A/N: Hello everyone! I hope you have been doing well, as I have over this break. As you may or may not have noticed, depending on how new you are to the story or if you use your phone, you might have noticed that I changed the picture. Yay! I had been meaning to do that for a while but I didn't know what to do, so one day I decided on Germany looking all awkward with Pookie because he's always awkward and that just seemed fit. For the sake of this story, I am going to pretend that the CTU strike of 2012 did not happen. Quick summery of that event: We were all (all kids in CPS) out of school for about a week and a half because of contract stuff. In this story, I don't think that would have played out with the plot line, so I'm going to omit it. Which brings me to the next point that for the timeline of this story they are still in September. I had hoped that I would be farther in the year by now but no. Soon though. Soon. Anydoodaly, here you go!

"And that will be due on Thursday." Mr. Annan concluded. His last words were drawn out by the sound of the loud bell signaling that it was time to go home and the sound of desk shifting from people getting up.

"Hey! Luddy!" Feliciano called to Ludwig who was walking in the hallway. He stopped and turned to face his friend.

"What?" He asked.

"Just don't forget we have that club for Kiku today!" The Italian reminded with a smile.

"How could I forget?" He started walking again with Feliciano following closely. "You've been reminding me all day. Via word and text." He bonked Feliciano in the back of the head lightly (or what he thought to be light)

"Oww! You meanie! Now hurry up so we can go." Feliciano grabbed Ludwig's arm in an attempt to pull him away but got shaken off instead.

"No, I need to go to my locker first." The German started trudging in the opposite direction.

"Ok!" Feliciano exclaimed, running up beside his friend. "I'll come with you."

Ludwig sighed in annoyance but said nothing.

oFTbrakeoFT

At the club room, or the art room as it so happened to be, Ludwig and Feliciano were greeted by a very excited looking Finnish boy.

"This is such goodness!" Tino exclaimed hugging Feliciano and nodding to Ludwig. "I didn't know you guys were in this club as well."

"Ve, were here for Kiku." Feliciano informed him.

"Ok, well why don-"

"Hey, Ludwig!" A voice called from across the room. The trio's attention turned to face the figure jogging up to them, a look of shock on one of their faces.

"Oh, hi Arthur." Ludwig replied, extending a hand out for a friendly greeting.

Feliciano stiffened considerably.

"This is Tino and Feliciano." Ludwig gestured to the boys next to him.

"'Ello Tino and I already know you Feliciano." Arthur shook Tinos hand and slapped Feliciano on the back in a playful manner.

Feliciano squeaked at the touch, but thinking about the consequence of acting odd in front of onlookers, he managed to sputter out: "Ve, ve, long time no see Arthur, ve?"

"You two know each other?" Ludwig asked.

"Yeah, Feliciano and I used to go to middle school together. Ludwig, why don't you come sit over here with me?"

Ludwig glanced at Feliciano; he could tell something was making him feel uncomfortable. He decided he might need some space so he nodded to the Englishman, and allowed himself to be gestured to another table.

Feliciano watched sadly as his friend walked away from him. He was about to turn back to the table that Tino had just gone back to when Arthur turned around quickly to mouth the word 'loser' to him. Not the best of comebacks but after Ludwig had just ditched him like that it did its damage.

That doesn't mean he doesn't like me, right? Feliciano asked himself nervously as he sat down. Tino started talking to Berwald and him, something about a Pikachu, but he wasn't listening.

oFTbrakeoFT

"How are you doing, chap?" Arthur asked once they had sat down.

"I'm good." Was Ludwig's response. "You?"

"Very good, very good." A loud succession of knocks to a table caught the boys attention.

"Mina-san!" Kiku shouted, effectively shutting up those who were still speaking, "Welcome to anime club." Ludwig and Arthur listened intently as Kiku went on about what anime club was all about and the normal club stuff, sometimes with interjections from Elizabeth.

After fifteen minutes of that, Kiku put a show onto the projector for the group to watch. At that point most people went back to talking.

"So you're friends with Feliciano then?" Arthur asked.

"I guess so." Ludwig replied a little confused about the random question.

"How long have you known him?"

"About a month."

"Hmmm." Arthur hummed to himself.

"What?" The German asked, glancing sideways at Arthur.

"Well if I'm going to be honest," The Brit started, "I don't think it's going to last much longer." Arthur made a quick glance up after he said that to see the others reaction. He knew that was a risky move, but he was hoping it wouldn't hurt too much in his plan.

