span.
Lovino and Antonio would do everything to keep their son happy and accepted.
That night, Lovino left his husband and son (the word was still foreign in his tongue but he liked it) in fixing the child's bedroom. Antonio considered it as a bonding moment with Gilbert and as a payback because Lovino hogged the attention of their son all day leaving him sulking in a corner.
Lovino was cooking up their dinner when he heard Antonio's screams. In just a flash, he turned off the stove and ran upstairs straight to room of their son. He feared that Gilbert got hurt either due to the Spanish's enthusiasm (if that was the case Lovino would murder Antonio) or some unpredictable occurrences.
He didn't not expect to see Antonio wiggling like a worm. Lovino knew this action, this was the form of Antonio whenever he found something cute. Now…what was the thing he found so cute enough to scream so loud they almost disturbed their neighbors.
Shifting a little bit to the side, for Antonio was blocking the view, he saw their son wearing a snow bunny pajama. It was cute that even Lovino wanted to mimic his lover but he still want to retain his dignity so he had settled in getting out his phone to snap a picture.
"Lovi~ Gil is so cute right? Right?!" Antonio gushed and rolled around the floor while Gilbert stared at his…father with incredulousness written on his face.
Maybe it was a good thing that Gilbert was a boy and not a girl.
…oh dear, what if Gilbert would have a boyfriend in the future?
He would never let that happen! Over Lovino's dead body. His son was too cute and no one would be good enough for him.
They're both doomed, Lovino and Antonio, this was just the first day and their protective instincts had awakened already.