Warnings: Gilbo's mouth again, plus some suggestive material-pretty frank discussion and description of sensual stuff (though no actual smex this time)

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Hetalia, just this story.

...

Chapter 2

Bzzzzz. Bzzzzz.

Ludwig's phone was vibrating on his desk. He glanced at it. It was his brother.

"Alright, spill."

"Uh, try a little more specificity…"

"Oh c'mon Lud, what else would I be talking about? How was your first day?"

"It was… good, I think."

"Really? That's lucky. First day of class always sucks balls for me."

"What a pleasant way of putting it."

"Well, c'mon, all you're doing is getting syllabuses, going over 'procedures and expectations' and all that bull, and by the time they're done talking about the semester you're just like, 'shit, how the fuck am I gonna get all that done before Christmas' or 'Jesus Christ, that's all we're doing this whole time? Somebody shoot me now.'"

"Ah. Well, I have to admit none of those exact thoughts crossed my mind today, though I did only have two classes to go to. I found it quite useful, though, when the psychology professor went over the course outline in minute detail. It shows that the teacher is well-organized and straightforward. I appreciate that. My Western Literature professor, on the other hand, jumped right into the course material, so I was not bored in the least, though I admit it sounds like it will be quite a lot of work."

"Kesese, you're such a tight-ass. Ok, so how is this not-boring prof?"

"Hm. Seems a little stuffy at first, but I have a suspicion he's actually quite brilliant. He has a British accent too, which I was worried at first was affected, but turns out it's completely authentic."

"…What did you say his name was?"

"I didn't. It's Kirkland, Arthur Kirkland, I think."

"…You have Professor Kirkland?"

"Yes, why?"

"…Nothing."

"Gilbert, what? Do you know anything about him?"

"Ah, well… yeah, actually, I had him when I took Western Lit sophomore year…"

"Oh, well, is he good?"

"Is he—wha? Oh, good, um, yes. Yes, very… good."

"…Okay… Gilbert, is everything alright?"

"Huh? Wha—of course! Kesese, why wouldn't it be?"

"Well you—"

"You're so funny sometimes, bro. Oh, shit, y'know what, I forgot I'm supposed to be meeting Toni and Francis in three minutes! Catch ya later!"

"Wait, Gilb—"

Click.

…

"So, what is St. Augustine trying to tell us in this passage?" Professor Kirkland queried, surveying the somewhat drowsy classroom as he paused in his pacing.

"Hm? Anybody? Is it as simple as 'Thou Shalt Only Read the Bible' or is there something else he's driving at?"

A boy with wild blond hair seated across from Ludwig raised his hand. Kirkland nodded at him.

"Well, it seems that for sure he can't just be saying you should only read the Bible, because I mean, wouldn't that be a little hypocritical? I mean, not just because he's actually read all these other books, but because he's writing his own book too, and why would he write it if he doesn't want people to read it? And anyway, all those other books, whether he agrees with them now or not, they helped shape him on his path to conversion; they're what led him to where he is now. So isn't he kind of just denying the importance of these other works in shaping him, and at the same time denying those who follow his advice the same chance for their finding their own path to enlightenment?"

Ludwig blinked, impressed by boy's acute thought-process, especially when everyone else seemed to be getting distracted as the end of class ticked nearer. Ludwig, of course, focused his full attention on whoever was speaking.

