It felt like ages later, and the house always felt cold. It was dark like the night despite being noon, the clouds swirling in a despairing pattern outside Ludwig's window. His belongings were packed neatly into his suitcases, just like the day he'd arrived. His bed was made neatly, the drawers all pushed in, and the carpet vacuumed. Slowly, he left the empty bedroom that he could no longer call his own, his warm palm dragging against the smooth, white walls. He remembered the day he came, and had thought the house was too boring to belong to Gilbert. But now he found that its barren walls had a sort of cleansing feel to them, especially now that sadness filled his heart and soul.

"Oi, have you taken a look outside, bruder? Maybe your flight will get canceled after all!"

From the stairs, Ludwig peered silently through the railing at his brother, who was leaning against the kitchen island, an apologetic yet hopeful smile on his face. Ludwig wanted to grip the wooden bars hard and scream to let him stay, make his parents understand, let him be happy. Gilbert looked almost sickly, and Ludwig knew his brother hadn't slept well lately. He wanted nothing more than to find the words to be able to calm Gil, to let him know things were going to be okay... even if he himself didn't believe it. Outside, the clouds blew overhead quickly.

"You don't have to act like that," Ludwig sighed, dragging his bags down the stairs haphazardly. "You're not fooling anyone."

Definitely not the thought he had... he wished his mouth wouldn't speak without his brain sometimes.

Gilbert's shoulders hunched as his eyes turned upward, his mask of a grin falling into a forlorn frown. He looked grief-stricken in a moment's notice, as if he'd never seen Ludwig leave before. Maybe it was different now. Not a word was exchanged between them as the lights were turned off one by one, and the front door locked before Ludwig's bags were loaded back into the red Mustang.

The ride to the airport was still occupied with Gilbert's reckless driving, his needless cursing and rode rage. In the passenger seat, Ludwig rolled down the window, resting his arm on the edge as the air whipped his blond hair. This time, he was calm. The storm raging inside his head felt like nothing compared to the fear of crashing. The clouds still stirred ominously, but Ludwig hoped the rain would drench him, wash away the awful, aching in his heart.

The brothers silently unloaded the younger man's bags as they parked at the airport, looking like a pair of awkward amateur morticians. The bags were circled around the trunk, and Gilbert's hands were in his pockets, eyes downcast. Ludwig wasn't sure if he was supposed to feel numb like this, especially when his brother's strong arms enveloped him in a sudden embrace.

"I was trying to fool myself earlier," Gilbert admitted, his voice wavering. "I don't know how, but... I'm gonna have to make due without a shitty little brother around the house."

Ludwig placed a hand on the other man's back, his eyes closing wearily. "It's okay, bruder. You don't have to be sad. Look, I'll call you, and-"

Gilbert nodded, sniffed, and withdrew, wiping the tears from his crimson eyes. He smiled proudly and clapped a hand against Ludwig's shoulder, shaking him lightly. "You're a great kid, Ludi. I'm proud of you. I know you'll call me. And you'll send me care packages of all the good beer from home, right?"

Ludwig cracked a smile and looked to his feet, nodding. "Yeah... I guess I'll have to."

"I love you, Ludwig."

"I love you, too."

Feliciano stared unhappily out the window in his living room, wishing it would rain. He loved the sun and the heat, but he wanted to see the streets filled with dirty rain water. His own house was too quiet to feel like home, and for once, Lovino wasn't complaining about something. Feliciano's tired eyes wandered into Mr. Beilschmidt's yard, where he came to watch the German brothers load Ludwig's suitcases into Gilbert's car.

"Ve... Where is Ludwig going?" Feli wondered out loud. Antonio, busy washing dishes in the kitchen, leaned back and peered towards the young Italian, then out the window.

"Ah, are they leaving so soon?"

Feliciano turned on the couch from his perched position on his knees and looked back at Antonio, head cocked. His eyebrows drew together in an almost frustrated manner. "What do you mean, leaving?"

