Ch. 10:

The next day Feliciano went to town.

Not that he had actually planned to; he had wanted to spend the day with Lovino before his brother went back to school. But the problem was he couldn't contain his happy. Ever since the early morning (when Feliciano snuck back home) he had been smiling and whistling to himself and Lovino kept trying to demand why he was so happy. But Feliciano kept his lips sealed.

Finally it seemed Lovino had stopped with the constant questioning when the two had been out on the front porch playing cards while Grandpa Roma was showing Antonio the ropes.

Feliciano hadn't noticed at first, still so caught up on all the kissing he and Ludwig had done last night, but he finally realized his brother kept casting side way glances at Antonio.

Feliciano smiled, "Do you like Antonio?" His question was spoken in a quiet voice so only Lovino could hear, but the soft-spoken words made Lovino nearly jump out of his seat.

"Of course I don't," Lovino said in a fierce whisper, glaring at his brother while his cheeks reddened.

Lovino's anger only made Feliciano laugh, "I wouldn't blame you if you did." He turned his eyes on Antonio who was talking with Roma, "He's really handsome."

But not as handsome as Ludwig.

The look Lovino gave Feliciano was downright murderous. After that the younger twin wisely decided to walk to town and enjoy the day away from his confused brother.

"I'd much rather spend the day with Ludwig," Feliciano whispered to himself as he walked through town, "But he's busy today."

Ludwig had told Feliciano this before the Italian had left, after officially giving Feliciano the shirt he had slept in and a goodbye kiss.

Feliciano smiled, his chest felt like it would expand from this happy, warm feeling he got just from thinking of Ludwig.

I wish he could meet Lovi and Grandpa, Feliciano couldn't stop the depressing thought flit through his head.

Wanting to distract himself he headed into the local pub, wishing Elizabeta was home so he could talk with her (he imagined she'd understand his feelings for Ludwig). But she had left to spend a few months with her boyfriend, Roderich who recently moved to Austria (though Roma always said the long distance relationship would never work).

Inside the pub he was almost immediately greeted by a loud, familiar voice.

"Pipsqueak, over here, come sit here!"

Feliciano turned in surprise to see Ludwig's big brother, Gilbert, waving at him from the back of the pub. Memories of the last time they met at this pub resurfaced and despite the fact Feliciano had forgiven the albino, he was still somewhat wary. And to be perfectly honest a little disappointed to see that Ludwig was nowhere in sight.

"Come have a drink with me," Gilbert urged, his smile open and friendly, "I'll buy."

Well…Feliciano was never one to pass on anything free.

"You don't have to look so scared," Gilbert smirked as Feliciano sat next to him.

"I don't bite, at least not hard." Gilbert winked.

Feliciano tried to relax, "What did you want to sit with me for?"

"Well," Gilbert rested his elbows on the table, "If my shut-in of a brother whose never been social and probably hasn't had one friend that wasn't family likes you so much he'd risk pissing off the old man to spend time with you then…you must be pretty cool."

The words made Feliciano blush pleasantly and he allowed a smile, "Thanks."

"And I do think you deserve an apology," Gilbert added, looking away with a guilty expression. "About…the last time we met in this pub."

"It's okay," Feliciano assured, "I forgave you a long time ago."

Gilbert smiled gratefully at him, "You know, West went and punched me in the jaw for you. I didn't know why until yesterday when I saw you clinging to him."

"Yes, he told me," Feliciano said, "Sorry about that."

Gilbert shrugged, "I've been punched for more mediocre things. But you know…" He rubbed his jaw, "That's the second time I was punched for pouring beer on you head."

"Vee? Oh yeah," Feliciano couldn't help but laugh at the memory of Elizabeta taking down a man a full head taller than her.

Their drinks were brought to them and Feliciano sipped his wine with delight, it wasn't Vargas wine but it was still decent.

"Say," Gilbert said, sounding shy which surprised the Italian. Feliciano looked at Gilbert who was staring into his beer, his cheeks red. "That girl…your friend…she never uh-I don't know, mentions me does she?"

"Elizabeta," Feliciano asked, tilting his head to the side.

"Oh, so that's her name…I was wondering…" Gilbert glanced at Feliciano then turned his eyes back to his drink, taking a large gulp.

"I haven't actually talked to her much these days," Feliciano said. He didn't want to tell Gilbert that Elizabeta constantly talked bad about him ever since that fateful day. "She's in Austria right now."

Gilbert blinked in surprise, "Why?"

"Oh, well…" Feliciano suddenly wished he had kept his mouth shut, "She's visiting…her…boyfriend…Roderich."

"Oh, okay." Gilbert suddenly looked like a kicked puppy and Feliciano's heart went out to him.

"I'm so sorry. Maybe-maybe if you had said something before I could've put in a good word for you. You seem really funny and tough; I think Elizabeta could like you. I mean-she's still mad about the whole beer thing but if I can get over it so can she and-"

Feliciano stopped talking when Gilbert placed a finger on his lips.

"Sssshhhh," the albino urged. "It's fine. Not your fault. I'll get over it…eventually."

"Okay," Feliciano said, but he still felt bad, "So…what are you going to do now?"

Gilbert held his beer up in toast, "I am going to drink… a lot."

And so that's exactly what the two did. They drank to their heart's content, telling funny stories about themselves and their families and friends. Feliciano personally enjoyed all the stories about Ludwig when he was a baby.