Kirkland nodded, a slight smile on his lips. "Well, I think you touch on a very significant point there, Mathias. Because you're right, Augustine has been shaped by those books that he is now condemning, even through the very act of rejecting them. Without them, it's arguable whether he would have ever converted, and certainly without converting he would never have read the Bible. Maybe, though, maybe he hopes to make it easier for those who follow in his footsteps by simply telling them, 'trust me, don't waste your time with this load of bollocks, go straight to the good stuff" because he knows firsthand just how difficult it can be to resist the temptations offered by these other books. Think of it this way; according to Augustine, you are holy and righteous if you read the Bible. If you read the works of the Neo-Platonists or Manichees, your eyes will be blinded to the truth of God since you will be inclined to dedicate yourself to the falsities of those philosophies instead. Because the thing is, people tend to believe what they read. So, what Augustine is saying is, you're just courting disaster if you read anything other than God's word. You will be tainting your mind and allow yourself to be led astray, because: you are what you read. That's what Augustine is driving at here, and that's why the best possible course of action is to only read the Bible. Assuming you want to stay pure and go to Heaven, of course. Otherwise, sure, read any old blasphemy you get your hands on and go on your merry way to the Devil. That's something to consider as we move through the semester; many of these authors seem to have a strong belief in the influence of the written word, for better or for worse. So consider, is there something especially authoritative about the written word that makes it easier to accept than ideas in other forms? Is it a particularly invasive or seductive way of disseminating ideas? Or are all these authors only focused so much on the power of reading and books simply by virtue of the fact that that is the medium they themselves are working in?

"But—whatever conclusions you arrive at as you heatedly debate this with your friends over dinner tonight, since I'm sure that's the best thing all of you possibly have to do on a Friday evening—as I have a responsibility to you all as my students, I will warn you; this weekend, make sure you read the rest of Augustine's 'Confessions,' and you should be pretty safe. Because you are what you read!

"Alright, congratulations on making it through your first week, and I'll see you all Monday."

The scrape of chairs on carpet followed directly on cue as most of the students got up and started filing out, with a few well-wishes for the weekend offered to the professor as he packed his briefcase. Ludwig and some others remained at their seats for a moment, finishing notes and zipping up bags. Ludwig neatly stacked his notebook among the other books in his backpack, stood, pushed in his own chair and one next to his that had been left practically in the middle of the floor, and went to the back of the small mob waiting to get through the bottleneck of the door.

"Ah, Ludwig, right?"

Ludwig turned, curious, to see Professor Kirkland looking at him hesitantly.

"That's right."

"Your last name's Beilschmidt, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. Uh, my brother said he had you before…?"

"Ah, yes. Yes, so you are Gilbert's little brother?"

"That's me." He smiled sheepishly, hoping Gilbert hadn't been too obnoxious for this seemingly well-mannered Englishman. He didn't want to get off on the wrong foot with him because of his brother's bad behavior.

"Ah, brilliant. I'm delighted to have another Beilschmidt in my class. Your brother was… one of my best students."

Ludwig's jaw dropped.

Kirkland cleared his throat roughly and glanced at Ludwig, that same hesitation in his emerald eyes. "How… how is he doing, by the way? A senior now, right? I haven't… run into him for a while."

Ludwig collected himself. "Oh, well, he's doing quite well actually, I think. He's had an internship at a music production company for a while now and it looks like a job offer might come out of it, so… we'll see, I suppose."

"Brilliant, brilliant…" Kirkland murmured, but his mind seemed to be somewhere else as his thick eyebrows furrowed. He looked back at Ludwig and swallowed, attempting a smile. "You two are… quite different, aren't you?" He laughed nervously. Ludwig wasn't entirely sure how to respond to that and ended up shrugging awkwardly.

Suddenly Kirkland seemed to notice that the room had emptied out. Flustered, he grabbed his briefcase and turned to the door. "Well, er, give my regards to—or, no—er, well, see you Monday, anyway, Ludwig!"

He was practically out the door by the time he finished.

Ludwig stared after the man speed-walking down the hall, bewildered. Did his new professor always act this strange in personal interactions, or… What the hell could Gilbert have done?

…

"Luddy! Luddy! Guess what!" Feliciano came bounding into their room.

Ludwig glanced up from his book with a slight scowl. Only his brother ever called him "Luddy." How on earth did his roommate pick up on the somewhat embarrassing nickname in their first week of school?

"What is it, Feliciano?"

Feliciano paused for a moment with a surprised look plastered on his face before it broke into his usual wide grin.

"Oh, come on Ludwig, we're friends now! You can call me Feli!"

"Uh, alright… Feli," he said, relenting despite how oddly casual the nickname sounded. After all, Feliciano had called him "Ludwig" after Ludwig had called Feliciano by his proper name, so perhaps he had picked up on Ludwig's preference for formality.

