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Chapter Text

Flashing lights, aggravating crowds, reporters wanting immediate answers, shoving their microphones with the usual questions that Ludwig had heard enough of ever since the discovery. They followed him all throughout the parking lot, with the consistency of noise, of begging, of demand, and yet he remained in the same stoic expression, eyes forward and his mouth shut. His secretary, Roderich, had advised him to simply remain silent and move along to the main doors of the museum, which he managed easy entrance to with the help of guards who did well in pushing away the massive crowds, bringing Ludwig to the relaxation of its marbled walls, its silence, visitors watching in elegance and trying to avoid obvious glances to the known archeologist. His visit was a well-known one, mentioned in all kinds of articles and journals, an attention that he had been aggravating about and the museum knew well about, especially after the director, Francis Bonnefoy, warned them to not add to the stress he was surely feeling with everything that was going on. Said Frenchman was the very first one to greet him, with a handshake and having a worker take Ludwig’s coat elsewhere.

“I apologize greatly for this, I hadn’t thought that the news would be this strong. I should have done something to avoid the information of your coming and the whereabouts of the statue being said publicly.”

“It’s to be expected. After all, it was found in all old dungeon, covered for centuries under an old bookstore in Venice with an anonymous sculptor,” Ludwig reminded, taking lead in their head through the halls.

“Just the kind of thing to have the art world fretting,” Francis pointed as he followed behind him.

“What work has been done?” Ludwig asked.

“Only the usual cleansing. Other than that nobody has dared to do anything until your inspection.”

“Anything revealed after it?”

“No, just some assumptions on the artist after some examination.”

“Cominelli? Sebenico?” Ludwig wondered after the first initial pictures and information he had been sent.

“Some wondered Alessi, Tagliapietra, even a lost sculpture of Michelangelo or Bernini.” Francis had to admit that it was all rather exciting, taking a card to open one of the restricted double doors that led to the storage basement of the museum.

“But we already checked through all their writings and found no such mentioning of this statue.”

“Any other sculptors?”

“We had a team in charge of this, we found nothing. Perhaps were dealing with a more obscure artist.”

“Perhaps this was the only statue he ever made in his lifetime.”

“With the details, the impeccable form and perfection…I highly doubt it.” Francis was sure.

They occasionally met with Interns who followed with their own questions, wanting to use such a chance as having the famous archeologist, Ludwig Beilschmidt, in their own privacy, all to which Ludwig answered in quick phrases as to not stall. He really couldn’t say more until he had the trending and suddenly acclaimed statue right before him, and the closer they were in its proximity, the more he was reminded of his excitement, quickening him to the point that Francis had to basically run to match his pace.

They soon met heavier guarded doors, with all kinds of scanning devices and even computers that Francis used a good minute to just unlock and let themselves proper entrance to this area of the deep basement. It was a small hall with labeled rooms, documenting name of the statues and the personnel permitted to work on it.

Room number 1317, name: The Angel of Venice, was the one, one of the largest in the hall, too large since the statue it held was not that immense but just the proper size of any young man, taking center, space just enough for anybody to come close, inspect around, tables holding all kinds of books, files, utensils, supplies, from the cleaners, the interns, Francis, who was the director, and now Ludwig, placing his own bag in one of those many banks as he let himself stare in awe to this new majesty.

The statue was that of an angel, a boy, the age rather obscure. Some features made him older, perhaps twenty-three, but others, like his youthful face and the smoothness of his captured movements could hint at him being sixteen or eighteen. He had the typical curls of these kinds of statues, one in particular standing above all the rest as some kind of ruler, all parted at the center, letting the frontal bangs frame and show the beauty of his facial features. He was naked, showing a delicate body, slim but plump in certain areas that made his figure excellent and tempting. His whole body showed his extend as he seemed to rise upward, going for a jump as if to catch or stop something falling from an imaginary heaven. The wings at his back moved well along with him, caught in that very wind as the very piece of fabric that went around his body, covering his genitals discreetly, accenting his voluptuous figure and his grace as an angel.

Francis had seen this statue enough times before him like this and yet he always fell into the same awe, the same admiring and captivation that left him silent and pensive. Ludwig didn’t mock or insult, he understood, for it was exactly what he was going through, especially after this was the very first time he was watching the statue in person.

Beautiful…utterly beautiful. What a chance he was given to work on this, how grateful he was for his position, for the time he will have to analyze and find information to clear up the history of this majesty that was before them now.

“Any idea of what year it’s from?” Ludwig asked after he shook himself back to their original concentration.

“Fifteenth century we assume. Some of our interns speculate perhaps early sixteenth century. We are not clear on a specific year and we wondered you could pinpoint.”

“No writings mentioning?”

“From what we’ve searched, no.”

“Yet you’re sure it’s Italian. Venetian?”

“Positive. I’m sure you’re seeing it clearly as well,” Francis was confident and Ludwig had to give him the right, but it did not stop his eyes from scanning any other details that could point differently.

“It was found in Venice after all,” Francis assured with an expectant smile.

“How will my scheduling work to check on it?” Ludwig wondered, ever as diligent, Francis expected as much.

“We’re prepared to offer you whatever time you need,” Francis confided.

“And accommodations?” Although the museum was located in the mainland, it was still in an important center, with it being the port that would bring most of its relics to display in the islands, as this particular statue was set to. As so, it meant that it would be pricey. Of course, Ludwig had the funds, but he rather preferred to have as much given as possible with the kind of work and time he would need for this.

“We can give you an apartment to your use for as long as you need, with keys and cards to enter the museum whenever you wish,” Francis coated.

“Very well then,” Ludwig was decided, turning to face Francis, finally away from the statue to show his decree. “I will start in a fortnight. Give me this time to settle myself as well as to find any other outer information. I know you mentioned your workers and interns tried to, but I have to check upon this by myself as well. When the statue was found, are you sure it was alone? Was it with any other items? Documents?”

“It was in a cellar hidden well underneath a book store. No parchment, no utensils, it was truly alone except for the water that occasionally flooded the space.”

“Do you still have the contacts to the owners and workers of this book store?”

“Yes.”

“I require them.”

“We already interviewed the owners.”

“As I said, I will do my own findings,” Ludwig determined.

Francis nodded and accepted to whatever could be of help. It was why they called him, it was why they confided in him to give them the piece of completion to this statue that would help them to finally put it on exhibition and present an answer to an incredibly curious mystery.

“We’re all upstairs ready for your contract signing,” Francis could finally present.

“Very well. Shall we go then?”

They turned and left the statue to its accustomed loneliness and darkness.

 

“-It was just as you suspected, the Wolanski are not the original owners of the building,” Roderich informed in the call, going through the notes and files on his own desk back at Vienna. “They were wealthy Polish tourists who simply bought the building on a whim and took ownership of the store. It took a six minute conversation to find out they have no idea of the mechanisms and fundings, they don’t even know their inventory or the names of their workers, but they did have their numbers, so it helps us and perhaps it would serve you better to contact them instead.”

“Figured as much. Do you have all the workers?” Ludwig asked from the comfort of his own given apartment, at the table going through files and the directions of the store on his laptop.

“Yes, I even took the liberty of calling. Some of them are newer members who’ve only been there for a couple of months, but there’s this one girl, Erminia Sessa. She’s been there for years, in fact, she’s the granddaughter of the past owner and the one who actually found the statue.”

There, that was the person he needed to talk to.

“Did you tell them about me?”

“Yes, told them you might be visiting sometime this week to gather some answers.”

“Perfect. I’ll see if I can head there tomorrow. You know how busy and crowded these ports can get.”

“The museum didn’t give you better contacts for that?”

“No. They probably expect me to clear everything from this hotel room. I should have mentioned it to them now that I think about it.”

“How odd, you forgetting such details,” Roderich mocked.

“There’s a lot on my mind about this,” Ludwig tried to excuse, groaning and straining as if the pile of everything just landed newly upon him.

“You are blessed to have me organizing what I can then, and that I even take time away from my piano playing to help you on this. You should consider raising my pay.”

How haughty.

“If we get the full story to this statue, it could be possible.” Ludwig at least gave him that expectation.

“We better get to it. Leave me be so I can keep finding what I can.” Roderich just hanged up without warning, leaving Ludwig quite perplexed, but he accepted and focused instead on other information.

 

He took one of the early morning yachts the museum offered him on a short notice, part of the early touristic crowds that filled the streets annoyingly, seeming to make the morning sunshine worst. Ludwig tried to avoid as much closeness to people as he could, but in these small streets, with the beginning of summer, impossible. He ended up accepting the bumps, the close trips, even the occasional comments on his stature, on his attraction, on questioning over the long coat jacket he wore under this strong sun. He would scare them away with his heavy stare, denial or even scoff depending on how insisting the person was being. It was a relief to have finally met a somewhat empty street, deep within the confinements of the city that didn’t make it known to the usual wave of tourists. There was a pawn shop, a fine jewelry store, a café and finally the book shop he was looking for.

‘La stella dell’orizzonte’ it was called, the glass decorated and presenting the books that would surely grab an interest to the public. When he entered, only a singular couple was there, going over the books in the Christian shelves, all organized neatly along with the other sections, a stack here and there creating pillars as if to hold the very ceiling. He spotted spiral stairs that would lead to another floor, to more books, to perhaps a view, or even a little café.

“Signore Beilschmidt?” A female asked, stopping Ludwig’s wandering, having him turn to meet the figure of a young woman, shy, rather hesitant, but surely ready to be compliant to whatever the blond would say.

“Are you Erminia Sessa?”

She nodded.

“Greetings. As my secretary has probably already told you, I’m here from the museum of Padua. They recently hired me to research the statue that I was later informed you found.”

“I was the one who called the museum, I wasn’t contacted again after they came to pick it up,” she seemed rather disappointed about that.

“They didn’t?”

“They didn’t think I would know anything.”

“I was told by my secretary that your grandfather used to own the book shop. Could you tell me about this, as well as your experience on how you found this statue? Anything you know will be of great use,” Ludwig seemed to plead.

She nodded and ushered him to follow, bringing him into the inner halls of the shop away from any usual commotion that might arise.

“This building is old, I’m telling you, centuries old. My grandfather used to hold documents concerning it from as early as the fourteen hundreds, passed along by all kinds of families until somehow ours got it, from nineteenth century on until the Wolanski bought it from us,” she began to explain as the books disappeared, as they began their entering unto more eldered walls.

“Is it possible to ask of you all those documents?”

“I’ll have to find and organize them, but I’ll send scanned copies as soon as I have them,” she determined, which assured Ludwig enough.

They took a narrowed staircase down to the basement of the building, humid, with an awful odor and the walls so old it seemed like they would collapse at any moment. Ludwig didn’t understand how it managed to keep the upper areas standing.

“From those old documents, my family realized that this building was meant to have three rooms in the basement area, but for as long as possible we only knew of two. I myself was very curious about it, as the documents mentioned that it had been a very important room and that…something was hidden there.” They reached the bottom, a hall showing two opened areas, surely those two rooms of unimportance, Ludwig seeing that they simply used them as some sort of utility closets. “After reading and watching so many mysteries, I kept coming down here hoping to find some secret entrance, something abnormal and then I noticed it.” By this moment, she had grabbed her flashlight, for the hall was darkened and lights from the upper floor weren’t enough to show exactly what she had found. Ludwig assumed she had broken through one of the walls for she pointed to a wreck, probably done with a sledgehammer, the hole enough for passage, one that they both could use and go through easily.

“I noticed something off with the echoes, then during acqua alta the pouring noises that always resounded across the building, even how the pillars were older compared to the frontal wall. That’s when I knew that there had to be something there.”

“So you went ahead and just destroyed it.” It seemed too brash for Ludwig.

“I was sure and curious, so yes, I did just that, and that’s when I found it.” She meant the statue, remembering clear her awe, her impression, halted to the spot thinking it perhaps a dream, lost in her discovery, her mind begging answers to a sure story.

She pointed her flashlights to sewers at the top and bottom, the walls still wet and even letting new water continuing to drip below, already puddles forming, some leaving out back into the other sewers.

“Throughout the years this room kept flooding, not to mention that they sealed it completely,” she began to wonder. “The documents don’t specify exactly what was in there and why, just that there was something, but no one dared to find out. Many were superstitious, including my own grandfather, so they thought some evil was locked away and they decided not to deal with it.”

“What do you think this means?” Ludwig asked.

She only shrugged. She was only saying speculations. “Someone tried to hide it, someone tried to hide whatever proof of this statue. Why and what for, I’m sorry, Mr. Beilschmidt, I don’t know, there’s nothing else I can say.” She was apologetic, but Ludwig understood.

“And are you positive that it was alone, nothing else with it?”

“I’m very sure.”

He was once again at a dead end.

He sighed disappointedly but thanked her, reminding her to send those documents before he settled off back into the earlier masses, only adding to his annoyance and ineptitude.

 

Erminia had sent every scanned document on an email attachment, there for Ludwig to inspect the moment he returned back to his rented apartment after the dinner he was forced to attend at Francis Bonnefoy’s request with the rest of the archeologists and interns who were working with the Angel of Venice. Honestly, going through these readings was actually quite relaxing after having been forced to socialize, even though he remained much of the diner silent and only nodding to whatever was directed his way. Although indeed these documents showcased quite a lot of enlightening information on the business of this building as early as the fifteenth century, there was nothing that could connect to the statue. In the years that they speculated the statue must have been carved, there was a large blank in the row of names, Erminia admitting that the documents concerning that particular family were lost. The owners who held it afterward found no use to keep them as that blank family barely spent any time there and was only using the building as some sort of storage or even a study.

Ludwig groaned to his hand at this, settling off to sleep decided that he would visit the museum the next morning.

 

With all the pass keys he was given, Ludwig went right inside the museum, carrying his bags and walking about as if it was all his owing and home. All greeted him like he was but another of the staff, not minding at all as he went straight to the basement and straight to where they kept the Angel of Venice. Lucky for him, he had had the room all to himself, and as he checked the scheduling, turns out there wouldn’t be anybody down in this room for about two days. Perfect, he would use that time to the best of his abilities.

He took out everything; papers, files, documents, his laptop, gloves, spray, some snacks, even a thin blanket and pillow…if he had to stay there until he had some new kind of answer, so be it. He had everything organized well enough in one of the many tables presented, its direction towards the statue, a perfect angle for Ludwig to capture in all its graciousness, only for him, only for him to inspect and be sure that the decade they decided was the one that it actually was. He prepared his gloves and took one of the many inspecting utensils, coming forward and beginning this new search.

In the process he realized that he was in fact taller than the statue, which meant it was easier for him to move around him without the help of a mini escalator, the only difficult part being the hand that rose upward above his head. He made sure to take in every detail, every dirt, every form, he taped, he heard, he let the gloved hand feel across every expanse, every bend, every depth and fullness. He rid of some stains that the staff had forgotten, shined some parts that could be manageable, the tiniest part exposing more of what he needed. He let himself map the statue in his mind with just its tact, spending all the necessary hours he needed until everything was well explored. He kept a notebook he constantly returned to, panning out all the details, pairing them all up to a movement, a year it was mostly used, going back to his computer to check through documents, articles, journals and other eBooks to be sure.

It was late, twenty-three, the museum closed to the public and Ludwig was just riding his gloves, with no answers but the same ones the interns had decided. No matter what he inspected today, it only assured that it was those years that were blank in the documents. He groaned and threw the gloves harshly to the table, calming his breaths, wanting to bring his mind to a better focus, to a new angle to look at this.

Maybe he needed better lighting, maybe less, maybe he should look under it, maybe he should take a piece and send it to a lab for inspection or maybe he could just try again. This time he left the gloves on the table and dared himself to use his simple tact, with heat and nerves to feel it to better detail. This was surely not allowed and if Ludwig was being honest, he would have the person who dare touch it unprotected fired and never to step on the museum again…but he had to try every way, besides, he was the main archeologist for the statue, surely things like this were allowed as long as he was careful, quick and he could clean it well before any x-rays could notice.

His inspection began once again, the softness of the marble now fresh for his palm, cold, surprisingly smooth, moving on ahead in such a way that Ludwig’s mind was left blank. What was he doing this for again? All his mind held was the form, the sudden indecency, noticing how seductive those thighs were formed, the extend of his legs that his hands went down on for no apparent reason. A hand wrapped itself around the waist of the figure, the soft stomach just as alluring, perfection, beauty. There was suddenly no duty, no job, but a kind of loving that made him forget that he was letting himself be swayed by an old statue, even resting into his neck, his body tightening to it, to just about every part of him dedicated to this exploration and odd application. It was intimate, somehow he could feel heat, the statue’s hardness for a moment the soft of real skin, taking breaths, alive in his arms to be that sudden lover he could enjoy for the night.

Once his eyes opened, meeting with the dullness of those empty sockets did he really come into the realization of what he was doing. He sighed, disappointed in how he let himself act on such a sudden and passionate impulse. What if someone came in and saw him like that? He would definitely be ridiculed.

He looked down to his watch, realizing how late it was, at least being assured that no one would be at the museum but perhaps some inspecting guard. He sighed, readying himself for a night he would remain awake for. He picked his laptop, settled closer to the angel and continued on marking off years and putting in any he had an idea about, comparing with other statues he had worked with and trying other guesses.

The last time he had checked, it had been about two a.m. when he started drifting, swiveling from side to side trying to keep his composure, but the rest on the floor won and soon he found himself in that lay. Uncomfortable it was but it was the most peaceful sleep he managed in his position.

He had done enough, he had time the next day to go on. He was already advancing more than most in this museum. What could a harmless lay do now?

He let himself be engulfed completely, missing the shine, the blinding light and suddenly the movement and the first starting breath after hundreds of years.

 

The artificial lighting seemed to glow more intensely, annoyingly so and no matter the shadow over him, he could still feel the burning throughout his whole body, especially after he had laid on the floor for the night. His head felt incredibly comfortable though, lying upon something soft, warm, and even a nice scent. He didn’t recall taking his pillow…actually, who was tracing the front of his hair? The fingers were velvety, lulling, they tempted Ludwig to rest on and for a moment he was a victim of that pull…until he noticed the naked creamy thighs he was surrounded with.

He stood urgently and with an alarming shout, not expecting to see the young man who was knelt on the floor, naked, only a single thin fabric covering the indecency. He seemed quite relaxed as Ludwig quickly adjusted himself, leaning his head, confused on the articles of clothes Ludwig fixed, on the tables and chairs he tried to hold himself in his panic, at the lights that shone above, the simplicity of this room with weirder gadgets in the corners that seemed to come from the imaginative sketches of his masters.

“What is this? What are you doing here?” Ludwig fretted, dreading that he didn’t remember where he put his cellphone or where that damn button was to call security.

“Cosa stai dicendo?” The intruder still asked, his eyes and expression as lost as a child would be, his bronze eyes solely on Ludwig as if expecting him to answer more clearly now and explain what happened.

Ludwig managed to find his phone between a pile of papers he was reading during the night and quickly settled on dialing the first number that appeared. In the waiting rings he finally took notice of something that should had been clear the moment he awoke.

The statue…it wasn’t there, and as he turned around, it was nowhere, no trace, no remnants, the only thing that sat on its closest spot was the strange naked boy. In his anger and growing desperation, he hanged up the call and slapped it harshly on the table.

“Where is it?” He threatened, pointing menacingly.

The boy jumped, easily trembling, crawling back, whimpering even. He looked very close to crying and for a single moment Ludwig felt pity, for a second calming before the emptiness of the room reminded him of what this boy was suspected of doing.

“Don’t act like such a fool and tell me this instant where you hid it. This is nothing to be using to play games and it can cost you gravely. Now, please, before this-” as he gazed on to the boy he began to notice something rather astonishing. Take out the tears that were shinning his eyes, take out the warmth, the colors, the movements…the boy looked remarkably like… no, foolish, no possible way.

“What kind of trick are you playing?” An exaggerated performance it had to be. Was he being tapped? Did his older brother decide to get back on him this badly?

“Signore, per favore, Io non so di che sta parlando o dove sto,” the boy continued to tremble, tears evident, still Ludwig not falling to whatever highly develop farce they were making.

“Inglese?” Ludwig tried to connect, but the boy still negated in a nervous shake. He sighed desperately and tried another language, “Deutsch?”

To his surprise, the boy actually nodded, responding, “ein bisschen.”

“What are you doing here then?” He continued to ask as menacingly in his native tongue.

“I-I don’t know, I-I really, really don’t remember that well,” he continued to sob in broken German.

“What do you mean you don’t remember?” Vicious, on the brink on throwing himself on him and demanding more.

Drunk, this boy must have been drunk then.

The boy shook even more, practically laying on the floor defenseless, arms over himself as some sort of protection. “I can’t! I can’t! All I remember is my name and some vague details. I wish I could tell you more, but really, I can’t! Please don’t hurt me, please don’t hurt me, please don’t hurt me!” The boy pleaded enough for Ludwig to give up into.

Okay, perhaps he was some escaped loon, maybe the most elaborate prank in his life. Whatever it was, now it should surely end. Yet there was the boy still in his tears, shaking, and now he was getting cold. Curse his sympathy.

He went to the table to get a coat to drape over him, the boy taking instant grab and warmth of it. It stilled the shaking, helping along with bringing calm to the room, for Ludwig to think, to inspect.

Okay, Ludwig would have surely awakened with the ruckus it should take to move a statue like the Angel of Venice out of this highly secured room. If he hadn’t, then surely guards would have noticed, and alarms would have rung enough as another emergency awakening. He checked his phone again and he was sent absolutely nothing concerning any disappearance with the statue.

Maybe it was placed elsewhere in the room, but there was just no other kind of storage or locker. It wasn’t stolen, it wasn’t misplaced, there were no messages alerting him of it, and his eyes fell on the boy again.

The boy was back to his trembling with the blond man’s intense glare, hiding deeper into the coat he had given him.

“What’s your name?” Ludwig went back to interrogating.

“Fe-Feli-Feliciano,” he at least managed to utter.

“Full name!”

“I…I don’t know.”

“You don’t know? It’s your family name!”

“I-I’m sorry, but I don’t remember it!”

“How could you possibly-” he had gotten too loud, harsh, he even raised his hands in desperation which surely sent wrong signals to the boy. He cowered once again and completely covered himself in the jacket, cocooned, only shivers and sobs escaping.

Ludwig took a breath, heading away from his direction to get a moment to order himself again.

Breathe, breathe, reasonable explanations, reasonable explanations, he kept thinking to himself.

“Where are you from?” He went back.

Feliciano replied with a heavy negative nod under his shield.

“How did you get here?”

The same nod.

“What can you actually remember?” He couldn’t hold his angered tone, getting a shriek from the other.

“That my name is Feliciano and uh…I remember waking up here.” The boy peeked to look about the room, the same lost expression, but igniting curiosity.

“Anything before that?”

Silence as Feliciano really tried to dive into his mind to get some sort of clue, but the same image kept repeating.

“I remember um… a painting room…”

“A painting room?”

“Mhm…and…a lot of scattering, someone is angry and…” he really tried to make more sense of it, but that only memory was still much of a blur he couldn’t decipher.

“And?” Ludwig still expected.

“I…can’t…remember anything else.” He trembled expecting the blonde’s anger to expand to its worst, this time truly expecting a hit, and so he reverted to the protection of the jacket.

Ludwig only groaned highly, his hands keeping a harsh hold of the near table. He was tempted to throw it over, but such a disastrous situation was avoided by a sudden knock against the door.

“Mr. Beilschmidt?” Someone asked.

His panic only intensified, petrified to the spot, only turning his gaze to the boy, who perked from the jacket at the voice of another.

The knock repeated. “Mr. Beilschmidt, is everything all right?”

“Ye-yes, everything is fine.” Goddamn the trembling as he turned from the boy to the door.

“Are you sure? They told me you were here all night. Do you need anything?”

“Uh, no, no, I have everything, thank you.”

“I still need to come in and make sure. May I open the door?”

He had to be quick, his eyes in a fretful search throughout the room hoping for any sudden idea. His eyes landed on a folded white blanket in one of the tables. Perfect.

Trying that his quickened steps weren’t hard, he picked it up and headed to the boy, harshly picking him up by the arm and dragging him to where the statue was originally standing. Feliciano held back and tried to go back to the shell of his jacket.

“Listen to me!” Ludwig commanded through gritted teeth, flaring and tightening the hold he had of him. Feliciano was compliant, albeit because of the deep fear Ludwig instilled. “I’m going to put you in a position, and I need you to stay in it and not make a single movement.” He had studied the statue enough, he knew exactly how to capture it with this sudden model, Feliciano easily moving to Ludwig’s pulls until he was in a decided stand. Ludwig moved back, trying to ignore the fact that he was completely naked, the fabric under him with no possible way to keep it breezing in the air. He didn’t have the wings or halo either, but hopefully the visitor wouldn’t question it. As Ludwig gazed, he saw more of the proof on how Feliciano was an exact replica of the statue. He fitted to the image of white marble, that light that came bouncing reflecting him in heavenly glow, like magic that reminded him…no, no, no. He groaned at believing such nonsense.

The knocking again. “Sir? Is there somebody there? I heard some speaking earlier.”

“Oh, I’m just…” he quickly placed the blanket over Feliciano, making sure he was covered well before he gave the approval, “you can come in.”

In an instant a guard entered, inspecting well the room before his gaze finally landed on Ludwig. “Ah, you’re well.”

“Yes, um, sorry, I was having a call with my secretary.”

“Not a problem, just making sure.” And then his eyes landed on the draped statue. “What happened?”

“Was clearing some dust and covered the statue to protect it,” he excused.

“All right. Are you sure you don’t need anything?”

Couldn’t he just leave?

“I’m perfectly fine. I’ll call Bonnefoy if I need anything.”

The guard gave him thumbs up and one last smile before he shut the door. He gave a couple of more seconds before he could take a breath of relief, then quickly freeing Feliciano from the blanket. Feliciano understood enough to break out from the position, freeing his arms and legs from the strain, even if it still felt like he had been in it for such a long time.

“Let’s get straight to the point. Are you the statue?” He thought he could start to get that nonsense out of the way.

“The statue? What?” He was just as lost.

“The statue, the Angel of Venice.”

Still the same confusion and lost look in his eyes. Ludwig groaned yet again. This was getting hopeless.

An idea shone suddenly, one that would prove whatever dream was taking place. He sighed, they would have to wait.

“Are you hungry?”

Feliciano perked with such a glow that he might as well flown to the ceiling. He nodded, with a wide smile that showed more than enough eagerness. Of course.

 

Luckily the museum had a cafeteria, with a variety of selections and Ludwig decided on taking as much as possible. He received weird looks over the large bag he was hauling across the museum halls but halted their curiosities by saying he was just hungry.

Ludwig had told Feliciano to remain in the covers of the blanket for if anyone came, but he did his best to arrive as quickly as possible. He placed every package on one of the tables, the boy instantly curious in just…the plastics, the lettering, trying to read an Italian so different from what he knew. While Ludwig settled on some packaged tagliatelle with mushroom, bacon and chicken, Feliciano poked his pesto rosso pasta with the plastic fork…that he had stared to just as perplexed. Every little thing was a new discovery to him, from the vibration in Ludwig’s cellphone, the opening card to the room, the water bottles and just the rest of the foods he had brought. Ludwig assumed he had gotten typical things from Italy, but some tastes exploded wonderfully anew in Feliciano’s tongue, undiscovered and unfamiliar, getting him more gluttonous to try more and more.

“That’s…panna cotta,” Ludwig explained to the new dessert in Feliciano’s hand. He kept poking it with his spoon, playing with the elasticity, raising it to his nose to smell, wondering for the longest while.

“It’s sweet like…cake.” It was enough of a persuasion to get him to try, and like all the rest of the plates, he had glowed, smiling wide and swinging his feet. It had basically been this for the entire day, that panna cotta the last of what Ludwig had brought. He looked to all the empty bowls and plastic pieces, hoping to get some new idea to keep them entertained in the meantime. Night was finally approaching, Ludwig taking notice with the clock in his phone or just how tired he was starting to get.

“Um…sir?” Feliciano instigated for once.

“What?” Ludwig didn’t mean to sound so harsh and annoyed.

Feliciano shook, but after focusing on the warmth of the jacket he still wore, he breathed and braved enough to continue. “Can I…Can I know your name?”

“Ludwig,” he answered coldly.

“Ludwig?” Feliciano tested it out well in his tongue.

“Ludwig Beilschmidt. What is the need of knowing?”

“I just…wanted to properly address you,” he shied.

Ludwig sighed, after all it would be needed depending on what this outcome could mean. He still wanted to hope that it was after all nonsense and that this boy was just playing with him and would give him back the statue. As his mind returned to the statue, instantly it went back to the questioning he had been working on for the last few days, still going on with his wondering.

If this boy turned out to be the ridiculousness it could be…he had the chance to have all the answers easily handed to him. If he could get him to remember…to crack everything to create the opening to let this be the find of the decade, he would get millions and recognitions unbelievable.

“You really don’t remember your surname?” He asked. If he knew, perhaps he could find it in the documents.

“Va…Va…” He really tried to think.

“I really need you to try hard.” Ludwig even neared, ready to catch that answer he could get.

“Val…Vale…” It was as if his mind had frozen, actually his entire being began to freeze in that very stand his last whisper took.

The bottle Ludwig was holding fell to the floor in the shock of what he saw next.

Like a sprinkling of dust, he saw himself as parts of the boy’s skin began to take the familiar grey and white of marble, a spreading that continued from his sides, to his legs, chest and face. There was a dim light to signify the completion and once again Ludwig was standing face to face with the Angel of Venice.

