Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story plot!

Chapter 13: Those Eyes

Ludwig was walking toward his locker before break to get his snack money. He saw Kevin and his little followers and rolled his eyes slightly as they were acting like fools and talking big about something. His and Kevin's eyes met. Suddenly his world slowed as blurred faces were mocking him in a dark building. But the eyes were clear. He could see the arrogant condescending eyes perfectly.

'Those eyes,' he thought as he stayed out of reality when faint memories kept hitting him rapidly through the fog. 'Those eyes. What happened then was…..those eyes were there. THEY were there,' he thought as the memories slowly unblurred little flashes of what had happened happing before his eyes.

Suddenly he was back in the present still standing in place staring at them. They paused in front of him.

"What? Problem? Want to make something of it again," Kevin smirked then grinned when he stayed silent. "You realize your place? Remember what we did to you? We can do it again if you like," he smiled.

Ludwig was about to response but saw something behind Kevin. Séamus looked livid, his green eyes were filled with rage as he swung his text book as hard as he could at Kevin's head. Kevin toppled over with a should and clutched his head. His friends looked shocked.

'And those eyes…..are they angry for me? Why? We hardly know each other,' he thought as his body moved on its own tearing a guy off him when four pounced on him. He delivered a jarring blow to his jaw and went to pry the other off.

"Séamus! Ludwig! What the hell," Allistor roared throwing a couple of guys that were trying to pounce on them.

"They're the ones that hurt Ludwig! I heard Kevin say it," Séamus sneered.

"Really," Allistor asked calmly.

Ludwig peered over at him somehow getting a bad vibe from him. Even though he looked calm he could see the storm brewing in his eyes promising violence.

"Could we not talk and deal with this at the same time, you're going to get distracted," Ludwig said throwing another off Séamus and punching him making his nose make a sickening snap sound.

"Good point let's just beat the hell out of them and then talk," Allistor said darkly as he kicked one in the gut sending him flying against the lockers.

Ludwig saw movement to his right and Kevin was swinging at him at an alarming rate for someone that just had someone smash a text book smash into his skull. He threw his arm up to block and suddenly a fist drove into Kevin's jaw sending him reeling back.

"I don't know what is going on but touch him and you're dead," Theodo sneered.

"Why is your reaction punch now ask questions later," Ludwig asked blocking a knee to his gut.

"Because it's easier that way," he spat grabbing the guy's arm and judo throwing him to the floor.

"Your form was shit, you're rusty," Gilbert said popping up and blocking an attack meant for Theodo then hitting him in the throat sending him stumbling back gagging.

"Oh, shut up you brat," he snapped.

"Nice hit," Ludwig piped up.

"Oh, so you aren't questioning him?! Just me?!"

"I expect it out of him. Not you," Ludwig informed as he had a guy bent over kneed him repeatedly in the face.

"You know for someone who didn't want to talk and fight you sure are talking a lot," Allistor teased punching one in the ribs.

"Theodo started it," he said innocently.

"I can see that," Séamus grinned slamming one's head into the locker several times until he fell limp and eyed Theodo who was slamming one guy to the floor and kicking him repeatedly after.

"I WANNA FIGHT TOO," Arthur screeched appearing and drop-kicking Kevin out of the blue.

"I had a feeling he was going to pop up," Allistor deadpanned.

"I honestly expected it too," Gilbert laughed.

"Can someone explain to me what the hell is going on," Liam asked punching a guy in the face that had been about to attack Arthur.

"Well Séamus hit Kevin with a book and now it's an all-out brawl," Ludwig informed.

"Ok and why are we letting the cripple fight," Liam pointed out as Ludwig threw the guy he had been beating up to the floor.

"Why are you being prejudice against me," Ludwig sassed back making the others crack up. "Bet I could still take your ass even with a fucked-up ankle you ass."

"Try it after we get done," he teased.

After a minute longer, teachers broke up the fights then sent them to the office. They really didn't want to suspend anyone because out of school suspension was nothing but the reward for fighting they wouldn't learn that way. So, they gave the other seven boys in school suspension for two weeks and decided on paddling and a week of detention for Ludwig and the others considering they were only protecting the blonde and he was only defending himself. He paddled the oldest to the youngest. He was really good at paddling and it hurt like hell. He blinked when Arthur clung to him crying cutely after.

"I won't be bad anymore! Sorry! I just wanted to protect my friend! Don't paddle me again," he blubbered.

"SO CUTE," he wailed cuddling him and promising he'd never ever be paddled again.

Arthur snickered when he was with the others again.

"You played him didn't you," Allistor deadpanned.

"No paddling's ever again."

