One of my rare, completed plot bunnies, yay! :P

Be warned, this is my first GerIta fic, so be nice. And I toughened up the Italy brothers just a little, to fit the story better. I would say it's my first Spamio, but I was an unofficial Beta for a friend of mine for a long story where that was the primary pairing. 'Hoist the Colors High', if you haven't heard of it. I don't have much experience with RusAmer either, but I'm working on a few plot bunnies with it.

In short, this fic is experimental on many levels, in regards to pairings and Au.

*Will update at least once a day! :)

Enjoy!

It was raining when Lovino ducked into the restaurant. He shook himself off, removing his broad brimmed hat and feeling a little too much like a wet cat. They knew him here, of course, the hostess hurrying over with a smile and offering to take his wet coat. Lovino normally had little patience for chatter, but this hostess was a good one, she was nice and Antonio didn't like it when he was mean to the staff. Besides, this one he actually liked. For whatever reason, it was easier to like females than males, especially the pretty ones.

Once he was seated in his usual booth at the back, the hostess hurried away to get a server for him. Not to take his order, but to put it in and bring him his drink. Lovino was a creature of habit, and the staff here had learned that if you just went with it and didn't speak much around him he was both an easy customer and generous tipper. Considering most of the servers here were college kids, it was incentive enough.

Lovino was sipping his wine when Antonio came out of the back, wiping his hands on a cloth. He beamed when he saw Lovino, coming over to his booth. "Lovi! What are you doing here? I know you come every day, but it's raining cats and dogs. Shouldn't you have stayed in or-

"I come here every day, bastardo," Lovino stated, taking another sip of wine. "You know that. Rain or shine. You should know that by now."

The Spaniard just continued to smile, unflappable good mood still in place. "I know, but it's always good to see you." In a lower voice, he added, "You didn't come home last night, Lovi. I was worried."

Lovino slowly rotated the stem of his wine glass. "I know. Business ran late. I'll be home tonight."

"Promise?"

"You know I can't."

"What if I make that special tomato risotto?"

The Italian sighed. "You can promise me whatever you want, but if an emergency comes up I'm not going to make it. I'm not going to make you a promise I won't be able to follow through on, Antonio. All I can give you is my word that I will try."

Antonio pouted, but didn't argue further. He was all too aware of what Lovino did, what his family was. It was how they'd met, after all. The Vargas family ran the neighborhood, and one of the gangs they owned had been going around trying to extort 'protection' fees behind their boss's back. Lovino had found out, but not before his top gang had gotten their asses handed to them by the Spaniard. He hadn't been thrilled to find a former Don in his territory, but the more time he spent around Antonio, the less he wanted to shoot the man. Antonio ran a simple, but very popular, Spanish restaurant. The locals liked him, his staff liked him, and the only people who spoke ill of him were those who had tried to strong-arm him into paying a protection fee. Antonio had left Spain after being the Don for only a year. He'd left behind money, power, and a name. He'd come to America with little and made a new life, and had just bought the restaurant when Lovino's gang had targeted him.

That was two years ago. With some coaxing, Antonio had agreed to move in with Lovino. The Spaniard had refused to live in the Vargas's estate, so they had compromised with a modest house that had a small tomato garden. Lovino didn't like admitting he loved anyone, even to himself, but he did love Antonio. Very much.

"How's business?" Lovino asked, glancing around the half empty restaurant.

"As good as ever. You should see it during those lunch rushes you avoid," teased Antonio, green eyes twinkling.

Lovino grunted, but frowned as something caught his eye. He reached out, catching his lover's wrist, pulling it around. Ignoring Antonio's protests of, "Lovi, it's nothing. Don't worry about it," he pulled the hand closer for inspection. A small bandage was wrapped around a finger, one much too thick for a paper cut. Lifting olive green eyes to the taller man, Lovino asked, "What the hell?"

Antonio sighed, pulling his hand away. "I cut myself during prep this morning, Lovi. I told you, it's nothing. You worry too much."