"So anyway, Luddy—" (Ludwig sighed) "—Herakles found out about this awesome party tonight in an upperclassman suite and we're all going!"

"We? Who's we?"

"Me, Herakles, Kiku, and—well, you, if you want to…" He looked at Ludwig with wide, shining brown eyes. God, it was almost as bad as a puppy dog. "Come on, Lud. You didn't come to any parties with us during orientation… we should all go out together!"

Ludwig stared at Feliciano. He just didn't get this boy. He was so eager to call everyone his friend, so eager to go do things with people who were hardly more than strangers… and yet, Ludwig supposed that it could have been worse. If he had been stuck with a roommate as withdrawn as himself, his brother might end up being the only other human he would ever have contact with. He grimaced at the thought.

He sighed. He hadn't gone out with his suitemates the week before because he had convinced himself it wasn't a good way to start the semester, but he did feel a little guilty for giving them the cold shoulder, and now the others had bonded without him.

"Well… I suppose I have the whole weekend to do my homework… I guess I could—"

"YAY! Oh, this is great, Lud, it's gonna be so much fun! Herakles knows all the best parties! What are you going to wear? I don't know what I'm going to wear—let's help each other pick out clothes! Do you have good clothes for dance parties? I think I need to get some more, I mean, it's so hard to find just the right thing, not too casual, not too formal—heehee, I bet there'll be a lot of cute girls there! Do you have a girlfriend, Lud? I've never had a girlfriend—but I mean, of course I've kissed lots of girls! Just, nothing ever seemed to work out… but y'know, it's pretty easy to get with someone after a few drinks at these things, and girls are just sooo pretty! I don't understand how they do it. And last week, I even made out with this really hot girl on a couch!" He giggled.

Ludwig tried and failed to picture Feliciano making out with a hot girl in some dimly lit and crowded room. He realized his face must show his incredulity and quickly tried to correct it.

Feliciano continued grinning like a madman as he let himself fall onto his bed. "Lud, you should have seen her… she had these giant boobs, and I mean, like giant! Like you think you know big boobs, but you don't until you've met this girl… they bounced with every step… I think her name was Kat…" he trailed off dreamily, then frowned. "But I'm not quite sure… we were both pretty drunk, I guess… I didn't get her number." He pouted. The uncanny resemblance to a puppy struck Ludwig once again.

But the mental picture Feliciano had painted for him preoccupied him more. Giant… boobs? Ludwig blushed. Feliciano seemed rather comfortable with the topic, as if he thought of it all the time. Was his roommate a sex maniac, or was it really that common to fixate on boobs so much? Ludwig had never really given them that much thought. In fact, even the mention made him a little squeamish. Not that he didn't like them, of course—he just wasn't familiar with them in the least.

"Have you ever hooked up with someone at a party, Lud?" Feliciano grinned at him expectantly.

"Hooked… up? I—uh… no." He turned a bright shade of magenta. He'd heard the term before, and though he wasn't sure of its exact definition it conjured up images of hastily-removed clothes and public indecency. Whatever it meant, Ludwig was sure he hadn't done it.

"Oh." Feliciano looked slightly disappointed. "Well you've kissed girls, right?"

"Um, well, not… exactly… as in no, I haven't…" Ludwig squirmed under Feliciano's wide-eyed gaze.

"What? You mean you never—oh wow, Lud—you're really missing out…" The Italian looked almost shell-shocked.

Ludwig's blush deepened even more.

"Well, I, uh, I mean, well—"

"Don't worry, Lud! We can set you up with someone tonight! I feel it's my duty to you as your roommate to make sure you don't have to remain a lip virgin any longer than absolutely necessary." He smiled, satisfied with his plan.

Ludwig groaned. "No, really Feliciano, you don't have to do that—"

"Oh, Luddy, it's really no problem! I'd be glad to! And I'm sure Kiku and Herakles will want to help too!"

"That's not what I meant…" he mumbled miserably.

…

The party was supposed to start at 11, but Herakles had decided it wouldn't be kosher to get there any earlier than 12:30 (which just seemed rudely late to Ludwig), so Ludwig found himself getting ready with Feliciano just a few minutes after midnight.

