Chapter Five: You Can Be Like Me

Feleciano Vargas was worried about his brother. Lovino has been acting strangely in the past week or so and Feleciano wasn't sure what to do.

"Strange how?" Ludwig asked as Feleciano expressed his worries over lunch one day.

Feleciano frowned and poked at his pasta with his fork. "I don't know, but he doesn't seem happy and he seems more protective but at the same time distant, like he doesn't want to have anything to do with me. What would you do Ludwig?" he asked.

Ludwig was silent a moment as he gave it some thought.

"First of all," he said, after he finished chewing his food and swallowed. "That last bit didn't make any sense, but have you tried talking to him?"

Feleciano frowned shamefully. "Not really, but he doesn't really seem like he wants to talk…"

"Stop being a coward, Fele. Whether he wants it or not, you need to corner him, break down hid defenses and make him tell you all that he knows!" Ludwig slammed his fist lightly against the table, causing Fele to jump.

"Um.."

Ludwig cleared his throat, a little embarrassed by his outburst. "Well, perhaps not quite to that extent, but you get my point."

Feleciano nodded, though he wasn't sure he did.

Seconds later the bell rand and with a kiss on the cheek, the two headed to their separate classes.

After school that day, Feleciano waited for his brother like he usually did, and just like usual, Lovino walked straight past him without a word. But today Feleciano had resolved to finally get something out of his stubborn brother.

"Lovino! Wait!" he called.

As expected, Lovino hardly even paused in his quick steps.

Fele jogged to catch up, and reaching out, grabbed Lovino's hand.

Lovino froze and turned around in shock.

"What's wrong fratello?" Fele asked quickly before Lovino had a chance to escape.

Lovino tugged his hand away but didn't move from where he stood.

"Nothing," he said sharply. "Nothing is wrong."

Feleciano frowned. "Is this about Ludwig, because he's not bad. He's a little scary at first but he's really nice once you get to know him."

"Why the hell would I be upset about that? I don't care about the potato bastard!" Lovino snapped.

"But I really like him fratello. I think you could like him too."

Lovino scoffed. "Like hell. There is no way I could ever like that potato bastard. Now go… do whatever it is you do with him. I'm going home." He stomped off before Feleciano could say anything more but his little brother wouldn't have it.

"He makes me really happy, Lovi. And I really think you could be too," he said, rushing forward and trapping Lovino in a hug from behind. He grasped his brother tightly to his chest for a moment before releasing him. He leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek before running off to who knew where.

Lovino stood there in shock for a long moment before Antonio came up and ruffled his hair slightly.

"How much did you hear?" Lovino asked, his voice a slight growl.

Antonio shrugged. "All of it, pretty much."

Lovino rolled his eyes and started back on his way home. "I don't know what the hell he's saying half the time. He just spouts nonsense."

Antonio chuckled. "I thought it was pretty obvious what Feleciano was trying to say," he said.

The Italian looked over at him with an incredulous look. "And what was that?"

"'You can be like me, fratello. You can be happy too, if you let yourself be loved by the ones who want to love you,'" said Antonio in a mock of Feleciano's voice.

Lovino scoffed. "Like hell. Fele would never say that."

Antonio shrugged. "True, but I think that's what he meant. I think he wants you to be happy as much as anything. He found happiness with Ludwig so he believes that you can find the same happiness if you found someone to love."

"Since when did you get around to thinking that your some smart old wise man?"

The Spaniard chuckled. "Didn't you know? I've always been this way. I love you Lovino. You don't need to go looking too far for that. You know everything I've said is true. So why not follow your brother's advice?"

Lovino was silent. He never did answer Antonio's question, but that didn't seem to bother the Spaniard. Still, part of him answered unwillingly, saying that perhaps he might just do as Antonio said and follow Feleciano's advice. Maybe there was a chance he could be happy, even without his brother by his side.