When Feliciano had seen Ludwig again, it was a much more pleasant experience compared to the last two times, and Feliciano was okay with that. No, he wasn't okay with it, he was giddy, but he had realized something that made his stomach sick, but a nice kind of sick, if that made any sense at all. It didn't quite make any sense to him either, but he had known it was utter betrayal and confusion that led him to this.
Feliciano was taking his normal every-other-day trip to the markets when he had seen the German, looking over the rest of the people in the center. Feliciano let out a giggle, feeling very bubbly just seeing the soldier, he had realized that the German hadn't seen him yet. So he crept around stalls, hid behind posts, and was finally behind the German as he tried to suppress a laugh. He stood behind the brooding German in the same position, slightly to the side, as he leaned on a bench while the blond leaned on a pole. This got a few stares, but the German hadn't seemed to notice, and Feli was too caught up in his little sneaking act to care.
He knew he was taking a risk when he got closer, he could hear Ludwig's steady breathing he had gotten so close, and Feliciano's eyes threatened to flutter closed at the close proximity. He knew he shouldn't have plucked a flower to put on Ludwigs head, but he didn't seem to notice that either, so Feli was okay with the risk of being yelled at in a public junction. Feli could just imagine the large, muscly German laying in a garden, a little purple flower on his face as he peacefully slept, and it brought these little butterflies Feli knew he shouldn't have into his stomach, and even his imagination twisted it into something good. The butterflies flew around the German, one landing on his nose as he finally woke.
He stumbled back as he was snapped back to reality when he had noticed he was leaning forward, almost brushing against the soldiers uniform. Blinking thrice, the Italian began to walk away as silently as possible, entering the market from behind a stall, apologizing as he weaved through people. Lovino had told him not to get bread or milk today, but flour eggs and hazel instead. But Feliciano knew hazel was expensive so he tried to flirt with the lady at the stall to get a better price, and he had succeeded. Lovino knew his brother was better with people, he also knew he was good with women, so he figured he'd give him a little more money and they'd be fine.
When he had walked away with a kind "arrivederci," he saw that Ludwig was now staring at him. He had one eyebrow cocked as he twirled the flower between his index finger and thumb, he looked amused with the Italians antics. Feliciano just brightly smiled, quickly walking to the German still leaning on the pole.
He stopped in front of Ludwig, looking up a tad to see his eyes, stomach flipping at the thought in the back of his head that the blue in Ludwig's eyes would make a much better, much prettier and more cordial yet intense color for the sky, much better than the sky's boring blue.
"Did you have fun putting a flower on top of my head?" Ludwig spoke, the corners of his lips twitching up into the faintest but most pleasing smile Feliciano had ever seen.
"Yes. Ah! I bet you didn't notice me sneaking around or doing it though!"
A very low, breathtaking chuckle came from the blinds chest, as he ducked his head down a little, a smile crossing his lips. "Y-yes, I suppose you are right. I just felt the flower and waited for you to walk away before I got it."
Feliciano's heart stuttered, that was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen, never mind the ragazza. Feliciano grabbed the soldiers arm, gasping at the sudden memory.
"Ve! I almost forgot, I got you something and I've been carrying it around," he gasped, digging his hand into his trousers pockets and retrieving a piece of a sweet, a brownie to be specific.
He shoved it at the German, a blush dusting his cheeks as he smiled sweetly, Ludwig wanted to see that a lot more. The corner of his lips turned upwards just a tad as he accepted the treat, mumbling a "danke" as he took a bite, immediately groaning, he had forgotten what actual food had tasted like months ago. It genuinely felt nice to know that the little Italian had thought of him enough to bring him this, and his stomach turned and knotted into a sensation he hadn't ever been given the pleasure to come into contact with before, though it made him queasy.
"Mein gott, Feliciano did you make this? I haven't eaten anything this good since '39 when I first got deployed," questioned Ludwig.
