I'm very glad that you're all happy with the last chapter! I'm also happy that Ludwig and Feliciano met. There are officially 300 reviews on this silly little story of mine, thank you so much!

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia axis Powers

Fun fact: did you know that I was originally going to have Feli and Luddy meet when they were twenty three?

Age Twenty

Whispered Truths

Feliciano and Gilbert first met at Gilbert's wedding. Although Gilbert had heard many things about his younger brother's soulmate, they had never been formerly introduced. The short Italian boy looked like he was stuck between being super excited and dying of nervousness by the time Gilbert waltzed over to them, donned in a tux with a large grin on his face.

"West! So he is real," Gilbert teased, laughing as he slammed his hand on Ludwig's back. "And here I thought that you might be making him up... because you never fucking brought him over to dinner or whatever the hell families do when meeting their sibling's soulmates."

Ludwig rolled his eyes, rubbing his temples in tired circle motions. "You know that I don't have time to just drop everything and come over for a family dinner, right?"

Gilbert seemingly ignored him, unimpressed with Ludwig's excuse. Turning towards the auburn-haired boy, the albino patted him on the back with a firm hand. "Welcome to the family, Feli. Sorry you're stuck with my stick-up-the-ass brother."

Feliciano waved his hands in front of his body, mouth open and head shaking back in forth. Flipping open his ever-present notebook, he jotted down his reply to the mischievous, teasing older Beilschmidt brother.

'I like Ludwig just the way he is.' Feliciano wrote with a blush tinging his cheeks, a smile pressing at the corner of his lips as he held out the notebook for the other males to read.

Gilbert tilted his head back towards the sky, his strange hissing laugh emitting from his throat. "Lud, you sure found yourself a keeper. Don't fuck it up."

Ludwig fought to keep a smile from turning his lips. "Trust me, I have no intention to. And congratulations on your marriage, bruder."

'Congratulations!' Feliciano wrote, smiling happily.

The older male grinned widely, squaring his shoulders. "Yeah, I sure know how to pick 'em." He said, pointing a thumb over his shoulder towards his spouse who was currently nibbling on a slice of delicious white marzipan cake. "Oh, and West, there's something I need to tell you... it's important." He looked unusually serious, red eyes gleaming, pale face deadpan. Gilbert took a deep breath, like he had to mentally prepare himself for what he was about to say. Biting his lip, he leaned in closer to his brother and Feliciano. "Are you sure you're ready to hear this?"

Ludwig steeled himself before nodding. Feliciano put a comforting hand on his muscular arm, ready to support Ludwig through whatever news he was about to receive.

Inhaling deeply, Gilbert opened his mouth to speak. "I fuckin' told you, dumbass!" He laughed loudly, like he had just told the best joke in the world. "Fourteen-fucking-years ago, the awesome me told you that you would get a soulmate!" He swung an arm around Feliciano's petite shoulders. "And here he is! I'm awesome! Suck it!" He hollered, releasing the smaller male and placing his hands on his hips.

Wiping tears of mirth from his bright eyes, Gilbert's laughing slowed to a stop. Ignoring the curious eyes of the people around them, he stared at Ludwig's unamused face, a smug grin twisting his lips. "Bye losers! I got some cake to eat!" And with that, he turned away, heading over to the large cake.

"I'm sorry about my brother..." Ludwig muttered with a sigh, turning his gaze away from his brother's retreating form and onto Feliciano's smiling face.

The other male was grinning so widely, it looked like his face would split in two. Clutching his sides, he bent over and laughed, mouth open wide and shoulders shaking. Although no laughter escaped his lips, and never did, Ludwig still smiled at the sight. Calming down, Feliciano lifted his hands up and rapidly signed to Ludwig, wiping stray tears of mirth away from his eyes.

After they had begun dating, Ludwig immediately signed up for a class to learn sign language. He figured it would be easier for them if Feliciano didn't always have to have paper and pen around just to talk to the tall blond.

"Yeah, he's a good brother. I'm sure you'll end up seeing him again soon. And speaking of brothers..." the blond glanced around. "Where's yours?"

