And I'm sick. Yay. Strep throat too. Joyous. To my fellow Americans, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and that you all survived Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and I hope you survive this Cyber Monday!
Time to break out the Christmas things! Tis the season!
"Come on, bastard!" Lovino whined as he pawed Antonio's arm with his hand, the clocks now drawing nearer to the full moon when the brothers would change. However, it seemed that due to the spell Arthur had cast, instead of the older twin feeling sick, he acted more antsy and energetic than ever, to the point of barely being able to sit still. "This is boring, dammit! Let's do something! Like playing! Playing sounds fun!"
Antonio held him still. "Lovi, just wait a bit. The change will happen soon and you and Feli can go outside and play, alright?" he said.
Lovino pouted lightly as he glanced out in the hallway. "It's still boring, dammit. And I'm hungry. And… What about Feli….? Where the hell is he?"
"We put him in the bedroom so he can lay down for a little bit."
The Italian glanced at him, then went to stand up and walk out of the room. "I'll go see him!"
The Spaniard held him back. "Leave him be for now, Lovi. He's sick, remember? He can't handle you jumping around right now."
"Not going to jump on him….." Lovino muttered, the pout now back on his face. "I'm worried about him, dammit!"
"You'll see him in a few minutes, I promise," Antonio assured him gently.
"No. Now, dammit!"
"In a little bit."
In the guest room, Feliciano was curled up, sweating and panting, fevered and hurting. He whimpered and cried softly, wanting Ludwig to come and comfort him. The old bite wound was burning like it was on fire and he couldn't keep in a broke sob. In the back of his mind he realized no matter how many times he went through this, it never got better.
"Shh…. Shh…." Ludwig softly said as he sat next to Feliciano and carefully placed a wet cloth on his head. "I'm right here, Feliciano… I'm not leaving you."
Feliciano looked at him blearily, his vision swimming. He whimpered and reached out his hand for the vampire. "L-Luddy..."
"I'm here," Ludwig answered as he moved his hand to grip Feliciano's and give it a squeeze. "Just try to get some rest if you can."
The Italian cried in pain and jerked, gripping Ludwig's hand tightly.
Ludwig continued to grip the hand as he rubbed the back of it with his thumb.
Feliciano sobbed into the mattress. "I h-hate this, Luddy... I-It hurts so bad..." he cried.
"I know…. I'm sorry…." Ludwig answered then frowned when he looked outside and saw the starting to rise moon. "Come on." He gently picked Feliciano up. "We need to head outside before you change."
The Italian whimpered as he was moved. As Ludwig took him downstairs, he began to unwrap his arm. At Ludwig's questioning look, he whimpered and shuttered. "I'm just going to tear it off anyway. It's still a fresh wrap, when we're back to normal, you can put it back on me."
Ludwig nodded in reply. "Alright. I'll keep it on me," He said as he headed outside and sat down a good distance away under a tree while still holding Feliciano. "Just stay here and wait. I'll let you up when you change."
Then a few seconds later Lovino bounced out of the house and over to Feliciano. "Hey, Feli! Wanna play now? Huh? Sounds like fun huh? Wanna do it?" He asked, unaware of the startled look Ludwig gave him. "OOH! We should get some tomatoes too! I'm hungry!"
Feliciano just whimpered in pain, his head rolling to the side and nuzzling Ludwig's chest weakly.
"F-Feli….?" Lovino stuttered just before they were bathed in moonlight.
The Italian screamed in pain as the light touched him. He writhed and thrashed as his body began to morph. His screamed turned to howls, his clothes tearing apart on his body. Once changed, he lept away from Ludwig, only to yelp and fall to the ground as he stood on his injured leg.
Before Ludwig could react, Lovino, who now was a dog and shrunk out of his clothes darted over and licked the side of Feliciano's muzzle before letting out a soft bark and nuzzling the wolf and nudging him with his paw.
Ludwig blinked in surprise as he stared at the dog. "Er…. What's this dog doing here….?"
Antonio left the house then, Lovino having run from him as soon as he got the chance. "It's Lovino, Ludwig."
Ludwig simply stared at him. "… was?"
The Spaniard nodded. "Yep. It's him."
"O-Oh… Er…. I… don't really understand… why is he a dog instead of a wolf right now…?"
