A/N: I'm starting to feel a bit discouraged with my writing, so I have one request to make. If you enjoy my stories, could you please leave a review or shoot me a message to let me know? I just want to know that people actually like my work.

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Mid-March, 1942, Berlin, Germany

"Major Feliciano Vargas, report to General Roeder's office immediately," an official-sounding voice resounded over the intercom. That announcement caused all eyes in the room to fall on Feliciano, who put his head down and scurried out.

"Major Vargas," General Roeder greeted when he saw the auburn-haired boy walk into his office. "Have a seat. We need to talk."

"What is there to discuss, General?" Feliciano asked, sitting in a chair across the desk from him. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes," Roeder said. "There is something wrong." He leaned toward Feliciano a little. "How old are you, Major?"

Feliciano thought for a moment. He had lied and said he was three years older than what he really was when he joined the military. "I just turned twenty-one," he answered after what he hoped was a brief moment.

"Why did it take you so long to calculate your age?" Roeder suspiciously asked him.

The Italian gulped. "Well, my age isn't too important, is it?"

"You realize that if you lied about your age, you would be in trouble with the government, right?" Roeder questioned. "I hope you are aware of what lying can do to you here in the military."

"What can it do?" Feliciano cautiously asked. He wanted to know the answer, but at the same time he really didn't. "I swear I didn't lie." He felt that at any moment, he would be struck dead by a lightning bolt. All he had to do was wait. His lies would all catch up to him.

"For starters, depending on how big the lie was, you could get kicked out of the military. You could also get demoted. Now, Major, please tell me why you think I called you here." Roeder folded his hands under his chin and smiled daringly at the young Italian. It was a smile of ambush and mock. Feliciano didn't like it.

"To talk to me about lying to the military?" Feliciano croaked. His throat was suddenly dry and scratchy. He was parched and in desperate need of a glass of water. None of this was good. How was he going to get out of it?

"That's part of it," Roeder said with a nod. "Another part is that I believe you lied to the military about something."

"What is it that you believe I lied about?" Feliciano dared to ask. He held Roeder's gaze evenly, even though he was dying to look away. His heart was beating so fast that he could hear the blood pulsating in his ears. More than anything, he just wanted to go home to Nonno and Lovino. They could always make him feel better when he was in this state. But to go home now would be to admit defeat, and Feliciano just couldn't bring himself to do that.

"I believe that you lied about your age, Major Vargas," Roeder stated. "You see, at first, you acted mature and responsible, yet now you're dancing around the base and singing like a child. What does that tell you about any suspicions I may have?"

"So you're saying you think I lied about my age to join the military?" Feliciano asked him, jawline hardening.

"That's exactly what I'm saying, Major Vargas." Roeder narrowed his eyes at Feliciano. "So you had best tell me the truth. Did you, or did you not, lie about your age to join this military?"

Feliciano was quiet for a moment. What was going to happen to him if he told the truth? He couldn't bear to think about being sent home and not being with Ludwig anymore. That was something that just couldn't happen. "Sir, with all due respect, I am twenty-one years old," he calmly stated. "I do not know where you get the idea that I am younger than what I say I am. Just because I enjoy life does not mean that I am a child. Please understand that."

Roeder was silent for a moment. "And you're sure about that?" he asked Feliciano after thinking over what he has said.

The Italian nodded. "Yes, sir," he answered. "I just try to enjoy life to its fullest. I believe that everyone should."

"I will never understand Italians," Roeder sighed. "You are dismissed."

Feliciano saluted his General and left the office. Once outside, he leaned heavily against a wall, trying to catch his breath and calm his racing heart. That was way too close! If Roeder would've found out that he was only eighteen, there would have been hell to pay. Of that, Feliciano was sure.

"Feliciano?" a familiar voice questioned. "What are you doing?"

The young Italian looked up to see Ludwig towering over him. "Oh, hi!" he cheerfully said, hoping that Ludwig wouldn't notice how pale or panicked he looked. "I just met with General Roeder. How are you?"

