When Feliciano asked to go back to the hotel; Ludwig complied without thinking because he felt too awkward already to even try to object. They slowly walked in silence all the way to the hotel once the rain calmed, but the grey clouds still persisted on the sky.
As Ludwig opened the room with the key, the Italian went to his bed to lay on it, with his face against the pillow. Not a single word was said.
The German took a clean change of pajamas and proceeded to enter de bathroom. The room was smaller than the bedroom, but still wide; with white mosaic on the floor and a classic green with yellow details wallpaper. There was a bathtub, a whole body mirror, a little furniture with towels, and obviously the toilet and the sink. He turned on the tub's faucet, got undressed and in the tub. His skin welcomed the warm water in contrast of the cold feeling in his body, and he let out a sigh in the air.
He knew Feliciano would get mad, it was logic, but he never imagined it would be THIS mad. The usually happy go-merry Italian hadn't say a word since their talk on downtown, and it seemed he wouldn't any time soon. Ludwig understood exactly why the other was mad, if he were in the same position as Feliciano, someone peeping their stuff without permission, he also would be angry. And still, he couldn't help feeling embarrassed at the same time.
The artist didn't say anything about the portraits, it was like he was only mad at Ludwig for looking without permission. He even said so, didn't he? That if the student had asked, he would comply happily; after all, Feliciano is an artist and he likes to show his hard work.
Ludwig sunk a little more on the tub, resting his head on its border. Another sigh escaped from his lips.
What was he supposed to do now? What if Feliciano decided to stop everything and went back to Venezia? What if Feliciano stays mad at him forever?
He covered his face with both hands, washing his face in the process with some water. The German let go an exasperated groan.
There he was again; over-thinking everything. Yes, Feliciano was mad, and yes maybe he would stay like that for a while, but it wasn't eternal. He knows the Italian, he should know that he is a good-hearted man and eventually would forgive him.
He just hopes it's soon.
When he got out of the bathroom – all clean and dressed – the room was dark and cold. It was already night and the lights were off. Feliciano was on the same position as before, maybe he fell asleep. Ludwig walked towards the desk and turned on the little lamp, slightly illuminating the bedroom. After noticing the open window, he decided to close it; not without looking at the sky before. It was still cloudy. It looked like a storm would start any time soon, and he was just glad they were staying on a more comfortable and safe hotel.
He gazed towards the sleeping Italian again. Maybe he should wake him up? He surely would get cold if he stays on that position and without proper bed clothes, but at the same time Ludwig was scared of him. He already knew that, he knows he is horrible with social issues. Talking about feelings, friendship, emotions… everything was a total mess for him, he just couldn't do it. He could apologize – as he already did – because he can recognize whenever he did wrong; a simple "action-consequence" kind of thing. In Germany it worked like that, but maybe Italy was different? No, it wasn't, it was Feliciano who is different.
He crossed the room and got near the other man, and shook him by the shoulder, softly calling his name in hopes of waking him up.
"Feliciano, you need to change clothes" but mumbling was everything he had for a response "Feliciano" he called and shook harder "it's not right for you to sleep on those clothes, Feliciano"
"Yeah, all right" a half-sleepy voice resounded in the room, as the producer of it sat up on the bed; he started to remove his clothes, all in front of Ludwig.
"What are you doing?!" the German's voice cracked without him intending to. A bright red appeared on his face also without him intending to.
"I always sleep naked"
"Sie machen?!"he blurted in his mother german tongue without realizing it, and so he didn't know why he was asking such questions when the guilty person of such debauchery was clearly asleep.
But was it true? Yesterday at night, on Mestre, did Feliciano sleep naked? He doesn't remember. What he remembers is that the Italian complained of how uncomfortable he was on his bed; maybe that was it? Maybe he was wearing clothes and that's why he felt like that?
"Sie kann nicht schlafen nackt! You're going to catch a cold!" but it was already too late, as for the little man was completely naked and sleeping again, as if nothing.
The blond decided to ignore it and went to his own bed, turning his back to Feliciano, so he won't see him. Still muttering words in german, something about how hard he's disapproving such acts.
This was so weird.
As expected, Ludwig couldn't sleep in peace. His heartbeat prevented him from doing so. When he finally woke up, the clock on the wall read 10 a.m., much later than he is used to. Upon remembering where he was, he sat abruptly and looked to Feliciano's bed, which was empty.
Maybe he decided to call if off and went back home in Venezia?
After wandering his eyes on the room, he was able to see his companion's stuff, and he sighed in relief. But then, where did Feliciano go?. He got up and stretched his body. The air inside the room was chilly because of the storm, even with the window closed. Ludwig supposed it was because of the river being so close to the city.
When he finished washing himself and was getting ready in front of the bedroom's mirror, the door was suddenly slammed open showing a really agitated but still smiling Feliciano.
"Ludwig! You finally are awake!" he ran towards the aforementioned and grabbed his hand "Hurry up! I just found something I want you to see!" he seemed really excited, pulling the German to the door.
What was happening? Yesterday he wouldn't even direct a word to Ludwig, and now he's even taking his hand and pulling him?! They needed to talk this through! A closure or something! Isn't that how is made for social peace?! All of that didn't matter to the Italian, apparently, because when the student realized what was happening they were already on the streets, running.
"Feliciano, wait! What are you—"
"This is so exciting! You'll see!"
There was no way of making the Italian explain just what the hell was happening, so Ludwig just let himself go, following his lead. They continued to run across the city, streets, alleys… just how much has Feliciano doing all by himself in the morning?
