Sorry this took so long to update. Life has been so crazy. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Lovino rested his chin on his arms as he leaned against the side of the ship watching as the distance between the vessel and the shore closed. He'd been looking for Feliciano at every stop. They were getting closer to his home, but he'd yet to find his brother. He had lost track of how many times in the past year he and Antonio had walked through cities trying to find the auburn boy with amber eyes who was always laughing and giggling. Lovino worried maybe he'd forgotten too much, or that Feliciano had changed more than he anticipated. What if he had found him and they just didn't know?

He looked up as the men began messing with the sails to get closer. A year on the ship and the teen had yet to figure it out. He was glad his role was the ship's whore. It really meant sex with Antonio and talking flirtatiously to the men aboard. He loved it honestly. He humored them by pretending they were attractive and in exchange learned so much about the world. He'd craved information since he'd found himself a slave boy. Now a boyish grin and wink, maybe a little running his fingers through a man's hair or sliding his fingertips up their sides could make a conversation last all day until Antonio called him to bed.

The boy watched Antonio silently, admiring the way his muscles rippled under his skin and the sweat glistened in the sun. His brown curls were messy these days and he no longer smelled of perfume of royalty, but his eyes were no longer dead. He laughed more and seemed to be truly happy. The sound of his laughter was contagious and filled Lovino with hope and joy.

He fell over as the ship lurched suddenly, hitting his face against the wood. He hissed and put a hand to his face to find blood stained fingers greeting him. Lovino cursed and hugged his knees. He'd seen the scars these men had. He hated scars. They weren't worthy of a prince. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths to make the pain subside. When at last he was sure it was okay, he opened his eyes and peaked over the edge of the ship. Land was close, so close.

"Are you ready for another adventure, Lovi?" Antonio's voice cooed in his ear. Lovino turned to face him, an eager grin spread across his cheeks.

"Yes! Do you think we'll find him this time? How close are we to the heart of Rome?" Lovino snaked an arm around Antonio's waist and nuzzled him.

"I hope so. I cannot wait to meet him. We can't be more than a few weeks away. We can ask Arthur though. You know how he talks with the spirits," he winked at Lovino who smiled back.

"Be careful not to let Franny hear you," Gilbert laughed throwing an arm around his friend, shoving alcohol to each of them. "You know only he can laugh at Arthur for not worshiping the gods."

"Well then the spirits should know where my brother is and how far we are from Rome," Lovino muttered staring out again.

He had a feeling it was close. He could almost see his home, the white buildings and stone carvings. He could almost taste the bitterness of the coffee in the bars where the men gathered to speak about the universe and art. Most of all, he could feel his father's arms around him. He could sense the security that came with his home. A sense of dread also wrapped itself around him. He couldn't shake it's grip no matter how hard he tried. Feliciano was here and Rome was near, it was in the air.

The ship was docked and Arthur reminded the men to be back on the third night after food, supplies and other things were seen too. Lovino jumped onto the beach, a grin on his face and butterflies in his stomach. He wanted nothing more than to see Feliciano amongst the groups of people in the village. He held Antonio's hand tightly as they walked. Lovino couldn't be left here, and Arthur would leave him if he weren't back. He had such a curious way of handling things. He seemed to be almost obsessed by numbers.

Antonio cheerfully paid for different foods at the little shops, sharing with Lovino who was sure to savor the tastes. It had been so long since either boy had tasted food. They were having to eat salted meat, stale bread and rotting produce. Lovino loved the smell of the freshly baked bread. The warmth of the food made it all the more satisfying.

Lovino glanced around as Antonio talked with a shopkeeper about what he wanted most for his village to improve. He was always the diplomat. Lovino smiled as he half listened. He wished he could be doing just that right now instead of being here, among the crowded marketplace. Antonio pulled Lovino to him, resting his chin on the boy's head.

