Hands nearly touching as they walked side by side in the midday Italian heat, Feliciano smiled up at Ludwig," Ve, Luddy,(the nickname was constantly used by Feliciano after he had first spoken it in a drunken haze) do you want to come visit Venice with me?"

Startled, Ludwig stopped walking," To Venice? Feliciano, I can't just drop my work here and go traveling with you."

His shoulders drooping, Feliciano looked quite saddened, like a puppy that had been denied a favorite treat," But, Luddy, aren't'a we friends? Friends go traveling together. I want to show you a lot more of Italy than just Rome." He looked up at the blonde with pitiful large, doe eyes.

Ludwig could feel his heartbeat jump as his demeanor softened," Ja, I'm sorry, but there's still my work. I have a strict schedule I must adhere to."

They stopped walking altogether by this time and simply stood facing one another. Standing so close, they could have easily been mistaken for lovers.

His lips scrunching, Feliciano tried to think of a way he could convince Ludwig to let loose and Vivi la vita. His eyes lit up with an idea. He started to speak," Luddy,-"

A gunshot pierced the air, cleanly cutting him off. Pigeons which had been pecking all around them suddenly dispersed in frenzy.

Acting instinctively, Feliciano quickly pulled out a short pistol from his jacket as he grabbed Ludwig's hand and pulled him behind a street corner away from the sound. His smile was unfaltering as he watched other citizens scramble and flee like the grey birds in the square.

"Feliciano!- Vhat was that?!"

" oh, it was probably nothing." Feliciano replied in a cheery tone as his eyes focused onto a man in a black suit who was edging his way out from a neighboring alleyway with a gun in hand. His eyes hardening, Feliciano raised his pistol and fired.

Ludwig's mind was swimming with questions and confusion as he sat quietly in the Vargas family home. Within the last 2 hours, he had seen Feliciano murder a man in cold blood, was dragged away to this mansion of a home in the outskirts of Rome and was now being forced to sit as he saw men and women rush in and out of the house like a frenzy of worker bees. In the midst of it all, Feliciano appeared tranquil, still his ever cheerful self as he handed Ludwig a cold drink and sat next to him. He then started to go off on a tangent and ramble about the places in Venice he was going to visit as though an assassination attempt on his life was a regular part of his routine.

Ludwig frowned at the thought and he edged closer to Feliciano. His large hand awkwardly petted Feliciano's hand in a reassuring manner as he spoke," Are jou okay, Feliciano?"

Feliciano smiled back," I'm'a fine. Are you okay, Luddy? You look funny. Did you'a get hurt anywhere?!"

Ludwig shook his head no. However, before Ludwig could answer properly, the front door slammed opened and then shut.

A pair of footsteps made their way into the kitchen and Ludwig came face to face with one angry Lovino R. Vargas.

After some angry shouts, a few punches and an apologetic Antonio pulling Lovino away, Ludwig was once again stunned to silence by the Vargas family as he watched the interaction between Feliciano and who Ludwig could guess was his elder brother.

" You brought him home?!"

Feliciano made himself submissive and shrank away from Lovino's shouts," Per favore fratello, don't shout."

" You brought a f*cking outsider home! Not only that but he's a Beilschmidt!"

" I'a don't see what's wrong with him."

" Nonno is going to kill you!" Lovino then suddenly whirled to point at Ludwig," after he kills you!"

Ludwig was about to answer when Feliciano surprisingly growled angrily, and slid in front of Ludwig," He's my 'friend', fratello. Didn't nonno say you have to treat guests well? Hospitium. The divine right of the guest and the divine duty of the host."

At this Lovino stepped away," Che, that only applies to friendly guests and no one of the Beilschmidt family."

Antonio stepped in, trying to soothe Lovino as he hugged the feisty Italian from behind," Lovi. Maybe it's best to leave that decision to your nonno. Ludwig is a brother of Gil and he seems like'a good boy."

Feliciano nodded in agreement.

It humored Ludwig that they were speaking of him as if he wasn't there at all.

"Gilbert."

"Yeah, vati?"

"Go get your bruder. Looks like he ran into the Vargas, afterall."

"Ja, understood, vati."

Lavender- devotion, distrust

Hospitium is the ancient Greco-Roman concept of hospitality as a divine right of the guest and a divine duty of the host.

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