"So… a tie is too formal, right?" Ludwig tried to sound nonchalant as if he actually had some clue about what he was doing as he flipped desperately through the clothes in his closet, hoping inspiration would strike.

"Haha, no one wears ties to these things, Luddy! Well, except for the extra-douchy Frat boys, of course, so unless you think you can pull off the Frat boy swagger, I'd go more casual."

"Oh, right, well, I don't exactly think swaggering is… my style, so, can the tie. Got it."

Kiku poked his head through the door. "Ah, Ludwig, I see you have decided to join us?" He made a peculiar head-bob as he said this.

"Yes, I don't have too much work, I guess, so I thought why not…"

"Wonderful. Herakles will be happy to hear that. I will inform him when he wakes from his nap."

"Nap? But isn't it almost time to go?"

"He dressed earlier, but then he said he needed to save his energy for the party. That makes sense, I suppose."

"I suppose…"

Kiku left and Ludwig shook his head. So far his brother's assessment of his rooming situation was quite accurate. His suitemates' idiosyncrasies had only become more prevalent over the past two weeks.

Ludwig turned to see Feliciano pulling off a pink polo he had decided against in favor of a black button-down. He left the top few buttons undone and then pulled on a pair of tight blue jeans. He tried a few poses in the mirror, and Ludwig was sure that the Italian was examining his ass when he popped a hip. Ludwig thought the clothes made him look more effeminate than usual, with his slight form, but somehow, much to the larger blonde's astonishment and jealousy, Feliciano pulled the look off with ease.

"So… a button-down's not too formal, and jeans aren't too casual?" Ludwig questioned helplessly.

Feliciano laughed. "It's all about your personal style, whatever you can make work. What do you think you look good in?"

Ludwig blushed. While he took care in matters of appearance, he wasn't sure that any of the things he liked to wear would meet others' standards of fashion. And ever since Feliciano had spoken about girls and hooking up and making out on couches and giant boobs, Ludwig hadn't been able to take his mind off the prospect of what might transpire tonight. He wanted to look his best, for sure, but he was also apprehensive. Even if he had the perfect outfit, how would he know how to act?

"I usually wear pretty formal clothes, I guess… I'm not really sure if casual clothes suit me all that well…"

"Well we can't have you in a suit and tie, can we? Come on Lud, there must be some simple outfit you remember getting complimented on before!"

Ludwig thought for a moment. There had been that time when… but surely that wouldn't be appropriate…

"Ah, actually I do usually wear a black tank when I exercise, and someone told me it looked good with some cargo pants, but I don't know if that's really the right—"

"Sounds great! And it would be totally you! Show me!"

Ludwig blushed again as he rummaged through his drawers. He didn't tell Feliciano that it had only been his brother who had said that, and that the words he had used were "fuckin' sexy," after which Ludwig had given him a good jab in the ribs. Gilbert had probably just been joking in order to get a reaction, Ludwig thought, depressed.

But Feliciano liked it, and finally Ludwig conceded. It was 12:39 when the four freshmen finally set out.

…

Beer was a marvelous invention. Ludwig was telling a new acquaintance so as he gulped sloppily from his fourth—or was it fifth?—solo cup. He couldn't remember this acquaintance's name, but names were a triviality. Ludwig was sure they were going to be great friends. At least, until he turned around and said acquaintance was nowhere to be found. Oh well, there were plenty of really friendly people to talk to here…

"Ludwiiig!"

Ludwig didn't have time to register where the voice was coming from before he felt himself being pulled away from the clump of people where he had been attempting to socialize. Suddenly Feliciano's face swam into view.

"Come dance with us Luddy!" Feliciano's voice sounded strange, distant and somewhat subdued. Ludwig wasn't sure if it was the other's voice or his own hearing, or both. Perhaps the pounding music was to blame. Nevertheless he allowed himself to be dragged out to the middle of the common area, not that he was in much of a state to object.

The room was a pulsing mass of bodies, criss-crossed with flashing lights in the dusky haze. It was uncomfortably humid and Ludwig could feel the thud of the beat vibrating in his chest from across the room while a monotonous electronic drone attacked his eardrums incessantly.

