October 2, 1935 - May 1936

Strange Obsessions

Saturday mornings were Feliciano's favourite time of the week. He would go and sit in the rolling hills, letting the breeze run over him as he daydreamed about life or lunch. Mostly lunch, though.

"Feli, today you're going to have to skip the hills. We need groceries," Grandpa Roma said over breakfast.

Feli frowned. There went his plans for the day.

The Vargas family consisted of Feli himself, the youngest of the twins, his brother, Lovino, and their grandfather, Grandpa Roma. Mr. and Mrs. Vargas had died when they both were very young, and they had been in the care of their grandpa since the age of two. Neither of them had any memories of their parents.

It wasn't too sad, since Grandpa Roma was nice to them, and a fun person. They weren't complaining about being under his care.

He had a lot of influence over the people, being a former army general and having the responsibility of the Roman Empire on his shoulders. Even after it had ended, people still looked up to him as a war hero and humorous, down to earth man.

Feliciano headed off to the market, sighing. He never complained about having to help out around the house, but, like any teenager, he wished he didn't have to. Feli had long talked about just walking out of school and setting up camp in the hills so he could paint. He loved painting, and memorizing words and formulas wasn't his forte.

Not that he didn't enjoy school. It fascinated him the way things worked, he just wasn't good at remembering how or why.

Or what. Like what he was doing in a place he couldn't recognize.

Blinking, Feliciano looked around. He had let his mind wander for so long that he must've taken a wrong turn, ending up in a part of vast countryside that he didn't recognize.

"Oh dear," he muttered, running his fingers through his hair. This was the last thing he needed when Grandpa Roma needed all of the ingredients by tonight. He was having a huge dinner party, with a lot of important people from his work.

"Is anyone here?" he shouted out into the wind, squinting against the sun to get a better view. There were no camps or houses nearby.

Before Feli could sit down on the ground, he felt the feel of cool metal on the back of his head.

"Who are you?" growled an unfriendly male voice.

Feli threw his hands up, not daring to turn around. "Feliciano Vargas. I was on my way to the market, started daydreaming, got lost, and ended up here. I'm terribly sorry, please don't shoot, I'm inn-"

He was spun around suddenly, face to face with the gunman. He was taller, with clear blue eyes narrowed staring at him, blonde hair pushed and gelled back perfectly.

Hands still in the air, Feli couldn't bring himself to move. He was frozen in fear, the gun still pointed to his temple. He closed his eyes and breathed in sharply, waiting for the end...

The gun moved, back into its holster. Feliciano opened his eyes. "Oh."

"Sorry about that, sir. Carry on," the man said gruffly.

Feli didn't know what to do. "It's alright. What are you doing out here, anyway?"

He didn't answer.

"Don't be like that, I'm not some sort of spy! Promise. At least, what's your name?"

He looked away. "Ludwig."

Feli grinned. "Ludwig! Cool! Now we know each other better!"

Ludwig sighed. "Please, sir, just go now. You can get to the village taking that road."

He didn't want to leave, especially now that he had met somebody new. He hadn't even volunteered to go to the market. That could wait.

"No," he said simply, laying down onto the grass. "Not until you tell me what I want."

"I'm under code not to say. Damn, that was already too much," Ludwig said, completely flustered. It was amusing to watch.

Feli let out a little giggle. Instead of being a sweet laugh, it came out cold and harsh, the sound like a whip to Ludwig.

"If you're going to be that way, fine," he sighed, standing back up. "I have plenty of power of my own. I don't need someone like you."

"Need me?" Ludwig asked, confused. "Why would you need me? What are you going on about?"

"Come on, don't play dumb," Feli sang out, skipping ever closer. "I know what you are!"

"What I am? You're insane, sir."

"Insane? No, no, no. That would be slightly strange to you, sir." He mocked Ludwig's accent on the 'sir'.

"I don't have the faintest clue what you're talking about, and if you don't leave, I'll shoot you!" Ludwig roared, pointing his gun straight at Feliciano once more.

He smiled, tilting his head to the side. "Ring around the rosies, a pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes, we all fall dead."

"What, never heard that song before, Luddy?" he crowed, still standing still.

"It's we all fall down, sir," Ludwig said, not lowering his weapon.

