Protector. Chapter 4

A/N: Ugh! I accidentally deleted this chapter instead of emailing it and had to rewrite it. I guess that's a good thing since that version sucked. Hopefully this one will be better. Oh, look up the song I Belong To You by Muse. That is this story's theme song and it's a great song.

Disclaimer: Hikari does not own or claim to own Hetalia.

Ludwig felt like a failure. It was his job to find and put murderers behind bars. He had done it dozens of other times but this killer was different.

Both Ludwig and the killed were meticulous in their work. Ludwig would have been able to spot any clue left behind if the killer left any. It was like horse racing when two thouroubreds were nearing the finish line, neck and neck. Ludwig wasn't even close to that though. He was the horse stuck to the inside of the rail, force to stare at the winners rump.

It was absolutely frustrating that he couldn't protect his loved ones.

After talking with Romano about Bella, Feliciano helped him to their bedroom to take a nap. Ludwig waited in the hallway until Feliciano solemnly came out.

Ludwig leaned away from the wall he had been lounging on and just stared at the sad Italian with sympathetic eyes. Feliciano looked back for a moment, his lip quivering.

"Come here." Ludwig whispered tenderly, enclosing Feliciano in a light hug. Feliciano hugged him back tightly, pressing his face into Ludwig's shoulder. His smaller shoulders shook in silent sobs.

Ludwig rubbed his back softly. "Shh. It's ok, Feli." he whispered gently. He could hear Feliciano's irregular breathing. "Just let it out. Don't bottle it in."

Feliciano sobbed louder, grasping Ludwig's shirt tightly. Ludwig kissed the side of his head. "Talk to me, Feli. Tell me what your thinking." he whispered.

"P-p-poor R-Roman-no!" Feliciano whimpered. "H-he's a-all alon-ne! A-and B-Bella is d-dead!"

"I know, Feli. You're a good brother. Romano's very lucky to have you to support him." he whispered softly to his ear.

"Ludwig?" Feliciano asked quietly.

"Yes, Feli?" Ludwig said, stroking the Italians hair.

"Will Romano ever find happiness?"

Ludwig was silent for a while. He didn't know how to answer it. "I don't know, Feli." he whispered. "I hope so."

"I hope so too." Feliciano whispered, nuzzling his head against Ludwig's shoulder, his warm breath raising goose bumps on Ludwig's neck.

"Don't get too comfortable. I have to call Kiku and tell him I can't come back in today." Ludwig said, twisting his neck to kiss Feliciano's forehead.

"Don't. Go find Bella's killer." Feliciano said, his eyes flickering up to look into Ludwig's cyan eyes.

"Are you sure you two will be ok here?" Ludwig asked. "I don't mind staying home."

"I'll be fine. I'm just going to make some pasta for Romano." Feliciano said. Ludwig's hand drifted up to wipe tears from Feliciano's chocolate eyes with a gentle hand.

Feliciano's hand cupped Ludwig's hand. "Be careful ok? I have a funny feeling about this." Feliciano whispered.

Ludwig turned his hand around and squeezed Feliciano's hand. "I will. You be careful as well."

Feliciano smiled softly. "I will. Now get out of here." Feliciano smiled playfully.

At the office

Within a few minutes, Ludwig walked into the station. He went straight to Kiku's office. The Japanese man was bent over his desk looking into the computer screen. His dark eyes looked tired from looking at the screen so long.

"Hi Kiku." Ludwig said walking in. Kiku's head snapped to face him as he darted to his feet.

"Ludwig-san, is Feli-chan ok?" Kiku asked.

Ludwig shrugged. "Our latest victim was Romano's girlfriend. He's taking it pretty hard." Ludwig said, sighing.

"I am very sorry, Ludwig-san." Kiku said frowning. "You don't have to be here."

"Thanks but I promised them I'd find the person who killed her." Ludwig said, "Und I've been thinking. That new card doesn't have anything to do with Ivan Braginski. I think it was just coincidence that the first one took us to that site; it was way too obvious."