On the contrary, Lovino wondered if he didn't worry enough. The Vargas family had made enemy's as they expanded, growing bigger and stronger at a gradual pace. They had a truce of sorts with the Russian's, a line neither group had crossed yet simply because if they did end up in a war it would be a blood bath. The other groups had either been sent packing already or had yet to try something, but the Russians were their biggest threat. Ivan wasn't known for his sanity, and had a record for playing dirty. Lovino knew that, if things did go sour with the Russians, Antonio would sport a very large target. He was a former Don, he knew how these things worked, he had skills, but he wasn't a match for a well placed bullet or blade.

They talked until Lovino's food came out, and Antonio retreated to the kitchen to help get ready for the lunch rush. Before he left, the Italian caught his lover's hand, lightly kissing the back of it before letting it go. No one who mattered was ever here, so he felt he could allow that much. Lovino loathed PDA, especially if he was involved, but every now and then he allowed something small, if only because it made Antonio happy.

On the other side of town, Feliciano was humming happily, carefully unpacking a basket as thunder boomed overhead. He was in the small break room of a butcher's shop, but he didn't care. Like his brother, he made a point to spend lunch with someone special to him.

"Smells gut," said Ludwig, tromping into the back room. "You don't have to do this every day, Feli."

Feliciano beamed, bouncing forward to peck his boyfriend on the cheek. "But I want to, Luddy. Sit, rest, eat. How has your day been?"

"Fine. There has been a good flow of customers. I think you have more excitement than I do."

"Sometimes, but not today. Mostly boring old paperwork. It was nice to have an excuse to get out. I was thinking about making spaghetti tonight, with the Italian sausage in the sauce. Labskaus, too, with wurst. I should be able to get away early, so I will be able to make it. What do you think?"

Ludwig arched his eyebrows a little. Labskaus, essentially German hash, was a personal favorite. He hadn't been enthusiastic about Italian food when they'd first met, but Feliciano was a very good cook. The spaghetti, with homemade Italian sausage, was something he always made sure to complement his boyfriend on. That said...Feliciano might be a food nut, but it wasn't often he made their shared favorites in one night.

"Are you sure? What's the occasion? I didn't think there were any approaching holidays."

"No, no occasion. Just because. And it's been a long time since we've had dinner together too, a night in. What do you think?"

"If you need to work, Feli, then-

"That's the good part! I know I can leave sooner today, much sooner. Then we can have dinner and have a whole night, just you and me Luddy. It's been much too long since the last time. I want to spend time with you, Ludwig. Now we can finally have us time, and sex. We haven't had sex in weeks."

Ludwig choked on his sandwich, a bright red flush quickly climbing his face. "Feli," he muttered, clearing his throat.

"It's true," Feliciano pouted. "I miss it, and I know you do too. What do you say, Luddy."

The blond sighed. He had long since accepted that Feliciano was the opposite of him in many areas, the lack of subtlety just one of many, but he still loved him. Ludwig knew what the Vargas family did, he always had. Germania had taken no part in their business, but was old friends with Roma, the twin's grandfather. Ludwig didn't exactly approve of what Feliciano did, but he still loved him.

These days, Ludwig had accepted what Feliciano did, and was more than happy to keep his nose out of it. His biggest complaint was that it could occupy the Italian for extensive periods of time. Most recently, it had kept him busy for days on end. On the occasion he did get a break, Feliciano often spent it sleeping. Ludwig didn't blame him, really, but he did miss him. A night in with his boyfriend would be nice. A home cooked meal, a night in, a bottle of wine for Feliciano and a few beers for him...maybe some long overdue sex...yes, it did sound very nice.

"Ja. I would like that. Do you have everything you need, or will I need to pick up some ingredients?"

"Ah, I don't know. I'll see when I get home."

Ludwig smiled patiently. Feliciano was the sort to live on the moment, when work wasn't involved. From the sound of it, he'd have to go over the recipes and make sure the kitchen was stocked on his own. He didn't mind, though. He was used to it, and he liked feeling useful in the kitchen.

BREAK/BREAK\BREAK

Feliciano got in a little later than he thought he would, but it was still earlier than he'd gotten home all week. He was humming cheerfully, letting himself into the cozy house he shared with Ludwig, briefcase in hand. He could kiss his boyfriend, stash the case in the safe in his office, and then start searching the kitchen. It was a little late, yes, but not so late they would have to change their plans, right?

"Luddy? I'm home!" he called, shutting the front door. "Did Gilbert barrow your truck again? It wasn't in the driveway."