"Ludwig is flying to Germany to live with his parents," the Spaniard answered with a shrug. "I didn't know they were leaving so soon! I should have made him farewell coffee..." Feliciano's heart felt as if it had stopped then and there. He felt numb, yet pulsing, like the life had been drained from him and replaced with something heavier. He... he was leaving... for good? His hands began to shake like they never had before, not even when he was scared that spiders would crawl on him in his sleep. Lovino, sitting at the kitchen table on his phone, scoffed, muttering something about bastards under his breath. Feliciano felt a tiny fury begin to build inside of him, staring intensely at his brother. If Lovino hadn't been so mean... if he would've just let Feli...

"See, Feli? Things turned out fine. Now you don't have to worry about him," Lovino offered, waving a hand dismissively at the young man. "Everything's fine."

Feliciano's hands clenched as he stood from the couch, shaking. "Everything is not fine."

Lovino lazily turned his gaze to his younger brother, raising an eyebrow. "Sure it is."

"You know I love him!" Feli barked, a fire in his eyes that sent a chill throughout the room. Antonio stopped dead in his tracks and Lovino snapped his head towards his brother. "I... what you did was wrong! Telling me to break up with Ludi because you didn't like him... That's not fair at all! Grandpa was right about you, Lovi! You don't care about anyone but yourself!"

Lovino blinked, his teeth beginning to bare. "You take that back, Feliciano..."

"No! I... I have to be my own person, Lovi! You're my fratello and I love you, but you can't make decisions for me anymore!" Feliciano squeezed his eyes shut, his breathing ragged and choked. He looked up, broken, tears in his eyes and a flush on his cheeks as he whimpered out, "I can't let you do it anymore..."

There was a thick silence for a moment where only Feli's sniffling broke the pause. Antonio pulled his hands from the suds in the sink and firmly said, "Get in the car, Feli."

Feliciano blinked, confused, until Antonio dried his hands and took off his apron, slinging it over one of the kitchen chairs. "Get in the car. We're going to stop Ludi before he leaves."

"Feliciano..." Lovino sighed, rubbing at his forehead. "Go get that stupid German. If he means that much to you... then... I guess there's jackshit I can do about it. I still don't like him, but..."

A tiny smile passed Feliciano's lips as he whispered a thank you.

Waiting in the terminal was the most nerve-wracking thing Ludwig had ever done. Worse than Gilbert's driving or trying to find his classes on the first day of school. It had been several hours, and there was still no sign of his parents... He held his head in his hands as he waited, unable to ignore his utter mess of thoughts. The plane would board soon. His parents hadn't called him or anything. How did he know they really wanted him back, anyway? What was the point? He couldn't just go back to Gilbert's house either. He couldn't face Feliciano. Not after what he'd said to him. He knew Gilbert had meant well, but he was probably just a nuisance to his brother anyway. He... he'd really made a mess of things, hadn't he? Ludwig dug the palms of his hands into his eyes, holding back his angry tears. He didn't want to cry like this...

"Ludwiiiiiig!"

Maybe he was better off just boarding the plane and getting lost in Germany somewhere. He could live on his own in a secluded cottage somewhere, grow his own food, forget about everyone and everything... He didn't have a whole lot of money, though...

"Heyyy, Ludiiii~!"

What was he supposed to do about school? Was anyone going to inform them he was moving? Did that mean he still had to do his homework, or...?

"LUDWIG!"

The blond snapped his head up in the direction of the sharp yell across the terminal, confused and startled... especially when he felt a force smack into his torso and knock him off his chair.

"Jesus-"

"I'm so sorry, ve! Please don't hate me, Ludwig! I know I did a terrible, awful, mean, terrible thing, and I hurt you a lot, but I never should have broken up with you! Just like you said, I was weak, and just wanted to please fratello, and I told Lovi I needed to be my own person, ve, so I came to find you!"

"Wha..."

Does Feliciano ever breathe...?

