My Roommate is Something:
Sighing, Ludwig sat back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the table. I wonder if the compressor went out again. An'na didn't have to work today. I hope she's keeping warm. If she warm those house shoe I bought for her than she wouldn't catch cold. But, for some stranger reason, that woman is fond of having bare feet. She's going to freeze.
He was vaguely aware of his dining partner until Roderick, rather forcefully sat his coffee cup down, "If you're just going to stare out of the window all afternoon, what was the point in you inviting me to lunch? Are you listening, Ludwig?"
"Hm?" he responded, unaware that his gaze had shifted to the window, "Oh, I'm sorry, Roderick. The heating at my home hasn't been working properly and I was just wondering if An'na was okay."
Roderick's facial expression, a rather bored frown, never changed, "You called me here to discuss expressing your feelings for Felicia, yet, you're worried about An'na finding a blanket?"
"I," Ludwig started but paused when their waiter approached.
"Here's your check." He said about to place the black booklet on the table but Roderick took it, reaching into his pocket.
Ludwig spoke up, "We can split it evenly."
The Austrian ignored him completely, retrieving his wallet from his back pocket. Roderick was oddly silent while he placed his card into the small pouch inside the booklet, handing it over to the waiter. Ludwig had reached out to him after Gilbert presented his 'awesome' Valentine's Day idea. But that really wasn't Ludwig's style and he doubted that he'd actually go through with it. Now, though, Roderick was staring at him, still frowning.
"Listen," the man started and Ludwig sat up a bit, "Forget what your brother told you. He's an idiot," Roderick picked up his coffee mug again, gazing shifting outside, "You need to first figure out what you want. Otherwise, someone is going to get hurt. Someone always get's hurt."
He sipped his coffee, turning his attention back to Ludwig; "Once you figure that out, tell her, in your own way and timing. Don't hesitate either, or you'll regret not saying anything and letting her get away."
The hint of sadness in his voice didn't go unnoticed by the German. By then, the waiter returned, handing Roderick the booklet back. Ludwig knew the cause of such sadness, though no one talked about the situation. But he wasn't Roderick and his situation was completely different from theirs. He knew what he wanted, didn't he?
A/N: When in doubt of Gilbert's advice, go to Roderick.
-CeCe ^_^