Chapter Text
The first to greet Ludwig was Alfred’s roomba, wandering across the living room floor as Ludwig toed off his shoes at the door. Since Alfred had moved on to a more relaxed, work from home job, he had volunteered himself for much of the household chores. Alfred, however, had a habit of trying to find shortcuts amongst the chores that he disliked, something that Ludwig found equal parts endearing and annoying. He found the thing more of a nuisance than a help, constantly getting stuck in places it shouldn’t and getting in the way when it wasn’t wanted. He allowed it its peace, if mostly because Alfred had a strange attachment to it.
The second, and much more welcoming greeting was from Blackie, his loyal shepherd. She ambled from her spot on the floor, soaking up the last remaining rays of evening sun coming in through the living room window. It was approaching six and she was no doubt looking for dinner. She made no indication of her impatience, nosing her owner’s hand in greeting.
He smiled and gave her an appreciative pat on her greying snout. He resisted the urge to bend down and give her proper affection, if only to savor his suit. “Hello, Blackie. ”
The lack of any other signs of life in the vicinity meant that Alfred was no doubt still holed up in his office, engrossed in whatever new project he was working on. He sighed, treading the familiar path down the hall, Blackie following at his heels like a shadow.
The door was open, as it often was. Ludwig entered, taking in the familiar layout. It was small, but decent enough for Alfred’s job. A couch sat in the middle, more for the dogs than anything else, proofed by the fact that Aster had made himself comfortable on its soft cushion, barely moving as he noticed Ludwig’s entrance. Alfred’s beloved turtle sat in the corner, soaking in the shallow pool kept in its tank, still and uninteresting. A small, hardy houseplant sat by the open window, its leaves pointed toward the last remaining sunbeams.
In the middle on the far wall was Alfred’s desk. Three monitors took up the bulk of its surface, along with a forgotten coffee cup, and a notepad with some illegible scribbles. He had not noticed Ludwig’s entrance, so deeply focused on his task in a way that was both admirable and concerning.
Blackie nosed her way past his legs to lay with Aster on the couch. She pushed her brother to the side, snuggling up between the back cushion and his body. Aster made a small grunt in protest but settled back down easily. Ludwig smiled to himself.
He walked the short distance to Alfred and crouched near the office chair. He placed a chaste kiss against Alfred’s soft cheek. In his peripheral, he watched as a quick flash of fear flashed through Alfred’s deep blue eyes before a full body jolt turned him to face Ludwig.
A sharp glare was directed Ludwig’s way in the short time it took Alfred’s brain to catch up with his environment. “Don’t do that, man, you almost gave me a heart attack”
“I’m sorry liebe, I did not mean to scare you.” Ludwig chuckled at him and kissed behind his ear in apology. “You shouldn’t stare so hard, it’s not good for your eyes.”
Alfred rolled his eyes, adjusting his round glasses. “I’ll be fine.”
Ludwig scoffed, but resisted the urge to fall into a losing argument.
Alfred smiled, leaning forward to give Ludwig a proper kiss. Alfred’s lips were soft, tinged with the strange waxy flavor of his lip balm, familiar and comforting. Ludwig cupped Alfred’s jaw, petting the soft fuzz that he had neglected to shave earlier in the day. Alfred gave a happy hum.
Ludwig felt fingers in his hair, combing out the gel until his hair hung loose around his face. He felt himself relax within his partner’s grasp, so much so that he almost missed the minute tightening in Alfred’s jaw before he abruptly pulled away with a cry, snapping him out of his half daze.
“Oh, shit! I’m sorry, I forgot all about dinner.” A quick flash of emotions passed through Alfred’s face: annoyance, anxiety, and the slightest flicker of guilt. All emotions that Ludwig preferred to not see associated with Alfred.
Ludwig frowned. “I’ll make something. I don’t expect you to cook.”
“Yeah, but I want to. I’m supposed to be the house-husband now.” Alfred laughed, tension leaving his face.
A warm nervous bubble of delight lodged itself in Ludwig’s throat, hearing Alfred call himself Ludwig’s husband. It’s not the first time that Alfred had referred to himself as such, always in jest, and it never ceased to scratch at Ludwig’s heart like something whole and right.They were not married, had never discussed the prospect, if only because Ludwig could never quite find the words to do so.
Ludwig straightened from his crouch, clearing his throat, while he failed not to flush with how foolish he felt. “I think there’s pasta in the pantry.”
