The light was bright, but it wasn't the same as the blinding flash Gilbert had made him experience before. Ludwig's eyes had fluttered open to a room of white.
Where was he? He tried to move, but his body felt stiff and heavy. What was going on?
He attempted sitting up with more effort this time, but he couldn't. He didn't know why. He felt so strange… There were odd noises sounding around him, sort of like machines, yet he still couldn't bring himself to get up.
Tensing slightly, Ludwig realised he could still hear it. Feliciano's sobbing was louder than ever, almost as if the Italian was right next to him. He tilted his head down.
Feliciano. The Italian was face down and crying into the white sheets loudly, a tight grip on the fabric. He had pulled a chair up next to the bed, and… Wait, bed? Was Ludwig in a bed?
For a few seconds, Ludwig simply stared. He found himself becoming more and more aware of his surroundings—and more confused—with every passing moment. His gaze, however, remained fixed on Feliciano.
He wanted to reach out to him, to comfort him, to apologise, but all he could think about was what happened before. How he had wanted to stop Feliciano's tears but could do nothing. If he had to go through that again, Ludwig was sure his heart would break.
…Except, only watching as Feliciano cried hurt him a lot more. He had to do something, anything. Ludwig loved Feliciano, and leaving him as he sobbed his heart out was not an option.
Before he even realised what he was doing, Ludwig reached out an arm and placed his hand on Feliciano's shoulder. It was supposed to be a comforting gesture, considering Ludwig didn't trust himself to speak, something to silently beg him to stop crying. Feliciano, however, stiffened. The sobs did stop, but it was more like he had been suddenly gagged than anything else.
Slowly, Feliciano lifted his head.
His eyes were red and sore, his face streaked with tears and his nose running, but Ludwig had honestly never been happier to see him. Feliciano's expression was blank as he stared. Ludwig, somehow, with difficulty, managed to sit up, and he gave him a smile.
"Feliciano…" his voice was tired, strained. It actually surprised him, but he continued regardless. "I… I—"
He didn't get to finish. There was a blur, something had jumped forward, and the next thing he knew Feliciano had tightly wrapped his arms around him, face buried into his chest. The crying started again, practically wails now, and Ludwig's eyes widened in alarm.
"Fel—?!"
"L… Ludwig…" he heard amongst the cries and hiccups and sniffs. "Ludwig…!"
"Feliciano?" His hands fell to the smaller man tentatively. "What's wrong? Tell me, please… I-I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, so please—"
"N-no, no! Don't say that!" Feliciano begged, his voice muffled as he shook his head against Ludwig. "If you do, you'll go again… I-I don't— I don't want—!"
Gently, Ludwig managed to lift Feliciano's face away from his damp clothes and cupped his face. "Feliciano…" he said, carefully wiping away any stray tears with his thump, "I don't understand. What are you talking about?" More quietly, he asked, "Why are you crying? I-if it's because of me, then I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…"
"W-well, it's always the same thing, right?" Feliciano choked. "Y-you come back and I get to hug you like this, b-but then you say you're sorry and you go and it turns out you weren't really there or I wake up or… or…!" He tightened his hold on Ludwig to the point where it was almost painful, and he lowered his head out of the other's comforting hands. "Please… Please don't go again… I miss you so much… Can't we just stay like this…?"
He could clearly feel the little Italian trembling. Frowning, worry and confusion settling in his heart, Ludwig slowly brought Feliciano into his own hug. "Feliciano… I don't understand what's going on, but… I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving."
Feliciano didn't say anything at first. He leaned forward and hid his face in Ludwig's cheat again. "You say that, but you will, eventually, won't you… Just like all the other times…" That's what always happens…" Something that could have been a giggle, yet sounded hollow and devoid of warmth, escaped Feliciano's lips. "You know, you feel different than last time. Warmer. More… real. Can you please stay a bit longer? I… I just…"
"Feliciano, look at me." When the Italian didn't respond, Ludwig tried to sound a little firmer. "Feliciano. Please. I need you to look at me."
This time, Feliciano raised his head, almost reluctantly. The tears had stopped flowing, but it looked like they could start again at any moment.
"I'm not going anywhere, Feliciano." Ludwig said, looking into the other's red, puffy eyes determinedly. "I'm here. I'm not leaving."
Feliciano faltered. He seemed confused, beginning to look almost shocked, and Ludwig used this moment to continue. He held Feliciano's hand in his own. "I've been an idiot," he said. "I didn't realise I was putting you through so much pain. I thought I was helping us, but all I've been doing is neglecting you. I know that now, and I promise I will never hurt you again. If you give me the chance, from now on I will treat you with at least half the love you have always shown me. I'm sorry, Feliciano, I really am… but I love you. Please…"
Seconds passed in silence. Feliciano stared at Ludwig, his eyes wide as they began to shine with tears again.
