Okay here it is, the Sir Andrew x Antonio thing...
I’ll cut it short here because I learned how to do that so if you want to actually read it then go ahead but if not whatever.
I also forgot to save at one point. Not gonna lie, i cried a little, but it’s cool and it’s retyped, and I actually like it better.
Antonio was unlocked from his cuffs. Even hearing “You’re free to go” didn’t mend his broken heart. He seriously believed Sebastian loved him. Maybe even just the smallest bit. He couldn’t watch as Sebastian leaned in and kissed Olivia, hearing him tell her he loved her, and then that she loved him. They got a happy ending, so why couldn’t he?
He had nowhere to go and no one to help him as he walked through Illyria in defeat. Soon enough, he had returned to the Countess’ palace, only to hear a man’s voice yelling.
“Is it me, Sir Toby? Is it something I did? Why would she choose that total stranger over someone she knows?”
“No, no, Sir Andrew,” responds a second voice, “Maybe she just knew you too well. I don’t know what goes on in my niece’s head. She tends to go towards the more...”
“Eh? The more what,” replies the first. The second voice hesitates but says, “The more brutish men. You’re more of... uh... the charismatic type.”
The first scoffs and says, “I see what you’re trying to do, Toby, you’re just trying to soften the blow. It’s not working. Besides, I saw him. He’s far more charismatic than I am and I’m willing to admit that.”
Antonio listened from behind a tree but only thought now to look. He was careful to hide behind a nearby bush. His view was of a portly older man and a lanky young man. There was something about that younger man, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. The way he dressed, or talked maybe? Something about this Sir Andrew was intriguing... and maybe even a little endearing.
The young gentleman sat on a bench outside of Olivia’s palace, his head in his hands. The older Sir Toby had his hand on the younger man’s back, comforting him. Antonio could feel his pain, even from so far away, and it only enhanced the sudden feelings he felt for him.
His admiration came to a grinding halt when he lost balance and caused the bush to rustle loudly in an attempt to catch himself. Both men immediately glanced over.
“Hello?” The first voice suddenly seemed much more comforting than before, even when no comforting words were spoken and nothing was known about him.
“Oh, uh, hello,” stutters Antonio in reply, “I was just walking and I happened to hear your complaints. It seems we share similar troubles.”
Toby saw a window of opportunity. He had never actually asked Andrew how he felt on the subject, but he figured it’d be worth a try. He rushes to say, “Why don’t you two talk about it? It’s always good to get your feelings out. I’ll be right back.” Toby runs into the palace, leaving Andrew and Antonio alone... together.
“I am... Andrew. Sir Andrew Aguecheek,” he says as he offers a handshake.
“I’m Antonio,” he shakes Andrew’s hand and sits on the bench with him.
“Hold on, you look familiar... weren’t you arrested during my duel with Cesario- Well, I guess it’s not Cesario anymore, is it?” Andrew laughs at his own joke.
Antonio completely forgot. That’s why he reminded him of Sebastian so much.
“Wait,” says Andrew, interrupting Antonio’s thoughts, “Didn’t you almost... fight me?”
Antonio was quick to comment. “Well, I thought he, er, she was Sebastian, a dear friend of mine. Or at least dearer at the time...”
Andrew looked at Antonio’s face as the heartbreak set in once more. He felt bad for this stranger. “If it helps, I know how you feel. I was in love with Olivia, the one that married your Sebastian.”
They both sat and thought about those two together. It hurt them, and they weren’t even there.
“I still can’t believe she married a stranger,” scoffs Andrew, “Sure, she thought he was Cesario, but even then, it was made clear that nothing would happen between them. She doesn’t seem like she’d ignore something like that.”
“Well, it doesn’t help that Sebastian is a love-at-first-sight kind of man,” Antonio chuckles, but suddenly sighs and says, “Maybe I should’ve considered that before I let myself believe that he might...”
“Hey,” Andrew says, putting a hand on Antonio’s shoulder, “It’s alright. We’re both going through this. At least you have some wit going for you. Nowadays, I might as well refer to myself as a babbling drunk, and Toby’s been no help to that.”
Antonio glances at the hand on his shoulder and smiles. “I think we’ll just have to accept that they weren’t the right people for us.”
“Well that’s for certain,” Andrew chuckles. They share a laugh at their sorrows, not noticing Toby returning with Maria and Feste.
“I’m telling you, Maria,” whispers Toby, “This might just work. I owe it to Andrew for letting him believe he had any chance with Olivia, the poor bloke.”
Maria whispers back, “A man? Toby, we don’t even know if Sir Andrew is-”
“We ought to give it a shot at least,” he interrupts quietly.
Feste looks at the two gentlemen, laughing and talking to each other. “You may have a point, Sir Toby,” he comments, still in whisper tone, “They remind me of that Sebastian and your niece. I’ve never seen the two unhappy when together. Not to mention that I’ve noticed Sir Andrew acting a bit strange around certain men.” Feste giggles to himself while recounting those memories.
“Antonio,” says Andrew almost hesitantly, “How many people have you loved like you loved Sebastian?”
Antonio was surprised by the question. He hadn’t really considered how much he loved Sebastian. He knew it was a lot, but only one person came to mind that even compared to Sebastian. It helped that he had only really loved two men.
“There is one man,” says Antonio.
“Tell me about him.”
“Alright, well, he’s not necessarily the smartest or the strongest, but I think he’ll make up for it with a good heart.”
“Sounds like a loser to me,” chuckles Andrew.
“If you knew him, you wouldn’t say that,” says Antonio, laughing. They sit together in awkward silence for a few seconds before it’s broken by Andrew.
“Would you like... some wine? There’s plenty in the palace,” he says nervously.
“That would be nice,” says Antonio without missing a beat.
“I told you, Maria,” yells Toby, not noticing that he had yelled until Antonio and Andrew were looking where he, Maria, and Feste stood. Toby looks back at them. “Oh, uh, hello, Sir Andrew. Would you... like to bring your friend in for wine?”
Andrew freezes, his face turning redder by the second. “Wh- Wh- What are you all doing here? You can’t just- spy on people!”
Antonio laughs to himself. “I suppose you know them?”
“Yes, I do,” Andrew groans, embarrassed. He stands from the bench. “I suppose we should go get some wine now?” He offers his hand to help Antonio up, which he takes and stands. Toby, Maria, and Feste eagerly run inside to the cellar. Before him and Andrew enter, Antonio stops him.
“Wait,” he says, “I think I should tell you something.”
Andrew turns, confused. “Okay, go on.”
“i just wanted to say that I think I understand why it wasn’t so hard for Sebastian to marry Olivia so soon,” he says as he nervously laughs.
“I think I might, too,” says Andrew, now with a wide smile on his face.
Feste peeks his head out of the palace entrance. “Well, are you two coming or not? The wine’ll be gone by the time you’re done if you don’t hurry!”
The two men laugh and follow Feste inside. Maybe Antonio wasn’t so alone after all. Maybe he finally got his happy ending.