Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia, just the story.
Ludwig sits stiffly in the Joker's lounge, ignoring the incessant staring coming from the Ace of Spades. Feliciano amicably chats with his brother, not noticing that Lovino is glaring daggers at his king. The German doesn't understand why the man is eying him this way and it's beginning to annoy him. When it's obvious that Feli and his brother are the only two in conversation, he stands up so he can move into another room.
He goes in search of Gilbert and Antonio since those are the closest people here to him. He could search for Kiku but it would be rude of him to cut into the time he has with Yao. Ludwig has not always been easy at making friends so the idea of him trying immediately gets squashed. Sighing, he meanders through the corridors of Joker Castle, eyes either ahead of him or glancing outside the windows.
Gilbert is easy to find. He's in some kind of entertainment room with Antonio and the King of Diamonds. The three are talking away, laughing at shared jokes Ludwig would likely not want to hear. Those two were always good at making friends. Compared to him, they're outgoing and loose. Ludwig is quiet and serious. Not a lot of people favored his presence. Feliciano may say otherwise but he's just one in a million.
The King of Hearts moves on, not wanting to bother his brother and childhood friend. This is when the German wishes he had some animal friends, preferably some dogs. He could take them on walks, play with them, have some fun. Then people would figure he's an anti-social animal lover. It would be true but that doesn't settle well with him.
"Alone?"
Ludwig startles and turns to the deep voice. He sees the King of Joker. "Yes." He doesn't say anything else.
As the king of few words, the Swede surprises Ludwig. "Mind if I join you?"
He shakes his head. "Not at all."
So the two men walk together through the castle. Ludwig follows Berwald when he takes a turn down a hidden staircase. The German is hesitant at first but goes on when the other blond stops and waits for him. They get to a dimly lit hallway. Ludwig assumes these are servant passages through the castle and takes interest in the possible places each passage ends at. The stretch is long until Berwald takes a right and up a staircase. When they reach the top, they're outside in an alcove and Ludwig hears different pitches of barking.
In front of the German runs several different breeds of dogs playing around with each other. Some stop and greet Berwald happily, excited to see their master. Others go about their business without a care in the world. Ludwig grins, crouching down to his knees so he can pet the head of a German Shepard that walks cautiously to him.
"They do not have names," Berwald states as he also sits to pet the dogs near him. "They find their way here and stay to play until late. Some go home, others sleep here."
"So you don't officially own any of them?" Ludwig's attention gets torn by the three other dogs who come over to him and the King of Joker. He cannot stop smiling. "Are they all wild?"
"Not all." Berwald shakes his head. He studies how Ludwig gives the dogs around him equal affection. "You like dogs?"
Ludwig flushes, clearing his throat as he stands. "They're okay," he replies. Internally, he's screaming about how he wants to love and adore these cute little doggies around him. The Golden Retriever and Dachshund don't help any as they jump on him. "I never had dogs myself but playing with them is nice from time to time. If I ever see one who's owner lets me pet them."
The Swede hums, a small smirk cracking his face. "Would you like one?"
"Pardon?" The question shocks Ludwig. He tries calming down the Dalmatian now asking for his attention and can't help but crouch down again. "That would be too kind of you, King Berwald. I don't think I'd have enough time to care for them." He stares at the four dogs around him, panting with wide grins. "And I'm not sure if I'd only want one," he mumbles.
It's not like he wouldn't want to keep his own pet. Gilbert has one that he received a few days ago. A chick named Gilbird. At first Ludwig was confused why Gilbert had the little animal but seeing his brother happy with the bird made him think it was great. He didn't know that his brother loved animals, besides dogs. If he could, which he possibly can, he'd let Gilbert go to that farm every day and work if he truly wished for it. He'd miss his brother being around at random times but the important thing is that the older German is just as happy here as everyone else seems to be.
"We may be kings and rule, but we choose when to relax if work is too much." Berwald pats the heads of the four dogs around Ludwig. "You may have these four. You can visit to see the other dogs whenever you wish."
