"I can't believe you've never been to the Borghese Gallery, Ludwig."

They were actually strolling through the Villa Borghese Gardens, enjoying as much of the property as possible. It was a pleasantly warm, cloudless day and Ludwig was able to forego a jacket, simply rolling up his shirtsleeves. The sun felt nice on his skin. Oftentimes he felt like he never got out, always stuck in his office or at home afterwards.

"I mentioned I hadn't gotten around to seeing much," he replied.

Feliciano laughed. "You did. In any case, I'm glad I got to show this to you."

Ludwig smiled and nodded. "I'm glad too."

They walked on wordlessly and Ludwig continued to glance around, taking in the immaculately kept gardens and sprawling lawns. It felt like the countryside, not a metropolitan city.

They walked in silence another hundred feet before Ludwig registered the lack of Feliciano's chattering. He glanced questioningly at him, and met Feliciano's gaze.

He was watching him with a soft smile.

"What is it?" Ludwig asked.

Feliciano bit his lip and directed his gaze forward down the path. "Oh, it's nothing," he said.

Ludwig's gaze lingered. The sun was doing things to Feliciano's hair that absorbed all his attention. Dark in the shadows, auburn in the middle, and amber gold where the sun touched it.

"Look," Feliciano suddenly said, pointing. "There's the gallery."

Tucked in the middle of the Borghese gardens was the gallery itself. Ludwig listened to Feliciano talk about the history of the villa, the gallery, the art inside. He seemed to have done his research before hand, something Ludwig appreciated. He was like Ludwig's personal tour guide, albeit a much more companionable tour guide.

Inside the gallery, they entered the first grand room and Feliciano said, "Oh, Ludwig, here they are, my favorites."

In the middle of the room stood a marble sculpture, with other museum-goers all standing around it as well.

Ludwig took it in, admiring its beauty.

"It's a Bernini," Feliciano breathed. "There are three others in the gallery. They're my favorite."

Ludwig watch Feliciano as he spoke, his gaze drawn upwards onto the sculpture with unsuppressed reverence and awe.

"Do you like sculpture?" he asked.

Feliciano nodded, still captured in a daze of wonder. "Oh, yes. I love all art. But sculpture, and Bernini's sculpture, has to be my favorite."

"Why?" Ludwig prompted gently.

Now, Feliciano lifted his hands, as if he were tracing and caressing each curve and form. "Look at them," he said, gesturing to the two carved figures. "They're fluid, dynamic. You can almost feel the blood pulsing underneath the marble. They're so full of emotion – that's probably my most favorite part. The intensity, the anguish, they express emotions with their whole bodies, not just their faces. You know the story just by looking at them."

Feliciano paused, but Ludwig refrained from speaking. Something melancholy had entered his eyes then, as if the anguished figures in front of him now called for sadness instead of awe. "I love classic art for that reason. I've always been more sympathetic – emotional, I suppose you could say." Feliciano mused another minute in quiet thoughtfulness. "Lovino – he's not that way."

He took a deep breath and tilted his head to the side. "I mean, he is emotional, I'm sure you know by now. But for him, he says this kind of art is… too emotional. It was like that growing up. Grandpa took us to a lot of museums and whatever I liked, Lovino hated. He prefers contemporary art. I've never really understood why," he trailed off. Then, he chuckled. "Maybe that's just because I don't prefer it myself."

Feliciano glanced at him. "What kind of art do you like, Ludwig?"

Ludwig blinked and finally looked away from Feliciano, at the sculpture, anything else. "I've never really thought about it. I suppose I like contemporary art as well."

Feliciano laughed. "I thought you would say that. Why do you?"

"I don't know if I can properly say," Ludwig said, wracking his brain for the bits of art vocabulary he remembered from school. "I like art that prompts an intrinsic response. If I look at it and feel something right away, then I like it."

"Hmm," Feliciano mused. "I wonder if Lovino is that way too."