"Not in war," Feliciano whispered.

Ludwig lowered the gun immediately. "Just how much do you know?"

"Honestly? Absolutely nothing. Until this point. There's a war going on, and I intend to find out what's the meaning behind all of this."

Ludwig looked shocked. He had just been tricked by a stranger, a young man with a frustratingly charming smile and sing-song voice, into giving out top-secret information

"What kind of war?" Feliciano asked, his eyes lighting up. "Who's fighting whom? How many people are involved? Who's side are you-"

He couldn't cover up the embellishment on his jacket fast enough. Feliciano had seen.

"I see."

Their eyes met for another brief second before Feliciano took off running down the path, screaming out "Ciao!" behind him.

Feliciano arrived home, not knowing exactly what he had just done, not quite realizing how valuable the information he held was.

"Come downstairs, Feli!" called out Grandpa Roma. He had managed to buy the groceries and bring them back just in time for dinner.

Several men, dressed in casual business wear, littered their living room, drinks in hand and conversations all over.

He settled down in the corner for the night, a book in his hand and a plate of food in the other. Feliciano always did this during the long meetings. He never listened close enough to understand.

Lovino was always left out of the big conversations. Sure, he was still a teenager and not an adult with any credibility to join the cause, but he wanted to be taken seriously so bad. Nobody would look past his height and boyish face long enough to listen to what he had to say. Grandpa Roma had joked that if he wanted to be taken seriously he should get a haircut, but he refused, letting his deep brown hair grow out as long as possible.

"Aye, if it isn't Lovino!" called out one of the resistance members, Antonio. He was barely of age, and still looked young, tan skin and almost black curls. He was taller than Lovino, but not by a lot, and was constantly smiling.

"How are you doing tonight?" he asked, leaning against the wall next to him.

Lovino rolled his eyes. "Hello, Antonio. What can I help you with?"

"I'm just making conversation!" he said, shaking his head, grinning at him. Why did he constantly have to grin like that? It was really irritating Lovino.

"Stop looking at me," he grumbled, starting to walk away.

Antonio had been one of the original members of the cause, being one of Grandpa Roma's war friend's son. He had grown up in Spain, then moved to rural Italy for business matters. They had grown up together, even though they lived so far apart. Antonio had a small business a good hour away, but he still made time to stop by at least once a week to check in with Grandpa Roma and occasionally have dinner.

"Lovino, you're so mean," Antonio whined, following him over to the buffet.

"Stop following me."

"Why won't you talk to me?"

"Because you're stalking me. Go away."

Antonio lifted up his hands in surrender, walking off. Lovino didn't care, he was used to being alone, especially nowadays.

As a child, he had never been able to outshine Feliciano. Not that he ever tried, but everything he did paled compared to his brother's accomplishments. He didn't blame any of his brother's doting companions. Feli was a talented artist, fast runner, and was good at football. Lovino tended to sit alone, sketching for himself and writing stories in a little notebook that he stashed away at the bottom of his desk drawer.

The meeting ended late that night, the living room totaled and the atmosphere lonely.

Back up in his room, Feliciano contemplated everything. He could care less about the meeting, but he had to uncover the mystery of Ludwig.

Feliciano wasn't allowed to talk about the secret outside of the house. He, Lovino, and Grandpa Roma possessed the secret as well, and it required them to be extremely careful about what they let slip. It was easy to make a mistake, a mistake that could cause the demise of a nation, and themselves. At the exact same time.

He wanted to see this Ludwig boy again. No, he had to. There was something going on that Feliciano wanted to get to the bottom of.

The next day, Feliciano boarded himself in his room, only coming out occasionally. A few people from last night's dinner were in the dining room, files spread out and arguing back and forth rapidly.

Lovino sat back in his chair, rocking back and forth to each leg of the chair. He was absentmindedly twirling at the piece of curled hair that stuck out from the side of his head that he thought as obnoxious.

Antonio was next to him, half asleep himself.

"The Japanese have launched an attack, and it's not pretty," said one of the men, maybe fifty, with greying brown hair and dressed up in a fancy suit. "If we don't take action, they're going to assume that because of past ties with Germany, that we're a threat."