Ludwig eyed him suspiciously. "I am well. What happened with the General? Is everything okay? You look so pale."

"You know how nervous I get when talking to a higher ranked officer," Feliciano quickly said. "He just questioned me on some things and I gave him straight answers." He could feel the coloring returning to his face. "How about we go and have lunch?" he suggested. "I'm suddenly famished."

Ludwig chuckled to himself. "Okay, Feliciano. Let's go and eat."

Feliciano smiled widely. "Talking to Generals makes me so hungry." He then thought about what he had just said. "I mean, it makes me hungry because I'm so nervous that I probably burn a lot of fat through sweating or-"

"Let's go get lunch," Ludwig said, cutting him off. "I think you'll make more sense once we do."

The Italian smiled widely. Ludwig always knew just what to say to calm him down or shut him up whenever he was anxious about anything. For that, he was grateful. He hoped that he could stay by Ludwig's side forever.

The tall German led the way to the cafeteria while Feliciano followed after. Whenever they walked together, the walk there always seemed shorter to Feliciano. He couldn't quite understand why, though. Was it because he enjoyed his company that much? Maybe when he had more time to think about it, he would. But at that moment, all he wanted to do was just have lunch with Ludwig.

.

Later that day, Feliciano found himself doing yet another thing he wasn't supposed to be doing. He was sneaking around the part of the base where the prisoners were kept. He knew that Feliks hadn't been sent off yet, and he wanted to have one last conversation with the Polish man before that was to happen. Though he didn't know why he wanted to have that talk, he knew that it was needed to keep sane.

He crept down the narrow corridor to Feliks's cell and looked through the bars. His heart softened at the sight of the bruised and battered blond resting on his cot. One thing he did notice was that Feliks did not get the medical attention that he had insisted upon. That got his blood boiling for a moment before he realized that Feliks's eyes were opened and looking at him.

"What do you want?" Feliks weakly asked. "Come to break me even more? Well you're too late. I'm already as broken as I can get," he spat at him. "Try to take something more from me, I dare you."

Feliciano was honestly surprised at bold Feliks was being. Then he realized that Feliks really didn't have anything left to lose. He had lost his home, his love, his friends, everything. What really was left for this man to lose? His dignity had abandoned him when he was taken in by them. Was there really anything to lose after all of that?

"I didn't come to do any of that," Feliciano answered, peering in through the bars to get a better look at him.

Feliks peered back for a moment before saying, "Oh, it's the guy who wishes he could be a hero." He laughed bitterly. "Are you happy with what you see? You and your men did this to me."

Feliciano winced but tried not to let the words bother him. "Feliks, please understand that I have nothing to do with what they do to you here."

"You're still one of them," Feliks spat at him. "Please understand that you're shit, just like the rest of them. There is no way anyone will ever consider you a good man after what has been done here. You're the lowest of the low, the worst people to ever live."

"You can't just group a bunch of people together like that," Feliciano countered. "That's like saying you're just like every criminal who has ever been caught."

At that, Feliks's eyes nearly lit up with a hateful fire that Feliciano had never seen in anyone before. "I'm not a fucking criminal!" he snarled at Feliciano. "The sooner you get that through your head, the sooner you can become a slightly better person!" He got up from the bed and walked over to the bars. "I did nothing wrong! If loving someone more than myself is such a crime, then I'd rather die than live in this world anyway!" Feliks fell to his knees. "If you want to prove that you are a good thing, please just tell me one thing."

"And what would you like me to tell you?" Feliciano asked him, kneeling to reach his level. Everything in his inner being ached for this man, the man who had lost everything.

"Please tell me…" Feliks's voice trailed off as he became choked up with sobs. "Tell me that Toris and Raivis got away!" he blurted out, looking up with Feliciano with such a pleading expression that the Italian couldn't even find words to say for a moment. "I need to know that they got away! I need to know that my sacrifice wasn't in vain! Please tell me they got away! I'm begging you!"

Feliciano was silent for a few moments before saying, "They did. The two got away."