"S-so…" Feliciano whispered, a single tear escaping down his cheek. He closed his hand around Ludwig's. "You're real? Y-you're really here?"
"Of course I am." This response was rather confused on Ludwig's part. He still didn't know what was going on, and he had noticed a few other things. Wires, namely. A little tube was stuck to his arm and he was pretty sure he could feel more on his face. His surroundings definitely seemed more familiar now. Was… was he in a hospital? "I—"
The mood was shattered rather suddenly. A woman was stood in the doorway—a nurse?—and she stared at the scene with obvious shock. Before Ludwig could ask what was wrong, she ran off down the hallway.
What…?
Ludwig honestly didn't have much time to question this. The next thing he knew, the nurse had returned with a group. They all looked at him in some kind of disbelief before surrounding him.
Moment after moment was just a swirl of activity for Ludwig after that. One of them, a doctor, he presumed, was talking to Ludwig, asking if he could remember anything or move his legs. Feliciano had been ushered outside the room.
Whenever there was a spare moment, Ludwig asked for Feliciano. He wanted to see Feliciano. A nurse told him they would bring him in soon, but that wasn't good enough for Ludwig. Eventually, they allowed the Italian inside the room as long as he promised to be quiet.
At some point, Ludwig asked what was going on, why he was here. His top priority had been Feliciano, but now that he was in sight a new problem had come to light for him. What had happened to him?
After what felt like an awkward silence, the doctor spoke.
"You were in a coma," they explained. "You've been unconscious for 6 months."
This, of course, came as a shock to Ludwig. A coma? 6 months? Really? But, how? He couldn't remember anything like that… He had been with his brother just a little while ago, how was this possible?
All staff in the hospital were just as bemused but for a different reason. People didn't just randomly wake up from comas, especially after so long. It took time, there were signs that they were going to wake up soon, and some who had finally regained consciousness occasionally needed to relearn how to move and talk. There was, however, nothing wrong with Ludwig.
Just to be safe, it was decided Ludwig should stay in the hospital for a few days. They would be able to check him and make sure he was really all right. If everything was fine, they could send him home.
Feliciano, who had barely left Ludwig's side, said he was going to stay with him. One of the nurses tried to get him to reconsider, since it was late and they said Ludwig should be fine now, but Feliciano had his mind set. He was staying.
"How did this happen?" Ludwig asked him when they were alone. They hadn't let go of each other's hands since Feliciano was allowed to stay. "I can't remember… I-I think I was working, but then…"
Feliciano bit his lip. Ludwig was worried he would start crying again.
"I… I went to visit you at your office and I brought food for you, but you said you were busy…" His expression was almost heart-breaking as he said this. How could Ludwig have treated him so poorly before? "I wanted to stay, but then you got really angry. I was upset, so I ran away, and you went after me. You were trying to apologise, but I didn't stop running… We were outside, th-then there was this van, and…"
He couldn't continue. He buried his head in his hands.
"I-it was my fault, Ludwig… It was all my fault… Because of me, you…"
"No, Feliciano, no." Ludwig wrapped his arms around him. "It's not your fault. If anything, it's mine. I'm so sorry. I told myself I wouldn't hurt you anymore, but I've done exactly that without even realising…"
They stayed like that for a while, Feliciano crying silently and Ludwig refusing to let go. A part of him wondered if he would ever be able to bring himself to release him again. Together, they spent their next few moments in a content quiet.
"Feliciano…" Ludwig mumbled suddenly. "If I've been unconscious for 6 months, then what's the date today?"
"The date?" Feliciano echoed. "It's… Um… February 13th? Oh! No!" His eyes widened. "It's after midnight now, it… It's Valentine's Day, Ludwig."
"I see." Ludwig smiled at him. Somehow, this didn't surprise him. "I woke up just in time, then."
Feliciano proceeded to squeeze the breath out of him once again. "I love you, Ludwig! I love you so much, I…! When I thought I wouldn't be able to see you again, I…"
Ludwig only returned the hug. He kissed the top of his head. "And I love you. Much more than you can imagine. If I had to go through what you did, I would have gone mad… I promise, I will never put you through that again."
"Happy Valentine's Day."
Ich Liebe Dich—end.
Why am I so bad at writing fluff? XD It starts out okay, but then it just get really weird towards the end… Ah, all I know is that I was listening to River Flows In You while I was writing most of this XD
Well, this was the last chapter of Ich Liebe Dich. Thank you to everyone who read this short fanfic, even if updates seemed random at best ^0^ This brings my first GerIta centric fanfic to a close :)
As for Gilbert, whether he really had magic powers or not and was influencing Ludwig's adventure in coma-land is up to your imaginations :3
Please review and tell me what you think ^_^
Ludwig reached out to Feli, the Italian gasped and cried more and said Ludwig had been in a coma for a year. Currently it was midnight, making it Valentine's day, and Ludwig said he loved Feliciano. THey lived happily ever after :)