Feliciano touched his arm next, a light touch of warm fingers. "Let me show you the other Berninis," he said with a renewed energy. Ludwig followed him.

Feliciano had been to the Borghese gallery quite a few times before. After Ludwig left his apartment three nights ago, Feliciano began sorting out places to take him. He'd asked him what art museums he'd been to already, and was pleased – and surprised – when he hadn't mentioned the Borghese. Luckily, Feliciano's grandpa knew one of the managers of the gallery, which meant he was able to get tickets on short notice.

For three days Feliciano prattled endlessly to Lovino, asking a question here and there about subtle flirtation, how something would sound if he phrased it a certain way, and what moves to put on Ludwig. Never mind that Lovino probably wasn't the best person to get constructive advice from, but Feliciano often brainstormed aloud.

He ultimately decided that this outing to the gallery would be the first step on Operation: Date Ludwig.

When Ludwig had taken him out of the apartment for coffee, Feliciano still felt too turbulent to realize how he was feeling. It was when he was leaving that Feliciano's mind was much more at ease and he decided to test the waters by suggesting another casual day together.

Feliciano watched him now, as they walked through the gallery, taking in the way his eyes evaluated each piece, the way his lips curved slightly up or pursed in thought, and the way his shoulders shifted, his hands held behind his back.

Everything about Ludwig was so subtle, so logical, it made Feliciano smile. He looked like he was appraising art for the market, and not like a visitor strolling through one of the most famous galleries.

Feliciano couldn't help but go back to those eyes, those two windows into everything Ludwig was feeling. He himself was like the statuary, stoic in appearance, precise in the way he held himself.

Feliciano walked a little closer to him.

On their way back, walking through the gardens, Ludwig thanked Feliciano for taking him.

Feliciano laughed. "Thank you for coming," he said. "Maybe I'll take you to the modern art gallery next time."

Ludwig smiled as he looked forward through the trees. "That would be nice."

Feliciano grinned and mentally patted himself on the back. The day was going well so far.

"Feliciano."

Feliciano flashed a smile. "Yes?"

Ludwig's gaze shifted around before focusing on him. "How is your Italian going?"

Feliciano's smile drooped slightly at the mention of the subject. He laughed nervously before answering, "It's not all the way there yet, but it's getting easier."

"That's good," Ludwig said.

Feliciano realized they'd been speaking in German all this time, and nibbled on his lip. "I keep expecting to wake up one morning with it fully returned, but then I forget a word or my nerves keep me from speaking."

"It's alright," Ludwig said, and Feliciano felt a rush of peace. "It'll come in time."

Now that he was thinking about it, another aspect of his issue came to mind. "It's still hard though. I can't talk to Lovino like I used to, and he would never admit it but it's affecting him too." He paused, but Ludwig was still listening. "Especially… what you mentioned at the hospital. I've been watching him." He hesitated, feeling a little bad for talking about Lovi behind his back like this. "He's so much sadder than he used to be. You said he felt guilty for the car accident, but I haven't really figured out why."

"Perhaps you need to sit down with him and talk about it," Ludwig said and Feliciano looked up from his feet.

He attempted a laugh. "He won't like that much."

"Even so, maybe it just needs to be done."

Lovino would try to work his way out of it, but Feliciano did see the sense in Ludwig's suggestion. He smiled and his hand itched to grab onto Ludwig's.

With each minute they spent in the gardens, the more Feliciano wanted to spend time with him. So when the opportunity came to his mind, he didn't hesitate to pose the question.

"Ludwig, are you free tomorrow night?" he asked.

Ludwig thought a moment, then he replied, "Yes, I am. Why?"

"I was thinking of taking you to our restaurant. Would… you like to go with me?"

Feliciano's heart hammered in his chest, waiting for Ludwig's response. Because if Ludwig replied how Feliciano hoped he would, then he would have the courage to take the next step.

Not long after he'd asked the question, Ludwig said, "Yes, I would. That sounds great."

