So, hey, guess what? This is officially the longest drabble so far. I like it. Hopefully you will, too.


Gilbert groaned as the sunrise shown directly onto his eyelids, the pounding in his head pulling him gracelessly from sleep. He rolled away from the window, only to find through his sleepily half-closed eyes that his little brother was staring at him. "Bleahh!" He scrambled back against the couch in alarm, then winced and grabbed his throbbing head. "Ow..."

Ludwig sighed and rubbed his temples with his right hand, holding out a cup of coffee with his left. Clearly the albino man had been out drinking (again) the night before and had needed a place to crash (again). Ludwig was starting to regret giving him a key.

Gilbert took the hot sustenance eagerly, nodding his thanks as he began to guzzle it down. When he was done Ludwig took it without a word and brought it to the kitchen, returning with a plate of wurst. This he gave to his brother before sitting down to watch him eat. "You know," he said, "if you like it here so much you should probably just move back in."

Gilbert blanched. The thought of having to live in his little brother's basement did NOT appeal to him. Like, not at all. It was just so... not-awesome. "No thanks," he said, shuddering. "Though, if I'd get morning breakfast service like this every day it might not be so bad..."

Ludwig tossed a throw pillow at his brother's smirking face and opened his mouth as if to speak, but was interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming down the hall. Both siblings turned to see Feliciano enter the living room, rubbing his eyes sleepily... and completely naked. "Ve, Ludwig, I smell breakfast..."

Gilbert's jaw dropped, and he looked between the two men in shock. "Gee, West..." He broke into a giant goofy grin. "No wonder you wanted to kick me out!"

Italy brightened at the sound of his friend's voice. "Gilbert!" He ran across the living room and leapt onto the couch, enveloping his guest in an enormous hug.

To his credit, Gilbert handled the embrace well, considering Feliciano's lack of dress. Though Ludwig wasn't sure he could forgive him for insinuating that his relationship with Italy was of THAT sort... He tried to mask his blush with anger, hoping the other two hadn't noticed. "Feliciano! How many times have I told you to dress before coming to eat? Go put some clothes on."

Feliciano pouted at him. "Ve, but Ludwig~"

"Now!"

Feliciano sighed, then released Gilbert and made his way back into Ludwig's bedroom, where he'd long since brought a stash of clothes to wear after sleepovers. The door closed, and Gilbert began to laugh.

"Damn, West, you're getting more action than me! How 'bout that?" he said in disbelief.

Ludwig smacked his brother over the head with a nearby book - hardcover. "Bruder, you know my relationship with Feliciano is purely one of friends. We've never even discussed moving things beyond that." His face felt hot, but surely he couldn't be blushing... right?

"Dude. Your face just turned bright red."

Guess not.

"Come on, man, just fess up! If not to him, at least tell somebody how you feel. Everyone knows you like him, you might as well make it official-"

Ludwig cut him off. "Absolutely not."

"You mean you won't even consider it? But what if something awesome happens? What if Feli feels the same way? Wouldn't you be glad you tried? You could be with him, right now, and you're too stubborn to ask?" Ludwig said nothing. "Or are you scared?"

After a long pause, he finally replied. "Feliciano... does not return the sentiment. Trying to progress our relationship would only make it worse."

Gilbert stared at him in disbelief. "You seriously think it's not mutual? That man sleeps with you every night, naked, and you think your feelings aren't mutual?"

But Ludwig showed no signs of enlightenment. "If the feelings were mutual, something would have happened by now. The fact that we're friends simply proves that that's all he wishes to be. And I respect his feelings. Even if..." His face darkened again. "...Even if it's not enough for me."

A long silence fell. From the kitchen they could hear a pot filling up with water, a stove clicking to life. After a moment, Gilbert got up. "I'm going to hang out with Feli for a while." He looked at his brother. "You should seriously consider saying something. Really." He pat Ludwig on the shoulder, a rare display of affection between the two, and left the room. Ludwig stared at the ground for a few minutes, and finally stood up, the peace of a decision finally made glinting in his eyes.


Next chapter's in the works. This is Finals Week, so it'll either take longer or shorter. Each exam is only a couple hours and then we get to go home, and we have two a day, so it might be faster... or I might actually study (psh!), in which case it'll take longer to get it up. Sorry about that. At least it's... ALMOST regular? :D