Muses
Hetalia - Spamano - Humans, Artist and Muse AU
Romano was searching for a muse. He found one in Antonio, and so much more.
Secret santa gift for@someone-you-do-not-know
Ao3 Kinda long, so most of it's under the cut.
It had been months since he'd last made any reasonable progress. Months. And in that time, Veneziano had succeeded in not only finishing projects but gaining popularity. Grandfather's legacy giving him a boost there was the only thing that kept Romano's jealousy relatively low.
It had still been months since he'd last made progress. Finishing any of his projects was out of the question. He just didn't have the inspiration he needed.
Which led him into the countryside. If he couldn't find anything in the city, why not look in the country. Gilbert could protect him well enough and he'd hopefully find the inspiration he needed.
"I've got an idea," Gilbert's loud voice suddenly broke the relative silence.
"A good idea this time?"
Gilbert was trying, but so far none of his ideas or suggestions had worked.
"Follow me," Gilbert laughed.
With no other choice Romano followed him to someone's property. The old home stood single story, the dull white walls and dark tiled roof a striking contrast to the surrounding green. It had clearly belonged to someone with money at some time in history, with the open gateway and cobbled path leading up to the building. There were more than enough plants around: trees casting plenty of shade over the stone and the lawn, a variety of bushes and flowers, and Romano could see a garden of some size past the corner of the house.
"Who lives here?"
"Antonio."
As if that name meant anything to Romano. Gilbert dismounted his horse and helped Romano down as well.
"Go take a look around, I'll go talk to him."
"Are you sure that's okay?"
"Perfectly."
Gilbert left him standing there and Romano sighed. Typical of Gilbert to run off on him and leave him alone on some stranger's property. What if this Antonio was outside? He didn't even know how Gilbert knew the man. What was he supposed to say?
The old building would make a lovely painting but that wasn't inspiring. The flowering trees were beautiful but again not inspiring. Maybe farther on the land but Romano didn't want to trespass no matter how convinced Gilbert was that it would be fine.
Romano sighed and pulled his sketchbook from his pack. He might as well try getting something down. Even if Gilbert only brought him here so he could see a friend, at least Romano could say he tried.
Some time had passed and all he had to show for it were half finished sketches of the bushes and trees when Gilbert finally returned.
"Antonio knows we're here now come on."
Romano followed Gilbert through the yard, past the substantial garden, and through some trees. There was obviously something specific he had wanted to show him. Romano hoped this time it was worth it.
Beyond the small cluster of citrus trees was a cliff. Romano stared out across the view.
"This might work."
"Get to it then." Gilbert clapped him on the back. "Want me to go get something bigger for you to work on?"
"Hurry."
Romano focused on the view in front of him and started sketching the landscape.
"That's Romano?"
An unfamiliar voice Romano assumed belonged to Antonio interrupted his focus and he turned.
Walking over with Gilbert was exactly what Romano had been searching for. Romano stared at him: the sun-kissed skin, the unkempt dark hair, the strong frame under clothes designed more for comfort than anything else.
"Be my muse," Romano blurted out before he could think to stop himself.
"What?"
"You're perfect. Let me paint you."
Antonio's startled expression quickly melted into a sheepish smile.
"Oh. I."
Gilbert laughed and pat Romano's shoulder.
"You got good taste. Take him up on it, Antonio."
"But I've never had my portrait done."
The flustered expression was beautiful too. Romano wanted to spend hours studying Antonio's face. To see how he looked under different lighting, all his different expressions.
"It won't be anything professional. No one else even has to see it. Please."
Romano ignored Gilbert's snickering as Antonio finally nodded.
"Okay. What do you want me to do?"
"I'm going to raid your kitchen," Gilbert said. "Have fun."
"Just stay right there," Romano instructed Antonio as Gilbert left.
Romano turned to an empty page and started sketching. He wouldn't be able to capture every detail in just a sketch, but it would have to do for now.
"Gilbert said you are an artist in search of inspiration."
"Pretty much." A few more lines here for that hair. "I haven't gotten anywhere with it yet."
There was silence between them until Romano finished the picture and showed it to Antonio.
"Wow," Antonio exclaimed. "Do I really look like that?"
"You ever look in a mirror?"
Antonio laughed and Romano stared. He had to stay here for a while and keep drawing this man.
"Do you have room for me to stay here for a while?"
"You want to keep drawing me that much?"
"I do."
Now that he had finally found his muse he couldn't just walk away.
Antonio's laughter quieted.
"It would be nice to have someone around the house again. Okay Mr. Artist, I have a guest room you can use."
Perfect. Now he didn't have to wander aimlessly with Gilbert anymore, or return home to his family's loving judgements. And most importantly he got to spend more time with his muse.
"If I ever make you uncomfortable, tell me to knock it off," Romano said.
"Come on, I'll show you your room."
With how often he stared at and drew Antonio, Romano wanted to do something. Helping Antonio with his garden seemed to Romano a fine trade off with Antonio refusing to accept any money. As it turned out, Romano enjoyed gardening.
Unfortunately, helping Antonio outside meant distraction.
Distraction Antonio was more than happy to provide as he got more and more comfortable with being Romano's muse.
"Look Romano." "How's this Romano?" "Draw this Romano!"
And Romano listened to every demand. He didn't tire of staring at Antonio, loved recording the nature of Antonio in his artwork. Every stupid pose and goofy expression brought him farther and farther from his worries about his family's expectations. Every piece of Antonio - lovingly rendered to captured the man in his entirety - had him following Antonio into a life he had never considered having before. One carefree, without expectations or worries of the judgements of others. The more he followed his muse the less he cared about the life he'd been trying to fit himself into before.
