Title: Era il mio schiavo (He was my slave)
Pairings: Italy/Germany Spain/Romano and others
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Summary: For his seventeenth birthday Feliciano's grandfather took him to the slave-markets of Baserul. On that day Ludwig was bought into the Vargas' home – now bound to Feliciano in servitude. Little did he know exactly what that would mean.
Prologue
"Stay close to me. There are a lot of people here who would take full advantage of your relation to me." Callixtus murmured to his grandson as they exited the carriage. Feliciano simply nodded, glancing nervously around him as he bit at his lower lip. Sensing the unease, Callixtus grinned broadly and clapped Feliciano's shoulder good-naturedly. "But enough of that! Today marks the beginning of your manhood, Feli; just like your brother and every other man in our family we will pick out the best slave from the market to serve and protect you for the rest of your life! It's a a hefty responsibilty – so let's pick the best one for the job, all right?"
Although he wasn't entirely keen on the idea of slavery, Feliciano couldn't help but feel himself getting excited. As a member of the Vargas family, trust was a valued commodity that couldn't be risked. So three years ago, when Lovino became old enough to choose his companion, the two brothers (not that the older one would ever admit it) were thrilled to no longer be alone. Antonio had proved to be one of the best things to ever happen to Callixtus' grandsons, his cheerful nature providing a welcomed warmth into their lives.
The streets of Baserul echoed with shouts from the slavers and the bidders. Younger slaves sobbed and screamed, while rowdier individuals yelled and shrieked in vehement protests. Feliciano had to force himself not to look as his grandfather led him away from the main streets, towards a large square. The number of clients was far smaller; the assortment of collared and shoddily-clothed slaves was wider and in far better condition.
"Majstar Vargas." A beautiful young woman approached the pair with a face as calm and expressionless as her voice. "You are here for his first slave?"
Callixtus smiled and boldly brought her hand to his lips. Feliciano had to hide a flinch at the flash of murderous rage he saw in the woman's eyes. "As hasty to get to business as ever, Natalia. It doesn't suit a woman of your unparalleled beauty." he crowed, allowing Natalia to take her hand back. Although she didn't bother with a verbal response, the glare she shot towards Callixtus would have terrified the boldest of criminals.
"Follow me, your grandson has many choice specimens to choose from today. We even have a good number of strong males from Megryna in the selection." Feliciano stopped talking, glancing over the assembled men and women while his grandfather spoke with Natalia about his choices. They all looked so grim and defeated. He had hoped to find another Antonio – someone who would grow into a good friend along with everything else. Someone whose company Feliciano could genuinely enjoy.
However today he found that the ones he didn't feel immense pity for, simply terrified him. Barbaric women who would sooner tear off a man's necessities than hold him close in comfort. Mountainous men who looked as if they could snap Feliciano in half with just a look. Faces ranged from cruel to emotionless; from soft and trembling to untrustworthy and scheming. Those that fell in between caused Feliciano the most worry – he just didn't know how many of them might be faking it. As a Vargas, he couldn't afford to make the wrong choice today. That would be like signing his own death warrant.
Callixtus broke him out of his musings by settling a hand on his shoulder. "Here we are, take your time. Remember what I told you, my boy, you'll know the right one when you see them." he told Feliciano with a kind smile, nudging him forward with the same hand as before. Even as he smiled back at his grandfather, Feliciano hesitated. His brain was screaming at him to run away, and his legs trembled with the effort it took not to give in to those instincts.
Slowly he began to walk in front of the first row of slaves, awkwardly looking over them. Grandpa said I'd know when I saw the right one … but I don't even know what I'm looking for! Feliciano bit lightly at the inside of his cheek to stop the pathetic whimper which threatened to tremble past his lips. He couldn't let on just how much some of these people scared him.
By the time he got to the third row, Feliciano had noticed hardly any of them met his gaze. Either they kept their eyes firmly fixed on their feet or they deliberately stared off into the distance and refused to acknowledge him. The ones who did meet his eye rekindled the urge to flee as far away as possible. These ones had leering smirks or their eyes would whisper silent challenges to Feliciano. He moved past these ones quicker than the rest – wanting absolutely nothing to do with any of them.
What if he didn't find the right one? It was unheard of for a Vargas to leave their first market without their slave. He could just hear Lovino now, his obscene vocabulary and scathing remarks almost bringing the youngest brother to tears even from his imagination.
As Feliciano shook his head to clear his thoughts he glanced a man back in the sixth row. Well, he was probably about the same age as Feliciano was. A tall, fair-skinned man with short blond hair and dark blue eyes. He was frowning and looking off to one side. The young Vargas didn't know how to explain it but he was certainly drawn to this individual. Something compelled Feliciano to approach this one, even if normally he would have avoided such an intimidating-looking person at all costs.
Was this what his grandfather had meant by knowing the right one?
Suddenly feeling a lot more at peace, Feliciano squared his shoulders and the first genuine smile of the day spread across his features. He weaved his way around with purpose, passing the fourth and fifth rows without so much as a glance until he came to stop next to the blond. Once again he faltered, what should he do now? After making such a scene about coming to this one, Feliciano feared he might end up looking like an absolute fool.
"What is your name?" he asked, looking the man over properly, now that he could have a closer look. Recent bruising littered pretty much all of his torso, coupled with faint scars and a few healing cuts.