Putting a hand to his chin, the Italian boy whipped his head from side to side, scanning the crowd for his older –yet almost identical– brother. Lovino Vargas had decided to attend the event with his own fiancé, Antonio Fernandez Carriedo. Gilbert had welcomed them to the wedding with open arms, saying that not only did he want to meet his future in-laws, but also because he believed in the 'the more the merrier' philosophy.

As if he could read their minds, a slightly tipsy Lovino appeared, scowling and holding a wine class. "Awe, fuck, my brother is still hanging around that potato-loving bastard."

"Lovino!" Antonio whispered, "be nice! That's Feli's soulmate, and we're at his brother's wedding!"

The unhappy Italian male took a generous sip of his wine, furling his lip. "Yeah, yeah, doesn't matter to me." Huffing, Lovino's lip furled into a pout. "It's not like I wanna be here anyway."

Lifting up his hands, Feliciano began signing. 'Fratello! Don't be mean to Ludwig!'

"Shuddup, I'll do what I want." Lovino said defiantly, but it was clear he had settled down some. "When you told me you met your soulmate, this potato bastard wasn't what I had in mind."

Antonio draped his arm around Lovino with a smile. "But you're still happy for them, right?"

"Oh yeah, I'm fuckin' jumping for joy." He muttered, "I'd be happier if Feli wasn't with kraut-breath." Narrowing his eyes, Lovino turned sharply, red wine sloshing in the glass.

The remaining Spaniard sighed, clearly used to Lovino's behavior. "I'm sorry about him." He smiled brightly, green eyes sparkling as he spoke. "He's actually really happy for you two, he just doesn't know how to show it. He's really happy Feli found his soulmate!" Looking over to where Lovino was pestering the waiters for more wine, he smiled softly. "It was nice to meet you Ludwig, but I better get going. Talk to you both later!" Antonio patted them both on the back before running over to Lovino.

"Well, Feli, your brother is certainly... interesting." Ludwig said, unsure of what exactly he was supposed to say after meeting him like that.

'Fratello is very kind, he just doesn't know how to express it!' He smiled brightly, looking over to his brother and Antonio. 'He helped me a lot growing up! I love him very much!' Although Feli had no voice, it was still clear that he really did love his brother very much. 'Luddy, let's dance!' He signed, eyeing the other couples dancing with each other happily.

"No thank you, I'm not one for dancing." Ludwig replied with a grimace, knowing he would make a fool of himself if he were to step onto the dance floor. "But I'll watch you from here."

Feliciano pouted for a second, hand to his chin as he wondered how he could solve the solution. He really did want to dance with his boyfriend after seeing all the other couples swaying on the dance floor. Grabbing Ludwig's wrist, he dragged the taller male out amongst the other pairs anyway.

Ludwig groaned in protest, but stopped after Feliciano flashed a smile at him. The auburn-haired boy was clearly excited at the aspect of them dancing together, so Ludwig didn't see how he could really say no.

"Fine..." He muttered, a small smile threatening to turn the corners of his lips. "Just one dance."

Feliciano beamed, nodding his head in a 'thank you' gesture, although they both knew that it would end up being far more than just one dance. Gentle smiles on their faces, matching blushes donning their cheeks, they let themselves get lost in the thundering music, and danced the night away.

Thoroughly tuckered out from the few hours of dancing, the couple made their way back to the hotel room, Feliciano nodding off on Ludwig's shoulder as he carried them both over to the bed and careful slide the petite boy off his back.

Feliciano quickly stripped down to his boxers, throwing his dirty clothes on the floor before crawling under the covers like a small kitten, burrowing himself inside the warm sheets. Ludwig changed into his sleepwear in the bathroom, a black tank top and dark green boxers, washing his face with the cold water running from the faucet before turning off the lights and dropping onto the bed.

The only lights remaining came from the two small lamps on either side of the bed, and Ludwig was about to turn off the lamp closest to him when a tug on his tank top stopped him. Feliciano poked his head out of the covers, eyebrows scrunched in worry as he bit his lip.

"Feli...?" Ludwig whispered, sleepy and voice hoarse. "Are you all right?"