Nonsense lyrics sang to a tune Romano wasn't sure existed before that moment interrupted his thoughts. Antonio was singing? He did have his guitar, and only an idiot would say he didn't play well, but Romano had never heard him sing before… Probably for good reason, if that was his choice of lyrics.
Antonio stopped in front of him, laughed, and Romano blinked himself out of his bewilderment.
"What the fuck kind of lyrics were those?"
Antonio smiled wider.
"Sing with me."
"How about I show you how it's done and you try not to ruin any more songs."
Antonio laughed again as Romano prepared. It had been a while. A long while. He had never sang for Antonio before. But dammit he had to show his idiot how it was done. If Antonio could burst into song, so could Romano.
And when he did, it wasn't quite the burst he had in mind. It started awkward while he regained his vocal footing before rising into the proper singing he prided himself on.
It felt good to sing again.
Antonio's awed adoration felt sublime.
"Why didn't you focus on singing?"
"I don't need other people telling me what to do with my voice." Unless you have any requests. "And it's too much work to make a career of it."
"With that voice you could be famous in no time."
Then I wouldn't have met you.
"I am glad for it though," Antonio added.
"Why?"
Antonio's eyes widened and the flustered expression was just as lovely as the first time Romano had seen it. Flustering Antonio was fun, and so easy - all Romano had to do was talk, especially if he leaned into his accent. Sometimes he wondered just how much Antonio liked hearing him.
"I should check to make sure everything is prepared for tonight."
Right, Antonio was hosting a party. Romano didn't do well with parties but maybe Antonio would let him stay on the side and politely ignore everyone.
"I'll finish up here," Romano said.
All of the expected guests arrived early. Emma and her fiancée Erzsébet's recent engagement made them the unofficial stars of the party. It was really just an excuse for everyone to get together. Romano was content to watch the party. He didn't dance, and didn't know most of the guests.
But for once it wasn't Antonio he was focusing on. Erzsébet had offered him a job earlier: to paint a portrait of herself and Emma. So he was watching the two of them, filling his page with sketches of the couple to get a feel for them before accepting her offer.
"You must be the artist Antonio told me about in his letters."
"Yeah, I am. Who…"
Romano stared at the man who could only be Antonio's twin.
"You must be João."
"Complained about me has he?"
"That he misses you."
João looked taken aback for a moment before lightly laughing.
"So how long have you been with Antonio?"
"A year."
João hummed and Romano took the time to look him over. His resemblance to Antonio was striking, they were identical twins after all, but there were also some things that were so different Romano couldn't believe people confused the two. But more important than the twins' similarities and differences, João knew things about Antonio that Romano didn't. He knew the side of the picture that Romano couldn't paint.
"Tell me about Antonio."
Romano didn't like the mischievous smile.
"You've been with Toninho for a year and need me to tell you about him? It would break his heart to hear that."
"You…" Romano sighed. He had heard about João, this was expected.
"He is talking to me again, and I have to thank you for that. So, and don't tell him I told you but - He thinks you're cute and adores your voice."
That explained earlier. It clarified so many moments that still had left Romano confused. But that wasn't what Romano had been wanting to hear.
"I know I only see part of him. You're his brother, surely you can tell me more."
"I can tell you all my brother's dark secrets later. Right now you don't want to miss Antonio's spotlight stealing." João pointed at Antonio. "He prides himself on his dancing."
Every dip and curve of Antonio's body had held Romano captive for so long, he had long ago committed every part of Antonio to memory. That didn't stop him from becoming utterly entranced by the sway of Antonio's hips and the fluid motion of his dance. Romano had seen him dance before; but this was different from silly dances in the kitchen or garden.
"He should."
This was the part of Antonio he could never hope to capture on any canvas: the pure passion with which he did everything. The passion for life itself shined bright, infecting Romano in ways nothing else could or ever had. Antonio had not only inspired him to complete art again but to find the simple beauties all around him. The man had changed the way Romano viewed the world, for the better, and Romano-
He loved him for it.
Suddenly everything was too much. Antonio's smile, the way he looked at him and Romano knew the man was checking to see if he still had his attention. As if Romano could focus on anyone else right now. As if anyone could have Romano's attention the way Antonio did. Romano tore his gaze from Antonio's perfect form and hurried away from the suffocating atmosphere that had descended over him.
Away from other people he took a deep breath. So he had fallen in love with Antonio. Of course he had, who wouldn't? Everything about the man had had him enthralled from the day they'd met. It was only a matter of time, and the past year had given them plenty of that.
"Romano? You hurried away so suddenly, are you okay?"
Romano looked at Antonio's concern.
"You were supposed to be inspiration- a way to improve my art."
Antonio's brows came together in confusion.
"Instead, you- You made me a better person, Antonio. I see everything differently and it's all your fault."
"What?"
"You have so much passion and love. For everything. I'm the artist, and I couldn't see the world until I met you."
Those irritating tears starting building and Romano swiped them away. Why did he have to tear up every time he got emotional? He was trying to confess.
"I don't understand-"
"Shut up so I can confess. You're gorgeous, and the best muse I've ever had, and so fucking wonderful I want to keep spending my life with you."
Antonio stared at him and for a moment Romano basked in the fact that he had rendered Antonio speechless.
Then Antonio blinded Romano with the force of his smile and knocked him to the ground with his eager embrace, but the pain quickly faded when Antonio's lips were on his. He felt how Romano had imagined he would; was so perfectly Antonio that Romano couldn't get enough.
"Aren't we supposed to date before you propose?" Antonio chuckled.
"That wasn't a proposal dummy."
"Well my answer's yes."
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