Romano x Reader - Kitchen Mishap

“Hey, (name)!” a voice with a thick Italian accent called.

“Yeah?” the (h/c)ette turned to see her friend, Lovino Vargas, standing awkwardly by the kitchen entrance.

“D-do you need some help? W-with the party preparations!” his olive green gaze was darting around the room before finally settling on the (nationality) girl.

“Sure! How about you make the orange juice?”

He nodded. Juice was easy; he could make juice without messing up in front of (name). Taking a deep breath, he got a glass jug, fruit squeezer  and oranges out, setting them on the unoccupied part of the island.  Working silently beside (name), he didn’t notice the side-glances the girl would pass him, he became engrossed in the task at hand. He finally had the juice ready and only needed to mix it. As he began to do so, using as much power as he could, he didn’t notice the slight crack appearing at the bottom until (name) pointed it out.

“Uh, Lovino, I think the jug is broken…”

“What?” he gave her a confused look as he stopped mixing and gave the jug a quick one over, even picking it up to check the bottom, somehow failing to notice the crack, “Nonsense bella! It’s not broken!”

He then practically slammed the jug back down on the counter, shattering the bottom and sending juice and shards of glass all over the kitchen floor, making (name) jump away.

He just stared at the jug handle in his hands, mouth agape and clothes dripping with orange juice. They had both somehow managed to escape the glass shards.

“Lovi, you okay?” (name) asked after she had quickly returned with a mop in her hands.

“How the freaking Hell did I manage that!?” he screamed, accent thick with rage, tossing the handle with perfect aim into the dustbin, “It was just juice!”

“Calm down! It was an accident! Accidents happen!” (name) sighed as her brunette friend fumed, muttering curses in both Italian and English, “Look, do you still want to help?”

“Of course I do you idiot… but don’t give me anything delicate! It’ll just break.”

“Alright, alright, I won’t. How about you cut some of the chocolate for the cake? Just use one bar, it should be in the fridge.”

He nodded and after helping clean up the mess, made his way to (name)’s fridge, opening it and quickly locating the cooking chocolate. Setting everything up, he began cutting the chocolate, humming a tune to keep his anger at bay. Half-way through and with no mistakes, he mentally patted himself on the back, he could finally help (name) out! Maybe he could finally confess to (name)? He started to prep himself to ask her when...

Somehow the chocolate refused to cut. Seeing as our spaced-out master chef Italian had forgotten to warm it up, the chocolate was pretty cold in the center, making it a pain to cut through. Lovino being the stubborn man that he was, refused to be bested by a piece of confectionary and proceeded to use as much force as he possibly could, effectively shattering both the knife and chocolate in his attempt to show his dominance over the treat. The jagged metal went flying and narrowly missed (name) as she quickly bent down to retrieve something from one of her lower cabinets.

“Woah! What was- was that my knife!?” she turned her (e/c) gaze in shock at her stunned friend.

“I was just cutting the chocolate and… WHAT THE HELL!” He slammed the now broken knife onto the chopping board and glared at the chocolate bar, trying to burn it with his smoldering gaze.

“You managed to break my knife… by cutting chocolate… right, okay.” (name) was still trying to process what had happened. One moment she was working in the kitchen with a calm Lovino and the next she was narrowly missing broken pieces of knives.

“I give up! I can’t work in your da** kitchen (name)! I don’t know what the cr**olla is wrong but it is clearly a hazard to the both of us!”

“It was an accident! You didn’t mean it, right?”

“How could I mean breaking your stupid knife! Or your jug!” he cried, frustrated with his sudden lack of kitchen ability. He was amazing in the kitchen! What had happened!?

“Do you want to take a break and help me out with the cake later?” she tried, she really enjoyed working with Lovino, his presence calmed her in a way she couldn’t explain... But he looked so aggravated right now it was worried (name).

“Sure (name)… just… whatever, it’s not important.” He sighed and picked up the knife, tossing it into the bin as he made his way out.

(name) was beyond confused. She had seen Lovino working in the kitchen plenty of times before. It was like watching the most skilled dancer performing their best work over and over again. And when he sent her one of his rare, perfect smiles over his shoulder, tossing a bottle of seasoning in the air, catching it and putting in just the right amount for whatever dish he was making, it made her heart flutter. He looked so at ease when he cooked. His eyes softened, his face was light, his body expressions revealing how utterly relaxed he was.

But something was wrong with him today. He was too tense, too on edge. He almost seemed fidgety. It wasn’t the first time he had helped her out, and she hoped it wasn’t the last, but it surprised her how spaced out he was.

Lovino was standing in (name)’s backyard. It was cloudy, no threat of rain, just cloudy. He groaned. What was wrong with him? Why couldn’t he do anything right? It was just chocolate! He dragged one of his hands through his hair, trying to relieve some of the anger that was boiling inside of him. If he couldn’t even help her in the kitchen properly, how could he confess to her? Well now he surely couldn’t! After breaking her jug and knife, what if he messed up with the cake as well!? He shook his head, trying to expel the negative thoughts. He would do it. He could do it.  

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He was once again working side-by-side in the kitchen with (name), calmer but also quieter than ever before. He had to stay focused or else he would lose his opportunity to confess to (name), this was what he kept telling himself. (Name) assumed he was still a bit upset and was keeping quiet so he wouldn't snap at her. The only noise was the gentle simmering of the pots on the stove. It seemed Lovino was so engrossed in his chant, nervousness making him ignore key-points, he hadn't noticed he forgotten to add sugar to the mix.