"We aren't though," Grandpa Roma disagreed. "Well, we are, but the citizens aren't. If Germany shows up at our doorsteps with full armed personnel to say join the Nazis, they would, no matter what Feliciano says."

Lovino straightened himself back up. "What do you mean?"

Grandpa Roma whipped around, seeming to have forgotten he was there. "What we mean, Lovino, is that even though your brother is a talented little boy, when it comes to running a country and a full, armed military, he's clueless. I've been helping the government run so the whole country doesn't die out from lack of control."

That made Lovino, no matter how selfish the feeling was, feel just slightly more important.

Antonio yawned, and Grandpa Roma cast him a dirty look. "Antonio? Opinions?"

He adjusted his shirt, ruffled his hair, and grinned up at all of the adults, their faces set in disgust. He was the youngest one there, after all, and they found him inferior, no matter how intelligent he was.

"No offense to Feli, but he's a bit of an airhead. If, say, at the dinner table, you slowly ease into political talk, but keep it interesting for him, and plant the seed in his head that the Nazis are bad, no matter what encounter he has with them, he'll remember what you said and stay away. Like a child, does what mommy says."

Lovino quickly put his hand up to his mouth to cover up the little giggle that nearly escaped. That was the reason they kept Antonio around at these meetings, and why Lovino could never hate him. He was just too damn charming.

Feliciano was still up in his room, trying to wrap his mind around his need to know more. He wanted to stay with his family, in the comforts of his own home, yet he wanted to pack up his stuff and head straight for the army.

The army. Feli blinked. He'd never really thought about it. The comforts of his own home were good enough that he had never wanted anything to do with the army. Grandpa Roma, who then influenced Lovino, were highly against the government, holding meetings for their own small army of sorts to do rescue missions and work against the Italian armistice. What would they say if Feli joined?

Of course, there was no guarantee that Feliciano would ever see Ludwig again. He might be cast aside, gun in hand, as he lay in a ditch rain or snow.

Feliciano knew this would never happen, though. Yes, he was a charming person, and seemed slightly naive, but when it came to getting what he wanted, he would do anything.

Anything at all.

The clock ticked in the back of his mind as Feli lay back in bed, counting down the seconds until midnight. When the clock changed, he slowly rose, pulling his coat and shoes on. A small bag hung on the coat hanger and he grabbed that as well, swinging it over his shoulder. The door creaked as Feli opened it carefully.

There was really nowhere he could turn to. He didn't know where to apply, all he could do was head to the place where he had met Ludwig and hope for the best.

The night was cold, but Feliciano pushed through it, trying to retrace his tracks by looking at the heights of trees and placement of flowers that could serve as reminders or markers.

Eventually, he made it to the clearing. He set his bag on the ground and sat down, looking up at the stars. The sky was a bit cloudy that night, and they were hidden.

He didn't known how long he waited. Hours, minutes, whatever it was, but when the sky had just begun to get a tad bit lighter, he heard the sound of footprints.

Looking up, Feli smiled. Ludwig was marching towards him, the same rifle in hand.

"What're you doing here again?" he snarled, the gun loaded and pointed at his chest. "Go away, pest."

"I want to join you."

Ludwig blinked, not expecting this. "You what?"

"I want to join you," he said again, never breaking eye contact with him. "I want to fight for you. Learn the secrets to the military. Learn the secrets about you, dear."

His voice got quieter with each line, until it was but a whisper, a huge grin spread across his face.

Ludwig turned away. "You're not fit for the military."

Feliciano frowned. Everybody did this, underestimating what he could accomplish. "Oh really?"

"Really. You're just a young, scrawny boy with a dream. Now get lost."

"Just a young boy?" he giggled. "I have the ability to ruin a government in seconds. My name is just enough to get any information I desire. I'd be a valuable resource to have. I may not have total control over what the citizens of Italy decide to do, but you can be damn sure that once I choose my side, they'll follow suit."

Ludwig raised his eyebrows, doubting him. "I have the ability to summon an entire army in one second if I snap my fingers right now. Want to risk that?"

"I'd love to risk it."

None of Ludwig's intimidation was working on Feliciano, and he was infuriated.

"This is a yay or nay situation, but do you happen to represent something... important?" Feliciano asked casually.