Kiku nodded, "Hai. I agree. I have been looking through lists of wanted criminals and no one is small enough to be capable of such a clean crime."

Ludwig sighed, "There has to be something that we're missing. A person can't leave a scene without leaving a clue. Do we even know how he got into the scene?"

Kiku shook his head. "No signs of entry. Doors were locked, all the windows were closed."

"Were the windows locked?" Ludwig asked.

"No they were not." Kiku said.

"I have an idea. Do you have time to follow me to the scene of the latest victim?" Ludwig asked. Kiku allowed a small smile and nodded.

"Hai, I do. Let's go." Kiku said standing up.

The two of them drove to the crime scene. They parked in the alley beside the hotel and looked up at the large building.

"There," Kiku said pointing up. "That's her room. Right near the fire escape."

Ludwig looked up and counted up the floors and found Bella window. "I'll climb first." Ludwig said. He grabbed the edge of the fire escape and pulled it down. He started climbing up. The metal flanged as he climbed up and his hands turned red from the cold.

Below him, he heard Kiku starting up behind him. Once he reached Bella's floor he looked around the floor. The edges of the metal were covered with a blanket of snow except for a few areas where someone had grabbed it to pull themselves up.

Leading towards the window were large footprints. Ludwig pulled out a camera and took pictures before pulling himself up. He approached the window and looked. The window was perfectly polished as if no one had even touched it.

Kiku quickly joined his side. "It looks like he used gloves and/or washed it." he pointed out.

"Ja. At least we know where he came in at." Ludwig said.

"I'll call some guys to come and check for prints, just in case." Kiku said.

Ludwig nodded, "Good idea."

From his pocket, Ludwig's cell phone rang. Ludwig pulled it from his pocket and answered. "Hello, Detective Bielschmidt speaking."

"Ludwig," Alfred said. His voice sent a wave of fear down Ludwig's spine. It sounded sympathetic, something unusual for the usual cheerful man, "There's been a kidnapping and I think you need to get down here."

"Where is it?" Ludwig asked, his heartbeat thumping against his chest.

"Ludwig, please don't panic when I tell you this. It's at your apartment but it's not Feliciano." Alfred said quietly. Ludwig nearly dropped the phone. He was silent, having difficulty grasping the new information. "Ludwig?"

"Ja, I'll be down there soon." Ludwig said. He abruptly hung up and headed toward the ladder.

"Kiku, I got to go. Someone was kidnapped at my apartment." Ludwig said as he climbed down.

"I'll go with you, my friend." Kiku said, coming down after him.

Once Ludwig's feet touched the ground, he was off to the car. The ominous feeling settled over him again, hanging over his head like a rainy cloud. He hurried to the car and started it up. Kiku sat in the passenger seat a few moments later and Ludwig sped off.

Parking outside the apartment, Ludwig ran in. He went into his open apartment and breathed a sigh of relief seeing Feliciano sitting in a chair.

The young Italian appeared unharmed though he was crying. A few police men stood around him, a few trying to awkwardly comfort him but to no avail.

Ludwig hurried over to the smaller man. When Feliciano looked up and saw him, he stood up from the chair and ran over to him. Ludwig opened out his arms to the Italian as he ran into his chest, sobbing wildly.

Oh God! Ludwig thought.

Ludwig hugged Feliciano back tightly, cupping the back of his head, "Feliciano, I'm so sorry. Tell me what happened."

Feliciano was still sobbing loudly. He sucked in deep breathes of air and calmed down enough to explain what happened to Ludwig.

"I-I was making p-pasta in the k-kitchen when I heard a sc-cream. It sounded like R-Romano so when I went up to c-check on him." Feliciano started sobbing again as fresh grief washed over him.

Ludwig rubbed his back. "The faster you can calm down and tell me the faster we can get men to find him." Ludwig said softly, brushing his hair. Feliciano sniffed and drew in deep breaths.