A flash of an unreadable emotion passed by Alfred’s face before settling on a smirk. “Sounds good!” The talk of dinner time must have roused Aster from his nap as he nosed his way in-between them. Alfred patted him on the head in a placating manner. “Let me save what I have here and I’ll come help.”
–
Later that night, Ludwig sat in bed with a book, only half paying attention enough to notice Alfred’s presence in the doorway. He was fresh from the shower, dressed with a ratty t-shirt that had seen better days and a pair of boxers with the Superman emblem patterned across it.
The dogs had yet to make their nightly rounds into the room. Alfred grinned excitedly at him, slipping across his side of the bed to worm his way under Ludwig’s arm. Ludwig obligingly loped his arm around Alfred’s shoulder, long ago used to Alfred’s inability to stick to his side of the bed. He carded his hand through Alfred’s hair. It was soft and still warm from the blow dryer, and the faint smell of his sweet scented shampoo lingered pleasantly.
Alfred hummed happily and pillowed his head on Ludwig’s chest, squinting at Ludwig’s book in a way that only accentuated the absence of his glasses. “What’chu reading?”
Ludwig turned the book over, struggling for a moment with the threadbare, faded cover. A garish neon planet decorated the cover, bright and ominous. “My Soulmate is an Alien,” Ludwig intoned, furrowing his brow even as he read it. It could barely be called a book, with the bare minimum for prose and entertainment. Truthfully, it was kind of torturous to read. Cruel curiosity was the only motivation to keep him invested.
Alfred snorted, burying himself closer to Ludwig’s chest. He was by no means a small man, but Ludwig had enough practice with Alfred’s boneless flopping to keep his flinching to a minimum. “Where do you keep finding these things?”
“Thrift shop,” was Ludwig’s simple reply. Lately, he had picked up an unfortunate habit of perusing the clearance section. The dime-a-dozen romance novels with their bright orange stickers that screamed a dollar were always too tempting of an offer
Alfred laughed softly, his restless hands pulling at Ludwig’s t-shirt, absentmindedly. “Imagine being one of those people that sit around waiting for their soulmate their whole lives, only to find out that it’s some alien slime monster.” Alfred paused. “Unless you’re into that.”
Ludwig rumbled a laugh, which only seemed to encourage Alfred more. He rambled on into various scenarios, fantastical and far out and all more engaging than what Ludwig was enduring. Ludwig lost track of the conversation at some point, making small noises of agreement when appropriate to satisfy Alfred. It wasn’t long before the rather uninteresting book was forgotten, discarded on the side table, which was probably for the best.
At some point, Ludwig felt Alfred’s wandering hands capture his hand up from where it was resting on Alfred’s shoulder, his arm winding around his forearm like a cat’s tail. He glanced down, Alfred’s chatter narrowing down to a buzzing background noise. Their forearms pressed together in just the right way; his half of a butterfly and Alfred’s half of a sunflower placed side by side. Their soul mate tattoos.
Throughout his life, Ludwig had been constantly bombarded by the ideologies of traditionalists and popular media. He was encouraged to wait for his soulmate; to put his life on hold until he found the one, the person who would make him whole and better.
In reality, finding one’s soulmate was incredibly rare. It was an unrealistic expectation, in Ludwig’s opinion, to stagnate one’s life in the pursuit of something that may never happen.
The almost symmetry of their tattoos was better than the real thing, a testament to the way that Alfred slotted into his life, so naturally and entirely unpredictable. It satisfied something deep and primal within his heart to see such markings side by side. He couldn’t imagine missing out on something so special.
Ludwig squeezed Alfred’s hand. The motion distracted Alfred into silence, as he finally seemed to notice the press of their tattoos. He squeezed his hand back, smiling softly. Ludwig took the opportunity to use his free hand to guide Alfred into a soft, affectionate kiss, just sweet enough for both of them to blush.
–
In the morning, it’s Saturday. Theoretically, Ludwig had no responsibilities to the day, but through sheer force of habit, Ludwig found himself easily rousing a little after 8 am. The bed is unsurprisingly more barren than it was when he went to sleep, only the slight lingering of warmth against his side and the fading tingling sensation of pins and needles in his arm. Only Blackie remained, tucked by his feet, still sleeping. He knew the minute that he moved, she would be on alert.
Ludwig was not one to dwell in bed, but he could not help silently mourning the fact that Alfred was an unfortunate morning person, bound by a constant stream of restless energy. He sighed in self-pity, Blackie’s twitching ears his only resulting comfort.
