The Italian was the messiest eater known to man. The four of them were at the table with the two humans hoping for the best. Ludwig could only be patient for so long. After one very loud slurp of the soup in his tiny bowl Feliciano belched in appreciation. Ludwig finally lost it. He shouted and stomped his feet on the table top, his wings spread wide and quivering in his rage, and the poor Italian just blinked at him.
Ludwig was sent to "think of what he'd done" in his bedding after Feliciano had burst into tears. Now he sat there, eyes narrow, and he felt extremely bitter towards everyone and everything. Sitting in his bedding he thought of his den in the mountainside and wondered how they were all doing. The carelessness of the clan had always perturbed the far too serious fae, but he didn't loathe them. Yet, when the two humans riding horses in the valley caught his ears with their songs he had decided to wander. They had taken him in gladly and suddenly Roderich was inspired to work. In just the few months he had been there Roderich's career had taken off. It was remarkable the way he played and composed. Ludwig could hear them talking. Elizaveta was comforting Feliciano while Austria complained.
He was complaining about him. He, the inspiration for the man's work and the life in the home. The ever loyal fae who would do anything for his humans. He was suddenly being out shone by the impostor. This intruder who was nothing but a damned idiot had the upper hand.
Ludwig lay down, wings wrapping around him as he shut his eyes. Again he thought of his home and shook his head.
"Am Brunnen vor dem Tore, da steht ein Lindenbaum. Ich träumt in seinem Schatten, so manchen süßen Traum." He sang more slowly than the usual tempo, feeling his heart ache.
Back in the mountains he couldn't feel these things. He didn't know anything past frustration and the typical glee of the fae folk. Humans change the faes like they mold the world around them. It made him feel weak, a feeling he loathed.
"Sul mare luccia l'astro d'argento, Placida è l'onda, prospero è il vento. Venite all'agile barchetta mia... Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!" The voice which had gotten him in trouble was singing. The song bounced pleasantly and Ludwig listened for a moment.
Feliciano kept singing, his voice a little off key, but quite sweet in its attempt. The fae was standing by Ludwig's bedding and bent over him, smiling brightly. Ludwig couldn't help but jump at seeing the face in his own. Yet, in the boy's arms, was a strawberry.
"How did you carry that out of the kitchen?"
"I don't look it, but I'm very strong. Come on, Ludwig. I know you didn't get to finish eating so I brought you this dessert!"
Ludwig sighed and extended his arms. Feliciano sat by him, yammering about a bird he saw outside while the blonde ate, and Ludwig found the fae to at least be accomplished in filling the silence. He found that the treat was too much. He couldn't eat but a quarter of it.
"Feliciano… I don't want to waste so much of this. Do you- um- do you want this?" He found it hard and awkward to speak to him back. Listening was plenty fine, but initiating anything with this fae seemed downright difficult.
"Really? So you don't hate me and wish me to die!" He brightened and laughed happily before snagging the berry to begin his second meal.
Ludwig was astounded. How could it be that the fae ate so much and stayed so light? Was it because the wind type required more energy to fly? He was an earth type, so being bound this way wasn't too stunning. Yet goodness the way he packed the food away.
"Mmrph mmmn munchcrunch rmppp-"
"Swallow before you start talking. You're going to choke yourself." Ludwig scolded, feeling as a muscle in his face began to tick.
"Ahhhh. I like berries. They're so delicious."
"Yes, well, don't get into the habit of taking them from the kitchen. Here we save money."
"Save money?" Feliciano touched his lip with a finger before nodding.
"You said before that you were made to do bad things. Things like what?"
"Well, I belonged to a doctor. He was a real jerk, you know? He always needed more money, so I'd still from the sleeping patients. Nothing heavier in the world than an American's Rolex watch!" He laughed at his own joke, but sulked when Ludwig stared at him quietly. "You know how we have the ability to give energy and take it away? Sometimes the dark faes kill infants. When a woman would bring a child to the office I'd have to take some of its energy to make it sick. Some of the kids got very sick."
Ludwig felt guilt pang through him. Maybe the idiocy was a façade to hide how much the other hurt inside. Maybe he was just as lonely and frustrated as Ludwig! And-
"Feliciano?" Ludwig had looked away for just a moment. Where was the fae?
"Oof!" From below came a sound.
Ludwig leaned over the edge of the top level and looked down. Feliciano was laying on the bottom level where he landed on his bedding.
"I didn't think I was so close to the edge! Lucky for me that this bedding was here! You temper fit must have been to keep me safe, Ludy!"
Nevermind. He's a goddamned idiot. Ludwig groaned and let his head hit the metal.