Ludwig's eyes widened. "Just who are you?" he asked.

"Feliciano Vargas. Feli. Veneziano. Italy. All are acceptable."

Back at the Vargas residence, Lovino was rising from the sunlight streaming in through the open curtains.

"This is ridiculous," he muttered, rubbing his eyes.

Down the stairs, he called out, "Grandpa Roma! Where's the-"

He opened the kitchen door. "-milk."

Antonio was in the kitchen, sitting at the table, reading a book. "Good morning, Lovino!"

"What are you doing in my kitchen?" he grumbled.

"I'm waiting for your grandfather to come back. He's in town, getting a package that was just delivered. We have to assess it to see if the contents are of any use to us."

He shrugged. "Whatever. Is there breakfast?"

Antonio pointed to the counter, his nose still in the book, where a plate of eggs and toast sat.

"Feli! Get your ass downstairs, breakfast is ready!"

No reply.

Lovino moaned, annoyed with his younger brother. "Feliciano Vargas, downstairs now!"

Antonio chuckled from behind his book, looking up to lock eyes with him. He looked Lovino up and down with a grin on his face, making him blush.

He bounded up the stairs, barging into his brother's room. "Feli, I swear to-"

There was no one there.

"Feli?"

He came back downstairs. "Antonio, is Feli already downstairs? Is this a trick?"

He placed the book down. "No, Roma said both of you were sleeping upstairs and to not wake either of you. I swear."

They looked around the house, outside, all over. They checked with neighbors, they looked for secret doors he could've stumbled through. Every ridiculous possibility of where he could be in the house had been checked off.

Lovino could barely register what was happening. "Oh my god," he faltered, his eyes getting watery. "Damn it, don't cry, don't-"

A few tears fell out of Lovino's eyes, and he wiped them away quickly.

Antonio had a grave look on his face. "We have to tell your Grandpa when he comes back."

Lovino nodded, still trying to fight back tears.

He broke, running to Antonio. He took him in his arms, wrapping his arms tightly around Lovino's waist as he hugged Antonio's neck, head buried in his shoulder.

Antonio whispered something to him that he couldn't hear, rocking him back and forth slowly to calm him.

"What in the world is going on here?"

They let go quickly, Lovino blushing furiously, Antonio avoiding Grandpa Roma's glaring with an embarrassed look.

He set down a package on the table, rattling the foundation of the room. "Explanation. Now."

Antonio cleared his throat nervously. "It's not what you think-"

"-not at all-"

"-goodness no, I would never-"

"-he and I wouldn't-"

"-um, I was comforting him-"

"-yeah-"

"-because we found out some bad news-"

"-really bad news-"

"-like, terrible news-"

Grandpa Roma coughed loudly, interrupting them. "What's the news?" he asked, rolling his eyes.

Lovino and Antonio locked eyes for a second, looking away quickly.

"Feli's not upstairs," Lovino said.

He raised his eyebrows, waiting for more. "And?"

"I mean, he's not anywhere in the house."

"We've checked everywhere. In here, backyard, front yard, with neighbors, he's simply nowhere to be found," Antonio added.

His face changed from uncomfortable to concerned in an instant. "We can't have him wandering around!"

"Exactly. Where could he have gone?"

Lovino just sat to the side, completely stunned. While his brother was an idiot and infuriated him almost every second he existed, Lovino still cared for Feli. He wouldn't stand for his brother running away.

Feli hadn't ever felt quite like this before. This want, no, this need to know more. He needed information, he needed to be told what was going on. It helped that Ludwig was, albeit strong, rather easy to convince and flatter his way in. He let his pride get the best of him. Feli felt strongly that a man with nothing left but his pride is dead.

"I don't know what you want," Ludwig sighed, throwing his cap aside and sitting down on a matted chair.

"It's quite simple. I want to know everything," he laughed coldly, tracing the banister with his pointer finger lightly as he spoke, always maintaining eye contact.

Ludwig laughed. "You undermine me. I am more than meets the eye. I have a brain, and there is no way I'm going to just hand you information held in the utmost secrecy just because you out-sourced me once. That's not how it works."

Feli knew this was going to be a low blow for him, but he had to try it.

