spain x reader: antirrhinum
* It was hardly a secret that Antonio possessed a wicked temper.But he was so very, very skilled at hiding his anger that any reminder of its existence always took you by surprise.It only revealed itself in rare moments, but never for you, never at you.He scared you in those moments, the docile, carefree visage parting to reveal someone so callous and cruel-He regretted each and every time you were exposed to even an nth of his rage, his shoulders collapsing after the sudden, sharp tension.He would appease you with a placating smile and a soft, sweet, solemn apology pressed to your skin.It was rare for him to ever allow himself to show his anger, always trying to be patient, always waiting for clarification before ever letting his control slip in the slightest.So now, seeing the small, scarcely concealed flicker of rage-Neither of you were particularly fond of your current houseguests, Toni’s carefully crafted calm cracking under the constant battle to conceal his simmering fury.You caught only wisps of it, sensing a sharpness to his words, a stinging hint of venom in each seemingly fond laugh. With a little more focus, you noticed the furrows forming between his brows when the others were looking elsewhere, the deepening scowl revealing itself with each insensitive word they spoke.At one point, you were certain you had seen a concerning flash of his teeth, every centimeter of his posture revealing a predator preparing to strike.Swiftly, you grabbed his hand beneath the table, wary of how his other was bending the heirloom cutlery. He was trembling in your grasp, your thumb tracing firm, steady circles in an effort to calm him.For a moment, the full force of his fury was directed towards you, familiar idocrase irises narrowed to slits.Your heart fluttered in trepidation, but knowing he would never hurt you, you summoned the courage to squeeze his hand yet again, casting a pointed look in the direction of your guests (loathe as you were to think of them as such), a frown of your own contorting your features.His eyes flickered in the direction you had indicated, his tension and his dark aura rising once more as he turned his attention back towards you, no longer making an effort to mask his ire.There was an exchange of expressions, a whole conversation shared without a single sound. You offered a firm, solitary shake of your head, trying to summon as disproving a glare as you could muster, one which faded away quickly into a silent, desperate plea.A familiar flicker of surprise and a smattering of apologetic fondness revealed itself in a minute relaxation of the tension around his eyes.He shot a final frown- more of a ferocious sneer- towards your dining companions, all of whom remained oblivious to the agitations of their hosts.Finally, auspiciously, his head dipped, a single nod of assent, allied with a soft squeeze of your fingers.Your relief grew exponentially as he stood, a deceptively kind smile on his face as he excused himself, offering some excuse of snapdragons that needed watered, and misplaced gardening tools that needed to be put away- They were fooled easily enough.Despite the tenderness of the kiss he pressed to your cheek and the lingering brush of his fingers across your shoulders, his anger was still clear to you in the crisp, precise rhythm of his footsteps, the sharp angle of his shoulders. You silently worried for him, further alarmed by the extra care he placed in closing the door behind him.An ineffable loathing flickered in your veins, a harsh hatred for the individuals still seated at your table.It was your turn to don the mask, feigning carefree hospitality with an ease that sickened you. You offered apologies on Tonio’s behalf for the sudden departure, sliding into false pleasantries and kindness until they were finally ready to retire for the evening.You took your time in filling the dishwasher, lingering quietly in the kitchen until you were certain they had all sequestered themselves to their respective chambers, the house finally quiet for the night.Content that you were finally free from social obligation, you slipped outside, concern for your partner once more coursing through you; your only mission was to find the, hopefully, calmer Spaniard and coax him to join you in bed.You found him on the crest of what, come summertime, would be golden wheat fields.The damp earth cushioned your every footfall, aiding in your efforts to still offer him some space, still uncertain of his emotional state.But soon enough his head was turning to face you, a soft, loving smile shining bright in the moonlight; you couldn’t repress your own answering smile, finishing the ascent to his side.He was lounging on the ground, fingers interlocked beneath his head, left ankle casually crossed over the right. You were near enough now to see the fatigue in olive irises, the overcast dimming his normally sunny disposition.For a moment, you remained like that- he reclined on the ground, tousled tresses shifting in the warm breeze, and you, standing, silhouetted by the silvery moonlight, arms folded in the murky remnants of prior aggravation.“You missed dessert.”There was a small wince, his focus once more returning to the skies. