And relationship developments oh boy! But seriously, it must be so awkward for Lud at this point. Ahyhoo, enjoy! (Chapter Title is German for "and so")
Ludwig's heart nearly stopped.
Grabbing Feliciano's slim wrists, he maneuvered the two of them into a sitting position. Searching Feliciano's eyes for something, a signal, anything, he managed to calm himself down enough to speak.
"A-ah, excuse me, but w-what?"
Feliciano just giggled even more at this response.
"You're doing it again, see! You look just like a cute little kid when you blush like that!"
"Excuse me! I most certainly am not blushing!"
But it was certainly relieving to know specifically what Feliciano had meant, and that it was not at all serious. On the other hand, Ludwig felt strangely disappointed with that revelation. Sort of. Perhaps if he hadn't such a dependence on the little merman, he would interpret every action as a gesture of kindness, nothing more. But what did he expect? Feliciano seemed to say whatever came to mind, no second thoughts.
Speaking of his dependence, where was Gilbert? Was Gilbert okay? Was he looking for Ludwig? Such questions were a heavy topic, but ultimately, if no one ever found Ludwig, there was little he could do. He had no clue in which direction land was. Even if he did, no sane person could swim for that long without drinking, and there was not nearly enough material here to build a sufficient raft. And then there was the matter of Feliciano, in any scenario that involved Ludwig's departure...
Ludwig was saved from that topic when Feliciano's voice brought him back from his thought.
"Ludwig, are you okay? You're kinda spacing out."
Feliciano's face was filled with concern, and he held out a hand tentatively close to Ludwig's chin. Ludwig couldn't help but stutter and stammer.
"U-uh, w-well, to be honest, I was thinking about how I am, uh, going to get back home. I mean, not that you're not nice and all! But, um, I have an older brother and he is probably really worried right now."
Feliciano nodded in sympathy. "I have a big brother too! I know he's been really worried that I've been staying out so late these past few days, so I understand."
Ludwig was a bit taken aback by this. Sure, Feliciano seemed to talk about his brother and grandfather often enough, but he was under the impression Feliciano was old enough to live on his own. Perhaps it was a colony-type setup, where they all looked out for each other. Guilt immediately seeped into Ludwig's mind.
"I'm sorry that I kept you away from your brother, if you want to, um, you can go back. I-I mean, I'll be okay."
Feliciano stuck out his limbs, waving them around desperately to illustrate his point. "No, no! I'm so sorry Ludwig! If I was annoying you should have said! Just please let me hang out with you!"
"What? No I-," Ludwig sputtered, "I just mean, if your brother worries so much, you shouldn't let me stop you from visiting him."
Feliciano stopped squirming, and stared up at Ludwig, almost in awe.
"Oh, well, you should have said so! Yay, I can stay and help Luddy!" Feliciano practically danced about at this statement.
"But don't you worry Ludwig! I know your brother must be worried too, so I'll keep an eye out for him!"
Ludwig still couldn't help but feel a bit guilty for keeping Feliciano away from home, after all, he couldn't truly offer the merman much in return for his aid. Ludwig felt compelled enough to vocalize this thought, and Feliciano blinked at him in return.
"Well, I think that just being my friend is good enough! After all, you're really smart and big and strong and nice and you listen to everything I have to say and don't tell me to shut up!"
"But wha-"
Ludwig was cut short by Feliciano placing his hands on his shoulders, staring him in the eye with a look far too serious for anything he was saying.
"Also, Ludwig. Also, I think I really like you. A lot."
Ludwig was rendered truly speechless, for the second time that night. And really, what was he supposed to say to that? 'Oh, it's only been two days, you can't be sure.' That would crush the sensitive little merman. Besides, Ludwig couldn't honestly say he hadn't noticed how strikingly attractive- ahem. Let's just say, Ludwig was quite proud of his regimented thought processes and Feliciano had managed to disrupt that. Quite a bit more that anyone ought to. It wasn't like Ludwig was homophobic, since he himself was unsure about his sexuality. It was mostly the fact that his potential partner had the lower half of a sea mammal that dissuaded Ludwig from responding. At long last, Ludwig managed to pull his thoughts together enough to stammer a reply, the now undeniable emotions heating up his cheeks.
"I, um, I b-believe I like you very much as well."
Needless to say, Feliciano was ecstatic with this response. Ludwig wasn't sure how or if this would work out, but maybe the momentary joy was worth the risk. He just hoped it didn't involve too much more hugging and petting.
The next morning set the two of them in the same scenario as the previous two; Feliciano draped carelessly over Ludwig's chest, tail curled over his legs. However, where the previous two times had seemed tense, an act performed only out of the need to survive, today there sat a new tension in the air; would the tired words of last night carry through?