When they finally stopped, they were in front of what it seems a really humble store, with a big window showing its inside. It was an art shop.
"Look, Ludwig, look!" the excited Italian pointed at the window, almost sticking his face on the crystal "you see that canvas? Can you see it?" the German positioned himself beside the artist, looking through the window.
There were a lot of paintings at sight, of different sizes, styles and colors, but at the back of the shop was what Feliciano was so excited, or so Ludwig supposed. It was a big old looking canvas of a green plain, full of flowers and a blue sky; it had a yellow tint, maybe to represent a sunny day on spring.
"Yes, what about it?"
"That's my first canvas!" the little arm jumped a little with a thrill emotion "wow, I can't believe is all the way here! When I first sold it, I was living on the Province of Grosseto!" if Ludwig remembered correctly, that province was on the Tuscany region, somewhere in the middle of Italy "I wonder how it ended up here, the stories it could tell!" Feliciano put his face against the glass again, with a sparkle on his eyes.
A few hours later, they were once again walking through the city's downtown. The Italian was non-stop talking about the new discovery, trying to guess what could have happened for the canvas to travel all the way from Grosseto to Venezia.
"Maybe it was stolen from its family during the War! And the thief had to come to Venezia and they were short of cash so they sold it! No, maybe the family escaped from the War! But, now that I think about, it wouldn't be a smart move to go to Venezia in the middle of War, would it? I don't think so, Ludwig. Then MAYBE it's in Venezia since BEFORE the War! Wow, so exciting!"
And he indeed projected all the excitement on his body, moving around. Ludwig was glad the little man was back to normal, with his happy attitude and joyful voice. He looked like the sun he is again.
"By the way, Ludwig, why did you wake up so late? That's so un-you, it was strange, I woke up around 8 in the morning and was afraid you would be mad at me for not waking up earlier! You're a little scary when you're mad, did you know that? Are all Germans like this? Is your older brother like this? And your grandpa? Wow, a house full of Germans, that must be scary when they are pissed. But must be too a really clean house, actually"
"I couldn't sleep well, I don't know why" of course he knew why, but decided to lie about it "so I overslept"
"Couldn't sleep well? That's horrible! Almost as horrible as eating bad pasta" of course he would use that metaphor "I slept like a baby! Been a while, to be honest, I feel refreshed and brand-new!" he took a deep breath to show it.
"… do… do you always sleep naked?" he could feel his face turning red at the memory.
"Ah? Yes, I do" the German almost choked, so he stopped walking.
"But why?! And in Mestre you didn't sleep like that! But last night you did and it was shocking and really inappropriate!"
"In Mestre I didn't do it 'cause I supposed you would react just like this, I mean, you're really tight on those kind of things. I noticed it when you went to the bathroom to change your clothes" his face showed he was clearly weirded out "even when we are both guys, and you weren't even gonna undress completely. So I decided to sleep dressed, so you wouldn't feel weird"
"Well, last night you did"
"I fell asleep so I wasn't aware" a wide smile adorned his lips "but anyways, now that you know it, would you mind if I did from now on? In fact, you should try it, those beds are the best for a first time! The sheets are soft on your butt"
Ludwig was about to explode from embarrassment.
"Nein! You can do it if you want, aber Ich werde es nicht tun!" the Italian laughed.
"Ludwig, I don't speak German, but you sound funny!" the taller man covered his face with his hands, letting go an exasperated groan while the Italian kept laughing loudly.
"Is he talking in German?" a murmur reached the foreigner's ears.
Two young women were whispering between them, while staring and surreptitiously pointing at him.
"Yeah, I think so, scary! And he's yelling to that poor Italian man"
"Do you think we should do something?"
"No! Germans are savages, he could hurt us"
"Let's just go away, then" and so they did, trying to act natural but still turned their heads towards the blond man, as if scared he would hurt them.
Ludwig and Feliciano stayed there, in silence, until the latter spoke.
"I'm sorry, Ludwig, I keep forgetting"
"It's nothing, Feliciano, it's normal for them to be scared"
"… you know, maybe we should call this whole trip out? I don't want to expose you to all this hate and—" he started while moving his fingers in a nervous way, looking at the floor.
"No" when he was cut off, the Italian turned his eyes towards Ludwig "I don't want to stop the trip, I'm having a good time, with you. I like being with you" when the German realized what he just said, he once again covered his face but now with one hand "I mean, this whole trip, es ist schön, and I'm learning so much from it, and from you, your talking, Ich mag es, I like it when you talk about the places' story and…"
He could feel his heart dying from the strong pumping it was doing, making all this noise inside his head; which seemed to prevent him from thinking straight and just shut up, so instead he kept talking and saying things he may regret later. Who would have guessed that now was the German who was rambling? And not only that, but in two languages.
"Thank you, Ludwig!" Feliciano yelled to win over the other's voice, who finally kept quiet "I also like being with you, you are fun!" he had a shine in his eyes and… a soft tint of red on his cheeks? "so, let's make this trip tons of fun for both of us!" he lifted his fist with determination.
"… yes, let's do that"
Ludwig replied, finally removing his hand from his face and showing a small smile.
Note:
As you can see, Ludwig starts talking in German whenever he feels the embarrasment going over the top. But don't worry! Everything said in German is repeated by Ludwig once he realize what he's doing. Or it even isn't that important for you to know what he's saying lmao.
Also, I wanna thank all of you for the kudos! It keeps me motivated to continue this story! And just to remember you, you all can send me comments, concrits and everything.