Feliciano was elated.

.

.

Ludwig thought the offer very kind. Feliciano had mentioned the restaurant once before, when he'd come over for dinner, and Ludwig figured a meal out with someone he considered a friend would be… nice.

Feliciano seemed excited, and it seemed he was able to help him with Lovino. Seeing Feliciano happy… made him happy too.

But there was a new side to his relationship with Feliciano that he didn't know how to make sense of. In the gallery, he found himself watching Feliciano when he wasn't looking, admiring the way his eyes shone and the dimples in his cheeks when he smiled.

And his eyelashes were so long.

Ludwig didn't know what to call this new, confusing… thing. So the next day, when he was getting ready for the dinner, he chalked up his inability to choose between two jackets to this feeling he couldn't put a label to.

His brother, Gilbert, was having a good time of it, though.

"I'm sure the kid will like anything you wear, Lud," Gilbert laughed from where he'd thrown himself onto Ludwig's bed. "But wear the blazer. It's a little nicer than the sport coat."

Ludwig shot him a look. "That's not the issue, Gilbert. And why are you even still here?"

Gilbert shrugged. "I decided to stay another week. Don't change the subject. I've never seen you this flustered over a date. Have you even been on a date? I can't remember."

Something twisted in Ludwig's stomach. "I have been on dates. But this is not a date." Ludwig cursed Gilbert's ability to sidetrack him. "We're friends."

Gilbert was silent for once, flashing him a dry glare. "Uh-huh. A friend invites you out to dinner, to one of the fanciest joints in the city, out of the goodness of his friendly heart."

"Gilbert, stop it." But it was too late. Ludwig was already second-guessing his stance on the "date". "Feliciano is a nice guy, that's all."

He heard Gilbert sigh and mumble, "Yeah, well don't break the kid's heart," as he walked out of the room.

.

Ludwig convinced himself that breaking hearts wouldn't be a problem, because it wasn't like that with Feliciano anyway. A little part of him knew that was false, but Ludwig didn't have time to mull it over. Feliciano was waiting outside the restaurant, Vargas, looking impeccably well dressed. He grinned and waved at Ludwig as he approached.

"Welcome to Vargas!" Feliciano greeted. "I'm glad you could come see the restaurant – it's like mine and Lovino's second home. Lovino's not here tonight, though, don't worry. If he knew he probably would have insisted on working tonight and we really wouldn't get any peace," he laughed as they entered.

Ludwig found himself liking the place immediately, and Feliciano did, in fact, look very suited to the atmosphere. He could imagine him flitting about the place as he worked, with that shining smile on his face.

The host led them to a semi-secluded table, handed them menus, and left.

Ludwig looked at the menu, mostly because Feliciano was smiling at him and Ludwig didn't know exactly what to make of it.

Finally, after Feliciano ran through their impressive wine list and they'd ordered, Ludwig cleared his throat.

"So, I don't think you actually told me what you do," he said.

Feliciano cocked his head and chuckled. "I don't think I did. Lovino and I do the front-of-house management. We're pretty lucky that it's in the family, and Grandpa hired us right of college. Like I said, Lovino doesn't work tonight, and usually I would be, but until I'm… fully recovered our bar manager is filling in."

Ludwig nodded. "Have you talked to him yet?"

He laughed what Ludwig recognized as that nervous laugh. "Ah, no, I haven't yet. But I promise I will."

"It's okay. We don't need to talk about that now."

Feliciano smiled again, leaning forward. "No. I want to know about you."

Ludwig took a sip of wine. He was habitually a beer drinker, but this wine was good. "What do you want to know?"

Feliciano swirled his glass. "Mmm. What do you like to do?"

Ludwig thought it over. "When I'm not grading papers, I like to read. Though I do enjoy my work, I chose it after all."

Feliciano was smiling. "That's nice. What do you read?"

"Right now I'm reading a history of the Romance languages, language families and etymology."