Night fell as Elizaveta told them stories of the world. It was to teach them about the human world so they wouldn't be frightened or confused. Ludwig had to confess to himself that these stories did ease his curiousity. Meanwhile it seemed to overly enthrall the enthusiastic Feliciano.
"Ludwig. Come here." Roderich called from the doorway, hand outstretched with the palm upward.
With some anxiety Ludwig came to him and settled in his hand. His head was bowed as he fretted over what was to be said. Roderich was as strict as him, which was a frightening thought. Yet no words were being spoken. Instead the back of Roderich's index finger brushed across the fae's chest gently. Ludwig looked up and the charming face was smiling down at him. There was a warmth in his eyes which Ludwig hadn't seen before.
"Did you honestly think I'd forget you? My dear, you are my first faerie companion. My inspirational center. I intend for Feliciano to only be a comfort to you."
Ludwig felt the animal like need to click at the touches, his face growing hot as he fought the need back. Roderich let a soft laugh leave him.
"Go on then. Rest well tonight. Elizaveta and I are going to bed also." He gestured with his eyes to Ludwig's nest.
The fae kissed the finger quickly and as secretively as possible before flitting up to the nest. Feliciano was grinning. The bastard had seen. Now the two humans wandered off to their room as the faes nestled down. Feliciano was quick to fall asleep in his bedding, the cloth enveloping him all the way to his head.
Ludwig slipped quietly out of the nest and looked to the clock lit by the moonlight as it filtered in through the window. First to the kitchen.
"Hört, ihr Leut, und laßt euch sagen: unsre Glock hat Zehn geschlagen! Zehn Gebote setzt Gott ein, dass wir soll´n gehorsam sein! Menschenwachen kann nichts nützen, Gott muss wachen, Gott muss schützen. Herr, durch deine Güt und Macht, schenk uns eine gute Nacht!" He sang the first watchmen's verse as he patrolled the room. Nothing to be seen.
An hour slowly passed and he wandered to the library. Somewhere the din of the old clock rang out.
"Hört ihr Leut, und lasst Euch sagen: unsre Glock hat Elf geschlagen! Elf der Jünger blieben treu, hilf, dass wir im Tod ohn Reu! Menschenwachen kann nichts nützen, Gott muss wachen, Gott muss schützen. Herr, durch deine Güt und Macht, schenk uns eine gute Nacht!" He sang out the second verse and wandered back to their den.
Overhead little Feliciano had stirred and found no Ludwig. Faintly he heard the male singing and saw as he came into the room. The blonde patrolled the room before lighting on the windowsill. There he paced back and forth, scanning the room. Down came little Feliciano and Ludwig quickly noticed him.
"Go back to bed, you. All is clear."
"What are you doing?" Feliciano asked as he rubbed his eyes.
"Making certain the home is clear. I must take care of the careless." Ludwig had rolled his eyes as though the answer were obvious. In a way to him it was.
"The careless? Okay- so why do you sing? Is it because you are lonely? I want to sing too!"
"No, it's not because I'm lonely!" Ludwig had fluffed before sighing to calm himself. "It is the watchman's song. Each time the clock strikes a new hour the watchman must sing another verse."
"Ah! That is so cool! I want to do it, please!" Feliciano grabbed onto the man's arm.
Ludwig was ashamed that the thing he was most grateful over was how the fae was actually clothed. If he told the fae no he might go off crying. Couldn't have that.
"Very well. Listen close and you may learn at least the tune." He caved in with a groan, the brunette whooping with glee.
"Hört ihr Leut, und lasst Euch sagen: unsre Glock hat Zwölf geschlagen! Zwölf, das ist as Ziel der Zeit, Mensch bedenk die Ewigkeit! Menschenwachen kann nichts nützen, Gott muss wachen, Gott muss schützen. Herr, durch deine Güt und Macht, schenk uns eine gute Nacht!"
The third hour had gone by and by the fifth the Italian hummed to the tune. This carried on until the sun began to creep up. Little Feliciano had fallen asleep before the seventh hour, leaving Ludwig to carry him up to bed. Dawn had come into the Edelstein home. He felt elated at the sight and finally went to bed. Soon the humans would wake. He would have to sleep as long as he could. As he went to lie down he spotted the picture Feliciano had drawn earlier and smiled. Perhaps things would at least be interesting now.
Author's note: The song Ludwig is first singing is The Linden Tree. It's a song about being homesick. The one Feliciano sings is Santa Lucia, a rather popular Italian song performed by artists around the world (including Elvis Presley and Pavarotti). As Ludwig stated the third song was the watchman's song. Each night they were assigned on singular verse to sing at every hour. Anyway, thanks for reading! I look forward to seeing you all next time!