Ludwig gazes at the other with wide eyes. He's ready to retort but the words get caught in his throat. He stares at the four dogs and smiles a little. "Thank you."
"Berwald. No formalities."
"The same will go for you then."
"Mm."
The two spend as much time there with the dogs before heading back in. Berwald assures that Blackie, Berlitz, Aster, and Dali – the names Ludwig gave them – will be taken over to the Hearts Kingdom. After finding their way back to a main hall, the two separate. Ludwig appreciates his time spent with King Berwald. He's very much alike. Maybe he could make friends easily with certain people. Anyone who loves dogs will immediately be on the list of potential friends.
"You're a fucking hard person to find."
This time, Ludwig isn't startled. Instead, he feels a small pit of dread as he recognizes the voice. Turning around, he spots Lovino behind him. "You were looking for me?"
"Yeah. I've got a bone to pick with you." Lovino pants, leaning over his knees. Ludwig raises an eyebrow at that, wondering what he could be running from. "Two bones, maybe."
"What in regards to?"
"Number one, my brother." He finally stands tall, eyes peering over his shoulder for something. When he knows nothing is there, he glares at the taller man. "He told me that you're his destined soul-mate based on the stupid marks we have."
Ludwig sighs. For some reason, he knew this would be coming up sooner or later if Lovino found out. With how close the two are, it's easy to see Lovino is overly protective of Feliciano. "Just because our marks are filled with red doesn't immediately mean that we are the ones meant for each other. Even if we were, I doubt he'd truly want to be with me. I'm not as interesting as my brother or Antonio."
"Please don't mention that tomato bastard." Lovino's cheeks flare and he checks behind him again. "Can we move to a private room? I don't trust just standing here where wandering ears can hear us." He doesn't let Ludwig answer as he states, "We're going to my room."
Lovino pivots on his foot and quickly walks down the hall. Ludwig follows, hoping that someone would appear and get him out of this situation. Anyone would do. He doesn't want to deal with Lovino's overprotective nature of his brother. Unfortunately, no one appears even though it seems the Italian expects someone to do so. They reach the Spades tower and ascend the stairs.
"Has he talked to you about it already?"
Ludwig is no idiot so he knows what Lovino is asking. "Yes, but we didn't specifically say that we believe that we're soul-mates."
"Well, he has to me." Lovi opens a door with a blue A hanging on it and enters. "Don't keep me waiting." He shuts the door as soon as Ludwig is in and then walks to the center of his room. He crosses his arms, glaring at the German. "I do not approve of you two being soul-mates."
Sighing, Ludwig brings a hand up to massage his forehead. "If he is my soul-mate, don't worry. I'm not going to chase him."
He doesn't see Lovino bristle. "What, is he not good enough for you?"
That question confuses him as he furrows his brow. "It's not that," he says while glaring back at the other. "I'm not interested in love. Never have been. Even if I were, I'd be the one not good enough for him."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"As it should sound."
"You've never been in love before?" Lovino uncrosses his arms, face loosening as he stares at his dresser beside Ludwig. "How's that even possible?"
"Some people just don't feel it with others." Ludwig doesn't tear his gaze away from the Italian. "I have felt attraction toward people but never love. I'm not a person people favor being with."
The Ace of Spades keeps quiet for a moment. "Geez, you sound like me," he utters. "When it comes to basically belitting or thinking poorly of yourself."
"I don't particularly do that. It's just a fact I've learned in my life. I don't beat myself up about it."
"Don't sound so high and mighty about it," the Italian hisses.
Ludwig sighs, crossing his arms. "Lovino, I won't do a thing with your brother. If he wishes to get close to me, I will not stop him. I'll be sure to explain that I don't believe in fate. If I fall in love with him, it's not because of some silly superstition regarding marks that get filled in when you meet "the one" in your life."
"Good," Lovino says, nodding. "That's good. I don't want some ass-hole messing around with his heart."
"I'd never do such a thing."
"Like I would know that."
"It's because you don't know me."
"Likewise. You don't know him, either."
Ludwig grins as he hears Feli's voice in his mind responding to that. "I believe your brother would state that we will someday come to know each other very well."
