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In a small countryside in Italy was a kind-hearted boy named Feliciano. He had auburn red hair with a curl that sticked to the side, his eyes were always blissfully closed as if he were in another world, and there was always a sweet, kind smile that stayed on his face whenever he was happy. Known by many in his small village, Feliciano would always stop by the store to grab bread, cream, pasta, and milk for him, his grandfather, and brother. While walking, he would always stop and greet everyone on his way past. Feliciano had always been a ordinary, sweet boy with a humble life, but he soon learned that his life will change.
Feliciano hummed an Italian tune as he walked down the stone street happily with a basket made of straw in his hands. He closed his eyes with peace as he said to himself joyfully.
“Ve~ such a beautiful day!”
He arrived at the store, which had been open with many people shopping for food. He scanned through the aisles before he found a pack of bread. Then, he went to the back of the store to grab some milk and cream from the freezer.
“I have the bread, milk, cream…” He muttered to himself, trying to remember what the final thing he would need.
“Ve~, I almost forgot the pasta!”
He walked up to the middle of the store, looking up at the tall aisle as the pack of pasta layed on the top shelf.
“Oh, it's so far up—!” He gasped, feeling a bit sorrowful, but determined as he tried to think of ways to reach the pack of pasta.
He carefully stepped onto the second bottom shelf, testing its sturdiness before attempting to climb up before reaching his arm out to grab the pack of pasta.
As he took another step of the middle shelf, it collapsed beneath his weight, causing him to fall backward.
He yelped and cried from surprise as he closed his eyes and braced for impact. Suddenly, a low grunt and a pair of strong arms had carried him before he could ever make contact with the floor.
“Wha…” He mumbled with confusion before opening his eyes, seeing a tall boy with eyes as blue as the ocean and hair as blonde as sand. He had a worried expression on his face as he stared back into Feliciano's chocolate brown eyes, their gazes never leaving each others.
“Are you alright?” The blonde boy asked, placing down Feliciano carefully as if he were made of glass. Feliciano gripped the blonde boy's square shoulders as he planted his feet on the floor and steadied himself, giving the blonde boy a kind smile before answering.
“Ve~ yes, thank you…”
“It was nothing.”
Feliciano looked away for a moment to think before he turned back to the blonde boy with a curious expression.
“What is your name?”
“Ludwig,” He stated, standing tall in front of Feliciano.
“Ludwig Beilschmidt.”
Feliciano's face lit up in interest as he learnt that the young boy who had saved him have such a strange, yet pretty name. His face flushed a light pink for a moment as his eyes saw Ludwig's visible muscles through his shirt, but he quickly regained himself.
“I am Feliciano,” He introduced himself, flashing a cute smile.
“Feliciano Vargas.”
Ludwig flashed a polite smile before. bowing his head slightly to show respect. Feliciano returned the smile and gave a kiss to Ludwig on both cheeks as a gesture of friendship.
“Thank you for saving me, really…” Feliciano said shyly, folding his hands together, and not noticing the bright red color of Ludwig's face from the kiss on his cheeks. He had heard that Italians would greet people in such way, but he had never experienced it for himself. Coming from Feliciano, the greeting made his heart race and his face hot, something he knew he'd never admit.
“Are you okay?” Feliciano asked, frowning worriedly.
“Yes, yes, just a bit…hot.”
He lied, and he knew it.
“Oh, no! It is summer time. And if you get hot, you'll overheat, and get heat stroke, and die!” Feliciano cried, his mind spiraling with worry as he reached into his basket for the carton of milk and placed it on Ludwig's head directly.
A moment of silence filled the store, creating an awkward scene between them. Feliciano had small, worried tears that pricked at the corners of his eyes, and Ludwig's red face had changed to a embarrassed pinkish hue.
“You…” Ludwig stuttered, too stunned to speak. But instead, Feliciano started to cry, shaking his hands frantically along with the milk carton and an apologetic look in his eyes.
“I'm so sorry, Ludwig! You said you were hot—and I want to make sure you weren't having a heat stroke! O-Or that you were dehydrated! You saved my life, and I wanted to make sure you were okay—!”
For a moment, Ludwig stared at him blankly before closing his eyes, turning his head away, and breathing in through his nose sharply to regain his posture. He slightly glanced down at the tearful Italian, who had held onto the carton of milk as if it were a stress toy.
“Nein, it is alright,”
“Hm…?” Feliciano made a tearful and confused noise as he looked up to meet the German's beautiful blue eyes, which made his heart flutter.
“You were only trying to help. Thank you.”
Feliciano nodded before placing the milk carton back in his basket. He wiped the tiny dots of tears from the corners of his eyes as he closed his eyes and gave a gentle smile to Ludwig.
“People tell me I carried away sometimes,” Feliciano admitted, his thumb fidgeting with a piece of straw from the basket.
“How so?” Ludwig asked, crossing his arms with a blank expression.
“Well,” Feliciano began, about to explain, but he gasped loudly as he remembered that he had to be back to his house by noon today.
It was already dusk.
"I'm so sorry, I can't talk right now—I'm late to my grandfathers house! Will I ever see you again? Maybe outside of the store tomorrow at dawn?”
Ludwig open his mouth to say something, but instead he closed it shut and gave a firm nod to confirm.
“Yes, I will be here.”
“Oh, great! I will see you then, Ludwig! Bye bye!”
Feliciano quickly ran over to the front counter before nervously reaching for four coins from his pocket and looking up at the cashier sheepishly.
“J-Just these items, please,” He asked, watching as the cashier took the coins and gave him his change and items.
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
“Ten coins,” The cashier demanded, asking for more than what the actual items would usually cost.
“But I come here all the time! They aren't that expensive—”
"Do you have my money?”
Feliciano frowned with a hint of worry and sadness in his eyes. He didn't bring enough money to pay that amount the cashier wanted, and he wasn't able to pay it any other way—
“I'll pay it.” A gruff voice interrupted,
It was Ludwig.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out six more coins, completing the amount that the cashier wanted. The cashier rolled his eyes before snatching the coins from Ludwig's hand and shoving the items that Feliciano had into his hands.
“Thank you,” Feliciano said to the cashier, who was preoccupied with counting the amount of coins.
“Yeah, yeah, get out of my store.”
Both Ludwig and Feliciano hurried out of the store as they stood across from each other since they were both going different directions; Feliciano was going left, and Ludwig was going right.
“I will see you tomorrow, right?” Feliciano asked with pleading eyes so ensure that there was a higher chance of Ludwig visiting him tomorrow.
“I…yes. At dawn, correct?”
“Sí.”
“Alright, it was nice meeting you, Feliciano.” Ludwig said, taking his hat off and bowing his head low before turning to walk away, but Feliciano grabbed his sleeve before he could.
“I had a wonderful time.” He confessed, giving a warm smile that Ludwig returned before Feliciano finally let go and watched as Ludwig walked away, a slight ache in his heart despite just only meeting him today; it felt as if he knew him forever.