Feliciano's eyes widened. He laughed. "How very like a language professor. Do you know any other languages?"

He nodded. "Enough English and a little French."

"That's amazing. Did you learn from your family?"

Ludwig smiled wryly, thinking of Gilbert. "No, my family is very… entrenched in their German. Gilbert doesn't have the attention span to learn – though he'll say he doesn't have the time. My grandfather… I can't really say. I've never heard him use anything else."

"Your grandfather?"

"Yes. He raised Gilbert and I."

"We have that in common," Feliciano said with a soft smile. "Is Gilbert still staying with you?"

"He is. He was supposed to leave a few days ago actually. He tends to come and go when he pleases."

"I do the same to Lovino, and we're both in the same city. Does he live in Germany?"

"Berlin," he clarified, nodding. Now that he thought of it, Gilbert hadn't visited him in Rome in a long while. Ludwig more often made trips back to Germany. "It is good to see him."

When Ludwig glanced up, he was briefly distracted by the way the ambient lighting and candlelight worked in tandem to make Feliciano's eyes glimmer like amber stones.

Feliciano laughed. "I'd like to meet Gilbert."

Ludwig had a startling flashback to Gilbert teasing him in his bedroom not two hours ago. "Ah, perhaps sometime."

That uncomfortable reminder of what Gilbert said made itself present in a corner of Ludwig's mind all throughout dinner. He did his best to ignore it and simply enjoy himself. When the check came, Ludwig started to take out his wallet but Feliciano stopped him.

"It's on me," he said with a wink. "It's my family's restaurant anyway."

Once they were outside and walking back, Feliciano then asked, "What did you think?"

"Everything was wonderful. You have a great restaurant."

Feliciano simply beamed. "Thank you, Ludwig. I'll be sure to tell Grandpa!" When Ludwig continued to walk with him, he asked, "Isn't the subway the opposite direction?"

Ludwig looked ahead, rubbing his fingers behind his back. "You don't live far from here, right? I can walk you back."

"That's very kind of you," Feliciano said, absolutely grinning.

.

.

Now's your chance, Feli, Feliciano told himself, beside himself with giddiness. Ludwig had offered to walk him home! The dinner had gone better than he could have imagined. Ludwig talked easily with him, he'd gotten to know more about him, and they even talked a little about future "outings", though Feliciano secretly called them dates.

He just wanted this one last thing to go right, and if it did then he'd be on cloud nine. He was building up his nerve the entire walk home to his apartment building. Had the city always felt so romantic in the evening?

Feliciano didn't have any more time to psych himself up. They'd turned the corner and were approaching his building. There on the sidewalk, outside the doors, Feliciano turned to Ludwig.

"Thank you for spending the evening with me, Ludwig. I hope we can do it again?"

Ludwig nodded, though he didn't appear particularly overjoyed or disappointed. It was simply like Ludwig, Feliciano mused. "Yes," he replied. "I really enjoyed the evening myself."

Feliciano bit his lip and smiled. "Great!" Oh, now his stomach was churning. "Um, Ludwig?"

"Hmm?"

He had Ludwig's full attention now. He just needed to…

Feliciano grabbed Ludwig's hand, careful to hold it gently and assuring. He pushed himself onto his toes and kissed him.

Butterflies erupted in Feliciano's stomach. He'd finally done it, and it was so much easier than he thought!

However, it soon became evident that Ludwig was not moving, was barely even breathing. There was no response from him and Feliciano's courage and confidence was shot like a goose during hunting season.

He slowly backed away, watching in horror as Ludwig's brow furrowed over his eyes and his jaw fell open in what was probably disgust.

He hated him now. Everything Feliciano believed was wrong. All the little advances and flirtations were for nothing. Every signal, every clue he'd gotten from Ludwig had, in fact, been wrong.

Embarrassment sent his heart beating wildly, and tears pricked at his eyes.

