Hey, so [insert apologies and empty promises about never updating late again here].

I still don't own Hetalia, be glad. You'd never get another episode at my output rate. In case you forgot, Romano is the name of Feliciano's pet rabbit.

Chapter Three: Let's Be Friends, Take Two

Once Feliciano unlocked his dorm, he made a beeline for the bed; he was in such a rush that he did not bother to take the key out of the door. He had only been in school for two days, but he was tired enough to last a life time. Not caring about the condition of his journals, he flung his messenger bag towards the chair in the corner, and then flopped onto his bed. Within seconds the Italian was out like a light, no surprise since the mattress was as soft as a cloud.

If not for the depth of his sleep, the teen might have heard the loud knock at his door; however, the brunet was quite the heavy sleeper. The person outside the room decided the silence was answer enough to let himself in. When he reached the bedroom and saw Feliciano asleep, the intruder ripped away the teen's duvet. The Italian tried to curl up in the fetal position to keep warm, though not near as comfortable as he once was.

"You shouldn't sleep during the day. It'll mess up your entire sleeping schedule," a German accent admonished. The male crossed his arms, waiting for his friend to respond; a full minute of silence signaled that the teen has no intention of getting up. With a sigh, Ludwig lifted up one side of the bed and watched as the Italian rolled onto the cold, wooden floor. Regardless, it seemed Feliciano was resilient; he once again curled into the fetal position and continued his efforts to nap.

"But I need siestas…" Feliciano mumbled as he drifted out of consciousness, again.

Ludwig sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "What you need is to train. We haven't been here a week and you've already slept through four of your classes." The blond rolled his eyes and made his way for the door.

Sure, it would have been nice to have a friend, but evidently, the two were polar opposites. He was not going to spend his day helping someone he barely knew, especially since the Italian didn't seem to think he had a problem. When he got to the doorknob, however, something stopped him: something inside him convinced the German to go back and not take no for an answer; something told him the brunet deserved more of an effort.

He took his hand away from the door and instead used it to roll up his sleeves as he turned back to the sleeping teen. Stretching, he leaned his neck to his right and then his left, creating a cracking sound. Blue eyes honed in on his target as the German devised a plan. At first, he was going to use brute force, but then he decided injuring the brunet would only give him further reason to sleep. He needed to make the Italian want to wake up. Turning towards the pitiful excuse of a kitchen to the left, the German took in the sink, microwave, and hot plate before he spotted what he was looking for. A few moments later, he returned with a cooking appliance and sat at the end of the Feliciano's bed. "Get up."

"Five more minutes," the Italian requested, snuggling into his arm, not bothering to get up off the floor.

"Get up, or the pasta-maker gets it," the German dictated, holding up said device for emphasis.

Feliciano's eyes shot open. He sprang forward to retrieve his beloved pasta-maker, but Ludwig stopped him with his free hand just in time. The blond never thought the Italian could move so fast. "Don't hurt the pasta-maker! It's innocent! Innocent I say! How else am I going to make pasta? In the microwave? Have you ever had microwave pasta? I have! It's not real pasta! No matter what Arthur tells you! That is not how pasta is supposed to taste, and I have to have pasta! Without pasta I am nothing! I've had pasta since I was un bambino. One time, we ran out of pasta at my house. My parents said I was eating too much—which is ridiculous because there is no such thing— . You don't want me to die, do you?"

Ludwig stared at the Italian, still trying to process what he said. After a few more moments of keeping the pasta-maker away from the brunet's outstretched hands, the German sighed. "I won't break it if you come to the library with me."

Immediately, the other teen stopped trying to get the pasta-maker back. "Oh, you wanna hang out?" the brunet chirped, standing up. He hugged the blond, catching Ludwig completely off guard. "You could've just said so." Feliciano headed towards the door, and then turned back towards his friend.

"Aren't you gonna get any books to study with?" the German asked, placing the pasta-maker back where he found it.

The other teen brushed off the blond's question with a smile and proceeded out the door. With a sigh, Ludwig retrieved the brunet's messenger bag and followed his new friend, repeatedly questioning himself as to why he was letting this happen. For some reason, he couldn't say no to his only friend.

Days later, the duo were back in Feliciano's apartment watching a movie, because 'that's what friends do' according to Feliciano. It was strange. They were just sitting watching a movie. Ludwig could not feel at ease. He felt like he was wasting valuable time. To make matters worse, he could not even multitask; this American film went by too quickly. He much preferred German Cinema. In German movies he could leave for the restroom or have a conversation, but now, Heaven forbid he blink. Feliciano was not making it any easier. The Italian was eating Fettuccine Alfredo and yapping away, detracting from the horror of the film. At least Ludwig thought so.