"Now let's find some girls! Look, Herakles is already way ahead of us!"

Ludwig looked around and registered Herakles grinding against what looked like a rather attractive Asian girl, though it was hard to make out details in the hazy, dim light, especially while intoxicated. Kiku stood nearby awkwardly, bouncing slightly to the music. He didn't strike Ludwig as the outgoing type so his enthusiasm for partying came as a surprise, but at least he seemed not to mind dancing alone. His eyes had a pleasantly glazed sheen to them as he stared into space.

Ludwig glanced back at Feliciano and saw that the smaller boy was already swaying back and forth and gyrating his hips in an undeniably sensual way. Ludwig stared for a moment before realizing that people might get the wrong idea. He tried to copy Feliciano's movements discreetly, but it was harder than he made it look. Feliciano's lithe body seemed to move in fluid ways that Ludwig's muscular frame simply wasn't made for.

The alcohol had loosened him up, however, and finally he settled into a pattern that, though not very coordinated, was at least adequate. A girl came up to Feliciano and started dancing close to him, which quickly turned into grinding. Despite his small stature, it seemed he knew how to impress with just the right set of moves. It turned out Feliciano was a pro at picking up the chicks.

Ludwig, on the other hand, didn't quite know what to do with himself. He had gotten the solo dancing down alright, but how did that progress to coupling up? Feliciano and his partner were slowly drifting away from him in the crowd, so he could no longer observe his roommate's actions. Ludwig noticed a few guys just reaching out and pulling girls towards them, but even drunk as he was Ludwig didn't think he could possibly bring himself to grab a girl like that. Being drunk didn't mean he didn't have to be polite. Perhaps another beer would illuminate the best course of action.

Ludwig was sipping the last drops from another red-and-white plastic cup when he noticed her. From the other side of the dance floor, this girl was definitely eying him. Or at least maybe eying him. He couldn't be sure, but it was enough. She looked a little on the young side with her bobbed hair tied on one side with a ribbon, but damn, she was cute. Ludwig never really thought he would go for a petite girl like her, especially considering his own size, but it was worth a try.

He kept on glancing at her across the sea of bodies as he slowly, nonchalantly danced his way around the edge of the room. He was sure he caught her eye more than once, and she seemed to be drifting in his direction. She wasn't dancing in quite the explicitly sexual way many others were, but there was something about those big eyes and that sweet little mouth that had him entranced.

Someone was shouting in his ear. He turned to see Feliciano, now partner-less. His mouth was moving, but all Ludwig could hear was the incessant roar of the speakers just feet away.

"What?" he shouted back.

Feliciano put his head right next to Ludwig's (which required him to stand on tiptoe while Ludwig bent down) and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"I THINK HERAKLES AND KIKU LEFT. DO YOU WANT TO GO SOON?" The words were slightly slurred, but still distinguishable.

It took Ludwig a moment to process the question. Go? Why would he want to go? There was no reason to leave so soon, especially when he was getting so close to that girl… It seemed Feliciano had forgotten his promise.

"Na, I'ma staywhile."

"What?" Feliciano scrunched up his nose.

"Said, I'm STAAYIING."

"Ok… can you make it back alright, Lud?" He looked concerned.

"Yeah, fine, fine." He patted Feliciano sloppily on the back.

"See you." Feliciano gave a lopsided smile and disappeared into the crowd.

Ludwig turned his attention back to dancing and looking for the girl. He was beginning to feel even funnier now; maybe that last beer had caught up with him. Everything reached his senses delayed, and his limbs felt heavy and sluggish. It was like being underwater, muffled sounds, blurry sights. His hands tingled.

And then, she was right there. Directly in front of him. He didn't dare make a move yet, though. They danced, less than a foot apart, for a minute or so, before she leaned over with an adorable yet slightly coy smile and said, "Hey, what's your name?"

He tried to say "Ludwig," but his tongue felt thick and it sounded a bit off.

"What?"

"LUD-WIG," he stated carefully.