"Why do you say that?" Ludwig asked, turning his full attention to the kid next to him.

"You know him, his-" Arthur made a weird gesture with his hands in front of him "His, antics. You can't honestly say they don't annoy you."

"Well yeah, sometimes. But he's good company and he's-" Cute. That's what he was going to say but he stopped himself before he did. He couldn't say Feliciano was cute, that's… true? No, that was weird. He opted for "Nice." Instead.

"That's what I used to say." Arthur sighed dramatically. "When we used to be best friends."

"You guys used to be friends?" Ludwig asked.

"Oh yes!" Arthur lied through his teeth. "Me and Feliciano were very good friends." He looked off into the distance with a slight smile, as if remembering a fond memory. "But a man can only take so much." His smile disappeared, and was replaced with a look of loss.

"But life goes on!" Arthur's expression changed yet again to a happy look of optimism. "And I have to say it has been much better without him. I made more friends and I am just plain happier."

Ludwig thought this over in his head. While thinking, he moved his gaze past Arthur to rest on Feliciano just a few yards away. He really considered Feliciano as a good friend. Sure he thought weird things about him sometimes that he didn't have with other friends, like becoming a little happier when Feliciano started to talk to him, and thinking he was cute, or not admitting to himself how much he appreciated and wanted the others signs of affection like hugs. But that was because they were good friends, right? And sure the constant 'hey, hey Ludwig's' and 've's' were a little annoying, but a part of him smiled about that anyway. That ever-present look of content on Feliciano's face made Ludwig feel happy. He couldn't imagine being better off without him. He was his best friend.

Before he could properly respond his attention was grabbed by the images on the projector. Currnetly it was a battle between some ninjas. He never knew what it was about ninjas but he always had an attraction to them. They were just so cool! Right now, it didn't matter what was going on around him, all his focus was on these shadows of the night.

oFTbrakeoFT

"Well we are going to be off now." Tino announced to Feliciano as he put his sweater on and picked up his backpack.

"So soon?" The Italian asked.

"Yeah, me and Berwald need to go pick up a webcam."

"Oh okay. Well, have fun!" Feliciano hugged Tino and gave a handshake to Berwald.

Feliciano blew some air out of his nose. Well I guess I can a go see Luddy, and see if he can a take me home. Forgetting the reason his friend was away he grabbed his things and skipped off to find him.

"Ve~ Luddy~." Feliciano sang out as he skipped over to the table his friend was at. Before he was half way over he was stopped by a certain blond haired boy.

"Ah! Arthur! I mean, hi! Ve hi Arthur!" Smooth you wop. Feliciano scolded himself.

Arthur glanced quickly at Ludwig a few feet away and seeing how he hadn't heard anything he took Feliciano by the shoulder and gently guided him to another table.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Arthur hissed when they both sat down, quiet enough for no one but Feliciano to hear.

"I-I was just t-trying to talk to Ludwig." Feliciano stuttered.

"Well obviously he doesn't want to talk to you!" Arthur glanced at Feliciano's expression before continuing. "How many times to I have to literally pound it into your head that he. Does. Not. Like. You?"

Feliciano shook his head defiantly.

"Stop trying to kid yourself stupid ginzo. See, if he really cared about you wouldn't he have said 'no' to sit with me. Or wouldn't he have come back? But he didn't. Because he doesn't care about you, and obviously me as a friend is a much better option to him then hanging out with your useless ass."

"But-"

"But nothing." Arthur cut him off sharply. "You're a weak annoying stupid bitch and it would be better for everyone if you just left." His words, although quiet, left a powerful mark in its wake.

"Ok." Feliciano managed to choke out. He got up from his seat and speed-walked out of the door before his emotions could come out.

Arthur chuckled to himself as he watched the brunette leave. He is just too easy.

oFTbrakeoFT

After Feliciano left the art room, he hurried quickly into the bathroom to calm himself down.

Luckily no one was in when he went inside so he went straight to the sinks, grabbing one tightly and started making short chocking noises.

Unable to hold back any longer, Feliciano let himself slide down to the floor while crying his eyes out.

"No! No no-no-no-no no!" Feliciano chanted to himself.

Don't take this so harshly, Feli. A voice inside the Italians mind spoke out. You knew this was going to happen anyway, right? You're too stupid and useless for your own good.