"Ludwig, I'm–" How could he even apologize? "I'm so sorry. I thought– I thought you…"

Ludwig was still silent. He was too disgusted by Feliciano's abrupt kiss that he was speechless.

"I'm so sorry," he repeated, finding his feet and backing away toward the doors. "I'll just… I'll go."

Feliciano was through the doors before he heard Ludwig shout his name behind him, but he was already gone, into the elevator and slamming the button to close the doors. The sixth floor couldn't come fast enough, but when it did Feliciano tore down the hall and fumbled with his keys to open his door.

With eyes clouded with tears, Feliciano prayed, Don't be here, Lovino, don't be here.

"Feli?" Lovino asked, shocked and instantly on alert by the sight of him.

"I'm fine, Lovi, just–" He hurried to his bedroom and shut the door behind him, aware that Lovino was most likely going to storm in. He curled himself up on his bed and pulled the blanket over his head before Lovino did just that.

"Feli," Lovino exclaimed, sounding at the same time angry and worried. "Feli, what happened?"

"It's nothing, don't mind me."

"Bullshit. Tell me what–" His pause meant he understood. "It's that damn German, isn't it? You went out with him again, right? What did he do?"

When Feliciano didn't answer, Lovino ripped the blanket away from his face, and he was right there. "What did he do, Feli?"

"He did nothing!" Really, he'd done nothing. He supposed that in order to get Lovino off his back he'd need to tell him. "I… I took him to Vargas, for dinner. It was going so well, we talked a lot and he said he'd really enjoyed the night. He even walked me back here and then I… I kissed him. Oh, Lovi, I shouldn't have done that. He hates me now. I was wrong about thinking that he liked me. He never liked me the way I like him, and now I ruined everything."

Lovino grabbed his shoulders. "Feliciano, don't you say that. He's the idiot, okay? He's the thickheaded idiot."

"He just stood there! Stupid Ludwig, he just stood there."

Lovino tore away and marched to the door. "He's probably still out there, I'm going to –"

Feliciano launched himself off the bed in a panic and clutched Lovino's arm. "Lovi, you can't! Please don't, I've had enough embarrassment for one day. Leave him alone."

Lovino was good at being angry, Feliciano knew this. As he stood there, he could feel the energy tensing up his muscles, he could see the flames in his eyes. But as he watched Feliciano plead with him, Lovino's shoulders slumped and he exhaled.

"Fine. But we're talking about this. Tomorrow, Feli."

Feliciano nodded, anything to get Lovino to leave him be for the night.

Lovino left his bedroom, shutting the door behind him, but Feliciano didn't even get two minutes of peace. Just then, an earnest knock sounded at the door.

He knew it was going to be Ludwig, and Lovino was going to face him. But Feliciano couldn't bring himself to open the door. Instead, he stood with his ear pressed to the crack to hear everything they said.

Lovino opened the door and said, "You. What the fuck do you want?"

"Lovino, please, let me–"

"No! You will not talk to Feli right now. Not after what you just did to him."

Ludwig sounded progressively more frustrated. "This is between us, you don't need to be involved."

"I don't need to be involved?" Lovino repeated, incredulously. "I don't need to be involved in my little brother's troubles? Me, who grew up with him? Me, who promised to protect him after our parents died because all we had was each other? Until you are left to help raise your little brother do not tell me not to be involved with him. I don't care if he's exaggerating what happened, Feli is hurt and I will not have you here tonight."

There was silence, and Feliciano was crying again, but for a whole new reason.

Finally, Ludwig spoke. It was quiet, and Feliciano had to strain to hear.

"You're right," he said. "I don't know what it's like from your end. I'm sorry to disturb you, Lovino. Good night."

Feliciano didn't hear anything more, only Lovino shutting the door and collapsing onto the couch with a heavy sigh.

Feliciano crawled back into bed thoroughly exhausted. He didn't have any idea yet of how to deal with the situation with Ludwig, but he knew one thing. He suddenly understood why Lovino had blamed himself for the car crash.

.

