A to Z GerIta Drabbles. G

A to Z GerIta Drabbles


G for Gift/Gone


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It took 33 steps to cross the room, 15 if you ran. 5 leaves sprouted from the stalk of a flower sitting in the windowsill. There were 78 cream slits in the blinds and 17 of which were broken or bent. The room had been cleaned multiple times including the bottles of cleaning supplies; all of the paperwork had been completed and neatly files away.


Bored. So bored.


Ludwig was a disciplined man. He hardly ever wasted time so boredom was a whole new concept to him. He could never imagine being this bored with nothing to do, no one to see. Work was surprisingly low so he usually wouldn't have finished by now.


He had to admit, he had been bored before but this feeling didn't feel like the usual nagging urge to find something to do that accompanied boredom. Yes, he felt that nagging but he also felt hollow.


Maybe it wasn't just boredom? Maybe it was because he was lonely. Lonely wasn't new to him at all. He was lonely most of the time but he would never admit it. Work could take loneliness of his mind for a while. At least until it was done; then he had to find something to do. It surprised him that he could ever be bored enough to count how many steps it took to cross a room or to count the slits in blinds. His eyes burned from focusing so long.


Ludwig wasn't loud like his brother, he wasn't kind like Feliciano, he wasn't outgoing like Alfred, and he couldn't naturally attract people like Antonio could. He was just Ludwig; strict, socially awkward, always working, the party pooper and the man who could never smile.


He just groaned, listening to how his deep voice reverberated around the empty house. It made everything thing seem so much bigger and reminded him of how empty it was. Ludwig sighed and stood, his chair groaning loudly in response. He crossed the room and quickly marched down the hall. He hoped he would find something beneficial to do before he got desperate enough to repaint his house and watch the paint dry.


Instead, he sat down in a rarely used recliner, popped open a can of beer and thought quietly to himself.


He couldn't remember exactly what he had thought; it was one of those times when he thought something and then couldn't remember what he had been thinking of. He didn't realize he had blanked off until he noticed that the loneliness and beer had formed an alliance and had crushed his mood. He was completely drained and didn't feel like doing anything.


For once, the blond wished he had someone to call upon to talk to or to invite over. He just wanted to be in human company that could chase away his depressed feeling.


Ludwig almost didn't hear the knock at the door. He quietly turned his head when he heard someone calling his name. He set the now empty beer can down and rose to his feet with a low grunt.


"Coming!" Ludwig called in a low voice as he sauntered to the front door. His mind was still in a fuzz but part of him wondered who it would be. He barely realized what he was doing as he wrapped his calloused hands around the door knob. He turned it slowly; his mind fuzzed still, and pulled the door open.


The fuzz disappeared like mist in the sun. Ludwig could hardly believe his eyes of who stood on his doorstep. He couldn't imagine the sweetest person he knew showing up at his door. He was surprised to see the man with Carmel colored hair and the stubborn curl that wouldn't lay flat and the sweet grin accompanied by closed eyes.


"Italy?" he asked confused. He couldn't understand why he would be at his door when all he did was yell at him for not training hard enough or for making a mess or for goofing off. He would admit; the Italian was annoying but he did have a soft spot for him.


"Ve~ salut Luddy!" Feliciano greeted him in his native tongue. He smiled happily and was practically bouncing with excitement. Ludwig wondered again why the Italian was so happy to see him.


"Er...Guten tag." Ludwig coughed awkwardly. He glanced away from the Italian to hide the light blush dusting over his cheeks. His heart thumped against his rib cage, almost as if it was trying to escape its confines. His stomach fluttered and tied itself in knots. It wasn't pleasant but it wasn't unpleasant. He always felt that way whenever the Italian was around.


"I was looking for my kitty that had gotten outside and I found this really pretty place and I thought 'Oh, I should show this to Ludwig'. So I came here as soon as I could and I knocked on your door and at first you didn't come so I was worried you weren't here but then you opened the door so it's all ok now!" Feliciano rambled happily, never once opening his eyes. His hands waved and flapped around in excited hand motions, moving in such a way that Ludwig wondered if he was actually tying his stomach into knots.


For once, Ludwig didn't find himself annoyed with the Italian. Instead, he found his mannerisms and babbling cute. He noticed how happy the Italian seemed; a heart melting smile never fading, light blush lighting his Mediterranean tanned cheeks and his curl bouncing happily. Ludwig couldn't help but find his own mood lightened; the Italian could illuminate any darkness.


"What did you find?" Ludwig asked curiously. He wanted to know what could make the Italian so happy.


"Well...it's like...kinda like a...it's..." He fumbled with words. It was probably the first time Ludwig ever saw him unsure of what to say. "I can't explain. I need to show you!"


Feliciano took Ludwig's wrist and started to pull him out of the dimly lighted house and into the sunlight. Ludwig stumbled after him, closing the door quickly.


"Where are we going?" Ludwig asked as he stumbled after the jovial Italian. He didn't need to see his face to know he had a huge smile on his face. A bubbly laugh drifted to Ludwig's ears, sounding more like a melody then a laugh.