"Ah! Si, Fratello and I made it yesterday! It was so fun, I haven't seen him smile so much since the first year of the war. I do miss it, " he mumbled towards the end, he never mumbled what was he doing?
Ludwig paused, remembering he had a brother, why didn't he remember that until now? "Ah, this war has changed quite a few people, even I am not the same as I used to be. As shocking as it may sound, I haven't always been so aggressive- in my opinion at least," he looked away as he spoke, and Feliciano had realized something.
Ludwig wasn't bad, not at all, he was just trying to fight a war and didn't see a point in it, he didn't want to, and neither did he. Sure, he was fighting on the other side, but that didn't mean he was necessarily on the other side, he just had to join it. He could see how much he despised all of this in that one look, and Feliciano suddenly felt much closer to him.
"Si, i used to be able to go to he beaches, flirt with the women at any time, even food wasn't so expensive, now though, I can barely even go outside without the risk of running into a soldier." Feliciano was sad now, and he looked at the iron cross around the Germans neck with what Ludwig assumed was disgust.
He felt ashamed now, and he grabbed the Italians hand and started walking away from the market area, Feliciano trotting to keep up with him and not fall.
"Luddy stop it! Where are we going?"
"I want to take you somewhere, go to your house and leave your things, I will wait."
Ludwig walked slightly behind Feliciano as he led him to his house, which Feliciano didn't think about being a bad idea, and patiently waited outside for him to return. When Feliciano came back outside he had changed his shirt to a white button up and was smiling like a dork.
Ludwig couldn't help but think of how Feliciano would have looked while changing. He pushed the thoughts out if his head with a blush dusting his cheeks, quickly clearing his throat to dismiss himself as he turned and began walking off. Feliciano, once again, made an attempt to keep up with the German, however, found it quite futile with his pace. So, they walked around the town, across crowded streets and a field, walking along a dirt road on the side of a hill, then Feliciano saw what Ludwig was bringing him to.
Ludwig was taking Feliciano to the port, well not really the port, more so the shore. The sun looked beautiful as it sat high in the sky, beating down on the two, sky blue, though Feliciano though, not as beautiful as Ludwigs. They walked closer to the water, and Feliciano could see giant ships in the distance, though he didn't know who they belonged to. He kicked off his shoes, running ahead of the German as he further stripped himself, for some reason hesitating on the pants, he thought unusual but decided it was for the best that he kept them on and simply rolled up the legs.
With a great big smile adorning his features, the bubbly burnet ran straight for the water, kicking his legs and splashing water onto himself as he giggled, was that giggling?
"If I had known that you would be so happy to see the ocean I would have brought you here earlier this morning instead of talking to you for so long, " Ludwig spoke with fondness.
"Si, I miss the water. My Fratello and I have never lived near the water, never on the shoreline like others, but we never had to avoid so many people and never struggled for food before, so we haven't gone to the water in very long," the Italian responded, placing his hand above his eyes as he stared at the boats.
Ludwig felt a twinge of sympathy for the younger, he had never really been close to his brother, but the moment the war broke out his brother was drafted. He supposed it was because he was albino, it seemed der Fuhrer did not want many people around, so he saw his brother struggle to be taken by soldiers to fight in the war, but never heard from him again.
Ludwig cleared his throat, sitting on the sand as he watched the other play in the water, "I know this war has not been easy, it hasn't for Italy, Germany, not one single country involved has had it easy, even other countries are suffering, but in the end I believe we will all be glad and can truly be happy once again."
Feliciano paused, something in his stomach twisted thinking about spending time with Ludwig after all of this.
"Hey Ludwig?" he started, getting a hum in response, he turned "After this war is over do you think that we will all sit at a large table, everyone, and eat all of the pasta and sausage that we want, singing and laughing?"
Ludwig's face did not look as hopeful or positive as he had wished it would, he sighed and turned away, marching into the sea to retrieve a piece of driftwood.