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to.”At another time, in any other circumstance, you would have dismissed his brusque apology as simply that, but you had known him too long; you saw right through him. There was nothing in his tone or expression that convinced you of any sincerity, and it confirmed to you immediately that he was still angry.Sighing in defeat, his name shaping itself in an exhausted exhalation, you collapsed next to him on the ground, your arms spreading wide and eyes slipping shut. “They’re only here for three more days.”You could feel Toni’s gaze, could practically taste the scepticism lacing his words. “Are you tryin’ to reassure me or you here?”The doubtful tone made you laugh, a single, painful barking sound that quite nearly ended as a sob, your fists firmly pressing against your closed eyelids. “God, I don’t fucking know.”This was the first time in nearly a week where others couldn’t eavesdrop on you, and all of your frustrations- a perfect parallel to your lover’s- finally fell free, a broken cry of rage carrying on the westward winds.As your frustrations slipped away on the breeze, the familiar pressure of a finger poking into your side had you opening your eyes, pulse fluttering upon seeing Antonio carefully balanced above you, framed by the endless starfield.The sight itself, while breathtaking, had not been the source of your surprise, but rather the traces of worry in his gaze, the frantic sweep of his eyes as they studied your own.Your name passed his lips in a nearly silent, broken sound, eyes narrowing in confusion. “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”You considered playing at passivity, but he could sense your hesitation. He shifted once more, his legs now pinning your own, bracing himself on the hands now stationed on either side of your head.“Churri?” His voice had lowered to scarcely a whisper, a gentle pensiveness that tugged at your heartstrings.You allowed yourself to meet his gaze, almost drowning in the concern written all across his features.Releasing a soft sigh, your lips caught somewhere between a loving smile and a fractured grimace. “I’m okay, Tonio. I can handle a couple imbeciles, especially when they work for your Boss.”Your lighthearted tone faded away at the sudden lack of expression, his face a perfect mask of stoicism.“Toni?”There was a tension in the sharp inhale, irritation clear as he closed his eyes for a few seconds, his gaze near scorching when he once more studied your features. “Te amo más que a mi vida,” he trailed off, hanging his head to scoff. “But sometimes, you really are an idiot.”It took you a moment to process his shifting cues, annoyance finally summoned when you noticed his bemusement. “Excuse me?”An oh-so-familiar and oh-so-annoying grin flickered to life across his features, a breathtaking revelation of mischief that was gone again in the next second, expression serious once more. “You are the most important person to me. My Boss could go hang for all I care.”“Antonio! You shouldn’t-”“What? Lie?” His eyes narrowed, focused on you intently. “Why would I?”The uncharacteristic solemnity was making you uneasy, discomfort amplified as he lowered closer to you, hovering only centimeters above you.You found yourself averting your gaze, trepidation coursing through your veins with every passing breath.“Churri.”You bit your lip, doing your best to continue avoiding him. But he only lowered himself further, your name tumbling from his lips as a soft whisper, caressing the sensitive skin of your cheeks, the demand that you give him your attention too compelling to ignore.For a moment, you lost all train of thought, drowning in the intensity of his gaze. He hovered just over you, that firm, certain expression silencing any rebuttal you still had left.Seeming aware of your vulnerability, he spoke once more, an intimate hum drifting between the two of you. “I could get rid of them right now if you want. Just say the word.”You didn’t dare ask for clarification for his words; you knew exactly what he meant.And for one horrifying moment, you considered it, let yourself imagine the retribution he could bestow.Just as quickly, you dismissed it, offering a small laugh and pretending you were oblivious to the true meaning of his offer. “And risk having your Boss come by asking what you did to traumatize his staff so badly? No gracias, mi Sol.”He studied you for another moment, trying to detect any hints of a lie. Finally, he shrugged, his familiar dopey grin making a reappearance. “Okay. But the offer still stands!”You failed to restrain your own smile as Antonio flopped back to the ground beside you, an exhausted groan escaping him after he settled.“I’m not sure how much more bullshit I can take, mi Alma.”You found his hand with your own, gently drawing your thumb against the muddied skin. You worried at first that it wasn’t enough, but a firm squeeze assured you that he appreciated the gesture, as small a comfort as it was.“Three days…”His words tugged at your attention, focus sweeping over his profile, noting the, yet again, furrowed brow, the tangible despondence haunting his frame.Frowning, you tugged his hand to your chest, resting it just over your heart. “We can do this.”Dark eyes were soon meeting your own, fatigued and so doubtful. “You really think that?”You didn’t have the heart to tell him of your own doubts, of just how much you dreaded playing at the deception for a moment longer- your false smiles and fake cheer were starting to wear thin.You needn’t bother anyway; the plaintive look on his face proved just how easily was reading your thoughts.Instead of succumbing to your own bitterness, you offered another firm squeeze of his hand and a confident smile that almost felt truthful. “I do.” You paused for a moment, your sincerity suddenly unencumbered. “I have faith in us.”Your words were enough to ignite that familiar spark in his eyes, a resilient determination in his smile. “Together?”“Together.”*
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