"Toni drove me here so I could stop you from getting on the plane!" Feliciano pushed himself away for a moment, his eyes bleary with tears and his face red. "Please, please don't go to Germany, Ludi... I..." He paused to wipe his nose on his sleeve, swallowing hard. "I can't let you leave... I know your famiglia wants you back in Germany, but I know you won't like it there! You'll have so much more fun here with me and Kiku and Mr. Beilschmidt and Timo! And even Miss Elizaveta and e-everyone else! I love you, Ludwig...P-please come back home..."

Ludwig's heart beat out of his chest as he tried to soak in and comprehend what had just happened. His limbs felt detached almost, as if he weren't really there. He could feel the pressure and heat of Feliciano's body, but it still felt so... surreal. Had Feli really driven all this way just to see him? He still felt worthless in a sense, but the fact that Feliciano had taken what he'd said to heart... he stood up for himself, against his brother of all people. If he left now... he'd be turning his back on the one thing that truly made him happy. He couldn't abandon this gorgeous, funny, silly, and wonderful boy. Feliciano was... his boyfriend, and his one love. It occurred to Ludwig that maybe he needed to follow his own advice; he couldn't let his less-than-mediocre parents string him along with their every whim. He couldn't stand to let them ruin Gilbert's life, and now his own. He couldn't live like that, knowing Feliciano was sad and alone, and his brother was struggling to find his own piece of happiness. It seemed that only in his absence had Ludwig caused any kind of mess. After all, Feliciano had done something so meaningful for the sake of them both. Maybe it was time Ludwig did the same.

The German boy brushed his palm against Feliciano's tanned cheek, thumbing his soft skin as his hand delved into his silky hair. With a gentle force, he pulled Feli's head towards his own and kissed him. His lips were soft and warm, just as he had remembered them, and his taste was just as sweet as his personality. Ludwig's chest warmed quickly, spreading throughout his body to his limbs and the tips of his fingers and his toes. This one kiss had brought him back down to earth, to this time and place, to his own body, next to Feli's... where he belonged. Feliciano's hands came to cup Ludwig's cheeks, sighing as they kissed sweetly, slowly, and their hearts beating loudly in their own ears. Ludwig's eyes were closed as they broke apart softly, and their foreheads rested against one another. He licked his lips and thought.

"...You told me not to be ashamed of who I am, Feli. And I'm not. Not anymore. You've taught me so many things..."

Feliciano smiled and brushed his thumbs over Ludwig's pale skin, admiring the flush on his cheeks that always arose after they kissed.

"You've taught me how to appreciate nature, make a good home-cooked meal, show appreciate and care for others... and, above all... how to love."

Ludwig smiled and choked out a small laugh as Feliciano kissed his nose, delving to hug him tightly again. He really didn't care that he was on the floor of an airport sharing an intimate moment with his boyfriend while the flight attendant announced the boarding for his plane to Germany.

"Does this mean you're coming home, ve~?"

Ludwig's mouth quirked into a thoughtful grin, pretending he had to think hard about his decision. "...Yeah. Maybe it's time to come home."

Outside, the rain poured thickly in sheets as Ludwig dragged his bags across the parking lot into Antonio's car, and Feliciano squealed and sprinted for safety, fussing about his drenched clothes. In the back seat, all buckled in with the heated air warming their goosebump-ridden skin, Feliciano rested his sopping wet head on Ludwig's shoulder as they drove through the storm back to town. Tears of rain dripped from the fringe of Ludwig's bangs onto his lap, listening to Feliciano softly snoring and Antonio singing and humming off-key to a song on the radio. Everything felt so... normal. The German boy stared out the window, following the fields of wheat with his icy blue eyes as they passed. He couldn't help but think what he would be like if he hadn't moved in with his brother in the first place, or if he had boarded the plane to Germany instead. Maybe he would've been more like an adult... rigid and uncaring. Maybe he would've been hurt and unhappy for the rest of his life. But as Feliciano snuggled against him, gripping his arm, and sighing happily in his sleep, Ludwig decided he didn't ever want to consider that possibility.

So there it is! Thanks for reading, everyone!