"He was worried he would attack and hurt Feli again if he was a wolf so... he asked Arthur to turn him into a dog so Feli would be bigger than him and able to fight him off."
Ludwig blinked a few times then sighed. "I see….. Well… at least it should wear off soon… right?"
"It should after tonight."
The wolf hoisted himself onto his feet, then growled at the dog for touching him.
Happy that Feliciano was up and moving, Lovino barked excitedly as he bounced around before doing a play bow, asking Feliciano to play.
Feliciano rolled his eyes, then began to limp into the forest, going to find a stream.
Lovino stared then followed after him, his tail wagging behind him. "{Play?}" he asked as he bounced around Feliciano.
"{No. Leave me alone,}" Feliciano growled. He trudged on until he found what he was looking for. He bend his head down and licked up some of the cool water.
Lovino whined as he nudged Feliciano with his head. "{B-But… the bastards squirrels! We need to gang up on them! Show them who's boss!}"
Feliciano hit him away with his hip. "{I don't care about your dumb obsession with those annoying creatures, I'm going out to get real food. Unless you want to choke on fur or starve to death, I suggest you follow me.}"
"{But they're MEAN, dammit!}" Lovino insisted. "{And… steak! I want steak! Nonno just bought one!}" the dog wagged his tail at the thought of the food. "{Let's go in the house and get it!}"
"{Shut up!}" Feliciano howled, turning and towering over the dog, his fur bristling.
Lovino whined and cowered back. "{No steak….?}"
"{NO! NOW BE QUIET AND FOLLOW ME!}
The dog jerked back with a yelp before turning around and running off with his tail between his legs.
Growling, Feliciano turned and stocked away into the forest.
Lovino continued running until he accidentally crashed into Antonio and pressed himself up against the vampire's legs whining and whimpering.
The Spaniard gently scooped him up, holding him close and petting the Italian. "It's okay, Lovi. You're okay," he comforted.
Lovino's tail wagged as he leaned closer and started licking Antonio's face.
"There ya go," he said, smiling at the pup in his arms. He cuddled him then started walking.
Seeing the smile, Lovino's tail wagged more then he barked before squirming around.
Glad he was feeling better, Antonio set Lovino on the ground to let him walk on his own.
The dog barked as he bounced around Antonio then raced for the house, scratching at the door when he reached it.
Confused, the vampire pulled open the door, wondering what Lovino was after that was in the house. "What is it, Lovi? Do you smell something?"
Lovino darted into the house and over to the refrigerator then barked before trying to get it open.
"Oh, you're hungry." Antonio thought for a moment, then picked Lovino up. "We can't eat that, Lovi. It's Yao and Kiku's. How about I go buy you some meat from the store? They allow animals in there, you just have to behave and stay by me or we can't get you anything, okay?"
Lovino whined and squirmed as he pawed at the refrigerator.
Antonio shook his head. "No, Lovi. Come on, we're going to get you something that's all for you." He left the nature spirit's house and began to walk towards the town, heading towards the grocery store.
Lovino whined more and continued to squirm, wanting to be put down on the ground.
"If I put you down, you have behave, alright?" Antonio said firmly.
Unable to understand him, Lovino simply stared at Antonio then licked his nose.
Taking this as a yes, Antonio cautiously set him down.
The dog barked happily and bounced around before following after Antonio, his tail wagging rapidly.
Smiling at his excitement, Antonio headed towards the back of the store where the freezers were.
Lovino continued to follow him, at least until the two past by the deli area where the meat caught Lovino's attention. Perking up in his ears he glanced at Antonio, then slowly started to slink behind the counter and pry the glass door on the display open to get to all of the cheese and lunch meat behind them.
Hearing the clinking of teeth on glass, the Spaniard turned around. "Lovi, no!" he cried, scooping the pup into his arms quickly. He quickly moved away from the deli, not wanting to be kicked out. He lightly scolded the Italian in his arms, but petted him to make up for it at the same time.
The dog whimpered lightly and curled up with a 'please don't hate me' look on his face as he folded his ears back and down.
The scolding instantly stopped as Antonio hugged Lovino to his chest, cooing apologetically at him, scratching his ears. "We'll get you a steak, yeah? Something delicious? You want ham? You can pick whatever you like," he promised.