The panna cotta had fallen without the balance of human movement, yet now the statue sat exactly as he had last enjoyed from the dessert, halo and wings back on him, a new piece of fabric over him, the elder one gone from the spot Ludwig had placed it on.

After various minutes of astounded staring…Ludwig settled on slapping himself repeatedly.

No, he didn’t awaken, the statue was there, as the last form the boy took, and the fantasy he had thought could be a possibility turned out to be the reality. Of course, a cascade of questions bombarded instantly on his minds and he didn’t know which should be addressed first. He had to fight through the headache as he had to continue to think and straighten what the hell was going on. In his disarray, he noticed that Feliciano didn’t take his original position, which meant that once again he had had to hide him until he transformed …if it did happen again. Still, precautions needed to be taken and a plan must be instantly set into motion. He had one simple idea he could start with and he had to leave immediately to get it to work well. Bless his strength and that he could move Feliciano to his original spot, blanket over him, taken his key card with him and already an idea of what to tell Francis.

Chapter Text

“You…want to take the statue to Munich?”

“Only for some time while I continue with my research.” Ludwig stood proudly and strong, masking whatever nervousness well and determined to meet the ends he wanted. From the moment he came into the room, Francis knew that it would be impossible to deny what he was bound to ask.

“How long will this… ‘time’ take?”

“A month, maybe two.”

“What exactly do you want to do with it in Munich?” A female assistant asked.

“Take it to my own team of researchers,” he lied, but he planted it well enough, his expression not cracking and only showing his usual intent.

“Aren’t ours sufficient enough?” Francis seemed slightly insulted.

“No, I will just feel more comfortable with my own. We can work together to come to a better outcome and provide you quicker and better results.”

Francis and his assistant looked between themselves, in that exchange a silent conversation of concerns and doubts. Francis sighed, “I can give you a couple of weeks. Afterwards we have to prepare for a Paris exhibition I already signed it for.”

Not what Ludwig would have preferred but he nodded.

“I’ll…speak to the others. You have to sign documents that assure me that you will place it in a safe environment with all the necessary tools. I’ll arrange transportation and-”

“There’s no need for that. I’ll work on it myself.”

“How?”

“I have a van, I can take it to Germany myself,” he lied once again.

“This is not…how we usually do things around here, Ludwig,” Francis worried.

“You want answers, don’t you?”

Francis went silent, but these were the words to get him to sign the documents needed with the permission for Ludwig to take the statue with him. He left the office with a prideful stride, heading then to the streets of the city to get some clothes.

 

He headed back to the museum in the night, just before it was closed to the public. He hoped no one would pay notice or question the clothing brand bags he brought, bringing them to room 1317 without further delay. Luckily, no one else had reported entrance. He noticed slight rustling from under the blanket he had originally placed on the statue. He pulled it off and no longer was the statue there, but the frightened boy from the day before.

“Wear this,” he commanded, dropping the bag on his feet, turning and beginning to pick up his things into their bags. He expected to turn and spot Feliciano dressed and ready that instant to head off, instead, he was met by that shapely backside that left him blinded in impression and attraction for a moment.

He groaned and shut his eyes to not let himself fall. “Are you done?”

“Um…” He peeked to notice the other holding to the pair of jeans, extending them out and staring up and down in deep confusion.

“Never seen a pair of jeans before?”

“Uh…no.”

Of course.

Ludwig wasted a good ten minutes just explaining the different pieces he got him and later helping him into those jeans, loose shirt and sport shoes. Feliciano spent a good amount of time just feeling the fabric over his body, testing out the squeaks of his new shoes, moving about and testing his body in their coverage.

With all his things set, Ludwig gazed out into the halls. Empty. They had to move now.

“Come on,” he ushered. When Feliciano remained fearful, Ludwig settled on the harsh hold of his arm and pulling him about. Feliciano only made this harder by faltering, his eyes on everything, a hundred fascinations and questions all attacking him at once with the countless of new things he saw. He constantly tried to stop Ludwig to get better views, but Ludwig would have no sort of stalling. So far, he hadn’t met with anyone in the halls leading to the parking lot in the back and was ready to bless whatever entity for giving him easy escape, that was until he reached that final desk.

“Ah, Signore Beilschmidt, you got everything?” The woman asked kindly.

“Yes, yes, everything is ready. I’ll be parting to Munich right now.” He really tried to hurry past her, but curse Feliciano’s staring and wondering that had the woman staring back. “Intern from my research group. He was helping with the hauling.” She didn’t find any strength in the boy for that, but couldn’t question further as Ludwig flew past her and out the building to his car.

At such machine, Feliciano was close to shouting, but Ludwig pushed him to the passenger seat before anything else.

“Wha-what-what is this?” Feliciano asked, fear in his tone, afraid of every touch he gave, even to that of his seat.

“It’s just a car.”

“A car?”

“It’s a mode of transportation.” That didn’t solve anything and Feliciano remained as fretful. “It’s not dangerous, nothing is going to happen,” he said as he turned on the engine, releasing a roar that made Feliciano jump and shout.

“It’s just the engine!”

“The what?”

Ludwig groaned, decided on not answering for now and pulling out the car from the spot and out. To his surprise, Feliciano remained rather silent for the trip, just touching and poking things around the car until he was slowly getting used to the vehicle. He played with the seatbelt, the compartments, the stick, the buttons of the radio, blasting different kinds of music at different levels. That’s when Ludwig had it and scolded him harshly for it, convincing him to just sit and distract himself with the views the road offered.

“Where are we?” He asked after the long silence that had settled.

“We’ll soon be entering Alto-Adige.”

“Alto-Adige? You mean…were still in the peninsula?”

“The Italian peninsula? Yes, we’re still in Italy.”

“It…doesn’t look at all like it.” There was disappointment as he gazed to passing cars, the buildings that rose, those many lights, the only familiarity being some of the old villages they passed or the ruined castles at the top of hills.

They weren’t…ruined like that, he remembered somehow.

“What…what year is it?” He found himself questioning.

“It’s…2019,” Ludwig let it fall easily, fearing how he could react to it.

Surely, he must have lived in a completely different time era if he couldn’t recognize the things around him. The shock was clear in the width of his eyes, in even the sudden grip he took in the seat. “What?” He was hiding from screaming and shouting surely.

“Yes, it’s…2019.” He pointed to the number on his phone, on the radio, even on a passing billboard.

“It’s…it’s…it’s not possible, how could…how could…so much time have passed.”

Ludwig didn’t know how to answer, but only continue to question with his curiosity. “What year was it the last time you checked?”

“1620,” he answered instantly, impressed for a moment that he suddenly remembered it.

Ludwig gave an instant halt to the car, pushing them forward and surely causing more fear to Feliciano with this mechanism.

“1620?” He was astounded in two ways. Pity for the boy who now had to live a time era completely different from his with no current chance of return, and also…1620…that’s already 17th century, much later than most had assumed the statue was carved in. Wanting to check the ownership documents of the store building immediately, he settled them back on movement, in his thoughts leaving the car once again in silence.

It was a five-hour drive to Munich, much spent in nothing…until certain moments where Feliciano started questioning and Ludwig tried to inform as much to the point as he could. He really wanted to keep to his thoughts. He had focused on now new artists to check, new families in the documents to investigate. Was he carved? Had he been an actual person? If so, then who did this and what was the reason for it? Why did it awaken now? As they arrived to Germany, Ludwig was coming with a new formed headache with new questions that didn’t even have to do with the original. Finally, he halted the car before his apartment building, lush to his era, too new and futuristic for Feliciano’s. Ludwig got a quick hold of all the bags he needed, with even space to open the door for Feliciano, who remained frozen in his seat. He had been terrified of the car at the beginning of their road trip and now he was scared to leave it. Ludwig answered to it with a roll of his eyes and a sigh. “My home is inside, it’s where we’ll be staying in the meantime.” Protective still, Feliciano took easy steps outside, arms against his chest, readying for if any of the near cars, the very buildings, even the trees tried to attack him. He was walking forward at least, well right behind Ludwig as he led him.

Ludwig quickly took his key, into the halls, up the stairs and then a new key to enter his apartment. It was clean, well-organized, not a thing out place, decorated in browns and whites that gave a rather warm feeling of home that brought instant ease to Feliciano. He felt comfortable enough to take brave steps around the entrance space, intrigued in some old maps and books that framed a part of the wall.

“Make yourself at home, just don’t touch anything. Most of these items are antiques, centuries old, delicate and rare. I gave them a lot of studies, care and even investment…so don’t you dare break anything,” he warned, placing the things he held on the table, looking about the living room and thinking in which spaces to place them.

“You can take whatever you want from the kitchen, use the bathroom how you wish and watch whatever you like on TV.”

“TV?”

“I’ll explain later.” Actually, it was probably best not to get him into that.

“I’ll be doing some calls and checking some things in my computer-” not that he will even understand what that is “-I have some macadamias, if you want I can make you some hot chocolate, maybe eggs and bacon-” there was a sudden shine, the disappearance of a presence, utter silence when there should be insisting questions. He turned himself away from the cabinets and found the statue yet again. This time it took a moving stance to the windows, a frozen marveled hand reaching to try and open the curtains.

This was his second time watching this and yet he reacted as startled as the first time. He had almost forgotten about this process about him.

He left all the things he had suggested by the counter and decided on moving him to an area where he wouldn’t be spotted by the window. His statue form was heavy, and he already hated that he would have to get used to doing this every time.

 

“What is it?” Roderich had answered to the call rather rudely in Ludwig’s opinion.

“There’s…something I have to show you,” Ludwig started, gaze watchful on the statue that he now placed by the hall. He was still questioning if it was all right to be telling his cousin.

“Then send me a picture. You are aware that your cellphone can do that?”

Ludwig rolled his eyes and groaned. “You have to come see it in person.”

“I’m busy.”

“I’m in Munich right now and Salzburg is a car ride away. I’m sure you can take some time.”

“How important is it?”

“It has to do with the statue.”

“And with my pay?”

If it would get him to get here, “In a way.”

He heard a groan, some rustling, but Roderich came with an answer he wanted. “I’ll see if I can arrive tomorrow.”

“Great.” He hung up before any other change could take place.

Should he do this? Should he do this? He kept repeating to himself as he rubbed his face, direction and stare on only the statue, naked, clothes off…he had to get him on something for when he turned back.

As he kept on thinking of more complications, he kept realizing that he would need an extra hand to help. He thought it best to tell someone of family and the only other he worked closely too. Roderich’s own research and analysis were ones he admired and had even determined his chance of being his assistant. Perhaps he could suggest, perhaps he could bring new breakthroughs. He could bring him a breather, he thought as he decided on finally resting for the night. A very needed one since the discovery. He landed well under his covers and shut off instantly without another movement or conscious thought.

 

It was three main things that had awaked him the next morning. One was the heavy sunlight that entered through the curtains he forgot to shut off well the night over. Another was a heavier dip on the bed, another presence, a nearing that his body could feel along with different breaths that were not his own. And finally, there was that caress on his hair, that oh so lovely one that tempted him to continue in his laying. His questioning over where it was coming from was what made him slowly awaken, meeting the beauty of an angel, smiling with glow, naked as by fantasy…wait, he was naked.

“Feliciano…” he remembered with a groan.

“Hm?” Feliciano childishly reacted, comfortable and well laid on his bed beside him.

“What are you doing here in my bed?” He tried to hide much of his anger in whatever tiredness he still possessed.

“It looked really comfortable and you looked really nice. I wanted to join you,” he told innocently, laying his head well on the pillow beside him, perfectly content.

“That’s sweet of you…but I find it extremely annoying, so please…don’t get into my bed unannounced again,” Ludwig told rather calmly, which didn’t work for Feliciano to leave. He remained in his spot, only a small look of hurt in his expression.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. It’s unbecoming.” He decided to stand that moment, already beginning his fixing, heading to the bathroom to prepare his visit from Roderich. When he headed out, meaning to get his clothes for the day, he met Feliciano still laying as comfortably in his bed, outstretched and showing himself all completely without a care.

“What are you doing? Come on, start getting changed!” He taught him enough at the museum.

Feliciano responded with a loud yawn, turning and only taking more of the blankets in an embrace. It left his backside bared completely for Ludwig to witness and he almost choked at the sight.

Oh no, not because he was disgusted, on the contrary, it was because it was too shapely, shinning and beautiful.

“Get. Changed,” he growled, forcing himself to look away.

“But this is so comfortable, and your neighbor doesn’t seem to mind it.”

“My neighbor?” That’s when he noticed that the curtains were wide open, meeting with the very neighbor that stared on to Feliciano, a mixture of emotions of both shock and intrigue. Feliciano dared send her a wink, the last thing the woman will take notice of before Ludwig pulled back the curtains.

“Please, don’t do that!” He scolded. “I don’t know what you did in the 1610s, but nowadays, you don’t expose yourself and let anybody gawk at you.” He made sure the curtains were well shut before he headed into the closet. By the time he came out, Feliciano sat disappointedly. Ludwig threw him the bag of clothes he had bought, hoping he got the message of dressing before he went to prepare breakfast.

He was almost done with the French toast when a visitor barged in, in the comforts he was used to after his constant visits.

“Can this be quick?” Roderich was dressed immaculate in a suit, throwing his extra jacket to the sofa along with a bag he had brought.

“Take it easy. Did you have breakfast?”

“Just some yogurt I ate on the way.”

Ludwig pushed forward a plate of fruits he had already ordered, then adding one of the French toasts.

“Ah, thank you.” He immediately started while Ludwig prepared the other two plates. “Whose here?”

“That’s…what I wanted you here to talk about.” Ludwig turned nervous, a clear hesitation in his entire being that didn’t let Roderich continue with his plate. He sat straight and pushed the plate aside, motioning with his hand that he could proceed with whatever this could be.

“Feliciano!” Ludwig called.

Quick footsteps brought a boy forward into the open hall and kitchen. Roderich startled at how half-dressed this boy presented himself, with only an opened sleeved shirt and red tight boxers. This brunet didn’t seem to mind, only staring curiously to the new presence that seemed he could share in, which brought him forward a smile, wondering how he could start a chat with him.

“Um…” Roderich was confused.

“Well?” Ludwig thought it could be obvious in the first glance, but Roderich continued to be stunned.

“Is…this your way of telling me that you’re finally out of the closet…and have a thing for youthful looking Italians.”

Ludwig turned red all over and insult was read enough in the sudden jump he took. “No! Can’t you recognize him?” He pointed harsher, wanting to help and make it clearer.

“He…doesn’t look like anyone we know,” Roderich shrugged.

“No! Doesn’t he look like something?”

“Oh, Ludwig, just spit it out already, I don’t need these games!”

“The statue! Doesn’t he look like the statue?” Ludwig finally had it, at a brink of screaming.

Finally understanding, Roderich stood, walking forward to inspect Ludwig’s claim. The closer he came, the more he could recognize those very features, his hair, his youth, his body that was bared enough for him to find the same structure…as the angel of Venice.

“How did you…why did you…what…what is the meaning of this, Ludwig?” Roderich demanded.

“This is going to sound crazy, but just hear me out, let me explain-”

“Is the researching that desperate you actually got a model that looks exactly like the statue!”

“No, it’s not that! This is actually the statue!” And Ludwig pointed sure to the boy who stood in fear to these shouts and accusations having to do with his own persona.

Roderich suddenly calmed, serious, perturbed. “Ludwig…what is this absurdity?”

“Roderich, when have I ever been someone to make up something like this? I’m being serious!”

Roderich was not convinced, looking to Feliciano as if he was apologizing for this mad behavior.

“Feliciano tell him!”

“To be honest, I’m still just as confused, sir,” he admitted as much.

“You speak German?” Roderich distracted in impression. “How do you know?”

“I…don’t remember.”

“What do you mean you don’t remember?”

“All I know is…waking up in a white lighted room with…Ludwig.” And to Ludwig that was the beginning of his truth, one Roderich noticed, giving at least that admission to Ludwig…but he was still perplexed and cautious.

“What else…?” Roderich decided to question.

“I…can’t…I can’t remember anything else other than that.”

“What about your name?”

“Feliciano.”

“Feliciano what?”

“I…can’t…”

Roderich turned to Ludwig expecting those answer from him, but Ludwig shook his head in a negative.

“And that’s it?”

“He said it himself, he can’t remember anything.”

“Are you plotting some ridiculous trick?”

“I swear, Roderich! This is all the truth.”

“This boy could just be an amnesiac teenager, not a statue come to life! You’re both crazy!” He admitted harshly.

“I’m actually twenty.”

“He’s twenty, Roderich…wait, you’re twenty?”

“Mhm.”

“Did you just…remember it?”

“…I did…yes! I know! I know! I’m twenty!”

“You look quite young.” Roderich was impressed. “A lot of the researchers had placed you around sixteen.”

“He remembered being turned in 1620.”

“1620? That’s more than what they said! Why, it’s possible that it won’t even count as a renaissance work anymore.”

“What’s the renaissance?”

“It’s a period of art that we historians like to study that took place just before- why am I partaking in this nonsense? You’re both still a mess and I am not convinced. This is clearly some kind of mental disease,” Roderich still tried to pinpoint.

“I thought the same when I found out! But I saw him myself turn into the statue and back! Do you honestly believe I would waste my and your time making something up like this! You have to believe me!”

“Then prove it!”

“Very well.” Ludwig took his stool and went on with his breakfast, angry but mundane. He ushered Feliciano to join his side, a plate with food already placed, items that were odd to the boy, analyzing them as if they were some rarity he found outside.

“It’s sweetened bread with oranges, grapes and apple slices,” Ludwig had to explain. Yet Feliciano poked everything, testing them in the hold of his fork before he brought to his mouth to eat, humming at the taste he enjoyed. It was too domestic when they just admitted to something of fiction novels.

“Wait…wait for what?” Roderich still demanded angrily.

“Your proof! At some point he’ll be transforming again, and I want you to see it and tell me I’m not crazy.” Ludwig waved his fork and knife around in the explanation, ending with taking his next pieces to his mouth.

With incredulous stares Roderich settled how he could in breakfast, in a simple chat with Feliciano about how his first car trip was like. The boy then distracted himself with an astrological chart Ludwig hanged in another hall, completely leaving Roderich in the middle of their conversation. He didn’t mind it, this was his chance to speak to Ludwig in hushes and privacy.

“Okay, now tell me what’s really going on?” He whispered harshly.

“What’s going on, it’s what I’ve told you. Just…wait a bit! And you’ll believe me, I swear!” Ludwig whispered back as harshly.

“Do you have any idea how insane this sounds?! I’m this close to getting you into a psychotic ward.”

Ludwig groaned and he only repeated, Roderich fighting against these ideas with the same threats and only trying to bring more sense.

“He’s probably just a lost boy! His family could be desperately trying to find him and here he is, waltzing around half naked without a care. We should report this,” was Roderich’s new suggestion.

“Roderich…” Ludwig groaned out yet again, all this just bringing him a headache.

“Ludwig! You could be accused of kidnapping and sexual harassment! Let’s just…mention his name, explain that he was delusional or drunk and got into the museum!”

“We don’t even have his full name!”

“I’m sure a simple search through church archives can suffice,” Roderich was sure, already holy buildings in his head he could visit.

“Roderich! It’s- wait…church archives?” Ludwig was getting ideas.

“When a child is baptized, the church creates a file for that child and keeps it well in their records. You can find documents even from the middle ages.”

“So…we can try to find his.” Ludwig gazed over to Feliciano, who was now distracted with sliding his finger around some metal plate souvenir he got from New York City.

Roderich sighed, “if your nonsense was right, then sure, it’s possible.”

“Would you be able to do it?”

“I suppose, shouldn’t be that- wha-what, what is going on?” The panic was wide in Roderich’s eyes, along with the growing familiarity of the transforming light. Ludwig turned just in time to see the light consume as it usually did, slowly leaving behind flesh and turning it all into the stationary form of marble. It was over quick, and finally Roderich could see the famed Angel of Venice, taking along with him Feliciano. Ludwig grinned while Roderich remained shock, breathless, every word choked out of him, keeping him still, as frozen as the boy turned in his statue form.

“You see,” Ludwig presented, and yet Roderich refused to answer, only giving him a quick glance before it was back on the statue.

“Oh god…what…what…what…”

“Calm down.”

“Calm down? You want me to calm down after seeing this! Oh my heaven, what is this? Oh god, yes! A dream! Surely a dream!” He snapped his fingers and looked up as if calling his body to rise from its bed. No such awakening ever came, he continued to find himself in the same place, everything as it was…oh god, it was actually happening.

It took Ludwig until the late afternoon to get Roderich to finally cool down, the Austrian laying quite dramatically on the couch, sipping on the glass of water he was given like it was the last one.

“I have so many questions,” Roderich whispered with pain, rubbing his fingers on his temple, his head pulsing.

“I’ve known longer about this and I still don’t understand even half of what’s going on,” Ludwig admitted.

“How long has it been…doing this?” Roderich decide to begin with the simple things he assumed Ludwig already knew at least.

“Four days.”

“What did you do?”

“I don’t know! I was just touching it!”

“You were touching it!” Roderich angered.

A statue like that was not meant to be handled in any kind of way. Even Ludwig’s touch could have been a danger to its texture.

“I was trying to analyze him! I was using gloves, being really careful as usual…but then I…”

“Please do not tell me you touched it bare handed.”

The silent that came told Roderich enough.

“Ludwig…” Roderich groaned, his headache returning.

“Nothing happened to it!”

“Oh no, nothing happened…he just…came to life and is now prancing about with us!”

“I didn’t think this would happen!”

“Because it’s not supposed to! This is all…this all…agh!” Roderich shouted into his hands. He breathed, ordered himself, and continued. “So…after you…touched him, this happened. How long till he comes back to life?”

“I’m still…trying to see. It’s ever shifting. Sometimes it can last till the next day, others just a couple of hours. I can’t really pinpoint it or tell you something exact.”

“And like you said…he doesn’t remember anything?”

“Nothing.”

“Not even how this happened to him?”

“Roderich, when I first met him, he could only remember his name. Sometimes he gets reminded of little details, like his age, and the last year he lived through. But it’s sudden and slow.”

Roderich hummed in thought. “It seems like we’ll have to wait,” he was starting to get, his gaze then on the frozen statue, silent as he kept concocting.

“Just…wait?” Ludwig thought that there was instead much to do. He thought they should be out there that instant getting whatever trace possible, going through archives, decoding, finding…not just…stay there and wait for it all to just…arrive.

“Truth is, Ludwig, if he can’t remember anything, there’s not much we can do but let his memory slowly arrive as it had done with those details.” For once Roderich had calmed and was thinking rationally, but his fingers kept taping the couch for ideas.

“You mentioned about checking church archives,” Ludwig reminded.

“That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking, but for that we need to know where he was born.”

“Well, in the meantime, we can check if he was born in Venice. He last remembers 1620 and he is twenty, so that means he must have been born in 1600.”

Roderich sighed, “it’s a lot of hard work, Ludwig. It will take me days just to find something close enough.”

“And that can be just what we need,” Ludwig seemed to have commanded, decided.

“So, you want me to head down to Venice now and check the churches there?” Roderich raised a tiring eye.

“Get copies of every Feliciano you find. Bring them here and we’ll see if he can recognize any of them.”

Roderich groaned out, knowing of the heaviness that was soon to come. And here he thought he could stay with his lovely piano by himself for the rest of the week.

“All right then,” he stood, decided, although his body pained at the head of duty. “I’ll drive there and see if I can get back with everything in a week.” He took his phone and well organized the time in his schedule.

“And what am I supposed to do for a week?”

“Bond. Get the boy used to our time era, teach him to speak English or a more modern Italian and German…I barely understood him.” Roderich rolled his eyes as if it was an easy task. “Also, I recommend you write down his turning times, that way we can prepare ourselves for if we have to go out with him.”

“Go out? Oh no, no, no, no, I’m not risking that,” Ludwig stood defensive.

“We can’t keep him coped up either. We’ll obviously need his help and he’ll have to go along with us for most things, which is why it’s important that you teach him well this week,” he made him understand well, then heading to the fridge, taking some snacks Ludwig kept in there.

“And what are you doing now?”

“Something to eat for the road.”

“You’re leaving right now?”

“Of course! We don’t know what we’re dealing with here so it’s best we act quick.” He had a well arsenal in the hold of his arms, dumping everything in his bag, ordering his suit and ready to head out.

“More than ever I’ll keep well in contact. Let me know how he’s doing.” He headed to the door, giving Feliciano one last worrying glance before he slammed the door shut and left the apartment in sudden baffling silence.

Ludwig groaned out, rubbing his hands on his face, some sort of relax on him before he would start preparing how exactly he would be dealing with Feliciano for the week. As soon as his hand were out from his face, his eyes could only meet his frozen stature, making him decide that perhaps he should start that instant on a bullet list and announcement board.

This time, Feliciano had remained frozen for the entire night, enough peace and quite for Ludwig to work, hang and organize. He had gone to sleep in relative peace, hoping he wouldn’t awake yet again to a naked man on his bed.

Chapter Text

Feliciano had transformed in the early morning, stretching and yawning as if he had just risen from a bed. It was the sight to welcome Ludwig as he came into the living room, cup of coffee in his hand along with a set of clothing.

“First thing is first, Feliciano, I need you to understand well that you have to dress yourself from every transformation. I don’t want you walking around here in the nude and I don’t want others who don’t know you well to see you like this. It’s not the norm, neither suggested, got it?” He repeated it well, Feliciano nodding, taking this new set of clothes and beginning to dress himself in this openness of the room. Luckily Ludwig had closed the curtains so there wouldn’t be any peeking from perverted neighbors.

Feliciano wore a simple cream shirt, along with white jeans, Ludwig later thinking that perhaps he should have saved it for something else instead of remaining at the apartment. As he ushered him to come to the kitchen, Feliciano noticed the new addition of a board, his name written quite gorgeously at the top, the rest was just a time table of different activities as well as a blank area written with the time and hours his statue form had taken.

“That’s a schedule of your activities for the next week. I’ll be introducing and preparing you about everything in this time era, so you can well adjust,” Ludwig explained, pulling Feliciano to focus on his closeness to the counter. “First of all, I’m going to show you how a kitchen works, so you know what to do if you get hungry and I’m not around or asleep.”

He kept him close as he guided him, explaining the difference between the freezer and the refrigerator, where, why and how he placed the items inside, and any new foods Feliciano hadn’t seen before. He showed him how to work the oven, the microwave, blender, grill, sink, coffee machine, where the pans, pots, bowls and any other utensils he could accompanying in his cooking were located. He showed him all the other food packets in their cabinets, the lights, the window, even the cookbooks.

To make sure Feliciano had understood, Ludwig helped him in boiling a simple pasta, along with other ingredients to make as its sauce. Sure, there were dirtied spots in his kitchen now and at one point Feliciano had flared the fire high, but he was able to make them something for their lunch.

Other hours were set for proper German and English lessons, and for Italian, he would just place him to see and hear some Italian TV and radio. He explained all historical occurrences from 1620 till now, how to use the television, the radio, the lights, the bathroom, even the visitor bedroom that would be his in the meantime. He repeated well that if he wanted to sleep, he should do so there…not in his bed.

Feliciano spent the next three days stuck in Ludwig’s apartment, Ludwig doing well and writing down his transformations, varied, but he was starting to get a pattern that he would tell Roderich when he returned. On the fourth day, Ludwig decided to dare and bring Feliciano out into the city. They could have a simple stroll and then get some groceries. Yes, simple, but Ludwig was terrified. After the pattern he had gotten, he decided that at the soonest human turning, he would change, and they would go out. They had twelve hours before he would turn to his statue form, which was more than enough.

“Always stay close to me. Don’t wander, don’t listen and pay attention to absolutely anybody. Any questions keep them to yourself and I’ll answer them when we return. Understand?” A mantra Feliciano had to hide was annoying him.

The day was a cold one, and Ludwig cursed he didn’t buy Feliciano warmer clothes. Perhaps they could get him more things in this stroll. In the meantime, Feliciano had to wear one of Ludwig’s old coats, large on his small figure, but he found it comfortable, testing out by swinging his sleeve, buttons, even the long tails. A pure child making his way down the streets, while Ludwig stressed, ordering still how they could move about without getting too much attention.

“Lidl would be a good start, then we can go to Hirmer…or Hollister.”

Feliciano spun on behind him, distracted with the trees and buildings. How he could keep behind Ludwig was quite a feat.

“Lidl and Hollister, and back. Yes, that will do.” He turned to have Feliciano crash against him. Feliciano disorientated, trying to get himself back on order. “Feliciano, don’t play around. Walk like a normal person and don’t act like such a fool,” he scolded, taking him by the arm and dragging him the rest of the resting way to the supermarket.

Feliciano had been stunned by so much light, by the various number of items well organized into this large room. New things, new processes, new doings. He dropped many packages, opened and just ate a cup of chocolate mousse, plus took longer than expected in the check out because Feliciano couldn’t hold well all the items…leaving Ludwig with just buying a couple of bags to carry them better, which he wanted to avoid.

“I don’t know if I want to take you back to a supermarket,” Ludwig annoyed.

“Aw, but I liked it,” Feliciano said despite, making Ludwig roll his eyes.

Their trip to Hollister was much more successful. Ludwig this time let Feliciano chose what he wanted, quite a fine selection that made Ludwig see that Feliciano had quite a fashionable taste…for someone from the seventeenth century. They headed back quickly afterwards, Ludwig shutting the door in an instant, tempted to slide down to the floor in relief.

“Okay, mission accomplished, now let’s organize all your clothes in your closet.”