Eventually everything seemed ready. Now all they had to do was wait for the guests.

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"Oh god! What's in this cake?" A voice cried out.

"So bland... But still has more flavour than Arthur's cooking!" A more accented voice comment, this was followed by a rather rude remark and then sounds of an argument.

It seemed everyone had had a slice of the cake and everyone had noticed the lack of sweetness. (Name) was tomato red, wondering how the flavour had changed so much, and apologising profusely for how the cake turned out.

And where was our culprit? Hiding in a dark corner in one of the rooms, head clutched between his hands. Lovino wanted the ground to just swallow him up. He wanted to dig his own grave and lay in it; forever if possible. He had ruined everything. The cake, if the cake had come off as a hit he would have told (Name) how he felt. And now that it came out as it did, he couldn't show his face ever again. He could never do anything right and this was proof of it. Even the one thing he prided himself in let him down when he needed it the most.

As the Italian made plans as to how to run away to another city, maybe even country, (Name) was hunting for him. Searching every room, her yard, upstairs, downstairs even a quick check in the basement, she couldn't find him. Now getting a bit worried, she decided to send him a message, asking him where he was.

A soft 'ding' brought Lovino out of his nervous breakdown causing him to shift a bit to take his phone out of his pocket. When he saw who the message was from and what it said, he just felt even worse! (Name) knew, she knew it was because of him that the cake was messed up and now she hated him for all eternity. As much as he wanted to stay curled up in that spot, he had to face this like a man... Some other day.

"Pull yourself together..." He grumbled to himself, "So what if (name) doesn't like you? She probably didn't anyways."

With that motivational speech over with, he forced himself to his feet and exited the room, making his way to the living room where he had a feeling (Name) was. And he was right! But everyone else was gone; the party must have ended. How long had he stayed curled up in that room?

"Lovi, there you are! I was looking all over for you!" She got up and quickly stood by his side, not noticing how awkwardly he was standing.

"Sor- bathroom." He blurted, "I was in the bathroom."

"For over an hour?" She asked sceptically, but just went along with it when her friend shrugged, "I'm so sorry, Lovi, somehow the cake came out a disaster!"

'Why are you apologising?' He wanted to ask, 'it should be me begging for forgiveness!'

"And I know how much trouble you went through... I just don't understand what went wrong? Did I miss something in the recipe?"

'No... No it was me. (Name), it was me.' He so desperately wanted to say these words, but his lips were sealed in a tight-lipped line, his body tenser than before.

"Oh well, next time maybe- h-hey? Are you alright?" When he didn't respond, (Name) waved her hand in front of his face, effectively snapping him out of his daze, "You okay? You were spacing out on me."

"I'm sorry." Good, now, confess to your sins you blasted Italian, "It was all my- it was a real shame." He forced out instead, surprised that his body disobeyed him.

"I know. But like I said, next time."

(Name) gave him a small grin, one that would normally warm his heart, but it only seemed to make it hurt. How could he lie to (name)? As the (h/c)ette turned to attend to something or the other, the Italian tried once again to explain to her that it was his fault.

“(Name), I have something to tell you.”

“Yeah?” she asked over her shoulder.

“It-it’s a lovely day.” NO! NO! Who cares about the day!?

“Huh, I suppose it is.” she agreed, eyeing her friend with a strange gaze.

“NO! Da**it that wasn’t what I meant to say!” he snarled, surprising (name).

“Then what is it?”

"It was me." He mumbled, cursing at himself for not speaking louder, "I messed up the cake!"

"I know." Was the reply.

Wait... What?

"Huh?" He asked stupidly.

"I said I already know. You were the one dealing with the sugar, and you seemed so out of it today I really wasn't surprised. It did take me a bit, your disappearing act just proved it." She sent him a wink, "Nothing to fear when (Name) Holmes is on the case!"

"... You're... Not mad at me?" He spoke slowly, as if treading dangerous waters.

"No, not really. I can't stay mad at you for long." Now when she grinned, Lovi felt his heart shift slightly, beating a bit faster than normal.

He could do it. It seemed like the perfect time to confess. Taking in a deep breath, Lovino Vargas did the one thing he was too chicken to do for months,

"(Name), will you-"

"LOVI!!!" The door had banged open and in came the three newest members of Lovino's hit list, his brother on number one. As his younger, bubbly twin greeted (name), a stupid (in Lovino’s eyes) smile on his face, the more grumpy of the two had begun a countdown.

“One.” Lovino counted, eyes forced shut and his body shaking.

“I just wanted to stop by and say hi!” Feliciano grinned, his head tilted to one side cutely.

“Two.” his voice was more strained now.

“Ah, sorry for the interruption, (Name). I hope we aren’t intruding.” Ludwig sighed as he entered, following his grinning older brother, “Feliciano insisted we come, even if only a bit.”

“Missed me, (name)? I so know you did~” Gilbert teased, slinging an arm around the girl, making her shift slightly.

“Three.” he practically spat.

In a flash, Lovino was chasing his brother around, screaming at him in every language he knew, cursing his grandmother, his ancestors, even his cow. (Name) and the two Germans watched, bewildered at this frightening image of Lovino, only understanding a few words in between but amazed at how angry he was and confused as to what was making him this angry.