Chapter 5

The outside sconce was the only light that was on when I arrived back at Ludwig's house. I took off my shoes before quietly climbing the stairs, and turned right. I rapped on the second bedroom's door. It cracked open and I peeked inside. I did not see anybody in the bed. Perhaps Feliciano was sleeping in Ludwig's bedroom. I went to the first door across from the bathroom and knocked. No response. I opened the door, and the double bed was empty. It would be strange if he was in the guest room in which I resided in.

"Feli-kun, I am sorry that I came home so late-" I trailed off when the guest bed was vacant, too.

The house was completely empty and dark. There was no evidence Feliciano used the kitchen like he said he would. There were no new dishes drying on the sink rack, or leftovers in the refrigerator. I reached for my cell phone to contact him, but I remembered he did not have one. He told me he did not need one, since he would not have a lot of contacts on it, and that he mostly stayed in Ludwig's house to use the house phone.

I decided to sip on some tea while waiting for either Feliciano to return from where ever he went, or Ludwig to come home from work. Perhaps my friend was wandering around town, like I often found myself doing. I closed my eyes, tipping the warm cup back.

The front door opened and slammed against a wall. I jumped and coughed, sputtering out bits of tea. A flurry of high pitched words that I concluded were in Italian filled the air as footsteps clamored up the stairs. I rose from the dining chair and turned around to see Feliciano stumbling into the open kitchen. His face was puffy as tears spilled out of his eyes.

"Feli-kun!" I scurried over to him. "Ah, here, sit down," I pulled out a chair and gestured for him to take it.

He nodded, and flopped down, folding his arms on the table. I sat back down, and leaned over to rub his back. It was the least I could do as heavy gasps raked his entire body.

"It will be all right," I murmured. "Get it all out."

He picked up his head, looking worse than before. "It won't be all right!"

I stiffened as he threw his arms around my torso and sobbed into my over shirt. "Ah, hai, there, there," I uncertainly patted his head. He shuddered and seemed to quiet down as I ran my fingers across his scalp. Feliciano looked up at me and smacked his lips.

"Would you like something warm to drink?" I offered.

"Yes, please," he squeaked. He sat up and reached for some napkins to loudly blow his nose as I placed a pot of water on the stove.

My friend remained quiet as I waited for the water to boil and then steep a teabag into a cup. I set it down in front of him before falling back into my seat. He grasped the cup with both hands, but did not drink from it. He just stared at the milky liquid for a few breathless moments. His eyes were not distant, as they usually were, but rather sharp with the focus of trauma.

"I like him. A lot, I really do," Feliciano started.

I nodded, taking a swig from my own tea.

He clenched his jaw. "He is actually really caring and patient deep down, but the people around him start putting awful things into his head, and he starts acting different."

My eyes flickered nervously at his face, but he did not lift it, so I stared at his fingers drumming on the table.

"It's that...monster of a boss he grovels to! H-he-" Feliciano stared to sob again.

"Feli-kun-"

He glanced up, shaking his head. "He said he does not appreciate my...overwhelming presence in his base and ruin whatever respect he has built up between the employees and sergeants. He went on saying someone of my style does not deserve to prance around him, distracting one of his best workers from his duties. I do not know why Luddy hangs around such a...racist...s-stupid...porky bastard!"

"Shhh, Feli-kun, take a breath," I warned.

Feliciano inhaled shakily, paused, threw his head down, and began sobbing again.

"Ludwig-san stood by and let it happen?" I murmured in disbelief.

He snapped his head up. A new fierce emotion reached his amber eyes. I was stiff against it. "I am stupid! I thought he would stick up for me! I thought he cared about me! But he doesn't! He told me I should go home and not come back!"

I began, trying to be civil on the middle ground, "Feliciano-kun, he was at work-"

"He cares more about that job than me!" He wailed. I leaned over and patted his back again. He turned to me with what I believed was a mad look in his usually warm eyes. "But you don't, right? I mean, you traveled across the world just to spend time with me, even though you are probably missing work and friends, a-and," a hiccup, "I'm glad you're my friend," he said, snuggling me in his arms again. He nuzzled my chest, and I did not know what to do. "Si, my friend."

All the crying must have tired him out, since the shaking stopped a few moments after. I noticed he started to fall asleep, even though he was in a strange position. I grunted, nudging his shoulders. "You must not sleep here." He whined. "Come on, I'll take you to your room."

"Hmm, okay," he sniffled. I had to help him stand up. I kept an arm held out so he would not fall over. Feliciano flopped belly down on his bed. I pulled of his shoes and he rolled over. He did not attempt to strip himself of his airy clothes as he usually does before bedtime, but I did not question it with his soured mood. I pulled at the top blanket and draped it over him, then straightened up and stared.

I hoped this was a misunderstanding, and that once he awakens, my friends would reconcile. Either I could leave them to solve it on their own, despite how I doubt they would do so easily. Perhaps I could tactfully take it to Ludwig, and try to explain Feliciano's feelings on his behalf, but that could prove risky to provoke the man of the house. I wearily sighed, and turned away, more eager to dismiss the issue until the morning when we were all awake at once and refreshed overnight. I closed the door behind myself as I stepped into the hallway to retire to my own bed.

A.N.- The answer to the question what happens if an Italian gets left alone for a while is that they go out looking for hugs from their loved ones, even if it is at the wrong place and the wrong time.