He peeled himself out of bed, Blackie moving with him to stretch and shake herself off. He waited until she was settled, before making his way to the bathroom if only so Alfred could not complain about his morning breath. Once refreshed, the smell of breakfast led him into the kitchen.
Something poppy and cutesy was playing on the speaker when Ludwig arrived. It was all too cheerful for Ludwig’s tastes, but he can hear the faint humming from Alfred under his breath. He was by the stove, Aster sidled up next to him like a beggar, most likely looking for scraps of bacon.
Ludwig smiled. Alfred had not noticed his entrance and he took the opportunity to cross to the back door opposite the stove. Blackie already sat next to it, patiently waiting, her tail thumping against the floor. The click-slide of the door drew Aster to come running, excitedly barking as he bolted at the door, all young, puppy energy. Blackie, old and wise, waited until it was clear to make her exit.
The backyard was small, just big enough for the dogs and nothing else. A cool breeze came through, crisp and light, smelling of spring. Ludwig took a moment to bask in the fresh, chilled air. Begrudgingly, he shut the door before too much cold could leak into the house. Alfred complained of any sort of weather that wasn’t the peak of summer.
The commotion had unsurprisingly alerted Alfred, who turned to greet him brightly. “Morning, babe!”
Ludwig crossed the short distance to Alfred, wrapping a hand around his hip while he moved to place a soft kiss on his cheek. He is not a particularly verbose person, made even worse in the early morning. There was a half a pot of coffee next to Alfred’s no doubt second cup and he zeroed in on it like a starved man.
“I made some eggs if you want.” Alfred’s breakfast routine was ritualistic, but Ludwig was not so eager about it. He nodded anyway, savoring his cup of coffee. He knew it was best to have something in the morning rather than just live off of caffeine until he was properly awake.
Alfred smirked at him, handing him a plate, which he obediently took to the kitchen island to eat. He watched Alfred putter around the kitchen while he picked at his own plate; crispy bacon paired with his eggs. Alfred rarely sat and ate breakfast, and instead he cleaned up whatever mess he had made while cooking. Ludwig didn’t think it was particularly healthy, but he admired his efficiency.
By the time Alfred had begun loading the dishwasher, Ludwig had polished off his coffee and was feeling much more confident about the day.
“I’m gonna take the dogs on their walk and then head to the grocery store. Anything special you want?” said Alfred. He held his phone in his hand, assumedly scrolling through the list of essentials that Ludwig had curated the other day.
“No,” said Ludwig, even knowing that Alfred will find some little snack for Ludwig to enjoy at the store anyway.
“Ok then.” Alfred nodded. One hand still absent-mindedly scrolling through his phone, he took Ludwig’s empty dishes to the dishwasher. “I figured later we could take the dogs to the dog park, whenever you’re free.”
Ludwig had his own Saturday routine, mostly consisting of going to the gym and whatever personal errands he needed to get done. Today was a light day. “I can do this afternoon.”
Alfred paused in his phone scrolling, a curiously bemused expression passing by his face. He snickered after a moment, making his way toward the back door, pausing to kiss Ludwig on the forehead. “Glad you could fit me in, boss.”
Ludwig furrowed his brow, narrowing his eyes. His retort was swallowed up by the predictable hiss of discomfort from Alfred once he opened the door. Ludwig rolled his eyes, but softened when Blackie pattered in, nosing up to Alfred in greeting in her sweet, gentle way. Alfred murmured a greeting to her, patting her head until she decided to move onto the breakfast that Alfred had laid out for her.
Aster refused to come back inside for a moment, always one to push his limits when he could. He was a very good dog, a very smart dog, but also one who loved to test the patience of his owners. Ludwig had never minded. Aster would eventually grow out of the worst of his stubbornness and the remaining would just be personality. It was a long-term experiment, in Ludwig’s opinion.
“Come on, Aster,” coaxed Alfred. Aster, fortunately, was also eager to please and had a special fondness for Alfred. He trailed in not soon after, grinning in only the way a self-satisfied dog could. Alfred shook his head, closing the door sharply behind him, shivering dramatically in the lingering chill.
Aster yipped excitedly to greet the room, making a beeline for Ludwig, little trails of dirt left in his wake as he trotted over. In a rare moment of usefulness, the roomba followed dutifully after him, the linoleum clean and almost shiny in its wake. He pawed at Ludwig’s leg, lightly, as if he didn’t know what to do with his remaining fitful energy. Ludwig calmly commanded him to sit, the sharp word falling from his lips with practiced ease. Aster zeroed in on him, always so focused during training, something that Ludwig appreciated. He patted Aster’s side fondly, his fur cold and oddly wet against his palm. Ludwig stood, running him through a few more commands, until Aster was noticeably calmer.
