Two days later, Feliciano, still not ready to face Ludwig after what had conspired two days before, felt compelled to call in sick again; however, he knew better than that. Feliciano hated the anxiety he was feeling. He had barely slept, and knew that he needed to patch things up with Ludwig. His grandfather had taught him that problems between people did not get resolved by avoidance, and Feliciano felt that this situation was as good an example of that as anything. He was the type of person that got easily distressed over people possibly not liking them. With a heavy sigh of apprehension, he got dressed and boarded the bus to the Institute.

When Feliciano arrived in the laboratory, Ludwig was nowhere to be found. Feliciano panicked, his palms getting sweaty. All the emotions from two days before caught up to him in that moment. He grabbed onto the lab's countertop to help him keep his balance. Questions raced across his mind at one hundred miles a second.

Did someone find out?

Is kissing an experiment against the rules?

Feliciano looked down and shook his head. Of course kissing an experiment is against the rules...

Did someone take Ludwig away because of what I did?

Guilt overwhelmed him, but he didn't allow himself to shed any tears, in case someone walked in. He sniffled and wiped his eyes to rid them of any tears that threatened to escape. Not four seconds after he had regained his breath, Francis entered the room alone with a sullen look on his face.

"Professor Bonnefoy," Feliciano croaked, struggling to speak like his voice wasn't cracking. "Where's Ludwig?"

"Something's happened, Feliciano," Francis said grimly. "Sit down. I'll explain to you what occurred yesterday."

20 hours beforehand

Lili Zwingli was small for her age when she was sixteen, frail from spending much of her childhood ill and bedridden. She was brilliant, though, like her brother, Vash. For years, as she laid in bed, Vash would explain robotics and fascinate her with classified information on experiments at the Institute. Though Vash would never admit it, he had told her those things because he never knew how much time she had left.

Now that she was sixteen, she was healthier than she had been in years and beginning to assimilate with everyday life. Vash was overjoyed and brought her to the Institute as soon as the doctor cleared it. He helped her into her wheelchair and pushed her to the institute from their apartment on the same street. She was glad to feel the fresh air. While he mostly was simply excited to finally show Lili the Institute, he also hoped that Antonio, Vash's coworker who was an expert in cybernetic limbs and enhancements, might be able to help Lili walk and speak with more ease.

When they arrived, Lill received warm welcomes and smiles from both Francis and Antonio.

"Good morning, ma biche." Francis knelt next to the wheelchair and kissed Lili's hand, causing her cheeks to light up and bloom like a rose.

"Allow me to give you a V.I.P. tour of our facility." Lili smiled and nodded, and Francis guided her wheelchair around the Institute with Vash and Antonio following close behind. Antonio and Francis found it refreshing to see Vash smiling. He had been distant, usually; even a bit cold, at times. They understood, though, and were happy to help their friend and coworker in any way they could.

After a while was spent touring Vash's department, Francis brought Lili's wheelchair to a stop outside of a laboratory door in the department of Artificial Intelligence.

"I hope you find this project as fascinating as I do," Francis said. "I have a feeling you two will get along well."

Lili was beaming. Antonio opened the door as Francis helped Lili's chair down the ramp with Vash following closely behind.

Lili noticed a stocky, blonde man sitting in a chair facing away from the door. She was highly intrigued, trying to stretch her neck so she could get a better look at him, wishing she could stand.

"Good morning, Ludwig," Francis said in his usual singsong voice. It was tinged with apprehension, though that went unnoticed by the others.

"There's a guest here to see you."

Lili gasped as the man in the chair turned around to face them. His skin was so flawless and pale that it glowed, unlike Lili's own pale face, which was more gaunt and sickly than angelic. His eyes were a bright spring sky, and with his shiny, bright blonde hair, he was almost blinding. He smiled.

"Greetings. I am LG-673G Prototype 1, or, Ludwig. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Zwingli," Ludwig knelt on one knee next to Lili's wheelchair, took her hand, and kissed it gently. "I have heard nothing but wonderful things about you."

Lili's face scrunched up in delight at Ludwig's kiss on the back of her hand. She thought it funny that such a strong individual gave kisses that felt like butterflies. She was so distracted by his perfection that she almost forgot to reply to him. Realizing that she hadn't replied yet, she smiled and signed "It's nice to meet you, too."

Vash nudged Antonio and smirked slightly. "You can tell that it was programmed by Francis because of how it treats the ladies." Antonio laughed and nodded.

"I just hope it didn't also inherit the stupidity and laziness of its creator," Vash said jokingly. "You've always been such a dummy, Francis. I'm still perplexed as to how you've gone this far with your research."

Clenching his jaw to keep from scowling, Francis turned and replied "I could say the same for you, Zwingli." The smile on his face was strained.

Neither would ever admit it, but there was a lot of tension between Vash and Francis. They had gone to high school together, and they hadn't gotten along since they'd met.

Though no one could tell from his brazen personality, Francis's perceived intelligence was his biggest flaw he saw in himself, in spite of the fact that everyone knew him to be brilliant. Even after all that he achieved, he could never see himself as a smart person. Hearing Vash mention his intelligence level struck a nerve in Francis, and he was hurt at the mention of the sensitive topic.