He led Feliciano to his room, both working to hang the newly gotten clothes in the wardrobe.

“How about I let you choose what you want for dinner.”

“Oh, oh, can you make that weird…meat thing in breadcrumbs you made two nights ago!”

“Schnitzel?”

“Yeah, that! …And pasta too!” Of course, a meal was not a meal to Feliciano without pasta involved. Sadly, he could not complete it, as he turned half way through it.

They continued on faithfully to the schedule, Feliciano eager and excited for everything, doing well to sit obediently to Ludwig’s teachings. The blond found it all quite endearing, excited himself to teach him everything he knew. That glow in his eyes was an enchanting one he had to admit.

It was while they were working on some English exercises from a workbook, they received the disruptive entrance of Roderich. He made loud sounds and dropped everything rather messily, odd to Ludwig to the point of thinking he had been dreaming. Well, with all this noise and disruption he would have awaken easily.

“Ah, you are awake!” Roderich smiled in welcome to Feliciano…only Feliciano.

“Yes! And I had a really good night sleep!”

“I meant that…you aren’t a statue right now.”

“Oh yeah…that too.”

“I figured you got the files,” Ludwig wanted to hope.

“Indeed!” He took out a file from his nearest bag, placing it on the table on top of their work and notes.

Ludwig instantly went for its grasp, opening it to reveal several copies of baptism certifications, elders in form of old manuscripts, shapes and even writing. There were some that Ludwig could barely understand.

“Feliciano, are you sure that’s actually your name and not your surname?” Roderich asked, Ludwig noticing that most of the people mentioned in these files held it as just a family name.

“Yes, I’m sure! I’m…I’m remembering that my mother gave me that name because she said I was a happy and smiling baby.” He was sure, neither Ludwig and Roderich could deny. Ludwig continued through the files.

“Ah, you remembered something else. Do you remember your mother’s name by any chance?”

“I…think, um, I’m remembering the face of a woman, young, she…looks an awful lot like me,” he chuckled with a saddened tone that had the two other men staring in concern. “But…it’s all I can get…and I don’t…remember her name.” He looked down in defeat, the most hurtful Ludwig had seen in not being able to remind of something so important as his mother. “But yes, Feliciano is my name!” He tried to excite again.

“Well,” Roderich sighed, “I only found one file with a person mentioned as having that name.” It was just as Ludwig found it, one of the lasts in the file. He read through it, indeed a Feliciano mentioned, but it was under another woman’s, mentioned along with one extra name. He presented it forward for Feliciano to see.

“Do you recognize these people and this surname?”

Feliciano read, “Renata Valenti, Lovino Valenti and…Feliciano Valenti.”

There was silence, but it wasn’t long-lasting, the boy was soon standing in excitement, his next words shouted.

“That’s my name! That’s my full name!” He was jumping, all with a glorious glow that was the brightening of the sun inside that apartment.

Roderich smiled, and even Ludwig joined in that small celebration.

“So Valenti is your family name then?”

“Yes, I’m sure! And that’s-that’s my mother! And my brother!”

“You had a brother?”

“Yes! He was older by I think two years. He was usually really mean to other people, but very kind, devoted and sweet to those that mattered,” he smiled warmly.

“There’s a father missing though,” Roderich reminded as he eyed that parchment well, trying to find any hidden thing they missed.

“Or some paternal leader,” Ludwig added.

“What do you mean?” To Feliciano it was all well enough.

“From what we know of your times, Feliciano, it’s just impossible for your mother to be the head of your family…unless she was very wealthy, powerful or you were even an illegitimate child.” Since there was no hardened reaction and Feliciano just gazed on with more confusion, it didn’t seem he would be that case. They still needed to find out though.

“There’s nothing more but your name, but we do have a location to your mother’s birthplace and where she moved to after she lived and birthed you in Venice. We can try to find something about her there and end up finding more about you,” Roderich tried to alight with this piece, which earned a curious glow in Feliciano’s full expression.

“Where to then?” Ludwig wanted to head immediately.

“Florence, Italy.”

 

They took a flight three days from then, on a plane that had Feliciano panicking the entire way and had called the attention of the stewards and other passengers. At one point, Ludwig thought they would kick them out the plane midair. But they did it, they arrived safe.

“See, we’re here, Feliciano, on the ground, breathe, breathe, breathe,” Ludwig repeated as the boy kept a tightening hold on his arm as they headed out, hyperventilating and close to fainting.

They got in their taxi and made way to the center of the cradle of the renaissance. They managed a hotel with walking distance to all the famous sites, a sure gem for anyone who was visiting the city on a touristic journey. But none of the three came here for leisure, despite how Feliciano wanted to already see all the streets in that instant night of their arrival. They dined in a beautiful restaurant somewhere down the road, in open air, the dimmed atmosphere going well with the candles, old bricks and vines, a wonder that kept Feliciano widened throughout, rare to not focus on the appetizers of sliced meats that they ordered.

“Feliciano…eat,” Ludwig had to command him.

They returned to the room, curtains closed to hide Feliciano’s turning. They kept him in the most hidden corner in the room, being Ludwig’s only watch for whenever he had his eyes opened.

The next morning, Ludwig had to watch as Roderich changed, insisting Ludwig not to bother and join him.

“Where are you going?”

“Just another building with old archives.” Roderich himself dreaded to have to do this.

“You do know I can receive these accesses to find out myself,” Ludwig reminded.

“Actually, for these specific archives, you don’t. I already checked the list.”

“Then how come you did?”

“You’re not my only client, Ludwig. I had an internship here while I was an exchange student and got a lot of contacts. Let me make this easy for you and go myself. If I need you, I’ll call you and let you know about anything I discover.”

“I’m guessing you’re leaving me to babysit again,” he was already expecting.

“Precisely.”

“What am I supposed to do with him?”

“Show him around, stroll, eat, act like this is your holiday,” Roderich suggested.

“How kind of you. Any special reasoning on why I should do this?”

“I’m sure that Feliciano lived here at some point. A day or two around the city could probably help to jog his memory,” Roderich was confident, too highly Ludwig saw. “Show him as much as you can, especially things you knew were there for the early 1600s. Surround him with as much of his times as possible,” his last warning before he headed out, leaving Ludwig alone with a waiting statue.

 

“It’s gelato,” Ludwig explained, taking from his own vanilla while Feliciano kept giving testing licks to his own raspberry. Truly like a child.

They stood in front of a small gelateria right next to their hotel, the day hot, both wrongly dressed in long sleeved buttoned shirts and jeans.

“Now come on, let’s go,” Ludwig hurried, dropping his napkin with the small empty pieces of his cone in the trash. Feliciano was only halfway through his, but following Ludwig’s lead, he dropped it all along, pouting and saddening at the loss. Ludwig sighed but didn’t bother explaining, just walking on and making sure that Feliciano walked by him.

“What are we going to do?”

“Sightsee. I’ll be taking you around Florence. Maybe you’ll end up remembering something.”

“You both mentioned that I used to live here.”

“Yes. How about this street? Do you recognize it?” Absolutely nothing could be hinted of such times, in fact, Ludwig knew that it was useless, but he wanted to test absolutely anything. Perhaps Santa Maria del Fiore was the only thing that stood the most obvious from his times, and Feliciano did stare at it for the longest time, trying to get a reach, but it wasn’t as Ludwig was expecting.

“Come on,” he ordered again.

It seemed he would have to try harder.

He took him to Ponte Vecchio in just a perfect shine that gave everything quite a color that left Feliciano in ultimate awe, even Ludwig. He bought him entrances into the Uffizi and the academia gallery, hoping that Feliciano would recognize any of those works. He took his time with many of the paintings and statues, noticing techniques and details that most tourist weren’t aware of. He would take Ludwig’s arm and go on with such depths that had Ludwig lost to his words, stilling and focusing. Yet, no new memories arrived.

They went to other museums, Ludwig brought him inside two churches and even the baptistery, but it was the same widened reaction of when something was new, the intrigue of any tourist surely.

It was the late afternoon when Ludwig decided to head back to the hotel, checking his phone constantly for the timing. He knew Feliciano had to turn soon.

“Is there any places with flowers and trees here?” Feliciano suddenly asked.

“Maybe a park or a villa or something,” Ludwig guessed, still focused on their singular route.

“Can you take me tomorrow morning?” He asked and pouted, in such an innocent expression that made Ludwig falter in his steps. He had to look away before he was hypnotized and persuaded.

“It really depends on what Roderich tell us, he’s-” speaking of which, his phone began ringing and vibrating with his call. He didn’t waste a second to answer.

“You have to come here quick.”

 

The archives were not that far from their distance, Ludwig and Feliciano arrived well in their haste. They were granted entrance by Roderich’s orders and they meet him in his own table, surrounded well by shelves with papers of antiquity, these kinds of files by his side, even some books he used to further research.

“You were quite complicated, Feliciano, but I did find something that will give us a big help.”

Roderich began showing them all the documents which mentioned Feliciano’s name, as well as informing all kinds of things that helped to create a bigger picture.

“Augusto Valenti was your grandfather, who was quite a powerful man. He owned lots of land and profited from the wine and products he sold.” Feliciano saw the written name and smiled warmly, remembering finally his face, his care, his wisdom, his kindness, his smile, the great ways he played with him as a child.

“Nonno…” he had to omit, as if he was calling him even from decades apart.

Roderich and Ludwig smiled as contently, but they had to continue.

“He only had one daughter. Your mother, Renata Valenti. Although there’s not much here about what exactly happened, apparently, she was involved with a man that was not favorable to your grandfather. Because of this, he took full custody of both you and your brother, which is why you held his surname,” Roderich explained, moving about the documents to show all the proof of where he learned this. Roderich expected Feliciano to further detail but he remained as confused in that aspect. It seemed they would not know much of Feliciano’s father for now.

“You were born in Venice but brought to live with your grandfather here in Florence. I assume it’s where you were even raised, but the biggest reason as to why I call you here is because of an apprenticeship you held while here.” Roderich kept exchanging documents until he found one topped with the name ‘Ezio Pellegrino’.

Feliciano instantly pointed to that name, caressing the old parchment as if he could touch him again. “Yes…he was my teacher! He taught me…many new things. I’m…remembering his classes clearly. I think we were five in total under his teaching. We were always experimenting with colors, so it was always covered in all kinds. He wanted us to use as many as possible, scolding whenever we only tried to use one or just two…I drew all kinds of things, but my favorite were…angels with flowers…” Feliciano was impressed with his own reminding, falling silent to just enjoy the sweet memories he had had missed.

“You were an artist…” Ludwig realized, amazed at how such a simple finding could be so grand.

Feliciano nodded sure, proud of his once talent. Now especially he gripped his hands, the want to draw and paint returning, wishing to do so that instant.

“Do you remember your paintings?” Roderich asked.

“I’m…remembering most of them, yes,” Feliciano realized.

“Do you remember where you left any of them?”

Feliciano tried hard to think, but nothing reached, denying with a shake that was like a pierce.

“Do you remember your sketchbook?”

“Sketchbook? Isn’t that too specific?” Ludwig had to question. Roderich shushed him, wanting only Feliciano to speak.

That silence yet again, only hurting Feliciano more to deny once again.

“Lucky for you-” Roderich pulled out a weathered old leather book, opening to reveal surely notes that had belonged to Feliciano’s teacher. “-your teacher mentioned he took you all on a trip to Brussels.” Roderich waited once again for Feliciano to alight. He continued, “he wrote you lost your sketchbook there…he mentions you were devastated, and he really wished he could have done something to get it back…he says you had incredible things drawn there.” Feliciano continued to be as lost, that detail not alighting in his mind no matter how saddening it had been in his past.

“You can’t…remember that?” Ludwig questioned gently.

“No…I don’t remember that,” he gloomed, taking a defeated seat on the chair he had been offered when they had entered the room. The excitement had been too much, he just couldn’t stay still, but now everything was grey again. Roderich and Ludwig could only give him his silence for now, not knowing words of comfort. Ludwig had to hold himself from reaching a hand to caress at a shoulder.

“What about this sketchbook?” Ludwig returned, hoping to change the downpour in the air.

“Well…I was thinking about…searching for it…” Roderich shyly admitted.

“Look for it? Roderich, this sketchbook is centuries old. It could have easily been destroyed long ago or in the hands of some collector in America.”

Feliciano stood, wanting to distract himself in the ancient books that surrounded, not wanting to think about this right now.

“Nothing can hurt by trying.”

“This will take weeks.”

“Not unless we search in the right place.”

“Any ideas on where to start?”

“Yes, I do.” And Roderich gave a smirk that was enough for Ludwig to understand, already groaning at what would surely be the suggestion.

“Are you serious?”

“She’s the best we got right now.”

“We’re not even entirely sure it could still be in Brussels.”

“We never know, Ludwig. Do you still have her number?”

“I can make some calls…still don’t know if she would be willing to help after…”

“You dumped her in a family dinner.”

“…I know…it wasn’t the best way, well…that relationship wasn’t even the best choice, but I get it, I was rude and…I didn’t think it well through, but you have to understand I was under a lot of pressure.”

“Why do you always have to excuse yourself like this every time I mention it?” Roderich laughed.

“Because you won’t let me live it down.”

“Just call her and get straight to the point…maybe she won’t eat you and actually give you what you need.”

“For my sake, I hope so,” Ludwig sighed, turning to Feliciano, who was poking at one of the books.

“Should Feliciano come with us?” Roderich questioned.

“We can’t leave him alone.”

“A babysitter perhaps?”

Ludwig gazed to him, omitting how idiotic the idea was. “You said it yourself, we’ll need him with us for everything.”

“How do you think she’ll react once she sees him?”

“Why does it matter?”

“She’ll get ideas.”

“What-” a glow caught their eye, one that created instant panic, standing. They wanted to hope it was just the lighting of the room, something wrong with one of the lightbulbs, but no, it was the worst that could happen. Feliciano’s transformation, right in the center of that area, statue once again, this rare magic uncaring of where they found themselves. Roderich and Ludwig instantly surrounded it in silence, stuttering words, keeping their arms expanded to try and hide it from anyone who could be passing by.

“What the hell, what the hell, what the hell,” Roderich repeated.

“What the hell are we going to do?” Ludwig wanted to be quick, looking everywhere, hoping for some sign or idea to arrive, as well as just watching for anybody.

“How weird will it look dragging it across the city?”

“Very! I thought it was obvious enough not to suggest!”

“This is Florence! Statues are surely being dragged about constantly!”

“Not a statue that has been on the news and is supposed to be in my flat in Munich!”

“Well, what other idea do you have?”

“Um…” Ludwig continued to look about, until luckily his eyes landed on a plastic cover well between some old items in the shelves. He fetched for it, already unwrapping and extending with clear to cover the statue.

“We need more than that!” Roderich scolded, still watching the halls for anyone that might enter.

“There’s nothing else!” Ludwig told him harshly in turn as he put it over Feliciano, the fabric enough to keep everything, not a single inch of marble to be seen.

“Now what?”

“We…” Ludwig really wished he had better ideas, “…carry it back to the hotel.”

Roderich stared with stupefaction, Ludwig already reading all the insults in that gaze. “We clearly can’t do anything else!”

“This is insane, this is insane, this is insane,” Roderich repeated to himself as he rubbed his temple and tried to control his breathing.

“Now, come on, help me,” Ludwig began to haul without a moment’s hesitation, keeping watch of where they had to go. Roderich was on the verge of crying his desperation, but ended up having to help in the carrying, too much for his smaller figure, and Ludwig knew well he was carrying the biggest force, but he managed. He tried to think it was just another exercise regimen. Luckily Roderich had been given a special entrance card, with which he could head out of the deeper archives without any wanderers or eyes. Sadly they could not hide anything from the receptionist, who watched with clear question, remembering that neither of these men had brought such a large item, that they didn’t even have something like this in their holding in the building…and where was even that third fellow?

“Just something…I left a long time ago here,” Roderich tried to excuse in the calmest smile he could utter.

She was new, and he was well known in the archives, as well as there was truth in the fact that he did use to leave a lot of things behind in the past when he was a student. Hopefully she wouldn’t mention anything to the rest, and if she did, they would just be confused and not pursue more on it.

They managed to head out, down the crowded streets, through different crosses, blocks, street signals and small parks where they rested. Sure, they got heavy stares, but nothing too questioning, nothing too out of the ordinary for Florence. They arrived to the hotel with the receptionists asking heavy questions. Somehow Ludwig and Roderich having convinced them that they just bought a replica and so finally they managed to get into their room, falling dead on their beds once the door and the curtains were well shut.

“You don’t pay me enough,” Roderich commented lastly. Ludwig only groaned and didn’t utter anything else.

With the night, they headed to their rest, Ludwig promising Roderich that he would try to call…her…tomorrow morning…which meant he wasn’t looking forward to the next coming day at all.

Chapter Text

When Ludwig woke, the first thing he noticed was Roderich, sleeping his oddly unkept position, body in a weird array with hands extending uncomfortably, no glasses and hair standing in unreasonable ways. He chuckled, a movement that had another stirring…and that’s when he noticed that he had Feliciano resting on him, taking a good side, his entire being one of comfortable bliss. If it wasn’t for the shock, Ludwig would have admitted he looked beautiful.

“Feliciano…” he called, slight this time, not wanting to disturb anyone in the room.

“Mmm…” Feliciano moaned out, uncaring.

“Feliciano…what did I tell you about sleeping in my bed…”

“Mmm…something about…not doing it,” and yet he cuddled more into him.

“Mhm.” Ludwig could only respond, hoping the other could notice…yet they remained as they did. To his embarrassment, this was the exact moment Roderich decided to awaken, startled at what his hazy vision saw, quickly going for his glasses, cleaning them well before placing them on his face. Ah…he thought it was worst. Ludwig could notice him trying to hide a hard laugh, smirking and getting crazy ideas over this. Ludwig in turn glared, hoping he understood that he didn’t want a single word.

“Can we still go to see flowers, Ludwig?” Feliciano dared ask, eyes still shut, yawning and stretching, but his hold always coming back to the large blond.

Ludwig rolled his eyes and Roderich had to continue to hide whatever burst that wanted to be free.

 

Mostly because Ludwig and Roderich loved the view, they settled heading on foot to Piazzale Michelangelo. On the way, Ludwig could make the necessary calls that got him his ex’s number again…and actually calling her, and Feliciano could see and pick all the flowers he wanted, a quite gorgeous bouquet in his arms as they moved. While Ludwig talked to her, exuding a lot of stress, Roderich had to remind him to breathe and Feliciano thought he could help by placing a white lily on his chest pocket.

As Feliciano’s bouquet grew lager and he realized he couldn’t hold it fully in his hands, he began giving to many of the passerby, being working men, tourists, groups of friends on a stroll, even small little children that shyly laughed as they accepted. In part, Ludwig and Roderich wanted to scold him, but in another, it was indeed something sweet that they ended up accepting. By the time they reached the heights of the Piazzale, Florence shown in all it’s beautiful red between these gorgeous mountains, did they take seating in one of the steps to relax, for Ludwig to finish his call and for Feliciano to fix the now remaining flowers in his bouquet.

“…ja, ja…thanks, thanks a lot,” Ludwig hanged up the call, releasing a deep breath of relief, hanging his head and trying to settle himself well again.

“Ludwig, are you all right?” Feliciano questioned, nearing well, ready to offer his entire bouquet if it made him feel better.

“Yeah, yeah…I’m fine, in fact, I have really good news.” He raised his head in a more positive outlook. “The sketchbook…she has it.”

“She does?” Both Roderich and Feliciano surprised.

“Yes! It’s been in the archives in Brussels for centuries, she’s part of a research group that’s been trying to find the artist for decades.”

“That’s wonderful! Now all we need to do is head there right now and take it back!” Roderich suggested.

“Yeah…we can’t do that.”

“What?” Roderich was indignant.

“Isn’t it…supposed to be mine?”

“Well…yeah, it is, but things are complicated now and she can’t just give something that the archive owns and is worth thousands of euros to just some random boy I’m going to bring over, no matter how we try to explain it. Once they find out who the artist is, they plan to exhibit it in a museum. The best she could do is let us see it and look through it.”

“What did you tell her?”

“About what we found out here. Told her about the statue and how I think it’s the same artist.”

“Do you want me to get copies of the documents we found?”

“It would be best. I’m also trying to see how I can explain Feliciano.”

“We have time to think of something. For now, we need to plan our trip to Brussels immediately-”

They conversed on about plane tickets and places of stay, all unknown things to Feliciano, so he distracted himself with the wonderful view, enchanting, taking his breath and letting himself the moment to just gaze.

It was indeed a beautiful city, a shame that he could not remember it well, especially when he had once been raised there. He extended his gaze through every street and building he could spot, as if mapping a route deep into the city, deep into searching, to finding. Suddenly he remembered as the streets were once, he remembered walking them in known steps, greeting familiar faces and taking practiced shortcuts, confident and as joyous he knew he had always been.

And then there was him, reaching his hands and welcoming to what would surely be a lover’s embrace. Feliciano remembered that moment fondly, running and accepting those arms to be wrapped around him, laughing and caressing this man’s long blond and rowdy hair.

And from devotion, came poison.

Despite how beautiful the memory, Feliciano felt evil now, a reach to let go, to scream at his past self to get away from him.

Those past green eyes burned in a magic that was to harm. It was the heat enough to get him back, to breathe heavily, standing and even letting the flowers drop to the steps.

“Feliciano?” Ludwig worried, standing alongside him, placing a hand on his shoulder hoping to steady him.

“What is going on?” Roderich asked then, noticing the depth of fear in Feliciano’s eyes, as well as how his body easily moved along with every harsh intake of breath.

“I saw him…” he managed to utter, although still as shaken.

“You saw who?”

“The man…the man that did this to me.”

 

“Did you get a name? A description? Anything he said that could give us a clue!” Ludwig rushed them to the airport gate.

“I already told you, all I got was a memory, something from when we were in Florence together,” Feliciano answered, readily carrying his own bag, comfortable and sure in his teal buttoned shirt and jeans.

“Blond, green eyes…doesn’t really give us much, Feliciano,” Roderich commented.

“I’m sorry, but I really couldn’t remember him that well,” he saddened.

“How did you even know if he was the one that gave you that transformation?”

“I don’t know…I just…felt like he was. I was really scared and I really…wanted to get away from him…”

Boarding began, the three moving together forward.

“Hopefully the sketchbook in Brussels can give us more information.”

 

“This is it,” and she gently placed the old sketchbook on the table, before them, the woman using gloves for any kind of movement or opening.

Feliciano didn’t get why Ludwig was so scared about coming to see her. Laura, as she had been introduced to him, was a beautiful young woman, graceful, kind, yet with optimism in her eyes and even in the red of her lips. She had been smiling to the three of them ever since they arrived, without any of the menace Feliciano was expecting after Ludwig’s worries.

“Can we look through it?” Ludwig had already asked several times. Laura sighed, but maintained her calm, her true kind exterior.

“Yes, you can, just be careful, and gloves at all time,” she warned, pointing with command to the pairs she left for the three on the table.

Feliciano was the first to wear his, wanting to already be reminded of more with surely all the pieces that book held.

It was small, could easily fit in any small bag, but it had a plentiful amount of pages, surely giving it weight. Its cover was made of leather with a beautiful encrusted border like that of the vines of a flower. Simple, nothing of strong reminder, but Feliciano could already feel a strong sense of belonging, of sensing himself in it.

Laura did the favor of opening, revealing the first blank pages, in one there was smudge, unintelligible, but Feliciano then remembered that it was where he had long ago written his name, claiming its belonging to him. Nothing else was mentioned when the first drawing showed itself, a beautiful view of old Florence. Feliciano took a wondered breath, remembering then the tall building he had sat on to get this perfect image, how he had to sneak in, later getting into huge trouble when he had been found out. He smiled, remembering then the harsh scolding he got from his grandfather, mother and brother.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Laura had seen his grin, guessing it to be one of interest to the image drawn.

“Yes…yes it is,” he admitted, Ludwig and Roderich agreeing, just as taken with the first of the drawings.

Laura continued on the passing of pages, showing them ones of old bottles of wine, a feast with drinks, quarrelling lovers, a sophisticated noble lady, a poor gypsy woman, then flowers and flowers and flowers.

Yes, Feliciano knew it was his, but none of them sparked enough for him to remember something so full. He still couldn’t remember drawing any of these.

Both Roderich and Ludwig could tell it wasn’t working. They had come to learn the kind of gaze Feliciano would take when he did.

“Are you guys…looking for something in particular?” Laura wondered as she noticed the somberness they all took.

“Is this…the only book you have with these kinds of drawings?” Feliciano wondered.

“Yes, I’m afraid so. It’s pretty unique, and trust me, I’ve tried hard to find other squares and paintings to compare…but nothing,” she was truly disappointed at that, as were the rest.

The three newcomers thought on about what they should do next, where should they head and what other direction could any of Feliciano’s newest memories at least give them. Feliciano kept on caressing the old pages and leather tenderly, as if petting a small creature to life again, a life that could return to his mind and alight everything.

“Is it possible to have a copy?” Roderich asked, not wanting to lose something that was still too precious to Feliciano even if it didn’t end up really helping. There was still the chance it could later evoke something though.

“Sure! We already have some scanned files in the archive computer. We can send it to one of your e-mails.”

“Thank you, I appreciate-” they spoke on other matters that Feliciano didn’t feel like paying attention to, instead focusing on the sketch of a child, a girl playing between flowers, a tender smile that seemed somehow familiar. He remembered how easily she would laugh and enjoy any simple game Feliciano brought here, even explaining these codes- codes? What codes? He asked himself.

He then remembered…this girl, pointing and giggling to a page in his sketchbook…on this very page, a game between the flowers and the very girl’s smile. A code…a code…he taught her that, she began doing her own because he taught her…and yet now, in his mind, he followed a path she had made in his memory, unlocking, feeling, until he could read a message perfectly.

This time, she taught him.

“Remember to go to Amsterdam in twenty nights. Papa got a painting,” he read aloud, interrupting whatever chatter went out between them.

“Excuse me?” Laura raised her eyes to him.

“Amsterdam…Amsterdam…” suddenly it clicked, suddenly he felt the jolts of that reminder. “Amsterdam! I have to go to Amsterdam! It’s something about my papa! About papa!” Feliciano shouted, jumping from his seating to head over to Ludwig, hands on his shoulders, gently trying to pull him to join him already in a hurry to the place.

“Fel-Feli-Feliciano! Calm down!” Ludwig was startled by the suddenness, taking Feliciano’s wrist in quite a gentle hold, looking into his eyes and passing over that serenity that had Feliciano easily stilling.

Laura took well notice of this, questioning.

“Why this sudden mentioning of Amsterdam?”

“I remembered something! There’s a code! A code throughout the whole sketchbook!” Feliciano had no problem with admitting loudly.

Roderich sent a gaze to Ludwig to let him know that they should be careful with what Feliciano admitted right now, especially in Laura’s presence.

“A code? How could you find a code?” Laura wondered, Roderich and Ludwig alerting, figuring it was already too late and they had to be quick to make up something.

“I believe we should be leaving now!” Roderich suddenly stood, hurrying over to the door hoping the other two followed. Although slow and surprised, Ludwig stood as well and began dragging Feliciano out.

“Wait! Wait! Wait!” Laura called and they did well to stop, hoping she wouldn’t question on.

“Don’t worry, it’s something of ours that we can manage with,” Ludwig tried to distract.

“It seemed to do with the sketchbook…” Laura then noticed the heavy and even caring hold of hands Ludwig and Feliciano kept. “I must know as well if it’s to do with it. Please, let me hear about this! I might be able to help!”

The three gazed between each other, Feliciano confident and happy to tell, but Roderich and Ludwig were always as skeptical.

“Finding out more about this sketchbook means a lot to me, and anything that can bring more light to it, makes years of searching and studying worth it. I’ll repay back with my own service and knowledge.” There was such a plead in her tone and voice that the other two men were falling weak to.

They did need all the help they could get, but for now, as Ludwig sighed, it was best they talked to Feliciano by themselves and then speak about what limits they were willing to give Laura about what was really happening.

“We have to go right now anyways,” Ludwig worded for all, “we can meet up again tomorrow if you wish.”

“Leuven, right in the midafternoon,” she had declared sure, almost scolding.

“We will be there then,” Ludwig promised, then having the three leave.

Laura noticed that Ludwig didn’t let go of Feliciano’s hand for a moment.

 

“Having that cup by the bottle of milk is a reminder that I was supposed to get some ceramics for mamma,” Feliciano pointed to the computer screen, where the scans of the sketchbook were presented.

This design was of an old abandoned garden, yet Feliciano added that reminder with those sudden details. Ludwig admired how he made them fit in with colors and light even if there were rather odd items to have in such a place.

“And this one,” he clicked so they could have the next page, “was a reminder to go to a ball I was invited to. The time was seven, for how the people are placed, and the date was the 10th of January with the positioning of the walls of this room.”

Ludwig was truly impressed, continuing to have Feliciano discuss and tell him all kinds of messages spread throughout this sketchbook.

“Do you think anything here will tell you about the person who did this to you?”

“If there is, I haven’t been reminded.” They had begun to go through all the sketchbook again. “No…I don’t think I mentioned him.”

“The Amsterdam appointment you had though,” Roderich wanted to remind, “why was it so important that you got like that?”

“Because there was a painting I had to get from papa!” He agitated as before, even raising himself from the hunched position he had over Ludwig’s head as if he was to go that instant.

“Yes, you’ve made it clear. Please, sit down, we’re not leaving anytime soon,” Roderich scolded, bringing him to a seating in his hotel bed.