The Italian silently fumes. He soon sighs, extending his arms out in a gesture of giving up. "He's a stubborn idiot. He'll do what he wants when it comes into his mind."
"I now many people like that," Luwdig states, letting his arms fall. "I don't intend to hurt anyone. A king cares for his people, he doesn't harm them."
"You'd be surprised just how many kings in history have harmed their own people for their gain." The brown haired main shakes his head. "Whatever. It seems like I can't stop anything from happening. I still don't like this one damn bit."
Ludwig smiles a little, respecting his brotherly love for Feliciano. "Don't worry, Lovino. I swear not to make him cry, if that's what you're also worried about."
He snorts. "He's a crybaby so I won't be surprised if the littlest thing you do does make him cry." He waves his hands. "We're done here. Go. I can't be around you right now. I'm tempted to punch you."
Nodding, Ludwig turns for the door and exits. He thinks over the whole conversation and chuckles to himself. "What have I exactly gotten into?" And he didn't even join it intentionally. It's the mark on his chest and Feli's neck that did. Shaking his head, he leaves the Spades tower and finds something else for himself to do.
?
"I can't believe Toni just ditched us to chase Lovino," Gilbert mumbles against the rim of his glass, sipping the alcohol sitting in it. "I know he can see me whenever and can't see him all at the time, but bros before hoes, man. That's how it should be."
Francis chuckles, swirling his wine before drinking it. "Sometimes love makes people crazy, mon ami. Even if he doesn't know the man, any kind of potential interest can make a person mad."
"Got that right." The German snorts, staring at his whiskey on the rocks. It's not usually his choice of drink but he felt like being adventurous when his companion ordered wine. "I've chased down women before for a good lay. Only one girl captured my heart but she trampled all over it and I swore off chasing for a while. Or, I had no strings attached relations."
"That's how I used to be." The King of Diamond hums with a grin. "Many handsome men and women have had the pleasure to bed me. Out of them all, I only loved two wholeheartedly. Sadly, I lost them both."
Gilbert frowns as he looks at Francis. "Sorry."
"It's okay. It was my entire fault. I thought I could have both but was proven wrong." He sighs through his nose. "I've no chance with them again. I feel he'll be in love with another bloke sooner or later."
"You deserve love in your life, too, bud."
"Everyone does, cher." He sets down his wine glass and fingers the rim. They don't say another word until a thought crosses the Frenchman's mind. "Is your mark filled?"
The near silver haired man shakes his head. "My mark is different from everyone else. I've gathered that all the Jokers for the kingdom itself and the other kingdoms have different markings." He wonders if he should show his mark to Francis or not. "Feliks's mark is split in half on the outside of his eyes. They look like small butterfly wings, though."
"But do they still match with people?"
"Supposedly they should. I've only seen Peter's mark on his hand, though. He has a little yellow scepter with a Q on it behind his Joker."
"He's little Lilly's soul-mate? Oh, that's adorable." Francis chuckles. "So they can change. What about yours? Now that we've all met briefly?"
Now he really does need to look. If not to appease his new friend, to quench his own curiosity. "I doubt it," he says as he unbuttons the top of his shirt. He opens it enough for Francis to peek. "You tell me if there's any color on this bland Joker."
The King of Diamonds raises his eyebrows as he sees the tattoo on Gilbert's chest. It's a comical joker, one that probably fits the German. It's hands form a heart and in said heart are two shades of green. He nods. "I see two shades of green. One lighter, the other darker."
"What?" Gilbert balks. "You're shitting me." Sure enough, when he glances down and checks for himself, he sees both shades of green inside the heart made from the joker's hands. "No way. I didn't think I'd have any."
"Everyone has a soul-mate, mon ami. Even if they're not in the same time or world." Francis sips his drink. "I wonder who they could be. I've heard the Queen and Jack are already paired. One of the three Jokers is engaged with the King's sister. There are four options left. Which two do you think they could represent?"
"Wait, are you sure it's for two people?"
"Why else would there be two shades of green?"
