Warnings : None really, but there are a few mentions of neglect...

A/N : ... This is pretty short but I think its still good :D! Not really worth the whole M rating, but I don't wanna make anyone say "THAT SHOULD BE M. ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE TEENS LOSE THEIR EYES WITH HOW HORRIBLE THAT WAS?" So yeah... :D... Thanks for reading/reviewing/favorating!

And please review when you are done reading with this chapter~

Chapter 8 : Morning Hangovers

Ludwig's eyes snap open, sitting up a little to quickly and making him light headed. He shakes, feeling cold, yet he is sweating. He feels a sharp pain in his chest at the nightmare- no, the past. He glances around, letting a little groan fall from his lips, oh God, it was so bright in here. He stiffens automatically, he felt a little sick. With the sudden headache that was pounding and making his ears ring. He licked his lips, he was so thirsty, but that was alright. He was use being hungry or thirsty because when he was younger, before he could cook or reach the cups in the cupboard, his mother didn't always feed him or get him the cups. Sometimes, she'd forget. Ludwig winces at the memory before he glances around the room again, the light was blinding.

Where am I?

Ludwig relaxes suddenly as it becomes a bit easier to see, the light no longer blinding. He glances around the still unfamiliar room, a tiny whimper makes it ways out of his mouth before he can stop it. He bites his lip, he had to remember, this was where he was going to live from now on, he didn't need to worry anymore. Gosh, Ludwig sighs into his hands. He had gotten worried for a second. He thought he was at someone's house. His mother would kill him. He hadn't asked, and she would have-

No, no!

What am I doing?

Don't think like that!

Ludwig sits up, he glances down at his hands. White gloves, a long sleeved black shirt, slightly messy and sticky and a pair of dark colored jeans… still. So he still hadn't changed out of his clothes… He had been sleeping on the couch. He rubs his eyes and glances at the small table in front of the couch, he muffles a yawn. Two glasses of clear liquid, one half gone, the other empty, and a few empty bottles next to the glasses. At least four of them were empty, the fifth half full. Ludwig rubs his temples, trying to sooth himself to calm down, he couldn't remember last night at all. It was all hazy, and all he could remember was that Ivan was- Wait, where was Ivan? Ludwig is about to get up when he hears a soft grumble and something roll at his feet.

Ludwig glances down, on the floor by the couch. Ivan is sleeping on the ground. A light blanket on him, he's sleeping so soundly, like a little child. Ludwig automatically shuts up completely. He climbs over the couch and walks around to look down at Ivan. He's quiet for a moment before he rubs the back of his head in wonder of what he will do now. A few seconds and suddenly he felt like puking.

Ah crap, what's wrong-

Ludwig scrambles to his room, where his restroom was. Swinging the door open, he barely makes it in time, puking into the toilet. He coughs and wipes the sweat from his brow, shaking at the coldness and chill he had just felt. He's dizzy and annoyed, he scoots back, so he can lean against the counter. He wraps his arms around his knees and leans his head back, trying to breath. He coughs heavily. Before he shivers again, he covers his mouth. The blond glances down at his hands again, his favorite white gloves were soiled. They were dirty from sweat and a bit of nasty vomit.

"Ludwig?" A voice peeps.

"I-I'm sorry!" The words are squeaked in a high pitched manner. They are out of his mouth before he can even think them up. They came out too naturally to be healthy. "I didn't mean it, Mo-" Ludwig instantly covers his mouth, biting down on his tongue to shut himself up. Ivan looks confused, tilting his head innocently in wonder. This was Ivan, not his mother, he reminded himself quickly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you," Ludwig says calmly now. Ivan nods, smiling slightly.

"Its alright," Ivan says sweetly. "Are you sick, da?"

"I-I think so," Ludwig quickly scrambles back to the toilet, puking again, happy he hadn't taken his gloves off like he thought he should when he saw the vomit on them. Ludwig coughs, shaking at the chill he felt all over again. His teeth start to chattered, and he was trying not to cry. It was all so revolting to the younger blond. "I'm sorry…"

"Oh! It's a hangover, da!" Ivan says excitedly suddenly.