"Romano, be polite. Talk with our friend, Julius, here. He's talking about the slave trade that's been taking place. Interesting, sad stuff. Listen," Antonio said hugging the boy tighter to his chest while playing with Lovino's fingers with his other.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Romano," Lovino said, a bit distracted. He didn't want to hear about the slave trade, too many awful memories.

"I was telling your friend here about the trade here in town ruining a lot of peace of mind. You have to watch your children all the time. They snatch them up and force them into awful things. There've been here about the past month buying and selling and trading with merchants. Kids are disappearing. I'd be so much better when they move on. There's a boy about your age, actually looks a lot like you only with light brown eyes and redder hair. Anyway, the rumor has it that he was kidnapped in Rome and is some kind of royalty."

Lovino stared at the man, unable to speak. It sounded like Feliciano. Could he really be so close? If Antonio hadn't been holding him so tightly, Lovino would have fallen to the ground. He just stared in shock at the man as he rolled his dough out. Lovino finally composed himself before slowly pulling out of Antonio's grip.

"What...Is he okay?' Lovino stammered as tears threatened.

"I don't think okay is the right word." Julius looked up at Lovino. "Do you know him?"

"Romano is from Rome. One of his childhood friends was kidnapped and every time he hears of people who fit the discription, he wants to know if it's him," Antonio cut in, giving Lovino a pinch. He had to stay calm or they'd find out nothing.

"Oh, I don't think he's your friend, my dear boy. He is a noble and you look to be such a ragamuffin. You even have dirt on your face," the man reassured him, giving him a small laugh. He turned his attention back to Antonio.

"Go on," Antonio smiled.

"It's just awful how they treat the kid. You can tell he's noble by the way he's not able to even dress himself. They tried to get him to help build a hut here a few weeks ago and the boy was of no use. He got beat badly for it. It's disgusting. He's been in prostitution for years, but the poor thing is trembling and crying and begging every time. They force him to do it where everyone can see. They use his real name, though I've never heard of it. Feliciano. I just wish all the children those men have could be free. Last I heard, the children they have left are from this village or a neighboring one. Be careful. Your friend, Romano, here would make a pretty penny on the market."

"And where are they? These traders?" Lovino was shaking, ignoring the man's last comment.

"Just go down this road here and you'll get to a really dark area. They'll be there. I warn you though, the way they treat those children is barbaric, especially the noble," the man said shaking his head.

"Thank you." Lovino turned to Antonio. "Give him money."

"I don't-"

"Give him money, Toni!" Lovino snapped before walking in the direction the man had pointed him in.

Antonio slipped some gold to the man and ran after Lovino. Antonio grabbed his hand only to have Lovino rip it away and storm off again. His face was set, eyes focused. He was going to free all of those children. He was going to make sure those men couldn't hurt anyone ever again. He was ready. He didn't care that Antonio was calling for him and running after him. He just needed to get to the traders.

"Lovino, you cannot just run into that! You don't know what you're doing!" Antonio scolded, shaking Lovino slightly.

"Do not call me by my real name in public! I told you to keep my identity a secret from peasants. Did you not just hear that man? Do you not know what they do nobles? You may have thrown your crown away, but if they find out who you really are, you'd be targeted too! They hate people like us, Toni! You're too old for the prostitution, but you're not to old for other things. Don't think that because you're not a child that you're safe from them. We, my brother and I and all the other kids, have suffered far too long for someone to just standby! We have to save them!" Lovino pleaded.

Antonio stared at the boy. Lovino shook as he stared back, eyes unwavering. Lovino waited for the prince's next move and tensed as he felt himself be pulled into a hug.

"We'll get him, Romano. No more suffering. We'll get you back to Rome and you'll be home," Antonio reassured him. "But you mustn't run into these situations unprepared."

Lovino nodded and allowed Antonio to hold him gently as they walked the way Julius had told them they were to find the men who had his brother. He shivered as they walked further and further away from the market and people. He felt exposed. He tugged at this tunic wanting desperately to be in something else. His breath became more and more ragged.