“I’m sorry, it’s just…I remember that I had been planning for that trip for a while before I…was here!” He raised his arms around him.

“With your dad?” Ludwig had been wondering.

“Yes!”

“I thought you didn’t have any contact with him and you hadn’t mentioned anything about him till now,” Roderich questioned.

“Well…to be honest, I still can’t remember anything else,” he deflated, “but I know it’s important! I feel it! And maybe through this painting we can figure something out!” He had a point there, Ludwig and Roderich exchanging glances, surely deciding if they were now to take that trip to Amsterdam to find this painting.

“Where would we look for such an old painting in Amsterdam? If it’s even still there,” Roderich already exasperated.

“Laura!” Feliciano glowed.

“Laura? What makes you think she’ll know?”

“She studies these kinds of sketches and paintings, especially my sketchbook! Maybe she can help us find a connection!” He stood once again in excitement.

He was right, one that Roderich and Ludwig wished they didn’t have to agree on. They gazed to one another, making that choice.

“Should we let her know?” Roderich decided to word.

“I don’t know…should we?” Ludwig decided to leave that on Feliciano.

He was desperate and he was willing give and tell anything if it meant sure answers. “She seems trustworthy, I think we can tell her,” he decided.

Ludwig and Roderich sighed, already hating the explanations they would have to give her, as well as her point of decree of marking them crazy.

 

Ludwig practiced what he would say under his breath, while Roderich helped Feliciano with the suit he decided on.

“Isn’t that a little too much to meet up with Laura?” Ludwig questioned, although admitting how well it hugged his forms, the dark and unique colors making him vibrant and surely a beacon for many to stare.

“I always have to look presentable in front of a lady, especially one who we will tell something very important and she to us.”

“Feliciano, we’re not entirely sure she’ll have this information.”

“And are you trying to woo her?” Roderich glared, halting his help, clearly in refusal if this was the case.

“Oh no! Laura is a beauty, but I am not in pursue of her like that. I just want to be presentable.” His smile was honest.

“All right. Just behave, be careful what you tell her, don’t shout, calm down and-” Ludwig was dealing with the keys, getting the door for them, when his words were interrupted by a familiar blinding light. As always, when Ludwig and Roderich would recover, Feliciano’s lively presence was gone, instead, he was a statue again, in its known grace, now both just sighing, beginning to get used to it. “-or just…turn and…we don’t have to deal with Laura,” Ludwig smiled, relieved, ready to take off his coat and settle with staying in the room.

“No! Ludwig, someone has to go talk with her still, even if without Feliciano. We already established a time and meeting spot and it would be awfully rude to leave her waiting,” Roderich scolded.

Ludwig wore an angered expression, but followed his words and opened the door ready to leave. “Then come on, let’s go.”

“I think I’ll stay here instead and watch over Feliciano. I’ll leave everything to you,” Roderich still managed to excuse, finding hard to hide his smirk, because he’ll be leaving Ludwig alone with his ex.

Ludwig let him his opportunity, fierceness in his eyes but deciding on heading on.

“If Laura finds everything hard to believe, you know where to find us.”

 

It was a beautiful, shinning day. Deep blue sky, a sparse cloud to decorate, shinning flowers, plentiful people and surrounding architecture and art to shine. Brussels was indeed enchanting for a stroll today. It made Ludwig wonder how Feliciano would react to the colors of the day, to the pastries in the windows, the statues, even the people that joined for dessert and coffee at cafes. He groaned and scolded at himself for wondering…even missing him in such moments, decided then on just repeating the words he would tell Laura about his mission.

He reached the Leuven exact, Laura expecting Ludwig to do so, waving at him from the nice table she chose outside to enjoy from the lovely day.

“Where’s Roderich and Feliciano?” She instantly wondered.

“They stayed back at the hotel. We’ll…probably join them later.” He took his seat comfortable, looking over the menu of small artisanal coffees this café held.

“Join them?”

“We came here to talk, didn’t we?” Ludwig wanted to hurry.

“Learn to relax a little, Ludwig, order your coffee, breathe, we can talk about this calmly and without hurry.”

The waiter then arrived with her coffee, Ludwig taking his order, giving her time to enjoy from a drink, letting a plentiful silence settle that to be honest, did make Ludwig feel more at calm.

“I do have a curious question you don’t mind me starting with.”

“What is it?”

“Feliciano.”

“What about him?”

“Be honest with me, is he your new lover?”

Ludwig’s eyes widened in such a comical way Laura feared of spilling her coffee, stopping at mid sip.

“He…He…oh my god, he…uh…” whatever nonsense he was to continue with was stopped with his own coffee arriving, not paying attention to its presentation and aroma when we was still thinking how he was to answer. He hadn’t planned or prepared for this. “He…he is not!” He managed.

“You two seemed really taken…not even in our relationship did you ever look at me the way you did at him.”

Ludwig reddened, tapping his fingers on the table rapidly, a habit he tended to present when he was nervous, surely with countless of things rampaging around his mind.

“Your judgement was mistaken. Feliciano is just a friend.”

“Are you sure? Just a friend?” Laura still questioned, for now not buying it. “You can tell me, you know I won’t have a problem. Feliciano seemed really sweet and you two actually make a very cute couple,” she smiled trying to establish that confidence and trust.

Ludwig was touched by it, but he had to deny, yet again. “Yes, he is just a friend helping me…in a particular way with this assignment.”

Laura raised an eyebrow, “In what particular way?”

And so Ludwig neared and began to tell. Laura was patient enough to sit and listen well through his whole speech, only reacting in the contours of her expression, Ludwig knew unbelieving and skeptical for now, but at least she didn’t laugh and make any instant accusations. There was an intimidating silence by the time he finished, Laura, of course, not at all convinced.

“I…never took you for such a storyteller, Ludwig,” she admitted, leaning back, somewhat disappointed.

“I expected you to say something like that.”

“Then why tell me this? Why can’t you tell me what’s really going on with the statue? I don’t think coming up with these wild tales is helping both our causes here.”

“I told you because it’s true, because we know you can give us the help you offered.”

“Ludwig, please, just-”

“I am prepared to prove it to you. Come with me and you’ll see.”

Laura sighed, but decided to entertain him, standing, paying for their drinks and settling way to the hotel.

Chapter Text

“Laura, I beg of you, to keep this a secret. I know it means meeting the artist of the sketchbook, something that will mean a lot to your group of research, but we don’t know how people will react, if they would misuse Feliciano. So please, help me and Roderich keep this as tight as possible and we’ll let you know whatever you want.” He had told lastly in a beg, reaching, going up the stairs of the building, Ludwig having the card key in his hand.

Laura rolled her eyes, but nodded, not seeing the harm in just…for now pretending this could be real, that this wasn’t all some elaborate prank. Maybe Ludwig and Roderich meant to celebrate something with her with a surprise.

When Ludwig held open the door for her, closing behind instantly as soon as she was fully inside, Laura didn’t find the cake, the confetti, guests or party favors she was expecting, instead…there was the lately famed statue of the Angel of Venice. Oh, it was indeed splendid, beautiful. She let herself awe for a moment, comfortable, forgetting what she thought the craziness of Ludwig’s words.

Roderich had been doing some work on his laptop, raising his eyes to them, Ludwig sending a sign that Laura had been told with a simple nod.

“Where’s Feliciano?” She asked, trying to look for the cute Italian in the room, but finding no presence. She thought maybe he was in another room, that was until a sudden rustling began on the floor, especially by the statue. The wind blew and reached, Laura looking around to see from what kind of contraption it could come from. She couldn’t question further as the light started enveloping, growing brighter and brighter, sparkling until the statue was all but gone, in it’s place…Feliciano. He was naked, seeming tired, testing his movements gallantly, ignorant to his bare state. That was until his eyes laid on Laura, sheepishly waving. “Ciao!”

Laura welcomed it in a scream.

Roderich had to stand up and join Ludwig in holding her down, trying to calm, to soothe her shouts. Luckily, Feliciano quickly dressed, in what were meant to be his pajamas, all in the hurry of wanting to help. He went to give her a glass of water, but once she noticed and came to mind that…a living statue was giving her a glass water, she screamed some more and even shattered the glass in her frenzy. Feliciano looked to the broken pieces and his wet hand almost heartbroken.

“Laura! Please! Will you be silent!” Ludwig shouted in turn. That was the last piece of his patience, fearful enough to get her to sit as she should, although still breathing heavily, her eyes pierced to an extend that made Feliciano worry if she had gotten blind. At least she wasn’t screaming or wailing her body. Roderich and Ludwig could take seats with deep sighs. She started staring at Feliciano, still as perturbed, Feliciano kneeling, smiling and hoping she would soon calm her breathing.

“Did…Ludwig tell you?” He dared ask.

“Ye-yeah…yeah…he did,” she managed her words, sitting straight again, now taking from a new glass of water Roderich got. “I didn’t…I didn’t think it was…real.”

“I…I understand. I’m…so sorry.” Feliciano wished he could do more to prove his apology than just sit so meekly. It was hard not to do so when he was showing himself to a new person, starting to be more aware and understanding of the oddity of it all.

“It…sounded so crazy, I just…it…it couldn’t be…how..how…how?” She demanded.

“That’s an answer we would love to learn ourselves,” Ludwig put.

“We’re still figuring it out,” Roderich added.

“I don’t know much about what’s going on myself,” Feliciano told.

“Yes…Ludwig didn’t mention it…how…you turned this way.” She was slowly becoming more confident, being able to stare at Feliciano with more of an awe.

“Mhm, and I also assume he told you everything we’ve find out.”

“Yes…he did.” She was recollecting everything, fitting it into truths. “Including that you’re…the artist of the sketchbook.” There was hesitance, a wondering like that of a child’s, one Feliciano found so beautiful he couldn’t help but smile.

“Yes… I am…”

And she smiled herself, glowing, jumping on her seat, not sure where to even put her hands that wanted to tremble all around her in excitement. “I have…so many questions to ask you, I don’t know where to start! I should focus! Okay, um-”

“Before we get into that, Laura, there are some dire questions we want to ask you instead,” Ludwig wanted to remind the point of her knowing.

Both her and Feliciano were slightly disappointed at this interruption, but there was a mission indeed, so they straightened and readied.

“You know well Feliciano’s sketchbook, right?”

“Yes, I’ve studied it well for many years.”

“I know you mentioned you haven’t found another style like it, but are you truly sure?”

“Well…not another style or technique like his…but…there is this one painting...”

The three men raised and gazed between themselves. “Are you serious?”

“Feliciano didn’t make it though.” She took a good look that moment, realizing something now with his image, something that should have reached her the moment she met him.

“It is very similar to his style… maybe a portrait someone made for him… nevertheless, there was something about it that had me thinking about your sketchbook and now…about yourself. I found it in one of my grandmother’s old basement in the Netherlands. I took it. It was exceptionally beautiful.”

“So, you have this painting then?” Ludwig raised as did Feliciano, ready to run off and see it that moment.

“Well…yes it is mine, but I don’t have it here with me. I didn’t want to risk it while I was moving.”

“Then where is it?”

“It’s with my brother in Amsterdam.”

 

Was this all some big test? Was it a curse? Perhaps karma? Ludwig kept thinking it through the night, eyes wide and staring to the ceiling. Occasionally, his eyes would fall on the readied luggage in the corner of the room, prepared for a train trip the coming morning, then on Feliciano…who lay peacefully asleep…right next to him. He breathed easy, splashed as he wanted, Ludwig wondering if he was even aware that he was on the bed as well. Well, at least he had his own space to sleep as he wanted…if he could even at the moment.

He had gotten exceptionally well with Tim Jansen long ago, in fact, he had met Laura through him. They had many agreements and similar interests, enjoying well their meetings with countless of topics to discuss. He was indifferent for when Ludwig and Laura dated, knowing well without even Ludwig wording it that he wasn’t really into the relationship as he had hoped. Still, this was indeed his little sister and so Ludwig had received his threats, ones that he was afraid to face after he had broken up with her in the famed family dinner, one Tim was present in…Ludwig hasn’t seen him since.

That was to change tomorrow, for Laura had helped them establish a meeting in his home in Amsterdam where he kept the painting and he was exceptionally scared as to how he would react. Sure, the events happened over two years ago, but he knew how the elder Jansen kept his grudges, especially when it involved his sister and he hadn’t been given a proper explanation as to Ludwig’s exact why afterwards. Tomorrow would be the first time he would take whatever reaction he decided to show, and he was terrified on how he could use it against him concerning this painting.

Then there was Feliciano…who already Laura had insinuated at something between them and depending on how Feliciano would act…it meant that Tim could be getting similar ideas. Many times during the nights he kept his breath even and tried to repeat to himself that everything would be fine. It was Laura’s painting and she had already decree to let them do what they wished with it. It was two years ago, she was completely fine and over it. And Feliciano? Ludwig was prepared to explain himself however times necessary to prove that it really wasn’t what everybody else was thinking.

 

After being on a car and flying a plane, Feliciano was relaxed riding his first train. Like a child, he couldn’t keep still, finding enjoyment in just walking down the corridor while it moved, sticking himself to the window and pointing to all the minimal beauties, as well as jumping on his seat and testing its fabric and feel. The three who joined found it endearing, answering well whatever his questions and of course being watchful.

They arrived to Amsterdam an early afternoon, a beautiful shinning day highlighted in colors and whimsical, wondering the more Feliciano, who kept running off their intended path to gaze at every beautiful hidden corner with structures and build. There was also the fact that he kept standing on the bike roads, not moving even at the insisting bells as he watched over bridges and to boats. After nearly being trampled over by an angered teenager, Ludwig settled with keeping a tight hold on Feliciano’s arm the rest of the way.

They reached a deep part of the city, less populated, a small canal settled well between large shadows of trees. Roderich could breathe in and already feel comfort, while Laura was happily skipping to the boat that was their destination, and Ludwig’s anxiety heightened.

Tim’s houseboat was large, clearly the longest one in the canal, space in the upper deck to make a dinner party, windows showcasing that it must have several cabins, clean, beautiful and surely the Dutch dream, with bikes and tulips to really make it clear.

“Tim!” Laura called, in her most annoying call surely to tease, yet excited, the only one to dare and run up the ramp of entrance. At her call, he was there, intimidatingly tall, blond hair standing vicious and green eyes piercing. Feliciano stopped and found himself worrying over Laura, but her older brother took her well in his arms, spinning and smiling like children. They spoke on excitedly in Dutch, while the other three remained by the street, albeit fearful to stand on the ramp.

“They’re standing there like gaping fishes,” Tim commented. What was supposed to be a welcoming entrance came as a glare in his expression. Feliciano waved trying to ease these sudden tensions.

“Is that…the boy?” There was impression in his eyes, noticing something, one that Ludwig and Roderich feared meant that he knew. Laura seemed to know what it was Tim really saw, but she waved off to the others to let them know she had not said a word to him about Feliciano being the statue.

“Well, get over here before you get run over. You’re taking up the street.” Tim went inside with an easy stride, his usual, not all pestered by the new visitors. Laura signaled them to come up and so with their luggage they made their entrance.

They were surprised at how spacious it was, with halls, each their own cabin for the nights they were meant to stay, large dinning hall with a full functional kitchen, exquisite lounging areas, everywhere hanged with flowers looking well kept, clean and offered quite luxuriously. With everyone well placed in their rooms, Tim offered some coffee, strawberry jam and croissants, presented on the table. He let them take as they pleased without a care, leaning down on his chair to light up his newest smoke. He kept a window open to breathe out, knowing how his sister disliked it.

“Your place is lovely,” Roderich commented, gladly taking from the coffee, insisting Feliciano took his own.

“Thanks. Now, what is it that you came here for?” He didn’t want to waste any more time.

“Tim!” Laura scolded.

“What? I’m sure they want to get it over with too.”

“Yes, if we may, please,” Ludwig finally worded and to his surprise, Tim didn’t react any differently, only inhaling more smoke to blow out the window in the usual.

Ludwig took a deep breath to begin well. “First, let me introduce you to Feliciano Valenti, a friend who is helping us with a very important project-”

“Yeah, Laura told me about him, get on with it.”

Ludwig sighed, “right. Laura told us you keep a painting she found which can help us with our search.”

“Which one?” This question Tim directed to his sister.

“You…know the one,” she spared a glance to Feliciano and in that way, Tim instantly knew which one it was.

“Ah…come with me,” he led them down the halls to one of the most backside rooms, opening a door to reveal a cabin working like a sort of basement, with countless of items that ranged from cleaning supplies, seasonal decorations, beers, tools, parts, knick knacks and of course different canvases with different painted themes, but the most important one, the one they came for stood well in the center back, rather large, with a beautiful golden framework to accompany the beauty that presented.

“That’s…” Ludwig pointed to the figure in it… a boy, dressed discreetly in a transparent and silk robe falling from his shoulders. He stood covered in the guard of a bush, decorated with the most beautifully painted flowers, some adorning the figure’s curly hair and with petals falling on his body and robe.

“It’s… Feliciano…” Roderich worded the recognition.

Feliciano came closer to it, the image like staring into a mirror, but he hoped for more clues, a memory, an idea, but the distinctive colors didn’t say anything else.

“Is he a… relative perhaps, of the model in this picture,” Tim wondered, still slightly shaken at meeting such a lively representation.

They kept silent not knowing how to answer without revealing too much.

“Um…it’s uh…uh…” Roderich tried to find any instant excuse.

“It-It’s…a coincidence!” Ludwig tried to defend.

“Feliciano was just trying to find something that look closely enough to himself,” Laura helped along.

“What for?”

“A school project!” Was the best Roderich could concoct.

“What kind of school project sends you to find paintings that look like yourself?”

“It’s all the rage in the young academic world!”

“Ah yes, the academic world making no sense as per usual. I don’t even know how in the hell this even relates to the statue.”

They went on discussing, Feliciano wishing he could block out all the noises, hoping it could better help him to read.

There had to be a code, a message. He looked for a signature, written: P.G. Grimaldo.

It was familiar. He knew that name surely, he had heard it once before…from someone close to him.

Grimaldo…Grimaldo…Grimaldo…

‘I have a dear friend, Pasqualino Grimaldo…’ he hadn’t heard it in the past, but read it, yet he could still hear the tone of that person. ‘He is eager to paint you…he has heard so many stories…’ the voice was dear… he missed it…he missed his father.

“Papa…” he suddenly said, interrupting well the words being swung behind him.

Feliciano brought a hand close, as if he could caress him through this painting.

“Your father? Did your father…make this?” Ludwig was the only to come close.

“No…no he didn’t, he… only commissioned it.”

“Commissioned? A painting for you? Feliciano, that was incredibly expensive to do in those times, and I understand that the reason your grandfather chose to avoid him was because he was of lower class. The documents themselves mentioned you had no relation to him,” Roderich reminded.

“My grandfather refused to have anything written about him in our family papers, but we were still close…I…remember playing with him and my brother in hidden valleys…Mamma smiling so sweetly. I remember when he sent me golden paint as a gift. I remember traveling to Venice often to see him…I remember why I had come to Brussels in the first place.”

“Wasn’t it a sketching trip?” Laura joined along, Tim standing incredibly confused in the background.

“Yes, yes, with my master…but he found out I was coming and came down from Amsterdam…he…was doing business here at the time…he…he was a trader.” He glowed, he smiled, lost in memories and Ludwig couldn’t help but smile knowing Feliciano had that comfort in such a long and sudden laying of far off memories.

“A really good one at that…sometimes I think Nonno was just jealous…” he remembered fights and separations, ones he preferred not to word, as to not ruin the elation that sparked.

“But…I had also come to Brussels to model for him, for Pasqualino Guerriero Grimaldo…”

“I…never knew that was his full name…and I had tried so hard to find that…” Laura bewildered.

“This…” Feliciano spread his fingers around the painting gently, not disturbing anything as to make Laura or Tim worry. “Was a gift I was supposed to get myself here…long ago, but I…never made it…I got the message and shortly after…”

“It happened to you,” Ludwig placed, hurt for his friend.

“Yes…” Feliciano let his hand fall, with it whatever wish to keep looking. It was reminding him of how he failed to reach and meet him. He wondered over what he could have thought, over what happened to him afterwards…did he think him dead? Did he try to search for him? He missed him dearly and wanted desperately a glimpse of him again, but despite the magic that was surrounding him, no such thing could occur to give him an assurance. The only comfort he got was feeling Ludwig’s proximity behind, nervous, sweet, surely wanting to do something to aid, and Feliciano smiled knowing that he simply had his reach.

“What happened to him?” Tim had to word out, lost clearly among this knowing crowd. “What…what is going on?” That’s when they had all noticed what they just let release completely, stuttering, glancing between themselves for any ideas. Feliciano had something, ready to turn and cover them all, but that’s when it started, the familiar light and spread.

“Oh no…” Roderich panicked, nothing near to cover and no words to use.

The light, the wind, the taking, pristine marble revealed and suddenly there was the statue of an angel, sinking the boat slightly more, Tim letting his pipe fall to ground, stupefied.

 

Air from the top deck, a new pipe, staring into the murky waters, an occasional passing boat, waving to the passengers as they hurried pass under the next bridge.

“Tim, say something!” Laura begged, the silence had been too long and Ludwig and Roderich were just as agitated.

“I’m still waiting to see if I wake up,” he admitted calmly.

“It’s. Not. A dream.” Laura punctuated.

“I think I’ll take a dive down there to really make sure,” he pointed with his pipe to the waters close.

“Oh god, no, not again. Do you have any idea how hard and even disgusting it is to get you out of there?”

It seemed like her older brother wasn’t even listening.

Laura suddenly stood, the other men wondering its purpose, but then she came back, a vase of water with her that she easily poured over the taller man, no reaction as he was drenched, only slight disappointment as this pipe’s smoke was gone.

“Fine, I know I’m awake now.” He had no other choice but to realize.

“Thanks,” Laura took sitting next to him, at least sure as this new silence reigned.

“So…this statue, comes to life…every now…and then, and you are all trying to figure out why this happens to him, about his life and I guess…how to stop it?”

“Yes, that’s the situation,” Roderich said.

“Interesting…” he could only omit, breathing, still getting into realization. “So…you have more information on his father now, we know whose in this painting…so…what’s the next step?” He truly wondered, trying to light up his next pipe.

Roderich and Laura shared the same question, looking over to Ludwig, hoping that he could perhaps hold the next clue.

“I…I…I really don’t know,” he admitted with a sigh.

“What?”

“Come on, Ludwig! Can’t we have a next heading at least?”

“I really don’t know. The only available choice is heading back to Munich and hoping we get more information from his returning memories.”

“The painting, the painting! There has to be something in the painting!” Roderich knew.

“It only got him to remember his father.”

“Think deeper about this,” Laura insisted.

“That Grimaldo fellow!”

“Just the painter,” Tim shrugged, seeming as given as Ludwig.

But then it alighted on Ludwig, looking up, finally with something. “Laura…do you happen to know anything about that painter?”

“Nothing much, just that he was a painter from Macerata who came to Belgium and the Netherlands with a group of traders.”

“Probably the very group Feliciano’s father came with.”

“I used to believe that he could have been someone related to the sketchbook artist, that is, Feliciano, maybe an apprentice, but now I realize that he must have been too old…or perhaps…” Laura suddenly took her phone, frantic in her search through files, pictures and messages, until she came with a definite folder, sitting between all so they could see the paintings. They were all of singular people, all so different, some dressed in Roman or Greek themes, others with important military uniforms of the time and others of the expectance and elegance and aristocracy of 16th and 17th century Italy.

“What about them?” Tim wondered.

“These are all paintings that I believe Grimaldo made.”

“But they all look so different.”

“Exactly! You see, my research group went and tried to find the figures of these paintings, and turns out they were all painters themselves, not recognizable ones, surely those who did it as pastime, but they were ranked and remarkable in other fields.” She searched through her phone, to another gallery, pointing and beginning to explain, “this is Gustavo Flaviano.” His sketches were simple ones of uniforms, helmets, beautifully crafted, surely for the paper and aesthetics, not all fit for battle.

“He was a designer, made all the uniforms for the infantries of Livorno in Tuscany. He was well known for on the night that an English and Dutch battle could reach their coast, he sent a warning sign by blowing one of their cannons, enough for not a single boat to come close. That single act saved the entire city and he was well celebrated.”

She then switched to one of an old man, dressed like a noble, with many pinks and bright colors. “Lorenzo Palerma, a mere candy maker. He owed the most well-known shop in Parma for having beautifully crafted sweets. Many children loved him, and he was well known for taking in abandoned children to live with him. Documents say that he had as much as seventeen children living with him, all taken care of and growing to be people of fortune.”

Another picture, a woman of nobility, surrounded by wine and showing it proudly. “Olga Lucchese, duchess of Amaroni in Catanzaro. Her family was of wine makers. She was taught to be a woman of the house, to be a wife and mother. The only one of these duties she liked was painting, but she secretly practiced battle statics as she truly wanted to become a soldier. On a night that another town was to invade them, with the help of her maids and even some nuns from their convent, they battled and expulsed them out of the town, causing news and words to spread. The town was left alone and no one dared to attack again.”

“Okay, so, what does this all have to do with Feliciano?” Tim was getting slightly annoyed.

“Don’t you get it! Grimaldo only painted hidden painters that held great stories! And he would then do their portraits based on their own styles!” Laura insisted, close to hitting all the men to make them understand as she had so easily done.

“So…if he painted Feliciano…that meant that he must have done something grand to have caught Grimaldo’s attention in the first place,” Ludwig understood.

“Didn’t his father commission it?” Roderich reminded.

“A lot of these paintings were also commissioned,” Laura added as she pointed to her phone.

“Then…what did Feliciano do?” Roderich now presented a new question to the list of the many they held.

Silence as each tried to get an idea from what they knew.

“A painter born in Venice…the youngest son of a forbidden romance between a Florentine noblewoman and a tradesman…that could be it…”

“No, there must be much more,” Tim released his pipe to tap it at his knees, joining all in the wondering.

“Like I said, we have no other choice than to wait,” Ludwig decreed them in their dead end, all slumping, sighing and having to accept this stillness.

“I assume we’ll be heading back to Munich tomorrow then,” Roderich suggested.

“Nonsense. Stay here a couple of days,” Time actually suggested, a glad air on him despite no such grin.

“Why should we? There’s really nothing else we can do for Feliciano here.”

“You can all relax,” he said with an imposing scold. “You all look exhausted and need some time to keep your mind off mysteries and old Italian stories. I prepared the boat for your visit, there’s enough food to last however long you wish to stay. There’s room, you can take a swim-” Laura grimaced, enough suggestion not to “-or take a smoke. I don’t really mind.” He stood, decided on starting lunch for now. “I am curious about Feliciano though…and I hope you don’t mind if I give him a tour of the city tomorrow. We can take a trip on my motorboat and I’ll pay whatever tickets we need.”

Ludwig was sure Feliciano would love it all and he couldn’t help but raise at the excitement tomorrow held.

Chapter Text

It was on the very early rising sun that Feliciano transformed back to life. Naked, lonely, but luckily someone had left him a shirt on a near stand for him to take. He dressed himself on only it, no underwear, no pants, he took easy steps to the small halls, the entire boat quiet but with only occasional snores. He was ready to find Ludwig’s own room and join him as he usually did (he had long ago learned to ignore his command of not), when he caught a certain glow, coming from the stairs at the end of the hall. In his deep curiosity, he let it steer him away, following those colors till he was led to the deck of the boat, to the enhance of the sky, the surround of those singular buildings, the canal, a lonely dream only for him as nobody stirred. All the lights from the homes and boats were off, the bridges and streets empty, the only life but the painting the sun did as it begun the day. Feliciano was fueled with an old desire, one that he couldn’t tame easily. It didn’t take him long to find some old white panel, to get some markers that laid in the vicinity (mind you, he didn’t even know what they were, but guessed they would serve the purpose he wanted), take the best sitting with the best view and begin his first traces in, what he knew now, several centuries. Even unknowing of the items, they glided as naturally as he remembered, easy, taking the usual life that excited and only pushed him to continue on with new lines and shades. He had the trace of the buildings, the bridge, the canal, started the hardship that was drawing these kinds of boats and cars for the first time, concentrated, even the landscape disappearing as he repeated errors and only made more until the line was as perfectly placed as it should be. The new steps that came from below went unheard and it wasn’t until the new presence was full under the light of the new morning that Feliciano noticed him, sitting still and petrified as if he was caught committing a crime.

“I…I’m sorry…” he was still getting used to English.

Tim only shrugged, checking the ropes and that the deck was spotless. “Do what you want,” he reminded that he spoke German. “Also,” he opened one of the near compartments, throwing over some coloring pencils, checking another and getting a whole new blank book. Feliciano caught them, startled, looking to the items lost at their meaning. Tim wasn’t done though, he went to another, taking his longest as he rummaged, but he managed to find the bag with the pencils, also throwing, Feliciano catching it as well, all the items piling rather uncomfortably on his arms. “Figured you would want something more useful. I need those markers for the boat, kid.”

“Oh! Sorry about that!” He placed them, along with the panel back on the ground.

“It’s fine. I’m going to go get us some bread rolls. If anyone else wakes up, just tell them that.”

“Got it!”

Tim was just ready to take the ramp to the street, but the curiosity, the wonder on a statue come to life, held him back, still consuming questions on him. “You went to Brussels?”

“Apparently I did…I don’t remember it that well though.”

“Oh…I’m…going to assume you went to Amsterdam too?”

“I…don’t recall…” Feliciano smiled sheepishly.

“You can’t just make your way up here from Italy and only see Brussels. I’m sure you came here too…I’ll show it to you today…maybe then you’ll remember something.” He was down the ramp before Feliciano could give a proper reaction.

