Chapter 9

Elizaveta was understanding, though a little dishearted that I had decided to tag along with my friends on their outing instead of hiding out at her house, and tricking them into a date. She noted that I have just arrived to Europe, and have not seen my friends for a while, so I should enjoy it during my stay, and that there was plenty of time to draw innappropriate pictures.

Thursday arrived a bit slowly. It was annoying to repeat the trivial things like listening to Ludwig and Feliciano bicker about pasta for breakfast, but alas, I could finally solve the problem of what went wrong. I was hoping it was not the date itself, but something afterwards, since Feli did not say anything bad happened while they were out the first time.

I tugged on a gray suit jacket before a full length mirror in the bedroom I was residing in. It was cold, but the restaurant was one of those high-end ones, so I wanted to dress appropriately. The door flung open and bounced off the wall, causing me to stiffen at Feliciano's silhouette in the mirror. He stood in the door way for a tight moment before he screeched a hello. He was already dressed, but with a red, white, and green tie dangling loosely instead of a black one I was wearing.

"Are you ready, Kiku? Luddy said he is going to warm up the car."

"Yes," I turned to study his sunny face.

He smiled, and bounced on his heels, his arms giving a little swing. "I'm so excited! We're going to eat a bunch of yummy food!"

"Do you know what kind of movie we have tickets for?" I asked as we clunked down the front stairs.

"Don't know!" He sang and flung open the door.

Ludwig glanced behind his shoulder at me once we situated ourselves. "Do you want to see the movie first, or go to the restaurant?"

"I am going to eat at both places!" Feliciano announced. We gave him a weary look.

"The movies should be finished first, so we have something to talk about during dinner," I said.

Ludwig noted, "That is a good idea."

I meekly nodded, hoping this whole ordeal was a good idea.

~.~

~BOING~

~.~

I stumbled out of the restaurant, feeling my stomach stretch against my dress shirt. I was vaguely aware of the hostess wishing us a good night as the chilly air hit me. I stiffled a burp, and looked at my friends, hoping they did not hear it.

Feliciano was tugging on Ludwig's arm. "Can we go to the park, please? It will look so pretty in the snow!"

"It is getting late, Feli. Kiku may want to go home."

They stared at me, both having various degrees of pleas on their faces. I straightened up, and placed a hand nonchalantly on my stomach. "I would like to see the field in the snow."

Ludwig glanced at his feet, his face turning pink. "Ja, I suppose we could relax after that meal."

Feliciano cheered, and urged us toward the nearby park on stiff legs. Everything was covered in white, sparkling snow. Even the benches were under the glittering powder, so we had to brush them off, and get used to cold behinds. I let my friends share a bench while I sat shivering on one a little ways from them. They dissented at first, but I insisted that they enjoy themselves. Ludwig gave me a weird look after I said that.

I was a bit disappointed, since if it was not the date that started Feliciano's downfall, then I would have to figure out what was the problem. My side vision caught a small group shuffling around on a cleared walk way across the field. I narrowed my eyes, and noticed they were the local militia. I casted a worried glance in Ludwig's direction, and back at them.

One of them stopped behind the other three and pointed in our direction. The others halted, and followed his extended arm. The man that pointed took a few hesitant steps toward us. I flickered my eyes to my friends. Feliciano was rocking side to side, nudging Ludwig. My other friend sighed, as if annoyed, but the tone of his voice when he replied to his questions was warm and patient. They were completely oblivious to Ludwig's coworkers staring at their awkward, sideways embrace. I leaped up too quickly from the bench, and a prickle of pain seized my back. I grunted, and scrambled to my friends.

They were still in a mist of a battle of banter, not realizing the trouble they were in. I pressed on Ludwig's shoulder rather harshly. He snapped his head up and looked at me in surprise. He glanced between Feliciano and I, and widened his eyes. "S-sorry, we...erm..."

"We need to get out of here," I hissed, and gave Feliciano's coat sleeve a worried tug. He whined, and shrunk away from me. Ludwig stiffly rose to his feet.

Feliciano glance in confusion to the both of us, and held his arms out. "Does Kiku want a hug, too?"

I took a step back. "I would like to go home."

"So soon?" He pouted.

Ludwig put in, "It is getting late."

"The car will be warm, Feli-kun," I told him. He frowned and nodded.

With those military men not minding themselves, I knew we had to get out of there. This may have been the thing that ruined everything. Their boss-Ludwig's boss- was extremely homophobic, let alone racist and sexist, and if they let it slip they saw my friends acting anyway close like a couple does, I will not be able to prevent those horrible nightly events from happening again.

I clenched my jaw tried not to limp across the field in the opposite direction of the way the militia was moving. My friends seemed to amble to the vehicle painstakingly slow. My leg shook impatiently as I glared at Feliciano hooking his arm around Ludwig's, who looked surprised, all the while those men were still staring and debating whether or not to come over. I was starting to get cold, too, and wanted the respite of the warm air of the car's heaters.

"I am going straight to sleep after this," I tried jesting to them once they settled in the front seats. After everything that happened, it was hard to sleep the previous night, so it was somewhat true. My hands clenched into fists as I casted a quick look at the men, but they were starting to walk away. I turned my attention back to Ludwig and Feliciano, both chuckling over something I missed. I sank into my seat, desperate to get back to a warm bed.