Love Sonnets (Romano x Reader)

Nei tuoi occhi c'è il cielo

You fiddled with the note as you walked around the library. This was the reason why you were spending your free time here. It all started with a single note, carrying these exact words. You didn’t know how it happened. You had just excused yourself and left the meeting briefly to find it sticking out from your planner by the time you returned. At that time, Antonio was sitting beside you and he simply shrugged when you asked him where it came from.

‘Lo siento (sorry) (Name), I was paying attention to Ludwig. You know how scary he can be.’ You frowned in confusion as you read the note once again. Nei tuoi occhi c'è il cielo

‘Heaven is in your eyes…’ You say to yourself quietly, remembering the direct translation of that quote. You had also found it to be Italian, and you immediately thought that someone had placed it there by mistake.


Tu sei un dono del cielo

It happened while you were sitting at your desk, finishing up on the last few parts of your chapter as you smiled. It had been a productive day and you were happy that you hadn’t experienced any writer’s block during your work. You were a writer for a famous publication, and you had a chance to meet different people from around the world (literally). As you were finishing up, someone gave a knock on the divider surrounding your desk.

‘Oi (Name), your package came in,’ You looked up to see Gilbert thrusting a small box at your face, and you accepted it, chuckling while you messed up his white hair. ‘Thanks Gil! You’re the best!’

‘I think you mean awesome, but nichts zu danken! (Don't mention it)’ He said before running off. You were excited, you had pre-ordered some books a few weeks ago, and you were eager to read it right away. When you flipped it over to turn the package around, there was the note, and in the same color as the first one.

It was certainly not a mistake.

‘You are a gift from the heavens.’ Your good friend Feliciano translated it for you as you puffed out your cheeks. He only chuckled at your expression. ‘Ve~ what’s with that face (Name)? Aren’t you flattered??’ He teased, which only made you blush.

‘I don’t know Feli, what if he’s some stalker or something?’ You said as he moved from one note to another, not paying attention to you as he kept reading on.

‘Hai conquistato il mio cuore,’ He began and smiled, his eyes disappearing. ‘It means: You have won my heart. Oh and here’s another!!! Sei la mia stella polare—you are my polar star. Ve~ how romantic! (Name), a stalker would not write sentences like this.’
That was true though, if he were a stalker, it may go along the lines of ‘I’m watching you’ and that sort. You were really just in denial. You didn’t really get any stalker vibes from the note actually, but while you were flattered, it made your heart skipped a beat. Still, you didn’t want to take the risk.

‘What if it’s from you? You are Italian, si?.’

‘Ve~ oh (Name), I do not need to write you these little notes to tell you I love you. You’re like my sister, and besides, anyone can have things translated in Italian, si? ’

‘Aww, grazie Feli, I love you too.’ You said as you hugged him. ‘But seriously though…’

‘He’s not a stalker, (Name).’

‘What if he’s mistaken?’

‘What if he’s in love?

This made you look at Feli with wide eyes, hearing the blunt words from your friend’s mouth. ‘…in love?’ You repeated quietly, and he opened his eyes, his brown ones looking at you encouragingly.

‘Ve~ don’t discount that possibility, (Name). From the way he writes, and also the flowers and chocolates he adds from time to time, this ragazzo is in love with you. He just might be too shy to say it, io credo (I believe).’ He said before smiling once more, his eyes disappearing.

For the next two weeks, it became a habit, receiving small letters at work during different times of the day. Sometimes from your co-workers, even your boss Ludwig, who mumbled something about why the person writing couldn’t just see you face-to-face.
‘Oi (Name), you got a minute?’ You looked and saw Feli’s brother, Lovino.

‘Hey Lovi,’ you chirped, not noticing how his cheeks gained a bit of color as you smiled. ‘What’s up?’

‘S-shut up ragazza. Don’t call me that. Anyway, I u-uhh… got something for you. Mail.’ He stuttered as he handed it to you and you thanked him, skimming through what mail you had.