"But- How- I don't even-." Gilbert can't create a coherent sentence. The surprise is overwhelming him since he never thought he'd have a soul-mate. Soul-mates it seems. He may be a sucker for love but family has always been first. "Does this soul-mate crap actually work or is it just messing with our hope?"
Francis chuckles as he pats his new friend's shoulder. "Believe what you want, Gilbert. If you think that those who are supposedly your soul-mates are the ones, then they are. If you don't, no one's forcing you to be with them."
The German stares at Francis for a long minute before nodding. They silently make a cheer, clinking their drinks together. Gilbert takes a long swig of his whiskey, finishing the glass and reaching for a refill. Francis merely drinks a small portion of his wine since he wishes to have it last him a while. When Gilbert pours himself more whiskey, Antonio comes back and sits in front of his tequila rose he left behind.
"He got away…" he trails off glumly.
Gilbert slaps his back. "You'll corner him sooner or later."
"He might not even realize he's your soul-mate, mon ami." Francis leans a little over the counter they're sitting at to see Antonio around Gilbert. "He could also be shy."
Antonio smiles a little at the thought. "If that's him being shy, it's cute." He giggles. "His face turned tomato red when I said he's my soul-mate! He stuttered and ran. Ah, Fate has led me to a cute one." He drinks his beverage, expelling a satisfied sigh. "We still have until the sixty-third day of Spring. I'll be sure to talk with him personally at least once."
"That sounds good." Gilbert nods, grinning. "Don't give up, Toni. If he's truly meant to be yours, you shouldn't let him slip through your fingers."
"I won't." He gazes at his friends, noticing Gilberts open shirt and his tattoo. "Gil! Your mark!" He smiles wide.
"Yeah, I know." The German quickly buttons up his shirt. "It's two shades of green. I don't know who they could be."
"Should we make a bet on who they are?" Francis inquires with a smirk.
Antonio perks up. "Yes! We should!"
"Guys, I don't wanna make a stupid bet on love."
"Come on, mi amigo. Have some fun with us before we separate again."
"Oui. If we do not visit each other often, we won't reunite until the next seasonal meeting."
Gilbert sighs. "Fine." He gazes at the two on either side of him. "Who do you think my destined people are?"
The Spaniard hums. "I think at least one of them is the Ace of Clubs. I don't know who the other could be. Maybe one of the Jokers?"
"I agree with the Ace of Clubs. You two would be adorable together." Francis sips his wine. "I don't believe it's either of the Jokers, though."
"What?" Gilbert stares at the Frenchman wide eyed. "Don't tell me you think the second person is the King of Clubs."
"What is so wrong about that idea?" Francis raises his eyebrows. "No one knows the man more than his Ace."
"He is kind of scary looking, though," Antonio says.
Gilbert points at Antonio while looking at the blond. "That's why."
"Don't judge a book by it's cover." Francis grins. He finishes his drink and stands. "Well, I best be going. The item I'm betting with is going to be a piece of clothing, so whoever the winner is will get some new threads." He waves to the two. "Have a fun rest of the night, mon amis."
The other two wave as he leaves. "Do you have a hunch of who it could be, Gil?"
He hums. "No clue. It'd be nice if one of them was actually that Ace. He looks like a guy I'd get along with. I believe his name is Matthew." He smiles fondly at an idea. "I might talk to him before leaving for home."
Antonio nudges his friend. "We both have missions to accomplish."
Snorting, Gilbert nods with a laugh. The two spend the rest of the evening talking about nothing before moving from the lounge they're in to another part of the castle. They're tipsy from the alcohol but coherent enough to speak clearly. Plenty of maids and butlers pass them by with raised eyebrows but they ignore them. The two are so engrossed in their own world as they head back to the Hearts tower to crash.
Note: This is shorter than the previous one but I still very much like it. I just absolutely love this story. I'm try to work on part 2 already while also figuring out part 1.5. More details to come about both on the last chapter.
This not beta-ed so there might be mistakes.
Ciao: I hope you enjoy the update, dearies! Thank you so much for reading! R&R.
