Title: Panda Researchers

Pairing: Germany x North Italy (Veneziano)

Rating: Only K

"Ve, Luddy, let's pretend we're panda researchers!" said Feliciano. He crouched down beside Ludwig, who was playing with the pre-school's building blocks.

"Not right now, Feliciano," Ludwig said through his thick German accent. "I'm building a castle."

Feliciano pouted. "Ludddddddy, I told you to call me Feli!" He shoved his little four-year-old face into Ludwig's. Feliciano had light brown hair, caramel eyes, pouting pink lips, and freckles smattered across his nose.

"I told you to stop calling me 'Luddy,'" Ludwig muttered, scooting away from Feliciano so that he could see his castle.

"But I like calling you Luddy!" Feliciano said, following Ludwig, who continued to move around his half-built castle. "C'mon, if we be panda researchers, we can dress in the panda costumes Miss Eliza has! My big brother says that that's what real panda researchers wear!"

"I don't want to do that. I want to build my castle."

Feliciano plopped down next to Ludwig, crossing his arms over his chest. "You're no fun," he pouted. Ludwig looked over to find that the other boy had tears gathering in his eyes, catching on his long eyelashes. Instantly, Ludwig felt terrible.

"I'm sorry," he murmured thickly. He reached over a stubby little arm, then petted Feliciano's hair, careful not to touch the long curl that stuck out of his head like the beacon of a lighthouse. One girl had gotten in terrible trouble with Feliciano's brother when Feliciano reported that she had touched it.

"If you were really sorry," muttered Feliciano, "you would be a panda researcher with me!"

Ludwig hesitated. He really wanted to build his castle. He had been waiting all day for the building blocks to be free, since that Greek boy- Hercules? Something like that -had been constructing a temple to the goddess Aphrodite, because everyone knew that he was in love with the Japanese boy who Ludwig hung out with sometimes, and Aphrodite was the Ancient Greek goddess of love.

"Feliciano... Feli, can I just finish my castle?"

As soon as the pet name was out of his mouth, Ludwig knew that he had made the right choice. Feliciano's face lit up so much that he resembled a lightbulb, or a cherub.

"Of course, Luddy~!" Feliciano said joyously. "Thank you for using my nickname~!"

Ludwig nodded- for once ignoring Feliciano's use of his unwanted nickname -and said, "You're very welcome. If you like, you can help me build my castle."

"Okay~"

And so they got to work. Ludwig directed Feliciano where to place the blocks, and Feliciano placed them there. Ludwig also put blocks in places, and walked the circumference of his miniature castle. When it was finally done, Ludwig was surprised at how little time it had taken.

"We're done!" Feliciano exclaimed, dancing backward to grab Ludwig's arm as they both stared at their castle. It came to around their waists and had towers, a bridge, and a wall surrounding it.

"It's beautiful," Ludwig remarked.

"Yes~! You're very good at architecture."

"If you say so," Ludwig said, but he felt warm and fuzzy inside at the other boy's words.

"So... Does that mean we can be panda researchers now?" Feliciano asked, smiling sweetly into Ludwig's eyes.

"Of course," Ludwig said. "I always keep my promises."

Feliciano, who had been dragging Ludwig toward the costume closet, stopped suddenly. "Oh," he said. "Then, Luddy, will you promise me something?"

Ludwig cocked his head slightly to the side. "What?"

Feliciano leaned forward and kissed Ludwig on the cheek. "Will you always stay this cute?"

Ludwig blushed, trying to keep the embarrassed smile off of his face. "U-um... I d-don't know what you mean..."

Feliciano giggled. "Oh Luddy, you're all embarrassed! It makes you look even cuter!"

"I-I'm not cute!" Ludwig stammered.

"You aaaaaaare..."

Feliciano smiled at Ludwig, and Ludwig blushed back. They stood there for a while. Ludwig could see people passing by in the corners of his eyes, but he didn't care about them. He watched as the light fell over Feliciano's sweet, freckled face. Or perhaps he should begin to call the smaller boy... Feli.

"Anyway~! Panda suits~!" Feliciano turned, grabbing Ludwig by the hand and leading him to the costume closet. "This will be so fun! I want to be a panda researcher when I grow up. Don't you?"

"Maybe," Ludwig agreed. "I hope we can still be friend when we grow up."

"I hope we get married when we grow up."

Ludwig shrugged, letting go of Felicia- Feli's hand to get down one of the panda suits. "Only if we love each other."

"I love you very much~!" Feli said, clambering into his panda suit. "Do you love me?"

Ludwig thought about this as he got into his panda suit. Did he love Felician- Feli? He loved his brother, Gilbert. He loved it when Gilbert pushed him on the swing in their backyard. He loved his mother, and the way she had built a tree fort with him and Gilbert the year before. He loved his father and his glasses, and the good food he always made for dinner. He loved his grandfather, and the way he was bossy and strict but always tucked Ludwig into bed- not before reading him a fairy tale -and kissed him goodnight.

But he didn't feel the same way about Feli as he felt about his family. He felt fuzzy and happy when he was around Felici- Feli, and not in the same way he felt when he was around his family.

"YES!" Feli said. He made claws with his fingers. "I'm a ferocious panda bear!"

Ludwig smiled. "If you say so." Feli didn't look very ferocious. He just looked cute, especially since some of his hair was sticking out of the hood of the suit, including his strange little curl.

"I am ferocious!" Feli said. "And so are you!"

Ludwig made claws with his own hands and bared his teeth. "I'm going to get you!" He jumped forward, causing Feli to shriek and stumble backward.

"Noooooooo, you can't get me!" he cried, giggling.

"Rawr! Yes I can!" Ludwig jumped again, and Feli shrieked again, louder this time, an action that brought their teacher over.

"Feliciano, Ludwig! Are you two being naughty?" Miss Eliza asked. Her curly brown hair was trailing down her back in a long ponytail. There was a red poppy tucked behind her ear, and her hands were on her hips.

"No, Miss Eliza..." Feli said, looking down at his feet.

"We're ferocious panda bears," Ludwig explained.

Miss Eliza smiled, then reached down and patted them both on their panda-hooded heads. "Okay. Just keep your ferociousness down a little bit, okay? You're scaring some of the other kids."

"Okay~!" Feli said, smiling brightly. "Miss Eliza, does Luddy look cute?"

Ludwig blushed. "Feli..." he muttered to the other boy.

"You both look cute," Miss Eliza said, turning away as another kid began to cry.

Feli turned to Ludwig. "She said you were cute. That means I'm right."

"No-" Ludwig protested.

"You're cuuuuuuuuuute! Especially in your panda costume!"

"No I'm not," Ludwig said, but he didn't protest any more after that. Feli could say that Ludwig was cute all he wanted, but that didn't change the fact that, no matter how cute Ludwig was... Feli was ten times cuter.

A/N BE HAPPY THAT VIVAAMERICA EDITED THIS CHAPTER BECAUSE NOW THERE'S PROBABLY NO EMBARRASSING TYPOS. Heh. Yeah. I've got an editor now. *nose grows like in the anime*

And, in case this wasn't clear, basically Luddy and Feli are like four and in preschool and Hungary's their teacher.

You guys be so lucky. I am uploading like a MADWOMAN.

This was requested by ReniaTehFireBender. :)