AU (Alternate Universe):

Apocalypse AU

Feliciano lay on his side, staring at the blank wall in front of him. He was starting to worry; Ludwig hadn't come home in three days.

"What if something happened to him?" he muttered aloud, "What if he got hurt, or worse? Should I go out to look for him?"

He sat up and looked to the door of the bunker. He had been hiding there for the past five months, ever since the solar storm. Violent rays from the sun sparked a fire, and burned almost everything to the ground, and occasionally continued to rage on. Few people survived. Those who did would go to extreme measures to get supplies they needed, and no one was above hurting someone else. Feliciano himself a victim, receiving a broken arm after being caught trying to steal from a gang of scavengers. He looked at his left arm, wound in a sling, and sighed. The outside world was desolate, destroyed, and scorching hot, and the bunker was the only safe place Feliciano knew.

Ludwig had left three days ago to scavenge for food, water, painkillers, any supplies they could find, before everything they had ran out. But he was taking longer than he said he would, and Feliciano couldn't help but jump to the worst conclusions.

"What if encountered some hostile people? What if he got really lost? What if he…" Feliciano gulped, "…died?"

Feliciano eyes started watering and he tried to push the thought out of his head. But it was no use and his worry was to strong, so he rolled over and tried to fall asleep.

A few hours later, he was awakened by a knock and the bunker door. His heart raced as he unlocked it and swung it open. Just as he had hoped, there stood Ludwig, safe, unharmed, and holding a small crate full of supplies.

Ludwig hadn't taken a step inside, when Feliciano charged at him and jumped into his arms. Ludwig dropped the crate, and held onto Feliciano.

Tears welled up in Feliciano's eyes, "Ludwig! You're back! Grazie a dio! I was so worried; I kept thinking something bad had happened to you, what took you so long? I missed you so much, thank god you're back!"

Ludwig held Feliciano tight, happy to finally be back with him. "It's okay, Feli, I'm okay. I missed you too."

Ludwig stepped inside the bunker and put Feliciano down gently, then pulled the crate inside and closed the bunker door. He opened the crate and began to pull a few things out, water bottles, cans of soup, and a package of batteries. "I'm sorry I took so long, but look. I brought back a lot of stuff, and I have some good news."

Feliciano sat down by the crate as Ludwig replaced the batteries in an old lamp. "Oh yeah?" Feliciano said, "What's the good news?"

Ludwig pulled out more cans of food and a blanket. "I met some people. A lot of them, more than I thought were still alive. They have a shelter set up, a sort of safe haven for survivors. They help anyone in need, and they were the ones who gave me all of these supplies. They invited us to go live there."

Feliciano's eyes widened, "R-really?"

"Ja. Around ten miles to the east, a shelter they call, The Beautiful World, is welcoming any people who need help. Everyone works together to find more supplies, everyone is taken care of. It's like a small piece of society, rebuilt.

One of their members, a man named Kiku, found me as I was looking for supplies. He brought me back to The Beautiful World, where the other members greeted me, and invited me to stay. When I told them I couldn't leave you, they welcomed you as well.

I know it's a long trip, and I know it may be hard for you to trust others again after… what happened… but we can trust them, I believe. We are running out of supplies, we'd be safer in a group. Now, we have the chance to live with other people, not worry about our next meal.. I.. thought it would be a good option, especially with your injury.."

Feliciano nodded along with what Ludwig said, but said nothing. He looked unconvinced, still processing the information and unsure of what to think.

Ludwig looked down, and muttered almost inaudibly, "I thought it would be a good option to keep you safe…"

After a minute of silence, Feliciano put a hand on Ludwig's shoulder, and smiled at him.

"Then, what are we waiting for?"