 

Feliciano had already made two sketches by the time they all came together for breakfast. He pridefully showed them, and they all awed, Laura especially about to shriek. As soon as all their breakfast plates were empty, Tim stood and ushered them all into his small boat. It was just enough to fit them all. Open, breezy, a blue sky above them that made the sightseeing promising. Ludwig was worried over all the horrendous sounds the motor made, but Tim didn’t seem bothered, easily starting and steering the boat to the biggest canal in the area.

Tim didn’t have a specific direction, he followed whatever felt right for the moment, it had Feliciano’s eyes widening, with loud laughs, points, wanting immediate stories that they all did their best to supply. He grew more ecstatic with each bridge they went under, with each new shine of detailed designs in such unique buildings, with the ring of bicycles and the waves of others who moved past them. They already had several scares of Feliciano falling overboard.

Tim halted the boat near the majesty of what Feliciano thought a palace. Roderich later explained it was actually a museum and so they spent what was left of the morning and early afternoon gazing about the paintings and artifacts. Feliciano and Laura were the most that shined like children, talking excessively on many. Tim and Ludwig were left with no other choice than to either pull or push them out before they ended up staying in the museum till closing time. They had lunch in one of the near restaurants, Feliciano having his first hamburger, such a dear sight that Ludwig couldn’t resist the picture taking. It was here that Tim had the…Ludwig didn’t know if the most brilliant or worst idea, to bike the city and see the non-water reachable sights. Sadly, Feliciano had not the slightest clue on how a bicycle worked and so they spent a good half an hour explaining the mechanisms, having the boy try, failing and coming down so many times they feared it wouldn’t be possible. They were determined though, and soon enough, Feliciano was well joining them on their crusade through the city. Ludwig was well by his side the entire time, so at any stumble, he was there to get him balanced and well on their route.

Tim didn’t miss the dear way they smiled at each other as they rode.

Sometimes, Feliciano stood at the most beautiful corners or hidden streets, taking in the colors, the whimsy and the diversity from any he had seen in the last few weeks. He would stare on for minutes, holding the rest of the group, Tim especially wondering what Feliciano found so impressive in these simple alleyways he had gotten used to.

“I wish I had brought a sketchbook with me,” he had told Ludwig in one of the many times he came to fetch him. Ludwig took some pictures for him to be able to stare at when they got back, so he didn’t spend so much time trying to memorize every crevice.

That night, as the sky slowly darkened above them, after returning, a fine dinner of fried seafood with peculiar sauces, Feliciano swiped through the pictures they had taken, not ever ceasing his wonder for this city. By now they were enjoying from drinks, Tim having made a small fire to keep them heated as well as to smoke whatever snack he brought. He had couches around it, so they were all comfortable and cozy, refreshing after such a day in the city. Feliciano, though, didn’t care how he wanted his own comfort shown to others, laying well on Ludwig’s shoulder, looking more tired, his swipes slower, disappearing slowly from the conversation they currently held.

“-and that’s why I need a new camera,” Laura had finished.

“What are you looking at me for?” Tim had begun a new pipe to smoke.

“Because you are my ever devoting and giving big brother,” she coed.

“I’m not giving you anything.”

“Come on! You’re always complaining on the quality of my pictures. I just thought I could help solve that issue.”

“That’s your own issue, I’m just giving my critique,” Tim shrugged.

“I know you have the money.”

“And I know you have more money than I do. So I don’t know what you’re complaining about.”

“I really thought I could get him to cave now,” Laura sighed.

“Tim has never changed,” Roderich reminded, not minding another glass of cream liquor.

Ludwig’s phone had now fallen to the couch, Feliciano’s eyes were hushed, even breaths, still in the deep comforts of Ludwig’s side, in such a peace everyone was fearful to speak and awake him from. It got Ludwig serene, not being able to hide the sweet smile, the slight lean that brought him more to him, even the way his hand twitched and raised, tempted at caressing his hand on his arm.

“Aren’t you two looking so sweet,” Tim commented, his own smile and tease.

Ludwig startled and had to erase all. “What are you talking about?”

“Your very obvious crush on Feliciano,” Laura smirked.

Ludwig scoffed, “please! It’s nothing. I’m just looking out for him.”

“He has grown to be a dear friend,” Roderich added.

“He is very sweet,” Laura smiled at his sleeping figure.

“I actually like him. I really hope you get to figure out what’s going on. I don’t know, but something seems dangerous about this all and I don’t want him to get hurt,” Tim pointed out.

“You saw how we’re trying…I…don’t want to lose him…” that sweet smile, that glow in his eyes, the fire reflecting it more. They all smirked at what it was growing to be, no matter Ludwig’s words.

“You really are gay.”

Ludwig startled his gaze upward, “excuse me?”

“It was never going to work out with my sister. To be honest, Laura, I’m surprised you still went ahead.”

Laura rolled her eyes, “I was confused, I didn’t know what to do. A lot of people were kind of pushing it and I just went through it not understanding anything.”

“To be honest…I felt the same way…I guess I was still trying to realize who I was and I had thought maybe Laura could help. She was an important partner, I thought we could work well together…but I confused emotions with business.”

“You’re a great guy, Ludwig, and you were a great person to be with…but it just wasn’t meant for more…I’m glad we’re well over it and we can still be friends and work together,” Laura smiled truthfully, Ludwig joining in hers.

“If I was ever aggressive, I was just looking out for her. She is my sister after all. Don’t want her to get hurt or anything. I’m glad you never really betrayed her trust and it didn’t end up…so badly.”

“Well, I mean, next time, don’t break up with someone in front of their entire family on an expensive dinner,” Laura told, a smirk that grew to a laugh.

“I’m…I’m still so sorry,” Ludwig apologized in aguish still between the laughs.

Tim waved a hand with his pipe, “whatever. With this one at least you don’t have to worry about ever doing that. His family is in another century,” Tim thought it positive, joined with others in grins, but Ludwig momentarily saddened at the fact that Feliciano truly was alone and had no family to depend on. He only had him, maybe Roderich, and yeah, maybe Tim and Laura, but that was the end of the extend, that was as much comfort he could have many years away from his own people. The thought pushed him closer to him, hoping to somehow give him that familiar comfort that told him that he can confide in him as some sort of family.

“Seriously…are you sure you two are not dating?” Tim found it incredibly hard to believe.

Ludwig rolled his eyes, beginning to get used to these assumptions, not as angered as in the beginning. “No…no, we are not…and if we were, I don’t know if I would call in that in our predicament,” Ludwig told…still with his arm giving him the ever-loving caress.

“So, is it like…you have something for him and he might not for you?” Laura tried to guess.

“It’s nothing,” Ludwig angered, gritting his teeth.

“Or perhaps that you’re both oblivious to being in strong ravaging love with each other,” Roderich had to add.

“Please, I beg out of all of you, stop. It’s nothing that you’re thinking…I’m just…”

He’s…what? He couldn’t answer, he couldn’t fill. The answer he thought he had floating above him, he didn’t tell, somehow sensing that it was not the truth. “Look, it’s not going to work out,” he thought he could finish.

“Sure, he’s almost four hundred and fifty years old, is cursed with a weird statue spell and is sometimes finding it hard to adjust to our times…but he’s really cute and can learn pretty quickly. Once you solve this thing, he’ll be like any other person and you can go straight to banging,” Tim shrugged and told without really noticing the severity of his words. It brought an awkward silence.

“I-” Ludwig couldn’t bring any rebuttal as that very moment his phone began to ring. He instantly took it, for a moment surprised on how Feliciano kept on resting despite it.

“Where are you?” Francis said before anything.

“I’m…” he looked about him…on a houseboat, in a scenic canal in Amsterdam. “Munich. What is it?”

“The exhibition is in three days and I need you and the statue in Paris, now.”

Ludwig’s eyes widened, the rest startling, paying close attention to the call, beginning to stand as if ready to act that instant.

“I…I…” he currently began to thread his fingers through Feliciano’s silky soft curls, still in his depth of sleep. “I…completely forgot,” he admitted truthfully.

“How could you? It was one of the first things I told you. I thought you had it marked in at least three different calendars.”

“I…I’m sorry, there’s just been…a lot on my mind lately.”

“For your sake, I hope it’s all about the statue.”

Well…yeah.

“A lot of…research…I’ve…managed to find out a lot.”

“That is what I wanted to hear and it’s also why we need you here as soon as possible. Whatever new information you found has to be added to the presentation now.”

“I’ll…” it all showed around him like a big mess. He hadn’t felt this strained in a long time, constricting and even gaining sweat.

So much to prepare, do, paperwork, charts, schedules, tickets, hotels, teams…transformation and magic. “I’ll be there tomorrow.”

“Parfait. I can send my team to pick up the statue along with all-”

“That won’t be necessary I’ll have…” the rest pointed to themselves, eyes wide in a beg. “…my own team. They’re more than capable.”

Francis sighed, “very well. Anything else that I must arrange, please let me know. I’ll send you an e-mail with the rest of the information.”

“Got it. I’ll get into it tonight,” he rubbed his temple, eyes hurting already at the sleepless night to come.

“All right then. We’ll meet at the presentation. Au revoir.” Francis ended the call and Ludwig held a strong impulse to crush his phone in the palm of his hand.

“We’re going to Paris then,” Roderich assumed, already taking out his phone to do the favor of getting them their train tickets.

“What else can we do?” Ludwig groaned.

“And we are coming!” Laura declared, standing up ready to act.

“Absolutely not! I don’t need to drag more people with me…I already have to drag a statue sometimes.” He was incredibly impressed on how Feliciano continued to sleep.

“Lud, it’s obvious on your face that this is a lot and you need more help,” Tim saw.

“I…I can manage,” he tried to excuse.

“No! We’re going and you will use our aid,” Tim stood along with his sister.

“Wow, Tim, I didn’t think you would be this interested,” Laura smirked.

“I’m curious now. I need to see where this ends up.”

“This is not for fun, Tim. This is a crucial mission with somebody’s life at stake,” Ludwig reminded.

“I know that. Stop changing the subject and tell us what we have to do.”

“-I haven’t thought about it!”

“Tell us what you need,” Laura persisted.

“Professionals! People that Francis won’t question!”

Laura cleared her throat, coming with an air of pride, “have you forgotten that I am also an archeologist with extensive experience researching Renaissance art as well as those of the Dutch and Belgian golden age. I know Francis Bonnefoy…we studied and have worked together…I’m sure he won’t have a problem.”

“What about Tim?”

“Well we do need a guard. Someone who knows about Feliciano and can act quick at whatever instance.”

“Guard?”

Tim shrugged, “did so for some time. Worked at the Rijk museum even.”

“Ludwig, this is perfect,” Roderich addressed.

Ludwig sighed, “fine…but taking everything that is happening…how are we going to deal with this?”

“I’m getting all our train tickets and contacting Francis everything he needs to know about Tim and Laura…I stretched some things, but enough that he can trust them to work with the statue.”

“We have to convince Francis to let us control the opening of the exhibition-”

“-all in accord with Feliciano’s transformation…I’ve made a time chart with approximations that we can make use of.”

“I’ll act quick and close at any change.”

“I’ll be there always if anything.”

“As will we,” Laura added, Roderich joining in her words.

Ludwig sighed, “I’ll…get my laptop and work on anything that’s missing…we leave first thing in the morning.”

 

Feliciano had transformed late in the night, which meant that, very suddenly, they had to arrange crates and care to be able to board the statue on the train. They couldn’t manage someone to stay by the haul, so Ludwig had no choice but to leave a flashlight and a message letting know Feliciano what was going on. He just hoped desperately he wouldn’t panic and that he understood what he had to do in the case they had to open the crate while he was alive. Yet, to their luck, Feliciano had yet to transform when they arrived at the Gare du Nord station in Paris, even when they arrived to the famed Louvre, even for when he was placed in what would be his wing of presentation. Ludwig gave a deep breath of relief. Still, this was only the first day of what was meant to be a stay of twelve and there was much to organize for. They had two days to know the surroundings, to convince Francis of a schedule they could work in and even to control the amount of people that go in.

“The statue is much more fragile than we had thought,” Ludwig convinced.

Thankfully, Francis headed to all their words and so on the day of the opening, they were prepared and ready. Nobody had caught Feliciano in his transformations, privacy for them to tell Feliciano how he was to act and he well understood, and so they played their part. An immense crowd came that first night, piling largely the hall before the entrance. Ludwig and the rest would have thought they were just desperate tourist, but the finery in their clothes, their eloquent French, English, German and Spanish told otherwise. These were all surely academics, students and aficionados wanting to see the statue they had heard so much talk about…as well as see any new discoveries Ludwig Beilschmidt had made. Ludwig groaned knowing all the questions that would be directed and begged from him by these hounds. Laura had just helped him place the sign of instructions before the door, some taking interest and making way out of what had been their conversations. Ludwig and Laura joined Tim and Roderich closer now, knowing that the opening was only minutes away. The three of them looked quite small beside Tim, his tall length giving him the perfect leverage to gaze above all, menace and tyranny that made many fearful, moving away from the door as intended.

“You were a shoe in for this,” Laura told him with a proud smirk.

“They’re paying me a lot.”

Ludwig, now more than ever, was attentive to his watch, various alarms to all possible transformations. “The next one should occur in four hours,” he told them.

“That’s perfect! The event ends in three. We’re more than sure,” Laura excited.

“I hope you heard correctly, Laura. It’s only an assumption. We still have to keep watch and be ready to act at the smallest chance,” Roderich reminded.

“We already tested everything out. It’s going to be fine.”

The first beeping from Ludwig’s watch came, telling them it was time to open the doors and begin the exhibition. He nodded to Tim and they both unlocked and pushed, only letting in an organized line of ten people first. In those first ten was Francis, extending his arms as if he was presenting something of his own creation. Ludwig didn’t know if the females awed over the statue…or just the Frenchman. Tim stayed by the entrance, Ludwig came in with Roderich and Laura, who were meant to stay at the statue’s side, to guard, and to press the closing button at the first emergency. Every group of ten that came had a limit of ten minutes to look at the posters and plaques of all the recently found information, then another five minutes to just be before the statue and stare. Laura and Roderich kept faithful count, while Ludwig spoke to those who came for questions and details on how he made his findings. He had planned well a story he told almost robotically so he could focus on the watches he kept glued on the statue. To be honest, he liked that Francis stayed by him, to take the conversation…instead of flirting with at least one person of each group that came.

In the next two hours that came, everything ran smoothly. All did well to obey the presented instructions. Tim had told them that the amount of people in the hall was lessening and no sign for Feliciano to transform. Ludwig could finally let himself ease, the group who entered anew one of the last few. As per usual, they went to the posters detailing the information they cared about the most, spread, chattered whispers between the smaller groups that formed. Soon they were to come to him, with questions on how it was like working for this statue, any secrets not mentioned in the exhibition and restoration procedures. But for now, Ludwig had peace, he could breathe, relish on how it was almost over. He needed these nine…wait, nine? Where’s the-? Ludwig turned to spot a singular man standing right before the statue…at a closeness that he deemed dangerous.

“Excuse me, sir, but you are not allowed to be before the statue yet. Please move to this side of the exhibition and wait for the group to be ready. You will then have all the necessary time you need to watch,” Ludwig instructed, in the composure he was taught to show for this event.

“Hm?” The man turned to him like he had said nothing at all, only now noticing his closeness.

“Oh yes, just a moment.” And he turned back to the statue and made no effort to move.

Ludwig groaned, letting it be evident, “sir, you will have your time. Please, move aside.”

“Found in Venice? Nothing else? It was alone?” He instead went to asking, expecting that instant answer.

Ludwig took a breath, “I will gladly answer all your questions if you only move to this side of the exhibition.” He kept his insistence, his hands extended showing where the man could move.

“I understand that you found a sketchbook that relates to it, perhaps the same artist. Grimaldo has been mentioned, but only as someone who was involved. Any other depths to what their relationship could have been?”

Ludwig was stupefied with how he yet stayed there and didn’t bother to give any other movement away. He stayed silent, refusing to take part in…whatever game this was meant to be.

“You’re…you’re Ludwig Beilschmidt aren’t you?” He questioned him, looking disappointed at what he saw.

“Yes…yes, I am,” he had to burst whatever bubbles he had.

“So, you’re in charge of all this, basically?” He pointed around to the exhibition.

“Yes, I am, now will you please-”

“How much?”

Ludwig startled, “how much for what?”

“For the statue,” he pointed and talked on like it was any other discount offer.

All everyone see is a statue, a statue. They don’t know about Feliciano, they don’t think it can come to life, he repeated to himself so he wouldn’t flare and go off on such a crazed business. He took a deep breath before he answered him, “sir, the statue is not for sale.”

“I’m asking how much you want for it?”

“Nothing. I will not be selling the statue for anything.”

“Oh come on, there has to be something that you want over it. You name it and I’ll give it to you. Simple, consider it done even,” he snapped his fingers as if to declare it.

“Will you get out, sir!” This time he pointed to the exit, in a rash force that caught the attention of many, even Roderich and Laura stopping their chat to stare.

This strange man huffed, still in the same stance, now angry and menacing, coming closer so Ludwig could hear his growl. “Herr Beilschmidt, this is the easiest way to meet my demands. You deny me now, and it will only get much harder.”

“You have no right to demand for it and no reason to have it,” Ludwig answered in the same growl.

“Quite frankly, I actually do have my reasons,” he neared more, the harshness more intense.

“Not sustainable enough!”

“I know what this statue is…I know what it can do…” said in the lowest of his whispers, yet their potent enough to blow Ludwig into startlement, eyes widened and for once losing the demand he kept on his body.

No…nobody else was supposed to know. He had kept it tight, he trusted all in his group to keep it just as secretive…how could…how could…

“Ah…and you do as well,” he smirked, liking how clearly he saw everything.

Ludwig refused to be defeated though, his menacing stare returning with ease.

“I have information to complete this mystery and give you unimaginable fame and wealth," he suggested with grand temptation, for a moment sounding truthful and helpful.

Information…he knew more…he probably had pieces that could indeed finish the picture of what Feliciano was. He…could know everything, they could maybe even stop this…Feliciano would be free… but not when it depended on the hands of man that Ludwig felt great unease from, nothing to trust in even the way he masked his dark eyes to show sympathy and care.

“All I ask is that you give it to me, to do at my bidding. I’ll give you all the credit and soon enough you’ll have everything you desire.”

No…it was not worth putting Feliciano at this risk. Whatever information he had…he’ll find it himself, that decree strong in the anger he tried to pierce into the man.

“Get out…” Ludwig enunciated again.

And the man breathed, of course not accepting so easily, ready to head forward, Ludwig worried he would pick something dangerous from his pockets to use.

“Ah, Monsieur Montaje! I don’t remember seeing you on the list!” Francis smiled on despite the threat, a friendly arm around his shoulder as he turned and began to pace him away.

“Bonnefoy, my friend, you know you can’t keep me away,” he joined in his smile despite the sharpness.

Francis laughed and patted his back in a way that looked so dearly, but then he pointed to the hall that led to the courtyard. “Get out or else I’ll call the police.” And for once there was intimidating anger, blazing, unbeknown from the Frenchman.

This Montaje took one last glimpse of the statue, a blaming glare to Ludwig. He fixed the collar of his suit and left without another word or action. The room was tense, no one daring to utter even a breath, all sharing that realization of what just happened and trying to understand it.

They let that last group their gaze and as soon as they were out the threshold, the room was closed in finality, leaving it only for the leading five members to breathe out the relief of success.

“Who was that guy?” Laura instantly went to question, taking quite a dear side to Feliciano, as if ready to protect that instant.

“No one we should give further concerns about,” Francis thought he could quickly dismiss.

“Francis, he wants to take the statue. He was just trying to bribe me, even went as far as threatening,” Ludwig angered at Francis’s indifference.

“That’s plenty to be concern about,” Tim joined.

“Francis, what is going on? We are entitled to know as the main managers of the statue,” Roderich demanded, putting Francis in a tight corner that had no other choice but to tell.

He sighed, clearly still not what he would prefer to say, “the man you just met is Keron Montaje…sometimes they like to call him Khaos. Where he’s from, what he does or other personal matters, I do not know. I have a team of investigators trying to find out as much as they can, but we always end up with the same blank. Whatever he does, he hides it well. Ever since the discovery of the statue, he’s been harassing me with calls, unannounced visits and yes, I’ve received my own threats as well.”

“Why is he so insisting? What would he want with this particular statue?” Laura wondered.

Francis went silent, surely in his thoughts thinking on how to expose this part. “He thinks the statue is somehow alive.”

All four had to forcefully feign surprise at such utter worldly accusation, but also the wonderment at how someone, outside of this known circle, could now about Feliciano’s case.

“That’s insane,” Tim said. “Why would he get an idea like that?”

“I haven’t been told anything else. He just mentioned that it could come to life and that he is the only one that can deal with it. He says that he knows about it, everything that were desperately trying to research, but doesn’t let himself say more unless I promise that I will hand him the statue.”

“Have you…considered it?” Roderich worried.

“What? Of course not!”

There was a sudden rustling, only Ludwig familiar to it, widened eyes and panic to the still exposed glass where the statue was displayed.

“The man is clearly psychotic! Out of his head! Or surely the most foolish attempt I have seen to steal the statue.”

Small glimpses of light began along with the strengthening of wind, all noticing too late to act.

“I shall not be tricked in such a way. I have more dignity than whatever…mediocre treasure hunter out there.”

And to their dismay, Francis turned to the statue just that moment, in this shock of light that after its fade, showed the pristine body of this boy. Identical to the statue, a smoothed cream brazen skin, silky curled brown hair…it tousled with the wind, his arms and legs extended and moved, and his golden eyes opened in an exude of life. Feliciano smiled sweetly at Ludwig, at all the rest a welcoming wave, but it froze the moment he saw a figure that he had never met…who had never seen him presented in such a way. He tried to reach for a blanket or curtain he could use. When finding none, he tried to move into his usual pose…but no matter, it was too late…Francis already saw everything…blinking, mouth wide and eyes lost.

Chapter Text

Unlike how most of them reacted, Francis only stayed still. They expected a quick shout, a fall, a panic… Francis ended up getting along smoothly with Feliciano.

Those moments Feliciano was granted life, they spent it together, chatting and spending time as if they were very old friends.

After the discovery, he was swift to hear what they all had to say, not a moment tiring or panicking, only asking questions, needing a handkerchief to rub off the sweat gained and water to drink and…spray at himself. He hadn’t woken up, so he accepted the fact that this insanity was actually happening.

The first thing he wanted to say was his trust that it would all remain hidden and that they could count on his help for the continuation of their journey.

The good thing about having one of the main organizers know the secret of the Angel of Venice was that now everything could be tightened, new displays could be brought, curtains, visitor entrance better controlled, and more they counted on Francis’s presence as one of the watching members.

Feliciano was given more comforts, food of dreams, a new array of wardrobe, new paint materials, his own hotel room (He still always ended in Ludwig’s room), and a magnificent tour of Paris with a native that did well to explain the history, the beauty and art in every single corner.

In one part, Ludwig scorned and infuriated whenever the Frenchman put a hand on Feliciano’s waist, his gazes ongoing, flirting along like he was but another conquest he was trying to fulfill. In another, it was great Feliciano was opening, making new friends, exploring a new city, shining beautifully in his new clothes and more chances of being a human of their times. Francis had gone as far as getting him his first cellphone, Feliciano quick to glue himself, learning fast its uses and exciting himself with all the things he found.

Those days were bliss, Paris making it more that coat of pink that made them forgetful of everything else. But this night was meant to be their last. It was the one with the biggest crowd, the finest, as well as the one they had to keep their eyes most attentive on, worried over another threat, or Keron presenting himself again.

It was now late, all had gone through the exhibition, a last presentation by Francis and some words by Ludwig done. By now, all were in the halls busy with drinks, snacks and chatter. Music played, people were distracted in gorgeous dresses and perfectly fitted suits to really pay attention to what occurred behind the now closed doors of the exhibition. Ludwig had let the red curtain before the statue fall, as precaution for if anyone entered, as currently the statue was alive, sitting in his own case, a blanket wrapped around him as he swiped through the photos of his sketchbook on his new phone.

“This is outstanding! And you drew absolutely all of them?” Francis questioned as he sat beside him, an arm behind and leaning too close, Ludwig thought. He tried to hide his grimace as he paced behind them, pretending to be focused on removing items. Everything was supposed to be cleared so the hall would be ready for the next exhibition.

“Yes, but I still don’t remember doing all of them. There’s still so much we have to find out, so much we still don’t know.”

“You poor thing,” Francis let a hand caress at the side of his face for comfort. Feliciano didn’t mind it, smiling and letting himself lean. “I only wish there was more I could do to help.”

“You’ve done more than enough, I have to admit,” Ludwig said.

“Just a silly exhibition! Not any answers.”

“Well, we did find out we might have a mad treasure hunter on our trail.”

“I can assure you I will not let that man get any close to Feliciano,” Francis promised.

“So will I.”

Francis had never seen Ludwig more determined, standing strong and proud and well…dare he say, handsome even. He was surely not the only one thinking so, for he noticed the wonder, the stars in Feliciano’s eyes as he gazed onward to surely his shining knight. He stopped any tapping on his phone, it was like Francis was gone, his entire being breathing and living only for the other that went organizing about. In that moment…Francis realized something…raising a finger to hide the smirk that risked growing larger, making it obvious to the two who still continued to ignore him.

“Aaahhh, it’s like a fairytale!” Francis still let moan out, enchanted as if it was a beautiful drama played out before him in a theater.

“What are you going on about?” Ludwig was back to getting easily annoyed by him.

“This!” Francis extended his arms to the both of them, “an adventure that could come only from the words of my belle mémé.”

Ludwig feared he would soon burst into tears.

“Whose belle mémé?” Yet Feliciano wondered curiously.

“My grandmother! Always went on with stories of princesses being saved by princes, or female warriors fighting against dragons, cats that spoke to children, or…German Kings falling for Italian painters.”

“That last one was oddly specific…” Ludwig couldn’t help but notice.

“Because it is perfect for our fairy tale right here!” Francis hoped he had introduced with wonder.

“Get to the point!” Ludwig angered.

Francis was insulted at such a barbaric response. What kept him afloat was the assuring smile Feliciano gave him, truly eager and with eyes and ears open for the tale.

“Fine! There’s this story, of the many my sweet grandmother would tell me, about a German King who ruled with the iron first of his kind. Unmerciful, ruthless, pure dark evil and ferocity that kept little me crying every time my mémé mentioned it,” he moaned as if he was going through that childish pain again. “But, after all, he was a King, and he had to keep some sense of diplomacy. His kingdom had been looking for a trustworthy trade route from one of the duchies in the north of Italy, and so, to prove their worth to the merchants of the time, they offered their castle as a stead for anyone that was making route upwards through the continent, promising loyalty and protection from any kind of threat. The Italians of the time felt confident in the King’s wrath and power, and so accepted. The very first group they received were painters from Florence, a master with his five apprentices.”

Feliciano’s eyes suddenly widened, for something had reached him, he suddenly had a memory of chatter…with five others…something about how the passage through the alps had been difficult…but that soon they would be comfortable.

“All were excellent masters, all had art that intrigued and fascinated the King, but one, a mere youth of eighteen, had proven to be the master of his heart.” Francis bellowed, leaving silence…as if expecting applause. Ludwig remained as unperturbed, if anything he got more annoyed when Francis added this completely unnecessary theatrics.

“Francis…please just focus on the rest of the story.”

“Ugh,” Francis annoyed but continued, “anyways, one of the apprentices caught his eye, for, as my mémé would say, he had been divine, gorgeous, the most angelic of all creatures the King had ever seen. I wondered many times if it had been love at first sight. But the King also loved him for his whim, his joy present at the harshest, his knowledge, deep as any he would read in his books, and an energy that could rival the sun.”

To Ludwig…it was as if he was describing…he laid his eyes on Feliciano…who he then noticed was lost, distant…yet the words brought a pain that began to grow with each grip he gave to the seat he took.

“And the apprentice? He had taken a glimpse to the kindness, the comfort and warmth of someone who many had seen as cold and evil. Their minds were of the same intelligence, of the same understanding, one that connected and brought forward the apprentice to the king’s clutches of desire…”

Ludwig found it hard to pay attention as Francis went on with short stories of strolls through forests and castle halls, his worry lay fully on Feliciano, whose shakes turned stronger, his eyes the more lost…placing himself…remembering.

“-the group went on with its journey…but the apprentice and the king could not stand to separate without knowing if they will see each other again. They promised contact with letters. Mémé told me the king sent the apprentice poems upon poems confessing all the show of his devotion and the apprentice replied with the same ardiant love.”

Feliciano put his hands to his chest, as if forcing his heart to remember a name…just a name, the push so much it looked painful.

When Ludwig and Feliciano thought they could have more answers, more stories, more romance, Frances sighed just as broken, “but alas, the ending is one of tragedy.”

And they both looked up with that disappointment that always came at the words, but Francis was surprised to see how deep the hurt rang in their eyes.

“They met one last time as the apprentices came from a trip further north to then return to Italy. They had promised to meet again afterwards, saying goodbye gleefully with that hope. The king had a place ready for him in his court, and the apprentice surely counted and worked well the coming year to manage it…but suddenly, he had disappeared.”

Too familiar, it connected too well. Feliciano had inched closer, a show of begging for more words to this story than just that bitter ending, more reveal, a change that wasn’t what had happened.

“Many versions of the story say he died out of a sudden sickness, others that he had been murdered in jealous rage or that he had drowned himself, perhaps in the misery of not seeing his beloved.”.