For a moment the tall blond looked at Feliciano, debating whether to respond. It was a calculating look, filled with nothing but contemplation. "Ludwig." His accent was thick, clearly Megrynan. The voice was deep, with some gravel behind it. An Earthy voice. Well-suited to the more rugged language which was native to his homeland. Feliciano smiled and glanced back towards his grandfather, who was still preoccupied with Natalia.
Something about Ludwig felt right. The young Atyilan couldn't explain it, but he felt like Ludwig was here today specifically so that Feliciano could choose him. It wasn't an internal feeling, more like a tingling in the atmosphere between both of them. Considering how uncomfortable the other man seemed with Feliciano's gaze he assumed that Ludwig didn't feel it like he did. That was fine – he knew what his grandfather had been talking about now.
"Nonno! Miss Natalia!" Feliciano called, making his way to the end of the row so he could be seen. Sufficiently distracted, Callixtus switched his gaze over to his grandson with alarming speed. The grin morphed from lecherous to adoring faster than the blink of an eye. "I think I found him!"
Callixtus slung an arm around Natalia's shoulders. "Wonderful news! It took your brother hours of cursing and putting it off before he finally made his choice!" He waved over one of the silent guards who had been watching the events, ready in case they needed to strike. "Show him which one and I'll take a look, myself."
Moments later the guard stood in front of Callixtus, a chain in his hands which was attatched to Ludwig's wrists. "An excellent choice, Majstar Vargas. We acquired him and his brother on our last excursion to Megryna. He's a strong one and in good health, if a bit stubborn. He caused some bother at first, but you'll be pleased to know he won't need much in the way of discipline, anymore. He's a quick learner, I'm sure you'll find him a good addition to your household." As Natalia spoke her voice never once even wavered in its monotone, she recited her practised words with ease and fixed Ludwig with a severe look, as if to warn him off trying to act up.
Ludwig's chain was handed over to Feliciano as Callixtus handed the gold owed to Natalia. Just as they turned to leave, a commotion broke out and one of the men Feliciano had passed in one of the earlier rows. Crimson eyes flashed with determination. His face was filled with intent. Ludwig watched the man with wide-eyed fear and familiarity. "Bruder, was machst du? Holen Sie sich wieder in Einklang!"
The pale individual smirked confidently as he dodged capture time after time. His speed and agility were phenomenal! "Keine Chance Bruderlein!" he crowed. As he ran he took hold of the necklace he wore and ripped it over his head. When he reached Ludwig he placed it firmly into the taller man's hand and gripped tightly at his wrist.
Feliciano hadn't thought it possible, but Ludwig's eyes widened further. Callixtus held out a hand to halt the guards from drawing their weapons. "Aber ... Opa gab, dass auf Sie! Du kannst nicht ..."
"Ich kann und werde. Noch nicht einmal versuchen, mich zu stoppen Westen, weil ich nicht hören." The albino smirked and curled Ludwig's fingers around the necklace. "Es bringt Sie zurück zu mir, so wage es nicht zu verlieren! Verstehen Sie?" Ludwig bit at his lower lip slightly before nodding and looking towards the ground. "Toll!" With that he thumped a curled fist firmly (but not roughly) against Ludwig's collarbone and turned to face Feliciano with a malicious gleam in his eye. "Enjoy him while you can, pretty-boy. Just remember one thing – my bruderlein will never belong to you, not in spirit or in mind. You've temporarily bought his body, but it won't stay yours for long! He'll find his way back to me, and you won't be able to stop him!"
"Chopić!"Natalia growled and struck the albino across the face, grabbing hold of his collar and sending a firm glare towards the guards. "Vaźmicie jaho ŭnutr, i ja budu mieć z im pazniej!" She watched the guards forcefully drag the Megrynan inside the building behind the rows. "I must apologise, despite this ones demeanour his brother has been exceedingly difficult to deal with. If you will excuse me, Majstar Vargas, you are not my only clientelle and I need to remind that one of his place." Natalia said curtly before striding off in the same direction Ludwig's brother had been taken.
A/N: First multichapter GerIta. For anyone who has read Unter Dem Licht Des Vollmonds, I'll be keeping my anagrams for different places in this world but it isn't the same setting as the other story. Normally my prologues aren't anywhere near as long as this but I felt it was necessary for this particular story. I will try and keep updating this as much as I do with Vollmonds but as it is nearing its end that one will be my priority at first. Once it's finished I will concentrate more on this one!
Hope you enjoyed it, thanks for reading and let me know what you think!
P.S. I used google translate so these might be a little bit off. Hopefully the other chapters won't need so many translations.
Translations
Majstar - 'Master' Belarussian
nonno - 'Grandpa' Italian
Bruder, was machst du? Holen Sie sich wieder in Einklang - 'Brother, what are you doing? Get back in line!' German
Keine Chance Bruderlein - 'No chance little brother' German
Aber ... Opa gab, dass auf Sie! Du kannst nicht - 'But ... Grandfather gave that to you! You can't ' German
Ich kann und werde. Noch nicht einmal versuchen, mich zu stoppen Westen, weil ich nicht hören - 'I can and will. Do not even try to stop me west, because I will not listen' German
Es bringt Sie zurück zu mir, so wage es nicht zu verlieren! Verstehen Sie? - 'This will bring you back to me, so don't you dare lose it! Understand?' German
Chopić - 'Enough' Belarussian
Vaźmicie jaho ŭnutr, i ja budu mieć z im pazniej - 'Take him inside. I will deal with him later.' Belarussian