.

Ludwig slammed his door shut behind him, Lovino's words still ringing in his ears. He slumped down onto the floor, his back pressed to the door, his head in his hands.

First Feliciano running out on him, then Lovino yelling at him, what more could there be?

"Hey, Lud? How was the night–" Gilbert came to an abrupt halt in the hallway when he found Ludwig on the floor. "Ludwig? What happened?"

"Please, go away Gilbert," he said through clenched teeth.

Instead, Gilbert came over and crouched in front of him. "Hey," he said gently. "Talk to me. What happened? I thought things were going well?"

Ludwig's head snapped up and he snarled, "Yes, well not anymore. I screwed everything up and I couldn't even try to fix it."

Gilbert put his hands under his elbows and hoisted him up, led him to the couch. "You're scaring me. Tell me what happened."

As if he'd been granted permission, everything came spilling out.

"The night was going very well. We were both enjoying ourselves and I walked Feliciano home. Then he… he kissed me."

"He what?"

"He kissed me, Gil, and I– I just stood there. In shock, I– I wasn't expecting it at all. I should have been expecting it. Dammit, it was a date, Gilbert. But I couldn't see that and then he tried to kiss me and I did nothing. He apologized profusely and I couldn't even catch up to him because his brother was there to chew me out."

"His brother? What did he say to you?" Gilbert asked warily.

Simmering from the fresh memory of Lovino's words, Ludwig told him, "He said that I wasn't to see Feliciano tonight. That I'd hurt him and Lovino was only protecting him. He went on about how it was his right to protect him, because he'd practically raised him or something. That I would never know what that feels like, and therefore I couldn't possibly know how he and how Feliciano was feeling."

Gilbert was silent, and Ludwig looked up to find his expression serious. "What, Gilbert? Are you going to say he's right? I know what it's like. They were raised by their grandfather, and so were we–"

"Let's get one thing straight, Ludwig. I was raised by Opa," Gilbert interrupted fiercely. Ludwig swallowed and blinked. Gilbert pounded his chest with his hand. "And I raised you, don't you forget that. Opa was only keeping us because it was the law. He didn't look after you like I did. I made it my job to see that you grew up with a proper role model. And maybe I did my job too well, because look what you've gone and done to the poor kid." Gilbert's tone softened. "Look, Lud. I'm not totally blaming you here, but I can understand where this Lovino is coming from. If someone did that to you, you can bet your ass I'd be in jail right now."

Ludwig dropped his gaze to his hands held weakly in his lap. "I'm sorry, Gil. It didn't occur to me…"

"It's okay, Lud. Come here," he said, and pulled Ludwig forward into a tight hug. Gilbert held him back with his hands on his shoulders and asked, "Now, tell me: do you like Feliciano?"

"Well, yes, I–"

"Ludwig, do you like him?"

Ludwig swallowed. He didn't have time to contemplate, so Ludwig answered quickly and honestly. "Yes. I do."

Gilbert nodded. "Then tomorrow you'll tell him that."

How could Ludwig's life make a complete turn in as little as two hours? Though if he really thought about it, it'd been happening since he met Feliciano. Ludwig was, frankly, exhausted after the whirlwind of the night. He'd been unaware of so many things, but now he would sort out at least one of them.

Tomorrow. For now, he would get some much needed rest.

.

.

Lovino was already in the kitchen the next morning, his back to Feliciano as he came out of his bedroom. Lovino had made coffee and was hovering silently over his mug.

Feliciano wrung his hands and approached him.

"Lovi?"

Lovino turned, only half looking at him. "Good morning, Feli."

He was going to be silent today, Feliciano thought. His brother had two modes, but the quieter side was a lot more rare, and a lot more worrying.

"We need to talk, Lovi," he said, sitting at the counter stool.

"Would you like some coffee?"

Feliciano sighed. "Yes, please." He waited until Lovino had slid his mug over before continuing.

Before he could say anything, though, Lovino said, "You heard. Last night."