Feliciano on the other hand seemed to to be terrified. So much so, the Italian stopped eating. He inched closer to Ludwig as the characters on the screen tried to locate the mysterious sounds in their house. Feliciano wanted to look away, but he could not. He had to know that everything turned out okay for the protagonists.

"Don't split up!" Feliciano yelled, watching in horror as the characters ignored his plea.

Ludwig was amazed at his friends deep concern for the fictional characters, especially since these people happened to be idiots. Not only did they fail to keep emergency flashlights with new batteries, but they also didn't even think to call the police.

Feliciano tightened his grip on Ludwig's arm, mentally trying to prevent anything bad from happening.

Now alone, the female protagonist made her way in the dark, nothing but a candle to guide her. In the distance wooden floorboards creaked.

"Hello?" she inquired. The darkness offered no reply, so she continued. With every step her candlelight flickered. A faint sound of heavy breathing oozed through the walls.

"Hello?" She tried again, this time, her voice dripping with fear. Her pace quickened and the hallway seemed endless. The floorboards cried beneath her feet, louder and louder until she lost balance; and then came the scratching sounds. Without light from her lost candle, she was powerless to identify the source. She scrambled in the dark to reach her phone. The noise grew louder, along with the breathing. After what felt like eons of darkness, she turned on phone's flashlight, and lying in the light's path is a deformed human face with a shark's smile. There were too many teeth to fit in even a whale's mouth, all of them long, thin, and sharp. The eye sockets were empty, red, and scarred. The creature crouched in the face of its next victim and then leaped forward.

Feliciano screamed, tossing his plate into the air and then ducking behind Ludwig for comfort. His heart was racing.

Ludwig was startled at best and not from the all too predictable film. Feliciano's dinner landed on him. His clothes were entirely pasta covered. He turned to his friend and sighed.

"Turn it off," Feliciano begged, pressing his face into Ludwig's arm, not willing to turn back to the screen. Ludwig sighed. He was not mad. More so, he felt affection for the petrified brunet. He grabbed the remote off of the couch's armrest and turned off the TV.

"Is it gone?" Feliciano asked weakly, peeking his head out from behind Ludwig's arm.

"Ja."

Feliciano peered out from behind Ludwig's shoulder. He smiled with relief, only to realize he no longer had pasta on his plate. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to dirty your clothes! It'll be okay. I know how to get pasta stains right out. I can- oh no! That was the last pasta I had. I never went grocery shopping! I was supposed to but then I saw this really cute girl. I started talking to her but then I guess I forgot why I went out. What am I going to eat?"

Ludwig raised an eyebrow, somehow managing to follow Feliciano's train of thought. "If it's food you want, I can make something."

"Really?" The Italian inquired, eyes widening with hope.

"I have to go back and change anyways," Ludwig shrugged. He got up slowly, as to prevent the pasta from sliding off his clothes onto the floor. He collected most of it into the plate and disposed of it before leading his overexcited friend to his dorm.

Once inside, Feliciano zipped around the room. "You know you've never invited me in before?" The Italian questioned when he finished his speed inspection of the room quite similar to his own.

Ludwig did not answer. He went straight to room and changed.

Feliciano headed to the kitchen. To his dismay, Ludwig's refrigerator was virtually empty. There was cabbage, sausage, milk, ketchup, eggs, cheese, ham, pudding, coca cola, and beer. For a moment Feliciano pondered how his underage, by-the-book friend acquired beer, but then he remembered a more pressing issue: there was no pasta in the fridge. Immediately, he scanned the pantry. There's was nothing noteworthy besides an unusual amount of pretzels and potatoes.

Ludwig walked out of his room, happy to once again be in clean clothing. He felt blissful for a full second before being confronted by his friend.

"You forgot to buy food, too! All you have is meat and potatoes! How are you going to make pasta?"

Ludwig stared at Feliciano long and hard before deciding to answer. "I won't." He went into the kitchen and got out a few things to whip up a quick snack.

Feliciano talked all the while Ludwig prepared the meal, wondering what his friend was going to make for him. When Ludwig was done, Feliciano couldn't believe it.

"You're done?" The Italian inquired glancing down at the plate. It was bread topped with meat covered in cheese.

"What is it?"

"It's an open face sandwich. It's a German thing. Too much grain is bad for you. Also, it's just a snack. It'll hold you until your next helping of pasta.

