There's a soft peeping in his ear that wakes Ludwig up. He sits up as soon as he can to take a deep breath and look at the clock blaring out numbers in a bright red font. Early enough for him, just on time like he asked Gilbird to do so last night. Slightly embarrassing when Gilbert makes fun of him for it but even his brother would admit waking up to the small little bird's noises are much more pleasant than any alarm could ever hope to be.
He rolls his shoulders slowly to help wake up and nods his head to Gilbird in thanks. The puff peeps again and flaps out of the room to go bother Gilbert instead. With only a sight sluggishness Ludwig is up and in an old black tee shirt and some plain work out shorts. There's a water bottle on the counter already filled with ice waiting for him along with a towel. The corner of Ludwig's mouth twitch up for a second, taking a quick glance over at the door to Gilbert's room. There's some music barely able to be heard from the other side. He sighs then instead wondering if the other got any sleep last night.
He's willing to put his money on none.
He flips the towel over his shoulder, making sure he has his door key before leaving. He pauses dramatically when he opens the door to see Lutz leaning back against the wall on the opposite side. They both stare at each other and an awkward silence stretches on. Lutz is the first to break, grimacing as he looks to the ground.
"Do you uh.." He trails off and rubs the back of his head. Ludwig closes the door behind them to but them both in the hall, waiting patiently for Lutz to find his words.
"Want like, a work out buddy?" He finishes still with a cringe but it changes to a semi-smile that makes Ludwig's eyes widen just a bit. He nods wordlessly before turning his head and coughing into his hand to clear his throat.
"That sounds nice," He chokes out. Lutz lets out a breath hat sounds like relief though Ludwig isn't sure what for. He would never reject an offer from Lutz. There's another few awkward moments as neither of them move towards the gym. Eventually Ludwig does start walking that way, taking careful looks over at Lutz to make sure he's not imagining things. He didn't think his counterpart woke up this early ever. Let alone to do work. It makes Ludwig think there's something wrong.
Maybe it's who he is, but he doesn't like when things are wrong without a possible solution on how to make things right. There's been something odd about Lutz for a while, it didn't always be that way and Ludwig can't help but feel he's responsible in a way. He wants to help solve whatever issue there is between them.
It's a wall, a block that Ludwig doesn't understand why Lutz had put it up. It worries him. They never had a hard interaction with each other yet it stands tall. As his counterpart, Ludwig has a natural reaction, a call, to help Lutz. It's hard to do when he won't be let in. He takes another glance at the other, wondering if maybe this can be a time where they can get past whatever awkwardness has set them astray.
The whole fiasco about meeting their counterparts still bugs him how easily it came about but there is nothing for Ludwig to do about it now. Meeting another version of himself had been weird, and nothing like it is now. Lutz had been crass and joking about with him. That cut off nicely and neatly not so long ago. Really, Ludwig misses it.
He takes care of a lot of people, but Lutz could handle himself, made Ludwig feel like he could have a fun time once or twice instead of the stick in the mud some would call him. He didn't envy his counterpart but he did admire Lutz to an extent. Capable to handle himself and a different way of looking at things. It got confusing after Lutz cut him off. They still sat by each other but Lutz seemed to not enjoy it. It stung on its own since he did enjoy Ludwig before.
Him wanting to be around is shocking in a way. Ludwig knows he's not the easiest to be around, more business than much else, but it's how he is. He wants to go back to that time when Lutz wanted to be around him without seeming forced.
"Why did you decide to come with me?" Ludwig finds himself asking once they enter the gym area, bare and empty save for themselves. Lutz scoffs like he's thinking of a joke but then scowls and rubs at his face.
"Just, thought you'd like some company," He says then scrunches up his face like it's not exactly what he meant to say. Ludwig doesn't pry, not wanting to make Lutz upset any more. It's simple and uncommunicative, Ludwig takes a machine and Lutz stands nearby to spot and make sure Ludwig isn't straining himself. Then they switch. The corners of Ludwig's mouth twitch up a little at how much Lutz can lift, keeping up with his weight and pace nicely. He doesn't get that much with anyone else.
"Are you okay?" Ludwig asks once they are running quietly on the treadmills. He turns down his pace to be able to talk properly. Lutz glances at him and does the same to be respectful.
"Why do you keep asking me that?" Lutz snaps at him then winces to himself. Ludwig doesn't get angry at him, giving him the benefit of not meaning to be harsh.
"I feel like it's odd between us," He clarifies. There is concern written all over his face he can tell. Lutz pauses, letting himself be pushed off the treadmil. His feet hit the floor and Lutz is tearing at his hair before throwing his hands up and groaning in annoyance. He begins to walk away leaving Ludwig to not even debate about chasing after him. He puts his hand on Lutz's shoulder to get his attention and this time Lutz flinches out of his touch.
"How did you get so perfect?!" He nearly screams. Ludwig coils back to stare at him dumbly. Lutz continues his frustrated noises while he walks back to the treadmills but doesn't get on, instead pacing around the machine entirely. Ludwig follows to sit on a nearby machine to be a stable and unmoving constant for Lutz's emotions.
