"So do you have any fun plans for Spring Break?" Feliciano asked Ludwig as he started packing his stuff.

"Nothing really," Ludwig replied. "I'll probably visit my brother but that's about it. What about you?"

"I'm going home for a week. Which means a week of dealing with my parents and being misgendered." Feliciano sighed and looked at the clothes he was packing. Sure there were plenty of clothes that he preferred to wear. However, some were more feminine looking.

"Are you going to be alright?" Ludwig asked sounding very nervous.

"Yeah, I'm used to it. Unfortunately." Feliciano looked down at the ground for a moment.

"Listen you need someone to talk to or just to vent," Ludwig said very assuring. "Just give me a call. Okay?"

"Okay," Feliciano said with a smile. "I will."

"Hey Feliciano I think your parents are here," Toylis said looking out the window.

"What already?" Feliciano said sitting up. He looked over at the clock. "I thought I had at least another hour."

Toylis shrugged as Feliciano jumped up. Before Feliciano could do anything the door opened. He stood frozen in place. His parents stood in the doorway.

"Alicia, what on earth are you wearing?" his mother asked before Feliciano could say anything. His face fell

"Uh, my clothes," Feliciano said trying to his feeling of annoyance. Toylis meanwhile, slowly, awkwardly walked into the kitchen.

"You go out in that? Honey, it makes you look like a man."

"That's the point," Feliciano thought to himself before saying with gritted teeth. "I wear it because it's comfortable."

"How many times go we have to go over this," his mother sighed walking up to him. "You can dress as comfortably as you. But you have to make sure you look like a girl while doing it. Am I correct?"

"Yes Mom," Feliciano said quietly.

"What was that?" his mom said cupping a hand around her ear.

"Yes, Mom," Feliciano replied louder and angrier. His mother took a step back and placed a hand on her chest.

"Young lady that is no way to talk to your mother," his father said walking up to them. "Apologize right now."

"I'm sorry Mom," Feliciano said quietly Hoping he didn't sound annoyed.

Seeming satisfied his with his parents started walking upstairs. Feliciano remained a few feet behind them. As they walked upstairs, Feliciano heard his mom complain about how art school was corrupting their daughter. Or some other similar crap like that. Feliciano tried to ignore them. But was forced to hold back anything he wanted to say. In his room, his mom was quick to judge Mei's pride flags. Feliciano grabbed all the stuff he could with his parents grabbing the rest. They were quick to walk out of the room but Feliciano had to stop. For a second he stood in the doorway and stared at it.

"See you in a week," Feliciano said quietly before closing the door.

Feliciano started to walk out of the house as slowly as he could without looking odd. He quickly placed his stuff in the back of his father's car. With the reception of his drawing supplies, which he kept near him. He also kept his headphones in one of his pockets. Just in case.

"I hope this attitude of yours isn't going to be present all week Alicia," his mother said as she started to file her nails.

"It wouldn't be if you would actually call me by the name I want to call by," Feliciano thought to himself. Trying not to sulk in his seat.

"I knew we shouldn't have let her live at school," his mother whispered to his father. Feliciano couldn't tell if she meant for him to hear or not.

"Darling she has to learn to care for herself," his father retorted. And for once Feliciano agreed.

The rest of the car ride was rather silent. The only sound being the Christian music that they had on the radio. Feliciano would occasionally reach for his headphones but stopped himself each time. He remained sitting up straight. Not leaning on anything. Looking down he saw his art supplies. They were staring up at him. Calling to him. Tempting him to pull them out. He looked away and out the window instead. Hoping that this ride would be over soon.

"Hey, little bro wasn't excepting to see you here," Gilbert after he opened the door to his apartment. Ludwig stood there with the best smile he could. "What brings you here?"

"Can't I just visit my brother?" Ludwig said trying to sound as normal as he could.

"I mean I am awesome." Gilburt rubbed his knuckled against his chest. Ludwig just gave him a blank stare.

"So are we just going to stand here or..." Ludwig said after a while.

"Oh right," Gilbert stepped aside to let Ludwig in. The apartment hadn't changed much since Ludwig has last been here. Just some slight furniture rearrangements and none of the big stuff had moved. Gilbert plopped himself back on the couch and turned off the TV. After hanging up his jacket Ludwig joined him.

"So what's up?" Gilbert asked leaning on one of the arms of the couch.

"Nothing really," Ludwig said quickly. Gilbert gave him an 'are you serious' look. "Well, there may be one thing on my mind."

"Well you've come to the right place," Gilbert said with a confident smile. He patted Ludwig on the shoulder. "Now tell your big brother what's bugging you."

"Well, it's just," Ludwig said removing Gilbert's hand from him. "I think I may have a crush on a guy."

"No way!" Gilbert said with excitement. "Who is it? Wait don't tell me, it's your roommate's brother! The one you said really likes pancakes."

"Matthew? No."

"Oh," Gilbert's face fell a little. "Is it your British friend with the thick eyes brows, Arthur I think his name is."

"No, it's someone completely different." Ludwig paused and looked a deep breath in. "His name is Feliciano."

