(You guys ready for heartbreak? Yeah, me neither.)
The sun was shining and the water was running with a slight green hue, just like it had done the day they first came here. Feliciano faced the river, tear tracks streaming down his face. He hadn't meant to kill her, it just happened. He sat there patiently and waited for Ludwig to come and get him, just like he'd promised. He glanced down at the gun he'd borrowed/stolen from Alfred before he'd left. He didn't mean to use it, only in self defence like always. He heard the grass crunch behind him, and turned, preparing to make a run for it. However, when he saw who it was, a smile appeared on his face.
"Ludwig! You came!" He gasped.
Of course I did. You thought I wouldn't?" He seemed sad.
Feliciano patted the ground beside him, indicating that the German should sit down. However, he remained standing. Feliciano looked up at him with tears in his eyes.
"I did a bad thing Ludwig. I didn't mean to though!" He cried.
"I know."
"You're not going to give me hell?"
"If...If I didn't have to look after you...then I...I could go to a whore house...with my wages...and...and spend all night...just...sitting in a pool house...and...and..." He trailed off, he just couldn't get angry at the Italian boy.
"Ludwig? You're not going to give me anymore hell?" He asked innocently.
"No."
"Good!" The Italian cheered, then he added. "Ludwig? Can you tell me about the other guys...and about us?"
"Well...those other guys...they don't have any family...they don't have anyone who cares about them...no friends or anything close to that. But us..."
"Veh~! We're different!"
"Ja...we're different. We...we have each other...I...I have you...and you...you..."
"And I have you! Now, can you tell me about the rabbits Ludwig?"
"Sure. You...you just look out to the hills. Imagine...you can see it."
Feliciano turned his head away from the German and looked out across the pond. Ludwig stood up, moved behind him and crouched down. He pulled a gun out of his back pocket and turned the safety off.
"Ludiwg?"
"We're...we're going to have a little place...with a cow...and a goat...and maybe even some chickens. We'll be able...to have our own crops...and only seel them to people we want...want to. There'll be a patch of Alfalfa...and you...you can..."
He could barely continue. He looked down at the gun in his hands and contemplated the options. On one hand, he could let Feliciano go, but that'd run the risk of Gilbert finding him and killing him. On the other hand, he could save Feliciano from any suffering. There wasn't a choice really, but Ludwig liked to think there was. He didn't want Gilbert to torture the little guy for something that wasn't exactly his fault. This was the only was to save his friend.
"I get to tend the rabbits, right?"
Ludwig swallowed, trying to wet his dry throat. He put one finger on the trigger and held it up to the place where Feliciano's spine connected with his skull. His hands were shaking like crazy, but once he thought about what would happen if he didn't do this, they stopped almost immediately.
"Right?" The Italian asked again.
"I'm...sorry. Feliciano..." The German muttered.
Feliciano made to turn around, but before he could get anywhere, Ludwig sent a bullet through his spinal chord. The Italian's eyes widened as he slumped forward, all the life and love disappearing within a few seconds. Ludwig stared down at the body, then at the gun in his hand. He stood up and threw it as hard as he could, to get it as far away from him as possible. He looked down at the Italian's delicate form, lying face down in the dirt. He fell to his knees, and turned Feliciano onto his back. He let out a small gasp; he could see all the surprise and feelings of betrayal on his face, the last emotion he had felt before he'd died. Ludwig closed the dead boy's eyes out of respect, then curled into a ball and cried out all his tears before the others got there.
By the time Arthur and Mathew had found Ludwig and called Gilbert and Alfred over, the German had stopped crying and was standing on his own two feet. Before he had a chance to explain, Gilbert was down by Feliciano, a psychotic glint in his eyes.
"He's dead. The big bastard's dead! I can't believe you did it!" He laughed.
"Ja..."
"He must have stolen my gun. You disarmed him then killed him?" Alfred asked.
"Ja...sure..."
Seeing as no one was going to bother to comfort Ludwig, Arthur did himself. He put a consoling arm around the blonde German and sighed sadly. He'd liked Feliciano in a way. It was sad to see him in such a way.
"You did what you had to do. This isn't your fault." He murmured.
"Ja...not my fault..." Ludwig repeated.
"Mathew, you run down to town and ask them to bring the body up to the ranch as soon as possible. Ludwig, come with me. Let's get you a drink." He ordered.
Mathew nodded and ran off, slipping a little on the way up the hill. Arthur on the other hand slowly led Ludwig back up, making their way back to the ranch. Bakc by the bush, Alfred looked at Gilbert in confusion.
"What the hell d'you think happened?" He wondered.
(So...yeah! Of Mice and Men Hetalia version. Hope it didn't make you too sad! Obviously I cut a lot out and put different things in, I didn't want to directly copy the book. I did, however, have it beside me so I could make references here and there. Hope you enjoyed!)