"I-I went up to check on him and I-I saw a man drag him out the window. It was so s-scary, L-Ludwig! He was s-so limp!" Feliciano sobbed.

"He'll be ok, Feliciano. We'll find him." Ludwig said softly. "Can you remember anything about the man?"

Feliciano shook his head. "N-no. I only saw R-Romano. I passed out when I saw him."

Ludwig brushed his hair. "I'm sorry, Feliciano. I promise we'll bring him back to you safe and sound. I'll catch the guy who took him and I'll make him pay."

"Ludwig, I'm really scared." Feliciano whispered.

"It's ok, Feliciano. I'll protect you." Ludwig said softly. "You can come to work with me or I'll have some officers guard the apartment, or..."

"Ludwig," Feliciano interrupted. "I can't run from this. Someone's been targeting us, this isn't random. I don't want protection; no one else needs to be hurt." Feliciano said quietly.

"Feliciano, I don't want to risk anything happening to you." Ludwig said softly.

"Ludwig, just trust me. I know everything will work out ok." Feliciano said.

"Feliciano, listen to me. This is dumb! It's too risky!" Ludwig said firmer.

"No Ludwig! I'm not going to let this guy hurt Romano like he did by killing Bella and kidnapping him and let him control me! I've let people push me around for too long!" Feliciano said, his voice changing from angry, to upset to solemn. Ludwig brushed his hair.

"I know you have. Just don't do it on something that can get you killed." Ludwig whispered softly.

"Ludwig, I'm just asking you to trust me." Feliciano asked quietly.

"I trust you. It's this psycho out there that I don't trust." Ludwig said.

"I can take care of myself!" Feliciano snapped.

"You never have before!" Ludwig snapped back. Feliciano's eyes flashed with hurt. He leaned away from Ludwig. Ludwig's eyes flashed with surprise, "F-Feli, I didn't mean it!"

Feliciano scowled, his eyes burning with hurt. "You already said it." he said coldly. He stood up and turned away. Ludwig seized him by the wrist and turned him around. His blue eyes were soft as they stared into Feliciano's eyes.

"Feli, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that. I'm just so...scared. I don't want to lose you." Ludwig said softly.

Feliciano's hard eye softened. He gently hugged Ludwig. "I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to over react. I'll be fine though."

"Feliciano, you don't know. You'll never know. These are things of chance and bad luck. Things can happen in a matter of seconds and your life will be over. I'm not trying to scare you but please, come with me or have a guard watch over you." Ludwig grasped both of Feliciano's hands, "I'd never forgive myself if something ever happened to you and I never did anything to protect you. You don't know how much you have changed my life. I don't think I'd be able to live without you."

Feliciano's eyes filled with tears, a joyous smile gracing his tear stained face. Ludwig let go of one of his hands to cup his cheek, stroking the moist skin with a callused thumb. Feliciano tilted his head into his touch, his free hand coming up to cup Ludwig's hand. His skin was warm and soft, much different from Ludwig's harder, cooler hands.

"I'll do it for you, Ludwig. I love you too and I don't want to ever hurt you." Feliciano said softly. Ludwig gently squeezed Feliciano's hand. A tear slipped out of Feliciano's eyes and ran down his face. Ludwig gently pulled him close and kissed it away.

Feliciano leaned his forehead to Ludwig's and closed his eyes. "Please be careful. I don't want to loose you either."

Ludwig watched his face, hating to see the look of pain that twisted his peaceful features. "You haven't lost him yet. I'll bring your brother home for you, Feliciano."


A/N: Man, it really ticks me off to have to do things a second time. This version was better I think. PristineDreamworld sent me some beautiful fan art. It was absolutely amazing. I'll put links in my profile (FF) and in the story descriptions (DA) so be sure to check it out. PristineDreamworld is a wonderful artist and you should totally look at more of her beautiful work. Thank again and be sure to review! Love you all and Happy New Year!