"That name does not ring a bell what so ever."

"I've never really talked about him before." Gilbert leaned back a little and raised an eyebrow. A sly smile painted on his face. "We met last semester. He attends an art school that's about fifteen minutes from campus. My friend Emma is dating someone from there. And the two them happen to be suitemates."

"Interesting," Gilbert said nodding his head a little. "So what's this Feliciano like?"

"I mean he's a nice guy." Ludwig shrugged a little.

"Oh come on," Gilbert complained leaning back a little. He placed his hands on his face and slid them down. "That was literally the most basic thing you could say about someone. What specifically about him do you like?"

"I dunno. I guess his positive attitude. He's gone through some crap in his life yet still greets every day with a smile. And it's contagious. Mainly his smile. There's just something about it that makes so perfect. I can't but smile with him. He just lights any room he's in. It's so beautiful." Ludwig collapsed his head into his hands. "What is wrong with me?"

"Awww little Ludwig's in love!" Gilbert teased. Ludwig didn't respond to him. "Oh come on it's not so bad. You have like a guy that's all."

"No, it's more like why him of all people?"

"Is he dating someone else?"

"No."

"Oh is he not gay?"

"No."

"Then I don't see the problem," Gilbert said confused.

"We're so different from each other. He's fun-loving, free-spirited, calm. Meanwhile, I'm over here serious, up-tight. Even if he did somehow feel the same way about me, we wouldn't work out. We're too different."

"Hey, you won't know if you try. It took me forever to ask Lizzie out."

"Really?" Ludwig asked in shock.

"I know. I know. Your super awesome older brother isn't as perfect as you thought. We all have our weaknesses. But it's true. It took me so long to ask her out. Mainly because I thought she didn't like me back. But eventually, I got up the courage to do so and so far it's worked out. And I'm sure the same thing will happen to you."

"Thanks, Gilbert I needed to hear that."

"Alicia, we really need to upgrade your wardrobe," Feliciano's mom said going through his closet. She held up a t-shirt Feliciano often wore. As she said that Feliciano couldn't help but look at the clothes he was currently wearing. Sure he was currently jeans like he normally would. But his shirt a more feminine one. He felt uncomfortable wearing it. It didn't help he wasn't wearing his binder.

"That's just what I like wearing," Feliciano said not even looking up from his drawing. His mother walked over and took the sketchbook out of his hands. Feliciano held himself back from saying anything.

"This what you spent your free time doing," she said looking at the drawing. "Naked people?"

"It's for my advanced anatomy class. I need to learn to draw the body as realistic as possible."

"I don't see the point in it," his mom threw the sketchbook. Feliciano caught it. Thankful none of the pages had bent. "Come on we need to cook dinner."

Feliciano sighed and stood up. He closed his sketchbook and followed his mom downstairs. His mom started to gather the cooking tools she needed. Telling Feliciano what he needed to grab from the fridge. He grabbed everything as quickly as he could. Doing everything she asked with comment. Though he could feel her staring at him. It was something he tried to ignore but couldn't. Like he being judged back in high school. It got to the point where he did a little sigh of relief when his mom asked him to set the table.

"Honey, doesn't Alicia look nice today?" his mother asked his father while they ate dinner. Gesturing to Feliciano as she did.

"She does dear," his father said after looking at Feliciano for a bit. Feliciano quickly grabbed his glass and took a drink from it.

"See Alicia," his mom turned to him. "When you dress like you're supposed to people think you look nice."

She gave him a rather condescending smile. Feliciano shuttered a little and continued eating. Looking towards Lovino, he saw that Lovino looked so done with everything. Feliciano remained quiet. Once again he could feel his mother's eyes piercing at him. And once again he ignored them.

"Hey, are you okay?" Lovino asked walking into Feliciano's room. Feliciano looked up from his sketchbook.

"I'm okay," Feliciano said quietly. Lovino up to Feliciano's bad and sat on the other end.

"You sure?" Lovino asked in a quieter, calmer tone than he normally spoke with.

"Yeah," Feliciano said still quietly.

"If something is bugging you you can tell me."

"I'm fine." Feliciano started playing with his sketchbook pages a little.

"Alright," Lovino said standing back up. "Remember if and when you want to get out of here just tell me. And I'll find a way. Okay?"

"Okay," Feliciano responded with a small smile.

Ludwig sat in his room. Working on his computer. It was rather quiet in his home. Though he could hear his parents watching TV downstairs. It didn't bug him in the slightest. After a few moments, he heard a phone ring. He thought it was from his parent's show for a minute before looking down and seeing it was his own. And Feliciano was calling him.

"Hi Feliciano," Ludwig said answering the phone.

"Hey," Feliciano said in a rather somber tone.

"Are you okay?" Ludwig asked as he closed his laptop.

"My mom's been on my nerves today," Feliciano said after a bit of hesitation. Ludwig could here some fear in his voice.

"Not really," Feliciano said. "I just wanted to talk to you. If that's alright?"

"Of course," Ludwig responded smiling a little as he did.

"Ludwig," Feliciano said a bit lower and happier than before.

"Yes?"

"Thank you."