‘Aww but Lovi it’s such a cute name—oh wait a minute, what’s this?’ You asked as you pulled out the familiar looking paper to discover another note while he simply shrugged, clearly annoyed.

‘I don’t know. I was just asked to give that to you.’ He said as you rolled your eyes.

‘Well excuse me for just being curious. No need to be such a grouch.’ You stuck your tongue out at him as he folded his arms and huffed. You read the note, before patting his shoulder. ‘Hey hey, Lovi, help me out a sec. What does this statement mean? It’s in Italian.’
‘I told you not to call me that, and what is it?’ He huffed once more as you tried reading it.

‘Se… Sei il grande amore della mia vita.’ You said as you looked up at him, gazing into his eyes. You were curious, and it was evident in the way you were looking at him and waiting for an answer. He however, upon seeing your gaze and hearing those words come from your mouth, his breathing hitched. He felt his face grow hotter every millisecond that passed, and it took a while before he gathered his thoughts. What was it? Oh yeah, translating.

‘I-It means… y-you are the love of my life.’ He said as he looked away after he truthfully, though discreetly, spilled his feelings for you. You didn’t know, fortunately for him at this point in time, but he was the one preparing the love notes. He had been discussing with Feli on how to tell about his love, and Feli came up with this sly—albeit somewhat embarrassing—idea to write you notes.

You felt your cheeks get warm once he had translated it, and a wide smile spread across your face while you held the note close to your heart. ‘Thank you, Lovi.’ You said while you beamed at him. He cleared his throat nervously, before looking away. Thankfully you didn’t seem to notice how red he was.

‘Geez. If you wanted to get someone to translate it, don’t ask me. Go google it or something, I dunno.’ He mumbled as you laughed.

‘Well you are and do speak Italian, and you’re a much better reference than google translate, believe me.’



So here you are. After Lovino had left, you flipped the note to find another message, this time written in English (thank heavens), and it said to go to the library at this certain time. It was now your turn to be nervous, because you were finally going to meet the one that has been sending you these notes. It also specified which floor and side to go to, and had a call number below—meaning you had to search for a certain book.

You approached the shelf, heart racing as you found the book right away, pulling it from the collection. ‘Rime in Vita e Morta di Madonna Laura, a collection of Italian verses.’ You flipped it over reading a brief description at the back. ‘…a collection of Francesco Petrarca’s sonnets in Italian with translations in English.’ You’ve only heard a bit of Petrarca from Feli, who told you he was known to write sonnets and love letters about a girl named Laura, a young woman he saw in church. You also learned he wrote 365 sonnets, one peer day dedicated to his true love. You smiled, before flipping the books pages.

The book gaped open at one certain chapter, where you noticed a note wedged in between the pages. It was the same color as the notes you’ve been receiving, and your eyes widened. Is this it? You picked up the note, which said only said the word ‘223’. You looked back at the book where the note was placed, and read the sonnet #223, both in its original language and translation.

‘Qual Donna Attende A Gloriosa Fama:
Doth any maiden seek the glorious fame
Of chastity, of strength, of courtesy?
Gaze in the eyes of that sweet enemy
Whom all the world doth as my lady name!
How honour grows, and pure devotion's flame,
How truth is joined with graceful dignity,
There thou may'st learn, and what the path may be
To that high heaven which doth her spirit claim;
There learn soft speech, beyond all poet's skill,
And softer silence, and those holy ways
Unutterable, untold by human heart.

But the infinite beauty that all eyes doth fill,…’ You were about to finish with the last two lines before someone spoke softly behind you.

‘Non vi s’ impara: che quei dolci lumi/S’ acquiftan per ventura, e non per arte.’ He said as you turned around, and your eyes widened as you found yourself gazing into familiar chocolate orbs. ‘This none can copy, since its lovely rays are given by God’s pure grace, and not by art.’ He translated, as you felt your cheeks get warmer.

‘Lovi? You…’ You began as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck while looking down. ‘You were the one writing these notes?’