“And the king?” Ludwig questioned.

“Went crazy with the heartbreak. He died himself that very year.”

No…no…no…Feliciano shook and…tears fell down his cheeks. Ludwig couldn’t take it, he reached for him, offering a hand, an embrace, one that Feliciano accepted even if the pain that took him was too much to bring his arms around his large figure.

“What…what is wrong?” It was now that Francis noticed Feliciano’s state. Neither could answer, especially as Feliciano began to breathe heavily.

“I know this…I know this…” he managed to utter in between sobs.

“It’s okay, I’m here, I will listen, tell me what you can,” Ludwig comforted with a concentrated warm embrace. All that mattered to him that instant was him, keeping those tears, purging what he could so he could be at ease, smiling and heartfelt as he had learned he truly was. Ludwig didn’t understand how seeing Feliciano like this was like feeling this exact sting, hoping he could eradicate it all with a tighter embrace.

“His name was Ludwig…his name was Ludwig too…and he…meant the world to me.”

 

“Are you telling me Feliciano is the very apprentice from my Mémé’s stories?” Francis still paced hard, trying to understand it, sweating at the coincidence, at the chance. It was a feeling that was mutual across the whole group as they sat in their break room. Feliciano had turned and was placed in a special storage for now.

“Feliciano only reacts strongly like that when he starts getting memories. The memories he got this time was of this…Ludwig, king, guy…” some didn’t miss the way Ludwig said the name of the king with scorn and anger. “He told me everything later… I can assure you it’s him.”

Francis had to sit down to let it continue to settle.

“That explains why he can speak German,” Roderich raised his eyes.

“That’s sweet, he did it for love,” Laura dreamed and Ludwig groaned.

“It was useful. He had been staying in that king’s court for months.”

“This can help us. We can find out more. Francis, in your grandmother’s stories, did she ever mention what court it was?” Tim directed his question to him, Francis sitting, holding tight to a handkerchief to deal yet with the news.

“Sadly no, she never gave me any specifications. She didn’t even say the king’s or apprentice’s name.” And that’s when he suddenly remembered, releasing his tightness on the handkerchief, analyzing it before he uttered. “She did mention a town sometimes.”

“Where?” Ludwig stood in demand for that answer.

“Heidelberg.” He was sure.

“And that’s where we’re heading next!” Ludwig already decided, with a turn as if to leave that very moment back to Germany.

“And what exactly are we going to look for there?” Roderich stopped him before he went any further.

“For this King. There has to be information about him there. In turn we find out if there’s something about Feliciano. Maybe he can even get more memories by being there.” He refused to look at anyone in the face, afraid of what they would assume with his expression.

“And…do you actually want to know?…Do you want him to remember King Ludwig?” Laura dared to ask, sensing what Ludwig hid in himself.

There was a silence that gave enough answer.

“Yes…yes,” he answered, “it’s important for Feliciano. And now we have to hurry. Whatever is going on, we have to find out before Khaos does.”

How noble to put Feliciano above his own feelings. They all shared grins in knowing their next destination.

“Come on, let’s go.”

 

It was a spectacular sunny day, the kind that had Tim, Feliciano and Ludwig wearing short sleeves, Francis and Laura wearing their most expensive sunglasses…and Roderich wearing shorts. They looked like yet another of the tour groups vagabonding around the castle, fanning themselves with pamphlets and maps and staring on expecting some kind of performance from the ruins they saw. Feliciano did walk by with experience. Even though he couldn’t really remember everything to great detail, somehow he just knew where to stand, where to go, ignoring all maps…which in turn had him wandering to places that were now marked off from tourists or were not there any longer.

Feliciano presented to be both ecstatic, cheerful on the beauty, on the day, but there was a sting in knowing that it had changed, that it was not the place he had been to before. He had finally returned…but his King had long been gone and it left him with a melancholy that pained Ludwig to see. When he stared at the castle, he did so with anger, as if blaming it for all the hurt it was causing on Feliciano.

“Ludwig, no matter how much you glare at these walls, it’s not going to do anything about your devious hatred for the king,” Francis had to comment.

Ludwig groaned, “I’m not-” he didn’t want to bother. “What are you even doing here?” He directed his glare instead to the newly added person to their ventures.

Francis scoffed, “I will not leave Feliciano alone to your lust!” It was hard for Ludwig to see him as a protective figure when he was waving his hand on himself trying to find some fresh air to this heat.

“Is that…really all your concerns?” Like he would ever.

“I am also the director of the museum that the statue currently belongs to. As such, it is just my responsibility as yours to take care of it and make sure that we get to the bottom of this research venture.” He then took a look at Feliciano, chatting on with Laura happily, both taking grips to the rails that separated them from the old moat. “…I also just have a sweet spot for him…I want to make sure he’s well…as do you,” he winked. Ludwig blushed and turned away, back to the mission.

“Are we really here just to stare at old walls?” Tim already complained.

“No. Roderich and I made an appointment with the archives here, as well as the basement with other old items. We’re hoping to find something there.” Ludwig leaned on the rails, trying to imagine a distant past in this ground. Kings and Queens, servants and knights…Feliciano in his past, a gorgeous smile on his face as he ran towards his King. He could imagine an embrace, a kiss intense with passion. He looked away from it, deciding on settling his gaze on the green grass below him.

“Take Feliciano around. Bring him inside the castle. See if you can get him to remember something. Pay attention to my schedule and when he could transform. Roderich, Let’s go.” He motioned to Roderich, and the both of them left in the direction to the offices. Ludwig didn’t spare anything to Feliciano, who was left hurt, staring behind him as if calling yet for even a glance. But Ludwig was gone with no answer. Laura could tell well the hurt in Feliciano’s expression, placing her hand with his in comfort.

“Come, let’s see what we can find!” And just like that, Laura lifted Feliciano’s spirit, both hurrying like the children they sometimes passed. With the same smiles, Tim and Francis followed.

Ludwig and Roderich entered the castle, down old halls, passing old cellars and whatever old empty rooms with meanings that were forever lost. It was at the deepest part where the archive and offices lay. They showed their identifications and papers and were left in without another word. A secretary led them to the specific collection they asked, which was that of Feliciano’s Ludwig.

The King had lived a relatively short life, left no heirs or a large collection of items to fill up entire halls. He had a younger sister who the lineage continued with. The only items on him were all located in a distant corner…just a small collection of documents, books and small items like an old dark cape, jewelry and some pens. The secretary left them to themselves…she didn’t expect them to do much with what was left there.

“Is this really it?” Ludwig questioned.

Roderich looked to the next collection just in case, “seems like it.”

Ludwig groaned, “what can we possibly find here?” He harshly took a seat on a nearby chair, taking the first book he made contact with, landing it on the desk to start reading. To his misfortune, it was only a group of letters written to different royals across middle Europe. There was only tedious trade and politics he cared nothing for. Roderich had settled on taking a book holding different letters written to this King by the very people of the town. Hopefully any of them will mention something.

“Calm down. You know this kind of thing is never easy.” Roderich took his own seat and calmed, proving his own patience. “Something is clearly troubling you.”

“Nothing. I’m fine.”

“Really? Then what was on that letter you so harshly put away?”

Ludwig wasn’t concentrating, letting every single one pass on like nothing. He pouted and focused his attention then on actually reading, deciding to ignore whatever Roderich wanted him to talk about.

“It’s Feliciano.”

“No, it’s not.”

“You’re jealous.”

“I’m not. Why would I be jealous over a guy that lived almost four hundred years ago?”

Roderich shrugged, “it pains you to know that Feliciano already had someone he cared about in that way…perhaps a way you wanted to be cared for by him. So finding out more about this King Ludwig will only show more of the kind of relationship they used to share…and you would just be aching.”

Ludwig groaned, holding himself from slamming the book he had hard against the desk. This was ancient and he could get fined by the archives…and it did have historical worth. “Would everyone stop assuming that I have feelings for Feliciano? Haven’t I already talked about how weird it is?”

“Oh, come on Ludwig, it doesn’t really matter.” Roderich found nothing of worth there and went over to the next book.

“Not when it can distract me from the mission at hand here.” Ludwig pointed to the area they were in, all the books they were going through.

“The mission is Feliciano. All our attention is going to him. If you happen to care a lot more for him…then, shouldn’t that help us?” Roderich questioned.

It was at this moment that Ludwig took out a chest from the shelves, well preserved despite its years. He opened it with ease, no lock holding it. “But that kind of attention insinuates-” he read Feliciano Valenti in the very first stack of letters. Ludwig went for it as quickly as he would for the very man, tracing the name, trying to tell himself it was real and he had read it. It wasn’t the only, many other letters joined in the same writing, some bigger, some smaller, some with small packages.

“Roderich, look!” He brought the chest to him, already handing a pile to his cousin. He was careful and delicate with them, his eyes widening at the name, looking over to Ludwig with relief that they had found something. He was quick to open the first letter…it was a poem, describing the beauty of the sea, then changing to the canals of Venice, to them compare it all to Feliciano, love devotion and beauty that had Roderich gasping with emotion. Ludwig gripped his hands to not act on the first aggressive impulse. They quickly went on to the next one, this time another poem, the pain and ache of letting go clear. It was surely sent around the first time Feliciano left the castle. Another poem was of anger, jealous rage that crucified whoever man the King had been talking about here. They were both surprised at the amount of jealous poems, the utter violence in his hatred that even had them shaking centuries later.

“There’s a lot of these poems,” Roderich realized, holding on to a whole pile of them.

Ludwig then began going through a whole new pack of them…only to realize, “these are not the King’s.” It was not his style, these romances much more simpler, nothing compared to what surely the King had felt. He had his proof when at the end of these poems, a variety of different names were signed…and all were dedicated to Feliciano.

“What is going on here?” Roderich was shocked and confused.

“I have no idea…but we have to show these to Feliciano.”

Chapter Text

They gave copies of all the letters, King Ludwig’s as well as the other writers, to Feliciano. In front of him on the table of the restaurant they took in the Heidelberg town center. At first he stared at them with confusion, scared to touch them, but both Roderich and Ludwig insisted, so he went ahead and took the first letter. It had been the King’s…and he smiled and blushed, lost in its words, dreaming on as the rest made themselves comfortable, going through the menu and surely about to answer what exactly these letters were.

“Some are from Ludwig, but…I hope you can answer our questions concerning…the other people in these letters,” Ludwig said.

They gave Feliciano the time to read through them, his face for these specific letters nonchalant, sometimes confused or even disgusted, moving them aside as if they were trash the waiters could take when they passed by. He needed the time to remember, all those images coming with different pieces he took of the food they brought, until he had a clear image that could tell.

He put the letters down, not sure how to exactly word this part of his life that he just remembered.

Laura took a peak at only one of the letters, wide eyed instantly grasping it, reading the next while Feliciano thought on. “Who were all these guys?”

Feliciano thought it the perfect question to start with and answer. “Just um…different people who…had affections towards me…” he chuckled.

“There are a lot of people, Feliciano!” Laura practically scolded.

The others just had to take their own looks, some whistling or laughing…much to Feliciano’s embarrassment.

“This looks like the path of a golden seal player,” Tim joked.

“No, no! It’s not like that at all!” Feliciano had to defend, “they were just people I knew that really liked me and were always sending me stuff hoping I would love them the same…I remember sometimes they sent jewelry or horses.”

“Horses?” Francis was surprised.

“Some of them were trying too hard.”

“Why in the world did you receive so much attention like this?” Roderich asked.

“I did travel around the continent and because of my profession I was constantly introduced to men…that shared a liking to our same sex.” Adorably nervous.

“And they just drowned you so for your love in return? I’m still so confused.”

“Roderich, please, I beg you to open your eyes and realize that Feliciano is a beauty!” Francis practically shouted and Feliciano wanted to dive under the table from the blush that came. “An Italian painter making his way across europe. Of course he would receive such attention! Fools!” True insult as he continued his glass of wine.

“Thank you, Francis,” Ludwig sarcastically cut in, “and this happened constantly…didn't it? And Ludwig knew about it?”

Feliciano nodded.

Ludwig sighed, with a silence as he settled with an idea that he knew would gray, would disappoint Feliciano and make him even hate him perhaps…but he had to put up whatever suggestions that might help them. “Feliciano…did you ever think that maybe…King Ludwig was the one who did this to you.”

Of course he would fall, hoping Ludwig was not insinuating it. “He did what?”

Ludwig didn’t hesitate, “the one who made this transformation…the one who turned you into a statue.”

Silence settled on the table, insult spread, but on no one was it stronger than on Feliciano’s. “Why do you think he would do that to me?”

Ludwig had never recalled seeing such anger in his eyes, despite the calm he tried to keep on the rest of his body.

“Well…from what we can see in the letters, he was extremely jealous, nearing on violence. With the kind of power he had, he might have hired…some witch or enchanter and made you like this as a way to…perhaps keep you to himself without fretting about others…taking you away.”

Feliciano scoffed…not being able to even stare at Ludwig, hands clenching and for a moment everyone was worried he would throw one of the utensils at him. “You’re wrong…you’re really wrong! Ludwig…Ludwig would never do something like that!”

“Are you sure?”

“I am sure!” He spat this time. “The person who did this, I know I would be able to recognize them! I know we’ll be able to find him! But it wasn’t Ludwig…it wasn’t Ludwig!” He even stood up, shaking the table in his wake.

“Feliciano,” Laura came, holding him, just then an alarm going off on her phone, the same one that rang in everybody else’s. It meant that Feliciano only had a couple of minutes before he would transform.

“We have to get you to the hotel now!”

Whatever they were meant to say was pushed aside for the hurry of bringing him to a safe place.

 

He was in a well hidden corner, his now frozen state angry and furious, a stationary reminder of the conversation that had just taken place. Once they were all sitting down, they took their breaths and calmed.

“I’m sorry, Ludwig, but it was really rude of you to just assume that of King Ludwig. I know you’re jealous, but there's no need to blame him like that.”

Ludwig once again scoffed at being told he was jealous, but he decided to skip over it to defend himself. “It was an idea, one that I gave reason for believing. You’re all just so mixed up in your emotions for King Ludwig that you don’t acknowledge the possibility.”

“I have to side with Laura on this one,” Roderich came calm. “Yes, the King was jealous and angry…but he was too devoted to Feliciano to have done something like that. He just wanted to be with him, he was preparing the castle for his stay and died himself when he learned that Feliciano was not coming back. I don’t think turning him to a statue and then hiding him in some basement in Venice would have been his wish or answer to all of Feliciano's suitors.”

“If I might add, I think…with all these letters, we are not too far from the person who actually did it,” Tim took a pile of them in his hand to show.

“Feliciano didn’t recognize any of them,” Ludwig reminded.

“He skipped many actually,” Francis had noticed.

“And some…” Tim showed how he removed about three letters from one another, “are stuck together…surely from the age or humidity in those archives.”

“We only have to be careful we don’t damage the names as we do this,” Laura wanted to glare at how her brother so carelessly moved about those letters. It was an insult when she herself worked in an archive.

“So we make Feliciano go through them again?” Ludwig guessed as much, knowing how tiring it would be for him.

“How about we make it easier for him?” Francis stood up to suggest. “We go through every single letter and just write a list of names, perhaps with something singular that we think could help Feliciano to recognize the person more.”

“I’m not against this, we can try,” Roderich had no problem.

They divided the pile of letters between one another, each given a paper specifically just for names and other key words to this person. They made sure that all the letters were separate from others, indeed finding tons of new ones that surely Feliciano hadn't noticed.

As they began writing these names, they realized how diverse they were. It wasn’t just Dutch or German or Italian names. They found French, Spanish, Portugues, Greek, even as far as Arabic. They groaned, fearful that the culprit was somebody that had been far…and if it meant looking for answers or a cure, it meant traveling that distance.

By the end, they had a total of 86 letters, all left aghast at such a large number, sometimes laughing at the ordeal it must have been for Feliciano to deal with when already his heart was devoted to someone.

Whoever did this to Feliciano…Ludwig wasn't far from the truth…must have done this out of jealous rage.

By the next day, by Feliciano’s next transformation, the list and names were ready.

Usually when he awoke, the first thing he did was address himself to Ludwig somehow, be it a smile, a wave or just that look of infatuation that colored his face lovely. This time, still in anger, he simply took a seat and refused to look at him. And Ludwig…was hurt, holding to the paper he was to present to him with hesitation.

He didn't think not having his smile in welcome would deter him.

Everyone, who still worked around getting everything together, watched on as nothing happened between them, no greet, not a look, just showing clearly that Feliciano was still very much angry.

"Here," Ludwig ended up simply saying, dropping the first paper in front of him.

Feliciano was stubborn enough to not give it attention, but a mere peek at the title they had given this page was enough to break him from it, take and begin with the first of the offered names and descriptions. The rest figured they could take it from here.

"We read through all the letters and decided to make a list with all their names, along with some keywords of the specific letter they wrote you," Laura began, taking a seat next to him, handing him then the rest of the pages, enough to soothe the anguish of whatever exchange he just shared with Ludwig.

"We're hoping you can find him," Tim said, relieved after compiling.

"Find who?"

"The person who did this," Rodrich said, "we truly believe his name is in one of these letters."

"We need to see if you can recognize it, remember it…and then we can prove to your dearly beloved Ludwig here that what he said about the King was wrong." Ludwig glared at Francis. They didn't need that reminder right now…but it was one that brought determination to Feliciano, his eyes giving thorough examination to each of the names. He told himself he wouldn't pass to another until he got at least a memory, if even just a feeling of one. A lot of them were annoying, a roll of eyes, a sincere smile for those who had been sweet enough.

Feliciano was only on the 4th page, after that, he would be on the last. A lot of them were already beginning to mark this as a failure, when suddenly he paused. A widening of eyes, elongated, lost… Ludwig knew it was one of those long memories coming back to him. He shook, there was a crumple as he gripped his fingers on the paper.

"Elroy Kirkland," he read aloud.

They all perked, not knowing how to inch closer.

"Elroy Kirkland," he repeated. And suddenly he could see him clearly. Long blond hair a rugged mess that back then Feliciano wondered if it hid weapons or items of enchantment. Those green eyes, the freckles that covered him all throughout. He had a gorgeous face though, the kind he wanted to sketch and bring alive by his paints. He remembered he had accepted, but in the sessions, he grew to want Feliciano more, grew to believe and think that he could have him. Feliciano denied it all, a breaking that brought him to an edge, brought him to a pierce that wanted Feliciano dead in his vengeance.

"It's him…I know it's him…" he gripped hard, trying not to cave in to these tears, the memory hurtful, for it was the person who basically killed his existence in his own time. Ludwig was the first to stand and grab the paper from him.

Elroy Kirkland…he had read that letter…it was a fantasious one he remembered. He had compared Feliciano to an elf and wrote a sort of epic where he mentioned he tamed dragons and would get them to bring him treasures from around the globe. It sounded like a British name…but the letter didn't give them more information, just a date…which was around the time Feliciano had come back to Italy after his trip in the North.

Tim started googling what he could, while Francis took the paper instead and began his own examination of the name…it was way too familiar. He began to look into his own phone for some other hint while the rest faced once again to Feliciano, who began to take normal breaths again.

“What do you remember? What do you know now?” Ludwig insisted, being the one to sit right in front of him. Feliciano’s anger disappeared just like that, he came closer, their hands coming to such a close touch. Truly like nothing had made a tear between them.

At the end of the day, what mattered above all, was finding answers.

“Not much. I remembered fully how he looked….he…he was from England! He came to Venice…I went there to meet my father after I returned to Italy…even lived there before I was set to live in Heidelberg with Ludwig.” They all sat around like children listening to a fairytale. “He was a client of my father’s, one of the very few to make agreements with him. Apparently…many had been wary…there was…something off about him…there were rumors of him performing witchcraft.”

They all widened their eyes. Finally they were getting to the architect, the sculptor of this spell, of their whole predicament.

“I didn’t believe them…he had been so nice and cordial to me and papa. He complimented my art, even got me rare shining paint…”

“When did you notice he was trying to make advances at you?” Laura asked.

Feliciano darkened, realizing, remembering how deep his fear once was. “First this letter came…and I knew his feelings. Although I spoke and told him those were not my intentions with him, I even told him about King Ludwig…he didn’t seem to accept them…it was especially scary when he followed me on a trip to Florence.” They all shivered, Ludwig gripping his hands in fists. “I was going there just to tell my mother, grandfather and brother about going to Hidelberg, as well as just picking up some items…He was there…somehow trying to prove that he was more devoted, that I shouldn’t even go live with the king. He started going on about that he had power…unimaginable one that not even the King could compare to. He was…starting to get scary, began gripping me so badly when he started to get close. At some point, I couldn’t handle it any longer, so I shouted at him to leave me alone and tried to escape.”

“And then?” Roderich drew closer, expecting this to be the part where Feliciano finally reveals the details of when he was turned into the statue the first time.

“I…I don’t remember it too well. I know I went back to Venice, I went to my father’s home…and he was waiting for me there…that’s the last of it.”

They all groaned, yet again at an end.

“Do not fret and give up, my lovelies!” Francis returned, holding his phone high, “I believe I once again have another answer.”

“What? Did you happen to find Elroy Kirkland,” Tim joked.

“No, but close enough!”

And that’s when he presented to all the flier he had downloaded not too long ago. It was an invitation for an event, a luxurious ball in London celebrating the anniversary of a couple.

Samson and Brianna…Kirkland.

They all instantly shut up from their seats and shouted the name.

"This can't be the same ones," Roderich doubted, yet shivered with the possibility.

"I'm actually pretty sure," Francis defended as he let Tim and Laura take his phone and go through the information that was presented.

"What makes you so sure? And why do you even have this?" Laura heavily questioned, almost insulted.

"Long story short…" he began to blush, "I dated the couple's eldest son. Pretty serious relationship until he decided he wasn't willing to move to Paris with me." He still seemed hurt about that.

"Hm, never thought your romantic endeavors would be useful to us," Roderich commented.

"Still doesn't answer the question on how you know this family is truly related to Elroy Kirkland," Ludwig reminded.

"This might sound insane, but I actually believe they still possess some sort of connection to witchcraft…especially Arthur Kirkland."

"Whose he?" Laura wondered.

"Youngest of the five. Eccentric, always stood out in his family and his brother told me he had a history of constantly trying to run away."

"And?" Ludwig wished he could be more direct.

"If somebody actually knows about the kind of magic or spell Feliciano is under, I'm pretty sure it's him."

Ludwig sighed, "I need more proof that he's involved with magic other than him just being…eccentric and wanting to run away."

"I've seen him…talk to things that are not there and I truly believe he once turned me into a frog and just tried to convince me it was a dream."

The room was silent as they thought about their options.

"Could you get us to talk to him?"

"A Kirkland? At this short notice," Francis laughed, "Impossible."

"I thought you dated his older brother. You even got that invitation."

"An event that I doubt Arhur would make such a public appearance to. Although I'm pretty sure he'll still hang around it somehow."

"Then we just get into the party. Easy," Tim thought.

Francis sighed, "it's pretty exclusive, they don't let just anybody in…to be honest I'm surprised I even received an invitation, probably because they feel I won't make it."

"Then how can we possibly talk to him?" Roderich was getting exasperated.

"I'll sneak in," Ludwig broke suddenly, earning deep surprise from everyone around him.

"Sneak in? Are you sure about that?" Laura wondered.

Ludwig shrugged angrily, "well, what other options do we have? If Francis can't get us a direct meeting, then we'll have to settle with what we can. When is this event?"

Francis was surprised by the sudden urgency, but he did comply, "in two weeks, Saturday at 18:00."

"Roderich, can you get me and Feliciano flight tickets to London for then?"

"Since when am I- wait…just you and Feliciano?" Ludwig didn't think it odd until Rodeich pointed it out like that.

"Yeah just…Feliciano and me…" he realized it had become awkward.

All, even Feliciano, stared at Ludwig wondering if that was indeed a good idea…especially after what Ludwig had suggested the day before.

"May we wonder why?" Laura asked.

"It's bad enough I have to try to sneak in, plus prove to him it's real by presenting him to Feliciano. I can't deal with more people than what's necessary. Just leave me to deal with this alone and once we have whatever Arthur tells us, we can regroup and see what we do next."

Well…it did make sense…and they knew they couldn't really go against his word this time. They sighed and faced Feliciano…who looked bothered about it. Ludwig wanted to think it was because of the dread of riding another plane again.

"Sorry, Feli. But if you want answers, this is what you gotta do," Time broke.

Feliciano nodded and didn't bother to mention it again.

 

There was an issue getting them the appropriate identifications and travel papers to enter the United Kingdom. Roderich couldn't give them easy access as usual, all with the turmoil of dealing with a country that was not in the European union. They had a couple of days of hanging around the town. They made constant trips to the castle in the hopes Feliciano could remember more about his time there. It had been successful, but each time drove a wedge between Ludwig and him.

More memories of the king flooded him, having him staring blissfully into the distance as if hoping his wish for a kiss could bring him right back to him. And indeed it would only be the wind replying and Feliciano had to turn to continue his day in an era completely different from his own.

Feliciano would only speak to Ludwig when it was necessary, like things concerning his transformation or just getting food. It stung Ludwig and he knew he had to do something about it. He decided he would talk to him, be as honest as he could…he was actually looking forward to their trip to London.

The day had arrived, quite a melancholy air of goodbye at the airport in Frankfurt. Tim and Laura were going back to Amsterdam, Roderich was going to deal with other customers back at Salzburg, Francis had to go back to Paris and continue working on other exhibitions for the museums he worked with. They embraced, they wished the best and Feliciano was eager to see them again. It was an excitement he didn't share with Ludwig as he turned to him, knowing that for the next week at least, it would only be the two of them. The silence continued as they waited by the gate, by their calling, finding their seats, take off, but then finally, the plane had reached a cruising altitude that Feliciano was slowly starting to find relaxing. This flight surprisingly didn't have that many passengers, making it the more serene, quiet, privacy Ludwig knew he had to use. He had to be quick since Feliciano was drowsing.

"Feliciano," he started simply, earning a hum from the other that made him see he would listen. "I know I have to…talk about what I said." And now he knew he had his full attention with the way he opened his eyes from what he thought would be a nap. "I…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…accused the King like that. I just want to do the best in trying to find an answer and free you from this and I…take whatever chance I can get." He fell silent in case Feliciano wanted to say something, but he was content enough to keep listening. "But I shouldn't have doubted how he felt…how much he cared about you. I agree now…he loved you too much to do something like that. You had trust in one another…all these letters meant nothing. If…none of this would have happened, you would have happily lived with him your whole life, together and in love." And Feliciano now looked at him, those eyes with a joyful shine that Ludwig found himself smiling at as well. It was at that moment he realized how he just adored that smile…how he hated not having it the last few days, and here it was again, all for himself as beautiful as ever. "And I was just…" he went on…but then realized he couldn't really continue …because he was nervous to admit this part…was he really? It just seemed the most accurate, but if it was…then why? "...jealous."

Feliciano perked, "jealous? Why would you be?"

Ludwig sighed, taking in breaths and forcing himself to not turn red, to not divulge more why. The group was not here anymore, he didn't have to go through their comments and jeers. “I…uh…I…I like you a lot…like a friend I want to say!”

“Friend?” Somehow Feliciano’s eyes sparkled at the idea of just being…friends…Ludwig didn’t know if to be disappointed or relieved.

"And I don't like that you uh…had a…best friend." This was so desperate and embarrassing and he wanted to throw himself out of the plane.

"King Ludwig was actually my lover, but I don't have a best friend! You can be mine then, and now you don't have to be so jealous and say such mean things about him anymore."

"Incredible, I am honored," Ludwig said sarcastically, not sure if all of this just made him feel worse. But Feliciano did smile at him again, jumpy, suddenly new excitement in him that had Ludwig wondering if it would propel him out of his seat.

And like that, they returned to their conversations of discovery, of learning and driving one another closer.

Chapter Text

They arrived well to London that afternoon, hurrying then to their hotel just in time to catch a transformation. Ludwig used that time to research…well…what exactly he was going to do. He downloaded maps of the event building, memorizing every entrance, every hall, every room even if it wouldn’t be important to the party. He checked the social pages of all the Kirklands…groaning when he couldn’t find anything for Arthur. He was depending on that to see if maybe he could have an idea of where exactly in the party he would be. Then there's the issue of just getting in and how he could show one of Feliciano's transformations. Where could Feliciano stay long enough to not get suspicion? Would Arthur even tell them? Could they even meet Arthur? …could they even get into the party?

He grunted, throwing his pen to the notes he had scribbled. As he pulled and pushed at his hair and face as if riding off the stress, he felt behind him the bright light, breath, the shuffling as Feliciano got his clothes and to his relief…just decided to lean on his back as he looked over at what he was doing.

"So you have a plan, right?" Feliciano was excited and confident about it.

Ludwig groaned again and straightened his back to actually give more space for Feliciano to lay on. "Nothing! I don't even know how we're going to get there in the first place."

"But don't they have an address? And can't we just take a car? Walk right in…surely the guards won't notice with the amount of people there." Feliciano thought it simple, applying his knowledge of the feasts of his times.

"Feliciano…things are really different now. They give you a thorough inspection before letting you in. So no, we can't just go in…we risk being escorted by the police and really lose whatever chance at meeting Arthur…since they'll just think we're some criminals trying to kidnap him or something of the sort."

Oh…this is hard then, Feliciano realized. "Um…what would he do?" Feliciano suddenly interjected.

"We don't know him, Feliciano. We don't know what he would do, that's our issue."

"Then…what do you think he would do?"