Feliciano bit his lip and nodded.

"I meant everything I said."

"I know, and I should have talked to you about this earlier, but I was… I had just gotten out of the hospital and I was worrying over my Italian…"

Lovino was watching him warily, as if he knew where this was going. Feliciano took a deep breath.

"Lovi, I know that you blame yourself for the accident. There's no reason for you to, but I think I know why."

"You think you know why," Lovino repeated under his breath.

"You said it last night, that you promised yourself you'd protect me. That's something I've never really taken into account in the past. I probably took advantage of that without even knowing it, and for that I'm sorry."

"Feli, you don't–"

"But Lovi, don't blame yourself anymore for what happens to me. I'm grown up now. You don't need to protect me from playground bullies. I love you so much, Lovi, and I appreciate everything you did for me that Grandpa couldn't. But it's only going to hurt me more knowing that you're so sad because of something you couldn't control. So please, for your own sake," he trailed.

Lovino hung his head and Feliciano waited. Finally, Lovino glanced up with a small smile. "You got me. After so many years I guess I just can't help it."

Feliciano smiled. "I know. It's okay." Seeing his brother finally smiling, Feliciano felt his hands itching to hug him. "Can I…?"

Lovino sighed, but he was still smiling. "Yes, come here, stupid."

Feliciano bounced off his seat and threw himself at Lovino, hugging him tight. His heart lifted when he felt Lovino hug him back.

"I'm going to go see Ludwig," Feliciano told him. "I have to make things right."

Lovino groaned. "Do you have to?"

"Lovino, be nice," he scolded. "I'm sure he's not going to come back here after how badly you told him off."

"I'm proud of that, by the way," Lovino replied, smugly.

Feliciano rolled his eyes. "I know you are."

"Feliciano," Lovino said suddenly, a quizzical look in his eyes. "You've been speaking perfect Italian."

His jaw dropped open and he blinked. "I have?" Lovino nodded. Excitement bubbled up in him and he squeezed Lovino one last time. "It came back! Oh, Lovi, isn't this great?"

"Yeah, now you can stop with that shitty German."

Feliciano pouted and smacked his arm. "Lovino," he warned.

"I know, I know. Just go."

With a laugh, Feliciano finished his coffee and bounded back into his bedroom, dressed and brushed his teeth in record time, and called out a "See you later, Lovi!" on his way out.

Sure, his heart was pounding with each step toward Ludwig's apartment, but it was finally a good pound. The whole way there, he ran scenarios in his head and they were all positive, because nothing could stop him from making things right again.

Even his hands were sweating slightly when he knocked on Ludwig's door. But once the door opened he froze.

An unfamiliar man stood in the doorway in a loose t-shirt, with pale, bed-head hair and sharp eyes.

Those eyes widened and he grinned on sight of him. "You must be Feliciano!" he said. "Come in, come in."

Feliciano's heart was hammering again. "Are you… Gilbert?"

He laughed. "Has Lud told you about me then? I feel so honored. Would you like a beer?"

"Um, no thanks." Feliciano fidgeted from where he sat on the couch. "Is Ludwig here?"

A light switched on in Gilbert's eyes and he laughed again. "Of course you're here to see Luddy. What am I doing? Poor thing's exhausted. He's been in bed all morning. Want me to get him?"

"Well, if he's sleeping…"

"Nonsense!" Gilbert exclaimed. "It's pretty important anyway, right?"

Gilbert practically stomped down the short hall and pounded a fist on Ludwig's door. "Hey, Lud, wake up! You've got a visitor."

The door swung open and Ludwig said, "Gilbert, do you mind?" Then, he saw Feliciano.

Feliciano tried a bright smile, but feared that it looked rather nervous.

Ludwig cleared his throat. "Feliciano, you're here."

He was sure the corners of his lips were twitching. "Hi, Ludwig."

