And Hello To You Too

It had been a while since he had drawn up a contract for fixing up a house. Of course, this time they were not building it from scratch, though it was almost as good as. Some of the foundations were good, but Ludwig knew he had to get a better look through of the entire place.

He would have called his brother to tell him they had a job, but he knew Gilbert would likely show back up at his house and so why bother calling? It gave him time to write out everything. Or, at least, it should have.

"Bruder!" Gilbert's voice rang out from the front, where he likely unlocked the door with the key he had stolen from him earlier this year. Ludwig would take it back and Gilbert would end up with it again. Oh joy.

"In de dining room!"

"Dat man is absolutely insane, just as I said!" he heard Gilbert exclaim as he walked in the room. Ludwig continued with what he was doing, barely paying attention. "He made thirty someding cakes... I mean, vhat? Efen for a vedding, dat is insane! Antonio probably doesn't know vhat he's gotten himself into!"

Ludwig nodded absently, glancing up for a moment. Just a moment, but his eyes did not come back down. "Gilbert... vhat happened to your face?"

Gilbert blinked a few times before shrugged. "An accident vith one of my plans on incapacitating Francis. No big deal, I'll get it to vork later."

Ludwig was beginning to think that Gilbert's messing around with his friend was getting out of hand. Half of him wanted to lecture, but the smarter half which knew that Gilbert would not listen to him wanted to call Vash and have the both of them locked up for a little bit. That was more likely to work. Gilbert talked tough, but he hated prison. Even the small one that was in Vash's basement and had no other people in it other than the neighbors occasionally. The house spoke. That was enough to put anyone on the straight and narrow.

"...but you aren't listenin' about dat Roderich!"

And Ludwig was saved from having to listening about 'that Roderich' by the doorbell. For a moment Ludwig hoped it was Feliciano. Which was when he knew better. Feliciano would have just come in. Feliciano did not need a key to get into any house. Hell, he was the only person who could break into Kiku's house. Ignoring Gilbert he rose to his feet and went to the door.

"Ludwig! It's been so long!"

Ludwig was not certain whether he wanted to be seeing the man that was standing right in front of him or not.

"Don't you have anything to say to the man who should be your other grandfather? If only you would pop the question just like that fine Antonio!"

Ludwig blinked and managed to open his mouth. "Hallo, Mr. Vargas."

"Marcus, Ludwig, Marcus!" The eldest Vargas member left living hugged him tightly, head turning to look behind him as he did so. "Ludo! What are you doing, stuck in the sidecar? Get up here!"

Ludwig felt rather as if this was the wrong place to be. Especially by the fact that Gilbert was silent. Ever so silent. Ludwig managed to make Marcus let go (or, more likely, the other just simply let go because he wanted to), seeing his grandfather now in the doorway.

"Hello, Ludwig."

"Opa."

Ludovicus' eyes moved past him, lips tightening. "Gilbert."

"I dought I said I nefer vanted to see you again!" Gilbert screamed. Ludwig heard the footsteps of the other running away and then the slam of the back door.

"Oh... dear," Marcus broke the silence, smile gone from his face.

"Marcus. Would you please leave?"

Marcus shuffled slightly, as if he wanted to deny Ludovicus' request. The most surprising thing to Ludwig, however, was the fact that he did not. Marcus simply put another smile on his face.

"I'll see you later Ludwig! After all, I have a grandson or two to see! But one of them is getting married!" And while Ludwig was trying to process the fact that Marcus had definitely not just started rambling on about Feliciano at all, Marcus was already out the door.

Leaving him with his grandfather. And rather confused about what had just happened.

"Vould you like anyding?"

"Don't avoid the subject, Ludwig."

And the horrible thing was that Ludwig could not pretend that he did not know what the other was talking about. "Hafe you... seen him?" Ludwig asked, unable to say 'father'. He would not. He could not.

"Of course I have. But you have not."

Ludwig did not respond. Ludovicus did not ask him to. He let the older man place a hand on his shoulder and was even more grateful for the shoulder his grandfather lent him when he started to cry.

Notes:

Ludovicus can speak without an accent. Probably because he can speak many languages flawlessly and has traveled all over the world and has done both of these for a long time. Actually, it is more likely because he does not trust for Marcus to speak for them and mayhaps get them both arrested. Again.

The entire town has tried to break into Kiku's house. To find out what his job is. They still do not know. Alfred even asked. Nicely. Nada.

I did say the family had problems. Ludwig gets along better with their grandfather and Gilbert got along better with their father. The reasons... slightly complex.