"Yeah but it still hurts."

It shouldn't hurt. You know he was just pretending the whole time. In fact, it should hurt less because you knew this.

"But, but he was different."

Why was he any different? You thought just because he didn't have any friends to begin with that he'd stick around with you? You're stupider than I thought. He made other friends, and frankly, being friendless would be better than being friends with you.

"B-but, I-I like him." Feliciano stuttered his words, "I just w-want to run up to him for comfort, and get hugs! At least one last hug."

Well you're not going to get that. So suck it up, wash your face and go home. No one needs you here.

Washing the last of his tears away, Feliciano picked himself up with his bag and started walking home, not even bothering to put on a fake smile.

oFTbrakeoFT

"Hey Arthur, have you seen Feliciano?" Ludwig asked. After getting out of his trance, he was ready to go sit with his friend again, but he noticed the table's lack of anyone in general before he made it all the way over.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, he went home like ten minutes ago." Arthur replied nonchalantly while still watching what was playing.

"Oh." Ludwig said stupidly. He had expected that he would walk home after this club with Feliciano, or at least get a goodbye hug. He wound himself disappointed at the loss of that last thought and grew a slight frown.

"What's wrong?" Arthur asked, peering up at Ludwig.

"Nothing, I'm just going to get going home now so-"

"Hey wait!" Arthur interjected, reaching out and grabbing Ludwig's arm.

Ludwig was used to this behavior (although it seemed weird coming from Arthur and not Feliciano), and turned around to face Arthur.

"Do you want to grab a beer first? Out by the little park? I have some with me."

Tempting. Very tempting. And Ludwig never was one for turning down a good beer.

"Ok."

oFTbrakeoFT

"Thank you." Ludwig took the can from Arthur gratefully.

"No problem." Arthur replied, making himself comfortable on the bench.

"So do you always just carry beer around with you?" Ludwig joked, taking along sip of the lukewarm beverage.

"No, but I thought you would be staying after school so I brought them. I just feel like we could end up being good friends, you know?" Arthur chugged half of his beer down. "I feel like we get each other."

No, not really. Ludwig thought to himself. First, I barely know you, und second, you're not really my friend type, I guess.

But not one to try and intentionally spoil a good drinking mood, Ludwig just grunted in response and drank the last of his drink.

"Well it was nice talking to you Arthur." Ludwig gave the other boy a handshake before heading off toward home.

"Yes, same here." Arthur packed up his bag and set off for the other direction. He could not possibly wait until tomorrow to see how broken down Feliciano was going to be. Grinning like a mad cat, he picked up his pace home.

oFTbrakeoFT

Feliciano sure was acting weird today. Ludwig thought as he got comfortable in his bed for the night. He reached over his bed to the floor to scratch behind Blackie's ear.

"Goodnight, Blackie." He yawned, feeling his consciousness slipping away as he pulled his arm back and closed his eyes.

Yeah, he was acting weird. But he's kinda cute like that, all flustered. Ludwig smiled faintly. His mind went blank as he started falling into the dream world.

oFTbrakeoFT

Ludwig was in a field of green grass with scattered flowers and scarce weeds, a clear blue sky fading to evening, was looking down on him. He was walking quickly to something- someone, off in the distance. The wind was subtle as he neared his destination.

Ludwig smiled a genuine smile when he laid his eyes on what was there. A brunette boy with that one wayward curl was sitting in the grass waving him over. Ludwig obliged, happily running over to meet him.

The brunette got up to hug the taller boy, to which said man returned the embrace gratefully, and with much enthusiasm.

When the hug eventually broke off, Ludwig extended his right hand and took the others in his own. The brunette smiled up at him and they began to walk contently in the empty field together.

As the sun started to go down they stopped. Hands still joined, Ludwig bent down to place a light kiss on the other boy's forehead. The brunette glowed at this and jumped up to return the favor, knocking them both down onto the ground.

Having Ludwig pinned down, the boy smiled cutely and kissed him lightly on the lips. Ludwig made no attempt to move. Had he wanted to, he could have easily overpowered the other, and gotten him off. But he didn't. Instead he cupped the brunette's cheeks and brought him down into a longer kiss. He slowly released his mouth, letting his hands stay in place.

The other boy took that as an invitation and brought their lips together again, tangling his hands in Ludwig's hair, and trying to push his tongue into Ludwig's mouth. Ludwig accepted, letting their tongues play with each other as he slid his hands down from the others cheeks all the way to his hips.