At hearing the 'steak' and 'ham' parts Lovino's ears perked up in interest as his tail wagged a little.
The Spanish vampire smiled, glad Lovino was feeling better now.
Lovino's tail wagged as he licked Antonio's nose then looked around the store and tried to squirm free.
"Nope nope. You are staying with me now; you tried to steal meat," Antonio said, carrying him to the meat freezers, then began to look through the produce.
Lovino whined and squirmed until he could see what Antonio was looking at. Then he reached forward and snatched a package of frozen steak up in his mouth and started trying to open it.
Laughing, Antonio pulled it, luckily still sealed, from Lovino's jaws. Holding the pup under one arm and the meat in his other hand, he make his way back to the front of the store to check out. He payed the woman behind the counter and left the store, humming brightly.
Lovino whined as he looked between the meat and Antonio then looked back down at the meat and tried to grab it.
Antonio smiled and set Lovino on the ground, then tore off the packaging and gave him the chosen meat.
Lovino barked happily and started eating it up until only some of it remained, which the dog snatched up in his mouth and ran off with.
Feliciano was crouched in the woods, closing in on his prey: a wounded deer. The animal was far behind the others, limping along. He slowly got into position, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.
Ludwig, who finally had managed to locate Feliciano stayed downwind of the deer and stayed silent as he watched. At least this way he could still keep a close on Feliciano…
There was a moments pause, then Feliciano tore from his hiding place, pouncing onto the deer, sinking his teeth deep into it's neck, killing it instantly.
Ludwig sighed and started walking over just as a happy bark filled the air.
Feliciano's head shot up and he growled, his ears going back flat against his head. When he saw Ludwig, he sniffed the vampire, then relaxed back. He tore off the back leg of the deer, then pushed it towards Ludwig.
Ludwig blinked as he took it. "Er… danke…." He replied as Lovino ran up to Feliciano with his tail wagging and proudly holding out a piece of steak in his mouth.
"{Feli! Feli!}" the dog barked as he nudged Feliciano with his paw. "{Steak!}"
The wolf stared at him for a moment, then dipped his head to his deer and tore off a chunk, then turned and dropped it in front of Lovino. "{Deer. I don't know what 'steak' is.}"
"{It's good!}" Lovino barked as he put the piece of steak at Feliciano's feet then started to smell the deer meat. "{Eat!}"
Feliciano growled at the meat in front of him. "{This is not natural.}"
The dog barked and bounced excitedly. "{Eat! Eat!}"
The Italian howled and stamped his foot on the meat, smashing it into the ground. "{No. Eat the deer, you useless pack mate,}" he snarled.
Lovino flinched back with a whimper. "{B-But… Toni hunted that…. From the big place made of clear stuff!}"
"{He is not part of your pack. I am. Do NOT scorn me,}" Feliciano growled angrily, his eyes glowing with fury.
"{He's my master!}" Lovino growled back, now starting to get angry now that Antonio was getting insulted.
"{I'm your alpha,}" the wolf growled.
"{NO! Toni is! Toni feeds me! And plays with me and gives me pets!}"
The next thing Lovino knew, he was pinned to the ground, the giant wolf holding him in place, towering over him, growling viciously.
Lovino yelped then growled and bared his teeth as he tried to get up. "{OFF!}"
Feliciano snapped at Lovino's head and snarled. "{ENOUGH!}" he thundered, his eyes shinning brightly.
"{NO! You'll hurt Toni!}" Lovino growled then snapped at Feliciano's leg with his teeth.
Feliciano responded to this by biting the dog.
The dog yelped loudly and tried to pull away.
"Feliciano!" Ludwig yelled as he started to run over, now hearing the noise. "Stop!"
Feliciano howled.
Ludwig grunted as he grabbed onto the wolf and pulled him away then yelled at Antonio, who had just caught up. "Get Lovino inside the house! Now!"
The Spaniard run over and scooped Lovino into his arms, then ran back to Yao's house, holding Lovino close to his body protectively.
Feliciano howled again and thrashed in Ludwig's hold.
"Feliciano! Stop this! That was your brother!"
The Italian snarled and snapped at Ludwig's arms until he broke free. He bit the vampire, then ran into the woods.