The Italian's eyes sparked with something close to confusion and concern, a mix of caution and curiosity. Lifting up his shaking hands, he seemed to hesitate before signing his words. Gathering up all his courage, Feliciano asked a question he had been meaning to ask for a long while.

'Luddy...' He paused, hands trembling, 'what are the scars on your wrist from?'

The blond inhaled sharply, caught off guard but not entirely surprised. He knew that sooner or later, he would have to answer that question. Thinking carefully, he opened his mouth, although no words came out. He cleared his throat, trying to force the words out, but to no avail.

He stayed silent for a moment, glancing at Feliciano. The other male seemed to almost regret asking the question, but did not back down.

"Well," Ludwig started, trying to calm his nervous heartbeat. His hands were clammy, but he spoke nonetheless. "I never thought I'd have a soulmate. I was... teased about it. My father left because I didn't have words, and my mother left to chase after him years later." Feliciano's hand wormed it's way into his own, warm eyes glowing with support. "When I was seventeen, I gave up. I decided that I didn't want to live anymore, and I hurt myself."

Three years later, he was almost ashamed of his previous behavior on the matter. Part of him wishes that he had been stronger than that, back when he was seventeen. Lips pressed into a thin line, he felt Feliciano squeeze his hand. "There's really nothing more to the story. I was weak, and I did some very... pathetic things. That's all."

Feliciano removed his hand from Ludwig's, and for a moment, Ludwig's heart started to pound in fear. What if Feliciano was repulsed? What if he thought he was a freak? Although, he knew that the boy he had come acknowledge as his soulmate wouldn't think such cruel things. He was Feliciano, his soulmate, the boy with a smile brighter than the sun and a heart larger than the ocean was deep.

Feliciano stared at him, contemplating, gentle eyes filled to the brim with tears. He had never wanted Ludwig to go through that, they both knew that. 'It's my fault, Luddy. I'm sorry.' He signed, fat tears starting to drip down his cheeks, slipping down his chin.

Bewildered, Ludwig floundered for a reply. "Feli, how on earth could it be your fault? It's okay, I'm stronger than I used to be. I don't have thoughts like that anymore, so don't cry."

'If I could speak, you would've had words.'

That was true. If Feliciano had been born with the capability of speaking, Ludwig would've had words and he would've gone throughout his life like a normal boy, with a father and a mother and friends. But, if he had had words, he would've have turned out to be the person he was today. And as Feliciano had taught him over the during the time they had been together, who he wasn't a bad person.

"I don't need words." Ludwig whispered, although for a moment it was more to himself than to his boyfriend. "I don't need words, because I have you."

It was strange for him. For almost twenty years, he had thought that because he didn't have words, he was worthless. He had believed that because he didn't have words, he didn't even deserve to be alive. But for the months that he had been with Feliciano, he had begun to think otherwise, and he hadn't even realized it. As the days passed, he began to look forward to waking up in the morning because he knew that waking up meant that it was just another day he could spend with Feliciano.

Feliciano swiped at the tears coursing down cheeks, trying in vain to make them stop falling. Plop, plop, plop, they fell like rain drops from the sky.

Ludwig took a deep breath, trying to figure out what he could say to make Feliciano stop looking so miserable. He wanted Feliciano to smile again, like he always was. Albeit, it was often an idiotic smile, but it tended to brighten up his day nonetheless.

"I love you." Ludwig whispered, voice trembling. He wondered how he had never said it before, how he had never told the amazing person sitting before him how he felt.

As he said the words, Feliciano's tears slowed to a stop as his mouth fell open before turning into a smile.

'I love you too.' He mouthed, no voice coming from his throat, but he didn't need a voice for Ludwig to know what he was saying.

In a way, neither of them had words. Ludwig had a plain wrist, and Feliciano had no voice, no words to pass his lips. But they filled in what the other one lacked, and together they knew that they would get through their lives, happily, peacefully and crazily in love. Ludwig's stern voice covered Feliciano's lack of one, and the neatly written words on Feliciano's tanned wrist disguised the fact that Ludwig's was bare. Together, they accepted each other's faults with a smile.

To be continued

Coming next: Age 21