Feliciano grinned. "How do I hold it?"

"By the sides of the bottom piece of bread," Ludwig explained, demonstrating with his own sandwich.

Feliciano followed in suite and took a large bite. "Mmm, who knew sausages and cheese tasted so good?"

Ludwig chucked to himself. So this is what having a friend... it's not bad.

A week later, Ludwig found himself waiting for Feliciano; he was always late. By always, Ludwig meant always. He was never one to exaggerate. The Italian sauntered from place to place without a care in the world unless pasta was involved. However, when pasta was involved, Feliciano could run faster than Usain Bolt.

Ludwig glanced at the clock again, but nothing had changed. Of course the German had realized by now that the brunet is not popular for his punctuality, but it did not stop him from hoping the Italian would arrive on time. Not one to sit with his hands, Ludwig decided to use his time wisely and tidy up Feliciano's dorm. The kitchen was atrocious. The counter was covered in-well, not covered in anything per se, but it could be cleaner. Immediately, he went to work wiping up what could have eventually matured into dust. After putting the cleaning products back in the cupboard, he moved to go into the living room, but was pleasantly surprised. A rabbit scurried from under the sofa to the counter, which he proceeded to jump onto. The creature made way to the coffee table's centerpiece, a bowl of apples. As the rabbit began to nibble at the fruit, Ludwig inched closer to the furry creature.

How does a bunny even get into dorm room? Feliciano probably left his window open, Ludwig thought. He glanced up at the closed window, and then proceeded to scan the room, all the while still making his way towards the rabbit. Through the slightly ajar door to Feliciano's room, he spotted a cage and instantly made the connection. It's his pet. He reached the table and tentatively outstretched his hand to pet the rabbit. To Ludwig's surprise, the creature did not only stay put, but moved towards the warmth of his hand and began to… purr? Can bunnies purr?

When he pulled his hand away, he noticed specks of dust on his fingers. He sighed. Feliciano must have forgotten to bathe his rabbit. Ludwig picked up the rabbit and felt an eerie sense of deja vu. He shrugged off the emotion and made his way for the bathroom.

He turned on the water tub, letting the water run for the temperature to adjust. While that was going on, Ludwig grabbed a small square bucket from under the sink. He then filled the bucket with relatively warm water and placed the rabbit into the water.

"What are you doing?" a familiar voice exclaimed from behind.

Ludwig was started. For some reason he felt guilty. Maybe because he never heard Feliciano come in; regardless, he felt like he was committing a crime.

"I was cleaning your pet," Ludwig explained, not turning around. He leaned forward for the soap, but was stopped when Feliciano ripped his pet from the water.

"You can't wash Romano!" He brushed back the wet fur with his fingers frantically searching for a towel. "The shock alone could kill a healthy bunny, but Romano is old and-" Feliciano wrapped his rabbit in his towel, but he knew it was too late. He broke out in tears.

Ludwig did not know how to respond. He just stood there, ashamed and extremely apologetic. He killed Feliciano's pet. Ludwig himself had three dogs and Heaven help the person who should so much as think of hurting them. What he did was unforgivable. He took a life, an incredibly meaningful life. Somehow, he felt connected to that Cottontail.

"I-I didn't…"

Feliciano looked up, big brown eyes filled with tears.

"I'm sorry," Ludwig finished.

Feliciano turned back to his pet. Romano was the brother he had always wanted. Sure he had Lovino now, but Romano was there when Ludwig left. He was there through his lonely childhood. Romano helped him through puberty and all his hard times. Now he was gone.

Ludwig waited. He waited for some kind of response. He was waiting for Feliciano to yell at him. He was waiting for Feliciano to storm out. He was waiting to lose the only friend he ever had.

"I'll just let myself out."

On his way out, Feliciano grabbed his arm. "Don't go. I don't want to be alone."

Ludwig was taken aback. Here he was, completely to blame, and Feliciano was still being nice to him.

"Let's have a funeral for him," Ludwig suggested softly.

Feliciano nodded.

"Is there anyone you want to invite?"

Feliciano stared at his bunny blankly. "No. It should end the same way it started," Feliciano muttered.

"What?"

"No one else." Feliciano walked out of the room.

Ludwig stayed behind for a bit. He killed his only friend's pet. Why was Feliciano being so nice about it? Feliciano had so many friends. He didn't need Ludwig. Feliciano was everybody's friend, but he always seemed to hang out with him. Ludwig racked his brain, but could not find the answer. The only thing he knew is that he was happy to be with Feliciano. He was happy to know the overzealous Italian.