"Ve~ I'm taking you to the place, silly!" Feliciano exclaimed happily, still holding on to Ludwig's wrist, "I'm sure you'll love it! It's so beautiful and it's quiet and peaceful and it'll give you a chance to take a break; I'm sure you have a lot of work."


Ludwig chuckled. He kept silent about finishing all his work. He wanted to let the Italian believe he was helping Ludwig relax by making him take a break. Ludwig realized he wasn't bored anymore and his heart actually felt light in his chest. It no longer felt like a heavy brick in his chest, weighing him down with work and responsibilities. He felt free; like he could leap and dive and run over any hill with the Italian by his side.


Feliciano's pace began to slow. Ludwig looked ahead as they ran over a grassy field. Anticipation was thick in the air; Ludwig could tell that whatever Feliciano wanted to show him was right over this hill. His mind began to wonder, what could Feliciano want to show him so desperately that they were running through a field, practically hand in hand? Glancing around, Ludwig realized nothing looked familiar. As far as he could see from his current position, long grass stretched out as far as the eye could see, disappearing over the horizon. The blades danced and whispered secrets to each other as the wind blew across the field. Ludwig was mesmerized by the waving of the grass that he didn't even notice he made it to the top of the hill.


Feliciano gently squeezed his hand. "Ve~ Luddy!" he called, using his pet name for the German man again. Ludwig blushed and looked at the Italian. "Look below the hill."


Ludwig did as he was told and looked below his feet. The wind seemed to snatch his breath from his chest as his eyes gazed across the field. Just below them, between two other hills grew a large path of Cornflowers, Cyclamens, Daisies and Lilies. The four different types of flowers were all intermingled. Protected by the wind, almost none were withered. They spouted from the ground and stood tall, stretching their petals towards the clouds.


"Isn't it pretty?" Feliciano asked, his voice warm. Ludwig glanced over at the Italian. The Carmel haired man had a look on his face that Ludwig hadn't seen before. His eyes were open for once as he stared down into the flower patch. His eyes glowed with warmth and an affectionate smile tugged at his lips. Never before had he seemed so peaceful and comfortable.


"Ja," Ludwig agreed quietly. He didn't wish to spoil the mood, "It's beautiful."


"Did you notice?" Feliciano asked, finally turning his head to face Ludwig.


"Notice what?" Ludwig asked, his eyebrows furrowing in thought. He saw the flowers and their stunning beauty. Was there something deeper he was supposed to notice?


"The cornflowers are Germany's national flower and the Cyclamens, Daisies and Lilies are Italy's national flowers." Feliciano explained, looking back to the field with an affectionate look.


Ludwig blushed darkly finally getting what he meant. He was very confused though. Feliciano could have seen it and wanted to show it to him in hopes that it could strengthen their relationship but it was also possible he meant it in a romantic way.


Ludwig could admit he did like the little Italian. He found him cute and he made his heart and stomach feel funny. Ludwig wasn't familiar with feelings like this. He had never felt them before but he had read some books where they described this feeling in relationship with being close to a person the other had feelings for. If he felt that way, then didn't it mean he liked the Italian romantically?


"Ludwig?" Feliciano asked. He looked up at the German. His brown eyes tried to cover disappointment but Feliciano was never good at hiding his feelings. Ludwig realized he hadn't spoken. Feliciano probably thought he was mad or something. He had been so excited to show this private place to the German that he must have had high hopes for Ludwig's reaction.


Ludwig decided then that he could make things better and even surprise Feliciano but doing so would require him to act completely out of character and take a chance; take a chance that Feliciano didn't feel the same way about him.


He decided to go through with it.


Ludwig slowly faced the Italian, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He gently cupped the Italians soft cheek with a strong hand. His hand seemed so much bigger in proportion with Feliciano's smaller face. Feliciano looked surprised at first but then quickly smiled and leaned into his touch.


Heart jumping into his throat, Ludwig gently tilted the Italians head up slightly as he leaned down. He gently pressed his lips to Feliciano's soft, warm lips. It only lasted a moment and both were too shocked to react. Their hearts beat quicker; beating as one. Ludwig leaned back, his face red with a blush. He hoped he did the right thing because it felt so right.


He smiled softly down on the Italian. "It's beautiful." he whispered. Even he did not know if he was talking about Feliciano or the flowers. Feliciano smiled happily. He giggled, sending Ludwig's heart into a fit.


"Ve~ it is beautiful, isn't it?" he asked. He went up on the tips of his shoes and wrapped his arms around Ludwig's neck. Their lips met again and this time neither of them dared to move away. Their breaths mingled and their hearts beat as one once again. Ludwig wrapped his strong arms around Feliciano's smaller waist and pulled him close gently.


The moment felt so perfect neither wanted it to end. Ludwig's heart felt full and he thought quietly to himself 'The loneliness is gone and Feliciano has given me the best gift he possibly could'.


The two spend the rest of their day, laying side by side on the beautiful hill in perfect harmony.


~//~


A/N: Thanks for reading! Don't forget to send in your suggestions for H!