"Alright crybaby quit gloating," Allistor teased.

"Meanie," he scowled smacking him. "He hurt and you had tears in your eyes when you came out so I don't want to hear it. All of you did," he whined hiding his face into his chest and hitting him at the same time making him laugh and pet his hair.

"Yeah leave him alone. Even tough guy teared up," Liam teased nudging Ludwig.

"Did not. I had dust from leaning over the desk in my eyes," he denied tossing his head making them laugh.

"Then he gave him an angry pout and got gushed over for five minutes," Gilbert laughed.

"We're going to have to make sure the principal never kidnaps these two now because he thinks their adorable," Allistor laughed.

"Excuse you I AM adorable," Arthur sassed.

"It's terrible he knows that he's adorable," Gilbert grinned.

"He uses it for evil," Liam agreed.

"So, does this one," Theodo said pointing at Ludwig.

"I'm not adorable," he spat.

"The fact he denies it makes him cuter," Séamus laughed.

"Hmph," Ludwig pouted tossing his head.

At detention the teacher left and the brothers started chattering.

'I should thank them for what they did,' Ludwig thought.

"Um," he broke in catching their attention. "I just wanted to say…..Danke for taking up for me today and helping with the fight. You didn't have to and yet you did. So danke," he mumbled.

"No problem we could just let them get away with what they did to you," Allistor smiled.

"You're like family now and family sticks together," Séamus smiled.

"Yeah you're important to us, no way would we let them get away with shit," Liam agreed.

"We always got your back. You're family and we care about you. Anytime you need help let us know and we'll kick some ass for you," Arthur grinned.

"And of course we'd protect our darling little bruder. No way in hell is anyone getting away with hurting you," Theodo said.

"We love you we'd never let someone hurt you and get away with it," Gilbert smiled. "Though I want to say Danke as well for the Kirklands stepping up and helping out when they didn't have to."

"He's precious to us now as well. Of course, we'd help," Allistor shrugged. "You all are."

"Precious to you," Ludwig fumbled. "I didn't do anything to become something like that."

"Ludwig," Séamus smiled gently. "I don't know what you've been through in your past but I do notice you think you have to earn love. But love is not earned it's given. You never had to do anything to be loved by us. We just love you already. That's all there is to it and that's the way it's staying."

"Exactly," Arthur agreed.

"Preach it. That's exactly how it works. Ludwig you're family now and you can't escape it," Liam grinned.

Ludwig didn't know what to think of it. He meekly offered thanks and went back to his book. They went back to chattering knowing he just needed time to let it sink in.

'I haven't earned it from them but they care anyways. Is it really ok? Will it be taken away as easily as it was given? I don't understand. She always said I had to earn it. Just because I was her son that didn't mean she had to love me. That I had to earn my place in her heart. I don't understand why they just…..But they just do, and it's the first time someone has ever wanted me other than my family and said they loved me. Is it ok for me to just not do anything to earn it,' he thought as words blurred. 'Even if they take it back later. For now, I'll treasure this feeling that some other people actually care for me and want me around. Just hearing it, makes me really really happy,' he thought as tears flooded his face.

'Hmph. Good for you kleiner. You're opening up more and letting your feelings show. This family will always have my gratitude. They'll always be officially part of ours,' Gilbert thought smiling as he glanced back at his silently sniveling baby brother.

'Well now. Looks like Gilbert finally accepted someone new into our family for once. Of course, it would be people that adored Ludwig that he would accept so fast,' Theodo thought smiling.

No one commented on his crying. They just let it be and felt at peace knowing he was happy. Though they did make fun of Dylan when he whined dramatically about leaving him out of the fight and family bonding as he clung to Ludwig announcing his love for him as well which made the larger blonde erupt into laughter patting his back. Gisil and Christoph also complained about being left out and plotted to jump Kevin at a later date making the group laugh. Either way it was a day Ludwig would always treasure. The day he officially had two families now.

I'm back! I hope you guys liked the chapter! Why I chose it to be the eyes that set Ludwig to remember is because you can actually tell a lot about a person by what you see in their eyes. So, to me it was a cool important lesson to add. Some even say the eyes are the gateway to see into your soul. I believe it I can tell a lot about a person by their eyes. So far it hasn't been wrong. Anyways I hope you enjoyed the mushy gushy bonding at the end. Especially with taking about how you don't earn love it's given to you. You never have to earn it. Anyone who convinces you that then they're not worth it. It's been a hard lesson for me over the years. I was always trying to do things to earn love from some people I considered important to me and I apparently wasn't to them. Even though it tore me apart I had to let them go and accept they would never care for me as I did them. So, I felt it was an important lesson to put into the story as well.