Was he serious?

“I…I don’t know…if we go by what Francis said…then…probably in some dark corner trying to avoid everyone.”

“So, what’s the most secluded room there?” Feliciano looked over to the map, trying to figure it out himself if he could.

Ludwig made his own observation, making an idea from what he saw and what he had searched online. “This one,” he pointed, finding one that seemed the most likely. From the descriptions he read, it was a gallery of late 19th century busts of unimportant figures. The room was in a back corner, next to a really narrow area of the garden…he doubted personnel would be watching. And to their luck, it was right next to an alley…the only issue would be climbing the wall, but…they could come up with something.

“Feliciano…” he turned to him, locking eyes, “you’re actually on to something here.”

And he smiled back proudly, glad to be in the endeavor.

 

They made their way late, two hours after the party officially began. As expected, the front main entrance was packed with all kinds of dignitaries in expensive cars, guards scouting and checking perimeters, the guests in dresses and suits that had Feliciano awning. It all tempted him into its welcome, to just march in there and be a part of this beautiful spectacle. The moment he tried, Ludwig took a hold of his arm and led him instead to a very unseemly ally. They moved to the very back, Ludwig constantly looking back to make sure no one had caught them or was following. They reached a high wall, Ludwig inspecting how they could climb it. There were some cables, as well as some crates that he could arrange. In just a couple of minutes he had something that they could climb over.

"All right, so the plan is to-"

Feliciano had made his climb without issue, already taking a ready seat at the edge of the wall. He smiled down at him as if it was mere child's play. He had forgotten that Feliciano tended to do things like this to get good views of his cities to sketch. He sighed and followed after him.

As they suspected, and to their luck, no one was in the garden area of this building. It was dark, empty, almost like the commotion they saw at the front earlier was meant to be at another part of the city entirely. They looked below to just a bush as a cushion they could land on. Ludwig for a moment wondered if they could climb down the cable. He tried a hold of it but it wasn’t sturdy enough.

“Okay, how about-”

Feliciano just fell into the bush. “...ow,” he managed to utter.

Ludwig sighed and rolled his eyes, “for a guy from a time of geniuses, you don’t really do a lot of…genius.” He found some uneven bricks he could use to climb down, landing well and straight on the ground…and then having to help Feliciano get out of the bush. He groaned as he dusted him off from leaves and branches…that suit had been expensive…but it looked…really good on Feliciano, setting it back to its immaculate form that had him having to hold himself from drooling. Feliciano smiled in thanks before they settled their sights on the glass windows of the building. Tall and beautifully designed…making them think of a way to get in without destroying any of it. Ludwig had insisted they did so carefully, since they didn't know if security could decide to check this area on a whim or if it was part of a scouting that they just didn’t know about. But there was really no presence, no sound even, just their steps as they went up the stones stairs and trying their luck at the old wooden door there. No surprise there, it was locked. Ludwig tried pushing, shaking it a bit in some game while Feliciano watched…truly believing that Ludwig could have easily done it. After a last tug and Ludwig releasing his hold with a heavy groan, Feliciano understood that although yes Ludwig was strong…this seemed to be more so than him.

“Okay, we have to figure out another way in.” Ludwig had given up on the obvious.

They began looking for some other clue and luckily Feliciano had found it clear, smiling as if it had already given them the victory. "There!" He pointed up and Ludwig spotted it. An opening…over one of the large windows.

It was another round of minutes as they figured how to get up there. There was a hose in the area that they had to make do as rope, working with the very walls of the building to make their climb. The only sound they made was the creaking of the open window as they used it as leverage when coming in.

Their land was clean, although Feliciano was busy hiding a hurtful groan from the sudden force his legs took. Ludwig helped him how he could, the entire time telling him to remain quiet. It was dark around them, not even a late night fluorescent light to brighten up this vast collection of busts. Feliciano was instantly taken by them, mission and pain forgotten as he came to the closest one, just what seemed like any regular bust of a man of the times, still a curiosity Feliciano hadn't seen before. Ludwig followed behind him as he went through, not seeming to mind since there was no Arthur yet in sight. Feliciano took his time with each one as he usually did with any kind of art piece. Some he gave a soft touch, others he stared into their eyes, as if trying to awake them somehow.

"Nineteenth century practice busts, nothing special," Ludwig commented, noticing how many were disfigured, broken or had their nails clearly seen. Some he managed to catch pencil traces.

"They're still the effort, imagination and work of a person. My work at some point could have been one of these."

"I find that hard to believe."

Feliciano chuckled at this rare way of complimenting. "I had to start somehow, Ludwig, and contrary to what a lot of you think, I wasn't already making busts at four." He turned to one of a woman, probably the most put together of all. "I think they're all pretty…" and that's when he thought, and wanted to question, "...is my statue form as pretty?"

"Feliciano, you do know I'm supposed to be the main archeologist dealing with you as a statue right?"

He nodded, "but what does that mean?"

"That I have to really like the statue to do that. I pick my cases."

"So…?"

"You're beautiful."

And Ludwig couldn't indulge in the shade of red he turned when suddenly there was a sudden creeping sound, something coming closer, reaching to them.

"Feliciano, I think-" whatever this was acted much quicker. Before they knew it, they were tied, left without voices before their shouts could cause alarm. They were on the ground, squirming and trying to gather their movements again.

New footsteps came in, with ease reaching them, kneeling and letting a hand to check on the roping he had done. Hm, he had to admit, he was rather proud of himself. It had taken a while to practice the necessary magic for this, as well as lots of failed attempts. His culprits could barely move, despite how they tried to get glimpses.

"My parents are rather strict with who comes to these parties. Didn't recognize either of you so I'm assuming your criminals on a complot," he told them, deciding on turning the bigger one, seeing if he perhaps recognized him. That's when Ludwig took a look at him and realized. He wanted to shout it, a sudden and intense squirming that had the other moving his hand back quick. Ludwig couldn't speak, and a look at Feliciano proved he was in the same predicament. He tried so hard to reach out, a desperation that the man there saw, sighing, a small incantation under his lips for Ludwig's own to open and shout, "Arthur Kirkland!"

Arthur was taken aback. He was about ready to call the incantation again, Ludwig realizing he had to be quick. "I'm Ludwig Beilschmidt, archeologist and director for the research of the statue the Angel of Venice. The statue is alive and it's Feliciano here," he turned his gaze momentarily to point at him. "It was a long time ago and he says someone named Elroy Kirkland did it. We're trying to figure out why this is happening and if there's a way to stop it. Francois Bonnefoy told us that you might have some connection to magic and please, please, please help us. We've been searching for weeks and there's another guy who also knows what Feliciano is and I'm scared he's chasing us down and might even kill me!" Ludwig couldn't remember the last time he spoke this quick, breathing hard and trying to regulate it again after he was finished.

Arthur stared on for the longest while, still trying to understand and connect everything well. "What?" He questioned loudly into an echo.

Ludwig wanted to cry.

"Okay, so…you're not trying to kidnap anyone here or…steal anything?"

"No! I just need some questions answered! To be honest, I don't even know what your family does that you have to be this strict and reclusive!" It just made this whole thing more difficult.

"They work in politics."

"I really don't care."

Arthur smirked, standing and easily letting whatever incantation he had used fall. The ropes were gone from around them, dispersed back into whatever darkness as if they had never been there. Ludwig, even when free, stared trying to understand this…trying to make sense. He gave it less time than usual to instead go and help Feliciano back up.

This whole thing had started to make him less reactive to all these weird and magical occurrences.

“I can prove it. We just have to wait until he transforms. I have it all scheduled and his next turning should be in-” he checked on his watch quick, “-twenty minutes.”

"Don't bother, I believe you. I can already feel it from him." He gazed at Feliciano and instantly he looked elsewhere as if he was caught…Arthur looked eerily like Elroy. "Seeing the transformation might help somewhat but I think I can make a diagnosis without it." He went forward to Feliciano, a studious look as if he was but another of the frozen busts in the room. Feliciano visibly trembled, despite how he tried to keep calm…maybe all this jittery was making it more difficult for Arthur to find out. "Yep, this is a curse." Somehow they sighed as if it was all the result they needed.

"Can you tell us more about it?" Ludwig asked.

"Not here, come with me. We'll go to my flat where I can give you a more detailed explanation. We have twenty minutes right?"

“Eighteen now.”

“Then let’s hurry.”

Arthur simply turned away, expecting they would follow…which they did without hesitation…they were desperate for answers and Arthur had no problem offering it…it wasn't everyday that he met people believing his cries of magic.

He led them through the back halls of the building, out until they were at a parking lot, he took his keys and motioned them to get in in his red mini car. It was an awkward ride, silent as Arthur rushed them to the front of his flat building, a posh area that Feliciano faltered as he looked around.

“Five minutes,” Ludwig shouted.

"Come on." Arthur ushered them quick to the door.

"Well, you're back early," came the heaviness southern drawl of an American accent. The blue eyes that met them stood perplexed at the two new men. "Arthur, who are they? What's going on?" He instantly worried, his hand landing on surely a taser he had wrapped to his thigh.

"I'll explain in a second! We have to come inside. I can assure you that they're not trying to or will hurt me."

There was sureness enough in his voice for the other to move aside and let their passing. "Rosa!" He suddenly called out.

A teenage groan resounded across the building, stomping, doors slamming and suddenly there was a young girl coming down. "Arthur is supposed to be at the party! Do you have any idea how long I waited for this day and suddenly you're-" She noticed then the two men there, Arthur placing things on the kitchen table, drawing curtains and just blocking whatever view there was from the outside.

"Whatever you two witness now, you'll do well to keep it to yourselves…or else I can assure you your jobs would be at stake," Arthur glared at them and they both nodded, standing straight like soldiers ready to act.

Ludwig looked at his watch…just in time. The light, the glittering spread, Feliciano giving a quick goodbye with his eyes before all was stone.

Arthur only murmured and came close as he analyzed. "Interesting," the only thing he worded as an impression.

"What the fuck!" One shouted.

"Alfred! Keep it down!"

"Didn't you just see what happened?" Rosa joined in the stupefaction.

“Yes, I did. I’ve seen much more extreme than this, so there should be no concerns.”

Alfred and Rosa sighed and just decided to stay put as his assigned bodyguards, keeping their gazes straight on Ludwig, suspicious of his every move, even if he just stood and kept his gaze on the statue the entire time while Arthur just kept turning around it as if trying to finish a large puzzle piece.

"Does it happen just at night?"

"No, he changes as it finds fit. I just noticed the rhythm of his changes and was able to time it to make plans."

"Fascinating. Was this his original pose?"

"No, but-" he went through his phone, showing Arthur the pictures from before he had begun his transformations. "-the only thing that comes back the same are the halo, wings and the fabric around his…uh…"

"Cock," Arthur said straightforwardly.

"Yeah, sure."

"And when he returns to life?"

"Bare naked…we actually need clothes for when he turns back."

Arthur sent Alfred to get them something while he continued. "You found his statue sealed off in an old basement in Venice and his transformations began after an inspection in the research facilities of the museum of Padua." Ludwig nodded. "Okay, I have an idea of what this is, but I think it's best we wait for him to wake up, he'll want to know as well. Also, to be sure, I need to go up and check some writings. In the meantime, you can stay here, take whatever you want from the kitchen and make yourself at home. If you need anything to make your stay more comfortable, just ask my bodyguards, Alfred and Rosangeliz."

"Thank you, you have no idea how much this all means to us."

"Anything for a pair of lovers as yourselves," Arthur smiled as he began to walk away.

"Uh…sorry, but…Feliciano and I are not together."

"Oh…sorry, from what I saw and…uh…look, we'll talk tomorrow. When does he turn back?"

"Around the morning."

"Excellent." And he left surely embarrassed, Rosa following behind him, Alfred having laid the clothes in one of the near couches for him. He waved to Ludwig as a good night and then left him to his wishes.

For the longest while, Ludwig just stood there wondering about what to do and just…analyzing the situation he found himself in. He was at some… strange wizard’s house in London and alone with a Venetian statue that would transform back to Feliciano later.

He sighed, deciding on eating something quick and then settling to sleep on the couch.

Chapter Text

There was…intense reggaeton playing in the morning, followed then by a lot of shouting…then it was country music…shouts…finally there was some classic rock and they seemed to settle with that…until it was interrupted by more shouts, there was a crack, Ludwig swore it was actual lightning being brought upon…inside the house. It’s the last commotion to actually get him to sit up on the sofa he had made his bed for the night. There were stomps, shutting of doors, some more shouts and finally somebody was coming downstairs. It was Arthur…disfigured, hair all over the place, drool still on the side of his face, smoke coming from his hands that he tried to swift away, with a way too loose shirt and pajama pants.

“Hello, good morning! Was the night okay?” He spared to ask.

Ludwig really didn’t know how to answer, silent and only awkwardly trying to find words. He didn't know if Feliciano transforming back to life that very moment was of luck or if it made it more awkward since he was…naked.

"Good morning to you too," Arthur was polite to greet him as well, not at all deterred by Feliciano's bareness. Feliciano even gave him a wave and Ludwig groaned. Feliciano picked up the clothes Alfred left the night before and he did well to start changing as he did while Arthur made his way across to the kitchen.

"No, no, no!" Alfred's shouts ran pass them, "I'm definitely cooking! You go do your…weird magic wizard thing meeting…whatever, and I'll make us breakfast! Anything in particular you two want?"

"Don't fret, we'll-"

"Can you make crepes?" Feliciano suddenly asked just zipping the jeans he got.

"Sure thing!"

"With Nutella?" Feliciano drooled.

"Definitely. I'll cut you some strawberries too if you want."

Feliciano clapped like a child.

"Ugh, fine, then, if you two are ready, come with me."

Ludwig hadn't done his hair or really washed his face…neither did Feliciano, but then again they were in a hurry.

Arthur led them to the basement…very appropriate. Ludwig was expecting some dark and dirty space, the likes he saw in horror movies…but to his surprise, it was warm colored with candle-like light, a library that showcased gorgeous spines, sofas and rugs in medieval designs that reminded Feliciano slightly of home, so comfortable and organized that even Ludwig felt like joining Feliciano at the ground as he felt the very comfortable rug underneath him. The only thing that looked messy were the old tea cups and snack wrappers on the single desk, opened books and charms and potions laying about.

"My apologies," Arthur already said, but then raised a finger and all these things began flying about making their order.

Something so simple was like a show. The wrappers and old fruit seeds were brought to the trash, cups and plates up to the dishwasher, the books they didn't need back in their shelf. He fixed his hair and even cleaned his face with an easy grasp. Proper pants and a buttoned shirt seemed to wrap him from nowhere, the old thing he surely used to sleep laying already folded on one of the rest chairs. Ludwig and Feliciano were jealous at how he prepared himself so easily, shown in the way they just continued to stare.

"Oh, yes, manners." A snap and Feliciano and Ludwig suddenly found themselves feeling fresh, clean, any dirt of the night gone and then even the elegant suits they had worn to get to the party on them as if they were back at their meeting. “That should make you two feel better.” This was honestly quite amazing.

“Now, come over.” He motioned them to join his side at the desk, opening a large book, practically taking the entire space of the desk. He went through it, showing beautiful sketched artworks surely telling of the different kinds of magical techniques. The writing was in some old modern English that neither Ludwig or Feliciano could understand, but Arthur probably got all without issue, murmuring surely their significance until, "-and here we are! …AAAHHH!" Feliciano was practically on his face, of course he was startled. "What in the bloody hell?"

"You look a lot like your grandfather," Feliciano commented quite innocently.

"Who? Elroy Kirkland? Yes, not exactly the best magician to be compared to. I went through his files and he was an absolut arse." He turned their attention back to the pages he had gotten for them. The title read: 'The Grecian Stone Curse'. The descriptions were unintelligible for them, but the designs…of beautifully grayed stones and skins, were marvelous, Feliciano tracing their wonderful color. "But, I will admit, he was powerful. It takes a lot of experience and skill to be able to pull this off."

"Can you start by telling us what it is exactly?" Ludwig asked.

"A high leveled curse. As you have already witnessed, the caster places it on their target and they become a statue. Originally it was supposed to be permanent, the statue taking the form of whatever the caster wanted and remaining so for well…eternity."

Feliciano shivered.

"But if Feliciano didn't stay like that permanently, there must be more to it."

"A way to stop it?" Feliciano hoped so intensely.

"Correct. Now, breaking this particular curse works in two parts. I can already see you broke the first."

"Huh?" They both wondered.

"You honestly think my great grandfather intended for Feliciano to wake up and just…turn back to stone and human from time to time…making the second part of the curse breaking possible?"

"Then that's great!" Feliciano celebrated.

"How did the first part break even?" Ludwig was trying to identify.

"You tell me," he turned to the particular part of the writings that mentioned it, "says here the clean bareness of a lover's caress."

Ludwig stood…thought back to the days before Feliciano's transformations, back when they had first found the statue, all they had done in research…what he specifically did…that night desperate for some answers…and realized…suddenly turning red, gripping and hoping desperately neither noticed.

"Then…that's why I was sealed off in that basement…so no one could try to do that…especially King Ludwig."

"Germany doesn't have kings anymore, Feliciano, Ludwig is not a king."

"No, I'm talking about another Ludwig…but wait…" Feliciano was coming to another realization and Ludwig visibly panicked, averting his eyes as if he could hide himself in the action. "Lover's caress…that means someone…hm…the first person I remember seeing when I woke up…was Ludwig." And now they both turned to him, caught, and the intense judging gaze Arthur gave was not helping his cause to calm down.

"Um…Ludwig…" Feliciano wanted to ask.

"What the hell were you doing with the statue?" Arthur shouted.

"I was only doing a thorough investigation!" He shouted back.

"Who does a lover's caress as a thorough investigation?"

"It was necessary to understand!"

"Yeah, sure, you weird pervert."

Ludwig groaned, "look! Okay, we get it, lover's caress broke the first half of the curse! Move on! How do we break the second part and get Feliciano to normal?"

Arthur hummed, turning the page to this section. "Here's where it gets complicated. There are many ways to break it…"

"We just pick one then!" Feliciano thought it easy.

"...you have to do all of them…or only one of them breaks the curse."

Silence as its meaning weigh heavily.

"What are they?" Ludwig thought it was best to hurry.

"First of all, you need the caster's blood-"

"But he's been dead for centuries, how are we supposed to-"

"-blood that is coursing through me! Imbeciles! I have no problem giving you both some help." They calmed, knowing that at least. "Then we need Feliciano's blood, the blood of the person who broke the first part, which would be Ludwig here. Now here's where it gets difficult…you need to go to Greece."

"Greece!" Ludwig exploded.

"Yes, Greece! You need to get dust that's only available there since it's where my great grandfather created, perfected and even got the breeze from to create this curse. Once there, you need the Roman chant of a wizard of the Italian peninsula and then…Feliciano needs to show an action love."

Ludwig and Feliciano looked dumbfounded. It was one thing to get blood…another to go to Greece, get a whole new wizard and then…show an action of love?

 

"What does that even mean?" Ludwig worded.

"Beats me, I don't get it either."

Ludwig groaned and gave himself a moment to think and stress this over before breathing and paying attention to Arthur again. "And that's it?"

"I guess that's pretty much everything you need to know about the curse."

"But it's so…complicated…" Feliciano worried.

"That's the whole point. Feliciano…my grandfather did this to wish you harm…the fact that you woke up was not part of his plan at all. In the rare case you did, he of course prepared things so you wouldn't get out of it…" Arthur looked down and realized something that they wouldn't want to hear…but it was best to prepare them. "Do you know the exact date Feliciano was released?"

Ludwig had to check his phone but he did give them a date.

"So just about four months ago?"

They nodded.

Arthur sighed, "you only have three months to break the second half."

"Three months!" Ludwig shouted and Feliciano began heaving. "It's timed!?" Ludwig couldn't believe it.

"Yes…says here seven months from the day of release."

Ludwig groaned, letting his fingers grasp and pull at his hair, pacing and trying to think quick.

"And sorry to make this worse…but if you don't by the end of the seven months…Feliciano will truly remain a statue forever…and nothing will release him from it."

Tears began to form in Feliciano's eyes and Ludwig's panic heightened, a vortex of uncertainty that swallowed and made him fearful for Feliciano's future.

"Who wants crepes and waffles?" Alfred shouted, crashing in from the top of the stairs.

"Terrible timing, Alfred…terrible timing."

 

Blood from Arthur, from Feliciano and from Ludwig, Greece, an Italian wizard and an action of love.

They only had three months.

It was an anguish that repeated in Ludwig's mind, pacing and trying to figure out all of them at once. Feliciano found it hard to go along with his usual joy, even in a new city like London. He was suddenly nervous, sad…like every shine of the sun would be his last. Arthur had offered his company, showing them around the city, offering lunch, dinner, while Alfred and Rosangeliz constantly invited them over for breakfast. They had been incredibly sweet, but in their minds, a ticking clock tarnished everything. Arthur had promised he would send his blood, but preferred to send it to a specific place once they had a thorough plan on how and where they would go to in Greece. After all…they were missing another wizard and an action…and it seemed like they needed time and preparation for that.

Ludwig sighed as they arrived at their hotel room, dropping his coat on a chair and taking a seat on his bed, Feliciano followed after with the same tiredness, taking an easy seat beside him.

"Did you already tell Roderich and everyone else? Francis texted me this morning asking how I was doing."

"To be honest…I don't know what to tell them…and I don't know what's the next part of the plan."

"If you tell them, they can help us."

"You're right…" he breathed out and fought the impulse to just lay down. "It's just a lot we have to do…and so little time."

"I'm sure we can do it…we have to…because if not…then I…" neither wanted to think too long about that.

"We will, Feliciano…I promise you that…I'll call Roderich and see if he has any suggestions."

"Should we start looking for the wizard in Italy?"

"I think we should start with the most confusing…and that is this action of love."

They stayed silent as they each explored in their minds the meaning.

"Maybe I have to recite a poem," Feliciano said so innocently that Ludwig couldn't help the chuckle.

"I think it has to be more than that."

"Maybe I have to sing a whole song!" There was a sparkle in not just his eyes but in the determined way he raised his fists.

"No, more." But Ludwig enjoyed this, smiling.

Feliciano pouted and sighed, "then I got nothing." But just like that a reminder came, a curiosity, an idea…perhaps something that could work. Feliciano suddenly stood, beginning to take off a light jacket he wore. "Ludwig, do you still remember how you broke the first half of the curse?"

Ludwig, even if sitting still, startled and reddened, but he caught and tried to bring himself back to stability. "Feliciano, let me remind you that it was only research and there were no other intentions!" He defended as harshly as ever.

"I get that, but…" he continued removing clothes, as nonchalant as he always did, Ludwig seeing it at the beginning as the usual…until he was down to only a shirt, releasing it down so slowly, the fabric's fall somehow like a curtain to reveal a masterpiece. Feliciano turned to Ludwig and he in turn tried to get his mouth shut again as it fell open along with surely drool at the way light shone on Feliciano's naked full body, enchanting and gorgeous and for a moment, Ludwig thanked whatever gods for being able to witness this.

"...I need you to do it again."

"Do-do-d-do it-" he had to gulp, look away, breathe, before he laid his gaze back at him, strict to remain only on his eyes. "Do it again?" He could question more intelligibly.

"Yes, touch me like you did that time."

"Again?"

"Yes! Is there something wrong?"

"Well…uh…" Ludiwg stood this time, ever maintaining his gaze anywhere but his body. "Feliciano, when I touched you like that…you were just a statue."

"And?"

"Well it's different when you're…an alive person."

And Feliciano still didn't see the connotations…he just shrugged and moved a step closer. "But…maybe that's the action of love we need."

"I don't know, Feliciano…maybe you have to do something like that with someone you love."

"But, you managed to break the first part without loving me."

"I mean…in a way, I did uh…love you, I uh…really loved your uh…statue form…as an artistic and sculpting perspective."

That perked Feliciano's interest…such a cute glitter in his eyes, how his curls moved to the side…beautiful and alluring. Ludwig was finding it harder and harder to find the words to resist.

"Then…just love me how you did that time."

And Ludwig was in deep reds, not just in how his skin shone, but also in the passion, the allure and it seemed to paint Feliciano the more inviting, there for him presented, to enjoy that moment again…with alive skin. He could indulge, he could act on a desire…what was this for again? Oh yeah…breaking a curse.

"Um…can you uh…turn around?"

“Mhm," Feliciano obeyed and spun to reveal his backside.

Ludwig heaved, looked up to the ceiling and held himself still. He repeated to himself that this was only to try and break a curse, it was part of research, it was for Feliciano's life and future…nothing about…repressed feelings, real wants and fantasies coming to life. Ludwig reached his hands shaking…but as soon as his fingertips landed on his hips…it was like they landed on familiar territory…suddenly he felt confident to grab, lay his palms and feel his skin for the first time. Soft, plum and perfectly shaped. He sighed and began a passage he knew well from long ago. He started with the front of his thighs, moving outward, inward. He had tried hard the temptation to not grab the sweet amount of skin, but had given in, taking well before he moved down his legs, earning a beautiful take of breath from Feliciano. Ludwig had glimpsed, worried, but Feliciano had this haze look that was neither disturbed or uncomfortable. Ludwig took it as enough sign to now let his hands traverse up his side, in a wonderful walk that brought shivers to Feliciano and Ludwig couldn't help the smile at the power.

Over his stomach, sweet caresses that made Feliciano give more delightful hums. His sides, his chest, a wondrous take of his arms, Feliciano letting him extend and raise whatever he needed, loving his composing.

His back…and Ludwig couldn't help the call anymore…he pulled Feliciano's back to him, pressing them well together while hands now went on a deeper exploration of all that he had already done. Feliciano did not at all disobey or fought, he made his rest on that chest, leaning however Ludwig wanted as he continued.

He had not done this with Feliciano as a statue…he had not let his face mend with the curls, take a delightful scent, did not rub for sounds, did not press him tighter against him feeling every squirm, every movement, every heartbeat. There was no need for his chin to feel at his shoulder, no need for that continuing extend of his arms on his chest and arms. He grabbed and rubbed too often at his legs, a form of perfection that he copied the feeling well from, not knowing if the feel of his lips on his back were just a spur or an intention of leaving his kisses to shape.

Intensifying, grabbing, even at Feliciano’s delectable rear, drawing more hums, of loss of breaths, of transporting Feliciano away from the means of this as well, to moving in the command of Ludwig’s requests…and it was utter delight. He exposed his neck for Ludwig to breathe in, let his own caress and for Feliciano to drift himself more into it. It was reaching a height that Feliciano couldn't take any longer.

"Can you take me to bed?" He suddenly asked.

"Hm?"

"...I don't think I can continue to stand like this."

"Okay," Ludwig whispered gently, in a clean sweep bringing them to sit, Feliciano well comfortable in his lap and so they continued.

Caresses and leans, breaths and grabs, a feast of skin that started to thread more than the experimentation. Feliciano felt Ludwig hardened and let his hips respond in movements back to it, only raising him more, plain for Ludwig to see. Ludwig grunted and hardened his grasp on Feliciano, who let his mouth fall wide, releasing low moans that Ludwig wanted more of. He kissed his shoulder as he threaded one arm down from the raise he had it in, down until he joined Feliciano's erection, Ludwig not doing anything to stop the grasp of his balls and now erected cock, hardened grasp, up and down, now licking and kissing his neck, marks coating and then…

Feliciano shouted a moan.

It was the awakening, the realization, the eye widening, both men suddenly struck, seeing indeed what they were doing…and the very…indecent position they were in.

Ludwig let go of his penis, Feliciano went for a near towel to cover his still very erect privates.

"Uh…" either tried to say something, but they were too stupefied to really omit proper words.

"Um…" Feliciano then stood, taking the towel to cover whatever of his body it could. "So that's not it…"

"No-no, i-it's not…" Ludwig couldn't even look at him.

"I…I'm going to go to the bathroom and uh…wash myself," Feliciano was in the same aversion as he rushed over, both still shining red and still very obviously aroused.

“I’ll do the same…I mean! After you! Yes, uh…not uh…at the same time…”

Feliciano chuckled, “yeah…yeah, not-not with me, um, uh…see you in a bit.” And he closed the door way too quickly, the sound harsh and breaking, a farewell to what just happened, leaving Ludwig there still astounded…and hard.

 

They refused to meet eyes for the rest of the night…despite it was all they thought about, despite it was their bodies and touches that lived in their minds as each took their personal shower. No words, no exchange of gazes. They each went to their own bed…and tried to sleep when their eyes remained ever widened, ever in the moment.

Ludwig couldn't forget the softness, the wonderful alive form and the chance to have someone in his arms that he had…started feeling something different for. And Feliciano….he thought about the last time someone touched him like that…that someone now long gone, but the same name, from practically the same place and…now that he thought about it…no, he wouldn't turn, he couldn't look into that body and reminisce everything again. It had been euphoric and beautiful and he was trying hard to not tell himself he wanted more of it.

It was like he had long known him as a lover, knew where exactly to go, how to orchestrate him into bliss and almost…almost brought him undone. If it had been…only slightly longer…then Ludwig would have been successful. Feliciano bit his lips, trying to tell himself it was just part of their mission to break the curse, it was only a test, nothing more…it hurt to think nothing more.

Chapter Text

Ludwig woke up early as he usually did. Feliciano expected a turning in five minutes or so, deciding on using his phone, learning still and trying to understand many things. He was a little attentive to the sound of the running water, distracting him sometimes from messages he was trying to write. Ludwig came out and he forced his eyes on the phone. "Are we doing something today after I transform?" Feliciano asked.

