Ch. 4

Feliciano paced next to the wall, suddenly a wave of nerves. Would Ludwig come? He was so stupid he hadn't even set a time. But would Ludwig have come either way? Just because he was nice didn't mean he wanted to see Feliciano again, after all Feli was a Vargas and Ludwig was a Beilschidmt.

I sound like Grandpa and Lovi, Feliciano thought with distress. He didn't want to become suspicious of someone just because of their name! Maybe Ludwig just-

"Feliciano," a hesitant yet deep voice called from the other side of the wall and Feliciano's heart gave a strange somersault.

"Are you there, Feliciano," Ludwig called quietly.

"Ve! I'm here, I'm here," Feliciano said with a jump and pressed his hands and ear to the wall, "It's good to see you again! Well-not see you, I can't see you. It's good to hear you again! You know Ludwig I think I'd recognize your voice from anywhere, even if I went to Germany blindfolded I could find you by how you sound. Hey, Ludwig, do you think you could find me if you were blindfolded in Italy?"

"I'm not sure," Ludwig replied after a moment of thoughtful silence.

Feli suddenly felt awkward, had he spoke too much? That was one of his shorter sentences. He swallowed, he loved to talk about anything and everything but he didn't want to scare off Ludwig. Lovino had always said that he chattered so much it could make peoples' ears bleed. Maybe he should-

"So, did you draw that picture," Ludwig spoke up out of the blue.

"Ve, oh, yes I did," Feli smiled softly, "I really like to draw. He looked to the ground, a blush forming on his cheeks, "But I don't know if I'm that good."

"I think you're very talented," Ludwig said and Feli's heart did a strange somersault.

His smile grew bigger, "R-really? Grazie! I'm glad you like it. My Grandpa always said I should make it a career, go to college with Lovi and become a famous artist and travel the world drawing a bunch of things. But I don't know, I don't think I'd like it if I started seeing it as work."

"I see…" Ludwig grew quiet and even Feli could sense the awkwardness in the air. He realized that mentioning his family was probably not the best idea, especially not with Ludwig.

He quickly tried to change the topic, "So…do you draw Ludwig?"

"Oh no," Ludwig replied, he sounded relieved at the safe subject, "I've never been good with things like that."

"Okay, so what are you good at," Feli asked eagerly, feeling thirsty for knowledge of Ludwig.

"Well…I'm good at helping with the harvest but that's a given. I'm strong, not to brag or anything but you kind of have to be, carrying heavy hay bales, pulling large supplies, carrying Gil- people home when they've had too much to drink."

Feli laughed, "Ve, it sounds like you're busy quite a lot, huh? Not me, I usually just sit around and draw, eat pasta, take naps, eat more pasta, draw more. Stuff like that." He suddenly felt like a lazy good for nothing next to Ludwig, "B-but I do help with the harvest and stuff."

"That's good," Ludwig replied, he didn't sound all that bothered by Feli's laziness at all.

They spent what seemed like hours sitting there, talking about anything they could think of, their likes, their dislikes, their hobbies, their hopes, if cats were better than dogs. And all the while Feli couldn't stop smiling, he felt such a kinship to this German stranger he had never seen, it felt like Ludwig understood him on a level no one else, not even his brother, ever had.

"Ludwig," Feli said, interrupting Ludwig's spiel about the ferocity of chickens (which Feli found hilarious).

"Hmm," he murmured in question.

"I'm really happy I met you," he said shyly.

There was a silence on the other side of the wall and Feli waited with baited breath to see what Ludwig's answer would be when a sudden new voice made him jump.

"FELICIANO, WHERE ARE YOU!?"

"Coming Grandpa," Feli called, annoyed by his grandfather's poor timing, "I got to go Ludwig. See you later-well, talk to you later."

Then he ran off back to his house, trying to quell the bitter disappointment in his stomach at the fact he didn't get Ludwig's answer. Unaware if, had he been slower, he would've heard a whispered: "I'm happy I met you too."

"What were you doing in the vineyard," Roma asked, standing next to his pickup as he watched his grandson scurry over to him.

"Just walking," Feli smiled, "Are you going somewhere?"

"I'm heading to town and I thought you'd like to come."

Feli nodded and jumped to the passenger seat, "Let's go! Let's go!"

Roma chuckled, "If you behave I'll get you a snack."

"Pasta," Feli cheered, even though he already had that for breakfast.

Ludwig squirmed under Gilbert's scarlet gaze, trying to focus on his book but being unable to. He was sitting in the living room in an armchair while Gilbert was sprawled on the couch, petting his yellow canary Gilbird.

"Is there something on my face," Ludwig finally asked, turning to glare at his brother.

"Yes, there is," Gilbert said.

Ludwig narrowed his eyes and carefully touched his cheek.

"You got this dopey look on your face," Gilbert explained, "And it's seriously weirding me out."

Ludwig blinked with shock; did he really have such an expression on his face? Why, just because he talked with Feliciano? How could talking to one little Italian cause such a thing?

Before Ludwig could think of a good reply they heard the front door open and shut, a moment later Alaric stomped in, looking like the devil in all his fury, his lip bleeding.

Immediately Ludwig jumped up and headed to the kitchen to get a napkin, Gilbert stared where he was, caressing Gilbird and looking not at all surprised by his grandfather's condition.

"I bet I can guess who you met in town," the albino said with slight cheek and Alaric fixed a heavy glare on him, Gilbert wisely turned back to his pet and zipped his lips.

"What happened," Ludwig asked as he handed his grandfather the napkin, he hated seeing Alaric hurt like that, he was too old to be getting into brawls.

"Vargas happened," Alaric spit the name like poison before dabbing at his lip, "I met him in town."

"What did he say to you," Ludwig demanded, chest tightening when he realized he cared more about if Feliciano saw this fight than why it happened.

"It's Vargas, Ludwig," Alaric said, "He didn't have to say anything."

Ludwig bit back a sigh, honestly he could understand Gilbert starting a fight for no reason but why couldn't Alaric act his age? "Was anyone with him?" He tried not to sound too curious.

Alaric shrugged, "I didn't see anyone. What does it matter anyone?"

"Just curious," Ludwig said nonchalantly, "But really Grandfather, you should come to terms with the fact that your fighting days are over."

Alaric grinned and it was unnerving how much he looked like Gilbert then, "Who says I'm too old? I may have a busted lip but I made sure to give Vargas a black eye to remember me by."

Gilbert burst into laughter on the couch, startling Gilbird who flew up before gradually setting back down on Gilbert's head. "That's our old man!"

Ludwig didn't reply; too busy trying to fight off the guilt that he had been daydreaming about the grandson of his grandfather's enemy.