"One time," Gilbert said mid-chuckle, "Our grandfather's clock broke so West decided he'd be his alarm clock. I swear that kid was up before dawn to go into the old man's room and made loud beeping noises I could hear on the other side of the hall!"

Feliciano laughed, holding his side at the funny image in his head, "That sounds so cute and funny and silly!"

"That's West," Gilbert replied, taking another sip of his beer, "I never say it but I love that dear boy so darn much!"

"I love him too," Feliciano suddenly said, serious.

Gilbert looked at him with shock which quickly morphed into a big grin, "And that's adorable! I mean I ship it-I mean that is the cutest thing you two are so adorable together like kawaii!"

Feliciano giggled, "What does that mean?"

"I don't know," Gilbert admitted, "Francis had an old Japanese pen pal and they were always sharing funny words together."

"Will you be the best man at our wedding," Feliciano asked, "Ludwig and me I mean?"

"OF COURSE," Gilbert all but yelled, "A big brother dreams of walking his baby brother down the aisle or whatever the best man does. I can't remember."

"Fratello will be the flower girl," Feliciano clasped his hands together.

"Is that your cat," Gilbert asked.

Feliciano laughed drunkenly, "No, that's my brother, Lovino. He's got a crush too, on our new worker Antonio!"

Gilbert gasped loudly, "So that's why that rat bastard of a traitor joined you! He wants to shag some Italian boy!" Gilbert rolled his eyes with a snort, "Old Francy-pants would be so proud."

"I love my brother," Feliciano said, "And I love Ludwig too, so, so, much!"

"Me too," Gilbert replied, then suddenly slammed his fist on the table, "But you know who else I love!?"
"Who," Feliciano asked just as loudly. They were staring to get stares from other people.

"You're sexy minx friend lady, Elizabeta! She was so hot! It was like-love at first punch. I was smitten before I hit the ground."

Gilbert grasped his empty beer jug, "But then she had to go and date some homo from Austria! Please! We could've been cute together!"

"Soooo cute," Feliciano agreed whole-heartedly.

Suddenly the bartender appeared by their side, "I'm afraid I'm going to have cut you two off."

Gilbert looked like the man had just offended his ancestors, "Excuse you? You were put on this green earth to service us and we want to be serviced!"

"Serviced," Feliciano yelled, shooting up on wobbly legs.

"You're out of money," the bartender replied calmly, "And it's dark out and I know Feliciano has a curfew."

The Italian gasped, looking outside to see it had gotten dark. "Oh no! Grandpa's gonna kill me!"

He quickly ran outside, Gilbert giving chase.

"I'll walk you home," Gilbert replied, reaching him and staggering just as much as Feliciano. The Italian had a vague memory that the albino had drunk way more than Feliciano.

"Okay-okay," Feliciano agreed, "But then you have to go before someone sees you."

Gilbert nodded rapidly and Feliciano took his hand to lead him out of town when suddenly his legs gave out and he fell, Gilbert falling with him.

The Beilschmidt ended up pining Feliciano to the ground and the both ended up cackling madly.

"Oh no," Feliciano laughed, his head swimming with uncontrolled mirth as he hugged Gilbert, "You planned this all along didn't you, you sneaky little Prussian!"

Gilbert was making that weird laugh that Feliciano came to realize was his trademark, ruffling Feliciano hair, "Of course! It's not everyday you get to flirt with a cute, drunk little Italian."

"Is that so?"

The two whirled their heads around to see Ludwig just a few feet away, staring at them with a stony expression.

For a moment Feliciano had to wonder why he looked so mad, and then he realized how bad it must look to have Gilbert holding him down on the ground while Feliciano had his arms wrapped around him, both drunk and red, and suddenly the Italian felt sick.

Gilbert must have thought the same because he quickly jumped off Feliciano and held his hands up, "West…I know it looks bad but… you see the thing of it is-"

Ludwig turned and walked away before his brother could finish his sentence and suddenly Feliciano couldn't breathe.

"Ludwig please wait," Feliciano begged, staggering after him. Gilbert cursed and followed.

He turned the corner to follow the German when suddenly slammed into a back that felt like slamming face first into a pile of bricks.

He rubbed his nose and looked up and his heart dropped, it wasn't Ludwig glaring down at him.

It was Alaric Beilschmidt.

"You're Vargas's boy, aren't you," the man asked in that deep voice that nearly made Feliciano's knees buckle.

"Yes-yes sir," he stammered, "I'm his grandson, Feliciano."

"Apparently he and Gilbert are friends," Ludwig's voice suddenly said and Feliciano saw that he was behind Alaric.

Feliciano yearned to rush to Ludwig and explain everything but he could barely move with Alaric's glare burning a hole through him.

"Yeah, he is," Gilbert was suddenly by Feliciano's side and was glaring at his brother, "He's just a friend."

But Ludwig turned his back on them and Feliciano wanted to cry.

"You're drunk again," Alaric looked at his oldest grandson with accepted disapproval.

Gilbert smiled, "I'm never sober."

Alaric shook his head, "Let's go home." He glared down at Feliciano again, "Your friend will stay here."

And with that Alaric turned and walked away, Ludwig following, not looking back.

"Gilbert," Feliciano grabbed the albino's arm, tears blurring his vision, "He thinks we-"

"I know," Gilbert said and placed a reassuring hand on Feliciano's head, "He's just being an idiot right now, leave it to me. Once he calms down I'll explain what happened."

Then with one last hair ruffle and a smile he followed after his grandfather and brother, leaving Feliciano and his shattered heart alone.