No answer. The dogs rushed out to greet him, as they always did. Blackie, Berlitz, and Aster were thrilled to see him, as always. But once he'd pet the dogs and shooed them away, it occurred to him that he hadn't heard anything from Ludwig yet. Feliciano felt his mood waver slightly, peering around the house. He finally noticed that the only light on was a hall lamp that was on a timer. None of the other lights were on. Slowly, heart sinking, he shifted the briefcase to his left hand, drawing his gun with his right.

"Ludwig?" he called again, uneasy. The dogs were well trained, they would attack an intruder if one had so much tried to stick a toe through a window, never mind do something to their master. They loved Ludwig as much as Feliciano did.

Still nothing. Ludwig only ignored him if he couldn't hear him. Feliciano couldn't hear the shower running, and his boyfriend was too light a sleeper to doze through his shouting. Swallowing tightly, he moved through the house, covering each room carefully, turning on lights as he went. He swept the entire house, but found no trace of Ludwig. There was nothing that said his boyfriend had even made it home. The truck at least hadn't worried him, but this sure did. It wouldn't be the first time his elder brother barrowed it for something. If he'd needed to barrow it from work, Ludwig would have texted to let him know. Feliciano checked his phone, nothing.

Quickly putting his briefcase away, Feliciano left the house again, letting the dogs out into the backyard and hitting Ludwig's speed dial, heart in his throat. Nothing. He shot him a quick text, 'Where are you?', then called Lovino, climbing back into his car.

His brother picked up after the fourth, painfully long ring. "What?" he demanded. "I'm busy."

"Ludwig's gone, Lovi. I don't know where he is."

"Have you tried calling the potato bastardo?"

"I-

He was cut off as his phone buzzed, another call coming in. He checked the caller ID, panic spiking as he read the name of the local hospital.

Switching lines as quickly as he could, he asked shakily, "Ciao?"

There was a pause, then, "Mr. Vargas?"

"Sì, who is this?" Feliciano demanded. Normally he was the nicer twin, but right now he wasn't in the mood.

"You were listed as the emergency contact for Mr. Ludwig Belishmet?" asked the shaky nurse. The Vargas family were generous with the hospital, everyone on staff knew them quite well, or at least knew of them. Roma was of the opinion that, since they provided a steady stream of patients that hadn't slowed in several decades, they should provide help where they could. Besides, they quickly weeded out anyone corrupt in resident, ensuring their money went to just causes only.

"Where is he, what happened?"

"I...I'm sorry, Mr. Vargas. He's currently stable, but he was in very bad shape when they brought him in. It was touch and go for a little while, but he's predicted to make a full recovery."

Feliciano closed his eyes, slumping in his seat, running a hand back through his hair. "Grazie, signora. I will be there soon. Make sure the doctor is on hand, I want to speak with him personally."

"Of course, Mr. Vargas."

Feliciano hung up, switching back to Lovino. He was a little surprised when his brother was still there.

"Lovi?"

"What the hell is it?" his brother demanded.

In the background, Feliciano could hear Antonio protesting. "Why are we in the panic room? What's going on? Say something, Lovi."

"Ludwig is in the hospital. They said he's stable, but...I'm going. Keep Antonio away from doors and windows until we get some answers. Call Nonno, tell him what's going on."

"Sì, sì. Damn, who the fuck did this?"

"That's what I'm going to find out."

Feliciano hung up, and floored the accelerator. He knew his driving was considered eccentric by most, but in situations like this it worked in his favor. So did his Italian car.

Normally, it took about twenty minutes to reach the hospital. Feliciano made it in eight. In ten, he was striding through the hospital, marching to the nurse's station in the ICU.

"Where is Ludwig Belishmet?" he asked stiffly.

The nurse opened her mouth, then turned to focus on something just over his shoulder. Feliciano turned, facing an older man in a white coat. He relaxed a little, recognizing him. Ludwig was in good hands, at least.

"Mr. Vargas," said Dr. Stanton, nodding to the shorter man. "Please, this way. Mr. Belishmet is resting comfortably. It might be a few hours before he wakes up, but we were able to get him out of the danger zone."

"Thank you. Your work has always been credible. What was his condition when he arrived?"