"Oh, I love that name!" Her half-lidded eyes and slightly lolling head betrayed her drunkenness.

She loved his name! That must be a good sign. "Whasyours?"

"Lili."

It sounded like a little girl's name. As if he didn't feel enough like a pedophile already. But he had to admit it was pretty adorable…

She grinned. He grinned back.

"Wanna dance?" He felt it best to ask.

"Sure." She giggled bashfully. Oh god, she was just too cute to be real…

She backed up against him and Ludwig's skin tingled all over. That might have just been the alcohol, but the feeling of a warm body pressed against his was undeniably delicious…

Lili began to move. She pulsed her body up and down and ground her butt in its tight, frilly skirt against Ludwig's groin. Ludwig wasn't quite sure where to put his hands at first, but when she started doing that the most natural place seemed to be her hips. Animal instinct took over as he guided her small hips in a sensual dance against his, meeting her movements with his own oscillations. He savored the friction against his crotch, the knowledge that only a few layers of flimsy fabric separated their most intimate parts driving him just a little more insane.

Ludwig was lost in a sea of sensation. Her narrow back warming into his chest, the pressure of thighs on thighs, her perfect, if small, ass rubbing him at a purposefully lewd angle, as if they were fucking with their clothes on... She let her head fall back on his shoulder and trailed one hand up his sweaty neck to clench in his hair, while the other reached back around to his hip, a few sensuous fingers curling lazily under his buttock.

Ludwig's hands began to roam. He spread his fingers over her pelvis, feeling the hard bones. Fingers explored down, over the crevices at the tops of her thighs to cling at her skirt, then up, over firm ribs to stop just short of cupping her tiny chest. He buried his nose in her hair because God she smelled so good, almost edible—and then restless fingers moved to paddle at her neck and blond locks, to circle her tight stomach, to press into soft thighs, and to dip dangerously lower than her shirt hem along her front.

They were facing each other now. Ludwig wasn't sure how the switch of his partner's position had occurred, but he was far from objecting. Lili's hands clung at his arms, back, and shoulders, urging him on as he dared further. He was practically straddling her leg and she seemed to be consciously working her hipbone against his soft parts… It was exquisite, and it was making Ludwig hard.

He wasn't thinking anymore. He let the flow of the alcohol, the pounding bass, and his libido take him, and he was floating as their cheeks brushed and their heavy breaths mingled. He groped the softness of her ass through the skirt, hooking a few fingers beneath the hem. Her face was turned to his, her lips so close, and then all of a sudden they were locked together, and it was like an ocean wave crashing over Ludwig and sweeping him away.

For some reason, he hadn't expected kissing to be so… soft. Her lips, her tongue, the walls of her mouth as he plunged his tongue inside, they were all so smooth, so almost obscenely wet. He couldn't feel the minute textures of taste buds or ridged palettes, only slickness everywhere.

They were lost in the kiss. Neither noticed when the music stopped and the lights came on. Sucking at each other's faces, mouthing at each other's jaws and chins, they leaned into the wall, the nearest support, and Ludwig pressed their bodies flush together. One finger crept under her shirt to rub at a sliver of exposed skin at her side and her fists gripped his shirt like vices. His other hand trailed up a smooth, exposed thigh, pushing up her skirt and reaching, reaching towards heated, secret flesh—

Suddenly, Ludwig felt a hand on his wrist tugging him away harshly. Annoyed at the interruption, he spun towards the intruder and immediately began to sway dangerously. He couldn't stand on his own. The last thing he saw was long, white fingers wrapped around his arm.

...

A/N: And the plot thickens! Well, a little bit. Mostly still introductory stuff but I tried to make it exciting...

Sorry about the professor's long lecture speech, but... it's kinda important to the rest of the story. So read it! You'll see. Hope you're not bored by it, there'll be a bit more of this kind of thing sprinkled throughout, as I would like to include a bit of intellectual exploration in this fic along with all the... sexual exploration. Oh yes, it will happen. Eventually.

Next chapter: more interaction between the brothers, plus the introduction of at least one key element of this story. (I know that's not very specific but I don't like giving things away.)

Please please please review! It warms my heart.