‘Surprise?’ He said as he sheepishly looked at you with a small smile. ‘I didn’t know how to tell you… I mean we’re friends and all but every time I tried to tell you… I’d get nervous, so Feli suggested doing this instead.’ Feli! Of course… he knew you actually had a big crush on his older brother, and you turned red. You loved Lovino for quite a while, coolly hiding it whenever you were at work and had told Feli (who had sworn not to tell anybody), but you guessed that when Lovi told Feli that he liked you, he decided to intervene and help you both.
‘Mi dispiace, I hope you’re not mad.’ He said as you lost your train of thought, before looking back at him. ‘…that’s the last thing I want to happen. I just wanted to tell you how I feel.’

‘Mad?’ You said as he didn’t meet your eyes when you stepped forward and wrapped your arms around his waist. ‘Oh Lovi, please don’t apologize, how can I be mad? This is the sweetest, most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me. Grazie mille!’

He turned red at the use of your Italian words in what he thought was the cutest, slightly awkward accent and he chuckled, before wrapping his arms around you and tightening his hug. ‘I’m so glad…’

You pulled away a bit to take his face in your hands, before beaming at him. ‘Ti amo, Lovi.’ You said as he instantly turned red, and you laughed. ‘You’re very cute too.’ You laughed at how cute he was when he was embarrassed, but that laughter was soon stopped by something pressed against your lips, and you opened your eyes to see him kissing you. Your one time, big time crush, Lovino Vargas, was kissing you! You closed your eyes, encircling your arms around his neck as you accidentally brushed against his curl, to which he pulled away in surprise.

Oh crap.

You knew that any contact the curl usually got him really mad, and before you apologize he leaned in once more. You gasped as he aggressively (and passionately) captured your lips once more, and you smiled into the kiss as your hands tangled in his hair, carefully avoiding the curl. He pulled a centimetre away to blow at your lips, the hot air making you gasp as he smirked and slipped his tongue in your mouth while you just giggled. When you pulled away for air, you kept your wide smile as he leaned his forehead against yours.

‘Ti amo troppo, amore mio.’ He whispered against your lips as you pulled him close.

---Extended Ending---

After his romantic confession at the library, you and Lovino dated, which made Feli very happy that his brother finally confessed to his true love. You also found out that Lovino had asked Antonio, Gilbert, and even Ludwig, who he didn’t really like, to give you the notes. While you kissed him until you were satisfied as a thank you, he happily returned them passionately with his own kisses. You loved how Lovino could be sweet and romantic with you. You both moved in together, sharing an apartment with his brother Feli, who was more than happy to welcome you.

It was a cold morning and you shivered under the covers as you felt the breeze come in from one of the windows that was open. You snuggled to your source of warmth, whose arms wrapped around you automatically, pulling you to close whatever distance was left. You looked up and smiled as you watched Lovino sleep peacefully, before reaching up to trace his features. He shifted when your finger ran down the tip of his nose, and you drew it back before he opened his eyes.

‘…awake already?’ he groggily mumbled as you softly giggled and nodded.

‘Just a while ago.’ You said as you reached up to kiss his lips, while he returned it by moving to kiss your forehead.

‘Did you sleep well?’

‘Si.’ You replied as you kept tracing his features, to which he chuckled. ‘Amo solo te (I only love you),’ you whispered, to which he gave you a small smile. He then responded by kissing your forehead while saying the sweet nothings you love to hear.

‘Vita mia (my life),’ he said as he kissed the tip of your nose. ‘Anima mia (my soul),’ he said as he kissed your cheek. ‘Luce mia (my light),’ he kissed the other. ‘Tesoro mio (my treasure),’ he kissed you on the lips. ‘Ti amo.’

‘Ti amo, troppo, Lovi,’ you said as you kissed him in return. ‘I’m glad I talked to Feli about those notes before… he actually convinced me that you weren’t a stalker.’ You laughed while he just shook his head and rolled his eyes.

‘Our stories would’ve ended differently, if that were the case.’

‘But it didn’t,’ you said as he pulled you closer, ‘...e vissero felici e contenti (…and they lived happily ever after)’ you whispered as you kissed him once more, a small smile playing on your lips.