He felt Antonio's hand take his and squeeze. He looked over at the man who offered him a small smile. Lovino felt strangely comforted by it. He focused his eyes forward. Antonio had got him this far. He was so tired of being defenseless. He needed a way to fight back. He wanted desperately to be the spitfire kid he had been before his life was turned upside down. Most of all, he needed to save his brother.

As they grew closer, the sounds of crying and whimpers reached Lovino's ears. He wanted to throw up. He knew it was Feliciano, he knew what was happening. He took a few deep breaths as he willed the images and memories out of his mind. He sped up his pace with urgency. He needed to get there quickly and calmly.

They turned a corner and Lovino almost dropped to his knees when he saw his brother be thrown to the ground after being violently used. Antonio held him up with an arm around his waist. He couldn't stand the way the men were laughing as Feli cried silently, his hands still tied roughly behind his back. The boy had nothing on save a sleeveless tunic. His body was covered in bruises and cuts. The auburn hair on the boy's head was caked in dust. Lovino almost didn't recognize his brother without the ever present smile the younger had alway sported as a child.

"Hello, men," Antonio greeted the slave traders, his diplomatic smile plastered to his face. Lovino wanted to punch it off. "I am in need of a good slave."

"Well you've come to the right place. Might I interest you in our newest edition to the group? He hasn't been broken in just yet. In fact," the man looked around, "none of these besides this one have been taken for a run. Top dollar! You can train them to please you just the way you'd like."

Lovino was sick. The trader spoke of the children as though they were animals. It disgusted him. He shuddered as memories of his so called breaking in crept up on him like a dark shadow in the night. He trembled as he tried to stay strong. He could feel himself losing. He took a deep breath and stepped behind Antonio slightly, his eyes fixed on his broken, beaten, and raped brother.

"I think I'll just take this one. You know how it is to train a slave." Antonio and the man laughed curtly.

He wanted to save Feliciano. He wanted to run away and never look back on the torture they had gone through. Antonio was doing the fastest, safest method that would ensure they get Feli, but Lovino didn't feel right. His eyes scanned over the small children's scared faces as they kneeled, hands tied behind their backs as they trembled. They'd seen what was going to be done to them. Lovino wanted to save them all. He wanted so badly to prevent every last child from being hurt…

Suddenly, without a thought, he grabbed the dagger hanging at Antonio's hip and stabbed the main trader in the stomach, making certain to twist the knife. He remembered from his childhood in Rome how to kill effectively as well as slowly. Twisting would prevent this man ever surviving. He spun around and sliced another man's throat with lightening speed before grabbing the last man, the one who had just been using his brother, by his genitals. He stared him straight in the eye, laughing softly as the man trembling and begged for mercy. With one swift movement Lovino castrated him and threw the organs at the man who was lying on the floor.

He held the dagger to Antonio as he breathed heavily, staring as the slave traders laid there bleeding, dying. He laughed again, the sound hollow. He glanced at the children before taking the dagger back from Antonio and cut them free of their ropes.

"Go home. Hug your fathers and kiss your mothers. Stay close to them," Lovino said gently with a soft smile.

The children stared at him for a moment then shifted their eyes to their bleeding captors. Lovino tried to block their view and pulled Antonio next to him. He smiled and told them everything was okay, to go home. They ran down the alley, then one came back and hugged Lovino.

"Thank you, mister!" he smiled before running away.

"Romano, how did you…?" Antonio stuttered.

Lovino smirked at the man and winked. "Roman blood, remember?" He giggled softly, kicking one of the men to the side. He was pleased to hear they were still alive, slowly bleeding out. He spit on them. "This is what happens when you touch a child," he said cooly.

He ignored the men and turned his attention to Feliciano. The boy was still tied up. Blood was on his tunic from how roughly he had been handled. He was shaking and crying softly. Lovino took a step toward him and Feliciano flinched.

"Please don't hurt me! Please don't hurt me! Please don't hurt me!" he begged under his breath over and over.

"Shhh, we're not going to hurt you, Feliciano," Lovino said gently as he cut the ropes.