Ludwig cursed and followed after him, though he did it at a distance.
The wolf ran until he reached a small shallow stream. He ran into it, the water going about halfway up his calves. He pawed at the rock bed a moment, then lifted his head and let out a low, mournful howl to the moon.
"F-Feliciano….?" Ludwig stuttered as he carefully inched over.
The wolf whimpered and laid down in the stream, the warm water washing over his tummy and dampening his fur.
Acting carefully, Ludwig inched over to the wolf and set his hand on Feliciano's shoulder.
The Italian wolf looked up at him sadly.
"What's… what's wrong…?"
Feliciano just whimpered again.
Back in the house Lovino whimpered as he pressed himself as close to Antonio as he could then started licking the area where Feliciano had bit him.
"Shh shh, Lovi, querido, shh," Antonio cooed at him, petting the dog gently. "Don't lick that. Let me take care of it." He set Lovino down in the bathroom and picked up the peroxide bottle, carefully wiping the wound clean before wrapping a bandage around him.
Lovino whimpered again as he tried to squirm away and lick the wounded area.
Antonio held his head away from the injury, picking the pup up and petting him, rocking slowly back and forth, murmuring softly to him.
At the sound Lovino turned his head back towards the vampire and stared at him then leaned closer and started smelling Antonio's hair.
"There you go. You aren't hurt badly, I think you just got scared, didn't you, tomate?" Antonio said, smiling at his boyfriend. He took him back outside, not letting him down until they were a good distance from the house. Suddenly, they heard a wolf's despaired howl coming from the woods.
Lovino's ears perked up when he heard the howl then started squirming to be set down along with a bark.
Antonio bit his lip, then nodded and set the pup on the ground.
As soon as he was set down, Lovino bolted off in the direction of the sound.
The Spaniard ran after him.
Lovino continued running until he reached Feliciano, then whined as he gently nudged Feliciano's muzzle with his own. "{Feli….?}"
The wolf whimpered, turning his head away from Lovino and laying it in the stream, the water just under his nose.
"{You sad?}" Lovino asked as he nudged again then licked Feliciano's ear.
Feliciano whined softly, whimpering sadly. He flicked his ear, then turned to his brother and nudged the bandage. He licked at the gauze apologetically, looking up at him sadly.
The dog blinked and tilted his head as his tail wagged then he licked Feliciano's head.
The wolf sat up, his fur dripping. He leaned over Lovino and nuzzled him, then began to lick the dog's head and ears.
Lovino's tail wagged faster as he looked up at Feliciano. "{Play now?}"
Feliciano stared at him, then stood up, and picked Lovino up by the scruff of his neck and started walking into the forest. The two vampires he left behind looked at each other in alarm, then rushed after them.
"{FEEELLLI!}" Lovino whined as he started squirming. "{Put me down so we can play!}"
The wolf ignore him, continuing on despite Lovino's protests.
"{Down!}"
Ignored.
"{Feli!}" Lovino barked then lightly nipped at his brother.
Feliciano continued walking until he was out of the woods and entered into clearing. The moon shone down, illuminating the area. Wild flowers grow across the field and the wolf finally set the dog down in the center of a batch of flowers. He laid down then. "{Now play.}"
Lovino's tail wagged as he looked around and smelled various things before turning around and pouncing on Feliciano with a happy bark.
The wolf growled playfully and wiggled around, gently knocking Lovino off him, then putting a paw on him to hold the dog still as he licked him, then allowed him back up.
Lovino barked more and bounced around happily and jumping at Feliciano until he froze up and curled up slightly while whimpering in pain and squeezing his eyes shut.
Feliciano whined and nudged him, licked his twin's head and whimpering. Antonio rushed over and knelt beside him, putting his hand on Lovino's back and trying to figure out what was wrong with the dog.
"I think he's turning back…" Ludwig said as he set his hand on Feliciano's back to try to help calm the wolf just as Lovino let out a howl and started to change, growing bigger as his fur grew more shaggy while his teeth and claws lengthened.
Antonio was relived. He'd know it would happen eventually, but he was glad Arthur's spell had worn off sooner rather than later.
The newly turned wolf shivered and shook out his fur then howl just as the sun started to rise.