“Oh I love it when you speak German,” swooned Alfred with a flirty wink.
Ludwig reached for the bag of treats hidden within a cabinet in the island, feeding one to Aster. “Would you like me to start talking to you like that? I could also give you treats and call you good boy,” he said, with just enough bluntness to hide his mischief.
Alfred blushed scarlet, miraculously rendered speechless in a way that was near impossible to do. Ludwig suppressed a smug smile. It was oddly satisfying, seeing Alfred so flustered by Ludwig’s rare show of forwardness. He only had himself to blame, as he was often proven to be an influence on Ludwig, both positive and negative.
Alfred mumbled something about going to change for the day and quickly retreated.
–
Ludwig had lived in the city for four years now and over the years he had found little things to appreciate about it. Initially, he had held a certain amount of resentment toward the hustle and bustle. He could admit to himself now that part of that animosity came from the fact that he felt forced in his decision. Ludwig was not one who enjoyed doing things against his careful routine and planning, but his brother had been too sick to work and Ludwig had been forced to take a higher paying job just to make ends meet. To this day, he still missed their nice little home in the quiet of the suburbs and all the pleasantness it represented.
It wasn’t until he met Alfred that he really started to enjoy the city. Alfred had been born and raised here and knew all types of hidden nooks that Ludwig could appreciate. A big part of their early dating life involved him dragging Ludwig around the city like an errant tour guide, boasting about the various spots and giving little trivia facts that had impressed Ludwig at the time (now he knew Alfred was a very stealthy google user).
After Alfred had moved into his lonely apartment with him, it was these offbeat areas that became his new favorite spots. The mom-and-pop thrift shop with the bickering old married couple, the local coffee shop with the overly chipper cashiers and strong dark coffee, and the corner store with the very overbearing owner, but who always had the essentials when you had an emergency. Welcoming places that became a regular part of Ludwig’s routine, all within walking distance between his home and work.
The city was built around an intricate web of convenience, one which Ludwig could respect, if only because he himself was an orderly person. Even Alfred’s mother and brother remained a quick subway ride away, a factor which Alfred took great joy in and advantage of.
He had just finished his errands for the day, with only minimal harassment from Alfred, who loved to text him inane things at any point of the day. It was approaching noon and a pleasant warmth had seeped into the air. It had rained the other day, and the plants in the city planters were vibrant and happy. The day was turning out to be fairly pleasant.
He had just enough time before reuniting with Alfred to amble along the sidewalk, enjoying the pleasantness of the day. So absorbed in his thoughts as he was, he did not see the body darting out from the local craft’s shop until he felt the bounce of a slight frame against his chest. On instinct, Ludwig’s hand shot out to steady the other, a firm hand on a shoulder. A quiet groan escaped his unfortunate victim.
A quick glance down revealed a mop of dark red curls and little else. Embarrassed, Ludwig opened his mouth to apologize. “I’m so sorry.”
A small smile crept up on the man’s face, once he got over his shock. “Ah, that’s okay, no harm done.”
He straightened, and Ludwig expected the encounter to end there, just another silly story to lay within the recesses of his mind. He turned to leave, but became ensnared by the look on the other man’s face. Those eyes zeroed in on where Ludwig’s hand still gripped him, contemplative. His eyes traveled along his forearm with determination and Ludwig belatedly realized that his soulmate tattoo was on full display. Ludwig felt his skin rankle. Before he could pull away, the man gripped his forearm with surprising speed.
He gently maneuvered Ludwig’s arm until their forearms laid side by side and the missing half of his butterfly stared back at him. Ludwig froze, his mind feeling floaty and strange, like the world around him didn’t exist. His apparent soulmate pressed their markings together excitedly, a movement which felt more sinister than it actually was.
A large smile lit up his apparent soulmate’s face and in any other situation, Ludwig would think it quite charming.
“Oh, I’m so excited to meet you! I’ve been waiting for you for so long! Oh this is so wonderful, I have so much to tell you!” His soulmate blubbered with nervous energy, looking so hopeful and wondrous.
Ludwig shook off enough of his stupor to shake off his soulmate’s hand. He ignored the pitifully heartbroken expression on the poor man’s face and he fled down the way he had come, using his sheer size to his advantage to outpace the rather pitiful cries to return from his soulmate.