Feliks burst into uncontrollable sobs upon hearing that news. "They got away!" he kept muttering. "I'm so happy!" He then looked at the Major before him. "I can die happily now," he told him. "Just knowing that my love got away is enough for me to die a happy man."

The Italian found himself holding back tears. "You won't die," he told him. "I will make sure of that. I won't let them kill you. You will see Toris Laurinaitis again."

The Polish man's green eyes gazed at Feliciano with admiration and respect. "How do you know that for sure?"

"Because you did nothing wrong," Feliciano told him. "I'm like you. Not all men like us are bad people."

"Like me?" Feliks asked, confused. "How are you like me?"

Feliciano nodded, sucking in his breath. "We are both in love with a man, are we not?" He felt oddly satisfied when he saw Feliks's eyes widen in realization. "And if that will be their reason for killing you, I will not let it happen. But if you were to happen to break my trust in you and tell anyone about this conversation, I will not hesitate to kill you myself."

"Why would you do something so kind for a stranger?" Feliks asked. "Why do you want to save someone like me?"

"You said it yourself," Feliciano told him. "You did nothing wrong."

Tears flowed down Feliks's face. "Thank you." He looked up at him. "I don't even know your name…"

"I'm Major Feliciano Vargas," he told him. "And remember, if anyone hears about this conversation…."

"I know, I know," Feliks sighed. "I'm a dead man. But then again, you would be as well." He smirked evilly. "So if you let them hurt me too badly, I will tell them what your preference is as well."

Feliciano grimaced. "That's correct." He sighed. "I will not let them kill you, Feliks. Please believe me on that. And I will tell you one thing about your lover. He escaped with the American military, toward Russia."

Feliks's eyes widened. "So Toris is safe?" he asked.

"As far as I know, yes," Feliciano told him. "That should be some consolation."

"It is," Feliks sighed. "Thank you, Major Vargas. I appreciate you telling me." He frowned as he gazed down at the dirty floor of his cell. "They will be sending me away later today, from what I've heard. If you can assure that they won't immediately kill me, I will follow command."

"I will do my best," Feliciano told him. "Please just hang in there, Feliks. You'll see Toris again one day."

Feliks smiled confidently. "I will," he said. "And on that day, I'll make sure to tell him of the Major who helped me and made sure I was safe."

Feliciano's chest swelled with happiness when he heard him say that. "Thank you, Feliks." Now all he had to do was hold up his end of the bargain. If he didn't, he knew that he was a dead man as well.

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The walk to the barracks was longer than the walk to the prisoner cells, Feliciano noted. He didn't know exactly what to suggest to Ludwig to say to General Roeder, who was in charge of what would happen to Feliks. He supposed he could lie, but what was there to say?

"Feliciano, is something on your mind?" Ludwig asked, moments before Feliciano ran into him. "You're not watching where you're going." He put his hands on Feliciano's shoulders to steady him.

"That rat!" Feliciano snarled. He looked up at Ludwig with narrowed eyes. "You'll never guess what that prisoner from Poland did! I went there to offer him the easy way out, death, and he called me a dog of the military!" He clenched his jaw to add effect. "Isn't there any way we can make it so he doesn't die but has to suffer instead? I want to make him wish he was dead!"

Ludwig's eyes widened. "I never figured you would have such vengeful thoughts, Feliciano," he said after a moment. "Why are you so offended by what a prisoner would say?"

"He pushes buttons, Ludwig," Feliciano darkly commented. "That man crosses lines that should never be crossed. I want him to suffer, not die."

The German man chuckled a little. "I'll see what I can do. Let me go talk to the General about that. We can't have prisoners insulting our officers and getting away with it." He thought for a moment. "You know, I'd like to see him suffer, too. It wouldn't be as fun if he died." Ludwig laughed to himself. "I just never thought you'd want that for anyone, Feliciano."

The truth was, he didn't. But that was the only thing Feliciano could think of to keep Feliks alive. He needed to hold up his end of the bargain after all. Sure, Feliks would have to suffer, but at least he wouldn't be killed. And that was what Feliciano had said he would do, not let his fellow soldiers kill Feliks.