"In a word? Critical. We had to do several transfusions before anything else. All the fingers on his left hand were broken, there was massive hemorrhaging to the skull, broken right leg, six broken ribs, four cracked, and a dislocated right arm. For what it's worth, it looked like he put up a fight. His knuckles were injured as well, but in a way you see after a bar brawl. Whoever did this, they won't look very good themselves."

It was meant to be reassuring, and it was, but still. Ludwig was still lying in a bed in the ICU. Swallowing tightly, Feliciano asked, "When did he arrive?"

"Approximately two thirty four. Normally I leave it to police, but considering the circumstances I asked around. They found him after someone made a nine-one-one call. No one said anything, just dialed on a burner phone and left it next to him."

Feliciano took a shaky breath as they stopped outside one of the privet rooms. He was almost afraid to go in. Shootouts, drug dealers, and gangbangers he could handle, but this? This was Ludwig. The man he loved dearly, the man he hoped to convince to marry someday. The thought of him getting hurt to such an extent...

"I'd like to keep him here for a week or so, just to be sure there were no ill effects from the head trauma. I've ordered a CAT scan, just to be sure, but I'd still like to keep an eye on him."

"Of course. Grazie, doctor."

Dr. Stanton nodded, stepping away. "If you need anything, let me or the nurses know."

Feliciano nodded, wrapping his fingers around the door handle. Taking a deep breath, he pushed it open as the doctor left him, stepping inside. The room itself was only half lit, enough for the nurses to do what they needed to when they checked on him. The monitors beeped steadily, the sound both reassuring and heart wrenching.

Slowly, Feliciano shut the door, stepping over to the bed. Ludwig was out cold, the heart monitor and the slow rise and fall of his chest the only indicators of life. Feliciano had seen Ludwig after a bar brawl once, when he'd made the mistake of going out with Gilbert when his elder brother was in the mood for a celebration. The only marks on him had been the scrapes on his knuckles and a bruise on his jaw, nothing else. He'd held his own to say the least. Later Feliciano had heard of the dozen drunken men in a holding cell, when they'd had to bail out Gilbert. Not only had Ludwig fended them all off, he'd extracted himself before the police came. Normally he would have hauled Gilbert after him, but apparently the albino had disappeared only to get picked up by the police.

That was nothing compared to now, not even close. Ludwig's nose was broken, his eye swollen, head bandaged. Both hands bandaged around the knuckles, each finger on his left hand carefully splinted, his right arm in a sling, left leg encased in plaster. His face was almost unrecognizable, an IV trailing to his left arm.

Feliciano shuffled over to the bed, throat tight. He sank into the chair at Ludwig's side, vision going blurry. He reached out, carefully taking his right hand, careful not to jostle his arm.

"Mi dispiace, Luddy," he said quietly, sniffing as tears rolled down his cheeks. "I'm so sorry. I'll find who did this, I promise you."

He didn't know how long it would be before Roma came. When that happened, he couldn't afford tears. The twins were more emotional than most were aware of, something they liked to keep under wraps. Lovino especially. Feliciano had been aware Ludwig getting hurt was a risk, but he'd taken precautions, he and his brother. They went out of their way to protect them. That Ludwig had gotten hurt, and in such a way that was an obvious warning, killed him. The only question would be who did this, at which point he would take great pleasure in returning the favor tenfold.

Reaching up, Feliciano gently brushed a few stray strands of blond hair from Ludwig's forehead. Cracking a wobbly smile, he said quietly, "Io li trova, e farò pagare. Essi potranno soffrire per questo, lo giuro. Riposo, guarire, e torna da me, Luddy. Questo è tutto quello che ti chiedo. Perfavore, ti amo Ludwig. It amo."

gut- good

ja- yes

Ciao?- hello?

Sì- Yes

Grazie- thank you

signora - Ms

Nonno- grandpa

Mi dispiace - I'm sorry

Io li trova, e farò pagare. Essi potranno soffrire per questo, lo giuro. Riposo, guarire, e torna da me, Luddy. Questo è tutto quello che ti chiedo. Perfavore, ti amo Ludwig. It amo.- I will find them, and I will make them pay. They will suffer for this, I swear it. Rest, heal, and come back to me, Luddy. That's all I ask of you. Please, I love you Ludwig. I love you.

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