"I guess," Ludwig mumbles, wiping the rest from his mouth his hand he shivers before he stands up to wash his hands and change his gloves. "I'm sorry,"

"Nyet (No)!" Ivan smiles. "Is this the first time you've drank?"

"Nein (No)…" Ludwig tries not to blush in shame at the question. He was taught from a young age, more or likely beaten, into never telling a lie. Or really, saying what his mother was screaming at him, to admit as the truth although it wasn't… usually. The only thing he ever allowed himself to ever really lie about was his mother, her actions and where all of his injuries came from. "I've drank before. But… it wasn't ever that strong."

"Oh! You've drank beer!" Ivan laughs, no, not laugh, that's much too manly. Ivan giggled. Like a little girl would, but it sounded a bit forced, like he was trying to seem cheerful and light hearted all the time. Ivan smiles brightly at Ludwig now, Ludwig tries not to look away. He stands up, wanting to see how horrible he really looked in the mirror. "I could have guessed you were German with just that, da!"

"Same for you being Russian with the Vodka," Ludwig mumbles the smart comment back, too afraid of being hit if he said it any louder. He stares at himself in the mirror before peeking a glance at the older teen, who simply smiles, suppressing a small laugh.

"What are you scared of?" Ivan asks softly. His violet eyes wide as he stares at Ludwig. The blond turns around to stare back at Ivan. Ludwig tries not to gulp at the question as he sees the seriousness in Ivan's eyes. Ludwig had been taught to tell the truth, and he was horrible liar because of his fear… but he couldn't simply say, oh yeah, I use to be hit a lot when I was a kid. That was stupid and crazy and the first time he ever said that aloud. He'd thought that full sentence, once. Only once, other times he couldn't even bring himself to finish it. Ludwig stares back at Ivan who stares at him innocently. "You don't like it when people touch you. I know lots of people who don't like to be touched, but no one hates it as much as you… Or, if not hate, fear it as much as you."

"I don't fear it," Ludwig growls stubbornly. He did fear it though. He feared, above all else, though he'd never care to admit it, that he'd be hit. That he really was unneeded. Unwanted, unloved, he couldn't bear to think like that, or even say one word of it out loud, without wanting to bite his tongue out first. He'd rather die than admit his fear.

"I won't tell anyone, Ludwig," The tall Russian teen says softly, rather sweetly, but his voice is now mature, no longer childish. Ivan kneels in front of the blond, German teenager. And as if to complete the promise, Ivan slowly reached for the German teen's gloved hands though they weren't clean. Ludwig had to hold back a choked sob at the sight.

My hands are dirty.

Not just with vomit.

Not just with sweat.

I'm…

"I promise," The words come out too slowly. Too wonder and beautiful and Ludwig wants to say something, something important, something- Ivan's hands are about to hold his own, the first time he's let anyone ever touch his hands in something more than just a handshake-

"I-I-" The Russian boy's hands jerked back suddenly in slight shock, his violet eyes wide as he turns to look away, to where the noise had came from. Ludwig couldn't help it when his face expressed his disappointment, only happy that Ivan hadn't seen it when he quickly changed back his emotionless façade though it seemed a bit harder to hold suddenly.

Maybe…

I'm just not…

Not meant to be touched more than just a formal and occasional handshake…

Then Ludwig was "saved", by the self-proclaimed hero of the WB School of Historical Education.

A/N : ... First off I wanna thank EVERYONE who reviewed because when I see them I feel SO happy! And it makes me wanna post more chapters xD! And so I decided that since everyone was so nice (and because I'm such a noob) I'd post the next one today because I was actually planning to wait until Firday to do it but... You guys deserve it! :D BECAUSE YOU ALL MADE ME DAY xDDD

And... GUESS WHAT HAPPENED.

Review? Bitte :D?

If you review I post chapters faster because I feel happy *and giving* THANK YOU!