"I may be dumb..." He tried one last attempt to remain civil, but erupted, unleashing feelings he had suppressed for years. "... But at least I'm human and I believe in love and enjoying our time on Earth! I could be like you, seeing nothing but what you want, and what you want is destruction! You've been attempting to egg on a war for years just so you can play with your big toys that you make!"

Vash was silent for a moment before unleashing his fury upon Francis, reaching to attack him. "YOU TAKE THAT BACK!"

During all of this, Antonio, Lili, and Ludwig had been against the wall, silent. However, when Vash lashed out towards Francis, Ludwig had Vash pinned to the wall in a nanosecond. Not even Ludwig had fully realized it. When Vash finally realized what had happened, he let out a scream.

"Francis! Get this thing off of me!"

Ludwig then realized that he had Vash in a death grip and that he was not in control of his movements. It was his default programming that was causing his actions now. He was terrified, but no matter how much he wanted to,he couldn't loosen his grip.

"Let go, Ludwig. It's alright." Francis said, trying to sound calm.

Without thinking about it, Ludwig dropped Vash, leaving him gasping for air. Ludwig looked down at Vash with horror. He tried to explain himself, but although he had had no control over his actions, he felt paralyzed with terror, and his words came out even slower than normal.

"Professor... I... I did not... that... was not... me... I-"

"Shut up, you glorified Barbie doll. Francis, if this happens again, you're done." Vash turned to Ludwig. "And you're dead."

The room was painfully silent, and everyone stared at Vash in horror, except for Lili. She stared at Ludwig in horror. Francis didn't speak; he couldn't find anything to say.

"Let's go home, Lili." With that, Vash took Lili's chair and wheeled her out of the building.

20 hours later

After Francis finished explaining what had conspired the day before, Feliciano stared at him in terror and disbelief..

"Ludwig's in the safe now. I think he wants to speak with you." Francis's voice got even quieter. "You're the only person that can comfort him. You two really compliment each other, you know. Go ahead. I have to make some phone calls." Francis went into his office, leaving Feliciano alone in the room, save for Ludwig, locked in his safe.

With a sigh, and a stomach full of apprehension, Feliciano walked over to the giant safe. He punched the code in on the door and opened it slowly and hesitantly.

"L-Ludwig?"

Ludwig looked hurt and scared; it was the same look he had had when Feliciano left him two days before. It reminded Feliciano of a puppy whose owner had just yelled at it, and Feliciano felt heartbroken and guilty for his own actions towards Ludwig.

"Hello, Feliciano." He made eye contact, but it was difficult. Ludwig felt immense guilt for all that had happened.

Feliciano hugged Ludwig, who was still strapped down, and, without thinking, spilled out his thoughts in the emotionally-driven way of his. He clung tightly to the android and finally let his tears fall freely.

"Ludwig, I'm so sorry..." Sob. "I was such an idiot for leaving like that..." Sob. Sniffle. "And with Professor Zwingli-" After mentioning Vash, Feliciano went into full hysterics and took a minute to let out his cries before he could calm down.

"I don't blame you, Ludwig."

Feliciano loosened his grip on Ludwig and looked into his electric blue eyes, holding onto the android's shoulders.

"I know that what you did wasn't your fault. It wasn't even you that did it. It was your default programming."

Ludwig stared at Feliciano, not sure of how to respond.

"I've been thinking really hard these past few days, and I've come to a conclusion. It's really a hypothesis, but even if it was proven wrong, I wouldn't accept that, because it feels so right..."

Feliciano took a deep breath and looked into Ludwig's eyes once more.

"I'm deeply and foolishly and humanly in love with you, Ludwig. And with love, there are no answers or set formulas. It's just a big 'I think so'... A hypothesis, I guess." He smiled weakly at Ludwig.

Ludwig felt like he might short-circuit. Thought and ideas ran through his wired nervous system frantically, desperately looking for an appropriate response; however, almost as if he had no control of himself again, an urge overtook his actions and he reached out to touch the back of Feliciano's head and pull him in closer. Ludwig brought his lips to Feliciano's, and everything felt right. At the feeling of Ludwig's lips crashing into his, Feliciano opened his eyes widely, at first, then closed them, sighing into the kiss. Their hands moved and wandered over each other's torsos and backs, and they kissed and embraced for what felt like a century. After less than a minute, however, Feliciano broke the embrace and toppled backward, gasping for air.

Ludwig stared at him in horror, fearing that history would repeat itself. Suddenly, to Ludwig's surprise, Feliciano started to laugh that sweet laugh that made Ludwig want to hold him more.

"Okay, Ludwig, I love you, and I'm glad you feel that way, but, Ludwig, you gotta remember..." He took a few deep breaths. "... I need to breathe."

He laughed and hugged Ludwig once more.

"Is this going to work?" Ludwig asked apprehensively.

Feliciano flashed Ludwig his famous grin and gave him the look he was known for throughout his Italian village.

"I don't know, but I sure as hell hope so!"

Feliciano giggled again, and Ludwig feared that he might melt. Not that he would mind, at this point.