Ludwig shot a glare at Gilbert, until he finally said, "Oh! You want me gone. Gotcha. I'll just… go down to a café. Practice my Italian." Gilbert snickered while throwing on a jacket and shoes. He winked before closing the front door behind him, and then they were alone.

Ludwig pushed a hand through his hair, but it flopped back over his forehead. Feliciano thought it was adorable. He'd never seen Ludwig like this, with his hair down and dressed so casually in a t-shirt and sleep pants. It was starkly different from the well-composed, put-together Ludwig he knew.

When he sat down next to him, all the words he thought to say poured out of his mouth.

"Ludwig, I want to apologize for last night. I guess I assumed a lot of things, and I never even talked to you about them before I–"

"Feliciano," Ludwig interrupted, grabbing his hand. "You did nothing wrong. I'm the one who needs to apologize. I can be a little… dense sometimes, I know. But there's something I need to tell you."

Feliciano swallowed, glancing down at their hands. His heart raced. "Yes?"

"I do like you. I like you a lot, actually. I guess I just didn't know how to handle it, so I kept denying it. And then when you finally kissed me, I realized I really did like you. But I reacted too late, and you thought you'd done wrong. I'm terribly sorry, and I could probably never make it up to you."

Feliciano was grinning now. He squeezed Ludwig's hand and kept himself from throwing his arms around his neck. "Ludwig, you've already made it up to me by saying that. It makes me so happy, and so relieved!"

Sometimes, Feliciano cursed his inability to think before acting. His excitement overwhelmed him so much that he pushed himself forward, threw his arms around Ludwig's neck, and kissed him again. And then he felt cold realization shoot down his spine and he jumped away.

"I did it again," he worried, seeing Ludwig's shocked face. "I'm so sorry–"

Ludwig stopped him by kissing him a second time, his hand at the back of his neck and his lips wholly more earnest. It was everything Feliciano had wanted. He smiled against Ludwig's lips and laughed. Even Ludwig chuckled.

"Feliciano, I have to be at the university in a little while, but what do you say we go out tonight?"

Feliciano thought he might be grinning forever.

.

Feliciano spent the day making preparations to return to the restaurant, looking over paperwork and catching up with the bar manager who'd been filling in for him. He was ecstatic to find that his Italian seemed to be back to stay, and his German was still fully functioning too.

In the late afternoon, Lovino was cleaning up all his belongings from Feliciano's apartment, preparing to go back to his, when there was a knock at the door.

Lovino answered, and there stood Ludwig, dressed and groomed immaculately as ever. Feliciano watched from the side as Lovino laid eyes on him and glared.

"Hello, Lovino," Ludwig said.

"Hello," Lovino replied, arms crossed over his chest.

"May I come in?"

Lovino wordlessly moved aside. Ludwig met Feliciano's gaze, and they smiled at one another.

"Alright. What do you want?"

"Lovi," Feliciano chastised.

Ludwig ignored Lovino's brashness. "I want to apologize to you, Lovino. I didn't realize how much I'd also hurt you, and I assumed things I shouldn't have. I know where I stand with Feliciano now, and I hope you can forgive me."

Feliciano watched, amused, as Lovino struggled to find anything to pin on Ludwig. Finally, he sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Apology accepted."

Feliciano grinned and came over to Ludwig's side. "Thank you, Lovi."

Lovino looked everywhere but the two of them. He never was good at the touchy-feely.

"Are you ready?" Ludwig asked him.

Feliciano nodded, weaving his fingers with Ludwig's. Outside in the hallway, Feliciano reached up and pressed a kiss to Ludwig's cheek. "That went well," he said.

"Thank God."

Feliciano laughed and hugged his arm. They entered the elevator and Feliciano beamed proudly at him. "Now, tell me about your day."

Ah, denial~

JEEZ, I am sorry it took so long to get this out. School had me in a stranglehold, but I'm on spring break now so the last chapter (which is more like an epilogue) will be out in the next day or two.

Thank you for reading and supporting!