"Well he pissed me off," Feliciano grumbled. His heart wasn't all that into this performance. He couldn't help but wonder how much Feliks would have to suffer for the lies he was telling. No, Feli, he thought to himself. You have to do this. It's the only way to save this man. He clenched his fists. "He just really got my blood boiling."

"I've never seen you so angry before," Ludwig laughed. "Maybe you should get like this more often. I like the motivation it gives you."

Feliciano suddenly felt sick to his stomach at that comment, but he knew he needed to hold it all together until Ludwig went to talk to Roeder. "Motivation?" he bitterly asked. "I'm just pissed off. That's all."

Ludwig laughed more. "Well, I'll go talk to the General to see what we can do about that. After all, the fate of that prisoner is decided today." He continued chuckling to himself as he walked down the corridor.

All Feliciano could wonder at that moment was how someone could be as oblivious to the hatefulness of their actions as Ludwig was. It unnerved him. What was wrong with everyone in Germany? Why were they all so hateful? Was it how they were raised? Who in their right mind would raise their child with so much hate in their heart?

As Feliciano pondered everything, he somehow found his way to his bunk and sat on it. He really hoped that Roeder would listen to Ludwig and spare Feliks. Yet at the same time, he almost wanted Feliks to die because he knew how ruthless the German military could be to their prisoners.

He wondered where they would send Feliks. They obviously couldn't keep him at the base. He wondered if Feliks would end up at a camp. Would that be the best place for him? Considering the fact that Feliciano knew nothing about the camps, he didn't know if that would be a good environment for Feliks. Then again, Feliks wasn't supposed to be in a good environment; he was a prisoner. A prisoner who never did anything wrong.

The thought of that made Feliciano feel even more nauseous. Why would they capture and torture an innocent man just because he loved another man? It didn't make sense to him. What would happen to him if anyone were to find out he was like Feliks in that aspect? Would he be threatened with a camp or torture or even death?

"Stop thinking," Feliciano whispered to himself. "You'll never get anything accomplished if you think in such a way, Feli."

His mind then went to the older brother Ludwig had told him about. He wondered if Ludwig had a soft spot in his heart for that brother of his, even if his brother loved men. Then he wondered if Ludwig would ever love him back if he knew that he loved men.

The thought of what would happen if Ludwig would find out Feliciano's preference scared him back into reality. He clenched his blanket on his bed with both hands to focus himself on reality. There was no way he could ever tell Ludwig about it, especially after seeing Ludwig's disgust over the relationship between Feliks and Toris.

But what else could Feliciano do? His mind was jumbled with thoughts that he hadn't even thought of before. Everything was flooding into his head, and he didn't like it one bit. How would he ever sort any of it out? It wasn't like he had anyone to talk to about it. His grandfather and brother were back in Italy, and they were the only people he truly trusted with that information.

Sure, Feliciano had told Feliks, but that was to gain Feliks's trust in him. That was the only way he could get that man to trust him. But at what a cost if the trust was betrayed in any way. They would both surely be killed for it. After all, Feliciano already had a strike against him with Roeder. If anything else were to come up, especially regarding Feliks, Feliciano knew that he was dead where he stood.

Yet something about having a kindred spirit in this hateful and confusing war made Feliciano happy. All he wanted was someone who understood, someone who got it. Was it so bad to want someone who understood? Sure, Feliciano hadn't pretended to be a girl for an extended period of time, but he still knew that he and Feliks had a lot in common. And if Feliks was going to have to die for that, he couldn't just sit around and wait for everyone to figure out he was like him.

It was at that moment that Feliciano made the decision. He needed to tell Ludwig that he was like Feliks, and he would still have to face the consequences of that. But if Ludwig was as wonderful of a man as Feliciano saw him as, he wouldn't care about that little detail about his "right-hand man". In fact, Ludwig would still love and accept him for who he is, and that was all Felicano wanted.

Maybe there was still a way to put love back into Ludwig's heart.