"I just get so frustrated because.." Lutz stops himself, staring at Ludwig with a beaten expression that doesn't come from just any kind of emotional turmoil. Ludwig isn't sure what to do when his counterpart rubs the back of his head without finishing his phrase. Ludwig wants him to continue but a twist in his gut tells him not to. Lutz is not okay and prying will not help.
"I care about you," Ludwig says then. Lutz freezes and stares at him like a deer in the headlights. Suddenly uncomfortable, Ludwig rubs the back of his neck as well, hoping the heat in his face is just the work out setting in.
"I know that sounds bad, but if you're in a tough situation, I want to help," He continues on. When Lutz doesn't respond another awkwardness sets in.
"Why do you make things so confusing?" Lutz asks him covering his face. Ludwig doesn't have an answer to that. He fumbles for words, wondering if he should apologize, when Lutz laughs. It's soft and low and it makes Ludwig feel better, that heat in his face spreading to his chest. It's been too long since he heard Lutz laugh at something he's said. He forgot how nice it felt.
"I don't meant too," He says but Lutz is still going. When he calms down Ludwig has a small smile on his face too. A smile that breaks to frazzled as Lutz pulls him in for a weird hug. It's uncomfortable at their angle and Lutz is holding on hard.
"Listen hot cakes," He starts and Ludwig knows for sure the heat in his face is not from the work out. The last time someone so blatantly called him a pet name had been long ago and done by Lutz himself. It makes his mind muddled.
"I've been wrestling with the feels for a damn long time and it's time I came clean about them," He continues and it sounds so normal, the way Ludwig remembers him sounding when they first met. Easy tones with a flirtation hiding under ever word. He twitches in the hug but doesn't want to get out of it..
"I got a crush on you beef cake," Lutz lightly pushes him away, rubbing at his face at the confession. There's a crooked smile on his face and it floors Ludwig. It's his turn to freeze up, staring blindly. He's only brought out of his shock by his own stumbling for words. In the end he pulls himself up tall and glares to the side, a air of trying to make himself seem not as flustered.
Lutz sees through that act and laughs at him, nudging him playfully. They get back on the treadmill, a different kind of atmosphere about them. Especially when Lutz hits the 'up' button on Ludwig's machine to make him run faster than intended. It's a game then, seeing who can do the most with teases coming endlessly from Lutz who is smiling more and more that Ludwig breaks his own records just to keep seeing. There's soft encouragements from himself that seem to put fire in Lutz. It's nice and something that Ludwig found himself missing.
He's had connections with others before. For starters he had Kiku and Feliciano. Friends who supported him and once upon a time Feliciano had been his partner. It didn't work out, Ludwig not able to supply the kind of open affection Feliciano really wanted. They managed to be okay in the end. The way he feels with Lutz is close to that.
His bother as well has always there for him, helping him talk out his misunderstood feelings for Lutz way back then, which he adamantly refused had been more just concern versus romantic affection. A conversation should they ever go back to, Ludwig might have to admit his brother may have been right. Feelings that catch him off guard in simple ways. Something easy in a way that makes mundane work outs seem like fun. Ludwig is smiling into his water bottle as Lutz snickers at his own jokes on their walk back to their rooms, both of them with towels around their necks to clean up excess sweat.
"Thank you," Ludwig says before opening his own door. Lutz shrugs semi-awkwardly, waving off the words.
"See you at the meeting," Lutz opens his door with a wink and closes it before anything else can be said. Ludwig smiles to himself then steps inside his room where Gilbert promptly gets in his face.
"How'd your date go?" He asks loudly. Ludwig blinks at him and narrows his eyes at his brother. Gilbert laughs before he can respond, holding up his phone proudly.
"Klaus told me. So! Did you tell him you liked him?" Gilbert pesters him. Ludwig sighs with a hand over his face.
"I did not confess, there is nothing.." He tries to add an ending but the lie doesn't get past his lips. Gilbert understands and a mischievous smile breaks across his face. Ludwig escapes to the shower so he can't be asked any other questions with his brother booing at him.
He's relieved honestly to see Lutz sitting at their normal table, his legs kicked up on the wood and his hands behind his head like the picture of careless. Ludwig takes his own seat casually, pulling out papers to organize on his side of the desk for maximum efficiency. Gilbert did try to pester him but gave up, only to come tackle him happily with the information he heard form Klaus that the 'date went well'. He refuses to believe he flushed up at the fact. He's startled when Lutz sits up and close in his personal space.
"You try too hard," His counterpart says sassily with an arm over his shoulder. Ludwig tries to glare at him but the expression is lost on the smirk Lutz is now sporting. So he sighs and continues with his stacks. Lutz laughs shortly and goes back to lounging.
Not knowing for sure why, Ludwig takes a glance at him, then back to his papers. There's a smile on his face now too. For so long he's known something had to be bothering Lutz, thoughts he couldn't say properly. Now they are out in the open and the interactions between them are so much better. Ludwig can't count how long he's been dreaming of a day Lutz would want to talk to him again. He got a confession more than he thought he would receive, but he's sure he can handle it.