"Arthur invited us to dinner again, with Alfred and Rosangeliz as always. We can also take a stroll by the Thames, see some sights. I'll call Rodrich now and see if we leave by tomorrow or the next."

"That sounds nice," he stood, meaning to take a corner to prepare for when he turned.

"I'm still thinking about where to go now."

They still refused eye contact, walking, pacing, without really looking where they were going.

"We could always go back to Munich I guess and do some searching from there."

"We could, but I rather-" They bumped into one another, forcing eyes to gaze, to notice barely clothed bodies. Touches, kisses and moans repeated in their minds. They instantly turned away, as if they had caught what they were both thinking about.

"Uh…I need to go to that corner there," Feliciano pointed awkwardly.

"Su-sure, go ahead," Ludwig moved away to give him the space to do so.

By this point, Ludwig was rather unreactive to Feliciano's transformations…it was almost like just another kind of bathroom break from him. The form he took this time was shy, hugging himself and looking more like a benevolent angel. Ludwig sighed, telling himself again to keep his gaze away, deciding on dressing to then get his phone to call his cousin.

"Go, tell me," Roderich already insisted.

"We met and talked to Arthur Kirkland."

"Feliciano texted me a bit about it. That's great! What did you find out? Feliciano knew you would call me so he didn't give me a lot of details."

"It's a high curse, placed on him by Elroy. It's two part, I already broke the first half."

"I always knew it was with all that…inappropriate touching!" Rodrich was still insulted…even if did end up getting Feliciano freed from a curse.

Ludwig was suddenly distant, red, thinking of…other inappropriate touches.

"Ludwig?" Roderich called.

"Yeah, sorry, we only have three months left to break the curse."

"What?" Roderich shouted.

"And to break it we need my blood, Feliciano's blood, Arthur's blood, we need to find an Italian wizard who has to do a Roman chant, Feliciano has to show an action of love and we have to do all of that…in Greece."

Roderich was stunned and growing a headache. "And let me guess…you want me to find a way to do all of this."

"I need help, Roderich. I know you can't do it alone, or I…we need as many hands as we can get."

Rodrich sighed, "I'm guessing the blood is the least of our issues." He couldn't believe he was saying that.

"Exactly. Right now our most pending worry is this Italian wizard."

"What about the action of love?"

Ludwig was silent, biting his lips. "Let's not mention that one right now."

"Why? Did you figure it out already?"

Ludwig hoped to never talk about it to anyone…ever.

"Just…we'll worry about that one later. Let's focus on that Italian wizard."

Roderich sighed, "I don't even know where to begin."

"We don't have much time."

"I know. I'll talk to Laura and see if she can help me somehow."

"I'll try to make my own search."

"We'll discuss it further at the reunion."

Ludwig was confused, "reunion?"

"Our family reunion? The one we do once a year."

Ludwig groaned, not believing he had forgotten…and not sure if he could deal with it in the middle of this situation. "Where is it this time and whose hosting it?"

"Onkel Karl."

"I assume Switzerland then."

"Luzern to be more exact."

"I assume every single member is coming…including my brother."

"Unfortunately, yes."

Ludwig groaned, the headache already starting and they were still not in the same room. "I can't leave Feliciano alone though, and I don't know how I can excuse him and the sudden disappearances."

"Lucky for you, I thought about it and have a way Feliciano can come without it being suspicious.”

“Out with it then.”

“You have to pretend you're dating.”

“What?” Ludwig shouted, the surprise and anger startling him to a stand.

"Look! Think about it for a second! Onkel Karl especially is very strict about our plus ones only being relationships. We both know Feliciano is going to be hanging on you the entire time, and with the way you both share googly eyes, everyone is already going to assume you're together."

"We don't-"

"You do. Shut up and listen. For his transformations…well…you can't keep it in your pants and you need some private alone time, quick and desperate," Roderich shrugged it like nothing.

"You want me to act like that in front of my mother!" He was shocked.

"Well, do you have any other ideas on how you want to hide his transformations?"

"Maybe he needs to make some…desperate studying time."

"Yes…studying time, with you right behind him. Even if you go with that, they're still going to assume you're doing something together. If we just say you're dating, it saves us trying to make a hundred new excuses each time."

Ludwig groaned…understanding that he was right…it just came at the worst time…after they had…no! He won't think about it! It didn't happen! Never happened! "Fine," he ended up just deciding…now his worry on how he could tell this to Feliciano. "So we'd be flying into Bern next, I assume."

"Yes. I'll do you the favor of getting your tickets since you decided on going with my idea."

"Much appreciated," despite the bite in his voice.

"Once we get this curse broken and you get yourself an attractive young Italian boyfriend…you'll really feel appreciative."

Ludwig only rolled his eyes.

 

“We really don’t have an issue taking you to the airport,” Arthur continued on insisting.

“I already called the cab, it’s fine,” Ludwig made sure.

Both Feliciano and him were ready, dressed, suitcases packed and a schedule to look forward to.

"Are you sure he's not going to turn anytime soon?" Rosangeliz wondered, pointing to Feliciano.

"Freshly turned!" Feliciano proclaimed proudly.

"We should be okay at least until we arrive at the airport."

"Well then, have a pleasant journey and we'll be in contact. Hopefully you've stayed safe and we can have everything for Greece," Arthur wished kindly.

"Until then," Ludwig nodded and made his turn out of the flat they had made their stay in the last few days. Feliciano dutifully followed him, offering a wave of goodbye to all before he was also out the threshold. They watched as they put their things in the cab, in silence until Alfred had a reminder, looking over to Arthur…as if hoping he would still act on it.

"You're really not going to tell them?"

"Tell them about what?"

"About that detail on the curse?"

It took a while for Arthur to be reminded…and even still he didn't say anything. They watched as the cab drove off, finalizing their stay.

Arthur shrugged, "I don't think it's that important."

"I don't know…maybe it can help them with finding the wizard and the action of love."

Arthur stood, looking still as indifferent. "I don't believe so, Alfred."

 

Ludwig was rather proud at how Feliciano was getting used to these airplane trips. He was finding his things to keep himself entertained, getting into their contemporary books and games. He was especially intrigued with a game of Sudoku…frustrated, but attentive, in his next transformation keeping the silly little book in thinking. Ludwig chuckled at how his statue form looked like the typical philosophical figure…over a simple Sodoku puzzle.

He was able to book them a hotel for this transformation just for the afternoon…but he was still expected at his uncle's in the night. They had an hour-long mountain train waiting for them after. They were freshly ready when it was time, Feliciano bundled well for the coldness of the alps, spectacular still in the evening, Feliciano aweing from the large window view he had from his seat. Like a child he would kneel, raise himself and see what more he could find, what more could he discover in the functioning of this train. Ludwig was finding these things each time more endearing, letting him those freedoms while he still thought about how exactly he was going to suggest to Feliciano the pretend to be dating plot. After their…experimenting…it seemed so odd to suggest. They had been rather awkward to speak about that moment, but a look up to the screen with the stops reminded him that they only had a couple left before they arrived. Someone would most likely be there to pick them up…he had to tell Feliciano now.

"Feliciano…" he called and he turned and took his appropriate sitting next to him, smiling still with excitement but patient to listen to what he had to say. "So…you know…we're going to meet my family now, right?"

He nodded, "yes, including your apparently annoying older brother."

Ludwig grimaced and gripped his forehead, "yes, including him. Roderich will also be there so we can discuss and help each other on how we can find this Italian wizard. But…uh…" he was getting to it, only getting Feliciano worried, who inched closer and showed big brown eyes that only made this more difficult for Ludwig to say. "My family doesn't usually…let…uh…just friends come to the reunions."

Feliciano perked, "then…they wouldn't like me there."

"Yes…but I couldn't just leave you alone either, so uh…Rodrich and I had to come up with something so they would let you stay."

"And what is that?"

"Um…we have to pretend were…dating," he was so hesitant, blushing and gripping at his own hands, and yet Feliciano seemed lost.

"You all mention that word a lot…but I don't really know what it is."

Of course…the concept was not really the norm at the time.

"It's similar to courting."

“We can get married?”

“No, well…yes…ugh.” He had to gather himself again. “Dating is like courting in the sense that two people are together and exclusive for one another. They do a lot of romantic things like outings on their owns, gifts, holding hands, kisses, anything you would do in a marriage…only without the marriage…in fact, nowadays, most don't even get married."

Feliciano awed and nodded in intrigue. "So…we're not getting married."

"In our case, not yet."

"What do you mean not yet?"

"Well, I plan to-" he hit his own head. That was a little too much detail for something that was just make believe for the moment. "Look, we just need to pretend that we're together so that way they let you stay and they don't question us too much. Understand?"

He nodded so surely, "got it!" He even seemed excited about it.

"Perfect! So…you won't mind if we hold hands and uh…"

At this Feliciano reddened with memories. "If-if it's to make things easier, I-I won't mind!" He turned away.

"I know it's not…the best right now, but I can assure you it helps."

Feliciano nodded, “I know!” And just in time for their arrival. With their luggage, they headed out the station, Feliciano only following Ludwig, who stood by the very small parking lot, watching and looking, until-

“Hey! Wixer! Over here!” Came a very gruff, very mean sounding call. Ludwig instantly spotted the figure and groaned, while Feliciano was still trying to find it. Suddenly Ludwig held Feliciano's hand, with a grip as a reminder of what they had to do. Feliciano gave a sweet smile in understanding and Ludwig's blush was genuine. He pulled him forward to the awaiting van, Feliciano realizing that the very harsh call actually came from the…very small man that stood next to it.

“Bach, great to be seeing you,” Ludwig greeted him.

“Get in the car and let's go,” he demanded, only offering to slide open the door before he went over to already take the driving seat. Feliciano feared he would leave that instant without making sure they were there.

“Ludwig!” Came a shrill voice, a young girl, surely a mere pre-teen, jumped and took Ludwig into a hug, Ludwig chuckling and smiling.

“Lili, it's been so long!”

“I know! I think it was the last reunion! You don't ever come to Switzerland…or Liechtenstein.”

“You know I've been busy.” Ludwig went ahead and placed their luggage inside, along with himself and made space for Feliciano to sit next to him, close, still holding their hands, indeed loving. Neither of the two other blondes failed to notice it.

“Yeah, you've been on some articles, about that statue, the angel of Venice,” Bach said as he turned on the engine and drove the car out and unto their destination up these impressive and gorgeous hills. Feliciano was in deep awe to really react at his own mentioning.

“It’s become a priority and with each finding I get closer to understanding more about it.” Feliciano found it endearing how he traced his fingers on his hand, so sweet, so gentile, he couldn't help the smile he gave him.

“Hi, you're Ludwig's boyfriend. I'm Lilliana Zwingli, but please call me Lili, and that over there is my very kind and sweet older brother, Bach Zwingli.” He only spared a short wave. “He's really cute, Ludwig,” she giggled, trying to keep it in a whisper, but Feliciano saw it all clear, blushing and playing with his hair.

“Ever been to Switzerland?” Bach asked.

“Uh…a long time ago, barely remember it.”

“oh, then we definitely have to go hiking!” Lili suggested.

“You have to visit the town,” Bach added, so clouded compared to his very happy sister.

“We can also take a longer drive around the area!”

“There's the top of Mount Pilatus.”

Feliciano was truly perked and interested.

“That all sounds great, but I think right now we should just head to your place and settle in.”

“Yeah, you're right, your brother has been asking annoyingly for you,” Bach distressed.

“He's…already here?” Ludwig dreaded.

“Arrived yesterday along with Roderich…both of them together is the worst combination to have at home. I swear I'll throw them both off the cliff soon.”

“I think it's fun,” Lili innocently added. “Is this your first time meeting everyone?” She turned to Feliciano, ever curious and taken by him.

“I've only met Rodrich.”

“You know what I just realized… I can’t recall you ever bringing someone, Ludwig,” Bach said.

“You didn't bring Laura?” Feliciano wondered.

“Uh…I didn't think it was that serious.”

“You're finally in love,” Lili dreamed.

Both Ludwig and Feliciano blushed, the hold of their hands becoming tighter.

“Ye-yeah, I…I guess so.”

It was a trip up mountains, through curves and mists, until they finally reached…a very large home. Wooden, scenic on the edge of a hill, Feliciano let out a loud gasp when he saw it, practically jumping out the van the moment they stopped in front of it. Despite the late summer, it was so cool, the lights from inside looking so warm and inviting. Sure, it had been long since the last Ludwig was in that home, but to him everything still looked the same. He held no impression as they entered into the foyer, unlike Feliciano, who was fascinated even by that house plant in the corner.

“He has come! I can feel it!” Someone shouted, enough for the whole house to hear. Feliciano was startled and Ludwig groaned knowing what was coming.

Footsteps, because of the old wooden floors, echoed much louder through, intensifying the closer they came to the foyer. Feliciano actually hid behind Ludwig and he already stood taller in defense. And suddenly he entered, extremely pale, with snow hair, violet eyes, and a white smile that went along with his ghostly look. Feliciano gasped, never having seen an albino before.

“Gilbert,” Ludwig uttered monotone compared to the large excitement of his older brother.

“That’s…Gilbert,” Feliciano whispered, still slightly scared.

“Yes, that’s him.”

“Come here!” And he forced Ludwig into a tight and shaking hug, Ludwig trying hard not to fall breathless and lose whatever composure he could keep.

Rodrich came running in, a breath of relief to see Feliciano intact. “How have you been?” He immediately went to greet him, and Feliciano embraced him with a grand smile. Rodrich was startled, but eventually went as far as patting his head.

“And I heard you brought a sweet someone,” Gilbert's long grin suddenly turned away from his older brother, falling on the clearly new face. “Ah! He 's gorgeous!” Gilbert complimented, turning completely to Feliciano, impression in even the way he spread his arms…Feliciano was slightly scared for what. But suddenly…he was chauvellier, a quiet sudden change that made him almost like the main hero in some knightly story. He actually looked attractive at that moment. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance. Gilbert Beilschmidt.” And they shook their hands politely. Feliciano smiled and shook back energetically.

“Please don't hurt him.”

“Of course not! He’s an angel!” Feliciano flinched as if Gilbert had found him out. “But hm, good job.” Gilbert went back to Ludwig's side, hand on his shoulder, nearing his ear. “Is the sex good?”

Ludwig flushed the reddest Feliciano had ever seen him. “Gilbert!” He scolded.

The elder brother began to laugh hysterically, loud and commanding. It was only able to stop by a dark haired woman, slapping him hard at the back of his head. He stopped to groan at the surprising pain.

“Behave yourself!” She shouted.

“Mamma,” Ludwig smiled.

“Ludwig, Hase.” And they went for their embrace and kiss.

“Hase?” Feliciano couldn't help the giggle.

“Our Tante Monika has been calling him that since forever,” Lili happily told.

“It's really cute,” Feliciano smiled, touched.

Ludwig rolled his eyes, before turning his mother towards Feliciano. “This is Feliciano Valenti,” he introduced. She was wondered, shaking Feliciano's hand.

Feliciano was slightly surprised at how she looked…nothing like Ludwig. Only the same shine of blue eyes. If it wasn't for albinism, Gilbert would look more like her.

“A pleasure! Make yourself at home and if there's anything you need, please let us know, we'll be glad to help you.” She was kind and already Feliciano felt so comfortable with her. “Ludwig, he's charming. Take good care of him and try to make sure that your brother doesn't do his usual stupid shit.”

“Certainly.” Ludwig took Feliciano 's side, as vigilant as a royal guard.

“Oh, I feel so protected, Hase,” Feliciano grinned.

“Don’t push it.” And yet Ludwig smiled.

“Come on, we’re starving and we were waiting for you both to start dinner,” Bach reminded, already making his hurried way.

“We’ll bring your stuff to your room later,” Lili said.

And so Ludwig and Feliciano took their seats at the large dining table, already the center prepared with all kinds of dishes that Feliciano almost drooled at. Ludwig’s Onkel Karl, Bach and Lili’s father, being the one who was hosting the event this year, gave some words of welcome and blessing before they could all dig in. Much to Ludwig’s surprise, Feliciano indulged well from everything, a splendorous smile…only slightly hurling once he tried the Riz Casimir. Luckily they could remain in their own chat, the rest of the family members distracted in their own known doings. But it wouldn't last as long as Ludwig wanted.

“Feliciano, where exactly in Italy are you from?” Monika directed and decided to ask.

“Oh, um…Florence.” They had long ago decided he should say that to keep attention away from the statue.

“I assume you grew up with your parents.”

“My grandfather, my mother and my brother.”

“Oh, you have a brother!”

“Ye-yes.”

“Where is he now?”

Why did that suddenly hurt? Why did he suddenly feel like erupting in tears? Lovino…oh…Lovino, how he missed him…how far away he felt…how tragic to not know…what happened to him. It was amazing how Ludwig could instantly tell his distress, going for his hand…in not a show to his family, but in actual concern and showing his presence. Endearing, perfect, Feliciano instantly smiled and realized…he loved having Ludwig’s hand to hold. He could answer…with a make believe of what he imagined could have been. “He’s with my grandfather in Rome learning to take over the family’s business.”

“Oh! What kind of business do you have?”

“We just own a lot of land.”

“Ah…landlords…ew,” Bach let himself say, causing a new ruckus on the table.

“What?” Feliciano whispered to Ludwig in the disarray, confused.

“I’ll explain later,” he whispered back.

“So…that means…you’re loaded with money,” Gilbert guessed as much.

“Gilbert…” Monika began to scold.

“What?”

“I…I think so. Yes, we uh…live better than others.”

“Do you have some peacocks?”

Everyone silenced trying to figure out what Gilbert meant by it, Ludwig especially glared and Feliciano just had to question, “no, but uh…why do you ask?”

“Didn't Ludwig tell you that story?”

And everyone in the table suddenly began to ignite in recognition, some already starting to chuckle and Ludwig began to panic once he noticed where his brother was going. “Gilbert, no, please no,” he began to beg.

Feliciano was too curious to just let this pass. “No, I've never heard of a peacock story.”

“There's no need to know!”

“But I want to know!”

“And I shall tell you,” Gilbert proudly proclaimed.

“God, no!” Ludwig already groaned and hid his face in the palm of his hands.

“You see, when Ludwig was a child, he had this mega obsession with Rome. I mean, he still does, he became an archeologist, but as a kid…he truly believed the stuff from Indiana Jones or whatever myth book Mamma had just read us. There was this one time he honestly believed he could recreate the glory of Rome and be its emperor!”

Some, who knew how the rest of the story already went, began laughing, and despite the deep embarrassment with Ludwig, Feliciano couldn't help his own chortle. “Really?” He wanted more, this image of Ludwig as a child walking around imposing himself as ruler quite adoring.

“Yes! So in his quest to try and be the most appropriate ruler he could be, he decided he needed a peacock walking about with him at all times. He had read in some book that emperors had them walking around the palace to show off how wealthy they were. Mind you, by this time we used to live on the ground floor of an apartment block on the outskirts of Munich. Anyways, we went to this petting zoo that happened to have a bunch of peacocks. Luddy here went insane! He was determined to just grab and take one of them. And he decided to go to the most feral one of all.”

The laughter became louder and Ludwig wanted to sink in his chair.

“Ludwig just went and…grabbed it! And of course, the peacock got aggressive. Ludwig ran and screamed for his life and the darn thing was chasing after him all through the park. I think he still has some of the scars from the pecks!”

“I don't! Stop telling people that!”

“It's probably on his ass.”

And everyone erupted into laughter and Feliciano was part of it, Ludwig…finding it enchanting and…nice, not at all the dread he usually felt whenever Gilbert told this story. For the first time…he actually laughed along with everybody else.

Dessert came in after that, topics going elsewhere and Ludwig and Feliciano could stand up from the table. Feliciano was curious about the home, and Lili went along with them showing it around. It was wonderful, so unlike anything Feliciano had seen in his times. Comfortable, warm and just exuding color and family. It somehow reminded him of a castle…the family an energy that reminded him of King Ludwig. Feliciano found himself enjoying his time, relaxed, with a calmness that was refreshing in this whole ordeal. He breathed in and out, and looked the picture perfect image of a person on holiday.

“You look like you’re having fun,” Ludwig noticed.

“I am actually. This home is beautiful, the food and drinks have been great, and your family is incredibly nice,” Feliciano truly meant it all.

“You really think so?” Ludwig was surprised to hear, leaning onto the rail of the balcony they kept. It was cool, but not too much to not enjoy the natural freshness of these alps.

“Yes! I really don’t understand why you looked so annoyed about coming here.”

From time to time they would be given stares, and to keep with the image, Feliciano made sure to fall back unto Ludwig’s arms on the rail. Ludwig could only startle for a second before he knew he had to keep his composure, leaning more to him and trying to think this was normal between them despite the erratic beating of his heart.

“You have the honor of only dealing a couple of days with them, I had to for years.”

“But we're constantly seeing Rodrich.”

“He's one of the few that knows how to behave.”

Feliciano rolled his eyes, “I'm going to ignore what you're saying, I think they're all splendid,” he seemed to decree it as he took a sip of his white wine.

Ludwig sighed, “fine, believe what you want, I'm still going to complain about them.”

They both chuckled, and for some reason, it seemed completely natural for Feliciano to just lean unto his chest, comfortable, warm and bringing a filling to their hearts neither had known they needed.

“When is my next transformation?” He used the closeness to ask.

In checking his watch, Ludwig ended up leaning his head much closer to Feliciano's, who then blushed furiously as his heart seemed to beat all over him.

“You still have a few hours.”

“Oh.” He was still getting tired though, his lean becoming a cuddling, feeling nice there, wishing he could take his rest right there.

“Uh…they keep…staring at us,” Ludwig had noticed, only making him more nervous and hesitant.

Feliciano had actually scoffed, “what do they want us to do, kiss?”

Ludwig had joined in Feliciano's redness. “Pro-probably “

“Hmm…” Feliciano looked up to him and Ludwig couldn't escape the gaze. Calling and hypnotizing. All of a sudden…it just felt right to fall into their first kiss, not sure if it was really to keep an image…or because they wanted it so badly.

It was an instant ignite, fire and warmth in this chill air. Feliciano’s lips were…incredibly soft and Ludwig had the perfect shape and movements that made neither want to let go.

Let whoever saw see, let the wind blow, hell, let Feliciano change this very moment, neither cared, that share of lips was above all that moment and they let it reign in this little forever.

Monika and Gilbert smirked in their sneak, leaving them their moment and heading elsewhere. Bach almost hurled and left instantly, while Lili shrilled like the schoolgirl she was before Bach pulled her away.

Curtains were closed on them and…Ludwig and Feliciano could stop…but instead, Ludwig wrapped his arms around his waist and Feliciano around his neck, and they only intensified and brought themselves closer. They continued in their lips’ engulf, doing whatever to keep its fire. Ludwig had leaned to the rail and Feliciano followed him in the perfect cushion. They smiled now as they continued by themselves, not questioning, not debating, just indulging and living their own little heaven.

Rodrich…actually felt bad to interrupt it. He coughed, just enough for Ludwig and Feliciano to realize, their eyes widening in a waking shock. Reddened and flushed, they pushed themselves away from the other, as if insulted.

“It-it-it that-that that was-” Feliciano tried to utter.

“It was-it was, just-just for show!” Ludwig shouted as a defense.

“No one was looking…for some time now actually,” Rodrich acknowledged.

“We-we we had to uh…”

“Make it really seem like we're going to have sex!” Feliciano declared so loudly and determinedly, and Ludwig almost fainted…or was tempted to take the cliff that was right next to him.

“Well, I’m pleased to tell you, mission accomplished. Now, can we discuss other things that are of our utmost concern.” Bless Rodrich could stay perfectly civil.

“Yes, yes…what…what do you have now?” Ludwig tried to settle himself, having to wipe his mouth and stand appropriately, same with Feliciano. They stayed close, but hesitant, somehow suspicious of even that little gap between them.

“I'll be completely honest…we only have two ideas that I discussed with Laura.”

“Which are?”

“One is that we try to find Feliciano's family.”

Feliciano widened in shock, frozen in his spot.

“Rodrich, must I remind you his family lived centuries ago.”

Rodrich decided to ignore Ludwig and instead turned to Feliciano. “Feliciano, your brother, did he have children or was he already courting or married?”

“He was betrothed to a Spanish countess. From what I remember, when I was last in Florence, he had just come back from meeting her for the first time in Madrid.”

“And?”

“Apparently she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.”

“So, you believe he did get married to her and later had children?”

“Probably,” he shrugged, still not too sure.

“It's something. We'll see what we can find going through archives and see if it takes us to what has become of your family nowadays.”

Feliciano didn't know what to say, his breath held. His family…there was a way to meet his family, one distant and sure not the same, but still relatives, close, and he could try to feel at home with them again. He smiled suddenly at such a prospect, hands to his heart, not being able to contain the excitement.

“And what's the other idea?” Ludwig reminded.

“Laura is going to make a post on a dark website.”

Ludwig grimaced, “isn't that a little too dangerous?”

“Do you have any other ideas, Ludwig?”

He huffed because in actuality…no…he didn't have any other ideas…he just didn't like people risking themselves like this.

“Laura can read Italian well, I’m sure she’ll let us know once she finds something.”

“And that’s all?”

“Everything we could get together.”

Ludwig sighed, “it’s not enough.”

“There’s not much we can do…we don’t know anything else.”

Ludwig shook and his breath became heavy, Feliciano trembling in the same state, arms wrapped around himself and he actually thought about how other…stronger arms were better wrapped around him.

“Just enjoy your time here. I would take Back and Lili’s advice to hike, visit the town and enjoy the fresh air…it could help soothe whatever fears we have,” Rodrich consoled before he decided to move elsewhere, suddenly thirsty and wanting some of the white wine that was being offered.

 

Feliciano's transformation was nearing, dinner was done, desserts and extra drinks were already passed, Ludwig and Feliciano thought it best to retire to their room for the night.

Feliciano was somehow…anxious…and it had nothing to do with heading to a distant room in the house with Ludwig alone. No…his mind was on his mother, brother, grandfather and even his own father. There was somehow…a way to know what had become of them…find their continued linage…meet his family now. He was excited, he was nervous, a jittering and unsteadiness as if he was to meet them that instant. When they arrived at the room…he wasn't at all focused on the fact that there was only one…small bed.

“Feliciano, Rodrich, the rest and I will try our best to see if we can find your family. But…I need you to be prepared for whatever might be the outcome.” He laid gentle hands on his shoulder as comfort, and Feliciano found them the perfect stabilizer. “Whatever we might find, just know, we're here and I'm here. I'm not going to abandon you and I am willing to be your family if you need it.”

Feliciano found it adoring, coloring him in peace, in breaths, in calm in this disarray. “Thank you so much, Ludwig.” He leaned into his chest, and although it surprised Ludwig at first, he still gave him that comfort, arms around him and making sure to give him all the necessary security. They swayed, they remained, the air and silence peaceful enough for their embrace.

Feliciano reminded himself that he was to turn in a couple of minutes, raising and actually looking at the room this time. Sure, cozy, comfortable, nice, a single little round window that showcased the side of the mountain and then…actually paying attention to the really small bed.

“Uh…” Feliciano wanted to make sense of it.

Ludwig sighed, “remember they think we're together…they would assume we sleep on the same bed.” Not that it was something they bothered about before. Ludwig was going to wonder what was so different this time…and that’s when he realized…they had already touched one another, they had passionately kissed and overall they just felt something different in their relationship. Sharing a tiny bed like this…gave ideas and images that they were battling hard mentally to keep away.

“I can honestly sleep on the ground if you want,” Ludwig had no problem suggesting.

“N-no! I’m transforming anytime soon, you should have the bed.”

“What are you going to do when you transform back?”

“I…I…can sleep on the ground.” It was obvious he was uncomfortable and doubtful of the idea.

Ludwig sighed, “I’ll have the bed ready for you and I will make myself something.”

“But Ludwig-”

“Really, it’s fine! It’s nothing.”

“But, but…but…”

“Just prepare yourself to transform, I can manage.” He began to get the covers he needed.

Feliciano couldn’t take it any longer. “Just sleep with me!” He suddenly shouted.

“What?” In his startlement he dropped the covers he had just taken.

“Just…” Feliciano breathed out, “sleep with me on the same bed. We’ve done it before, it’s…nothing.”

Awkward silence, both just standing there as they tried to make sense of this suggestion.

“Feliciano, uh…let me be honest here, things have gotten pretty…awkward between us lately,” Ludwig was finally making the dangerous thread. “And I don’t think right now is a smart idea to share a bed.”

“Nothing…nothing is going to happen.” There was already so much doubt…disappointment if nothing did happen, Ludwig couldn't help the raise of his eyebrows.

“Feliciano, I rather…” and he stopped, turning to him, “I rather…we understand what…emotions we have for one another.”

“Really good friends that care a lot about each other,” Feliciano had thought it simple enough.

“Are you sure about that? Do you…really see me as just a friend?”

And for once there was a question about this in Feliciano’s expression.

Now that he put that question up…what were his feelings for Feliciano? He was always…disappointed when he called their union just mere friendship, as if…he was expecting more from it. In fact, as Feliciano stood there debating it as well…Ludwig was relieved with hope…hope that he would indeed say something different about them. But the silence elongated…and Feliciano left it all without words.

Ludwig sighed, “just take the bed. I’ll be on the ground when you turn back.” And there was nothing more to discuss. Ludwig continued making his makeshift bed preparations, while Feliciano stood there still in thought and wondering. The transformation swept through and Ludwig turned to meet stone. He sighed, suddenly tired and the bed he made tempting for an instant lay. He settled, not minding at all how hardened it felt.