He knew he was a bit different. More interested in himself than everyone else in the world around him, but always keeping that inside with a cheery smile and a bright hello. Feli also knew that plenty of people found him attractive. He had never had a girlfriend before, nor was he ever interested in one, but plenty of village belles had walked over to him, giggling, surrounded by their friends, and handed him roses and small gifts accompanied by a small note asking if they could go out. Each one he turned down politely.

Feli was aware of the fact that he was boyishly charming, but that wasn't going to work here. If he wanted to seem tough, he was going to have to play tough.

"No, that's not how it works exactly," he said, grinning, voice dropping with each word he spoke. "However, rules can be twisted."

Ludwig hadn't quite caught on yet, eyes still furrowed and lost. "I'll tell you what," he began. "If you can prove to me that you're more than just a little boy playing toy soldier, then I'll let you in to the military here. If you can then somehow make your way around the Lieutenant and get a top notch job, the information is yours."

Feli nodded, the smile fading. It wouldn't require that quite yet.

"Fair enough. Shake on it?"

Ludwig grasped his hand firmly, then letting go quickly. "Good luck."

Feli put on another charming smile. "Luck is for those who need help beginning to accomplish their goals. I need applause."

He ran home, laughing loudly to himself as the cool air hit his face. He never stopped, not even when his legs began to hurt, because the energy he had was astounding.

Swinging open the doors, he couldn't see anybody.

"Hello?"

"Oh my god!" a voice shouted, sprinting down the staircase and colliding into him.

"Ow!" he proclaimed, head hitting the stone wall behind him.

Lovino was hugging him, well, more like choking him.

Finally he let go, only to scream behind his back, "Grandpa, Antonio, look who's decided to show up!"

Feli tilted his head. "Decided to-?"

"Feliciano, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Grandpa Roma roared, coming in from the kitchen.

"I was just in the village, nowhere else-"

"It doesn't matter where you were, it matters that you were there!"

Antonio slid down the banister, joining up with the rest of them.

"Hello, Antonio," he said, waving briefly.

"Hola, Feli," he responded breezily, keeping his eye on the tempered Grandpa Roma. "Maybe it's best that Lovino and I leave now."

Lovino turned and walked out of the room quickly, not wanting to face his grandfather's wrath directed at his younger brother.

Behind the closed kitchen door, Lovino began to make busy with dinner, clanging pots and pans around.

"What's the rush?" asked Antonio, leaning against the cabinets easily.

"I don't know, I'm just trying to find something to do," he spit out, picking up different lids and clanging them against the pot to find the one that fit.

"Sh, calm down," he said, chuckling. Antonio reached out and touched Lovino's arms lightly, bringing the lid on down.

Lovino elbowed him in the gut, pushing him away. "Get off me, creep!"

Antonio, massaging where Lovino had just hit him, laughed heartily. "You are always a surprise to me. When I begin to think I know you, I realize I don't. It's intriguing."

"What are you rambling on about, bastard?"

"One second you're running into my arms and the next second pushing me away."

Lovino scowled at the grin on his face. "Shut up."

He picked up the lids again, putting them up to his mouth to cover up the little grin that slipped through.

Grandpa Roma hadn't spoken for five minutes, and Feliciano was beginning to get bored with the suspense. Couldn't he just yell at him, ground him, and get it over with?

"Grandpa, come on. Just say something," he begged.

"I have plenty to say, alright!" he roared, putting on the angry tone again.

"Let's hear it."

"Oh, you will hear it!" he said, eyes squinting dangerously. "There are things going on in the world right now, things that you just couldn't understand. Things too big for you to comprehend. I will not have my grandson make a fool of himself, and I especially will not let him get hurt simply because of one stupid mistake. You have to stick to the village during the day, and be back when I say so. No buts, ands, or ifs. That's the rules, starting now, and ending only when this whole thing has blown over or when you learn to grow up."

Feliciano had heard so much in his life. About how pretty, talented, and sweet he was. He watched his brother sit in the shadow of him, sulking over how they all ignored him. In truth, Feli would trade lives with Lovino in an instant. All of the unwanted attention was driving him insane. He didn't want to be known as the charming village boy. There was a side of him that longed not to be known, but feared.