Much time had passed, and now the sun began to set as both sat side by side, Feliciano invading Ludwig's space, which normally he would yell at, but for some reason, he didn't mind with this Italian. Feliciano's mind kept turning, wondering why his friend hadn't answered his earlier question, why exactly he took him there, if he would see the other shirtless, if he would see him again, if he could- wait a minute, shirtless?
Feliciano shook his head, a look of frustration settling on his face as his face tined a soft pink. he didn't, and more importantly couldn't feel this way about his companion, it was another man. Sure, Italians were always appreciative of looks, that's why he was okay with thinking his eyes were beautiful, but no man was a fag. An Italian, homosexual? Impossible, all Italians loved women. Sure, Romans had practiced homosexuality, but he didn't. That was the difference here.
Ludwig looked over to the other, seeing him lost in his thoughts, and smiled, which felt weird to do during a time like this. He wasn't in his own country, didn't speak this one's language, wasn't liked by locals and sure as hell wasn't liked by his subordinates, so why the hell was he even to be slightly okay with his situation? He wasn't, and that was the truth. He was fine with being deployed, but not being forced to harm people or arrest people because that's what everyone else was doing, He loved his country but this isn't what he wanted from it, not at all.
Once again, Ludwig cleared his throat, standing as he held out his hand for the other to take as a help standing. Feliciano's cheeks were dusted a light pink, complementary to his skin tone, and he dropped his hand into the blondes, accepting the help.
"I believe we should be going now, it will be getting much darker very soon," Ludwig calmly spoke.
Feliciano's ears must have been acting up again, and he swore his brother was right about him hearing things how he wanted because he could have sworn Ludwig seemed at least a little disappointed in their soon departure. Feliciano nodded, bringing himself to stand beside the German.
"You've been awfully quiet lately, why?" The blond queeried.
"I just, well I like spending time with you I guess," Feliciano started, rubbing the back of his neck as he turned away, blush layering thicker onto his face, "I don't want to leave yet is all."
Ludwig blinked, that didn' sound right.
He had spent his entire life with no friends, ate many meals alone, only went to beer halls with his brother and father, never dated, never even met somebody intentionally outside of school or his job. He was the same person who had yelled at tthis boy, who had called him an absolute idiot and almost punched him. He took him to the beach on a whim and now this boy- who was supposed to be afraid of him was telling him he liked to hang out with him. It was a lie. He knew it had to be.
Ludwig turned cold, "You won't earn anything from lying to me, or being around me. You don't have to lie to me, just tell me you want me gone as rude as you wish and I'll leave as you want me to."
"Ve, what? No! I just said that I want to hang out with you! do you think if I didn't I would have let you take me to the shore, or brought you a brownie? No, I wouldn't have. I would be avoiding you at all costs, not putting flowers on your head and talking to you at churches."
Ludwig blinked once, twice, thrice, then sighed, motioning to the Italians clothes, "Just put your clothing back on and we will go."
The burnet sighed and did as told, quickly, yet sloppily, throwing his clothes on, quickly walking off with his new companion.
Feliciano paused, turning to the German before they began their ascend to main Genoa, sighing as he thought.
"Do you believe that after the war is over we will still see each other? I would like to introduce you to my family, my fratello would probably hate you, but that just shows how much he loves you. Oh! and our turtle friend, I always forget his name, he's very kind, he brings me and fratello tomatoes. But do you think we can do that?" He stared into the Germans eyes, full of excitement.
Ludwig sighed, beginning to walk up the trail on the cliff, "Yes, I do believe we can arrange that."
Feliciano did not think he sounded so sure, but still followed him to town.
He looked down from the side of the cliff again, the beach did always look lovely, even better with their footprints, and he loved it, loved it so much. The yellow so vibrant and beautiful, fighting with the wonderful blue waves, bluer than the sky, it would make a lovely replacement, that he knew. Sun-kissed cheeks would be the result of a view in person, a thin coat of red to show that yes- they did really see such beauty. He loved the beach, indeed he did.