They broke off sometime later, panting, gazing. Ludwig felt a form of warm dizziness take over him. The other finally seemed to notice where Ludwig's hands were. He turned to look down at the touch and turned back to face Ludwig again and smiled.

The brunette sat up, sitting on his knees in between Ludwig's legs. The way the now descending sun's rays of light danced on his figure made him look, if possible, even more beautiful.

Ludwig smiled; the other returned it with a coy look. Slowly and carefully, Ludwig pushed Feliciano on his back, straddling him.

He gave small, light kisses to the other boy, working his way from his lips, down to his neck, all the while pulling at his shirt trying to bringing it up.

This was perfect. Just everything about this. The way the brunette's expression changed to another look of happiness time and time again when Ludwig touched him. The way he held onto him. The way he needed him.

Ludwig needed to be needed. He needed that nod of the head and smile that said he was doing everything right. He needed this boy. He needed him.

Ludwig went down for another kiss, their now bare chest meeting together. This was perfect. This was just wonderfully perfect.

He was ready. They were both ready. The boy gave him another nod of approval. Now to-

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

"Gah!" Ludwig woke with a start. He turned the alarm off hastily, falling back onto his pillow with a thud. He was still discombobulated from having recently woken up, and shifted uncomfortably when he noticed his not-so-little problem.

"God dammit! God dammit! God dammit!" He chanted to himself while banging his head onto his pillow.

He was close. So. Fucking. Close. He could just feel it.

Why couldn't he just be able to go while he was sleeping like other people? Stupid alarm clock. Maybe he would have been able to do that instead of having to take a shower now. Stupid pride. That stupid pride that was an ass hole and wouldn't allow him to touch himself and get this stupid thing over with.

Well this was going to be a wonderful fucking day.

Ludwig grabbed his clothes for that day and folded them up to take them into the bathroom. Blackie watched him get his things together intently.

"Don't- don't look at me dog." Ludwig stuttered, shaking his head awkwardly. "Just, please don't."

Blackie seemed to get the message though and went back to lay down on his bed.

Sighing deeply almost like a groan, Ludwig trudged into the bathroom and turned the shower on. Gilbert could wait to be woken up for now.

The cold water sucked and made him shiver, but it was what he needed at the moment, and it really helped him wake up completely and get out of his state of grogginess. That's when it hit him. What it was that caused him to be like this, and who was in it.

"Shit." Ludwig cursed. His head dropped into the palm of his hand. How could this happen? Well he knew how, but why? Why did it have to be about his best friend? Sure he liked him, but, but… He liked him. Not like that though. Did he? That would explain it, right? It made perfect sense. You'd think he would get this sooner, but how could he? He sucked with emotions in general, finding the name to them was not something he could do easily.

His thoughts were cut off from a loud bang, alerting him to the now open door.

"Yo, West!"

Why ze fuck is zis guy avake? Ludwig internally questioned.

"Hallo." Ludwig replied shakily to his own shock.

"You okay, Luts?" Gilbert asked real concern in his voice.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." Ludwig chuckled nervously. "Why are you up so early anyway?" He asked hastily, trying to get the attention off of himself.

"I heard the shower turn on." Gilbert replied. Ludwig heard the thunk of porcelain on porcelain, and the tweet of Gilbird.

"Ah~ Gott, there is nothing like a good piss in the morning." Gilbert sighed contently. Ludwig scoffed from inside the shower.

"So West." Gilbert started.

"Hmm?"

"Didn't you shower last night?" He asked.

"Yes."

"Thought so." Muttered Gilbert. "And, uh, there's not a lot of steam going on in here."

"I guess so." Ludwig replied cautiously.

"Is something wrong with the water heater?"

"I don't think so."

Gilbert flushed the toilet and began to wash his hands.

"Well I'm off." Gilbert announced, drying his hands off by waving them around erratically in the air. He opened the door and was halfway out before he stopped and said, "I keep telling ya bro, it's much better if you use your hand."

Ludwig's face turned a deep red. Happy Wednesday.

A/N: Dat angst. Well what do we have here? Luddy's getting some feels over here. Or is he? Only time shall tell. So, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I have the next chapter pre-written so it should be coming out soon. Remember that reviews slash follows slash faves are all very appreciated and it makes me do a Swiss-Japanese dance with my dog!