AN: So..I've noticed something about Strength and Survival recently. I focus so much on the main pairing that the side pairings get overshadowed horribly. So...here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to start side stories for those pairings in the same verse. Tell me which one you guys want to see next. This one...this one is the Germany/Italy pairing. Even though there are hints of this there..you have to squint to see it. With these side stories...you'll get more of the history not only with Lovi, but with the other characters as well. This one will have a lot more of information about Romano's time with the mafia, how it affected Feli, and why Ludwig seems to be so protective over Lovi even when Lovi didn't really like him.
So..enjoy.
A small twelve year old sat in the windowsill beside the door. Silence filled the house for the longest before a soft voice rang through. "Feliciano, relax. Lovino's going to be fine, I promise. He always is."
Feliciano looked over at the blond. Vash. His 'older brother'. "Something's wrong. I can feel it."
Vash's eyes lit in confusion and worry. "..just..five more minutes and he'll be here."
Feliciano nodded and allowed Vash to pull him over to the couch. As soon as they were settled, Feliciano settled down against him tiredly. "Why does he always disappear like this?"
Vash sighed. "I don't know, Feli..I really don't."
Five minutes passed and Feliciano let his shoulders sink. "He's not here..."he said, a single tear falling. "What if he's hurt or something?! He could be dying on the side of the road for all we know.."
Vash sighed, pressing a kiss to Feliciano's forehead. "Get some rest, Feli. I'll wake you when he gets here."
Sure enough, Lovino walked in not long after that. Feliciano didn't get any rest until he heard the door open. He lifted his head to see his older brother and almost grinned. Then he saw the bruises and split lip. "Lovi!"
Lovino gave a weak smile. "Ciao, Feli."he said.
Feliciano shot up and crashed into Lovino to give him a tight hug, making Lovino wince in pain and push Feliciano back a bit. "Let me breathe."
Vash sighed at the elder twelve year old and examined the injuries before he shook his head. "Let's get you fixed up again, Lovi."
Lovino nodded and let Vash take care of him while he held his little brother gently to let him know that he was still there.
Their nonno showed up not long after Vash finished and half smiled. "You two ready to go home?"
Lovino nodded, exhausted.
Feliciano agreed as well, hugging Vash tightly before darting out with Lovino being pulled along.
"What was it this time, do you know?"
Vash sighed. "Same as always. He came in with bruises and a split lip, though, so I guess he fought against them tonight."
A sigh.
"Well..thank you, Vash. And..thanks for watching Feli. He's too fragile to deal with this."
Vash nodded.
That night was definitely a hard one for the Vargas brothers. Feliciano had a nightmare that night about losing his twin and had darted into Lovino's room and woke him up.
Lovino grumbled, but held the covers up to allow Feliciano to climb in. "Get in, idiota."he grumbled.
As soon as Feliciano was settled again, Lovino let him cuddle up and fell back to sleep.
That week was hard on both of them. Saturday, when Lovino disappeared again, Feliciano found himself drifting to Vash's house slowly. He got stopped by a blond male, though. "Why the sad look?"
Feliciano looked up to meet icy blue eyes. He blinked. "..it's nothing. Just..my brother.."
"Oh."
"Oh". That's awfully nice, mister. Feliciano thought bitterly, but said nothing.
"Well, I'm Ludwig."
Feliciano tilted his head and nodded. "Feliciano."
Ludwig offered a weak smile. "Where you headed?"
"A friend's."Feliciano said. He remembered what Lovino always told him. 'Don't be stupid. Never talk to strangers and tell them about yourself. It'll get you killed.'
Vash showed up not long after and sighed in relief. "There you are, kid. When you never showed up, I thought that someone'd gutted you. I was about to go on a manhunt for whoever hurt...you..and you have company.."
Ludwig blinke dinn surprise at the Swiss.
Feliciano grinned. "Vash! This is my new friend Ludwig!"
Vash smiled softly. "Gilbert's kid brother, right?"
Ludwig nodded and rolled his eyes. "Though I believe he acts younger than I do."
"Indeed. Well..how about both of you come along?"Vash asked.
Neither boy argued that.
Needless to say, Lovino didn't trust the new addition to the group at all when he saw him. Thankfully, he was uninjured when he entered. Feliciano had cheered at that. "Lovi!"he said, pulling his brother to him. "Lovi, this is my new friend Ludwig. Ludy, this is my fratello Lovino."
Ludwig offered a kind half smiled. "Pleasure to meet you, Lovino."he said, holding out his hand for a handshake.
Lovino flinched back from it thought. "You too."he said, his tone sour and guarded as he eyed the blond's hand before he shook it.
Feliciano sighed. Of course. He'd forgotten. Lovino didn't like to trust others.
This should be fun. He would get Lovino to open up and be okay with Ludwig eventually.
Here's the first chapter of this one. Let me know which pairing you want the next side story to be about!