Feliciano was silent, shaking and crying, but silent. His eyes were closed as he kept his head down, as though it were glued to the ground. Lovino inspected the cuts and bruises. He glanced at Antonio who was still staring at the men on the ground.

"Antonio, seriously, they're not worth watching die. Help me."

"We weren't supposed to get into trouble, Romano. This is trouble. And how do you move so fast? It's like you weren't thinking. It was almost instinct. Arthur's not allowed you to practice, nor were you allowed to have weapons in the castle," Antonio sounded worried, yet also full of awe.

"I'm not so helpless when I have a weapon, huh?" Lovino smirked.

"Let's take him somewhere to get cleaned up," Antonio suggested.

Lovino agreed and they walked, guiding Feliciano behind them. Lovino kept talking to him, yet the boy refused to speak or even acknowledge that he was being spoken to. He followed requests. He didn't even flinch as they poured the alcohol on him. Antonio put him in nicer clothes that were more suited for him.

It frustrated Lovino that his brother refused to speak or to even look at him. He had pictured this moment since the day that Antonio promised him they'd find him. Always it had been such a joyous reunion filled with hugs and stories. Lovino wanted to cry. He glanced at Antonio.

"He hasn't spoken or looked at me all day! It's been hours! It's nearly sunset," Lovino complained.

"Weren't you the same way when you came to me, Romano? Silent, eyes fixed. It's traumatic, I would assume," Antonio reminded him gently.

Lovino huffed. Antonio was right. He still had nightmares about what he'd endured. He sat next to Feliciano and handed him a piece of fruit and bread with a glass of wine. Feliciano didn't move.

"You need to eat, Feli. When we get to the ship, the food won't be so fresh."

"L-L-Lovino?" Feliciano's voice was raspy and quiet.

"It's me," Lovino giggled.

Feliciano stared at him, tears welling his eyes. He threw his arms around him and sobbed. He didn't say another word for the rest of the time on land.

\The men danced around singing and drinking as they always did after a landing. Lovino watched them, a smile upon his lips that had yet to leave him since he'd found his brother. He was constantly at the boy's side unless Antonio called him to bed. Feliciano was still silent. He would hold onto Lovino for dear life when he could. At the moment, he was hugging Lovino's arm tightly, his head resting on the elder's shoulder.

Lovino had been relieved that Arthur let his brother aboard. He had thrown a fit about an odd number, going on about bad luck and angering spirits. Luckily Antonio, Francis and Gilbert had been able to convince him that they were only days away from Rome and then they'd let them off and would surely pick up someone there. He wasn't happy, he still wasn't.

He was glaring at the boys now as Francis kissed his neck. In the time that Lovino had stayed on the ship, he had yet to see those two separated. He recalled far too well how Arthur had demanded to know where the olive oil went once. He'd been extra cranky until they got to dock. Lovino wondered if perhaps he was angry about olive oil once again. Had they forgotten to get it? Lovino did not like feel of things without it these days.

"Lovino?" Feli whispered, snuggling closer to his brother and tightening the grip on his shirt.

"Hm?"

"Who do we belong to?"

"Huh?"

"Toni's your master, or is it more than one? I don't know. I can't tell," Feliciano sounded so scared, unsure and nervous.

"Oh," Lovino giggled. "We don't belong to anyone. Well, I used to belong ot Antonio, but not anymore. We're lovers now. I'm technically the ship's whore, but I don't do anything. You'll love it here! They really know their stuff. I've learned about politics, science, mathematics, the stars, navigation, theology. It's all very exciting. You just have to know how to get them to talk."

"You're wrong, Lovino. We'll never be free."

"Feli, we are! We're going to Rome and we'll see our father once more. We'll make those who are responsible suffer. We are Romans after all." Lovino hugged his brother.

"Never free…" Feliciano whispered sadly.

The ship creaked and the wind whipped across the dock. Lovino shivered. His eyes searched for Antonio. He had begun to get a terrible feeling and needed the comfort.

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