Feliciano was rather nervous. Oh yes, it was wonderful and all, but perhaps that was the problem. Lovino had always told him no good came from fairytales and happy endings, they just raised your expectations to unrealistic heights. Ludwig might have said he liked Feliciano, but there were two things he feared. One, that Ludwig hadn't really meant it, merely said it to appeal to Feliciano's much needed assistance in finding food. And second, what happened when Ludwig's brother found them? Feliciano recalled that Ludwig had been extremely concerned about this, and it was certainly something that had to happen for Ludwig to stay alive. From what Feliciano had seen, humans were incapable of eating all parts of the fish, meaning they needed some other source of those nutrients. Ludwig would have to leave, and well, Feliciano wouldn't be able to come with him. He would quite literally be a fish out of water, with limited mobility and no way to keep his skin moist. There would have to be some kind of miracle involved, honestly.
And how many times had Lovino told him off for believing in miracles? Speak of the devil...
Ludwig's sudden movement beneath him interrupted his thought processes. As soon as his blue eyes opened, they sparkled with energy and Ludwig gave a little chuckle.
"Are you planning on getting off me?"
"Oh yes, sorry!"
Feliciano rolled cautiously to the side, intent on conversing seriously with Ludwig on these matters. Once they were both situated, Feliciano steeled himself for the possible nightmare.
"Ludwig...last night, when you said you really liked me, did you honestly mean it?"
Ludwig was quite surprised by this, the merman typically avoided serious topics, or so he had noticed from his constant rambling about his home life.
"Well," He began, unsure of how to word this, "I'm kind of confused. B-because I really think I like you, but I don't know if it's okay because, well, um, you're kind of a merman and I'm not."
Feliciano nearly sighed in relief, this was certainly more than he had hoped for.
"But it doesn't bother you that we're both guys?"
"No. My brother likes guys...I think. Well, it's hard to tell anyways because he always hangs out with these two, Rodreich and Elizabeta, but I'm not sure which of the three are actually together. But no, to answer your question. I guess... I'm mainly concerned that I won't be able to see you again when I get back to Germany." Ludwig looked down at his lap, nervous that perhaps he had confessed too much.
But Feliciano mulled over his answer, accepting it before voicing his own concern.
"Actually, I was worried about that too. See, I've never had any friends before, but I know you're going to have to go back home and I can't come because I don't have legs. And then there's mi fratello."
"What about him?"
"I don't think he likes humans very much, neither does Nonno really, but I don't think Nonno would mind as much."
Ludwig supposed that made sense, he didn't truly know how his brother or friends would react to a merman, considering they never even knew they existed until now. It just didn't seem like it would work. But there really was no harm in trying, was there? After all, Ludwig had never really met someone who had cared so much about him, or called him cute or nice or anything remotely close. Feliciano seemed to care about his moods, recognized there was a person behind the strict guidelines and by-the-book manner of operation. Perhaps it was because Feliciano too, lacked much social interaction, but he certainly seemed better at it.
With that in mind, Ludwig spoke. "Perhaps you should tell them then. Otherwise, things could become awkward between you at a later date. And perhaps they'll have an idea about what to do."
Feliciano accepted this as the proper thing to do, and after a quick breakfast, he was off yet again, this time with a goal that nearly immobilized him with fear three days ago.
As it just so happens, he was not the only one who had interesting things to tell his Nonno.
"...and then he says this friend can only drink 'boiled water'! Honestly, sometimes I think the kid's fucked up in the head!" Lovino couldn't keep the spite out of his voice, Feliciano had always been the preferred grandson, despite his false visions of grandeur. "Like, you realize that means that the bastard he hangs out with must be a human?!"
Romulus took it all in, sitting quietly and thinking. He had known at some point Feliciano would do something like this, he had only hoped it involved something less dangerous or stupid. Feliciano's head had always been filled with those fairytales, and while it made him happy go lucky and charming, it was honestly quite terrifying to have his grandson associate so easily with danger.
He sighed, "It seems most likely. However, let me confront Feliciano about this. This is a serious matter and I would like to make sure that this isn't just a misunderstanding."
Oh god, let it be a misunderstanding. Lovino seemed content with this answer, or at least as content as he could be, and he stalked off without another word. Just as Romulus turned to begin his search, he was met head-on with the subject of interest.
Feliciano paused slightly to catch his breath, before launching off into his tale. "Oh Nonno! I was just looking for you! You see a few days ago, I made this friend and I think I really like him and-"
Romulus silenced him by placing his hand over Feliciano's mouth.
"Feliciano, I need you to answer me honestly. Your...friend, he is a human, isn't he?"
Feliciano fell silent, nervously looking around before answering in a quiet voice.
"Yes, he is."
Oh! Nearing a climax, how fun. But I will try to get out another chapter real soon, and hopefully make them a bit longer (and maybe better too)