Grandpa Roma had always treasured him, regardless of how dumb he thought Feli was. This was the last straw. It was apparent that he was nothing but an object to everyone else in the world.

This would be abusing his powers. They weren't even really powers, just an inherited right, passed down from blood and birth. It was in his genes to be this person, to rule the strange way he did, but he did rule.

Feli stormed up to his room, leaving behind a mess that he would surely have to clean up later. He didn't care. Cleaning wasn't a problem. After all, all battlefields need to be cleansed if they are to be used again. One shouldn't fight with the remains of another battle in plain sight.

All he had to do was write the words. Then it would all be over, yet it would've just begun. This could be a long feud that started in a moment of anger.

He sat back and thought. Feli thought for so long his mind began to hurt. He wanted to stay in Italy, to live the sheltered, comfortable lifestyle he did, but he also wanted to create hell, to find out the secret that the Germans, secret war, and Ludwig held. Feli wanted to see Ludwig again, yet at the same time he wanted to forget he ever existed.

The pen scribbled across the page angrily, his temper getting ahead of him. Without thinking, he threw the note out the window.

It never touched the ground.

The anger was really seeping through his veins. Sending a message written in anger couldn't be a good thing.

Sent.

Well, shit.

Feliciano pushed the computer back, wondering what the hell he had just done.

Throwing on a coat and slipping on his boots, he unlatched the window and jumped off the terrace. He felt his ankle give in, but kept walking, putting as little pressure as possible on it.

The village was nearby now, and Feliciano could see the little apartment building right above the marketplace had the lights on, flickering in the dim night.

He quickened his pace, needing to make sure they wouldn't lock him out before it was too late.

A sharp knock on the door and it swung open.

"Come in, sir," said Claude, the butler of the house. Anyone on the streets would assume that such a dingy building would never have their own line of servants, but this wasn't what it seemed to be.

In the heart of Italy stood an organization hidden in the shadows. A place where Feliciano could hide his secret from the rest of the village, from everyone. A place where everything that was said was kept in the utmost secrecy. Nothing discussed inside the conference room would ever leave there.

"I've received your message," said the man behind the chair. His back was to them, only the red velvet material and golden base facing him. Feliciano stood awkwardly, trying not to feel too out of place amidst the grand demeanor of the place.

"Yes, well, what I've said is final," he stated calmly, clearing his voice.

"Are you sure? It's quite a feat to accomplish, coming from a kid like you."

His face burned. "I am not a child, and refuse to be treated as such. Follow my orders or face my wrath."

The man laughed heartily. "What wrath? You've shown nothing but cowardly actions in all of your years as supreme ruler of all." His voice turned the words into more of a sharp whip to the ego.

"You listen to me," he began, walking closer. "You are nothing but an object to me. An object to carry out my orders, to have a professional representative for MY ORDERS. Do you hear me? If I wanted to, I could have you disposed at any moment. Right now, if I so choose. So think before you open up your mouth to say something that makes you seem more important than your pathetic little brain could ever be. You. Are. A. PAWN."

He turned around, eyes cold with hatred. "You know I hate you, kid."

Feli smiled. "I couldn't care less."

He sighed, rolling his eyes. "It's already done."

"Good."

Turning around, he left the building. Claude ushered him outside, wishing him luck.

"Why is it always luck?" Feliciano muttered.

He didn't go home quite yet. No, he took a turn and headed back to the clearing in the woods.

The night was cold, but Feliciano sat right in the middle of the clearing, refusing to leave until Ludwig showed up again.

After what could've been forever, he appeared.

"Hello, Feliciano."

Feli grinned, opening his eyes. They looked ghostly pale when reflected with moonlight. "That's the first time you've really used my name."

His facial expressions didn't change. "What do you need?"

"I've proven myself worthy."

Ludwig scoffed. "I highly doubt that you could've done something in that amount of ti-"

"Sir!" yelled another figure running towards them. "Sir, the Italians have their own plan! We're not the only ones at war!"

Ludwig turned to face Feliciano. He was emitting a high-pitched laugh that echoed in the forest, carrying out to all corners softly.

Ludwig's eyes widened, then narrowed. "Just who are you?"

"I can be either your best friend or your worst nightmare."

He shook his head, trying to clear it.

Feli laughed. "I have no preference."