Dust rose as Feliciano slowly walked down a random backcountry road in his hometown, staring down at his boots. It had been hard to act normal today. The fake smile stitched onto his face was beginning to tear, and he thought that a few people might be suspicious. Oh, how he hoped…no, prayed, that they weren't.

Out in the open, the Italian felt exposed. His knees began to shake again and he stopped, looking around for something to sit and recompose himself on. He spotted a low fence made of bricks, perfect. He shuffled over and scrambled onto the fence, gently kicking his feet over the edge after he was done making himself comfortable. Feliciano gripped onto the bricks and tilted his head upwards, staring into the cloudy afternoon sky. His mind was racing and he felt a shuddery, exhausted sigh push past his lips. Maybe—

Footsteps. Feliciano tensed. Oh please God, don't let it be Ludwig… he thought, eyes widening. "Damnit!" an annoyed scoff to go along with said footsteps. The Italian relaxed, he knew that voice all too well. "Ne, Fratello~?" the smallest of smiles was on the brunette's face. He was shocked at how weak and frail his voice sounded, he hoped that Lovino wouldn't notice. The footsteps stopped. "Feli, that you? Damnit, where the hell are you?" Grumpy as usual. Feliciano giggled softly. "Fratello, I'm over here~"

"Where the fuck is over here? Damnit, Feliciano!"

"To your right, Fratello." The footsteps started again and Lovino came into Feliciano's line of sight. "Fratello~~!" a strained smile, an enthusiastic wave. "Oh, there you are." The younger brother continued to kick his feet on the wall as the older one approached. "What the hell are you doing all the way out here?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and scrambling up the wall to sit next to his little brother.

"Thinking." The smaller Italian answered softly, keeping his gaze steady. Lovino rose an eyebrow.

"Okay Feli, I know you better than that, you never think." He ruffled Feliciano's hair somewhat affectionately and the younger brother giggled softly. "What the hell are you really doing out here?" a small look of concern appeared on the older brother's face. Feliciano felt a tremor of panic shoot through his body, making his stomach churn. "I just um…wanted to go outside is all." He murmured and Lovino blinked. "Oh. Well you could have said something."

"Sorry Fratello." The older brother shrugged and raised a hand to scratch his neck with. On instinct, Feliciano flinched and then cursed himself for it afterwards. Lovino noticed that action and frowned. "Feli, what was that for?"

Feliciano paled. "I ahh, I thought I saw a bug, sorry." He lied, glancing towards his brother and watching his eyes narrow in suspicion. Thankfully, Lovino didn't say anything about it. "Soooo how's the potato-bastard you insist on being with? He treating you alright?" Lovino yawned and Feliciano felt a lump rise to his throat. "O-Oh, Ludwig?" the shorter Italian tried to stop the tremor in his voice. "Y-Yeah, he is…" Feliciano once more stared down at his boots. Lovino's usual frown turned into one of suspicion. "…Really. Feliciano, you know you can tell me anything, right?" Lovino leaned in closer to his brother. "…What's on your neck?" he reached out and Feliciano panicked, scrambling down and backing away, going even paler.

"Nothing! T-There's nothing!" He took another step backwards as Lovino got down too. "F-Fratello, I ah…I need to go..." Feliciano took a deep breath, calming himself. "It's getting late and um…I think I left the microwave on." And with that, the smaller Italian did what he did best, turned and fled. Lovino blinked, processing what his brother had said. "The micro—DAMNIT FELICIANO! YOU IDIOT!" he shouted after Feliciano's retreating figure.

The Italian ran, scared beyond all good measure. That was close, too close. He knew Lovino would be suspicious now. As soon as he felt he was far away enough, the brunette stopped and leaned against a tree, breathing heavily. "Please, Fratello…" he murmured, tears threatening to fall once more. "Please, please don't t-talk to Ludwig…" A single dry sob pushed past his lips, followed by more and more. His shaking hands gripped his arms and he took deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down.

Soon enough, the brunette stood again and looked at the darkening sky. It was getting late. He'd have to be home soon, because he knew Ludwig would be there. No matter how much he didn't want to go back, he knew it had to be done. So, Feliciano walked, clearing his mind. If he acted normal, the German would have no reason to suspect him, right? All he had to do was act natural.

Here I go…

He opened the door and forced a smile onto his face, walking right back into the room he had feared so much. Back into his own personal hell.